Solitude Improved by Divine Meditation, Chapter 1
CHAP. I. Of the improvement of the Doctrine of Meditation, by way firſt of inſtruction.
THis being ſo concerning a work, and having ſo ſtrong an influence upon the whole courſe of Chriſtianity; let us now endeavour to beat out this Gold, extend it and make it appliable to the ſtate and condition of all ſorts of perſons, in all the uſeful ways we can.
1. Inference. Then if Meditation on ſpiritual things, and earthly in a ſpiritual manner, in ſuch ſeriouſneſs, ſearchings, and dwellings of the thoughts upon them, for ſuch high and holy ends, is ſo needful for all Chriſtians to exerciſe.
Inſtruction 1. It ſerves then to hold forth a light of inſtruction to all that own the Lord Chriſt, the Golden Scepter of his Word, and the obligation laid ſo indiſpenſibly on them, to ſee how they are call'd upon to own and obſerve it, to tread and walk continually in this ſweet and pleaſant path, this ſo righteous and good way.
Divers there are who call themſelves Chriſtians, and would be counted good, if not ſo good as any, which yet lead a life of inadvertency, and quite overlooking of it, mind not this Meditation; as if it concern'd them not, as if they were not at all oblig'd, but free from any ſuch engagement of their thoughts, any employing of their ſerious thoughts this way.
O how many are there to be found, that never conſidered what that noble eye of the underſtanding was given for! they uſe it as if it were made to look only downward, or any other way but upward and heavenward; that loſe, contentedly loſe, the principal end of that ſo rare faculty, made moſt peculiarly to mind and contemplate heavenly beauties and excellencies.
What was ſaid by Duke Alva, he did not uſe to look up to Heaven, this may be ſaid of too many, yea they may ſay it of themſelves, they do not uſe to look up to Heaven, by meditating on the things above. Ah ſad eye, and ſad frame of ſpirit, but ſaddeſt ſtate, not to have God, nor the things of God in the thoughts; to have an eye made purpoſely for them above all, but uſes to look from them, not towards them, that fixes on the Earth, that hath their eyes All, and Heaven the allowance of a Nothing.
2. Others miſtakingly think Meditation may concern ſome ſorts of perſons, but not them; they have no leiſure, they have no Learning, as others have.
We read of a King, when a Treatiſe of happineſs was preſented unto him, would not look on it, but ſaid he was not at leiſure. O how many are there too like him in this, they are not at leiſure? They can find time for looking every way, on every thing fond phanſie carries them to, but it is for others who have time, and a mind to it, thus to employ it in Meditation.
3. Others there are who think religious ſeriouſneſs and muſing of things heavenly, the greateſt folly, the worſt beſtowing of thoughts and time, they loath all trouble of conſideration this way, licenſe their thinkings to a roving ranging liberty, let their thoughts fly, as Children do their Arrows, any way and every way, but to no certain mark at all; with ſuch any way is vanity, but walking in the vanity of their minds, Epheſ. 4.17. with them no thoughts are ſavoury, but ſuch as are remoteſt from Heaven; a ſeriouſneſs and ſixing their thoughts is a fettering to their freeneſs of phanſie; all ſtay of thoughts is a meer tediouſneſs, and the more ſpiritual the things are they are perſwaded to mind, the more unkind entertainment they meet with.
O that ever that eye, which the great ſoul-maker beſtows, purpoſely and principally, to act its ſeriouſneſs and beſt mindings, on beſt things, ſhould be ſo ſtrangely perverted to an only minding the worſt! O what a wonder is it, that the great Giver of this great Talent of the thinking power doth not totally take it away, doth not let it quite quench in a ſeizing ſtupidity, and loſs of reaſons uſe, as it happens to ſome by ſad Diſeaſes; or that the wildneſs and wickedneſs of phanſie, be not revenged with wildneſs of phrenſie, and ſtriking all ſuch willfully mindleſs ſinners mad, as ſometimes ſome are, and it may be partly on this account!
O let every one take heed of provoking their God, in ſuch a ſort, and ſet themſelves to ponder what it is, not only to forget God careleſly, but to refuſe to remember him purpoſely and deſignedly; purpoſely to refuſe minding thoſe things of Heaven, which like the lights of Heaven, have purpoſely the greateſt …ſtre and glory, that they may have the greateſt ey…gs and lookings upon.
Every one therefore ſhould learn to be concluded under this great truth, under the great neceſſity and importancy of this Duty, ſee it moſt clearly Chriſts bleſſed way, for the frequent and conſtant walk of his thoughts, to improve communion with God, and perfect holineſs by.
Lord clear up my Eye to ſee daily more into the excellencies of this heavenly way, and have my ſpirit lifted up and enlarged in it.
O let me not faint and grow weary, but have the Loins of my ſpirit girded with ſtrength, my goings held up in this path of pleaſantneſs, unto the end.