CONTEMPLATION CONSIDERED. 245 wisdom is justified of cell her children.(z) $nowledge bath no enemy but the ignorant. This heavenly course was never spoken against by any, but those that never knew it, or never used it. I fear more the neglect of men that approve it, than the opposition or arguments of any against it. 7. (II.) As to the fittest time for this heavenly contemplation, let me only advise, that it be stated frequent and seasonable. 8. (1) Give it a stated time. If thou suit thy time to the advantage of the work, without placing any re ligion in the time itself;. thou hast no need to fear super- stition. Stated time is a hedge to duty, and defends it against many temptations to omission. Some have not their time at command, and therefore cannot set their hours; -and many are so poor, that the necessities of their families deny them this freedom. Such per- sons should be watchful to redeem time as much as they can, and take their vacant opportunities as they fall, and especially join meditation and prayer as much as they can; with the labours of their callings. Yet those that have more time to spare from their worldly necessities, and are masters of their time, I still advise, to keep this duty to a stated time. And indeed, if every work of the day had its appointed time, we should. be better skilled, _both in redeeming time and in performing duty. 9. (2) Let it be frequent, as well as stated. How oft it should be, I cannot determine, because men's circumstances differ. But, in general, scripture re- quires it to be frequent, when it mentions meditating day and night. For those, therefore,. that can conve- niently omit other business, I advise that it be once a day at least. Frequency in heavenly contemplation is particularly important. 10. To prevent a shyness between God and thy soul. Frequent society breeds familiarity, and fami- liarity increases love and delight, and makes us bold in our addresses. The chief end of this duty is to have (z) Luke vii. 35.
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