CONTEMPLATION CONSIDERED. 251 thee. Though it be not long, yet the way is miry ; therefore obey his voice, arise and eat, and in the strength of that meat thou mayest go to the mount of God; and, like Moses, the in the mount, whither thou goest up ; and say, as Simeon, " Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace ; for my eye of faith hath seen thy salvation. "(g) § 18. (III.) Concerning the fittest place for heavenly contemplation, it is sufficient to say, that the most con- venient is some private retirement. Our spirits need every help, and to be freed from every hinderance in the work. If in private prayer Christ directs us to "enter into our closet, and shut the door, that our Father may see us in secret"(h) so should we do this in medita- tion. How often did Christ himself retire to some moun- tain, or wilderness, or other solitary place! I give not this advice for occasional meditation, but for that which is set and solemn. Therefore 'withdraw thyself from all society, even that of godly men, that thou mayest awhile enjoy the society of thy Lord. If a student cannot. study in a crowd, who exerciseth only his in- vention and memory ; much less shouldst thou be in a crowd who art to exercise all the powers of thy soul, and upon an object so far above nature. We are fled so fàr from superstitious solitude, that we have even cast off the solitude of contemplative devotion. We seldom read of God's appearing, by himself or by his angels, to any of his prophets or saints in a crowd ; but frequently when they were alone.. But observe for thyself, what place best agrees with thy spirit, within doors or without. Isaac's example, in going out to meditate in the field, will, I am persuaded, best suit with most. Our Lord so much used a solitary garden, that even Judas, when he came to betray him, knew where to find him ; and though he took his disciples thither with him, yet he was withdrawn from them for more secret devotions.(i) And though his meditations be not di- rectly named, but only his ptayinó, yet it is very clearly implied; for his 'soul is first made sorrowful with the (() Luke ii. 29, 30. (h) Matt. vi. (i) John xviii. 1, 2. Luke xxii. 41.
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