Wherefore, we are not without cause admonished by spiritual men, that we should spend as much time as possibly we can in this holy exercise, and it is better to insist some long time together, than by fits, for when the time is short, it will be almost all consumed in quieting the imagination, and recollecting the heart, and it often happeneth, that whilst we should reap the fruit of our former trouble, meditation is quite broken off!
Concerning the prefixed time for meditation, it seemeth to me, whatsoever is less than two hours, or an hour and a half, is too little for this exercise; because almost one hour is spent in tuning the instrument of our souls, repressing idle and unprofitable thoughts, and recollecting the mind from temporal things; and some time, also, is necessary to spend in reaping the fruit of our prayer in the latter end.
Although I cannot deny, but after some pious action, the mind is better disposed for meditation, for as dried wood quickly burneth, so the mind that is well disposed, is sooner kindled with this celestial fire.
The morning also is the best time for meditation, because the mind is then most free from fancies, and therefore can with better facility apply itself to this holy exercise. But Who, by reason of the multiplicity of outward affairs, cannot spend so much time? yet, at leastwise, let them, with the poor widow in the gospel, offer up to God the small mite of their sincere
