For my own part, when my Conscience commandeth me to omit Meditation, because of some greater and more urgent duty, forbidding it at that time, I usually find that it is my affliction to fall under any such diversions, that both may not be done. And I find that whatever else I think of, of Christ, of Scripture, of Promises, of Threatenings, of sin, of Grace, &c. if I leave out Heaven and make it not the chief part of my Meditation, I leave out the sense and Life of all. Thence must I fetch my Light, or I must be in Darkness; Thence must I fetch my Life, or I must be Dead, and my Motives or I must be Dull, or not sincere; and my daily Comforts, or I must be uncomfortable or worse. My Hearing, and Reading, and Studies grow to Common things, if Heaven be not the principal part: My life groweth towards a common and a carnal Life, when I begin to leave out Heaven: Death groweth terrible to my thoughts, and Eternity strange and dreadful to me, if I live not in such frequent and serious thoughts of the Heavenly Glory, as may render it familiar and grateful to my soul. Yea I cannot think with any due Knowledge, Love or Pleasure, of the ever-blessed God himself, if I think of him only as he is revealed to us ⟨p. 32⟩in this World, and not as we shall see him in the World of Light. I find my self but a common man, if Heavenliness make me not to differ: And I find my self unfit to Live or to Die, and that my soul is void of the true Consolation, that is needful both in Life and at Death, when I grow a stranger to Heavenly Thoughts, and consequently to Heavenly Affections: And that as nothing will serve turn instead of Heaven to be my Happiness; so nothing will serve turn instead of Heaven to make up the end of my Religion, and form my Heart and Life to Holiness. And therefore by experience I counsel all Christians that are able to perform it, especially Ministers, and Learned men, to be much in the serious fore-thoughts of Heaven, and to Comfort themselves and others with these words, that We shall for ever be with the Lord, 1 Thes. 4.17, 18.
For my own part, when my Conscience commandeth me to omit Meditation, because of some greater and more urgent duty, forbidding it at that time, I usually find that it is my affliction to fall under any such diversions, that both may not be done. And I find that whatever else I think of, of Christ, of Scripture, of Promises, of Threatnings, of sin, of Grace, &c. if I leave out Heaven and make it not the chief part of my Meditation, I leave out the sence and Life of all. Thence must I fetch my Light, or I must be in Darkness; Thence must I fetch my Life, or I must be Dead, and my Motives or I must be Dull, or not sincere; and my daily Comforts, or I must be uncomfortable or worse. My Hearing, and Reading, and Studies grow to Common things, if Heaven be not the principal part: My life groweth towards a common and a carnal Life, when I begin to leave out Heaven: Death groweth terrible to my thoughts, and Eternity strange and dreadful to me, if I live not in such frequent and serious thoughts of the Heavenly Glory, as may render it familiar and grateful to my soul. Yea I cannot think with any due Knowledge, Love or Pleasure, of the ever-blessed God himself, if I think of him only as he is revealed to us ⟨p. 32⟩in this World, and not as we shall see him in the World of Light. I find my self but a common man, if Heavenliness make me not to differ: And I find my self unfit to Live or to Die, and that my soul is void of the true Consolation, that is needful both in Life and at Death, when I grow a stranger to Heavenly Thoughts, and consequently to Heavenly Affections: And that as nothing will serve turn instead of Heaven to be my Happiness; so nothing will serve turn instead of Heaven to make up the end of my Religion, and forme my Heart and Life to Holiness. And therefore by experience I counsel all Christians that are able to perform it, especially Ministers, and Learned men, to be much in the serious fore-thoughts of Heaven, and to Comfort themselves and others with these words, that We shall for ever be with the Lord, 1 Thes. 4.17, 18.
