glory pass before Moses he hath discovered his gracious nature the free and full pardoning mercy that is in him And promises 1 Joh 19. If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins And he is faithful in his promise to Christ and that is owing to him and all in him to encourage this duty 2. Meditate think on the Justice of God He is just as well as merciful and holy 1. In his nature Exod. 34.7 I will not clear the guilty In the Threatnings of his word Gen. 2.17 He that sins shall dy the death Psal 7.11 He will what his Sword against the Impenitent And his Providences Recorded in his Word 2 Pet. 2.4 5 6 He spared not the old world nor Sodom which are fearful instances of it Nay the Heathens that improved not the light of nature Rom. 1.18 26. he manifested his wrath from heaven against them by spiritual and outward Judgments nay his only professing people in the world Rom. 11.22 If he spared not the natural branches will he spare you Nay the severest outward Dispensations of Providence is usually on such Amos 3.2 3. nay his own Children 2 Sam. 12.11 Beside consider his Providential Dispensation among your selves for neglect of duty he calls to or commission of sin Hag. 1.8 9. He directs to think of the Judgments they were under in disappointing their expectations of the good and usefulness of the Creatures to them 3. Meditate on the Day of Judgment Acts 17.31 He hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world This is a meditation to Repentance that there is a fixed day of Gods Final Judgment of all mens ways good and bad and their states manifesting thereby a Revelation of his Righteous Judgment Rom. 2.6 It shall go well with the Righteous in their state and way of Gospel Obedience but it shall not go well with the wicked Isa 3.10 This is that the Lord after the manner of men affectionately wisheth their consideration of Deut. 32 29 O that they were wise that they understood this that they would consider their latter end There will be an end of your living in this World the thing is certain Heb. 9.28 the time to us uncertain And there an end of Gods patience and forbearance and space of Repentance to the Impenitents and the longer it is the greater treasure of wrath Rom. 2.5 And an end of the patience and exercise under troubles and difficulties to the Godly in their way of Obedience to God 2 Thes 1.6 7 8. Think on this day which will be a day of Refreshing Acts 3.19 When the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. To the penitent and gracious reward of your Obedience Having given some special helps and grounds of meditation let me further help and move to the duty by some Directions and further motives in it under this Head DIRECTION I. Keep your hearts to it the heart is very loth and averse to it naturally especially on such serious thoughts as these are Therefore set Conscience to its work to apply those things home and affect the soul with it Job 5.27 Know it for thy good and watch your hearts Prov. 4.23 2 Avoid hindrances especially wandring and vain thoughts Jer. 4.14 O Jerusalem how long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee Get your hearts free from that Let them not have lodging possess the heart that thoughts are sin and though not open to man yet under Gods observance and judgment Eccles 12.14 God shall bring every work into judgment with every secret thing whether it be good or whether it be evil 3. Avoid Companying with vain and idle persons and often converse with the Godly Mal. 3.16 They that feared the Lord spake often one to another and thought upon his Name 4. Take fit seasons and times for it and places times the morning and nights are fit times sometimes oftner Psal 1.2 He meditates on the Law of God day and night Psal 5.2 3. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee and will look up For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness neither shall evil dwell with thee So the Evening Psal 119.148 Mine eyes prevent the night watches that I might meditate in thy word Gen. 24 63. Isaac went out in the evening to meditate So places in the Field in the Close when alone nay on the Bed Psal 4.4 Commune with your own heart upon your bed And at set times so set your selves to it in them MOTIVE 1. It is the way to have Gods Grace given where it is not and unlooked for Blessings though God is not tyed to it yet his ordinary way it is to work on Rational Creatures suitably to their Reason And stirs up the exercise of it Acts 2.37 Now when they heard this they were pricked in their heart and said unto Peter and to the rest of the Apostles Men and Brethren what shall we do And to revive it where it is Psal 39.3 My heart was hot within me while I was musing the fire burned then spake I with my tongue The success here in my Text I turned which is an acknowledgment to God of his turning Grace not only being there but acted by him effectually to turn him 2. It is the ordinary way of Wise men in their Concerns of this World The Merchant thinks on his way in his Trade whether right and how he prospers by looking over his Accounts The Marriner hath his Compass and Observation how he Steers his Course by it to mend it where it is otherwise then it should be And shall we more exercise our Rational Powers for Earth than for Heaven 3. Consider It is an evidence of Gods thoughtfulness of you of Peace and Salvation and that from Eternity Jer. 29.10 11 12. I will visit you and perform my good word towards you in causing you to return to this place For I know the thoughts that I think towards you saith the Lord thoughts of peace and not of evil to give you an expected end Then shall ye call upon me and ye shall go and pray unto me and I will hearken unto you And it is pleaded here by David as a sign of his Integrity and Effectual Vocation Jer. 31.3 I have loved thee with an everlasting love therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee So it is presented for the Consideration of Gods People to further their Repentance as encouraging to Consideration as a means to it 4. The fourth and last operation of the Rational Soul in exercise for Returning to God are his judging thoughts to make a right judgment of them to prevent Gods condemning for them 1 Cor. 11.31 For if we would judge our selves we should not be judged with the World Prov. 28.13 He that confesseth and forsaketh shall find mercy This is the turning act so far as in mans power and he doth it as
up by the work of Powerful Grace and Encouraged to Endeavour it by the same promised grace Hosea 6.1 2 3. Come and let us Return unto the Lord for he hath torn and he will heal us he hath smitten and he will bind us up After two dayes will be revive us in the third day he will raise us up and we shall live in his sight Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord. 1 Joh. 1.9 If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness The further clearing and Improving this Text and Doctrine shall be in Answer to this practical Question Quest What is this Thoughtfulness of our wayes or actions that is such a special means for the cure of Apostasy in a Professing People of God Answ 1. In general take this description of it It is the Exercise of all the powers of the Rational Soul by mans Self Reflection for the knowledge of his ways or actions and for his right Judgment of them with reference to Gods final approving Judgment 1. It is the Exercise of all the Powers of the Rational Soul the Understanding Will and Affections 2 In way of Self-Reflection for the knowledge of his actions which is peculiar to Rational Creature and mainly intends his moral actions as under the direction of a moral Rule for his Obedience and Happiness in Enjoyment of God according to his promise to his obedience Gen. 2.9 3. It is for his Right Judgment of them Man hath a Judicature in himself God hath Authorized in him and is the supream and highest on Earth subordinate only to God about his own actions in reference to God and his inward duty to him Rom. 14.4 Who art thou that judgest another mans servant to his own master he standeth or falleth None are to judge others in things that are indifferent in matters of Religion or doubtful to true Christians but themselves about the sincerity in them or not vers 13. Let us not therefore judge one another any more but consider our own wayes The Judge is Conscience 2 Cor. 1.12 That is a Witness as well as a Judge having the best knowledge of what is in man next to God 1 Cor. 2.11 For what man knoweth the things of 〈◊〉 man save the Spirit of man which is in him And hath Authority in the man to stir up all the powers in it for its right judgment therefore the Psalmist here saith I thought being set on work by Conscience that is seated in the heart or practical judgment that influenceth the whole 1 Joh. 3.20 21. If the heart condemns that is Conscience God is greater and will much more condemn but if it does not there may be Appeals to God to Justify and confidence in it through Christ Psal 130.4 But there is forgiveness with thee that thou mayst be feared It s Knowledge and Authority to stir up the activity of the Rational Powers is in order to this Judgment 4. It is with reference to Gods final approving judgment of them This is the chief end of the power of Conscience in man It is to be approved of God all our Actions may in his final judgment 2 Cor 5.11 It was so in mans Innocency to prevent sin to justify in way of perfect Obedience and since the Fall under the Gospel its main use is to further escaping Gods Condemnation of them 1 Cor. 11.32 by judging themselves and appealing to Gods Gracious Throne for approbation and pardon through Christ 2. More particularly I shall endeavour to shew what are those Exercises of the powers of the Soul when Conscience is awakened to its duty in order to true turning to God are stirred up by it and in what order First The understanding power of the Soul it sets that a work which is the first Operation of the Soul in order to Returning to God a seeing and knowing of our wayes or actions None can rightly judge of what he doth not know and right knowledge of them must go before any serious thoughts about mending them or returning to a right way we must see we are wrong For clearing this take these Remarks about it First That in mans first Creation God gave man an Excellent Understanding not only into the natures of all other Inferiour Creatures to give them suitable names thereunto but also to know his own duty to God as the way to his Happiness not only by the written Law of God in his heart but his positive Law in the Sanctions of the Covenant with him He Reveals what is good and his way to his Happiness Gen. 2.9 17. and what is evil that which God forbids And he had a freedom and power to will and choose the one and refuse the other but Created and Mutable and so by the abuse of that power hath lost it and his knowledge with it of moral good and evil wholly as saying and any right judgment of it in order to it Secondly In Fallen man there are some Remains as some call them of the light of nature in their Consciences or as others rather would call them common gifts to fallen man God gives to all men as benefits in common from Christs Death to all mankind that are beneficial to Humane Society though not saving to the person Thus we read Rom. 1.18 Who hold the truth in unrighteousness that is sin against the light of Conscience The Heathens had a natural light about good and evil as beneficial or destructive to Humane Society Verse 29. who know that they that do such things are worthy of death And some knowledge of duty to God by the help of the works of Creation verse 19 20. Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them for God hath shewed it unto them For the invisible things of him from the Creation of the world are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even his eternal power and God head so that they are without excuse which though not saving yet left them without excuse and Sins against it deprived them of much of Gods common Goodness and brought them under much of present displeasure and the effects of it which might have been avoided Rom. 2.14 15. For when the Gentiles which have not the law do by nature the things contained in the Law That is in that Law written the Scriptures these having not the law are a law unto themselves Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts their conscience also bearing witness and their thoughts the mean while accusing or excusing one another Thirdly But God hath provided further help for the knowledge of our ways and furthering Saving Returning out of that Apostasy and after-strays from his Rule And that is the Dispensation of his Word Rom. 2.4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to
repentance Psal 147.19 20. He sheweth his word unto Jacob his statutes and his judgments unto Israel He hath not dealt so with every nation Which hath the promise of the Spirit in the right dispensation of it Isa 30.20 21. Their eyes shall see their Teachers and shall hear a voice behind saying this is the way walk in it and the success of it depends thereon 1. There is a further outward light and discovery of Sin in the sinful and penal evil of it the written Law of God makes discovery of the evil nature of it in that original pravity of our natures since the Fall and of all our evil practices Rom. 3.20 By the Law is the knowledge of Sin and by the Gospel of the Remedy verse 23 24. all have sinned and come short of the glory of God Being justified freely by his grace through the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ The Law strips you naked and lets you see sin and misery And the Gospel discovers the way out of it Rev. 3.17 18. and knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked Buy of me gold tried in the fire that thou mayest be rich and white raiment that thou mayest be clothed and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve that thou mayest see 2. There are common gifts of the Spirit which much heightens the light of nature in thus seeing Sin and the Remedy and sometimes powerful Convictions and Awakenings of Conscience thereby Acts 2.37 They were pricked in their hearts and said Men and Brethren what shall we do to be saved to stir up Enquiry after the Remedy 3. There are saving illuminations of the Spirit in the Dispensation of the Word whereby man Fallen is Restored to a true though not a perfect knowledge of God and himself so of the evil of Sin and good of Obedience 2 Cor. 4.6 which is necessary to a right judgment of our ways to a saving turning to him Acts 26.18 called a turning from darkness to light and the power of Sin and Satan to God a sanctifying all the powers of the Soul and begins with this in giving a spiritual eye fit to discern a spiritual object 1 Cor. 2.15 The spiritual man discerneth all things 1. This is the knowledge to be sought and waited for in the Reading the Word Dispensation of it Mat. 20.32 33. for Christs opening them as to the blind men he did Joh. 5.39 2. It is to be exercised in the knowledge of your ways or actions Prov. 8.34 Wait at Wisdoms gates both inward and outward by seeing them in the glass of the word Jam. 1.25 Whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty and continueth therein will be a doer of it and blessed therein 3. Making a through search into your hearts and trial of your ways thereby especially under Afflictive Dispensations for sin an allusion to Judicial Proceedings that is in Lam. 3.40 Search and try your ways and turn to the Lord. Find out the sin and all the aggravations of it by searching and trying your ways or Examining And there is need of Calling in Gods search Psal 139.23 24. Search me O God and know my heart try me and know my thoughts And see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting To avoid deceits of our sinful and deceitful hearts Jer. 17.7 10. The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who can know it I the Lord search the heart I try the reins The second operation of the Rational Soul to be exercised is the Memory whereby things known are kept and recalled when actually forgotten and is of special use in turning to God and in fixing the thought upon our ways This is helped in the first operation of it retaining things to be thought on First By the right clear and practical knowledge of them A good memory depends on the good Understanding Those that have the clearest understandings have the happiest memories especially where it is practical about sin and duty when under the powerful Convictions by the Word and Spirit to a deep sense of sin in its sinfulness and penal evil of it to stir up to a Concernedness for deliverance see Act. 2.37 As they were at Peters Sermon that were pricked at the heart The Apostle James tells us Jam. 2.25 That such an Hearer of the Word that looks into the Law of God that is his Word that Reveals the whole mind of God for Salvation as the Angels do into the Mysteries of mans Redemption revealed 2 Pet. 1.12 where is the same word exerciseth his understanding to know it enquires after it and hath impressions of the worth and weight of it he is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of it It is a proverb concerning old men Quod curant senes meminerunt What old men love they will remember in old age when memory fails them in other things Answerable to that Counsel of Solomon Prov. 22.6 Train up a Child in the way he should go and he will not depart from it when he is old The Experience of Christians testifie to it those that most complain of their weak memories yet words they have understood and had impression of on their hearts they never forget David had such a Remembrance of it that he puts God in mind of it Psal 119.49 Remember the word upon which thou hast caused me to hope And encourageth his own faith in him about it endeavour after such a knowledge 2 Pet. 3.18 But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ as the way to the Remembrance of them 2. Conscience Records all a mans actions in the memory good and bad together with Gods Dispensations to him by his Word and Providences It is the Recorder and Memory is the Book where they are written in order to Gods judgment of them finally and for our judgment to prevent his Condemning judgment Jer. 17.1 It is written with a pen of iron and with the point of a Diamond Hence 2. The second act of memory is needful and useful to the cure of Apostasy which is recalling to mind that which is actually forgotten concerning Gods Law his Ordinances and Providences and our own sins 1. This God helps in by his Word written by frequent requiring it in his people to Remember his word Prov. 4.4 5. Let thine heart retain my words keep my Commandments and live Get wisdom get understanding forget it not His works Exod. 13.3 Remember this day in which you came out of Egypt both merciful and afflictive also Deut. 24.9 So their own sins Deut. 9.7 Remember and forget not how thou provokedst the Lord thy God to wrath in the Wilderness So by the Ministry of it it is one great use of it to put thee in remembrance 2 Pet. 1.13 I think it meet so long as I am in this Tabernacle to put you in