The saints everlasting rest

Those that think they should not tie themselves to order and number of duties; but should then only meditate or pray, when they find the Spirit provoking them to it, go upon uncertain and unchristian grounds. I am sure, the scripture provokes us to frequency, and our necessity secondeth the voice of scripture; and if through my own neglect, or resisting the Spirit, I do not find it so excite me, I dare not therefore disobey the scripture, nor neglect the necessities of my own soul. I should suspect that spirit which would turn my soul from constancy in duty: if the Spirit in scripture bid me meditate or pray, I dare not forbear it, because I find not the spirit within me to second the command: if I find not incitation to duty before, yet I may find assistance while I wait in performance. I am afraid of laying my corruptions upon the Spirit, or blaming the want of the Spirit's assistance, when I should blame the backwardness of my own heart; nor dare I make one corruption a plea for another; nor urge the inward rebellion of my nature, as a reason for the outward disobedience of my life; and for the healing of my nature's backwardness, I more expect that the Spirit of Christ should do it in a way of duty, than in a way of disobedience and neglect of duty. Men that fall on duty according to the frame of their spirit only, are like our ignorant vulgar, who think their appetite should be the only rule of their eating; when a wise man judgeth by reason and experience, lest when his appetite is depraved, he should either surfeit or famish. Our appetite is no sure rule for our times of duty; but the word of GOD in general, and our spiritual reason, experience, necessity, and convenience in particular, may truly direct us.

Three reasons especially should persuade thee to frequency in this meditation on heaven.

1. Because seldom conversing with him will breed a strangeness betwixt thy soul and GOD: frequent society breeds familiarity, and familiarity increaseth love and delight, and maketh us bold and confident in our addresses. This is the main end of this duty, that thou mayst have acquaintance and fellowship with GOD therein; therefore if thou come but seldom to it, thou wilt keep thyself a stranger still, and so miss of the end of the work. 2. Seldomness will make thee unskilful in the work, and strange to the duty, as well as to GOD. How clumsily do men set their hands to a work they are seldom employed in! whereas frequency will habituate thy heart to the work, and thou wilt better know the way in which thou daily walkest, yea, and it will be more easy and delightful also: the hill which made thee pant and blow at the first going up, thou mayst run up easily when thou art once accustomed to it. 3. And lastly, Thou wilt lose that heat and life by long intermissions, which with much ado thou didst obtain in duty. If thou eat but a meal in two or three days, thou wilt lose thy strength as fast as thou gettest it: if in holy meditation thou get near to Christ, and warm thy heart with the fire of love, if thou then turn away, and come but seldom, thou wilt soon return to thy former coldness.