Some prison meditations and directions on several subjects: viz. on [brace] the fall of man, the sufferings of Christ, repentance and faith, reproof and counsel, the holy Scriptures, prayer, love to mankind, sincerity, the vanity of the world, the benefit of affliction, heaven and hell / by Samuel Young, minister of the Gospel.

MEDITATIONS.

MAny there are, I doubt not, whose Sincerity no man questions, that will be found formal another day; and ma∣ny that few thought well of will be saved. Snow covers Dunghils; Gilt makes com∣mon Wood and Stones look like Gold: So doth a Profession, and some attain∣ments, make many Unconverted Men look like true Christians. When Judas went up and down Preaching the Gospel, if any one had said to him, Judas, thou art now perswading the world to close with Christ, within a little time thou thy self wilt betray this Christ to death for thirty pieces of Silver; would he have believed it? or would he not rather have said as Hazael to Elisha, Am I a Dog that I should do this thing? Many famous Ministers, great Preachers, men of great Parts and Zeal, much followed by all, and accounted Angels from Heaven, I fear will in a little time, cry, Our Lamps are

gone out! Many forward hearers, that have done many things, set on Reforma∣tion, and minded reading, and praying in their Families, will I fear, in a little time, be found to be Cakes half baked: On the other hand, there are many Mi∣nisters and People, that are taken but little notice of for Religion, that I hope will be saved. Their Heavenly Father sees that in secret (hearts broken for Sin, and breathing after Christ) for which he will reward them openly. Many that deceive themselves thus plead,

I can remember the time when, the place where, the Minister by whom, I was Converted: 1 Kings 21.27, 28.29. When Ahab heard these words, he rent his cloaths, he fasted, &c. God takes notice of it to the Prophet, Seest thou not how Ahab humbleth himself before me? Then A∣hab remembred the time when, the place where, the Prophet by whom he was terrifyed, so as to pray, fast, and had a Promise from God on the doing this work. Acts 8.13. Simon himself believed, and was Baptized; Verse 21. And yet his heart was not right in the sight of God. Phi∣lips Doctrine and Miracles Converted seemingly him that had deceived many: Simon might say, I remember the time

when, the place where, the Minister by whom I was convinced and awakened; and yet he was in the gall of Sin, and the bond of Iniquity, Gal. 4.14, 15, 16. Once again, many of them received Paul as an Angel of God, even as Christ Jesus, (high words) were ready to have plucked out their eyes, and have given them to him; and yet at last they accounted him their Enemy, because he told them the truth: No doubt many of them were but formal, to whom he said, Where is then the Blessedness you spake of? These men could remember the time when, the place where, the Mini∣ster by wom they were reformed. Ma∣ny such men can say but little else, but their first Convictions, and Terrours.

Others plead, That God hath heard and wonderfully answer'd their Prayers: and that they are assured from the Scriptures of Truth, That God heareth not Sinners, but if any man be a Worshpper of God, him he heareth: And they will tell you of Extraordinary Providences, that they have met with, as an answer to Prayer. I answer, It may be God heard not your Prayers, but your Murmur∣ings, as Numb. 11. The Quails came at the peoples request; here was a Providence, but what was the close of all? Some have

desired Children, Riches, &c. but un∣less these things have made them love and serve God, they never were given in a way of Mercy, but Judgment: Or it may be, God heard only the Cry of nature in you, as he hears the cries of Young Lions and Ravens: Gen. 21.17, 19, 20. God heard Hagar's and Ishmaels Cry; When Hagar lift up her voice, and wept, an Angel calls to her, and tells her God had heard the Cry of the Lad, and it is said, vers. 21. God was with the Lad. Hagar and Ishmael, might they say, God hath heard, and wonderfully answered our Prayers, and God heareth not Sin∣ners: And yet both were cast out. I doubt not but God doth work Wonders, or Miracles for their Preservation, or De∣liverance, that shall never be saved. Some plead. But I find I have Repentance, I have Faith, I yield Obedience to the Gos∣pel, &c. Amen; would to God it may appear to be so! Yet hear the Word of the Lord, The Children of the Kingdom shall be cast out. Conclude on it, there is no∣thing in Art, that doth more resemble a thing in nature, than Legal Repentance resembles Evangelical; Temporary Faith Saving; Partial Obedience, Universal; Never was there the picture, or Statua of

a man, that did more resemble a living man, than common Grace doth Saving: Never was any Brass Half-Crown more like one of good Silver, than the life of a Hypocrite may the life of a Chri∣stian. Have you so repented of Sin, as to loath Sin as Sin, for its malignity, and evil nature? Hath your faith made you to esteem of Christ, his Ordinances and People, more than of all Treasures? Your Obedience unfeigned, without re∣serves? In the account we have of the sickness, and death of Bellarmine, done by C.E. the Jesuite, one passage he hath, to make him famous to the world, (which makes me more to hate the name, and memory of Bellarmine, than any thing re∣corded of him,) That when his Confessor came to him, Such, saith he, was the inno∣cency of the man, that he could hardly tell what to confess; insomuch that his Ghost∣ly Father was in some perplexity, want∣ing matter of Absolution, till by recourse to his life past, he found some small defects of which he absolved him. The Author cryes, O Zealous Mind! O Noble Bishop! (but let the Christian, poor in spirit, that complains with Paul, Rom. 7. of a Body of Sin and Death, cry, O stupid Soul! O vile Hypocrite!) how secure was thy

Conscience, that at thy death hadst no scru∣ple, but the exchanging of one good work for another, and that when commanded to it! That was his leaving the Archbishoprick of Capua, for better preserment. What is related of him, his lying on his bed with his eyes and hands lift up to Hea∣ven; his falling prostrate on the ground to receive the Sacrament; his bestowing so much to feed the poor; all these things signifie nothing, when the heart is so proud, so insensible of its own Gailt. Then every man must try himself: The Famous Divines in the Synod of Dort gave these Marks of Sincerity, Vera in Christum fides, filialis Dei timor, dolor de peccatis secundum Deum, sitis & esuries justitiae: A True Faith in Christ, (when a man humbly relies upon him for Life and Salvation) A filial Fear of God, (when we fear his displeasure, as well as his Judgments) a sorrow for Sin ac∣cording to God, (when we hate Sin, so as to fly from it to God) a Hungring and Thirsting after Righteousness (a desire of Grace more than any thing on earth.)

Notes

• 2 Kings 8.13.
• Mat. 258.
• Hos. 7.8.
• John 19.31.
• Mat. 8.12.
• Dordrehti Synodus.