A96109:319
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. 3 This duty of meditation, being neglected, the heart will run wild, it will not be a vineyard, but a Wilderness *.
Motive. 3 This duty of meditation, being neglected, the heart will run wilde, it will not be a vineyard, but a Wilderness *.
Neglectis urenda filix innascitur agris.
Meditation keeps the heart in a good decorum. It plucks up the weeds of sin, 1it prunes the luxuriant branches, it waters the flowers of grace, it sweeps all the walks in the heart, that Christ may walk there with delight. For want of holy meditation the heart lies like the sluggards field, Prov. 24.31. all overgrown with thorns and briars, unclean earthly thoughts. It is rather the devils hogsty, then Christs garden. Tis like a house fallen to ruin, fit only for unclean spirits to inhabit.
Meditation keeps the heart in a good decorum. It plucks up the weeds of sin, 1it prunes the luxuriant branches, it waters the flowers of grace, it sweeps all the walks in the heart, that Christ may walk there with delight. For want of holy meditation the heart lies like the sluggards field, Prov. 24.31. all overgrown with thorns and briars, unclean earthly thoughts. It is rather the divels hogsty, then Christs garden. Tis like a house fallen to ruine, fit onely for unclean spirits to inhabit.