242 THE NATURE OF HEAVENLY ¢ 3. (I.) It is not improper to illustrate a little the manner in which we have described this duty of me- ditation, or the considering and contemplating of spi- ritual things. It is confessed to be a duty by all, but practically denied by most. Many that make con- science of other duties, easily neglect this. They are troubled if they omit a sermon, a fast or 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 di- gesteth truths for its nourishment and comfort. It was God's command to. Joshua, "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to da according to all that is written therein.(x) As diges- tion turns food into chyle and blood, for vigorous health ; so meditation turns the truths received and remembered into warm affection, firm resolution, and holy coversation. 4. This meditation is, the acting of all the powers of the soul. It is the wOrk of the living, and not of the dead. It is a work of all others the most spiritual and sublime, and therefore not to be well performed by a heart that is merely carnal and earthly. They must necessarily have some relation to heaven, before they can familiarly converse there. I suppose them to be such as have a title to rest, when I persuade them to rejoice in the meditations of rest. And suppose thee to be a Christian, I am now .exhorting thee to be an active Christian.' And it is the work of the soul I am setting thee to ; for bodily exercise doth here profit but little. And it must have all the powers of the soul to distinguish it from the common meditation of students ; for the understanding is not the whole soul, and there - fore cannot do the whole work. As in the body, the stomach'must turn the food into "chyle, and prepare for the liver, the liver and spleen turn it into blood, and prepare for the heart and brain ; so in the soul, the un- derstanding must take in truths, and prepare them for (x) Joshua i. 8.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=