Chap. 10. An Exhortation to Medi∣tation; shewing also the necessity thereof.

Let me now exhort you to set about, and to be frequent in this ne∣cessary duty of meditation: Be often retiring your selves to God, and breathing after him: question him daily about thy salvation: give him thy heart: lift up thy soul to God: cast thine inward eyes on his mer∣cies; give him thy hand as a little Child doth to his Father, that he may lead thee and guid thee: plant him in thy heart, that God may be in all thy th•ughts: make many mo∣tions in thy soul after him: from every thing in the world, may be presented many pious meditations, and profitable discourses: unhappy Page  168 are they that use •he creatures in turn∣ing them to sin, and happy they that turn them to the meditation of God, and his goodnesse. This exercise of meditation is very necessary:

1. Because much of the work of holy devotion consisteth in it: it is that which may stand in stead of ma∣ny other things, but the lack of this can hardly be supplied by any other means; for without this, rest is but idlenesse, pain taking but vexa∣tion.

2. Meditation is necessary to beat down the flesh, and to keep the sen∣suall appetite in subjection to the Law of the Spirit. It is a great mis∣chief, saith Austin, to enjoy those things we should but use, and but use those things we should enjoy; we should enjoy spirituall things, and but use corporall, which when the use is turned into enjoy∣ing, our reasonable soul is turned into a bruitish and beast-like soul.

*3. Meditation is necessary to con∣coct the Word of God in our minds: There are some that feel some ten∣dernesse of spirit, that will weep at a Sermon, that one would think their Page  169 hearts full of devotion; but when it comes to the triall, we find that as the sudden showers in the heat of Summer, falling in great drops en∣ter not, but bring forth Toadstools or Mushromps; so these tears falling on a vitious heart, a heart not molli∣fied by constant meditation, the Word works not upon it, but be∣comes unprofitable: meditation softens the heart, and fits it for any holy impression. This made David cry out, O Lord, how sweet are thy words unto my tast; they are sweeter than honey, and the honeycomb: and cer∣tainly the least comforts of the Word, wrought in the heart by holy medi∣tation, are more worth than the most pleasing recreations in the world; they that have tasted of them, hold all other consolations to be but gall and wormwood in com∣parison of them. Oh that now I could perswade men to this necessary duty of meditation: withdraw your selves from your worldly affairs at least once a day, for the exercise of meditation. O holy soul, saith Ber∣nard,* shun publick places, and the com∣pany Page  170 of those of thy houshold; knowest thou not that Jesus Christ thy Husband is bashfull, and will not be familiar in company: Come my beloved, let us go forth into the field, there will I give thee my loves, Cant. 7.11.