Thomas Watson on meditation

I was re-reading some notes I made on Heaven Taken By Storm by puritan Thomas Watson. Like many puritan writers, Watson presents his ideas as an argument that is logical and meticulous. In the section I share today, Watson is discussing meditation. I have broken down his argument into point-form. I found it quite interesting. The topic is meditation.

1. Meditation – “Hearing begets knowledge, but meditation begets devotion.” “Many say they cannot meditate, because they lack memory; but is it not rather because they lack affection?”
   
   
   1. Meditation is:
      1. Retiring from the world
      2. Serious thinking upon God
         
         
   2. Reasons we should provoke ourselves to meditate:
      1. Meditation is contrary to flesh and blood
      2. Satan tries to hinder us
         
         
   3. What should we meditate on?
      1. The corruption of your nature
      2. The death and passion of Christ
         1. this produces repentance
         2. this fires our hearts with love to God
      3. evidences for our participation in heaven
         1. Were you convinced of sin?
         2. Have you taken Christ on his terms?
         3. Do you have the indwelling presence of the Spirit of God?
      4. Uncertainty of earthly comforts
         1. This keeps us from being deceived by the world
         2. This moderates our affections for them
         3. This causes us to pursue certainty: grace
      5. God’s severity against sin
      6. Eternal life
         1. It is a spiritual life
         2. It is a glorious life
         3. It will cause us to long for spiritual life
         4. It will comfort us in the shortness of natural life
            
            
   4. What can meditation do?
      1. It makes the Word preached of profit
      2. It quickens the affections
      3. It causes transformation
      4. It produces reformation

These thoughts on meditation are ... well ... worth meditating on!

Heaven Taken by Storm by Thomas Watson - Part 13

Part 13 - Hindrances, Directions, and Conclusions to Offering Violence

How to get this blessed violence.

I. Take heed of those things which will hinder this violence for Heaven

a. Take heed of unbelief

b. Take heed of puzzling your thoughts about election

c. Take heed of too much violence after the world

d. Take heed of indulging any lust

e. Take heed of despondency of spirit

f. Take heed of consulting with flesh and blood

g. Take heed of listening to the voice of such carnal friends as would call you away from this blessed violence

h. Take heed of setting up your abode in the lowest pitch of grace

II. Use those means which will promote this holy violence

a. Keep up daily prayer

b. Get under lively preaching

c. Get your hearts filled with love to religion

d. Be vigilant

e. Bind your heart to God by sacred vows

f. Be sure you make going to Heaven your business

g. Have Heaven continually in your eye

h. Accompany with such as are violent

i. Never leave till you have the Spirit

III. But some may say, we have used this violence for Heaven; what remains for us to do?

a. Keep alive this holy violence

b. Thou art in the way to the kingdom

IV. What of deadness of heart in duty

a. This deadness of heart may arise from natural causes

b. This indisposition of soul perhaps is only casual, and for a time; it may be in a deep fit of melancholy, or in desertion

Heaven Taken by Storm by Thomas Watson - Part 10, 11 and 12

Part 10 - Examination and Objections

I. What violence do we use for Heaven?

a. Do we strive with our hearts to get them into an holy frame?

b. Do we set time apart to call ourselves to account, and to try our evidences for Heaven?

c. Do we use violence in prayer?

d. Do we thirst for the living God?

e. Are we skilled in self-denial?

f. Are we lovers of God?

g. Do we keep our spiritual watch?

h. Do we press after further degrees of sanctity?

i. Is there an holy emulation in us?

j. Are we got above the world?

k. Do we set ourselves always under God's eye?

II. Some objections that may be made against this blessed violence.

a. We have no power of ourselves to save ourselves? In conversion we are passive, but after we should do what we are able

i. We have power to avoid gross sins

ii. We have power to cast ourselves upon the use of means, praying, reading, holy conference

iii. We can pursue our salvation

b. But this offering violence is hard, and I shall never be able to go through it. Admit it to be hard, yet it is a duty, and there is no disputing duty. What if salvation-work be hard?

i. Is it not harder to lay in Hell?

ii. We do not argue so in other things

iii. Though the business of religion at first seems hard, yet when once we are entered into it, it is pleasant

c. But if I put myself upon this violent exercise in religion, then I shall lose that pleasure I have in my sin, my mirth and melody. How does Scripture describe sin?

i. Scripture calls it a debt

ii. Scripture calls sin a disease

iii. The Scripture compares sin to 'gall and wormwood

iv. These sugared pleasures in sin the Scripture saith are but 'for a season

v. The present sweetness which is in sin will turn to bitterness at last

III. I would use this violence for Heaven, but I shall expose myself to the censure and scorn of others.

a. Consider who will reproach thee: they are the wicked

b. They reproach you for offering violence

c. Jesus Christ was reproached for thy sake

IV. If I use this holy violence, and turn religious, then I shall lose such yearly profits which my sin

a. By the incomes that sin brings in, you treasure

b. That cannot be for your profit, which makes you come off a loser at last

Part 11 - Resumed Exhortations

I. Consider the deplorable condition we are in by nature

II. It is possible that in the use of means we may arrive at happiness

III. This violence for Heaven is the grand business of our lives

IV. How violent are the wicked in ways of sin

V. This holy violence hath much delight mingled with it

VI. This violence and activity of spirit in religion, puts a luster upon a Christian

VII. How violent Christ was about our salvation

VIII. This holy violence brings rest

IX. If we use what violence we are able, God will help us

X. This blessed violence in religion, would be preventive of much sin

XI. Consider the folly of such as are violent for the world, but not for the kingdom above

a. These earthly things that we so toil for, are uncertain

b. They are unsatisfactory

c. They are transient; death feeds at the root

XII. The next motive is in the text; this violence is for a kingdom

a. The immunities of the heavenly kingdom are great

i. There shall be freedom from sin

ii. In that blessed kingdom there shall be freedom from the assaults of the red dragon

iii. In that blessed kingdom there shall be freedom from divi­sions

iv. In that heavenly kingdom there shall be freedom from all molestations

b. The royalties and excellencies of that kingdom are great

i. The heavenly kingdom abounds with riches

ii. The delights of the heavenly kingdom are unmixed

iii. This kingdom above is durable

XIII. The more violence we have used for Heaven, the sweeter Heaven will be when we come there

Part 12 – Exhortations Continued

I. The more violence we put forth in religion, the greater measure of glory we shall have

a. There are degrees of torment in Hell; therefore, by the rule of contraries, there are degrees of glory in Heaven

b. The Scripture speaks of a prophet's reward which is a degree above others

c. The saints are said to shine as the stars; one star differeth from another in glory

II. Upon our violence for the kingdom God hath promised mercy

a. 1. Ask. Ask with importunity

b. Seek, and ye shall find, but not wrongly as in:

i. They did seek ignorantly

ii. They did seek proudly

iii. They did seek lazily

iv. They did seek hypocritically

c. 'Knock, and it shall be opened

III. This holy violence will not hinder men in their secular employments, but there are two things that make a trade unlawful:

a. When persons deal in such commodities as they know cannot be used without sin

b. When their trade doth so involve them in worldly business, that they cannot mind eternity

IV. There is but a short space of time granted us, therefore, work the harder for Heaven before it be too late

V. A man's personal day of grace may be short

VI. If you neglect the offering of violence, now, there will be no help for you after death

VII. How without all defense will you be left, if you neglect this violence for Heaven

VIII. What a vexation it will be at the last to lose the kingdom of glory for lack of a little violence

IX. The examples of the saints of old, who have taken heaven by force

X. If the saints with all their violence have much ado to get to heaven, how shall they come there who use no violence?

XI. This sweating for Heaven is not to endure long

XII. If you are not violent for Heaven, you walk antipodes to your own prayers

XIII. This holy and blessed violence would make Christians willing to die

XIV. If for all that hath been said you will either sit still, or keep your sweat for something else than Heaven, know, that there is a time coming shortly when you will wish you had used this violence

Heaven Taken by Storm by Thomas Watson - Part 8 and 9

Part 8 – Offering Violence to Heaven

I. Offering violence to heaven – “Therefore in Scripture our earnestness for heaven is shown by those allegories and metaphors which imply violence.” “The promises [of Scripture] are made to encourage faith, not cherish sloth.”

a. How do we offer violence to heaven?

i. Striving – to enter the straight gate

ii. Wrestling - the body of sin and the powers of hell

iii. Running – the race set before us

iv. Fighting – the good fight of faith

b. Why must there be violence to heaven?

i. God’s command to be diligent

ii. God’s decree joining the means to the end

iii. It is difficult work

iv. Violent assaults against us

1. our own hearts oppose us

2. the powers of hell oppose us

v. it is a matter of utmost importance

c. We should consider:

i. What we shall save – our precious soul

ii. What we shall gain – a kingdom

d. We offer violence in:

i. The business of prayer

ii. The hearing of the Word

iii. The recognizing of the dangers of moderation

Part 9 – Arrows of Reproof and Apostasy

I. Arrows of Reproof

1. To the slothful Christian

2. To the formalist (vestures, gestures, forms)

i. They keep up appearances

ii. They bury their consciences with forms

3. To those who are violent wrongly

i. By opposing good

1. offering violence to God’s Spirit

2. offering violence to their consciences

3. offering violence to God’s image

ii. By pursuing evil

1. violent in their opinions

2. violent in their passions

3. violent for their lusts

a. their drunken lusts

b. their unclean lusts

c. their oppressive lusts

d. their covetous lusts

4. To those who have grown lukewarm

i. They are lethargical

ii. They are consumptive

1. Signs of spiritual consumption

a. Their desires of Christ and heaven have weakened

b. They lose vigour in motion

2. Consider:

a. Less violence equals less peace

b. You give great advantage to Satan

c. You will be damaged

d. Your corruptions will be enlivened

II. Apostasy

• Why do men throw down violence?
• They never had a principle of spiritual life
• They never did duties with delight
• Through unbelief
• They love something else more than religion
• Out of cowardice
• Through lack of patience
• Out of just judgment of God

1. To those who put off violence till old age

2. to those who deride offering violence to heaven

3. to those who keep heaven off by force

i. the ignorant

ii. the profane

Heaven Taken by Storm by Thomas Watson - Part 6 and 7

Part 6 – Sanctifying the Sabbath and Holy Conversation

I. Sanctifying of the Lord’s Day

a. Rest from works of our calling

b. Lift our hearts in thankfulness to God

c. Dress our souls for receiving God’s Word

d. Set ourselves with seriousness and delight to hear God’s Word

e. Labour to be bettered every Sabbath

f. Dedicate the whole day to God

g. Rejoice in this day

II. Holy Conversation – “A gracious person hath not only religion only in his heart, but also in his tongue.”

a. To provoke ourselves in this we emphasize:

i. Discourse demonstrates what the heart is

ii. Holy conference is edifying

iii. Gracious discourse makes us resemble Christ

iv. God takes special notice of every good word

v. Holy discourse brings Christ into our company

Part 7 – Offering Violence to Satan and the World

I. Offering violence to Satan

a. How does Satan oppose us?

i. His violence – as the Red Dragon, with his darts

ii. His treachery – as the Old Serpent, with his snares

1. He tempts us with suitable baits

2. He tempts us with pretence of good

3. He tempts us gradually

4. He tempts us to evil in lawful things

5. He tempts us to do good with evil ends

6. He tempts us by using good men

iii. We offer violence to the devil by:

1. faith

2. grace

iv. Faith resists the devil by:

1. keeping the castle of the heart

2. beating back temptation

3. prayer

More from Ray Ortlund Jr

From Christ Is Deeper Still:

Selfish?

"It is often ignorantly and frivolously charged against Christian men that it is selfish in them to seek heaven and glory for their own souls; but no man who is truly seeking salvation will be moved by that accusation. When men really begin to seek their salvation, and to turn their faces to the glory of heaven, then it is that all selfish and ignoble desires receive their death-blow. It is not selfish, surely, for the diseased to seek healing, or the hungry food, or the prodigal his father's house. So far from this being a sign that the heart is selfish, there is no surer sign that it is being sanctified."

Alexander Whyte, An Exposition on the Shorter Catechism, page 138.

Heaven Taken by Storm by Thomas Watson - Part 4 and 5

Part 4 – Prayer and Meditation

III. Prayer – “Prayer without fervency and violence is no prayer; it is speaking not praying.”

a. There must be a stirring of the heart:
i. To prayer
ii. In prayer - 1. wrestling, 2. pouring out the soul, 3. effectual, fervent prayer

b. Prayers that are far from offering violence:
i. Dead, heartless prayers
ii. Distracted prayers

For violent prayer, these things must be considered:
a. One that considers the majesty of God
b. Prayer without violence is no prayer
c. Zeal in prayer conforms to God’s nature
d. The need we have and what we ask for
e. God has a mind to grant our prayers
f. Mercy only comes with prayer
g. Mercy is only offered with violent prayer
h. The large returns
c. Pray with a sense of our want
d. Beg for the violent wind of God’s Spirit

IV. Meditation – “Hearing begets knowledge, but meditation begets devotion.” “Many say they cannot meditate, because they lack memory; but is it not rather because they lack affection?”

a. Meditation is:
i. Retiring from the world
ii. Serious thinking upon God

b. Reasons we should provoke ourselves to meditate:
i. Meditation is contrary to flesh and blood
ii. Satan tries to hinder us

c. What should we meditate on?
i. The corruption of your nature
ii. The death and passion of Christ: 1. this produces repentance, 2. this fires our hearts with love
iii. Evidences for our participation in heaven: 1. Were you convinced of sin? 2. Have you taken Christ on his terms? 3. Do you have the indwelling presence of the Spirit of God?
iv. Uncertainty of earthly comforts: 1. This keeps us from being deceived by the world, 2. This moderates our affections for them, 3. This causes us to pursue certainty: grace
v. God’s severity against sin
vi. Eternal life: 1. It is a spiritual life, 2. It is a glorious life, 3. It will cause us to long for spiritual life, 4. It will comfort us in the shortness of natural life

d. What can meditation do?
i. It makes the Word preached of profit
ii. It quickens the affections
iii. It causes transformation
iv. It produces reformation


Part 5 – Self-Examination

V. Self-examination

a. Why is this difficult?
i. It is an inner work – it is reflective
ii. Self-love makes it so

b. Why do we shrink from it?
i. Consciousness of guilt
ii. Foolish presumptuous hope of salvation – “Some are not sure of their salvation, but secure.”
iii. Resting in the good opinions of others
iv. Disbelief in Scripture

c. To self-examine with violence we must put weight to certain things:
i. The state of our soul
ii. If we reflect God’s image
iii. Our hearts hidden pollution
iv. If we truly have grace