Profession only but our daily Practises too that must proclaim us Heralds of this Faith V. ALTHOUGH our Merits can never reach Heaven yet our pious Endeavours may if they are sincere because there is a Mercy hangs over our Heads that will pardon our Deficiency All the Blossoms and Buds of our Piety spring forth from this Stem and he that either believes or loves his Saviour that died for him cannot imagine he is too much industrious to live well This was the Female Sex's Faith here and she had scarce effus'd it out with floods of Tears when the Infernal Fiend in a Consternation forsakes his hold unable to endure the Eccho of that Sound which was repeated by the diviner Accent of our Redeemer's Lips and this Faith must be a Preservative against Sin and by its diviner Charms chase Satan to his Chains of Darkness 'T is this that prepares Heaven for us that makes us survive our Monuments become Immortal in our Graves and promises Eternity to our Dust and Ashes 'T is this that consummates our Happiness and will safely arrive us where the Blessed Jesus shall receive us into His Glory VI. O MOST Divine Omnipotence Thou sentest Thy Son Christ Jesus to die for us that by Believing in Him we might attain to Everlasting Life He under whom Thou hast put all things in Subjection was pleas'd to condescend to level Himself with them and dethron'd Himself to undergo a Crucifixion for our Souls that we might receive the Benefits of His Death and Passion and be Partakers of His Glory Oh let not those Miseries of our depraved Nature which petitioned Thy Mercy and Compassion make us uncapable of it Let not those that plead Ignorance of Thee but by Thy Miracles be more ardous in acknowledging Thine abundant Goodness than we who by the Manifestation of Thy Love claim an Interest in Thy precious Blood VII BUT grant O Lord that we may live in a perpetual Thanksgiving to Thy Merits who camest down from the Bosom of Thy Father to purchase and save our Immortal Souls To this end do Thou inspire into us that Faith without which it is impossible we should please Thee and with which Thou annexes all other Graces Teach us so to rely on Thy Mercies that we may not neglect the Means or imagine that a dead Faith will conduct us to that Life which Thou hast promised to none but them as work out their Salvation with Fear and Trembling MED XVII Of Love and Charity 2 Pet. i. 7. And to brotherly-kindness charity TRUE and Sincere Love is an inseparable Property of a Pious Person No Christian can subsist without Faith and where that Vertue is Charity is not wanting Where the Lustre of Charity is extinguish'd the Heat of Faith must consequently be quenched Thou may'st as well rob the bright Luminary the Sun of his Light as deprive Faith of the Gift of Charity Charity is the External Act of the Internal Life of a Christian. The Body is dead without the Spirit and Faith is dead without Charity Jam. 2. 26. He is not a Member of Christ that is not inspired with his Spirit and he is not endued with his Holy Spirit that is destitute of the Gift of Charity II. THIS Theological Vertue is the fruit of the Spirit Gal. 5. 22. And by the Goodness of the Fruit the Tree is demonstrated Charity is the bond of Christian perfection saith the Apostle Col. 3. 14. As the Bodily Members are united together by the Spirit so the true Members of the Mystical Body are united by the Holy Spirit in the Bond of Charity Solomon's Temple was all covered with Gold within and without 1 King 6. 21. So our Bodies and Souls which are the Almighty's Spiritual Temples ought in like manner both within and without to be beautified with Love and Charity Let this regent Vertue exercise its Efficacy in moving thy Heart to Compassion and thy Hand to Contribution For one without the other is not effectual III. FAITH receiveth all from God the Fountain of all Goodness and from that Stream Charity as a Channel conveys it to her Neighbours By Faith we are made Partakers of the Divine Nature who is Love 1 Joh. 4. 8. Therefore where Charity manifesteth not Externally Faith Internally doth not inhabit No Man believes in the Lord Jesus which doth not express Affections of Love to Him and none can fulsil that New Commandment except he loves his Neighbour None can really apprehend the Benefits of Christ with a Heart unfeigned which has not Bowels of Compassion to the distressed IV. CHARITY is the Seminary of all Vertues and nothing can be of good growth which proceeds not from that Root And this Vertue truly delineated is the Soul 's Spiritual Relish for unto it alone are all things dulcified all Adversity Pain Anguish Trouble nay even Death it self And And the Wise Man confirms this That Love is as strong as Death Cant. 8. 6. And indeed I think I may invert the Wise Man's Text and with Assurance proclaim That Love is stronger than Death For Love brought down a Saviour to die for us Sinners that the Sting of Death might be removed from us He when he had overcome the sharpness of death did open the kingdom of heaven to all believers Oh let us then embrace this Love and die unto Sin daily that we may live unto Righteousness V. ALL the Works of the Most High proceeds from this lovely Attribute even Punishments Denunciations and Judgments The Two great Luminaries and the Constellations of Heaven illuminate not themselves but us wretched Creatures Fire Air Earth and Water were created for our Necessity The Beasts Herbs Plants Trees Birds Fish and Fowls were all for our Use. And as God has been so gracious to give thee Plenty of these Blessings so do thou distribute to thy Neighbours according to their Necessities And this must be done freely with true Amity Affection and Compassion else all our Charity is nothing worth but will prove like sounding Brass or a tinkling Symbal VI. CHARITY is patient 1 Cor. 13. 4. For no Man is easily enraged with those whom he truly affects Charity likewise is bountiful And he who has been so liberal as to resign his Heart to his Friend will without all question not with-hold from him any temporal Enjoyments for the Relief of his Necessity Charity envieth not it thinketh no Evil is not puffed up and behaveth not it self undecently Next she seeketh not those things which are her own neither is she provoked to Anger she imagineth no Mischief nor rejoyceth not in iniquity but she beareth all things believeth hopeth and endureth all things she refuseth not to do unto others as she desires them to perform unto her Tongues and Prophecies shall cease and Arts and Sciences be destroyed but Charity shall never be extinguished VII LET us then study this Lesson of Love and Charity and howsoever thy Friend or Neighbour be qualified towards thee yet remember
Thy Heavenly Kingdom Amen MED XX. Of Chastity Rom. xii 1. I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice holy acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service HE that would be entertain'd a Disciple of Christ must wear his Livery of Sanctity and Chastity For God is a Spirit of that infinite Purity and Chastity that no unclean thing must presume to approach his Presence It was the Opinion and Saying of a wise Person That the Chastity of the Body and the Sanctity of the Soul are the two Keys of Religion and Felicity Now if the Body be not preserved pure and immaculare from all Sordidness the Soul cannot be ardent in Supplication Our Bodies are the Temples of the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 6. 19. And therefore we must be very vigilant and sollicitous that we defile not this Body which is the Habitacle of so great a Comforter II. OUR Members are the Members of Christ Let us not then make 'em the Members of an Harlot but let us cleave unto the Lord with Fidelity and Continency that we may be one Spirit with him and be pure as he even is pure The swinish Sodomites were smitten with Spiritual and Corporal Blindness and their burning Lust was punish'd with an Element proper to their crying Sins and the Almighty will inflict the same Punishment on all obscene and incontinent Persons with a Fire not to be extinguished For the smoak of the torments ascendeth up for ever Rev. 14. 11. Nature hath taught us not to be guilty in the Eye of the World and shall not the Checks of our own Consciences impede us from committing Enormities iu the Eye of Heaven III. DENS Caves nor Corners can exclude ns from the Divine Omnipotence All Hearts are open to his Omnisciency all Desires are known and from him no Secrets can be concealed His Omnipresence is of that potency that the Voice within us upon the Grand Inquest will bear Testimony against us and our own Enormities being empannell'd will condemn us upon the Verity of the Verdict And who would not relinquish this momentary sensual Pleasure to evade everlasting Burnings If the Smoke of that concupiscible Fire ascends up to the Nostrils of the Almighty nothing can purge the Odiousness of it but infernal Flames IV. OH let then the Remembrance of a Crucified Saviour crucifie in thee all inordinate Affections and the Thoughts of a tormenting Hell quench in thee all the fiery Darts of the Wicked Let Fountains of Tears spring from a sincere Repentance extinguish in thee this conflagrating Carnality and let the fear and dread of the Almighty mortifie that concupiscible Enemy that the Allurements of it may not delude thee Consider with thy self the ill Consequents which are its Concomitants it is full of Anxiety and Folly Abomination and Ignominy and without Repentance must partake of everlasting Punishment V. LOOK not on the fawning outside of this Temptation but flie from it as you would from a Serpent Check the first Motions of it for if you once fall to reason aud article with it it will prove like the Element of Fire if not quench'd in due time grow too great to be conquer'd Next flie Idleness which is the native Soil for these abominable Weeds to grow in and be always employ'd in whatsoever lawful Vocation or Business God hath been pleas'd to allot thee that when the Tempter comes he may find thee fortify'd against Temptations 'T was Idleness allured David to Adultery Had he been busied as Ioseph was he had withstood the Temptation VI. THINK often of Death's Summons and that his cold Hand will one day chill that Blood which was so apt to be inflam'd and then tell me whether Mortification is not more suitable to Death-bed Thoughts than Sordidness and Obscenity Be frequent in Prayer and bring the Unclean Spirit to Christ that he may cast him out And to your Prayer add Fasting for this Kind goeth not forth but by Prayer and Fasting And indeed Temperance is a great Antidote against this Sin of Sodom for many times our Tables become a Snare to us for in pleasing our luxurious Palate we make Provision for the Flesh to fulfil the Lusts thereof And by Epicuring of it so here what can we expect when we depart hence but the rich Glutton's Fate even to want a drop of Water to cool our Tongues VII REMEMBER thou must give an account for every idle and unprofitable word Mat. 12. 36. And how much more then will thy Account extend to obscene Speeches and sordid Actions Of what Continuance thy Life hath been while brought to a Period and what multiplicity of Sins soever thou hast committed thy Accusers and Accusations will be equivalent Then those secret Thoughts which thou never resented'st will apparently prove thee obnoxious before the great Tribunal From thence thou can'st not flie nor deceive the Omnipotence with vain Excuses neither can'st thou appeal from that Sentence which will be pronounced against thee for there will be Verity in the Inquisition and Severity in the Execution VIII THEREFORE whil'st thou art on this side the Grave endeavour to adorn thy Immortal Part with the fragrant Rose of Charity the dulcified Violet of Humility and the innocent Lilly of Chastity When thou enter'st the List to conquer this formidable lustful Enemy if the Fight seem difficult animate thy self with this Assurance That the Conquest will be Glorious Thou must vanquish it as thou would'st a sturdy Beggar give it a positive Answer and it is vanish'd but shew it Encouragement and it will prove like the Snake in the Fable when warm by the Fire to fall a hissing If thou would'st not have this Enemy to rule over thee entertain it not in the least corner of thy Heart but earnestly beseech God to keep thee in Sanctity of Life and Chastity of Body MED XXI Of Purity of Heart Mat. v. 8. Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God IF Innocency be the Robe of Heaven who then would not diligently strive to be adorn'd with Purity It is no wonder the Kingly Prophet was so importunate for a clean Heart and a right Spirit If this be the Recompence of true Sanctity who would neglect Religious Duties Beatifical Spirits What Felicity and Purity do ye enjoy that behold the glorious Face of your Heavenly Creator Who would not indefatigably be industrious to imitate your Seraphick Example here that he might resemble you in your happy Station and possess Eternal Joys such as the Heart in all his Divine Raptures never knew Shall the imposterous and perfidious Vanities of this Transitory World allure our Hearts and divest us of the Hopes of this Celestial Glory the Fruition of this splendid Vision II. A Magnified Vision in Comparison whereof the Regalities of this Lower Orb the Trophies and dazling Splendors of the Optick Nerves and the Lustre of the whole Universe is not worth the gazing at A
accomplish their Designs were driven out of Paradise Gen. 3. 6. So may we expect it that Immortal Part our Souls should forsake him who hath so dearly purchas'd 'em and cleave unto the World but that we must undergo the same if not a worse Punishment V. THEY which neglect our Saviour's candid Invitation of Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden shall not avoid hearing of him pronounce that Sentence of Go ye cursed into everlasting fire Mat. 25. 41. The Sodomites were consumed with fire Gen. 19. 24. for refusing to hear Lot's Doctrine and without a speedy Repentance the Fire of God's Anger will consume them which have despised his Gospel and rejected all Reproof The five Foolish Virgins who neglected trimming their Lamps were excluded the Bridegrooms Presence so those whose Hearts are not inspired with Celestial Oyl must expect to be debarr'd the Participation of Eternal Joy and Comfort VI. CHRIST internally calls to us by his Holy Spirit and secretly affords us Motives to holy Desires devout Affections and pious Cogitations and happy is he whose Soul is invested with these Ornaments When thou perceivest the least spark of the Divine Goodness in thee which doth excite thee to the performance of any good Duty then labour to cherish it that it may break out into a flame and take heed that thou quench not the Spirit and by that means extinguish the Operation And the Apostle affirms If any man defile the Temple of God him shall God destroy 1 Cor. 3. 17. VII THE Heart of a Man is the living Temple of the Lord and he is guilty of the Destruction of it who refuseth to give place to his Holy Spirit The Prophets in the Old Testament diligently hearkned unto the Word of the Lord and were prophetically inspired as a Reward for their-Obedience And in the New-Testament the Disciples and Apostles were punctual in preaching the Gospel and they were inspired by the Holy Ghost and were at last Crown'd by the Merits of Christ as a Recompence for their Labours and to those which shall imitate such good Examples blessed are they which shall hear and persevere in such good Performances MED XV. True Contentment Phil. iv 12. I know both how to be abased and I know how to abound every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry both to abound and to suffer need NONE but this happy Apostle such a divine Saint as St. Paul was could become a Proficient in this Lesson How few is there that have desired to learn it 'T is a Lecture the World hath long ago been weary of not so much because 't is so hard a Task but because 't is so unpleasant a Theme Were the Way to Everlasting Happiness strewed with Roses of Pleasure for our sensual Appetites to range and revel in 't would quickly become a frequented and an easie Walk Were there no Difficulties no skilful Trials to be past through who of a Mortal would not become a Saint The Crown of Eternal Glory would be as common as a Garland of Flowers did not that of Thorns carry the precedence II. THE World values not a Religion which disanuls all Splendour whose strict Discipline abrogates all Pomp and Pleasure and instead of all Temporal Delights which affects the Senses preaches Temperance Patience and the Judgement to come This Doctrine possesses us with an aguish Fit and then we like Felix fall a trembling and desire to be excused from so piercing a Duty He that invites us to see Heaven first informs us That to desire Temporal Enjoyments is the Wish of an Ethnick For after all these things do the Gentiles seek Mat. 6. 32. And shall Christians follow the Examples of Heathens and aim not at sublimer Things than what this sublunary World can afford Shall they who can by the Eye of Faith take a prospect of Eternity look down upon this Lower World with Affectation III. AND was that the Occasion of this Invitation we gave the Most Highest Did He which made the Heavens bow them come down and unthrone himself to convey us thither and do we lie wallowing in our Sins for ever How Vile Base Vain and Senseless a Creature is that Person that winds up his Felicity in the fruitless Enjoyments of this Life and eagerly resigns himself to sordid Sense But tell me O Thou that reignest in Plenty and obscurest Heaven in Oblivion should the two bright Luminaries be invested in their Purple Robes and transforming their Lustres like bleeding Meteors change their Rays into Crimson Streams were the Air now crouded with Sounds of the last Trumpets ecchoing audibly in our Ears an approaching Judgment How prodigious would that Mutation appear What vast and horrid Consternations would the remembrance of thy Profane and Atheistical Plenitude then strike and amaze thee with IV. INDEED these Mundane Enjoyments are so trivially poor empty that he which fixes his Hopes in their Fruition will speedily find himself but an eternal Mendicant a wretched miserable and deplorable Dives And yet such is the apparent Sanctity of the whole Universe to scoff at Religious Poverty and deride the Exigencies of a Devout Life as an Adversary to Nature He is ignorant of the Joys of a Future State and of an Expected Eternity that thinks there 's no Felicity beyond this Hands Breadth no Happiness beyond this slender Span. V. WERE we but sensible of the glorious Reward which shall Crown the World for that which she terms Misery that Felicity that attends on the most suffering and dejected Devotion we should glory in our Wants be affected with Hardship and inure our selves to Poverty with Delight we should be willing not only to depart but to live Martyrs rejoyce even in the lowest State to purchase Heaven and chearfully learn that Art with the holy Apostle to suffer Want here and to labour how to abound in that Plenitude which is infinite VI. AND yet how hard a Task is it for us to endure even the pettiest Affliction for Thy sake O Lord So senseless are we of Thine abundant Goodness so wilfully forgetful of Thy Omnipotency that we not only in our greatest Necessities arraign and condemn thy vigilant Providence but are ready even to turn Pagans in our unhappy Misfortunes Open Thou our Eyes O Lord that we may behold the Vanity of this transitory World and the Deceitfulness of our own Hearts that the alluring Pleasures of it may neither swallow us up nor the Losses of it overthrow our Hope or discourage our Obedience Let that illuminated Glory which Thou hast freely promised to those that vanquish the World for Thy sake be ever in our sight that in whatsoever State we are in we may still be found triumphing in Faith and at last receive as a Recompence of Reward a Crown of Righteousness MED XVI Of Divine Faith Heb. xi i. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen LET us
extracted Nay they may properly be called Good because they are God's Messengers and proceed from him who is the Fountain of all Goodness Moreover they lead us unto the chiefest Good even Life Everlasting Christ by his Passion entered into his Glory Luk. 24. 26. And Christians by Tribulations enter into Life Eternal Act. 14. 22. And consequently Sin is the chiefest Evil because it draws us from the chiefest Good VI. THE Sinner is accused by his Conscience which he hath defiled by his Creator whom he hath offended by the Sins he hath committed by the Creatures he hath abused and by the Devil who hath seduced him How saving then is Repentance which frees us from such Accusations Let us haste then with speed to such a soveraign Catholicon If thou deferr thy Repentance till Death thou do'st not forsake thy Sins but they forsake thee and it is very difficult to trace out an Example of sincere Repentance at the Hour of Death except that of the Thief upon the Cross. VII FOVRTEEN years have I served thee said Iacob to Laban it is time now that I should provide for my own house Gen. 31. 41. And if thou hast pursued the World and chased after the Vanities of it so many Years it is now high time to provide for thy Soul Every Day nay every Hour and Minute we accumulate Sin Oh let the Spirit every Moment wash it away with Tears of Repentance The Almighty infuses not the Oyl of Mercy but into the Vessel of a contrite Heart He first mortifies us by Contrition and then quickens us by his Spirit of Consolation He leads us into a deep abyss of Grief and brings us back by his Restraining Grace VIII Elias first heard a vehement Wind overturning Mountains and cleaving Rocks and after the Wind an Earthquake and after the Earthquake Fire 1 King 19. 11. At length there followed a still small Voice ver 12. From whence we may inferr That Terrour is the precursor of the Love of Omnipotency and Sorrow precedes Comfort God binds not up any Wounds that are laid open by Confession He Pardons and Justifies none except they Acknowledge and Condemn themselves He Comforts not unless they first Despond And this is the sincere Repentance which God by his Holy Spirit operates in us MED IV. Of Man's Salvation Tit. ii 11. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men WHY art thou perplexed O my Soul and why art thou dubious of the Mercy of God Remember thy Creator who created thee without thy Assistance who formed thee in secret in the lower parts of the earth Psal. 139. 15. He who took care of thee before thou wer 't born Will his Providence neglect thee now thou art fashioned after his own Image To Thee the Great Creator does thy unworthy Creature address himself Though my Nature is infected by Satan and wounded by Thieves which are my sinful Corruptions yet my Creator liveth II. HE which made me can renew me He that created me without any Evil can chase all Evil from me whatsoever hath gain'd admittance by the Devil's Suggestions Adam's Prevarication or my own Actions yea though it hath over-spread my whole Substance The Almighty never hated his own Workmanship We are before him like Clay in the Hands of the Potter Had he hated me certainly he would never have created me when I was nothing He is the Saviour of all men but especially of them that believe 1 Tim. 3. 10. He created me wonderfully and redeemed me miraculously but his Love was never so highly expressed than in his Wounds and Passion III. SURELY we were indulgently belov'd for whose sakes the only begotten Son of God is sent from the Bosom of his Father Dear was the Price of our Redemption and great was the Mercy of our Redeemer To make us Rich he embraced Poverty for he had not where to lay his head Mat. 8. 20. To make us the Sons of the Most High he condescends to become Man and doth not after he had accomplish'd our Redemption neglect us but still intercedeth for us Rom. 8. 34. IV. LET my Sins Satan and all the Powers of Darkness accuse me in Jesus my Mediator will I trust who is Greater than my Accusers Let my Weakness affright me yet in his Strength will I glory For the Sufficiency of my Merit I am familiarly acquainted my Merits is not sufficient it suffices me that he is propitious against whom I have sinned and whatsoever he hath decreed not to impute will be perform'd and all Guilt with the Price of his most precious Blood shall be done away V. LET it not then perplex me that my Sins though many and of such a magnitudâ— discomfort me For were I not oppress'd and heavy laden with Sins what need I earnestly request Christ's Righteousness Had I no Distemper I had no necessity to implore the Physician 's Help but I am spiritually sick and He who is the Lord our Righteousness is both our Saviour and Physician Lord I am Sick a Sinner and Condemned and upon the Grand Inquest of my Conscience pronounce my self Guilty but have Mercy on me O my Physician my Saviour and my Righteousness MED V. The Youth's Memento Eccles. xii 6. Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth IT was both seasonable and profitable Advice and one of the elegantest and choicest Expressions in the Royal Preacher's Sermon For who is he which is now Young and Vigorous that is certain he shall live to be Old And yet that potent Voice which loudly proclaims to all the World and whose Sound will remain till Death shall be expired is scarce aucible in the Ears of thousands II. 'T IS one of this divine Chanters harmonious Lessons and yet the World thinks it too harsh a Note and is very much displeased with the Tune 'T is strange and an amazing Wonder That the Sweetest and Wisest of Preachers should have so slender a Train of Followers being his Oratory is so Rhetorical and Divine And yet it is so weighty a Text which though they shun to hear understand or read they cannot evade the seeing for the whole Universe is but a Comment on it every Creature we behold preaches this useful Doctrine which we so supinely sleep out with our Eyes open III. NATURE her self carries this Memento in her Forehead and the very Bruit Beasts in this Philosophy can reason with us And it is strange madness that Man should forget his Maker did he but remember himself But alas blooming Youth affects not to be put in mind of Heaven which he is not acquainted with 't would impair his Memory and make him think of his Prayers too often Piety will but chill his Blood Religion makes him look wither'd the Thoughts of Heaven and a Future-State will make him sager than his years requires his Blood informs him he is not yet qualified to turn Divine he may serve his Creator time enough when he is more at
now consider the Efficacy of Faith and offer up an Oblation of Praise and Thanksgiving unto him who is the only Giver of it It is that alone which ingrafts us into the Body of Christ and as Branches extract their Sap from the Vine so from him proceeds Life Righteousness and Salvation Adam in his pristine State fell and lost his Divine Image by his Incredulity but we are restor'd again by Grace and the Image of the Almighty by Faith is renewed in us By this Faith Christ dwells in our Hearts and where He inhabits there His Grace resides and an Assurance of an Inheritance of Eternal Life II. AND as the Effects of Faith are Wonderful in their Operation so they are Exemplary in their Demonstrations For By Faith Abel offered unto God a greater sacrifice than Cain Heb. 11. 4. So by Faith we are enabled to offer Omnipotency spiritual Sacrifices that is the Fruit of our Lips Heb. 13. 15. And by Faith Enoch was translated Heb. 11. 5. So that Vertue withdraws us from the Society of the World and invites us to place our Conversation in Heaven Phil. 3. 20. By Faith Noah prepared an Ark Heb. 11. 7. So we by that Theological Virtue are received into that Church wherein our Souls are preserved amidst all the Storms and Tempests which happen in the World III. BY Faith Abraham left an idolatrous Land and went into a strange Countrey in Expectation of the Promised Land Heb. 11. 8 9. So by the Energy of that Vertue we depart this World forsaking all that is near and dear to us expecting to arrive at that Celestial Ierusalem which God hath prepared in the Heavens Rev. 21. 2. We are Strangers and Pilgrims on this side Heaven and travel by Faith unto a heavenly Countrey By Faith Moses chose rather to suffer Affliction with the People of God than to enjoy the Pleasures of Sin for a season Heb. 11. 25. So Faith animates us to contemn the World and to despise the Glory Honour Riches and Pleasures of it and excites our Minds to Eternal Felicities VI. BY Faith Israel kept the Passover Heb. 11. 28. So we by the Eye of Faith celebrate the Lord's Supper where Christ is the Paschal Lamb whose Flesh is meat indeed and whose Blood is drink indeed Joh. 6. 55. By Faith Rahab was saved Heb. 11. 31. So in the universal Conflagration of this World we shall be saved from Destruction By Faith the Fathers overcame Kingdoms stopt the Mouths of Lions and quenched the force of fire Heb. 11. 33. So we by Faith destroy the Kingdom of the Prince of Darkness escape the Treacheries and Rage of the infernal Lion and are deliver'd from Hell's implacable Malice and everlasting Burnings V. NOW Faith is not a naked Opinion and slender Profession but a true and lively Apprehension of Christ propounded to us in the Gospel a full Assurance of his Grace residing in us the Tranquillity of our Souls which relies only upon Christ's Merits This Faith is fructified of the Seed of the Sacred Word whereby the Holy Spirit and this Vertue is united Now Faith resembles a spiritual Illumination for our Hearts are illustrated by its Splendor and the Rays of a Life of Sanctity shines forth Evil Actions are the Works of Darkness and What communion saith the Apostle is there between light and darkness 2 Cor. 6. 14. Deeds of Darkness are the Seeds of Satan but a lively Faith proceeds from Christ and What communion is there between Christ and Satan 2 Cor. 6. 5. VI. LASTLY By Faith our Hearts are purified but no Internal Purity can center where the Words and External Actions are defiled St. Iohn tells ye That Faith is the victory which overcometh the world 1 Joh. 5. 4. Now there cannot be a true Faith fixed where the Flesh vanquisheth the Spirit and leadeth it away Captive into the Law of Sin No impenitent Sinner that persevereth in his Sins can be Partaker of Life Eternal neither can he without true Repentance claim any Privilege or Share in the Merits of Christ Jesus Kindle in us O God the Light of True Faith that by the Vertue of it and Thy alone Merits we may obtain Eternal Salvation and reign with Thee for evermore in Thy Kingdom of Glory World without end Amen MED XVII The Canaanitish Woman's Faith Mat. xV. 28. And Iesus answered and said unto her O woman great is thy faith be it unto thee even as thou wilt BEHOLD this Canaanitish Woman how fortunate and happy she was to be found worthy of so great an Expression Her Female Weapon compensated for the Guilt of its past Follies having now by its seasonable Answers merited so Divine an Eulogy Poor Female how enrich'd was she in whose Bosom was concealed a Treasure which Emperors Kings and Princes compared to her are Indigent All the Holy Land with its precious Balm and odoriferous Spices could not furnish her with a sufficient Antidote to revive her Darling and charm away the Infernal Spirit from tormenting her Behold these Miracles of Faith that at once could save two Souls the Mother's and her Daughter's II. SO miraculous and potent is solid Faith that even the least grain of it can remove lofty Mountains level steep Hills and smooth the most aspert and ambitious Soul into a meek and fructifying Valley 'T was this that calmed the Surface of the foaming Ocean that made the boisterous Waves an easie Path and turn'd their furious Rage into a pleasant Walk for St. Peter's Feet 'T was the Centurion's Faith that gave his Servant a Respite from the Hands of Death which all his Guards could never have prevented 'T was by Faith that the Blind Man was restored to his Sight which was beyond the Skill of Art and Nature to perform III. ALL the Admirations of the Gospel were always concluded with Thy Faith hath saved thee And yet that Faith which then operated so many Miracles is now grown the greatest Miracle it self Whil'st some take the Symbol for the Thing they fix the Magnitude of their Faith on the Greatness of their Works and have so candid an Opinion of themselves that they imagine it Faith enough only to do well Others expect to be Canoniz'd for their Doctrines though not for their irregular Lives they scoff at all Religious Duties and imagine to tread the Path to Heaven only by their Faith IV. OBEDIENCE hearty Contrition for Sin that amiable Robe of a perplexed Soul and the Royal Ornaments of our Spiritual Warfare are but vacant Ceremonies and both these Parties Belief are of their own forming But Heaven is not purchas'd only by Speculation He that fixeth his Faith in his empty Skull and imagines Religion hath not its Attendant may like Moses view and discourse of the Promised Land at a distance but never approach to it Our Obedience must cry out louder than our Pretensions 'T is not our Noise and Nonsence that will create us Saints 't is not our external Shew of
Vision which no mortal Eye ever was Spectator of but shall not be excluded if it don't obscurely lose it self on Inferiour Objects here Below No Ear did ever audibly hear its true Description but may be admitted to the divine Harmony and heavenly Halleluja's of it if it incline not to the Syrenical Charms of Sin and the bewitching Musick of sordid Carnality III. 'T is a Vision whose bright Idea cannot be delineated by the most elevating and contemplative Speculations of any Metaphysical Brain though never so Angelical 'T is not a sublime Fancy but true Sanctity that can reach it The Divine Apostolical Geographer St. Paul though lately there could not exactly give us a Description of it and Sacred Scripture divinly characters it out but in Parables and Simitudes to demonstrate how infinitely transcendent is that Glory which is so unexpressible and beyond all comprehension Were all the Pearls Rubies Saphires and Diamonds the Earth produces muster'd to a Splendour they would not equallize the diminitivest Glance of the radient Beams of Sol's bright Eye and yet that magnificent Luminary surrounded with so many attending Constellations that derive their Lustre from him is but a Spark to his shining Countenance VI. WHO then would offer up that Part an Oblation to the World which might be render'd the Instrument of so much Felicity and suffer the Profuseness of his wanton Blood to revel there where sublimer Passions and Flames should triumph He that would be an Inhabitant among the Spirits of the Just must discipline his own to the same Uniformity and convert his Body to a Temple where his Heart must be both Altar and Sacrifice or rather an Emblem of the Sanctum Sanctorum for those excellent Graces of the Spirit to inhabit in V. THE stately Mansion-House of Life must be converted into a Mansion of Divine Love and the magnificent Palace of Heroick Spirits into a Royal Court of peculiar Graces and then that Part which as Natural Philosophors observe which lives first and dies last shall become purely Vital and not be liable to Mortality Nothing but a thrice Glorious Trinity can satiate this Triangle which must be shaped to the purest Figure and taught in all its Pulses to palpitate nothing but Heaven and Eternity VI. OUR Bosoms must be converted to Closets of Devotion and our Hearts to Cabinets of immaculate Innocency and fervent Prayer embellish'd with that sparkling Diamond a lively Faith the Lamp at which all our minor Graces as Tapers light themselves and like Stars borrow their Lustre from this Luminary 'T is not a Heart that can chime to the airy Sound of any tinkling Religion and pretends a Sanctity fix'd in its Countenance that makes Affectation his Conscience and Moroseness of Humour Tenderness of Spirit VII NO 't is a Heart adorn'd with the White Robe of Humility crown'd with the Diadem of Love fumigated by Prayers the odoriferous Scent of Chastity and the Fragrancies of a Life of Sanctity that couches it self within the embracing Arms of our Saviour's Spouse and stiles himself a Mourner in her Persecutions that looks upon the VVorld as the Enemy of its Glory and had rather embrace Mortality than prove a Rebel against Heaven 'T is such a Celestial Heart that must be a Preparative for this transcendant Vision and happy is he that arrives to that Purity VIII Fortifie us therefore O Lord against the Pomps and Vanities of this wicked VVorld and elevate our Thoughts to the sublime Contemplations of Thy Glory Level in us every arrogant Thought that dares exalt it self against the Potency and Purity of Thy Law and sanctifie us for Thy Self and Service that the Practick Part of a Life of Sanctity may be our chiefest Employment that when we are summoned to depart hence we may be accepted of Thee and being fled from the Eye of this Lower Orb we may take a Prospect of Thy Heavenly Palace of what neither Eye hath seen Ear heard nor Heart can conceive the Glory Thou wilt impart in the Fruition of Thy Self MED XXII Against Covetousness Heb. xiii 7. Let your conversation be be without covetousness COVETOUSNESS is the Root of all Malignity and he that is a Slave to Riches his Mind is always indigent he is tugging continually at the Oar and accumulates worldly Dross but as the Psalmist says he knoweth not who shall gather it Psal. 39. 6. And as he is impoverished in his Mind so he is miserable in his Station for Bounty and Goodness are Strangers to himself and others and Charity with him is so frozen that the Poor instead of recompenceing him with their Prayers are more ready to attend him with their Imprecations Fix not thy Trust in uncertain Riches but place thy Mind on what is certain 'T is certain the Hour of Death will come and then what will all thy Wealth avail thee They cannot assist thee in a true Repentance nor plead thy Cause in the Court of Heaven They cannot procure thee an easie Passage hence nor give thee Assurance of Eternal Happiness II. THEREFORE lay aside this bitter Root and graft new Plants of Liberality and Charity Make haste with speed and undertake this Task lest thou offend the Almighty and endanger thy own Soul The covetous Person must needs allow this Maxim That he lives without God in the World And our Saviour informs us we cannot serve God and Mammon Luk. 16. 13. For he that wholly sets his Heart upon transitory Treasure must of necessity unfix it from God and Eternal Glory and is uncapable of performing that Duty which is required by the Almighty III. SEE with what eagerness the Covetous pursues Riches and is greedy as a Lion after his Prey All Opportunities of Gain are readily embraced Prayer and all Religious Duties are laid aside to accomplish and attend it So prone is frail Mortality to this Sin that he leaves nothing unattempted to answer his sordid Avarice nay it is often apparent that Unlawfulness and Fraudulency is used by the Covetous to that degree that many Families have suffered Destruction though it were to the utter Ruine of the Souls and Bodies of the Misers themselves And now what can these Men expect for the Cruelties they transact but to be excluded from Happiness and to receive that Reward of not inheriting the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 6. 10. IV. THEY which hoard up Terrestrial Treasures resemble those that place their Fruits in low and moist places not considering they are incident to Putrefaction Oh how infatuated are they then which indulge themselves to that which is liable to Corruption For how can that which is Temporal satisfie the Soul which is Eternal The Animate Part comprehends all Corporal Things by virtue of its Spiritual Nature that it cannot be distended and filled by any Quantity All things the higher they soar towards Heaven the less they cark and care to hoard up This may be attested by the Fowls of the Air which neither sow nor reap Mat. 6. 26.
Almighty and by Legions of apostate Spirits haled away to the dismal Place of Horrour and Confusion where they shall languish under the pressure of intollerable Punishments and by Wonder of Omnipotency shall in Torrents of Fire endure Extremity of Frigidity and in Rivers of Ice be tormented with perpetual Burnings There they shall feed the Worm that never dies and transude in those Flames which cannot be extinguish'd And the Consideration of the Perpetuity of those Supernal Felicities which they rejected for Vanities and of the infinite Continuation of their infernal Tortures will shipwreck all their Hopes in the formidable Gulf of Desperation and plunge them into the bottomless Abysses of the lowest Hell The Prayer O BLESSED Father since Thou art Formidabe in Thy Judgments and Thy Anger is a Consuming Fire since those incorrigible Sinners who despise the Offers of Thy Mercy shall become the Victims of Thy implacable Vengeance and glorifie Thee in unimaginable Pains since Thou hast appointed a Season when an Eternity of Felicity or Misery shall be the Reward of our Actions and we must either stand or fall according to our handy Operations Vouchsafe that the Contemplation of these weighty Verities may be such a prevalent Inducement to the Amendment of our Lives that we may work out our salvation with fear and trembling Let not the pernicious Allurements of this fraudulent World make us negligent of the Wrath to come but let us walk with that aweful Care and vigilant Circumspection that we may appear with Joy in that dreadful Day wherein the greater part of mis-call'd Christians shall be consign'd to an Immortal Ruine and Destruction MED XXVII Upon Hell Isa. xxxiii 14. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burning ETERNAL Death is the dreadful State of the Damned by which they are not only depriv'd of the Presence of the Almighty but are also tormented with perpetual Suffering both in Soul and Body Oh how horrid is it then to incurr the Displeasure of the Divine Omnipotence How strangely infatuated are ye O senseless Sinners to run on so swiftly in the Ways of Sin Tell me Can you freely receive your Wages which is Death and take up your Habitation in Everlasting Burnings there perpetually to abide for ever II. COULD we but obtain by Divine Permission a Visionary Prospect of that incorrigible Miscreant and Traytor Iudas what a Scene of Horror would that be to behold him violently dragg'd by Infernal Spirits and loaded with Chains of Fire his Diabolical Countenance pale and Wan the Voice within him his Conscience Worm-eaten his Pestilential Skin cover'd with Leprosie from whence issues out Stinks not to be endured his Limbs and Body wounded and tormented and his Tongue filled with bitter Lamentations and Execrations What a dreadful Apprehension will the Vision of so deplorable a Spectacle create in thee III. SHOULDST thou in Contemplation fix that dire Object before thine Eyes and upon a strict Disquisition examine him saying Tell me O thou perfidious Iudas what Griefs what Pains and Torments are these thou undergoest What number of Years has thou reign'd in sulphurous Fire And how many Centuries of Ages must thou yet remain buried in Flames and roaring among the Infernal Crew His guilty and amazing Conscience would soon reply The Pains which which I endure are intollerable no intermission for Relief is here to be found but the Torments thus ininflicted are perpetual The least of our Miseries far exceed all Punishments which either the Justice of God or the Cruelties of Men upon Earth did ever execute Despair is our continual Associate and there is no vacant Place for Hopes of ever to be freed for these unexpressible Torments You upon Earth take your Ease you Eat and drink in full Bowls whil'st we want Water to cool our Tongues which are tormented in these Flames IV. Let the Thoughts of Hell's Terrors ever put me in a Method to escape their Fury Consider the Damned in their fatal Circumstances their Life is to die without expiring and their Death is to live in perpetual Punishment There the Tormentor is never wearied the Fire never consumes and the Torments never decrease And this Decree is according as the irrevocable Sentence requires the fulfilling of the Justice of the Almighty and the Reward due to wilful Impenitents and obdurate Offenders that they should never want a sufficient measure of Punishment who were continually glutted and never ceas'd from Sin V. There the least Sin has its peculiar Punishment wonderfully extracted out of its own Sordidness The Salacious shall inhabit in unextinguishable sulphurous Fire continually flaming from their own inordinate Affections The Epicure and Ebrious shall sigh in vain for a little Water to cool their Tongues The Outragious and Passionate shall snarl like mad Dogs and the Malicious and Uncharitable shall corrode their own Entrails The Wealth of the Misers shall be as Goads in their Sides and the Arrogant and Ambitious shall be hurried down from the Precipice of Scorn to the Bottomless-Pit of Contempt The Infatuated shall miserably deplore their mispent Time and pine away with Grief for their not being diligent VI. BUT O what strange Convulsions shall fasten on their Spirits and vulnerate and search the utmost of their Souls When they shall with Amazement behold themselves eternally bereft of the illuminating Vision of the Most Highest When they shall behold themselves eternally exil'd from the joyful and amiable Presence of Jesus that Omnipotence who created 'em to inherit His Kingdom that Saviour who purchas'd 'em to reign with Him in Glory then shall they execrate the Hour of their Nativity and those sordid Associates that enticed them to Ruine They shall exclaim against the Folly of the fraudulent Universe and belch out with a raving Distraction Are these the Products of those infatuated Desires whose empty Enjoyments we esteem'd our Happiness Alas what will our loose Liberties and those fond Delights we so eagerly chas'd after now yield us What Happiness receive we from those fleeting Honours and transitory Treasures we so highly valued They are all fled away as a Vapour and past away as a Morning-Cloud VII BUT the Sting and Torment perpetually endures and plagues our Vitals with Everlasting Anguish Thus shall they roar out but all is deaf to their Complaint Thus shall they lament but no Compassion shall relieve them O dismal Spectacle of a wicked Life O terrible Sequel of a destructive Death perpetually to wish for what they never can obtain perpetually to undergo that which is inevitable O magnify'd be Thy Divine Omnipotence that with such an indulgent Affection gives us timely Notice of our Ruine Save us O blessed Lord from all Impieties Oh save us for Thy Own dear sake Quicken our Minds against the Effects of Sin and with Thy Fatherly Corrections chastise us often that at last the Terrors of Hell may force us into Thy Heavenly Kingdom MED XXVIII Upon Heaven Psal.
lxxxvii 2 Glorious things are spoken of thee thou City of God BUT all the most exalted Encomiums are infinitely below thy deserved Lauds and Praises For What Humane Understanding What created Tongue can be able to comprehend or express thy ineffable Excellencies If this Inferior Orb the Place of our Exilement and a Theatre of inevitable Miseries be so wonderfully delightful that our Eyes are entranced with the Variety of its Objects and can never sufficiently admire the Marvels they behold if the Firmament which is but a Foot-cloth for the Saints to tread on be enamell'd with so many Starry Jewels and imbellish'd with such radient Planets and glittering Constellations How transcendent how superlatively Magnificent are the Inner Appartments and Chambers of that Emperial Palace where the Adorable Deity does vouchsafe to communicate his Essential and Ecstatick Glories II. O DESIRABLE Mansion One Minute's Residence in thy Celestial Courts will make us more than Recompence for all the Afflictions we can possibly suffer in this Valley of Tears And And how conceivably will our Reward be when by a Miracle of Divine Mercy we shall be admitted to an Everlasting Participation of thy Immense and Inexpressible Felicities It was the certain Hope of thy Enjoyment which animated the Primitive Martyrs to sustain the most fiercest Tortures with an undaunted Constancy and to triumph in the mid'st of their Conflagration III. THE comfortable Expectation of thy Fruition was the Grand Motive which induced the Magnanimous Ignatius when threatned by his Persecutors with Extremity of Torments to make this Heroick Replication Fire Gallows Beasts Breaking of my Bones Quartering of my Members Crushing of my Body all the Torments of the Devil together let them come upon me so I may enjoy my Lord Iesus Christ. IV. IT is an undeniable Axiom That all Secular Felicitities are built upon brittle Foundations The most sublime Terrestrial Pleasures even in their greatest Complacencies are but transcient Vanities and conclude in Vexation but the Objects of the Celestial Habitations are refined to such an extraordinary degree of Perfection that they will be able to satiate the most extended Desires of our capacious Souls There we shall possess in lieu of a living Mortality which moves us towards the Grave a Vitality glorious beyond Imagination durable as the Ages of Eternity and whose Enjoyment will entitle us to excessive and inexplicable Satisfactions V. IF we admire Beauty Our ravish'd Eyes in lieu of Corporeal Objects shall behold those Immaterial Glories which flow from the Fountain of Uncreated Light and shall be permitted to contemplate that wonderful Clearness which proceeds from the Beatifical Visage of the Supreme Creator If Riches be the Center of our Affections Gold Pearls Diamonds Rubies Jewels and whatever we account most precious and estimable in the Universe are but faint Metaphors to describe the Inestimable Treasures of the Supernal World VI. IF Honour be the Subject of our Ambition What are Scepters and Crowns but Illustrious Miseries What are the Grandeurs upon Earth but gaudy Shadows in comparison of those Incorruptible Diadems those permanent and Substantial Dignities which flourish Above If we delight in Musick There we shall hear the Panegyrical Anthems of the Seraphick Choir and shall bear a part in the solemn Celebration of that Almighty Being whose only Presence will be sufficient to replenish us with immeasurable Felicity VII TO Conclude Nothing can be ded to that Immensity of Beatitude which we shall there enjoy but we shall be as perfectly Happy as the immediate Vision of the Incomprehensibly Glorious Trinity the Society of Angels the Conversation of Triumphant Spirits and the inexpressible Accommodations of a blissful Heaven can possibly make us And to consummate our Felicity all our Enjoyments shall be invested with Eternal Glory THE CONTENTS SECT I. What Meditation is Page 1 SECT II. That it is a Duty Page 5 SECT III. Rules and Directions for Meditation Page 10 SECT IV. Of the Subject and Method of Meditation Page 14 SECT V. Of being Affected with the Divine Presence Page 17 SECT VI. Of Preparatory Prayer Before Meditation Page 21 SECT VII Of Consideration Page 25 SECT VIII Affections and Resolutions Page 29 SECT IX Of Vows Page 33 SECT X. How to Conclude your Meditations Page 35 Collects to be said Before and After Meditations Page 36 Meditations on Several Occasions MED I. COnfession of Sins Page 38 MED II. That the Cross of the Holy Iesus should excite us to Repentance Page 42 MED III. Of the Fruits of Repentance Page 45 MED IV. Of Man's Salvation Page 50 MED V. The Youth's Memento Page 53 MED VI. General Rules of a Godly Life Page 58 MED VII The Whole Duty of Man Page 63 MED VIII The Vanity of the World Page 67 MED IX Jacob ' s Ladder Page 72 MED X. Of a Good Conscience Page 76 MED XI Of a Wounded Spirit Page 81 MED XII Of Humility Page 86 MED XIII The Proud Pharisee Page 91 MED XIV The Soul's Delight Page 95 MED XV. True Contentment Page 10â— MED XVI Of Divine Faith Page 105 MED XVII The Canaanitish Woman's Faith Page 109 MED XVIII Of Love and Charity Page 114 MED XIX An Act of Divine Love Page 120 MED XX. Of Chastity Page 126 MED XXI Purity of Heart Page 133 MED XXII Against Covetousness Page 137 MED XXIII A Bad Exchange Page 142 MED XXIV In Time of Sickness Page 148 MED XXV Vpon Death Page 153 MED XXVI Vpon Iudgment Page 160 MED XXVII Vpon Hell Page 171 MED XXVIII Vpon Heaven Page 177 FINIS