A77360:786
Christ and the covenant the work and way of meditation
Christ and the covenant the work and way of meditation. : Gods return to the soul, or nation; together with his preventing mercy. : Delivered in ten sermons, (viz.) 1. Christs personal excellencies, the object of our love. 2. Christ crucified, the object of our faith. 3. The new covenant of grace opened. 4. Christ the mediator of the new covenant. 5. The way and spirit of the new covenant, or New Testament. 6. The blood of sprinkling. 7. The sweetness and profitableness of divine meditation. 8. The work and way of this meditation. 9. Gods return to the soul and nation. 10. Preventing mercy. / By W.B.
London: printed for N. Ranew, 1667
Sermons › Sermon 7: The Sweetness and Profitableness of Divine Meditation. SERM. VII.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And Secondly, be sure of this, That you meditate, not in a way of Reason only, when you come to meditate on God, but in a way of Faith. For, Who can give the Reason of the Trinity in Unity, and the Unity in Trinity? How can men know and understand this, that the Second Person should be begotten of the Father from all Eternity, and yet be co-equal with the Father: here Reason halts. Saith one truly, Dispute not with G•d, lest you •e confounded; Dispute not with Satan, lest y•u be overcome. And I say, If you would not fail and miscarry in your work of Meditation, be sure that when you are to meditate on God, ⟨p. 434⟩the Nature, the Names, the Attributes of God, that then your meditation be carried on in a way of Faith, and not of Reason only.
And Secondly, be sure of this, That you meditate, not in a way of Reason only, when you come to meditate on God, but in a way of Faith. For, Who can give the Reason of the Trinity in Unity, and the Unity in Trinity? How can men know and understand this, that the Second Person should be begotten of the Father from all Eternity, and yet be co-equal with the Father: here Reason halts. Saith one truly, Dispute not with G•d, lest you •e c•nfounded; Dispute not with Satan, lest y•u be overcome. And I say, If you would not fail and miscarry in your work of Meditation, be sure that when you are to meditate on God, ⟨p. 434⟩the Nature, the Names, the Attributes of God, that then your meditation be carryed on in a way of Faith, and not of Reason only.
3. And then be sure of this, that you never think of God out of Christ: I thought upon God and was troubled, saith the Psalmist, Why? he did not think of Christ too. I thought upon God and was troubled. I, but think upon God in Christ, and you will not be troubled: Never think of God but in Christ: Tis an horrible thing, saith Luther, to think of God out of Christ. This is the first thing, in case that you would meditate on God, the Nature, the Names, and Attributes of God; divide your thoughts, meditate in a way of Faith, and not in a way of Reason—and never think of God out of Christ.