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one another, to further one another Heaven-ward, to do good to one anothers foules.

II. Let them labour for thofe Graces that are requifite for this duty. Such as thefe, 1. Sobriety of judgment.

2. Humility and lowlineffe of mind.

3. Ingenuity, acknowledging and prizing the Gifts and Graces they fee in each other.

4. Self-denial, condescending to them of low parts, going a flow pace, rather than outgoing the young and tender lambs.

5. Love, affability, encouraging weak begin

ners,

6. Inoffenfiveneffe.

7. Sincerity and plain heartedneß.

III. Let them avoid cenfuring or judging the Spiritual ftate of others. Such perfons meet together for the worfe, and not for the better.

IV. Let them decline controverted points, (fuch things ufually gendring ftrife and variance) and apply themselves to speak of things that are practical; As of God, and his Goodneffe. of Chrift, his Perfon, Offices and Merits: Of the Covenant of Grace: Of the Doctrine of juftification of the patience and felf-denial of those that are gone before us: of Heaven, and the Glory of that Kingdom. How did the Martyrs in prison (by fuch ravishing difcourfes) fet one another at liberty from the fears of death? How did holy Bradford's Sweet and cheerful company make the

very dungeons lightfom, and palace-like to his fellow-prifoners, as themselves confeffed? These, and fuch like practical matters will be the fittest fubjects for Chriftians to difcourfe of, when they meet together.

V. Let them impart their experiences and the methods of Gods dealings with themfelves or others: How they got rid of fuch a corruption, vanquished fuch a temptation, attain'd to a faci lity in fuch a duty. Let them impart what may tend to the advancement of Holineffe.

VI. Let them provoke, and stir up one another to Holineffe, to Love, and to good works, admonishing and exhorting one another to watch, and take heed to their waies, feeing fo many watch for their baltings, like those the Prophet (peaks 1 of, fer.20.10. All my familiars watched for my balting, &c.

VII. If any fallings out or jars fhall happen = among them at any time, let them be prudently and feafonably healed and made up. And in this cale, praying together, and for one another, is of fingular ufe. Let them (as the Apoftle speaks in another cafe, Fam.5.16.) Confeffe their faults one to another, and pray one for another, that they may be healed; if their minds have been 1 diftempered, and ill-affected one towards another.

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5. Retired

5. Retired holy Meditation,

Holy Meditation is the acting of the mind upon fome Divine Object, in order to the working upon the affections, and raifing fome fit refolutions in the foul therefrom; tending to Gods Glory, and the furtherance of Holineffe. How many Chriftians are there, that live in a constant neglect of this fo exceeding useful duty, by which all other duties are improved, and by which the foul di gefteth truths, and draweth forth their strength for its nourishment and refreshing? Certainly, Meditation rightly mannaged, doth exceedingly tend to the advancement of Piety. I shall therefore,

it.

1. Give fome Reasons why we should practise

2. Give fome Directions as to the manner how we should perform it.

I. Confider, this was the practife of many of the eminent Saints of God recorded in the Scriptures. Ifaat and David were much in this Du

ty.

II. Confider the great benefit of it duly performed.

Tis an excellent means,

1. To encrease knowledge, and to make the mind ferious and folid: None are more knowing, fetled, eftablished Chriftians, than fuch as are much in Meditation. 2. To

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2. To ftir up and awaken the Graces of Gods Spirit in us. Hereby we awaken our Faith, inflame our love, strengthen our hope, enliven our defires, encrease our joyes in God, we loofen our affections from the world, and fore-acquaint our felves with the Glory that is to come.

3. To make the Word profitable. Meditation is the digeftion of the foul. 'Tis not the taking in of food, but the ftomacks concocting of it, that makes it turn to blood and Spirits. For want of this, How many Sermons are loft and do no good? The Word will not profit us, except we take time to think upon it.

4. To prepare the heart for prayer and other holy duties. Meditation tunes and prepares and fits the heart for folemn Worship.

5. To antidote and fortifie the foul against fin and temptation. If men would but often confider of the evil and danger of fin, it would be a great means to deter them from the practise of it.

6. 'Tis an excellent help and means of Communion with God. 'Tis the fouls perspective, whereby it fees fomething of the Glory and happinesse of that Kingdom that is above,

Thus much of the Arguments for it.

I come now to give fome Directions how it fhould be managed.

I. Pitch upon fome convenient time of the day for this duty. A Chriftians timing his duty aright, is a great help to him injthe right perform

Ance

Chap.6. ance of it. Some have chofen the morning for this duty, and fome the evening: We have examples of both in Scripture. Of our Saviour, we read, Mark 1.35. And in the morning, rifing up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a folitary place, and there prayed Gen. 24.63. And Ifaac went out to meditate in the field at the even-tide.

II. Pitch upon fome convenient retired place. The wife man tels us, Prov.18.1. Through de fire a man having feparated himself, fecketh and intermedleth with all wisdome. First he separates himself,& then intermedleth with wisdom. There is nothing the Devil more fpights than this, that a man Jhould often retire and feparate himself from the world, to meditate on his everlasting concernments. The Devil cannot endure a man fhould confider whether he be journeying towards Heaven or Hell.

III. Get a good stock of profitable materials co meditate on as the Attributes of God: His promifes of remiffion, fanctification, reward. The love of Chrift; The evil and danger of fin; The vanity of the Creature; The neceffity of regeneration, The State of thy own foul to God ward, The excellency of a gracious ftate; The preciousness of time; of Eternity: And the four last things, Death, Fudgment, Heaven, Hell. Thefe and fuch like fubjects will be fit matters to employ thy thoughts about.

IV. La

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