Thirdly, for the reformation of our thoughts we must ⟨p. 185⟩often use elevation of mind and heart to heaven, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of his father. Thus did David unto thee, aoh Lord, do I lift up my soul: And Paul, saying of himself & other Christians, bthat they had their conversation in heaven, signifieth thus much, that not only their studies and meditations, but also their dealings in the world were heavenly. S. Jamesc bids us, draw near to God, now which way should a poor wretch here below, draw near to God, but by lifting up his heart to the throne of grace in heaven, that so God in mercy may draw near unto him by grace? The Lord hath instituted in his Church the use of his last supper, wherein the ⟨p. 186⟩giving and receiving of bread and wine doth represent and seal up unto us our communion and participation of the body and blood of Christ given for our redemption: Now the principal action on our behalf therein required, is this Elevation of the heart unto God, as well for the contemplation of Gods infinite mercy in Christ, & of Christs endless love to us, as for the application of his merits to our own souls by the hand of faith, as also for the spiritual resignation of ourselves in souls and bodies, by way of thankfulness, to him that hath redeemed us. Further touching this Elevation we must remember, that it ought to be our continual and ordinary action unto God: for ⟨p. 187⟩as it is with him that keeps a clock, unless he do every day wind up the weights, which are always going downward, the clock will stand; so it fareth with us; our hearts are ever drawing towards the earth, and the things here below, by reason of that body of sin dwhich hangeth on so fast, and presseth down; and therefore we must endeavour by Gods grace continually to lift them up to heaven: The Apostle bids us,e pray continually, not that we should do nothing else but pray, but his meaning is, that we should every day, and every part of the day so oft as just occasion is offered, lift up our hearts unto God. But of all other, there be three especial times wherein we ⟨p. 188⟩must use this heavenly Elevation: first in the morning, by prayer, thanksgiving, or both, before the cogitations of any earthly affairs come into our minds, that so we may give unto God the first fruits of our thoughts every day.
Thirdly, for the reformation of our thoughts wee must ⟨p. 185⟩often vse eleuation of minde and heart to heauen, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of his father. Thus did Dauid vnto thee, aoh Lord, doe I lift vp my soule: And Paule, saying of himselfe & other Christians, bthat they had their conversation in heauen, signifieth thus much, that not onely their studies and meditations, but also their dealings in the worlde were heauenly. S. Iamesc bids vs, drawe neere to God, nowe which way should a poore wretch here below, drawe neere to God, but by lifting vp his heart to the throne of grace in heauen, that so God in mercie may drawe neere vnto him by grace? The Lord hath instituted in his Church the vse of his last supper, wherein the ⟨p. 186⟩giuing and receiuing of bread and wine doth represent and seale vp vnto vs our communion and participation of the bodie and blood of Christ giuen for our redemption: Now the principall action on our behalfe therein required, is this Eleuation of the heart vnto God, as well for the contemplation of Gods infinite mercie in Christ, & of Christs endlesse loue to vs, as for the application of his merits to our owne soules by the hand of faith, as also for the spirituall resignation of ourselues in soules and bodies, by way of thankfulnes, to him that hath redeemed vs. Further touching this Eleuation wee must remember, that it ought to be our continuall and ordinarie action vnto God: for ⟨p. 187⟩as it is with him that keepes a clocke, vnlesse hee doe euery day winde vp the weights, which are alwaies going downeward, the clocke will stand; so it fareth with vs; our hearts are euer drawing towards the earth, and the thinges heere below, by reason of that bodie of sinne dwhich hangeth on so fast, and presseth downe; and therefore wee must endeauour by Gods grace continually to lift them vp to heauen: The Apostle bids vs,e pray continually, not that wee should doe nothing else but pray, but his meaning is, that wee should euery day, and euery part of the day so oft as iust occasion is offered, lift vp our hearts vnto God. But of all other, there be three especiall times wherein wee
- aPsal. 25. 1.
- bPhilip. 3. 20
- cJames. 4▪ •Iames. 4▪ •
- dHeb. •2. •.
- e1. Thess. 5. ••
