by Thomas Watson
in ePub, .mobi & .pdf formats
"His delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night." Psalm 1:2
Having led you through the Chamber of Delight in my previous discourse, I will now bring you into the Withdrawing Room of Meditation. "In his law does he meditate day and night."
I. The opening of the Words, and the Proposition asserted.
Grace breeds delight in God, and delight breeds meditation. Meditation is a duty wherein consists the essentials of religion, and which nourishes the very life-blood of it. That the Psalmist may show how much the godly man is habituated to this blessed work of meditation, he subjoins, "In his law does he meditate day and night;" not but that there may be sometimes intermission: God allows time for our calling, he grants some relaxation; but when it is said, the godly man meditates day and night, the meaning is, frequently—he is much conversant in the duty.
It is a command of God to pray without ceasing, 1 Thess. 5:17. The meaning is—not that we should be always praying—but that we should every day set some time apart for prayer. We read in the Old law it was called the continual sacrifice, Numb. 28:24, not that the people of Israel did nothing else but sacrifice—but because they had their stated hours, every morning and evening they offered, therefore it was called the continual sacrifice. Thus the godly man is said to meditate day and night, that is, he is often at this work, he is no stranger to meditation.
Doctrine. The proposition that results out of the text is this—that a godly Christian is a meditating Christian, Psalm 119:15. "I will meditate in your precepts." 1 Tim. 4:15, "Meditate upon these things." Meditation is the chewing upon the truths we have heard. The beasts in the old law which did not chew the cud, were unclean; the professor who does not by meditation chew the cud, is to be accounted unclean. Meditation is like the watering of the seed, it makes the fruits of grace to flourish.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Proposition Asserted
The Nature of Meditation
Meditation is a Duty
How Meditation Differs from Memory
How Meditation Differs from Study
The Subjects of Meditation
The Necessity of Meditation
Reason Why So Few Godly Christians
Use of Reproof
Use of Exhortation
Objections Answered
Concerning Occassional Meditations
The Most Fitting Time for Meditatation
How Long Christians Should Meditate
The Usefulness of Meditation
The Excellence of Meditation
Divine Motives to Meditation
Rules Concerning Meditation