On Divine Meditation

Chapter 1

IX. The Foregoing Rules Exemplified in a Meditation on the

Suffering of Christ Preface -- 3 of 62 -- O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day. - PSALM 119:97 THE Book of Psalms is entitled by Calvin, 'The Anatomy of the Soul,' wherein all its inward workings are m

Chapter 2

Chapter I: Of the Nature of Meditation.

-- 4 of 62 -- It is speculative or practical. The latter described, and the description opened. Occasional meditation. The sin of neglecting it, and the advantage of performing it. Deliberate meditation: which is either

Chapter 3

I. MEDITATION is a duty so rare and unpractised, that I think the

knowledge of it is not among all christians, the exercise of it is among very few; and therefore if I should tell you that it is an unaccustomed duty, this might be an imperfect account of it. In the general. Meditation

Chapter 4

1. Speculative meditation is this: when there is a serious inquiry

made after some hidden truth, when the soul purposeth to enrich itself with the treasures of knowledge; and this is practised by many rational men; I mean those, whose understandings are more refined and raised than ordi

Chapter 5

2. Practical meditation. The end whereof is to bring the soul to a

serious detestation of sin, to a closing with, and embracing of the will of God: this is that I intend to treat of, and it is like blowing of the coals to warm the soul. Which I shall describe to you in this manner. Medi

Chapter 6

1. Occasional meditation, that is, when the soul spiritualizeth every

object, when the understanding is like a limbec that distils something from every thing it sees and views for the good of the soul. This is that spiritual chemistry that turns all metals into gold. Our blessed Saviour wa

Chapter 7

2. There is deliberate meditation, and that is two-fold: it is either

direct or reflexive. (1.) Direct. When the understanding fixeth itself upon some truth, and draws from it those advantages which may be proper to itself. We read of Isaac, that "he went out into the field to meditate." G

Chapter 8

II. I Come now to the second head, the necessity of this deliberate

meditation. It is not of arbitrary concernment, but it is necessary, God commands it; saith he to Joshua, "thou shalt meditate in the law day and night, that thou mayest observe to do, according to all that is written th

Chapter 9

1. That man's disability doth not give him an exemption from duty. If

you have lost your power, yet God hath not lost his right. He commands you to do it, and will this be a sufficient plea at the last day to say, you cannot do it?

Chapter 10

2. This unfitness of thine proceeds from a corruptedness of spirit.

Thy heart is carnal and sensual, and therefore thou canst not meditate on spiritual things. If there were but love in thy soul, that would nail thy heart to holy objects. "Oh how love I thy law! it is my meditation all t

Chapter 11

3. This argues thou hast been guilty of the neglect of this duty; thou

art unfit because thou hast neglected it. We may see in nature, those beasts that are very fierce, yet are tamed by custom, and manageable by use. A little child will lead a beast when he hath been used to it; so thy tho

Chapter 12

1. Consider, that the duties of religion, are not slight matters, to be

performed in an idle hour. Shall those things which are the special acts of thy life, give way to thy worldly occasions? Suppose you should hear a husbandman say thus, I have so much business that I can neither plow nor

Chapter 13

2. A multitude of business is so far from dismissing thee from this

duty, that it should rather excite thee to it. For argue thus, if my affairs be many and various, I have more need to meditate upon the law of God, that so I may behave myself therein with a clear and cheerful conscience

Chapter 14

III. THE time for this duty; and there are three things I shall open to

you in reference to that; the frequency of it; the continuance; the seasons when we may most for the advantage of our souls draw forth our meditations. i. For the frequency. In the general you must know, the scripture do

Chapter 15

1. By frequency, you will make your thoughts more pliable for the

discharge of this duty. Your souls will be more accomplished and fitted for the exercise of it. You know that customary running makes a person long breathed. So when we often use ourselves to this duty, our thoughts will

Chapter 16

2. Long interruptions of it will hinder the fruit of it. When there are

large gaps and strides between our performance of this duty, we lose the benefit of our former meditations. As it is with our bodies, if a man makes a free, and liberal meal, this will not maintain his body to morrow, an

Chapter 17

1. The morning, after the body hath been composed by the sweetness

of rest, then is a fit time for meditation, and there is a double reason for it. -- 17 of 62 -- (1.) Because we should consecrate the firstfruits to God. We should pitch our virgin thoughts upon him, and upon spiritual

Chapter 18

3. In the night season, when our bodies are reposed in the bed, then

our souls should be reposed in the bosom of God by sweet meditation. We have the command of the Lord for this, "Commune with your own hearts upon your beds and be still." Psal. 4:4. And there is a double argument which m

Chapter 19

4. The sabbath day, is a season for meditation. This should be the

temper of every christian to be in the Spirit on the Lord's day. On that day when our Saviour did arise from the earth, our souls should ascend to heaven. Consider with yourselves, the Lord's day is a type of heaven, and

Chapter 20

Chapter IV: Of the Advantages of

Meditation. It improves the faculties of the soul, by opening the understanding, and raising the affections. Makes prayer, the word, and sacraments effectual. Improves the graces of faith, hope and love. It brings comfor

Chapter 21

IV. THE advantages of meditation, are so many and so rich, that

methinks the consideration of them might draw forth the most sluggish spirit to the performance of this duty. I confess the duty is difficult, but consider the pleasantness of it, out of the strong comes sweetness. The a

Chapter 22

1. I will begin with the understanding faculty.

Meditation is the nurse of wisdom, it is the most excellent instrument to convey knowledge to the soul. There are two defects in every man's understanding, there is darkness, and there is a fluidness in his understanding

Chapter 23

2. Consider, as meditation doth open the understanding, and

presents truth to the brain, so it raiseth the affections. Knowledge without meditation to warm the affections, is like the glancing of a beam upon a wave, it fills it with a little clarity, but doth not heat it; so when

Chapter 24

1. For prayer. Meditation before prayer, is like the tuning of an

instrument and setting of it for the harmony. Meditation before prayer doth mature our conceptions, and exercises our desires. What is the reason that in prayer there is such a slight discurrency in our thoughts, that ou

Chapter 25

2. For hearing the word, the benefit of that exceedingly depends

upon meditation. Before we hear the meditation is like the plough which opens the ground to receive the seed, and after we have heard the word it is like the harrow which covers the new sown seed in the earth, that the f

Chapter 26

3. For the receiving the sacrament, there you shall find that

meditation is necessary before we receive, and in receiving. Before we receive, the great duty commanded is examination; now examination is managed by this duty of meditation: he that meditates aright concerning Jesus Ch

Chapter 27

1. The grace of faith. Our thoughts are the purveyors of our faith;

when faith declines and languishes, when our thoughts are ready to terminate in despair, then meditation brings a cordial to our faith, and raiseth and recovers it. Meditation upon the grace of God, and upon his power, i

Chapter 28

2. Hope, which is another grace in the soul that thrives, and

flourishes by the help of meditation. Faith is confirmed, and hope is enlarged by it. The christian who meditates upon these incomparable (but invisible) things that belong to another world: Oh this will enlarge his hope

Chapter 29

3. The grace of love that is begun and refined by meditation in the

soul of every true believer; there is a love of desire towards God, and a love of complacency in him. Now meditation doth fire both these; there is a love of desire in him towards God, there is an affectionate longing af

Chapter 30

1. It enables us to the discharge of religious duties, because it conveys

to the soul the lively sense and feeling of God's goodness; so the soul is encouraged to duty. David hath an expression, "Thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes, and I have walked in thy truth." Psal. 26:3. Meditation is

Chapter 31

2. Then secondly, for repelling temptations, and for the conquest of

them meditation is eminently useful. For consider the lapses of God's people proceed usually from incogitancy, and for getfulness: if Peter had remembered that præmonition of Christ, he had not fallen into that sin; but

Chapter 32

Chapter V: Rules for Managing

Meditation to Advantage Of rules for the managing meditation to advantage. Rules which respect the person. Freedom from the guilt of sin. Purity of heart. A treasure of divine truths. Sobriety in the use of worldly thing

Chapter 33

V. THE rules, I shall reduce to these three heads;

Those which concern the person, that is to exercise this duty;—Those which respect the choice of our object;—Those rules which may direct us how we should meditate on the object with success and advantage. i. Those which

Chapter 34

1. Rule. "Labour to have thy heart cleansed from the guilt of sin." A

tumultuous conscience is very unfit for so calm and sedate an exercise as meditation. It is said, that when an elephant comes to the water, it disturbs the stream that it may not see the representation of its own visage;

Chapter 35

2. Rule. "Labour for a pure heart." The former rule respected the

guilt of sin, this the defilement. Meditation is founded in the purgative part of religion. There is a double reason for this rule, partly because sin darkens the understanding, it defiles and dims the soul. A soiled gla

Chapter 36

3. Rule. "Treasure up in your souls a stock of spiritual truths." Truth

is the food of the soul, upon which it exerciseth its digestion and depastion; when a man hath laid in, he may lay out. Mat. 12:35. there is an excellent expression, "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brin

Chapter 37

4. Rule. "Sobriety in the use of all worldly things," is an excellent help

to meditation. A holy art of moderation, either in respect of the cares of the world, or the pleasures of the world; for an excess in these discomposes the mind, and unfits the body for this spiritual duty. -- 30 of 62

Chapter 38

5. Rule. "Labour for fervent love to spiritual things," and this will be

an excellent help for the performance of this duty. Holy and lively affections do both incline and chain the thoughts to spiritual objects. As all rivers proceed from the sea, and return to the sea; so our thoughts proce

Chapter 39

1. Choose such an object as hath a tendency in it to advance holiness.

There are some points in religion, which are chiefly speculative, there are others which are more practical. Now as the tops of mountains are barren, but the humble vallies fruitful. So speculative points are barren, and

Chapter 40

2. Meditate upon those objects which are suitable to thy state. Our

state respects either our temporals or our spirituals. Now for our -- 32 of 62 -- spirituals, I would direct your meditation answerable to that expression of Christ; where it is said, "the Spirit shall convince the wor

Chapter 41

3. Choose such an object as doth correspond and is fit to present the

temper of thy soul. God hath been pleased to allow us variety of objects. Sometimes we may contemplate the mysteries of the gospel, sometimes the beauties of the creation: when we are not fit for the severe exercises of

Chapter 42

1. For fixing our thoughts observe the following particulars.

(1.) Meditate in a methodical way. Begin with those things which are low, and then ascend higher, you will find a sensible advantage, by an orderly management of this duty; for this will be of special use to confine our

Chapter 43

2. How we may perform this duty so as to inflame and fire our

affections: for that take these four particulars. (1.) When thou dost meditate upon a subject, which is of spiritual concernment, let thy thoughts work upon it by way of argument, and serious consideration both of the ca

Chapter 44

3. When thou art meditating that so it may be fruitful; let there be

frequent emissions of thy soul to God: let thy thoughts be moulded into words, and that, (1.) By way of complaint. (2.) By way of desire. (1.) By way of complaint, as when thou fart meditating concerning the glory of ano

Chapter 45

4. Manage this duty, by way of impressions upon the heart, when you

have thus sent forth your souls to God. As it is when a vapour is drawn up to heaven, it afterwards returns to the earth: so when thy thoughts have been drawn up towards God, then they should descend upon thyself, and th

Chapter 46

Chapter VI: A Use of Trial.

The difference between holy men and others, shown by their thoughts: which are the immediate issues of the heart, and the invisible, delightful, continued acts of the soul. Necessary cautions. A difference between volunt

Chapter 47

1. Consider this, that the thoughts whereby meditation is managed,

are the immediate issues of the heart and therefore the best discoveries of a man. There are many interposing circumstances between our actions and our affections many times; but there is no interposition between the hea

Chapter 48

2. They are the invisible productions of the soul; and that is another

thing which makes them the better to discover our temper: they are neither subject to the knowledge, nor to the censure of the world; so that a man doth act most naturally in them. Fear and shame are two great checks and

Chapter 49

3. Our thoughts as they are the invisible productions of the soul, so

they are the most delightful acts of the soul: our thoughts proceed from our affections; and therefore you may find the temper of the heart by them: and this is the reason why the different thoughts of men, stream forth

Chapter 50

4. Our thoughts are the continued acts of the soul. There is nothing

so profuse in all the world as the soul of man; it is always spending of itself. The sun is not so full of beams, as the heart is of thoughts. Now where the temper of the soul is carnal, there is a vile expence of our th

Chapter 51

Chapter VII: A Use of Reproof.

Carnal men reproved for their total neglect of meditation. And regenerate men for their too great disuse of it, and remissness in it: wherein they are guilty of unkindness to God, and disparagement of him. FOR reproof, a

Chapter 52

1. They neglect and disuse this duty. That there are such large gaps,

and strides between our performances of meditation, it should strike -- 45 of 62 -- us with fear and sorrow. The most christians are apt to look upon meditation, and those other duties which are wholly spiritual, as me

Chapter 53

2. When we do perform them, how weak and how remiss are our

thoughts? Our thoughts are like an arrow which is shot from a bow that is weakly bent, they will not reach their mark, they die in their very birth, and lose their life before they have performed any thing. How should th

Chapter 54

3. Consider it is a real disparagement to God, when we shall turn our

meditation from him to sinful objects. When we shall prefer carnal sweets before him. If the eye doth not abide upon the object, it is either because the object displeaseth, or because the eye is taken off by something t

Chapter 55

Chapter VIII: A Use of Exhortation.

Frequency and constancy in meditation pressed upon holy men This is the best use of our understandings. An imitation of Christ's example. Wicked men's thoughts being so fixed on the world, should provoke us to it. Holy m

Chapter 56

Chapter IX: The foregoing rules

exemplified in a meditation on the sufferings of Christ THAT which I design in the last place, is to reduce those rules which I gave for meditation to practice upon this subject, viz. The sufferings of Christ. And first,

Chapter 57

1. The ignominy of his crucifixion: and if you look into the scripture,

you shall find he was scorned in every one of his offices. As he was a king, so he was sceptred with a reed, and crowned with thorns. As he was a prophet, so they blinded him and bade him prophesy who smote him. As he wa

Chapter 58

2. The second circumstance is the curse of his death. The scripture

doth assert this, "Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree." Gal. 3:13. There was both a ceremonial and a moral curse in the death of Christ: the ceremonial curse was his hanging upon a cross: for the custom of the Je

Chapter 59

3. The misery of it, which was inexpressible. Every part of Christ was

a receptacle of pain: those deaths which are lingering, there is a slow pace in them, but a quick torment. So it was with the Lord Jesus, his hands, and his feet were nailed to the cross; they were those parts which were

Chapter 60

2. The love of Christ was the cause of this. Acts of grace cannot be

extorted. Now this was merely an act of grace in Christ to give up himself to die for us. Therefore you find in the first treaty that was between God and Christ, Christ declares an absolute resignation to the will of God

Chapter 61

1. Complete satisfaction to the justice of his Father. The sufferings of

Christ were enriched by the union of his Deity; his blood was the blood of God: it was more for a God to satisfy, than for a man to sin. The violation of the law, was an act of the creature; but the fulfilling of the law

Chapter 62

2. The second effect of Christ's sufferings is, laying a foundation for

the calming and quieting of conscience. Conscience is God's officer, and when the Judge is appeased, conscience then should suspend its accusations; the blood of Christ may well be called spiritual wine, for it doth at o

Chapter 63

3. The third effect of Christ's death is this, the powers of darkness are

broken by it. He that had power of death, the devil is now made an object of triumph. The devil thought he might get a complete victory when Christ suffered, but Christ tells us, "Now is the prince of this world judged."

Chapter 64

4. The fourth effect of Christ's death is this, the crucifixion of sin.

Therefore the scripture tells us, the old man is crucified with him. Sin brought Christ to the cross, and Christ brought sin to the cross and nailed it there. Herein appears the admirable wisdom of God, that as -- 55 of

Chapter 65

5. The inheritance of glory is the fruit and effect of Christ's death.

The blood of Christ, ratifies the New Testament. It is the key of paradise, and opens heaven for us: there was such an exuberancy in the merits of Christ; such a supererogation of worth, that not only satisfied for us, b

Chapter 66

1. If you take die sufferings and amplify them by way of comparison.

But there is nothing in the creation, that is a fit subject fully to represent them by: I shall therefore make a parallel (as the scripture doth) between the death and crucifixion of Christ for us, and the death and kill

Chapter 67

2. By dissimilitude. The scripture hath an eminent instance, 1 Pet.

1:18. "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things" (observe the dissimilitude) "as silver and gold; -- 56 of 62 -- but with the precious blood of Christ." Take all the treasures of the world

Chapter 68

1. By way of charge. After the soul hath warmed itself with the

meditation of them, let it impress upon itself these three things by way of charge. To exercise faith; to inflame its love; and to enliven its obedience. To exercise its faith. Thus let the soul of a christian reflect up

Chapter 69

2. By way of check and restraint. When ever you find your souls

tempted to sin, let this allay the heat of the temptation; and let the consideration of Christ's sufferings repel all those fiery darts. Let me allude to that of David, when the water of Bethlehem was brought to him, whi