A77360:858
Christ and the covenant the work and way of meditation
Christ and the covenant the work and way of meditation. : Gods return to the soul, or nation; together with his preventing mercy. : Delivered in ten sermons, (viz.) 1. Christs personal excellencies, the object of our love. 2. Christ crucified, the object of our faith. 3. The new covenant of grace opened. 4. Christ the mediator of the new covenant. 5. The way and spirit of the new covenant, or New Testament. 6. The blood of sprinkling. 7. The sweetness and profitableness of divine meditation. 8. The work and way of this meditation. 9. Gods return to the soul and nation. 10. Preventing mercy. / By W.B.
London: printed for N. Ranew, 1667
Sermons › Sermon 8: The Work and Way of Meditation. SERM. VIII.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And labour for Intention of Affection. In Meditation, ⟨p. 447⟩Prayer, or any other Work, be Intense: We use to say, when the Candle burns, the Mouse doth not nibble, but when the Candle is out, then the Mouse nibbles: when our hearts are warm and lively in Prayer and Meditation, we are free from distractions; the Mouse nibbles not.
And in case you meet with any distraction in Meditation, or other duty, don't stand to Correct your heart in the time of the duty, but go on with your work. If a woman carries a Child abroad among friends, and the Child cries and makes a disturbance, the mother don't then correct the Child there; but calls the Child to an account when she comes at home: for saith she, Else would my correction be a further disturbance to the company: So here, when you meet with distractions in duty, if you call your hearts to an account then, it will be a further disturbance; but on with your present duty, correct afterward; and thus shall your hearts be the more fixed, and fixation of heart is a great help to Meditation.
4. If you would indeed meditate on God and the things of God, be sure that you lay out such objects as may give entertainment to your thoughts. For if there be no Corn in the Quern, what grinding will there be? Have therefore objects laid out to exercise your thoughts withal, upon all occasions; And so when you have any spare time, your Objects lying by, you will be presently upon the work of Meditation: only let those Objects be such as are drawing, alluring, thought-begetting Objects, and Thought-entertaining Objects: But then