A discourse concerning old-age tending to the instruction, caution and comfort of aged persons…

THE Ninth Work of Old-age is Meditation ¹of Death and Eternity. Meditation in general is the application of our thoughts to some particular Subject: which being employed about things Holy, becomes one of the parts of Inward Religion. A most excellent and useful exercise, and which greatly enriches the Soulⁱ. It was a clear proof of the great sanctity of Davids heart, that he was so frequent and familiar in this employment; sometimes on God, sometimes on his Word, sometimes on his Works, both of Creation and of Providence, &c. O that we all had the Art of it, the Heart of it, for the heart is all. Doubtless if our Love were stronger, our meditation would be longer ⟨p. 308⟩on these things, for where the treasure is, there the heart will dwell also. I know some Constitutions of body are more capable of it than others, but certainly the more the soul is sanctified, that is, mortified to things below and vivified to things above, the more cheerfully will it dwell upon spiritual things; such as the Stomach is, such food will it desire.

THE Ninth Work of Old-age is Meditation ¹of Death and Eternity. Meditation in general is the application of our thoughts to some particular Subject: which being imployed about things Holy, becomes one of the parts of Inward Religion. A most excellent and useful exercise, and which greatly inriches the Soulⁱ. It was a clear proof of the great sanctity of Davids heart, that he was so frequent and familiar in this imployment; sometimes on God, sometimes on his Word, sometimes on his Works, both of Creation and of Providence, &c. O that we all had the Art of it, the Heart of it, for the heart is all. Doubtless if our Love were stronger, our meditation would be longer ⟨p. 308⟩on these things, for where the treasure is, there the heart will dwell also. I know some Constitutions of body are more capable of it than others, but certainly the more the soul is sanctified, that is, mortified to things below and vivified to things above, the more chearfully will it dwell upon spiritual things; such as the Stomach is, such food will it desire.