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(Page 214) I. Meditation, also called Mental Prayer, is a system of spiritual discipline for the soul. It includes the conveyance of divine truths to the intelligence, the development of these in their practical aspects as guides for action, the prayer of worship and petition, and the stimulation of the affections towards God, and the executive faculties towards the practice of virtue. This exercise, if it is to be effectual, must be carried out regularly and systematically, and a fixed daily interval must be given up to it. The effect of meditation is to make the great supernatural truths perfectly familiar to the mind in all their bearings, to keep the soul constantly raised towards God, and prevent it from becoming absorbed in earthly things and lowered to their level. All the faculties in due order are exercised in supernatural action; human weaknesses and the consequent perils are discovered; short comings are detected by self-examination before they have grown inveterate, and new ways of serving God are discovered. In meditation the soul is not merely receptive, as in reading or hearing, but it has to act for itself, endeavouring to fathom the deep mysteries of divine truths, and discover new applications of them as its condition may require; as to affections and petitions, the mind ranges through a much larger scale than when it prays in words composed by others. Meditation does not supplant those other exercises of devotion; it employs them all, and supplements them by deep consideration. Such an excellent exercise ought to be carefully studied and regularly carried out.
II. Consideration of this kind is very important for the nourishment of the Christian life in all men. In default of the regular practice of it, its place ought to be supplied in some other more simple way. The words of God require to be masticated, and digested, and transfused through every part of the spiritual frame. The assimilation of (Page 215) truth proceeds thus. First, truths are expressed in words and formulas which are conveyed to the sense-memory; these can be reproduced again, and pronounced with a certain appropriateness, yet without always being comprehended. There are many who never get beyond this stage. A second step, by no means involved in the first, is to convey the meaning of these formulas to the intelligence; yet this is by no means sufficient; the evil spirits have such knowledge and they do not profit by it, and it is possible for men to resist the known truth. Divine truths need further to be appreciated, desired and loved; the emotions and enthusiasm should be exercised upon them. Finally, it is necessary that the will should determine to carry them into practical effect. Meditation is the regular means to this end; without it or its equivalent, instruction is no more than a sense-impression, knowledge is vain and puffeth up, and good desires remain unfruitful.
III. "With desolation is all the land made desolate, because there is none that considereth in the heart" (Jer. xii. 11). Some have no knowledge because they will not seek it, others acquire just so much knowledge as enables them to invent excuses for disbelief, and as makes them without excuse before God. Others have knowledge without faith; others again have the faith, and even value it highly, but they wrap their talent in a napkin and bury it; they do not make it effectual in their lives. Ignorance is one great source of evil in the world; a still greater one is the want of reflection. There are abundant means of ascertaining truth, especially in an era of cultivation like the present. God speaks to every soul in ways that are suited to it, and He illumines every man that cometh into this world. But the distractions of this life prevent sober reflection, and the truths of faith first become obscured and then are lost; and then follows dissolution of manners, and lastly punishment. Meditation is the preservative against these evils.
All for Jesus, all for Mary.
Such shall be our password gentle reader.
Til next time.
