The saints everlasting rest

The duty which I press upon thee so earnestly, I shall now describe: it is the set and solemn acting of all the powers of the soul upon this most perfect object (rest) by meditation.

I will a little more fully explain the meaning of this description, that so the duty may lie plain before thee. 1. The general title that I give this duty is (meditation): not as it is precisely distinguished from cogitation, consideration, and contemplation; but as it is taken in the larger and usual sense for cogitation on things spiritual, and so comprehending consideration and contemplation.

That meditation is a duty of GOD'S ordaining, not only in his written law, but also in nature itself, I never met with the man that would deny: but that ⟨p. 321⟩it is a duty constantly practised, I must, with sorrow, deny: it is in word confessed to be a duty by all, but by the constant neglect denied by most: and (I know not by what fatal security it comes to pass, that) men that are very tender conscienced towards most other duties, yet as easily overslip this, as if they knew it not to be a duty at all; they that are presently troubled if they omit a sermon, a fast, a prayer in public or private, yet were never troubled that they have omitted meditation, perhaps all their life-time to this very day: though it be that duty by which all other duties are improved, and by which the soul digesteth truths, and draweth forth their strength for its nourishment. Certainly, I think, that as a man is but half an hour taking into his stomach that meat which he must have seven or eight hours to digest; so a man may take into his understanding and memory more truth in one hour, than he is able well to digest in many. Therefore GOD commanded Joshua, That the book of the law should not depart out of his mouth, but that he should meditate therein day and night: that he might observe to do according to that which is written therein. As digestion is the turning of the food into chyle and blood, and spirits and flesh; so meditation rightly managed, turneth the truths received and remembered into warm affection, raised resolution, and holy conversation. Therefore what good those men are likely to get by sermons or providences, who are unaccustomed to meditation, you may easily judge. And why so much preaching is lost among us, and men can run from sermon to sermon, and yet have such languishing starved souls, I know no truer cause than their neglect of meditation. If men heard one hour and meditated seven; if they did as constantly digest their sermons as they hear them, they would find another kind of benefit by sermons, than the ordinary sort of christians do.