Instructions for Meditation

Or mental prayer, proper to be made every day in the morning.

In the mornings I will meditate upon thee, IER Toya The wise man shall give his heart to watch in the morning early to the Lord that made him, and in the sight of the most high shall present his prayer. Ecclus. 39.

EDITATION, consisting of Considerations on the great truths of Christianity, pious Affections and manifold elevations of the soul to God, and serious Resolutions of devoting one’s self to him, is allowed to be one of the most important exercises of a Christian life, and such as ought to be performed daily, by as many as would serve God in good earnest. The time most proper for itisin the morning. The most proper place, one’s closet, or what other place one can be most recollected in. The chief subjects to be meditated on, especially for beginners, are, the end for which we came into this world:: the benefits of God, and the many motives that we have to love and serve him: the vanity of the honours, riches, and pleasures of this life; and how very suddenly all these things vanish away: the enormity of sin, and the multitude of our own sins in particular: the certainty, and uncertainty of death; and the necessity of preparing for it: the account that we must one day give of our whole lives to an all-seeing judge: the eternal joys of heaven, and the eternal torments of hell: the presence and majesty of God: the life and death of Jesus Christ: the examples of his saints: the state of our own interior, in order to the knowledge of ourselves; our passions and vices, &c.

The method of meditation prescribed by that great master in spirituality, St. Francis de Sales, in his Introduction, part the 2d, is as follows: Ist, place yourself in the presence of God, by a lively faith that he sees and beholds you; and is most intimately present in the very centre of your soul: prostrate yourself in spirit before him, to adore this soveraign Lord, whose majesty fills heaven and earth make an offering of your whole being to him; and humbly beg his pardon for all your past treasons and sins.

Secondly, implore with fervor and humility his light and grace, that you may perform this important exercise as you ought, Thirdly, consider attentively upon the subject which you have chosen for your meditation (which you ought to have prepared over night) and let the truths of heaven sink deep into your soul. Dwell most upon such points as you find yourself most affected with. Fourthly, from these considerations draw pious Affections of the love of God, of gratitude for his benefits, repentance for your sins, and the like, which are the principal part of mental prayer, and what you ought most to insist upon.

Fifthly, from these affections pass on to good resolutions of a serious amendment of your life, particularly with regard to such failings as you are most subject to: and determine with yourself to begin that very day to put these good purposes in execution on such occasions as shall offer.

Sixthly, conclude by thanksgiving to God for the affections and resolutions he has given you; offer them to him, and beg his blessing on them.

Seventhly, lay up in your mind such points of your meditation as have touched you most, and oftentimes in the day reflect upon them, Which the saint compares to the gathering, 40 40 Ten Meditations as it were, a nosegay, in this garden of devotion, to smell at all the day.

Eighthly, such as find difficulty in meditation, may help themselves by using some good book, reading leisurely, and pausing upon what they read, and drawing proper affections and resolutions from it.