same_o book_n neither_o will_v you_o or_o may_v i_o doubt_v lest_o you_o do_v for_o want_v of_o leisure_n confound_v the_o several_a part_n of_o my_o write_n and_o take_v that_o which_o i_o write_v of_o the_o common_a necessity_n of_o a_o heavenly_a mind_n or_o of_o meditation_n of_o heaven_n to_o be_v write_v also_o to_o prove_v or_o urge_v the_o same_o necessity_n of_o the_o length_n or_o method_n no_o i_o must_v not_o be_v so_o injurious_a to_o you_o for_o though_o you_o be_v not_o oblige_v to_o read_v my_o write_n till_o you_o understand_v they_o yet_o i_o know_v you_o can_v forget_v that_o you_o be_v oblige_v to_o understand_v they_o if_o they_o be_v intelligible_a before_o you_o deliberate_o oppose_v they_o therefore_o i_o have_v no_o way_n leave_v but_o to_o conclude_v that_o you_o be_v not_o intelligible_a to_o i_o 5._o what_o i_o have_v say_v all_o this_o while_n of_o the_o method_n i_o say_v also_o of_o the_o time_n of_o meditation_n which_o be_v part_n of_o your_o 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the_o duty_n of_o heavenly_a meditation_n reviewed_n by_o richard_n baxter_n at_o the_o invitation_n of_o mr._n giles_n firmin_n exception_n in_o his_o book_n entitle_v the_o real_a christian._n london_n print_v for_o nevil_n simmons_n at_o the_o sign_n of_o the_o three_o crown_n near_a holborn_n conduit_n 1671._o dear_a and_o much_o honour_a brother_n i_o have_v late_o peruse_v your_o judicious_a treatise_n call_v the_o real_a christian_a in_o which_o you_o seek_v to_o deliver_v the_o church_n from_o the_o danger_n of_o the_o error_n of_o mr._n daniel_n rogers_n mr._n hooker_n mr._n shephard_n and_o mr._n perkins_n and_o i_o think_v mr._n shephard_n sound_a believer_n need_v more_o medication_n to_o make_v it_o sound_v than_o you_o have_v yet_o use_v among_o the_o rest_n i_o find_v you_o have_v endeavour_v in_o the_o end_n to_o save_v the_o church_n also_o from_o the_o trouble_n and_o danger_n of_o my_o direction_n for_o heavenly_a meditation_n in_o my_o saint_n rest._n and_o though_o 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saint_n rest_v i_o have_v give_v the_o reader_n these_o warning_n pag._n 703._o ed._n 9_o yet_o be_v cautious_a in_o understand_v this_o i_o know_v this_o will_v not_o prove_v every_o man_n duty_n some_o have_v not_o themselves_o and_o their_o time_n at_o command_n and_o therefore_o can_v set_v their_o hour_n such_o be_v most_o servant_n and_o many_o child_n of_o poor_a and_o carnal_a parent_n and_o many_o be_v so_o poor_a that_o the_o necessity_n of_o their_o family_n will_v deny_v they_o this_o freedom_n i_o do_v not_o think_v it_o the_o duty_n of_o such_o to_o leave_v their_o labour_n for_o this_o work_n just_a at_o certain_a set_v time_n no_o nor_o for_o prayer_n or_o other_o necessary_a worship_n no_o such_o duty_n be_v a_o duty_n at_o all_o time_n affirmative_n bind_v not_o semper_fw-la &_o ad_fw-la semper_fw-la when_o two_o duty_n come_v together_o and_o can_v both_o be_v perform_v it_o be_v then_o a_o sin_n to_o perform_v the_o lesser_a of_o two_o duty_n we_o must_v choose_v 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till_o you_o be_v better_a able_a to_o perform_v they_o lest_o by_o attempt_v those_o duty_n which_o you_o can_v perform_v you_o utter_o disable_v yourself_o from_o all_o etc._n etc._n and_o i_o thus_o conclude_v my_o treat_n of_o the_o divine_a life_n but_o now_o i_o have_v give_v you_o these_o few_o direction_n for_o the_o improvement_n of_o your_o solitude_n for_o converse_v with_o god_n lest_o i_o shall_v occasion_v the_o hurt_n of_o those_o that_o be_v unfit_a for_o the_o lesson_n i_o have_v give_v i_o must_v conclude_v with_o this_o caution_n which_o i_o have_v former_o also_o publish_v that_o it_o be_v not_o melancholy_a or_o weak_a head_a person_n who_o be_v not_o able_a to_o bear_v such_o exercise_n for_o who_o i_o have_v write_v these_o direction_n
those_o that_o be_v not_o able_a to_o be_v much_o in_o serious_a solitary_a thoughtfulness_n without_o confusion_n and_o distract_n suggestion_n and_o hurry_v vexation_n thought_n must_v set_v themselves_o for_o the_o most_o part_n to_o those_o duty_n which_o be_v to_o be_v do_v in_o company_n by_o the_o help_n of_o other_o and_o must_v be_v very_o little_a in_o solitary_a duty_n for_o to_o they_o who_o natural_a faculty_n be_v so_o disease_v and_o weak_a it_o be_v no_o duty_n as_o be_v no_o mean_n to_o do_v they_o the_o desire_v good_a but_o while_o they_o strive_v to_o do_v that_o which_o they_o be_v natural_o unable_a to_o endure_v they_o will_v but_o confound_v and_o distract_v themselves_o and_o make_v themselves_o unable_a for_o those_o other_o duty_n which_o yet_o they_o be_v not_o utter_o unfit_a for_o to_o such_o person_n therefore_o instead_o of_o order_v well_o digest_v meditation_n and_o much_o time_n spend_v in_o secret_a thoughtfulness_n it_o must_v suffice_v that_o 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though_o i_o will_v not_o say_v that_o our_o salvation_n lie_v on_o it_o so_o as_o we_o must_v else_o be_v damn_v what_o if_o i_o have_v give_v you_o a_o scheme_n of_o the_o admirable_o accurate_a method_n of_o prayer_n which_o be_v find_v in_o the_o lord_n prayer_n i_o will_v have_v say_v that_o the_o observation_n of_o this_o method_n be_v a_o duty_n and_o that_o our_o salvation_n be_v not_o unconcern_v in_o that_o duty_n i_o will_v have_v say_v that_o all_o man_n shall_v do_v their_o best_a to_o come_v up_o to_o that_o accurate_a method_n in_o their_o prayer_n but_o so_o as_o not_o to_o crack_v their_o brain_n nor_o hinder_v they_o in_o the_o matter_n nor_o neglect_v any_o great_a duty_n to_o do_v this_o but_o with_o moderate_a just_a endeavour_n according_a to_o their_o ability_n and_o opportunity_n i_o will_v not_o have_v say_v that_o their_o salvation_n so_o lie_v on_o it_o that_o none_o that_o use_v not_o this_o method_n can_v be_v save_v nor_o will_v i_o be_v so_o rough_a and_o 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a_o duty_n to_o all_o as_o to_o the_o circumstance_n of_o time_n &_o c_o as_o i_o like_v not_o the_o papist_n make_v god_n law_n imperfect_a that_o they_o may_v make_v man_n perfect_a and_o sin_n venial_a or_o vnivocal_o no_o sin_n so_o i_o as_o little_a like_o it_o in_o ourselves_o to_o say_v that_o duty_n be_v no_o duty_n and_o so_o deny_v the_o perfection_n of_o the_o law_n because_o that_o every_o one_o can_v reach_v it_o and_o few_o good_a people_n perform_v it_o god_n forbid_v i_o shall_v deny_v all_o duty_n which_o few_o good_a people_n perform_v any_o more_o than_o justify_v all_o sin_n which_o most_o or_o all_o good_a people_n commit_v 3._o you_o say_v if_o i_o shall_v humble_o desire_v a_o text_n or_o two_o from_o holy_a writ_n to_o prove_v that_o be_v the_o meditation_n that_o god_n require_v of_o christian_n if_o the_o reverend_a author_n will_v answer_v i_o it_o be_v a_o ridiculous_a question_n as_o he_o have_v say_v in_o another_o case_n i_o must_v be_v silent_a answ._n 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which_o yet_o i_o think_v you_o be_v not_o oblige_v to_o have_v so_o far_o tell_v the_o world_n but_o why_o do_v you_o not_o candid_o recite_v those_o reason_n by_o which_o in_o that_o place_n i_o manifest_v the_o question_n to_o be_v ridiculous_a nay_o do_v not_o your_o say_n that_o if_o i_o do_v but_o say_v it_o be_v ridiculous_a you_o must_v be_v silent_a imply_v that_o i_o do_v but_o bare_o say_v so_o i_o will_v not_o injure_v the_o reader_n by_o the_o tedious_a recitation_n of_o my_o word_n but_o to_o yourself_o i_o may_v say_v i_o suppose_v you_o be_v not_o for_o veronius_n new_a way_n of_o argue_v from_o express_a text_n of_o scripture_n contain_v both_o proposition_n if_o you_o be_v i_o refer_v you_o to_o vedelius_fw-la his_o rationale_n theolog._n but_o special_o to_o dalleus_n de_fw-fr fidei_fw-la ex_fw-la script_n demonst_a part._n 1._o cap._n 10_o 11_o 12_o 13._o 1._o to_o prove_v meditation_n or_o frequent_a meditation_n day_n and_o night_n a_o duty_n be_v needless_a you_o confess_v it_o 2._o to_o prove_v methodical_a meditation_n a_o duty_n to_o they_o that_o have_v ability_n and_o opportunity_n it_o suffice_v to_o cite_v 1_o cor._n 14.26.40_o let_v all_o thing_n be_v do_v to_o edify_v and_o in_o order_n that_o be_v right_a order_n not_o wrong_a and_o that_o be_v method_n but_o whether_o this_o or_o that_o method_n be_v real_o true_a and_o most_o orderly_a and_o edify_a you_o need_v not_o the_o word_n of_o scripture_n to_o tell_v you_o that_o cogitationes_fw-la judicia_fw-la &_o verba_fw-la rebus_fw-la sunt_fw-la aptanda_fw-la that_o the_o verity_n of_o judgement_n and_o speech_n lie_v in_o their_o congruity_n to_o thing_n be_v point_v know_v by_o the_o light_n of_o reason_n and_o you_o shall_v not_o call_v for_o a_o text_n to_o prove_v they_o the_o light_n of_o nature_n be_v not_o contemptible_a the_o law_n of_o nature_n be_v god_n law_n if_o scripture_n have_v never_o speak_v it_o yet_o by_o the_o law_n of_o nature_n it_o have_v be_v a_o duty_n to_o 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scripture_n for_o most_o point_n in_o metaphysic_n or_o physics_n or_o logic_n as_o for_o these_o meditation_n shall_v be_v do_v in_o order_n to_o edification_n but_o order_n to_o edification_n in_o they_o that_o have_v ability_n and_o opportunity_n require_v that_o understanding_n go_v first_o application_n after_o and_o that_o the_o application_n intend_v be_v further_v with_o convenient_a help_n as_o aforesaid_a therefore_o meditation_n shall_v be_v do_v in_o this_o order_n etc._n etc._n the_o major_n be_v find_v in_o nature_n and_o scripture_n the_o minor_a be_v a_o naturally-known_a truth_n exemplify_v throughout_o the_o scripture_n which_o be_v write_v in_o that_o method_n and_o in_o all_o theological_a write_n and_o yet_o must_v you_o have_v a_o text_n for_o the_o conclusion_n as_o for_o family_n prayer_n i_o have_v by_o i_o a_o long_a disputation_n which_o i_o think_v full_o prove_v it_o to_o be_v a_o duty_n and_o to_o most_o christian_a family_n twice_o a_o day_n but_o if_o the_o law_n of_o nature_n must_v make_v up_o neither_o major_n nor_o minor_a but_o you_o must_v have_v the_o conclusion_n in_o express_a text_n of_o scripture_n its_o like_a if_o you_o see_v it_o you_o will_v not_o be_v satisfy_v with_o it_o but_o it_o satisfy_v i_o as_o very_o full_a proof_n but_o so_o that_o there_o also_o i_o believe_v not_o that_o there_o be_v no_o exception_n or_o that_o no_o family_n may_v have_v business_n so_o urgent_a as_o to_o exempt_v they_o from_o this_o as_o a_o duty_n or_o that_o all_o family_n be_v bind_v tâ—_n the_o same_o hour_n or_o the_o same_o proportion_n of_o time_n i_o will_v not_o tell_v you_o that_o it_o be_v ridiculous_a to_o ask_v what_o text_n of_o scripture_n make_v it_o a_o man_n duty_n to_o give_v meat_n to_o his_o family_n twice_o a_o day_n with_o the_o other_o instance_n which_o i_o lay_v down_o but_o if_o those_o ridicula_fw-la capita_fw-la that_o then_o thus_o plead_v against_o family_n prayer_n do_v ask_v i_o the_o same_o question_n again_o i_o will_v tell_v they_o so_o and_o i_o will_v think_v this_o argument_n may_v prove_v a_o divine_a obligation_n god_n require_v we_o to_o give_v food_n to_o our_o family_n if_o we_o be_v able_a and_o have_v opportunity_n as_o oft_o as_o be_v for_o the_o benefit_n or_o necessity_n of_o their_o nature_n but_o it_o be_v for_o the_o benefit_n and_o necessity_n of_o their_o nature_n to_o have_v food_n twice_o a_o day_n ordinary_o and_o as_o to_o most_o person_n therefore_o god_n require_v we_o to_o give_v food_n to_o most_o family_n and_o ordinary_o twice_o a_o day_n or_o suppose_v i_o put_v in_o but_o once_o at_o least_o if_o you_o think_v i_o can_v prove_v the_o twice_o i_o be_o not_o now_o determine_v whether_o family_n prayer_n must_v be_v as_o oft_o but_o whether_o this_o argue_v be_v faulty_a for_o want_v of_o a_o conclusion_n in_o the_o word_n of_o a_o text_n of_o scripture_n i_o think_v that_o scripture_n be_v so_o admirable_o suit_v to_o the_o nature_n of_o thing_n that_o the_o far_o great_a part_n of_o its_o precept_n be_v find_v also_o in_o the_o true_a law_n of_o nature_n and_o that_o even_o most_o of_o the_o gospel_n precept_n may_v be_v call_v suppose_v the_o history_n and_o doctrine_n lex_fw-la naturae_fw-la lapsae_fw-la reparandae_fw-la a_o law_n suit_v to_o nature_n reparation_n 4._o but_o i_o be_o utter_o ignorant_a of_o your_o meaning_n when_o you_o say_v that_o they_o that_o can_v meditate_v thus_o ten_o hour_n etc._n etc._n be_v the_o happy_a man_n and_o have_v great_a cause_n to_o bless_v god_n for_o such_o a_o mercy_n either_o you_o take_v it_o to_o be_v a_o duty_n to_o such_o man_n to_o any_o man_n or_o no_o duty_n if_o you_o take_v it_o to_o be_v their_o or_o any_o man_n duty_n than_o 1._o you_o will_v not_o call_v for_o a_o text_n of_o scripture_n to_o prove_v it_o a_o duty_n 2._o nor_o you_o will_v not_o pretend_v to_o differ_v from_o i_o for_o i_o know_v your_o candour_n abhor_v calumny_n and_o therefore_o notwithstanding_o your_o forementioned_a unhandsome_a intimation_n i_o suppose_v it_o be_v none_o of_o your_o purpose_n to_o persuade_v your_o reader_n that_o i_o make_v it_o a_o duty_n for_o all_o man_n and_o you_o only_o for_o some_o for_o as_o your_o piety_n and_o your_o friendship_n satisfy_v i_o that_o you_o have_v no_o such_o intent_n so_o i_o know_v you_o will_v discern_v it_o to_o be_v against_o the_o interest_n of_o your_o own_o reputation_n which_o will_v suffer_v when_o the_o contrary_a be_v see_v in_o my_o write_n therefore_o i_o can_v understand_v whether_o you_o take_v it_o to_o be_v any_o man_n duty_n and_o if_o not_o than_o you_o seem_v to_o hold_v the_o popish_a doctrine_n of_o evangelical_n council_n of_o perfection_n and_o of_o work_n of_o supererrogation_n or_o perfection_n which_o be_v no_o duty_n which_o yet_o i_o will_v not_o believe_v you_o hold_v till_o i_o needs_o must_v and_o therefore_o have_v no_o three_o exposition_n of_o your_o word_n i_o must_v leave_v they_o all_o as_o unintelligible_a to_o i_o if_o you_o shall_v say_v that_o my_o limitation_n be_v not_o in_o the_o same_o book_n the_o saint_n rest_v where_o the_o duty_n be_v describe_v i_o shall_v answer_v 1._o that_o be_v not_o so_o they_o be_v in_o the_o same_o 2._o he_o that_o confute_v a_o man_n twenty_o year_n after_o his_o write_n be_v publish_v be_v oblige_v to_o take_v notice_n of_o what_o he_o have_v write_v since_o else_o if_o a_o man_n reform_v or_o correct_v his_o own_o write_n it_o will_v signify_v nothing_o but_o other_o be_v oblige_v to_o do_v it_o still_o as_o suppose_v it_o undo_v 3._o and_o this_o book_n of_o you_o be_v not_o in_o the_o same_o volume_n as_o my_o suppose_a error_n be_v therefore_o if_o my_o own_o will_v not_o serve_v turn_n because_o they_o be_v not_o the_o