DOCT. 4.
Meditation of sin, a special means to break the heart | 208
What Meditation is, viz. | 210
A serious […] of the mind, whereby we search out the Truth, and settle it effectually upon the heart. | ibid.
Reasons three. Because Meditation |
1 Causes the sting of sin to pierce more deeply | 217
2 Holds the heart under the pressures of it | 219
3 Increaseth and presseth down the weight of it upon the Conscience | 221
Uses three, hence |
1 Humiliation that there is so little Meditation. | 223
This in special concerns |
1 Such as studiously avoid it. | 224
Terror to such; they take the way to increase their misery when they would avoid it. | 225
Advice to such: Be afraid to commit sin, but never be afraid to see it | 226
2 Such […] approve the Practice, but plead Excuses ⟨image 573⟩why they may neglect it | ibid.
1 Meditation is but a matter of indifferency, not of Duty | 227
2 The want of time | 229
3 Unsteadiness of their thoughts | ibid.
4 […] in the Service | 238
All these confuted, and Remedies prescribed | 239
2 Caution: Loose Company an Enemy to the Conversion of a sinner, because a hindrance of Meditation | 240
3 Exhortation to attend this duty of Meditation | 241
Motives four, |
1 It's a Duty belonging to all | 244
2 How far we are cast behind hand for want of it. | 245
3 What need we have of it | ibid.
4 The Sovereign virtue of it | 247
Directions to help in the practice of Meditation. | 249
1 Enquire after the Nature of a sin. | ibid.
In this Enquiry |
1 Look to the Rule, to Authorize us to the work. | ib.
2 For the manner of proceeding | 250
1 Survey particular sins | 251
1 In the Root | ibid.
2 In the fruits of them. | ibid.
2 Sum them up jointly | 262
2 Fasten it upon the soul | 265
1 By grappling with the heart | ibid.
2 By getting the better of the heart | ibid.
Here take heed of three extremes | 272
1 Desperate discouragements | 273
2 Hellish provocations | 274
3 False conceivings of the measure and manner of Gods work | 275
Directions to help here, are three: |
1 Possess the heart with the fear of thy sinful and ⟨image 573⟩dangerous estate | 276
2 Awaken and call for the help of Conscience | 279
3 Seek to the Lord for the Almighty hand of his Spirit to set on thy Meditations | 282
DOCT. 4.
Meditation of sin, a special means to break the heart | 208
What Meditation is, viz. | 210
A serious 〈…〉 of the mind, whereby we search out the Truth, and settle it effectually upon the heart. | ibid.
Reasons three. Because Meditation |
1 Causes the sting of sin to pierce more deeply | 217
2 Holds the heart under the pressures of it | 219
3 Encreaseth and presseth down the weight of it upon the Conscience | 221
Uses three, hence |
1 Humiliation that there is so little Meditation. | 223
This in special concerns |
1 Such as studiously avoid it. | 224
Terror to such; they take the way to encrease their misery when they would avoid it. | 225
Advice to such: Be afraid to commit sin, but never be afraid to see it | 226
2 Such 〈…〉 approve the Practice, but plead Excuses ⟨image 573⟩why they may neglect it | ibid.
1 Meditation is but a matter of indifferency, not of Duty | 227
2 The want of time | 229
3 Unsteadiness of their thoughts | ibid.
4 〈…〉 in the Service | 238
All these confuted, and Remedies prescribed | 239
2 Caution: Loose Company an Enemy to the Conversion of a sinner, because a hindrance of Meditation | 240
3 Exhortation to attend this duty of Meditation | 241
Motives four, |
1 It's a Duty belonging to all | 244
2 How far we are cast behind hand for want of it. | 245
3 What need we have of it | ibid.
4 The Soveraign vertue of it | 247
Directions to help in the practice of Meditation. | 249
1 Enquire after the Nature of a sin. | ibid.
In this Enquiry |
1 Look to the Rule, to Authorize us to the work. | ib.
2 For the manner of proceeding | 250
1 Survey particular sins | 251
1 In the Root | ibid.
2 In the fruits of them. | ibid.
2 Sum them up joyntly | 262
2 Fasten it upon the soul | 265
1 By grappling with the heart | ibid.
2 By getting the better of the heart | ibid.
Here take heed of three extreams | 272
1 Desperate discouragements | 273
2 Hellish provocations | 274
3 False conceivings of the measure and manner of Gods work | 275
Directions to help here, are three: |
1 Possess the heart with the fear of thy sinful and ⟨image 573⟩dangerous estate | 276
2 Awaken and call for the help of Conscience | 279
3 Seek to the Lord for the Almighty hand of his Spirit to set on thy Meditations | 282
