The Saints' Everlasting Rest - Richard Baxter

Chapter 13
The nature of Heavenly contemplation; with the
time, place, and temper fittest for it
Once more I entreat thee, reader, as thou makest conscience of a
revealed duty, and darest not wilfully resist the Spirit; as thou valuest the
high delights of a saint, and the soul-ravishing exercise of heavenly
contemplation; that thou diligently study, and speedily and faithfully practice
the following directions. If, by this means, thou dost not find an increase of
all thy graces, and dost not grow beyond the stature of a common Christian,
and art not made more serviceable in thy place, and more precious in the
eyes of all discerning persons; if thy soul enjoy not more communion with
God, and thy life be not fuller of comfort, and thou has not more support in a
dying hour; then cast away these directions, and exclaim against me for ever
as a deceiver.
The duty which I press upon thee so earnestly, and in the practice of
which I am now to direct thee, is, "The set and solemn acting of all the
powers of thy soul in meditation upon thy everlasting rest." More fully to
explain the nature of this duty, I will here illustrate a little the description
itself; and then point out the fittest time, place, and temper of mind for it.
It is not improper to illustrate a little the manner in which we have
described this duty of meditation, or the considering and contemplating of
spiritual things. It is confessed to be a duty by all, but practically denied by
most. Many, that make conscience of other duties, easily neglect this. They
are troubled if they omit a sermon, a fast, or a prayer, in public or private; yet
were never troubled that they have omitted meditation perhaps all their
lifetime to this very day; though it be that duty by which all other duties are
improved, and by which the soul digests truth for its nourishment and
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