_Thirdly_, Holy and frequent meditation is another blessed means of keeping up a believer’s walk with GOD. “Prayer, reading, temptation, and meditation,” says _Luther_, “make a minister.” And they also make, and perfect a christian. Meditation to the soul, is the same as digestion to the body. Holy _David_ found it so, and therefore he was frequently employed in meditation, even in the night season. We read also of _Isaac_’s going out into the fields to meditate in the evening; or, as it is in the margin, to pray. For meditation is a kind of silent prayer, whereby the soul is frequently, as it were, carried out of itself to GOD, and in a degree made like unto those blessed Spirits, who by a kind of immediate intuition always behold the face of our heavenly Father. None but those happy souls that have been accustomed to this divine employ, can tell what a blessed promoter of the divine life, meditation is. “Whilst I was musing, says _David_, the fire kindled.” And whilst the believer is musing on the works and word of GOD; especially that work of works, that wonder of wonders, that mystery of godliness, “GOD manifest in the flesh,” the Lamb of GOD slain for the sins of the world: he frequently feels the fire of divine love kindle, so that he is obliged to speak with his tongue, and tell of the loving-kindness of the LORD to his soul. Be frequent therefore in meditation, all ye that desire to keep up and maintain a close and uniform walk with the most-high GOD.
_Fourthly_, Believers keep up their walk with GOD, by watching and noting his providential dealings with them. If we believe the scriptures, we must believe what our LORD hath declared therein, “That the very hairs of his disciples heads are all numbered; and that a sparrow does not fall to the ground, (either to pick up a grain of corn, or when shot by a fowler) without the knowledge of our heavenly Father.” Every cross has a call in it, and every particular dispensation of divine providence, has some particular end to answer in those to whom it is sent. If it be of an afflictive nature, GOD does thereby say, “My son, keep thyself from idols:” if prosperous, he does it as it were by a small, still voice, say, “My son, give me thy heart.” If believers, therefore, would keep up their walk with GOD, they must from time to time hear what the LORD has to say concerning them in the voice of his providence. Thus we find _Abraham_’s servant, when he went to fetch a wife for his master _Isaac_, eyed and watched the providence of GOD, and by that means found out the person that was designed for his master’s wife. “For a little hint from Providence,” says pious Bishop _Hall_, “is enough for faith to feed upon.” And as I believe it will be one part of our happiness in heaven, to take a view of, and look back upon, the various links of the golden chain which drew us there; so those that enjoy most of heaven below, I believe, will be most minute in remarking GOD’s various dealings with them, in respect to his providential dispensations here on earth.
_Fifthly_, In order to walk closely with GOD, his children must not only watch the motions of GOD’s providence without them, but the motions also of his blessed Spirit in their hearts. “As many as are the sons of GOD, are led by the Spirit of GOD,” and give up themselves to be guided by the Holy Ghost, as a little child gives its hand to be led by a nurse or parent. It is no doubt in this sense, that we are to be converted, and become like little children. And though it is the quintessence of enthusiasm, to pretend to be guided by the Spirit without the written word; yet it is every christian’s bounden duty to be guided by the Spirit in conjunction with the written word of GOD. Watch, therefore, I pray you, O believers, the motions of GOD’s blessed Spirit in your souls, and always try the suggestions or impressions that you may at any time feel, by the unerring rule of GOD’s most holy word: and if they are not found to be agreeable to that, reject them as diabolical and delusive. By observing this caution, you will steer a middle course between the two dangerous extremes many of this generation are in danger of running into; I mean, _enthusiasm_, on the one hand, and _deism_, and _downright infidelity_, on the other.