JOSH. i. 8.

This Book of the Law fhall not depart out of thy Mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein both Day and Night,

T is God's Will and Command that we should meditate on his Word.

Gen. xxiv. 63. Pfal. i. 2. Pbil. iii. 20.

I. What is Meditation?

A folemn and affectionate confideration of what GOD hath recorded in the Holy Scriptures.

Contemplationis acceffus duo funt, unus in intellectu, alter in affectu; unus in lumine, alter infervore; unus in acquifitione, alter in devotione. Bernard. Meditatio eft mentis dilatatio. Aug.

1. It is a confideration, &c.

2. Solemn.

3. Affectionate, Col. iii. 1, 2.

II. What are those things in Scripture we ought to meditate upon.

1. The Properties of GOD.

1. His goodness, Pfal. cxlv. 7, 8, 9. Mat. v.

45.

2. Power, Pfal. cxxxv. 6. Pfal. xxxiii. 9. 3. Juftice, Pfal. xi. 7.

4. Mercy, Ifa. xxx. 18.

5. Omniprefence and Omniscience, Pfal.

cxxxix.

6. Infiniteness, Pfal. cxlvii.

7. Eternity, 1.Tim. i. 17. Rev. i. 8. 11.

2. The works of GOD, Pfal. cxliii. 5. Pfal.

viii. 3.

1. Creation, Gen. i. 1.

1. Out of nothing.

2. By his Word, Pfal i. 48. 5.
2. Providence, Mat. x. 29, 30.
3. Redemption.

3. The Son of GOD.

1. GOD fo loved the World, &c. Joh. iii.

16.

2. There is no Name given, &c. Act. iv, 12. 3. He is able to fave to the utmost all those that come unto God by him, Heb. vii. 25. 4. He was wounded for our Tranfgreffions, Ifa. liii. 5.

5. He is at the Right Hand of GOD, Col. iii. I.

4. The Law of GOD, Pfal. i. 2.

1. Our Duty to GOD, Mat. xxii. 36, 37. 2. To Man. Mat. xxii. 39.

The Threatnings.

1. Ecclef. xi. 9.

2. Luke xiii. 3.

3. Prov. i. 24, 25, 26.

4. Deut. xxviii. 15.
5. Mal. ii. 2.

6. Promises.

1. Mat. xxi. 22.

2. Fofb. i. f. Heb. xiii. 5. Ifa. xliii. 27

3. Pfal. xci. 3, 4, 5, 11.

4. Pfal. lxxxiv. 11.
5. Jer. xxxi. 33, 34.
6. A. xvi. 31.

ASSERTIONS.
1. Eccl. i. 2.

X 3

2. Revel.

2. Revel. iii. 19. Heb. xii. 5.
3. Rom. viii. 28.

4. Gal. iii. 22.

5. 2 Cor. v. 21.
6. Heb. ix. 27.

7. I Cor. xv. 51, 52.

8. 2 Cor. v. 10.

9. 2 Thefal. i. 9.

10. I Cor. ii. 9.

LAWS,

1. Tit. ii. 11, 12, 13.
2. Mat. xxii. 36, 37, 38.
3. Mat. xvi. 24.

4. I Cor. vi. 2o.

USE I. Reproof.

1. To fuch as never meditate, Pfal. x. 4. 1. By reafon of laziness.

2. Or earthly-mindedness, 1 Eph. ii. 15. 3. Self-conceitedness.

4. Or grofs Ignorance.

5. Or fome unmortified Sin, Ifa. lix. 2. 2. That meditate but feldom.

3. That do not meditate aright.

1. Upon GOD.

1. With Fear and Reverence,Gen.xxviii.

16, 17.

2. With Grief and Self-abhorrence, Fob xlii. 5, 6.

3. With Defire, Pfal. Ixxiii. 25. Pfal. xlii. 1.

4. Joy.

5. Love, Deut. vi. 5.

4. His Works.

3.

1. With Admiration, Pfal. viii. 5:
2. Praite, Pfal. cvii, 8, 15, 21, 31
His Son.

1. With

1. With Faith.

2. Love, Mat. x. 37.

4. The Laws.

1. Confeffing their Juftice, Rom. vii. 12. 2. Defire to obey them, Pfal. cxix. 5, 6. 5. Threatnings,

With fear.

6. Promises,

With Faith.

7. Affertions, believingly.

II. EXHORTATION. Practife this Duty.
Confider,

I. GOD commands it.

2. He knows whether we do it, Pfal. cxxxix.

2, 3.

3. Without it we can exercise no Grace.

1. Not Repentance.

2. Nor Faith in Chrift.

3. Nor Truft in GOD, Pfal. ix. 10.
4. Nor Humility.

5. Nor Patience.

6. Nor Thankfulness, Fob i. 20, 21. 7. Nor Heavenly-mindedness, Col. iii. 1, 2. 4. Without it we can perform no duty. 1. Not pray.

2. Nor hear.

3. Nor receive Sacraments,

4. Nor examine our felves.

5. Nor give Alms to the Poor.

5. Meditation will much deaden our Hearts to the World.

6. Support us under all Afflictions.

7. Be a means to conquer our Corruptions. 8. It will fortifie us against Temptations. 9. Evidence our Interest in Christ, and Title to Heaven.

X 4

10.

10. It will give us the foretafts of Heaven upon Earth.

DIRECTIONS.

1. Read the Scriptures.

2. Frequent the Ordinances for the underftanding of them.

3. Ufe frequent Ejaculations.

4. Retire from the World.

5. Keep your Hearts close to one Subject.

JOSH. XXIV. 15.

But as for me and my Houfe we will

ואכי וביתי נעבר את יהוה.,Jerve the Lord

E ought to chufe the Lord Jeboval to be the GOD we serve.

1. All acknowledge fome GOD.

2. All ferve the GOD they acknowledge.

1. By fearing.

2. Loving.

3. Praying to him.

4. Sacrificing to him.

3. Man by Nature knows neither,

1. The GOD he ought to serve, A&.xvii. 23. 2. Nor the service we ought to give him. 4. Hence moft err in Religion.

5. All err that do not ferve the Lord Febovab. Because,

1. He made us.

2. Maintains us.

3. Purchased us, 1 Cor. vi. 20.

USE