CONTEMPLATION GUARDED. 289 § 15. (2) Thy heart will also be likely to betray thee by trifling, when it should be effectually meditating. Perhaps when thou hast an hour fir meditation, the time will be spent before thy heart will be serious. This doing of duty, as if we did it not, ruins as many as the omission of it. Here let thine eye be always upon thy heart. Look not so much to the time it spends in the duty, as to the quantity and quality of the work that is done. You can tell by his work whether a servant hath been diligent. Ask yourself, " What affections have yet been exercised ? How much am I yet got nearer to hea- ven ?" Think not, since thy heart is so trifling, it is bet- ter to let it alone : for by this means thou wilt certainly banish all spiritual obedience ; because the best hearts, being but sanctified in part, will resist, so far as they are carnal. But rather consider well the corrup- tion of thy nature ;'and that its sinful indispositions will not supercede the commands of God ; nor one sin ex- cuse for another ; and that God has appointed means to excite our affections. This self - reasoning, self-consi- dering duty of heavenly meditation, is the most singular means both to excite and increase love. Therefore stay not from the duty till thou feelest thy love constrain thee, any more than thou wouldst stay from the fire till thou feelest thyself warm ; but engage in the work till love is excited, and then love will constrain thee to farther duty. § 16. (3) Thy heart will also be making excursions from thy heavenly meditation to other objects. It will be turning aside, like a careless servant, to talk with every one that passeth by. Where there should be no- thing in thy mind but heaven, it will be thinking of thy calling, or thy afflictions, or of every bird, or tree, or place thou seest. The cure is here the same as before, use watchfulness and violence. Say to thy heart, " What did I come hither to think of my worldly bu- siness, of persons, places, news, Or vanity, or of any thing but heaven, be it ever so good? Canst thou not watch one hour? Wouldst thou leave this world, and dwell for ever with Christ in heaven, and not leave it one hour to dwell with Christ in meditation ? Is this thy love to thy friend ? Dost thou love Christ, and the place 10 Oo
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