_5_2_o _ ______ Of,--:-H--:-"_~E::-A_V_E_N_. ___ C_h~ap. XH. Befides, the moft clear and rational enforcements by the aClings of the Thou~ n~ccffary to make a ftrong irrw~effion on the Affcai~ns,. and ~·e(cue them from the ~a ti~ v11y of .the Flclh: In other tht~gs as foo~ as the M10d 1s enhghtned, the Will refolees and the mfenor hculnes obey ; ~ut fuch ~s the refiftance of the carnal Heart, that alrhb 'ns ev1denr .from mfa lhble Pnnctples there IS an everlaftmg Glory, mfin irely robe preferr'd above the l11tle appearahces of Beauty and Pleafure here, yet the moft pierc ing Reafnns enter heavtly without earoeft in~ulcation. Slight or fudden Thoughts may produce va. mfhmg AfleCl10ns of complaceQce, or dtftafte, and fickle Refolut10ns, that li ke fick Fea. thers drop away, and leave t~e Soul naked tothe next Temptation; bur folemn and fixed Thoughts ar~ powerful on the Heart, m makmg a thorow and lafting Change. When the Clouds d1ffolve 10 a gentle Shower, the Earth drmks m all, and is made f ruitful; but fi:~i~i~~~~~n~o~t:ofssi i t~leab~~~fi~~f.'m1~f fh~~:~'tl~~~a: ;:;sb~n?a~!':x~i~~;f~~; r~~:~t and retraClions-from Evil; fome imperfe8: faint effays toward Heaven, from an i mpulf~ on the Mind : but folid Converfion is produc'd by dehberate Difcourfe, by the due con- fideration and eftimation of things, 'tis rational and perpetual. 2. Confideration muft be frequent, to keep eternal Obje8:s prefent, and powerful uprl~a~s~heS~~~i~n~h~r"~':je~~v~hi~~~ ;~~kl:;~?s';h~~~~h,.nb~t~~r~~~hl~fa~~~e~:~r~ If aStone be thrown upwards, 1t remams no longer 10 the A1r, than the imp re!f10nof the force by which it w~s.thrown continues; but if it falls on the Earth, itreftsthereby Nature. When the Soot IS ra1fed mcontemplatiOn to Heaven, how apt is it to fall hom that height, and lofe the efteem, the lively Remembrance and AlfeClions of Eternal Things? But when· the Thoughts are excited by the prefence of what i s pleafing to Senfe, the wid1drawing the ObjeCl does ~ot deface the Idea of ~tin the Memory, nor le[. fen the Concett, nor cool the Defiresof tt, becaufe the Heart IS naturally inclined to it. Therefore 'tis nece[ary every day to refrefh and renew the conceptions of ete rnal Things, tir!.~1 t~,~~Kuir~~~~~:;:~~~ 1Fu~~1rf:~~~~~:~~~?~ia.~~~re::ntti~~~:t~~~:t ~~~ furpnfe and overcomeothers that are ftrangers m thetr Mmds to the other World: Nay the prefence of :J'emptations, as by Antiperiflafts, will reinforce the Refolutions for Heaven; like the pouring Water upon Lime, that revives a hidden Fire in it, which feemsa ~h!~~~J:~~1 ~~d;,;:s~?~:~~~~ie~~1:: ~1fuf~:ar~/~~;~~~\r:~ei~r~~~ 'Tt;~~1~~s:r~n'd their folemn exercife upon the Eternal World. Senfe, that reveals natural thin gs, darkens fpiritual. How ea~ the Thoughts be fixe on invifible things fo d1ftant from Senfe, if al· ways converfant with fecular Obje8:s that draw them down? In the filence o f the Night ~v~~~~~o~~Jli~~~h~~:~~ 1fro~eatl~~ :1y at~;~~~ d~~~h~ t1o~ld~~~d c~~;~a~eth~n~~ are darkned, the Vmce of Confc1ence IS better heard, and the Light of Heaven more perfe8:ly received. ~· Confideration of Eternal Things muft be with prefent Application to the Soul. 'T.is not the meer convi8:ion of the Minq, but the decree of the Will that turn s Men fmm Sin to Holinefs, from the Creatures to God. The Heart is very decei tful, and by ~;~~;.' ~o~i~~t~~dd~~~i~~~ 0~i ~:r~~ie£f~~~r ~~~~~~~i~~~hh1:Fli1,'a~dst~i~~ab~~fc~~~ urges him to feek the Kingdom of Heaven, and the AlfeClions draw down t o the Earth, the carnal part prevailing over the rational, he overcomes, and is overcome; he is convin- ced and condemned by his own Mind. Till Confideration iffues in this, that with fetled Judgment and AffeClions the Soul determins for God and Heaven, ' tis wit hout profit. Therefore in the managing this Duty, 'tis our Wifdom not to be curious and inquifitive after fubtile Conceptions, and exalted Notions of the future State, that little c onfer to the making the Heart better ; but to think feriou fl y on what is plain and eviden t, and mofr ufeful to produce a prefent lafting.Change. It were egregious Folly in a Man, that for the ufe of his Garden, fhould withgreat labour fetch Water from diftant Fou ntains, and negletl that which fprings up in his own Ground. That Meditation is profi table which produces not new Thoughts, but )10ly and firm refolutions of obeying God in order to the full enJoying of him for ever. To perfwade us to the ferious pra8:ice of this Duty, there are many enforCC: ments. Is any Man fo fooli!b, fo regardlefs of his Convenien<e, to purchafe aHoufe wherein hemuftliveallhisDays, andwil! notfirftfe~whether it will be convenient, and fee~~
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=