A Treatise of Divine Meditation, Title page – Table of contents
A TREATISE OF DIVINE Meditation, By that Faithful Servant of Jeſus Chriſt Mr. JOHN BALL, Late Miniſter of the Goſpel at Whitmore in Staffordſhire.
Publiſhed by Simeon Aſhe, Preacher of the Goſpel at Auſtins, London.
Joſh. 1.8. This Book of the Law ſhall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou ſhalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayeſt obſerve to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou ſhalt make thy way proſperous, and then thou ſhalt have good ſucceſs.
Gen. 24.63. And Iſaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide.
LONDON, Printed for H. Mortlock, at the Phoenix in St. Pauls Church-yard, neer the Little North-door. 1660.
TO THE Chriſtian Reader,
THis Treatiſe of Divine Meditation was penned long ſince, by that faithful ſervant of Jeſus Chriſt, Mr. John Ball, who therein intended the benefit of ſome private friends onelyonly. But Copies thereof being diſperſed into many hands, good people of ſundry ranks and qualities, upon the peruſal of it, were very deſirous to have it printed, for more publick uſe: And becauſe it was known unto many, that this my worthy friend, had committed all his Manuſcripts to my truſt, that nothing might paſs to the Preſs, without my approbation, I was importuned, as by others, ſo by the five Reverend Brethren, who ſubſcribed, and ſent the Epiſtle prefixed, that I might receive incoucouragement by their Teſtimony, to own the publication of it.
The ſubject matter is needful and profitable, and the language, with the method and manner of handling it doth ſpeak Mr. Ball the Author. My leiſure hath not given mee leave, with ſeriouſneſs to read over this diſcourſe, yet upon the credit of the forementioned able Miniſters of Chriſt, who have peruſed it, I hope that it will be ſerviceable to thy ſoul; Which is the deſire, and ſhall bee the prayer of
Thy Friend and Servant in Chriſt, Sim. Aſhe. Aug. 9. 1660.
TO THE Chriſtian Reader.
Reader,
THere is no duty more neglected amongſt Chriſtians, than this of Meditation: whence it is, that though the heads of many are ſwelled with notions, yet their hearts are very empty of grace and good affections. A Treatiſe therefore of Meditation, which would remove obſtructions, and open the paſſages between the brain and heart, could never bee more ſeaſonable or neceſſary than in theſe daies, wherein there is Multum ſcientiae, & parum conſcientiae: men being much taken up with ſpeculative controverſal matters, to finde them diſcourſe; but little meditating upon plain and practical truths, to affect their hearts, and amend their lives. It is a ſad and a ſtrange thing, that there ſhould bee more light in the world, an increaſe of knowledge, and leſs heat, a decay of love; that there ſhould bee ſo much profitable preaching, and yet no more profiting amongſt the hearers: one cauſe whereof doubtleſs is, the omiſſion of this duty. We muſt read and conſider, hear and conſider, if wee would get good by what wee read and hear: without Meditation Truths are devoured, not digeſted. And as leanneſs of ſoul is to bee ſeen in many through ſinful rejection, and caſting away of wholeſome food; ſo the like is to bee ſeen in others, that are fed with ſuch food, for want of good concoctiō
This little Tractate of the eminently learned, judicious, and godly Mr. Ball, is to teach the Art of Divine Meditation, to help thy ſpiritual digeſtion, wouldeſt thou take in the advice herein contained, thou ſhouldeſt finde thy ſoul growing and thriving by it.
Indeed it is a thouſand pitties that any thing of this Reverend Author (humane frailty excepted) ſhould die with him; though this ſmall peece hath ſeemed to lie buried in oblivion hitherto, 'tis now riſen, as from the dead, to admoniſh us of a neceſſary duty, & will again riſe in judgement againſt them, that ſhall ſtill continue their ſinful and ſhameful omiſſion of it.
Though it be poſthumous, yet thou mayeſt be confident it is not ſpurious: Mr. Heary Baker.were the perſon in whoſe hands this Copy lay, as well known to others as to us, they would deſire no more ſatisfying evidence than his affirming (as he did) that hee received it from the Reverend Authors own hand.
Thou haſt here the ſubſtance of the original Copy, without any further alteration, than what the overſight of the Tranſcriber, here and there made neceſſary. And though there may be wanting ſomewhat of that accurateneſs in this peece, which was in others prepared for the Preſs by the Authors own hand, yet they who are acquainted with his other works, will clearly ſee a great reſemblance between this and them.
As to the doctrine herein contained, 'tis uſeful and excellent, and that which few have ſo practically handled: but they who look for quaintneſs of expreſſion, more than the quickning of their affections, and right ordering of their converſations, muſt turn away their eyes; this was not written for them; The excellency of Rules lieth in their fitneſs to direct in neceſſary duties, and thoſe which this book affords, have more of ſolidity than luſtre, of uſe than ſhew.
Let us intreat thee therefore not only to read over this Tractate, but to live it over, leſt thou ſhouldeſt miſtake the end of its publication. And do not think this holy exerciſe is ſuch a grievous task, as that thou ſhouldeſt be afraid of it; 'tis ſuch a duty, as after a little experience thou wilt finde to be not ſo much a burden, as a ſpiritual recreation; and that to preſs thee to the practice of it, is in effect, but to perſwade thee to delight thy ſelf with ſitting to the fire, when thou art benummed with cold, or to pleaſe and refreſh thy ſelf with food, when thou art ready to periſh with hunger, nay, ſuch ſenſitive refreſhments are not to be compared with theſe ſpiritual delights of getting a dead cold heart warmed, a ſtarved ſoul nouriſhed by digeſting its food by Divine Meditation. The greateſt difficulty will be in thy firſt ſetting to this duty, which when once thou art acquainted with, thou wilt be angry with thy ſelf, that thou either kneweſt, or began it no ſooner.
Courteous Reader, we cannot take our leave of thee, till wee have once more intreated thee to ſet to this duty. If thou wouldeſt be bleſſed in all thy enterprizes or concernments with the bleſſings of God, Joſh. 1.8. If thou wouldeſt have thy underſtanding inlightened with the knowledge of God, thy affections inflamed with the love of God, thy heart eſtabliſhed with the promiſes of God, thy ſolitarineſs cheared up with the company of God, thy afflictions mitigated with the comforts of God; and if thou wouldeſt have thy thoughts, words and works regulated by the command of God, pray and conſider, pray and meditate.
So adviſes Thy Servants in the Lord Jeſus
Sa. Cotes.
Wil. Reynolds.
John Whitlock.
Robert Smalley.
John Armſtrong.
Auguſt 9. 1660.
The Contents.
WHat the word Meditation ſignifies page 1
How Meditation and prayer differ. page 4
Reaſons ſhewing the necesſity of meditation. Ibid
Who are bound to uſe this exerciſe. page 11
What the matter or ſubject of our meditation ought to bee. page 17
What the fruits, effects, and benefits of meditation are. page 20
What uſe wee are to make of this point. page 49
What ſuperficial and careleſs thinking upon ſome points of Doctrine by fits is. page 53
What the lets and Impediments of this duty are. page 59
How the firſt Impediment is removed. page 61
What a ſecond let or Impediment is: page 65
How it is to bee remedied. Ib
What a third Impediment is. page 68
How it is to bee remedied. page 69
What a fourth let is. page 71
How it is to bee remedied. page 72
What ſhould move us to bee careful to take time for this duty. page 73
What things hinder the fruitful performance of this duty. page 74
How theſe abuſes are to bee remedied. page 75
What the ſorts and kinds of meditation are. page 77
What occaſional Meditation is. ib.
What Rules are to bee noted touching extemporary Meditation. page 78
What the benefits of extemporary meditation are. page 80
How a man ſhould fit himſelf for extemporary meditation. page 84
What ſolemn or ſetled meditation is. page 85
What motives ſhould perſwade Chriſtians to ſet upon this duty. page 86
What things muſt bee looked unto that this exerciſe might bee taken in hand with good ſucceſs. page 88
What Rules are to bee obſerved touching the choice of matter. Ib.
VVhat wee muſt do if our heart bee ſo barren that wee cannot call to mind any thing that hath been taught us, nor remember any mercy wee receive. page 93
VVhat particular meditations concerning Duties to bee performed or practiſed wee may finde commended unto us in the writings of Godly men. page 97 & 110
VVhat place is fit for meditation. page 115
VVhat they muſt do that have no room to bee alone. page 117
VVhat time muſt bee ſet apart for meditation. lb.
VVhat is to bee ſaid to them that pretend multitude of worldly buſineſs to excuſe the omisſion and neglect of this excerciſe. page 123
VVhat courſe muſt be holden to redeem time out of the world for meditation. page 125
How wee muſt make entrance into this exerciſe. page 127
In what order wee muſt proceed after the entrance. page 130
VVhat muſt bee obſerved for the concluſion of this exerciſe. page 137
How wee muſt meditate on Gods infinite excellency. page 139
How wee muſt proceed in this meditation page 140
How theſe things are to bee applied upon the heart and preſſed upon the ſoul. page 145
How wee are to proceed in meditation of the holy Angells. page 154
How theſe things are to be preſſed and urged, and applied unto the heart. page 156
How wee are to meditate on mans excellency. page 161
How it is to bee applied unto the heart for the quickning of the affection. page 168
How wee are to meditate on Gods Infinite greatneſs. page 176
How it is to bee applied unto the heart. page 181
How we are to meditate on the love of God. page 185
How it muſt bee applied unto the heart. page 198
How wee are to meditate on the fall of our firſt parents. page 207
How it is to bee applied unto the heart. page 221
How wee are to meditate on ſin. page 228
How it is to bee preſſed upon the heart. page 245
How wee are to meditate on the work of Redemption. page 246
How it is to bee applied unto the heart. page 267
How wee are to meditate on the Reſurrection of Chriſt. page 273
How it is to bee preſſed upon the heart. page 284