Heaven Collection BV4831 .B4 1765

AN EXAMPLE OF, &C. 291 CHAPTER XVI. Heavenly Contemplation exemplified, and the whole Work concluded. § 1. The Reader's attention excited to the following example of me- ditation, § 2. The excellencies of heavenly rest; § 3. its near- ness ; § 4. dreadful to sinners, § 5. and joyful to saints ; § 6. its dear purchase ; § 7, its difference from earth. § 8. The heart pleaded with. § 9. Unbelief banished. § 10. A careless world pitied, § 11 -13. Heavenly rest the object of love, § 14 -21. and joy: § 22. The heart's backwardness to heavenly joy lament- ed. § 23-27. Heavenly rest the object of desire. § 28. Such meditation as this urged upon the reader: § 29. The mischief of neglecting it ; § 30. The happiness of pursuing it. § 31. The author's concluding prayer for the success of his work. § 1. AND now, Reader, according to the above di- rections, make conscience of daily exercising thy graces in meditation, as well as prayer. Retire into some secret place, at a time the most convenient to thyself, and Iaying aside all worldly thoughts, with all possible seriousness and reverence look up toward heaven, remember there is thine everlasting rest, study its excellency and reality, and rise from sense to faith by comparing heavenly with earthly joys. Then mix ejaculations with thy soliloquies ; till having pleaded the case reverently with God, and seriously with thy own heart, thou hast pleaded thyself from a clod to a flame ; from a forgetful sinner, and a lover of the world, to an ardent lover of God: from a fearful coward to a resolved Christian ; from an unfruitable sadness to a joyful life : in a word, till thou hast pleaded thy heart from earth to heaven, from conversing below to walking with God, and till thou canst lay thy heart to rest, as in the bosom of Christ, by some such meditation of thy everlasting rest, as is here added for thy assistance § 2. "Rest ! How sweet the sound ! It is melody to my ears! It lies as a reviving cordial at my heart, and

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