Meditation is a Duty which God requireth .

WE read in the sacred Scriptures that God commanded his people a a Deut. 6. 8 , 9. , to binde the Words of his Law for a sign upon their hands , and to be as frontlets between their eyes , to write them upon the posts of their houses , and on their gates , to teach them diligently unto their children , to talk of them in their houses , and to think upon them , when they walk by the way , when they lye down and when they rise up : all which was to this end and purpose , b b Deut. 11 18. that they might lay up his Words in their hearts , and in their soules , to meditate upon them for their instruction , for their spirituall comfort , and for their direction in a vertuous life , and holy Conversation . This is the counsell of the wiseman , c c Prov. 7. 3 To binde the Commandments of God upon our fingers , and to write them upon the table of our hearts , that we may be familiarly acquainted with them , and to meditate on them upon all occasions . Paul gave Timothy diverse holy precepts , concerning his life and doctrine , d d 1 Tim. 4. 15 and then he gave him expresse charge to meditate upon them , and to give himself wholy to them , that they might be well fastned in his heart to observe them . Also when Moses was dead , God made Joshua the chief commander of his people , and appointed him to bring them into the land of Canaan , and to give them the possession of it ; which was a work so great , so difficult , and so dangerous , by reason of the great strength of the inhabitants of that Land , as might make Joshua to shrink from it , and afraid to undertake it ; but God did encourage him by many gracious promises of his assistance , to make him able to effect it , and therefore he commanded him three severall times , to be strong and of a good courage , not to be afraid , but to rest upon his Word for strength and ability to do that work whereunto God had called him , and would assuredly perform his Word , if he did observe to do according to all the Law which Moses commanded him , and not turn from it to the right hand or to the left , that he might prosper whithersoever he went : Wherefore God saith thus unto him , e e Josh. 1. 8. This book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth , but thou shalt meditate therein day and night , that thou maist observe to do according to all that is written therein : for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous , and then thou shalt have good successe . Have not I commanded thee ?

This is an holy duty which ought to be fixed upon holy things , and performed to an holy end : for it is very usefull and profitable , very sweet and comfortable to every true Believers soul , if it be rightly performed . The Saints and servants of God have been very frequent in the practice of this duty , whose hearts were inlarged to meditate upon heavenly & spiritual things , & they did thereby draw true consolation to their souls . f f Psal. 63. 6 This was holy Davids exercise day and night ; g g Psal. 119. sometimes in the precepts and Statutes of God , h h Psal 143. 5. sometimes on his wonderfull Acts , and excellent Works ; i i Psal. 104. 34 and his heart found great sweetnesse in these his Meditations .

Now then it is richly worth our pains to get this Art of Divine Meditation : for it will increase our knowledge of God and of his Laws , it will make grace more fruitfull in us , and our sorrows lesse grievous : It will also strengthen our faith in the promises of God , to make us stout and couragious in his Cause , to withstand the assaults of the divell , and all the oppositions of wicked men . How can we be edified by the Preaching of the Word of God , if we let it depart out of our mindes , and do not chew the cud , and ruminate upon it in our hearts ? How can we teach our children and servants the Lawes of God , if they come not frequently into our own meditations ? How can our wayes be prosperous here upon earth , & how can we hope to have good successe in what we take in hand , if we do not meditate something concerning God day and night ? If we neglect this pious Duty , we do then estrange our selves from God , and we bereave our souls of those spirituall benefits and comforts which otherwise they might receive , and we lose a great part of the comfort of our lives .

But this Art is not easily learned , common grace or humane learning cannot attain unto it : for the affections of the heart cannot be raised up to heavenly contemplations , if they are not seasoned with sanctifying grace ; neither can they delight in spirituall things , if they are clogged with earthly cares , or drawn away after worldly vanities . A true child of God is not alwayes prepared to meditate as he ought , to make his meditations edifying and comfortable to his soul : for the inward corruptions of his unregenerate part will hinder him , the thoughts of his worldly affairs will distract his minde , that he cannot be so well disposed for such an heavenly duty , or else the divell will be ready to suggest unto him evill thoughts , or to bring into his remembrance some of his former sins , to disquiet the peace of his conscience , to trouble the tranquillity of his minde , and so to interrupt his thoughts , that his meditations may not be for the honour of God , nor yet fruitfull and profitable to himself ; and therefore he must crave the assistance of the Spirit of GOD by Prayer .

Rules of direction for our holy Meditations .

WHerefore now , that our Meditations may be holy and acceptable to God , and that we may finde sweetnesse and comfort in them , we must carefully observe these few Directions following ,

The first is , to fix our meditations upon holy things , and not upon that which is vain and unprofitable : for they do most conduce to the glory of God , and to the comfort of our soules . This is Pauls counsell , a a Col. 3. 1 , 2 to set our affections on things above , not on things on the earth : whereby we shall give a clear evidence , that we are risen with Christ from the death of sin to the life of grace . As our affections are carried , so are our meditations : if they are carried to worldly vanities , our mindes will be so incumbered , that we cannot freely meditate upon those things that concern the Kingdom of heaven , neither will our meditations be for Gods glory , or for our eternall good . But if our affections are carried toward heavenly things , then our meditations will be spirituall and heavenly , and our actions will be tending to the honour of God . b b 1 Chron. 29. 3. David set his affection to the house of his God , and therefore he prepared abundantly of his own proper good , of gold and silver which he gave to the building of it . Wherefore it concerneth us very much to keep our hearts close unto God , that our minds may be raised up to him in our heavenly contemplations , and that he may be glorified in all our actions :

The second direction is , that our meditations must be of the heart , as well as of the brain ; otherwise this Duty is not so performed that God will accept it . It is the heart which God respecteth in all our services to him ; without which our best duties are not regarded . c c Luk. 2. 19 The blessed Virgin kept all the sayings of the shepherds and others concerning Christ , and pondered them in her heart . Oh , how acceptable is that sacrifice which is offered up to God with a pure and perfect heart ? how effectuall is that Prayer which is presented unto him with a true and faithfull heart ? how pleasing are those Almes to God that are given to the poor with a willing heart ? and how comfortable are those meditations which proceed from an upright heart ? The brain may work , and the cogitations of the minde may be set upon holy objects , and all to little purpose , if the affections of the heart be wanting .

Thirdly , the end of our meditations must crown the work with gracious acceptance , and this must be the glory of God . We do greatly honour God in our meditations when we ruminate upon his incomprehensible Essence , how infinite he is in all his Divine Attributes , and how wonderfull in all his works : also , when we meditate upon his Law , and upon his gracious promises to us in Christ , if hereby we are brought to reverence and adore his Sacred Majesty , to love him for his goodnesse , and to yield due obedience unto his commands , and if we can rest upon his promises , and discern his wisdome and glory by his Works . This must be the main end of our meditations ; and if we do seriously meditate upon the holy things of God to an holy end , then God will accept them , and we shall be edified by them . But if we propound any other end to our selves , whether it be for discourse or vain-glory , or the like , we seek not the honour of God herein , but we delude our selves , and defraud our souls of that heavenly comfort which otherwise they might have .

Fourthly , our hearts and consciences must be purified and cleansed from dead works by faith , and true repentance , that an holy zeal may be kindled in our affections , and that our souls may feel the comfort of a spirituall warmth by our holy meditations . For if there be any guilt of sin that cleaveth fast to our consciences , because we have no assurance by repentance , that it is washt away in the blood of Christ by faith , it will cool the zeal of our affections , and stop the current of Gods assisting grace ; so that our meditations can make no holy impression in our hearts , no print of Piety in our lives and conversations ; neither can they send forth any beams of true consolation to our souls . Wherefore if our hearts are not sanctified and seasoned with grace , our meditations cannot be to the glory of God , nor to our own spirituall good , neither can we say as the Psalmist did d d Psal. 104 34. My meditation of God shall be sweet , I will be glad in the Lord . This will move our hearts and affections , and will put a spirituall life into our meditations , when our hearts are cleansed from the guilt of sin ; so that we can freely meditate upon the bounty and goodnesse of God in all his dealings with us : this we may do if faith goeth along in all our holy meditations .

Fifthly , we must have some spirituall understanding in those things whereon we desire to meditate , that the holy Ghost may guide us in our meditations , and then we shall glorifie God , and comfort our souls thereby ; otherwise the thoughts of our hearts will wander , and go far astray from the matter , whereupon they should be fixed ; and we may easily lose our selves in the dark , if the spirit of God doth not give us some spiritual light , to guide and direct us therein , and we can receive no benefit by this holy service , if it be not performed with an understanding heart . The more knowledge we have of what we intend to meditate , the more will our hearts be enlarged for it , and the deeper impressions will our meditations make in our affections , and the greater will be the comfort of our souls . This was the saying of the Psalmist . e e Psal. 49. 3. The meditation of my heart shall be of understanding . Thus saith Paul : f f 1 Cor. 14 15 I will pray with the spirit , and I will pray with the understanding also ; I will sing with th● spirit , and I wil sing with the understanding also : so likewise we must meditate with the spirit , and with the understanding also . How can we learn the Commandements of God , and how can we keep his Law , if the Lord doth not give us understanding in them by his Spirit .

This heavenly wisdome is the gift of God , which we must with all care and diligence labour for , according to this of Solomon : g g Prov. 4. 7. Wisdome is the principall thing ; therefore get Wisdom : and with all thy getting get understanding . This is a speciall meanes to come to the true way of holy and devout meditation .

Sixthly , We must dayly practice this religious duty , and if we learn to meditate upon our selves , what our state and condition is , whether it be of nature or of grace , it will bring us to the meditation of spirituall things .

Though it be a very hard matter for a true childe of God to meditate upon heavenly things for his own benefit and comfort ; yet by use and exercise we may attain unto it , and the sweetnesse that we shall find in it will by degrees bring us to delight in this pious duty . h h Phil. 3. ●0 For by this meanes we shall have our conversation in heaven , though we live upon earth , and we shall enjoy heaven and heavenly happinesse in some part while we live in this world : for if we be frequent in our meditations on the Kingdome of heaven , i i 2 Cor. 1. 12 the grace of God will make our conversation in this world to be in simplicity and godly sincerity .

The seventh Direction is , to choose such times , and such places as are most fitting and most convenienient for this holy duty , that we be not interrupted by any occurrence of worldly occasions , but that our mindes and our hearts may agree , and go together in our meditations .

The fittest time for this religious service is , when God is pleased to give an inclination of will , and to move our hearts thereunto by his holy Spirit : which time we ought not to let slip , nor to lose this opportunity which he tendereth to us ; because it is the time for grace of his own choosing , and the time which he will accept .

If we take this time and set it apart to imploy our selves in this holy service , he will then inlarge our hearts for it , he will direct us in it , and he will graciously assist us with his Spirit , to conceive aright of those things whereon we do intend to meditate . As we must be free at that time from all incumberances by our affairs ; so we must retire to such a place , where we may be solitary and private , that our hearts may wholly intend our meditations .

A solitary field is a fitting place to ruminate upon the works of God : k k Mat. 6. 6. Our closet is most convenient to meditate on the Law of God . If we choose such times and places , we may freely delight our selves with heavenly and spirituall contemplations .

Lastly , we must prepare our hearts for this pious duty by faithfull prayer , that God will be pleased to aid and assist us herein with his blessed Spirit , to raise up our affections , to enlighten our understandings , and to purge and cleanse our hearts from all sinful thoughts , worldly cares , and from every evill concupisence , that we may fully devote our selves to the meditation of heavenly things , that this holy service may be performed to the glory af God , to the increase of our spirituall knowledge , to the strengthening of our faith and confidence in God , & to carry us on cheerfully through all the troublesome chances and changes , that are incident to this life : for our holy Meditations will lift up our hearts and affections above all worldly cares , and above all the crosses and sorrows that we shall meet with here upon earth .

Holy Meditation is the prerogative onely of a true Christian .

AMong many Prerogatives that a true believing Christian hath above all other men , this is not the least , that he can raise up the Affections of his heart to heavenly contemplations , by the power of the Spirit of grace that is in him : whereas unregenerate men cannot attain to this high degree of true Christianity by all the meanes that art or nature can afford them : for their Meditations reach but to the notions of the brain , and are practised onely by the outward man , which can yield them no spirituall consolation ; because they have not the power of grace to move the affections of the heart to heavenly things , which only can minister sweetness & true consolation to an afflicted soul , and to a troubled conscience , to give them good hope and assurance of the grace and favour of God , and of the pardon and forgivenesse of their sins .

Carnall men set their mindes and affections upon carnall delights ; voluptuous men do dayly study how to satisfie their souls with unprofitable pleasures , and worldly minded men set their hearts upon covetousness , and upon the pomp and vanity of this present world .

These and the like kinde of men are so pressed down with the burden of sin , and they are so encumbered with worldly cares and sinfull delights , that they have no power to mount up toward heaven in their affections , and no hearts fit for Divine contemplations ; because they have no interest in Christ ; and therefore they can have no spirituall light to discern aright of heavenly things .

But a true believing Christian hath the light of Gods Spirit to give him spiritual understanding , he hath strength of grace to withstand all spirituall lets and hinderances , and to raise up his affections above all earthly things , & with the wings of faith he can mount up above all the blocks and impediments , that the divell or wicked men can cast in his way to depresse his spirits , and to keep down the cogitations of his heart from pious and devout Meditations .

It cannot be denied , but that the dearest of Gods servants cannot sometimes perform this religious Duty as they should , because they do often finde the flesh to war against the spirit , a a Rom. 7. 21 , 23. as Paul did , and that they are so yoked with their unregenerate part , that when they would do good , either for the glory of God , or for the comfort of their own souls , evill is present with them , which doth disturb the peace of their consciences , the quiet of their mindes , and the freedome of their spirits ; and doth also stop the sweet influence of comfort that should come to their souls : but especially they are hindered in their Meditations , which is a Duty meerly spirituall , and cannot be performed but by the spirit ; yet through Christ they get the victory , and they will break through all opposition , because b b Rom. 7. 22. they delight in the Law of God , and in heavenly contemplations after the inward man , and their mindes will be set at liberty to serve him , c c Rom. 7. 25. though with the flesh they do sometimes serve the law of sin .

If we have given up our names unto Christ , and are listed in his roul to fight under his banner , we must look for continuall conflicts and combates with our spirituall enemies , which dayly seek to ruine our souls by hindering us in our Religious duties ; but we are sure to have comfort in Christ ; and power from him to prevail against them , and to get the conquest over them all , if we can raise up our hearts to contemplate his Omnipotent power , his infinite Wisdome , and his wonderfull care of us .

Sometimes we have conflicts with pleasure , and plenty ; sometimes with afflictions and penury , with sin and temptations , with pain and sicknesse , and with the terrours of death : all which for a time may hinder the freedome of our spirits , that we cannot compose our thoughts , nor settle our hearts for holy Meditations ; but we shall recover our selves again by the power of Christ , whose Grace is sufficient to hold us up against all opposition whatsoever , and to set our hearts in such a frame as is fitting for the performance of this holy Duty .

Wherefore d d Eph. 6. 11 , 12. seeing we wrestle not against flesh and blood , but against principalities , against powers , against the rulers of the darknesse of this world , and against spirituall wickednesse in high places ; we must put on the whole armour of God , that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devill . e e 2 Cor. 10. 3 , 4. Though we walk in the flesh , we do not war after the flesh : for the weapons of our warfare are not carnall , but mighty through God , to the pulling down of strong holds , casting down imaginations , and every high thing that exalteth it self against the Knowledge of God , and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ .

The same power that pulleth down the strong holds of sin in us , and the sinfull imaginations of our mindes , will also raise up the affections of our hearts to devout and pious Meditations of the heavenly and spirituall things .

The more free we keep our hearts from worldly cares and our mindes from sinfull thoughts , the fitter we shall be for this holy Duty , the better we shall perform it , and we shall reap the more comfort by it .

But unregenerate men are not acquainted with this spirituall armour , they have no power against their spirituall enemies , they have no weapons fit for this warfare : for untill they are brought out of their naturall condition into the State of grace , & have interest in Christ by faith they are so clogged with their worldly affairs , so wedded to earthly vanities , and so intangled with the corruptions of their nature , that there is no room in their hearts for any holy contemplations , and they have no grace that can give them strength to fight against the allurements of the world , the intisements of the flesh , and the cunning stratagems of the devill .

How dreadfull it is to Meditate on God .

NOw prepare thy heart , and all the faculties of thy soul by those former Directions , and by prayer to meditate on a a Neh. 1. 5. Psal. 47. 2. Dan. 9. 4. the great and terrible God , who in himself is infinite in Majesty , and eternall in glory , and the great Creator of heaven and of earth , whose Essence and Being is incomprehensible : for thou canst not but stand confounded at the consideration of his greatnesse , which the blessed Angels are not able to comprehend .

Wherefore , empty thy heart of all sinfull cogitations , and lay aside all thy worldly cares , that thou maist freely set thy minde upon God , to contemplate with all fear & due reverence something of his excellencies and greatnesse , so far as God hath revealed himself , and according to the measure of that heavenly knowledge which he hath given thee : let thy Meditations of these things be guided with good understanding , and let them be bounded with Christian sobriety , lest thou be swallowed up in the depth of this infinite and incomprehensible Ocean .

Let thy faith regulate thee in thy Meditations : for what thou canst not comprehend thou art bound to believe , because thou dost deal with the hidden things of God , b b Joh. 5. 6. who is Truth it self .

Thus meditate with dreadfull reverence on the high and mighty God : for as he is infinite in his Essence , so he is also infinite in all his Divine Attributes : Wherefore content thy self with what he hath revealed in his Word , and by his Works , and do not curiously search into those things , which are not yet to be known , but are sealed up in his own secret counsell , untill he shall be pleased hereafter to reveal them .

c c 1 Sam. 6. 19. The Lord smote the men of Bethshemesh with a very great slaughter , because they looked into the Ark of the Lord , which was not lawfull to any , save onely to Aaron and his sons .

Beware then , that he smite not thee , if thou presumest to look further into his secret counsells than Christ hath revealed .

If we duly consider the transcendent majesty and glory of God , it will cast great dreadfullnesse into our Meditations : for it will dazel the eye of our understanding far more than the brightnesse of the Sun beames can dazel the eyes of our bodies , which may strongly move us to a dreadfull fear and reverence of him : d d Job . 37. 22 for , as Elihu said to Job , with God is terrible majesty . Also , Job speaketh thus of God to his three friends . e e Job 13. 11. Shall not his his excellency make you afraid ? and his dreadfall upon you ? f f Gen. 28. 17. How dreadfull , saith Jacob , is this place ? and it was because God was there .

Thus saith the Lord of hosts by his Prophet : g g Mal. 1. 14. I am a great King , and my Name is dreadfull among the Heathen .

h h Heb. 12. 21. When God gave the Law at Mount Sinai , the sight was so terrible that Moses himself said , I exceedingly fear and quake . i i Exod. 34. Moses did earnestly desire to see the face of God , to whom he gave this answer , that no man could see him and live ; but yet ( to satisfie his request , and to shew him in part what a terrible and glorious God he was ) he told Moses that he should see some piece of his glory : but he added , that it was needfull he should hide himself in the hole of a rock , and be covered with Gods own hand for his defence , while God in some measure of his Majesty , did passe by in his glory . And when he was past , God took away his hand , and suffered him to see his hinder parts onely , which was notwithstanding most terrible to behold .

k k Dan. 7. Daniel also did see in a vision the Majesty of this great and terrible God , which is recorded in the sacred Scriptures , to teach us thereby what a Prince of Majesty is , and how dreadfull in his judgements , when he is offended .

Now consider what maketh it so dreadful to Meditate on God ; it is not onely the consideration of his incomprehensible and Divine Essence , or the transcendent glory of his sacred Majesty , or his infinite Power , whereby all creatures , all principalities and powers are under his subjection ; but also the consideration of the frailty and weaknesse of our nature , and the vilenesse of our condition by reason of our many sins , wherewith we have offended him , and justly incurred his high displeasure , and have deserved his wrath and fury to be poured out upon us , whereby we stand in continuall fear of his judgements , and of the severity of his justice .

For if we have a true sight of our own basenesse , that we are but as clay in the hand of the Potter , or as an earthen pitcher which is easily broken in pieces , we cannot but be afraid to draw near so great and glorious a Majesty , to contemplate his greatnesse and power , the breath of whose Nostrils is able to consume us .

But if we consider that our sins have laid us open to the rigour of his justice , and have justly moved him to pour down upon us the full vialls of his wrath and indignation to our eternall destruction ; it must needs then strike terrour into our hearts , when we come before him in our heavenly Meditations : for he is a sin-revenging God , l l Heb. 12. 29. and a consuming fire , he will suffer no sin to go unpunished .

This doth make our sins the more hainous , and the punishment of them the more grievous ; because they are committed against an Omnipotent and most glorious God , from whom we had our first being , and from whose goodnesse we do dayly receive all blessings , both spirituall and temporall that are needfull for us .

Wherefore we cannot Meditate with comfort upon God , when the guilt of our sins cleaveth to our souls : We cannot chearfully lift up our hearts unto him , when our consciences do accuse us of sin , that we have offended God our Creator , and that we lye under the curse of his Law , and are in continuall expectation to have the penalty of it inflicted upon us , which we know we have justly deserved .

Thus it is with us until we can apprehend God to be reconciled unto us by the merit of the death of Christ , which we must apply to our own hearts by faith .

When God doth visite us with afflictions and troubles , as he hath done to many of his dear servants , that we feel the smart of his rod , and his hand heavy upon us , it will take away the comfort of our Meditations , and make us afraid of his judgements , as it was with holy Job , David and others ; because sometimes they are very terrible to us .

Thus saith Job unto God in his afflictions : m m Iob. 13. 21. Withdraw thine hand far from me , and let not thy dread make me afraid .

Again he saith thus , n n Iob 6. 4. The terrours of God do set themselves in array against me .

If God be so dreadfull to his own servants , how then can the wicked and sinners appear before him ? how can they withstand his judgements , or bear the fiercenesse of his wrath and fury ? he cast the disobedient Angels out of heaven without any hope of redemption ; he cast Adam out of Paradise , and laid a severe curse upon the earth for his sake , and upon all his posterity for his sin : he drowned the whole world , and consumed Sodom and Gomorrah with fire : he gave his own people into the hands of their enemies for their transgressions , and brought grievous judgements upon many particular offenders . Wherefore we cannot deny but that the Meditation of these and the like works of Gods justice must needs be dreadful and uncomfortable to us , if we look onely upon the justice of God , and not also upon his mercy .

But above all it is most dreadfull to Meditate upon the day of judgement , when we must appear before this great and terrible God , to give a strict account unto him of whatsoever we have done here in the flesh , whether it be good or evill .

o o Ioel. 2. 11. That day is great and terrible , who can abide it ? Then shall all our secret sins be brought to light , and laid open to the view of heaven and earth , then it wil appear how we have served God , what good we have done , and what evill we have shunned , and then we must answer for every idle word that we have spoken .

Then shall be great confusion both in heaven and in earth , to the astonishment of all Nations : for , p p Luk. 21. 27. they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with much power and glory , and with great authority and majesty . q q 2 Cor. 5. 10. All must then be presented before the judgement seat of Christ , r r 1 Cor. 4. 5. who will bring to light those things that were hidden in darknesse , and will manifest all the thoughts of every mans heart .

s s Luk. 23. 30. Rev. 6. 16 Then the wicked shall say to the hills , fall upon us , and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne , and from the anger of the Lamb , because the great day of wrath is come .

This terrour will be so unspeakable , that it will make every mans heart to tremble : for the just men , and the Angels themselves are said to fear ; surely then it must needs be dreadfull to think upon it .

What a fearfull day will it be to carelesse and loose livers , who carry the guilt of sin upon their souls with them unto judgement ? how will it terrifie them when they see such dreadfull feares and miseries to rush in upon them ?

t t Math. 24. 29. Then they shall see the Sun to be darkened , and the moon not to give her light ; then the Stars shall fall from heaven , and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken .

Thus saith the Prophet , u u Isa. 13. 13 , 14. The earth shall remove out of her place in the wrath of the LORD of hosts , and in the day of his fierce anger , and it shall be as the chased Roe , and as the sheep that no man taketh up .

Then shall they see all sepulchers open , and to yield forth their dead bodies of all men , high and low , rich and poor , to stand there naked before the Judge , and before his Angels , and in the face of all creatures : their sins shall be revealed , their secret offences shall be laid open , and they shall be constrained to give an account of those things , whereof they would disdain to have been told in this life .

Consider now who can Meditate upon the eternall God , this great and terrible Judge without much fear and dread , if he cannot appear before him with a good conscience ; and who can think upon that fearfull day of account without much terrour and trouble of spirit , if he hath not some good assurance of the pardon of his sins by his true repentance , and that he is reconciled to God by faith in Christ ? Wealth and honours cannot help , the Judge will not be partiall , neither will he be corrupted , an evill conscience will not be silent , no intercession of worldly friends can prevail at that day : all things wil cry for vengeance upon the wicked and reprobate , to yield them cause of fear and terrour ; but nothing will yield them any hope of comfort .

Above them shall be their dreadfull Judge , who is offended with them for their wickednesse ; beneath them they shall see hell open , and the cruell furnace ready boyling to receive then ; on their right hand their sins accusing them ; on the left hand the divels are ready to execute Gods eternall sentence of condemnation upon them ; within them is conscience gnaw●ng like the worm that dieth not , because it is full of the guilt of sin , without them all damned souls are howling and yelling , and on every side the whole world is burning . What shall a wretched sinner now do , that carrieth the guilt of his sins with him to this great day of judgement ? how can his heart bear these fearfull perplexities ? What way will he take to escape this dreadfull judgement ? to go back it is impossible , to go forward is intollerable ; death will slee from him , the grave cannot hold him , the hills cannot cover him , but there he must stand as a miserable forlorn and desperate wretch , untill he receive this dolefull and irrecoverable sentence . Go ye cursed into everlastingfire ; the thought of these things cannot be but most terrible .

Now it concerneth every one to set his heart in an holy frame of fear and reverence , and to humble his soul greatly before God , when he intendeth to ruminate upon the glorious Majesty of this great Judge , or upon this great and terrible day , when a most severe account shall be required of every one , of whatsoever they have done in this life , whether it be good or evill ; also when they meditate on the fearfull sentence which shall then be pronounced against all offenders , and executed upon them to all eternity , without any hope of ease or remedy .

This is not to deter or afright us from an holy & pious Meditation of these things , though they be every sad and dolefull to naturall men , neither is it to drive us into despair , as if there were no hope to stand before this Judge with comfort at that day , or to avoid that dreadfull sentence of condemnation : but it is to stir us up to use all care and diligence to make our peace with God in time , and to get a modest and a sober assurance of the pardon of our sins by repentance ; and that by a true and lively faith we may be united unto Christ our blessed Saviour and Redeemer , who shall be then our Judge .

This consideration must needs comfort us much , if we have any clear evidence that we belong unto Christ . To this end u u Mark 13. Christ foretold his disciples the fearfull manner of his coming to judgement , that they should watch and pray , that so it might not come suddenly upon them , to finde them sleeping in security , or unprepared for it ; and what he said unto them , he saith unto all , that we should also watch and pray , to escape the great danger of that terrible day , and to stand with confidence before the throne of the Son of Man at that time .

When x x 2 Pet. 3. 10 , 11 , 12. Peter had described with what terrour the Lord would come to judgement , he exhorteth us to an holy conversation , and to godlinesse , looking for , and hasting unto the coming of the day of God , and therfore to be diligent that we may be found of him in peace , without spot and blamelesse .

Thus we may meet the day of judgement with comfort , if we can earnestly long after it , and can heartily desire to meet our Lord Christ , when he cometh in the clouds unto judgement ; which we cannot do untill we find by due examination that we are in the state of grace , and that by faith we are invested into the new Covenant , and have lived unto God , and not unto our selves .

Wherefore thus saith the son of Sirach , y y Eccl. 18. 20. Before judgement examine thy self , and in the day of visitation thou shalt find mercy .

And as Paul saith , z z 1 Cor. 11. 31. If we would judge our selves , we should not be judged .

This trying and judging of our selves must be done in this life : for after death there is no faith , no repentance , and no reformation of life : if we die in our sins , they will follow us unto judgement , and accuse us before the great Judge of heaven and earth , and they will cry in the ears of God for the sentence of condemnation to be passed against us , which also will presently be put in execution to the utter destruction of our souls and bodies in everlasting burnings .