And these I have set down to help thee to meditate. And who sees not now, by that which hath been said, that a good heart may be able to meditate? That as the exercise itself is both very needful for all Christians, and many ways gainful, so none may have just cause to complain, that they cannot tell how to make use of it. But let us remember, that besides the §Dbenefit and gain of it, it is one of the private helps that God in his wise and merciful providence ordained for his deer children to make their life sweet and comfortable here,1 which otherwise would be irksome and painful, even to them who are best able to pass it well. And therefore to neglect it, shall not only be gross unthankfulness: but a charging of the Lord with a work merely needless. Let us also, for the better heartening of ourselves hereunto consider the uncertainty and shortness of our life, and the warnings which God hath given us of our mortality, not only by the doctrine of his word and common experience, but more especially, within these few years, by taking from us so many worthy instruments of his glory, §Eas I must needs say, if it be well weighed, will work in us a less desire to live, seeing they live not with us. And this, among all the rest of the vexations and molestations of this life, should whet and sharpen us to meditation,2 that we might the more shake off the burden and weight of the inordinate desire of living here, as bolts from our heels.
And these I haue set downe to helpe thee to meditate. And who sees not now, by that which hath been said, that a good heart may be able to meditate? That as the exercise itselfe is both very needefull for all Christians, and many wayes gainefull, so none may haue iust cause to complaine, that they cannot tell how to make vse of it. But let vs remember, that besides the §Dbenefit and gaine of it, it is one of the priuate helps that God in his wise and mercifull prouidence ordained for his deere children to make their life sweete and comfortable here,1 which otherwise would bee yrksome and painefull, euen to them who are best able to passe it well. And therefore to neglect it, shall not onely bee grosse vnthankfulnes: but a charging of the Lord with a worke meerely needeles. Let vs also, for the better heartning of ourselues hereunto consider the vncertaintie and shortnes of our life, and the warnings which God hath giuen vs of our mortalitie, not onely by the doctrine of his word and common experience, but more especially, within these few yeares, by taking from vs so many worthie instruments of his glorie, §Eas I must needes say, if it be well weighed, will worke in vs a lesse desire to liue, seeing they liue not with vs. And this, among all the rest of the vexations and molestations of this life, should whet and sharpen vs to meditation,2 that we might the more shake off the burthen and weight of the inordinat desire of liuing here, as boults from our heeles.
- 1Persuasions to use meditation.Perswasions to vse meditation.
- 2Just cause to complain of the want of meditation in all sorts of men. Luk. 23.28.Just cause to complaine of the want of meditation in all sortes of men. Luk. 23.28.
