Chap. 14.] HEAVENLY CONTEMPLATION. 219 6. Consideration can continue and persevere in this ra- tional employment. Meditation holds reason and faith to their work, and blows the fire till it thoroughly burns. To run a few steps will not get a man heat, but walking an hour may ; and though a sudden occasional thought of heaven will not raise our affections to any spiritual heat, yet meditation can continue our thoughts till our hearts grow warm. Thus You see the powerful tendency of consideration, to produce &_s great elevation of the soul in heavenly contemplation. Secondly. Let us next see how this heavenly work is pro- moted by the particular exercise of the affections. It is by consideration that we first have recourse to the memory, and from thence take those heavenly doctrines which we intend to make the subject of our meditation; such as promises of eternal life, descriptions of the saints' glory, the resurrection, &c. We then present them to our judgment, that it may de- liberately view them over, and take an exact survey, and determine uprightly concerning the perfection of our celes- tial happiness, against all the dictates of flesh and sense, and so as to magnify the Lord in our hearts, till we are filled with a holy admiration. But the principal thing is to exer- cise, not merely our judgment, but our faith in the truth of our everlasting rest; by which I mean, both the truth of the promises, and of our own personal interest in them, and title to them. If we did really and firmly believe that there is such a glory, and that within a few days our eyes shall be- hold it, O what passions would it raise within us ! What as- tonishing apprehensions of that life would it produce ! What love, what longing would it excite within us ! O how it would actuate every affection ! how it would transport us with joy, upon the least assurance of our title ! Never expect to have love and joy move, when faith stands still, which must lead the way. Therefore daily exercise faith, and set before it the freeness of the promise, God's urging all to accept it, Christ's gracious disposition, all the evidences of the love of Christ, his faithfulness to his engagements, and the evidences of his love in ourselves; lay all these together, and think whether they do not testify the good-will of the Lord con- cerning our salvation, and may not properly be pleaded against dur unbelief. Thus, when the judgment bath deter- mined, and faith hath apprehended the truth of our happi- ness, then may our meditation proceed to raise our aßèc- t
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