Thinking of a Spiritual Subject

Meditation should excite a spiritual delight in God, as it did in the Psalmist; and a divine delight would keep up good thoughts, and keep out impertinences. A bare speculation will tire the soul, and without application, and pressing upon the will and affections, will rather chill, than warm devotion. 'Tis only by this means that we shall have the efficacy of truth in our wills, and the sweetness in our affections, as well as the notion of it in our understandings. The more operative any truth is in this manner upon us, the less power will other thoughts have to interrupt, and the more disdainfully will the heart look upon them, if they dare be impudent. Never therefore leave thinking of a spiritual subject, till your heart be affected with it. If you think of the evil of sin, leave not till your heart loath it, if of God, cease not till it mount up in admirations of him. If you think of his mercy, melt for abusing it; if of his sovereignty, awe your heart into obedient resolutions; if of his presence, double your watch over your self. If you meditate on Christ, make no end till your hearts love him; if of his death, plead the value of it for the justification of your persons, and apply the virtue of it for the sanctification of your natures. Without this practical stamp upon our affections, we shall have light spirits, while we have opportunity to converse with the most serious objects. We often hear foolish thoughts breathing out themselves in a house of mourning, in the midst of Coffins, and trophies of death, as if men were confident they should never die; whereas none are so ridiculous as to assert they shall live for ever. By this instance in a truth so certainly assented to, we may judge of the necessity of this direction in truth more doubtfully believed.

—Stephen Charnock