Heaven taken

—Terras Astraea reliquit.—

Those Beasts under the Law which did not chew the cud were unclean. Such as do not chew the cud by holy meditation, are to be reckoned among the unclean. But I shall rather turn my lamentation into a persuasion, entreating Christians ⟨p. 53⟩to offer violence to themselves in this so necessary Duty of Meditation. Pythagoras sequestered himself from all society, and lived in a Cave for a whole year, that he might meditate upon Philosophy. How then should we retire and lock up our selves at least once a day that we may meditate upon Glory.

Those Beasts under the Law which did not chew the cud were unclean. Such as do not chew the cud by holy meditation, are to be reckoned among the unclean. But I shall rather turn my lamentation into a perswasion, entreating Christians ⟨p. 53⟩to offer violence to themselves in this so necessary Duty of Meditation. Pythagoras sequestred himself from all society, and lived in a Cave for a whole year, that he might meditate upon Philosophy. How then should we retire and lock up our selves at least once a day that we may meditate upon Glory.

1. Meditation makes the Word preached to profit; it works it upon the Conscience. As the Bee sucks the flower; so by meditation we suck out the sweetness of a Truth. It is not the receiving of meat into the mouth; but the digesting of it makes it nutritive. So it is not the receiving the most excellent truths in at the ear, that nourisheth our souls, but the digesting them by Meditation. Wine poured into a sieve run• out. Many truths are lost, because Ministers pour this Wine into sieves, either into leaking Memories, or feathery minds. Meditation is like a soaking rain, that goes to the root of a Tree, and makes it bring forth fruit.