scorch and burne up the plants and fruits of the earth Herein our Lord in the Parable hath directed mans eyes to behold the persecution and affliction of the Church which often scorcheth the greennesse of grace and maketh many professors wither and fall away Cant. 1. 5. I am blacke for the Sunne hath looked on mee and indeed 1 The Sunne doth not more ordinarily or daily arise than persecution daily waiteth on the Word 2 As the Sun-beames diffuse and disperse themselves into every place and no man can hide himselfe from the heate of the Sunne Psalme 19. 3. So doe the beames of this Sunne of persecution dart into every place where the Sunne of grace shineth in the Church No godly man can hide himselfe from the heate of this Sunne but one time or other it will finde him out 3 The Sunne hath not more beames to scorch and dry up the moysture of the earth than Sathan and the wicked world have to dry up the moysture of grace where it is not sound sometimes by armies of inward and spirituall temptations sometimes by open tyranny and hostility That is not a true marke of a true Church which Bellarmine designeth outward splendor and prosperity but the Crosse and Persecution 7 But above all other the sweetest use of the Sunne is to see in it Iesus Christ the Sonne of righteousnesse Mal. 4. 2. Rev. 1. 12. For 1. As there is but one Sunne in the heavens so but one Sonne of righteousnesse the onely begotten Son of God Ioh. 1. 14. and as this Sunne is not onely light but the fountaine of light and in it selfe a body of most surpassing and shining light So Iesus Christ is light in his essence an heavenly light as the Sunne a light that none can reach or attaine the light of the world as the Sunne is a light in whom is no darkenesse so his face shineth as the brightest Sunne Rev. 1. 16. and as in the middest of Planets inlighteneth those that are about him 2. I see of all creatures the Sunne most admirable all the world admireth it A great part doe idolatrously adore it And the whole Church must admire her Sunne yea let all the Angels of heaven adore him as tenne thousand times passing the Sunne of the world For 1. That is but a meere creature though very glorious but this is the mighty God the maker of that 2 That serveth the outward man in things of this life But this the inward man in things spirituall and eternall 3 That riseth and shineth on good and bad but this onely on the good onely on his Ierusalem Esay 60. 1. 4 That rising obscureth the starres but this inlighteneth all beleevers who by his presence shine as lights in the worlds darknesse 5 That may be eclypsed and darkened and though it rise every day it every day setteth but this Sunne of the Church being eternall shall never lose or lessen his shine and glory and once risen shall never set more Esay 60. 20. 3. I admire the sunne for his purity and piercing nature the sun is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of many eyes who disperseth from himselfe on all sides infinite beames of light as so many eyes on every creature and none can hide it selfe from this great eye of the world and so pure that looking on all filthinesse contracteth none But how much more am I to admire the surpassing purity of Christ whose most piercing eye none can avoyde for all things are naked to him with whom we have to deale and so pure is this son that though hee was borne of sinners lived and conversed with sinners yea died with and for sinners and as a sinner yet no man could justly accuse him of sin but hee remained in his nature and life purer than the sun in his strength And must not the Saints imitate this their Son though they live amongst sinners and see much foule behaviour amongst men yet to keepe themselves pure in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation 4. I behold the Sunne a most powerfull creature for though his body be in heaven yet his comfortable beames reach to the extreame parts of the earth May I not now behold Iesus Christ being in heaven bodily and ascended thither in that his flesh yet by his spirit grace and power present with his Church in all parts of the world unto the end Mat. 28. 10. And as the Sun rising commeth forth as a Gyant to run his course and maketh such haste in his way as no created force can hinder him So this powerfull Sonne of his Church maketh haste in his way to her all created power of men and Angels cannot hinder him Hee skippeth over mountaines and hils in his haste unto her 5 What comfort have we by the sunne and shall we not have the same in Christ 1. Doth the sun drive away the darkenesse of the night and doth not Christ the thicke mists of sinnes the darkenesse of ignorance errour wrath damnation and of hell it selfe But for the sun of the world were a perpetuall night much more by the absence of this sunne of righteousnesse were it so in the Church 2. Doth the sun by his beames give direction for this naturall life c. So doth Iesus Christ by his beames of wisedome and grace directing us worke in us spirituall and heavenly life What can a man doe commendably without the Sunne So what is that wee can doe that can be acceptable without Christ 3. Is the sun under God the life quickner and comforter of the world otherwise dead and see â—e not Christ quickning al the elect dead in sins and trespasses warming them with beames of his love which as sunne-beames doe reflect backe on himselfe 4 Doth the Sun make and preserve the seasons of the yeare Summer Winter Spring Autumne See Iesus Christ having all seasons in his hand the seed-time of grace here that harvest of glory hereafter Hee appointeth the summer and prosperity of his Church and changeth it into a sharpe winter of adversity All vicissitudes and changes of the Church are appointed by his wisedome Daniel 2. 21. Whence wee may learne a number of duties As 1. Doe all creatures rejoyce in the Sun but hatefull Bats and Owles doe they follow the Sun thrive and prosper in the sunne turne after the sun as Mari-gold Dazy Turnesole c. Should not new creatures draw neere and follow this Sun to prosper it it Doe we open our windowes and doores to take in the beames of the Sun and not open the doores of our hearts for the Word that the beames from Christ may inlighten and warme us 2. When the Sun riseth men goe forth to labour When Christ our Sonne is risen and present in his offers and ordinances wee must worke and walke before the night come 3 Men in the Sun walke uprightly in a misty night to stumble and fall is more hurt than shame but to fall at noone is
light without light and can I know God without Gods teaching 2 I see the more light the Creature hath the more excellent profitable and usefull it is the Starres more excellent than stones for their light the Sunne than the Starres Of stones the more light and shining the more price and value and vertue are they of So should I thinke of my selfe the more light of God and grace I can get sure the more worthy I am and of others as they excell in knowledge and grace so should I thinke of them as of stars which differ in glory according to the proportion of their light 3 I see the greater light obscure the lesse and it is absurd to light a candle to the Sunne Why then should I sticke unto worldly wisedome worldly comforts earthly contentments which are as candles to the Sun the great light of the day of heavenly wisedome spirituall comforts durable contentments 4 I see the light bringeth comfort and refreshing draweth all eyes unto it all Creatures follow it but hatefull Bats and Owles c. When I have slept all night the light wakeneth mee raiseth me to the actions of the day Oh what joy bringeth it to the soule when God sheweth himselfe lightsome to it should not his glorious light be the sweetest object of the eye of my soule Why should not this light awaken my soule and raise mee from the sleepe of sin and lusts If light goe away darkenesse succeedeth in darkenesse none can see the way before him O therefore why should not I lay fast hold of the Lord who is my light and walke in his light by which alone I can hold the plaine and direct way to eternall life and light 5. I see the light in an instant presenting it self as the lightning is suddenly dispersed from one side of heaven to another If I be in darkenesse and desertion the Lord my light can and will suddenly present himselfe with joy and comfort to my soule 6 Was I darkenesse now I am light in the Lord that is enlightned by the Word of truth 2. Enlightening others by holy instruction and conversation Thus we must be wary and walke as in the light In the Heavens consider wee all the light bodies as the 1. Sunne 2. Moone 3. Starres These rightly considered will bring much light to the eyes of the minde and though we have in the Church a superiour meanes by the voyce of the Scriptures yet wee may not despise the day breake because the noone is brighter Quest. But why doth the Prophet here not mention the Sun but the Moone and Starres Ans. When a man beholdeth the Moone and Stars the Sun is absent as in the night It seemes it was his manner to walke forth in the night season to behold and contemplate the Lords greatnesse and goodnesse in these servants of the night and wee should finde some times of the night not unfruitfully spent if wee would take up this practice But if the glory of God shine so much in these obscure lights and if David could so teach and admonish his heart by them how much more by the brightnesse of the Sunne And if David by day looke upon the Heavens as Psalme 19. 1. he can say The Heavens declare the glory of God because in them hee hath set a Tabernacle for the Sunne which commeth forth as a bridegroome out of his chamber arraied with nuptiall and glorious garments turning all eyes towards him and as a Gyant strong and speedy to make a swift and long course such as even our thoughts want wings to follow 1 When I behold the Sunne in his wounderfull magnitude being an hundred sixty and sixe times at least bigger than all the vast body of the earth how can I choose but be ledde unto the Lord and say Great is the Lord great is his power and there is no end of his goodnesse For how much greater is the Creator of the Sun and Heavens than the things created 2 When I behold the pulchritude and brightnesse of the Sunne which is such as blindeth and destroyeth my sight as too weake to behold it what infinite light and brightnesse must I conceive in the Father of lights in that bright and eternall Sunne who never setteth in whom is no shadow of change who can but here admire at the majesty of the Creatour 3 When I behold the Sun ever in his motion never standing still but by miracle never slacking his motion but alwayes keeping the same pace should not I learne to be constant in my motion never to be idle or make stop in my course or duty 2 When I see that God himselfe and his Word is as the soule and spring of the Suns motion hee commandeth him to come forth as a Gyant to run his race hee can stop him in his race and by a word command him to stand still or runne backe I must learne hereby to be sure that Gods Word as a soule giveth life to my actions my motions and courses I must move where his word bids mee I must stand and be every thing at his word 3 When I see the Sun in his motion keepe his bounds and zodiacke never going without his owne line but precisely keeping his course and not so much as slugging therein must not I learne hence to containe my selfe within the bounds of my calling and his command 4 When I see the Sun in all his motions carry heate light comfort and direction and is the chiefe ornament of this inferiour world and that he goeth no where but the world is better for him should not I in all my course strive to be profitable and by the light of my conversation be comforting directing and shining to others in good workes And when I see the Sun impart his light and shine unpartially on good and bad I must learne to doe good to all good bad friends enemies envying my light to none no more than the Sun doth his to any 4 Doe I see the Sun set every day and rise every day Salomon would have me see therein my owne misery and vanity Eccles. 1. 4. Thus hath the Sunne continued his course for many generations But I rise but once and have but one day of naturall life allotted me and if my selfe and others once set and the night of my life be come there is no more returning to this life 5 I see this glorious sun sometime clouded sometime eclipsed and this calleth on me to see the eclypse of heavenly light in my selfe my sin hath reached unto heaven and often inverteth even the order of nature in obscuring light bodies for light bodies not to shine is besides their nature As in the death of Christ God would let the world see her sinne in crucifying the Sonne of God Never see the Sunne hide his comfortable presence but confesse thou deservest never to see it any more 6 I see sometime the Sunne by his extreame heate
headdinesse or distemper So to sinne against such a light in the sun-shine of the Gospel is farre more shamefull than in the night 4. See wee men in the Sun doe decent things ashamed of things unseemely or unlawfull because all eyes are on them and themselves are in the light Should not this teach Christians to walke in their sunne Let the theefe cover himselfe with darknesse the adulterer watch for the twilight Papists Atheists c. persevere to do shamefull things without blushing Let our Sun make us ashamed of uncomely or unconscionable things Let not men see us runne naked in the sun-shine 5. Wee see the greater light drownes the lesse and the Sunne obscures all other lights and if men have the Sun they care but little for the Moone Let it teach the soule cloathed with Iesus Christ the Son to tread the Moon under feete Revel 12 1. that is things earthly and mutable shall not the Sunne-shine darken the Moone Zucheus so soone as he got Christ into his heart presently giveth halfe his goods to the poore and with the other halfe makes restitution But men that admire the Moone are surely in the night still If the Sunne appeareth the Moone disappeareth Now come we to consider the Moone that other eye of the world and Queene of heaven Grace will draw much light to our soules out of this The consideration thereof will leade us to see our owne impurity for though in it there be brightnesse clearenesse c. yet all is darkenesse compared with the Sunne So whatsoever excellency there is in us it is meere darkenesse in respect of Christ the fountaine of all excellencies This use Iob made thereof Chap. 25. 4 5. The moone and stars are not pure in his sight how much lesse man a worme c. In beholding the Moone I am taught to consider the image of the Church on earth Cant. 6. 10. Who is faire as the moone 1 As the Moone borroweth all her light from the Sun whereby shee shineth so doth the Church receive all her endowments from Christ the Son of righteousnesse and fountaine of light in whom they are originally Hence Christ is called the light Ioh. 1. that is that very light and true light the Church being onely a witnesse of this light in him as the moone is of the Sunne This consideration may teach us two things 1. It may humble us in that all the light wee have it is but borrowed wee of our selves are but darkenesse What have wee which we have not received 2. It teacheth us to depend so farre on the light of the Church as wee are sure she borroweth her light of Christ. Therefore to give the Church authority over the Scriptures is as if one should send the Sun to the Moone for light therefore the voice of the Church is not the formall object of faith 2. The Moone somewhat doth resemble the Sunne in her light motion figure and influence and vertue over hearbes and plants c. The Moone also is led by the Sunne shee followeth his circle So every member of Christ should stand in conformity to the Sonne of God wee should be fruitfull and profitable in our motions and follow the examples of Christ who is gone before us 3. As there is in the Moone many changes eclypses sometime darke sometime light never looking on inferiour bodies with one face Constant in nothing but inconstancy So the Church on earth is oft changed sometime seeming more glorious sometimes lesse and the Son of righteousnesse Iesus Christ is farther or nearer unto it in his gracious presence and spirit This meditation Saint Ambrose did much ruminate 4. As the Moone when shee appeareth not unto us but is in darkenesse hath both light in her selfe and light and beauty from the Sunne So the Church may be obscured and disappeare to our sight but at the same time it hath not onely a being but a communion and enlightening from Christ her Sun Christ is as a faithfull and skilfull pilote the Church as a ship the world as the Sea and Christ hath promised not to leave his Church in this dangerous Sea but to bring her to the haven safe Saint Ambrose followeth this meditation thus The moone may have a diminution of her light but not of her body the Orbe of the Moone is whole though the shine be but in one quarter So it is also with the Church In the Moone I am taught to set a resemblance of this world and earthly things Revelat. 12. 1. there the Moone is taken for earthly wordly things 1. In respect of inferiority the Moone is the lowest of all celestiall bodies So the world and externall blessings of it are the least and lowest of all and there is no comparison betweene heavenly and earthly things So ought wee to esteeme of the things of this world and give them the lowest place in our affections Hence the woman that is the Church Revel 12. 1. when she was cloathed with the Sunne that is when shee had Christ his righteousnesse applyed unto her by faith shee trod the Moone under her feete that is she held all sublunary things worldly earthly things base and low in her affections 2. In respect of mutability and change if shee increase now straight shee doth decrease as fast if she be now in the full she is presently in the waine shee is never seene two nights with one face even so is the fraile estate and inconstant condition of all sublunary things Now to day full and increased in wealth honour pleasure to morrow in the waine and no appearance of it to day flourishing in health strength to morrow faded and fallen Are not all worldly things of as round a figure as the moone unstable and unconstant 1 Iohn 2. 17. The world passeth away and the lusts of it so doth the lustre of it and whatsoever is desirable in it 3. In respect of her obscurity and spots for the moone in her chiefe brightnesse is clouded and speckled with blacke spots a darkenesse within her selfe obscureth her so are all worldly things the greatest wealth in the world is spotted with many wants cares feares the highest glory with sadde adversity and some sense of misery The most choice and delicate pleasures are but bitter-sweete moth-eaten and very alluring baites covering mortall hookes here is no light without some darknesse 4. In respect of her end and use For by Gods ordinance the Moone is set to governe the night as the Sun to rule the day So the profits and pleasures and earthly comforts serve onely for our use and benefit while we are in the night of this world and vaile of darkenesse compassed and clouded with vailes of sin and calamities the fruits thereof 5. The Sunne rising I see the Moone disappeare and there is no neede of her shine so when the blessed Son of righteousnesse shall rise in the glory upon
hee were only an instrument to helpe us to save our selves this were to cease to bee a second creator But Christ remaineth a Saviour and hath not resigned his worke over to us to bee Saviours of our selves Conclus 3. Nothing in us either in being or foreseene to bee in us was any cause of Gods decree thus to create us the second time more than the first for Creatio est causa totius entis that is Creation is the cause of the whole beeing secondly what faith or good workes could bee foreseene in them who were all in a forelorne and lost estate All the sonnes of the first Adam must needes bee beheld in the state of sin and death before the second Adam take them in hand thirdly Non ens nihil agit adens that is That which hath no beeing doth nothing to a beeing How can that which hath no beeing at all perswade to the being of it selfe Concl. 4. Neither the Word nor Sacraments have any power in themselves to conferre grace This were to Idolize them and to set them up for gods The Minister may allure and perswade grace but Gods power must worke it For what is Paul what is Apollos if God give not the increase In the ministery may bee suavis motus but in God only is fortius tractus that is in the ministery is a sweet motion but God onely strongly drawes us and then wee run after him Cant. 1. 3. Objection The Gospel is the power of GOD to salvation Rom. 1. Answer That is only when the Lord in it putteth forth this creating power else it becommeth a savour of death unto death For in this ministery God onely must bee depended on for working and increasing of Grace He must bee of infinite power that can conferre grace for it is a creation Is creation to bee ascribed to any power which is not almighty Gods grace raiseth dead men in sinnes can any but the almighty power do this It rescueth us from the strong man that keepeth hold till a stronger come and must it not bee an almighty power that must doe this It lifteth us to an unutterable glorious estate in heaven must not this be the working of an almighty power Esteeme therefore the ministery Gods instrument but all the power to be from God as in Lazarus raising the principall efficient was Gods Almighty power the voyce was his instrument which power by his voyce restored the spirit of naturall life to this dead body Conclus 5. It is not in our owne power to repent when wee will nor so soone done as wee thinke nor so easie a thing as most conceive For it is a creation a worke of almighty power A worke of as much difficulty to make a new heart as a new world There needeth no such power to worke such a fancie as men dreame Repentance to bee to this worke the same power is required as commanded light out of darkenesse the same power which raised Christ out of the earth and lifted him to heaven Colos. 1. 12. Tellest thou me that thou canst repent when thou list I will assoone beleeve thee to tell mee thou canst make a world when thou listest Conclusion 6. Whosoever is a new creature may finde in himselfe the effects of this mighty power When God had created the world a man could looke nō where but hee should espie the effects of God his Almighty power in severall kindes of creatures First a number of things which were dead were now quickned with life so must every new creature bee called effectually out of the death of sin and finde in himselfe a new life that he may truly say after a sort as Christ I was dead but am alive Revelat. 1. 18. Though it be with him as it was with Lazarus after hee was raised that hee carry a while the bands and napkins of death about him yet hee hath heard the voyce of Christ quickning him and hee is alive againe Secondly Gods power appeared in inlightening of the world at first so must thou finde this second creation powerfull in the understanding changing it and inabling it to discerne the things of God though contrary to sense and nature yea foolish and absurd to reason Every new creature must truely say with the blinde man Iohn 2. Where as I was blinde I am sure I see and get his eyes daily cleered to see Gods favour smiting killing to espie righteousnesse in a cloude of miserable earth heaven in the midst of hell In looking upon the creatures the nearer Adam could behold them the more did the power of God shine in every part of every creature so in this new creature The greatest power is most observable in the most noble faculties and abilities Thirdly what a power discovered it selfe in the change of that confusion in such rankes or orders of the creatures And no lesse power is seene in the change of the new creature Of a Lyon hee is become a Lambe of a proud rebell hee is become humble and lowly as hard a thing as it is for a Cammell to passe through a Needles eye a stronge is come to cast out those confusions of lust and concupiscence once so powerfull commanders over us Fourthly What a power is discovered in upholding the creatures in their kinde so here in the new creature to continue and uphold the worke of grace in the middest of our corruptions is as strange and powerfull as to make fire burne and increase in the water Fifthly what a power is put forth in ordering the severall wils of the severall creatures So in the new Creature who readily denyeth his owne will reason wisedome liberty life and all to give up it selfe to Gods will in all things How marveilous is it that of so rebellious a will it should bee framed to cheerefull obedience of Gods commandements thinking none of them grievous Sixthly what mighty and divine power is that that over-ruleth all the motions of the creatures which else would turne to the dissolution of the whole The same is put forth in the motions of the new creature inward and outward To quicken us with heavenly desires and affctions is not lesse wonderous than to see lead flying upward or iron float on the water as to love GOD and his Word and ministers all which set themselves against the swinge of corrupt nature of his deare and profitable sinnes To make Gods ordinances worship Sabbath his delight to which hee was as heavy as a Beare to a stake To rejoyce in losses and crosses for Christ rather than feare them which nature in times past hated above hell To hate the workes of the flesh which formerly were meate and drinke and sweet morsels under the tongue and thought it as necessary as water to a fish Here is Digitus Dei Gods finger a workemanship of God a new creature Seventhly how mightily did Gods power manifest it selfe in over-comming all
sinner of any kinde than with a godly Christian. A naturall man can agree with Papists or Turkes better than Professors For both agree with him in oldnesse and darknesse and darkenesse is not contrary to darknesse but to light But with a sincere Christian he cannot agree for his light is contrary to his darkenesse Thirdly grace in the new Creature is a secret disgrace to the old man A new thing quite putteth down the old and disgraceth it and therefore no marvell if the world lying in the old suddes of sinne endureth it not To conclude all hast thou felt the power of the Word and Spirit renewing thy soule Oh rejoyce abundantly in this great mercy If God had created thee an Angel from heaven he had not honoured thee with such a priviledge as to create thee anew in Iesus Christ for then they are but servants and ministers to thee that art an heire of salvation If thou dost not feele it awake out of security die not in this sleepe Consider the image of God defaced in thee the fearefull sentence of the Law the ghastly face of death the terrours of the last judgement the millions of men that are in hell already for want of this new Creature and the patience of God towards thee waiting for thy conversion and offering thee good meanes of salvation that thou mightest get at length into Christ and be a new Creature FINIS MEDITATIONS From The CREATVRES As it was Preached in Aldermanbury by Thomas Taylor D. in Divinity The Fourth Edition LONDON Printed for J. Bartlet at the gilt Cup in Cheapeside 1635. MEDITATIONS From the CREATVRES PSAL. 8. 3. When I behold thine Heavens even the workes of thy fingers the Moone and the Starres which thou hast ordained What is man say I that thou art mindefull of him and the sonne of man that thou visitest him c. COnsidering with my selfe of the benefit of Meditation together with the difficulty of it which hath almost worne it out of use amongst Christians I thought fit to afford a little helpe to lead up carefull Christians into this mount of Meditation in which mount God will bee seene And who seeth the clogge of earth pressing downe his soule and needeth not this pulley to fetch it up againe And who is sensible of legions of noysome lusts that take up the heart as their proper habitation and desireth not better guests Who can discerne the darkenesse of his minde and not open his windowes and hereby let in some light into his darke house Now as the Lord himselfe his Word and Decrees are the principall object of ordinarie Meditation so are his workes and execution of his decrees a fit object for extraordinary Whereby wee have not onely a sensuall use of the Creatures as the bruit beast but a spirituall and profit not onely our bodies but our soules by them Wherefore else did the Lord create them not as hee might all in a moment or in a day but in sixe dayes but that we might orderly meditate of them even in particular and gaine by them some sound knowledge which might reflect upon the will and understanding Wherefore hath his wisedome afforded such variety and plenty of them but that we should be alwaies stored with matter of fruitfull Meditation and never be without the object or matter of our owne good And what else is the cause that many are so fruitlesse and barren in their course and such wasters of precious time but that they never intended to carry their mindes along in such profitable Meditations which where they dwell suffer not a man to be idle or unprofitable in the workes of the Lord. For whereas a good man may bee cast into such circumstances as hee cannot alway be in good actions yet were it hard if hee might not bee alwaies in some good Meditation wherein to improve his time But to the words This Psalme is inscribed to him that excelleth on Gittith so also are 81. and 89. Psalmes Some thinke 1. Because David compounded it in Gath in his banishment 2. Some from a musicall instrument so called because either invented or most used in Gath. 3. Some from a kinde of melodious Verse or Song 4. But I thinke it respecteth the time when this and those songs used to bee sung namely at the time Haggittith that is of winepresses or vintage Which feast was solemnely celebrated by the Israelites in which feast they especially praysed the name of God for the great and manifold benefits conferred upon men Which is the substance of this Psalme wherein the Prophet extolleth the Majesty of God 1. By contemplating the workes of nature in the world to the fifth verse 2. By considering his worke of grace in gathering him a Church from the miserable masse of mankinde These two are the great workes wherein the Lords greatnesse shineth out The Creation and Redemption the one written in the volume of the Creatures the other in the volume of the Scriptures In this Verse 1. Hee acknowledgeth himselfe occupied in contemplation of the heavens and stars Looketh on them not with the eyes of the body onely but with the eye of faith 2. That hee is led to God by them For 1. Hee saith not the heavens but thine heavens that is 1. Of which thou art Maker 2. Of which thou art the owner possessor and indweller Psalms 89. 12. Thine are the heavens and thine is the earth Gen. 14. 19. He is possessor of heaven and earth 2. Hee addeth the worke of thy fingers hands and fingers are ascribed to God metaphorically And here the heavens are called not the workes of his hands but of his fingers to note his singular industry his exquisite workemanship and art and also his speciall love and care over these workes 3. The Moone and Starres thou hast established that is thou hast assigned every one their place and confirmed them by a perpetuall law written in their nature and set them sure firme bounds which they cannot passe 3. In this contemplation hee casteth his eye upon himselfe to cast himselfe low before God When I consider both the greatnesse of the workeman and the largenesse of the worke and for whom they were framed then in sense of my basenesse thinke I Lord what is man or the Son of man as thou visitest him c. Not what is Adam which were no great matter of pride but what is Enosh fraile mortall infirme and miserable man now after his fall that hee should enjoy such a workemanship From hence in generall observe Obser. That the voyce of the creatures is not to bee banished out of the Church Reason 1. If all Scriptures bee profitable to teach and improve then those that teach divine things from naturall Reason 2. The Profits and Apostles and Christ himselfe were most in this kinde of instruction by Parables and Similitudes therefore Ministers and Pastors may doe the like Objection The Creatures onely conceive they convert not Sol. Must no doctrine
of thunder which made proud Pharaoh confesse his owne wickednesse and begge prayers as Exodus 9. 21. but also a silent voice every of them being as that pillar of the cloud which was a signe of Gods presence amongst his people as Exod. 13. 21. yea every cloud herein like the cloud of the Tabernacle whereof is said the glory of God appeared in the cloud Exodus 16. 10. I may say as Iob 37. 14. Hearken and give heede to these wondrous workes of God Who is the Father of rame Iob 38. 28. that is besides the Lord what power is there that bindes the waters in the thicke clouds so that the cloud breaketh not Iob 26. 29. And if thou dost know who it is that maketh the clouds to labour to water the earth and who it is that turneth them about by his government to doe whatsoever hee commands them on the world for punishment or mercie yet dost thou know how God disposeth them The varietie of them the wondrous workes of him that is perfect in knowledge Iob 37. from verse 11. to 17. Canst thou tell how the bottles of heaven are filled how they being of infinite weight and magnitude are hung as in a ballance in the soft aire without any other stay than his Word How the windowes of Heaven be open to raine downe fatnesse and plenty Psal. 65. 12. Surely in these things the Lord left not himselfe without witnesse amongst the Gentiles in giving them raine and fruitfull seasons Act. 14. 17. and much lesse among us in the Church to whom by the teaching of grace they proelaime his wisedome power justice mercy as also his glory and majesty who rideth on the clouds as on a horse and turneth them what way soever he pleaseth As they leade us to God so they serve to afford us many excellent meditations 1 Doe I see the raine fall from the clouds to water the earth and returneth not in vaine Isa. 55. 10. I must see the worke of the word preached upon my earthly heart for the moystening softening and changing of my heart for preparing it to fruitfulnesse and preserving it in fruitfulnesse for it shall never be in vaine but doth the worke for which it is sent Never was a greater plague in Israel than when for three yeares and a halfe it rained not on the earth in Ababs time a greater plague cannot be in this life than when the raine falleth not to the moystening the furrowes of our hearts 2. Doe I see the clouds to be as a shadow and cover against the heate parching and burning of the Sun I must herein behold the Lords protection as a covering cloud or shadow saving his Saints from the sunne of affliction and persecution which will burne up those that are not defended Psal. 91. 1. They shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty Here is another manner of shadow than Iona'hs gourd I will run under this shadow saith David Psal. 121. 6. and the sunne shall not smite me by day 3. Doe I see the raine-bow in the clouds I must meditate of Gods faithfulnesse who hath set it as a signe of mercy and patience yea I may carry my mind beyond the temporall and conceive of Gods everlasting mercy in Christ in whom I come to the throne of grace which is described to have a raine-bow round about it Rev. 4. 3. 4. When I see the cloud disperse it selfe upon all grounds and raines fall on good and bad I must learne to distill my goodnesse to all in generall good and bad friends and enemies And so show my selfe a childe of my heavenly Father who letteth his raine fall on the just and unjust Mat. 5. 45. 5. When I see the dewes of small raines which is the joy and life of flowers I must in them beheld Iesus Christ who compareth himselfe unto dew Hosea 14. 5. I will be a dew to Israel the dew presenteth it selfe in faire weather so Christ is neare when Gods face and favour is calme and pacified The dew refresheth and reviveth withering medowes so Christ by his grace refresheth and quickneth drie and dead hearts remitting sinnes and infusing moysture of grace and holinesse to make them fruitfull in all good workes The dewes temper and allay great heate and parching of the sunne so doth Christ coole the burning heate of his Fathers wrath and quencheth the fiery darts of the devill cooleth the heate of persecution and all that wee may become and continue fruitfull Without these dewes from heaven is no expectation of fruits in earth and without Christ and his grace we can doe nothing at all 6. I see a morning dew and suddaine raine soone dryed up I must looke to the soundnesse of my grace faith and comfort that it bee not as an hasty raine or an heritage hastily gotten that it bee not as the righteousnesse of Ephraim Hos. 6. 4. as a morning dew by sun-rising suddenly vanished and gone when is most neede of it Hence learne to strive against hypocrisie 7. In beholding the clouds what a profitable meditation were it to consider them as the glorious charriot of Christ wherin hee ascended to heaven and was taken up in the cloude from the sight of his Disciples Acts 1. 9. And wherein hee shall descend in great glory and majesty to judge the quicke and dead Matth. 26. 64. As also how serviceable the cloudes shall be unto us as unto our head when in the last day we shall be taken up into the clouds to meete the Lord in the ayre and so shall bee ever with him 1 Thes. 4. 17. Now come wee to the ayre which is not in vaine but may also leade us to God for it hath expresse impressions of his fingers For It truely and really subsisteth though it bee not seene so hath also the Lord the maker thereof a reall but invisible existence It leadeth us by the hand to the ubiquitie of GOD for it is every where and in every open place and secret in townes and fields and widest deserts it is in the bowels of the earth in the bottome of the Sea within us without us Euen so must I conceive God present at and in all places immediately compassing me every where as the ayre Nay hath place in my heart and minde that as surely as I continually draw the ayre into my body heart and braines so is the Lord much more present within mee This will not let me shut him up in heaven whose essence is not more there than in this inferiour world though his glory and Majesty shine clearer there Neither to thinke him far absent nor by walls doores windowes closets or chambers kept from seeing or knowing my waies no more than ayre but I shall continually stand in awe and feare to offend him I see the ayre the preserver of my life that without it I cannot continue any whit but presently perish so as wee may say of it truly as