The Soul's Preparation for Christ

Ay, but you will say, our thoughts are dull, and our meditation frail, and our wants heavy, and little good we get by this meditation, we fall to sin again; how shall we come to get the life of meditation, that it may be to us as it ought to be?

Ay, but you will say, our thoughts are dull, and our meditation fraile, and our wants heavy, and little good we get by this meditation, we fall to sinne againe; how shall we come to get the life of meditation, that it may be to us as it ought to be?

I answer, the means to make meditation ⟨p. 123⟩powerful are two, I confess after a man hath mused and pondered, it is possible that a corrupt heart may recoil and fall back again, therefore there are two helps to put more life into meditation.

I answer, the meanes to make meditation ⟨p. 123⟩powerfull are two, I confesse after a man hath mused and pondered, it is possible that a corrupt heart may recoile and fall backe againe, therefore there are two helpes to put more life into meditation.

First, labour to call in the help and assistance of conscience, that meditation may be more fruitful and powerful; conscience is a great commander, it is Gods vicegerent and chief officer, and God is the general overseer of all the affairs of the world, but conscience hath authority to execute Judgement according to the sentence God hath revealed, and hath a greater command with the heart, then bare meditation hath; understanding and reason are but the underlings of the will, & they are but servants & subjects to the will, and these only suggest and advise unto the will what is good, as a servant may suggest to his master what is good, and yet his master may take what he list, & refuse what he please in this kind. But conscience hath a greater command,