Motives to holy living, or, Heads for meditation divided into consideratins, counsels, duties : together with some forms of devotion in litanies, collects, doxologies, &c.

§ 8.

1 For the present. 1. Tim. 4.8.

1. A present union of us with Christ and God by the same holy Spirit dwelling in both,* 1.1 and quenching the thirst to all worldly things; (Jo. 4.14.) Former sen∣sual pleasures, to one acquainted with holiness (when he again happens upon them) no more seeming what precious things they were, but such as to a man do the sports of children, contemptible; or also to the more con∣firmed, odious. Quas Sordes suggerebant, quae dedecora, said St. Austine reform'd, of his former sensual delights.

2. Extraordinary illuminations, and consolations from this Spirit, especially in the time of necessity, in extra∣ordinary poverty, afflictions, persecutions; and the ex∣cess of joy in the mind rendring little-perceived the pain of sense: 1. Thes. 1.6. —2. Cor. 6.10. —2. Cor. 4.8, 9. only, as it were, afflicted, poor, sorrowful, dying; but, indeed, alway rejoycing, rich, possessing all things.

3. Contentedness in all conditions, as being always, and certainly possessed of that, which he only or chiefly loves. Jo. 16.22. Jer. 6.16. Matt. 11.29. Phil. 4.7. And for other things less considerable, partly by his sub∣mission, in many of them, as purely indifferent to God's will; partly by God's condescending in many other unto his. (See Psal. 4.3.) Seldome having occasion of dis∣content. Gen. 24.1.

4. Tranquility of mind, and joy of conscience, for past actions, and for doing good; which joy (though serious) is very great. And, as they do greater good, so still greater consolations accompanying it.

5. Joy of (mostwhat) attaining their desires, and ends, because these honest, spiritual, following the divine, not their own, Interest.

6. Great joy of hope, (with freedome from anxious fear) for all good things to come. [Joy of Hope: which useth to be in all worldly felicities a far greater joy, than that of possession] which makes holy men have mortem in desiderio, which others so fear; vitam in patientia, which others so value.

7. Consider all the temporal blessings of holy and or∣derly living: more health of body; longer life; serenity of mind; a pleasure sedate, pure, and constant; but at no time violent, itching, or discomposing the subject of it, and rendring mirth uncapable of continuance, or also declining suddenly into pain, or anguish. A joy not dwelling in the sense and lower felicities of beasts; in eating, and drinking, and marriage; these when it useth, and rejoyceth in, it is as though it used, and rejoyced, not: but in more Angelick, and Spiritual complacencies; not consisting in having its carnal desires satiated; but rather, in not having, and being freed from, such desires; (which is a content equal to the enjoyment of them; Cui Deus haec fecit Supervacua, dedit.) A pleasure (more

retired and internal) of the mind and spirit; arising out of several noble considerations of the Soul; which have no intercourse with, or help from, Sense. A joy well consisting with, and many times very great, when the sense is in pain, and of sense little or nothing perceived. Nay, A joying in grief, and pains Rom. 5.31. and propor∣tioned to them; more joy (to counterpoise them) as the pains are more; And Gaudet minus, si minus dolet, because the Soul cannot have those special considera∣tions, and passions, which give it such a goust, and de∣light, but from such sufferings. So St. Paul's joys still flowed the higher, the greater his tribulations were. And see a resemblance (tho a very faint one) of it in Seneca's Philosophy, Ep. 18. Summa voluptas (saith he) in victa tenui. Voluptaes autem non illa levis, & fugax, & subinde reficienda; sed stabilis, & certa. Non enim jucunda res est, aqua, & polenta, sed summa voluptas est, adidse reduxisse, ut &c. Quanta enim animi magnitudo &c.

Digr. Of the great blessing of long life.

8. The blessings on their Posterity, Associates, &c. for their sakes, in all the contraries to those Judgments men∣tioned before §. 3. n. 11. &c. which are brought upon others, for the sinners sake. God not going less in his mercies, than in his judgments.

Digr. Of the great efficacy, and benefit, of the Com∣munion of Saints.

9. From doing to others all good, and returning no evil, much peace, and a good name, amongst the most, or the best, of men. 1, Pet. 3, 13. Matt. 5.5. And again; when, from contrary manners to, and non-compaliance with, the world he incurrs the hate, and ill report there∣of, in lieu of the worldly, a spiritual, peace, and divine consolations more abundant. So that a good man suffers some trouble from humane and temporal solaces, and en∣deavors to avoid them: And every one, as he groweth

perfecter, and deeplier wounded with the divine love, and desire of conformity to his Good Lord, takes a far greater delight in their contraries, in sufferings, perse∣cutions, injuries, retiredness, long devotions and hard mortification; as being then most replenished with spi∣ritual Consolations; after the tasting of which, already all the world's delights are become bitter, and sowre. These therefore he chooseth, armeth for, impatiently ex∣pects; arrived to, glories in; wondring they are no greater which are to save such a sinner, so well merit∣ing damnation, from such infinite torments to come; and which are to gain, to so vile a person, such infinite joys, and honor to come.

Notes

• * 1.1

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