The saints delight. To which is annexed a treatise of meditation

I know not any duty that brings in greater income and revenue then this. 'Tis reported of Thales, that he left the affairs of State to become a contemplating Philosopher^*. Oh did we know the advantage which comes by this duty, we ⟨p. 234⟩would often retire from the noise and hurry of the World, that we might give our selves to Meditation.

1. *Diog. in vitâ Thal.

The benefit of Meditation appears in seven particulars.

1. Meditation is an excellent means to profit by the word: reading may bring a truth into the head, meditation brings it into the heart; better meditate on one Sermon than hear five; I observe many put up their Bills in our Congregations, and complain that they cannot profit, may not this be the chief reason, because they chew not the cud, they do not meditate on what they have heard. If an Angel should come from heaven, and preach to men, nay if Jesus Christ himself were their Preacher, they would never profit without meditation. 'Tis the settling of the milk that makes it ⟨p. 235⟩turn to cream; & it is the settling of a truth in the mind, that makes it turn to spiritual aliment: the Bee sucks the flower, and then works it in the Hive, and makes honey of it. The hearing of a truth preached is the sucking of a flower, there must be a working it in the Hive of the heart by meditation, then it turns to Honey. There is a disease in children called the Rickets, when they have great heads, but their lower parts are small, and thrive not. I wish many of the Professors in London, have not the spiritual Rickets, they have great heads, much knowledge, but yet they thrive not in godliness, their heart is faint, their feet feeble, they walk not vigorously in the ways of God, and the cause of this disease is, the want of meditation. Illumination