The Mount of Holy Meditation, Tract · Chapter 11
Chap. 11. Objections againſt ſetting about the practice of Meditation, anſwered.
Object. 1 But here ſome will be ready to ſay, We are convinced that meditation is a neceſſary duty, but it is a duty ſtrange to us, and that with which we are altogether unacquainted.
Reſp.The light though fair and pleaſant to the eyes, yet dimmeſt then, after one hath been long in the dark: before one cometh to be acquainted with the Inhabitants of any Countrey, they will ſeem ſtrange at firſt, be they never ſo courteous; ſo upon the change of thy life, thou ſhalt find ſome inward alreration, and in this generall adieu thou ſhalt give to the world, and to all thy ſins and fooliſh toyes, thou ſhalt have ſome touch of grief and diſcontent: but have but a little patience, it is but a little aſtoniſhment the novelty brings thee; paſſe that by, and thou ſhalt receive many comforts and cordiall delights, ſo pleaſing and contenting, that thou wilt eſteem all other as nothing to them; he that hath throughly taſted of this heavenly Manna, cannot reliſh any worldly pleaſures, nor ſet his affections upon them: the delights of holy meditation are the foretaſts of thoſe immortall delights, that God gives to the ſouls of thoſe that ſeek him.
Oh but ſaith the ſoul, this mountain Object. 2 of meditation is very high, and the work is difficult, how ſhall I be able to climb up this holy hill? I am weak and unable for ſo high an exerciſe.
The work indeed ſeems harſh and difficult at firſt,Resp. but when we are exerciſed therein, it will be familiar with us. The young Bees at firſt are called Nymphs, and live on the honey that is in their Hives; but when once their wings are grown out, they fly abroad, and gather honey for themſelves, on the flowers of the field, and on the mountains. It is true, we are all Nymphs and worms in devotion at firſt, not able to aſcend this hill of meditation; but when once we be formed in our deſires and reſolutions, we then put fort…, and ſo may hope to become ſpirituall Bees, and then to fly higher and higher in our meditations; in the mean time to feed on the honey of God's Word, and of holy inſtructions, praying to God to give us the wings of a Dove, that we may ſwiftly and ſpeedily fly unto him. The greateſt difficulty is in the firſt beginning of this exerciſe of meditation, it being as one ſaith,Io. Downham's guid to godlineſſe. ſo harſh to corrupt nature, and ſo croſs to carnall principles; but the conſtant practice of it will make it eaſie to us. He that goes to learn a language, finds it difficult at firſt, but the Nut-ſhell being broken, they ſoon taſt the ſweetneſſe of the kernell: Doctrinae radices amarae, fructus dulces: The roots of learning are bitter, but the fruits are ſweet; ſo the thoughts of the benefit we ſhall receive by meditation, will take away the thoughts of tediouſneſſe.
Object. 3 But I am dry and barren, and have no matter for meditation.
This is no ſufficient pretence …gainſt the practice of meditation.Resp. Look but upon an earthly minded man, W. Strong. Serm. at Weſtminſt. 1652.ſaith one, and he will have matter enough to meditate upon in worldly things; ſtrange then it is, that any man ſhould object want of matter. Thou complaineſt of dryneſſe and barrenneſſe; look to the cauſe whence this evil cometh; we are oft the cauſe of our own dryneſſe and barenneſſe: when we neglect to gather the fruits of the love of God, then doth he take it from us, as from the Iſraelites, who not gathering their Manna in the morning, found it all melted when the Sun was up: and if thou art ſenſible of thy dryneſſe, bewail it before God; acknowledge thine unworthineſſe and miſery, ſaying, Alas, what am I! how am I left alone? I am nothing but a piece of dry ground, rent in every part, witneſſe the drought I have of heavenly dew: In this caſe cry unto God, Blow upon my Garden, O thou gracious wind of refreſhment, and take this dry wind from me; then ſhall my ſpices flow forth, and give out the odours of their ſweetneſſe. As God gives theſe heavenly dews, ſo ſometime he takes them away, to the end to teach us to eat dry bread, and to be more firm in pious devotion, inured by the triall of diſtaſts and temptations; and then we muſt patiently bear thoſe drineſſes, when God hath ordained them for our triall: but if we have conſtant recourſe to God's ſtorehouſes, we ſhall ſoon find our hearts more fruitfull in meditation; if we gape and pant for God, he ſhall come to us as the rain, as the latter and former rain to the earth, Hoſ. 6.3.
Sometime this barrenneſſe ſprings from indiſpoſition of body: as when by much faſting, watching, and labour, a man is overcome with weakneſſe, drowſineſſe, and other infirmities, which though they be incident to the body, yet fail not to hurt the ſpirit, by the ſtrait bond that is between them: The remedy therein is, to fortifie the body by lawfull comforts and delights; and though one ſhould be long afflicted with theſe drineſſes and diſheartnings, yet if we ſtrive againſt our indiſpoſitions, God will in the end and in an inſtant, give us ſweet refreſhings.
Some will not go to meditation, except devotion bring them to it, ſaith Gerſon; Gerſ de monte contemplat. part 3. c. 43.and all ſeems unprofitable to them, except the duty affects them, aad goes to their hearts: Theſe kind of men, ſaith he, are like him that is ſtiffe with cold, and will not go to the fire, except he were firſt warm; or like one that is ready to ſtarve with hunger, and will not ask meat, except he be firſt filled; for why doth any man give himſelf to meditation, but that his heart may be more inflamed with the heat of God's love, or repleniſht with his gifts and graces. They are very much miſtaken, who think the time loſt in meditation, if they preſently be not refreſhed with a ſhower of devotion: and ſaith he, if they ſtrive for this as much as in them lieth, doing their duty, and are in continuall fight againſt their own thoughts, being displeaſed becauſe they depart not, not ſuffering them to be quiet; ſuch men are more accepted, than if the heat of devotion had come to them ſuddenly, without any ſuch conflict: the reaſon is, becauſe they go to warfare for God, as it were at their own coſt and charges, and ſerve him with greater pains and labour.