A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the dutiesA guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties

§. Sect. 2 What Meditation is, & how it differeth from other exercises of the mind.

But that we may proceed to our purpose; Meditation in a general signification, is nothing else, but to think a•• consider of any thing often and ¹seriously. And as we here more strictly ••ke it, restraining it to a special subject, Meditation is a religious exercise of a Christian, wherein he purposely applieth his mind to discourse diversly upon some divine subject, spiritual or heavenly, that hereby he may glorify God, and further his own salvation, by improving the light of his understanding, increasing the sanctity of his heart and affections, and the better enabling him unto ⟨p. 534⟩all duties of a godly life. The which description, in some sort both showeth the nature of Meditation, and also distinguisheth it from other acts and exercises of the mind which may seem somewhat like unto it. For it differeth from cogitation, which is but a simple act of the mind, thinking of its object slightly and overly, and so leaving it; whereas Meditation is more advised and serious, and reflecteth its light upon the heart, will and affection, to direct them in their choice, both in choosing and embracing that which is good, and the refusing and abhorring of that which is evil. It differeth also from consideration, which is exercised in deliberating about some thing doubtful, true or false, good or evil, that discerning it aright, we may know whether to take or leave it: but Meditation is conversant about things in some measure known in the understanding, that by this further discourse of reason, they may not only be better known, but also that this knowledge may reflect upon the will and affections, and be made more effectual for our use in the well ordering of our lives. It differeth also from Prayer, in that howsoever both are the speech of the mind; yet in that, we speak to our own souls, but in this, we speak directly to God himself. Notwithstanding, there is such affinity between them, that in the Scriptures they are both signified by the same word, and often taken the one for the other. For they have both for the most part one subject-matter, and both alike effectual for the obtaining of all things needful;