A96109:304
The saints delight. To which is annexed a treatise of meditation
The saints delight. To which is annexed a treatise of meditation. / By Thomas Watson, minister of Stephens Walbrook in the city of London. Imprimatur, Edm. Calamy.
London: printed by T.R. & E.M. for Ralph Smith, 1657
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Treatise › Chapter 15: Concerning the usefulness of meditation.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
3. Meditation is the bellows of the affections, meditation hatcheth good affections, as the hen her young ones by sitting on them; we light affection at this fire of meditation, while I was musing the fire burned, Psalm. 39.3. David was meditating of mortality, and see how his heart was affected with it verse. 4. Lord make me to know mine end and the me assure of my days, what it is, ⟨p. 238⟩that I may know how frail I am. The reason our affections are so chill and cold in spiritual things is, because we do warm our selves no more at the fire of meditation. Illumination makes us shining lamps, meditation makes us burning lamps. What is it to know Christ by speculation and not by affection? It is the proper work of meditation to excite and blow up holy passions. What sparklings of love in such a soul! When David had meditated on Gods law, he could not choose but love it, Psalm. 119.97. O how love I thy law it is my meditation all the day. When the spouse had by meditation viewed those singular beauties in her beloved, white and ruddy Cant. 5. she grew sick of love vers. 8. Galeatius Caraccialus, that famous Marquess of Vico, who had been much in the contemplation of ⟨p. 239⟩Christ, breaks out into a holy Pathos, let their money perish with them who esteem all the gold in the world worth one hours communion with Jesus Christ!
3. Meditation is the bellows of the affections, meditation hatcheth good affections, as the hen her young ones by sitting on them; we light affection at this fire of meditation, while I was musing the fire burned, Psalm. 39.3. David was meditating of mortality, and see how his heart was affected with it verse. 4. Lord make me to know mine end and the me asure of my days, what it is, ⟨p. 238⟩that I may know how frail I am. The reason our affections are so chill and cold in spiritual things is, because we doe warm our selves no more at the fire of meditation. Illumination makes us shining lamps, meditation makes us burning lamps. What is it to know Christ by speculation and not by affection? It is the proper work of meditation to excite and blow up holy passions. What sparklings of love in such a soul! When David had meditated on Gods law, he could not chuse but love it,