The real Christian, or, A treatise of effectual calling wherein the work of God…

This is that which I aim at in this example, that when we urge duties upon Christians, so to be performed, and upon the performance of them after the manner we set down, or non performance, we will conclude them sound or unsound, serious or slight Christians, let us be sure to give clear Texts that prove, God commanding the duty in that manner as we lay it down, and urge Christians to the performance of it.

I grant Meditation is a duty that all Christians (adult) are bound unto; yea, so much a duty, that I know not how a person adult can be a Christian without it. I know not how a Christian can order his conversation without meditation, how he can examine himself without meditation, how he can improve the Sermons he hears, and Books he reads without some meditation; but the question is for such meditation, set down after such a mode, viz. That every day as duly as we pray, so we set apart an hour or half hour for the duty of meditation, and more especially in meditating of the Joys of Heaven, and making it for that time our whole work, and intermix other matters with it no more than we would do with prayer. This I see is the meditation strongly urged upon Christians, a duty very hard I am sure, and if our salvation lye upon this being performed after this manner as this learned and reverend Author hath set down, then most Christians that I meet with, forty to one, and those whom I esteem good Christians, must never come at Heaven, but must to that dark place. If I should humbly desire a Text or two from holy Writ, to prove, that is the meditation that God requires of Christians; if the reverend Author will answer me, it is a ridiculous question, as he hath said in another case, I must be silent.

I grant Meditation is a duty that all Christians (adult) are bound unto; yea, so much a duty, that I know not how a person adult can be a Christian without it. I know not how a Christian can order his conversation without meditation, how he can examine himself without meditation, how he can improve the Sermons he hears, and Books he reads without some meditation; but the question is for such meditation, set down after such a mode, viz. That every day as duly as we pray, so we set apart an hour or half hour for the duty of meditation, and more especially in meditating of the Joyes of Heaven, and making it for that time our whole work, and intermix other matters with it no more than we would do with prayer. This I see is the meditation strongly urged upon Christians, a duty very hard I am sure, and if our salvation lye upon this being performed after this manner as this learned and reverend Author hath set down, then most Christians that I meet with, forty to one, and those whom I esteem good Christians, must never come at Heaven, but must to that dark place. If I should humbly desire a Text or two from holy Writ, to prove, that is the meditation that God requires of Christians; if the reverend Author will answer me, it is a ridiculous question, as he hath said in another case, I must be silent.