especially in meditating on the joyes of Heaven. To this end, Set apart one hour or half hour every day, wherein thou maist lay aside all worldly thoughts, and with all possible seriousness and reverence, as if thou were going to speak with God himself, or to have a sight of Christ, or of that blessed place; so do thou withdraw thy self into some secret place, and set thy self wholly to the following work: If thou canst, take Isaacs time and place, who went forth into the Field in the Evening to meditate: But if thou be a servant or poor man that cannot have that leisure; take the fittest time and place that thou canst, though it be when thou art private about thy labors.
When thou setst to the work, look up toward Heaven, let thine eie lead thee as neer as it can; remember that there is thine Everlast∣ing Rest; study its excellency, study its reality, till thy unbelief be silenced, and thy Faith prevail▪ If thy judgment be not yet drawn to admiration, use those sensible helps and advantages which were even now laid down. Compare thy heavenly joyes, with the choicest on earth, and so rise up from Sense to Faith: If yet this meer con∣sideration prevail not (which yet hath much force, as is before expressed,) then fall a pleading the case with thy heart: Preach upon this Text of Heaven to thy self; convince, inform, confute, instruct, reprove, examine, admonish, encourage, and comfort thy own soul from this Celestial Doctrine; draw forth those se∣veral considerations of thy Rest, on which thy several affections may work, especially that Affection or Grace which thou intend∣est to act. If it be Love which thou wouldst act, shew it the love∣liness of Heaven, and how suitable it is to thy condition; if it be Desire, consider of thy absence from this lovely object; if it be Hope, consider the possibility and probability of obtaining it; if it be Courage, consider the singular assistance and encourage∣ments which thou maist receive from God; the weakness of the enemy, and the necessity of prevailing; if it be Joy, consider of its excellent ravishing glory, of thy interest in it, and of its cer∣tainty, and the neerness of the time when thou must possess it. Urge these considerations home to thy heart; whet them with all possible seriousness upon each affection: If thy heart draw back, force it to the work; if it loyter, spur it on; if it step aside, com∣mand it in again; if it would slip away, and leave the work, use thine authority; keep it close to the business, till thou have ob∣tained