[360] Mark xiv, 35.
§ 19. (IV.) I am next to advise thee concerning the preparations of thy heart for this heavenly contemplation. The success of the work much depends on the frame of thy heart. When man's heart had nothing in it to grieve the Spirit, it was then the delightful habitation of his Maker. God did not quit his residence there, till man expelled him by unworthy provocations. There was no shyness or reserve, till the heart grew sinful, and too loathsome a dungeon for God to delight in. And was this soul reduced to its former innocency, God would quickly return to his former habitation; yea, so far as it is renewed and repaired by the Spirit, and purged from its lusts, and beautified with his image, the Lord will yet acknowledge it as his own; Christ will manifest himself unto it, and the Spirit will take it for his temple and residence. So far as the heart is qualified for conversing with God, so far it usually enjoys him. Therefore, with all diligence keep thy heart, for out of it are the issues of life.[361] More particularly,
[361] Proverbs iv, 23.
§ 20. (1.) Get thy heart as clear from the world as thou canst. Wholly lay by the thoughts of thy business, troubles, enjoyments, and every thing that may take up any room in thy soul. Get it as empty as thou possibly canst, that it may be the more capable of being filled with God. If thou couldst perform some outward duty with a piece of thy heart, while the other is absent, yet this duty above all I am sure thou canst not. When thou shalt go into the mount of contemplation, thou wilt be like the covetous man at the heap of gold, who, when he might take as much as he could, lamented that he was able to carry no more; so thou wilt find as much of God and glory as thy narrow heart is able to contain, and almost nothing to hinder thy full possession, but the incapacity of thy own spirit. Then thou wilt think, "O that this understanding, and these affections, could contain more! It is more my unfitness than any thing else, that even this place is not my heaven. God is in this place and I know it not. This mount is full of chariots of fire, but mine eyes are shut, and I cannot see them, O the words of love Christ hath to speak, and wonders of love he hath to shew, but I cannot bear them yet! Heaven is ready for me, but my heart is unready for heaven." Therefore, reader, seeing thy enjoyment of God in this contemplation much depends on the capacity and disposition of thy heart, seek him here, if ever, with all thy soul. Thrust not Christ into the stable, and the manger, as if thou hadst better guests for the chief rooms. Say to all thy worldly business and thoughts, as Christ to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. Or as Abraham to his servants, when he went to offer Isaac, Abide ye here, and I will go yonder and worship, and come again to you. Even as the priests thrust king Uzziah out of the temple, where he presumed to burn incense, when they saw the leprosy upon him; so do thou thrust those thoughts from the temple of thy heart, which have the badge of God's prohibition upon them.
§ 21. (2.) Be sure to set upon this work with the greatest solemnity of heart and mind. There is no trifling in holy things. God will be sanctified in them that come nigh him.[362] These spiritual, excellent, soul-raising duties, are if well used, most profitable; but when used unfaithfully, most dangerous. Labor therefore to have the deepest apprehensions of the presence of God, and his incomprehensible greatness. If queen Esther must not draw near, till the king hold out the sceptre; think, then, with what reverence thou shouldst approach Him, who made the worlds with the word of his mouth, who upholds the earth as in the palm of his hand, who keeps the sun, moon, and stars in their courses, and who sets bounds to the raging sea. Thou art going to converse with Him, before whom the earth will quake, and Devils do tremble, and at whose bar thou and all the world must shortly stand, and be finally judged. O think! "I shall then have lively apprehensions of His Majesty. My drowsy spirits will then be awakened, and my irreverence be laid aside; and why should I not now be roused with the sense of his greatness, and the dread of his name possess my soul?" Labor also to apprehend the greatness of the work which thou attemptest, and to be deeply sensible both of its importance and excellency. If thou wast pleading for thy life at the bar of an earthly judge, thou wouldst be serious; and yet that would be a trifle to this. If thou wast engaged in such a work as David against Goliath, on which the welfare of a kingdom depended; in itself considered, it were nothing to this. Suppose thou wast going to such a wrestling as Jacob's, or to see the sight which the three disciples saw in the mount; how seriously, how reverently, wouldst thou both approach and behold! If but an angel from heaven should appoint to meet thee, at the same time and place of thy contemplations; with what dread wouldst thou be filled? Consider then, with what a spirit thou shouldst meet the Lord, and with what seriousness and awe thou shouldst daily converse with him. Consider also the blessed issue of the work, if it succeed: it will be thy admission into the presence of God, and the beginning of thy eternal glory on earth; a means to make thee live above the rate of other men, and fix thee in the next room to the angels themselves, that thou mayest both live and die joyfully. The prize being so great, thy preparations should be answerable. There is none on earth live such a life of joy and blessedness, as those that are acquainted with this heavenly conversation. The joys of all other men are but like a child's play, a fool's laughter, or a sick man's dream of health. He that trades for heaven is the only gainer, and he that neglects it is the only loser. How seriously, therefore, should this work be done?
[362] Leviticus x, 3.
CHAP. XIV.
What use heavenly contemplation makes of consideration, affections, soliloquy, and prayer.
§ 1. The reader is invited to engage in heavenly contemplation; § 2. And to that end is, (I.) Directed in the use of consideration; § 3-8. The great influence of which over the heart is represented in several instances: § 9. Then (II.) it is shewn how heavenly contemplation is promoted by the affections; particularly, § 10-12. (1.) By Love; § 13. (2.) Desire; § 14. (3.) Hope; § 15. (4.) Courage or Boldness; § 16-18. and (5.) Joy. § 19. A caution is added concerning this exercise of the affections. § 20-22. (III.) The chapter concludes with some account of the usefulness of soliloquy and prayer, in heavenly contemplation.
