1. Occasional Meditations, such as are taken up upon any sudden occasion. There is nothing almost doth occur, but we may presently raise some Meditation upon: as a good Herbalist doth extract the Spirits and quintessence out of every herb, so a Christian may from every emergence and occurrence extract matter of Meditation. A ⟨p. 216⟩gracious heart like fire, turns all objects into fuel for Meditation. I shall give you some instances: When you look up to the heavens, and see them richly embroidered with light, you may raise this Meditation, if the Footstool be so glorious, what is the Throne where God himself sits? When you see the Firmament bespangled with Stars, think, what is Christ, The Bright Morning Star? Revelation 22.16. Monica, Austins mother, standing one day, and seeing the Sun shine, raised this Meditation, Oh! If the sun be so bright, what is the Light of Gods presence? When you hear music that Delights the senses, presently raise this Meditation, What music like a good conscience*? This is avis paradist, ⟨p. 217⟩the bird of Paradise within, whose chirping melody doth enchant and ravish the soul with joy; he that hath this music all day, may take Davids Pillow at night and say, with that sweet singer, I will lay me down in peace and sleep, Psal. 4. 8. How blessed is he that can find heaven in his own bosom? When you are dressing your selves in the morning, awaken your Meditation, think thus, but have I been dressing the hidden man of the heart*? Have I looked my face in the Glass of Gods word? I have put on my clothes, but have I put on Christ? It is reported of Pambo, that seeing a Gentlewoman dressing her self all the morning by her Glass, he fell a weeping: O, saith he, this woman hath spent the morning in dressing her body, and I sometimes spend scarce an hour ⟨p. 218⟩in dressing my soul. When you sit down to dinner, let your Meditation feed upon this first course, how blessed are they that shall eat bread in the Kingdom of God*? What a Royal Feast will that be which hath God for the Founder? What a Love-feast where none shall be admitted but Friends?
1. Ocasional Meditations, such as are taken up upon any sudden occasion. There is nothing almost doth occur, but we may presently raise some Meditation upon: as a good Herbalist doth extract the Spirits and quintessence out of every herb, so a Christian may from every emergence and occurence extract matter of Meditation. A ⟨p. 216⟩gracious heart like fire, turns all objects into fuel for Meditation. I shall give you some instances: When you look up to the heavens, and see them richly imbroidered with light, you may raise this Meditation, if the Footstool be so glorious, what is the Throne where God himself sits? When you see the Firmament bespangled with Stars, think, what is Christ, The Bright Morning Star? Revelation 22.16. Monica, Austins mother, standing one day, and seeing the Sun shine, raised this Meditation, Oh! If the sun be so bright, what is the Light of Gods presence? When you hear musick that Delights the sences, presently raise this Meditation, What musick like a good conscience*? This is avis paradist, ⟨p. 217⟩the bird of Paradise within, whose chirping melody doth inchant and ravish the soul with joy; he that hath this musick all day, may take Davids Pillow at night and say, with that sweet singer, I will lay me down in peace and sleep, Psal. 4. 8. How blessed is he that can finde heaven in his own bosom? When you are dressing your selves in the morning, awaken your Meditation, think thus, but have I been dressing the hidden man of the heart*? Have I looked my face in the Glass of Gods word? I have put on my cloaths, but have I put on Christ? It is reported of Pambo, that seeing a Gentlewoman dressing her self all the morning by her Glasse, he fell a weeping: O, saith he, this woman hath spent the morning in dressing her body, and I sometimes spend scarce an hour ⟨p. 218⟩in dressing my soul. When you sit down to dinner, let your Meditation feed upon this first course, how blessed are they that shall eat bread in the Kingdom of God*? What a Royall Feast will that be which hath God for the Founder? What a Love-feast where none shall be admitted but Friends?
- *[Greek or Hebrew]. Ignoepist. ad Philadelph.〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Ignoepist. ad Philadelph.
- *1 Pet. 3.4.
- *Lu. 14.15
