Solitude Improved by Divine Meditation, Chapter 20
CHAP. XX. Of the partieular Ends of Meditation in reſpect of our ſelves.
THere be various Ends of Meditation reſpecting our ſelves: I ſhall mention, among others, theſe ſeven particular Ends, relating to our own ſpiritual advantage.
1. For a principal improver of ſaving Knowledge.
2. For to make our Knowledge Clear and Diſtinct.
3. To found a Rich Treaſury of Truths, and make them ſure.
4. And to be an introducer of habitual wiſdom, an acquired habit of wiſdom, to the firſt given wiſdom, in heart renovation.
5. For a Kindler of Heavenly Fire, and Flame in the heart.
6. For a Mighty Corroborater of holy purpoſe.
7. To be a conſtant quickner of the Chriſtian courſe.
1. Meditation is for a Principal Improver of ſaving and heavenly Knowledge: To ſet as it were more Lights on the Golden Table in the Temple of the holy heart, to repleuiſh the Golden Candleſtick with more and better Lights, and glorious burning Lamps, to yield clearer light in the dark heart. Pſal. 119.97, 98, 99. I am wiſer than my Enemies, for thy Commandments are ever with me; thats in Meditation continually, as v. 97. Thy Law it is my Meditation continually, or all the day, v. 99. I have more underſtanding than all my Teachers, for thy Teſtimonies are my Meditation, and v. 100. I underſtand more than the Ancients, &c. Heres an aſſertion in a kind of gradation of the ſucceſsfulneſs of his holy Meditation, namely underſtanding, wiſdom, and excelling in them: Wiſer than his Enemies, yea than his Teachers, yea than the Ancients, that have had longeſt time, largeſt opportunities for greateſt Knowledge and higheſt wiſdom.
Meditation is the ground, inlet, and improver of Knowledge. It is not the great and much reading makes the Scholar, but the ſtudying and pondering that is read. It is not the reading much that makes the knowing Chriſtian, but the meditating on what is read: Reading without Meditation is like ſwallowing much meat without due chewing; that makes a lean man, ſo this makes a lean mind. Many read and hear Much, but underſtand little; becauſe they bring themſelves ſo little under this Ordinance of Meditation. If thou wouldeſt be right excellent in Knowledge, be rich in it, and of a higher ſtature in wiſdom than others, as David was; ſtrive to write after his rare Copy in abundant Meditating.
2. Meditation is to make Knowledge clear and diſtinct. The Apoſtle, Phil. 1.9. mentions love, its abounding in Knowledge and Judgment, and in other places we have mention of diſcerning and judging. As to matter of Learning in Arts and Sciences, they have the moſt clear and diſtinct heads, have their Notions moſt methodical, diſtinct, and moſt mellow, who muſe moſt; contrary, thoſe are the weak and eaſie Scholars that muſe leaſt. Divers Chriſtians have their heads full of raw confuſed things, a company of broken ends, Notions of ſmall uſe to themſelves or others, for want of due digeſtion in Meditation: Gold Oar without refining and ſound hammering is of little uſe; want of Refining keeps the Metal baſe, want of Hammering makes it brittle, it will not be burniſht up to a full and perfect brightneſs, it will not obtain a juſt firmneſs: You cannot have ſo rich Plate or Ʋtenſils, no Veſſels of it for your ſpecial uſe. The minds of too many Chriſtians lye ſtrewed over with precious truths, but neither clear or diſtinct: They are like Houſes or Cloſets where the rich things, Furnitures and Rarities lie covered over with duſt, or want brightening; or are ſo diſſevered, lie ſo ſcattered and out of place, that ſcarce any thing is for any preſent uſe. So there may be multitudes of Notions and Truths in the mind, but are obſcure and confuſed, a duſt covers them, a Curtain is drawn too far over them, they are of little uſe, becauſe Meditation is little uſed: Meditation is that, and muſt be that which methodizes them, that ſets them in order: Meditation brightens them and helps for to make them clear, helps them to a luſtre. Clearneſs, and diſtinctneſs will not be had without giving down-weight in due Meditation: And without a clear and diſtinct apprehenſion of things they are of little light to thee Chriſtian; of leſs influence as to others inſtigation and incouragement. A Scholar that hath his Notions raw and obſcure can make (at the beſt) but a Bungler. An Artificer, any Tradeſman that hath not his Art, but imperfectly, will make of it but a mean way to live and ſubſiſt: he that underſtands his way in Religion, will prove the wiſe, warm, and fruitful Chriſtian.
3. Meditation is to be a chief help to the Repoſitory and Treaſury of Truths, to lay and lock up ſtore of precious and uſeful Truths more ſure, to fix the lights of truth firm, make them ſtand faſt in the mind. Serious Meditation is a great advantage to memory, the Souls Treaſury, that lays up precious Truths in the cloſe conveyances of the underſtanding, and locks the Doors faſt: Such as Meditate moſt, will have the ſureſt memory for things heavenly.
Holy David, to lay up and hide the Word in his heart, as Pſal. 119.11. did it as, by other, ſo by the way of Meditation: As in the 15. Verſe, by Meditation, and v. 97. Continually. As Truths came to him, ſo made he them ſure by Meditating: his Treaſury and Stock grew richer and were kept the ſafer. As in Scholars, not the multitude of Books, or great Reading will make a Treaſury of precious Notions, and make them ſure for uſe, but the due afforded allowance to the clearing and fixing of them by Meditation. Chriſtians that Meditate will be rich in knowledge, and keep it ſure.