(3d.) For remarkable providences, when God casteth us upon such objects as stir up special veneration and reverence, as some marvellous events, or creatures that discover his wisdom and glory, or sudden death of one near us, it is of excellent use while such experiences are warm to go home and consider of them ; as Waldo, a rich merchant of Lyons, was conversing with a friend, and he fell down dead, and presently he went home, and thought of the uncertainty of life, and the necessity of providing for a future state, and God blessed these thoughts for his conversion. Or else the sad falls of a person eminent for religion, when we see some glorious star fall like lightning from heaven, these are accidents that must not be passed over without some mark and consideration, and then God doth as it were call you off from your usual thoughts.
{4ith.) The present exigence of the Spirit. Choose that which is season- able, and what suits with your own case ; a sermon works more forcibly when it is seasonable. Thus David : Ps. xciv. 19, ' In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.' He means his sad thoughts ; it was an advantage to him then to solace himself with those comforts God had provided. The scripture useth this similitude of rain upon new-mown grass. Kain when it comes season-
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ably refresheth the grass and causes it to spring up, which, otherwise would be burnt up with the drought and heat of the season ; so the soul would be parched with a temptation if it be not watered with seasonable thoughts. But I have spoken to this point before.
But you will say, What is the method that we should use ?
Ans. Though I cannot exactly prescribe it, yet give me leave to advise —
(1.) For those that are wholly to begin this duty, it is best first to meditate about meditation, the nature, use, and excellency of it, and how they may carry it on with success ; it is a good preparative to the whole work. I do direct you to this course, because this is that which the soul standeth in need of ; this will lay a charge and necessity upon the soul. As to pray is a good preparative to prayer, so to meditate on meditation is a good preparative to meditation. To quicken you, con- sider the motives alleged, and when you have done all, say, 0 soul ! do but go and try ! 0 Lord ! help me, and keep this up in the thoughts of thy servant!
(2.) For the general method, it is good to keep the method of the Spirit. The method of meditation should follow that of God's dispen- sation : John xvi. 8, 'When the Spirit is come, he shall reprove the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment.' First begin with sin, which is more easy and familiar to the understanding ; it is good to lay the foundation of all in the mortifying and purgative way ; and then go to righteousness, and after the extermination of sin we shall be fitter to enter- tain the love of God, and then go to judgment. Take another method ; first consider the great end of man, that you may come to yourselves ; then the evil of sin, that you may bemoan and avoid it ; then the miseries of the world, or the vanity of the creature, that you may con- temn it ; then the horrors of death, the severity of judgment, the tor- ment of hell, that you may prevent it ; then the excellences of Christ, the privileges of the godly, the rare contrivance of the gospel ; then of providence, of heaven, of God and his attributes, his power, his wisdom, his eternity, &c., with suitable scriptures for each of these.
2. For the manner how you must work upon these objects.
[1.] There must be pregnant thoughts and apprehensions. Deep consideration begins the work ; you must set your hearts to consider the subject, for when the heart is once set, these thoughts through the blessing of God will come in freely. It is often spoken in scripture of setting our hearts to seek the Lord ; when the heart is set for prayer, God comes in with a great enlargement ; so when the heart is set to consider, you will have serious and solemn thoughts. If vain thoughts trouble you and interpose, yet still set the heart and go on ; as a man in a journey, though dogs come out and bark upon him, he rideth on ; to run after every cur would be a great hindrance and diversion ; so if you stand quarrelling with ever vain thought, you lose your purpose, and so the devil will gain that by a reflex act which you seek to reject in a direct act ; as criers in a court in calling for silence many times make the greatest noise. Mr Greenham was wont to lift up his heart in a short ejaculation, and so go on.
[2.] There are serious enforcements and rational inculcations. Things barely propounded do not work ; it is by lively reasons they are whetted