The “what” of meditation?
Meditation is chewing the cud. –Thomas Watson
Meditation is like the charging of a piece, and
prayer like discharging of it. –George
Swinnock
Meditation is the best beginning of prayer, and
prayer is the best conclusion of meditation.
–George Swinnock
The “why”?
Meditation will keep your hearts and souls from
sinful thoughts. When the vessel is full you can put in no more....If the heart
be full of sinful thoughts, there is no room for holy and heavenly thoughts: if
the heart be full of holy and heavenly thoughts by meditation, there is no room
for evil and sinful thoughts. –William
Bridge
Meditation applieth, meditation healeth,
meditation instructeth. –Ezekiel
Culverwell
If I have observed anything by experience, it is
this: a man may take the measure of his growth and decay in grace according to
his thoughts and meditations upon the person of Christ, and the glory of
Christ’s kingdom, and of His love. –John
Owen
What is the reason there is so much preaching
and so little practice? For want of meditation....Constant thoughts are
operative, and musing makes the fire burn. Green wood is not kindled by a flash
or a spark, but by constant blowing.
–Thomas Manton
The exercising thyself to godliness in solitude,
will be a probable proof of thy uprightness. Men are withheld in company from
doing evil by the iron club of fear or shame, and provoked to do good by the
golden spurs of praise or profit; but in solitariness there are no such curbs
in the way of lust to hinder our passage, nor such baits in the way of holiness
to encourage our progress. The naked lineaments and natural thoughts of the
soul are discerned in secret.
–George
Swinnock
We do not meditate that we may rest in
contemplation, but in order to obedience.
–Thomas Manton”
From, A Puritan Golden Treasury, compiled
by I. D. E. Thomas; (Published by The Banner of Truth Trust; Carlisle, PA)
1975.
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