W1Jo rmtjl lille in Contemplation. my weaknefs and decay 'of Spirits inclining me moll to a dulnrfs of mind, I ii~d that the moll ~:xciting ferious fiudies and contemplations, in the grearci\: folicude, arc fo far from hurting me by aoy abatement of health or hilariry or fereniry of mind, that they feem rather a help to all. Thole that can thus bear long fo1jtqde an~ coptempliHion, qught to be the more exercifed in it, ex~ cepr when greater duties mull take place ; Bur to melancholy pcrfons it i1 IQ be avoided ., )IJ a hurt. . §. 13 , 9 •To the fame perfons~ f~metimes .their own neceffities require .contemplation moll, and Rult 9 • fometime aftion; and fo that whtch Js at one time a duty, may at another time be none. §· 14 • ro- A meer finful back_wardnefs is not to be indulged: A di{eafed difobi[ity ( fucfl ~s R~le ro~ comes fi·om melancholy, w<ak-headednefs, or decay of memory) tl)U!I be endijrfd, apd rRt t9.0 much accufed; when Chrill excufed worfe in his Difciples, faying, The Spirit ~ :viUing, but tbt ficjh ;, weal(, But a finful backwardnefs in cafes of abfolute necetfiry, is not at all IQ be endjued, but Jlriven againll with all your power what ever it coil you : .As to bring your [elves 10 fo IDUfh foriour Confideraticm, as is necdfary to your Rrpen1ance and unfeigned faith, and godly converfation, this muft be tkne whatever follow; T bough the Devil perfwade you that it will make you r)ll!lancholy or mad : For Jrtithout it, you att: far worfe chap mad. ~- , 5 • Il· The mofl defirable life, to thofe rhar haverheir choice, is that which joyneth '?gee Rule 11; ther CciHttmplation and_ A~to1t ~ Co as t~erc lhall be conventcot let(ure t~r tlie m?fi lugt} and fc.nou~ Contemplation, and thiS 1rnproved to ht us for the mofl great and profitable Al:hun. An~ fuch JS the life ot a t<ithful Minil!er of Chrill : And therefore no fort of men on earrh, ~re more obliged ro thankfulnefs than they. ~- r6. t 2- Servants and poor men, and difeafed men and orhers, that arc called off f~om much Rule12• contemplation, ~nd employed in.a life of obedient ADioH, yea,. or fujfering, by i:?e ~rovi<!encc of Go~, .g and not by thcu own finlul choice, mull: underfiand, that thetr Lab"ur and Patience JS the way of t}letr acctptablt attendance upon God, in the expenle of moll: put of their time : And, thoug~ it is mad .. nefs in thofe, that hope God ,will accept of their Labours, infiead of true Fait!J. and Repentance a.nd a godly life (for thefe mufigo togerher, and hinder not each .other) yer inflead .of fuch further . conttmJlation!, as are not necdfary to the being ofa godly life, a true Chrifiian may believe that his obedient labours and fu./ftrings £hall he accepted. If you (et one fervant to cail ,Jp ,an accoteJJt, .and another ro {r)etp your CMmney or CbaneUr, you will not accept the forme.;:, and reject the latter_, for the dilferen~e of their works : But you will rather think rhat he harh moll merired your ac– ceptance, whoyielded without gtudging to the bafeft ferviceAnd doub.rlefs ~~ js aQ aggravarion of acceptable obedience, when we readily ~nd willingly ferve God in the lo;v~fi meanefi work. He is too fine to ferve him, who faith, I will fervc thee in rhe Magifiracy or Minifiry, but not at · b Plow or Can, or any fuch .drndgery. And if thou be but in God; way, he can ..ooakt: thy 1 very obt~ ~~;~~g o£' dience a ftate of greater holmefi and fofety, than if thou hadfi !pent a~ that .tim.e in the ft;tdy of his intimae; holy things; as you fee many ungodly Minifier.s do, all their. life time, ~nO 31C ne~er t-he J>ettcr 2r~d efl_eem for·it. It is not the quality of the worJt, but Gods bltffing, that makes it do you gQod. ]Nor is wnh K_mcs 1Je mofi belovedofGod, who bath rolled over -the greatell numbercf good thoughts in his mind, ·~i ~""~~··1 or of good words in his mouth, no nor he that hath fiirred up the firongefi ,paffions l;lercabouts,; :os ~~en u.. but he that Loveth God andHeaven bdl, and hateth fin moft, and whQfe will •s r:nofi confiJ~e!l eorum quos for Holinefs of life. He that gotth about his labour in obedience to God, 1 may have as 1,11\.l'h cor;n· VJ.lde am~.fort as another that is meditating or praying. But neither labour nor prayer is matter ofco111fort to ~2 ~~use~\t\: au u11godly carnal heart. fuit infirus !lmor libert;i; tis ; ut cujus \'el Aomen ipfum liberr3ti, vel ilti clfe c:ontr2rium videretur , omni fiudip declinarem. 111 1Jitaf~a.. . Yea, if decay of memory or natural ability take YO\l olf bqth A&ion and Contemplation, you may have as much acceprance, and folid comfort; in apatient btaring of 1he Crofs, )lnd an obedient ~ cheerful fubmitlion to the holyWJII of God. sr
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=