THE THIRD PART OF THE PRACTICAL CHRISTIAN: Consisting of Meditations, and Psalms illustrated with Notes, or Paraphrased; relating to the Hours of Prayer, the ordinary Actions of Day and Night, and several Dispositions of Men.
By R. SHERLOCK, D. D. Rector of Winwick.
Seven times a day do I praise thee, because of thy righteous Judgments.
LONDON, Printed by R. Flesher for R. Royston, Bookseller to His most Sacred Majesty, at the Angel in Amen-corner, MDCLXXV.
THE PREFACE; OF Continuing in Prayer and frequent Meditation and the Design of this Second Part.
1 THAT holy Catholick Church, which is one of the XII. Articles of the holy Christian Faith, is partly Triumphant in Heaven, and partly Militant on Earth: both make but one Spouse of Christ; and therefore the true Members of both are alike minded and alike employed in reference to the worship of the common Lord of both.
2 They who are true Members of Christs Church below, are conform to the glorious Saints in Heaven [Page]above Exod. 25.40. Act. 7.44. Heb. 6.11.: They do the will of God on earth as 'tis done in heaven Mat. 6.11: and that's undoubtedly the way to Heaven: we cannot possibly lose our way thither, whilst we follow their steps who are thither gone before us.
3 Those Triumphant Saints in Heaven, rest not day nor night, saying, Holy, holy, holy Lord God Almighty Isa. 6.3. Rev. 4.8.. Whereunto conforms the man after God's own heart, saying, O Lord God of my Salvation, I have cryed day and night before thee Ps. 88.1.. Our Lord commends it as a Duty incumbent, that men ought always to pray Luk. 18.1.. And by his Apostle commands it positively, Pray without ceasing1 Thesl. 5.13.. Giving thanks always Eph. 5.20.. Praying alway with all Prayer and Supplication Eph. 6.18.
1 But these Examples and Commands are not so to be understood, as if we should do nothing else but pray, S. Aug. l. de haer. Theod. Eccles. hist. l. 4. c. 10. which was an old Heresie of the Messalians, and Euchites, long since condemned by the Church of Christ, as being a thing impossible to pray without ceasing in the bare [Page]literal sense; because this corruptible body presseth down the Soul, and corporal necessities do call for supply: Neither yet,
2 That we should make long Prayers, which is the new Error and great mistake of these Times: The which, though generally the most used, and best liked, as being set off with the paint of seeming zeal, and pretense of the Spirit; yet the unlawfulness of such long Prayers will appear, if we will without prejudice and partiality consider, that
1. They are forbidden by our Lord, saying, When you pray, use not vain repetitions, Matth. 6.7. in which words, our Lord means not, the same Prayers repeated, (as is falsly objected against the Prayers of the Church;) for thus our Lord prayed himself, Matth. 26.39, 44. Where his Prayer was short and three times repeated.
And therefore undoubtedly, by vain repetitions in Praying is understood multitude of words, and variety [Page]of expressions to the same purpose, or rather to no purpose; since our desires both may and ought to be expressed in few words and pertinent, according to the Pattern our Lord hath given us.
And that 'tis the meaning of our Lord, when he saith, After this manner pray ye, that our Prayers should be generally formed to the length of his Prayer prescribed, will appear
1. From the Context, if seriously weighed and rightly understood; wherein is manifest, that the manner of Praying by such a short Form is commanded, in opposition to the heathenish use of much speaking in Prayer.
2. From the parallel Text in the Margin, Eccles. 5.2. Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thy heart be hasty to utter any thing before God, for God is in Heaven, and thou upon earth; therefore let thy words be few.
3. From the Prayers of Christs Church, which are in all Liturgies of the Christian World, for the most part of the same length; and surely the general practice of the Church is the best interpreter of holy Scripture.
4. Such are generally also all the Prayers of the holy Spirit of God which stand upon record in holy Writ [viz. the Book of Psalms, with many more] we meet with none that are of such a continued length, as are in use amongst us; but they are all divided, by distinct Verses, into so many several shorter Prayers.
2 Long Prayers are forbidden by our Lord, because such is the custom of the Heathen: Matt. 6.7. as (the Heathen do) who mind more the Oratory and Language, Tone and Pronunciation, than the Humility and Devotion of the Soul in Prayer: and 'tis much misbecoming Christians to worship the true God as the Heathen do their false and feigned Deities. And
3 Because they imply a false Notion of the Majesty of Heaven, and a [Page]misbelief of his divine perfections; as if he were asleep and must be awakened, or did not understand our wants and desires, or, being otherwise imployed, he could not intend our petitions, except in multitude of words exprest, and loud talking for audience: So prayed the Priests of Baal, 1 King. 18.27. and so saith our Lord of all Heathen people, That they think they shall be heard for their much speaking; which is directly contrary to the true Faith of a Christian, who believeth and acknowledgeth the Omniscience and Omnipresence of God; as it follows in the 8. vers. Your heavenly Father knoweth what things you stand in need of before you ask: which divine Truth is implicitly denied by loud and long Prayers.
4 Long Prayers are not only forbidden by our Lord, Matt. 6.5. cap. 23.14. Mark 12.40. Luk 20.47 Joh. 12.43. as the custom of the Heathen, but also frequently reproved by him as the practice of Hypocrites, who love to stand praying in the Synagogues, and in the corners of the Streets, that they may be seen of men, that they may be taken notice of for godly men, desiring [Page]rather to seem, than really to be religious, loving the praise of men more than the praise of God.
To pray continually then, is neither to be understood of doing nothing else but pray, nor yet of using long Prayers; the one being prohibited by our Lord, and the other condemned by his Church: but in this and the like expressions is commanded
1 The intense Devotion of the Soul in prayer: So our Lord expounds his own Cammand, that men ought always to pray, viz. that they faint not Luk. 18.1., to wit, for want of that holy fervour and devout Zeal, which is the Life and Soul of an effectual Prayer: and this same celestial fire of holy zeal in Prayer, spends not it self in multitude of words and much babling of the lips, but is expressed in sighs and groans which cannot be uttered Rom. 8.26.: which are tru [...] [...] breathings of the holy Spirit of God in Prayer, who dwells not upon the Tongue, but in the Heart.
To pray continually, enjoyns the constant and continued returns of this holy Duty; that we lose no time, neglect no opportunity either of publick Prayers of the Church, or of private Prayer and Closet-devotions, upon the set, solemn and accustomed times thereof: remembring that the time only which is employed in the sacred acts of Piety towards God, and Charity towards Man, is redeemed Eph. 5.6. out of the all-devouring jaws of death, and dark oblivion, to be the Seminary of a blessed Eternity, Gal. 6.8. when Time shall be no more.
3 That we ought always to pray, i. e. say the Fathers upon the Text, at those appointed Hours, observed by the Church of God both under the Law, called therefore the hours of the Temple, and under the Gospel, called the Canonical hours: so generally observ'd formerly of all devout Christians, that S. Hierome, with his Quis nescit? takes it for granted, that no godly Christian, is either ignorant or negligent in the observation of such hours, as being probably observed [Page]by holy David, saying, Psal. 119.164. Seven times a day do I praise thee, because of thy righteous judgments.
4 To continue in Prayer, is to have our hearts so inflamed with the love of God, as to be in a continual disposition to Pray; and this not only at all set and accustomed times, but at all times and upon all occasions, and objects presented, to raise up our Souls upon the Spiritual wings of holy Meditations, celestial affections, devout colloquies, and ejaculatory converses with Heaven.
Thus Enoch walked with God and was translated Gen. 5.24. Heb. 11.5.. Thus King David professeth, I have set God always before me Ps. 16.9.: And, I will give thanks unto the Lord: his praise shall ever be in my mouth Ps. 34.1.: no time omitted; Evening and Morning, and Noon-day Ps. 55.17, 18.: early and late Ps. 63.1, 7: no place pretermitted; in the Wilderness, in the land of Jordan, and the unbeaten paths of Hermon Ps. 42.8..
S. Hierom professeth of himself, that often on the tops of Mountains, [Page]and in hollow Valleys and craggy Rocks, with eyes lifted up to Heaven and flowing with tears, he poured forth his Soul in holy Prayers and Meditations S. Hierom. Ep. ad Eustor.. So Meditates S. Austin also; Te Domine mediter per dies sine cessatione; Te sentiam per soporem in nocte; Te alloquar Aug. Medit.— O that I could Meditate upon thee, O Lord, through the whole day, and not cease to be affected with thee in the night: my Spirit speaking unto thee, and my mind conversing with thee alway, and alone: Blessed are they who think of nothing, speak of nothing but the Lord; who love nothing above thee, desire nothing besides thee: Blessed are they whose hope alone is the Lord, and all whose work is Prayer. And several of the devout Fathers computed all that time lost, wherein God was not in their minds and memories: and there is great reason for it, as the same S. Austin meditates; For as there is no moment of time, wherein we enjoy not the sweet influences of the divine goodness, and stand in need also of God's protecting presence [Page]with us: So there should be no time wherein we have not God in our thoughtsAug. Marcu.. Wait on thy God continuallyHos. 12.16.: Seek the Lord, and his strength; seek his face evermore Ps. 105.4.. Thus S. Paul, and all truly devout Christians with him, have their conversation in heaven Phil. 3.20., whilst they are upon earth; and that's the way surely to have our conversation in Heaven, when we shall be taken from the earth.
This Second Part of the Practical Christian consists of Ejaculatory Prayers and Meditations, with several Psalms paraphrased and illustrated; relating to the hours of Prayer, and to other subjects, both useful and necessary to be considered by every such devout person as seriously minds the eternal Salvation of his Soul. 'Tis not hereby intended magisterially to impose upon any persons, either at what hours they shall pray precisely in their Closets, or that they should thus, or thus punctually Meditate and Pray, at all such times, and upon every such subject prefixed: But
1 To put all good Christians in mind of those hours of Prayer, which the Church and people of God, and many thousands in all the parts of Christendom do still observe as such: and therefore they are the most fitting seasonable times, wherein to make our religious addresses to Heaven, if we desire to be true Members of the holy Catholick Church, and to practise the Communion of Saints, and to reap the fruits of the Fundamental Doctrines of the Christian Faith.
2 That the ensuing Meditations may be helps of Devotion to the more weak and imperfectly religious: who may have here seasonable hints to raise up their Souls, to converse with Heaven at all times, and upon all occasions: And the more perfect also may here meet with some Notions and remembrances to excite them unto higher and more sublime elevations.
3 So many Psalms are added to every Chapter of Meditations, to [Page]recal, if possible, the Devotion of the present times, to the ancient and sure way of Religious exercise; which was, and is still by all sound and Orthodox Devotaries, in the devout use of the Psalms of David: 'twas thus that all the triumphing Saints in Heaven have prayed themselves thither, as far forth as their Religious practises appear unto us upon record in Ecclesiastical Story: and 'tis a safe way to follow their steps, rather than the fanciful conceptions of our own heads; especially remembring that it is acknowledged by all Christians, that the Psalms of David, are the Treasury of all Devotion: 'Tis known, that they are, and ever were, the constant Prayers of the Church and People of God at all times, and upon all occasions. It cannot be denyed, but that they are the immediate Dictates and Prayers of the holy and true Spirit of God; and therefore it must surely follow, that they are of higher dignity, greater efficacy and acceptation [Page]with God, than the most seemingly-zealous and pathetical expressions in Prayer, which flow from the spirit of the most learned and ready tongue'd man.
It is to be lamented even to astonishment, at the madness and folly of many persons professing to be godly, that they do so highly extol the Praying by the Spirit; and yet altogether neglect the use of those Psalms and Hymns, and spiritual Songs, commanded, Eph. 5.19. Col. 3.16. and are the infallible and undeniable Prayers of the Spirit of Truth and Holiness: But 'tis the fond imaginations of their own hearts, that such do mean by the Spirit, if they blaspheme not; and 'tis these indigested conceptions of their own brain, which blinds their Zeal, and darkens their Ʋnderstanding, to slight both the Prayers of David, and of the Son of David also; even all the immediate Dictates of Heaven, when they come in competition with the conceived Notions of their own [Page]brain, which they call a praying by the Spirit.
But that you may truly and indeed pray by the Spirit, and pray with the Understanding also; and, which is all one, you may sing with the Spirit, and sing with the Understanding also; (for the Psalms, whether said or sung, are the same Prayers, when they are rightly Translated) is the great reason of many Psalms paraphrased and illustrated with Notes and Prayers: And these Psalms also are not of my own choice affixed to any of the ensuing Chapters of Meditation; but such as have been so selected and disposed, either by the Church of Christ, or some of the most eminent Governours and Fathers of the Church.
The Reader may take notice, that in the last Chapter of this PRACTICAL CHRISTIAN imprinted, are many of the general Heads, and hints of several [Page]the ensuing Chapters of this SECOND PART; and therefore he cannot but meet with several expressions formerly published; but revised, and more methodically disposed both for use and memory.
PAge 310. line 3. read, where thou art absent.
THE CONTENTS.
- The Preface; of continuing in Prayer; of frequent Meditation, with the design of the following Meditations.
- I. CHapt. Of Meditations and Psalms for the Morning. Page 1.
- II. Chap. Meditations for the Third hour of Prayer. p. 21
- III. Chap. Of Meditations for the Sixth hour. p. 41
- IV. Chap. Of Meditations for the Ninth hour. p. 61
- V. Chap. Of Meditations for the Evening. p. 81
- VI. Chap. Of Meditations for Bed-time. p. 101
- VII. Chap. Of Meditations for the Night-season. p. 121
- VIII. Chap.
- Of Meditations fitted to every days ordinary actions, &c. viz.
- When you go forth of your Chamber, I p. 151
- When you walk abroad, I. p. 152
- When you stand upon soms high place, I. ibid.
- When you behold pleasant Fields, I. p. 153
- When you hear or see any thing extraordinary, I. p. 155
- When you hear or see the time of the day, I. ib.
- [Page]When you go to read or study, I. p. 156
- When you are wearied therewith, I. p. 157
- When you go about any worldly Employployments, I. p. 158
- When you are sad or discontented, I. p. 159
- When you sit idle, I. p. 160
- Ʋpon wandring and wanton eyes, I. ibid.
- When you are tempted to any sin, IV. p. 161, 164
- When Temptations prevail, I. p. 165
- When you have escaped a. Temptation, I. p. 166
- When you hunger or thirst, III. p. 167, 168
- After you have eaten or drunk, III. 169, 170
- When you are asked an Alms, II. p. 171
- When you hear others evil spoken of, I. p. 172
- When you hear your self reproached p. 173
- When you are cross'd in any your worldly desires or interests. p. 174
- When you suffer several kinds of trouble. p. 175
- When you suffer any bodily pains. p. 176
- When you are sensible of your want of Knowledge and Wisdom. 177
- When you are dull and averse from holy Duties. p. 179
- When sensible of your sins, and the mispending your time. p. 180
- When you resolve to be more religious for the future. p. 181
- Holy Breathings of the Soul after God, II. p. 183-186
- A Meditation of Fasting & Alms giving to be joyned with Prayers. p. 187
- Meditations upon Ʋnity and the Publick Worship of God. p. 171
- [Page]OF the Four last things
- in general. p. 201
- Of the shortness and frailty of this present Life. p. 205
- Of the frequent remembrance of Death. p. 210
- Of the Horror of Death. p. 215
- Of the uncertainty of Death, and preparation for it. p. 219
- The 39. Psalm illustrated with notes. 226
- The 90. Psalm illustrated with notes, 230
- The 2. general Head, Of Judgment.
- Of particular Judgment, III. 235-242
- Of the general Judgment, V. 243-253
- The 26. Psalm paraphras'd. 254
- The 43. Psalm paraphras'd. 258
- The 3. general Head, Of the pains of Hell. 263
- Of the pain of loss. 264
- Of the darkness of Hell. 267
- Of the fire of Hell. 270
- Of the extent of Hell pains. 273
- Of the bonds and chains of Hell. 277
- Of the Laments of Hell. 279
- Of the perpetuity of Hell torments. 282
- The 86. Psalm paraphras'd. 285
- The 88. Psalm paraphras'd. 291
- The 4. general Head, Of the joys of Heaven. 297 [Page]
- Of the place call'd Heaven, 300
- its greatness, its brightness and splendor, its tranquillity and peace. 300-303
- Of the good things of Heaven, 1. Honour, 2. Power, 3. Riches, 4. Pleasure. 304-308
- Of the Company of Heaven, 1. Gods presence there, 2. of the Angels of Heaven, 3. of the Saints in Heaven. 309-316
- Of the perpetuity of heavenly Joys. 316
- The 24. Psalm paraphras'd. 321
- The 84. Psalm paraphras'd. 326
- Meditation upon the Vow in Baptism. 333
- Meditation of the cure of the Soul before that of the Body. 336
- Meditation upon the Tears of the devout Soul. 340
- Meditation of the dwelling of God in the hearts of his people. 344
- Of Meditations fitted to every days ordinary actions, &c. viz.
CHAP. I. Of Meditations and Psalms for the Morning.
WHen I awake up,Psal. 139.18.I am always with thee; who sleeping and waking am preserved by thee: And 'tis just, and my bounden duty to return back my first breath in praise to him from whom I have received it. So the Angels of Heaven, those Morning-stars, being first made, even in the Morning of the worlds Creation, no sooner received their Being, but all with one accord sang with joyful acclamations, the praises of their Creator: Job 38.7. When the Morningstars sang together, and all the Sons of God shouted for joy. Say then,
As soon as you awake,
Blessed be the holy and undivided Trinity, now and for evermore; and thrice blessed be the great and glorious Majesty of Heaven, who hath preserved me the Night past, and sav'd me from the sleep of death: 'Tis of the Lords mercy that we are not consumed, Lam. 3.22, 23.even because his Compassions fail not: they are new every morning: Great is thy faithfulness.
II.
O holy Jesus, the Morning-star, the day-spring from on high, who came down to visit us, Luk. 1.78, 79.to give light to them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace: Mal. 4.2.Arife, thou Sun of Righteousness upon my darkned Soul, with healing in thy Wings; 1 Thess 5.5. make me a child of the light and of the day, not of the night nor of darkness: Let the Light of thy Truth direct me, and the Light of thy Grace support me, in the way to Light and Life everlasting, Amen.
III.
Lighten mine eyes, O Lord, Psal. 13.3.that I sleep not in death; either spiritual, in sin; or eternal, for sin: but from all sin and wickedness, from thy wrath, and from everlasting damnation, good Lord deliver me.
Shew thy servant the light of thy Countenance; Psal. 31.18and save me for thy mercies sake.
O let me hear thy loving kindness betimes in the morning, Psal. 143.8for in thee do I trust: Shew thou me that I should walk in, for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
At your Ʋp-rising.
O holy Jesu, who early in the morning didst raise up thy self from death to life for me, raise me up, I meekly beseech thee, from the death [Page 4]of sin unto the life of Righteousness.
Grant me by the power of thy Death, and vertue of thy Resurrection, early and betimes, even to day while it is called to day, to arise out of the mire of sensuality, and out of the dust and rubbish of worldly vanities, unto newness and all holiness of life; that when that long day of Eternity shall dawn, I may be raised up out of the grave of death, to live and reign with thee for ever. Amen.
I laid me down and slept, Psal. 3.5.and rose again, for the Lord sustained me.
Blessed be the name of the Lord, Psal. 113.2, 3.from this time forth and for evermore.
The Lords name is praised from the rising of the Sun unto the going down of the same.
A Morning Hymn.
At your Apparrelling.
Blessed Jesus, cloath my soul with thy spotless Robes of Righteousness, and beautifie me with the celestial ornaments of the graces of thy Spirit.
Let it be my constant desire and endeavour to appear more amiable in thy sight, than in the censorious eyes of men.
II.
ANd why take ye thought for raiment?Matth. 6.28,consider the Lilies of the field; they toil not, neither do they spin.
And yet I say unto you, 29.that Solomon in all his glory was not arayed like one of these.
How then, fond Soul, canst thou [Page 7]be proud of thy bodily apparrel, wherein the grass of the field excels thy utmost bravery?
To be proud of thy gay clothing, is to glory in thy shame; to cover which shame and nakedness, as the issue of sin and disobedience, the use of Garments was given by God.
The true ornaments of a Christian consist in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
At your Washing.
I.
BLessed be the Lord God my Heavenly Father, who hath washed me from my Original pollution in the sacred waters of Baptism, and hath therein called me to the state of Salvation, through Jesus Christ; And I pray God to give me his Grace, that I may continue in the same unto my lifes end.
This I promised by my Undertakers, when I was Baptized, 1 Pet. 3.21. Ch. Cat. but I have not been so careful as I [Page 8]ought to make good my promise?
O wash me throughly from my wickedness (as in the Laver of Baptism) and cleanse me from my sin, Psal. 51.2, whereby I have unhallowed those saving Waters.
Thou shalt purge me with Hysop (through the bitter sorrows and sufferings of my dearest Saviour) and I shall be clean: 7.Thou shalt wash me (in the fountain of thy inexhaustible mercy) and I shall be whiter than Snow.
II.
'Tis the clean hands and pure heart wherewith God is well pleased; even the heart that is pure from all evil affections, and the hands that be clean from all sinful actions: Blessed are the pure in heart, Matt. 5.8.for they shall see God: see him in Grace and Mercy here, and in Glory hereafter.
Make me a clean heart, Psa. 51.10.O God, and renew a right spirit within me: A Spirit cleaving stedfastly unto thee, my God, and to thy Covenant with me in holy Baptism.
Water the dry barren ground of my Heart, with the dew of Heaven, the celestial influences of thy holy Spirit; that I may bring forth the fruits of good works, to the glory of thy Name, through Jesus Christ. Amen.
Upon the Use of the Creed.
I Have many Enemies to encounter, and such as are not corruptible flesh and bloud, but spiritual and invisible, quick and powerful, active and vigilant to insnare me in all my thoughts and desires, words and actions: And therefore 'tis necessary (O my Soul) before thou go forth to enter upon any worldly affairs, that thou be well armed, as with fervent Prayers, and the Sword of the Spirit, so with the shield of faith, Eph. 6.12, 13.to quench all the fiery darts of the Devil.
Confess then the holy Christian Faith with Understanding and affectionate Devotion.
- I. I Believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of Heaven and Earth.
- II. And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord,
- III. Who was conceived by the holy Ghost: Born of the Virgin Mary:
- IV. Suffered under Pontius Pilate: was crucified, dead and buried.
- V. He descended into Hell: the third day he rose again from the dead.
- VI. He ascended into Heaven; and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father.
- VII. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
- VIII. I believe in the Holy Ghost.
- IX. The holy Catholick Church; the Communion of Saints.
- X. The forgiveness of Sins.
- XI. The Resurrection of the Body.
- XII. The Life everlasting. Amen.
I believe, Lord, help my unbelief: And grant a right and a full understanding of all these Articles of the most holy Faith, and Grace to square all the actions of my life according thereunto. Let this Faith be my shield from all errors in Judgment, and [Page 11]miscarriages in Conversation, and from the Devil and all his Instruments that would seduce me to either.
Before you go forth of your Chamber or undertake any imployment; first, in all holy Humility and Reverence prostrate upon your knees offer unto God your Morning sacrifice, 1. Of Thanksgiving for your preservation and refreshment the night past.
2. Confessing with all godly sorrow your sins and failings, even in the best of your performances; and more particularly in what the night past you offended, either by thought or desire, word or deed, in your dreams, sleeping or waking, and humbly beg pardon for the same.
3. Imploring God's gracious assistance, to direct you in all your intentions and undertakings; to strengthen you against all Temptations, to enable you to fulfil and put in execution all your good purposes and holy resolutions.
PSALMS for the MORNING, or First Hour of Prayer; with Notes for Illustration. The CXIX. Psalm,
The First Part.
1. BLessed are those that are undefiled in the way, and walking in the way of the Lord.
This present life is called the way, because it is the thorough fare to Life eternal: and to keep unspotted of this world, is the way to be blessed in the world to come.
2. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies; and seek him with their whole heart.
That we may keep Gods Laws, which is the way to blessedness, we must with all fervor of Spirit implore the assistance of divine Grace.
3. For they who do no wickedness, walk in his ways.
To do wickedly, is to walk every one in the ways of his own heart, which are contrary to the ways of God.
4. Thou hast charged that we shall diligently keep thy Commandments.
'Tis not enough to decline the ways of wickedness, except we be also diligent in doing the good works God hath commanded.
5. O that my ways were made so direct, that I might keep thy statutes!
So directed by thee.
6. So shall I not be confounded, while I have respect unto all thy Commandments.
Disobedience to God's Commands is the high-way to confusion.
7. I will thank thee with an unfeigned heart, when I shall have learned the judgments of thy righteousness.
Unfeigned thanks are to be given unto God, as the chief author of all our knowledge and obedience.
8. I will keep thy ceremonies: O forsake me not utterly.
Or, that I may keep thy Laws in every circumstance thereof, O Lord, forsake me not: or if for a while thou leave me, that I may be sensible of my frailties, yet forsake me not utterly.
The Prayer.
WIth my whole heart do I seek and sue unto thee, O Lord, that thy Truth may so direct me, and thy Grace support me in the way of thy Laws and in the works of thy Commandments; that [Page 14]being holy and undefiled in the way of this Life, I may be for ever blessed with thee in the Life to come, through Jesus Christ.
The Second Part.
Verses,
1. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? even by ruling himself after thy Word.
The regenerate or new Man preserves himself clean and pure, by squaring all his intentions and actions by that infallible Rule of Righteousness which God has prescribed.
2. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not go wrong unto thy Commandments.
Either by misunderstanding thy word, for want of divine Illumination; or by disobeying the same for want of divine Grace.
3. Thy word have I hid in my heart; that I should not sin against thee. That we sin not, is the great end why the Word of God is given us..
4. Blessed art thou, O Lord: O teach me thy statutes.
To bless God for gifts already received is the readiest way more fully to understand his Will.
5. With my lips have I been telling of all the judgments of thy mouth.
Divine knowledge must not be buried, as the Talent in a Napkin, but be outwardly exprest to the glory of God, and edification of others.
6. I have had as great delight in thy testimonies, as in all manner of riches.
The highest delight of man is the pleasure of his highest Faculties, the Understanding and the Will, which consists in the knowledg of the truth and obedience thereunto.
7. I will talk of thy Commandments; and have respect to thy ways.
True Religion will manifest it self both in words and deeds.
8. My delight shall be in thy Statutes; and I will not forget thy word.
Whilest I delight to obey my God, I cannot forget the Rule of that obedience which he requires.
The Prayer.
GRant me, blessed Lord, to delight in thee, and in obedience to thy Laws, more than in all earthly treasures; devoting both my youth and ripe age hereunto: That so keeping thy Commandments I [Page 16]may enter into life, thorough Jesus Christ.
The Third Part.
1. O do well unto thy servant, that I may live and keep thy word.
To do the good works God has commanded in his Word, is to live the life of Grace, which is the way to the life of Glory.
2. Open thou mine eyes, that I may see the wondrous things of thy Law.
Without the right understanding of the excellency of those duties God commands, there can be no true Religion either in the heart or in the life.
3. I am a stranger upon earth: O hide not thou thy Commandments from me.
Not the earth but Heaven is our native home; whereunto the knowledge of, and obedience unto, Gods Commandments, doth entitle us through Christ.
4. My soul breaketh out, for the very fervent desire it hath alway unto thy judgments.
The beginning of true Wisdom is the fervent desire thereof.
5. Thou hast rebuked the proud; and cursed are they that do err from thy Commandments.
Spiritual pride is hateful before God, as being inconsistent with obedience to his Laws.
6. O turn from me shame and rebuke; for I have kept thy testimonies.
Or, turn from me that shame and curse which thou hast threatned to the proud and disobedient.
7. Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant is occupied in thy Statutes.
8. For thy testimonies are my delight and my counsellers.
Against all the powers of earth and hell, God's Word is our counsel by its direction, and our comfort in its practice.
The Prayer.
O Lord the giver of all good things, vouchsafe unto thy servant, fervently to desire, rightly to understand, and constantly to persevere in the practice of all thy Evangelical Precepts: Let not any Powers upon earth, nor all the Princes and Powers of hell withdraw my heart from thee, or my actions from the Rule of Righteousness: but let thy testimonies be ever both my Counsel and my Comfort in my pilgrimage upon earth; that in the end I may safely arrive in my native [Page 18]Countrey of Heaven, to ascribe for ever,
The Fourth Part.
1. My soul cleaveth unto the dust: O quicken me according to thy Word.
or, My soul is too much set upon earthly things, do thou quicken me with spiritual wisdom, and heavenly affections, according to thy promise in thy Word.
2. I have acknowledged my wayes, and thou heardest me: O teach me thy Statutes.
After confession of sin, and prayer for pardon, new obedience is required.
3. Make me to understand the way of thy Commandments: and so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.
To talk of Religion without a right Understanding is but vain babling.
4. My soul melteth away for very heaviness: Comfort thou me according to thy Word.
Godly sorrow is the inlet to divine Consolation.
5. Take from me the way of lying; and cause thou me to make much of thy Law.
Errors in judgment must be corrected and abandoned, that we may obey God sincerely and cordially.
6. I have chosen the way of truth, and thy judgments have I laid before me.
What the Word of God doth judge to be true or false, is to be ever chose or refused.
7. I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O Lord, confound me not.
Stedfastly to cleave unto what God hath testified to be the way of truth and holiness, is a sure way to avoid confusion.
8. I will run the way of thy Commandments; when thou hast set my heart at liberty.
While the heart is enfettered with sensual or worldly lusts, we can neith run nor walk in the ways of God's Commandments we ought.
The Prayer.
O Raise up my Soul, blesse Lord, out of the dust and rubbish of earthly desires: quicken my dulness in thy service; comfort me in all my sadnesses; dispel all those mists of Ignorance and Error which cloud my Understanding: enlarge my heart from the bondage of Sin [Page 23]and Satan, and out of the fetters of all Temptations unto evil; and so strengthen me to run in the ways which thou hast Commanded, that I may obtain what thou hast promised through Jesus Christ.
Our Father which art in, &c.
CHAP. II. Of Meditations for the Third Hour of Prayer; or Nine a Clock in the Morning.
THis is called, The holy hour in the Decrees of the Church, and generally the hour of publick Assemblies in the Worship of God; and not without very great reason; For,
1. Matth. 27.20. 'Twas at this hour my blessed Redeemer underwent the bitter sentence of death; whilest Barabbas, a Thief, a Rebel and a Murderer was acquitted.
And I vile wretch am as guilty as Barabbas in many respects, and justly obnoxious to the dreadful sentence of condemnation to death eternal: but by the infinite Merits and Mysteries of thy Condemnation, ‘Good Lord deliver me.’
2. Matth. 27.26. 'Twas at this hour of the day my blessed Redeemer exposed his tender breasts and delicate back and [Page 22]shoulders, to be rased, rent and torn with forked whips, by cruel blood-thirsty souldiers, until his innocent Body was all over gore blood.
And my sins deserve the scourges and mine offences the rod of the Almighties just indignation: but blessed Lord, I humbly beg, that I may so wash my polluted soul with the penitent tears of holy compunction, through Faith in the blood of my Saviour; and so chastise and keep under that body of sin which is, and too much reigneth in my Members: Eccles. 39.28. that being delivered from the guilt and tyranny of sin in this life, I may escape those fiery whips and scourgings of the spirits of vengeance, which are the portion of the disobedient and impenitent in the other life.
3. Act. 2.15. 'Twas at this hour of the day the Holy Ghost descended upon the holy Apostles and Disciples of Christ, and by his celestial influences replenished them with extraordinary Gifts and Graces, for the propagation of his holy Gospel, and the plantation of his Church through the World. And,
Vouchsafe, holy God, vouchsafe unto me also thy unworthy servant, the guidance of the same spirit; by whose Illumination and Sanctification I may both perceive and know what things I ought to do: and also may have Grace faithfully to perform the same through Jesus Christ.
And the Earth was without form and void, Gen. 1.2.& darkness was upon the face of the deep: And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the Waters.
Such was thy condition, O my Soul, in thy state of Nature, without form or comeliness; the image of God, wherein thy beauty consists, was defac'd by original corruption: void, both of Grace and Truth: an Abyss of darkness, and in the shadow of death: till the all-quickning Spirit of God, moving upon the hallowed waters of Baptism, caused the light to appear. But still the dregs of thy natural corruption remain, and the darkness of ignorance ever hovers upon the face of the Deep: But where the Spirit of God is, there is liberty, both rightly to understand, and acceptably to perform his Will.
ALmighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy holy Spirit; that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnifie thy holy Name through Jesus Christ.
Glory be to God on high, on earth peace, This Hymn is prescribed to be used in the Morning by the Apostolical Constit. l. 7. c. 47. and at the Third Hour of the Morning; because then the Holy Ghost descended upon the Apostles, and replenished them with glory, exultation and joy. Dur. Rat. l. 4. c. 13. good will towards men
We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Thee, we glorifie Thee, we give thanks to Thee for thy great Glory, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty.
O Lord, the only begotten Son Jesus Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us: Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayers: Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us.
For Thou only art Holy, Thou only art the Lord, Thou only O Christ, with the Holy Ghost art most High in the Glory of God the Father, Amen.
PSALMS for the Third Hour.
‘Legem pone. Psal. 119. Part. 5.’
Verses,
1. TEach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes, and I shall keep it unto the end.
The Understanding must first be enlightned, that the Affections of the Heart may be inflamed with love and obedience.
2. Give me Ʋnderstanding and I shall keep thy Law; yea I will keep it with my whole heart.
The Understanding must first be enlightned, that the Affections of the Heart may be inflamed with love and obedience.
3. Make me to go in the paths of thy Commandments, for therein is my delight.
And because all holy desires are not but by the influences of God's holy Spirit, therefore it follows, Incline my heart.
4. Incline my heart unto thy Testimonies, and not unto covetousness.
God is to be obeyed not for any earthly ends: and therefore a sincere obedience is inconsistent with covetousness.
5. O turn away mine eyes lest they behold vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.
The way of the world is vain and unsatisfying; and Christ the Way, the Truth and the Life.
6. O stablish thy Word in thy servant; that I may fear thee.
God's Word must not be slightly heard; but deeply settled in the heart, to beget therein the true fear of God.
7. Take away the rebuke I am afraid of; for thy judgments are good.
We would fear reproach for our sins, did we seriously consider the righteousness of God's Judgments.
8. Behold my delight is in thy Commandments: O quicken me in thy righteousness.
The more active we be in all holy obedience, the greater delight shall we find therein.
The Prayer.
'TIs the desire of my Soul (O Lord) to know and obey thy Commands, as being the way of true delight, and give me a right understanding [Page 28]thereof, with a firm adhesion, and obedience thereunto. Mortifie the exorbitant lusts of mine eyes, and of mine heart, whose issue is shame and reproach: Ecclus. 23.1, 5. Leave me not to their counsels, and let me not fall by them, but turn away from me vain hopes, and concupiscence, and thou shalt hold him up, who is desirous always to serve thee through Jesus Christ.
The Sixth Part.
Verses,
1. Let thy loving mercy come also unto me, O Lord: even thy Salvation according to thy Word.
In the Word of God mercy and salvation is promised to his people.
2. So shall I make answer to my blasphemers: for my trust is in thy Word.
The manifestation whereof shall stop the mouths of all evil speakers.
3. O take not the word of thy Truth utterly out of my mouth: for my hope is in thy judgments.
He that hopes for Mercy in the day of Judgment, must now profess the truth in the day of Trial and Temptation.
4. So shall I alway keep thy Law: yea for ever and ever.
Charity, which is the end, or Love, which is the fulfilling of the Law, continues for ever.
5. And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy Commandments.
The love of God diffused in the heart, doth enlarge our steps in the wayes of obedience to his Laws.
6. I will speak of thy Testimonies even before Kings: and will not be ashamed.
And animate us undauntedly to profess the Truth before the greatest Powers upon earth.
7. And my delight shall be in thy Commandments: which I have loved.
These are inseparably urited, the Love of God, and the Love of whatever he Commands.
8. My hands also will I lift up to thy Commandments, which I have loved: and my study shall be in thy Statutes.
The love of the heart sets the hands on work, and both in holy Actions, and divine Contemplations is the pious Soul delighted.
The Prayer.
GReat is thy mercy, O Lord, in promising, and great is thy Righteousness in performing the [Page 30]promise of Salvation to all them that trust in Thee: let this thy Mercy and Truth appear in my Salvation. Set my heart at liberty from all extravagant lusts which tyrannize there: and grant that thy Laws may be so much my delight, that I fear not to profess the same even before Kings when called thereunto. Let thy holy Will revealed be my dayly study, and my hands lift up carefully to perform the same all the days of my life through Jesus Christ.
The Seventh Part.
Verses,
1. O think upon thy servant as concerning thy Word: wherein thou hast caused me to put my trust.
A holy confidence in the promises of God is a good ground of Prayer to be made partakers thereof.
2. The same is my comfort in my trouble: for thy Word hath quickned me.
and of consolation in the greatest extremities.
3. The proud have had me exceedingly in derision: yet have I not shrinked from thy Law.
And of perseverance in spite of all the scoffs and contradictions of Sinners.
4. For I remembred thy everlasting judgments, O Lord: and received comfort.
To remember the joyes of Eternity supports the pious soul in the greatest of temporal afflictions.
5. I am horriby afraid for the ungodly: that forsake thy Laws.
The impiety of others doth more terrifie a godly person than his own sufferings by their injustice.
6. Thy Statutes have been my songs: in the house of my pilgrimage.
The equity of the divine precepts is the most proper subject of melodious poely upon earth.
7. I have thought upon thy Name, O Lord, in the night season: and have kept thy Laws.
Night meditations do much conduce to the right ordering all the actions of the day.
8. This I had: because I kept thy Commandments.
Obedience is rewarded with Grace for Grace.
The Prayer.
O Think upon thy servant in great mercy, (O Lord,) and let no external troubles, no reproaches of the proud and scornful withdraw my heart from that love and obedience which I owe unto thee: But let thy Grace so prevent me in all my doings, that I fail not of thy following Grace to continue thy faithful servant and souldier to my lifes end through Jesus Christ.
The Eighth Part.
Verses,
1. Thou art my portion, O Lord: I have promised to keep thy Law.
The Covenant betwixt God and his people, is reciprocal: God promiseth to be their exceeding great reward: and they promise to keep his Commandments.
2. I made my humble petition in thy presence with my whole heart: O be thou merciful unto me according to thy Word.
And that this Covenant may stand firm, we must heartily implore both the assistance of divine Grace to keep our promises unto God, and his mercy to perform his promises unto us.
3. I called mine own ways to remembrance: and turned my feet unto thy Testimonies.
The iniquity of our own ways must be frequently remembred: that we may walk in the ways of God.
4. I made haste and prolonged not the time, to keep thy Statutes.
He that hath any care of his soul will not put off his conversion from the errors of his ways, and the practice of new obedience.
5. The Congregation of the proud have robbed me: but I have not forgetten thy Law.
The heart of the faithful continues firm in holy affections, even when through violence of temptation, he is defective in some exterior acts of obedience.
6. At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto Thee: because of thy righteous judgments.
Davine Praise is to be celebrated night and day: and our failings of divine Worship in the day, may be supplied in the night
7. I am a companion of all them that fear thee: and keep thy Commandments.
The society of holy men is both a great comfort, and a great furtherance in the way of godliness.
8. The Earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercy: O teach me thy Statutes.
Gods common blessings are extended unto all: but his special favours are reserved for them that keep his Commandments.
The Prayer.
WHat ever my part or portion be upon earth, be thou my portion, O Lord, and the lot of mine inheritance: Preserve me in the Unity of the Holy Catholick Church, and in the Communion of Saints to the hopes of eternal glory, through Jesus Christ.
The Ninth Part.
Verses,
1. O Lord thou hast dealt graciously with thy servant: according to thy Word.
Gods gracious promises do move him to be merciful in his dealings with us far beyond our merits.
2. O learn me true understanding and knowledge: for I have believed thy Commandments.
In the mysteries of godliness what we cannot believe by Understanding, we must understand by Believing.
3. Before I was troubled I went wrong: but now have I kept thy Word.
The rod of affliction and good discipline keeps the Soul in humility and obedience.
4. Thou art good and gracious: O teach me thy Statutes.
Even in adversity God is no less gracious than in prosperity.
5. The proud have imagined a lye against me: but I will keep thy Commandments with my whole heart.
Though the Devil and his instruments invent and suggest lyes to subvert the truth; yet by a sincere obedience they are discovered and rejected.
6. Their heart is as fat as brawn: but my delight hath been in thy Law.
Through pride and luxury the heart of the wicked is fatted with delight: but humility and obedience is the joy of the righteous Soul.
7. It is good for me that I have been in trouble: that I may learn thy Statutes.
Temptations and troubles yield the peaceable fruits of righteousness to them that are exercised thereby.
8. The Law of thy mouth is dearer unto me than thousands of gold and silver.
Grace excells gold as much as heaven excells earth, or the soul the body.
The Prayer.
THou art good and gracious, O Lord, even in the chastisements of thy servant: Let both thy favours and thy frowns be sanctified unto me: and all the temptations of my ghostly enemies make me cleave more stedfastly in my obedience [Page 37]to thy most holy Lawes: esteeming thy Commandments far above all earthly treasures, as being the way to those never-failing treasures of Celestial glory through Jesus Christ.
The Tenth Part.
Verses,
1. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: O give me Ʋnderstanding that I may learn thy Commandments.
To know God, and obey his Laws is the End of our Creation after the Image of God: and the perfection of our Being is thereby attained.
2. They that fear Thee will be glad when they see me: because I have put my trust in thy Word.
Examples of piety rejoyce the hearts of them that truly fear God.
3. I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right: and that thou of very faithfulness hast caused me to be troubled.
'Tis most righteous and just that they who fall from God by pride and disobedience, be first humbled by afflictions before they be restored to his grace and favour.
4. O let thy loving kindness be my comfort: according to thy Word unto thy servant.
Let this be my comfort in all my troubles, that they are sent (according to thy Word) in mercy to humble, not in fury to consume and destroy me.
5. O let thy loving mercies come unto me that I may live: for thy Law is my delight.
Both the life of grace and glory are the issue of God's loving mercy, and the soul is qualified for this mercy by love and delight in the Lawes of God.
6. Let the proud be confounded, for they go wickedly about to destroy me: but I will be occupied in thy Commandments.
A constant regular obedience to God's Commandments confounds all the machinations of the devil, and all his instruments.
7. Let such as fear Thee and have known thy Testimonies: be turned unto me.
Wherein the Prayers and example of the godly are both strength and consolation.
8. O let my heart be sound in thy Statutes, that I be not ashamed.
The sincerity of the heart in the performance of Religious duties will preserve us from that confusion which is the portion of Hypocrites.
The Prayer.
THat I may attain that perfection and felicity whereunto thou hast created me, O Lord, I humbly beg the spirit of wisdom and understanding both to know, and in all things to obey thy most holy will: In all my Humiliations for my sins, and temptations of the devil, let thy loving mercies support me; the prayers and examples of thy Saints and Servants assist me. O let my heart be sincere, and sound in thy service, that I may escape that everlasting confusion which is the portion of Hypocrites, and my lot may be with thy faithful servants for ever to sing,
Our Father which art, &c.
CHAP. III. Of Meditations for the Sixth hour of Prayer, or twelve a Clock.
AT Evening and Morning and at Noonday will I pray — So resolved holy David, Ps. 55.18. Dan. 6.10. and so prayed holy Daniel: and at this hour prayed S. Peter also. Act. 10.9
And shall not such eminent examples move thee also at this hour to converse with heaven? especially remembring
I
The arrow that flyeth by day — and the destruction that wasteth at the noon-day: Ps 91.5, 6. The Arrows of Temptation fly thick about us, and the devil as a roaring Lyon continually goeth about, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Pet. 5.8. Fly then to the God of thy refuge, upon the sacred wings of devout Prayers, and holy Meditations. Call to mind
II.
That 'twas at this hour our first Parents for their Pride and disobedience were driven out of Paradise; and let this consideration humble thy Soul (at this Hour) under the mighty hand of God, that he may draw thee out of that mass of corruption wherein with the rest of mankind thou art originally involved: and exalt thee to the hopes of admittance into the celestial Paradise, which being lost by the disobedience of the First Adam, was regained by the obedience of the Second Adam: who
III.
As at this hour of the day was listed up on the Cross, as was the Brazen Serpent in the Wilderness, Luk. 23.44. Numb. 21.9. S. Joh. 3.14. that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish but have everlasting life.
And my soul is wounded by the frequent bitings of that old Serpent the Devil, but mine eyes are ever looking up unto thee, Holy Jesus, the great Physician of Sin-sick Souls, [Page 43]who hast made a salve for such, of thine own wounds and blood. Heal, O heal my Soul, Ps. 41.4.for I have sinn'd against thee: Blessed Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world, take away mine also: O blessed Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world, grant me thy Peace: even that Peace which as at this hour thou so dearly purchased for me.
IV.
At this Hour my dear Redeemer was expanded upon the Cross, as on a tormenting rack, where wounded, nayled, and bleeding he continued for three long hours together: whilst the Sun being in its full strength withdrew the influence of its Light from those merciless wretches who Crucified the Lord of Glory: S. Mark 15.33. And when the Sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole Land.— The Sun hid his face being as 'twere ashamed to behold the Sun of Righteousness eclipsed, and in the shadow of death.
And this most justly ought to represent to my Conscience my manifold [Page 44]deeds of darkness, which were the cause of my Saviours death; and do dayly eclipse the light of Gods countenance from shining upon me.
O Holy Jesus, who didst humble thy self unto death upon the Cross for us miserable sinners, who sate in darkness, and in the shadow of death: vouchsafe to illuminate my darkned Soul with the light of Grace and Truth, which lead to that everlasting Light which is not liable to any Eclipse in the least degree of diminution.
The great Captain of our Salvation having by his painful sufferings, and meritorious death, vanquisht him who hath the power of death, the Devil: having overcome both the first and second Death, and shewed himself alive to his Apostles by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty dayes, and speaking of all things pertaining to the Kingdom of God: having, in a word, perfected the great and mysterious work of our Redemption, for the which he invisibly descended from Heaven. 'Twas
V.
At this Hour he visibly ascended again into Heaven. Now then raise up thy self, O my Soul, and let thy most ardent affections, thorough thy gazing eyes be thither enwrapt, whither thy glorious Redeemer at this hour ascended,
Shall not the heart be there where the Treasure is? Act. 1.11. All thy Treasure surely, all thy hopes of life and happiness are treasur'd up in thy blessed Saviour, who is gone into Heaven.
GRant, I beseech Thee, Almighty God, that like as I do believe thy only begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into the Heavens: So I also may in heart and mind thither ascend, and with him continually dwell, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one God world without end, Amen.
PSALMS For the Sixth Hour of Prayer. Psal. CXIX.
Part 11.
Verses,
1. MY Soul hath longed for thy Salvation: and I have a good hope because of thy Word.
God's promise of Grace and Salvation in his Word, inflames the pious Soul with longings thereafter.
2. Mine eyes long sore for thy Word: Saying, O when wilt thou comfort me?
Which is expressed by the frequent elevation of the Eyes, which are the windows of the heart, unto Heaven, waiting for the Consolation thereof.
3. For I am become lik a bottle is the smoak: yet do I not forget thy Statutes.
Contemplation is not to be so dry and withered, as to be forgetful of holy works commanded.
4. How many are the days of thy servant: when wilt thou be avenget of them that persecute me?
The more short and uncertain our dayes be, the more vigorously should we resist, and more earnestly implore the divine assistance against our ghostly adversaries.
5. The proud have digged pits for me: which are not after thy Law.
Whose temptations to assault and entrap the Soul, are such as tend continually to the transgression of Gods Commandments.
6. All thy Commandments are true, they persecute me falsly: O be thou my help.
The more such suggestions oppose the Truth, the more earnest we must be in our prayers unto God for his help to resist them.
7. They had almost made an end of me upon Earth: but I forsook not thy Commandments.
And to continue constant in our obedience to the divine precepts: though the oppositions do even destroy all our earthly interests.
8. O quicken me after thy loving kindness: and so shall I keep the Testimonies of thy mouth.
But such a holy obedience proceeds from the power of Gods quickning Spirit: which is therefore constantly to be prayed for: Qui conservat legem multiplicat orationem. Ecclus. 35.1.
The Prayer.
BOth my heart and mine eyes do I lift up unto Thee, O Lord, longing greatly for that Grace and [Page 48]Salvation, which thy Word doth promise: Let no persecutions either from my bodily, or ghostly adversaries rob me of the hopes thereof: Let no false suggestions either withdraw my heart from the love of thy Truth, or from the practice of it in all the actions of my life; but of thy loving kindness vouchsafe so to quicken all my holy desires and endeavours, that when the few days of this life take end, I may inherit that life which knows no end, through Jesus—
The Twelfth Part.
Verses,
1. O Lord, thy word endureth for ever in Heaven.
The Counsels of God are immutable in Heaven, though they seem variable in their respective dispensations upon Earth.
2. Thy Truth also remaineth from one generation to another: thou hast laid the foundation of the Earth and it abideth.
God's revealed Truth to his Church and People upon Earth is successively continued from one generation to another, whilst the world continues.
3. They continue this day according to thine ordinance: for all things serve thee.
There is a law impos'd upon all men, and upon all things, who both by their obedience and disobedience thereunto, do serve the ends of Gods ordinances and decrees.
4. If my delight had not been in thy Law: I should have perished in my trouble.
Which Lawchearfully obeyed is a sure support in the worst of troubles.
5. I will never forget thy Commandments: for with them thou hast quickned me.
He therefore forgets himself, who forgets Gods Commandments, which quicken the soul to life eternal.
6. I am thine, O save me: for I have sought thy Commandments.
I am devoted thy servant by solemn promise in my Baptism, and I am resolved to continue thine; and therefore vouchsafe as thine to preserve me to keep thy holy Will and Commandments, and to walk in the same all the days of my life.
7. The ungodly laid wait for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy Testimonies.
By devout Meditations upon those truths God hath testified, we may be armed against all temptations.
8. I see that all things come to an end: but thy Commandment is exceeding broad.
We see by dayly experience, that all those worldly things and carnal delights whereby we are tempted to sin, do quickly vanish; but he that doth the Will of the Lord abideth for ever.
The Prayer.
I Am thine, O Lord, not only by Creation, but also solemnly devoted by regeneration in Baptism: and I am resolved to continue thine: O save me from every transgression of any of thy most holy Laws, which all creatures in their several kinds do obey: Let not the secret underminings of the Devil, or the open flattering felicities of the world cozer and ensnare me: for these shall suddenly come to an end, but obedience to thy Commandments is the way to life without end, through Jesus Christ.
The Thirteenth Part.
Verses,
1. Lord, what love have I unto thy Law! All the day long is my study in it.
He that truly loves God, loves also what he commands, and frequently meditates thereupon.
2. Thou through thy Commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.
God's commandment extending to the love of our enemies, exceeds the utmost wisdom of the heathen who have not the knowledge of his Laws.
3. I have more understanding than my Teachers: for thy Testimonies are my study.
But he that will be truly wise must not cursorily read the Letter, but studiously consider, and dive into the spirit and life of the Law.
4. I am wiser than the aged: because I keep thy Commandments.
Wisdom is increased and perfected by obedience to the dictates thereof.
5. I have refrained my feet from every evil way: that I may keep thy Word.
He that will do what God commands must refrain from all that he forbids: First, cease to do evil, and then learn to do well.
6. I have not shrunk from thy judgments: for thou hearest me.
'Tis the secret teaching of God's Spirit in the heart, that keeps the feet firm from backfliding.
7. O how sweet are thy Words unto my throat! yea sweeter than honey unto my mouth.
The fruits of a true Faith or sincere Obedience is more sweet to the soul, than honey to the mouth.
8. Through thy Commandments I get Ʋnderstanding: therefore I hate all evil wayes.
The right Understanding of good and evil, discovers both the beauty of obedience, and the deformity of every sinful action.
The Prayer.
ALmighty God the fountain of all wisdom, give me, I humbly beseech thee, a wise and understanding heart, hating and refraining from every evil way; loving Thee; and thy Laws, and mine enemies also in obedience thereunto: Let me never shrink from thy judgments, but stedfastly believe the Truth of thy revelations, and regularly obey the same, that I may reap the sweet fruits of holiness in eternal happiness through Jesus Christ.
The Fourteenth Part.
Verses,
1. Thy Word is a Lanthorn unto my feet: and a light unto my paths.
Gods Word as a Lanthorn in the night, directs us in our passage through the darkness of this life to the light of life eternal.
2. I have sworn, and am stedfastly purposed to keep thy righteous judgments.
Therefore every truly wise man resolves stedfastly to follow and obey the directions of this holy Word according to his Vow in Baptism.
3. I am troubled above measure: quicken me, O Lord, according to thy Word.
But the flesh lusting against the spirit, disturbs such holy resolves and endeavours: but by the grace of God, the pious soul is quickned, and the spirit fortified against all such encounters, and this God hath promised in the same Word.
4. Let the freewill-offerings of my mouth please thee, O Lord: and teach me thy judgments.
For the which grace 'tis our duty to pray and that more willingly and chearfully, and more frequently than at ordinary and accustomed times.
5. My Soul is alway in my hand: yet do I not forget thy Law.
The continual dangers of the souls safety should engage us often to meditate upon divine Truths.
6. The ungodly have laid a snare for me: but I swerved not from thy Commandments.
From the which all the temptations of wicked spirits should not make us to swerve.
7. Thy Testimonies have I claimed as mine heritage for ever: for why they are the very joy of my heart.
'Tis obedience that entitles to the inheritance of Heaven, which fills the hearts of the righteous with joy unspeakable and glorious.
8. I have applied my heart to fulfil thy Statutes alway unto the end.
Therefore are the hearts of the godly inclined to persevere in their obedience unto the end of their lives.
The Prayer.
WHen I was first enrolled a member of thy Church, O Lord, I solemnly vowed, and have [Page 55]often since renewed this Vow to keep thy holy Will and Commandments, and to walk in the same all the dayes of my life: but the lustings of the flesh against the spirit, and the snares of Satan do daily trouble such my holy resolutions and promises. Vouchsafe, blessed Lord, to quicken and fortifie my spirit against all the crafts and assaults of my ghostly adversaries, that I may have power and strength to get the victory, and to triumph over the Devil, the World, and the Flesh, and to continue thy faithful Servant, and Souldier unto my lifes end, through Jesus Christ.
The Fifteenth Part.
Verses,
1. I hate them that imagine evil things: but thy Law do I love.
He that truly loves God and his Truth will detest, not the persons of any, but the sinful imaginations of all men.
2. Thou art my defence and my shield: and my trust is in thy Word.
Whilst we sincerely trust in the Truth of God's promises in his Word, we need not to doubt of his protection, and defence.
3. Away from me ye wicked: I will keep the Commandments of my God.
The society of wicked men must be avoided by every one that rightly resolves to keep God's Commandments.
4. O stablish me according to thy Word, that I may live: and let me not be disappointed of my hope.
'Tis by the divine assistance continually implor'd, that we are so establish'd in the life of grace that we be not disappointed of our hopes of the life of glory.
5. Hold thou me up and I shall be safe: yea, my delight shall be ever in thy Statutes.
Being supported by the divine Grace, this hope stands firm, and 'tis strengthned by holy love and delight in the service of God.
6. Thou hast trodden down all them that depart from thy Statutes: for they imagine but deceit.
They are justly deprived of this blessed hope, who transgress the lawes of God, their own fond imaginations deceiving them.
7. Thou puttest away all the ungodly like dross: therefore I love thy Testimonies.
The judgments of God pursuing the wicked to their ruine, delight the righteous, not for the destruction of their persons, but for the justice of God thereby testified.
8. My flesh trembleth for fear of Thee: and I am afraid of thy judgments.
The best of men do most fear the judgments of God, as being most sensible of their sins.
The Prayer.
GIve me a heart, O Lord, I beseech Thee detesting all sinfulness and error, and inflamed with the love of holiness and truth; to trust in thy mercies and stand in fear of thy judgments: incline my will and affections to live the life of obedience to thy Word, that I may not be disappointed of my hopes to live with thee for ever, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
The Sixteenth Part.
Verses,
1. I deal with the thing that is lawful and right: O give me not over to mine oppressors.
He must deal righteously with all men, who desires not to be oppressed by any.
2. Make thou thy servant to delight in that which is good: that the proud do me no wrong.
To delight in what is good is a sure preservative against all the assaults of the spirits of pride and wickedness.
3. Mine eyes are wasted away with looking for thy health: and for the word of thy righteousness.
We must wait diligently upon all the blessed means of that grace and Salvation God hath promised in his word, how troublesome soever this may be to the flesh.
4. O deal with thy servant according to thy loving mercy: and teach me thy Statutes.
'Twill be sad if God deal not with the best of us after his loving mercies, and not after our deserts.
5. I am thy servant: O grant me understanding that I may know thy Testimonies.
'Tis impossible to be the true servant of God, without understanding aright the service he requires.
6. It is time for Thee to lay to thine hand: for they have destroyed thy law.
When he Laws of God are trampled under foot, he will not long forbear his punishing judgments.
7. For I love thy Commandments: above gold and precious stone.
When wickedness most abounds, the righteous do most value the Laws of God even above all earthly treasures.
8. Therefore hold I straight all thy Commandments: and all false ways I utterly abhor.
They that are most sincere in the service of God, do most abhor what is false and contrary thereunto.
The Prayer.
I Am thy devoted servant, O Lord: and that I may serve thee acceptably, give me a right understanding of all the ways and parts of thy service, and an upright heart in performing the same, abhorring all falsehood both in opinion and conversation. O deal not with me after my sins, neither reward me after mine iniquities, but according to thy loving mercy in Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be all honour, glory, &c.
CHAP. IV. Of Meditations for the Ninth Hour of Prayer, or Three a Clock.
IT is very seasonable at this Hour to pay thy Devotions to thy blessed Redeemer as the necessary effects of true Faith and Repentance, since
I.
'Twas at this hour the Thief upon the Cross believing and repenting received the joyful promise from the mouth of the Lord, Luk. 23.43. This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise.
And my life I confess has been no better than the life of this Thief, even my whole life has been a trade of robbery, robbing God of his honour, and of that obedience which I owe to his holy Laws: and robbing my self also of peace of Conscience here, and of the hopes of Heaven hereafter. Blessed Jesu, who hadst mercy on [Page 62]the Thief even in the very hour of his death repenting, have mercy upon me, even upon me also, who now though too too late repent me of my manifold misdoings. Shut not up the gates of Paradise against me when I shall depart hence, since having overcome the sharpness of death thou hast opened the kingdom of Heaven to all Believers.
II.
'Twas at this hour the Son of God made man, commended his spirit of man into the hands of God the Father: Luk. 23.46. And into thy hands, O Lord, do I now commend my spirit, my soul, my body, my all, for thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, thou God of Truth. And the very God of peace vouchsafe to sanctifie me wholly. 1 Thess. 5.23.And I pray God that my whole spirit, and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
III.
'Twas at this hour, wherein my blessed Redeemer, Mat. 27.46, 50. after he had cryed [Page 63]with a loud voice, gave up the Ghost, and dyed for us miserable sinners. 'Twas for me, and my sins, my dearest Saviour both suffered and dyed, he having no sins of his own to suffer or dy for; but He was wounded for my transgressions, Is. 53.5.He was bruised for mine iniquities.
And now then remember, holy Jesus, in great mercy remember that hour wherein with a torn body and broken heart Thou didst shew forth the bowels of thy mercy in dying to deliver me both from spiritual and eternal death.
Pardon, good Lord, pardon all my sins, the cause of all thy painful sufferings: and grant that both I and all who love thy Cross and Passion in a devout & thankful remembrance, may by the vertue and power thereof crucifie the old man, and utterly abolish the whole body of sin, that being dead unto sin, 1 Pet. 2.24.we may live unto righteousness, and by thy stripes be healed.
IV.
Upon the death of my Saviour, S. Mat. 27.51. the Earth quaked, the Rocks clave asunder, the veil of the Temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom: And yet upon the meditation hereof my heart is not broken within me, 'tis harder than the stones of that Temple which was a figure of it, harder than those Rocks that rent upon the expiration of my Lord: more insensible and stupid than the Earth that quaked at the death of her Maker. O Blessed Jesus, let thy precious blood shed for me soften my stony heart into tears of Compassion to bewail thy Passion, into tears of Compunction for my sins the cause of thy Sufferings, and wholly melt my Soul into a throughout Devotion to the love and service of thy Sacred Majesty who hast so infinitely loved me as to dy for me.
V.
At this hour the side of our Lord was pierced, whence issued the two Sacraments of his Church; the Water of Baptism, and the Blood of the Eucharist: And O that that precious blood and water which is the price of my Redemption, may be the meritorious cause of my sanctification in this life, and eternal Salvation in the life to come.
Amen.
PSALMS For the Ninth Hour. Psal. CXIX.
Part 17.
Verses,
1. THy Testimonies, O Lord, are wonderful: therefore doth my Soul keep them.
The wonderful depth of Wisdom, admirable equity and purity of the divine revelations engage all men to observe them.
2. When thy word goeth forth: it giveth light and understanding to the simple.
The word of God explained dispels the darkness of ignorance, error and sinfulness.
3. I opened my mouth, and drew in my breath: for my delight was in thy Commandments.
The revelation of divine Truths are the longing and delight of the righteous, for the which they pour forth their souls in ardent prayers.
4. O look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me: as thou usest to do unto those that love thy Name.
And such persons may with a holy confidence beg, and also reasonably hope for the mercy and propitious favour of God.
5. Order my steps in thy Word: and so shall no wickedness have dominion over me.
Temptations to evil shall not prevail where the steps, or affections of the soul are regulated by the laws of God.
6. O deliver me from the wrongful dealings of men: and so shall I keep thy Commandments.
The injuries of men must not cause us to disobey the Laws of God.
7. Shew the light of thy Countenance upon thy servant: and teach me thy Statutes.
'Tis the light of divine grace that teacheth both the knowledge and obedience of Gods holy Will and Commandments.
8. Mine eyes gush out with water: because men keep not thy Law.
Not only our own sins, but the transgressions of others also are to be lamented.
The Prayer.
LOok upon me, O Lord, with the eyes of Grace and Mercy, and not in the rigor of justice: Let not the wrongful dealings of others, [Page 68]or any wickedness of mine own, get so much dominion over me, as that I swerve from those steps which Thou hast commanded me to observe and follow; from the which I cannot fall whilest the light of thy Countenance shines upon me, and that mercy is extended unto me, which thou shewest unto them that love thy Name, through Jesus Christ.
The Eighteenth Part.
Verses,
1. Righteous art thou, O Lord: and true is thy Judgment.
2. The Testimonies that thou hast commanded: are exceeding righteous and true.
God's Commandments are called his Judgments, because they are the Rule by which he will pass judgment upon all: And he is most just both in his Laws, and in his judgments according thereunto.
3. My zeal hath even consumed me: because mine enemies have forgotten thy Words.
Great therefore is the zeal of the righteous against all transgressors of such just and holy Laws whom he esteems his enemies, because the enemies of truth and justice.
4. Thy Word is tried to the uttermost: and thy servant loveth it.
But his heart is inflamed with the love of God's Word, the truth and equity whereof hath appeared upon trial at all times.
5. I am small, and of no reputation: yet do I not forget thy Commandments.
The most strictly conscientious persons do in all Humility acknowledge themselves to be the meanest of his servants.
6. Thy Righteousness is an everlasting righteousness: and thy Law is the Truth.
Obedience to the Law of God is truth everlasting, or the true way to everlasting blessedness.
7. Trouble and heaviness have taken hold upon me: yet is my delight in thy Commandments.
No troubles whether outward or inward can rob the righteous of that delight which is the issue of their obedience.
8. The righteousness of thy Testimonies is everlasting: O grant me understanding and I shall live.
The practical understanding of those holy truths God hath testified or revealed, is that righteousness which is immortal.
The Prayer.
MOst Righteous Lord God, give me a right Understanding of thy revealed Will, as the path that leads to everlasting Righteousness: inflame my soul with an ardent love and delight in thy Laws, and with a discreet zeal against all the transgressors thereof: let a very humble and mean esteem of my self be the foundation of all my righteousness, lest it evaporate into vain-glory, and lose its reward which thou hast promised, through Jesus Christ.
The Nineteenth Part.
Verses,
1. I call with my whole heart: Hear me, O Lord, I will keep thy Statutes.
So prayeth the devout Soul for Grace and obedience, not only with the lips, but with the whole heart.
2. Yea even upon Thee do I call: help me, and I will keep thy Commandments.
The discipline of the Law, and the devout use of Prayer do support each other: the Law commands the use of Prayer, and Prayer obtaineth grace to keep the Law.
3. Early in the Morning do I cry unto thee: for in thy Word is my trust.
An holy confidence of Gods promises in his Word prefers the duty of Prayer before all other actions or concerns.
4. Mine eyes prevent the night watches: that I may be occupied in thy Words.
Holy Meditations and Prayers are both night and day, early and late the employment of the Righteous.
5. Hear my voice, O Lord, according to thy loving kindness: quicken me according as thou art wont.
Whom God will vouchsafe to hear, and quicken their zeal, and holy endeavours, whilst they beg it upon the account of God's loving kindness, not for their demerits.
6. They draw nigh that of malice persecute me: and are far from thy Law.
Our ghostly enemies are ever at hand to disturb our holy resolutions and devotions in opposition to God's Commands.
7. Be thou nigh at hand: for all thy Commandments are true.
To disappoint their assaults God's assisting presence is to be implor'd, who will not be wanting to his own Truth.
8. As concerning thy Testimonies I have known long since, that thou hast grounded them for ever.
The foundation of which Truth, which is the Word of God, is from everlasting, and the true way to that blessedness that shall last for ever.
The Prayer.
NIght and day will I call upon Thee, O Lord, and that not from the rind of my lips only, but from the root of my heart: beseeching Thee to be ever nigh at hand to disappoint the subtle practices of the Devil and his Angels, who are ever at hand to entrap me in the paths of thy most holy Laws which from everlasting do lead to life everlasting through Jesus Christ.
The Twentieth Part.
Verses,
1. O consider mine adversity, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy Law.
That we may be delivered from the temptations of our spiritual adversaries, we must be mindful both of the precepts and promises of God's Word.
2. Avenge thou my cause and deliver me: quicken me according to thy Word.
According to these promises we must pray to have the cause of our contest with the Devil to be vindicated, and our endeavours to resist him to be quickned.
3. Health is far from the ungodly: for they regard not thy Statutes.
These endeavours for the health of the Soul are not regarded by such persons as have not God in their thoughts and desires.
4. Great is thy mercy, O Lord: quicken me as thou art wont.
But the righteous are frequently sensible of God's mercy in quickning them unto their duty. And
5. Many there are that trouble me and persecute me: yet do I not swerve from thy Testimonies.
Even in the greatest, and most troublesome temptations of their numerous adversaries continue firm, and upright in their innocence and obedience.
6. It grieveth me when I see the transgressors: because they keep not thy Law.
And are grieved also to see others in the time of temptation to fall away.
7. Consider, O Lord, how I love thy Commandments: O quicken me according to thy loving kindness.
And this their love of obedience unto God, moves him the more to quicke and increase their zeal therein.
8. Thy Word is true from everlasting: all the judgments of thy righteousness endure for evermore.
All the acts both of Gods mercy and judgment are according to the equitie of his precepts most righteous and immutable.
The Prayer.
COnsider, O Lord, how adverse to my holy resolves are the continual temptations of my ghostly enemies: and withal remember the love I have to thy Law, and zeal to thine Honour, and deliver me from the one, and quicken me in the other, that I neither swerve from thy Testimonies, or be dull and dead-hearted in my obedience thereunto: Give me a heart to lament both my own, and the transgressions of others: that I may escape that bitter weeping and wailing of the nether hell: from the which, good Lord deliver me, through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ.
The One and Twentieth Part.
Verses,
1. Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy Word.
Stand in awe, and sin not, whatever persecutions may arise from any of the powers either of earth or hell.
2. I am as glad of thy Word: as one that findeth great spoyls.
The spoils of our ghostly enemies are taken through delight in God's Word.
3. As for lies I hate and abhor them: but thy Law do I love.
The love of the Truth, and hatred of all falshood whether in opinion or conversation, are the inseparable qualifications of a righteous Soul.
4. Seven times a day do I praise Thee: because of thy righteous judgment.
The righteousness of God's Laws, and of all his judgments according thereunto, excite the devout Soul to praise him continually.
5. Great is the peace they have who love thy Law: and they are not offended at it.
The fruit of Righteousness is Peace, which cannot be disturbed by whatever may befal for Truth and Righteousness sake.
6. Lord, I have looked for thy saving health: and done after thy Commandments.
He hopes for salvation in vain, who lives not in obedience of Gods most holy Laws,
7. My Soul hath kept thy Testimonies: and loved them exceedingly.
'Tis zealous affections to do whatever God Commands, which product a sincere and constant obedience thereunto.
8. I have kept thy Commandments, and thy Testimonies: for all my ways are before Thee.
Both holy affections and holy actions do flow from the serious consideration of Gods omnipresence.
The Prayer.
MOst blessed Lord, before whom are all the ways of men; let this consideration make me sincere and upright both in all the affections of my heart, and the actions of my life: standing more in awe of sinning against Thee, than to incur the greatest of troubles from all the Princes and Powers of darkness: And grant unto thy servant that peace, which is the fruit of righteousness, even peace and saving health through Jesus Christ.
The Two and Twentieth Part.
Verses,
1. Let my complaint come before Thee, O Lord: give me understanding according to thy Word.
A right understanding of what God commands and promises in his Word, is continually to be beg'd by Prayer.
2. Let my supplication come before Thee: deliver me according to thy Word.
As also to be delivered from all ignorance and error whether in opinion or conversation.
3. My lips shall speak of thy praise: when thou hast taught me thy Statutes.
As the praises of God do best become the obedient and wise: so they misbeseem the lips of sinners.
4. Yea my tongue shall sing of thy Word: for all thy Commandments are righteous.
The equity of Gods Law is the exultation of all holy men, and the constant burden of divine Songs.
5. Let thine hand help me: for I have chosen thy Commandments.
To obey God's Will by the assistance of his Grace, is the choice of every wise man.
6. I have longed for thy saving health, O Lord: and in thy Law is my delight.
He that loves his Souls health, and longs for it, will also love and delight in the Commandments of God, as the way thereunto.
7. O let my Soul live and it shall praise Thee: and thy judgments shall help me.
God is praised by the life of grace and obedience, and such shall be supported by his righteous judgments.
8. I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost: O seek thy servant, for I do not forget thy Commandments.
Though the best men do sometimes err from the sacred paths of God's Commandments, yet they are not withal unmindful of that obedience they owe thereunto.
The Prayer.
BLessed Jesu, who camest into the world to seek and save that which was lost: vouchsafe to seek and save me too often wandring like a lost sheep in the by and too much beaten paths of vanity and iniquity: Bring me home into thy fold, who art the great shepherd and Bishop of our Souls; that being saved with [Page 80]the remnant of the true Israelites, I may sing thy Praises with the celestial quire of holy Angels and Saints for ever saying,
CHAP. V. Of Meditations for the Evening.
THe light of Nature dictates an Evening and a Morning Sacrifice due unto God: not only Jews and Christians, but Heathens and Turks, all men of all perswasions observe it: The holy Patriarch Isaac applied himself to holy Meditations in the Evening. Gen. 24.63. At this time prayed holy David also Ps. 55.18. & 141, 2.. And so did the Son of David our blessed Lord himself Luk. 6.12. And he commands us to do so also, both by precept Mar. 13.35., and by that Parable of the labourers sent out into the vineyard by the Lord thereof, as at other times, so at the last hour of the day: and these were as well paid as the former.
Despair not then (O my Soul) of the forgiveness of thy sin, if thou dost truly repent, though it be in the evening of thy life: but then it concerns [Page 82]thee to be active and industrious in the service of thy Lord, having been all the day of thy former life idle, and negligent therein: And as at other times then, so neglect not to offer up thine evening Sacrifice unto God. for
I.
'Twas in the evening of Time, the blessed Son of God came down from Heaven for the Redemption of the world. If then Christ be a new formed in thee, now and every evening bless God for thy Renovation, and with all joyful exultation say with the blessed mother of our Lord:
St. LUKE I.
Verses,
46. MY Soul doth magnifie the Lord: and my spirit hath rejoyced in God my Saviour.
'Tis the greatest joy of the devout Soul to praise the Lord: my Soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, when my mouth praiseth Thee with joyful lips. Psal. 63 6.
47. For he hath regarded the lowliness of his hand-maiden.
'Twas a great respect our Lord had to the humble and gracious disposition of this blessed Virgin, to humble himself to be made man in her sanctified Womb.
48. For behold from henceforth, all generations shall call me blessed.
Since all the nations of the earth are blessed by the holy Seed of her immaculate body.
49. For he that is mighty hath magnified me: and holy is his Name.
God's Almightiness is most manifested by his mercifulness, and in respect of both, his name is great, wonderful and holy.
50. And his mercy is on them that fear him, throughout all generations.
In every nation he that feareth God, and worketh righteousness is accepted of him. Act. 10.35.
51. He hath shewed strength with his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
By the arm of the Lord is meant the Son of God, Isa. 53.1. the strength of whose wisdom appeared in confounding the fond imaginations of the proud Pharisees and all such as justifie themselves.
52. He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek.
And in casting out the Prince of this world, Joh. 12.31. and all the spirits of pride and vengeance, and in raising up faln man from under the power and tyranny of the Devil and his Angels.
53. He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away.
Such as hunger and thirst after righteousness shall be satisfied: but they who are pure in their own eyes and justifie themselves are rejected: for he came not to call the righteous, in their own conceit, but sinners to Repentance, Mat. 9.13.
54. He remembring his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel: as he promised to our forefather Abraham and his seed for ever.
To all the spiritual Sors of the faithful Abraham, do the promises of God in Christ appertain.
The Prayer.
O Blessed Jesus, the eternal and only begotten Son of God; who for us men and for our Salvation came down from Heaven, and [Page 85]was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and made man: By the merits and mysteries of thy holy Incarnation, and miraculous Birth of a spotless Virgin, I humbly beg a lowly, humble, pure, and virginheart, for 'tis only such a heart thou regardest for thy habitation and abode, and 'tis only such a heart cleaves stedfastly unto thee, by the ardent love, awful fear, and sincere service of thy Sacred Majesty, who livest and reignest with the Father, &c.
The XCVIII. Psalm PARAPHRASED, Being A Thanksgiving for the Redemption of the World by the Son of God.
verse 1 O Sing unto the Lord a new Song: Praise him for the renovation and redemption of the world wherein he hath done marvellous things: even such as the Angels of heaven desire to look into, 1 Pet. 1.12.
verse 2 With his own right hand by his works of righteousness, and with his holy arm the extent of his Piety: He hath gotten himself the victory over the world, the flesh and the Devil, sin, death and hell.
verse 3 The Lord declared his Salvation, which under the Law was shadowed in types and figures, but now under the Gospel his righteousness, whereby he justifies, and saves: He hath openly shewed in the sight of the heathen, not to the Jews only but to the Gentiles also.
verse 4 He hath remembred his mercy in the promise of Salvation, and his truth in the performance of this promise towards the house of Israel, to them was the promise of the Messias: but upon his appearance all the ends of the world have seen the Salvation of our God. And therefore
verse 5 Shew your selves joyful unto the Lord, all ye lands; fince all have seen his Salvation, 'tis very meet and just and our bounden duty, that all should sing, rejoyce and give thanks; for Salvation from eternal death to life everlasting is the greatest cause of joy and thanksgiving.
verse 6 Praise the Lord upon the harp, which mystically represents the heart of man: sing to the harp, open your lips to shew forth his praise, with a Psalm of Thanksgiving, as wherein the praises of God are divinely celebrated.
verse 7 With Trumpets also and Shawms, all kind of musical instruments to elevate the heart, to shew your selves joyful before the Lord the King, who is best pleased with joy, exultation and delight in his service.
verse 8 Let the Sea make a noise, and all that therein is, even all the inhabitants of the Isles of the Sea: the round world and they that dwell therein, they that dwell in the Continent also.
verse 9 Let the floods clap their hands, and let the hills be joyful together before the Lord, both they that dwell in the low valleys, and they that inhabit the hilly countreys have equal cause of joy and thanksgiving unto the Lord of all men and all places: for he is come to judge the earth, to separate the precious from the vile, the elect from the reprobate, which is done in this life by the preaching of the Gospel in truth and purity, and exercising the power of the keys: for thus
verse 10 With righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity, absolving from their sins the penitent and contrite, but binding upon their souls the sins of the obdurate.
'Tis thy duty, O my Soul, as to praise God for the Redemption of the world, so to pray unto him that he would have mercy upon all men, and display the sacred beams of his holy Gospel over all the Nations of the earth, that they may come to the knowledge of Grace and Salvation through Jesus Christ. Pray we therefore for all men and with all Christian people in the words of Gods holy Spirit.
PSALM LXVII.
verse 1 GOD be merciful unto us and bless us: and shew us the light of his Countenance, and be merciful unto us.
verse 2 That thy way may be known upon earth: thy saving health among all nations.
verse 3 Let the people praise thee, O God: yea, let all the people praise thee.
verse 4 O let the nations rejoyce and be glad: for thou shalt judge the folk righteously, and govern the nations upon earth.
verse 5 Let the people praise thee, O God: let all the people praise thee.
verse 6 Then shall the earth bring forth her increase: and God even our own God shall give us his blessing.
verse 7 God shall bless us, and all the ends of the world shall fear him: and with one heart and with one mouth glorifie the Lord, and say,
II.
'Twas at this Hour my blessed Lord having first washed his disciples feet, did institute, consecrate and administer the blessed Sacrament of his most holy body and blood: and the next day at the same hour he was taken down from the Cross.
I have very great reason then at this hour, with all thanksgiving and devotion to commemorate the infinite love of my Redeemer in giving himself to be not only the price of my Redemption by his death upon the Cross, but also to be the food of my Soul in that blessed Sacrament: humbly [Page 91]beseeching his gracious Majesty that the merits of the one may be applied to my Soul in the devout and reverent participation of the other.
But I will not presume to come to thy Table, O merciful Saviour, having not first washed my polluted feet, and the disordered affections of my soul with the tears of godly sorrow: having not by true Repentance taken down the pride of this corruptible flesh, laid aside and abjured all my sins, that so with clean hands, and a pure heart, I may receive the holy Communion of thy precious Body and Blood not to my condemnation, but to the eternal salvat on of my Soul.
O blessed Jesu, Saviour of the world, save me and deliver me from all mine offences; nail them to thy Cross, bury them in thy grave, that they never rise in judgment against me at the last great day.
And O that now upon the remembrance of my dearest Saviours burial in the grave, I could from the bottom of my heart bid adieu to the world, and to all the pomps and vanities [Page 92]of this life, to the assured hopes of the joyes of the life to come.
The XV. Psalm PARAPHRASED.
verse 1 LOrd, who shall dwell in thy Tabernacle, be entitled to the solemn worship of thy house, and continue a true member of thy Church militant here below? or who shall rest upon thy holy hill, be admitted into the rest and felicity of thy Saints in heaven above?
verse 2 Even he that leadeth an uncorrupt life, unspotted of the world, unstained by the flesh, uncorrupted by the Devil: and doth the thing that is right: Beneficence, or to do good, as Innocence to do no evil are equally necessary to Salvation: and speaketh the truth from his heart: whose heart thinketh, and whose mouth speaketh the truth: without which knowledge and profession of the truth, there can be no righteousness either of Innocence, or of Beneficence in the actions of life.
verse 3 He that hath used no deceit in his tongue, nor done evil to his neighbor: who hath neither in his words deceived, nor in his deeds wronged any: and hath not slandered his neighbor, either First, being too credulous to believe an evil report of any, or Secondly, aggravating and making worse the mistakes and miscarriages of others, or Thirdly, blazoning them abroad to his disgrace.
verse 4 He that setteth not by himself, is not conceited of his own worth, or esteem, wisdom or holiness: but is lowly in his own eyes, hath a mean and low opinion of himself, of his deserts, parts and performances: or (as according to another reading) discountenanceth a vile person in his wickedness; and maketh much of them that fear the Lord by commending and giving all respects and encouragement to such.
verse 5 He that sweareth to his neighbour in the promise of any benefit whether by love, or gift, and disappointeth him not, but is as good as his word unto him, though it be to his own hinderance in respect of his present worldly interests.
verse 6 He that hath not given his money upon usury, neither lending, nor giving ought unto any upon the hopes of temporal advantage thereby, forbidden by our Lord, Luk. 6.35 nor taken reward against the Innocent, that will not be fee'd, or bribed to speak, or act any thing against truth and Innocence.
verse 7 Whoso doth these things carefully, conscientiously, constanly, shall never fall from the state of Grace, but pass through that to the state of Glory to rest upon Gods holy hill, or to enjoy eternal rest in the high and holy Heavens, where the Language constantly used, is,
III.
'Twas at this time of the day my Blessed Lord being risen from the dead appeared to two of his Disciples going to Emaus: Luk. 2.13, ad 31. with whom discoursing, and by whom being entertained he was known of them by breaking of bread.
O how good and profitable a thing it is to speak of the holy Jesus with affectionate desires and devotions! but much more effectual are good deeds, than good words. Friendly discourses upon Divine subjects are profitable, but charitable entertainments are more acceptable to the Court of Heaven.
To hear from the blessed mouth of our Lord himself the holy Scriptures expounded, did undoubtedly ravish the minds of these Disciples: but yet their eyes were not opened to know the Lord, till charity enlarged their hearts to invite, nay to compel their fellow traveller to eat bread and lodge with them. Tene hospitem si vis agnoscere Salvatorem, Aug.
'Tis divine Charity that passeth all things for illumination, were my heart throughly infir'd with this Celestial flame, I could not be destitute of the light of Truth; for fire and light, both spiritual, and material are inseparable.
To these hospitable Disciples, our Lord was known in the breaking of bread: and thus he is especially known and entertained also in that [Page 96]Celestial bread of the blessed Eucharist, to the great and endless comfort of every worthy Communicant.
Lord, evermore give us this bread, feed our Souls with thy most precious Body and Blood, as a pledge and assurance to eat bread with Thee, in the Kingdom of God for ever, Amen.
IV.
An evening Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving is due unto thy God, as well as the morning Praise: and a better Sacrifice cannot be offered unto him either evening or morning with the calves of our lips than in the words of the CXLV. Psalm, which is an Epitome of the Praises of God diffused through the whole Book of God, and 'twas therefore one part of the dayly service of God in his Temple: and therefore 'tis most meet it should daily by every good Christian be devoutly used: say then with thy most ardent desires to extol the glory of God:
PSALM CXLV.
verse 1 I Will magnifie thee, O God, my King: and I will praise thy Name for ever and ever.
verse 2 Every day will I give thanks unto thee: and praise thy Name for ever and ever.
verse 3 Great is the Lord, and marvellous worthy to be praised: there is no end of his greatness.
verse 4 One generation shall praise thy works unto another: and declare thy power.
verse 5 As for me, I will be talking of thy worship: thy Glory, thy Praise and wondrous works.
verse 6 So that men shall speak of the might of thy marvellous acts: and I will tell of thy greatness.
verse 7 The memorial of thine abundant kindness shall be shewed: and men shall sing of thy righteousness.
verse 8 The Lord is gracious and merciful: long-suffering, and of great goodness.
verse 9 The Lord is loving unto every man: and his mercy is over all his works.
verse 10 All thy works praise thee, O Lord: and thy Saints give thanks unto thee.
verse 11 They shew the glory of thy Kingdom: and talk of thy power.
verse 12 That thy power, thy glory, and the mightiness of thy Kingdom: might be known unto men.
verse 13 Thy Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom: and thy Dominion endureth throughout all ages.
verse 14 The Lord upholdeth all such as fall: and lifteth up all those that are down.
verse 15 The eyes of all wait upon thee, O Lord: and thou givest them their meat in due season.
verse 16 Thou openest thine hand: and fillest all things living with plenteousness.
verse 17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways: and holy in all his works.
verse 18 The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him: yea, all such as call upon him faithfully.
verse 19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry and will help them.
verse 20 The Lord preserveth all them that love him: but scattereth abroad all the ungodly.
verse 21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord: and let all flesh give thanks unto his holy Name for ever and ever.
An Evening Hymn.
Amen.
CHAP. VI. Of Bed-time Meditations.
I.
I Am Alpha and Omega, Rev. 1.8. Is. 44.6. the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last, saith the Lord: from the Lord I have my Beginning, and he is the end of my Being.
'Tis therefore meet and just, and thy bounden duty, as to begin so to end the day with the service of thy God: to make the outgoings of the Morning and of the Evening to praise him, who hath made the Night, and the Day.
The day is thine, Ps. 79.17,and the night is thine: Thou hast prepared the light and the Sun.
Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: Thou hast made the Summer, 18.and the Winter.
II.
'Twas at this hour my dear Redeemer was in a bitter Agony, Luk. 22.44. Luk. 23.53, &c. and sweat great drops of Blood under the pressure of the sins of men, and out of a sad apprehension of his ensuing sufferings for the same.
'Twas at this hour also, our Lord was laid in the Grave, and lamented by the women that followed him to his Death.
Now then let tears distill from thine eyes in the devout remembrance of that precious Blood, which flowed from thy Saviours veins: Thy miscarriages and offences this very day, of omission and commission; of ignorance and knowingly; of negligence, and wilfully; of thought and desire, word and deed; if they be not washed away in this Blood of thy Lord, they will involve thee in blackness of darkness for ever, and in the horrid sleep of death from whence there is no awaking. O then cast them out of thy heart by a plenary particular Confession of all thy this dayes enormities, wash away [Page 103]the filth and pollution of them with the tears of godly sorrow, which being intermixt with Faith in the Blood of Christ, makes an healing salve for thy sin-sick Soul.
O blessed Jesu, Saviour of the world, save me and deliver me from all mine offences: nail them to thy Cross; bury them in thy Grave; let them never rise up in judgment against me to my condemnation at the last great day.
And O that now upon the Religious contemplation of my Saviours burial I could bid adieu to this wicked world, and to all the pomps and vanities thereof: that being delivered from the iniquities of this sinful life, I may escape the bitter wailing and weeping of the wicked in the life to come.
PSALMS For the Compline or Bed-time.
The IV. Psalm Paraphrased.
verse 1 O God, the donor, preserver, and rewarder of my righteousness, thou hast set me at liberty from the bondage of sin, and of Satan, when I was in trouble through the tyranny they exercised over me: have mercy upon me, and hearken unto my prayer, that I be no more involved in that sad condition, which it highly concerns all men to avoid.
verse 2 O ye sons of men, of the old Adam, how long will ye blaspheme mine honour, advancing the creature above your Creator, and have such pleasure in vanity, take such delight in what is empty, vain, and satisfies not, and seek after leasing, pursuing the lying vanities of this wicked world?
verse 3 Know this for your instruction, that the Lord hath chosen to himself the man that is godly, hath selected [Page 105]from among the children of men, certain vessels of honour devoted to his service: and were I so happy as to be one of these elect people of God, holy and separate from the vanities of the world, I could not doubt but when I call upon the Lord he will hear me.
verse 4 Stand in awe and sin not, or fear the Lord and depart from evil, and that you may do so, Commune with your own heart, examine what thoughts, what desires do harbour in every corner of your heart, in your Chamber, and be still, in the silence of the night recollect the actions of the day silently and closely that ye may do it exactly: and having cleansed your hearts,
verse 5 Offer unto God the sacrifice of righteousness, vow unto him a new obedience to his holy Will and Commandments, which is the rule of righteousness, and if you perform this vow you may with some assurance put your trust in the Lord, especially for spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: nor greedily desiring with most men the good things of this life.
verse 6 There be many that say, who will shew us any good? meaning worldly goods: but the man that is godly doth say,
verse 7 Lord lift thou up the light of thy Countenance upon us: by the Lord, (saith one) is meant the Father, by his Countenance the Son, and by the light of his Countenance the Holy Ghost, whose light of Grace and Truth embeams our souls to the hopes of the eternal light of Glory.
verse 8 Thou hast put gladness in mine heart: Cordial joy is a beam displayed from the light of God's Countenance: since the time their corn and wine and oyl increased: such increase adds nothing to the true joy of the heart, which consists in being rich towards God, not to the world.
verse 9 I will lay me down in peace and take my rest: being confident of thy grace and favor I shall sleep securely, not fearing the worst of evils this night can befal: for 'tis thou, Lord, only that makest me dwell in safety: to whom be all
PSALM XXXI. To the Seventh Verse.
verse 1 IN thee, O Lord, as a powerful protector, have I put my trust, that my hopes in thee may prevent my fears, against which I also pray, let me never be put to confusion, not eternally, though I temporally suffer for my due correction: deliver me in thy righteousness, not for mine, but for thine own righteousness sake, who hast promised deliverance to them that trust in thee.
verse 2 Bow down thy ear of mercy, and hear me, being bowed down in misery, and the proper object of mercy: make haste to deliver me: Come holy Jesus my Redeemer, come quickly to deliver me, that I fail not in my temptations and troubles.
verse 3 And be thou my strong rock that I may stand firm against every shock of temptation, and my house of defence, like a house built upon a rock, sure is my defence, whilst my sure trust is in thee, that thou mayst save me: [Page 108]In no other do I seek for Salvation,
verse 4 For thou art my strong rock and my castle, which renders me inexpugnable by all the assaults of my adversaries: Be thou also my guide, that I neither presume too much upon thy favour, nor yet despair of thy mercy, but betwixt these extreams lead me in the right way for thy names sake, not for any desert in me, but that thy name may be glorified by me.
verse 5 Draw me out of that net of inveigling temptations, which they, my ghostly adversaries, have privily laid for me, suggesting evil under the shew and pretence of what is good: for thou art my strength against which no powers of earth or hell can prevail.
verse 6 Into thy hands I commend my spirit: So prayed my blessed Redeemer, when he gave up the ghost, and so will I ever say to him who dyed for me. Into thy hands who art mighty to save, I commend my spirit in all the concerns of its health and Salvation. For thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, thou God of Truth. O suffer [Page 109]not that Soul to perish which thou so dearly purchased.
PSALM XCI. To be used at this time by the direction of St. Basil.
verse 1 WHoso dwelleth, and flitteth not, but continues under the defence of the most high in a holy and humble confidence of the protection of the most high God of Heaven: shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty, be continually protected by him who hath all might and power to defend: And therefore,
verse 2 I will say not with my lips only, but with an affectionate heart unto [Page 110]the Lord, who seeth and inclineth to the secret desires of the Soul: Thou art my hope, even all the happiness I hope for: and my strong hold against all my weaknesses and defects: my God in him will I trust: not presuming upon any power that is either in or from my self, or from any other: doubt not then, O my Soul;
verse 3 For he shall deliver thee from the snare of the hunter, that great pursuer of Souls unto death, the Devil: and from the noysom pestilence, the pestilential tongues of scoffers, detractors, slanderers, &c.
verse 4 He shall defend thee under his wings of merciful protection, and thou shalt be safe under his feathers, as the hen gathereth her chickens under her feathered wings, when any storm or danger appears: His faithfulness and truth in keeping promise with his people shall be thy shield and buckler against all the fiery darts of the Devil.
verse 5 Thou shalt not be afraid for any terror by night, of any terrifying dreams, or black illusions suggested by the spirits of darkness: nor for the arrow that flyeth by day, more [Page 111]open, and day-time assaults of the Devil.
verse 6 For the Pestilence that walketh in darkness, such diseases as secretly and in the night season do unperceivably infect either the soul, or body: nor for the sickness that destroyeth in the noon-day, which do more openly and in the day-time seise and consume this mortal life.
verse 7 A thousand shall fall beside thee, and ten thousand at thy right hand, many shall fall away into destruction, that presume to be numbred among the Sheep of Christ on his right hand, but it shall not come nigh thee, thou shalt not thus fall either into sin or condemnation.
verse 8 Yea with thine eyes shalt thou behold, and see the reward of the ungodly, to thine unspeakable consolation, not for their distress, but that thou hast escaped the same recompense of evil works.
verse 9 For thou, Lord, art my hope, and whilst he is so, O my Soul, thou hast set thy house of defence very high, for 'tis setled in him who dwelleth in the high and holy Heavens: and therefore thou maist be confident that,
verse 10 There shall no evil either of sin that is mortal, or of punishment that is eternal, happen unto thee, casually befall thee, but through thine own fault: neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling, any temporal evils to afflict thee but for thy good.
verse 11 For he shall give his Angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways: Are they not all ministring Spirits sent forth to minister to them that shall be heirs of Salvation? Heb. 1.14.
verse 12 They shall bear thee in their hands, be ready at hand powerfully to assist thee, that thou hurt not thy foot against a stone, stumble and fall not upon any rock of offence.
verse 13 Thou shalt go upon the Lyon and Adder: the young Lyon and the Dragon-shalt thou tread under thy feet. All the apostate crew of evil angels, with all their poysonous infusions, thou shalt overcome and subdue: so the Lord promises also, Luk. 10.19. Behold I give you power to tread on Serpents and Scorpions — And the reason is added, in the name of the Lord, saying,
verse 14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: All things work together for good to them that love God, Rom. 8.28. I will set him up above his enemies round about: because he hath known my name, his knowledge being enspirited with love and obedience.
verse 15 He shall call upon me: to have a heart to pray rightly and reverently is a great blessing: and I will hear him, so as to grant the requests of such as call upon me faithfully: yea, I am with him in trouble, and when his faith and patience, humility and obedience is throughly tryed, I will deliver him out of all his troubles, and bring him to honour, promote him in the land of the living, for,
verse 16 With long life will I satisfie him, a life replete with all fulness of satisfaction, and shew him my Salvation, or manifest my self unto him, in whose presence is fulness of joy —
O remember me according to the favour thou bearest unto thy people: and visit me with thy Salvation.
That I may see the felicity of thy chosen, and rejoyce in the gladness of thy people, and give thanks with thine inheritance, who cease not day and night, saying,
THE SONG of SIMEON, Which is said by the Church at this hour, as wherein we commend our selves unto the Lord: and desire we may both sleep, and dye in Peace.
1. Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace,Peace in life and death, sleeping and waking is the portion of the Lords servant alone: for there is no peace, saith the Lord, to the wicked, Isa. 48.according to thy Word;
'Twas Gods promise he should not dye till he had seen the Messias in the flesh.
2. For mine eyes have seen thy Salvation.
The Saviour of the world is seen as Man only with the eyes of Flesh, but as both God and Man by the eye of Faith.
3. Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people:
God was made man, that the eyes of all flesh might see in whom to believe, and whom to follow as the light of the world.
4. To be a light to lighten the GentilesWho sate in darkness and in the shadow of death.: and to be the glory of thy people Israel.
The greatest of all the wonderful mercies shewed by God to his old people the Israelites, was, that of them Christ was born, and exhibited in the flesh.
The Prayer.
LIghten my darkness, O Lord, whose mysterious Incarnation, and Nativity is the Light of the Gentiles, and the Glory of Israel: and by thy great mercy defend me from all the perils and dangers of this night. O blessed Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world, grant me thy Peace, even peace with God, and peace with man; peace of Conscience, at home upon Earth, and the peace of the long home of Heaven: Such a peace the world cannot give; 'tis only attainable from thee, and by thee, and through thee the Prince of peace, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost one God, &c.
IN the order of our Church Devotions, after this Song of Simeon, follows the Creed: for since the end of our Faith is the Salvation of our Souls, it is very fit then that we both begin and end the day in the Confession of the Faith: And as the Church in publick, so every devout Christian in private, who resolves to dye in the true Faith, will not go to sleep without it: but will say before he go to bed, not slightly and customarily, but reverently and understandingly,
I Believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, &c.
All this I stedfastly believe: into this Faith I was baptized, and in this Faith 'tis the hearty desire of my Soul, and shall be my constant endeavour to continue unto my lifes end.
Grant me, blessed Lord, in the profession of this Faith, to war a good warfare, and to finish my course, that after this mortal life is ended, I may [Page 118]receive from the author,2 Tim. 4.7, 8.and finisher of our Faith, the crown of righteousness, which is laid up, I believe, and hope, for me, as for all those that love his appearing.
After these or other Bed-time Meditations, your usual Prayers, Confessions and Thanksgivings, relating to the day past, Meditate
As you Ʋndress your self.
This Body of mine I am now striping of its clothing, is but the clothing of my Soul, that's the man in me, my body is but the garment my soul doth wear.
And 'tis not long ere I shall put off this body of flesh, as I now do the garments which cover its nakedness: And that I may do this in peace, and to my future happiness, my soul must be stript, and put off concerning the former conversation the old man,Eph. 4.21, 22.which is corrupt according to deceitful lusts, and put on that new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Put on the Lord Jesus: Ro. 13.14. That's thy clothing, that's thy ornament, O my Soul, to obey the doctrine, and follow the example of the holy Jesus: making no provision to fulfil the lusts of the flesh: For, Gal. 6.8. he that soweth to the flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption: but he that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
When you lay aside your Garments.
Assist me, blessed Lord, wholly and altogether to cast away the works of darkness, and to put on the armor of Light: that when my Body shall lye down in its bed of darkness, my Soul may pass into the Regions of Light to live and reign with Thee for ever.
When you go into Bed.
I will lay me down in peace and take my rest, for 'tis Thou only that makest me dwell in safety.
Or, II.
In the Name of my Lord Jesus Christ, who was Crucified on the Cross, and laid in the Grave for me, I lay me down to rest, and to sleep: He vouchsafe to bless me, save and defend me, sleeping and waking: And may I evermore, blessed Jesus, rest in thy Peace, live in thy Fear, dye in thy Favour, and be raised by thy power unto life everlasting.
Amen.
CHAP. VII. Of Meditations and Psalms for the Night season.
I.
'TWas in the Night the Angel of the Lord destroyed all the first-born in the Land of Egypt: Exod. 12.29. Wisd. 18.14, 15. 2 Kin. 19.35. And the host of Senacherib that besieged Hierusalem: Now then arise from thy bed of sloth and drowsiness, O my Soul; begging of God with humble Prayers, Heb. 1.14. that those Celestial Spirits who are sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of Salvation, and more particularly that thy guardian Angel may both guide and protect thee, that no destroying Angel, no terror of the night, no pestilence that walketh in darkness, no fiery darts of the Devil, no arrows of Temptation, by any filthy dreams, or noysome lusts, may infect and taint thy innocence, or disturb thy peace in the Lord.
For ye were sometimes darkness, Eph. 5.8.but now are ye light in the Lord: walk therefore as children of the light.
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness,ver. 11.but rather reprove them.
O blessed Father of Lights, Jam. 1.17. with whom is no variableness nor shadow of turning; shew the light of thy Countenance upon thy servant, and save me for thy mercies sake.
II.
'Tis in the Night we generally believe the Son of man shall come to judge both the quick and the dead: Mat. 25.6. Mar. 13.36, 37. and he hath commanded thee to watch for his coming, that he find thee not sleeping: remembring that his coming shall be in flaming fire, rendring vengeance to them that obey not his Gospel, whereof this is a part, watch and pray: confirmed by his own example, who continued all night in prayer unto God: by the example of holy David frequently at his prayers in the night: Luk. 6.12. Ps 6. & 63 & 119. Isa. 26.9. of the Prophet Isaiah, With my soul have I desired thee in the night, yea with my spirit within me will I seek [Page 123]thee early: and of the Prophet Jeremiah. Arise,Lam. 2.19.cry out in the Night in the beginning of the watches, pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord.
Thy heart may now most opportunely, most intensely, most freely and fully be poured out unto the Lord, whilst the cares and businesses of the day distract thee not: whilst no external objects, or tumultuous noise disturb thy wandring imaginations, to withdraw thy heart from divine, and celestial Contemplations.
III.
'Twas in the deep silence of the Night thy blessed Saviour was born. And the Shepherds who kept watch over their flock, Luk. 2.7, 8 had therefore the happiness to receive the first tydings of Salvation by an Angel from Heaven. 'Tis now very seasonable to Meditate upon those great [Page 124]mysteries of Salvation, the Incarnation and Birth of thy Redeemer, the Holiness and Innocence of his Life, his whole nights Devotions and Prayers, the many conspiracies against his life, which he purposely assumed to lay down for the sins of the world.
'Twas in the night (as being the cursed deeds of darkness) that thy Lord was apprehended in the Garden, and then bound with Cords of violence, and by rude hands drag'd, and hurry'd to be arraigned as a Malefactor, falsly accused, spit upon and buffeted, examined with intents of blood, judged and condemned: say then now in the words of the holy Spirit of God,
PSALM II.
Verses,
1. WHy do the heathen so furiously rage together: and why do the people imagine a vain thing?
By the heathen is meant Infidels and such as be without the pale of the Church: By the People Hereticks and Schismaticks within.
2. The Kings of the earth stand up: and the Rulers take counsel together against the Lord, and against his anointed: This Prophecie is remembred to be fulfilled by the Conspiracies, and practises of the Chiefs both of the Jews and Romans against Christ, Acts 4.25, 26, 27. Saying,
3. Let us break their bonds asunder: and cast away their cords from us.
By Bonds are meant the Laws of Christ, and by Cords those promises, threats, exhortations, examples— which draw our hearts to obey his Laws.
4. He that dwelleth in Heaven will laugh them to scorn: the Lord will have them in derision.
The neglect, and contempt whereof God is said to deride, as seeing it to be the high-way to destruction.
5. Then shall he speak unto them is his wrath: and vex them in his sore displeasure.
For when he shall call such proud contemners to account, it shall be not in mercy, but in wrath, to their eternal vexation and torment.
6. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Sion.
'Tis not the utmost malice of men or Devils can weaken the power or frustrate the Government of Christ in his Church.
7. I will preach the Law whereof the Lord hath said unto me: g Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.
Not hinder the publication of his Gospel received from God;
Founded in the eternal and temporal Son-ship of Christ, who was both begotten from all eternity as the Son of God, and born in fulness of Time as the Son of Man.
8. Desire of me and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance: and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
In respect of his Godhead he is Lord of the whole earth: in respect of his manhood he obtained by intercession as Mediator betwixt God and Man, that all people both Jews and Gentiles be called to the state of Salvation through him.
9. Thou shalt bruise them with a rod of iron: and break them in pieces like a Potters vessel.
Whom he governs by subduing and mortifying their rebel lusts both sensual, and worldly.
10. Be wise now therefore O ye Kings: be learned ye that are Judges of the earth.
Which is that true wisdom, which chiefly all that are in authority should learn, as by whose power and example others may be conrerted.
11. Serve the Lord with fear: and rejoyce unto him with reverence.
Both fear and joy are necessary qualifications in Religious duties, that we neither be affrighted with the difficulty, nor puft up with the consolation that attends his service.
12. Kiss the Son lest he be angry, and so ye perish from the right way: (if his wrath be kindled, yea but a little) blessed are they that put their trust in him.
There is a Kiss both of Love and Honour, and of Obedience, the which in all respects is due to our Redeemer, the neglect whereof is the way to perish by his wrath, as to obey him and trust in him is the way of true blessedness.
The Prayer.
O Blessed Jesus, in Thee have I put my trust: let me never perish from the right way of that love and obedience I owe to thy Sacred Majesty: and let all the Nations of the earth submit to thy Sceptre of Righteousness, that they perish not in thy wrath, but may inherit the blessings of them that put their trust in Thee, who art only Saviour and Redeemer. Amen.
IV. Meditations for the Night.
THe Angels of Heaven rest not day and night crying, Holy, holy Lord God of Hosts. And if thou desirest to serve God upon earth according to the pattern of his worship in Heaven, then let not thy sensual inclinations to sleep and ease, defraud thee of the happiness to joyn in the night as well as in the day with the Celestial quire in the praises of God.
For if this be done cordially, chearfully and constantly in this life, there will be no question of being admitted into that blessed society to glorifie God in a higher degree of perfection and joy in Heaven.
PSALM VIII. Which is believed to be divinely composed, for the praise of God in the night, because therein is mention of the Moon and of the Stars, and not of the Sun.
Verses,
1. O Lord our Governour, The Lord is Governour of all men, and of all things by his power and providence, but especially of his Church and people by his Righteousness and Truth.how excellent is thy Name in all the world? The glory of God's name is celebrated in all the parts of the world, more especially in the Heaven above.Thou hast set thy glory above the Heavens.
And yet 'tis far above what those most intelligent Beings, the Angels of Heaven, are capable to behold, or conceive.
2. Out of the mouths of very babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength, because of thine enemies: that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
The most imperfect Beings have in them strength of argument sufficient to maintain both the providence of God over all; and the d spensation of Grace, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, against the most bitter enemies of either: witness the cry of little children, Mat. 21.26. and the conversion of the World by illiterate Fisher-men.
3. For I will consider the Heavens, the work of thy Fingers: the Moon and the Stars which thou hast ordained.
To consider the excellent workmanship, influences and revolutions of the heavens, and all the hosts thereof ordained for the service of man, and the highest heaven also for his everlasting abode, enwraps the devout soul with admiration of the love of God to man.
4. Lord, what is man that thou art so mindful of him: and the son of man that thou visitest him?
Especially that frail sinful man should be so regarded by the great Lord of heaven, as to be visited by him in the likeness of humane flesh.
5. Thou madest him lower than the Angels: to crown him with glory and worship:
Though man be lower than the Angels above, yet is he adorned with eminence above all earthly things: and with respect, subjection and obedience from them.
6. Thou makest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands: thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet:
God having given him power over all sublunary creatures, and made to submit to his Command and service:
7. All Sheep and Oxen, yea and the beasts of the field,
8. The Fowls of the Air, and the Fishes of the Sea, and whatsoever walketh through the paths of the Seas.
Even all the inhabitants of the air, and of the Sea, and of the dry land.
9. O Lord our Governour, how excellent is thy Name in all the world!
And therefore with Angels and Archangels, and all the Company of Heaven and Earth, I will magnifie God's holy Name, and praise him, saying,
V. Meditations for the Night.
HOw aptly doth the darkness of the night represent the gloomy shades of death; wherein all those lightsome Consolations, which this vain world affords, are buried in the grave of dark Oblivion? That's the land where all things are forgotten. Ps. 88.12.
The living know that they shall die, but the dead know not any thing: Eccl. 9.5. and Sleep is the image, the brother of Death; in many respects they resemble each other: for
1. In both thou art blind, deaf, dumb; only Death is a longer and more perfect privation of sense.
2. Rev. 14.13 In both thou art at rest from thy labours, and thy works follow thee; being often represented to thy fancy by way of Dream; but more fully and clearly to thy Conscience, when thou shalt awake to Judgment.
3. Both are temporary: For as thou dost dayly awake from thy natural Sleep, and arise from thy Bed, upon the approach of the day: So certainly shalt thou awake from the sleep of death, and be raised out of thy bed of clay (the Grave) when the day of the Lord shall come: And since that day will come as a Thief in the night, 2 Pet. 3.10 Psal. 119.148.let mine eyes prevent the night (O Lord) that I may be occupied in thy words.
4. As Sleep is the brother of Death, so Death is the sister of Sin: And this also in Holy Writ is called a Sleep: Eph. 5.14. 1 Cor. 15.34.Awake thou that sleepest—Awake to Righteousness and sin not.
'Tis fabled that Somnus tempting Palinurus, when he fell asleep, tumbled him into the Sea, and drowned him: And if the sleep of Death find thee securely sleeping in any known Sin unrepented, he that hath the power of death will hurl thee headlong into the bottomless Abyss of death eternal. Ps. 13.6. O lighten mine eyes, [Page 135]O Lord, that I sleep not in death: lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him.
Grant me, blessed Lord, Aug. med. so to order govern, and end my life, that death may seize me but as a sleep; and this sleep may be in rest: this rest in Security, and Security in eternity,
Amen.
PSALMS For the Night season.
PSAL. XCII.
Verses,
1. IT is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord: and to sing praises unto thy Name, O most Highest.
To praise the Lord, is good in both the kinds of goodness, viz. of Profit and Pleasure.
2. To tell of thy loving kindness betimes in the morning: and of thy truth in the night season.
In the morning which represents the rising prosperity of man, it is good to give thanks for the loving kindness of the Lord, and in the night of adversity also to praise him for his truth and righteousness at all times and in all conditions.
3. Ʋpon an Instrument of ten strings and upon the Lute: upon a loud Instrument and the Harp.
To employ both our hearts and voices as the loud instruments of his praise.
4. For thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy works: And I will rejoyce in giving praise for the operation of thy hands.
The works of God do then truly delight the Souls of the righteous, when in them they both see the goodness, wisdom— of the Lord, and praise his name that made them.
5. O Lord, how glorious are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep.
The pious Soul is ravisht with love and admiration in contemplation of Gods works, as excelling in glory and depth of wisdom her frail capacity.
6. An unwise man doth not well consider this: and a fool doth not understand it.
And 'tis the extreamest of folly, not so to consider the superexcellency of the divine wisdom in his works as to see, and love him in them, and for them.
7. When the ungodly are green as the grass, and when all the workers of wickedness do flourish: then shall they be destroyed for ever: but thou, Lord, art the most highest for evermore.
The wicked that do not this, though they may flourish for a time, yet their punishment proceeding from the decree of the most high God shall be everlasting.
8. For lo thine enemies, O Lord, lo thine enemies shall perish: and all the workers of wickedness shall be destroyed.
and unavoidable, because all wicked persons are the enemies of God.
9. But mine horn shall be exalted like the horn of an Ʋnicorn: for I am anointed with fresh oyl.
But the strength and vigour of the righteous shall encrease through the Unction of the Holy One, or the Graces of Gods Spirit;
10. Mine eye also shall see his lust upon his enemies: and mine ear shall hear his desire of the wicked that rise up against me.
Whereby all the sinful lusts of the flesh are master'd, and all the assaults of ghostly enemies are subdued.
11. The righteous shall flourish like a Palm tree: and shall spread abroad like a Cedar in Libanus.
Like a Palm the righteous man sinks not under the weight of afflictions, or violence of temptations, but grows the more in Grace thereby.
12. Such as be planted in the house of the Lord: shall flourish in the courts of the house of our God.
Whilst they are and continue to be true members of Christs Church against which the gates of hell shall not prevail.
13. They also shall bring forth more fruit in their age: and shall be fat and well liking.
They shall increase in Grace as in years, being fruitful in all good works, acceptable unto God through Jesus Christ.
14. That they may shew how true the Lord my strength is: and that there is no unrighteousness in him.
And such happy people do truly praise the Lord, both with their lips and in their lives: as from whom all their strength in Grace and goodness is derived.
The Prayer.
I Know, O Lord, that 'tis a thing both joyful and profitable, and my bounden duty to give thee thanks both night and day, in prosperity and adversity: for the great mercy and truth of thy promises is manifested at all times, and in all conditions: Let me never forget to meditate in thy works: and though I cannot fathom the depth of thy wisdom in them, grant me the more to [Page 140]love and admire thy transcendent perfections appearing in all the operations of thy hands, works of Wonder: for and in the which I humbly beg, I may continually praise thy Name, not only in word, but also in deed and in truth, and that as the night of my life cometh on, and I grow more full in dayes, so I may be also more fruitful in all good works to the glory of thy Name through Jesus Christ.
PSALM CXXXIV. To be used in the Night, as wherein the people of God excite each other to the praise of God in their night Assemblies in his house.
Verses,
1. BEhold, now praise the Lord: all ye servants of the Lord.
Divine praise being the highest of Religious duties, becomes the lips of such only as are devoted to the service of God.
2. Ye that by night stand in the house of the Lord Who both night and day are intent upon this high and holy employment.: in the Courts of the house of our God.
But especially such as be ordained to the administration of Holy Offices in the House of God. Mystically: God hath 3 Courts, through which we must enter into his House, the Church; and be entitled to his Praise: 1 Faith, which is the outer Court: 2 Hope gives a nearer admission into his presence: 3 Charity unites our hearts unto God and inflames them to his praise.
3. Lift up your hands in the Sanctuary: and praise the Lord.
Not by our words only, but by the works of our hands God must be glorified, Mat. 5.16. And to do this worthily,
4. The Lord that made heaven and earth: give the blessing out of Sion.
Is a blessing that descends from above, but is conveyed by the ministery of the Church.
The Prayer.
O Lord, who hast made Heaven and Earth for the service of man, and man more immediately to serve Thee: Give unto all thy servants Grace, and to me also, to lift up holy hands, and pure hearts to praise thee night and day in the Courts of thy house, and in all the works of our hands to glorifie thy Name: And to this end let thy blessing through the ministery of thy Church descend upon us in this life, that we may inherit the blessings of thy Church triumphant in heaven through Jesus Christ.
The CXXXIX. Psalm PARAPHRASED,
Verse 1 O Lord, the Righteous God, who tryest the very hearts and reins: Thou hast searched me out, through all the windings and turnings of my deceitful heart, and known me in all the most hidden, and inmost of my thoughts and desires: Thou knowest my down-sitting, both withwhat company, and when alone, both with what intentions, and what affections; and my up-rising, with what guilt, or innocence I arise from every of my actions: in all which thou understandest my thoughts long before, even before they be conceived in my mind, as knowing my inclinations to entertain such or such thoughts.
verse 2 Thou art about my path, wherein I walk, and about my bed, wherein I rest; and spiest out all my ways, seeing both the equity and iniquity both of my affections and actions, in all my ways both of rest and motion, ease and labour.
verse 3 For lo there is not a word in my tongue but thou knowest it altogether; both, First, Its original conception in my mind; Secondly, My intention in its utterance with my mouth; Thirdly, Its good or bad influence upon others: O set a watch over my mouth, and guard the door of my lips, that I offend not in my tongue.
Thou hast fashioned me behind and before, moulded me throughout into this goodly shape and proportion of parts whereof I consist: and laid thine hand upon me, supported me in this being thou hast given me.
verse 5 Such knowledge as appears both in my Creation and preservation is too wonderful and excellent for me, I cannot attain unto it: it excells the reach of my apprehension even to wonder and astonishment.
verse 6 Whither then shall I go from thy Spirit which filleth the world, and containeth all things? or whither shall I go from thy presence, who art every where by thy Essence, Power and Presence both within, and without the world?
verse 7 If I climb up into heaven thou art there in highest Majesty and Glory: [Page 145] if I go down to hell, thou art there also: in the nether hell by the execution of thy righteous judgments, and in the grave also, for that very dust whereinto the dead bodies of men are dissolved, is preserved from annihilation by thy essential presence therewithal.
verse 8 If I take the wings of the morning, which even in a moment overspreads and embeams the face of the whole earth, and be conveyed as swift as lightning to remain in the utmost parts of the Sea, beyond all the habitable parts of this inferior world.
verse 9 Even there thine hand of powerful influence shall lead me: I should not otherwise live and move, and have a being: And thy right hand which renders to every man according to his works shall hold me to give an account of all my wayes and doings. I will not therefore assay to fly from thee, though justly displeased for my sins; but rather upon the wings of true Repentance, I will fly unto thee: even into the arms of thy unspeakable mercy, through the merits of my dearest Saviour.
verse 10 If I say, through the deceitful imaginations of my darkned heart, [Page 146] surely the darkness, which hideth all things from the sight of men, shall cover me from the sight of God also: I shall soon be convinced of the folly of such a gross conceit, for then shall my night, the most secret of my thoughts, and closest deeds of darkness be turned unto day, be as clearly seen as in the noon day Sun.
verse 11 Yea the darkness, that which is such to us, is no darkness with thee; the darkness and light to thee are both alike, who seest all things in the brightness of thine own transcendent Essence, without the mediation of material light.
verse 12 For my reins are thine, my innate and most secret lusts and pronenesses to evil escape not thy scrutiny, and view: Thou hast covered me in my mothers womb, by the influence of thy Power and Providence I was in the materials of my being preserved from abortion.
verse 13 I will give thanks unto thee as for my being, so also that I am fearfully and wonderfully made, my Formation in my mothers womb being a prodigious piece of workmanship: and indeed marvellous are all thy works [Page 147]both of Creation, Preservation —
verse 14 My bones though hid from the eyes of men, under the covering of flesh and skin, are not hid from thee, for they are framed by thee, though I be made secretly; both invisible, and inconceivable is the way of my Formation, and fashioned like some curious Embroidery, or Net-work through the variety of my spreading Veins, Arteries, Sinews, Ligaments, beneath in the earth or in my mothers womb, than the which the earth affords not a more secret shop or work-house.
verse 15 Thine eyes of Prescience, Power and Providence did see my substance yet being unperfect, decree me to be a living man, when I was yet but an unshapen Embryo: and in thy Book were all my members written, every joynt, sinew, vein, were delineated as in a Book by thy hand of power, goodness and wisdom.
verse 16 Which day by day were fashioned, grew up by degrees into a perfect shape, and proportion of parts, when as yet a little space before there was none of them, they did not exist in nature, or were no other than a [Page 148]deformed Lump of unclean Seed.
verse 17 How dear and precious, yea mysterious and profound are thy counsels unto me, O God, when I consider with what an unfathomed depth of wisdom, mercy and justice thou dost order all things in heaven and earth: O how great is the sum of them, the number, variety, use, and beauty of them cannot be sum'd up.
verse 18 If I tell them, I undertake an impossible task, for they are more in number than the sand upon the Sea shore which cannot be numbred: and therefore when I awake up I am present with thee in contemplation of thy marvellous works, and of thy good providence over me, both sleeping and waking.
verse 19 Wilt thou not slay the wicked, O God, who forget thee, and the wondrous works which thou hast done? Depart from me ye blood-thirsty men: I will not communicate with you in your sinful desires, and doings, which tend to the murder and everlasting destruction of immortal Souls.
verse 20 For they speak unrighteously against thee: If they speak of thee, [Page 149]O Lord, 'tis nor aright and as becometh the honour of thy Name: And thine enemies take thy Name in vain. And therefore they are thine enemies, because thy Name which is great, wonderful and holy, is profaned by them.
verse 21 Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? I should not otherwise love thee, O Lord, did I not hate all them, not in their persons, but in their sinful actions, whereby they are hateful and offensive to thy Majesty. And am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? Their rebellion and disobedience is a great grief, and a wound unto my spirit.
verse 22 Yea, I hate them right sore, as though they were mine enemies, even because they are thine enemies, through the iniquity of their doings: And herin,
verse 23 Try me, O God, as the silver is tryed, when the dross is purged thence: that I may both love mine enemies as they are mine, but hate them as thine: and seek out the ground of my heart, purge out that Core of corruption from whence all [Page 150]unlawful love, and hatred issues: Prove me, and examine my thoughts: Purifie my Soul in all her imaginations, affections and intentions, that no dregs of sinful pollution cleave thereunto.
verse 24 Look well if there be any way of wickedness in me: Assist me by thy all-seeing Spirit to look into mine heart, and diligently to search, and try my ways, lest in any respect I swerve from thy most holy Laws: And lead me in the way everlasting; the way that leads to the full enjoyment of thee, my God, the fountain of everlasting Life and Happiness, that without distraction or cessation, I may ascribe
CHAP. VIII. Of Meditations fitted to every Dayes ordinary Actions, and several Dispositions of the Soul of men.
When you go forth out of your House or Chamber, Say,
THe Lord preserve my going out, and my coming in: Ps. 121.8. from this time forth for evermone.
He shall give his Angels charge over thee: Ps. 91.11, to keep thee in all thy wayes:
In their hands they shall bear thee, 12. lest at any time thou hurt thy foot against a stone.
O hold thou up my goings in thy paths: that my footsteps slip not. Ps. 17.5.
Hold thou up my goings in thy paths: that I may dayly perform my Vows.
Lead me forth in thy Truth, Ps. 25.4. and learn me: for Thou art the God of my Salvation, in Thee hath been my hope all the day long.
As you walk or travel by the way.
I am the Way, Joh. 14.6.the Truth, and the Life, saith my blessed Redeemer: The Way I must follow; the Truth I must believe; the Life I must hope for: the Way which leadeth me; the Truth which teacheth me; and the Life whereunto he bringeth me: the Way is undefiled, the Truth is infallible, and the Life without end.
Blessed are they that are undefiled in this Way, and walk in this Truth, that leads to life everlasting.
As you stand upon some high Place.
Thy mercy, Ps. 36.5, O Lord, reacheth unto the heavens: and thy faithfulness unto the clouds.
Thy righteousness standeth like the strong mountains: 6, and thy judgments are like the great deep.
Thou, 7, Lord, shalt save both man and beast, how excellent is thy mercy, [Page 153]O God! and the children of men shall put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
They shall be satisfied with the plenteousness of thy House: 8. and thou shalt give them drink of thy pleasures, as out of the river.
For with thee is the Well of Life, 9. and in thy Light shall we see Light: even the light of joy unspeakable and glorious in the light of thy Countenance.
As you behold pleasant Grounds, and variety of Objects.
O Lord, Ps 104.24. how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches:
So is the great, and wide Sea also: 25. wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts,
These wait all upon thee, 26. that thou mayst give them meat in due season.
When thou givest it them, 27. they gather it: and when thou openest there hand, they are filled with good.
When thou hidest thy face they are troubled: 28, when thou takest away their breath they dye, and are turned again to their dust.
When thou lettest thy breath go forth, 29, they shall be made: and thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
The glorious Majesty of the Lord shall endure for ever: 31, the Lord shall rejoyce in his works.
The earth shall tremble at the looks of Him: 32, if he but touch the hills they shall smoke.
I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: 33, I will praise my God while I have my being.
And so shall my words please him: 34, my joy shall be in the Lord.
As for sinners they shall be consumed out of the earth: 35. and the ungodly shall come to an end: Praise thou the Lord, O my Soul, praise the Lord.
When you hear or see any thing extraordinary.
Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty: Rev. 15.3, just and true are thy ways, thou King of Saints.
Who will not fear thee, O Lord, 4. and glorifie thy Name? For thou only art holy.
Blessed be the Lord God, Ps. 72.18, even the God of Israel, who only doth wondrous things.
And blessed be the name of his Majesty for ever: 19. And all the earth shall be filled with his Majesty, Amen, Amen.
When you hear the Clock, or see the hour of the Day.
How fast doth hour after hour come on! time hasting to be swallowed up of Eternity.
Man is like a thing of nought: Ps. 144.4. his time passeth away like a shadow.
Our days upon earth are as a shadow: Ps. 90.9, and we bring our years to an end as a tale that is told.
So teach me to number my days: 12. that I may apply my self unto wisdom: wisely providing for that long day, wherein the Sun of Righteousness shall shine without setting.
When you go to Read or Study.
Study to shew thy self approved unto God, 2 Tim. 2.15. a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the truth.
Open thou mine eyes, Ps. 119. O Lord, that I may see the wondrous things of thy Law, in the true sence and meaning of thy holy Spirit therein, being not deceived by any false glosses, and misinterpretations of men.
Grant, blessed Lord, that what I Read or Meditate may conduce to a more clear understanding of thy Will: Jam. 1.25. and that I may confirm the same by the holiness of my Life: being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of thy work.
Being wearied therewith.
Much study is a weariness to the flesh: Eccl. 12.12 And of making Books there is no end.
Turn again unto thy rest, Ps. 116.17. O my Soul, return to converse with thy God, who is the center in whom alone the immortal Soul finds rest: Hearken unto the sweet refreshing call of thy dear Lord and Saviour, saying,
Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, Mat. 11.18 and I will refresh you.
Behold, I come, holy Jesus, relying upon this, and that other gracious saying, S. Joh. 16.33. In me ye shall have peace, but in the world ye have tribulation: but be of good cheer I have overcome the world.
Lord, let me never be weary in well-doing, but when I may do better: and prevent me in all my doings with thy most gracious favour, and further me with thy continual help, that in all my Prayers and Meditations, studies and endeavours begun, continued and ended in thee, I may [Page 158]glorifie thy holy Name: and finally obtain everlasting life, through Jesus Christ.
When you go about any worldly Employment.
God shall bring every work into judgment, Eccl. 12.14. with every secret thing: whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
O let not mine heart be inclined to any evil thing: Ps. 141.4. let me not be occupied in ungodly works, with the men that work wickedness: neither let me be ensnared with their delights.
Deliver me, 2 Tim. 4.18. O Lord, from every evil work, and stablish me in every good word and work.
Blessed Jesus, let all my works be accepted through the merits of thy sacred and renowned actions, and the imperfections thereof pardoned through Faith in thy blood, Amen.
When you are sad, or discontented.
When I am in heaviness I will think upon God: Ps. 77.3. when my heart is vexed I will complain, even unto God will I make my moan.
Why art thou so full of heaviness, Ps. 42.6, O my Soul: and why art thou so disquieted within me?
Put thy trust in God: 7. for I will yet give him thanks for the help of his Countenance.
Put thy trust in God and be doing good: Ps. 37.3. whilst I do the thing that is good, and abstain from evil, I may reasonably hope (upon my devout Prayers) for the return of God's favour unto me: and that the light of his Countenance shall dispel all my darksom imaginations, all my gloomy fears, and the perturbations of my Spirit.
Return, return, O Lord God of hosts, and cause thy face to shine upon thy servant: O shew the light of thy Countenance, and I shall be whole.
When you sit idle.
Why stand you here all the day idle? Mar. 20.6. the Devil who tempteth unto all other sins is himself tempted by idleness.
Watch ye therefore, Mat. 13.36. for you know not when the master of the house cometh: at Even, or at Mid-night, or at the Cock-crowing, or in the Morning.
Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. 37.
Upon wandring, wanton Eyes.
A Wicked eye is an evil thing, Ecclus. 31.13. and what is created more wicked than an Eye? and therefore it weepeth upon every occasion.
How dare I look up unto Heaven, which is the throne of Gods Purity, with those eyes that have been set upon vanity and iniquity?
A wise mans eyes are in his head: Eccl. 2.14. but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
I have made a Covenant with mine eyes, not to look upon a maid. Job 31, 1.
For whosoever looketh upon a woman to lust after her, Mat. 5.28. hath already committed adultery with her in his heart.
But mine eyes shall be ever looking unto the Lord: Ps. 25.15. for he shall pluck my feet out of the net; my affections from being ensnared with unlawful objects.
When you are tempted to any Sin.
Meditat. I.
Avoid Satan, thou wicked and unclean spirit avoid: Thou hast no part or lot in me.
I am solemnly devoted to the service of my God, and my Jesus, and thy sworn adversary. I have solemnly abjured thee, and all thy works: and must not now yield to any of thine unclean suggestions.
Be merciful unto me, Ps. 57.1. O God, be merciful unto me, for my Soul trusteth in Thee, and under the shadow of thy Wings shall be my refuge until this tyranny be overpast.
I will call unto the most high God: 2. even to the God that shall perform the cause I have in hand.
He shall send from Heaven and save me: 3. from the reproof of him that would eat me up.
God shall send forth his mercy and truth: 4. my Soul is among Lyons: the Devil and his Angels have too great a hank upon my Soul.
But my trust is in the tender mercy of my God: therefore I shall not fall.
Meditat. II.
When I am tempted to any evil, I complain of the Devil: but my self is the greatest Devil to my Soul, whilst I do not deny my self the fulfilling of its irrational appetites.
All the forces wherewith the enemy fights against my Soul are within me: 'Tis from those warring members within, they are both raised, armed and maintained.
But whensoever I call upon God, Ps. 56.9, then shall mine enemies be put to flight: this I know, for God is on my side.
In Gods word will I rejoice: 10. in the Lords word will I comfort me.
Yea in God have I put my trust: 11. I will not fear what man (or Devil) can do unto me.
Meditat. III. Being Tempted, Say,
'Tis the Lords cause I must now maintain, 'tis his quarrel I must fight: for the grand enemy of God and Man, would now rob God of his Honour, and of that Obedience which is due to his most holy Laws: and I being Tempted am thereby challenged to be the Lords Champion.
But I will not trust in my Bow, Ps. 44.7, 'tis not my Sword that shall save me.
But it is thou, Lord, 8. that savest us from our enemies: and puttest them to confusion that hate us.
Arise, Ps. 74.23, O God, maintain thine own cause: remember how the foolish man blasphemeth thee dayly.
Forget not the voice of thine enemies: 24. the presumption of them that hate thee encreaseth ever more and more.
Meditat. IV. Ʋpon Temptations.
The victory over the Devil, and all his temptations were easily obtained, could I but once get the mastery over those lusts, which war against the Soul.
In which spiritual warfare, the banner under which I must fight, is the Cross of my Redeemer: by the vertue whereof all my intestine foes may be vanquisht in the Crucifixion of them: and the old man with all his mutinous troops of deceivable lusts be subdued, and led captive in the Chains of holy Mortification.
O blessed Jesus, the Captain of my Salvation, strengthen and encourage me, manfully to fight under thy banner against all my ghostly adversaries: [Page 165]And let thy Grace so prevent and follow me, that I may follow thee by the Cross to the Crown, through the School of Grace to the Throne of Glory. Amen.
Upon the Prevailing of any Temptation.
I will say unto the God of my strength, Ps. 42.11. why hast thou forgotten me: and why go I thus heavily, while the enemy oppresseth me?
My bones are smitten asunder as with a Sword; 12, while mine enemies that trouble me cast me in the teeth.
Namely, 13. while they say daily unto me: where is now thy God?
Have mercy upon me, O God, Ps. 41.10. have mercy upon me: raise thou me up again and I shall reward them: being more careful to resist the Devil, and all his suggestions.
Forsake me not, O Lord my God: Ps. 38. ult. be not thou far from me.
Haste thee to help me, O Lord God of my Salvation.
Having escaped a Temptation.
The snares of death compassed me round about: Ps. 18.3. and the overflowings of ungodliness made me afraid.
The pains of hell came about me: 4. the snares of death overtook me.
If the Lord himself had not been on my side I may well now say: Ps. 124.1, if the Lord himself had not been on my side,
The waters of Temptation had drowned me, 3. and the stream had gone over my Soul.
Yea the deep waters of the proud had gone even over my Soul: 4.
But praised be the Lord who hath not given me over for a prey unto their teeth.
My Soul is escaped even as a Bird out of the snare of the Fowler: 5. the snare is broken and I am delivered.
Our help standeth in the Name of the Lord: 6. who hath made heaven and earth: To whom be all Glory.
When you Hunger, or Thirst.
I.
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: Mat. 5.6. for they shall be satisfied. They shall receive such a satisfaction, as the most delicious of bodily meats and drinks cannot give.
He that drinketh of this water shall thirst again: Joh. 4.13. but whoso shall drink of the water that I shall give him, shall never thirst.
But the water that I shall give him, 14. shall be in him a Well of living water springing up to everlasting life.
Lord, evermore give me this water that I thirst not.
'Tis the Graces of thy holy Spirit I humbly beg: which alone can satisfie the vast desires of my Soul.
II.
Labour not for the meat that perisheth: Joh. 6.27. but labour for that meat [Page 168]which endureth to everlasting life: which the son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed: sent into the world to be the incorruptible Food of our immortal Souls.
This is the Bread that came down from Heaven, verse 50 that a man might eat thereof and not dye: Lord, evermore give me this Bread? 'Tis thy blessed self, Holy Jesus, I humbly beg to be the Food of my Soul; in Grace here, in Glory hereafter.
III.
The Souls of just men made perfect hunger not, thirst not, but are as the Angels in Heaven, who neither eat, nor drink as we mortals do upon earth: And yet they feast continually, being satisfied with the blissful presence of God.
'Tis thy imperfection and infelicity (O my Soul) to desire corporal meats and drinks, to sustain thy frail tabernacle of flesh.
But blessed be the Lord my God, who hath not made me like the beasts that perish, capable only of a sensual [Page 169]happiness in sowing to the flesh from whence only corruption is reaped; but of a felicity perfect, solid, everlasting in the beatifical vision and fruition of his divine goodness: in whose presence there is fulness of Joy: and at whose right hand there is pleasure for evermore.
After you have Eaten, or Drunk.
I.
I have now allayed the importunate craving of my appetite; and my body is satisfied with material food: but nothing can satisfie my Soul but to behold the presence of God in righteousness.
Awaken, blessed Lord, awaken up my Soul after thine own likeness: for that only can give me a true and lasting satisfaction, Ps. 17 ult. when I awake up after thy likeness I shall be satisfied with it.
II.
Praise the Lord, Ps. 103.1, O my Soul, and all that is within me praise his holy Name.
Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things: 4. making thee young and lusty as the Eagle.
O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness: Ps. 107.8, and declate the wonders that he doth for the children of men.
For he satisfieth the empty Soul: 9. and filleth the hungry Soul with goodness.
But I am less than the least of all the mercies shewed unto thy servant, unworthy to have my heart filled with food and gladress, having too frequently abused thy good creatures of meats and drinks to Riot and Excess therein.
O satisfie me with thy mercy, Ps. 19.14. and that soon; so shall I rejoyce and be glad all the days of my life.
When you are asked an Alms being able to Relieve.
I.
How much am I bound to the good providence of my heavenly Father who hath raised my condition in this world to be of the number of those that abound, and not of them that want, Act. 20.35 since 'tis more blessed to give than to receive?
Blessed Lord, vouchsafe to give me a heart full of Compassion, an eye full of pity, and a hand open and bountiful, according to my ability towards my poor needy Brethren: 2 Cor. 9.6 He that soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly: and he that soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully.
II.
I have not deserved to enjoy more worldly wealth, than this poor person who now begs to be supplied out of my store: But such is the great goodness of my God towards me, [Page 172]that he hath not only given me Food and Rayment, but also wherewithal to express my gratitude and love to God by my ready relief of my Christian Brethren. Blessed be God, who hath not only given me ability, but this opportunity also, to lay up in store for my self a good foundation against the time to come, that I may lay hold on eternal life.
When you hear others evil spoken of.
Lord, if I be not as bad, or worse than these persons I now hear traduced, I have the more reason to praise thee, who by thy grace and goodness hast preserved me from such miscarriages.
But did I truly reflect upon mine own misdemeanors I should have little reason to intend the reproaches of others.
Lord, who shall dwell in thy Tabernacle, or who shall rest upon thy holy hill?
He that hath used no deceit in his tongue: Ps. 15 3. nor done evil to his neighbour, [Page 173]and hath not slandered his neighbour.
When you hear your self reproached.
As for me I was even as a deaf man, and heard not: Ps. 38, 13, and as one that is dumb, that doth not open his mouth.
I became as one that heareth not: 14. and in whose mouth are no reproofs.
I will patiently bear my reproach because I have sin'd against the Lord.
The Disciple is not above his Master, nor the servant above his Lord. Mat 10.25
It is enough for the Disciple to be as his Master, 26. and the servant as his Lord: if they have called the master of the house, Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his houshold?
For what glory is it, 1 Pet. 2.20 if when you be buffeted for your faults you take it patiently?
But if when you do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
For even hereunto were ye called: 21, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that we should follow his steps.
Who did no sin, 22, neither was any guile found in his mouth.
Who when he was reviled, 23. reviled not again, when he suffered he threatned not, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.
When you are crost in any your worldly desires, or interests.
Whatsoever is brought upon thee, take chearfully; Ecclus. 2.4 and be patient when thou art changed to a low estate.
For gold is tried in the fire, 5. and acceptable men in the furnace of adversity.
Blessed Jesus, since thy kingdom is not of this world, let not me, thy devoted servant and subject, either desire or hope to be happy upon earth: but grant me so to love what thou commandest, and desire what thou dost promise, that among the sundry and manifold changes of the world, my heart may surely there be [Page 175]fixed where true joyes are to be found.
When you suffer several kinds of Affliction.
This, O Lord, is the portion of thy people: and I know, O Lord, and do verily believe 'tis of thy goodness thou hast caused me to be troubled.
But far, very far short are my sufferings to those of thy blessed Apostle, professing of himself, 2 Cor. 11.23, In labours abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths often.
Of the Jews, five times received I forty stripes save one. 24,
Thrice was I beaten with rods: 25,once was I stoned: thrice I suffered shipwrack, a night and day I have been in the deep.
In journeyings often, 26,in perils of waters, in perils of Robbers, in perils by my own Countreymen, in perils by the Heathen, in perils in the City, in perils in the Wilderness, in perils in the Sea, in perils among false Brethren.
In weariness and painfulness, 27.in watching often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness — Such a heap of troubles betiding an innocent, active blessed man, may surely move me to bear patiently my smaller proportion of affliction, Ro. 8.28. remembring that all things work together for good to them that love God.
When you suffer any bodily Pain.
Both this, and the greatest of the pains my corruptible fiesh can possibly suffer, are but as a Hea-biting to the least of the pains of the nether hell: And these my sins have justly deserved: but, blessed Lord, let me have my punishment in this life, and spare, O spare me in the life to come.
I am not master of my self, except in patience I possess my Soul, in spite of what flesh can do unto me.
A furious man cannot be justified, Ecclus. 1.22, or escape punishment: for the sway of his fury shall be his destruction.
A patient man will bear for a time: 23, and afterwards joy shall spring up unto him.
He will hide his words for a time: 24. and the lips of many shall declare his wisdom.
I know, O Lord, that thou dost not willingly afflict the Sons of men: S. Paul had his thorn in the flesh, 2 Cor. 12.77 but 'twas to prevent the swelling of his heart with spiritual pride and vainglory: And I humbly beg, O Lord, that my present pain in body, may through my patient sufferance conduce to the better health of my Soul.
And O that I were as feelingly sensible of the many sores and diseases of my Soul, as I am now of my bodily pains: I should then more affectionately and with greater devotion apply my self to the great Physician both of Soul and Body.
Being sensible of your want of Knowledge and Wisdom.
Who will set scourges over my thoughts: Ecclus. 23.3, 2, and the discipline of wisdom [Page 178]over my heart? that they spare me not for mine ignorances, and pass not by my sins.
Lest mine ignorances increase, 3. and my sins abound to my destruction.
That it may please thee, O Lord, to forgive me all my negligences and ignorances, and to endue me with the Grace of thy Holy Spirit, to amend my life according to thy Word.
O God of my Fathers, Wisd. 9.1, 4, and Lord of all mercy, give me wisdom that fitteth by thy Throne: and reject me not from among thy Children.
O send her out of thy holy Heavens: 10. and from the Throne of thy Glory: that being present she may labour with me: that I may know what is pleasing unto thee.
Though I have the gift of Prophecie, 1 Cor. 13.2. and understand all mysteries, and have all knowledge: and though I have all Faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not Charity it profiteth me nothing.
Being dull and averse from holy Duties.
How long wilt thou forget me, Psal. 13.1 O Lord, for ever? how long wilt thon hide thy face from me?
How long shall I seek counsel in my Soul, 2, and be so vexed in my heart? how long shall mine enemies triumph over me?
Consider and hear me, O Lord, 3, my God: lighten mine eyes that I sleep not in death.
Lest mine enemy say, 4, I have prevailed against him: for if I be cast down they that trouble me will rejoyce at it.
But my trust is in thy mercy: 5, and my heart is joyful in thy Salvation.
I will sing of the Lord, 6, because he hath dealt so lovingly with me: yea I will praise the Name of the Lord the most high.
Upon the sense of your Sins: and the mispending of your Time.
When I call to mind the dayes of my vanity, and the sins of my younger and wanton years: when I commune with mine own heart, and search out my spirits.
When I remember how little a portion of my Time hath been employed in the service of my God: and how much hath been spent in the service of Sin and Satan, and the fulfilling of mine own unruly Lusts.
When I consider how small, or no treasure of good works I have laid up in Heaven, and what a mass of sinful works I have treasured up against the day of wrath; my spirit is wounded within me, and my heart within me is desolate: my flesh trembleth for fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy Judgments.
Call to remembrance, Psal. 25.5, O Lord, thy tender mercies: and thy loving kindness which have been ever of old.
Oh remember not the sins and offences of my youth, nor of my riper years: 6. O deal not with me after my sins, neither reward me after mine iniquities: but according to thy mercy think thou upon me, O Lord, for thy goodness.
And as thou tellest my flittings: Ps. 56.8. so put my tears into thy bottle: that as my sins, so my sorrows for sin may be noted in thy Book.
Assist me to redeem that precious time, which I have too much misspent in vanity and iniquity.
Oh spare me a little, Ps 39.13. that I may recover my strength: before I go hence and be no more seen.
Holy Resolves of future Holiness.
Unto thee, O God, Ps. 56.12, will I pay my vows: unto thee will I give thanks.
For thou hast delivered my Soul from death, and my feet from falling: 13. that I may walk before God in the light of the living: that enlightned with divine Grace, I may enjoy the light of life immortal before God for ever.
Teach me thy way, Psal. 86.11 O Lord, and I will walk in thy Truth: O knit my heart unto thee, that I may fear thy Name.
I will thank thee, 12, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and will praise thy Name for evermore.
For great is thy mercy toward me: 13. and thou hast delivered my Soul from the nethermost hell: adding day after day unto my life, and space for repentance unto my days.
O God my heart is ready, Ps. 108.1. my heart is ready: I will sing and give praise unto the Lord, Rom. 2.4. for the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and long-suffering, leading me to repentance.
And my heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready to do thy will, and to keep thy Commandments: only strengthen me with thy divine Grace to do what thou Commandest, and then Command whatsoever pleaseth thee.
My heart is ready both to serve thee in all the duties of holy Religion, and to serve my neighbour also, in the duties of Innocence and Beneficence, and to watch over myself [Page 183]against all irrational desires: that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, I may now for the future, Tit. 2.12, live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.
Looking for that blessed hope, 13. and the glorious appearance of the great God, and of our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Holy Breathings of the Soul after God.
As the Hart hunted and wearied panteth after the water brooks for refuge and refreshment: Psal. 42.1. so my Soul in her weary pilgrimage pursued by her ghostly enemies, longeth after thee, O God, in whom the weary findeth rest and the persecuted succour and support.
My Soul is a thirst for God, 2.even for the living God the fountain of living waters: when shall I come to appear before the presence of God?
Oh my God, when will that happy hour come, wherein I shall be fatisfied with thy presence? wherein I shall praise thee according to my duty [Page 184]and desire? wherein thou wilt be all in all to my Soul? When I awake up after thy likeness, I shall be satisfied with it: till then, I must not hope to enjoy any real, solid contentment. For,
Whom have I in heaven but thee? Ps. 73.24,and there is none upon earth, that I defire in comparison of thee: There is none in heaven or earth that can satisfie the desires of my Soul, which being stampt after the image of God, and capable of her Creator, cannot be filled with the greatest sufficiency of all created Beings.
My heart and my flesh faileth: 25. my flesh will soon wither, and fail to be the habit tion of my Soul, and my heart will be also swallowed up of sorrow and despair, but that God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
II.
O God, Psal. 63.1.thou art my God, my God, and my All: all that I am, and all that I have, and all that I hope to be; and therefore, early will I seek thee: in the morning of the day, in the [Page 185]morning of my life, in the morning or light of divine Grace; for 'tis thereby I am excited both early and late to seek thee.
My Soul thirsteth for thee, 2,my flesh also longeth after thee: my flesh, that being in subjection to the Spirit, both Soul and Body may rejoyce in thee, in whom alone true joy and satisfaction is attainable: for I am here in a barren and dry land, where no water is: such is the wilderness of this world, it affords no waters of refreshment to satisfie the desires of the immortal Soul.
Thus have I waited for thee in holiness. 3, And O that I could wait for thee, and wait upon thee, with such separate affections from all sensuality and earthiness, that I might behold thy power which is chiefly manifested in shewing mercy and pity: and thy glory, even the Glory of thy Grace and Favour.
For thy loving kindness is better than the life it self: 4, without thy loving kindness, O my God, my life of nature is but a living death, and my life of Grace with the hopes of the life of Glory are but the glimpses [Page 186]and scattered raies of thy loving kindness; and therefore my lips shall praise thee, and this also is an effect of thy loving kindness, that my heart dictates to my lips to praise thy Name.
Blessed is the people, Ps. 89.16, O Lord that can rejoyce in thee: they shall walk in the light of thy Countenance.
Their delight shall be daily in thy Name: 17, and in thy righteousness shall they make their boast.
For thou art the glory of their strength: 18, and in thy loving kindness thou shalt lift up our horns.
For the Lord is our defence: 19. the holy one of Israel is our King.
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, from everlasting and world without end: and let all the people say, Amen: even so Amen.
MEDITATIONS Of Fasting and Almsgiving to be practised with holy Prayer and Meditation.
THat my Prayers and Meditations may ascend into Heaven, and be there treasur'd up to my comfort in the day of my account, 'tis necessary that the Christian duties of Fasting and Almsgiving be frequently intermixed; for these are the Two Wings whereupon Holy Prayer is mounted into Heaven, and graciously accepted in the presence of God.
These Three are those spiritual Sacrifices acceptable unto God by Jesus Christ, 1 Pet. 2.5. whereby every sincerely devout Christian as a member of the holy mystical Priesthood, sacrificeth all that he is, and all that he has unto God, from whom he hath received all. Heb. 13.15.16. Ro. 12.1. Phil. 4.18. His Soul is poured forth by Prayer: his Body is sacrificed by Fasting: and his Goods are offered by Almsgiving.
We have no more to give; and not in some considerable proportion to give them unto God, is to rob him of that tribute which is due unto him, as an acknowledgment that all we are, and all we do possess is held from him in Capite, as the chief Lord of all.
To pretend that all these Christian duties are implied, and may be supplied through the fulness of Faith in Christ, is a false and mistaken notion of the holy and true Christian Faith, which both Commends and Commands, not the aiery empty notions, but the real performance of all these Religious duties.
Our blessed Lord, in his heavenly Sermon on the Mount, joyns these together, and we may not without danger to our Souls presume to part them, or vainly conceive that any one without the other will be accepted of God: but being all sincerely practised as our Lord directs, Mat. 6.1, 5.16. we shall then as he Commands, lay up for our selves treasure in Heaven, where are neither moth nor rust. ver. 20.
Thus devout Cornelius sent up such a plentiful treasure into Heaven, Act. 10.2, 3. & v. 30. as brought down thence one of those Celestial Spirits for his guidance and direction in the ways of life,
Holy Prayer is that whip which drives the Devil and all his Temptations out of the Temple of the heart, leaving it to the possession of the Holy Jesus: and Fasting is as that Scope or Besom which sweeps and keeps clean this spiritual Temple of the Lord: Mar. 9.29 by both conjoyned, the strongest Devil is master'd and ejected: Prayer is as the Chain which tyes up Satan, and by Fasting the Chain is strengthned and made to hold.
But a Three-fold Cord is not easily broken: if with your Prayers and Fastings you conjoyn the Christian acts of holy Charity also: a Chain of these several links composed, will not only tye up the Devil, that his temptations shall not reach to hurt your Soul, but also secretly bind the hands of the Almighty, that they be not stretched out for the punishment of your by-past Transgressions: for Charity shall cover a multitude of sins. 1 Pet. 4.8.
Let not the lust of the flesh, or the lust of thine eyes so bewitch thee (O my Soul) as to rob thy God of what is due unto Him, both from thy Body and Estate.
Whilst thou courtest thy God with Prayers alone, thou servest him with what doth cost thee nothing; nothing but the labour of thy lips: 'Tis my self, my whole self the Lord requires with my Prayers: my Soul in its devoutest affections; my Body in the mortification of all its exorbitant Lusts; my Goods in the relief of my wanting Brethren: otherwise my Prayers will flag and grovel here below, when they want these spiritual Wings whereupon to mount to the Throne of Grace to find Mercy and to obtain Grace in the time of need.
MEDITATIONS Upon Unity in the Publick Worship of God.
1 SUch as be truly members of Christs mystical body, The holy Catholick Church, do conceive that they ought to be unanimous in the service of God, as the only way upon earth to partake of the benefits of the Communion of Saints.
2 That we should all joyn in Prayers unto God after one way, and one manner is not only Commanded by our Lord, Mat. 6.9. but also in the use of the same words, Luk. 11.2. whereunto also we are admonished, Rom. 15.6. that ye may with one mind, and with one mouth glorifie God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
3 'Tis observable by sad experience, that variety of Prayers in Publick by Ministers of the same Church, hath bred and so doth still foment variety in opinions: and various opinions in [Page 192]Religion have bred such a contrariety of affections as hath dissolved all the bonds of Christian Charity.
4 Under the sad pressure of this Schism, we have a long time groan'd, and been brought even to the last gasp of exspiration: nor can we hope to have the still bleeding wounds of our Divisions healed (whatever other remedies may be prescribed) till waving that fondness which most men have for private Prayers in a Publick Congregation, we do all joyn with Reverence and Devotion in those Holy Prayers, and divinely inspired Praises of God, which are prescribed, and have been practised in the Church of Christ in all the Ages thereof.
5 We cannot reasonably imagine that our various and multitudinous private Prayers, in Publick do conduce to the more pleasing of God, who requires no such service from us, and cannot be pleased with such Prayers as are breaches of our solemn promises when ordained Ministers of the Church: no alas, such prayers [Page 193]are not to please God but to please men, to tickle the itching Ears of men of corrupt minds: and 'tis the scratching of these Ears that hath brought such a scab upon the Church, as hath fester'd, and eaten into her bowels, and endanger'd the very life and being thereof.
6 We all profess to worship one God in Trinity, and this Trinity in Unity; but this we do not, nay this we cannot do without Unity and Unanimity and Uniformity in our divine Worship: but this Unity is destroyed by dividing from that Sound and Orthodox Worship which the Church of Christ exhibits to her Lord: whilst each man advances his own private conceptions in Prayer above, if not in opposition to the publick commanded Forms.
7 God whose very Being is Unity, is the Author and great lover of Unity, especially in the Worship of his divine Majesty: and the Devil is the author and great promoter of all Division: 'tis his very Being as he is a Devil, for he became so, by dividing [Page 194]from the Church of God, viz. from the Church which is now Triumphant in Heaven: and therefore his Instruments they are, who either in Doctrine or Worship, divide from the true Church of Christ here Militant upon Earth.
The CXXXIV. Psalm PARAPHRASED.
verse 1 BEhold how good and joyful a thing it is, both profitable and pleasant, for brethren, Sons of one God the Father, and of one Church the Mother, to dwell together in Ʋnity, in the house of God to joyn as members of the same mystical body, in the profession of the same Doctrine, and Practice of the same Worship.
verse 2 'Tis like the oyntment, which being compos'd of many rich perfumes, sent forth a most sweet odour: fitly representing that sweetness of joy and complacerce, which flows from the Union of many hearts and voices in the service of God:
Ʋpon the head, which went down [Page 195]to the beard, even Aarons beard: Aaron was a type of Christ, and the oyntment upon his head, typified the spiritual Unction of Christ our head, Psal. 45.7. Heb. 1.9. which Unction of the Spirit from him descended upon his Disciples, mystically signified by the High Priests beard: and from thence went down to the skirts of his clothing, even to all the other parts and members of his mystical body: for of his fulness we have all received Grace for Grace, Joh. 1.16.
verse 3 As the dew of Hermon which fell on the hill of Sion: as both these hills become fruitful by the dew of heaven descending on them: so the sons of Sion, or people of God, become fruitful in the gifts and graces of Gods holy Spirit, through their Unity and Unanimity in the devout service of God: for whilst they glorifie God with one heart, and with one mouth, after one way, and one manner, they mightily prevail with the one only God, to dwell amongst them according to his promise, 2 Cor. 6.16. and so it follows.
verse 4 For there the Lord promised his blessing, in all assemblies thus united in the service of his Majesty, Mat. 18.19, 20. which is undoubtedly the way to life for evermore, which is the height and perfection of all the blessings of God: in the Quire of Heaven, to sing with concordant hearts and voices,
The Prayer.
O God who art the author of Peace, and lover of Concord, who makest men to be of one mind in a house, and art best pleased with the unanimous agreement of thy people in thy House of Prayer: that it may please thee to rebuke that foul spirit of discord and division intermixt amongst us, which dictates the building of Babel by the confusion of Languages in our addresses to the Throne of Grace: And vouchsafe to send the Holy Ghost the Spirit of love and unity, to unite our hearts [Page 197]and tongues in the publick Service of thy Sacred Majesty: make us all as brethren to dwell together in Unity, to joyn in our Prayers in one way, and after one manner, to glorifie thee with one heart, and with one mouth, that the celestial dew of thy blessing may descend upon us so plentifully, to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit, that we may reap in time of harvest life for evermore through Jesus Christ.
MEDITATIONS, WITH PSALMS Illustrated or Paraphras'd, Upon the Four last Things: I. Death, II. Judgment, III. Hell, IV. Heaven.
By the Author of the PRACTICAL CHRISTIAN.
LONDON, Printed for Richard Royston, Bookseller to His most Sacred Majesty. 1675.
OF The Four last Things in GENERAL.
THe clean Beast which was only commanded to be offered in Sacrifice unto God under the Law, was such as chewed the Gud, Lev. 11.3.and divided the Hoof, mystically representing the qualifications of the clean and pure Christian, who is himself that spiritual Sacrifice God requireth under the Gospel. Ro. 12.1. 1 Pet. 2.4, 5.
By chewing the Cud, holy and divine Meditation is intimated: by dividing the Hoof, may be mystically meant the last end of man; which is a dividing asunder the Soul from the Body by Death, and a separation of the holy from the wicked by Judgment, which shall assign to either their everlasting habitations either in Heaven or in Hell.
Of the Four last things S. Bernard saith, that First, Death is of all [Page 202]thidgs to flesh and blood most formidable.
Secondly, Judgment, than the which there is nothing more terrible and dreadful.
Thirdly, Hell, the Torments whereof are insupportable.
Fourthly, Heaven, the Joys whereof are beyond apprehension most Blissful and Ravishing.
And these subjects of holy Meditation would prove the most prevalent to turn all persons professing Christianity, from all the errors of their ways, whether in opinion or conversation, would they but seriously consider the punishments that attend the erroneous and sinful, and the blessings wherewith all the Orthodox and Holy shall be Crowned everlastingly.
The wicked shall be turned into hell, Ps. 9.17.and all the people that forget God.
But the Souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, Wisd. 3.1.and there shall no torment touch them.
They that have done good, Ath. cr. Mat. 25. ult.shall go into everlasting life: and they that have done evil into everlasting fire.
This Faith is professed by many, but by few believed with the heart: for he that cordially believes these principles of his Religion, will stand in awe, and sin not; he will not dare in defiance of this Faith, knowingly and willingly to transgress the Laws of the great Majesty of Heaven: and 'tis such a Faith attended by Fear, and this Fear by Care and Caution, that must preserve the Soul from the Torments, and entitle the same to the Joyes of the other world.
O that they were wise, Deut. 32.29.that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end.
It is the greatest and most comprehensive of all the parts of true wisdom, so to consider as rightly to prepare for our latter end: for to end well is the sum of all our hopes, and of all the happiness we can hope for.
MEDITAT. I.
HAve mercy upon me, Ps. 9.13,O God, and consider the trouble I suffer of them that hate me, my spirit is troubled for the daily incursions of my ghostly enemies: Thou that liftest me up from the gates of death: Such is this frail mortal life, all the ways whereof are vanity and iniquity, even gates leading to death eternal. From the which I humbly beg to be raised up, and exalted by thy right hand.
That I may shew all thy praises within the ports of the daughter of Sion: 14. glorifie thee with thy Church Triumphant in Heaven: I will rejoyce in thy Salvation: to be thus lifted up and sav'd, is a joy unspeakable and glorious.
Remember me, Ps. 106.4,O Lord, according to the favour thou bearest unto thy people, and visit me with thy Salvation.
That I may see the felicity of thy chosen, 5.and rejoyce in the gladness of thy people: and give thanks with thine inheritance.
MEDITAT. II. Of the Shortness and Frailty of this present Life.
MAn that is born of a woman is of few days, Job 14.1,and full of trouble.
He cometh forth like a Flower, 2.and is cut down: he fleeth as a shadow, and continueth not — In the midst of life we be in death, whilst every day we live is one day nearer to the end of life.
For what is your life? Jam. 4.14.'tis even a vapour that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
For all flesh is grass, 1 Pet. 1.24and all the glory of man, as the flowers of grass: the grass withereth, and the flower fadeth —
Not to consider this shortness and frailty of humane life, is to make my life yet more short and frail.
Lord, make me to know mine end, and the number of my days, that I may be certified how long I have to live: that the length of my days is of the [Page 206]shortest measure: for behold thou hast made my days as a span — Verily every man living is altogether vanity: The most high and mighty, the most honourable and wealthy are not exempt from this character: for Honours, Riches, Friends, all the Delights of the Sons of men, with all the Pomp and Pleasure, and power of the world, depending upon the Shortness and frailty of humane life, renders every man in all that he is, in all that he has, and in all that he hopes for, in this world, a vanity of vanities, an universal vanity.
St. Augustines Meditations on this Subject.
THe time of my pilgrimage here upon earth is tedious, wearisome—for this is a miserable life, a frail life, an uncertain life, a bitter life, a laborious life, a sinful life: 'tis the mistress of error and sinfulness, and the handmaid to death and hell—
This life is rather to be called death than life, as being through [Page 207]the whole course thereof, a passing from Life to Death: for whilst we pass from Infancy to Childhood, from thence to Manhood, and so to Old age, every such change in Life is but a passage to Death.
There is no condition in this life certain and setled; now we are glad and anon sad; now we are well, and anonsick; now we are at ease, and anon in pain; now we laugh, and anon weep; now in hunger and thirst, anon in fulness and excess: in honour and dishonour, in wealth and poverty, in heats and colds, in evil report and good report, in fear and terror, and much amazement: and all this and much more than can be exprest, is too often attended by a sudden, unexpected death; and which is yet more miserable, though there be nothing more certain than death, yet vain foolish man knoweth not, considereth not his end:
So the Preacher: Eccl. 9.12. For man also knoweth not his time, as the fishes that are taken in an evil not, and as the birds that are caught in the snare, so are the sons of men snared in an evil time when it falleth suddenly upon them.
O senseless mortals, especially being called Christians, and yet to be of so little Faith, as to doat upon a life so frail, short and uncertain, so changeable and calamitous, in defiance of what we daily profess to believe, Life Everlasting.
Blessed are they, and they are but a few, who in hopes and desires to enjoy the unchangeable blessings of the life to come, do slight and despise the fallacious, flattering enjoyments of this world, lest being deceived by the charms and fawnings thereof, the Deceiver and the deceived perish together.
'Tis a general complaint, that the world is deceitful, and unsatisfying in all her most alluring enjoyments; and yet so mightily the flesh prevaileth against the spirit, that most men love, (and I am a great fool among the rest) yea dotingly love to be thus deceived: too passionately desiring to injoy still this mortal life how frail soever, and attended with a numerous train of miseries.
But forget not, O remember and forget not, that thou art Immortal (O my Soul) and that death is but [Page 209]the change of a troublesome for a quiet life, of a frail for a fixed and permanent being; of an uncertain for a certain abode, and of a temporary for life everlasting. 'Tis but the falling in pieces of an earthly Tabernacle, and when it is dissolved, 2 Cor. 5.1.thou hast a building of God, a house not made with hands eternal in the Heavens.
The Prayer.
O Almighty God, who alone canst order the unruly wills and affections of sinful men, grant unto thy people (and to me with them) to love the thing which thou commandest, and desire that which thou dost promise; that so among the sundry and manifold changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be found through Jesus Christ.
MEDITAT. III. Of the frequent Remembrance of Death.
1. CLimacus records a story of a Brother that had lived negligently for many years, Clim. scal. grad. 6. and was at last surprized with such a desperate disease, that he continued for a long space of time deprived of his senses, and supposed to be dead: but recovering again he immediately secluded himself from all society and continued for twelve years together, which was the remainder of his life, lamenting the sins and negligences of his by-past life, and seriously pondering the sad condition of all such persons as dye in their sins unrepented. And when the time of his death indeed approached, many of his fraternity flockt to him, desiring to hear some more than ordinary instructions and directions from him for the good of their Souls: but all that he would say unto them was this, as the sum of Christian wisdom, If you [Page 211]desire so to live that ye may dye happily, then meditate continually upon death: for 'tis scarce possible for that man to sin, who with due regard remembers Death the wages of sin.
This is also the advice of the wise Syracides, Remember thy end, Ecclus. 28.6.and let enmity cease: Remember corruption and death, and abide in the Commandments. 1 Cor. 15.31. And 'twas surely thus S. Paul dyed daily.
2. To dye the death of the righteous, is the desire even of the wicked: but his last end shall be very unlike the others: for he that will dye the death, must live the life of the righteous.
The only way to dye well, Numb. 23.10. is to live well, and he that will live well, must live by dying principles, saying with holy David, Psal. 119.109.My Soul is continually in my hand, and for ought I know it may expire at my next breathing: since many thousands in this very moment, do breath their last.
And 'tis only this moment I can call mine; what is past cannot return [Page 212]to be again enjoyed, and what's to come is not in mine but in the Lord's hand: Ps. 31.17. Act. 17.28. My Time is in thy hand. In him we live, and move and have our Being,
Ask thy self then in every thing thou dost, Would I now do this, were I ready to dye? 'Tis the Wise mans advice, Ecclus. 7. ult. Whatsoever thou takest in hand, Remember the end and thou shalt never do amiss. From the forgetfulness of my end, and of the uncertainty of my Life, from every evil work, and from a sudden and an unprovided death, good Lord deliver me.
3. The Lord clothed our First Parents with the skins of beasts, to put them in mind of that mortality and corruption of the flesh they had contracted by their disobedience to his Commandments: The which as we their sinful off-spring do dayly bear about us, so ought we also to have the same in a continual remembrance, for the keeping under the unruly lusts of the flesh, that we pass not from a spiritual to death eternal.
And thus, O that I may thus daily remember the imminent, the unavoidable death of my corruptible body, so as to keep my Soul unspotted of the world, and alive from the death of sin: continually mortifying all my evil and corrupt affections: and daily proceeding in all vertue, and godliness of living.
4. With the holy Apostle of our Lord, to dye daily, is not only daily to remember death, but also so to dye unto sin, and live unto righteousness, as thereby to live up to the hopes of eternal life and happiness, slighting all the false and flattering felicities of this fawning world, as being not only empty and unsatisfying, but also mortal and dying.
And thus prepare for thy Change to come, looking not (as becomes an Immortal Soul) at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
The Prayer.
O God the Protector of all that trust in thee, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us thy mercy; that thou being our Ruler and Guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we finally lose not the things eternal. Grant this, O heavenly Father, for thy Son Jesus Christ.
MEDITAT. IV. Of the Horror of Death.
Such is the end of all flesh: — 'Tis as true of the greatest Prince, as of the meanest Peasant; When a man is dead, Ecclus. 10.11.he shall inherit creeping things, beasts and worms: All the difference [Page 217]in the grave, betwixt the dust of the rich and of the poor, of the honourable and the base, is this: that the dust of the rich through the luxury, lasciviousness and intemperance of their life, is more corrupt and loathsome after their death, than is the dust of the poor, whose food and nourishment was more course and sparing.
Why then (my Immortal Soul) art thou so fond of thy corruptible companion, the Body? Remember its beginning is uncleanness, and its end rottenness? 'Tis thy servant for the present, but if thou too much cocker and pamper it, 'twill rebel, subdue, and lead thee captive to a worse death than that whereunto its self is lyable, even the death of the nether Hell, Mar. 9.44where the worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
2. Death is the wages of Sin: And I have sinned, vile wretch that I am, I have sinned, and what shall I do, or what shall I say unto thee, O thou preserver of man? Job 7.20. All that I can say is the same still; I have sinned, and as long as I have a day I will say it: [Page 218]I will confess my wickedness and be sorry for my sins.
Mercy, 21. good Lord, mercy I humbly beg: O why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity?
Are not my dayes few? Job 10.20,cease then and let me alone that I may bewail my sins, and take comfort a little in the hopes of the pardon of them, through Faith in the blood of my Redeemer, before I go from whence I shall not return,21.to the land of darkness, and the shadow of death.
3. Job 18.14. 1 Cor. 15.55 56, 57. Heb 2.14. I know that to flesh and blood death is of all terribles the most terrible; but my blessed Redeemer by his bitter death hath pulled out the sting, and quelled the terrors of death; and hath also enchained him who hath the power of death, the devil: so that now when death approacheth, through Faith and a good Conscience I shall have hope, with all patience and contentment to drink off that Cup how bitter and painful soever, saying with my blessed Lord and Master upon his approaching death, Mat. 26.42. Father, not my will, but thine be done.
The Prayer.
ASsist me mercifully, O Lord, to subject my rebellious flesh to the guidance of the Spirit, and my spirit to the laws of my Redeemer, that when my body shall be the inheritance of worms and creeping things, my Soul-may possess an inheritance uncorruptible and undefiled, 1 Pet. 1.4.that fadeth not away, reserved in the heavens through Jesus Christ.
MEDITAT. V. Of the uncertainty of Death, and preparation for it.
1. AS there is nothing more certain than death, Ps. 89.47. for what man is there that liveth, and shall not see death? So there is nothing more uncertain than the Time: Mat. 24.36. for of that day and hour knoweth no man — the uncertainty of Death engageth every wise man to a certainty in his preparation, and provision for it.
Remember that death will not be long in coming, Ecclus. 14.12,and that the covenant of the grave is not shewed unto thee.
Do good unto thy friend before thou dye: 13. put it not off to thy last Will and Testament: but according to thy ability stretch out thy hand and give unto the poor.
That the poor when charitably relieved are our best friends, and that thus we are to prepare for death, is commanded by our Lord, Luk. 16.9. Make to your selves friends of the Mammon of unrighteousness in the pious & charitable distribution of your worldly goods; Luk. 16.9. that when you fail, your bodies corrupt and moulder into dust, your Souls may be received into everlasting habitations.
2. In this life our condition is changeable from better to worse, and from worse to better: but in death all hopes of bettering our condition are buried with the liveless corps. 2 Cor. 6.2. Now is the acceptable time, now is the day of Salvation, i. e. the day of this life, wherein I am commanded to work out my Salvation with fear and trembling; Phil. 2.12.for the night (of death) cometh [Page 221]wherein no man can work.Eccl. 9.10.There is either work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave, where thou goest: It follows therefore, whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might: be active, be vigorous, be zealous, Col. 1.10. be fruitful in every good work.
'Tis the Soul that is laden with the fruits of well-doing, 1 Pet. 4. ult. Rev. 14.13 Luk. 16.9. which in deaths approach may chearfully commit her self unto the will of God as to a faithful Creator? 'Tis these good works that follow the Souls of the righteous to the Tribunal of Heaven, to plead for their admission into celestial habitations: And these are,
1. Devout Prayers: Mat. 6.1.5.16. which do indeed, and more immediately commend our Souls unto God, and render them amiable in his sight, especially when accompanied
2. With Religious Fastings often, Ro. 12.1. whereby we present our bodies also unto him, and withal do
3. Heb. 13.15, 16. By charitable Alms-deeds dispense our Goods, to our wanting brethren: for with such Sacrifices God is well pleased.
Lord, I pray thee that thy Grace may alway prevent and follow me, and make me continually to be given unto all good works: which are the never failing fruits of a true Christian Faith: and by these inseparably conjoyned to make my Calling and Election sure, sealed in the blood of my dear Redeemer.
3. There are three general messengers of Death: 1. Chance, 2. Sickness, 3. Old age: Chance renders the life of man doubtful and uncertain; Sickness makes it grievous, and troublesome; Old age makes life tedious and death inevitable.
Some persons are stifled in their mothers womb, and dye before they see the light of life: some dye in their Infancy, some in their youth, some in their mans estate: And some there be, but these are of all others the fewest in number, that dye in their old age: and yet most of men do not only desire, but fondly conceit they shall live to be old, and yet never think themselves old enough to dye, which makes so many millions of men dye unpreparedly, and so pass from a Temporal to death Eternal.
For the prevention of so great and general a mischief, and perdition of ungodly men, the all-wise and good providence of Heaven hath ordained, that in all ages, estates and conditions of men this life shall take end; that so none, how young and lusty soever, with his bone; full of marrow, might yet dare to live unprepared for death: presuming still upon further time and space for Repentance and amendment.
Lord, make me ever mindful of my latter end: that I may so live in thy fear, as to dye in thy favour, and a well grounded hope to live with thee for ever.
'Tis to little purpose to remember my death, except I remember also the sins of my by-past life, both the sins of my youth, and of my riper age, mine ignorances, my negligences, my manifold omissions of my duty towards God, towards my neighbour, towards my self: and these to bewail with the tears of godly sorrow, that my polluted Soul being washed, I may through Faith in the blood of my Redeemer, chearfully commend the same into his merciful hands and say: Into thy hands I [Page 224]commend my Spirit; for thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, thou God of Truth.
Every change in my frail constitution, every little pain and ache in my corruptible flesh, all distempers, diseases,— are as so many memorials of my mortality: but the older I grow, the nearer still is the approach of my dissolution by the hand of death, Heb. 8. ult. for that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
The Prayers.
LOok graciously upon me, O Lord, I beseech thee, in the time of my approaching dissolution: and the more the outward man decayeth, strengthen me so much the more continually by thy Grace and Holy Spirit in the inner man: give me unfeigned repentance for all the errors of my life past, and a stedfast Faith in thy Son Jesus, that my sins may be done away by thy mercy, and my pardon sealed in Heaven, before I go hence and be no more seen.
II.
IN the midst of life we be in death: of whom may we seek for succour, but of thee, O Lord, who for our sins art justy displeased?
Yet, O Lord God most holy, O Lord most mighty, O holy and most merciful Saviour, deliver us not into the bitter pains of eternal death.
Thou knowest Lord the secrets of our hearts: shut not up thy merciful ears to our Prayers, but spare us, O Lord most holy, O God most mighty, O holy and most merciful Saviour, thou most worthy Judge eternal, suffer us not at our last hour for any pains of death to fall from thee.
III.
IN my last hour, O Lord, I humbly beg thy protection from the busie suggestions and direful insultings of my grand enemies, the Devil and his Angels: Oh let not then my Faith fail, or my Hope wither, or my Charity wax cold with the waining flesh: But when all my joynts [Page 226]shall tremble by the batteries of death, mine eyes be darkned, and my tongue falter, then, O then let my heart be enlarged towards my God, waiting upon thee, longing for thee, and incessantly praying, shew me thy mercy, O Lord, and grant me thy Salvation.
The XXXIX. Psalm.
Verses,
1. I Said, I will take heed to my wayes: that I offend not in my tongue.
The meditation of death makes every wise man careful of all his wayes, and more especially to avoid the offences of the tongue.
2. I will keep my mouth as 'twere with a bridle: while the ungodly is in my sight.
The tongue is an unruly evil, and must be tam'd as a wild horse with a bridle, when provok'd by captious, contentious and quarrelsome persons.
3. I held my tongue, and spake nothing, I kept silence, yea even from good words: but it was pain and grief unto me.
Reproaches are best answered with a discreet silence, so was our Lord, as a Lamb, dumb before the Shearers—
4. My heart was hot within, and while I was thus musing, the fire kindled: To abstain from good words is sometimes necessary for the avoiding of an evil construction: but such silence is grievous to the pious Soul, which burns with the fire of divine love, and zeal to God's glory. The zeal of thine house bath even eaten me.and at the last I spake with my tongue.
Though it be often inconvenient to speak before wicked men, yet 'tis alway necessary to speak unto God by Prayer.
5. Lord, let me know mine end, and the number of my daies: that I may be certified how long I have to live.
'Tis a blessing we ought alway to pray for, to be feelingly sensible of the shortness of our life.
6. Behold thou hast made my dayes as 'twere a span long; and mine age is nothing in respect of thee: and verily every man living is altogether vanity.
The life of man if compar'd with God's everlasting being, is rather to be called a death than a life, a vanity, not a verity of being.
7. For man walketh in a vain shadow, he disquieteth himself in vain: he heapeth up riches, and cannot tell who shall gather them.
The hearts of men are darkned with the shadows of happiness, whilst they vainly care for worldly wealth, which is as transitory and uncertain as the life it self.
8. And now, Lord, what is my hope? truly my hope is even in thee.
'Tis not in riches, nor in all the world affords, but in God alone that all hope of true happiness is attainable.
9. Deliver me from all mine offences: and make me not a rebuke to the foolish.
Our sins deprive us of all true weh-grounded hopes in God: and make us lyable to the scorn even of foolish men.
10. I became dumb, and opened not my mouth: for it was thy doing?
We must with a patient silence suffer the reproaches of others, because occasioned by our offences, and because sent from God for our amendment.
11. Take thy plague away from me: I am even consumed by the means of thy heavy hand.
And confess withal, that we deserve to be consumed by the just judgments of God.
12. When thou with rebukes dost chasten man for sin, thou makest his beauty to consume away, as 'twere a moth fretting a garment: every man therefore is but vanity.
Whose lightest chastisements do easily deface the beauty, and decay the strength of this corruptible body.
13. Hear my prayer, O Lord, and with thine ears consider my calling: hold not thy peace at my tears.
Therefore the devout Soul is poured forth in Prayers, with tears of godly sorrow for her offences, from whence all the miseries of this life do flow.
14. For I am a stranger with thee: and a sojourner as all my fathers were.
The earth is a strange land to the Immortal Soul, whose native home is heaven, where she was framed by the hands of the Almighty after his own Image.
15. O spare me a little that I may recover my strength: before I go hence and be no more seen.
Which Image being defaced by her sins, she humbly begs with tears, time and space, by Repentance, Faith and new obedience, to recover her native strength and beauty, before she leave her tabernacle of flesh.
The Prayer.
SInce my dayes are but as a span, short and uncertain, I humbly beseech thee, O Lord, to wean my heart from the disquietude of worldly cares: and that I may be fruitful in [Page 230]all the good works of obedience and charity, to repair the breaches of thy blessed image which mine offences have made, before my departure hence: that so recovering the spiritual health and strength of my Soul, I may dye in thy Grace and favour through Jesus Christ.
The XC. Psalm.
Verses,
1. LOrd, thou hast been our refuge from one generation to another.
Holy men have in all ages of the world applied themselves unto the Lord, for succor, support and protection in all conditions.
2. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever the earth and the world were made: thou art God from everlasting and world without end.
Who being eternal is also immutable in his mercy, goodness, power and providence over all.
3. Thou turnest man to destruction: again thou sayst, Come again ye children of men.
Dispensing both health and sickness, prosperity and adversity, life and death to the sons of men, according to his all just, all merciful, all wise good pleasure.
4. For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday: seeing that is past as a watch in the night.
The longest course of mans life in respect of Gods eternal praevision, is but as a day that is already past, or as one of the nightwatches, which is both swift and short, and also dark and gloomy through frequent cross and adverse occurrents.
5. As soon as thou scatterest them, they are even asleep: and fade away suddenly as the grass.
As sleep is the image of death, so the life of man is but the image or shadow of life, for as a shadow it fleeth the pursuer and fadeth as the grass.
6. In the morning it is green, and groweth up: in the evening it is cut down, dried up and withered.
Which the same day beholds both growing and cut down, flourishing and withered.
7. For we consume away in thy displeasure: and are afraid at thy wrathful indignation.
This frailty of humane life is the punishment of sin, which incurs most justly God's indignation and wrath.
8. Thou hast set our mis-deeds before thee: and our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.
Whose eyes are ten thousand times brighter than the Sun, both seeing and recording the most secret of our sinful waies.
9. For when thou art angry, all our days are gone: we bring our years to an end, as it were a tale that is told.
'Tis through Gods just anger for our sins, that our dayes are shortned, and our years are spent in vanity and trouble.
10. The dayes of our age are threescore years and ten: and though men be so strong that they come to fourscore years: yet is their strength then but labour and sorrow: so soon passeth it away and we are gone.
The miseries of mans life are not so great through the shortness thereof, as that his sorrows, and troubles are increased with his daies.
11. But who regardeth the power of thy wrath? for even thereafter as a man feareth, so is thy displeasure.
Gods displeasure for our sins is either more or less, according as we do less or more stand in awe thereof.
12. So teach us to number our daies: that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
True wisdom is attained by the serious contemplation of the frailty of life and certainty of death.
13. Turn thee again, O Lord, at the last: and be gracious unto thy servants.
Intermixing with our meditations devout Prayers for the propitious grace and favour of God.
14. O satisfie us with thy mercy, and that soon: so shall we rejoyce and be glad all the daies of our life.
Which alone can satisfie the desires of the immortal soul, and throughly rejoyce the same.
15. Comfort us again now after the time thou hast plagued us: and for the years wherein we have suffered adversity.
We may reasonably alledge our sufferings though for our sins, as motives to implore the consolations of Gods Spirit.
16. Shew thy servants thy work: and their children thy glory.
Gods proper work is mercy, and 'tis his glory to be gracious, for the which the righteous do pray both for themselves and their children.
17. And the glorious Majesty of the Lord our God be upon us: prosper thou the work of our hands upon us, prosper thou our handy work.
God's glorious Majesty appears by the gracious influences of his holy Spirit: whereby we work the works of God to his glory, and our own eternal happiness.
The Prayer.
ALmighty God, the fountain of all Wisdom, grant me so wisely to number and compare the short and sorrowful daies of this mortal life, with that joyful and never ending day of a blessed eternity, that despising the vanities of the one, I may zealously aspire to the happiness of the other. O satisfie the panting desires of my Soul, with the sense of thy mercy in the pardon of my sins: and let the glory of thy grace appear, in prospering me to perform all those good works of Faith and Obedience, which conduce to my eternal Salvation through Jesus Christ.
THE Second general Meditation Upon JUDGMENT, And first the PARTICULAR JUDGMENT.
IT is appointed unto man once to dye; and after that the Judgment: Heb. 9.27. no sooner shall this house of flesh, wherein the immortal Soul doth now inhabit, be shattered in pieces by the hand of death, but in the same moment the departing Soul shall be conveyed by the Angels of God before his Judgment-seat: and this is call'd The particular Judgment, that shall pass upon every person in particular immediately upon his death: Eccl. 12.7, when the dust shall return to the earth as it was, then shall the Spirit return unto God that gave it:14.To give an account of the works done in the body, whether they be good, or whether they be evil.
That grand enemy of man, Ille enim tunc saeviens capit quos nunc blandiens decipit. Greg. the Devil, awaits thy Souls departure hence, to dog thee to the great Tribunal of Heaven. In this life he fawns to seduce, but in the other he will roar to devour, as a Lyon over his prey: to this end he will vehemently accuse thee, aggravating all thy miscarriages through his suggestions committed, and claiming thee as one of the subjects of his kingdom of darkness: saying to the great Judg of all, as several Fathers observe:
But 'tis not the Devil alone that shall thus accuse thee when arraigned at the bar of divine Judgment: but (as S. Chrysostom saith) the heavens and the earth, and the sea, the Sun and the Moon and the Stars, both nights and days, and all the creatures thou hast abused, shall bear witness against thee: but above all
Thine own Conscience shall be as a thousand witnesses; for being then freed from this clog and damp of the corruptible flesh, all thy imaginations and desires, all thy words and works spoken and done in the body, shall appear to thy conscience in their native, genuine and proper colours, without any ignorance or oblivion, misperswasion or misprision, which now blinds the minds of many thousands to their eternal ruine on that day.
O who shall then be able to answer thee one of a thousand (thou most worthy Judg eternal) if thou shouldst be extream to mark what is done amiss, Job 9.2. Ps. 130.3. and thy great mercy intervene not to mitigate the rigor of thy Justice?
But in thee have I put my trust: Ps. 38.15,Thou shalt answer for me, O Lord my God. I have no other Advocate to plead my cause, but my righteous Judge himself from whom in my daily prayers I have required that they, 16 even mine enemies, should not triumph over me, when I stand to be judged before the Tribunal of Heaven.
Meditat. II.
My flesh trembleth for fear of thee, Ps. 119.120.and I am afraid of thy Judgments: when I consider the severity of many of thy temporal judgments, which are now intended to drive sinners to [Page 239]Repentance, that thou mightest spare them hereafter, I cannot but foresee the unconceivable rigor of thy eternal judgments, which intend punishment only, without any thought of future mercy, to spare and to forgive as in this life.
And I vile sinner have great cause to fear, as a strict examination which all must undergo, so a severe sentence to pass upon me, having not so conscientiously as I ought obeyed the sacred dictates of the saving grace of God, teaching us, Tit. 2.11, 12,that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live foberly, righteously and godly in this present world.
With what face then shall I look for the blessed hope, 13 or hope for blessedness upon the appearance of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ?
I have a greater cause to fear, than to hope, to wave, than to await his coming.
But how shall I avoid, or whither shall I flee from the face of my Judge? whither but from an offended God, to a merciful Redeemer? from the Throne of thy Justice, to [Page 240]thy Mercy-seat? To meet thee now with Repentance in my heart, and the fruits thereof brought forth in the actions of my life, and with such spiritual wings cemented with the blood of my Redeemer, I may hope to flee from the wrath to come.
O God who art justly displeased for our sins, Mat. 3.7, 8. and pacified by our true and sincere Repentance; spare, O spare all those who confess their sins unto thee: that they whose consciences by sin are accused, by thy merciful pardon may be absolved through Christ our Lord.
III.
Before Judgment examine thy self: Eccl. 18.20.and in the day of visitation thou shalt find mercy.
And I, upon the examination of my self do find my heart foul and polluted, and my life stain'd with manifold offences: but that I may escape the judgment of God, I judge my self to be a miserable sinner, I judge my self to have incurr'd the Lords just indignation, to have deserved the dismal sentence of condemnation to pass [Page 241]upon me. For I have sinned, and I have done wickedly, and I have committed iniquity, and have rebelied against the Lord by departing from his most holy Laws and judgments.
Many will be my accusers when I come to my great Tryal upon life or death eternal: and many and great accusations have they to lay against me: the Devil and his Angels, whose suggestions unto evil I have too often followed; many men, and many women too who have been conscious of my sins, and of whose sins I have been many ways guilty: All the good creatures of God I have abused, and his mercies in them: all those evil deeds I have committed, and the many good offices I have wittingly omitted, all which stand upon Gods record in Heavens black book of remembrance: and mine own Conscience shall bear witness to all these undeniable Evidences.
These are the Books that shall be opened against me: and I have not what to answer for my self: But my trust is in the tender mercies of the Lord, therefore I shall not fall, and be cast in my tryal: Holy Jesus, who [Page 242]wast condemned being innocent, acquit me though greatly nocent through Faith in thy Blood.
Judge me, Ps. 35.24,O Lord, according to thy righteousness, not after mine, for 'tis little, and good for little: but 'tis thy righteousness, Holy Jesus, both active and passive, I must plead for my acquittance when judged by thee: then, O then let not mine enemies trimuph over me.
Let them not say in their hearts, 25 there, there, so would we have it: neither let them say, we have devoured him: But in the hour of death and in the day of Judgment,
Good Lord deliver me.
MEDITATIONS upon the GENERAL JUDGMENT.
WHen the Son of man shall come in his Glory, Mat. 25.31.and all his holy Angels with him, then shall he sit upon the Throne of his Glory.
And before him all nations shall be gathered— 23.
This is called The day of the Lord, 1 Thess. 5.2 by way of Eminence as being of all daies the greatest.
1. In respect of the great appearance upon this day, even of all the men that ever liv'd, or shall live upon the face of the earth; and of all the Angels also, both good and bad, which are more numerous than men: for there are as many of spiritual (saith the Schoolman) as there be of corporeal Beings. T. Aq. p. 1. q. 50. Art. 3.
2. A great day in respect of the multitudinous Trials, even of all the works that ever have been done, from the Creation to the dissolution of all [Page 244]things under the Sun: And not our works only, but
3. Of all our words, even of every idle word an account must be given: By thy words thou shalt be justified, Mat 12.36, 37.and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
4. Not our words and works only, but even the inward thoughts, intentions, and desires of our hearts shall be expos'd to open view and censure: the Lord will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, 1 Cor. 4.5.and will make manifest the counsels of all hearts.
The most seared Conscience of the wicked, and the most subtle secret Conscience of the Hypocrite, shall by the all-piercing light of the divine Majesty be displayed, and appear as manifest and open, as if all the counsels thereof had been written with a beam of the Sun: Ps. 90.8. For thou, O Lord, hast set our misdeeds before thee, and our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.
O who is so holy, who so pure, and innocent, as to stand with any confidence in that all-discerning light of the Sun of Righteousness? Eccl. 23.19. Whose eyes are a thousand times brighter than [Page 245]the Sun, beholding all the ways of men, and considering their most secret parts.
I have been guilty (most merciful Father) I have been guilty of manifold miscarriages, which I have now forgotten, nor can I through the strictest examination of my self, recal to my memory many of mine offences. But although I cannot, yet thou remembrest my steps: Job 14.16 17.dost thou not watch over my sin? — my transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sowest up mine iniquities. So surely are all my transgressions kept in store against the day of my Tryal: whilst I sensual and secure think all is well enough with me, that my sins are forgotten: Ps. 19.12. O cleanse thou me from all my secret faults: and as they are hid from my memory, Ps. 51.9. so hide thou thy face from them; blot them out of thy Book of remembrance, that they appear not to my confusion on that great and last day.
II.
Sad and dismal is the sentence that upon this great day shall pass upon all such whose Faith hath not according [Page 246]to ability and opportunity been fruitful in the good works of Charity: Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire — For I was an hungred and ye gave me no meat— Mat. 25.41, 42.
And if these shall be eternally damned, who have not given of their own goods for the relief of others: what shall become of the Oppressor, the Extortioner, the Cheater, the Thief, and of every one who either by force, or fraud, publickly or secretly hath either taken, or detained what of right belongs unto others? surely if the one shall go, the other shall be driven, hurried with a vengeance into everlasting fire. Ver. ult.
Great, unconceivably great shall be the perplexity and anguish of the impenitent sinner in this great day: beholding (as Anselm meditates) on the one side his sins accusing him, and on the other the strict, and impartial justice of heaven, ready to pass sentence upon him: seeing below him the mouth of hell gaping to devour him; and above him an angry Judge condemning him to that place of horror: feeling within an accusing Conscience tormenting him, and without [Page 247]the whole world in consuming flames: And if the righteous shall scarcely be sav'd, 1 Pet. 4.18where shall the ungodly and sinner appear? or where shall he hide himself that he may not appear? For any wicked one to ly hidden on that day is impossible, and to appear is dreadful and intolerable.
This is that dismal day foretold by our Lord himself wherein they shall say, Blessed are the barren, Luc. 23.29,and the womb that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.
Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, fall on us, and to the hills, 30.cover us.
And hide us from the face of him that sitteth upon the throne, Rev. 6.16,and from the wrath of the Lamb.
For the great day of his wrath is come: and who shall be able to stand? 17.
Wo is me that I have sinned: wo, wo is me, that I have offended this great and terrible Judge of all the world: but as is his Majesty, so is his mercy great and wonderful.
Have mercy upon me, O God, on that great day, have mercy upon me: and deliver me now in this world from the society, from the temptations, [Page 248]from the guilt of the wicked; Let me not be occupied in any ungodly works with the men that work wickedness, Ps. 141.4. that I be not reckoned and ranked amongst them in the world to come.
III.
The day of Judgment is not only of all daies the most dreadful, but the most joyful also.
To the impenitent and wicked of the world, 'tis a day of the greatest terror, but to the holy and humble of heart and life a day of jubilee and greatest joy.
How great then shall be the glory of the holy Christian; and how great the shame of infidelity and Atheism! how great the joy of the true Believer, whose Faith has been fruitful in all good works; and how great the sorrow of the Heretick, Hypocrite, the prophane and dissolute! for then, and not fully till then shall God render to every man according to his works. Rom. 2.6,
To them who by patient continuing in well doing, 7,do seek for glory, and [Page 249]honour, and immortality: eternal life.
But to them who are contentious, 8,and obey not the truth, but obey unrighteousness: indignation and wrath.
Tribulation, 9,and anguish upon every soul of man that doth evil: of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile.
But glory, honour and peace, 10,to every man that worketh good.
For there is no respect of persons with God. 11.
What heart can worthily think of these things, without trembling and great astonishment if not purified, and sincerely devoted to the service of God?
Teach me, O Lord, thy way, Ps. 86.11.and I will walk in thy truth: O knit my heart unto thee that I may fear thy name: fear to offend thee the great and righteous Judge of the world, in the least particular of thought or desire, of word or of deed.
O Lord, who never failest to help and govern them whom thou dost bring up in thy stedfast fear and love: keep us, we beseech thee, under the protection of thy good providence, and make us to have a perpetual fear [Page 250]and love of thy holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
IV.
When the Son of man cometh, Luc. 18.8.shall he find faith upon the earth? All we who are called Christians, profess to believe both the certain coming of Christ to Judgment, and the uncertainty of the time: That we must all stand before his dreadful Tribunal and receive every man according to his works: but this is generally a dead Faith, it quickens not the affections, it excites not to such holy conscientious actions, as the firm and cordial Belief of all this does imply and command: and so will prove as dangerous to the Souls of such Believers as if they had no faith at all.
Thou art summoned, whosoever thouart that readest these Meditations, thou art hereby summoned particularly as by name to make thy appearance at this general Assizes to be held at the great and last day; and there to give an account of every passage through thy whole life: which shall be as strictly and throughly sifted [Page 251]and examined, as if there were none but thy self to be tryed, as if no cause but thine alone were to be heard.
Prepare then, prepare thy self now; now that thou hast time and leisure prepare thy self for that great day: for upon thy Tryal then depends either thy everlasting well-being, or miserable undoing for ever. Now then cast up thy accounts carefully; examine, try, 1 Cor. 11.31. Jam, 4.8, 9, 10. Act. 10.4. Luc. 2.37. 2 Cor. 11.27. Eccl. 7.17. and judge thy self; confess thy manifold amisses: Humble thy self greatly under the mighty hand of God: Appease the wrath of the great Judge of the world by Prayers and Tears, and all the sacred offices and acts of true Repentance, by Alms and Offerings and Fastings often: and in a word, by all the kinds of those spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable unto God through Jesus Christ. 1 Pet. 2.5.
Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people: quicken our dead, and cold Faith with the sacred fire of holy Charity, the very bond of perfection and all vertue, that we plenteously bringing forth the fruits of good works, [Page 252]may of thee be plenteously rewarded at the last day through Jesus—
V.
And there was a cry at midnight, Mat. 25.6.Behold the bridegroom cometh: Wo unto me then (faith a devout Father) if I be found sleeping in my bed at midnight, Ambr. in Luc. when the great Judge of all the world shall appear: it concerns me much rather to resolve with holy David: At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee, Ps. 119.62because of thy righteous Judgments.
Happy are those servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find upon their watch; Mar. 13.33, 34. awaiting his coming with their loins girt, their lusts restrained, and their Lamps burning: The light of the holy and true Faith flaming by divine Love, and shining through all the actions of their Life: that others seeing their good works may glorifie God the Father of Heaven. Mat. 5.16.
I will stand upon my watch to guard the innocency of my Soul: I will watch and also pray, Mat. 26.41. that I fall not in o the snare of the Devil when tempted by him: and that day come upon me unawares.
There be two sorts of sins especially, against which my blessed Redeemer hath commanded me to watch, that the day of the Lord surprize me not: First, Surfeiting and drunkenness, or the pleasures of the flesh: Luc. 21.34 Secondly, The cares of the world, or Ambition and Covetousness: against these grand enemies, which continually war against my Soul, it concerns me continually also to watch and pray.
Blessed Lord, let not, I humbly beseech thee, any importunate cravings of this corruptible flesh seduce me, nor the flattering false felicities of worldly wealth and dignity deceive me; but grant that I being free from all pollutions both from the one, and the other, may await thy coming in all holy but humble confidence, to be ranked not amongst the cursed goats on thy left hand, but amongst thy blessed Sheep on the right hand, and hear that joyful sentence saying, Come ye blessed of my Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you from the [Page 254]beginning of the world: Grant this O heavenly Father — ‘Our Father which art in, &c.’
The XXVI. Psalm, PARAPHRASED.
verse 1 BE thou my judge, O Lord: not to condemn me for my sins, but to approve my services, though imperfect and weak: for I have walked innocently: not according to the Innocency of thy Saints in Heaven, but according to that of frail Man upon Earth. Neither do I herein presume to justifie my self, but my trust hath been also in the Lord: 'tis not my innocency, but the Lord's mercy I rely upon, and therefore shall I not fall in the day of Judgment.
verse 2 Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; now is the time assisted by thy all piercing Spirit, to examine my self, in order to my grand examination that day: Try out my reins and my heart; as the silver is tryed when [Page 255]the dross is purged out, and this even in the furnace of affliction if it so seemeth good unto thee: that my reins and my heart may be cleansed from all filthiness both of flesh and spirit; and yet even so I dare not undergo thy strict and severe examination of me, but with reflexions upon thine immense goodness.
verse 3 For thy loving kindness is ever before mine eyes: 'Tis my constant meditation, my hope and my refuge: and I will walk in thy truth: inwardly delighting and outwardly performing the commands thereof: and that I may do this,
verse 4 I have not dwelt with vain persons, made my abode with such as follow the pomps and vanities of this wicked world: neither will I have fellowship with the deceitful: I have not so delighted in the society, as to be tainted by the evil examples of such as through their deceivable lusts keep not the Covenant they have made with their God: nor is it enough to avoid the society, but
verse 5 I have hated the congregation of the wicked: not their persons, but their wickedness & all their consultations to [Page 256]do evil: and will not sit among the ungodly, so as to continue and be delighted with the errors of their ways.
verse 6 I will wash my hands in innocency, O Lord: with the tears of true Repentance I will wash the sinful works of my hands, and keep them clean and innocent for the future: and so, not in my sins unrepented, will I go to thine Altar to offer up my Vows and Prayers also.
verse 7 That I may shew the voice of thanksgiving: publickly declare the great Thanks and Praise which is due to thy divine Majesty: and tell of all thy wondrous works: joyning with the Ministers of thy Temple in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual songs, wherein thy great works both of Mercy and Judgment are celebrated.
verse 8 To this end, Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, the place where thou inhabitest more especially than any other houses: and 'tis my delight to come to this house, because 'tis the place where thine honour dwelleth: where the honour of thy Name is continually celebrated: for in his Temple doth every man speak of his Honour.
verse 9 And since 'tis the joy of my heart to joyn with thy people in the praise of thy Name, O shut not up my soul with the sinners: though in this world I cannot altogether escape their temptation and trouble, yet rank me not amongst them in the world to come: nor my life with the blood thirsty: let me not perish with the cruel, uncharitable and covetous of the world.
verse 10 In whose hands is wickedness: the works of whose hands are unjust, and destructive: and their right hand is full of gifts: even their righteous actions are for bribes, and sinister ends transacted: and such are all they who make a gain of godliness.
verse 11 But as for me, though others pursue their worldly interests through injustice and bribery: yet I will walk innocently: that's the desire and resolution of my Soul: O deliver me, through the precious blood of my Redeemer, which was shed for my deliverance; defend me from all my ghostly enemies that would destroy mine innocence: and be merciful unto me: let thy mercy both pardon my by-past transgressions, and support [Page 258]me through all the perils of this mortal life.
verse 12 My foot standeth right fixed in my affections to cleave unto thee, and I will praise the Lord in the congregations: in the assemblies of the Lord's people, in the house where his Honour dwelleth: and so shall I hope to be hereafter admitted into the blissful company of Angels and Saints to Praise the Lord for ever: saying,
The XLIII. Psalm, PARAPHRASED.
verse 1 GIve sentence with me, O God: when I stand before thee to be judged according to my works done in the body whether good or evil, O then defend my cause against the ungodly people: Plead for me against all the accusations of men, women, devils, in whose company, or by whose temptations I have done any evil: O deliver me from the deceitful [Page 259]and wicked man, that I be not ranked amongst such upon the left hand of unrighteousness and infelicity.
verse 2 For thou art the God of my strength: By whom I am enabled to resist all my ghostly enemies: why hast thou put me from thee, leaving me to mine own weak, frail and sinful self? And this is the reason, why go I so heavily, in the ways of thy service and of mine own salvation: whilst the enemy oppresseth me: being destitute of thy help, the grand enemy of God and man overpowers me with his temptations and assaults: But that I may manfully resist and overcome
verse 3 O send out thy light, and thy truth, the light of thy Grace, and the truth of thy righteousness, which discerns the cause of the righteous from the ungodly, that they may lead me out of all the errors of this sinful life; that being separated from the allurements and society of the ungodly, they may bring me to thy holy hill, where thy Temple is scituate, and to thy dwelling, the place where thine honor dwelleth.
verse 4 And that I may go to the Altar of God both Sacramental, and Mystical: upon the Altar of my heart to offer up my whole self, to be a living Sacrifice, Holy, acceptable unto God, even the God of my joy and gladness, who makes glad my heart by the consolations of his Holy Spirit, when I approach his Altar: and upon the Harp, which is an instrument of a Triangular figure, and represents the heart of man: wherewithal I will give thanks unto thee, O holy and ever blessed Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, one God over all blessed for ever, and my God, even the God of my joy and worship, my glory and my Crown; O then
verse 5 Why art thou so heavy, O my Soul? There is no sorrow but for sin, because this alone separateth the Soul from the God of all consolation: and why art thou so disquieted within me? 'Tis thy unquiet passions, and unruly lusts, which disturb thy reason, and withdraw thee thus disquieted from a sincere dependance upon thy God: but return, return unto thy rest, O my Soul:
verse 6 O put thy trust in God: all thy sorrows and distempers are from thy self, thy health and joy is from the Lord: and for this I will yet give him thanks: who is to be praised in both the seasons of sadness and joy: for in both
He is the help of my countenance, the lightsome gladness of my heart, and my God, both of my Being and Well-being, even the God of all that I am, and all that I have, and all that I hope to be; which is to enjoy the beatifical vision of his divine Majesty: for ever to sing
THE Third general Meditation Upon the PAINS of HELL.
MAny are the opinions, and disputes, and too curious also the disquisitions, touching the place, and nature, matter, manner, and duration of the pains of Hell: But it would be more Christian prudence strictly to search and find out those crooked, deceitful and polluted paths which lead to that dismal place of torments, that we may decline and avoid them.
'Tis surely better by much not to feel by woful experience the miseries of the damned, than exactly to know, and accurately to discourse of them. And may this be ever my study, blessed Lord, my continual care, and fear, and constant endeavour not in the least particular to sin against thee: for thy wrath and indignation which resteth upon sinners, is a fierce wrath, and a terrible, 'tis not in the power of frail man to sustain the fury of it.
MEDITAT. I. Of the pain of Loss.
THe first, and 'tis esteemed by many holy Fathers the greatest of Hell Torments, is that which is call'd by Divines, The pain of Loss, whereunto the wicked of the world are sentenced in these several expressions: Mat. 22.13 & 25.30, 41. Luc. 13 27. Take him away — Cast him out — I know you not — Depart from me ye cursed —
The Pains of Sense in hell, are intolerable (saith Chrys.) yet for a man to suffer a thousand Hells is less irksome, S. Chrys. Hom. 28. than to be banisht from Heaven, to be driven from the presence of God, to be exil'd out of the regions of Light and Joy, to be rejected of the Lord, and to hear from him, I know you not — Depart from me—
The Loss of Heaven must needs be the greatest of evils, because 'tis the Loss of the greatest and most perfect good, and of all that is truly good.
To lose good things we do now enjoy in the world, may be recompenced with advantage by the gain of heaven, but to lose Heaven it self, to forfeit the right and title we once had happily obtained to be inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven, is a loss irreparable, Nothing can compensate, nothing can equal, nothing to be compared to this Loss, Id. Serm. 'tis hell enough it self if there were no other.
In this life the most wise and holy understand not throughly the fulness of Heavenly joys, and so cannot be sensible of the torment of their Loss: but in the next life our eyes shall be opened, and the veil upon our hearts removed, and then shall the ungodly see, to their unspeakable grief and anguish of spirit the vast difference betwixt the never fading pleasures of the right hand of God, and the empty transitory pleasures of sin; betwixt that fulness of joy in the presence of God, and the deplorable sorrow of its loss and absence.
I have called but ye have refused, Pro. 1.24. Ezck. 33.11. saith the Lord: called saying, Turn ye, turn ye unto me with all your [Page 266]heart— Come unto me all ye that are weary — But we vain men slight and neglect, Mat. 11.28 Joh. 6.37, 44, 56. nay too many contemn such gracious invitations: they are not affected or delighted with the presence of God, or if they come to his house, & approach his presence there, 'tis not either with that internal Devotion, and external Reverence, 'tis not with such pure hearts and clean hands, as becomes the presence of so great and glorious, so holy and pure a Majesty: and is it not then most just and equal, that all such irreligious, irreverent and profane persons be banisht the blissful presence of God for ever?
But though this be the guise of the multitude, to walk every one after the lusts of their own hearts, and to follow their own imaginations in the contempt of the Lords admonitions and commands, Ps. 5.7. yet as for me whilst I have life and liberty I will come into thy house, even upon the multitude of thy mercies, and in thy fear will I worship towards thy holy Temple —
My heart hath talked of thee and of this gracious command of thine, Ps. 27 9. Seek ye my face— Thy face, Lord, [Page 267]will I seek:10.O hide not thou thy face from me under the cloud of my sins and the thick cloud of my transgressions, nor cast away thy servant in displeasure: but vouchsafe that my approaches to thy divine Majesty may be so frequent and fervent, and with such Humility, Reverence and Devotion performed, that my person and my services may in this life be accepted before thee, that I hear not at the last day that dismal doom of the wicked, Depart from me ye cursed—
MEDITAT. II. Of the Darkness of Hell.
TO be banished the presence of God, who is the Fountain of Light is to be involved in the terrors or Darkness: and therefore after, Take him away, it follows, Mat. 22.13. cast him into outer darkness: And so is the place of Hell described: ca. 25.30. A land of darkness and of the shadow of death, a land of darkness as darkness it self, and of the shadow of death, Job 10.21, 22.without any order, and where light is as darkness. [Page 268]And this must needs be so, because Hell is farthest remote from Heaven the Region of Light, being seated (as 'tis generally believed) in the centre of the earth, where neither Sun, Moon nor Stars display the least ray or glimmering of their Light.
There is Fire indeed in Hell, but such a Fire as burns without shining, a Fire without light, not unlike whereunto is the fire of blind Zeal, Jam. 3.6. the tongue whereof setteth on fire the course of nature and is set on fire of Hell.
All the light which the sulphureous Fire of Hell affords, serves only to discover the ghastly sight of infernal Fiends, reviling, scourging, tormenting the damned without mercy, without intermission: and there perhaps may the wicked see some of their friends, and acquaintance, and of their companions in their sins involv'd with them in the same punishment, which are sights so dreadful as shall augment their torments.
This dismal darkness of Hell is call'd The outward darkness, respecting [Page 269]the inward darkness of humane Souls, and those manifold deeds of darkness which issue from the one, and run headlong to the other.
If then thou hast followed the lusts of thine own darkned heart, and obeyed the suggestions of Satan the Prince of darkness, if thou hast loved and acted the works of darkness (of sinfulness and error) more than the sacred acts and influences of Grace and Truth, it is most just that thy portion be with blackness of darkness for ever. Joh. 3.19.
Vouchsafe, blessed Lord of light and life, vouchsafe to display the sacred beams of thy Celestial light into my darkned Soul, dispel and dissipate thence all the black stain and guilt of sin contracted by my dayly backsliding from thee, all those clouds of ignorance and error, which darken my understanding, all those noysome lusts of the world and of the flesh which incessantly infest, and infect my Soul, that I pass not from these inward to that outward darkness where is weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.
MEDITAT. III. Of the Fire of Hell.
OF all the torments invented and practised by the malice of men or devils, that by Fire is the most fierce and frightful: How does it amaze the minds of men, when they see it flaming in their houses, and consuming their habitations and estates? and yet the Fire of Hell is far more dreadful and tormenting, as differing from our ordinary fire especially in three respects.
1. Our fire feeds only upon gross and corporeal substances, but Hell fire feeds upon spirits and damned souls; and 'tis therefore as much more fierce and piercing than our fire, as a spirit is more quick and active, than a gross heavy body.
Be not deceived (O my Soul) with any fond conceits of vain men, that this fire is only metaphorical, or phantastical, or poetical, because 'tis prepared for the Devil and his Angels, who are spirits, and not lyable [Page 271]to visible flames: But the word of God which cannot lye, and many undeniable reasons by the learned deduced thence, do confirm it to be a real, yea a material fire, Mat. 3.12, ca. 13.42. ca. 25.41. Mar. 9.43 47. Mat. 3 12, Isa. 66. ult. Isa. 30. ult. but more spiritual and refined, and so more eating, piercing and tormenting than the fire which burns upon our hearts.
2. Our fire may be quenched, nay 'twill quench it self when its fuel is wasted: but the fire of Hell is unquenchable: because First, The breath of the everlasting God like a stream of Brimstone doth enkindle it. Secondly, The fuel that feeds this fire shall never be consumed, viz. Immaterial, immortal Beings, of whom being tormented in these flames 'tis affirmed, that they shall seek death, Rev. 9.6.and shall not find it, they shall desire to dye, but death shall fly from them. Miserable wretches! whilst they had time and leisure to seek life, they neglected it; nay it is too common, that when life in Christ is offered unto many in the blessed food of their Souls, they slight and contemn it, Ʋt cujus vita mortua fuit in culpa, illic mors vivat in poena. Greg. and therefore 'tis most just as the Father observes, that they whose life in this world was no other than a death in sin, [Page 272]their death hereafter should be a life in punishment for sin everlastingly.
But as to the unquenchable fire of Hell, Remember (O my Soul) that there is now a fire within thee, the which if it be not quencht in this life, will bring thee to fire unquenchable in the other world: and this is the rank and fulsome fire of concupiscence. Thy carnal lusts, and thy worldly lusts being now followed and fulfilled, are the fuel that feeds that dismal fire of the infernal lake: and the Worm also that never dieth, is bred of the same corruption, even in the dunghil lusts of the heart, actuated by the hot suggestions of Sathan.
And as the fire of concupiscence doth now more or less rage in thy heart, so as to follow the sway thereof; so shall the fire of hell be, more or less raging hereafter, if these lusts do not dye within thee, before the death of nature seize thee.
Take then the advice of the wise Syracides, Eccl. 7.17.Humble thy self greatly, for the vengeance of the wicked is fire and worms. And of S. Paul: Col. 3.5.Mortifie therefore your members that [Page 273]are upon earth, fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness which is Idolatry — For which things sake, the wrath of God cometh upon the children of disobedience.
Blessed Jesus, by the merits and mysteries of thy Circumcision I humbly beg the true Circumcision of the spirit: and by the virtue of thy Crucifixion strengthen me to crucifie the flesh with the affections and lusts, lest any of those exorbitant fires being not opportunely quenched, involve me in those flames of hell which are unquenchable.
MEDITAT. IV. Of the extent of Hell pains.
The Pains of Hell in the extent of them do herein differ from all present bodily pains: that these are partial only in some particular parts, joynts and members of the body, whilst other parts are free from pain: But in Hell the whole man in all the senses internal and external, in all the parts of his body and powers of his soul, yea the most spiritual faculties shall be tormented with Fire and Brimstone, rage and despite, grief and anguish, misery and malediction. The pains of Hell are a concourse of all kinds of pain, and of all at the same time, and of all of them for ever.
The Taste shall be punished with bitterness, the Appetite with hunger, and the Tongue with thirst, the Sight with horror, the Hearing with astonishment, the Smell with stench, the Heart with anguish, the Imagination with fear, the Reason with [Page 275]madness, the Judgment with confusion, and in the very Bowels fire unquenchable.
And this is most just, that as the wicked have employed all the powers and parts both of Soul and Body, as weapons of unrighteousness unto sin; so should their punishment be in all their senses, members, faculties — that as each hath transgrest by sinful pleasure, and inordinate delight, so each should have its peculiar afflicting torment.
'Tis undoubtedly true, that all persons condemned to the flames of the nether hell are not equally tormented therein: for though the fire of hell be one and the same, yet it torments not all after the same manner, nor in the same degree of torture: but every man shall therein more or less feel the smart of its fury, as by the nature, quality and frequency of his sin, he hath less or more deserved the same: Gen. 18.25 for shall not the Judge of all the world do right?
The more high, peremptory and presumptuous, as also the less obstinate and impenitent sinner shall both suffer under the torment of the same [Page 276]fire, but not in the same degree of pain and suffering: But alas the lowest degree of suffering in that place of horror is punishment enough, if seriously considered, to affright the sinner from all the errors of his ways.
There be many who now think this or that to be severe commands, Love your enemies— Deny thy self, Fast, and Watch and Pray— Take up thy Cross— but surely 'twill be much more hard and bitter to hear, Tho. à Kemp. Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire—
O let not then the severest commands of the Gospel, nor the difficulties and labors of Repentance startle and affright thee: let not the breach or neglect thereof, seem a light and a small thing unto thee; but Remember that to endure the pains of Hell but one hour, is more exceeding painful and afflicting, than a thousand years of the most strict, and severe austerities in Fasting and Sackcloth and Ashes.
Here, blessed Lord, here in this life let me be punished for my sins, but spare, O spare me in the [Page 277]life to come, and from those intolerable pains of the nether Hell, good Lord deliver me through Jesus Christ.
MEDITAT. V. Of the Bonds and Chains of Hell.
RIghteous art thou, O Lord, Ps. 119.137.and upright are thy Judgments: 'Tis a justice becoming the just Judge of the world, that the licentious and prophane who in this life would not be bound up nor restrained from following and fulfilling their exorbitant lusts, but have walked in the counsel of the ungodly and stood in the way of sinners; that they who bound up their hands from doing the works of Gods Commandments, and bound up their feet from walking in the paths of his most holy Laws; that they whose sins are bound upon their Souls, and not loosed by true Repentance through Faith in the Blood of Christ: 'tis just, I say, that such should incur this sad and dismal sentence, Mat. 22.13. Bind him hand and foot—
To be bound to one place, though in silken Cords, or chains of Gold, though 'twere on a bed of Roses, or the sweetest perfumes, to be so tyed as not to be able to stir hand or foot, is a very great punishment to the free, active and stirring soul of man: How much more then a sorer punishment is it, to be bound in fiery chains, eating through the flesh into the very bowels, nay through all the most hidden and deepest recesses of the Soul, and be forced to lye down in a bed of Flames, and therein not to be able to stir either hand or foot, not to move or change from side to side for the least ease or mitigation of torment?
He must have a heart of stone, or rather of flint the hardest of stones who in remembrance of his sins is not greatly terrified and humbled in the very thought and apprehension of these fiery tormenting chains of Hell.
Blessed Jesus, whose innocent tender hands were rudely seiz'd and bound with cords of injustice and violence; vouchsafe to loose all the bonds and chains of my sins, wherewith both my hands and feet, affections [Page 279]and actions are infettered, and infested: and grant that the wounds they have made in my soul being washed with my tears, may be healed by the soveraign balsome which from thy Wounds and Stripes and Bonds does flow: Ps. 25.14; Pluck my feet out of the net of every temptation to finfulness and error, Ps. 119.48 and let my hand be continually lift up unto thy Commandments to do them, that I be not lyable to be bound by any of the spirits of vengeance in the fiery chains of the nether Hell where is weeping and wailing—
MEDITAT. VI. Of the Laments of Hell.
THere shall be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth: Mat. 25.30. They shall deservedly weep in Hell, whose eyes upon earth have been full of Adultery, 2 Pet. 2.14 lasciviousness and greediness of the creature: whose eyes have been set upon their covetousness, Pro. 30.13 and their eye-lids lifted up with scorn and contempt of others: who have been guilty of any of these, or of any [Page 280]other sinful pollutions, and have not wept and bewailed the same with the tears of Repentance.
Wo unto you that laugh now in your sinful pleasures, Luc. 6.25. for ye shall mourn and weep either here or hereafter: And 'tis sad and sottish to put off this necessity of weeping to the other world, where the tears of sorrow and sad Repentance shall avail nothing.
And this is all the water that Hell affords, Luc. 16.24. not a drop to cool the tongue tormented in those scorching flames, only those driesly tears, which the violence of her torments do extort, which being salt and brinish, and spent in vain, shall the more increase the bitterness and augment the miseries of the condemned sinner.
O that now my head were waters, Jer 9.1.and mine eyes a fountain of tears, by weeping here, to prevent the weeping in Hell hereafter, now to bewail my sins, that I sorrow not when 'tis too late, where weeping and wailing shall not asswage but augment my sorrows.
Lament, O sinner, and gnash thy teeth through a holy indignation, to [Page 281]be so foolish and mad, as for a little sinful pleasure, or dirty delight, to run the hazard of being obnoxious to never ending pains and sorrows.
Blessed are they that mourn, Mat. 5.4. both for their own sins, and for the sins of others through the fear of Hell, and desire of Heaven; for they shall be comforted, their fears prevented, their desires obtained.
A broken and a contrite heart, Ps. 51.17.O God, thou wilt not despise: A heart broken with godly sorrow for sin, and venting it self in tears with Prayers, Humiliations and Confessions mixt with Faith in the blood of my dear Redeemer. Thus Lord, thus I humbly beg to be delivered from thy wrath, and from the deplorable wailings of a sad eternity. Amen.
MEDITAT. VII. Of the perpetuity of Hell Torments.
THe Perpetuity of Hell torments is in the thought thereof a Torment unspeakable: for in every instant of the Sufferings of the damned, they suffer all the torments of those infinite thousands of years to come, the continuance whereof is not measured by Time, but by the bottomless abyss of eternity, and the immutability of divine justice: and what is time to eternity? Behold as a drop of water is to the sea, Eccl. 18.10.and a gravel stone in comparison of the sand: so are a thousand years to the dayes of etcrnity.
In this life fear hath torment: but torment hath no fear, but hope rather of release, and delivery: but in Hell the damned both fear what they suffer, and also suffer what they fear, even the everlasting duration of their sufferings: They that are [Page 283]cast into the Lake of fire and brimstone shall be tormented day and night for ever,Rev. 20.10.and ever.
Are not they then without understanding that work wickedness? Ps. 14.4. who being endued with Reason, and capable of counsel, who knowing the shortness of this life, and the uncertainty of the same, and withal believing the everlasting duration of the life to come, do nevertheless bend all their thoughts, and endeavours upon what concerns this present remporary Being, even to the great hazard of being obnoxious to the Pains and Inrments of a sad eternity: such madness in the hearts of men can never be throughly bewail'd even with tears of blood.
Who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Mat. 3.7. That there is a wrath to come every Christian believes, and 'tis a fierce wrath and a terrible, even indignation and wrath, Rom. 2.8, 9.tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that doth evil, and hath not repented him of the evil, and of the iniquity he hath done.
Of the coming of this wrath also frequent warning is given, both by [Page 284]the works and by the word of God, by the Ministers of his Church: but who takes warning given? who regards the power of this wrath? very few regard it; though the less it be regarded, the more fierce it will be, for even thereafter as a man feareth so is thy displeasure. Ps. 90.11.
Fear thou the Lord, Pro. 3.7. O my Soul, fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
Thou, Ps. 76.7.O Lord, thou alone art to be feared, and who may stand in thy sight, when thou art angry?
The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,Pro. 14.27to depart from the gates of death.
Fear not them that can kill the body,Mat. 10.28but are not able to kill the Soul: but fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. Heb. 12.28,
For our God is a consuming fire. 29.
The LXXXVI. Psalm, PARAPHRASED.
verse 1 BOw down thine ear to him who now bowes down his heart, and bear me, O Lord, confessing, for I am poor, extremely wanting of the graces of thy Spirit, which should make me rich towards God: I have little or no treasures laid up in Hearen, and therefore I am in misery, lyable to the eternal miseries of Hell: But,
verse 2 Preserve thou my soul from that dismal place of torments, for I am heby, separate and devoted to thy service though a poor unprofitable servant: and upon this account I make bold to call thee my God, whom I worship and serve, and humbly beseech thee to save thy servant who putteth his trust in thee, for the riches of grace and salvation, wherein
verse 3 Be merciful unto me, O Lord, who art rich in mercy, for I will call dayly upon thee, that it may please thee in great mercy to deliver me from that [Page 286]misery, whereunto my poorness in grace, but abounding sins make me obnoxious.
verse 4 Comfort the soul of thy servant that the sorrows of death overwhelm me not: For unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul, being hereunto encouraged by thy grace and goodness.
verse 5 For thou, Lord, art good, even the inexhaustible fountain of goodness, and gracious, propitiously inclined to hear the supplications of thy people, and of great mercy against the greatness of iniquity, unto all them that call upon thee, even to all that call upon thee faithfully, depending upon thee alone for help, and safety.
verse 6 Give ear, Lord, to my prayer, not slightly hearing the sound of my words, but ponder the voice of my humble desires: the intense desires of my humbled soul, I humbly desire to be considered.
verse 7 In the time of my trouble, and that's the whole time of my pilgrimage here upon earth, I will call upon thee for protection and deliverance, whereof I will never despair: for thou hearest me, if my prayer be pure and humble: and therefore [Page 287]will I call upon thee as long as I live.
verse 8 Among the gods that be either falsly so called, or be so called by participation of divine power as the Angels in Heaven, and Kings of the earth, there is none like unto thee, O Lord, either for power or wisdom: there is none that can do as thou dost: thy works do far exceed the power of any created beings to do the like: and therefore in fulness of time.
verse 9 All Nations whom thou hast made, shall no longer make gods unto themselves, but shall come and worship thee, O Lord, the maker of all men, and of all things, and being admitted members of thy holy Catholick Church shall glorifie thy Name, both with heart and voice, and by the good works of their obedience to the Gospel of Christ.
verse 10 For thou art great, which all thy works declare, and dost wondrous things, not to be apprehended but admired, and 'tis therefore in all the parts of the world confessed, that thou art God alone, all others being either falsly or feignedly called gods: And that I may accordingly worship thee aright,
verse 11 Teach me thy way, O Lord, that I neither mistake the right way, nor stumble and fall therein, but stedfastly and constantly walk in thy truth: and this way and this truth is my blessed Redeemer, who by his doctrine and example, doings and sufferings, life and death, is the way that leads to life eternal: O knit my heart unto thee, by the indissoluble bonds of a true Faith, firm Hope, fervent Charity: that I may fear thy name, so as that I neither dare to sin against thee, nor too much presume upon thy favour and grace.
verse 12 I will thank thee, O Lord my God, as from whom both my whole self, and all the little good that is mine does proceed, with all my heart, as being hereunto excited by the fear and love of thy Name: and I will praise thy name for evermore: And there is very great reason I should do so,
verse 13 For great is thy mercy toward me, not only manifested in all the good things I do enjoy, but in my deliverance from manifold evils, and especially from the greatest of evils: for thou hast delivered my soul from the [Page 289]nethermost hell, in the broad way that leads thereunto I have a long time walked, and 'tis of thy great mercy, that I have not long since been hurled headlong to that dismal place of torments: And still I have great cause to complain,
verse 14 O God, the proud are risen against me, proud Lucifer and his infernal fiends, and the congregation of naughty men have sought after my soul: the wicked of the world conspire with the Devil and his Angels by their sinful suggestions to subvert the innocence of my soul, to have her portion with them in the nethermost hell.
verse 15 But thou, O Lord, art full of compassion, especially to all them who chuse rather to suffer than to do what is offensive to thy Majesty, and mercy, in pardoning the offences of the truly penitent, long-suffering, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to Repentance, plenteous in goodness, abounding in thy blessings and truth both in performing thy promises of mercy to the penitent, and in rendring to every man according to his works.
verse 16 O turn thee then unto me who by my sins have justly provoked thee to turn away thy face from me; and have mercy upon me a miserable sinner: and that I may no more offend thee, give thy strength unto thy servant, even ghostly strength and fortitude, manfully to resist the Devil, and all his numerous troops of sensual and worldly lusts; in all whose assaults vouchsafe to help the son of thine handmaid, that I may overcome all their temptations unto evil, and carefully keep my vow and promise made when I was first admitted to be a Son of thy handmaid the Church.
verse 17 Shew some token upon me for good, let some sign of thy favour towards me appear, that they who hate me, my ghostly enemies, may see it and be ashamed, when they shall behold all their conspiracies and assaults against my soul defeated by the assistance of thy divine grace: because thou, Lord, hast holpen me and comforted me: thy help to overcome when I am tempted unto sin, is a great comfort to my soul, for I have hereupon a good ground of hope, that thou wilt deliver my soul from the nethermost [Page 291]hell: and that being raised up from the gates of death I may shew all thy praises within the ports of the daughter of Sion, saying
The LXXXVIII. Psalm, PARAPHRASED.
verse 1 O Lord God of my salvation, my corporal and spiritual, temporal and eternal Salvation is from thee, and therefore I have cryed day and night at all times and seasons, and in all conditions prosperous and adverse before thee, as unto whom alone the inmost intimate desires of my soul are naked and open: O let my prayer enter into thy presence, be received and accepted by thee: incline thine ear unto my calling, so graciously hear as to grant my humble requests.
verse 2 My soul is full of trouble, which being the consequent of sin, is the forerunner of death, and my life [Page 292]draweth nigh unto hell, which openeth wide her mouth to swallow down such polluted Souls.
verse 3 I am counted as one of them that go down to the pit, lookt upon as a dead man and a cast-away: and I have been even as a man that hath no strength, which is derived from the Lord of life to escape the snares and terrors of death.
verse 4 Free among the dead, not likely to be freed from my troubles, but by death which puts an end to all the miseries of this sinful life: like unto them that are wounded by the fiery darts of the devil, and lye in the grave of corrupt conversation, which leads to the grave of death the wages of sin; and whosoever thus lye there, are out of remembrance, both forgotten by the righteous, and also are cut away from thy hand, repulst from amongst those blessed sheep, which shall be rankt on thy right hand in the day of Judgment.
verse 5 Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit: I confess I have so far incur'd thy wrathful displeasure, as to be laid in the nethermost hell, which is a place of darkness, even blackness of [Page 293]darkness for ever: and in the deep abyss of inextricable torments.
verse 6 Thine indignation lyeth hard upon me, whereto I have provoked thee by manifold offences, and thou hast vexed me with all thy storms; those tempests of affliction and trouble which disturb my peace are sent from thee to scowr the rust of corruption off my Soul.
verse 7 Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me, and made me to be abhorred of them: The invisible society of holy Angels, with the prayers and good wishes of holy men I enjoyed whilst I was innocent, and heavenly minded; but now being polluted, they are estranged from me, and abhor me in my sins.
verse 8 I am so fast in prison, that I cannot get forth: I am so enfetter'd in the bonds and chains of my sins, that without the help of a divine hand I cannot be loosed from them.
verse 9 My sight faileth for very trouble; the bright eye of my mind is dimm'd and darkned through the pressures of my spirit: and in this sad condition, Lord, I have called upon thee, as being my only refuge in danger, support [Page 294]in trouble, and succour in all distress, I have stretched forth my hands unto thee, by my practice according to my prayer.
verse 10 Dost thou shew wonders among the dead? or shall the dead declare thy works of wonder? or shall the dead rise up and praise thee? They must have part in the first Resurrection (which is from the corruption of sin) who worthily shew forth thy praise.
verse 11 Shall thy loving kindness be shewed in the grave, or thy faithfulness in destruction? both in the state of the first, and of the second death, there is a deep silence of thy goodness and of thy truth.
verse 12 Shall thy wondrous works be known in the dark, and thy righteousness in the land where all things are forgotten? Thy righteous and admired deeds are not once mentioned either in the grave of death, or in the pit of hell: in both estates there is an utter forgetfulness of all thy goodness and truth. But that I may be delivered from such a sad condition,
verse 13 Ʋnto thee have I cryed, O Lord: and early shall my prayer come before [Page 295]thee: Before I have made my peace with thee my God, or be surprized by death, let my prayer for thy preventing and assisting grace be not rejected.
verse 14 Lord, why abhorrest thou my soul? I am unclean I confess, and 'tis but just I should be abhorred and forsaken; but being withal penitent and humbled, why hidest thou thy face from me, as being still displeased with me, and deaf to my petitions?
verse 15 I am in misery, and like unto him that is at the point to dye: Death as the wages of sin dogs me at the heels: even from my youth up thy terrors have I suffered with a troubled mind: The terrors of my Conscience for sin, have been alway accompanied with a troubled and contrite spirit, which thou hast promised not to despise.
verse 16 Thy wrathful displeasure goeth over me: The apprehension of thy wrath and displeasure invades, and overflows my soul: and the fear of thee hath undone me: the fear of thy wrath in the day of judgment, and of the never dying torments of hell the effects thereof, hath ruin'd all my worldly consolations.
verse 17 They come round about me dayly like water overflowing all the powers and passions of my Soul, and compassed me together on every side, leaving no visible means of evasion and peace.
verse 18 My lovers and my friends, who professed themselves to be such in my worldly prosperity, and amidst my carnal delights, hast thou put away from me, they are alienated and estranged in time of my trouble: and hid mine acquaintance out of my sight, they will not now see me who formerly frequented my company.
And therefore being thus desolate, and deeply endangered, unto thee as my only hope and refuge, O Lord God of my Salvation I have cryed day and night continually, for deliverance and Salvation, that my soul may continually bless thee and say,
THE Fourth general Meditation, OF HEAVEN.
1. THe land of Canaan was promised to Abraham the Father of the faithful in these words of command: Gen. 13.14 Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art, Northward and Southward, Eastward and Westward — For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, 15 and to thy seed for ever.
The celestial Canaan is herein promised unto thee if a true son of the faithful Abraham: Lift up then thine eyes, O my Soul, and contemplate the ravishing Felicities of this Land of promise. This is thy native countrey, where thou wast at first framed by the hands of the Almighty after his own Image; Why then dost thou not pant and breath and sigh and long to be at home? Why art thou so well [Page 298]pleased with a strange land, and delightest rather to be a Pilgrim in the valley of Tears, than a free Denizon in the land of Peace? a Foreigner in the city of Babylon than a Citizen in the heavenly Jerusalem? Away, away from Lebanon, O my Soul, thy beloved calleth thee away from the dens of Lyons, Can. 4.8.and the mountains of the Leopards: Ps. 55.6.O that I had wings like a Dove, for then would I flee away and be at rest.
2. We read that the Lord brought Moyses to the top of mount Pisgah, and shewed him the promised land; where having the wilderness behind him, and the happiest of all lands before him, he represents the devout and heavenly minded Soul, who considering the manifold troubles in the wilderness of this world, and the joys and felicities of the world to come, is highly ravished in the contemplation and desire of the one to the extream contempt of the other.
3. The happiness of Heaven is the end of all Holiness upon Earth, and that must needs be the greatest good, [Page 299]which is the end of all that is good, for the end is more noble than the means. 'Tis the last good we hope for, and so the most perfect, as being the perfection and accomplishment of all the good we can imagine or desire; nay, 'tis a blessedness beyond our frail imaginations to comprehend: as it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entred into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. Quod Deus praeparavit diligentibus se, fide non capitur, spe non attingitur, charitate non comprehenditur, desideria & vota transgreditur: acquiri potest, aestimari non potest. Aug. 1 Cor. 2.9.
4. Raise up thy affections (O my Soul) as to be ravisht with the love of Heaven, so to lament with tears of sorrow and shame thy sloth and negligence, thy coldness and indevotion, thy sinful security and earthly mindedness, and what obstructs thy way, and slackens thy pace towards this place of joy unspeakable and glorious.
O how slight and trivial, how inconsiderable are all the most strict [Page 300]and rigid labours of Repentance and mortification, of the most profound Piety, and ample Charity, in respect of those celestial joyes whereunto they lead thee!
And if it shall once please God through the merits of Christ to receive thee into Heaven, thou wilt then think all thy prayers and tears, sighs and groans, fastings and watchings, all thy labours of love both to God and man, very well spent, that they have wafted thee over the troublesome waves of this worlds vast sea, into the haven of eternal peace and felicity.
MEDITAT. II. Of the place we call Heaven,
and first, its Greatness.
THat Empyreal Heaven, 2 Cor. 12.2. Dent. 10.14. 2 Chr. 6.18. which is the seat of God and of all his holy Angels and Saints for ever, is called also the Third Heaven, and the Highest Heaven, and the Heaven of Heavens; and 'tis of all the places of the Universe the most spacious, [Page 301]large and ample: for it contains all the heavens, and the earth also, even the whole Creation within its verge and compass.
Do but consider the vastness of the Sun, and of the Moon, with the multitude and magnitude of all the Lights of Heaven, most of which are greater, and some of them far bigger than the whole body of the Earth: Consider also that besides the vast number of Stars, there are empty spaces in the firmament for as many, nay for many more than as many yet: and then admire with astonishment the vast extent and amplitude of the Heaven of Heavens, which containeth all these, and all that is above, and all that is below all these, within its circuit and circumference.
Secondly, Its Brightness and Beauty.
The brightness of the Sun, the Moon and the Stars do but imperfectly represent the Beauty and Brightness of Heaven as 'tis described Rev. 21.23. Rev. 21.23. And the City had no need of the Sun, nor of the Moon to shine in it, for the glory of God did lighten it, [Page 302]and the Lamb is the light thereof, which exceeds as much the light of the Sun, as the Suns light transcends that of a glimmering Taper.
The Air of this countrey of Heaven is continually pure, and clear, bright and splendid; 'tis not capable of any clouds, mists, or vapours, not lyable to any rains, storms and tempests, no thick infectious air offends the inhabitants of this happy land; whilst the wretched miscreants of the nether hell are involved in blackness of darkness, stifled with the suffocating fumes of sulphureous fire, without the least hope of any purer air wherein to breath for ever.
Thirdly, Its Tranquillity.
All in this City of God is peaceable and quiet, tranquil and secure, and free even from the fear of the least disturbance; no evil comes nigh this dwelling. Ps. 90.10.
What the Lord promiseth to his Church Militant is fulfilled in his Church Triumphant, The Lord hath made fast the bars of thy gates: Ps. 147.13. they are inexpugnable by any, by the utmost [Page 303]force and fury of all the Spirits and powers of darkness.
The Lord maketh peace in thy borders: 14. Blessed peace dwells here without the least fear or danger of interruption: For the grand enemy of Peace is hence cast down, faln like lightning from Heaven, Luc. 10.18 there's no room here for that author of all division, nor yet for any of his instruments: Ps. 68.30. The people that delight in war: 'Tis the inheritance of Peacemakers, Mat. 5.9. and of the peaceable minded, and of such only as live in peace upon earth.
And O that it might please the God of Peace to allay that rancour, to depress that tumour, to asswage that itch of contention which now so much disturbs the peace of his Church upon earth, and obstructs the way to this heavenly Hierusalem, the City of peace: Follow peace with all men, Heb. 12.14.and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord.
O God the author of peace and lover of concord, in knowledge of whom standeth our eternal life, whose service is perfect freedom; defend us thy humble servants in all the [Page 304]assaults of our enemies, that would disturb our peace: that we surely trusting in thy defence, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ—
MEDITAT. III. Of the good things of Heaven.
1. HONOUR.
HOnour in Heaven is not that which swells with vain-glory, & is pust up with the infectious breath of Flattery, and the praise of men, but the honour that cometh from God only. Joh. 5.44.
Honour is the reward of vertue, and he who is the donor of vertue and obedience has promised to Honour the obedient and vertuous, saying. If any man serve me, Joh. 12.26him will my Father honour: What, and how great this honour is, we read Rev. 3.31. To him that overcometh will I give to sit with me in my throne: Rev. 3.31.even as I have overcome, and am set down with my Father in his Throne: There cannot [Page 305]be surely an higher Honour than this, to be exalted by the right hand of the most High, and placed in the same Throne with the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords: O what Hymns of divine praise, what applauses and exultations, what shouts of joy shall sound through the whole Court of Heaven, when thus it shall be done to the man whom the King delighteth to honour! Esth. 6.11.
2. POWER.
2. Honour without Power is but a titular empty aiery happiness: and the Power of the Saints in Heaven is promised by the Lord of all power, saying of the faithful and wise servant, Mat. 24.45, 47.he will make him ruler of all his goods: implying a power given to his Saints, not only over all that is called good upon earth, but also over all the joys of heaven, which are an aggregation of all that is good, Gloss. ord. in loc. Rev. 21.7. and He that overcometh shall inherit all things: wherein are implicitely promised,
3. RICHES.
3. The Riches of Heaven, are not such corruptible things as Silver and Gold, gorgeous Attire, delicious Fare, large Demesnes, fair Habitations—but without any such frail deceitful pelf there shall be abundance of peace, Ps. 72.7. Cor. 4.17. 2 Cor. 15.28.a fulness of perfection and felicity, an exceeding and eternal weight of glory: and in a word, in heaven God shall be all in all: He who is the Fountain and Well-spring of all good gifts and graces upon earth, will be himself the reward and crown thereof in heaven; than the which there can be nothing more high and honourable, nothing more great and powerful, nothing more rich, full, eminent, perfect, joyous, and all that can be desired conducing to true happiness.
Happy then, and thrice happy are they who now in this life covet chiefly, covet only to have the Lord for their portion, saying not from the teeth only but from the bottom of their hearts, Ps. 16.6, The Lord himself is the portion of mine inheritance, and of my [Page 307]cup: thou shalt maintain my lot.7.The lot is faln to me in a fair ground, I have a goodly heritage: And surely he must needs be most exorbitantly covetous, that will not be content with such a heritage: and to possess the Lord himself, who possesseth all things, is the riches of Heaven.
4. PLEASURE.
Pleasure consists in the union of the Soul with an object of Delight: and in heaven the Soul shall be united with the most beautiful, and blissful object, viz. The Lord of glory, The light of the World, The God of all Consolation, We read 1 Cor. 6.17. He that is joyned to the Lord, is one spirit, which is the height of pleasure, and perfection of Delight to be so intimately joyned to the Lord as to become one spirit with him: such do deliciously taste and fully see how gracious the Lord is. Ps. 34.8.
There is no earthly pleasure like the taste and fense of the Lords grace and favour to us: 'Tis yet a greater pleasure to enjoy the Lord as the only object of Love and Delight: 'Tis yet [Page 308]more sweet and pleasurable to acquiesce and be fully satisfied in the enjoyment of the divine Majesty. But the fulness of joy is not only to enjoy, but to know that we shall ever enjoy the beatifical vision, and have the fruition of the supreme beauty, and divine goodness for ever and ever.
Now then, O my Soul, Delight thou in the Lord, Ps. 37.4.and he shall give thee thy hearts desire: In the satisfaction and peace of thy desires does thy happiness consist, and this is alone in the Lord obtainable: Blessed are the people,Ps. 89.16,O Lord, that can rejoyce in thee; they shall walk in the light of thy countenance:17,— Their delight shall be dayly in thy name, and in thy righteousness shall they make their boast:18.For thou art the glory of their strength—
But the soul that will rejoyce in God must be stampt after his image, and be like unto him, pure as he is pure, holy as he is holy, merciful as he is merciful.
Be ye followers of God as dear children and walk in love: Eph. 5.1, 2. and so thou maist hope to enjoy the Lord as the supreme object of love and delight in heaven.
O Lord, who hast prepared for them that love thee such good things as pass mans understanding; Pour into our hearts such love towards thee, that we loving thee in and above all things may obtain thy promises which exceed all that we can desire, through Jesus Christ.
MEDITAT. III. Of the Company of Heaven.
1. Of Gods presence there.
1. GOd who is Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, is the chief and principal Inhabitant of the Heaven of heavens: God indeed is every where in respect of his Essence, Presence, Power, but in Heaven in respect of his Glory, and the supereminent brightness of his Majesty, which is in heaven most conspicuous, full, and ravishing: nor could Heaven be called so, it were not heaven, if not enlightned, and enhappied by Gods superlative presence there: And where ever, O Lord, Tho. à Kom.thou art [Page 310]present, either in grace or glory, there is heaven: and death and hell is every where where thou art.
2. But what doth it avail the company of Heaven that God is there especially present, since God dwelleth with the light which no man can approach unto,1 Tim. 6.17.whom no man hath seen or can see? The very Angels of Heaven cover their faces with their wings in the presence of God, that the excessive brightness of his Majesty and great Glory overwhelm them not? Isa. 6.2. 'Tis true, but however so much of this eminent glory shall appear, and so fully the splendid Raies thereof be display'd in Heaven, as shall ravish all the blessed beholders thereof with a joy unspeakable and glorious. 1 Pet. 1.7.
They shall be satisfied with the plenteousness of thy house, Ps. 36.8, (viz. of Celestial glory) and thou shalt give them drink of thy pleasures as out of a river: so full and overflowing shall be their satisfaction and contentment.
For with thee is the Well of life, 9. and of all the joys and consolations of life: and in thy light shall we see [Page 311]light, even the ravishing light of glory in the light of Gods countenance: in whose presence is fulness of joy.
2. The Angels of Heaven.
Next to the blissful presence of God, the society in Heaven is Angels and Archangels, Cherubims and Seraphims, Thrones and Dominions, Col. 1.16. Principalities and Powers, and all the several Orders of celestial Spirits.
The very sight of one blessed Angel upon earth, would be more joyous and ravishing than to behold the greatest beauty, and most splendid excellency that is lyable to the eyes of flesh: yea all the pomp and glory of the world is not comparable to such a sight: how much more joyful and glorious will it be, not only to behold, but to enjoy the society of those innumerable ministring spirits of whom we read, Thousand thousands ministred unto him,Dan. 7.10.and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
These rest not day and night, crying, Is. 6.3. &c. Rev. 21.10Holy, holy, holy Lord God of Sabbath: Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty [Page 312]of thy glory: To make one in this Hymnidical Quire, and to be received into one of those Mansions of Glory from whence the Apostate Angels fell, is such an astonishing joy as cannot by the tongue of men and Angels be expressed.
3. The Saints in Heaven.
To these Angelical spirits are joyned in society as members of the same Church Triumphant in Heaven, The glorious company of the Apostles, the goodly fellowship of the Prophets, the noble army of Martyrs, the innumerable train of holy Confessors, Priests, and people of each Sex, and of every condition of whose numberless number we read, Rev. 7.9, 10. Rev. 7.9. And I beheld and lo a great multitude which no man can number of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and Tongues, stood before the Throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes and Palms in their hands— and cryed with a loud voice, Salvation to our God—
Into this glorious Communion of Saints in Heaven, there dayly are, [Page 313]and daily shall be for ever received all such true servants of God, and stout soldiers of Jesus Christ, who under his banner have overcome the Devil and all his works, the pomps and vanities of this wicked world, all the sinful lusts of the flesh: who have warred a good warfare over these their ghostly enemies, and kept the Faith, whereinto they were baptized, without any tincture of Heresie, or Schism, observed God's holy Will and Commandments, and walked in the same all the days of their life.
All of these returning from their wearisome pilgrimage through the wilderness of this world to their native home of Heaven shall be received into and rejoyce in their proper and peculiar mansions of peace: each differing indeed in the degrees of glory, according to their difference in the degrees of grace, but all shall enjoy their full proportion of happiness, and with common joy shall sing together perpetual Hallelujahs to him that sitteth upon the Throne and to the Lamb for ever. Rev. 5.13.
Happy and for ever happy were I, if with a floud of Tears and incessant Prayers, if with the devout surrender of all that I am & all that I have to the service of God, I might be admitted into this celestial Society: Heb. 12.22, 23, 24. To come unto Sion, and unto the City of the living God, the heavenly Hierusalem, and to an innumerable company of Angels, To the general assembly and Church of the first born, which are written in Heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the Spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the Mediator of the new Covenant—
All this I believe as a Christian, but my Hope to be admitted into this blessed Society is too weakly grounded: and this because my Charity both towards God and his Saints is too cold and benum'd.
I do profess to love God, and do desire that my heart may be every day more and more inflamed with the same fire of his love: but doubtless I must have withal a due regard and veneration for his Saints; for as God is praised in his Saints, so is he dishonoured in their disrespect, Ps 150.1. Zach. 2.8. He that toucheth them toucheth the apple of his eye.
If the zeal of some persons towards the Saints in Heaven exceed its due bounds and limits, I must not therefore throw off that devout respect which is due unto them; remembring that 'tis the end of my Faith, the sum of my Hope to be by divine Charity joyned with them in the same mystical body of Christ our common Lord, and Redeemer, and with them to love, and to praise the Lord: yea to praise and love him for ever, which is the happiness of the Saints in Heaven: Ps. 84.4. for blessed are they that dwell in thy house, they will always be praising thee:
But I am unworthy, too much unworthy sinful dust and ashes to make one in this heavenly quire: But I will not despair since my dear Redeemer hath 1. purchased this happiness for me Heb. 9.12, 15, 24.; since 2. he hath promised to receive me thereinto Joh. 14.3; and 3. he hath prayed also for my actual possession thereof saying, Father, I will, Joh. 17.24that they whom thou hast given me, may be with me, where I am, that they may behold the glory which thou hast given me.
O sweetest Saviour, who to save and redeem man vouchsafedst to be made man, and to appear in the likeness of sinful flesh; O when, when will that happy hour come, wherein I shall be admitted to behold thy blessed Face, which the Angels in Heaven behold with joy and wonder? When I shall awake up after thy likeness, I shall be satisfied with it, Ps. 17.16. satisfied to the greatest height and fulness of content, when I shall behold that glory thou hadst with the Father before the world was: Joh. 17.5. even so come Lord Jesus come quickly.
MEDITAT. IV. Of the perpetuity of Heavenly joyes.
THe most full enjoyment of all the good things this world affords, is not to be called, or accounted Happiness, because they are not only vain and empty of true satisfaction, but also not permanent and lasting: To every purpose under the Sun tending towards satisfaction and [Page 317]happiness there is time and judgment, Eccl. 8.6. a Time limited for its prosecution and enjoyment, and Judgment also shall pass upon the actions relating thereunto: it must needs follow, therefore the misery of man is great upon him.
But the good things of Heaven are durable, permanent and lasting, hereunto shall no Time succeed, no Judgment follow.
And this must needs be joy; because celestial joy consists as in the blissful vision of God, so in an assimilation to him: for just men made perfect, are immutable in their perfection and felicity by beholding him who is unchangeable: so the Apostle, [Page 318] We all as in a Glass, beholding the Glory of the Lord,2 Cor. 3.18are changed into the same Image from Glory to Glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
The Moon and the Stars receive their light from the Sun, and become like unto him, by being opposite, and in a sort beholding the Suns bright face: So the pure Souls in Heaven by seeing God who is the Light of lights, are from him enlightened and made like unto him. So saith the beloved Apostle: Beloved, now are we the Sons of God, 1 Joh. 3.2.and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know when he shall appear, we shall be made like him, for we shall see him as he is: And that is not as now in a glass darkly, 1 Cor. 13.12.but face to face, i.e. as fully as our measure will contain, our proportion bear, and our degree in Grace require.
That the inheritance of Heaven is for ever, is manifest from the dearness of its purchase: it cost no less than the precious blood of the Son of God: how then shall that life of Glory ever fail or fade away, since the Lord of life himself vouchsafed to dye for its acquisition and purchase?
Shall not then my heart be fixed where such lasting joyes are to be found? And thither my heart must first be sent by way of Harbinger, before my person can arrive there: I must now have my conversation in Heaven, before I can have my consummation there: I must now be heavenly minded, or else never hope to be admitted into the joys of Heaven.
But O the heavy burden of my sins! These do depress and weigh down the mind, and make her affections grovel in the dust: And yet even these shall not hinder thy ascent into Heaven, if thou tread them under thy [Page 320]feet: For every sin, and vanity trodden down, Gen. 28.12. subdued and mortified is one step, one scale or round of that celestial Ladder, which being set upon the earth reacheth up unto Heaven: which the Angels of heaven rejoyce to behold. Luc. 15.7.
And may the right hand of God assist me to lay aside every weight, Heb. 12.1,and the sin that doth so easily beset me, and to run with patience the race that is set before me.
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our Faith, 2.who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, and despised the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the Throne of God.
Blessed Lord, who hast made me after thine own Image to attain the perfection and felicity of my Being in the beatifical vision and fruition of thy Majesty in heaven, vouchsafe here to guide me with thy Counsel and after that to receive me with glory through the merits and mediation of thy blessed Son and my dearest Saviour Jesus Christ—
Our Father which art in, &c.
The XXIV. Psalm, PARAPHRASED.
verse 1 THe earth is the Lords and all that therein is, the compass of the world, and they that dwell therein: The heavens are the Lords chief dwelling place, the earth and all the nations thereof he hath given to his Son Jesus as he is Redeemer of the world: as Ps. 2.8. Desire of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession.
verse 2 For he hath founded it upon the seas, and prepared it upon the flouds: As God hath so wisely ordered the earth, and the water, that the one may refresh, not overflow the other: so he hath founded his Church upon a rock above the flouds of secular cares and turmoils, and all the rising waves of this worlds vast sea, which is signified by the scituation of his Temple on a hill: And
verse 3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord, or who shall rise up (or stand) [Page 322] in his holy place? who is he that shall be qualified to appear and stand in the presence of God, and to joyn with his people in that solemn worship which in his holy Temple is exhibited unto him? Such a one is also qualified to ascend and raise up his Soul to those mountains of joy in the celestial Sion.
verse 4 He that hath clean hands: The works of whole hands are clean from all injustice and impurity, and washed with the tears of true penitence from the filth of all former pollutions: And a pure heart, to all outward an inward holiness is required, which consists in the purity of the heart, viz. to be pure from all sordid and vile affections, to be sincere and without hypocrisie in all Religious performances: that hath not lift up his mind to vanity, who follows not those pomps and vanities of this wicked world which he once so solemnly renounced: nor sworn to deceive his neighbour, that will not say, much less swear an untruth, nor yet break his word, especially when confirmed with an oath. Such is the holiness, and innocence that entitles a people [Page 323]to the presence of God in his Temple upon earth, and in his House in heaven, 1 the holiness of the heart, 2. of the hands, 3. of the tongue; or Holiness in thought, word, and deed.
verse 5 He shall receive the blessing from the Lord: The blessings of the Lord shall descend upon him, when he ascends into the hill of the Lord: and righteousness or mercy in the pardon of his sins, or the reward of righteousness, i. e. Salvation not of or from himself, or from any but from the God of his Salvation.
verse 6 This is the generation of them that seek him: these are those holy and happy people, who so faithfully seek the Lord, that they find him, viz. in grace here, in glory hereafter, which is the double blessing of them that seek thy face, O Jacob: All that be true Israelites indeed thus make their holy and humble addresses to the God of Jacob for his grace and favour.
verse 7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates, or, lift up your gates, O ye Heads, or Princes of the heavenly Hierusalem: and be ye lift up ye everlasting doors [Page 324]which open the passages to life everlasting: and the King of glory shall come in: he who hath vanquished and gloriously triumphed over the gates of everlasting death, over all the spirits and powers of darkness, is ascended to open the gates of the kingdom of heaven to all Believers.
verse 8 Who is the King of glory? in whose glorious conquests we may glory, and in whose righteousness we may make our boast? it is the Lord strong and mighty: who although he submitted himself to be betray'd, apprehended, arraigned and condemned to death, yet is he even the Lord mighty in battle, who naked and unarmed, hath vanquished by his sufferings: and by his death overcome death, and him who hath the power of death the Devil: for which victory he rides in Triumph upon the clouds of Heaven: and therefore
verse 9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates of the celestial paradise, which have been shut against the sons of men from the fall of the first Adam: and be ye lift up ye everlasting doors: Raise up your selves ye immortal souls, open and be enlarged in your desires and [Page 325]affections unto him who hath opened unto you the everlasting doors of glory: and the King of glory shall come in: He who is ascended, will also descend into you, if pure and heavenly minded, and thither enwrap and raise you whither himself is gone before: if yet for your further satisfaction you desire to know.
verse 10 Who is the King of glory: by whose triumphant ascent into Heaven we believe and hope thither to ascend also? It is even the Lord of hosts, he who hath the command of all the powers of Heaven, Earth, and Hell, who hath the command especially of all the powers and operations, vertues and graces of the Holy Spirit of God, and dispenseth them accordingly unto all that love and fear his name: He is the King of glory: he is glorious indeed above all, and God over all blessed for ever: and therefore to him, as is most meet, be all glory ascribed.
The LXXXIV. Psalm, PARAPHRASED.
verse 1 O How amiable are thy dwellings, especially in the high and holy place, thou Lord of Hosts, even of the numerous troops of Angels and Archangels, and of all the powers of Heaven!
verse 2 My soul hath a desire, which is more than ordinary, 'tis a longing even to a separation from its self, to enter into the Courts of the Lord, to view those several Mansions of glory, and the blissful condition wherein all the Courtiers of the King of Heaven do praise him for ever: my heart and my flesh when subdued to the spirit rejoyce in the living God: there's no joy like the joy of his presence who giveth life, and a heart to pant and breath after the joys of life eternal.
verse 3 The sparrow hath found her a house, and the swallow a nest where to lay her young, even thy Altars: And O that my Soul could mount as doth the [Page 327]Sparrow upon her wings with inflamed affections after the pleasures of thy house, and that my flesh might be instrumental to my Soul in bringing forth the fruits of the Spirit, to be sacrific'd upon the Altar of Praise and Thanksgiving unto thee, O Lord of hosts my King and my God, whom alone I desire to adore, worship and obey.
verse 4 Blessed are they here in hope, hereafter in fruition, who dwell in thy house of Grace below, of Glory above: They will alwayes be praising thee: 'Tis our principal errand to the house of God upon earth, and shall be our only employment in his house of Heaven always to praise the Lord.
But we of thy house and family here below, like the young birds near thine Altar are unfledged, and empent in the nest of this corruptible body which weigheth down the Soul, so that mount to Heavenward we cannot without the divine assistance; therefore
verse 5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee, who derives strength of Grace from thee to praise and glorifie [Page 328]thee, and this not only with their mouths, but in whose heart are thy ways, cordially resolving and uprightly walking in the wayes of thy service, and of their own salvation.
verse 6 Who going through the vale of misery, in their pilgrimage through the miseries of this sinful life below, use it for a Well, even the deep fountain of a broken heart, from whence the Pools are filled with water, the eyes flow with tears of that godly sorrow which worketh Repentance unto Salvation not to be repented.
verse 7 They will go from strength to strength, from one degree of grace to another, adding to Faith Vertue, to Vertue Knowledge, to Knowledge Temperance, to Temperance Patience, to Patience Godliness, to Godliness Brotherly kindness, and to Brotherly kindness Charity, 2 Pet. 1.5. Ʋnto the God of gods appeareth every one of them in Sion, each person thus qualified shall appear in the presence of the supreme Majesty of Heaven: which being the felicity whereunto I am created, and earnestly long for, I therefore humbly beg
verse 8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer, thou art the Donor of all those powerful Graces which mount up our Souls to Heaven; and the Lord of all those hosts of Heaven amongst whom my Soul longeth to be enroll'd: Hearken O God of Jacob: assist me in all my wrestlings with my ghostly enemies, that I may prevail and obtain thy blessing, which is to be call'd Israel: Seeing God the felicity of Heaven.
verse 9 Behold, O God, our Defender against all the crafts and assaults of the Devil, the world and the flesh: Look upon the face of thine anointed our blessed Redeemer sitting on thy right hand, and interceeding for us: and may the sacred beams of his celestial light shine in our hearts and appear in the holiness and righteousness of our lives; that going from strength to strength we may appear before the Lord in Sion.
verse 10 For one day in thy Courts amongst the Quires of Heaven, where the day is but one, as knowing no morrow day, is better than a thousand of the fliting transitory dayes of this mortal life.
verse 11 I had rather be a door-keeper, lye at the threshold, submit to the lowest condition in the house of my God, the place where his Honor dwelleth who is the God of my worship and joy: than to dwell in the tents of ungodliness, be conversant amongst the ungodly of this world, in the most splendid condition with all the delights of the sons of men: for 'tis not all the pomp and glory, all the pleasures and treasures of this life can give any solid satisfaction to the vast desires of my immortal Soul.
verse 12 For the Lord is a light and defence, a light for direction in the way of peace, and a defence for perfection, against all whomsoever, or whatsoever might disturb the innocence and peace of my Soul. He will give grace and worship, Grace to serve him truly here, and Worship or Glory to crown our services hereafter: and no good thing will he withhold from them that lead as godly life: who truly love and fear God, and wait for his promises in the obedience of his precepts shall enjoy all that is truly good, or conducible to their eternal happiness in heaven: And therefore
verse 13 O Lord God of hosts, blessed is the man that putteth his trust in thee: not roving in his hopes and desires after the exterior empty, transitory consolations of the creature, but among the sundry and manifold changes of the world hath his heart surely fixed there, where true joyes are to be found, which is alone in the presence of the God of Heaven: where all do rejoyce together and sing for ever
AS an Earnest of this everlasting joy and felicity,
One thing have I desired of the Lord, which I will require: Ps. 27.4. even that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the fair beauty of the Lord and to visit his Temple.
A MEDITATION Upon the VOW in BAPTISM, Out of S. Chrysostome de Martyribus, SERM. II.
The Covenant is to be a member of Christ, a child of God, and an heir of Heaven; or, the Covenant of Grace and Salvation: the Condition is to renounce the Devil, and all his works, the pomps— the Warfare thou hast undertaken, is manfully to fight under the banner of Christ against [Page 334]these ghostly enemies; to this end thy Christian name is enroll'd amongst the musters of the Church Militant, wherein thou hast promised to continue Christs faithful servant and souldier, unto thy lifes end.
The price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus is not to be obtained but by contest with, and mastery over all our ghostly adversaries. Rev. 2.7, 17, 26. & ch. 3.5. To him that overcometh only is the promise made.
Rowse up then thy self thou secure and slothful Christian: stir up the Grace of God within thee, and which was communicated unto thee, when first by holy Baptism thou wast enlisted a Christian soldier under the Captain of our Salvation: draw not back thy foot from the combate, but take courage, and put thy self on manfully to resist the Devil and all his works [Page 335]of temptation unto sin: Thou needest not to be afraid of all his fiery darts, for these cannot pierce, but when enflamed by the fire of thine own concupiscence, Covetousness and Pride, or the Pomps and vanities of this wicked world, with Luxury and Voluptuousness, or the sinful lusts of the flesh; these are the weapons wherewithal the enemy wars against the Soul: By the stedfast belief of all the Articles of the holy Christian Faith, and a constant obedience to God's holy will and Commandments, they are renounced, resisted, beaten back, and overcome.
This thou hast solemnly vowed in the open face of Christs Church, whosoever thou be that art rightly called Christian: and though thy Christendome was not thus right, Orthodox and Legal, yet this must be performed, if thou wilt be, or being, continue within the Covenant of Grace to the eternal Salvation of thy Soul.
Raise up, O Lord, we pray thee, thy power, and come amongst us, and with great might succour us; [Page 336]that whereas through our sins and wickedness we are sore let and hindred in running the race that is set before us, by thy bountiful grace and mercy we may be enabled to withstand the temptations of the Devil, the world, and the flesh, and with pure hearts and minds to follow thee the only God through Jesus Christ our Lord —
MEDITATION Of the Cure of the Soul before that of the Body.
THere is a vast difference betwixt the Soul and Body in the dignity of their nature: the Soul is of a heavenly descent and original; but the body is of earthly mould and making: the Soul is framed by the hands of the Almighty, after his own Image; but the Body is begotten of earthly parents, after the likeness of sinful flesh: the Soul is of the same nature with the Angels of Heaven; but [Page 337]the Body is of kind and constitution with the beasts of the earth: the Soul being the infusion of Heaven, represents the beauties and perfections of the most high and holy God; but the Body being the result of carnal copulation, assimilates only the fading shadows of beauty in irrational beings: Lastly, whatever beauty, strength, motion or Life it self the Body enjoys, is by the vertue, vigor, and actuation of the Soul which manifests its immortality, and separate subsistence from the dying Body.
Very pertinent then is that question of S. Augustine to fond senseless man: Laboras ut non moriatur homo meriturus: & non laboras nè peccet in aeternum victurus? Why art thou so solicitous to preserve the body from death, which must dye, and dost not endeavour rather to preserve from sin thy Soul which will live for ever?
If but a finger of the Body ach, 'tis bemoaned and lapt, and every petty sore is salv'd, and carefully kept from the least touch, that may [Page 338]annoy it: and to cure the diseases of the Body no cost or pains is spar'd, the most bitter drugs are swallowed; lancing, burning, fasting, any trouble or torture is willingly endur'd: but the sores of sin are suffered to fester, and the diseases of the Soul are slighted, without any regard had to the devout use of those holy means, which the great Physician of Souls hath prescribed for their recovery.
O remember, and wisely consider, that by how much thy Soul transcends thy Body in purity of nature, and dignity of condition, by so much thy spiritual diseases are more mischievous, and destructive, than any bodily distempers can be.
The ilness of the Body tends only to the disanimation of the corruptible flesh: but the maladies of the Soul render her both loathsome in the eyes of God, and all good men, and also obnoxious to the Second death, the unsupportable torments of the nether hell.
O that the blessed Spirit of God would vouchsafe to anoint the eyes [Page 339]of my mind with the eye-salve of celestial grace, Rev. 3.18. that mine eyes may be opened to see mine own vileness and nakedness, and to discover all the sad distempers of my Soul: to see them in their stain, guilt and pollution, in the loathsome and destructive nature of them: that seeing I may wash them with my tears, lance them with the knife of holy Mortification, rip them up by Confession, and lay them open to the view of the great lover of Souls: and pray
Arise, blessed Jesus, Mal. 4.2. Arise thou Sun of righteousness, upon my darkned diseased Soul, with healing in thy wings: whither shall I fly for spiritual health, but to the God of the spirits of all flesh, Num. 16.22. 1 Sam. 2.6 Ps. 147 3.who killeth and maketh alive, who bringeth down to the gates of death, and bringeth up again, who healeth those that are broken in heart, and giveth medicine to heal their sickness? Whither shall I go for health and salvation, but to the Saviour of the world, who came to visit the sons of men, when sick in sin, and sick unto death the wages [Page 340]of sin, who is both our Physician and our physick, both our Doctor and healing medicine: who after a wonderful manner, has made a salve for the sores of sin, of his own stripes, and wounds, and bloud? Through Faith in this bloud, intermixt with my penitent tears, will I bathe my diseased Soul and ever pray by these stripes to be healed. 1 Pet. 2.24
I said, and I will ever say it, whilst I have a day to live: Ps. 41.4. Lord, be merciful unto me, and heal my Soul, for I have sinned against thee.
MEDITATION Upon the Tears of the devout Soul.
MY Tears have been my meat day and night: Ps. 84.6. this present life is to the truly devout Christian a valley of Tears, whose broken heart is the Well from whence the Pools are filled with water, the eyes with Tears; wherewithal the religious soul is fed and fatned as is the body with meats and drinks.
These Soul-saving waters are of two sorts; 1. Such as flow from the heart wounded with the love of Christ, and enflamed with desires of a nearer and more immediate union and communion with the Triune God: saying, Ps. 42.2. My Soul is a thirst for God, even the living God, when shall I come to appear before the presence of God? when shall I be so happy, as to see my God, not as now in a glass darkly, but face to face, to the ravishing of my Soul with joy unspeakable and glorious? Or,
2. Such Tears as do flow from the heart pierced with godly sorrow for sin, which separates, and exiles the Soul from God, whilst the Devil and his Angels, insulting dayly say unto me, Where is now thy God? ver. 3.
Both these sorts of Tears S. Augustine humbly beg'd of God under the notion of the upper and lower springs, Jos. 15, 19. both Tears of divine Love, and Devotion to Heaven above; and Tears of godly sorrow for sin upon earth below.
Blessed are they that thus sow in tears, Ps. 126.6,for they shall reap in joy—
He that now goeth on his way of holy Religion, 7. weeping, and beareth good seed, such tears of godly sorrow as bring forth fruits meet for Repentance, shall doubtless come again with joy and bring his sheaves with him, being treasured up in the granary of heaven. Such devout penitents go from strength to strength, adding to their Faith vertue, 2 Pet. 1.5, 6.and to vertue knowledge, to knowledge temperance, to temperance patience, and to patience godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness Charity: Thus they ascend as by steps, and to the God of gods appear every one in Sion.
Blessed Lord, who fashionest the hearts of all the sons of men, and turnest them as the rivers of water; vouchsafe by the celestial influences of thy holy spirit, to turn the stream of my corrupt affections from all the pomps and vanities of this wicked world, and from the sinful lusts of the flesh: Strike the rock of my hard heart, with the rod of thy fatherly correction, that both the upper, and the lower springs [Page 343]may issue thence, and the graces of thy holy Spirit may there spring up to everlasting life. Joh. 4.14.
I am a great sinner, I confess, and O that my heart were so deeply wounded with the sense of my sins, as to lament them with that godly sorrow for sin as worketh repentance unto salvation not to be repented of. 2 Cor. 7.10. Ps. 39.12.
I am a sojourner upon earth as all my fathers were, O pierce my soul with the dart of divine love, to bewail the deadness of my affections towards thee, to lament that I am so much a stranger to my native home of Heaven, that my heart is not surely fixed there where true joys are to be found, but grovels in the dust of worldly vanities; to grieve that I walk in the midst of manifold temptations, and my ghostly enemies do dayly prevail against me, and dayly cast in my teeth my dayly backslidings from the love, and service of my God: But be thou merciful unto me, O Lord: Ps. 41.10.Raise thou me up again, and I shall reward them, by my future conquests over all their temptations.
MEDITATION Of the dwelling of God in the hearts of his People.
WHosoever desires that the Lord would vouchsafe to come unto him, must himself first prepare his heart to come unto God: And this not by Faith alone, but by divine love, and obedience to his most holy Laws: If any man love me he will keep my Sayings, Joh. 14.23.and my father will love him, and we will come unto him and make our abode with him.
How, and when the Lord comes, and abides with us, must be known by the influences and operations of his presence, as the tree by its fruits, or the cause by its effects.
1. God is light, and in him is no darkness at all: 1 Joh. 5.7. and such are the blessed Souls in whom he abides, 1 Thess. 5.5. they are all children of the light, and of the day, not of night, and of darkness: Their understandings are enlightned to [Page 345]know God, both in himself, and in the ways of his service, and of their own Salvation: and this light of their Faith shines before men, in all the good works of Soberness, Righteousness and Godliness to the glory of God the father of lights.
2. God is a consuming fire: Heb. 12.29. and accordingly the Souls possessed by him are purged as with fire from all the sordid lusts of the flesh, and of the world, their affections are purified, the rust of sloth and negligence in the ways of life is scowred off, their hearts as with fire are inflamed with the sacred ardors of divine Love, of a holy and discreet Zeal, of a fervent Devotion in their Prayers unto God, and praises of him, and with earnest defires of a nearer, and a more immediate Communion with his divine Majesty.
3. God is the fountain of living waters, and accordingly where he dwells, Jer. 2.13. he does allay the heat of carnal concupiscence, subdue the inordinate love of riches, quench the fire of [Page 346]strife and contention, of blind Zeal and Faction, and of every exorbitant lust: being in himself a full satisfaction to all the vast desires of the immortal Soul.
As water he satisfieth the desires of all who hunger, and thirst after righteousness, and by the influence of his divine grace, makes the barren ground of the heart to be fruitful unto every good word and work.
4. God is all purity and holiness, goodness and mercy, justice and truth; and in a word, the summary of all perfection and felicity: and therefore all those happy Souls where he dwells, are holy as he is holy, pure as he is pure, merciful as he is merciful, just and good, gracious and long-suffering; and in a word, perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect.
'Tis such divinely enspirited persons, and only such can say with the heavenly inspired Psalmist: I will love thee, O Lord, my strength; the Lord is my stony rock, and my defence, my Saviour, my God, and my might, [Page 347]in whom I will trust, my buckler and the horn of my salvation, and my refuge, Psal. 18.1. and Psal. 27.1. The Lord is my light, and my salvation, whom then shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom then shall I be afraid? and Psal. 28.8. The Lord is my strength and my shield, my heart hath trusted in him and I am helped: therefore my heart danceth for joy, and in my song will I praise him— The Lord is my strength, and he is the wholsom defence of his anointed— O save thy people, and give thy blessing to thine inheritance, feed them, and set them up for ever.
Our Father which art in, &c.
ERRATA.
PAge 3. Line 12. read, shew thou me the way. p. 5. after line 7. adde, From this vain world my affections wein. p. 10. l. 9. r. grant me. p. 14. l. 15. for unto r. out off. p. 24. after l. 8. adde, O holy ghost into my mind: send down thy heavenly light. p. 27. l. ult. dele And. p. 52. l. 2. for hearest r. teachest. p. 63. l. 19. for Love. r. Have. p. 66. l. 5. r. should engage. p. 93. l. 26. for love r. lone. p. 131. l. ult. r. made them. p. 181. l. 18. dele Holy. p. 188. l. 3. for them r. each of these. p. 201. l. penult. for the r. these. p. 317. l. 24. for joy r. so. p. 330. for perfection r. protection.