David lifted up his hands to God and worshipped Psal 63.4 Jesus lifted up his eyes to Heaven and prayed John 17.1 The reason is because the Bodies of the Saints shall be glorified with God hereafter therfore they are to glorifie him with their Bodies here Rom. 12.1 I beseech you Brethren by the mercies of God present your Bodies a living Sacrifice holy acceptable to God Secondly Internal worship is a worshipping God with the Spirit as well as the Body it being that God especially calls for John 4.24 Phil. 3.3 And this is sometimes called a fearing of God Deut. 6.13 a loving of God Jam. 2.5 a delighting in God Psal 37.3 and a trusting in God Psal 16.1 Secondly For the Place where he is to be worshipped it is not only in this and that place as ignorant superstitious persons fancy but He is every where to be worshipped and that in the observance of all those religious duties which He requires in publick private and secret Isaiah 2.2 Psal 122.1 Gen. 18.19 Job 1.5 Jer. 10. last Mat. 6.6 Then Thirdly For the Time that he is to be worshipped by us as in all places so at all times as on the Week days by beginning continuing and ending the day with him so especially on his own day the sabbath-Sabbath-day because although every day be his yet this in a special manner His Psal 18.24 This is the day which the Lord hath made this is the Day which he hath sanctified and set apart wholly for the worship of Himself Isaiah 58. last And as this is the day he made for his own glory so for Man's good the good of his Body and of his Soul The good of his Body that he might not tire out himself in the service of the World but especially the good of his soul that he might by a Sabbath on Earth be minded of and fitted for an everlasting Sabbath in Heaven by communion with God in Ordinances here he might be made to long after that place where he hath promised to be all in all without Ordinances Rev. 21.22 23. To this end he hath appointed it to be the Schooling-day and Market-day and Feasting-day and Sealing-day to the Soul therefore in a special manner to be careful of giving God his worship upon this day in the observance and performance of all those duties of piety and mercy that he requires from you in publick private and secret and here to mark that you spend not only a part but the whole day in the worship and service of God and that upon these accounts First Because He rested the whole day created nothing the Seventh-day but finished all before on the Six days Secondly Because he sanctified and set apart the whole day for Himself and therefore not to rob him of any part seeing he hath dealt so bountifully with us as to give us Six days for the service of our selves and reserved but One for the service of Himself Thirdly Because the duties of God's Worship on that Day are so many and weighty as a whole Day is little enough to perform them as they ought The Fourth Circumstance that is especially to be thought on is the right manner How we are to worship God because God looks not so much to the matter as the right manner of worshipping Him and abhorrs and rejects the work without the right manner as you may see fully Isai 1.11 to the 21. Jer. 7.8 9. Mal. 1. last Q Well what is this right manner of worshipping God Ans It is to worship Him by a right Rule from a right Principle and to a right End 1. By a right Rule sc the Rule of God's Word Isai 8.20 Psal 119.9 According to his own Institutions and not Mens Inventions In vain do you worship me c. 2. From a right Principle sc in the Name of Christ Colos 3.17 and the strength of Christ Joh. 15.5 From Faith Heb. 11.6 and Love 1 Peter 2.1 3. To a right end sc the Glory of God and the Salvation of your Souls 1 Cor. 10.13 Phil. 1.19 Q. But what are those Rules in the Word according to which we are to worship God Ans first More general as these Preparation and affection before attention and reverence in and meditation and practise after Eccles 5.1 Psal 66.18 Acts 16.14 Hebr. 12.2 last Luke 2.19 John 13.17 Secondly More special Rules for the worshipping of God are such as respect the sanctifying of the Sabbath Prayer to God Hearing of the Word Reading of the Scriptures Receiving of the Lord's Supper singing of Psalms religious Fasting and Feasting and holy Conference For the acceptable comfortable and profitable use of these you are to meditate on some things before in and after every one I shall but name a few to help your Memories and quicken your Devotion First For the right sanctifying of the Sabbath to take notice of and meditate on these things before in and after the Sabbath First Before the Sabbath to remember the Sabbath before it comes Secondly To prepare for it by ordering your Worldly affairs so as they may not hinder you and to sequester your thoughts from all other things that you may intend the duties of the Sabbath Exod. 20.8 Secondly When the Sabbath is come to consecrate it as a holy Rest to the Lord your God not thinking your own thoughts or speaking your own words or doing your own pleasure but the Lord's Isaiah 58.13 To begin continue and end the Sabbath with God And that you may do so to observe these things First To rise early on the Sabbath after the Example of Christ and when you awake to bless God for another day of grace in rising up to think on your Resurrection at the last Day to glory in putting on of your apparel to think on the command of putting on the Lord Jesus Christ Rom. 13. end After you have Apparel'd your selves to remember the duties requir'd of you before in and after the publick Assemblies First Before to sequester your thoughts from all things of the World and the Flesh to mind only and wholly God his Day and Worship Secondly To pray by your selves and with the Family for God's presence with assistance in and blessing on his Ordinances to you and yours and all his especially on the Ministry of the Word that it may be made effectual to all the ends he hath appointed it as the conviction conversion humiliation consolation edification and salvation of all those that belong to the Election of grace Thirdly As you are going to the publick Assemblies to remember where you are going that you are going into the Presence not only of men but God that-God who will be sanctified by all that draw nigh to him or will be sanctified upon them Levit. 10. To consider also what you are going about a business of the greatest consequence in the World To converse with God and to enjoy communion with God and hear that Word which will make you better or
7. The strictness of the account 8. The terror of it to the Wicked 9. The comfort of it to the Godly 10. What we are to do to escape the terror and enjoy the comfort of it 1. Meditate on the Certainty of it However wicked men and atheistical wretches scoff and say Where 's the promise of his coming yet he will most certainly come to Judgment for he hath appointed a day that he will judge the World in Righteousness by that Man Christ Jesus Acts 17.31 2. On the Uncertainty of that day He will come to Judgment in a day and hour that knoweth no man no nor the Angels in Heaven Mat. 24.36 He will come as a Thief in the night 2 Pet. 3.10 and in an hour when men think not of Mat. 24.44 As the Lightning out of the East Matth. 25. and as Travel upon a Woman with Child 1 Thes 5.3 3. To think on the near approach of that day Phil. 4.5 Let your moderation be known in all things for the Lord 's at hand sayes the Apostle And James 5.8 The coming of the Lord draweth nigh and vers 9. Behold the Judge stands before the door If he were so near then doubtless he cannot be far off now now he is ready to come to Judgment if not the general yet remember your particular Judgment may be before the next morrow 4. Meditate on the great solemnity of that day Then the Trumpet will sound to summon all the World before the Judge of all the World 1 Thes 4.16 Mat. 25.31 5. On the universality of that Judgement 2 Cor. 5.10 We must all appear before the Judgment-Seat of Christ high and low rich and poor young and old none to be exempted not the greatest Potentate Rev. 6. to the end I have read of a wicked King that on his death-bed fell a weeping and being askt by his Brother why he so wept Answered Oh saith he to think that I who have judged others must stand forth to be judged my self 6. The impartiality of that Judgment He will judge the World in Righteousness Acts 17.31 There will be no respect of Persons no Advocate to plead the cause of wicked Men no Bribes to be taken in that Court 7. Of the strict account that is to be made in that day of all mens most secret Thoughts Words and Works First Their Thoughts Rom. 2.16 Secondly Their Words Mat. 12.36 Thirdly Their works Eccles 12.14 And the Books wherein all these are written Rev. 20.12 I saw the dead c. Q. What are these Books A. There are five the Book of the Creatures the Book of the Scriptures the Book of God's Remembrance the Book of Conscience and the Book of Life 8. The terror of that day unto all found out of Christ and enemies to him and of all other dayes the most terrible to the wicked and ungodly of the World and that 1. in respect of him that is to be their Judge the Lord Jesus Christ whose Name they have blasphemed whose Creatures they have abused who Sabbaths they have prophaned whose Gospel they have disobeyed whose Grace they have despised whose Spirit they have despighted whose Ministers they have contemned whose Children they have persecuted He to be their Judge who is infinite in Knowledge to find out every sin and sinner infinite in Justice to render to every man according to his work infinite in Power to â—â—row Soul and Body into Hell If in the time of his humiliation he struck so many Souldiers to the ground with his Voice when they came to apprehend him Quid faciet judicaturus qui haec fecit judicandus saith one If he did this when he was to be judged what shall he do when he comes to judge his presence will be so terrible as the greatest will call to the Rocks and to the Mountains to fall upon them and hide them from this presence of the Judge Râ—â— 6. about the latter end 2. The terror will be the more in respect of the dreadful manner of his coming in that he will come suddenly in an hour that men think not of in a moment in the twinkling of an eye 1 Cor. 15. as Travail upon a Woman with Child 1 Thes 5. as a snare upon all the sons of Men Luke 21.35 And as suddenly so most gloriously will he come with thousand thousands of his glorious Angels and glorified Saints Dan. 7.10 And in flaming fire rendering vengeance to all that know not God and obey not his Gospel 2 Thes 1.7 8.3 It will yet be more dreadful in respect of the separation that will be then made of them from all the Godly those wicked ones that upon the Earth scorn'd to take the left hand or sit in the lowest place shall then be forced whether they will or no to take the left hand and stand below amongst the Goats and with the Devil and his Angels when the Godly shall be taken up into the Clouds and shall be Accessors with Jesus Christ in Judgement upon the wicked World 4. The terror will yet be greater in respect of that most just and dreadful sentence that is to be passed upon them Depart ye cursed c. Wherein every word is a Hell before they come to Hell breatheth out nothing but Fire and Brimstone is enough to break the heart of a sinner and add a new degree of misery To depart from so Glorious and Gracious a Presence were Hell enough but they must depart with a Curse and not only so but into Fire and that everlasting Fire and that with no other Companions but the Devil and his angels insulting over them with hellish â—espight and stinging exprobations of their folly and madness in neglecting so great a Salvation as was tendred so often to them and lâ—sing Heaven for a base Lust 9. Meditate on the exceeding great joy and comfort to all true Believers and gracious Souls the most joyfullest and comfortablest day that ever they knew and that in many respects mind them well 1. In respect of the Judge Quia idem erit Judex qui patronus qui mediator et pontifex saith Ambrose He to be our Judge who is our Advocate our Mediator our merciful high Priest our dear Head and Husband and who will be afraid to appear before such a Judge 2. In respect of their enemies it will be a day of Revelation Vindication Exultation First A day of Revelation Rom. 8.19 when those who were censured to have been Hypocrites shall be found to have been true Nathaniels those that were censured to have been Factious and Rebellious against their Governors shall be found and acknowledged to be the onely true and loyal Subjects the best Friends to Church and State when those that were censured to have been but precise Fools shall be acknowledged even by the wicked themselves to have been the onely wise Men and themselves the very Fools as he brings them in the 5th of Wisdom We Fools c. Secondly A day of Vindication
flesh First all sin in general it so dims and dazles the eye of the mind as it can no more behold spiritual Excellencies than the Owl can the light of the Sun Secondly Some sins in special keep men from it as First Those sins we are most inclin'd unto by our constitution and complexion these usually insinuate themselves most and Satan useth most to tempt unto either to hinder us from or distract us in duty Secondly giving way to wandering and roaving Senses vain and wicked thoughts these keep out better whence that Jeremy 14.4 Oh Jerusalem wash thine heart from filthiness how long shall vain thoughts lodge within thee The Vessel must first be cleansed of the filth in it before it can be capable of sweet and precious Liquor especially the giving way to ambitious covetous voluptuous thoughts or inordinate affection to the honours riches pleasures of the World this you may find our Saviour shews to be that which keeps men from duty or distracts men in it Math. 13.22 Mark 4.19 Luke 8.14 These worldly and fleshly thoughts and affections they are as Bird-lime to the Wings of the Bird so intangle the Soul as it cannot soar aloft on the Wing of Meditation they are as Leaden-weights or Plummets tied at the Leggs to keep men from ascending the Mount of the Lord and therefore to hearken to the counsel of the Apostle Heb. 12.1 and as to keep out all sinful and worldly thoughts so all religious thoughts when they are unseasonable or impertinent to the present business in hand seeing however for the matter they be good yet they are cunningly thrust in by Satan to distract us in our present Meditation that so by thinking on two things at once we should not receive benefit by either therefore to watch against them and keep our hearts close to the subject we have made choice of to meditate on Thus for the Letts Thirdly Follow the Helps to meditations and the First may be this To choose out some special subject to meditate on either concerning God or our selves and not run from one to another Secondly Set about it with affection to it for what we affect that we delight to think on Thirdly Get an inward principle of grace that may elevate your spirits and mount your minds upward heavy things they naturally descend because they have a principle inclining to it light things ascend because they have a principle inclining to it And therefore I say get such an inward principle of grace that may call us upward look as 't is with a worldly-minded man whersoever he is or whatsoever he is doing still the World is in his thoughts when he riseth up and when he lieth down yea and when he sleeps he dreams of the World nay in his best services hearing receiving fasting praying still his heart is on his honours proâ—â— pleasures so it is with a godly man that hath received a Principle of grace wheresoever he is and whatsoever he is doing his heart is still God-ward and Grace-ward and Heaven-ward As soon as he is awak'd he is presently with God and walks all the day after with God as Noah Genes 11.6 and at Night he endeavours to sleep with God Psalm 4. last His whole conversation is in Heaven Phil. 3.20 A fourth help is temperance in the use of the Creature this clears the head from Vapours the Body from humours that would distemper it and unfit it for duty and renders the Body every way serviceable to the Soul Fifthly To keep a narrow watch over our Thoughts within and our Senses without that they do not with-draw our hearts from what we are to meditate on Sixthly Pray unto God so to fit us for it assist us in it and bless it to us as it may be honourable to him and profitable and comfortable to us So much for the Helps The fourth thing I promised was the Rules and directions to be observ'd in and about it and these respect the Person the Gesture the Place the time and the manner First For the Persons that would meditate with profit and comfort they must be thus qualified Holy humble chast and meek First Holy because unholy ones neither will nor can meditate on holy things with any affection or delight Secondly Humble because God resists the proud and gives Grace only to the humble James 4. Thirdly Chast because such as are laden with lust are ever learning and never come to the knowledge of the truth 2 Tim 3.7 Fourthly Meek because passion blindes the mind and distempers the whole man Secondly For the Gesture to be used in meditation no certain rules can be given but every one to use that which he findes by experience to be most helpful to him in duty only in the general that it be Reverential and such as may most stir up Devotion and keep us most attentive to and intentive on the duty Thirdly For the Place of meditation we may meditate with Isaac in the Field Daniel in the Chamber David in the Bed Peter on the House top Christ in the Mount it is not much material where it be so we observe the counsel a great Master in this Art gives which is to have an eye to three things Secresie Silence and Rest The first excludes company the second noise the third motion all very useful to prevent distraction which we are very subject to in this duty Fourthly For the time of solemn meditation we should make Conscience of it before in or at every Duty of God's Worship we should do well to set apart some time every Day Psal 4.3 A godly man is said to be a man set apart as God sets him apart for himself by Election so he should set himself apart for God by Meditation and when you do to take the best and fittest season for every thing is beautiful in its season now the seasons for performing this duty are either ordinary or extraordinary First For the ordinary seasons they are either the Week-day oâ— the sabbath-Sabbath-day now here to observe these Rules First It will be profitable to meditate on somâ—thing every Day in the Week but absolutely necessary on the Lord's Day as being in a special manner sanctified and set apart for that purpose therefore call'd the Lord's Day Revel 1.10 Because he that is the only Author of it ought to be the whole subject of it on that Day Secondly For the fittest time of the Day no man can prescribe to others but every one to take that which he can best spare from his particular calling anâ— wherein he findes himself best disposed for iâ— Jacob used it in the Morning Genes 28.16 Isaâ—â— in the Evening Genes 24.63 Peter in the Mid-day Acts 10. David in the Night Psal 63. Thâ— most free and quiet seasons are the Morning anâ— the Evening for the better imprinting things iâ— the memory whence Bishop Hall and Mr. Baxtâ—â— commended these seasons out of their own experience but we cannot prescribe to
willing as he is able Psal 84.11 1 Tim. 4.8 More particularly First That he will give them his Spirit to work all in them and for them Ezek. 36.26 Luke the 11. Secondly That he will give them the sanctifying knowledge of himself and his will Ezek. 36.26 Thirdly That he will pardon all their sins and look upon them as righteous in his Christ 2 Cor. 5.19 21. Fourthly That he will sanctifie their natures to the mortifying of their corruptions and the quickning of their graces Rom. 6.4 5. 8. the 13. Jer. 31.33 Ephes 2.1 Fifthly That he will take away their heart of Stone and give a heart of Flesh the double Spirit and give a single Spirit the froward Spirit and give a teachable Spirit Ezek. 11.19 and chap. 36. Sixthly He will not only give grace but growth in grace Malach. 4.2 Lastly That he will never leave the work of his grace until he hath perfected grace in glory Jer. 32.39 40. Phil. 1.6 Seventhly To meditate of the Signs of being actually in Covenant as First a lively faith working by love to God and all that is God's John 3.16 Gal. 5.5 Secondly A Reciprocation of promises as God promised to be our God so we to be his People Deut. 26.16 17. as he promised to give Christ and grace and glory so we promise faith and love and new obedience Thirdly The Counterpane or Copy of the Covenant they that enter into Covenant one with the other you know each Party hath a Counterpane or Copy of it so is it between God and the Soul as the Covenant is reciprocal so the Copy of the Covenant is drawn on the heart Jeremy 31.34 Fourthly They have the Spirit of God to reveal and make known this Covenant to them Jeremy 31.34 and to enable them to do what is required in the Covenant Ezek. 36.26 27. Fifthly Such as are in Covenant they have the fruits and effects of of it as First Softness of heart Ezek. 11.19 Secondly Sincerity of obedience Ezek. 11.19 20. Thirdly Growth in grace 2 Cor. 7.1 Fourthly Perseverance in grace Jer. 32.39 Fifthly A conscionable care to renew their Covenant with God upon every breach of it Jer. 50.5 Eighthly To meditate on the means of getting an interest in the Covenant if you do not yet find your selves actually in Covenant as First To humble your selves under the abuse of his grace in the first Covenant Secondly To give him the glory of his grace in vouchsafing to enter into another and a better Covenant not only to give grace but perseverance in grace Thirdly To be willing to Covenant with God as he with you Deut. 26.16 17. This Day the Lord thy God hath c. Fourthly To close with the great design of God in saving of poor lost sinners in making such a Covenant with them in Christ and in order to it to renounce the former Covenant of works all your own righteousness and desire with the Apostle to be found only in Christ having his righteousness that is by faith the righteousness of God Phil. 3.9 Because by the works of the Law no Flesh living can be justified Rom. 3. The Jews going about to establish their own righteousness made void to them the righteousness of Christ Rom. 10.3 Yea and you are to renounce all other Covenants with Sin Satan and the World for God will never enter into Covenant with those that are in Covenant with his Enemies Isai 28.15 2 Cor. 6.14 to the end Fifthly To go unto God by servent and constant Prayer and entreat him to remember his Covenant and glorifie his grace in it upon you by giving his Spirit for the enabling you to close with his great Design in the Covenant That he would put his Law in your heart and write it in your inward parts and give you that new Spirit which may cause you to walk in his Statutes and keep his Commandments and do them Ezek. 36. Ninthly To meditate on the many and weighty motives there are to quicken every one to get an interest in this Covenant of Grace as First The sad and miserable condition of all such as are without Covenant They are without God in the World and without hope viz. of a better life After this Eph. 2.12 They must look to be judged by a Covenant of works and if Men be not able to yield obedience to any one command of God as they ought and yet bound to yield obedience unto all the whole Law or no life do they must all or die eternally for the breach of the least Commandment Deut. 27. last The consideration of this should make every wicked man tremble to continue a moment in his natural unregenerate state and speedily to come unto Christ Yet further consider the miserable condition of men in this so long as they are without Covenant they cannot expect any blessing or mercy from God either corporal or spiritual outward or inward for all blessings and mercies they are conveyed to a People in and by virtue of the Covenant Zach. 9.11 Whatsoever men have and enjoy being out of Covenant they have it in wrath and not in mercy as a curse and not a blessing Mol. 2.2 Secondly Meditate on the happy and blessed estate of such as are actually in Covenant they have an interest in God and Christ his Spirit and all that is theirs 1 Cor. 3. two last Hos 2.18 to the end And as all that is good in God and Christ is yours so all that evil that is yours in Christ's Your sins 2 Cor. 5 last and your sufferings Isaiah 63. He is afflicted in all your afflictions Secondly You may go boldly to the Throne of Grace for the supply of all your wants Heb. 4. last and with assurance to be accepted and answer'd in whatsoever you shall ask according to his will 1 Ioh 5.14 Thirdly It 's that will bring you comfort in the saddest condition you are or can be in When they spake of stoning David He encouraged himself in the Lord his God 2 Sam. 23.5 Again To meditate on the excellent properties of this Covenant How that it is the most free sweet full and unchangeable Covenant First For the Freeness of it there was nothing in Us to move him to it but his own grace therefore call'd a Covenant of grace nothing requir'd on our part but only faith Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved Acts 16 31. Secondly For the Sweetness of it you may see it in these three things First He requires no more of us than he promiseth to work in us by his Spirit Ezek. 36.27 Secondly He promiseth to overlook all our unwilling trespasses faultings and failings where they are bewail'd by us and to accept the will for the deed the endeavour for the work 2 Cor. 8.12 our imperfect obedience for perfect Heb. 11.17 Thirdly He will look upon accept of the perfect Obedience the full satisfaction of Jesus Christ for us as if we had yielded
iâ— in our own Persons 1 Epist Iohn 2.1 Thirdly To meditate on the fulness of this Covenant that iâ— contains promises of all things concerning life and godliness this life and a better 2 Peter 1. 1 Timothy 4.8 That he will be a Sun and a Shield give grace and glory and will with-hold no good thing Psal 84.11 Fourthly On the unchange ableness of this Covenant that it is an everlasting Covenant Jer. 17.7 Jer. 32.39 40. Mal. 3.6 Heb. 13.6 Tenthly To meditate on the duties you owe to God in respect of this new Covenant of grace as First To be still admiring and adoring the free and rich grace of God in making such a Covenant with you notwithstanding you had abused this grace in the first Covenant and that he should bring you forth under the dispensations of the new Covenant that so far excels the old as you have seen in the clearness easiness and efficaciousness of it and further should so manifest and magnifie his grace towards you as to make his Word and Rod effectual to bring you within the Bonds of the Covenant Secondly Study well this Covenant of grace and acquaint your selves more and more with the many and precious promises contained in it Especially those that most concern your present wants and necessities and labour to suck out the sweet and comfort of all by Meditation Faith and Prayer Thirdly Let it be your care to walk worthy of and suitable to the grace of the new Covenant remembring you are under a better Covenâ—nt than that made with them under the old Testament and therefore you ought to have better lives seeing you have a better Mediator and better Promises and better Means than they had and therefore should have better Conversations The mysteries of the Gospel are more clearly reveal'd to you Christ's Yoke is an easie Yoke and his Burden a light Burden in comparison what they were under his Spirit poured out more plentifully than heretofore upon ordinary Believers therefore all these should be as so many Engagements so many encouragements to a morehumble holy spiritual and Heavenly walking before the Lord and a more thankful chearful faithful and fruitful service of the Lord Luke 1.74 75. 2 Cor. 7.1 2 Pet. 1.4 to the 12. 1 Cor. 15. last Fourthly Having at any time relapsed into sin especially gross and scandalous sin to renew as our humiliation under it so our Covenant of more circumspection and watchfulness against it after that Example Jer. 50.5 And the rather because there is a great proneness in us as well as others unto back-sliding and there are continual out-goings of corruption in us as well as others to deal falsly with God in our Covenant as they in Ps 78.36 37. And therefore our duty is that who are in Covenant with God upon our breach of Covenant to renew our Covenant of more circumspection for the future especially in times of Affliction and on Days of Humiliation and when we are to draw neer to God in that great Ordinance of the Lord's Supper but still remember we go out of our selves and fetch strength from God's Covenant to inable us to it Eph. 6.10 And thus much of the Covenant of Grace Now Fourthly the Works of God Sect. 4. And the Works of God are either his Works before time or in time First His Work before Time is his Decree now the Decree of God is his unchangable purpose with himself from all Eternity concerning the making of the World and all the Creatures in it especially Men and Angels their ends and the means to bring them to those ends for the manifestation of his glory Eph. 1.11 And in and about this Decree we may profitably meditate on these things First The infinite goodness of God in having us in his heart for so much good not only before we were but before the World was even from all Eternity Secondly The distinguishing love of God in this that we being all in his hands as the Clay in the hands of the Potter to make either Vessels of Mercy or Vessels of Wrath he should not appoint us unto Wrath but to obtain Salvation by Jesus Christ 1 Thes 5.9 Thirdly The infinite wisdom of God in appointing not only the ends of all his Creatures but the means to bring them to those ends Hosea 2.21 22. Fourthly On the unchangeableness of this Decree Mal. 3.6 I am Jehovah that changeth not 2 Tim. 2.19 All these should make us cry out with the Apostle Rom. 11. last 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Oh the depth of the wisdom of God! Secondly For his Works in time they are Creation and Providence First Creation and herein 1. Take notice what it is sc that first outward act of God whereby according to his Eternal purpose of nothing by his very Word he made the World and every Creature in it very good Gen. 1. last Secondly To look into and study this Voluminous Book of the Creation wherein every Page will afford you fresh matter of Meditation and every Creature have a Tongue to tell you of those glorious Attributes of God that shine forth in all especially in that curious Master-piece of Man Psal 139.14 I am fearfully and wonderfully made c. and here to meditate on these five things the Eternity of God the Almighty Power of God the infinite wisdom of God the unsearchable goodness of God and the excellent end wherefore he did all this First The Eternity of God he must needs be an Eternal Beeing seeing he was before all Beeings he that made Time and all things must needs be before Time and all things and so Eternal without beginning and without end Psal 102.25 26. Secondly The Almighty Power of God in that He was able to make so great and glorious a Fabrick and all things in it of nothing by his very Word Psal 89.11 12 13. Thirdly The infinite wisdom of God in makeing all things in such an excellent Order harmony and beauty appointing every Creature its proper place and use making all serviceable one to another and all to the good of the Universe Psal 104.24 Fourthly The unsearchable Goodness of God in that notwithstanding he was infinitely good and blessed in Himself without a Creature yet should communicate his goodness and blessedness to the Creature Acts 17.24 25 26. His goodness also appear'd in making every Creature good and providing all things for the good of the Creature but above all in making the World and all things in it for Man and man for Himself What should the Meditation hereof but cause all of us to be still singing and saying with David Psal 18 1. Oh Lord how excellent is thy Name in all the Earth Oh Lord what is man thou should'st take such notice of him and make such account of him Fifthly To meditate on the excellent end of his doing all this viz. that he might have his glory from us Revel 4. last He did not make any thing for any need
we have been preserv'd from the Sword Famine Pestilence in those evil days that lately past over us When so many thousands were swept away by them we and ours were made up amongst his Jewels had our lives given us for a prey he turned our Captivity and restor'd our liberty and since lengthned out our tranquility and made us dwell in safety quiet from the fear of evil and that in the midst of many fears and dangers sad expectations and great provocations Take notice also of and meditate on his providences as over your selves so yours especially your little ones How wonderful is God every day in the preservation of them I shall give you an instance only of one Divers being in a Family to fast and pray a little Child went out to a Pond much frozen being Winter either to slide or whip his Top in the Pond was made two holes for the safety of the Fish and taking up of Water into one of these holes the Child fell being soon missed and searcht after he was found in one with his armes spread over the Hole had the Hole been wider or he not so soon lookt after he might have perished the Reporter of it was an Eye-witness of the deliverance And may not some of you speak of the like deliverance of yours Above all other protecting providences I shall commend to your serious and thankful meditation First That God hath hitherto and still doth protect a little Flock of Sheep in the midst of a World of Wolves and Lyons and Bears and Tygers which are continually set on mischief The Second is this that God maintains and upholds a little grace in life and vigour in the midst of such an abundance of corruption The reason is obvious because though the World be the Devil 's the Church is God's though corruption be ours yet Grace is the Lord's and he hath promised though the Devil and his Instruments rage never so much Yet the Gates of Hell shall never prevail against it Math. 16.18 and where he hath begun a good work of grace he will never leave his own work till he hath perfected it in glory Phil. 1.6 Thirdly Take notice of and meditate on God's Providing-providence how he hath provided for you and yours from time to time in all your wants and streights at such a time he raised up friends to you to supply your wants at such a time he sent Customers into your Shops and gave you vent for your Commodities at such a time he prosper'd your labours and when you had but little made it enough to satisfie you and yours You may remember many of you when your estate and condition was very low but now God hath so prosper'd you as you have attain'd to a great Estate you should therefore think on the goodness of God to you in it and labour to answer him in the end of it by doing the more good with it as God requires Deut. 5.15 Deut. 26.5 6. and Jacob did Gen. 32.10 It 's storied of Agathocles a King of Sicilly who having been a Potter's Son would always be serv'd at his Table with Earthen Vessels to mind him of the mean and low estate he was in at the first you should do likewise remembring and considering that if you be proud of it and more covetous than ever as the most are God hath times and ways enough to humble you and make you poorer than ever you should learn also from the Providing-providence of God for others to trust him for your selves and yours whatsoever your streights and necessities are You haâ—e examples in sacred and Ecclesiastical stories to encourage you as the Lord 's preserving the poor Widdow and her Family by a little Meal in the Barrel and Oyl in the Cruse the Lord 's sending the Ravens to seed Elijah who were more likely to feed on it and him and afterwards to go in the strength of that food 40. days together Elizabeth Young Martyr answered the Persecutor If you take away my Meat I trust God will take away my Stomack One Martyn lying hid in the time of the Parisian Massacre had a Hen that came constantly every Day and laid an Egg by which he was sustained for a Fortnight together And some of you have heard or read how by a Miracle of Mercy God relieved Rochel in a straight Seige by an innumerable company of Fishes cast upon the shore I need not instance in any more your own and others Experience can â—uggest many Fourthly To take notice of and meditate on God's Disposing-providence of you and yours and that not only infinitely beyond your deserts but above your Prayers Faith Hope Plato being ready to die gave thanks for three things First That he was made a man Secondly That he was born in Greece Thirdly That he liv'd in the time of Socrates If a Heathen much more should Christians take notice of God's gracious Disposing-providences as amongst others these That he gave us a beeing amongst Men and not amongst Beasts amongst Christians and not amongst Pagans amongst Protestants and not amongst Papists that we were born of such godly Parents as gave us good counsel and good example brought us up under godly School-masters and Tutors and Ministers to go in and out before us in soundness of Doctrine and integrity of Conversation that God gave us our Lott and Habitation in such a Place where we found many Benefactors and many good Counsellors many Body and Soul-friends and where we had many helps and encouragements and opportunities for the doing and receiving of good How at first you thought to be of such a Calling but God disposed you to another more fit for you and you for it once you thought to have led a solitary life and live like a Hermit but God made you know that you were not only born for your self but the glory of God and the publick good you thought once to have matcht into such a Family and with such a Person which if you had you had been undone but God so disposed as to give in the heart of another Companion every way more meet for you in Religion Disposition and Conversation and brought you into such a Family as you have cause to bless God for it all your days and break out and say Oh the All-wise gracious disposing providence of my God Praise thou the Lord O my Soul c. Believe it Christians it 's a sweet thing to eye God in his wise Disposals it will mightily strengthen our faith in his Promises Providences Fifthly Take notice of and meditate on his Assisting-providence in and under what he hath call'd us to do and suffer you may remember the time when we have been full of fears and doubts how we should go thorow such a service and undergo such a hardship but we have graciously found the Lord coming in mightily to assist us and carry us through all to his Glory our own and others comfort thus Paul found it
over the Creatures he that was Superiour to all was made inferiour to all Psal 49.20 Isai 1.3 Jer. 8.7 The Prophet puts them to School to all to learn of the Creatures 4. As Man lost his preheminence so his authority over all he that was Lord over all became a Slave to all who instead of serving Man rebels against Man labours to pick out his Eys Pro. 30.17 to eat his Flesh and lap up his Blood 2 King 9.36 Sixthly Man lost his liberty by Creation he was a free Denizen and Citizen of the World all at his command but presently after the Fall became a Slave and was in Bondage to all the Devil the World and the Flesh 1. To the Devil taken and carried Captive by him to do his pleasure 2 Tim. 2 last Eph. 2.2 2. To the World so as to be drawn aside from that which is good and drawn into evil by the baits and allurements of it on the one hand and the menaces and persecutions of it on the other 1 Epist Joh. 4.5 whence that of James 4.4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses c. and 1 John 2.15 3. To the Flesh to do whatsoever it shall suggest for the gaining and retaining of honour and profit and pleasure Rom. 6.16 John 8.34 2 Pet. 2.19 and in this slavery and bondage all Men and Women are by nature and that not unwillingly and grudgingly but readily and cheerfully and with the greatest delight so far from being desirous to be brought out of it as they account those their greatest Enemies that would endeavour to bring them out of it Jer. 18. There is no hope but we will walk every â—ne after the imagination of our own hearts Jer. 43.1 2 3. Jer. 44.16 17. Thus you see the greatness of the punishment of loss Et heu quantum mutatus ab illo How much is Man alter'd from his first estate Tristis Lacrymosa commutatio a most sad and lamentable change you see from favour to wrath from fellowship to banishment instead of the Image of God the image of sin and Satan for glory misery for dignity infamy for dominion subjection for liberty slavery Secondly For the Positive part of punishment or the punishment of Sense that followed the fall upon every Son and Daughter of Adam and that was the curse of God Gal. 3.10 and what is this curse but the infinite and unsupportable wrath of God and all manner of Plagues Judgments and Miseries in Life at Death and after Death 1. In this life in Soul and Body in Name and Estate 1. In Soul blindness of mind hardness of heart Isai 6.9 a reprobate sense Rom. 1.23.26 strong delusions 2 Thes 2.11 horrors of conscience Isai 65.13 seconded with Hellish despair and blasphemy as in Cain Saul Judas 2. In Body all manner of aches sicknesses diseases Deut. 28.21 to the end 3. In name infamy shame reproach Deut. 28. â—â— 37. 4. In Estate losses crosses curses in getting cares in keeping fears in losing sorrows and that many times unto death Deut 28.16 Jer. 12.13 Mal. 2.2 I will curse your blessings yea I have curst them already Secondly In the end of this life death the King of terrors Rom. 5.12 Rom. 6. last Job 18.14 Thirdly After this life if men die in their sins impenitentâ—â— 1. As soon as the Soul is separated from the Body it is immediately carried by the Devil into Hell Luke 12.20 and there kept in Prison till the Day of Judgment 1 Pet. 3.19 the Body thrown into the Grave where Death gnaws upon it as upon Carrion in a ditch with the mouth full of Earth and the Belly full of Worms and the Carkass full of stinch 2. At the Day of Judgment by the Almighty Power of the Lord Jesus Christ the Supream Judg of Heaven and Earth the Soul is brought out of Hell and the Body out of the Grave out of which as soon as it begins to peep it shall behold the whole World on Fire about its Ears Christ on his Throne of Glory the Saints whom they derided and persecuted taken up into the Clouds to be assessors with Christ in Judgment upon the wicked World whil'st they with the Devils are left below to stand forth before the Tribunal of Christ and hear that dreadful Sentence Depart ye cursed into everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels wherein every word is a Hell before they come to Hell 3. After the Sentence is past all wicked Reprobates shall be thrust away from the Judgment Seat of Christ and thrown into Hell with the Devils there to lie and fry and cry under easless endless and remediless torments And thus much of the cursed state of man by transgression and the things to be meditated on in it That your meditation on them may be the more effectual to cause you speedily to hye out of it 1. Beg the Spirit of God to convince you thorowly of the truth of it it being no other than what God hath spoken in his Word and we find by bitter experience 2. Labour to be truly sensible of and deeply humbled under the fight and sense of it so as to give no rest to your selves until that you are brought out of it for the promises of mercy run only unto such Mat. 9.13 Luke 19.10 Mat. 11.29 And that you may be truly sensible of and effectually humbled under it beg the Spirit of God to prick your hearts with the consideration of it as he did those Converts Acts 2.37 and tremble to stay a moment in your unregenerate estate as the Jaylor Acts 16. when Paul had preacht unto him 4. Be willing to receive Jesus Christ on his own terms not only as your Jesus but your Lord and Christ John 1.12 Rom. 13. end Lastly Hearken to that Counsel of your Lord and Saviour Mark 1.15 Repent and believe the Gospel and then his promise is to receive all and cast away no one Soul that comes to him and rests upon him for Conversion and Salvation Joh 6 37. Amen Sect. 3. The third state of Man is his gracious state by Regeneration and here to take notice of and meditate on these things First The free and unsearchable love of God to us in it 2. The nature of it what it is and wherein it consists 3. The differences of true grace from false grace from restraining grace 4. Degrees of true sanctifying grace 5. The signs of it 6. The priviledges of such as have it 7. The motives to it 8. The means for the maintaining encreasing and persevering in it First For the free unsearchable love and grace of God to his in not leaving his Elect in their fallen cursed condition but in his appointed time effectually calling all such as belong unto his Election of grace out of a state of nature into a state of grace God might have for ever passed by fallen Man-kind as well as he did the fallen Angels though he lookt in mercy upon some he might have passed
when God will avenge himself upon all the enemies of his Church and People Luke 18. beginning So as Joshua dealt with the five Kings of Canaan God will deal with all the Enemies of his People command them to be brought forth and make his Saints to tread on the necks of their Enemies Rev. 17.6 and render tribulation to all that have troubled them 2 Thess 1.6 Thirdly A Day of Exultation When the Saints shall exult and tryumph over all those that have over them here Psal 44.14 in the morning the Just shall have dominion over the wicked 3. In respect of their Friends it will be a day of mutual association and hearty congratulation for at that day there shall be a meeting not only of Soul and Body but all godly Parents and Children Husbands and Wives Masters and Servants Friends and Acquaintance that have loved lived and dyed in the Lord never to part any more but delight in one the other yea a meeting of all the Holy Patriarks Prophets Apostles Martyrs Saints that ever have been in the World and which is still more of all the glorious Angels and which is the sum of all the most sacred and ever blessed Unity in Trinity and Trinity in Unity Father Son and Holy Ghost 4. The most comfortable day in respect of themselves because it will be a day of Redemption Exaltation Remuneration 1. A day of Redemption from all sin and misery not onely of their Souls but of their Bodies Rom. 8.23 Whence that of our Saviour Luke 21.28 When you see these things lift up your heads for the day of your Redemption draweth nigh The word in the Original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath an emphasis in it and imports not only a Redemption from misery but a restoration to liberty a day of Exaltation to the highest degrees of Glory for when Christ shall appear they shall appear in Glory Col. 3.4 and such Glory as will make him and them to be admired 2 Thess 1.10 When the Angels that minister to them in life and death shall then perform the greatest office to them gather together the Elect from the four quarters of the Earth and separate them from all further communion with the wicked take them up into the Clouds to meet the Lord in the Air 1 Thess 4. and set them at his right Hand to be Accessors with him in judgment upon the wicked World such honour have all his Saints 1 Cor. 16.1 and more then so and which is more then all hearts can conceive but they that feel it they shall be welcomed by the Lord Jesus Christ with that ravishing imbracement and extatical leaps of their rejoycing hearts at the pronunciation of that blessed Sentence Come ye Blessed c. And immediately after usher'd along by the Angels with Jubilees and Songs of Tryumph through the Clouds into the Presence Chamber of the King of Kings and there ever be with the Lord 1 Thes 4.27 3. A day of Remuneration when God will crown his own grace with glory and will render to every one according to his works Rev. 14.13 Rev. 22.12 When God will reward all the Fasts you have kept all the Prayers you have made all the Tears you have shed all the good Works you have done all the Evils you have suffered all the Offices of Love and Kindness you have shewed to him and his Mat. 10. last Then the Crown shall be set upon your Heads the Royal Robe of Christ put on your backs all see and know you have not serv'd God for nought that in keeping of his Commandments there 's great reward even an exceeding excessive and eternal weight of Glory 2 Cor. 4.17 10. And Lastly Meditate on what we may do to escape the terror of that day and enjoy the comfort of it Q. What is that A. To observe and make Conscience of those duties the Scriptures hold forth in reference to that day As 1. In general to prepare for it expresly required Mat. 24.44 Be ye also prepared for in an hour ye think not will the Son of Man come And this Exhortation you may find backed with a double Argument the first drawn from the blessed estate of such as are prepared vers 49 50. Q. But how are we to prepare for Judgement A. 1. By being diligent that we may be found of him in peace the use the Apostle teacheth you to make of it 2 Pet. 3.14 That is to see your peace be made with God in and through Jesus Christ of your Enemy he be made your Friend Ephes 2.14 2. You are also to give diligence that you may be found of the Lord without spot or blemish as he further exhorts vers 14. That is That you endeavour to get the guilt of sin and the spots of sin to be washt away in the Blood of Christ 1 John 1.7 That you break off also all and every sin by speedy and unfeigned repentance the use the Scripture teacheth us to make of this day Acts 3.18 19. Repent that your sins may be blotted out when the time of refreshing comes from the presence of the Lord c. see Acts 17.30 to the end 3. To erect every one a Tribunal in his Conscience it being the end wherefore God puts Conscience within every one and having done so to search out after every Malefactor against God to apprehend accuse judge and do execution upon every sin and then the promise is if we remember he 'l forget if we confess he 'l forgive if we judge our selves he 'l not condemn us with the World 1 Cor. 11.32 4. To get and furnish our Lamps with Oyl to wit the Oyl of Grace and to trim them that exercise those Graces that so you may be ready to enter with the Bridegroom whensoever he shall come to call for you Matth. 25.10 Amongst others be sure you have these three Graces in Act and Exercise 1. A filial fear to sin against God The more you fear sin the less you 'l fear judgment therefore tremble to sin now that you may not tremble at judgment hereafter this use the Scripture teacheth you to make of it 1 Pet. 1.17 Rev. 14.7 Eccles last last 2. Get an unfeigned love to God and the godly for if our love be perfect or true we shall have boldness in the day of judgment 1 John 1.17 3. Look to the sincerity and uprightness of your heart in all your wayes For if our hearts condemn us not then we have confidence towards God 1 John 3.21 That is We should stand with boldness before the Judge but on the contrary if our Conscience condemn us the Judge will much more vers 20. and therefore herein I exercise my self to have a Conscience void of offence sayes the Apostle Acts 24.14 15. Why you may see 2 Cor. 5.8 9 10. We must all appear before the Judgment-Seat of Christ c. 5. You must be willing to stand up for and make a bold confession and profession of
Inwardly The inward frame so admirable as David wonders at it Psalm 139.13 to 17. I will praise thee for I am fearfully and wonderfully made c. 2. For the outward form of it 1. Man was made naked whereas all other Creatures have Scales Horns Feathers and nothing so beautiful and comely as Man nakedness was an Ornament before the fall 2. Man was made with the Countenance upward whereas all other Creatures have it downwards 3. With Speech to express his mind to the edification and comfort of others 4. With Hands which all other Creatures want whereby he might rule and govern the Creatures feed and cloath himself and dispatch all his business 2dly To meditate on the excellent and honourable use of the Body in that God hath made it not onely the Organ and Instrument of the Soul to work in and by it but the Habitation of the Holy Ghost to dwell in it and his Temple to offer up Spiritual Sacrifice to God in it the meditation of this will make you the more watchful and careful to preserve it in purity and chastity 1 Thes 4.4 5. to use every sense and member of it as Instruments of Righteousness and Holiness to the glorifying of God Rom. 6.19 2 Cor. 6. last Rom. 12.1 Thirdly Of the Tongue In it to meditate on the ends wherefore God gave it which are especially two 1. To glorifie God whence the same word in the Hebrew that signifies Tongue signifies Glory because we are to glorifie God with it Psa 108.1 35.28 63.5 2. To edifie others Psa 37.30 Ephes 4.29 The building them up in Saving-Knowledge and Grace 1 Thes 5.11 2. To consider the great need we have to imploy it to these ends 1. Because God hearkens and hears if any man speaks aright Jer. 8.6 2. Because God hath corrected rash and unadvised speaking in his most eminent Saints as in Moses Psal 106.32 33. 3. Because for every idle word that men shall speak they must give an account at the Day of Judgment 4. Because in the right usage of the Tongue the fear of the Lord and the comfort of a mans life doth chiefly consist as you may see by comparing the 11th verse with the 12 and 13 of the 34th Psalm The serious meditation of this will make us take better heed to our tongues as it did David Psal 39.1 and pray with him Psal 141.3 Set thou a watch before my mouth and keep the door of my lips To look to this our Speeches be wise deliberate gracious and profitable Fourthly Of the Talents In and about them consider 1. There are none but have some Talents given of God to imploy for the glory of God and the good of others some have Talents of Gifts and Grace more means and seasons of Grace then others some have Talents of Health Strength Wealth Honour some more some less some ten some five some one and all these put into their hands to imploy for their Lord and Masters advantage for the glory of God and the good of Souls their own and others especially those under their charge as you may see Mat. 25. And to whom much is given much will be required Luke 12. And therefore to enquire every one what Talents we have received and how we have prized them and improved them whether we have or do imploy them to the ends God gave them and as our Consciences and Conversations can witness for or against us to be humbled and thankful accordingly 2. To consider what abundance of Peace Joy and Comfort the well imployment of these Talents will bring unto you when you come to lie upon your Death-beds Isa 38.3 Remember how I have walkt before thee in Truth with a perfect heart sayes Hezekiah and what abundance of horror and terror will fall upon your spirits if you neglect your Talents or the misimployment of them as it did upon him that cryed out at his end Diem perdidi Deum perdidi meipsum perdidi I have lost the day my God and my self To the one he will say Well done good and faithful Servant thou hast been faithful in a little I will make thee Ruler over much To the other Take him and bind him hand and foot and cast him into utter darkness c. To the one Come ye Blessed for I was an hungry To the other Go ye cursed c. for I was an hungry and ye gave me no meat c. Mat. 25. A serious meditation on these things will stir you up to a more diligent and careful imployment of your inward and outward Talents to the glory of God and the good of your own and others Souls Fifthly Of Time In and about that to meditate on these things 1. The preciousness of Time so precious it is that on the well or ill imployment of it depends the eternal wel-fare or ill-fare of your Souls so precious as all the Gold and Silver in the World cannot purchase one moment of it when its past which made one cry out bitterly A World of Wealth for an Hour of Time so precious as nothing the damned in Hell will more bewail then the loss of it and if there were any hope of getting out would imploy it better even from the beginning of the World to the end could they live so long 2. Consider the greatness of the work we have to do and the little time we have to do it in 1. For the greatness of the Work it is to glorifie God serve our Brethren save our Souls clear up our interest in Christ make our Calling and Election sure work out our Salvation with fear and trembling and how little time have we for the doing all this Ars longa vita brevis Let us ponder it seriously it is but a moment of time in comparison of Eternity and on this moment depends the eternity of our well-being or ill-being and therefore concerns us very much to spend it very well and the rather because Tam diu vivimus quam bene vivimus We have lived no longer then we lived well 3. Consider the uncertainty of our time here Our dayes on earth are as a shadow and there is none durable or abiding 1 Chron. 29.15 Solomon sayes There 's a time to be born and a time to die Eccless 3.2 but mentions no time of living as if it were so short that it were not worth the naming and this short time when it 's past cannot possibly be recall'd and the time to come none of ours the time present only is ours and therefore see that be imployed well in some duties either of our particular or general Calling we should be either like Christ alwayes doing good or like Mary still receiving good Heb. 3.13 2 Thes 3.1 Behold now is the accepted time c. 4. Consider how highly not onely the wise Christians but the very Heathens have prized time so as to account that day lost wherein they have not done some good with Tongue or
to make provision for him at last falling sick and drawing towards his end a Servant of his came to visit him and asking him how he did Oh saith he I am going to another World Master said he you were wont here to send Provision before you to your Houses here have you done so for another House your eternal House Oh no said he that is my folly and misery 3. He is a fool that will hazzard and adventure his life for a toy and a trifle and put off a business for the present of greatest consequence to another day when yet he knows not whether he shall have another day and yet this is the greatest folly of worldly wise men though they hear often that there 's but one thing necessary in the World in comparison whereof all other things are unnecessary viz. the Salvation of the Soul yet will hazzard that to gain the World and put off that to the last and weakest hour when they can scarce think upon any thing else but pain and then when 't is too late lament their great folly and madness in it Thirdly Meditate on the duties you ow to God for the Creatures and the uses you are to make of the Creatures I shall but name a few As 1. To contemplate those glorious Attributes of God which shine forth in the Creatures as his Eternity Omnipotency infinite Wisdom and unsearchable goodness to Mankind in making a World and all things in it for him and him for himself and that first Because it 's expresly commanded Eccles 7.13 Job 37.14 2. The practise of the Saints Psal 77.11 12. Psal 143.5 6. all Gods People Psal 111.2 3. Because it 's the end wherefore God made Man and gave him a reasonable Soul not onely that he should barely view the Creatures but contemplate his glorious Attributes that shine forth in them There 's no skilful Artificer that will take it well to have his skill not taken notice of in the works he doth much less will God and it will exceedingly agravate mens sin and condemnation at last that they have so much taken notice of and admired the works of men and so little taken notice of the great and glorious Works of God in the Creation of this glorious Fabrick of Heaven and Earth 2. Duty to learn those good things in the Creatures which they do teach us in and by the instinct of Nature for all the World is but a great School to teach us the knowledge of God Rom. 1.20 Creatio Mundi Scriptura Dei Universus Mundus Deus Explicatus as one saith well The whole Creation is a Scripture of God the Heaven the Earth and the Sea 3. Great Leaves of that Book the Creatures contained in them as so many Lines by which God would read a Divinity-Lecture to us all the Creatures but a Ladder made of many steps to raise us up to God and as it were a pair of Spectacles whereby we may read God and the invisible things of God more clearly and plainly Jenkins on Jude But what are those things the Creatures teach us They all teach us Obedience Love Unity and dependance upon God a desire of freedom from that bondage our sin hath brought upon them 1. They all teach us Obedience to God for they all keep their station in which God hath set them they all do what God commands them and leave undone what he forbids them 1. They all keep their station the Sun rejoyceth to run its course the Sea keeps within its Banks the Earth standeth fast upon her Foundation onely Man is fallen from it 2. They do whatsoever God commands them Psal 19.1 The Heavens declare the Glory of God c. the Sea and the Winds and all fulfil his Word Psal 148.8 3. They leave undone what he forbids them the Fire burns not the Sea stands on heaps the Sun stands still and goes backward ten degrees the Fire descends and the Water ascends at his command all the Creatures have an ear to hear their Creator only Man is deaf Yea and mark farther they not onely obey their Creator but they obey him in a right manner For 1. they serve him only and not us any further and longer then we serve him therefore he is called the Lord of Hosts because all is at his command to teach us as to obey him so him only and men no further then they obey God 2. They serve him chearfully Psalm 19. The Sun rejoyceth as a Gyant to run his course and so ought we for the abundance of all his goodness to us or else are threatned to serve our enemies in the want of all things Deut. 2.8 3. They serve him constantly day and night and are never weary of doing him service so neither ought we 1 Cor. 15. last Be stedfast unmoveable c. Gal. 6.9 Be not weary of well doing c. 4. They serve the Lord freely by the instinct of Nature how much more should we by the instinct of Grace 5. They waste and consume themselves in the service of us to teach us to spend our selves and be spent for God 2. They all teach us to love God as being all fruits and tokens of his love to us and refuse to love us if we neglect to love him the Sun denies its Shine the Clouds their Rain and the Earth its Fruits they teach us also as to love God so to love others for God's sake especially those that are nearly related to us for they generally love those of the same kind and are very tender over their Mates and to their young ones 3. They all teach us unity amongst our selves for they all combine and conspire in one for the good of the whole they all prefer the good of the whole above their own particular the Fire will descend and the Waters ascend rather then there shall be a vacuum in Nature though they be of contrary qualities yet they do not trouble but help one the other the Fire warms the Air the Air preserves the Water the Water moistneth the Earth one Element is a good Neighbour to the other and all to teach us we should not be hurtful but helpful one to another and prefer the publick before our own private good 4. They all teach us dependance on God for being and well-being Psal 147.9 10. The eyes of all things look up to thee c. To teach us to look up to God and to have our dependance upon him for our selves and ours and to be careful about nothing Phil. 4.7 Matth. 6.26 to the end 5. They all teach us a desire and longing to be freed from that bondage our sins have brought upon them and our selves Rom. 8.19 22. And shall the Creatures sigh and groan under our burdens and we not under our own A third Duty is this To bewail the first sin of ours which brought such vanity and vexation upon the Creatures God at first looked down upon all that he had made and loe
God Let all the Angels of God worship him and were all along at his command and service attended on him in his Birth Life Death Resurrection Ascention and shall at the last day in his comming to Judgement as you may see clearly in reading the Gospel Luke 1.13 22.43 24.5 6. Acts 1.10 11. Mat. 8.38 13.49 3. They minister to the Church and People of God in Life and Death and after Death 1. In Life They Minister both to the well-fare of their Bodies and Souls in watching over them and protecting them from evil Psal 34.7 Psal 91.10 11. instructing and directing quickning incouraging and comforting them in that which is good Dan. 8.16 17. Dan. 9.12 Gen. 24.7 Gen. 32.1 Isa 6.6 7. Rev. 22.9 2. In Death They are about their Beds refresh them in their Sufferings as they did Christ in his Agonies stand ready to receive their Souls and to carry them as they did the Soul of Lazarus into Abraham's Bosom Luke 16.22 3. After Death They watch over their Bodies as Michael the Arch-Angel did over the Body of Moses Jude 9. And at the last day they shall open their Graves and bring out their Bodies and secure them from the fire that it shall not hurt them as in 〈…〉 these three Children in the Fiery Furnace Dan. 3. And whereas the Devil will then be most raging the good Angels will restrain them and stop their mouths as they did stop the mouths of the Lyons when Daniel was cast into the Den after this they will gather together all the Elect from the four quarters of the Earth Mat. 24.31 and separate them from the Reprobates Mat. 13.40 Take them up into the Clouds to be Accessors with Christ in Judgment on the wicked World 1 Cor. 6.1 and joyn with them 〈◊〉 praising God Rev. 4.9 10. Rev. 5.11 12. 7.9 10. Q. 2. What are our duties in respect of the good Angels A. These are many and weighty though little known and less practised by the most and therefore mind them well 1. To admire the wonderful love of God in honouring us with such glorious and blessed Guardians not only vouchsafing his own protection and the protection of his Son and Spirit but also of his blessed Angels Is not this matter of admiration what are the Angels but the most glorious Creatures in the World the glorious Courtiers of Heaven No Prince on Earth hath so glorious a Guard as every Saint even the poorest hath every day and night and therefore to be still admiring and adoring this wonderful love of God and say Lord what is Man and I among the Sons of Men that thou shouldest honour me so far as to give thy Angels a charge to minister to me and watch over me every day and night 2. To glory in this priviledge above all other priviledges in the World that we have such high and excellent Creatures to minister to us and to be our Guardians If men have a great and long Train at theit heels of great and Noble Persons in Silk and Sattin and Golden Chains how do they run after them and gaze upon them whereas alas all this bravery is but beggery to the Glory of those that wait upon the Saints they have higher and more glorious attendance those noble and glorious Courtiers of Heaven men need a fair day and a clear Sun-shine to discover their bravery or half the shew of it is lost but now nothing can darken the glory of the Saints attendance Mat. 28.2 3. And behold there was a great Earth-quake for the Angel of the Lord descended from Heaven and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sat upon it his countenance was like Lightning and his Raiment white as Snow 3. Take heed you do not injure any the least of God's Saints the poorest meanest most contemptible of them Why Because they have the glorious Angels to wait upon them and minister unto them Mat. 18.10 See that thou despise not one of these little ones for I say unto you the Angels behold the Face of my Father Why should any think them unworthy of their company and countenance when the greatest Angels think them worthy of their attendance and service if any wrong them the Angels will certainly right them When the Sodomites rose up against Lot the Angel smote them with blindness and rescued Lot out of their hands If Balaam go about to curse God's Israel an Angel stands in the way with a drawn Sword to withstand him If proud Sennacherib threaten to destroy Hezekiah and his People an Angel goes forth and slayes in one night a hundred eighty and five thousand in his Army And therefore take heed of wronging any of them any way 4. Be quickned hence to honour and serve that God more chearfully that hath so highly honoured and incouraged you in the service of him as to appoint the Glorious Angels to attend upon you in it shall they that are so high and holy above us stoop so low as to attend upon us and Minister to us at God's command and shall not we who are so inferior to him readily do service to him who is so high above us and hath no need of our service and whose service cannot any way reach to him but only to our selves And when our honour and happiness is wrapt up in it what a shame were this and what an aggravation will this be upon all idle Servants at the last day 5th Duty To carry our selves so as we may injoy the benefit sweet and comfort of this glorious and blessed Priviledge the Ministration and Service of the Angels Q. How is that A. Mind well it consists in these Particulars 1. To take more notice of this glorious Priviledge then ever you have done If you have been ignorant and heedless of it heretofore take the shame of it and labour to get a more distinct knowledge of it and get your Faith confirmed and established in it for is it not a foul shame that such glorious Spirits should take notice of us and minister to us and we take no notice of them 2. To see that you be such Persons as God hath given his Angels a charge over Who are they 1st Such as fear the Lord Psalm 34.7 2ly Such as keep in God's Wayes the wayes of his Commandments Psalm 91.1 3ly Such as continually pray to God for their direction and protection as Abraham's Servant did Gen. 24.7 and the Israelites Numb 20.16 4ly Such as are Heirs of Salvation for they minister only unto such Heb. 1. last 3. To carry your selves reverently in their presence and take heed you do nothing that should offend and grieve them whence that 1 Cor. 10.11 12. A Woman ought to cover her Head because of the Angels that is as Mr. Perkins sayes not onely in respect of God's Ministers but the Angels and not without great reason 1. Because they are present to observe our carriage in all the Service of God
2. Because they are Holy Spirits and cannot indure to see any unholy or unclean behaviour 4thly To imitate the Blessed Angels especially in these four things 1. their Humility 2. Piety 3. Charity 4. Alacrity 1. Their Humility Though they be glorious Spirits yet they are content to stoop to the meanest Servants of God at God's Command they came down from Heaven to bring glad tydings of Salvation to poor Shepherds are willing to wait on those that are despised of men Mat. 18.10 how much more should we stoop to one another and serve one another in love see the command Rom. 12.3.16 2. To imitate them in their Piety They are God-like Holy as he is Holy therefore called 〈◊〉 Holy Angels Mark 8.38 And we are commandâ—◠〈◊〉 be Holy as God is Holy 1 Tim. 1.15 They seek nor their own Glory but the Lords Isa 〈…〉 so we are commanded 1 Cor. 〈…〉 They stand ready prest to know and do the Will of God Psal 103.21 And we are commanded Tuâ—â— 3. â— Be ready to every good work They do it also zealously Dan. 9.21 He make 〈◊〉 Angels a flame of Fire and this we are commâ—nded Rev. 3.19 Be zealous and amend And they do it constantly Matth. 18.10 And we are commanded 1 Cor. 15. last Be stedfast uâ—â—oveable alwayes abounding in the Work of the Lord c. Gal. 6.10 Be not weary of well doing And all this is no other then what we are taught to pray for in the Lords Prayer in these words Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven That is universally sincerely chearfully constantly 3. In their Charity They not only love one another but they love us and in love to us they are content to stoop to any Service wherein they may express their love to us how much more should we love one the other and as the Apostle exhorts serve one another in love and the rather because it is the express command of Christ and he hath given himself an Example of it and made it the chief character of a Disciple of his John 13.35 4. To imitate them in their Joy They rejoyce continually in the Glory of God the Exaltation of Christ the Conversation of Sinners the Salvation of Souls the Glorification of the Saints together with themselves how much more should we rejoyce in these things seeing the benefit redounds not so much to them as to us 6th Duty Not to fear the malice and rage of the Evil Angels for however the Evil Angels endeavour to do all the mischief they can to the Godly and God permits them to do it to wicked men Psal 78.49 50. and sometimes to afflict the Godly Job 1.6 yet here 's our comfort All the Godly have the Good Angels to protect them that they cannot hurt them as they would however Evil Angels may have a permission from God to do them evil yet the Good Angels have alwayes a Commission from God to do them good Psal 103. to the end And the power of Good Angels is more and greater then of the Evil they having lost much of it by their fall and therefore not so much to fear them A King that hath his Guard about him fears no danger how much less should we who have though not of men yet a Guard of Angels 2 Kings 6.16 7th Duty Not slavishly to fear Death but to wellcome it whensoever it comes seeing it is the last Office the Angels do for the Saints here to attend on their Death-beds and take the care of their Souls and carry them after Death to the Spirits of Just Men made perfect Luke 16.22 Heb. 12.22 Lastly Remember still to return God the Glory of this Glorious Priviledge the enjoyment of the Ministry of Angels and all the good and comfort you have reapt by it The Shepherds Luk. 2.20 having heard of the glad tydings brought by the Ministry of Angels they returned glorifying and praysing God but not the Angels the Angels ought to have their due reverence and respect for their Ministry but we are to give the honour and glory of it only to God Thus Daniel 6.22 and Peter Acts 12.11 they did not ascribe the deliverance to the Angels but unto God that sent his Angels And great cause have we to glorifie God in and for their Ministry 1. In respect of the great honour God conferreth on us in vouchsafing such honourable Guardians to us 2. In respect of the great good that comes to us by them not only in protecting us from those evil spirits which rule in the Air but the quickning and leadings to the following and guidance of his ever blessed Spirit of Grace 3. Because they are only instruments in God's Hand it 's God alone is the Author of all the good we receive by them Make these uses of the Ministry of Angels and you will be sure to reap much benefit and comfort by it and to have them still to attend upon you and minister to you in Life and Death and after Death 1. In Life to preserve you from evil and to incourage you in that which is good to comfort you in and deliver you out of trouble 2. In Death to stand about your Beds and keep off the evil Spirits and chear up your own Spirits arm you against the terrors of Death and as soon as your Soul shall be separate from the Body to carry it to the Spirits of Just Men made perfect And 3. after Death at the last and great Day to open your Graves and bring out your Bodies and take them up into the Air to the Accessors with Jesus Christ in judgment on the wicked World and after that to conduct you into Heaven there to be for ever with the Lord and with them still glorifying God the Father for God the Son by God the Spirit to all Eternity Amen Secondly For the Evil Angels and Devils Sect. 2. In and about them to take notice of and meditate on these things 1. That there are such 2. What they are 3. How they became such 4. What their punishment 5. What their Office or Work is 6. What their Properties or Qualities are Lastly What our duties are in respect of them 1. That there are such evil Spirits or Devils is abundantly manifest by the testimony of the Scripture and their frequent Temptations Apparitions Possessions and Dispossessions the Scripture often mentions in the Old New Testament In the Old we read that the Devil was a lying spirit in the mouth of the false Prophets 1 Kings 22. and that Satan stir'd up David to number the People 1 Chron. 21.1 and how he afflicted Job cap. 1. and that he stood at the right hand of Joshua to resist him Zach. 3.1 In the New Testament we read how he tempted Christ Mat. 4. and how Christ cast him out of many possest by him as for those Atheists and Epicures that question it they have some of them been forced to acknowledge it here to their horror
take heed of all sin especially those sins which resemble men to the Devil as Pride Envy Malice Lying Slandering false Accusing of others tempting others to sin and hindering others from Good for these you may find in the Scripture to be the sins of the Devil especially the last Acts 13.10 Thou Child of the Devil thou enemy of all Righteousness wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord said Paul to Elymas 3. To search and see whether you are under his Power and Dominion yea or no for all Men and Women are so by Nature as you may see Eph. 2.2 2 Tim. 2. last whence he is called the Prince of the Air John 14.30 and the God of this World 2 Cor. 4.4 because he rules like a Prince or rather like a Tyrant and governs like a God or rather like a Devil as he is in all wicked men holding them and leading them like Bears by the Snout like Dogs in a Chain and hath them as the Centurion had his Servants at his beck and command to commit any wickedness for Honour Profit and Pleasure in the World Now for the signs and characters of such as are under his power the Scripture gives amongst others these 1. Wilful blindness when men shut their eyes against the Light and refuse to see sin to be sin and duty to be duty because they are loth to leave the one and do the other John 3.19 2 Cor. 4.4 5. 2. Impenitency in a course of sinning 2 Tim. 2.24 25. when men give up themselves to the service of Sin and Satan and will not be reclaimed from it Rom. 6.16 John 8.34 3ly Security and senslesness of God's displeasure because he lets them alone in their evil courses and does not presently punish them Luke 11.21 where all things are at peace there the strong man keeps possession Psalm 50. ver 18. to the end 4. And principally Derision Opposition and Persecution of Righteousness and Holiness in others Acts 13.10 These are the black marks of Satans dominions in men 4th Duty Be perswaded speedily in the use of the means to get out of his Dominions because so long as you are under the power of Satan you are under the power of Sin and the power of the Law and the power of the World and the power of Death Judgement and Hell 1. Of Sin Rom. 6.12 2 Tim. 2. last 2. The power of the Law both the rigour and the curse of it Deut. 27. last 3. The power of the World 1 John 4 5. 4. The power of Death and Judgement and Hell Rom. 6. last Eccles 12. end Heb. 9.27 Psal 11. end Psal 9.17 The wicked shall be turned into Hell and therefore in all these respects to labour speedily to get out of his Dominions To this end 1. Be willing to be convinced of this truth That all men naturally are under the power of Sin and Satan for it 's that which the Scripture speaks expresly Ephes 2.2 and this is the first work of the Spirit in the conversion of a sinner John 16.8 2. Labour to be sensible of and humbled under the sad condition of being in vassallage and slavery to Sin and Satan thus those Converts were Acts 2.37 They were pricked in their hearts and cryed out Men and Brethren c. That you may be the more sensible of it and humbled under it consider it 's the saddest of all other conditions so as the condition of the Israelites under Pharaoh and Gally-slaves under the Turk or Pope is little or nothing to this that being only of the Body this of the Soul that a sensible slavery this an insensible until God make them sensible that an unwilling slavery but this men are most forward to and delight in until the Lord come in and over-power their wills and of unwilling make them a willing people in the day of his power Psalm 110. as he did them Acts 2.37 3. Take notice of him who was appointed and annointed by God the Father to rescue you out of his power viz. the Lord Jesus Christ Isa 61.1 He hath destroyed Death and him that had the power of Death Heb. 2.14 and hath destroyed the works of the Devil 1 John 3.8 to lay hold on him by a lively Faith and that Ransom he hath paid for your Redemption Ephes 1.7 1 Joh. 1.7 Acts 16.31 Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved 4. Be willing to cast off the service of Sin and Satan for the future and to give your selves only and wholly to the service of Jesus Christ Rom. 6.16 17. Sin is the snare and the chain by which the Devil holds men in his power and repentance breaks that snare and chain and sets them at liberty 2 Tim. 2. last Acts 3.19 Repent that your sins may be blotted out c. 5. Wait constantly on the Ministry of the Word the means he hath appointed to turn men from Darkness to Light and the Power of Satan to God Lastly Go unto God by earnest and constant Prayer for his Spirit to make his Word effectual for the translating you out of the Kingdom of Darkness into the Kingdom of his dear Son Col. 1.13 5th Duty If you find that you are such as have been rescued and redeemed by Jesus Christ out of the power of Satan which you may know farther by this if you are such as truly believe in Christ and are sanctified by Christ Acts 26.18 and labour to crucifie the flesh with the corruptions and the lusts Gal. 5.24 and are not conformed to the World Rom. 12.2 but walk in a contradiction to it get victory over it 1 John 5.4 then your duties are such as these Continue to bless God for it and rejoyce in it above all your rejoycings not slavishly to fear his Power Malice Rage for the future and to carry your selves so as still to be preserved from being hurt by him 1. To be continually blessing the Lord Jesus Christ for rescuing us out of the power of Satan as the Saints have done before us Psal 86.12 13. Psal 103.1 the Apostle Rom. 7. last 1 Cor. 15.55 and to bless him not only for our selves but others Rom. 6.17 18. and the rather considering we were by nature under the power of Satan as well as others and nothing but his own Grace that rescued us and pluckt us out of his snares to bless God that hath and doth so wonderfully preserve us from the power malice and rage of Satan and his Instruments Is it not wonderful that we should lie down in peace and sleep in peace and arise in peace and walk up and down in peace and injoy so much peace and quiet in the midst of so many Devils and devilish minded men the safety and preservation of the three Children in the Fiery Furnace of Daniel in the Lions Den of Jonah in the Whales Belly was wonderful and truly no less wonderful is it that we injoy our lives and the comforts of
buying the Truth that will save your souls Prov. 23.23 And whilst you look after the gain of the World think on that of Isa 55.1 Wherefore do you lay out your money for that which cannot satisfie c. And that of our Saviour What will it profit a man to win the whole World and lose his Soul c. And that of Christ to Martha Luke 10.42 Martha Martha thou art cum bered about many things but there 's one thing necessary c. XII When you are about to take a Journey as you are trevelling in the way think on this Your life is but a Journey you are in a constant motion to Eternity every action is but a step every day and hour brings you nearer to Heaven or Hell and therefore you had need look to this that you be in the right way that you may not miscarry for ever and to this end to pray to the Lord that he would remember his promise Psal 32.8 He would instruct in the way wherein you should go and guide you by his eye that he would be your God for ever and guide you unto Death guiding you by his counsel until he hath received you into Glory XIII When you are about to use the Creatures in the Morning at Noon and Evening think thus Oh what a great House-keeper is the Lord that provides for the whole Family of Heaven and Earth What a bountiful Master do I serve that provides so liberally for me and me above many and not only gives the Creature but an appetite to it when many of his want both When you are eating Bread think on the Bread which came down from Heaven to feed your Souls and how blessed they are that eat of this Bread in the Kingdom of Heaven Luke 14.15 Think also on that of our Saviour Man lives not by bread alone but every word that proceeds out of the Mouth of God Though Bread is the Staff of our Life it is the Blessing of God is the strength of that Staff and he that maintains our natural Life by dead Creatures is as able to nourish our Souls in Spiritual Life to Eternal Life by dead Ordinances how weak and contemptible soever they seeâ— in the eye of Carnal Reason XIV When you walk abroad and view the World think what a great and mighty a God is he that made so great and mighty a Fabrick out of nothing by his very Word think what a precious Soul you have that is of more worth then all the World and what cause you have therefore to value it above all the World and not to hazzard it for the gaining of the World XV. When you look up and behold the glory of the Heavens the Sun the Moon and the Stars think and say with David Lord what is Man that thou shouldst make all this for Man the greater Light to rule the Day and the lesser to rule the Night Psal 8.3 If the Light of Heaven be so sweet how sweet is the Light of thy Countenance If there be so much glory and influence in the Sun of the World what is there in the Son of Righteousness And how great will the glory of the Saints be at the last day when their glorified Bodies shall outshine the glory of the Sun Oh how glorious is the Church that is cloathed with the Sun and hath the Moon under her feet Revel 12. When you take notice of the Moon borrowing of her Light from the Sun and losing her light at the rising of the Sun every month changing her appearance increasing or decreasing her Light think how like our life is to the Moon full of changes and variety of conditions And from whom is it we must receive any light of comfort under them and be directed in them but from the Son of Righteousness XVI When you look up and behold the Clouds and see how they are supported without any outward means and carried up and down like Feathers in the Air God can as easily support his under all clouds of temptation when you see those Clouds dispersed by the Beams of the Sun then think how easily one Beam of the Son of Righteousness can scatter all the clouds of temptation when you see the Clouds think upon Jesus Christ who as he went up to Heaven in the Clouds so he will come again in the Clouds to Judgment XVII When you look downward and behold the Earth think from whence you came and where you must return Dust thou art and to dust thou must that it is the Mother of us all and the place appointed for all the living your bodies must descend first into the Earth before they can ascend up into Heaven and therefore as the Grave waits for us we should wait for it When you behold the fruitfulness of the Trees and the Plants of the Earth how every one brings forth its Fruit in due season such are or ought to be every Godly Man and Woman Trees of Righteousness bringing forth Fruit to God otherwise it will be a foul shame for Christians to remain barren and unfruitful under such plentiful dews and droppings from Heaven XVIII When you feel the powerful operation and working of the Air and of the Winds though you do not see them think thus If I believe there is Air and Wind though I do not see them then I should much more believe there is a God that made them though I do not see him and if there be so much power and vertue in them to preserve and take away life how much more in God that puts this power and vertue into them XIX When you walk abroad and view the Fowls of the Air and the Beasts of the Earth and the Fish of the Sea and the rest of the Creatures think thus they were all made for my use and service and therefore are as so many Obligations and should be as so many incouragements to serve God in all and for all and above all see Job 12.7 8 9 10 11 12. There is no Creature but teacheth us something 1. Ask the Beasts and they 'l teach you the Ox and Ass to know and acknowledge their Owner Isa 1. The Horse and the Mule they will shew you the stubborn and refractory nature of Man the Sheep our wandring dispositions and to know hearken too and follow our Shepherd John 10. To be dumb like a Sheep before the Shearer and not open your mouths as Christ was Isa 53. and the Lamb will remember you how Christ was brought as a Lamb to the slaughter and that though he was like a Lamb without spot and blemish the Dog and the Swine will mind you of the uncleanness of sinners and the hatefulness of Apostacy in causing men to return with the Dog to the Vomit and the Sow to her wallowing in the Mire the Serpent will teach you wisdom in preserving your selves and the Ant in making provision for the future 2. Ask the Fowls of the Air and they