A26920:39
The duty of heavenly meditation reviewed
The duty of heavenly meditation reviewed by Richard Baxter at the invitation of Mr. Giles Firmin's exceptions in his book entitled, The real Christian.The duty of heavenly meditation reviewed by Richard Baxter at the invitation of Mr. Giles Firmin's exceptions in his book entituled, The real Christian.
London: printed for Nevil Simmons, 1671
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
It is a duty to spend so much Time in Meditation as is best to Edification to attain its End. But to them that have Ability and opportunity, at least a quarter or half an hour, if not more, is best to Edification to attain the End. Therefore to such it is a duty to spend so much time herein.
I will give you no Text of Scripture for the Conclusion, nor for the Minor. The nature of the thing, and common experience proveth it.
Christs Sermons recited in Scripture seem to be very short: You may call for a Text now to prove it a duty that a Sermon or Prayer should be an hour or a quarter of an hour long. It is enough that I prove it from the Aptitude of the Means to its end. Experience telleth us, that very few words and short time serve not to inform mens understandings. And after that, the Will and Affections must have time to be duly excited, and resolved; And more time is necessary yet to drive the nail to the head, and to settle the soul against the force of all objections that may be produced to the contrary; And yet more time to settle it in the right way of Practice. In a word, If short and seldom Preaching to others, be all that is any Preachers duty, murmur not that you are silenced, but write to Ministers to spare the Bishops the labour and odium, and to silence themselves, as to their long unnecessary Sermons.
Christs Sermons recited in Scripture seem to be very short: You may call for a Text now to prove it a duty that a Sermon or Prayer should be an hour or a quarter of an hour long. It is enough that I prove it from the Aptitude of the Means to its end. Experience telleth us, that very few words and short time serve not to inform mens understandings. And after that, the Will and Affections must have time to be duly excited, and resolved; And more time is necessary yet to drive the nail to the head, and to settle the soul against the force of all objections that may be produced to the contrary; And yet more time to settle it in the right way of Practice. In a word, If short and seldome Preaching to others, be all that is any Preachers duty, murmur not that you are silenced, but write to Ministers to spare the Bishops the labour and odium, and to silence themselves, as to their long unnecessary Sermons.