A77360:892
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 8: The Work and Way of Meditation. SERM. VIII.
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.
4. By this work of Meditation, you shall have a Testimony in your own Souls, that you are truly godly. Every man is what he is most in private. A good mans work lies most under-ground, lies most out of sight. In the time of Moses, the beasts were clean that chewed the Cud, and unclean that did not chew the Cud. In the time of David, 'tis made the Description of a godly man, He delighteth in the Law of the Lord, and therein doth he meditate. Hereby then, you shall have a testimony in your own hearts, that you are truly godly. But you shall not only have a testimony that you are truly godly, but practise it, and thereby you shall be very godly: for the more constant you are in godliness, the more godly you are. By the work of Meditation, you will be constant in the work of Godliness— The more extensive your godliness ⟨p. 458⟩is, the more godly you are: Now by meditation, you can extend your thoughts, beyond your hands: As by sinful musings, a man can extend his thoughts beyond his power to practice; so by meditation on God and the things of God, a man may extend his thoughts concerning godliness, beyond his power to act — As in sin, a man by his thoughts may be naught where he hath not an outward power to be naught; so by holy meditation, a man may be good where he hath not a power in his hand to practise. The Psalmist saith, in the 45th. Psalm, The Kings Daughter is all glorious within, her garment is of wrought gold, vers. 13. Her clothing is of wrought gold, is not that glorious? clothing is outward, but saith he, she is all glorious within; 'Tis not the wrought gold without makes her glorious, but she is all glorious within: Though the garment, and though her clothing be of wrought gold, yet her glory lies within. Here lies the glory of a Christian, to be glorious within:— And how can we have this inward Holiness, Grace, and goodness, and Glory, unless we be versed in this work of Meditation?
4. By this work of Meditation, you shall have a Testimony in your own Souls, that you are truly godly. Every man is what he is most in private. A good mans work lies most under-ground, lies most out of sight. In the time of Moses, the beasts were clean that chewed the Cud, and unclean that did not chew the Cud. In the time of David, 'tis made the Description of a godly man, He delighteth in the Law of the Lord, and therein doth he meditate. Hereby then, you shall have a testimony in your own hearts, that you are truly godly. But you shall not only have a testimony that you are truly godly, but practise it, and thereby you shall be very godly: for the more constant you are in godliness, the more godly you are. By the work of Meditation, you will be constant in the work of Godliness— The more extensive your godliness