And for want of this, God's children go limping in their knowledge, and carry the fire of zeal in a flinty heart, which, unless it be hammered, will not yield a spark to warm and cheer their benumbed and frozen afiections towards the worship and service of God, and the hearty embracing of his truth.
By this God's works of creation are slipped over, even ' from the cedar to the hyssop that groweth on the wall,' 1 Kings iv. 33.
The sun, the moon, the stars, shine without admiration ; the sea and the earth, the fowls, fishes, beasts, and man himself, are all esteemed as common matters in nature. Thus God worketh those strange creatures without that gloiy performed which is due, and his children receive not that comfort by the secret meditation of God's creation as they might. * That is, ' slackened beforehand.'— G. t That is, ' roister.'— G.
184
TO THE CHEISTIAN READER.
Hence it proceedeth that they are often in their dumps, fearing as though they enjoyed not the light; whereas if they would meditate and judge aright of their estates, they might find they are the sons of God, and heirs of that rich kingdom most apparently =!= known and established in heaven, and shall suddenly! possess the same, even then most likely when their flesh thinketh it farthest ofl"; as the heir being within a month of his age, maketh such a reckoning of his lands that no careful distress can trouble him. But this consideration being partly through Satan's, and partly through their own dulness and over-stupidness, they fare like men in a swoon, and as it were bereaved of the very life of the Spirit, staggering under the burden of afiliction, stammering in their godly profession, and cleaving sometimes unto the world. Through this they carry Christ's promises like comforts in a box, or as the chirurgeon his salves in his bosom.
Meditation applieth, meditation healeth, meditation instructeth. If thou lovest wisdom and blessedness, meditate in the law of the Lord day and night, and so make use of these Meditations to quicken thee up to duty, and to sweeten thy heart in thy way to the heavenly Jerusalem. Fare- w^ell. — Thy friend,
EZEKIEL CULVERWELL.J
* That is, ' manifestly.' — G. f That is, ' quickly,' == ' soon.' — 6,
X For notice of this profound thinker, see Dr Brown's reprint of ' The Light of Nature,' with Essay hy Dr Cairns ; and of. nur Bibliographical List of editions of Sibbes's Works at end of this volume, under ' Divine Meditations.' — G.
I
DIVINE MEDITATIONS.
1. That man hatli made a good progress in religion that hath a high esteem of the ordinances of God; and though perhaps he find himself dead and dull, yet the best things have left such a taste and relish in his soul, that he cannot be long without them. This is a sign of a good temper.
2. A wife, when she marries a husband, gives up her will to him. So doth every Christian when he is married to Christ. He gives up his will and all that he hath to him, and saith, ' Lord, I have nothing but if thou callest for it thou shalt have it again.'
3. When we come to religion, we lose not our sweetness, but translate it. Perhaps before we fed upon profane authors, now we> feed upon holy truths. A Christian never knows what comfort is in religion till he come to be downright ; as Austin saith, ' Lord, I have wanted of thy sweetness over long; all my former life was nothing but husks.'*
4. God takes care of poor weak Christians that are struggling with temp- tations and corruptions. Christ carries them in his arms. All Christ's sheep are diseased, and therefore he will have a tender care of them, Isa. xl. 11.
5. Whatsoever is good for God's children, they shall have it; for all is theirs, to further them to heaven. Therefore if poverty be good, they shall have it; if disgrace be good, they shall have it; if crosses be good, they shall have them ; if misery be good, they shall have it ; for all is ours, to serve for our main good.
6. God's children have these outward things with God himself. They are as conduits to convey his favour to us; and the same love that moved God to give us heaven and happiness, the same love moves him to give us daily bread.
7. The whole life of a Christian should be nothing but praises and thanks to God. We should neither eat, nor diink, nor sleep, but eat to God, and sleep to God, and work to God, and talk to God; do all to his glory and praise.
8. Though God deliver not out of trouble, yet he delivers from the ill in trouble, from despair in trouble, by supporting the spirit. Nay, he delivers btj trouble, for he sanctifies the trouble to cure the soul, and by less troubles he delivers from greater.
9. What are we but a model of God's favours? What do we see,'Or
* A frequent plaint of Augustine in the ' Confessions.' — G,
186 DIVINE MEDITATIONS
what do we taste, but matter of the mercies of God? The miseries of others should be matter of praise to us. The sins of others should make us praise God, and say, ' Lord, it might have been my case, it might have befallen me.'