N00655:40
The way to excel. Meditations, awakened by the death of the Reverend Mr. Joshua…
The way to excel. Meditations, awakened by the death of the Reverend Mr. Joshua Moodey; with some short character of that eminent person: who slept in Jesus, 4d. 5.m. 1697. In the sixty fifth year of his age. / By Cotton Mather. ; [Six lines from Joshua]
printed by B. Green, 1697
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
V. An Heart much Affected with the Lord JESUS CHRIST, will procure the Face of an Angel, ⟨p. 23⟩unto the man, who hath an Heart so affected. Unto the Angels, there is nothing so precious, & nothing so glorious, as the Lord JESUS CHRIST; yea, 'tis our CHRIST, that makes the best part of their Heaven for them. Our Lord JESUS CHRIST, is, as the Apostle Enumerates it among the Mysteries and Evidences of our Faith, in 1 Tim. 3.16. Seen of Angels. But how Seen? Truly, Seen with Wonders, and Seen with Raptures, and Seen with Endless Hallelujahs. Would we be Like the Angels? Then Let our Lord JESUS CHRIST be Seen by us, as the Best Thing in Heaven and Earth, and as infinitely Better than the very Angels themselves. At the Incarnation of our Lord JESUS CHRIST. What were the Songs of Angels? in Luk. 2.14. There was a multitude of the Heavenly Host, praising of God, and saying, Glory to God in the Highest! Would we be like the Angels? Let us then join in a Consort with those Morning Stars, and Sons of God. It was with Joy Unspeakable and full of Glory, that the Angels attended upon our Lord JESUS CHRIST, f••st throughout His Humiliation, and then, unto His Exaltation Let the whole of That, be the most Ravishing Subject of our Contemplation; Let us Love to see our Lord JESUS CHRIST, first Suffering, and then Entering into His Glory. And let our Acclamations, be like those of the Angels, upon those marvellous Dispensations of the Grace of God! When the Angels do Look on the Lord JESUS CHRIST, they are Covered with Astonishment, and cry out, O ⟨p. 24⟩Holy, Holy, Holy Lord of Hosts, all Heaven, is full of thy Glory! And shall not we so Look on that our Lord of Glory? When the Angels do Speak of our Lord JESUS CHRIST, they make a most Reverent mention of His Holy and Reverend Name, and say, Oh! there is none among the Sons of the Mighty, that may be compared unto this Lord. And shall not we so speak of that Great King, with a Tongue, like the Pen of a Ready Writer? Something of Christ, the Angels must have; they would think themselves to be Starved, if they had not this Manna to Feed upon! Sirs, Let the Meat of our Souls be the Fruit growing on this Tree of Life; & Let the Drink of our Souls be, the Honey of this Rock: This is the daily Repast of Angels; This Nourishment will Angelify us in a little while. What shall I say?