292 SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63.
thoughts. (2.) Enforcing reasons, when we pitch upon one matter, and inculcate it, and whet it upon the soul according to our present distress and exigencies, which is a pleading with our own hearts from the main design and end of the duty.
2. It is not good to skip from matter to matter hastily ; partly be- cause a light touch leaves very little impression, and therefore, as long as milk cometh, suck on the breasts of consolation. Hold reason and faith to its work ; when things drop thus on their own accord, they are sweetest, as life-honey that drops of itself from the comb, or as marrow, that the bone droppeth of its own accord ; as the Iamb sucks the dam's dugs till they cease dropping. When thoughts come, freely entertain them. Partly because we cannot think of all at once ; one thought would but intrude and thrust out another ere we have received comfort and profit, and in a throng and crowd of thoughts there is little good done. And besides it would draw a tediousness upon the soul if every time we should renew the same thoughts ; God appointed this variety for our relief, not our burden.
3. There must be a wise choice in such variety of matter according to your necessities and wants : Job v. 27, ' Hear it, and know thou it for thy good.' Things that nearly concern us do most affect us, and thoughts in season are most affecting ; while we are here in the world we are always humbled with some present want. Now these wants are known by search and trial, and therefore is examination appointed us a preparative to receiving, that we may know our wants.
Case 2. Is it good to bind ourselves to such or such a meditation ? Will not this hinder much sweetness, which we should otherwise reap by the duty ? and will it not exclude other thoughts which God by his spirit might raise up in our minds ? and so we shall defraud ourselves of much sweetness and comfort in the duty. To this I answer —
1. In every particular duty a christian should have one main parti- cular aim, either the removing of such a doubt the relieving of such a want, the beating down of such a corruption, or the receiving of such a grace. Upon a trial you will find some special need for the supply of which you wait upon God. And there are several reasons why it is good for a christian to be thus particular ; partly because it discovers sincerity, and prevents much guile ; partly because one case may be best managed and carried on at one time, either in prayer, by wrestling with God, or in meditation by argument and pleading with ourselves ; partly because the comfort and success will be most sensible, as a needle that toucheth but in one point entereth sooner than a blunt thick piece of iron that toucheth many, so particular things are most sensible, and leave a quicker and smarter sense upon the soul ; partly because when you are thus particular it will make you come with fresh and renewed affections. It is good to drive on this main care, and the bent and design of your thoughts must run that way : 2 Cor. xii. 8, ' And for this thing I besought the Lord thrice that it might depart from me.'
2. God usually comes in over and above our aims and expectations : Eph. iii. 20, ' He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.' Solomon asked wisdom, and God gave him riches and honour in great abundance. Jacob desired of God to be kept in the way, and God made him two bands. The prodigal comes with a
SEIJMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 6.J. 293
modest request, Make me a hired servant, and the father puts on him the best robe, and entertains him with the fatted calt'. We seek to subdue such a hist, and the Lord comes in with an overflow of comfort. He would have such a doubt removed, and it may be the Lord comes in with a high tide of sensible appearance to his soul and increase of grace.
3. You should do in the Lord's supper as in prayer. You meditate in prayer, but not to exclude supervenient thoughts and sudden motions ; so here, you meditate on your own wants and needs, and leave the Spirit to his free assistance. When we use the most prudent course, it is no straitening to the Spirit of God. In all preparations we leave ourselves at a liberty to receive his free breathings and coming into our souls. We keep matter ready at hand to kindle om- thoughts to feed our confessions and petitions, so it is good to keep matter ready at hand to feed our meditations, and to drive on the main care, waitino; for supervenient assistances.
Case 3. Whether there be required of a christian a fixing of the soul in a steady view and contemplation of God in quietness and silence, without any variety of discourse ? Or whether God doth now raise and heighten the soul to a sole act of vision and intuition without any discourse, or the traverses of reason, in the supper or any other ordinance ?