A guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties wherein it consisteth, the helpes inabling & the reasons parswading vnto it ye impediments hindering ye practise of it, and the best meanes to remoue them whereunto are added diuers prayers and a treatise of carnall securitie by Iohn Douname Batcheler in Diuinitie and minister of Gods Word.

§. Sect. 1 What extra∣ordinary me∣ditation is, and the subiect of it.

ANd thus much of meditation in generall: The which, how∣soeuer it doth not easily admit of any formall distribution according to the strict rules of art, yet it may, like prayer, be distinguished into two kinds. For as prayers are either extraordinary and at large, the which are continually to bee made, and at any time whatsoeuer, when any fit occasion or opportunity is offered either of petition, or thankesgiuing, the which we call Eiacula∣tions; or else ordinary and at set times, when as with due preparation wee purposely compose our selues to performe this duty in a solemne maner: So our meditations may be distinguished into such as are extraordinary and at large; or else ordinary and at set times, when as with due delibera∣tion and preparation, setting all other things apart, we settle our selues to spend some time in this religious exercise. The former sort of meditations are sudden, and continually in vse, when any occasion or opportunity is offered and obserued, by outward obiects presented to our senses, especi∣ally the sight and hearing, or by some inward conceit in our imagination or discourse of our minds, whereof we may make some spirituall vse, and raise vp our minds from the earth towards heauen, in some holy medita∣tion. The which may be done at all times, and in all imployments, as in the workes of our callings, or in our honest recreations, when wee are in

company, or solitary and by our selues. But especially the large booke of the creatures affordeth vnto vs most plentifull matter of this kind of me∣ditation, when either they put vs in mind of their and our Creator, or of some of his attributes shining cleerly in them. In the former respect, Da∣uid saith, that the heauens declare the glory of God, and the firmament sheweth his handy worke, that is, offer vnto vs fit occasion of glorifying God, when as we see their excellency and order, and of admiring and magnifying his wisedome and power, who was able of nothing to make so goodly a frame and excellent workmanship. And in regard of the latter, hee telleth vs in another place, that they did occasionally, as good Schoole-masters, teach him another lesson, namely, to see and admire the infinite loue and vnde∣serued goodnesse of God towards mankind. When I consider (saith he) the heauens, the worke of thy fingers, the Moone and the starres which thou hast or∣dained; What is man that thou art mindfull of him, and the sonne of man that thou visitest him? And thus Salomon sendeth the sluggard to the Ant, to learne of her diligence; and Esay a refractory people, to the Oxe and Asse to learne duty and obedience; and Ieremy the negligent and secure Iewes, to the Storke, Turtle, Crane and Swallow, to learne of them to ob∣serue Gods appoynted times, that they might not let his iudgments passe vnregarded, but seasonably turne vnto him by true repentance. And our Sauiour Christ sendeth such as vex themselues with distrustfull and cark∣ing cares, to the Fowles of the ayre, and to the Lillies of the field, which without their care onely by Gods blessing and good prouidence liue, grow and flourish. And thus he himselfe, from the water of Iacobs well, ta∣keth occasion to thinke and discourse of the Water of Life; and from the meat that perisheth, and the Manna in the Wildernesse, to meditate and speake of the Bread of Life which came downe from heauen. And after the same manner may we take occasion of some holy meditation by the view and consideration of any action or occurrent, especially where wee may in a liuely manner behold the administration of Gods mercies or iudgements, in rewards or punishments, or when we seriously behold any of Gods creatures. As when vve see the beauty of the heauens, and the brightnesse of the Sunne, vvee may take occasion thereby to thinke of his infinite glory, beauty and brightnesse that made them; vvhen vvee be∣hold their goodly and constant order, to thinke of his immutability. So their durablenesse may put vs in mind of his eternity, their vast greatnesse, of his immensity. The earths barrennesse, of our fall and sinne; her fruit∣fulnesse, of Gods blessing renevved in Christ, and hovv vvee ought to an∣svvere this mercy, in bringing forth the fruits of obedience, lest being of∣ten vvatered and remaining fruitlesse, vvee bee the second time accursed. Neither hath the Lord created his mighty host of innumerable creatures, adorned them vvith such beauty, distinguished them in such varieties, fur∣nished them vvith such excellent properties, that vve should onely haue a sensuall vse of them, vvherein the brutish creatures may exceed vs, but that vve should take occasion by them, to glorifie him in his excellent vvork∣manship, and learne something from them for our better instruction, that vve may imitate them in that vvhich is good, or shunne and auoyd that vvhich is euill in them. Which vvho so neglect, depriue themselues, in

their vse, of the best part, vvhereby they might receiue as much profit for their soules, as they doe for their bodies in that vse vvhich is common and ordinary. And thus vve are to furnish our selues vvith fit matter for these extraordinary and sudden meditations. But here (as our learned Artist hath well obserued) some cautions are to be vsed: as first, that there bee some similitude betweene the matter, and the meditation which is raised from it; that it may not be strained and far-fetched, but kindly and fami∣liar. For want of which resemblance, our meditations will prooue loose and wandring, and leaue behind them no impression: whereas similitude and likenesse in the matter to the meditation, will recall the one to our remembrance, as oft as we see or obserue the other. Secondly, wee must auoyd such matter of meditation as God hath expressely forbidden, as namely, Images, to put vs in mind of him, or any essentiall part of his wor∣ship; seeing they leade vs vnto idolatry, will-worship and superstition, and teach vs nothing but vanity and lyes, namely, to conceiue of him as visible and corporall, who is incorporeall and inuisible; and as circum∣scriptible and finite, who is immense and infinite. Thirdly, seeing God hath giuen vs such plentifull variety of matter in this kind, wee must not dwell too long vpon, or follow too much one thing in our meditations, which will cause satiety & wearines, but take our liberty of choyce in this great plenty, prouided that this liberty turne not to licentiousnesse, and giue occasion to our minds of idle rouing and wandring from one thing to another, without serious thinking of any thing, that wee may fit it for some good vse. And finally, these meditations must not bee long and tedi∣ous, which is not agreeable to their nature, nor will conueniently suit with our company and occasions, but rather distract vs from our businesse, and duties of our callings, which ordinarily we must tend; but they must, like eiaculations in prayer, be short, as they are sudden, vnlesse time, leisure and solitude affoord vs more liberty.

Notes

• 1. Thes. 5. 17.
• Psal. 19. 1. and 69. 34. and 89. 5.
• Psal. 8. 3, 4.
• Prou. 6. 6. Esa. 1. 1.
• Ier. 8. 7.
• Math. 6. 26, 28.
• Ioh. 4. 14.
• Ioh. 6. 27, 32.
• Heb. 6. 4, 5.
• Ier. 10. 8, 15. Zach. 10. 2. Habak. 2. 18.