God shall have it Hypocrites care not what they put God off with They offer that to the Lord which costs them nothing * 2 Sam. 24.24 A prayer that costs them no wrastling no pouring out of the soul * 1 Sam. 1.15 they put no cost in their services Cain brought of the fruit of the ground Gen. 4.3 'T is observable the holy Ghost doth not mention any thing that might commend or set off Cains sacrifice When he comes to speak of Abels he sets an Emphasis upon it Abel brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof * Abel obtulit non exigua sed pinguia Ambrose verse 4. but when he speaks of Cain he only saith he brought of the fruit of the ground Some sorry thing perhaps pull'd out of a ditch God who is best will be serv'd with the best Domitian would not have his Statue carv'd in wood or iron but in gold God will have the best of our best things golden services He who delights in God gives him the fat of the offering * Lev. 3.3 the purest of his love the hottest of his zeale and when he hath done all he grieves he can do no more he blusheth to see such an infinite disproportion between Deity and Dutie 5. He that delights in God doth not much delight in any thing else The world appears in an ecclipse * Utitur mundo fruitur Deo Aug. Paul delighted in the Law of God in the inner man and how was he crucified to to the world Gal. 6.14 'T is not absolutely unlawful to delight in the things of the world Deut. 26.11 Thou shalt rejoyce in every good thing which the Lord thy God hath given thee None may better take the comfort of these things than beleevers for they have the best right to them they hold all in Capite * There is nothing ours but as we see out title in Christ Greenham and they have the dew of a blessing distill'd Take two talents said Naaman to Gehazi 2 King 5.23 so saith God to a beleever take two talents take thy outward comforts and take my love with them but the children of God though they are thankful for outward mercies which is the yearly rent they sit at yet they are not much taken with these things * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 7.31 they use them only as a conveniency for their passage * Omnia quibus uteris in hac vita debent esse tanquaÌ„ stabulum viatori non tanquam domus habitatori Aug. they know they need them as a staffe to walk with but when they shall sit down in the Kingdome of heaven and rest themselves they shall have no use of this Jacobs staffe Beleevers do not much passe for these things which are still passing * 1 Joh. 2.17 Their delight is chiefly in God and his Law and is it thus have we this low opinion of all undermoon comforts is the price fallen The Astronomer saith if it were possible for a man to be lifted up as high as the Moone the earth would seem to him but as a little point If we could be lifted to heaven in our affections all earthly delights would seem as nothing when the woman of Samaria had met with Christ * Invenit non aquam sed salutem Ambrose down goes the pitcher * John 4. she leaves that behinde * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theophil in Joh. 4 he who delights in God as having tasted the sweetnesse in him doth not much minde the pitcher he leaves the world behinde 6. True delight is constant Hypocrites have their pangs of desire and flashes of joy which are soone over The Jews did rejoyce in Johns light for a season * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 John 5.35 Unsound hearts may delight in the Law of the Lord for a season but they will quickly change their note What a wearinesse is it to serve the Lord The Chrysolyte which is of a golden colour in the morning is very bright to look on but towards noone it grows dull and hath lost its splendor such are the glistring shews of Hypocrites True delight like the fire of the Altar never goes out affliction cannot extirpate it Psalme 119.143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me yet thy Commandments are my delights CHAP. VII A suasive to this holy delight in Religion Use 3 LEt me perswade Christians to labour for this holy delight Exhort Comment upon the Text. Let your delight be in the Law of the Lord * Plurimum refert utruÌ„ ex voluntate agas an necessitate Ambrose sup beat immacul And that I may the better enforce the Exhortation I shall lay before you several weighty considerations 1. There is that in the Law of God which may cause delight as will appeare in two things Considerat There is in it Verum 1. Truth 2. Goodnesse 1. Truth the Law of God is a series of truth Psalm 119.160 Thy word is true from the beginning * Quid acrius desiderat anima quam veritatem Austin tom 26. in John 4. The two Testaments are the two lips by which the God of Truth hath spoken to us Here is a firm basis for faith 2. Goodnesse Nehem. 9.13 Thou gavest them true Laws good Statutes Bonum Here is Truth and Goodnesse the one adequate to the understanding the other to the will Now this goodnesse and excellency of the Law of God shines forth in nine particulars 1. This blessed Law of God is a letter * Est quaedam Epistola omnipotentis Dei ad creaturam Greg. sent to us from heaven indighted by the Holy Ghost and sealed with the blood of Christ * Fertur de Carolo Borromaeo quod Scripturam solebat assidue volvere populo expâ—â—â—are idque tanto studio devotione reverentia ut ultimis vitae suae annis velut ipsissimas Deo ad homines literas non nisi capite flexis Genibus venerabundus lectitaret Julius Nigr. Tract ascetico c. 3. n. 9. See some passages in the letter Isa 62.5 As the bridegroom rejoyceth over the bride so shall thy God rejoyce over thee and Hosea 2.19 I will betroth thee unto me 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for ever in righteousnesse and in loving kindnesse and in mercies Is it not delightful reading over this love-letter 2. The Law of God is a light that shines in a dark place 2 Pet. 1.19 * 2 Pet. 1.19 it is our pole-star to guide us to heaven 't was Davids candle and lanthorn to walk with Ps 119.105 now light is sweet Eccles 11.7 't is sad to want this light those heathen who have not the knowledge of Gods Law must needs stumble to hell in the dark Hierom brings in Tully with his Oratory and Aristotle with his Syllogismes crying out in hell they that leave the light of the Word following the light within
an ensigne and doth but hisse his very enemies shall be up in armes to revenge his quarrel * Isa 5.56 Who would provoke this God! It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God * Laneos habet pedes sed ferrcas manus Heb. 10.31 as a Lion he tears in pieces the adversaries Psalme 50.22 Oh meditate on this power of God The meditation of Gods power would be a great stay to faith A Christians faith may anchor safely upon the rock of Gods power It was Sampsons riddle out of the strong came forth sweetness * Judg. 14.14 While we are meditating on the power of God out of this strong comes forth sweetnesse Is the Church of God low he can create Jerusalem a praise * Is 65.18 Is thy corruption strong God can break the head of this Leviathan Is the heart hard is there a stone gotten there God can dissolve it The Almighty makes my heart soft * Job 23.16 Faith triumphs in the power of God out of this strong comes forth sweetnesse Abrabam meditating on Gods power did not stagger through unbelief Rom. 4.20 He knew God could make a dead womb fruitful and dry breasts give suck 5. Meditate upon the mercy of God Meditate on the mercy of God mercy is an innate disposition in God to do good as the Sun hath an innate property to shine Psalme 86.5 Thou Lord art good and ready to forgive and plentious in mercy to all them that call upon thee Gods mercy is so sweet that it makes all his other attributes sweet Holinesse without mercy and Justice without mercy were dreadful Geographers write that the City of Syracuse in Sicily is so curiously scituated that the Sunne is never out of sight though the children of God are under some clouds of affliction yet the Sun of mercy is never quite out of fight Gods justice reacheth to the clouds his mercy reacheth above the clouds How slow is God to anger He was longer in destroying Jericho than in making the world He made the world in six dayes but he was seven dayes in demolishing the walls of Jericho How many warning-pieces did God shoot against Jerusalem before he shot off his murdering-piece Justice goes a foot-pace Gen. 18.21 mercy hath wings * Psal 57.1 the sword of justice oft lies a long time in the scabbard and rusts till sinne doth draw it out and whet it against a Nation Gods justice is like the widows oyle which ran a while and ceased 1 Kings 4.6 Gods mercy is like Aarons oyle which rested not on his head but ran down to the skirts of his garment Psalme 133.2 So the golden oyle of Gods mercy doth not rest upon the head of a good parent but is poured on his children and so runnes down to the third and fourth generation even the borders of a religious seed Often meditate upon the mercy of God The meditation of mercy would be a powerful loadstone to draw sinners to God by repentance * Rom. 2.4 It would be as a cork to the net to keep the heart from sinking in despaire behold a City of refuge to flie to God is the Father of mercies 2 Cor. 1.3 mercy doth as naturally issue from him as the childe from the parent God delights in mercy Micah 7.18 Chrysostome saith 't is delightful to the mother to have her breasts drawn and how delightful is it to God to have the breasts of mercy drawn mercy finds out the worst sinner mercy comes not only with salvation in its hand but with healing under its wings The meditation of Gods mercy would melt a sinner into tears One reading a pardon sent him from the King fell a weeping and burst out into these words A pardon hath done that which death could not do it hath made my heart relent 6. Meditate upon the truth of God Meditate on the truth of God mercy makes the promise and truth performes it Psal 89.33 I will not suffer my faithfulness to faile God can as well deny himself as his Word He is abundant in truth Exod. 34.6 What is that if God hath made a promise of mercy to his people he will be so far from coming short of his Word that he will be better than his Word God often doth more than he hath said never lesse he oft shoots beyond the mark of the promise he hath set never short of it He is abundant in truth God may sometimes delay a promise he will not deny it The promise may lie a long time as seed hid under ground but it is all the while a ripening The promise of Israels deliverance lay four hundred and thirty yeares hid under-ground but when the time was come the promise did not go a day beyond its reckoning Exod. 12.41 Exo. 12.41 The strength of Israel will not lie 1 Sam. 15.29 Meditate on the truth of God The meditation of Gods truth would 1. Be a pillar of support for faith The world hangs upon Gods power and faith hangs upon his truth 2. The Meditation of Gods truth would make us ambitious to imitate him We should be true in our words true in our dealings Pythagoras being askt * Quidnam homines diis similes faciat cum vera loquuntur what did make men like God answered When they speake truth SECT 2. Meditate on the promises THe second subject of meditatation is Meditate upon the promises of God * Habenâ—ubera vere vino meliora fragrantia unguentis optimis Ber. The promises are flowers growing in the paradise of Scripture meditation like the Bee sucks out the sweetness of them The promises are of no use or comfort to us till they are meditated upon For as the Roses hanging in the garden may give a fragrant redolency yet their sweet water is distilled only by the fire so the promises are sweet in reading over but the water of these Roses the spirits and quintescence of the promises are distill'd into the soule onely by meditation The Incense when it is pounded and beaten smells sweetest Meditating on a promise like the beating of the Incense makes it most odoriferous and pleasant The promises may be compar'd to a golden Mine which then only enricheth when the gold is digged out by holy meditation we digge out that spiritual gold which lies hid in the Mine of the promise and so we come to be enriched Cardan saith there 's no precious stone but hath some hidden vertue in it They are call'd precious promises 2 Pet. 1.4 When they are applied by meditation then their vertue appears and they become precious indeed There are three sorts of promises which we should chiefly meditate upon 1. Promises of remission I even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake and will not remember thy sinnes Isa 43.25 Whereas the poore sinner may say alas I am deep in arrears with God I feare I have not fill'd
from me but ye gave me no meat Why were the foolish Virgins shut out They had done no hurt they had not broken their lamps I but they took no oyle in their lamps Matth. 25.3 Their wanting oyle was the indightment therefore let not any man build his hope for heaven upon negatives This is building upon the sand the sand is bad to build on it will not ceament * Arena est terra sterilis minuta grana ejus non cohaerent being ex materia friabili but suppose a man should finish an house upon it what is the issue the flood comes viz. persecution and the force of this flood will drive away the sand and make the house fall and the winde blows the breath of the Lord as a mighty winde will blow such a sandy building into hell Be afraid then to rest in the privative part of Religion launch forth further be eminently holy So I come to the next words but his delight is in the Law of the Lord * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theodoret in loc and in his Law doth he meditate day and night CHAP. II. What is meant by the Law of God what by delight in the Law and the proposition resulting THe words give us a twofold description of a godly man First He delights in Gods Law Secondly he meditates in Gods Law I begin with the first His delight is in the Law of the Lord The great God hath graffed the affection of delight in every creature it hath by the instinct of nature something to delight it self in * Ovis frondem cervus fontem Canis leporem Pylades sectatur Orestem Now the true Saint not by instinction but divine inspiration makes the Law of God his delight This is the badge of a Christian ejus oblectatio in lege Jehovae his delight is in the Law of the Lord. A man may work in his trade and not delight in it either in regard of the difficulty of the work or the smalnesse of the income but a godly man serves God with delight 'T is his meat and drink to do his will For the Explication of the words it will be enquired 1. What is meant by the Law of the Lord. This word Law * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may be taken either more strictly or more largely 1. More strictly for the Decalogue or ten Commandments 2. More largely 1. For the whole written Word of God * Musculus Diodat * Tota dectrina a Deo patefacta Ecclesiae tradita Mollerus 2. For those truths which are deducted from the Word and do concenter in it 3. For the whole businesse of Religion which is the counterpane of Gods Law and agrees with it as the transcript with the original The word is a setting forth and Religion is a shewing forth of Gods Law I shall take this word in its full latitude and extent 2. What is meant by delight in Gods Law The Hebrew and Septuagint * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 both render it his will is in the Law of the Lord * Plus valet consouantia voluntatum quà m vocum Bern. Serm. sup salve Regina and that which is voluntary is delightful a gracious heart serves God from a principle of ingenuity he makes Gods Law not only his task but his recreation upon this Scripture-stock I shall graffe this Proposition Dost Doct. That a child of God though he cannot serve the Lord perfectly yet he serves him willingly His will is in the Law of the Lord he is not a prest souldier but a volunteer * Quia Deus cor quaerit cor intus inspicit testis est judex approbator adjutor coronator sufficit ut offeras voluntatem Aug. in Ps by the beating of this pulse we may judge whether there be spiritual life in us or no. David professeth Gods Law was his delight Psalme 119.77 he had his crown to delight in he had his musick to chear him but the love he had to Gods Law did drown all other delights as the joy of harvest and vintage exceeds the joy of gleaning I delight in the Law of God saith Saint Paul in the inner man Rom. 7.22 the Greek word is I take pleasure * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Law of God is my recreation and it was an heart-delight * 't was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the inner man * 2 Cor. 5.12 a wicked man may have joy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the face* 2 Cor. 5.12 like honey-dew that wets the leaf but the wine of Gods Spirit chears the heart Paul delighted in the Law in the inner man CHAP. III. Whence the Saints spiritual delight springeth THe Saints delight in the Law of God proceeds 1. From soundnesse of judgement The minde apprehends a beauty in Gods Law now the judgement as the primum mobile draws the affections like so many orbes after it The Law of God is perfect * Lex Dei integra Hierom. Pagnin Absoluta consummata cui nihil desit Fabrit in Psalm Psalme 19.7 it needs not be eeked out with traditions The Hebrew word for perfect 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seemes to allude to a perfect entire body that wants none of the members or lineaments Gods Law must needs be perfect for it is able to make us wise to salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 The Septuagint renders it The Law of the Lord is pure 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Septuagint like beauty that hath no staine or wine that is clarified and refined The soul that looks into this Law seeing so much lustre and perfection cannot but delight in it The middle lamp of the Sanctuary being lighted from the fire of the Altar gave light to all the other Lamps So the judgement being lighted from the Word it sets on fire the lamps of the affections 2. This holy delight ariseth from the predominancy of grace When grace comes with authority and Majesty upon the heart it fils it with delight naturally we have no delight in God Job 21.14 Therefore they say unto God depart from us for we desire not the knowledge of they wayes nay there is not only a dislike but antipathy sinners are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 haters of God Rom. 1.30 Rom. 1.30 but when grace comes into the heart O what a chang is there Grace preponderates it files off the rebellion of the will it makes a man of another spirit * Josh 14.24 It turnes the lion-like fiercenesse into a dove-like sweetnesse it changeth hatred into delight Grace puts a new by as into the will it works a spontaneity and cheerfulnesse in Gods service Thy people shall be a willing people in the day of thy power Psalme 110.3 3. This holy delight in Religion is from the sweetness of the end Well may we with cheerfulnesse let down the net of our endeavour when we have so excellent a draught Heaven at the end of duty causeth delight in the
praise when we are dead and gone CHAP. VII Shewing the necessity of Meditation It is not enough to carry the book of Gods lawabout us but we must Meditate in it The necessity of Meditation wil appear in three particulars 1. The end why God hath given us his word written and preached is not onely to know it but that we should Meditate in it The word is a letter of the great God written to us now we must not runne it over in hast but meditate upon Gods wisdom in inditing and his love in sending it to us Why doth the Physician give his patient a receit is it that he should onely read it over and know the receit or that he should apply it The end why God communicates his Gospel receits to us is that we should apply them by fruitful meditatition would God think we ever have been at the pains of writing his lawwith his own finger only that we should have the Theory and notion of it is it not that we should Meditate in it would he ever have been at the cost to send abroad his ministers into the world to furnish them with gifts Eph. 4. and must they for the work of Christ be nigh unto death * Phil. 2.30 that Christians should onely have an empty knowledge of the truths published is it only speculation or meditation that God aims at 2. The necessity of meditation appears in this because without it we can never be good Christians a Christian without meditation is like a soldier without arms or a workman without tools 1. Without Meditation the truths of God will not stay with us the heart is hard and the memory slipery and without meditation all is lost meditation imprints and fastens a truth in the mind it is like the Selvedge which keeps the cloath from ravelling Serious Meditation is like the engraving of letters in gold or marble which endure without this allour preaching to you is but like writing in sand like pouring water into a sieve like throwing a bur upon chrystal which glides off and doth not stay Reading and hearing without Meditation is like weak Physick which will not work want of Meditation hath made so many sermons in this age to have a miscarrying womb and dry brests 2. Without Meditation the truths which we know will never affect our hearts Deut. 6.6 These words which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart How can the word be in the heart unless it be wrought in by Meditation as an hammer drives a nail to the head so Meditation drives a truth to the heart It is not the taking in of food but the stomacks concocting it which makes it turn to blood and spirits so it is not the taking in of a truth at the ear but the Meditating of it which is the concoction of it in the mind makes it nourish Without Meditation the word preached may encrease notion not affection There is as much difference between the knowledge of a truth and the meditation of a truth as there is between the light of a Torch and the light of the Sun set up a Lamp or Torch in the garden and it hath no influence The Sun hath a sweet influence it makes the plants to grow and the herbs to flourish So knowledge is but like a Torch lighted in the understanding which hath little or no influence it makes not a man the better but Meditation is like the shineing of the Sun it operates upon the affections it warmes the heart and makes it more holy Meditation fetcheth life in a Truth There are many truths ly as it were in the heart dead which when we Meditate upon they begin to have life and heat in them Meditation of a Truth is like rubbing a man in a swoon it fetcheth life T is meditation makes a Christian 3. Without Meditation we make our selves guilty of slighting God and his word If a man lets a thing lie by and never mindes it it is a sign he slights it Gods Word is the book of life not to meditate in it is to undervalue it If a King puts forth an Edict or Proclamation and the Subjects never minde it it is a slighting the Kings Authority God puts forth his Law as a Royal Edict if we do not Meditate in it it is a slighting his authority and what doth this amount to lesse then a Contempt done to the Divine Majesty CHAP. VIII Shewing the reason why there are so few Good Christians USE 1. IT gives us a true account why there are so few good Christians in the world namely Vse 1 Inform. because there are so few Meditating Christians we have many that have aures bibulas they are swift to hear but slow to meditate This duty is grown almost out of fashion people are so much in the Shop that they are seldom on the Mount with God Where is the Meditating Christian Diogenes in a full Market was seeking up and down and being ask'd what he sought for saith hominem quaero I seek for a man that was to say a wise man a Philosopher among the croud of Professors I might search for a Christian videl A Meditating Christian. Where is he that Meditates on sin hell eternity the recompense of reward That takes a prospect of heaven every day where is the Meditating Christian T is to be bewail'd in our times that so many who go under the name of Professors have banished good discourse from their Tables and Meditation from their Closets Surely The hand of Joab is in this The Devil is an Enemy to Meditation he cares not how much people read and hear nor how little they Meditate He knowes that Meditation is a means to compose the heart and bring it into a gracious frame Now the Devil is against that Satan is content that you should be hearing and praying Christians so that ye be not Meditating Christians he can stand your small shot provided you do not put in this bullet CHAP. IX A Reproof to such as do not meditate in Gods Law Use 2. Vse 2 IT serves to reprove those who Meditate indeed but not in the Law of God Reproof They turn all their Meditations the wrong way like a man that lets forth the water of his Mill which should grind his corn into the highway whereit doth no good So there are many who let out their Meditations upon other fruitless things which are no waies beneficial to their souls 1. The Farmer Meditates on his acres of land not upon his soul his Meditation is how he may improve a barren piece of ground not how he may improve a barren minde he will not let his ground lie fallow but he lets his heart lye fallow There is no spiritual culture not one seed of grace sown there 2. The Physitian meditates upon his receits but seldom on those receits which the Gospel prescribes for his salvation Faith and Repentance Commonly the Devil is Physitian to
needs be erroneous and a man at last goes to hell upon a mistake Therefore be sure you read before you meditate that you may say it is written Meditate on nothing but what you believe to be a truth believe nothing to be a truth but what can shew its Letters of credence from the Word observe this rule let reading usher in meditation Reading without meditation is unfruitful Meditation without reading is dangerous SECT III. Rule 3 3. DO not multiply the subject of meditation that is meditate not on too many things at once like the bird that hops from one bough to another and staies no where single out rather some one head at a time which you will meditate upon Pluribus intentus minor est ad singula sensus Too much variety distracts * Varietas distrabit animum Sen. One truth driven home by meditation will most kindly affect the heart a man that is to shoot sets up one mark That he aims at to hit When thou art to shoot thy minde above the world by meditation set one thing before thee to hit if thou art to meditate on the passion of Christ let that take up all thy thoughts If upon death confine thy thoughts to that One subject at a time is enough Martha while she was cumbred about many things neglected the One thing so while our meditations are taken up about many things we lose that One Thing which should affect our hearts and do us more good * Claouâ— claâ—um pellit Drive but one wedge of Meditation at a time but be sure you drive it home to the heart Those who aim at a whole flock of birds hit none Several Medicines applied together the one hinders the virtue of the other whereas a single medicine might do good SECT IV. To Meditation join Examination Rule 4 When you have been meditating on any spirituall subject put a query to thy soul and though it be short let it be serious O my soul is it thus with thee or no when thou hast been meditating about the fear of God that it is the beginning of Wisdome * Prov. 1.7 Put a query O my soul Is this fear planted in thy heart Thou art almost come to the end of thy daies Art thou yet come to the beginning of Wisdom When thou hast been meditating on Christ his Virtues his Privileges put a query O my soul Dost thou love him who is so Lovely * Cant. 5. ult and art thou ingrafted into him Art thou a living branch of this living vine When thou hast been meditating upon the Graces of the Spirit put a query O my soul art thou adorned as the Bride of Christ with this chain of Pearl Hast thou thy Certificate for heaven ready Will not thy Graces be to seek when thou shouldst have them to shew Thus should a Christian in his retirements parly often with his heart For want of this Examination Meditation doth evaporate and come to nothing For want of Examination joined with Meditation many are strangers to their own hearts though they live known to others they dye unknown to themselves Meditation is like a perspective glass by which we contemplate heavenly objects but Self-examination is like a looking glass by which we see into our own souls and can judge how it is with us Meditation joined with Examination is like the Sun on the Dial which shews how the day goes it shews us how our hearts stand affected to Spiritual Things SECT V. Rule 5 Shut up meditation with prayer * Oratio sine meditatione tepida meditatio sine â—ratione infrugifera Bern. de scala claustrali Pray over your meditations Prayer sanctifies every thing without prayer they are but unhallowed meditations Prayer fastens meditation upon the Soul Prayer is a tying a knot at the end of meditation that it doth not slip Pray that God will keep those holy meditations in your mind for ever that the savour of them may abide upon your hearts 1 Chron. 29.18 O Lord God of Abraham Isaac and of Israel our Fathers keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of thy people So let us pray that when we have been musing of heavenly things and our hearts have waxed hot within us* we may not cool into a sinful tepidness and lukewarmness but that our affections may be as the lamp of the Sanctuary alwaies burning SECT VI. Rule 6 The last Rule is Let meditation be reduced to practise live over your Meditation Josh 1.8 Thou shalt Meditate in this book that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein Meditation and practise like two sisters must go hand inhand Cassian saith that the contemplative life caÌ„not beperfected without the practick Cassian Collat. 19. We read that the angels had wings hands under their wings Ezek. 1.8 It may be an Hieroglyphical Embleme of this truth Christians must not onely fly upon the wing of Meditation but they must be active in obedience they must have hands under their wings The end of Meditation is action We must not only Meditate in Gods law but walk in his law Deuter. 28.9 Without this we are like those Gnosticks of whom Epiphanius complaines they had much knowledge but were in their lives licentious Christians must be like the Sun which doth not only send forth heat but goes its circuit round the world 't is not enough that the affections be heated by meditation but we must go our circuit too that is move regularly in the sphere of obedience After warming at the fire of Meditation we must be fitter for work Meditation is the life of Religion and practice is the life of meditation 'T is said in the Honour of Nazianzen fecit quae docuit he lived over his own Sermons So a good Christian must live over his own meditations For instance First When you have been meditating of Sin which for its bitterness is compared to Grapes of Gall for its damnableness to poison of asps and you begin to burn in an holy indignation against sin now put your meditations in practise Give sin a Bill of Divorce Job 11.14 If iniquity be in thy hand put it far away and let not wickedness dwell in thy Tabernacles 2. When you have been meditating of the Graces of the spirit let the verdure and lustre of these graces be seen in you live these graces meditate that you may observe and do 'T was St. Pauls counsel to Timothy 1 Tim. 4.7 exercise thy self to Godliness Meditation and practise are like a pair of Compasses the one part of the compass fixeth upon the center and the other part goes round the circumference a Christian by meditation fixeth upon God as the Center and by practice goes round the circumference of the Commandements A man who hath let his thoughts run out upon riches will not onely have them in the notion but will endeavor to get riches Let your meditations be practical when you
London Si scribas non plac et mihi nisi legam ibi Jesum si conferas non sapit mihi nisi sonuerit ibi Jesus quia Jesus est in ore meo mel in aure melos in corde Jubilum Aug. 1 Pet. 2.7 Vnto you therefore which believe he is pretious LONDON Printed by J. T. for Ralph Smith at the Bible in Corn-hill 1657. CHRISTS LOVELINES CANT 5.16 Yea he is altogether lovely IN this book which is a Divine Epithalamium or Marriage-Song are all the strains of holy love set forth in the purest allegories and metaphors such as do represent that dear affection and union between Christ and his Church The Text is nothing else but the breathing forth of the Spouses love to Christ He is altogether lovely in the verses precedent she had made her sacred Panegyricks and had been setting Christ forth in his spiritual embroidery V. 10 He is white and ruddy v. 10. This denotes the excellency of complexion * Perfecta pulchritudo sita est in suavitate caloris harmonia membrorum Plato in him is a mixture of the purest colours he is of unspotted beauty Niveo natat ignis in ore purpureus The chiefest among ten thousand The Hebrew word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Standard-Bearer among ten thousand * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 significat vexillum erigere seu insignire The Standard is a Warlike Ensign and he who did bear the Standard in antient times was the most eminent person in the Army so Christ is the most glorious Person of renown the Standard Bearer According to that Isa 11.10 He shall stand for an Ensigne of the People V. 11 His head is as the most fine Gold ver 11 * Aurum obryzum Vatabl. Kings have crowns of Gold Christ is described with an head of Gold The Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies Shining Gold or sparkling * Caput ejus vestitum lapidibus pretiosis sive gemmis aureo diademati internextis Co. de lap To set forth the infinite resplendency of Christs Beauty t is of that sparkling lustre that the Angels are fain to wear a vail V. 12 His eyes are as the eyes of Doves ver 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christ is described with eyes like a flame of fire Rev. 1.14 so indeed he hath to the wicked He is a consuming fire but to his Children he hath Doves eyes which are the embleme of meekness he hath eyes dropping tears of love and compassion V. 13 His Cheeks are as a bed of Spices ver 1 3. There is an Aromatick perfume comes from him to refresh a fainting soul Some Expositors understand this Bed of Spices to be meant of the fragrancy of his vertues which are in Scripture compared to sweet ointments Thus the Spouse goes on deciphering Christs Beauty at last being in an holy rapture of spirit She windes up all with this Epiphonema or passionate strain of affection His mouth is most sweet yea he is altogether lovely His mouth is most sweet The Caldee paraphraseth it the words of his Palate are sweet as honey in the Hebrew it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 His mouth is Sweetnesses That mouth must needs be sweet which hath the words of eternal life * John 6.68 That mouth must needs be sweet a kiss of whose lips can make death sweet to a Believer well might the Spouse say Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth Cant. 1.2 Dulcior hyblaeo cujus flâ—it ore venustas Nectare Boch Antuerpiens concinnusque lepos Yea he is altogether lovely * Iâ—sunt ei omnia pretiosissima splendi dissima Junius as if the Spouse had said what do I go to set Christ forth in his several parts his Head of Gold his Eyes like doves his hands as Gold rings set with the Beryll his Belly as bright Ivory overlaid with Saphires c. alas What is all this that I have been speaking of Christ how barren is my invention how dull are my expressions what ever I have said of him falls infinitely short of his worth but this I affirm he is altogether lovely * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sept. Christi species eximia Gr-Nyssen The word in the originall is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he is all made up of loves and delights * In se continet eminenter omne quod est expetibile Lap. ipse totus desideria he is all that may excite desire So Hierome and Ambrose render it he is composed of sweetness and amiableness Dici mus de cedro quam pulcher visu quam fragrans cortice quam dulcis medulla interiori illum totum esse saccharum sic sponsa de Christo Ghislerus so Gregory Nyssen The text you see containes a glorious and magnificent description of Christ He is altogether lovely Behold here a spring full of the water of life and whosoever brings his vessel hither a heart fit to receive this water may be refreshed as the woman of Samaria coming to Jacobs Well for Christ is here The text is a sacred Cabinet which contains in it first the Jewel Christ in this word He secondly the Price of this Jewel altogether lovely Doctr. The truth resulting from the Words is this That Jesus Christ is infinitely and superlatively lovely He is the most amazing and delightful object the very name of Jesus Christ is as a pretious ointment poured forth T is said that the Letters of this Name were found engraven upon Ignatius his heart Jesus Christ is in every Believers heart Col. 1.23 Christ in you and nothing can do better there for he is altogether lovely This whole book of the Canticles is bespangled with the praises of Christ Homer might praise Achilles It Epitaph Nepot Hierom might commend Nepotian but who can set forth Christs praise all that I can say will be no more then the dark shadow in the Picture and yet it will be so much as may represent him very lovely That Christ is thus transcendantly lovely will appear four manner of waies By 1. Titles 2. Types 3. Resemblances 4. Demonstrations 1. By Titles 1. By Titles which are so many jewels hung upon his crown he is called The desire of all Nations Hag. 2.7 The Prince of peace Isa 9.7 The holy one of God Acts 2.27 Elect pretious 1 Pet. 2.6 These are lovely Titles 2. 2. By Types By Types he was prefigured by such Types as were very lovely and these Types were either of persons or things 1. 1. Type Christ was typified by persons most lovely I will name but three 1. He was prefigured and typified by Moses He was a person of Renown in Israel whom the Lord knew face to face Deut. 34.10 Moses did type out Christ in four things 1. In his Natural beauty he was a goodly child Exod. 2.2 Josephus faith Moses was so fair that he drew the eyes of all to him and that those who had