A77888:130
A treatise of divine meditation
A treatise of divine meditation, by that faithful servant of Jesus Christ Mr. John Ball, late minister of the Gospel at Whitmore in Staffordshire. Published by Simeon Ashe, preacher of the Gospel at Austins, London.
London: printed for H. Mortlock, 1660
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.
Quest. How are these abuses to be remedied?
Quest. How are these abuses to bee remedied?
A. First, We must remember, §1that it is a duty of great weight, earnestly called for at our hands, of singular fruit, and comfort, worthy to be delighted in, and exercised with greatest diligence. The men of the world are exact in trifles, is it not a shame to the children of God, if they be sleighty in matters of so great importance? Labour spent in the duties of Religion is lost, and the fruit perisheth, if we strive not to perform them with life and power.
A. First, We must remember, §1that it is a duty of great weight, earnestly called for at our hands, of singular fruit, and comfort, worthy to bee delighted in, and exercised with greatest diligence. The men of the world are exact in trifles, is it not a shame to the children of God, if they be sleighty in matters of so great importance? Labour spent in the duties of Religion is lost, and the fruit perisheth, if wee strive not to perform them with life and power.
Secondly, To obtain, §2that we may be fit to perform this duty, and not to be carried at that time after wandering, we must tie up our loose hearts throughout the day from the deadly custom of ranging after vain, fond, and deceivable thoughts, dreams, and delights; we must ⟨p. 76⟩