2 Fixedly and seriously meditate on them; first, he must treasure up these 1Jewels in his heart, and then unlock them by meditation; first he must make his Nose-gay, and then smell of it. The Word of God (as I have said) is as a Garden full of excellent Promises, as so many choice flowers. And it is our duty to walk often in this Garden, to gather up all the flowers that lye scattered in it, into several Nose-gays, to bind them together (if I may so speak) with the thread of Faith, and then every day to smell of them. The Promises are the Saints Legacies left them by Christ in his last will and Testament: The Saints are called, the heirs of the Promises, Heb. 6. 17. And if they would be filled full of joy in the day of their distress, they must be frequent in reading these Legacies: The Promises are (as it were) ⟨p. 123⟩the breasts of God, full of the Milk of grace and comfort. And it is our duty to be sucking out (by meditation) the milk of grace and comfort contained in them. That which the Prophet saith of the Church of Christ, may as truly be said of the Promises of Christ. Rejoice O ye people of God, and be glad all ye that have an interest in the Promises; Rejoice for 2joy, all ye that are mourners in Zion; that ye may suck and be satisfied with the breasts of their consolations, that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of joy and comfort contained in them. The Promises are the Saints aqua vitae, (as one calls them) the Saints cordials, the Saints plank, to swim to Heaven upon, the Saints fiery Chariot, to carry them up to Heaven. And the great reason why they walk so uncomfortably, so disconsolately, and so unbelievingly in the time of their tribulation, is because they do not smell of these Nose-gays, ⟨p. 124⟩they do not chew these cordials, they do not read over these spiritual Legacies, they do not by serious meditation and consideration, suck out the comfort comprehended in them. For as fire will not warm us, unless we tarry at it, and a Bee cannot suck out the honey that is in a flower, unless she abide upon it; no more can any child of God receive supportation and consolation from the Promises in the hour of temptation, unless he seriously and solemnly ponder and meditate on them.
2 Fixedly and seriously meditate on them; first, hee must treasure up these 1Jewels in his heart, and then unlock them by meditation; first hee must make his Nose-gay, and then smell of it. The Word of God (as I have said) is as a Garden full of excellent Promises, as so many choice flowers. And it is our duty to walk often in this Garden, to gather up all the flowers that lye scattered in it, into several Nose-gayes, to binde them together (if I may so speak) with the threed of Faith, and then every day to smell of them. The Promises are the Saints Legacies left them by Christ in his last will and Testament: The Saints are called, the heirs of the Promises, Heb. 6. 17. And if they would bee filled full of joy in the day of their distress, they must bee frequent in reading these Legacies: The Promises are (as it were) ⟨p. 123⟩the breasts of God, full of the Milk of grace and comfort. And it is our duty to bee sucking out (by meditation) the milk of grace and comfort contained in them. That which the Prophet saith of the Church of Christ, may as truly bee said of the Promises of Christ. Rejoyce O yee people of God, and bee glad all yee that have an interest in the Promises; Rejoyce for 2joy, all yee that are mourners in Sion; that yee may suck and bee satisfied with the breasts of their consolations, that yee may milk out, and bee delighted with the abundance of joy and comfort contained in them. The Promises are the Saints aqua vitae, (as one calls them) the Saints cordials, the Saints plank, to swim to Heaven upon, the Saints fiery Chariot, to carry them up to Heaven. And the great reason why they walk so uncomfortably, so disconsolately, and so unbeleevingly in the time of their tribulation, is because they do not smell of these Nose-gayes, ⟨p. 124⟩they do not chew these cordials, they do not read over these spiritual Legacies, they do not by serious meditation and consideration, suck out the comfort comprehended in them. For as fire will not warm us, unless wee tarry at it, and a Bee cannot suck out the hony that is in a flower, unless shee abide upon it; no more can any child of God receive supportation and consolation from the Promises in the hour of temptation, unless hee seriously and solemnly ponder and meditate on them.
- 1We must not only make a Catalogue of the Promises, but meditate on them.
- 2Isa. 66.10, 11.
