44o The NATURE and P O 4V E R image and reprefentation of it in our own hearts i and fo it hath the fame intent with prayer, which is to bring our fouls into a frame in all things anfwering the mind and will of God. They are as the blood and fpirits in the veins, that have die fame life, motion and ufe. But yet becaufe perfons are generally at a great lofs in this duty of meditation, havingde- clared it to be of fo great efficacy, for the controlling of the -aftings of the law of fin, I shall inour paffage give briefly two or three rules for the di- reefingofbelievers to a right performance ofthis great duty, and theyare thefe. r. Meditate of God with God that is, when we would undertake thoughts and meditations of God, his excellencies, his properties, his glory, his majefty, his love, his goodnefs, let it be done in a way of fpeaking unto God, in a deep humiliatioryand abafement of out fouls before him. This will fix the mind, and draw it forth from one thing to another, to give glory unto God in a due manner, and affect the foul until it be brought into that holy admiration of God and delight in him, which is acceptable unto him. My meaning is, that it be clone in a way of prayer and praife, fpeaking unto God. a. Meditate on the word in the word i that is, in the readingof it, confi- der the fenfe in the particular paffages we infift upon, looking to God for help, guidance and direction in the difcoveryof his mind and will therein, and then labour tohave our hearts affededwith it. 3. what we come fhort of in evennefs and conftancy in our thoughts in . thefe things, let it be made up in frequency. Some are difcouraged becaufe their minds do not regularly fupply them with thoughts to carry on their meditations, through the weaknefs or imperfection of their inventions. Let this be fupplied by frequent returns of the mind unto the fubjed pro- poled to be meditated upon, whereby new fenfes will ftill be fupplied unto it. But this by the way. Theft duties, I fay, ainongft others (for we have only chofen them for an inftance,not excluding fame others from the fame place, office and ufefulnefs with them) do make an efpecial oppofition to the very being and life of indwelling, fin, or rather faith in them duela fo. They are perpetually deigning its utter ruin. I (hall therefore upon this inftance in the purfait of our prefent purpofe do theft two things. (i.) Shew the fuitablenefs and ufefulnefs of this duty, or thefe duties, (as I shall handle them jointly) unto the ruining of fin. (2.) Shew the means whereby the deceitfulnefs of fin endeavours to draw off the mind from a due attendance unta them. (i.) For the firft obferve, I.) That it is the proper work of the foul in this duty, to confider all the fecret workings and adings of fn, what advantages it bath got, what temptations it is in conjunction withal, what harm it hath already done, and what it is yet farther ready to do. Hence David gives that title unto one of his prayers, Pfeil. cii. Aprayer of the glided, when be is over- whelmed, and peureth out bis complaint before the Lord. I fpeakof that prayer which is attended with a due confideration ofall the wants, !traits and emergenciesof the foul. Without this, prayer is not prayer; that is, whatever !hewor appearance of that duty it hath, it is noway ufeful,,either to the glory of God, or the good of the fouls of men. A cloud it is without water, driven by the wind of the breath of men. Nor was there ever any more prefent and effedual poifon for fouls found out, than the binding of them untoa confiant form and ufageof I know not what words in their prayers and fupplications, which themfelves do not underftand. Bind men fo in their trades, or in their bufineffes in this world, and they will
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=