Quickner Convincer Converter Comforter Is thy being shapen in sin and conceived in (t) Psal 51.3 5. iniquity ever before thee Dost set thy secret sins before thee thy (u) Psal 90.8 hidden ones in the light of thy countenance Dost smell them stink ready to choak thee bowing thee ready to break thee and killing thee all the day long Tell me is the Law the delight of thy eyes and dost keep it in them Dost make it a light to they feet as well as thy brains Canst say without lying thou hast not a (x) 2 Co 1.9 comfort in all the world but it springs from one or other of the Lord's promises Does his threatning (j) Isa ult 2 3. word make thee tremble Dost live by sense as a horse by carnal reason as a man or by faith as a Christian Has thy faith any (z) Acts 26.18 eyes do they see God heaven helf death and Judgment every day every duty every time of seriousness and that as real certain indisputable things (a) Jer. 6.10 Has thy faith any ears can it and does it hear the voice (b) Job 35.10 of God in his Word and providential works that which natural men do no more hear than stocks and stones Don't thy natural (c) Eze 12.2 ears hear the Minister speak a great deal while thy spiritual ears don't hear God speaking one word of it Don't lye but tell me Hast ears for God's mouth as thou hast for men Has thy faith (d) Psal 135. a nose one that smells myrrh aloes cinnamon in every Truth and every good notion practice and person together with fire and brimstone in every sin though sweetned with profit pleasure honour love of Kings themselves What manner (e) Psal 34 8. of Tast has thy faith Does secret converse with God in bed at board on horseback in closet c. Does converse with thy self and Christ's members as such Do duties of all kinds such as most exclude thy own carnal ease and mens carnal peace and fayour Do these tast indeed and in good earnest so well (f) Psal 119.103 as honey to thy (g) 1 Pe 2.3 palat Do they affect thee with so palpable a pleasure and sweetness And lastly for God's sake tell me what feeling is thy faith of Can't it let thee go without its robes about thee but strait feel the sterming wind of God's wrath and scorching Sun shine of his fury and that as plain as thy naked body would feel a December frost or March wind on a hill Is God thy All art thou all Gods and that in secret sober sadness Canst vow and protest to Father Son and Spirir that thy heart labours after and can't and won't be satisfied without (h) 2 Co 13 14. the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ the Love of God the Father and the communion of God the Spirit If so Go in peace and the God of peace be with thee Amen Lord Jesus Amen Amen 17. A Soliloquy with the World OH World World (i) Joh. 8.48 Say I not well that thou art a Samaritan and hast a devil Nay rather is not thy name (k) Mar 5 9. legion and art thou not many Abaddons and Apollyons I am sure thou hast oft caught Saints themselves and they have been (l) Luk 8. 29 33. bound with thy chains and fetters breaking God's holy bonds And as for unregenerate Swine into whom thou entrest and art not soon dispossess't thou hurriest them down into the lake where they are cloathed with fire and brimstone The Devil had less specious (m) Ge 3. apples of old to delude eye with than thy apples of gold in pictures of silver be If that serpent did not eat and feed men with thy dust we might triumph over him oh Serpent where is thy sting (n) Joh 8.44 oh Devil where is thy victory He was a murderer from the beginning and abode not in the Truth and wast not thou a like apostate of whom God said Thou wast very good and by and by (o) Ge. 1.31 Gen. 3.17 cursed thee that once barest good fruit for the use of man's body now nothing but thorns and thistles at least husks for soul and body I 'le say 't (p) Jud 6. Thou kept'st not thy first estate but art now reserved to the jud gement of the great Day And I 'le vow my judgement is that if I don 't in the mean time drownthee in the (q) Rev 12.15 flood of my penitential tears and burn thee out of my soul with the fire of my love and zeal for a better world the flood cast out of thy mouth will swallow me up and I shall find the God of this world a consuming fire For if any Devil (r) Heb 2.15 has the power of death I dare say 't is the world to whose (s) Eph 6.12 principalities and powers mankind so conforms its life 'T is the world makes every (t) Luk 22.3 5. Judas in it and we betray not Christ to our lusts till that enter into us and covenant with us Nor keep we back any thing from him till this (u) Act 5.30 Satan fills our hearts to oppose the Holy Ghost Thou oh world art the Satan that standest ever at our right hands to resist us and I vow I think (x) 2 Ch 10.10 thy little finger thicker than the loins of all the Devils in hell If the Saints must judge (y) 1 Co 6.2 the world and the things of the world I doubt not but they will judge them the worst enemies next to lusts after them If they resist the Devil he will fly from them but the earth abideth for ever a Tempter and its Herods which seek the life of Christ within us will never be dead We may chuse whether we will give any place to the Devil or no but the world must have our backs on which it makes but too often very long furrows and our bellies in which it leaves its Idol-gods Of all its clothes how few there be that won't be found naked and uncovered with Christ's Garments I cannot think without horrour and surely did it poyson as many bellies as souls it would have few to feed Oh world world Miserable are thy men and miserable the servants (z) 2 Ch 9.7 which stand continually before thee and hear thy wisedom though with that pleasure of which the world is not worthy I assure (a) Ecc. 1.8 thee my eye is satisfied with seeing thee and my ear with hearing thee The Devil brags of thy (b) Mat 4.9 All these things but God calls thy things things which are not and if that damn'd Ghost did not think my soul worth a thousand of thee he would scarce be so busie with me to give my soul in exchange for thee I know by my experience (d) Jer. 2.13 thy cisterns are broken and can hold no water My comforts in eating and
of the Lord than great treasure of God's word in thy mouth and the trouble of thy tongue therewith He (z) Heb 11.4 who being dead yet speaks of spiritual life is infinitely far from that speech which (a) Ca. 411. Christ Jesus calls comely and yet if he were not the wise man tells us Excellent speech (b) Pro. 17.7 becomes not a fool O my soul my soul Take thou (c) Mat 10.19 then no thought how or what thou shalt speak of God or his wayes (d) Mat 12.35 but out of the good treasure of thy heart Let it ever be given unto thee what thou shalt say (e) Mal. 2.6 Let the Law of Truth be in thy lips (f) Psal 15.2 and speak the truth in thine heart The way to be without offence is to be sincere and make clean the insides of the vessels (g) Phil 1.10 the Kingdom of God is not in word 14. A Soliloquy with God complaining of vile Affections OH my God my God! (h) Job 19.23 24. oh that thy words were now written in the Book of my heart Oh that they were printed in my conscience That they were engraven with an iron pen and lead in the rock of my heart for ever But alas (i) Psal 1.6 I am affraid of ten thousands of vile affections which have beset themselves round about me not onely to keep me from holy wisdom that (k) Pro. 6.25 I lust not after her beauty in my heart nor let her take me with her eye-lids that I am not ravish'd with one (l) Can 4.9 of her eyes and one chain of her neck (m) Job 29.22 but to make me mock at her sear and not be affrightned nor turn back from her swords to say among her trumpets Ha ha to scorn the thunder of her captains and their shouting Nay and as if they themselves were not enough they say to all temptations (n) Pro 1.11 12 Pro. 1.17 Come with us let us lay wait for blood let us lurk privily for all the Laws of God that ever come here Let us swallow them up alive as the grave and whole as those that go down to the pit O my God are not all thy nets spread in vain in the sight of such Birds as my worldly affections who say of heavenly-mindedness (o) Ecc 2.2 that it is mad and of self-denyal what doth it who taunt at my conscience saying (p) Can 5.9 What is thy beloved more than another beloved O my God! I confess it 't is but just on me (q) Isa 1.2 I have nourish'd and brought up these children of Belial and now they rebel against me domineering over my heart the womb that bare them and the dugs that gave them suck so that (r) Ro. 7.15 that which she allows not she does that which she would she does not and does what she hates And verily oh my God these (s) 1 Co 1.27 foolish things confound the wise within me these weak confound the things that are mighty (t) Eccl 4.1 I have considered all the oppressions that are done under the Sun but oh my God I know none like those done by my vile affections (u) Isa 3.15 which beat thy good Teachings to pieces and grind the faces of my poor convictions which fence up my way that I cannot pass from them and set darkness about all my paths which make me ever and anon grumble (x) Psal 73.13 I have cleansed my heart in vain and washed my hands in innocency to wit while they say to my graces and comforts (y) Jer. 13.18 Humble your selves sit down for your principalities shall come down even the crown of your glory Oh my God my God! 't is through these that (z) Jer. 12.2 3. thou so often art near in my mouth and far from my reins but oh thou that knowest me seest me and tryest my reins thou knowest that I pray thee for the love of Christ to pull them out like sheep for the slaughter and prepare them for the day of slaughter For alas alas (a) Isa 57.20 they are like the troubled sea when it cannot rest whose waters cast up mire and dirt the winds and the seas will obey me assoon as they and the worst of it is (b) Pro 29.12 That my Rulers my judgement and conscience do but too often hearken to their lies and then all their servants my will memory and all other powers are wicked and so wicked as that if any good seed get into me (c) Job 14.2 it comes up like a flower and is cut down it flees as a shadow and continues not My God I fear at my yery heart (d) 2 Câ—â— 26 2â— That as Vzziah I shall be a leper to my death and dwell in a several house sever'd from the near access to thee and thy holiness which my heart pants for because really I am (e) Job 2.6 in the hand of these devils onely thou savest my life of which it self I am wofully afraid when many times (f) Psa 46.9 they make my very warfare with them to cease they break my spiritual bows and cut my spears in sunder and burn the Chariots of God in the fire Their cursed peace being (g) Isa 48 18.19 all the whiles as a River and their unrighteousness numerous and boisterous as the waves of the sea Their ungodly seed as the sand and their off-spring as the gravel thereof Oh my God if whosoever (h) Luk 14.11 exalts himself shall be abased sure I should hope these corrupt affections were to be brought down for sure they exalt themselves above thy own Majesty When I sometimes query with them methinks the sum of their answer is what was said of old These (i) Isa 48.5 and these things mine idol hath done and my graven image and my molten image hath commanded them They are stedfast and unmoveable alwayes abounding in the works of sin and vanity They are (k) Eph 6.10 11 17. strong in the Devil and the power of his might putting on his whole armour that they may be able to stand against the very sword of the spirit the Word of God O my God (l) 2 Ti 3.16.17 I find they are notable for doctrine for reproof for corrections for instruction in unrighteousness that the child of disobedience may be perfect throughly furnish'd unto all evil works they subtly (m) T it 2.12 13 teach to deny all spiritual Godliness and Grace and to live indeed unsoberly unrighteously and ungodly in this present world looking for that hope which makes asham'd They (n) Jam 1.21 lay apart all spivituality and godly sineerity and receive with proud desperateness the devices of Satan the least of which is enough to damn humane souls To do evil and to communicate it they (o) Heb 13.16 forget not for with such sacrifices the god of this world
Lemmata MEDITATIONUM OR The Contents of a few Religious MEDITATIONS Given as Directive and Incentive to that invaluable DUTY By Philo-Jesus Philo-Carolus Psal 11.148 Mine eyes prevent the Night-watches that I might meditate in thy word Psal 139.18 When I awake I am still with Thee DVBLIN To be sold by Joseph Wilde Bookseller in Castlestreet 1672. IMPRIMATUR Mich De Laune Rmo in Christo Patri ae Domino Dno Michaeli Archiepiscopo Dubliniensi nec non summo Hibernie Cancellario è sacris To my EXCELLENT MOTHER Grace and joy in the Holy Ghost be multiplyed My Dearest Mother THese Papers were long written for my own peculiar use and laid abbout the shelves of my study in a dress whose hue they yet retain and indeed so sensible I am of the unfitness of such Youth as mine to appear in Print that were I not under the Press my self I would not suffer my Soliloquy's ever to come under it and the rather because intending them purely for my own service in their draught I expended my whole industry in getting affections and neglected that accuracy in the contexture of my Expressions which otherwise I had taken Renewing the Copy is a Task that I a poor Day-labourer can by no means set on and sith I comply with those who think this worthy to be sent abroad a necessity is laid upon me to send it as ' t is You know I never affected taudry fashions in my own Garb nor indeed do I in my Books and I have a satisfaction to my self in that those judicious Christians who gat it out of my hands esteem it as clad at the least decently A very aged and learned Doctor an eminent Dignitary of this Church of Ireland whom I never yet saw save once and that but on an occasion which gave me no more than a half-hours Discourse with him Dr. W.S. hath in an affectionate Letter to me these very words In these Papers I now with many thanks send you you have made choice of acceptable words choice arguments and superexcellently expressed no language ever better You have spoken your own thoughts by Gods words so that no enemy not the Devil himself can say but that you have said as well as may be though among the English Theology is cultivated in most of its parts beyond what is found among Foreigners yet I think the Papists outgo us in Devotionary Books We are forced to English and alter some of theirs to make them 〈◊〉 Thomas de Kempis Bellarmine Parsons c. But so far as you have gone you have outgone them they have spoken holily and very usefully but what you utter is Bible all your thoughts are apples of silver are placed in pictures of gold Your last Book i. e. a sheet of Christs satisfaction I sent him acquainted me with that argument better than I was before but this hath gone deeper into my heart I have taken this with me when I went to God and like Hezekiah's Roll I spread some of these Papers before me and if like him I did not weep sore I have the more reason to grieve that I did not so grieve Had I been younger and my eyes better I would have Transcribed if not all yet some of these so pious Meditations But if my Head be not laid before they come out in Print I shall with the first get one of the Books The good God bless your holy endeavours with suitable success c. My honoured good Mother this with like encouragements hath emboldened me to present you thus publickly what I thought to have done in my own Hand-writing It is true the excellent Mr. Rob Boâ—l's occasional reflections were put into my hand more than a year agon by a Lady happy in a near relation to that truly honourable both Gentleman and Christian and I had thoughts of presenting you the fruits of my plowing with his heifer but they being catcht from me by a Friend who liked them too well or too ill to restore them I had not till now any Essay of a Subject and language proper to send you The illustrious Gentleman I last named hath very praise-worthily set upon the reducing of both Philosophy and Divinity from aery opinionative and talkative to solid experimental and demonstrative As for Philosophy though I rejoyce in his and the Royal Societies labours for it if I had brains I have nor time nor affection to the extreme studies thereof but as for Divinity I should have a thousand joyes if this or any endeavour of mine should make for its reclaiming from controversial to practical in any one soul for sure I am the exercize of my heart in pouring out such Soliloquies to the Lord in my Closet stand me in much more stead than a thousand Disputes about that Mint and Cummin which slayes the general regard of the weighty things of the Law in Great Britain and Ireland But to so mean a Present why preface I so many words I will end with onely congratulating my self this That whereas the glory of some Children is onely their Fathers mine is my Mother too for as I glory in having a Father who is able better to serve the Faith and Joy of Christians so I do in having a Mother who ere now has and I am sure will again encourage by her kindest acceptance the weak endeavours of My gracious Dearest Mother Your very affectionate Son and obedient Servant Philo-Jesus Philo-Carolus AN EPISTLE TO THE READER LOng before the World was perplext with unprofitable Subtilties in Philosophy and destructive Controversies in Divinity Solomon complain'd of multiplicity of Books But surely not of such as were design'd to mend the World and were likely to answer the end of the Authors for he wrote much himself of Beasts Foules creeping things and Fishes and of Trees from the Cedar in Lebanon to the Hyssop that springeth out of the Wall moreover beside these books of natural Philosophy his books which belong to the Canon are a considerable part of the Hagiographa If that which is written be upright even words of truth and delightfully composed or contrived for efficacy like the words of the wise which are as Goads and nails fastned by the Nailers of Assemblies no man of Solomons mind will complain Books are faulty it must be acknowledged many of them so faulty either as unsound or prophane or ridiculously senseless that they are more fit for Fuell then the Library of any man But were all such condemn'd to the flame executed it cannot be expected that any one of the surviving books in all its parts should find Catholick accptance nor indeed that any one except the mysteries of the Holy Ghost should please all men of unquestionable fidelity and skill to peruse it yet Reader Allow it to be said of this book uot as peculiar to it If it be impartially read and rightly understood according to the intendment of the Author it will commend it self The words and phrase where
in my worst fits being sure of this (x) La. 3. I am a living man And 't is meet for the (y) Isa 38.10 living to praise thee not complain of thee But oh my God my God I pray thee for time to come let that word of Truth by which 〈…〉 (z) Jam 1.18 begat'st me and of a stone dead imp madest me a child to Abraham Feed my (a) 1 Pe 2.2 Babie graces and comforts with its sincere milks and be within me a word of Life Amen Amen 8. A Soliloquy with God about his Threatnings OH my God I have thought That 't is not for indisturbed Professors (b) Pro. 31.4 5 6 7. to drink too much of the wine of the promises and that least they drink and forget the Law its direction and ob igation I have judg'd the strong drink of thy promises to belong to him that is ready to perish and their wines to them that are of feeble hearts that they may drink and not forget but redress their poverty by Christ's wealth and consider That in him they shall feel their misery no more Now thou knowest I am one of that wretched number of men who are setled on their lees and that too often say (c) Zep. 1.12 The Lord will not do good (d) Deu 24.19 neither will he do evil Oh my God thou knowest I have blest my self in my heart saying I shall have peace though I walk in the imagination of my heart I have not been (e) Jer. 48.11 emptied from vessel to vessel neither have I gone into the swift captivity of the Gospel My taste has remain'd in me and my scent has not been chang'd so setled have I been on my lees Oh my God I need that word of thine which is quick and powerful (f) Heb. 4.12 sharper than any two edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit I need some of its faithful (g) Pro. 27.6 wounds which will do me infinitely more good than all the (h) Pro. 28.23 deceitful kisses which my presumption will never be able to fasten on thy sweetest promises Oh correct me with them withhold them not from my soul for if thou beatest me with them I sha not die Whatever the minds of others are Lord thou shalt beat me with thy (i) Pro. 23.13 14. rod of threatnings and deliver my soul from the hell of self-liking and self-applauding I dare not say to thy richest promises (k) Job 6.22 23. bring unto me or give me reward of your rich substance or deliver me from the enemies hand redeem me from the hand of the Almighty without first saying to thy threatnings O ye just statutes upon my hardness of heart and all my wicked lusts (l) Psal 11.6 rain ye fire brimstone and horrible tempest Bring upon them that shut out my peace (m) 2 Pe 1. a swift destruction for I am sure before such their destruction the heart of man will be haughty O Lord without this passing through the fire of thy threatnings I find when I do my best my hope is cut off and my trust is but (n) Job 〈…〉 a spiders web Thy justice conspicuous in thy treats being as needfull to keep me from presumption as the mercy in thy promises to keep me from despair Oh my God I love thy book the better for thy threats because I find they are the harbingers of the promises and Laws to the world The world cries out (o) Joh. 6.6 They are hard sayings who can bear them I esteem them soft and gentle in every thing saving their objects to whom they are denounced and they are (p) Ro. 2.5 heart-hearted indeed Thou oh my God their authour art a God (q) Ex. 34.6 of grace thy end in giving them is (r) 2 Ti. 1.9 gracious their effects on honest hearts are gracious but to the hard-hearted all things are hard It 's true they bruise but (s) Gen 3.15 a sinners heel even while they bruise sins head if they do give us stripes those stripes are gifts for with them we are (t) Isa 53.5 heal'd they never cutting open any more than an orifice for the oyl of thy promises to come in at I know for the grace of the promises lips and the (u) Can 1.2 savour of their good ointment the virgins foolish as well as wise love them and follow them But oh my God thou (x) Mat. 25.12 knowest thy holy promises will not give that which is holy unto dogs or dogged snarlers at thy righteous treats they won't cast their pearls unto swine (y) Mat 7.6 7. They may ask and conceit it is given them they may seek and fancy they find divine puri ie and peace but a lie is in their right hand (z) Eccl 4.12 and their three fold cords of ignorance errour and pride are easily broken sometimes with mans but ever with Gods judgement which hath made me chuse (a) Heb 11.25 rather to suffer the humiliations and breakings of thy threats than to enjoy such kind of pleasures of heaven it self as are but for a season Oh my God I find within me that which is sweetly drawn to thee with the (b) Hos 11.4 cords of a man and the bands of love But I also find within me that which were not (c) Jer. 23.19 thy word A hammer it could never beat any good into me If thou onely (d) Can 1.5 drawest thy spiritual part with thy promises it will run after thee but my carnal part is not made willing to stoop but in the (e) Psal 110. power of thy forcive Threats (f) Mar 16.16 He that believes shall be saved will animate the Law of my mind but 't is he that believes not shall be damn'd that will break in pieces (g) Ro. 7.23 the Law of my Members I thank thee oh my God for such (h) Zec 2.5 a wall of Fire round about my graces and duties The Law is a defence and the promises are (i) Eccl 7.12 a defence against the weakness of Grace But these Threats are the defence against the streng th of corruption Ten Laws and ten promises won't (k) Deu 32.30 chase a thousand lusts but Two of these will put ten thousand to flight Oh my God Thy promises do lead many but thy Threatnings (l) 2 Co 10.5 drive every thought to the obedience of thy Son (m) Lu 19.27 even those that would not that he should reign over them These rods of iron rule those my Rebels whose (n) 1 Sa 15.23 rebellion is as the sin of witchcrast they are the rod which with the staffe ef thy Laws and Promises do exceedingly (o) Psa 23.4 comfort me If I say That I the chief of sinners have no sin I deceive my self and if I say whilst I have sin (p) 1 Jo 1.8 I am so whole
Law ought not to depart out of a man's mouth so neither ought it to enter in save (k) Mat. 12.34 out of the hearts abundance Eliphaz advises (l) Job 22.22 Job to lay up God's word in his heart not his mouth (m) Pro 3.1 Prov. 4.23 and Solomon thought no cabinet so proper to keep divine Commands in as it Nay God himself chuses the Tables of the heart (n) Jer. 31.33 for to write his Laws in which makes me conclude A man may keep his mouth and tongue richly and yet never keep (o) Pro. 21.23 his soul from troubles and this because I know whatever entreth in at the mouth if it find no place in the heart it goes into (p) Mat 15.18 the belly of hidden lusts and is cast out into their draught The things of God which proceed out of the mouth when they proceed not forth out of the heart they defile the man So little a praise is it to be a man of pure lips if no more and especially if that of the (q) Isa 29. wise man be true to wit that though (r) Pro. 14.23 in all labour there be profit yet lip labour has a direct tendency to povertie Oh my soul (s) Pro. 11.9 Solomon tells thee That the Hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour I tell thee more even that he destroys himself for though he has (t) Pro. 7.14 9 15 16 17 18 19 20. Peace offerings with him and every day payes his vows yet he goes forth in the black and dark angels of his soul to meet the Devil diligently to find him though he decks his bed with covering of religious Tapestry with carved works and fine linen of profession though he perfumes his bed with myrrh aloes and cinamon yet he takes his fill of spiritual whoredom and solaces himself with atheistical loves while the good conscience is not at home but is turn'd out of doors with a bag of money not to come home till the day appointed even that of Death and Judgement If of any soul alive this oh my soul is true of the hypocritical one He feedeth on ashes a deceiv'd heart hath turn'd him aside that he cannot deliver his soul nor say (u) Isa 44.20 Is there not a lye in my right hand (x) Pro 12.15 For the way of such a fool is right in his own eyes And Christ himself does not deny but he has his reward (y) Mat. 6.2 Mat. 6.4 Mat. 6.7 Mat. 6.6 Mar. 6.31 32 He does his alms to the devil in secret and that father of his who seeth him in secret himself rewards him openly Though when he prayes to God he uses as vain repetitions as the Heathens do yet when he prayes to the devil and wishes for devilish things he keeps in the closet of privacy and shuts all the doors at which men may see in He takes no thought saving What shall I do to eat Christ's flesh or drink his blood or cloath me with the garment of his Righteousness For after all these things do true Israelites seek but he seeks first the titular Kingdom of God and the professional Righteousness thereof and thinks all these things shall be added He takes no care for to morrow but lets that care for it self Sufficient he thinks unto the Day of Judgement if to any day is the evil thereof His love I can't say is without dissimulation but sure (z) Mat 5.44 love he does his enemies God's Lawes bless he does them though they curse him and pray for God's promises though they despightfully use him and give him no one drop of comfort He 's even almostas perfect as his father which is inHell is perfect This indeed oh my soul (a) Mat 7.11 9 10 9 10. I observe that being evil the hypocrite knows how to give good gifts and though when his friend asks of him for bread what he gives him in respect of himself be no more than a stone and he takes no more in it yet to his friend 't is good bread Though the Truths he delivers be to himself serpents that sometimes sting his soul yet as he delivers them they are fish What is (b) 2 Co 4.2 handling the Word of God deceitfully if this be not to wit Taking it (c) Deu 30.14 very nigh one even into ones mouth and yet not so much as know it any otherwise than God knows the proud to wit (d) Psal 138.6 afar off to be not a hearer onely but a talker too and yet not a (e) Jam 1.22 doer of the Word to do with it many wonderful works by it to (f) Mat 7.22 cast out devils and nevertheless as the Pharisees and Scribes (g) Mar 7.13 making that of none effect to ones self Oh my soul for the love of God let not the Word of God (h) Psa 119.103 be sweet to thy mouth and not to thy tast (i) 1 Th 5 26. Kiss it with no Judas-like but with a holy kiss (k) Mat 13.57 As 't is said of a prophet he is not without honour save in his own countrey so may it be said of the Word it is not without honour save in its own proper Region that of the heart (l) Deu 4.9 Oh keep thy heart and it more dear than thy hearts blood with all diligence (m) Psa 45.1 Let thy heart endite good matters of it (n) Pro 15.13 Pro. 15.15 A merry heart makes a chearful countenance Let thy hearts mirth in it be that which sets thy chearful countenance on it 'T is a heart a heart a heart I tell thee a merry heart with it which hath a continual Feast for the Lord and from the Lord. In the Word God opens his heart to the Word open thy heart even the hidden man of thy heart Oh my soul (o) 1 pe 3.4 I charge thee before God who has quickned thee and before Jesus Christ who never made or will endure rotten professions that thou take not the oyl (q) Psa 104.15 of the Word to make thy face to shine without the wine of the Word to make thy very heart glad in the Lord. (r) Jam 3.5 The tongue is a little member don't think that God intended it for the Seat and Dwelling house of his great Law (s) Pro. 16.1 The answer of the tongue is indeed from the Lord but when When the preparations of the heart in man be so to (t) pro. 15.7 the tongue is the dispenser and should be the disperser of holy knowledge But the heart my soul the heart 't is that has the good (u) Mat 6.21 treasure and as 't is true where the treasure is there the heart will be so really where the heart is there the (x) Mat 12.35 treasure will be good or bad O my soul better is a little in the heart (y) Pro. 15.16 with the fear
as Paul (f) Acts 28.5 spake of this viper though it fasten about me I hope I shall both pluck out my self ish (g) Mat â—5 29 30 eye and cast it from me too chop off my self ish hands and cast them from me also yea and throw out my self ish holiness it self unto the dogs I hope to see the (h) Job 31.22 ar mof all self fall from its shoulder-blade and broken from the bone broken in pieces (i) psal 89 10. as Rahab and serv'd as the Midianites as Sisera as Jabin at the brook of Kison If not piety must say within me (k) Jer. 10.20 my Tabernacles are spoil'd my cords are broken there is none to stretch forth my Tent any more and to set up my curtains and wo is me I must say to the power of godliness if any live in me (l) 2 Ki 20.1 set thy house in order for thou shalt dye and not live for sure I am selfishness wipes out spirituality of obedience as a man (m) 2 Ki 21.13 wipes out a dish wiping it and turning it upside down Nebuchadneuzar like it makes a decree that every power of the powers of the soul that shall (n) Dan 3.5 6. hear the sound of its cornets flutes and harps shall fall down and worship the golden images that it sets up and if any grace withstand it must be cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace of rage and malice like the woman in the Revelation it is (o) Rev 18.21 array'd in purple and scarlet-colour'd pretences deckt with gold precious stone and pearl in its professions and hath in its hand a golden cup like a sacred chalice but it is full of abominations and filthiness of its fornications upon its forehead should be wrote Mystery Babylon the great the mother of harlots and abominations of the heart and life wherefore thou oh my God send thou the Angel of the Covenant (p) Rev 18.21 the mighty Angel indeed and by his holy spirit let him take up thy word like a great milstone and cast this Babylon into the sea and let it be found no more at all in my soul or any of its wayes As (q) Exo 15 4 5. Pharaoh's chariots and his host were cast into the sea and his chosen captains drown'd in the red sea so let the deeps cover my self ishness and all its Aegyptian crew let them sink into the bottom as a stone Amen my God Amen 17. A Soliloquy with my Soul about its evidences for Divine Love OH my soul my soul (r) Pro. 24.24 25. He that saith to the wicked thou art righteous him shall the people curse Shall nations abhor him I prethee He that saith to his wicked self Thou art righteous shall not God curse him too shall not Saints also abhor him (s) Psal 39.1 Take heed then to thy wayes that thou sin not with thy tongue Keep the mouth of thy very heart also with a bridle while thy wicked lusts are before thee (t) Job 12.6 The tabernacles of them who rob and take from Gods promises their comforts which they give them not do prosper for a while but the wealth of evidences for heaven (u) Pro 13.11 got by vanity will be diminish'd when they that gather them by laborious consulting the conditions of Gospel promises shall increase The devil's beasts do not know (x) Isa 1.3 their Owner nor his Asses their Master's crib Without are dogs which neither ken their being dogs but dream themselves God's children nor believe themselves without divine favour but conceit them wrapt up in the bowels of it Thousands I am out of doubt thousands of Christ's (y) Mat 25.33 37 44. sheep think they are goats but thousands of thousands among Satan's goats think they are sheep Many in whom Christ is think (z) 2 Co 13.5 they are Reprobates but more who are Reprobates think that Christ is in them Oh my soul my soul If I my self (a) Gal. 1.8 or an angel from heaven do preach to thee any other Gospel or salvation on any other Terms than what are delivered in Christ's own hold it accursed He that doth (b) Joh â—â— 21. the truth cometh to that light e're his deeds can be made manifest that they are of God (c) pro. 18.17 It being first in thy own cause thou shouldst seem just God thy very near Neighbour will be sure come search thee out He leads corrupt (d) Job 12.17 self-counsellers away spoil'd and makes partial Judges of themselves fools and believe me the (e) Mat. 24.35 heaven of presumptions making shall pass away but his works will not pass away (f) pro. 20.6 Most men and especially the worst will proclaim every one his own righteousness but a faithful friend to God who canfind for all that My soul I am sure thou hast those within thee which (g) Isa 30.10 say to thy Seers see not and to the Prophets prophesie not right things speak unto us smooth things but for the love of Christ don't let them make (h) Isa 28.15 thee make lyes thy refuge and undersalshood hide thy self God has written to thee excellent things in counsel and in knowledge (i) pro. 22.20 21. that he might make thee not guess but know not the probability but certainty of the words of Truth (k) Pro. 3.5 6. Lean thou not then to thy own understanding but in all thy wayes acknowledge them (l) Job 38.2 3. Don't darken counsel by words without knowledge Gird up now thy loins for I will demand of thee and answer thou me Hath thine eye seen God (m) Job 42.6 7. so as that thou abhorrest thy self in dust and ashes Are all thy springs in God and (n) Psal 121.1 2 dost thou lift up thy eyes to no other hills for thy salvation Dost find that 't is indeed his (o) Psal 104.28 29. opening his hand that fills thee with good and 't is his hiding his face that troubles thee Art thou sure of this Dost verily believe (p) Psal 84.11 that God is the Sun who gives thee all thy light without any efficiency of thy lower Moon and Stars and that he is the onely shield in life and death Is he in good earnest thy love (q) Isal 119.16 delight desire and joy and hope Hast thou said as he sayes to all other gods Ye shall die Is (r) Psal 97.10 he Lord of lords God of hosts I am that I am wonderful Counsellor and mighty God See the whole Law Gospel Holy Faithful and True in thy inmost reins Is his Son God-man crucified under his Fathers wrath satisfactoriously meritoriously and victoriously dying rising triumphing and interceding at his Fathers right hand thy life light bread raiment ark City of Refuge Priest Prophet King Is God the (s) Joh. 14.18 holy Spirit thy Enlightner
it and very reason too in a great measure they drive it from Saints yea from men They make its dwelling with (t) Dan 4.31 32. Hos 12 1. beasts of the field they make it to eat the grass with carnal oxen with Ephraim to feed on the wind and follow after the Eastwind yea they sometimes turn the children (u) Mat 3.9 of Abraham into stones obdurate and insensible As for acts of Devotion (x) Hos 13.3 Prayer Meditation c. Vain thoughts make them First to be as the morning cloud and as the early dew as the chaff driven with the whirl-wind out of the floor and as the smoke out of the chimney which leave no sign behind them And Secondly to be meer (y) Jud. 12 13. clouds without water trees whose fruit wither without fruit twice dead pluck'd up by the roots raging waves of a sea of hypocrisie foming out the souls shame they make them grievous to us and odious to God As for the means of Devotion holy Meditation alone holy conference with Christians holy use of God's Word and good Books Oh my soul sadly dost thou know how vain thoughts make one (z) Rev 3.16 spue them out of ones mouth or at least tast no more in them than in the white of eggs Thou knowest vain thoughts make the heart like the Leviathans firm as a stone yea hard as a piece of the nether milstone and then let God's Books or his Saints or both say to us as Job to his friends (a) Job 27.11 I will teach you by the hand of God that which is with the Almighty will I not conceal Yet they will be utterly contemn'd and be to us Physicians of no value As for the Opposites and Contraries of Devotion Pride earthlymindedness Atheism it self vain thoughts are those which took them out of the (b) Psal 22.9 10. Psal 25 13. womb upon vain thoughts they were cast from the very breasts and vain thoughts were their Gods even from the belly Vain thoughts make them to dwell at ease and to lift up their heads above the heads of Humility Heavenlymindedness and practical piety All things methinks of every sort sayes to vain thoughts You are our (c) Psal 142.5 refuge and our hiding-place You are the hills whence cometh our help They will not in truth my soul they will (d) Psal 3.5 Hos 13.8 not be affraid of ten thousands of Sermons which set themselves against them They will lye down and sleep and awake while vain thoughts sustain them Sermons Conferences c. would meet every of thy sins and rent the caul of their hearts They would make their strong holds like (e) Nah 3.12 fig-trees with the first ripe figs if they were but shaken they would fall Were it not that (f) Psal 125.2 as the mountains stand round about Jerusalem so vain thoughts stand so about my corruptions that the means of Grace can't have full reach of them Would my God but cast down my (g) 2 Co 10.5 Rev. 18 2. Psal 10.4 imaginations and bring my thoughts into captivity and the obedience of Jesus then should my heart be no longer the habitation of Devils and the hold of every foul spirit and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird But hear oh my soul if God be in all thy thoughts vanity and sin will be in all thy best words and deeds For the love of Christ go cry to thy God and say (h) Pro 6.2 Thou art snar'd with the thoughts of thy heart Beg him for Christ's sake that their root may be dryed up and they may bear no more fruit yea though they should bring forth Hos 9.16 that he would stay even the beloved fruit of their womb and dash their little ones against the stones Now consider this oh ye the poor beginnings of grace and comfort within me least vain thoughts (i) Psal 50.22 tear you in pieces and there be none to deliver you 20. A Soliloquy of idle words (a) Gen 15.5 LOok now toward Heaven oh my soul and tell the stars if thou be able to number them Lift up thine eyes (b) Gen 13.14 16. look abroad from the place where thou art Northward and Southward Eastward and Westward if thou canst tell the stars and count the dust of the earth then may thy (c) Job 6.25 Mar. 7.18 words also be numbred words of which there 's not one but is very forcible whether right or no for though but too oft thou makest the words of God of none effect in one sense God will never make thine of none effect in another but will by them (d) Mat 12.37 or justifie or condemn thee (e) Jam 3.10 Out of every of thy so many words a blessing or curse is sure to proceed and wo be to thee if God make thee an offender for a word unrepented of For as every unsanctified tongue so every vain word thereof is it self a world of iniquity yea behold 't is (f) Psal 51.5 shapen in iniquity and in sin doth the heart conceive it 'T is by nature a (g) Eph 2.3 child of wrath even as other works of disobedience 't is of its (h) Joh 8.44 Joh. 8.48 Luke 10.17 father the Devil and the works of its father it will do damn it self and its corrupted hearers Say I not well to every of thy idle words then Thou art a Samaritan and hast a devil Devils without all peradventure they are and oh would God thou couldst now go say Lord these devils are subject to me in thy Name If (i) 1 Joh 3.8 such as commit sin be of the devil I am certain they are his genuine seed and issue for why (k) Ro. 3.23 sin dwelleth in them and they are carnal sold under sin they lay on thee weights and make actual sins easily beset thee Yea farther oh my soul thy idle words have not only sinned all of them and come short of the (l) Ro. 7.13 14. glory of God but they have made many to be sinful through them who else had not known the sins imparted to them In a word idle words the plague of their plagues is they become (m) 1 Jo 2.2 propitiations for sin and not for ones own onely but the whole companies God's word is indeed the (n) Psal 119.105 Read Isa â— 8 Phil. 2.16 light to our feet and the due lanthorn to our paths But the very truth is there 's a kind of ignis fatuus a false light sparkling out of ones own words which generally does lead our feet and chalk out our paths Nor have evil communications a little influence on like manners every word of ours is ordinarily a word of life in a sense God rarely holding our hearts when once (o) Psal 12.4 Psal 2. our lips are our own and our hands ever breaking his bonds asunder and casting his cords behind us assoon as his