206 THE NATURE OF [Chap. 13. various excellencies, and therefore God hath formed the soul with different powers for apprehending those excellencies. What the better had we been for odoriferous flowers, if we had no smell ? or what good would language or music have done us, if we could not hear? or what pleasure should we have found in meats and drinks, without the sense of taste? So what good could all the glory of heaven have done us, or what pleasure should we have had in the perfection of God himself, if we had been without the affections of love and joy ? And what strength or sweetness canst thou possibly receive by thy meditations on eternity, while thou dost not exercise those affections of the soul, by which thou must be sensible of this sweetness and strength ? It is the mistake of Christians,to think that meditation is only the work of the understanding and memory; when every school-boy can do this, or persons that hate the things which they think on. So that you see there is more to be done, than barely to re- member and think of heaven. As some labors not only stir a hand or a foot, but exercise the whole body; so doth me- ditation the whole soul. As the affections of sinners are set on the world, are turned to idols, and fallen from God, as well as their understanding ; so must their affections be re- duced to God, as well as the understanding ; and as their whole soul was filled with sin before, so the whole must be filled with God now. See David's description of the blessed man : " His delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night." This meditation is set and solemn. As there is solemn prayer, when we set ourselves wholly to that duty ; and ejaculatory prayer, when, in the midst of other business, we send up some short request to God ; so also there is solemn meditation, when we apply ourselves wholly to that work; and transient meditation, when, in the midst of other busi- ness, we have some good thoughts of God in our minds. And as solemn prayer is either set in a constant course of duty, or occasional, at an extraordinary season ; so also is meditation. Now, though I would persuade -you to that me- ditation which is mixed with your common labors, and also that which special occasions direct you to ; yet I would have you likewise make it a constant standing duty, as you do by hearing, praying, and reading the Scriptures ; and no
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=