Solitude improved by divine meditation, or, A treatise proving the duty and demonstrating the necessity, excellency, usefulness, natures, kinds and requisites of divine meditation first intended for a person of honour, and now published for general use by Nathanael Ranew.

CHAP. X. Of the next thing Meditation may best take in, which is that on my part I am to perform.

5. IF I would perform in the Day what is incum∣bent on me to be rightly done, I must Medi∣tate of the way where the Holy Spirit may meet and help me; Meditate I must of my necessary put∣ting my hand to the work of Christ, and bearing his burden, and the need I have of the Spirits lend∣ing his hand to help me, who helps our infirmities: I must eye the Rule of the Word, by which the Spi∣rit teaches me, and the precious promises whereby he encourages me.

And in that all my conversation in the Day must be holy and heavenly, comfortable and fruitful, I must meditate of stirring up the grace given me, to act by the help of the Spirit, upon Christ, and to him, for working out my own salvation, and the glo∣rifying of God thereby.

This must be (if I consider) the living the life of Faith more peculiarly, and exercising of, likewise; every Holy Grace the work of the day requires: Therefore next, my Meditation may be upon the Graces, that in the Duties of the day, are to be ex∣ercised for to be improved.

Without the exercising of these Graces all the conversation is carnal, not spiritual, all Duties are but dead carcasses, and loathsom to God. I must think

how my daily course must be a living to the living God; a living peculiarly to him, that dyed for me, and rose again; and a living to the blessed Spirit, that dwells and works in me, and is my mighty helper.

Likewise, I must consider, it must be a living very exemplarily, towards all men, especially the godly, that my light may shine before them, to provoke and profit them all I can.

1. Particularly, I must Meditate of living the life of precious and glorious Faith, the Grace of Graces; Faith as to the whole word of God, all the precepts, promises, threats, and Recorded Examples; acting more peculiarly Faith in the promises, and by the promises on Jesus Christ, acting more on his All-sufficiency to save, and for receiving fresh strength and supplies for the Duties and Occasions of the day ensuing. Likewise through Christ I should think of my access to the Father, of trusting to Gods All-sufficiency, his Wisdom, Truth, Righteousness, Ho∣liness, Goodness, Mercy, Love, Free Grace, and all his infinite perfections; with his providence, preserving and governing all things, to the least; and toward my own self in particular, in a most excellent, wise, holy, and righteous manner, to the salvation of his people, destruction of his Enemies, and his own Glory.

2. I may Meditate (at least sometimes) of the other soul-beauties, of heavenly Graces; as of that grand rare grace of Love, holy Love; that which is the fullfilling of the Law, the great Breeder and Feeder of all Obedience.

Love; which daily as a Fire must be blown up, and made to burn afresh in the heart, and enliven the

daily course: Ah what a Christian may do, by keep∣ing his heart hot and burning in Love!

3. Joy. Meditating of living the life of heavenly peace and joy, rejoycing in the Lord alway: Not liv∣ing the life of sadness and pensiveness, most unbe∣coming an Heir of Eternal Glory.

4. Hope. Meditate also I may of heavenly Hope, which makes not ashamed, Rom. 5.5. Heb. 6.19. An Anchor sure and firm to ride out all storms: And of all the Graces, as of holy Fear, Humility, Meekness, Pa∣tience, Contentedness, Zeal, Courage, Constancy, all the Chain of Graces, mentioned in 2 Pet. 1.5. and other places.

The whole days actings should be considered so, as not to be a complication of vanities, follies, and care∣less walkings, but a shewing forth, and shining in the glorious beams of heavenly Graces and Ex∣cellencies.

5. Meditate daily I should of the spiritual dan∣gers I am surrounded with by spiritual Enemies: That principal and Arch-Enemy the Flesh, that sin which is connatural to me, dwells in me, Rom. 7. and so easily besets me, Heb. 12.1. that is alway pre∣sent and too prevalent; the Fountain and Forge of all other sins; the Heart Touch-wood and Tinder for temptation: The ground out of which all the stinking and poysonous weeds of Lust grow up; and that ground and foundation of the deepest tincture and grain Colour of all soul-defiling Habits, and customary sins, that so enslave and lead a sinner captive.

2. Of that so potent Adversary Satan, his subtlety and depths, vigilancy, and unwearied diligence, whet∣ted by implacable and improving malice. 1 Pet. 5.8.

3. The World, that Bait for Satans Hook, and great Engine whereby he acts, by the many sweet Allurements on the one hand, and Determents on the other hand.

These I must every day watch and war with.

Therefore, I must daily consider my helpers, God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, 2 Cor. 8.9. Eph. 6.13. The Armour of God I must put on for every part, and my fighting in the strength of Christ, by whom I may be made more than Conquerour, Rom. 8.37.

And for the last general, there must be Medita∣tion of the unspeakable preciousness of time, running on without possibility of a stand, or least stay: With the Frailty of life, Psal. 39.4. with the uncertainty of it, and the certainty of death, and unavoidable∣ness of that which will cast me upon Eter∣nity.

These are the more general things, among which my Meditation may take its walks, and upon which my seriousness may daily sit down to make its spiritual advantage by: I must adde now things more particular.