That Meditation is a duty of Gods ordaining, not only in his written Law, but also in nature it self, I never met with the man that would deny: But that it is a duty constantly and conscionably practised even by the godly, so far as my acquaintance extends, I must, with sorrow, deny it: It is in word confessed to be a Duty by all, but by the constant neglect denied by most. And (I know not by what fatal customary security it comes to pass, that) men that are very tender conscienc't towards most other duties, yet do as easily overslip this, as if they knew it not to be a duty at all: They that are presently troubled in mind, if they omit but a Sermon, a Fast, a Prayer in public or private, yet were never troubled that they have omitted Meditation perhaps all their life time to this very day: Though it be that duty by which all other duties are improved, and by which the soul digesteth Truths, and draweth forth their strength for its nourishment and refreshing. Certainly I think, that as a man is but half an hour in chewing and taking into his stomach, that meat which he must have seven or eight hours at least to digest;; so a man may take into his understanding and memory more Truth in one hour, then he is able well to digest in many. A man may eat too much, but he cannot digest too well: Therefore God commandeth Joshua, That the book of the Law depart not out of his mouth, but that he Meditate therein day and night, that he may observe to do according to that which is written therein, Josh. 1.8. As Digestion is the turning of the raw food into chyle, and blood, and spirits, and flesh: So Meditation rightly managed, turneth the Truths received and remembered, into warm affection, raised resolution, and holy and upright conversation. Therefore what good those men are like to get by Sermons or providences, who are unacquainted with, and unaccustomed to this work of Meditation, you may easily judge. And why so much preaching is lost among us, and professors can run from Sermon ⟨p. 689⟩to Sermon, and are never weary of hearing or reading, and yet have such languishing starved souls; I know no truer nor greater cause, then their ignorance, and unconscionable neglect of Meditation. If a man have the Lientery, that his meat pass from him as he took it in; or if he vomit it up as fast as he eats it, what strength and vigour of body and senses is this man like to have?
That Meditation is a duty of Gods ordaining, not only in his written Law, but also in nature it self, I never met with the man that would deny: But that it is a duty constantly and conscionably practised even by the godly, so far as my acquaintance extends, I must, with sorrow, deny it: It is in word confessed to be a Duty by all, but by the constant neglect denyed by most. And (I know not by what fatal customary security it comes to passe, that) men that are very tender conscienc't towards most other duties, yet do as easily overslip this, as if they knew it not to be a duty at all: They that are presently troubled in minde, if they omit but a Sermon, a Fast, a Prayer in publique or private, yet were never troubled that they have omitted Meditation perhaps all their life time to this very day: Though it be that duty by which all other duties are improved, and by which the soul digesteth Truths, and draweth forth their strength for its nourishment and refreshing. Certainly I think, that as a man is but half an hour in chewing and taking into his stomack, that meat which he must have seven or eight hours at least to digest;; so a man may take into his understanding and memory more Truth in one hour, then he is able well to digest in many. A man may eat too much, but he cannot digest too well: Therefore God commandeth Joshua, That the book of the Law depart not out of his mouth, but that he Meditate therein day and night, that he may observe to do according to that which is written therein, Josh. 1.8. As Digestion is the turning of the raw food into chyle, and blood, and spirits, and flesh: So Meditation rightly mannaged, turneth the Truths received and remembred, into warm affection, raised resolution, and holy and upright conversation. Therefore what good those men are like to get by Sermons or providences, who are unacquainted with, and unaccustomed to this work of Meditation, you may easily judge. And why so much preaching is lost among us, and professors can run from Sermon ⟨p. 689⟩to Sermon, and are never weary of hearing or reading, and yet have such languishing starved souls; I know no truer nor greater cause, then their ignorance, and unconscionable neglect of Meditation. If a man have the Lientery, that his meat pass from him as he took it in; or if he vomit it up as fast as he eates it, what strength and vigor of body and senses is this man like to have?
