(3d.) It is a profitable duty as to temporals. Isaac went out to meditate, and of a sudden he espieth the camels coming upon which Eebecca was brought to him, Gen. xxiv. 63, 64. W^as this a mere accident, think you, or a providence worthy of remark and obser- vation ? Isaac goes to meet with God, and there he gets the first view of his bosom-friend and spouse. This was a mercy cast into the bargain. ' Godliness hath the promises of this life, and that which is to come.' There is nothing lost by duty and acts of piety. Seneca
VeR. 15.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 143
said the Jews were a foolish people, because they lost the full seventh part of their lives — Septimam cdaiis partem 2)crchmt vacando ; in- tending their sabbath-time. This is the sense of nature, to think all lost that is bestowed upon God. Flesh and blood crieth out, What need this waste ? they cannot spare time from their callings, they have families to maintain. Oh ! let me tell you, by serving God you drive on two cares at once. "Worldly interests are cast into the way of re- ligion, and though not designed and intended by us, these things are added to us. For comforts and manifestations of God, we have them many times in our recess and the privacy of our retirements, in a more plentiful manner than elsewhere. ' The spouse inviteth the bride- groom, Cant. vii. 11, ' Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field.' Upon which Bernard, 0 sancta anima,fuge 'pvMicum, fuge. An nescis te verecundum Imhere sponsum, qui nequaquam tibi velit indulgere prcesentiamlsiiam coram aliis? We have most experiences of God when we are alone with him, and sequestered from all distractions of company and business, solacing ourselves with God. Exod. iii. 1, Moses drove the sheep to the back side of the wilderness, and came to the mount of God : he goeth aside from the other shepherds, that he might converse with the great Shepherd and Bishop of our souls, and there he seetli the vision of the fiery bush. Usually God cometh to us in our deej) meditation ; when the soul is most elevated, and fittest to entertain the comforts of his presence, then we have sensible ex- perience of God.
The standing spiritual benefits of meditation are many. It im- prints and fastens a truth upon the mind and memory. Deliberate thoughts stick with us, as a lesson we have conned is not easily for- gotten. Civet long kept in a box, the scent remaineth when the civet is taken out. Sermons meditated on are remembered by us long after they are delivered : it sets the heart a- work. The greatest matters will not work upon him that doth not think of them. Tell them of sin, and God, and Christ, and heaven and hell, and they stir them not, because they do not take these truths into their deep thoughts ; or it they be stirred a little, it is but a fit, while the truth is held in the view of conscience. We had need inculcate things if we would have them to afiect us. The steel must beat again and again upon the flint, if we woidd have the sparks fly out ; so must the understanding bear hard upon the will, to get out any afiection and respect to the ways of God. It showeth'the beauty of truths. When we look upon them in transitu, we do not see half that is in them ; but ujion a de- liberate view it more appeareth ; as there is a secret grace in some, that is not discerned but by much converse and narrow inspection. It helpeth to prevent vain thoughts. The mind of man is restless, and cannot lie idle ; therefore it is good to employ it with good thoughts, and set it a- work on holy things ; for then there will be no time and heart for vanity, the mind being prepossessed and seasoned already ; bttt when the heart is left to run loose, vanity increaseth upon us. 0 Christians ! meditation is all ; it is the mother and nurse of knowledge and godliness, the great instrument in all the offices of grace. We resemble the purity and simplicity of God most in the holiness of our thousrhts. Without meditation we do but talk one after another like
144 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. XVI.
parrots, and take up things by mere hearsay, and repeat them by rote, without affection and life, or discerning the worth and excel- lency of what we speak. It is meditation that maketh truths always ready and present with us : Pro v. vi. 21, 22, ' Bind them continually upon thy heart ; when thou goest, it shall lead thee ; when thou wakest, it shall talk with thee.' But I forbear.
1. Wherehy the mind is cqDplied to serious and solemn considera- tion. I add this, to distinguish it from occasional meditation, and those good thoughts that accidentally rush into our minds, and to note the care and attention of soul that we should use in such an exercise. It is musing makes the fire burn : glances or transient thoughts, or running over a truth in haste, is not meditation, but a serious attention of mind. It is not to take a snatch and away, but to make a meal of truth, and to work it into our hearts. Alas ! a slight thought, that is like a flash of lightning, gone as soon as come, <loth nothing. Constant thoughts are oi^erative ; and a truth, the longer it is held in the view of conscience, the more powerful it is : Deut. xxxii. 46, ' Set your hearts to all the words which I testify among you this day.' A sudden thought may be none of ours ; it may be unwelcome, and find no entertainment with us, but set your hearts to it: Luke ix. 44, 'Let these things sink down into your hearts;' let them go to the quick: Prov. xviii. 1, 'Through desire a man having separated himself, intermeddleth in all wisdom.' Then is a man fit for these pure and holy thoughts, for intermeddling in all wise and divine matters, when he hath divorced himself from other cares, and is able to keep his understanding under a prudent confine- ment.