SECT. VII.* 1.1
5. MEditation also putteth reason into his strength. Reason is at the strongest when it is most in action: Now Medi∣tation produceth reason into Act. Before it was as a standing wa∣ter, which can move nothing else when it self moveth not: but now it is as the speedy stream which violently bears down all be∣fore it. Before it was as the still and silent air, but now it is as the powerful motion of the wind, and overthrows the opposition of the flesh and the devil. Before it was as the stones which lay still in the brook; but now when Meditation doth set it awork, it is as the stone out of Davids sling, which smites the Goliah of our un∣belief in the forehead. As wicked men continue wicked, not be∣cause they have not reason in the principle, but because they bring it not into Act and use, so godly men are uncomfortable and sad, not because they have no causes to rejoyce, nor because they have not reason to discern those causes; but because they let their reas∣on and faith lye asleep, and do not labor to set them a going, nor stir them up to action by this work of Meditation. You know that our very dreams will deeply affect: What fears! What sor∣rowes! What Joy will they stir up? How much more then would serious Meditation affect us?