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CHAP. V. Directions for Meditation.
THE next Duty I shall speak of, is Medita∣tion; a necessary, though much neglected Duty. Yea, Christians themselves, that make Conscience of other Duties, and are much in hear∣ing, reading, and Prayer, yet are too backward; yea, unskill'd in the right performance of this du∣ty. But did they know the benefit of it, and the incomes many receive by it, they would not neg∣lect it: it brings much Advantage to a gracious Soul, and stores it with many Heavenly Truths, which those that neglect it never attain: In this a man ingages all the powers of his Soul, and bends his mind to consider, and muse upon some Spiri∣tual Object; for I speak not of it here, as wicked men use it, to devise mischief; but as a Christian duty. Now, Meditation is either Occasional, and Sudden; or else Solemn, and Set, for both are ne∣cessary, both are beneficial: The former is occa∣sioned by Objects occasionally presented, by the Providence of God; either to the Senses, or brought to the Memory, and resembles those sud∣den Ejaculations, suddenly occasioned; only in the one a man speaks to God, and in the other a man speaks to his own Heart. Thus we see David, by beholding the Sun, Moon, and Stars, those glorious Lamps of Heaven, he falls out into Ad∣miration, of God's Love to poor man, in raising him above these, and making him but a little low∣er than the Angels, Psal. 8.1,2, &c. Such oc∣casional