The application of redemption

Meditation drains and draws out the dreadful venom of a mans distempers, and makes it ever with him, where ever he goes, in every […] he takes, the guilt of his sins is before him to accuse, and Hell gaping to devour him; where ever he is, his sin and guilt, his fears and terrors, his curses and confusion is with him to astonish him to all eternity. To have a wound or sore is troublesome, but to be raking in it daily, though it were never so small, were in truth intolerable. So it is here, Meditation is the multiplication of all these stings and terrors.

Meditation drains and draws out the dreadful venom of a mans distempers, and makes it ever with him, where ever he goes, in every 〈…〉 he takes, the guilt of his sins is before him to accuse, and Hell gaping to devour him; where ever he is, his sin and guilt, his fears and terrors, his curses and confusion is with him to astonish him to al eternity. To have a wound or sore is troublesom, but to be raking in it dayly, though it were never so smal, were in truth intollerable. So it is here, Meditation is the multiplication of al these stings and terrors.

When Meditation hath thus taken hold of the heart, §3it then drags it to the Throne of Justice, and then drives it to seek out for payment and satisfaction, without which it cannot be eased nor delivered. This is the Markstone, within which the bounds and limits of Meditation are to be confined that it may be ordered and acted aright, according to the Method of the Almighty, and a right Rule. When the soul is summoned to answer the Charge, and is under the Arrest, and not able to escape, it finds now the severity of Gods Justice that exacts all, even the utmost, the greatness of the debt, and it's own inability to answer; yet pay he must, or else he must perish. It drives the soul to see a need of a Christ and mercy, and that it ought to seek out thither for relief and satisfaction: This is the aim of the Duty, and Gods end in fastening thus the filth, and guilt, and desert of sin upon the soul, and it should be our end also. And here a Three-fold extreme unto which the soul is very subject in the exercise of this Service, is especially to be avoided.