likewise did much affect Luther viz. that in doubts of predestination we should begin from the wounds of Christ that is from the sense of God's love to us in Christ therefore the warming of the brains in study without the warming the heart by meditation is but a dead and cold speculation serious meditation puts lively colours upon common truths which operate strongly upon the heart to make it better Chap. 8. Of the subject of Meditation Sect. 1. Of meditaâ—ion on the works of God I now proceed to discusse the subject-matter of meditation first subject â—editation works of 〈◊〉 and here I am launching into a great Ocean but like the dogs of Nilus I shall but lick and away The first subject of meditation is God's works of Creation a fit matter for our serious meditations I remember the dayes of old saith David I meditate on all thy works I muse on the work of thy hands Psal 145.5 He looketh up to the Heavens and considereth the work of God's fingers meditating on all those works that were visible to the eye of man â—al 102.25 Psal 8.3 called elsewhere the work of his hands Isa 48.13 My hand hath laid the foundation of the earth and my right hand hath spanned the Heavens it is for that they are of such excellency as if they had been his handywork indeed which yet were made by his word only as Moses and St John do declare Gen. 1.6 Joh. 1.3 That great advancer of learning hath an excellent passage suitable hereunto Sr Francis Bâ—con's advancâ—ment of learâ—ing l. 1. p. 27 It is to be observed saith he that for any thing which appeareth in the History of the Creation the confused masse and matter of Heaven and earth was made in a moment and the order and disposition of that Chaos or mass was the work of six dayes such a note of difference it pleased God to put upon the works of power and the works of wisdome wherewith concurreth that in the former it is not set down that God said Let there be Heaven and earth as it is set down of the works following but actually that God made Heaven and earth the one carrying the stile of a Manufaction the other of a Law Decree or Councell It is not enough that we barely look on the works of God but we must meditate upon them for if we do no more than see them the Oxe the Bull and the Horse do as much as we If we see nothing in the Heavens Dearing Heb. Lect. 5. c. 1. vers 10. saith a grave Divine but that they are lightsome and above our reach the Horse and Mule see this as well as we if we see nothing in the earth but a place to walk in or to take our rest upon it the beasts and fouls see this as well as we if we see nothing in our gorgeous apparell but the pride of a goodly colour the Peacock seeth that in his feathers if in all our refreshment from the creatures we know nothing but the pleasure and sweetnesse of our sense the Swine hath as great a share herein as we if hearing seeing smelling tasting feeling be all the comfort we can find in the works of God the dumb creatures have these senses more exquisite than we and we have turned the hearts of men into the hearts of beasts who with wisdome and reason can do nothing â— Isidor â—usiot l. 2. â—st 135. and the words of the Prophet are fulfilled in us Man being in honour understandeth not and is like the beasts that perish Psal 49.20 therefore the sight of God's works must affect us more than so else shall we be but as the beasts and follow them Now you are to meditate how God brought forth all his works in the space of six dayes before he finisht them he did not create the world all at once but took time for the Creation of it to teach us to take speciall time duely and orderly to consider and meditate on the works of God if he that could have made the Heavens and the earth the Sun Moon and Stars and all creatures in a moment yet it pleased him to take time for the creating of them this should teach us to select some space of time for the meditation of them we must not think it enough to look upon them at one view but to passe from part to part from one creature to another and in every creature to admire the workmanship power wisdome and goodnesse of the Creatour as we are taught Psal 92.4 5. Thou Lord hast made me glad through thy works and I will triumph in the works of thy hands O Lord how great are thy works and thy thoughts are very deep a bruitish man knoweth not neither doth a fool understand this which Psalm as the Title tells us was a meditation penned for the Sabbath day therefore I say God would spend six dayes about the Creation of the world whereas he might have done it in an instant and in a moment of time to the end that we might the better meditate upon it from point to point for which purpose he presently ordained the Sabbath Thus Job Job 36.24 tells us that we must not idly behold the work â—upellex orâ—ata hominem â—guit munâ—us Deum â—inut Faelix â—ctav but must magnifie the workman Remember that thou magnifie his work which men behold this we will do coming into the Shop of an excellent Artizan The eternall power and Godhead is seen by the things that are made but most of us have great cause to be ashamed that we have spent so little time in meditating on the works of God yea who can truly say he hath spent so much time in meditating on God's works as God spent in making them how few are there that have set apart so much time ever since they were born as if it were all laid together will make up six dayes one entire week what a shame is it for man whom God made on purpose to view his works â—ria sunt geâ—era meditatiâ—num unum â— creaturis â—num in Scriâ—turis unum â—n moribus â—rimum surgit ex admiratione secundum ex lectione â—ertium ex circumspectione Hug. medit and by them to glorifie him not to spend so much time in meditating upon them as God spent in making of them therefore we have great cause to become more carefull and studious readers of this great Book of nature for time to come There is a threefold Book into which a Christian is to make inspection The Book of nature or of the creatures The Book of the Scriptures The Book of conscience The Book of the creatures hath a powerfull conviction meditate upon it and observe God's power or thou art an Atheist The Book of the Scriptures hath a power of conversion meditate on it and learn the will of God out of it so to serve him or thou art an hypocrite The Book of
befit the Nobility and Gentry of our Land who have more time and opportunities than others for this heavenly exercise how ought they to take heed of the snares of great places and great confluences which are great hindrances to the composing of the mind for holy meditations causing them to entertain converse only with such fantastick spirits from whom no other profit can be derived than what vanity hath suggested and the conceit of a deluded fancy hatched it lies upon you to meditate much on your inward cure restrain your eyes from those outward objects that may any way darken the prospect of your inward house it is one of your great cares in Architecture Hippolit de Collib that your houses have a pleasant site and be dilated to fair prospects you will not endure any man whose dwelling is near you upon any new superstructure or new raised story to darken the light of your windows Oh then suffer not any thing to incroach upon the liberty of your higher rooms these glorious structures of your souls let not pride over-top the â—uminaries of your souls let not covetousnesse stop and straiten them let not intemperance put out the eyes of your souls let not lust deface them nor anger lacerate them nor envy obscure them nor idlenesse and wantonnesse blemish them Noble Gentlemen reflect on your own worth Gentility is not known by your stately garb your sumptuous houses and train of attendants as by your noble vertues let inward ornaments be your chiefest care and the renewing and repairing of them your highest cure take a turn with God every day upon the Mount of meditation here you may find such choice flowers as will more refresh your souls than any visible odours or fragrant flowers are delightfull to your smell you will then scarce think any earthly object worth beholding when you frequently converse with heavenly things this will teach you to contemn the vanities of the earth to know the worth of time and to redeem your precious hours for the highest imployment to conquer death it self and to aspire to eternal excellencies you will then be carelesse observers of vain fashions which is the affectation of this fantastick age and desire to be cloathed with the wedding garment and be adorned with inward beauty that the Lord Jesus may take pleasure in you and marry you to himself for ever it will be more to your honour that you have redeemed time than that you have followed the mode and vain fashions of a sinfull time It is said of the Palm-tree Plin. Nat. Hist that when it grows dry and fruitlesse ashes are applied to the root of it and it soon recovereth and that the Palms of your generous minds may be alwayes green and flourishing and your branches be ever blossoming and never wither renew them daily with some sweet and soveraign meditation that when you shall return to the earth from whence you came those that succeed and survive you may collect how you lived while you were on earth by making those high imployments of yours patterns for their perpetuall imitation Meditation is a work you see well becoming men of high degree Joshua Josh 1.8 â— great Commander is commanded to â—ake it his daily practice and David â— great King tells us that meditation â—as his work all the day Psal 119. â—7 Mine eyes saith he are ever towards the Lord. Psal 25.15 Thou hast â—ossessed my reins Thou hast covered me â—n my mothers womb I will praise thee â—or I am fearfully and wonderfully made marvellous are thy works and that my â—oul knoweth right well c. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me O God how great is the summe of them if I should count them they are moe in number â—han the sand when I awake I am still with thee Psal 139.13 19. 2. Meditation also may be practiâ—ed by men of low degree Bishop Hall's Contemplat as by men of the highest rank A low man saith one if his eye be clear may look as high as the tallest the least Dwarf may from the lowest valley see the Sun or Stars as fully as a Giant upon the highest mountain he that stands by may see as far into the Milstone as he that picks it Christ is now in Heaven it is not the smalnesse of any man's person nor the meannesse of his condition can let him from beholding him the soul hath no stâ—ture nor is God a respecter of peâ—sons if God be but pleased to clear tâ—â— eyes of any man's soul he shall high enough to behold him a poâ— man by holy meditation become poor in spirit and rich in grace bâ— meditation on the Scriptures he finâ—eth his condition to be an holy Asyluâ— that heaven hath promised a particulâ— protection to the poor Evangelizare pauperibus misit me Luk. 4. that Chriâ—â— came down from Heaven to instruâ—â— them that he hath pronounced thâ— blessed in his Sermons chose such fâ— his Disciples hath made them the oâ—jects of his love and designed theâ— for his favours All outward gooâ— though precious cannot escape the diâ—asters that threaten them cunning violence may rob us of them the iâ—nocent lose their honour as well as tâ— criminall Senault Treat 8. disc 3. the rich are as much afraâ— of sicknesse as the poor nor are Kinâ— more secure from death than the Subjects but be thou outwardly â—ver so poor yet if rich in faith graâ— is a good which cannot be taken froâ— thee no violence can plunder thee it 3. This exercise of meditation ought chiefly to be practised by Ministers and Scholars there are three things that make a compleat Minister saith Luther Luther viz. temptation prayer and meditation their hearts are alwayes to be inditing of a good matter Psal 45.1 that their tongues may be the pens of ready writers Plin. Nat. Hist when the people of Rome heard that the fields of some of their Colonies waxed barren their advice was that the Husbandmen should meliùs arare minùs serere plow better and sow lesse so when Gods field waxeth barren by reason of a negligent kind of preaching of the Word it were better such Preachers spent more time in meditation though they were lesse seen in the Pulpit than they are I speak only against frothy preaching if they have fished all night and caught nothing it were not amisse saith one Jer. Philip â— Serm. that they should sit down a while upon the shore and mend their nets afterwards with Gods blessing they may fish with better successe Paul exhorts Timothy to give attendance to reading to exhortation to doctrine Meditate saith he upon these things give thy self wholly to them that thy profiting may appear unto all 1 Tim. 4.13 15. Ministers and Scholars must diligently watch not only over the actions of their hands the wordes of their mouthes but also over the meditations of their minds because they of all men are most busied
with meditation they must meditate on that which is good and meditate upon truth Psal 2.1 lest they imagine a vain thing or meditate on heresie whereto all men by nature are prone which spreadeth it self so far 2 Tim. 2.17 and eateth aâ— doth a Gangreen 4. Meditation is an exercise that well becometh young men who are strong and vigorous Non sufficit operandi molestia nisi etiam accedat meditandi cogitandi considerandi ac deliberandi industria Musculus they are commanded to remember their Creatour in the dayes of their youth Eccles 12.1 In the morning of thy youth sow thy seed Eccles 11.6 And it may be observed that the wise man saith not in the years of thy youth but in the dayes of thy youth that is to cut off all occasions of delay Some idle headed Mathematician might have made an Almanack of it dividing it into four quarters allotting the first to idlenesse the second to wantonnesse the third to covetousnesse and the last if any to piety devotion and meditation but Solomon by requiring us to remember our Creatour in the dayes of our youth cuts off these idle divisions requiring the young man to spend the flower of his age in meditating on God Exod. 22.29 Exod. 24.19 Lâ—v. 23.10 Under the Law the first-born and the first fruits were to be sanctified to the Lord they must offer a sheaf of the first fruits not an handfull of the gleanings let us not think if we offer the flower of our youth to the Devil God will be contented with the bran of our old age he that is Alpha and Omega will have the beginning of our age and the strenâ—th of our affections and meditations devoted to himself Every man should likewise be carefull that his children may be so brought up as they may be fit to present unto the Lord betimes as Samuel was whom his mother offered to the Lord very young and who ministred before the Lord in his side-coats 1 Sam. 1.28 They which plant do it in the spring time youth is the spring time of ouâ— age the fittest for holy meditation and as a new earthen Pot retaineth thâ— sent of that whereof it first took a tastâ— so the mind being seasoned with piouâ— meditations in youth Quò semel est imbuta recens servabit odorem Testa diù will ever keeâ— the savour thereof though for wanâ— of experience the daughter of time a young man cannot attain to thaâ— height of wisdome in act whereunto those of riper years are grown yeâ— notwithstanding if he daily meditatâ— on God and his Word he will every day adde some augmentation foâ— now is he for vigour of mind and ability of body fittest to take pains and ablest to endure labour and study whereby wisdome is attained and increased by practice Wherewithall shalâ— a young man cleanse his way and bâ— brought to yeeld obedience to the Law oâ— God but by taking heed thereto according to the Word Psal 119.9 5. Meditation is an exercise for olâ— men as well as young As for holy meditations wherewith the soul is ravished and transported above thâ— cloudes they require not greaâ— bodily strength but on the contrarâ— when the good old man cannot without great pain stir hand or foot and lies bed-red he comforteth and cheareth uâ— his spirit with divine meditations fitting to his age Mons Goulart Viell and while debaucht and wicked wretches confound themselves in sinfull delights and carnall pleasures he is privately conversant with God gives great attention to him inwardly speaking unto him as one well observeth what though a holy man for age hath lost his bodily sight yet then may the eyes of his soul be opened to behold the wonderfull mysteries of heavenly knowledge the soul can then penetrate and enquire into things that be divine when the eye of the body is shut and seeth nothing with this Anthony the Hermit Sozom. l. 3 c. 14 said to Didymus the blind man of Alexandria a very devout and holy person and of singular learning as Sozomen reports of him Thou oughtst not friend Didymus to hold it grievous to have lost thy sight which Mice Linxes and other bruit beasts have very quick and piercing but rather to be glad and judge thy condition happy that thou hast eyes like the eyes of the holy Angels by whose help thou beholdest the Lord and dost perfectly see and discern the causes of his works What is the cause of the impatience and waywardnesse of many old men but this that they have forgotten those many and great favours which God hath bestowed upon them having mercifully drawn them out of their mothers belly tenderly brought them up protected them from infinite dangers upon the meditation whereof they will have great cause to praise God at all times as David exhorteth them by his example in the 34 71 and 1 18 Psalms Sect. 2. That meditation is constantly to be practised Now as meditation is to be practised by persons of all ranks and ages whatsoever so we are to be constant in it it is the character of a godly man that he meditateth in the Law oâ— God and exerciseth himself therein daâ— and night Psal 1.2 which must bâ— understood either literally and naturally for the presence and absence oâ— the Sun in our Hemisphere as Gen 1.16 or else morally for the time of prosperity and adversity as 2 Kings 7.19 Luke 2.11 in youth and age in all estates and conditions of this life as before hath been noted this duty ought every one to practise day by day without intermission no time so well spent as that Quocunque Deum nòn cogitaver is pura te tempus illud perdid sse Cassiodor in Psalm what time soever thou hast spent not thinking of God or godlinesse think that time but lost saith Cassiodorus this meditation so it be of good matters is an exceeding good companion it is as Tully said of friendship nunquam intempestiva nunquam otiosa never untimely never out of season or troublesome if we accustome our selves to it we may say as Scipio that we are nunquà m minùs otiosi quà m cùm otiosi nec minùs soli quà m cùm soli never lesse idle than when free from businesse and never lesse solitary than when we are alone and by our selves but this caveat at must alwayes be remembred viz. that we meditate on good matters as David speaks Quod animo insculptum est nisi cum vitâ eripi nòn potest Gass Severus Psal 45.1 for if by continuall meditation we make a deep impression of evil things on our minds we may say as Cassius Severus that what is printed on the mind is not easily extinguisht while life lasteth and therefore when his Books were burnt by the command of the Senate he is reported to have said Nùnc restat ut ipse comburerer qui ipsos edidici Now it remaineth that I also be burnt who have learnt them by
conscience hath a power of accusation meditate on it or thou art an Infidel The Book of nature hath God spread wide open and before us Seculum speculum that he that runs may read Austin calls the world Gods Book in folio every creature should be to us a page in this Book and every part of a creature a line in this Book How carefull should we be to take these things into our thoughts our Saviour saith Matth. 24.15 When ye shall see the abomination of desolation spâ—ken of by Daniel the Prophet stand in the holy place who so readeth let him understand So say I let him that readeth in this great Book of nature understand to what end these creatures were created even to the end that we might view them and in them glorâ—fie the Creatour And seeing God hath not only acquainted us in the grosse what he diâ— in generall but hath condescended sâ— far as to tell us what he did eveâ— day what he did the first day whâ— he did the second day c. I daâ— boldly affirm that it were very convenient and expedient every day to â— apart some time on that day to meditate on the works that were created â— that day it is as convenient a method as any I can imagine for it is following of God in the Creation this being considered together with thâ— dulnesse of our apprehensions anâ— how apt our thoughts are to turn asidâ— to vain and unprofitable objects thâ— order will be found to be very necessary I shall give you a tast of such kinds meditations from one of the dayes oâ— the week the first day of the weeâ— called the Lord's day on this day seâ— apart some time to meditate on thâ— works that were on that day created first the works of the evening thâ— the works of the morning 1. The works of the evening as the â—reating that huge body of the Heavens when we see that vast body and how God stretcheth out the Heavens as a curtain the greatnesse of the Heavens â—hould teach us to meditate on the greatnesse of the infinite Jehovah if â—he Heavens do so far exceed our â—houghts how great then is he whom â—he Heaven of Heavens are not able to contain if the earth be so glorious as â—t is in the spring time how unspeakably glorious are the Heavens which far â—xceed the earth and here we may â—dmire his greatnesse who was able to â—et up such a rich canopy and covering over the earth and here also let us meditate on the unspeakable goodnesse of God to man that he hath made for man not only a rich dwelling here beâ—ow but also provideth for him a dwelling place in the Heavens there â—o sit down with him in his Throne Rev. 3.20 That man that is but dust and ashes a lump of earth here below â—hould be exalted to the highest place of the Creation this should check us or our folly in suffering the earth to â—teal away our hearts from God as if there were no greater happinesse to bâ— had than here below what stupiâ— creatures are we to spend more time iâ— getting a few white and red pieces oâ— earth than in getting a glorious possession of the Kingdome of Heaven foâ— the attainment whereof we shoulâ— think no time too much no pains toâ— great no affections too strong Furthermore bring your meditations to the earth created on the samâ— day also that which yeelded matteâ— and stuffe for the making of all creâ—tures here below consider that thâ— earth was a formlesse lump before Goâ— beautified and adorned it it was â— meer nothing Painters can draw 〈◊〉 pictures without colours Architectâ— raise no buildings without materials and if you take away Marble or Poâ—phiry from Engravers they can carâ— neither Images nor Statues Senault Treat 5. disc 8. It is oâ— God that actuateth nothing that formeth being out of a non-entity as one well â—teth the earth receiveth its being â— beauty and all it hath from God The meditation hereof should â— suffer us to let any thing in the earâ— to withdraw our hearts from God â— sore God made the earth it was nothing â—ilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is â—ot Prov. 23.5 Why should that which is noâ—hing draw away our hearts from God who is full of all perfection the earth â—lso at first was a confused masse of â—hings without form and void Rudis indigestaque moles Ovid. this â—hould draw out from us this meditatiâ—n to make us to consider that we â—hat are of the earth are altogether polâ—uted in sin lying in our bloud our â—ouls being all stained with sin and without any form of holinesse and â—ighteousnesse yea void of all the saâ—ing graces of Gods Spirit In me â—aith Paul that is in my flesh there â—welleth no good thing and as darknesse was then upon the face of the deeâ— so â—arknesse is upon the face of our souls â— man may see hear read but can â—ave no true discerning of spirituall â—hings till the day-Star arise in his â—eart for spirituall blindnesse is upon â—he face of his soul Here then is condemned the folly of â—hose that think ignorance the mother â—f devotion but while men remain in â—heir naturall blindnesse they can perâ—rm no pleasing service to God blind services may be acceptable to â— Prince of darknesse God made Heaven for himself principally the earth for us let us consider our condition by Creation affection disposition then shall we say with Abraham we are but earth dust and ashes Gen. 18.27 but they are abominable to the Father of lights ligâ— was the first thing that God maâ— in the Creation and when there wâ—â— light the earth lay for some dayes dead and senslesse lump and could nâ— so much as bring forth one grasse oâ— herb till the Spirit of God moved â— on the face of the waters so in â— new Creation when there is soâ— light wrought in the understandinâ— yet canst thou not bring forth one pleâ—sant fruit of holinesse till the Spirit God flutter over thee and by a divinâ— heat and warmth move and stir thâ— soul and enable thee to perform aâ—ceptable obedience to God 2. I come to the work of the moâ—ing then he created the light on thâ— first day of the week commanding tâ—â— light to shine out of darknesse now us set apart some time to meditate this excellent creature the light which the glory of God is greatly mâ—nifest there was nothing before â— utter darknesse then the Lord creaâ— the light without the Sun in wâ— the power of God is admirable should greatly wonder at midnight to see a great light to shine forth and expell the darknesse of the night this may lead us to this meditation that as God caused on this first day of the week light to arise and break out of darknesse so on this first day of the week also he caused his own Son the light of the world to arise out of
the grave of darknesse who shined through many dark thoughts and apprehensions into the hearts of his disconsolate Disciples for his own Disciples did then â—egin to doubt We trusted said they â—hat it had been he which should have redeemed Israel Luk. 24.21 Here also we may meditate on the excellency of heavenly knowledge that wisdome â—xcelleth folly Eccl. 2.13 even as light excelleth darkâ—esse Light is comfortable and sweet it â— to behold the light of the Sun Eccl. 11.7 Darknesse makes men sad and timeâ—ous so wisdome makes a man's face â—o shine but ignorance is uncomfortaâ—e light manifesteth things as they â—e but darknesse hides them light â—stinguisheth one thing from another â—rknesse confounds things all alike so â—nowledge gives us a right discerning of things but ignorance overwhelms us with horrour and amazement light directs a man in his way but darknesse misguids him so wisdome shews us the true way whereas the ignorant wander in by-paths and fall into the bottomlesse pit I shall conclude this Section Clamant dupliciter 1. Ostendunt dignitatem 2. Ostendunt bonitatem Quocunque te vertis veritas vestigiis quibusdam quae operibus suis impressit loquitur tibi te in exteri ora relabentem ipsis exteriorum formis intùs revocat Aug. de libero arbitrio with that meditation of Austin Heaven and earth saith he and all things therein contained do make a continuall cry round about me that I should love thee O Lord they shew thy worthynesse and declare thy bounty such a world such Heavens such an Ocean such an earth such earthly creatures insensible sensible reasonable and all wonderfully framed Lord how mighty how wonderfull how wise art thou that madest them and therefore worthy our love and being thus made thus to blesse to continue to encrease tâ— multiply them yea more to fill us with them and therefore thy bounty thy super abundant bounty must needs make us to loâ— thee Sect. 2. Of meditating on the Word of Goâ— The second subject of meditatâ— that I shall lay before you is the Woâ—â— of God The second subject of meditation the Word of God It is said of the godly â— that he meditateth in the Law of God night and day Psal 1.2 How often doth David professe he will meditate in God's statutes Psal 119.48 Psal 119 97 and it was his practice vers 23. The Law of God was his meditation all the day long Meditation fastens the Word upon the heart the soul for want of meditation retaineth but little spirituall food the Word of God by holy meditating upon it produceth the same effects upon our souls as Manna Manna nò◠solum sanitatem sed animum Judaeis conferebat Josephus did upon the Israelites for some Writers say that it restored health infused strength and inspired courage into them that they owed those formidable victories they gained from their enemies to this meat that came down from Heaven so pious meditation on the Word changeth the qualities of men making them of a sound mind producing courage and assurance in the hearts of those that before were full of weaknesse fears and doubtings the Devils fly such men who lodge the Word of God the sword of the Spirit in their souls beholding their Judge seated in their hearts as upon his Throne this heavenly bread it was that animated the Martyrs to the flames that gave them courage to daunt their executioners the same food that nourisheth them defends them and that which cures their maladies subdues their enemies its strength no way hinders its sweetnesse there are charms in it that make it pleasant to every Palate that by faith and meditation tasteth thereof 1. Meditate on the transcendency of the Word that it is a transcendent rule of holinesse every Nation hath its Laws and there is none so barbarous whom nature or custome hath not furnisht with some polity the Greeks lived according to the Laws of their sages the Romans followed the twelve Tables and those that had neither Kings nor Lawgivers had the Law of nature for their guid the Jews were governed by the Law of Moses chiefly by the Law of the two Tables Senault Treat 7. disc 5. which if it gave them not strength enough to resist sin it gave them light enough to know and avoid it as one well noteth for saith the Apostle By the Law cometh the knowledge of sin now the whole Word of God both Law and Gospel is a most transcendent and most holy rule God is holy in his works but most holy in his Word Psal 138.2 in it shineth the purity of his nature not capable of the least imperfection the Angels though as fine gold yet are unclean in his sight saith Bernard Bernard how much more the sons of men who are but clods of earth and worms this meditation makes the holiest man to tremble at his presence and cry out with the Prophet that he is undone they that by derivation from him are most holy in comparison with him are most unholy saith Austin yea the Angels themselves when they draw near unto him cover both their feet and faces if Angels that stand at the Mercy-seat do tremble oh what shall sinners do that stand at the bar of justice 2 Meditate on the exactnesse of the Word of God the Law forbids all sin commands all obedience every passage in the life of man is ordered in it as Theodoret observeth of the Ceremoniall Law and the furniture of the Tabernacle that every particular thereof was exactly prescribed by God Theodoret. now if the Ceremoniall Law were so accurate and precise how strict is the Law of Morall holinesse the Law of the Lord is perfect we read that the measures and weights of the Sanctuary were double as much as the ordinary measures a man's actions may carry weight and be allowed among men in common conversation Aug. which will be found too light being weighed in the ballance of the Sanctuary of God saith Austin bring we our actions to this standard and our defects will soon be discovered and that which will seem warrantable and commendable before men will appear sinfull and abominable before the Lord. 3. Meditate on the spirituality of God's Word it requireth exactnesse of soul and spirit it aweth the thoughts and judgeth of externall actions according to the heart I the Lord search the heart to give to every man according to his works Jer. 17.10 The naturall heart it may be will be content with Herod to do many good things so he may have a dispensation in one raigning sin and it may be to suffer a little to do penance with a Papist and then sin again this it could brook well enough but to be restrained in every thing this flesh and bloud cannot endure but whatsoever liberty the flesh can desire whether in thinking speaking or doing contrary to that duty which belongeth to a man's place as he is inferiour or
superiour to others or contrary to the good of the persons or chastity or good name of others though it be but in secret corruption or secret working of heart still the Word of God doth oppose it in every thing the Pharisees forbad the outward act of uncleannesse but the Law of God forbids the impurity of the thoughts they make the Law like John Baptist who had a leathern girdle about his loins but the Gospel represents Christ to have a golden girdle about his Paps they represented only the first risings and motions of sin this makes the Saints mourn for the first conceptions of sin though they prove abortive saith Chrysostome Chrysost making them to pray with David to be purged and freed from secret sins and sinfull cogitations 4. Meditate upon the operativenesse of the Word it is not a dead letter but hath a quick power in it to work upon the heart the Spirit of God accompanies it making it active and mighty in operation as in the frame of a man's body under every vein there runs an artery full of spirits so under every vein of truth in the Word of God there is an artery of Spirit quickning searching cutting discovering condemning What 's the reason most mens spirits rise up against the Word it is because as the Elephant troubleth the waters before he drinketh that he may not see his ugly visage so the Word of God troubleth the mind of a sinner it terrifies his conscience making his sin appear very sinfull to him it makes a man a burden to himself these spectacles are too true for the sinners false eyes Ahab cannot endure to talk with Michajah nor meet with Elijah men can endure the generalities of the Word well enough but when it comes near them toucheth their Copyhold corrupt hearts run away from it because for want of serious meditation they are unacquainted with the spirituall nature of the Word of God Oh study I pray thee â—regor Moral saith Gregory and daily meditate on the words of thy Creatour and learn the mind of God in his Word that thou maist look up to eternall things for so much shall thy rest be the greater in Heaven by how much the more it hath been even now from the love of thy Creatour here on earth Sect. 3. Of meditating on Man The third subject of meditation is man his Creation his body his soul his priviledges his Creation his body his soul his priviledges Man cometh in the next place as a fit subject for our meditation and consideration man was the last of God's creatures as the end of his Creation all made for him and all represented in him the rest by his word commanding whereas his body by his hand-working and his soul by his breath-quickning became alive and here let us meditate first on man's Creation who is as Plato saith Plato the miracle of all miracles and as it were the soul of this world and you will see how every circumstance sheweth the Creatours goodnesse and man 's many obligations Let us begin with the meditation of man's body which is as one saith More 's demonstrat the pattern of the universall world 1. Meditate on the provision God made for man before he made him God sets up an house and furnisheth it then puts man into this house ready furnisht to his hand other things are but as essayes of God's power man the perfection Adam the last of all God's works and the Lord and soveraign over them under his soveraign Lord Heaven would have nothing wanting to man that he might wholly mind the things of Heaven 2. Meditate on God's proceeding hereunto the Father as it were calls a Councell God deliberateth upon the enterprize of this work and the Councell is held in the conclave of the most holy Trinity Let us make man Gen. 1.26 Adam is businesse for the whole Trinity all were imployed about this creature to the end that being created he might be wholly imployed about the service of God 3. Meditate on the form of man's body God hath neither made us to lye along on the earth as beasts â—truth Obserâ—at 36. Cent. 2. or stick on it as trees but by upright stature set our head to Heaven and our feet to the earth as one observeth Os homini sublime dedit coelumque videre Ovid. Jussit erectos ad sidera tollere vultus God with a lofty look did man endew And made him Heavens transcendent glory view God hath given us an upright stature not like other creatures that look downwards to the earth to teach us to look up to Heaven by holy meditations and to look up to the hills whence our salvation cometh our face is toward Heaven to teach us that our hearts should not be nuzzeling in the earth man hath one muscle in his eyes more than any other creature which may teach him still to look up toward Heaven 4. Meditate on the matter of man's Creation Ad coelestia magis rapiatur ad terrestria minùs capiatur Columella l. 5. c. 9. Ecce pulchrum lapidem putre cadaver tegentem Gasp. in Heraclito Homo bis creatus 1. Seminaliter seu causaliter 2. Formaliter seu visibiliter Aug. de Genes he was made of the dust of the earth so as howsoever we appear beautifull and amiable in the eye of man which is fixt only on the externall part yet when the oyl of our lamp is consumed and we reduced again to our first originall matter there will be left us no better Epitaph than this Behold here a spetious shrine covering a stinking corps man is twice created saith St Augustine Seminally or causally Formally or visibly The first according to his soul the second according to his body man's body of earth doth represent whatsoever is between Heaven and earth yea the very Heavens themselves are figured all naturall causes contained and their severall effects produced therein The three Heavens are resembled by the body of man the lower serving for generation and nutriment are like the lowest Heaven within the compasse whereof the elements are found for as from them all beasts plants trees and other things have being receive nourishment growth motion and sense so of four humours there engendered all the members are made fed moved and augmented the same agreeing in nature and number with the elements and producing effects in all answerable to them the upper part which is the seat of the heart may be compared to the middle Heaven the eighth sphere wherein the Stars are fixt which holding one even and constant motion giveth light and life to the world beneath through its rayes and comfortable influences so the heart being still in motion preserveth the whole body in life and health by sending forth the vitall spirits dispersing themselves into all the parts by veins and arteries Lastly the head the highest part of the body and noblest seat of the soul where she acteth
degustabis and let this meditation chear the Saints of God how little soever they are in the worlds eye that one day they shall sit upon Thrones though now they lye among the Pots and like Job upon the dunghill yet one day they shall be gathered with Princes with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords therefore we should not think our selves Citizens of the world as the Heathen Philosophers did but Burgesses of Heaven as all the faithfull have done as Paul professeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our City-like conversation is in Heavâ—n Phil. 3.20 and then let us cry out Quousque Domine How long Lord make hast make no long tarrying Lord thou hast been the strength and food of all that travell by the way Cibus viatorum salus beatorum Fulgent so be now the Crown and glory of all that are come to the end of their way Chap. 9. Of timing our Meditations in the best manner 1. It is good to begin every year with holy meditations men usually handsell the year with some new-years gifts let us look higher even to God certainly this is our best newyears gift to give a heart to God fraught with heavenly meditations To this purpose such meditations as these are usefull namely to try one year by another whether grace thrive or decay in us to see according to our years what progresse we have made in the way to Heaven if for every year of our life we are passed a station of the wildernesse of this world to the heavenly Canaan if as our outward man decayes our inner man be renewed day by day it is of great advantage to Christians to begin the year with such meditations and better it is to fill our minds with these than our bellies with dainty food this work of meditation is a part of our yearly Rent to be paid to God every new year we renew the lease of our lives again of God and therefore pious meditations are a task answerable to such a time the new man in the beginning of the new-year is to meditate on his over year sins and heartily bewail them and repent of them to meditate on the renewing his Covenant with God for new obedience and according to the work of grace in him to strengthen his communion with God 2. It is good also to begin every day with meditation In the morning sow thy seed Eccles 11.6 Psal 130.6 David's meditations did prevent the morning watch his soul was flying to Heaven before the Sun was up or the morning got out of its bed and saith he Psal 139.18 When I awake I am still with thee to which Ambrose Ambros in Psal 36. It is good to set our souls in order every morning perfuming our spirits with some holy meditations Dr Sibs alluding saith Let a devoted spirit prevent the morning that it may be enlightned by Christ before the earth be illuminated by the rising of the Sun We bend our heart to God in the morning when we lift our heart to God and give him our first thoughts and affections then shall he fill us with his mercies in the morning that we may rejoyce all the day long Cicer. Tusc quaest l. 4. Demosthenes was troubled that a Smith should be at his Anvil before himself could be at his Study much more should it grieve us to be prevented by them Season your minds in the morning with such meditations as these 1. Meditate on the great favour which God hath vouchsafed to thee the night past and if thou hast not remembred God upon thy bed nor thy reins instructed thee in the night season and if God hath not been in all thy thoughts think of humbling thy self before him and crave his pardon 2. In the morning meditate thus with thy self this day is given me to give all diligence to make my calling and election sure to obtain eternall life to take a firm resolution to imploy my whole life to that purpose and to think seriously of the reckoning I must give to God 3. Meditate upon what affairs thou maist meet with the day following as helps or hindrances to thee in God's service use the best means offered to promote thy service of God and think how thou maist carefully resist and overcome whatever is contrary to God's glory and thy salvation 4. Meditate how unable thou art to perform any pious resolutions be they either to shun the evil or do the thing that is good and offer up thy heart in the morning with all thy holy purposes to the heavenly Majesty praying him to take it and them into his gracious protection 5. Think with thy self every morning this day for ought that I know may be my last day how ought I then so to spend this day as though death were presently to arrest me By these or the like morning meditations all that shall be done the day after may be bedewed with the blessing of Heaven As in the morning you are to take a spirituall repast by meditation so in the evening 't is necessary to take a devout and spirituall collation Isaac in my Text went out in the evening to meditate One adviseth that meditation be our key to open the morning and our lock to close the evening withall Get a little leisure after all your wordly imployments to call up your spirits to the consideration of some holy object which thou maist present to thy self simply by an inward cast of thy thought kindling the fire of meditation in thy heart by a few holy inspirations and ejaculations to the Lord either in repeating what thou hast best relished in thy morning meditations or by some other as thou best likest Now such meditations as these in the evening before our going to bed may not be unprofitable 1. To meditate on God's great goodnesse in preserving thee the day before from many troops of dangers that lay in ambuscado against thee 2. To meditate and examine thy self how thou hast carried thy self in every part of the day which to do the more easily you are to consider with whom and in what imployments you have been busied 3. If a man hath done any good to think of praising God for it if any ill in thought word or deed to be humbled and ask pardon for it with a resolution carefully to amend it 4. So to end the day in holy duties that by our morning exercise we may open the windows of our souls to the Sun of righteousnesse and going to take such rest as is necessary for us we shut them up against the Prince of darknesse Meditation is also a good night companion David would remember God upon his bed and meditate on him in the night watches Psal 63.6 Mine eyes prevent the night watches that I might meditate in thy Word Psal 119.148 The night saith Chrysostome Chrysost ad popul Antioch Hom. 42. was not made to this purpose that we should sleep all the time and lye lolling on