Lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven. Matt. 6:20.
(1) It is good for man, whole breath is in his nostrils, to think upon his maker as much as in him lieth, both night and day: (2) Who is the fountain of all mens happiness, and the ocean of their bliss; not only in this world, but in that which is to come, even to all eternity.
(3) How sweet is that meditation that is on the sovereign Lord of Heaven, and on the Prince of everlasting Glory.
(4) No earthly thing is to be compared with it; all the glory, all the pomp and vanity of this fading transitory world, is not comparable with it: divine and inward contemplation upon God, is no less heaven upon earth to the soul.
(5) This mine eye hath seen; for which I humbly: bow before the great Lord of all, whose goodness to man cannot fully be set forth; neither by the most excellent orator, nor with a ready writer's pen.
(6) God delighteth in those that are intent in looking unto him; and it is man's duty to look to him, over all visible things.
(7) How profitable, and greatly advantageous it is to the soul, to be inward with God. Oh! it is altogether admirable.
(8) The unspeakable treasures of life and of wisdom are to be found in inward meditation and holy contemplation on God.
(9) When a man, in this sort, is delighting himself with his Maker, and advising with him, he can want no good thing. In days of old God was, now is, and ever wilt be, found by man in this inward concern of the soul.
(10) A man in this state will always curb high thoughts of self, as being in the presence of the Almighty; for then he is truly sensible of his presence: who is that will vaunt, or carry himself loftily, when God is present, and he considers it.
(11) Indeed the presence of the Almighty is every where, but many have lost: the sense thereof, for want of inward thoughts on God, and studious contemplation on the King of heaven, whole sovereignty is sweet over the works of his hands.
(12) He is full of grace, and full of truth, full of mercy, and full of justice: his law is light, and his commands are as burning lamps; in a word, he is full of heavenly majesty and divine power, so that no characters can let forth the fulness of God.
(13) Oh! that man were rightly sensible of these things; it would cause him, with an humble heart, to implore the Majesty of heaven for his favour, and petition him for the aid and assistance of his grace, to do his holy and heavenly will.
(14) Man would then see his own weakness and poverty, and how unable he is to do, or work, any good thing of himself, without the help of the holy Spirit:
(15) Which gift, God through Christ giveth to that soul which is inward in its thoughts upon God; whose wisdom and power is past finding out, unless in this frame of mind the Lord reveals it.
(16) But worldly thoughts, and vain cogitations, hinder the mind from being with God, the fountain of all good.
(17) Evil works or words also stupify the mind, and deaden the most noble part of man, so that slavish fear, instead of that fear which is mixed with true love and honour, is begotten in the heart.
(18) All things of any evil tendency entertained in the soul, are an obstruction to its duty to God.
(19) Who would but lay up treasure in heaven, that the heart might be there? And what treasure like that in heaven, or what place so fit to lay it in as this is?
(20) If a man did but, with considerate thoughts, weigh in his mind the shortness and uncertainty of time in this life, and the boundless ocean of eternity with a life of bliss and glory, or else of woe and misery, that will never end.
(21) Without his heart be harder than a flinty rock, it would lead him into tenderness, serious thoughts on the name of God, and into humiliation.
(22) Christ Jesus, the anointed of God, was found greatly in humiliation; even he who said, "Learn of me, and follow me, who am meek and low in heart." God calls for humility of all men. He beholds the proud and scornful afar off.
(23) Every proud and exalted thought God will bring to judgment, and likewise such words and actions.
(24) And indeed, the thing acted or done must first be conceived, or thought, before it be brought forth; for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh, and the man acteth.
(25) Therefore to have the thoughts of the heart on God, and to contemplate on heaven, and heavenly things, is truly excellent.
(26) And although this incumbent duty of man is so adverse to him, in his natural state, yet it is most easy, sweet and pleasant to the soul, when the mind is bent after, and set on heavenly things.
(27) And that which is still more admirable is, that God is the alone comfort, joy, helper, leader and conductor of such a soul.
(28) But, oh! the thoughts of man are too much taken up with earthly and perishing things, being content with the shadow or shell of divine contemplation, righteousness, and true religion; so that too few are earnestly seeking the substance thereof.
(29) That the noble creature man, which God hath made but a little lower than the angels, given him power over those creatures that are more ignoble than himself, should so degenerate from his maker, as to fix his thoughts on terrestrial things, is admirable to heaven-born souls, whole God is Lord.
(30) Which way can the soul look or turn itself, but that it must needs see the glory of the God of heaven, unless the god of this world hath blinded the eye of the mind?
(31) Look upwards, and we may behold brightness of his glory in the firmament, and the workmanship of his hands in the sun, moon and stars.
(32) Or, if we look on the earth, or in the sea, we may see his great wonders; and if, in sincerity we behold the heavenly works of his hands with an eye of faith, Oh! how can it do any less but draw deep considerations of the omnipotence of God?
(33) Thus beholding the works of God, and looking on his works of old, and the noble acts which he hath done in former times, will raise holy desires to be with him, and to be in his presence, when time to us in this world shall be no more.
(34) It will also beget a loving fear of the Lord in the soul, lest that it should offend him.
(35) Such a soul will be inwardly concerned before the Lord, and will seek him with unwearied travail of spirit.
(36) After this manner will that soul cry to God, in the spirit of prayer and supplication, that is traveling towards the city, whose builder and maker is God.
(37) Lord, I am poor, do thou make me rich; I am needy, Oh! strengthen me, even me, oh my heavenly Father! for I am the least of many: oh my Saviour, have mercy upon me!
(38) Thou seest my weakness, and knowest my want, and how unable I am of myself to do thy will; give me grace or else I die; save me by the power and by the spirit of thy Son, or else I perish for ever.
(39) Lord, I believe; my faith is in thee, and in the power of thine anointed, help mine unbelief, for Jesus' sake, I humbly pray thee, oh thou great creator of the children of men!
(40) Oh! great, eternal God, thou knowest my secret desires, and the private devotion of my heart.
(41) My sighing and tears are after thee, oh thou of my soul!
(42) All the profit and pleasure that is in this world is nothing, and less than nothing, in comparison of thee, and the enjoyment of thy presence, oh Lord of life and glory.
(43) Tho, great Creator of all things, from whom all things have their being, send forth the Spirit of thy Son into my heart, whereby with acceptance I may cry Abba, Father.
(44) Oh! holy Father, let me feel thy power, that I may be able to make war, in thy righteousness, against the ,enemy of my poor soul.
(45) Great, eternal God, give me wisdom to walk uprightly before thee, and before the children of men: oh that my soul may seek after it for ever!
(46) With which, Oh Lord, fill my earthen vessel, for Jesus's sake, that I may be gentle and easy to be entreated to do thy will, so that I may never rebel against thee.
(47) Lord do not tarry long from me; for if thou hidest thy face, I am troubled; or when the curtain is drawn between me and my Maker, then my spirit within me languisheth.
(48) Therefore, O Lord, arise, and the thoughts that are at enmity with thee shall be scattered from my soul.
(49) Then shall my soul be a fit receptacle for thee, and a temple thou dost delight to dwell in, Oh living God!
(50) And, holy Father, as thou hast begotten those thoughts and desires in my soul, so do for many more of the sons and daughters of men.
(51) Such a soul, whose thoughts and meditations are on this wise, Almighty God never did and never will reject, or cast off.
(52) Heaven and earth may pass away, but the mercy and goodness of the Lord God of heaven and earth will not pass away from those that are thus inwardly exercised before him.
(53) The holy men of God, and the faithful in ages past, bore testimony to these truths.
(54) And there is that of God in the souls of the faithful, that can say Amen to the same.
(55) "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee," saith the Almighty, to an concerning those who love him truly.
(56) "Fear not, worm Jacob, for I will be with thee, saith the Lord; if thou goest through the fire,
it shall not kindle upon thee, and if thou goest through the water, it shall not overwhelm thee."
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