The application of redemption

1 Summon the heart to answer the charge. 2 Force the heart to own it. 3 Silence the heart for the while under it.

When thus Meditation hath come into the heart, let §2it lay hold upon the heart: That's the Second thing in this fastening, when it hath arrested the soul, the undeniable Evidence of the Truth, then keep it under the arrest: ⟨p. 270⟩as Officers do such as they have attached, not suffered them to go out of the room, nor to be out of their sight or presence. When thou hast with strong hand as it were forced thy heart by the power of the Truth raised by Meditation from every Coast, as it were from all particular circumstances and occasions, that it yield the Charge which it cannot gainsay, owns the guilt under which it lies, and the punishment which it hath deserved, sits down silent under the Sovereignty of the Truth which it cannot control; keeps the heart under this awful disposition for ever. Do not suffer thy mind to go off from the Duty of Meditation, or thy will and affections from under the impressions which were left upon it thereby. For if thou thus givest way out of sloth, or wearish negligence, thou art in hazard not only to lose thy labour, but to leave thy soul much worse by the abuse of an Ordinance, than it was before thou didst enjoy the liberty and practice of it. As Iron or any Metal once melted, if it cool, it grows more hard than before, and more unfit to be fashioned to any use; It's so with the heart awed and melted as it were, and made coming under the power of Meditation; if once thou growest careless, and it grows cold, it becomes more unteachable, hard, and unfit to receive any impression of the Truth, with what ever power it be dispensed. Therefore by daily consideration keep the power of the Truth, and discovery of thy sins within ken still, before the eyes and sight of thy soul, that so thou mayest keep the same heat and temper of Spirit, that awful, under, and silent subjection, to the Authority of the Truth, the terror and dreadfulness of thine own sins; and here our greatest watch is to be improved to follow this direction, because the policy of Satan, the proneness of our own hearts, and professed opposition that the Spirits of the sons of men have against this Dispensation on Gods part, and this disposition on ours;