from me but ye gave me no meat Why were the foolish Virgins shut out They had done no hurt they had not broken their lamps I but they took no oyle in their lamps Matth. 25.3 Their wanting oyle was the indightment therefore let not any man build his hope for heaven upon negatives This is building upon the sand the sand is bad to build on it will not ceament * Arena est terra sterilis minuta grana ejus non cohaerent being ex materia friabili but suppose a man should finish an house upon it what is the issue the flood comes viz. persecution and the force of this flood will drive away the sand and make the house fall and the winde blows the breath of the Lord as a mighty winde will blow such a sandy building into hell Be afraid then to rest in the privative part of Religion launch forth further be eminently holy So I come to the next words but his delight is in the Law of the Lord * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theodoret in loc and in his Law doth he meditate day and night CHAP. II. What is meant by the Law of God what by delight in the Law and the proposition resulting THe words give us a twofold description of a godly man First He delights in Gods Law Secondly he meditates in Gods Law I begin with the first His delight is in the Law of the Lord The great God hath graffed the affection of delight in every creature it hath by the instinct of nature something to delight it self in * Ovis frondem cervus fontem Canis leporem Pylades sectatur Orestem Now the true Saint not by instinction but divine inspiration makes the Law of God his delight This is the badge of a Christian ejus oblectatio in lege Jehovae his delight is in the Law of the Lord. A man may work in his trade and not delight in it either in regard of the difficulty of the work or the smalnesse of the income but a godly man serves God with delight 'T is his meat and drink to do his will For the Explication of the words it will be enquired 1. What is meant by the Law of the Lord. This word Law * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may be taken either more strictly or more largely 1. More strictly for the Decalogue or ten Commandments 2. More largely 1. For the whole written Word of God * Musculus Diodat * Tota dectrina a Deo patefacta Ecclesiae tradita Mollerus 2. For those truths which are deducted from the Word and do concenter in it 3. For the whole businesse of Religion which is the counterpane of Gods Law and agrees with it as the transcript with the original The word is a setting forth and Religion is a shewing forth of Gods Law I shall take this word in its full latitude and extent 2. What is meant by delight in Gods Law The Hebrew and Septuagint * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 both render it his will is in the Law of the Lord * Plus valet consouantia voluntatum quà m vocum Bern. Serm. sup salve Regina and that which is voluntary is delightful a gracious heart serves God from a principle of ingenuity he makes Gods Law not only his task but his recreation upon this Scripture-stock I shall graffe this Proposition Dost Doct. That a child of God though he cannot serve the Lord perfectly yet he serves him willingly His will is in the Law of the Lord he is not a prest souldier but a volunteer * Quia Deus cor quaerit cor intus inspicit testis est judex approbator adjutor coronator sufficit ut offeras voluntatem Aug. in Ps by the beating of this pulse we may judge whether there be spiritual life in us or no. David professeth Gods Law was his delight Psalme 119.77 he had his crown to delight in he had his musick to chear him but the love he had to Gods Law did drown all other delights as the joy of harvest and vintage exceeds the joy of gleaning I delight in the Law of God saith Saint Paul in the inner man Rom. 7.22 the Greek word is I take pleasure * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Law of God is my recreation and it was an heart-delight * 't was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the inner man * 2 Cor. 5.12 a wicked man may have joy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the face* 2 Cor. 5.12 like honey-dew that wets the leaf but the wine of Gods Spirit chears the heart Paul delighted in the Law in the inner man CHAP. III. Whence the Saints spiritual delight springeth THe Saints delight in the Law of God proceeds 1. From soundnesse of judgement The minde apprehends a beauty in Gods Law now the judgement as the primum mobile draws the affections like so many orbes after it The Law of God is perfect * Lex Dei integra Hierom. Pagnin Absoluta consummata cui nihil desit Fabrit in Psalm Psalme 19.7 it needs not be eeked out with traditions The Hebrew word for perfect 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seemes to allude to a perfect entire body that wants none of the members or lineaments Gods Law must needs be perfect for it is able to make us wise to salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 The Septuagint renders it The Law of the Lord is pure 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Septuagint like beauty that hath no staine or wine that is clarified and refined The soul that looks into this Law seeing so much lustre and perfection cannot but delight in it The middle lamp of the Sanctuary being lighted from the fire of the Altar gave light to all the other Lamps So the judgement being lighted from the Word it sets on fire the lamps of the affections 2. This holy delight ariseth from the predominancy of grace When grace comes with authority and Majesty upon the heart it fils it with delight naturally we have no delight in God Job 21.14 Therefore they say unto God depart from us for we desire not the knowledge of they wayes nay there is not only a dislike but antipathy sinners are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 haters of God Rom. 1.30 Rom. 1.30 but when grace comes into the heart O what a chang is there Grace preponderates it files off the rebellion of the will it makes a man of another spirit * Josh 14.24 It turnes the lion-like fiercenesse into a dove-like sweetnesse it changeth hatred into delight Grace puts a new by as into the will it works a spontaneity and cheerfulnesse in Gods service Thy people shall be a willing people in the day of thy power Psalme 110.3 3. This holy delight in Religion is from the sweetness of the end Well may we with cheerfulnesse let down the net of our endeavour when we have so excellent a draught Heaven at the end of duty causeth delight in the
THE SAINTS Delight To which is annexed a TREATISE of MEDITATION By THOMAS WATSON Minister of Stephens Walbrook in the City of LONDON Valida est ut mors dilectio Dei sicur mors violenter separat animas à corpore ita dilectio Dei violenter segregat hominem à mundano amore Isidor I will delight my self in thy statutes Ps 119.16 Imprimatur EDM. CALAMY LONDON Printed by T. R. E.M. for Ralph Smith at the Bible in Corn-hill near the Royal Exchange 1657. To his loving Friends the Aldermen the Esquires and the rest of the Inhabitants of the Parish of Stephens Walbrook in the City of London Honoured and Beloved MY hearts desire for you is that you may be saved It hath been a long time in my thoughts after the many signal demonstrations of your love to me to shew my gratefulnesse in a way of retaliation Such as I have give I you * Gratius venit quod facili quam quod plena manu datur Seneca I do here Dedicate this Manual to you as a standing Testimonial of that real respect and zealous affection which I bear towards you The subject of it you will finde to be a Christians delight * Nec sine delectu nec intellectu Costerus in Psal 1. and meditation in Gods Law I have purposely for your sakes laid down several heads or particulars for your meditations to dilate and runne upon as the attributes the promises the love of Christ c. If he who by often looking on a Ring with a deaths head at last grew sober who knows but by often meditating on these things your hearts may be brought into a more serious and heavenly frame Meditation is a holy kinde of usury it is putting out Sermons to use which brings in no small profit at the yeares end Meditation is a duty which carries meat in the mouth of it My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatnesse while I meditate on thee Psalme 63.4 5. There is little written so farre as I know upon this subject Most Discourses of this nature digresse into ejaculations I have with the help of God cut out my way thorough the rock not finding any path that others had gone in before me so that I have not offered that to you which cost me nothing for the stile of it it is plaine but truth when it is in the plainest dresse is most comely The star shines brightest in its native lustre Divinity hath so much intrinsecal beauty that it needs no art of wit or fancy to set it off Who goes to embroyder a pearl or paint over gold this would but imbase and eclipse it It is a signe of a wanton Christian to look most at the fringing and garnishing of a Truth I wish it be not the sin of many in this City they like the dressing but loath the food The blew flowers which grow among the corn make a fine shew and are pleasing to the eye yet are prejudicial to the Harvest Rhetorical flourishes may please the fancies of men but I much question whether they will not lessen Christs spiritual barvest at the end of the world When men preach rather words than matter they catch peoples ears not their soules they do but court not convert If the patients wound bleeds nay rankles it is better for him to have a deep incision made in the flesh than to binde it about with silk or dress it with aromatick oyntments True it is Ministers ought to cloath the truths they preach in decent expressions to preserve them from contempt though they must come in plainnesse of speech not in rudenesse of speech But let them take heed lest with their affected new-coynd phrases unsutable to that gravity the Apostle speaks of * Tit. 2.7 they adulterate and corrupt the simplicity of the Word like some kind of sauces and compounds which take away the natural taste and savour of the meat As for you my friends I hope the Lord hath given at least some of you a spiritual pallate to rellish and thirst after 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the sincere milk of the Word 1 Pet. 2.2 A savoury heart is for wholsome doctrine How glad should I be dear friends if I might either by preaching or writing become savingly instrumental for your good and before I die might help to make up an happy match between Christ and you * 2 Cor. 11.2 I blesse God that I see some of you walking in the truth 2 John 4. when so many in the world are marching apace towards hell But O that I might see an encrease of holinesse among you that more converts might be brought in and as so many jewels make the Crown of Christ shine the brighter do not hearken to the Syrene songs of the world the sins you commit in hast you will repent at leasure sugred poisons go down pleasantly but afterwards they wring and torment the bowels Let me earnestly beseech you to put a bill of divorce into the hand of your sins let not Error gangrene lust burn malice boyle pride swell intemperance overflow covetousnesse root in any of your souls Purge out the old leaven and as ever you expect to go to the new Jerusalem when you die become new creatures while you live Rest not in baptismal priviledges all are not Israel which are of Israel * Rom. 9.6 what is a man the better to have Christs Name upon him and Satans image What is he advantaged to have the Oracles of God and want the Spirit of God Think not that an empty profession will save millions will be sent to hell in Christs livery * Mat. 7.22 Matth. 8.12 Oh labour to know the grace of God in truth * Col. 1.6 The Lord hath been at much cost and charges with you to bring you near to himself let not God be a looser by you Pindar saith it was an opinion of the people in ancient times that Jupiter rain'd down gold upon the City of Rhodes Give me leave to apply it to you God hath rain'd down golden showers upon you What mercies hath he enrich'd you with what talents hath he entrusted you with your estate is a talent your health in these sickly times especially is a talent your Sanctuary-blessings are talents every motion of the Spirit every opportunity for heaven is a talent and nothing more sure than that you will be called to an account shortly * Marth 25 19 20 now if you have let your talents lie rusting and done no good with them the hiding your talents will not hide your sin expect an heavy doome Think not these things impertinencies Be not so evil as to be too good to be advised I confesse my felf with Ignatius the least of all that labour in Gods vineyard but though I am with you in weaknesse yet as the Apostle saith in much trembling * 1 Cor. 2.3 I tremble to think how sad it will be if any of
an high estimate upon the Word what the judgement prizeth the affections embrace he that values gold will delight in it we are apt through a principle of Atheisme to entertaine slight thoughts of Religion therefore our affections are so slight David prized Gods Statutes at a high rate more to be desired are they than gold yea than much fine gold Psal 19.10 and hence grew that enflamed love to them I will delight my selfe in thy Statutes Psal 119.16 2. Pray for a spiritual heart an earthly heart will not delight in spiritual mysteries the earth puts out the fire Earthlinesse destroys holy delight get a spiritual pallate that you may rellish the sweetnesse of the Word He that tastes the sweetness of honey will delight in it If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious 1 Pet. 2.3 'T is not enough to hear a Sermon but you must taste a Sermon 't is not enough to read a promise but you must taste a promise when you have gotten this spiritual pallate then Gods Word will be to you the joy and rejoycing of your heart * Jer. 15.16 3. If you would delight in the Law of God purge out the delight of sinne sinne will poyson this spiritual delight If you would have Gods Law sweet let not wickednesse be sweet in your mouth Job 20.12 When sinne is your burden Christ will be your delight CHAP. IX Holy delight should cause thankfulnesse Use 5 WHat cause have they to be thankful who can find this spiritual delight in God Thankfulnesse How did David blesse God that he gave the people hearts to offer so chearfully to the building of the Temple Who am I and what is my people that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort 2 Chron. 29.14 Their willingnesse was more than their offering so should a Christian say Lord when there are so many prest souldiers who am I that I should offer so willingly Who am I that I should have thy free Spirit should serve thee rather out of choice than constraint 't is a great blessing to have this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this promptitude and alacrity in Gods service Delight doth animate and spirit duty now we act to purpose in Religion Christians are never drawn so powerfully and sweetly as when the chaine of delight is fastened to their heart * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrysost Without this all is lost our praying and hearing is like water spilt upon the ground It loseth both its beauty and reward then blesse God Christian who hath oyl'd the wheeles of thy soule with delight and now thou canst run and not be weary For thy comfort be assur'd thou shalt not want any thing thy heart can desire Psal 37.4 Delight thy self in the Lord and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart A CHRISTIAN On the Mount OR A TEATISE concerning MEDITATION Wherein the necessity usefulnesse excellency of Meditation is at large discussed By THOMAS WATSON Minister of Stephens Walbrook in the City of LONDON Meditate upon these things 1 Tim. 4.15 I thought on my wayes and turned my feet unto thy Testimonies Psal 119.59 Amans Deum sublimia petit sumptis alis relicta terra in coelum volat Philo. lib. de victimis LONDON Printed by T. R. E. M. for Ralph Smith at the Bible in Corn-hill near the Royal Exchauge 1657. PSAL. 1.2 And in his Law doth he meditate day and night HAving led you through the chamber of delight I will now bring you into the withdrawing room of Meditation In his Law doth he meditate day and night CHAP. I. The opening of the words and the proposition asserted GRace breeds delight in God and delight breeds Meditation A duty wherein consists the essentials of Religion and which nourisheth the very life blood of it and that the Psalmist may shew how much the godly man is habituated and inured to this blessed work of Meditation he subjoynes in his Law doth he meditate day and night * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not but that there may be sometimes intermission God allows time for our calling he grants some relaxation but when it is said the godly man meditates day and night the meaning is frequently he is much conversant in the duty 'T is a command of God to pray without ceasing * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 These 5.17 The meaning is not that we should be alwayes praying as the Euchites held but that we should every day set some time apart for prayer so Drusius and others interpret it We read in the old Law it was called the continual sacrifice * Juge sacrificium Num. 28.24 not that the people of Israel did nothing else but sacrifice but because they had their stated houres every morning and evening they offered therefore it was called the continual sacrifice thus the godly man is said to meditate day and night that is he is often at this work he is no stranger to meditation The Proposition that results out of the Text is this Doct. That a good Christian is a meditating Christian Psalme 119.15 I will meditate in thy precepts 1 Tim. 4.15 Meditate upon these things Meditation is the chewing upon the truths we have heard The beasts in the old Law that did not chew the cud were uncleane the Christian that doth not by meditation chew the cud is to be accounted unclean Meditation is like the watering of the seed it makes the fruits of grace flourish For the illustration of the point there are several things to be discussed 1. I shall shew you what meditation is 2. That meditation is a duty 3. The difference between meditation and memory 4. The difference between meditation and study 5. The subject of meditation 6. The necessitie of meditation CHAP. II. Shewing the nature of Meditation IF it be enquired what meditation is I answer What meditation is meditation is the souls retiring of it selfe that by a serious and solemne thinking upon God the heart may be raised up to heavenly affections This description hath three branches 1. Meditation is the souls retiring of it self a Christian when he goes to meditate must lock up himselfe from the world The world spoiles meditation Christ went apart into the Mount to pray Mat. 14.23 So go apart when you are to meditate Isaac went out to meditate in the field Gen. 24.63 he sequestred and retired himself that he might take a walk with God by meditation Zacheus had a minde to see Christ and he got out of the crowd He ran before and climbed up into a sycamore-tree to see him Luke 19.3 4. So when we would see God we must get out of the crowd of worldly businesse we must climb up into the tree by retirednesse of meditation and there we shall have the best prospect of heaven The worlds musick will either play us asleep or distract us in our meditations When a more is gotten into the eye it
one who was digging in his garden and on a sudden made King and a purple garment richly embroydered with gold put upon him so shall it be done to the poorest beleever he shall be taken from his labouring work and set at the right hand of God * Injectaci vestis purpura auroque distincta Curtius having the Crown of righteousnesse upon his head * Mat. 25.33 Statuet oves ad dextram O in effabile gaudium in beat is glorificatis qui ad dextram Christi sistent astituri ipsi ut subditi screnissimo suo principi ut filii benignissimo suo patri ut regale sacerdotium gratiosissimo suo pontifici mater solomonis fuit ad dextram regis in Throno posita 1 King 2.19 O vero quam caduca haec etsi regia majestas in novissimo autem die vere magnifica gloriosa erit constitutio ad dextram solomonis coelestis desiderium cordis plenissime illis dabit apponet capiti eorum diadema auri * Ps 21.3 Solom Classius Exeg 4. Meditate often on this Jerusalem above The meditation of heaven would 1. Excite and quicken obedience It would put spurs to our sluggish hearts and make us abound in the work of God knowing that our labour is not in vaine in the Lord 1 Cor. 15.58 The weight of glory would not hinder us in our race but cause us to runne the faster this weight would adde wings to duty 2. The meditation of heaven would make us strive after heart-purity because onely the pure in heart shall see God Matth. 5.8 't is only a cleare eye can look upon a bright transparent object 3. The meditation of Heaven would be a pillar of support under our sufferings heaven will make amends for all One houres being in heaven will make us forget all our sorrows the Sunne dries up the water one beame of Gods glorious face will dry up all our tears SECT 14. THe fourteenth subject of meditation is Meditate on eternity Meditate upon eternity Some of the Ancients have compared it to an intellectual sphere whose centre is every where and circumference no where Eternity to the godly is a day which hath no Sun-setting and to the wicked a night which hath no Sun-rising Eternity is a gulf which may swallow up all our thoughts Meditate on that Scripture Matth. 25.46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment but the righteous into life eternal 1. Meditate upon eternal punishment the bitter cup the damned drink of shall never passe away from them The sinner and the furnace shall never be parted Gods vial of wrath will be alwayes dropping upon a wicked man When you have reckon'd up so many myriads and millions of years nay ages as have passed the bounds of all Arithmitick Eternity is not yet begun This word EVER breaks the heart Horaque erit tantis ultima nulla malis Cogita centum millia annorum cogita decies centena millia annorum cogita mille milliones annorum immo seculorum nondum inchoasti aeternum Cornel. de Lap. Think of this all you that forget God If the tree fall hell-ward so it lies to all eternity Paenae gehennales torquent non extorquent puniunt non finiunt corpora Prosper Prosper Now is the time of Gods long-suffering 2 Pet. 3.9 after death will be the time of the sinners long-suffering when he shall suffer the vengeance of Eternall fire Jude 7. Si Deus diceret damnatis impleatur terra arena minutissima it a ut totus orbis hisce arenae granulis sit repleta à terra usque ad coelum Empyraeum mille simo quoque anno angelus veniat dematque ex hoc arenae â—umulo unum granulum eumque post tot millenarios annorum quot sunt granula ea exhauserit liberabo vos a gehenna O quam exultarent damnati at vero post omnes hos millenarios restant alii alii millenarii in infinitum in aeternum ultra Drexel 2. Meditate upon life eternal * Eternitas Est interminabilis vitae tota simul perfectâ— possessio Bâ—â—â—ius l. 5 de Consol Philosoph prosa 6. The soul that is once landed at the heavenly shore is past all stormes The glorified soul shall be for ever bathing it self in the rivers of pleasure Psalme 16. ult This is that which makes heaven to be heaven We shall be ever with the Lord. 1 Thes 4.17 Austin saith Lord I am content to suffer any paines and torments in this world if I might see thy face one day but alas were it onely for a day and then to be ejected heaven it would rather be an aggravation of misery but this word ever with the Lord is very accumulative and makes up the garland of glory A state of eternity is a state of security * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theodoret. O vita vitalis vita sempiterna sempiterne beata ubi gaudium sine merore requies sine labore sanitas sine languore opes sine amissione perpetuitas sine corruptione Aug. Manuali cap. 7. de gaud The meditation of eternity would 1. Make us very serious in what we do Zeuxes being ask'd why he was so long about a picture answered aeternitati pingo I paint for eternity The thoughts of an irreversible condition after this life would make us pray and heare as for eternity Vive Deo vive aeternitati 2. The meditation of eternity would make us over-look present things as flitting and fading What is the world to him that hath eternitie in his eye * Eterniâ— inhianti fastidio sunt transitâ—ria Bern. Epist 3. 'T is but minutissima pars puncti * Simonides which as the Mathematicians say is just nothing He that thinks of eternitie will despise the pleasures of sinne for a season * Heb. 11.25 3. The meditation of eternity would be a meanes to keep us from envying the wickeds prosperity Here they ruffle it in their â—ilks but what is this to eternity as long as there is such a thing as eternity God hath time enough to reckon with all his enemies SECT 15. THe last subject of meditation is Meditate on your experiences meditate upon your experiences Look over your receites 1. Hath not God provided liberally for you and vouchsafed you those mercies which he hath denied to others who are better than you Here is an experience Gen. 48.15 The God who hath fed me all my days Thou never feedest but mercy carves for thee thou never goest to bed but mercy draws the curtaines and sets a guard of Angels about thee Whatever thou hast is out of the Exchequer of free grace Here 's an experience to meditate upon 2. Hath not God prevented many dangers hath he not kept watch and ward about you 1. What temporal dangers hath God screen'd off Thy neighbours house on fire * Paries cum prâ—ximus ardet Virg. and it hath not kindled in thy
dwellings Another infected thou art free Behold the golden feathers of protection covering thee 2. What spiritual dangers hath God prevented when others have been poyson'd with errour thou hast been preserved God hath sounded a retreat to thee thou hast heard a voice behinde thee saying this is the way walk in it * Isa 30 21 When thou hast listed thy self and taken pay on the devils side that God should pluck thee as a brand out of the fire that he should turne thy heart and now thou espousest Christs quarrel against sinne Behold preventing grace here 's an experience to meditate upon 3. Hath not God spared you a long time Whence is it that others are struck dead in the act of sinne as Ananias and Saphira * and you are preserv'd as a monument of patience Here is an experience God hath done more for you than for the Angels he never waited for their repentance but he hath waited for you year after yeare Isa 30.18 Therefore will the Lord wait that he may be gracious He hath not only knockt at your heart in the Ministry of the Word but he hath waited at the doore How long hath his Spirit striven with you like an importunate suitor that after many denials yet will not give over the suit My thinks I see justice with a sword in its hand ready to strike and mercy steps in for the sinner Lord have patience with him a while longer My thinks I hear the Angels say to God as the King of Israel once said to the Prophet Elisha 2 Kings 6.22 Shall I smite them shall I smite them So my thinks I heare the Angels say shall we take off the head of such a drunkard swearer blasphemer and mercy seems to answer as the Vinedresser Luk. 13.8 let him alone this year See if he will repent Is not here an experience worth meditating upon Mercy turns Justice into a rain-bow the rain-bowe is a bowe indeed but hath no arrow in it that justice hath been like the rainbowe without an arrow that it hath not shot thee to death Here is a receit of patience to read over and meditate upon 4. Hath not God often come in with assisting grace when he hath bid thee mortifie such a lust and thou hast said as Iehoshaphat 2 Chr. 20 12. I have no might against this great army Then God hath come in with auxiliary forces his grace hath been sufficient When God hath bid thee pray for such a mercy and thou hast found thy self very unfit thy heart was at first dead and flat all on a sudden thou art carried above thy own strength thy tears drop thy love flames God hath come in with assisting grace If the heart burn in prayer God hath struck fire The Spirit hath been tuning thy soul and now thou makest sweet melody in prayer Here is an experience to meditate upon 5. Hath not God vanquished Satan for you * Satan nihil non molitur contra Sanctos scutum fidei aggreditur his tentationum arie tibus sic porest copium obsi dere in tantas dubitationes praâ—pitareout deum expauescat ei irascatur aliquando blasphemet Nâ—que turâ—a neque Caesar unquam tanto impetu pessunt civitatem aliquam oppugnare quam Satan aliquando conscientias piorum Luthâ—r in Ps 118. When the Devill hath tempted to infidelity to self-murder when he would make you beleeve either that your graces were but a fiction or Gods promise but a counterfeit bond now that you have not been foil'd by the Tempter it is God who hath kept the garrison of your heart else his fiery darts would have entred Here 's an experience to meditate upon 6. Have you not had many signal deliverances When you have been even at the gates of death God hath miraculously recovered you and renued your strength as the Eagle may not you write that writing which Hezekiah did Isa 38 6. The writing of Hezekiah King of Judah when he had been sick and was recovered of his sicknesse you thought the Sunne of your life was quite setting but God made this Sunne returne back many degrees Here 's an experience for meditation to feed upon When you have been imprisoned your foot taken in the snare and the Lord hath broken the snare nay hath made those to break it who were the instruments of laying it Behold an experience Oh let us often revolve in minde our experiences If a man had physick receits by him he would be often looking over his receits You that have rare receits of mercy by you be often by meditation looking over your receits The meditation of our experiences would 1. Raise us to thankfulnesse Considering that God hath set an hedge of providence about us he hath strewed our way with roses this would make us take the Harp and Vial and praise the Lord and not only praise but record * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plato 1 Chr. 16.4 The meditating Christian keeps a Register or Chronicle of Gods mercies that the memory of them doth not decay God would have the Manna kept in the Ark many hundred years that the remembrance of that miracle might be preserved a meditating soul takes care that the spiritual Manna of an experience be kept safe 2. The meditation of our experiences would engage our hearts to God in obedience Mercy would be a needle to sowe us to him We would cry out as Bernard * Duas babeo minutias domine c. Bern. I have Lord two mites a soule and a body and I give them both to thee 3. The Meditation of our experiences would serve to convince us that God is no hard master we might bring in our experiences as a sufficient confutation of that slander When we have been falling hath not God taken us by the hand When I said my foot slippeth thy goodnesse O Lord held me up Psalme 94.18 How often hath God held our head and heart when we have been fainting * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Euripides and is he a hard Master is there any master besides God who will wait upon his servants Christians summon in your experiences What vailes have you had * Ps 19.11 What inward serenity and peace which neither the world can give nor death take away a Christians own experiences may plead for God against such as desire rather to censure his ways than to try them and to cavil at them than to walk in them 4. The meditation of our experiences would make us communicative to others We would be telling our children and acquaintance what God hath done for our souls * Psal 44.1 at such a time we were brought low and God raised us at such a time in desertion and God brought a promise to remembrance which dropt in comfort The meditation of Gods gracious dealing with us would make us transmit and propagate our experience to others that the mercies of God shewn to us may bear a plentiful crop of
4. Lord make me to know mine end and the me asure of my days what it is that I may know how frail I am The reason our affections are so chill and cold in spiritual things is because we doe warm our selves no more at the fire of meditation Illumination makes us shining lamps meditation makes us burning lamps What is it to know Christ by speculation and not by affection It is the proper work of meditation to excite and blow up holy passions What sparklings of love in such a soul When David had meditated on Gods law he could not chuse but love it Psalm 119.97 O how love I thy law it is my meditation all the day When the spouse had by meditation viewed those singular beauties in her beloved white and ruddy Cant. 5. she grew sick of love vers 8. Galeatius Caraccialus that famous Marquess of Vico who had been much in the contemplation of Christ breaks out into a holy Pathos let their mony perish with them who esteem all the gold in the world worth one hours communion with Jesus Christ 4. Meditation fits for holy duties The musician first put his instrument in tune and then he plaies a lesson meditation tunes the heart and then it is fit for any holy service as the sails to the Ship so is meditation to duty it carries on the soul more swiftly 1. Meditation fits for Hearing when the ground is softned then it is fit for the plough and the seed when the heart is softned by meditation now is a fit time for the seed of the word to be sown 2. Meditation fits for Prayer Prayer is Spiritualis pulsus the spiritual pulse of the soul by which it beats strongly after God There is no living without prayer a man cannot live unless he takes breath no more can the Soul unless it breathes out its desires to God Prayer Vshers in mercy and prayer sanctifies mercy * 1 Tim. 4.5 it makes mercy to be mercy prayer hath power over God vincit invincibilem * Luther Hosea 12.4 Prayer comes with Letters of mandamus to heaven Isa 45.11 Prayer is the spiritual Leech that sucks the poison of sinne out of the soul What a blessed shall I say duty or privilege is prayer Meditatio nutrix ora tionis Gerson Now meditation is an help to prayer Gerson calls it the nurse of Prayer Meditation is like oyl to the lamp the lamp of prayer will soon go out unless meditation cherish and support it meditation and prayer are like two Turtles if you separate one the other dies A cunning angler observes the time and season when the fish bite best and then he throws in his angle When the heart is warmed by meditation now is the best season to throw in the angle of prayer and fish for mercy After Isaac had been in the field meditating he was fit for prayer when he came home When the Gun is full of powder it is fittest to discharge So when the minde is full of good thoughts a Christian is fittest by prayer to discharge now he sends up whole volleys of sighs and groans to heaven Meditation hath a double benefit in it it powres in and poures out first it poures good thoughts into the mind and then it poures out those thoughts again in prayer meditation first furnisheth with matter to pray and then it furnisheth with a heart to pray Psalm 39.3 I was musing saith David and the very next words are a prayer Lord make me to know my end Hinc utilitas meditationis conspicitur quia animum Davidis ad pre candi studium erexit Calvin and Psalm 143.5 6. I muse on the works of thy hands I stretch forth my hands to thee the musing of his head made way for the stretching forth of his hands in prayer When Christ was upon the mount then he prayed So when the Soul is upon the mount of meditation now it is in tune for Prayer Prayer is the Child of meditation meditation leads the van and prayer brings up the Rear 3. Meditation fits for Humiliation When David had been contemplating the Works of Creation their splendor harmony motion influence he let the plumes of pride fall and begins to have Self-abasing thoughts Psalm 8.3 4. When I consider the Heavens the Work of thy fingers the moon and Starres which thou hast ordained What is man that thou art mindfull of him 5. Meditation is a strong antidote against sinne most sin is committed for want of meditation men sin through incogitancy and passion * Omnis passio inclinat cum impetu Tho. Quest 155. art 2. would they be so brutishly sensual as they are if they did seriously meditate what sin is Would they take this viper in their hand if they did but consider before of the sting Sin puts a worm in to conscience a sting into death a fire into hell did men meditate of this that after all their dainty dishes death will bring in the Reckoning and they must pay the Reckoning in Hell they would say as David in another sence Let me not eat of their dainties Psalm 141.4 The Devils apple hath a bitter kore in it Did men think of this sure it would put them into a cold sweat and be as the Angels drawn sword to affright them Judg. 22.23 Meditation is a golden Shield to beat back sin When Josephs mistress tempted him to wickedness meditation did preserve him How shall I do this Evil and sinne against God Meditation makes the heart like wet tinder it will not take the Devils fire 6. Meditation is a cure of Covetousness The covetous man is called an Idolater Col. 3.5 Though he will not bow down to an Idol yet he worships graven images in his coyn Now meditation is an excellent means to lessen our esteem of the World Great things seem little to him that stands high if we could live among the stars the earth would seem as nothing A Christian that stands high upon the pinacle of meditation how do all worldly things disappear and seem as nothing to him he sees not that in them which men of the world do He is gotten into his Tower and Heaven is his Prospect What is said of God He dwells on high he humbleth himself to behold the things done on the earth Psal 113.6 I may allude to with reverence The Christian that dwelleth on high by meditation accounts it an humbling and abasing of himself to look down upon the earth behold the things done in this lower Region Saint Paul whose meditations were sublime and seraphical looked at things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which were not seen 2 Cor. 4. ult How did he trample upon the World how did he scorn it I am crucifled to the world Gal. 6.14 As if he had said it is too much below me to mind it He who is catching at a crown will not fish for gudgeons as Clopatra once said to Mark Anthony A Christian