A96109:317
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 17: Containing divine motives to 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.
Motive. 1 Meditation doth discriminate and characterize a man; by this he may take a measure of his heart, whether it be good or bad; let me allude to that Prov. 23.7. for as he thinketh in his heart, so is he; as the meditation is, such is the man. Meditation is the Touchstone of a Christian, it shows what mettle he is made of. It is a Spiritual Index; the Index shows what is ⟨p. 252⟩in the book: so meditation shows what is in the heart. If all a mans meditations are how he may get power against sin, how he may grow in grace, how he may have more communion with God. This shows what is in his heart, the frame of his heart is spiritual; by the beating of this pulse, judge of the health of thy soul. 'Tis made the character of a godly man, he fears God, and thinks of his Name, Mal. 3.17. Whereas if the thoughts are taken up with pride, and lust, as are the Thoughts such is the heart; Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity, Isa. 59.7. When vain sinful thoughts come, men make much of them, they make room for them, they shall diet and lodge with them; if a good thought chance to come into their mind, it is soon turned out of ⟨p. 253⟩doors, as an unwelcome Guest; What need we further witness? This argues much unsoundness of heart; let this provoke to holy meditation.
Motive. 1 MEditation doth discriminate and characterize a man; by this he may take a measure of his heart, whether it be good or bad; let me allude to that Prov. 23.7. for as he thinketh in his heart, so is he; as the meditation is, such is the man. Meditation is the Touchstone of a Christian, it shews what mettle he is made of. It is a Spiritual Index; the Index shows what is ⟨p. 252⟩in the book: so meditation shows what is in the heart. If all a mans meditations are how he may get power against sin, how he may grow in grace, how he may have more communion with God. This shows what is in his heart, the frame of his heart is spiritual; by the beating of this pulse, judge of the health of thy soul. 'Tis made the character of a godly man, he fears God, and thinks of his Name,