2. Of the truths lohich ice ^mderstand and believe. In meditation we suppose the object understood ; for it is the work of study to search it out, of meditation to enforce and apply it ; and we suppose it be- lieved and granted to be a truth. The work now is to improve our assent, that it may have an answerable force and efficacy upon the soul.
3. It follows in the description, Jhr ^jractical uses and purposes. Meditation is not to store the head with notions, but to better the heart. We meditate of God that we may love him and fear him ; of sin, that we may abhor it ; of hell, that we may avoid it ; of heaven, that we may pursue it. Still the end is practical, to quicken us to greater diligence and care in the heavenly life.
Use 1. To reprove those that are seldom in this work. Worldly cares and sloth and ease divert us ; if we had a heart, we would have time and leisure. The clean beasts did chew the cud. We should go over, and over, and over again the truths of God in our thoughts. But alas ! —
1. Either men muse on trifles ; all the day their minds are full of chaff and vanity. Oh ! hast thou thoughts for other things, and hast thou no thoughts for God's precepts ? Hast thou not a God and a Christ to think of? And is not salvation by him, and everlasting glory, worthy of your choicest thoughts ? You have thoughts enough and to spare for other things — for base things, for very toys — and why not for God and the word of God ? Why not for Christ and that
VeR. 15.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 145
everlasting redemption he hatli accomplished for us ? If a man would throw his meat and drink down tlie kennel, rather than give to him that asketh him, the workl would cry shame upon him. Will }'ou cast away your thoughts upon idle vanities rather than God shall have them ? Oh, shame ! Your thoughts must be working. What ! shall they run waste, and yet God have no turn ?
2. Or else men muse on that which is evil. There are many sins engross the thoughts.
[1.] Uncleanuess sets up a stage in the heart, whereon a polluted fancy personates and acts over the pleasures of that sin. Our thoughts are often panders to our lust : 2 Peter ii. 14, ' Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin.' The unclean rolling of fancy on the beauty of women is forbid : Mat. v. 28, ' He that looketh on a woman to lust after her hath already committed adultery with her in his heart.'
[2.] Eevenge ; the thoughts of it, how sweet are they to a carnal heart! Men dwell upon their discontents and injuries till, like liquors that sour in the vessel when long kept, they sharpen revenge. We are apt to concoct anger into malice : ' Frowardness is in his heart ; he deviseth mischief continually ; he soweth discord,' Prov. vi. 14.
[3.] Envy stirreth up repining thoughts; it is a sin that feedeth on the mind : 1 Sam. xviii. 9, ' And Saul envied David from that day forward.' David's ten thousands ever ran in Saul's mind. Envy muses on the good of others to hate them.
[4.] Pride, in lofty conceits and whispers of vanity: Luke i. 51, * He Jiath scattered the proud in the imaginations of their hearts.* Proud men are full of musings. ' Is not this great Babylon that I have built, for the house of the kingdom, by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty ? ' Dan. iv. 30. "i^'roud men please themselves with the suppositions of applause, and the echoes of praise in their minds.
[5.] Covetousness consists chiefly in a vain musing : Ezek. xxxiii. SI, 'Their heart goetli after their covetousness;' 2 Peter ii. 14, ' Hearts exercised with covetous practices.'
Use 2 is of exhortation, to press us to meditate on God's precepts. Many think it is an exercise that doth not suit with their temper ; it is a good exercise, but for those that can use it. It is true there is a great deal of difference among Christians. Some are more serious and consistent, and have a greater command over their thoughts ; others are of a more slight and weak spirit, and less apt .for duties of retirement and recollection ; but our unfitness is usually moral rather than natural, not so much by temper as by ill use. Now, sinful indispositions do not disannul our engagements to God, as a servant's drunkenness doth not excuse him from work. Inky water cannot wash the hands clean. That it is a culpable unfitness appeareth partly because disuse and neglect is the cause of it ; those that use it have a greater command over the thoughts. Men count it a great yoke; custom would make it easy. Every duty is a help to itself; and the more we meditate the more we may. They that use it much find more of sweetness than difficulty in it. If a man did use to