The application of redemption

Serious.] Meditation is not a flourishing of a mans wit, but hath a set bout at the search of the truth, beats his brain as we use to say, hammers out a business, as the Goldsmith with his metal, he heats it and beats it turns it on this side and then on that, fashions it on both that he might frame it to his mind; meditation is hammering of a truth or […] propounded, that he ⟨p. 211⟩may carry and conceive the frame and compass in his mind, […] salute a truth as we pass by occasionally but solemnly entertain it into our thoughts; Not look upon a thing presented as a spectator or passenger that goes by: but lay other things aside, and look at this as the work and employment for the present to take up our minds. It's one thing in our diet to take a snatch and away, another thing to make a meal, and sit at it on purpose until we have seen all set before us and we have taken our fill of all, so we must not cast an eye or glimpse at the truth by some sudden or sleighty apprehension, a snatch and away, but we must make a meal of musing. Therefore the Psalmist makes it the main trade that a Godly man drives, professedly opposite to the carriage of the wicked, whether in his outward or inward work, in his disposition or expression of himself in his common practice; whereas they walk in the corrupt counsels of their own hearts, stand in the […] of sinners, not only devise what is naught, but practice and persevere in what they have devised, and sit in the seat of the scorners; A blessed man his rode in which he travels, his set trade he meditates in the Law of God day and night: that is the counsel in which he walks, the way in which he stands, the […] in which he fits. Look at this work as a branch of our Christian […], not that which is left to our liberty, but which is of necessity to be attended and that in good earnest […] a Christian duty, which God requires, not a little available to our spiritual welfare.

Serious.] Meditation is not a flourishing of a mans wit, but hath a set bout at the search of the truth, beats his brain as wee use to say, hammers out a buisiness, as the Gouldsmith with his mettal, he heats it and beats it turnes it on this side and then on that, fashions it on both that he might frame it to his mind; meditation is hammering of a truth or 〈…〉 propounded, that he ⟨p. 211⟩