T h e L o st A r t Of

M e d i t at i o n

By
J W
. M A H OO
. D , D D . .

Au tho r gf 77 w Ar t of S o u l Wi r m m g ,
“
772:
” “

T12 5 M a f i er Wor k71 4 71 ,

” “
Vi cto ry Life , /

“ M a ke
y a w Ki ng ,
”
e tc .

NE W Y OR K C H I CAG O TO RONTO

F le m i n g H . Re v e ll Com p a ny
L ON D O N AN D E DI N B U RG H
 C o py rig h t ,
191 1, by
F LE MlNG H RE VELL . CO MPANY

New 1 58 Fifth
C h i e ag o : 12 3 N o rth W b h Av a as e .

To r o n to : 2 5 Ri c h o d St eet W
m n r ,
.

Lo n d on : 2 1 P ate rn o s ter S qu ar e
E d i nb urg h : lo o Pri n ce s S treet
 F o rew or d

H AL L w e say it is a lo s t art—th is
wi thdraw al w ithin th e ve i l ! S h a ll w e
sa y that this busy restl ess age thinks
,

it has outgro w n th e need f or l i stening to the

‘

voice that speaks o n ly to the soul ! T hat

saintl y mystic Joh n T auler sai d that one
, ,

m ig h t l e a rn more in one short hour f rom the

inw a rd vo i ce th an from man in a th ousa nd

yea rs a n d if he h a d re f erence to th e de ep
,

thi n gs o f God he w as probab l y right Ye t .

i n th ese days how l ittl e ti m e the average

C h ri stian gives to the in w ar d l ook a n d the
inwar d voice .

N ow re l igion is both a science and an art .

In recent years m uch attention has been

given to th e sc i e n ti fic s i d e Th e age h as
.

—
been one of d i scovery d i scovery i n me
c h an i c s
, in astronomy i n thera peut i cs i n
, ,

soci a l econom i cs T h i s s p i ri t o i explora tion

.
,

has a lso extende d into th e real m o f religion .

6 FOR E W O R D

A nd this is w e ll T he Church o f J esus Christ

.

owes much to the patient investigation car

r i ed on b y men of g reat devotion to the ln
te r e s ts o f the kingdom o f God But it must
.

not be f orgotten t h at w hile science d iscovers ,

art creates I n our e nthusi a sm for the dis

.

c o v e r y side o f r e li gion it is possib l e to f orget

the creat i ve side T he art o f Christian char

.

a cter bui l ding has been much neglected an d

“

w here this is negl ected it is so easy to a ll o w

ourse l ves to drift on the tide o f worl d l iness
and spiritua l i nd i ff ere n ce We need a r e
.

naissance m the art of Christian l iv i ng .

In this intense ly practica l and e x p lo r a tlv e

age we have gone to the opposite extreme
from the m y stica l and conte m p l ative I n .

deed so l ittl e time is given to med i tat i on that

‘

it may w e ll be called a l ost art We h a v e n o.

l onger time to po n der the great truths o f l i f e

and des tin y With breath l ess haste w e rush
.

a fter something ne w amon g the things o f

time and sense and leave no room o r
,

stren gth f or the hour o f contemp l at i o n .

“ ” “
M editation sai d R odriguez is the b e
, ,

ginning and ground o f al l goo d I t i s th e .

 F ORE W OR D 7

sister o f spiritu al readi n g the nurse of ,

prayer a n d th e director o f good actio n s

, .

I t causes true d evot i on to spri n g up in our

hearts I t is that w h ich next to the grace
.
,

o f God m ost o f a ll w arms the heart an d the

,

will a n d produces th e prompt disposition to

,

”
d o virtuous dee d s .

Haste a n d worry are an y thing but help f u l

to that purest d evotion a n d lo f ti est thought
w h i ch are essential i n the m a king o f c h ar
acter H e who sees Go d s mountains from
.
’

the win d ow of the speeding express train or ,

from the thro n ging stree ts o f mount a in cities ,

w i ll n ever see t h e i r real glory O ne must .

stand a l one in the vast sol i tu d es surroun d ed

by snow capped g i a nts and let the m ountains
-

grow o n him to experience th e sou l touch o f

maj esty A nd h e who would know God
.

must be much alone wi th G o d .

What means this low tone o f Christian

experie n ce a n d t h i s shallo w se l f s a ti s fi e d
, ,
-

profess i o n of rel i gion ! Wh a t mea n s th i s

thou g htless irreverent j ocular way of speak
, ,

in g o f h o l y things so preva l ent to day !

,
-

H as not the hurry and f ever o f this bus y a g e

8 FO R E W OR D

c ro w ded out the time for meditation and

pra y er ! We h a ve been too busy to wait in
the inner chambe r with G o d a n d we have ,

l ost sou l poise a n d c l oudles s vision O ur .

minds have not f e l t the grip of etern a l veri

ties n o r have w e bathed our sou l s i n the
,

pure white light that streams f rom the

S hekinah o f H is secret presence .

S i o u x Ci ty , I ow a.
 C o n t e n ts

M E D I TATI ON A N D P R AYE R
MED I TAT I ON A N D S O U L D E VE L O P ME N T
MED I TAT I ON A N D NATU R E
MED I TAT I ON A N D TH E I N TE LL E C T U A L
MED I TAT I ON A N D RE VE L ATI ON
MED I TAT I ON A N D CA LVA R Y
MED I TAT I ON A N D TH E B I B L E
MED ITAT I ON A N D P R EA C H I N G
MED I TAT ION A N D W OR SH I P
MED I TAT I ON A N D RE SE R VE P O WE R
MED I TATI ON A N D S O U L WI NN I N G
MED I TAT I ON A N D VISI ON
MED I TAT I ON A N D ACT I ON
H E L P S T O MED I TAT IO N
M E DITATI O N A N D P RAY ER
B ut t h wh
o u, en h p y
t ou ra e s t, e n te r
i n to th i
ne i nner c h b
am er, an d h av
ing s u h t th y d
oo r, ra p y
to th y F a t e r h
h
w h o i s i n s e c r e t, a n d th y F a t e r w h o

s e et h
i n s e cr e t s a h ll
r e co m p
ense

th e e .
 I

M E DITATI ON AN D P RAY ER

H EN that old p h i l osopher A ristotl e

i
, ,

/ saw d im l y the li ght that leads to

G o d a n d d ec l a r ed that the re w as
—
one path O pen to the E terna l th e w a y o f
—
contemplation i t w as a fore g le a m o f the true
,

—
Christian s h i gh est privi l ege intimate and
’

direct commu n i on w ith God .

“
N o one becomes p e r f ect on a sudden ,

“
said an o l d w riter ; it is by mou n ti n g and ,

not flying that we come to the top of th e l ad

,

d er. Let us therefore ascend and l et me d i

,

ta ti o n a n d pray er be the two f eet we make

use o f to do so F or me d i tation l ets us see

.

our w ants and prayer obtai n s for us r e li ef

,

fr om God T he one m a kes us d iscern the

.

d angers that surrou n d us th e other g ives us

ha pp y escape from them P ra y er is te pid
.

”
w ithout meditation .
I4 T H E L OST ART OF MEDITATION

S ome o f the mystics taught that the c o n

te m p la ti v e l ife was a sp i ritu al stage to which

onl y a few could atta i n I t w a s .

Th M y t i
e s cs

an exper i ence for pinnac l e mo

ments the y said when the soul stands in
, ,

G od s presence with unvei l ed face But the

’
.

N e w T estament teaching w ould certain ly i n

d i c a te that every ch i l d of God m a y l ive the
l ife of sweet a n d b l essed fel l owship prov i ded
“
the mind is stay ed on H im Within m y
.

”
heart is the eternal adoration said the saintly ,

Te r s te e g e n reminding us o f the A post l e s

,
’

w ords , Pra y wi thout ceasing I n every .

thing give thanks : for this is the w il l of God

in Christ J esus concerni n g y ou T o hav e .
’

f ormed the habit of prayer or to be al way s in

,

the spirit of pra y er or i n sou l touch with

,

G o d is according to Pau l the privi l ege o f

, ,

every Christian .

N ow this high privi l ege cannot be obtained

or maintained save as meditation is j oined
w ith pray er M e d itat i on upon th e word o f
.

God upon the goodness of God upon the

, ,

providence o f God qu i ckens the desire f or

,

prayer and gives l ife and power to praye r .

 ME D ITATION AN D P RA Y ER 1 5

N o matter how fra il th e physi cal l i fe or ho w ,

h umble th e soc i al l i fe me d i tati on w i ll brin g

,

th e prayer l i fe to i ts full bloo m .

W h a t g ave C a t h eri n e of S i e n n a her pp m !

T here w a s no helpful e n v i ro n m e n t i n h e r
e a rly l i fe S h e w a s th e you n g
C h i
.

at er n e
i Si
O en n a
est of twe n ty fi v e ch i l d ren a n d
-

the d a ughter of a wool d yer S h e h a d very .

f ew soci a l a n d e d ucatio n al a d v a n tages H er .

own fa th er trie d to force h e r to l i ve a worl d l y

li fe But i n her ours of me i t a t i o God b
. h d n e - w
.

came h e r teac h er Th e S p i ri t u n fol d e d th e

.

h i gher th in g s of l i fe in such a w a y t h at when

s h e ca me to woman h ood s h e was soug h t for

by ki n g s a n d quee n s a n d popes a n d pri nces

th at they m i g ht h ave h e r a d v i ce a n d h e r
pra yers S h e we n t i n perso n to Av i g n o n a n d
.

persu a d e d the v a c i ll a ti n g pope to retur n to

R ome S he rebuke d him for h i s n eglect of
.

the sp i ri tu a l i n t erests of th e ch urch S h e .

“
wrote Gregory ! I th us : T e m poral th i n gs a r e
fa il i n g you fro m n o other cause th a n from
y our n e g lect of th e spiritu al . I w is h
a n d pray t h a t the moment of
ti me t h at re

mai ns (f or you ! be d ealt w i th manfull y f o l ,

e
1 6 T H E L OST ART OF MEDITATION

l owing C h rist whose vi c ar y ou a r e l ike a

, ,

”
strong man W h ence h a d this woman of
.

l owl y b i rth and meagre e d ucational a d v a n

tages this power to rebuke s i n n e r s i n h i g h
places ! N o one who stu d i es her m a rve llous
li fe c a n fai l to conclude th at the secret of it
all lay in her habit o f me d itatio n an d p r ayer .

S he w a s the f riend o f G o d S h e believ e d

.

herse l f to be the espous e d o f the Kin g o f

heaven ; and believed to o th a t s h e h a d re ‘

c e i v e d the s tig m a ta —the imprint o f the five

wounds o f C h rist .

M edi tation is indispen s ab l e to prevai lin g

pray er T he greatest and b est men the worl d
.

has ever know n ha v e cu l tivated

P v ili g
re a n
P ra
y er
the habit of w i th d ra w i n g from
the wor l d to look into thei r own hearts a n d
to l et God speak to them i n th e secret place .

Whe n th e d i stracti ve no i ses of th e world are

-

hus h e d t h e n Go d s vo i ce is h e ard more

’

pla i nly a n d the v i s i on of H i s presence i s seen

,

more clear l y W h en M oses was al one in

.

the desert h e s a w th e flam i n g acacia tree

a n d h e a r d the vo i ce of G o d w h e n Jacob w a s
alone by J a bb o k s brook the angel of the Lord
’
 M EDITATION AN D P RA Y ER I 7

d rew near a n d gave h i m a new n ame I t is .

throu g h th e porta ls of s i lence that we must

p a ss to meet G o d fa ce to fa ce .

S a i d the s a i n tl y Fen elo n D o not devote

,

all your ti m e to a cti o n but reserve a certai n

,

portion of i t for m e d i ta ti on upon etern i ty .

We see Jesus C h r i st i n v i ti n g H i s d i sc i ples to

p a rt i n a d esert pl a ce a n d rest a w h i le
g o a , , ,

after t h e i r return from th e c i ties where they ,

h a d bee n to a n n ou n ce His rel i g i o n H ow .

muc h more necess a ry i s i t for us to appro a ch

the source o f a ll virtue t h a t we m a y rev i ve
,

our d ecl i n i n g fa i th a n d charity when we re,

turn from the busy scenes of l i fe w h ere men ,

speak a n d act a s i f they h a d never know n

t h a t th ere i s a G o d !
N ow prayer w a its upon revere n ce In .

d ee d where th ere i s l i ttle revere n ce there is

,

us u a lly l i ttle pra yer T o pra y .

Rev e r ence

well o n e must be d eeply revere n t .

But me d i tat i on upon th e g re a t trut h s and

g reat works of G o d i s essent i a l to revere n ce .

”
M e d itate on g rea t th i n g s sa i d W i ll i a m
,

“ ”
Law a n d your soul w i ll g row g reat
, T he
surest i n d ic a tion of l i ttle n ess of soul may be
1 8 T H E L OST ART OF ME D ITAT IO N

seen i n d isrespect for s a cre d th i n g s H ow .

”
s hameful s a i d S ai n t Franc i s
, to allo w ,

oneself to fa l l i n to va i n d i stra cti ons w h e n one

is a d dress i n g th e Great K i n g We shoul d .

not speak in that manner even to a respecta

ble m a n .

Pra yer waits upon th oughtfulness H o w .

thoughtl essly we often rus h i nto th e presence

of the Ki ng of h u gs ! How li ttle
Th oug h t f l
u n es s

prepara t i on of he a rt a n d m ln d we
sometimes make for au d i ence with the etern al
”
God I In the S ai n ts E v e rlasti n g R est th at
’

c l assic of devotiona l l i terature the a uth or h a s

,

t h is to sa y concern i ng reverence i n our a p

proach to G o d : Be sure y ou s e t u pon th i s
work with great solemnity of heart a n d m i n d .

T here is n o tr i fli n g i n h oly th i n gs God w i l l.

be s a n cti fie d i n th em t h a t co m e n i g h H i m .
’

La bour therefore to h a ve th e d eepest a p p r e

, ,

h e n s i o n s of th e prese n ce of G o d a n d H i s i n ,

comp rehe n sible gre a tn ess Ii ! uee n E sther

.

‘
must not d ra w ne a r u n ti l the k i n g hol d out th e
sceptre think the n w ith w h at reverence t h ou
,
’
, ,

shouldest approach Him w h o made th e worl d s

,

w i th the word of His mouth w h o up h ol d s the,

20 TH E LOST ART OF ME D IT A TION

meet th e Lor d and with what seriousness and

,

awe t h ou s h oul d st d a i ly converse w i th Him .

Pra yer w a i ts upo n fa ith T h a t attitu d e of

.

w ill a n d heart towar d s God whereby we find

it ea sy to take th a t wh i ch God
F i th
a

has promised can on l y be a t

ta i n e d b y me d i tation upon the goodness a n d

fa i thfu l ness of G o d . Faith c l a i ms ; fa i th

takes J ohn Ma c N e i l use d to say If a man
.
“
,

h a s a cre d i t b a lance of two hun d red and fi f ty

dollars in h i s bank i n g a ccount and dra w s a
,

c h eck for fifty dollars he does not nee d to go

,

to th e cashier and a s k for fifty d o ll ars ; he

presents h i s check a n d claims i t f or it is his
,

own When G o d gives th e Christ i an a

.

defi n ite prom i se i t is the Christian s privi l eg e

’

”
to cla i m to r e ce i ve the th i ng promi s ed
, .

T he two gre a test d angers to which w e a r e

constantly e x pose d i n these days is a l ost
se n se o f s i n and a lost s ense o f
,

God . I t i s s o easy to be i n fl u
e n c e d by certa i n m odern i d eas of s i n a n d to
,

“ ”
t h i n k of it as mere embryon i c g oo d n ess
“

“
or r i g hteous n ess i n sta te of for m a t i o n ,

or a n hal l ucin a t i on of th e mortal mind ,

 MEDITATION AND P RA Y ER 2 1

unti l sin l oses all i ts he i n ous n ess a n d then ,

Cal vary all i ts meri t M e d i ta ti on a n d prayer

.

will d evelop a se n s i tive n ess to s i n a n d a con

s c i o u s n e s s of i ts a wful n ess Ri chard Baxter .
,

after mo n th s of me d i tati o n upo n th e cal a m i ty

of s i n wrote
,
You ca n n ever k n ow the evi l ,

nor th e d e sert of s i n unt i l you k n ow ,

Th e e xc ell en c y o f th e so u w l h i c h i t d e fo r m e th .

Th e e xc e l le n c y of th e h o li n e s s w hi c h i t ob

l i te r a tes .

Th e r e a so n and e xc elle n c y of th e law it

vi o l ates .

Th e e x c e lle n cy o f th e g lo r y i t d es pi s es .

Th e e x c e lle n c y a n d o ffi c e o f r e as o n w hic h i t
tr e a d e th d o w n .

Th e i n fi n i te e x c e llen c y , a lm i g h ti n es s , and h o li
\

n es s o f th a t God ag a i n s t w ho m it is co m

m i tte d .

O n ly me d itation a n d prayer wil l deve l op a

sense of th e re a li ty a n d i mma n ence of God .

T he sou l comes fa ce to face w i th the E ternal .

T he hea ve n s a r e n o lo n g er empty ; a n d l i fe is
no l onger a mere d re a m l i fe to th e man of
pray e r W h erever he g oes h e be a rs upon
.

h i s face th e co n sc i ous n ess of h e a ve n l y com

2 2 TH E L OST ART OF ME D ITATION

p a n io n s hip . I f a n y m a n h a s a r i g h t to speak
at this point i t i s surely John Bu n yan the i m ,

“
morta l d reamer H e has this to sa y : I t is
.

a great thi n g to be a c l oset C hrist i a n a n d to

-
,

hold i t ; he must be a close Christi a n that -

w il l be a closet Christi an W h en I s a y a
-
.

c l ose Christi a n I mean one th a t is s o i n the

-
,

hidden part a n d that also wa l ks w i th G o d

, .

M an y t h ere be th at pro f ess C h r i st who do ,

oftener frequent the co ff ee house than their

c l oset ; a n d that sooner in a morning run to
make bargains than to pray unto God and
begin the d a y with H i m But fOr thee who
.
,

r o fe s s e s t the name o f Christ do thou depart

p ,

f rom al l these thi n gs ; do thou make con

science o f re a ding and practicing ; do thou
f o ll ow after r i ghteousness ; do thou make
conscie n ce of be g i nni n g the d a y with God .

F or he that be g i n s i t not with Him w ill hardl y

end i t w i th Him ; he th a t runs from G o d i n
the morn i n g w i ll hardly fi n d H i m at the c l ose
o f the d a y ; nor w i ll h e th a t be g i n s w i th the
w orl d a n d the va n iti es th ereof be very capa
b l e of wal king w i th G o d all th e d a y after I t
-

i s he that fin d s G o d I n h i s closet that wi ll

 M EDITATION AND P RAY ER 2 3

carry th e s a vour of H i m i n to h i s house his ,

s h op a n d h i s more ope n co n vers a ti on When

,
.

M oses had been w i th G o d in the mount his

face shone ; he brought o f that glory i nto the
”
camp .

I t has been said that our great nee d to day -

is more pra yer But it must be th e pra yer

.

A G rea t
that is j o i n ed to me d itation i f it

°P p m i ty
°r n
preva il s S uch pra y er W i ll be
.

i ntercessory S u ch prayer w il l be mighty

.

T his is an age of vast opportunity for the

Church of Chr i st Every where fie l ds are
.

w hite unto harvest At home and abroa d .

there is need o f a great army of workers .

A nd to be equa l to th e opportunities o f s o
,

many needy fie l ds they must be men of u n

,

shakeable co n vict i o n s a n d mi g hty i n prayer .

I f there woul d come to our ch urches a n d co l

leges a n d homes a g re a t revival of i n te r c e s
s o ry prayer h o w spee d i ly th e k i n g d om of our
Lor d and S av i our would tr i ump h T o th e '
secret place of me d i t a ti on a n d pra yer let us
hasten then t h at we m a y have that prepara
tion of the inner l i f e that w i ll m a ke us mighty
for G o d .
2 4 T H E L OST ART OF MEDITATION

fl ! h a bi ta ti o n
M y sou l pra ct i ce be i n g a lone with Christ !
,

I t i s written t h at w h en th ey were alone H e

”
expounde d all t h i n g s to H i s d i sci ples .Do
not wo n d er at th e s a y i n g ; i t i s true to th i n e
experie n ce I f th ou woul d st u n d ersta n d thy
.

s e gf se n d th e m ult i tu d e away Let them g o

.

out one b y one t i l l thou art left a lo n e w i th

J esu s . H a st thou ever picture d thy
self th e o n e rema i n i n g creature i h th e e a rth ,

th e o n e remai n i n g cre a ture i n a ll the starr y

worl d s ! I n such a u n i verse t h i ne every i

t h ought woul d be G o d a n d I God a n d I

An d yet H e is as n ear to th ee as t h at as —
n ear as i f i n th e bou n d l ess sp a ces there
t h robbe d n o hea rt but H i s a n d t h i n e F rac .

t i ce th at so li tu d e O m y s oul ! Practice th e
,

e x puls i o n of th e crow d Pra c tice th e sti ll n ess

of t h i n e o w n h e a rt Pract i ce the solemn r e
“
fra i n G o d a n d I G o d and I Let no n e
in terpose betwee n th ee a n d thy wr estl i n g
a n g el ! T hou s h alt be both c on d em n e d a n d
par do ned when thou sh a l t meet Jesus alon e
M ED ITAT I O N AN D
SOU L D EVE L O P M ENT
T h ere is no t h i g th
n at m a k es m en

ih
r c an d s tr o n g h
bu t t a t wh i h
c

th y e ca r r yi d h
n si e o f t e m .We a t lh
is of th e h e a r t, n o t o f th e anh d .
2 8 T H E L OST A RT OF MEDITATION

as surel y a s th ere must be bod i l y deve l o p

m e n t i f t h ere woul d be phys i c a l ma n hood .

N o w in th e re a l m of B i bl i cal stu d y we have

h i g her critici s m ; i n th e rea l m of a strono m y
H ig h er
w e h ave th e h i gh er m a th e m a t
A h ‘i “
t et
ics i n the re a l m of menta l tra i n
i n g we have the h i g h er ed ucation ; I n the
rea lm o f spiritua l culture wh y not have the
i ng / cw a th le ti cs I gnatius wrote to Pol y carp
“ ”
a nd sa i d Wa tch as Go d s athlet e ; and
,
’

Pau l writing to T imoth y speaks of a gy m

”
nastic unto godl i ness .

I n the real m of economics w e m ay sa y that

our o w n country l e a d s th e worl d ; in the
rea l m of po l itics we m a y thi n k that s he ho l ds
first p l ace amo n g the nations ; in O l y mp ic
games our physica l supremacy may have
been demonstrate d B ut what are we pro fite d
.

if in e COn o m rc s a n d politi cs a n d muscu l a r

, ,

d evelop m e n t the worl d s prim a cy belo n g s to

’

us if in mora ls a n d sp i ri tual u n d ersta n d i n g

,

we a r e w anti n g ! T he d e velopment of th e
body i s necessary to th e h i g hest man hoo d
provi d e d th at d evelopme n t d oes n o t interfere
with the growth of th e entire nature But to .
 ME D ITATION AND SO U L DEVE L O P MENT 2 9

be a S Wa b o d a
in th e rea l m of the ph y sica l
a n d a M a rk H opkins in th e re a l m o f the i n

te lle c tu a l a n d a p i g m y i n th e re a l m o f the
,

spiritu a l is to b e a m o n strosity rath er than a

,

man .

R obert Browning love d to make l ife one

great Oly mp i c ga me w h ere sp i r i tu a l ath l ete s
conten d ed for suprem a cy H is
A Sp i it l .

r ua
Gy ‘
m nas m
hero was o n e who n ever turned
his back but marched breast forward
N ev er d o u b te d l
c o ud s w o u l d br eak ,

N ever d r ea m ed th o u g h r ig ht w as w o r s ted , r ig ht ~

w o uld tr i u m ph ,

H el d w e fall to r is e, ar e b affl ed to fig h t be tter ,

S lee p to w a ke .
”

N o w God has provi d ed means fo r th ed eve l

o p m e n t of every facu l ty of th e sp i r i tua l n a

ture Th ere is a s pir i tual gy m n as i um for

.

Go d s a th l etes T he equipme n t i s c o mplete

’
. .

'

Th e i n ner li fe m a y be s ym metr i cally a n d f ull y

develope d but n o t w i th out e ffort Let u s .

g ive d i lige n ce s a i d t h e w
, r i ter of that trea
ti se o n spiri tu a l a t hlet i cs to en ter i nto that ,

rest Le t us r u n w i th p a t i e n ce th e race
that is set before us l ook i ng unto Jesus the ,
3 0 TH E L OST A RT O F MEDITATION

fi l e l eader a n d ag ain Let us press on unto

p erfectio n .

A mong those things that are n e cessary to

spiritual mastery me d i ta tion h a s a l arge
p l ace We must often l ook wit h i n to know
.

our need M e d itation wi ll cre a te soul hunger

. .

A l l our sp i ritual l ameness a n d bl i n d ness a n d

nakedness wi ll appear I n th e quiet of th e i n
ner chamber T hen there wil l come i n to the
.

l ife a great unrest to be sati sfie d on ly in

Christ We w i ll want to fly to H im who
.

said Come unto M e al l ye th at l abour an d

,

”
are h eav y l ade n a n d I w i ll give y Ou rest
, .

M editation w i l l a i d p fiy s i ca l m a s te ry T he .

highest sou l deve l opment w ill come on ly a fter

P hy i sl ca
w e have b y the grace ,
of God ,

M t y
3 8 °r
brought the physica l nature into
subj ection T he bod y must be kept un d er
.

perfect control if we woul d l i ve a t our best .

“
Pau l w as concerne d f or th i s a n d he said I ,

bu ffet my bo d y and br i n g it i n to b o ndage

,

l est b y an y mea n s a fter that I h a ve preached

,

”
to others I mysel f shou l d be rej ecte d
,
He .

sai d too ,
K n ow ye not that y our bod i es
,

are members o f Christ glori fy God

 MEDITATI O N AND S O U L DE V E L O P M ENT 3 1

th erefore i n your bo d y M e d i t a ti o n i s not

.

dre a m i n g . M e d i ta ti o n i s n o t for th e sp i ri t
o n ly nor f or th e mi n d only ; it is f or the
,

w h ole man M ed i t a ti on will help open every

.

wi n d ow of the l i fe to th e L i g h t from he a ve n ,

a n d t h a t me a n s t h a t every power of the c o n

s e c r a t e d body a n d m i n d a n d sp i rit shal l be

qu i cke n ed a n d stre n gthene d We must by .

,

th e g ra ce o f God keep the p h ysic a l i n s u b

,

e c ti o n to th e sp i r i tual for we are essent i a l ly

j ,

sp i ritua l bein g s M e d i ta t i o n w i ll h elp u s to

.

a ri gh t estimate of th e rel a t i o n betwee n bo d y

a n d soul a n d g i ve us to s e e more cle a r l y that
,

our bo d i es a r e temples of the Holy S p i r i t .

M e d i ta t i o n w i ll g i ve po w e r of v i s i o n N oth
.

i n g is more i m port a n t to soul growth .To

h a ve the vis i on th a t a pprehends
God and sees a ll th i n g s i n the i r
,

true re l ati o n to God is worth str i ving f or

,
.

I n deed to fa i l h ere i s to fail i n all th i n gs that

are worth wh i le . Where there i s no vision
th e peop l e per i s h . T h ese are d ays of nar
row vis i o n S ome fix their eyes upon one
.

pri n c i p l e of n a ture or o n e la w of l i fe or one

, ,

doctr i ne of th e Word of God a n d seem to ,

3 2 T H E L OST ART OF ME D ITATIO N

see nothing else Would to G o d th at we

.

m I g h t h a ve the v i sio n t h at i s hi g h e n ough

and w i d e e n ough to s e e t h at there is a

w h ole u n i verse of truth co n stan tly u n fol d i n g .

Would to God that we m i g h t have a v i s i on

c l ear enough to Se e over our own littl e p r e j u
d i ces a n d not i o n s and gain the W o rld V i ew
, .

T o m a n y th e g reatest thi n g s i n l ife are so

vague and shadowy as to seem almost u n
rea l because o i a lack of sp i r i tu a l vision
,
.

M e d i ta tion w i l l develop th e i n n er l i fe I t .

wi ll take the ve i l o ff th e fa ce of re a so n .

W h e n u n i te d w i th a l i v i n g fa i th i t w i ll he l p ‘

us see th e th i n g s of th e soul l i fe i n the i r true

perspecti ve I t i s w h en pra yerful med i tation
.

has its p l ac e i n da il y l ife th a t

Fa i th l en d s i ts r e a li z i n
g lig ht ,

Th e c lo u d s d i s p e r s e, th e s h ad o w s flee ;
Th e i n v i s i ble pp ea r s i n s i g h t
a ,

An d G o d i s s e e n b y m o r tal e ye .

M e ditation w i l l e n coura g e th e spirit o f

'
p r a i s e a n d i b a n ésg i w fl g Th is too i s essen
i
.
, ,

tia l to soul growth G o e th e s mother use d

.
’

to say th a t when her s o n h a d a g ri ef h e

-

turned i t i nto a po e m a n d s o g o t r i d of i t .
 MEDITATION AN D SO U L D EVE L O P M ENT 33

I f we could a lway s turn our g riefs i n to so n g s

how soo n th ey woul d be for g otte n An d .

u n t i l we lose our worry a n d he a rt

Pra i d
s e an
Th an k g
s ivm
g
d ls q u l e t I n some sy m p h o n y of
pra i se th ere c a n n ever be r a p i d sp i r i tu al
progress Th e hurry a n d rush of mo d ern l if e
.

h a s crow d e d out everyth i n g save that w hich

i s i n te n sely pra ct i cal a n d pr a i se i s not s u p
,

pose d to be pract i ca l But h ere i s where we

.

blu n d er P ra i se i s th e most pr a cti c al th in g

.

i n h um a n li fe .We were cre a te d to pra i se

and g lori fy God L
. i fe s h
’
i g h est e ffic i e n cy
c a n never be reache d u n t il we fulfill th e pur

pose o i our creation T h en o n ly c a n there

.

be real soul deve l opment Praise is l i fe s .

’

h a lo a n d i t w a s S us a n F err i er who sa i d
‘

, ,

M y d eepest w i s h i s th a t l i fe may never l ose

”
i ts h a lo . I t must be kept bri g h t a n d gl o w
i n g th rou g h constant me d i ta t i on on the good
n ess of G o d .

“ “
S olitude said Cecil is my g reat or d i
, ,

”
n an ce . Th ere a r e heaven born g i fts a n d -

powers i n our l i ves of w h i ch we w ill n ever

be co n scious unti l i n sol i tude they a r e r e
veal e d a n d d evelope d Look at Jo h n
.
34 TH E L OST A RT O F ME D ITATION

Bunyan D i d n o t Bedford j a il br i n g out th e

.

best that w as i n h i m ! Look at J ohn M il ton .

Th W y f
e a
D id
o
not sig h t l ess eyes revea l
8 l t d
°

° 1 u e
g l ori e s he wou l d o th e r w rs e n ever
0 0

have seen ! Look at D a vid L i v i n g sto n e .

T hose e i g ht or nine y ears in the so l itudes of

Africa dur i n g his ear ly missionary career pre
pare d h i m as nothing e l se cou l d have done for
the remarka ble series of e x plorations and vic
tories that resu l te d in openin g a continent to
C h rist O r look at Paul the A postl e From
. .

a Ro man dungeon Pau l gave us h i s best .

Because Paul was a prisoner at R ome what

w ealth of spiritua l teach i n g and what glimpses ,

of the unseen a n d eternal are ours ! T here

h i s life came to its r i ches t f ru i tage A nd .

earth l y l ife for us w i ll o n l y reach its highest

bl i ss a n d th ese heave n born faculti es th eir
,
-

ful l est fruition w hen w e are much a lone w ith

God .
M E DITATI ON AN D N AT U RE
I m e di t
a te o n a llTh y d i g
o n s :

I m us e o n th e w k
or of Th y h dan s .
 II I

M E D ITATI ON A N D N AT U RE

G o d i s th e p er fe c t P o e t
Who in c r eati o n a c ts H is o w n c o n c e pt o n i .

T is on l y when w ith reverent a n d pray er

fu l hea rts we cons i der th e glory of H is
works that w e can rea d Go d s poem o f ’

nature I f one has the open eye and the

.

cl ean heart he can say with Kipling ,

It i s e n o ug h th at th r o u g h Th y g r ac e
”
I s aw n a u g h t c o m m o n o n th e e ar th .

T here is nothing common to the man w ho

has a vision of nature E arth and sea and .
, ,

sky are ful l of wonder a n d maj esty .

“ E ar th ’ s c r am m e d w i th h e ave n
An d e ver y co m m o n b u sh a fir e w i th G o d
B ut on ly he w ho s e es ta k e s o ff h i s s h o e s .

T here i s a sacra me n tal g lory i n the humb l est

obj ect of Go d s care a n d prov i d e n ce
’
Con .

s i d er th e l i lies of the fiel d h o w they grow ; ,

the y toi l not n either do they spi n : yet I s ay

,

unto y ou that S olomon in all his glory w as

,

39
4 0 TH E L OST A RT O F MEDITATION

no ta r r a ye d
like one of these J oseph Par . V

ker was surel y i n spire d when he w rote

T he me a n est insect that flutters in the
w a rm sunl i ght i s a grander thi n g than the
proude s t marble statue ever ch i selled b y the
prou d est sculptor Li n n aeus the great
.
’
,

scientist saw a li ttl e flower unfo l d ing a n d

, ,

“
said I saw God in His g l ory p a ssi n g before
,

me a n d I bowed my hea d in worsh i p and

“
C a r l yle wrote O n e may l ook through a
,

small window and s e e the I nfinite .

A s the w ords o f the book express th e mi nd

o f the w riter so do the w onders o f nature ex
,
~

press the mind o i G od a n d ,

create in the reverent and l oving

he a rt a son g o f praise T hus it .

was w ith S t Francis o f Assisi who as he j our

.
,

n e y e d with his companions up and d own th e

lovely vale of U m br i a s a n g h is Canticle o f ,

the S u n d ecl a red by R e n a n to be the most

,

perfect uttera n ce of mo d ern rel i g i ous senti

”
ment .I t ca me from a heart thrilled w ith
the beauties of n a ture a n d g lo w rn g with ex ,
1

u lta n t pra i se T rans l ated by M atthe w A r

.

no l d it runs as follo w s
 MEDITATI O N AN D NATU R E 4 1

O h, m o st h i g h a l m i g hty g oo d Lord
, ,

God to T h ee belo n g pr a i se h o n our and

, , ,

blessi n g !
“
Pra i se d be m y Lor d G o d w i th all H i s crea
tures a n d speci a lly our brother th e s u n who
, ,

bri n g s u s th e d a y a n d who bri n g s us the

l i g h t ; fa i r i s h e a n d s h i n es w i t h a very great
sple n d our O h Lor d h e s i g n i fies to us
.
, ,

T h ee
“
Pra i se d be m y Lor d for our s i ster the
m oo n a n d for th e st a rs t h e w h ich H e h a s s e t
,

cle a r a n d lovely i n th e h e a ve n .

“
Pra i se d be my Lor d for our brother the
w i n d a n d for a i r a n d for clou d s c alms a n d
, ,

all we a th er by w h i ch T h ou up h o l d est li f e in
all Th y cre a tures .

“
Pra i se d be my Lord for our sister water ,

w h o i s very serv i ce a bl e u n to u s a n d humble

a n d prec i ous a n d cle a n .

Pra i se d be m y Lor d for our broth er fire ,

th rou g h w h om T h ou g i vest us l i g h t i n th e
d a rk n e ss ; a n d h e i s bri g h t a n d pl ea sant a n d
very m i g h ty a n d stro n g .

“
Praised be m y Lor d for our mother th e
earth the w h i ch d ot h sustai n and keep us
, ,
4 2 TH E L OST A RT O F ME D ITATIO N

and bringeth f orth d i vers fruits and fl O We r s ,

o f man y co l ours and grass,

.

“
Praised be m y Lord for all those w ho par
don one anoth er for His l ove s sake and w ho ’
,

endure w eakness and tr i bulation b l essed are

they w ho pe a ceabl y sha ll en d ure for T hou , ,

oh M ost H i ghest sha l t give them a cro w n

, .

Pra i sed be m y Lord f or our sister the ,

death o f the bo d y from w hich no m an e s

,

c a p e th . Woe to hi m w ho dieth in m o rta l

sin ! B l essed are the y who are fou nd wa l k
i n g b y T h y most ho l y will f or the s ec o n d,

d eath sha l l have no power to do them h arm .

Praise y e a n d bless the Lord and give ,

thanks un to H im and serve H im w ith great

,

”
humi l ity .

H ow fe w there are in this restl ess age ,

even among C h r i sti a n peop l e who s to p to ,

.

Hav ni g Ey
me
es
d i tate upon th e h a n di w ork o f
Th y s
e ee N t °
God S o ma n y have eyes but
.

see not E ven where nat ure i s most p ro d i

.

g a l i n her beauty men seem not to see U h .

der the shadow of those great snow c rowne d -

peaks in the R ocky M ou n tains I fou n d men

who seemed to have no a p p r e c ra ti o n of the
44 TH E L OST A RT O F MEDITATION

per a n d streets of gol d I t was as if the City .

of G o d i tself h a d come d ow n to earth ; and

the s l a n t i n g r a ys of th e setti n g sun on the
sh i m m er i n g w a ters of th e l a ke ma d e a s h i n
i n g p a t h w a y t h a t le d stra i g h t to the City of
L i g ht An d t h ere i s sca rce ly a d a y th at
.

passes but one may s e e i n su n ri se a n d sun

set i h fiel d a n d forest in s n o w flake and dew
, ,

drop i n mountain and v a l ley in seashore

, ,

a n d ocea n the m aj esty of the King .

M e d i ta tio n upon n ature when coup l ed ,

with the grace of G o d i n the he a rt w il l bri n g ,

a ko ly g a i e l a n d ca f
g/ i d en ce Th e
G iv es ! u eti
an d C o n fid e n c e
pe a cefuln ess of flower and fiel d
and sky w i ll pass i n to th e l i fe Wor d sworth .

tells how n a ture tra n sforms th e life of one

w ho med i tates on its beauty a n d g lory
S h e s h all lean h er e ar

In m an y a s ecr e t p la c e
W h er e r i v u le ts d an c e th ei r w a y w ar d r o und ,

And b e au ty b o rn o f m u r m u r i n g s o un d
S h all pa ss i n to h e r fa c e .
”

I t was Wor d swort h s v i s i o n of God in ’

n a ture th a t g ave h i m th a t re m a rk a ble gi ft o f

gl or i fy i n g the commo n th i n g s of every da y .
 ME D ITATIO N AN D NAT U R E 45

I t was no illusion as M atthew Arno l d w ou l d

,

have u s believe but a re al i n s i g ht i n to the

,

m a j esty a n d g lory of th at w h i c h G o d had

ma d e T hrou g h me d i ta t i o n o n n a ture he
.

had co m e to a true co n cepti on of n a ture .

H e s a w t h a t all th i n gs share d the l i fe of

God W h i tt i er i n th at be a uti fu l a p p r e c i a
.
,

tion of Wordsworth e x presses it cl e ar ly ,

Th e v i o le t by i ts m o ss y s to n e ,

Th e p ri m r o s e b y th e r iv er s
’
br im ,

An d c h an c e s o w n d a ffo d i l h a v e fo u n d
Im m o rta l li fe th r o u g h h i m .

Th e s un r i s e o n br e e z y la k e
h is ,

Th e r o s y ti n ts h i s s u n s e t b r o ug h t ,

Wo r ld s e e n a r e g l d d e n i n g a ll th e val es
,
a

An d m o u n tai n p e a k s o f th o u g h t .

Ar t b uild s o n s an d th e w or ks pr i d e
of

An d h u m an p as s i o n c h an g e a n d fall ;

B ut th a t w hic h s h ar e s th e l i fe of God
W i th hi m s u rv i v e th a ll .

M editation o n n ature wil l g i ve us ne w

confidence in th e fa i thf u ln e s s ef G o a T he ’
.

pro m i se m a d e to N o a h w i ll h ave
Th F i t h f l
e a u
” d “
8 °
a new mean i n g : Wh i le th e
earth remaineth seed t i me a n d h arvest a n d
,
-
,

co l d and heat and sum m er and wi nter and

, ,
4 6 TH E L OST A RT O F ME D ITATION

day and n i ght shall not cease . We shall

then s e e with th e psalmist that th e day s a n d

the nights have vo i ces

Da y u n to d ay utter e th s pe e c h ,

An d n ig ht u n to n ig h t s h o w e th kn o w l ed g e .

God wi ll speak to th e inquiring heart in a

mu l titude of ways :

To h i m w h o i n th e l o ve o f na tur e ho l d s
Co m m uni o n w i th h e r Vi s i ble fo r m s , God k
spea s
”
A vari o u s l ang u ag e .

T he flowers w i ll speak Go d s mess ages to us ’

—not i n the E ngl i s h or the French or the , ,

German tongue but in the lan guage o f

,

beauty and d esign and delicacy of tr ace r y .

T he s tars too w i l l have voi c es and the

, , ,

heavens will d ec l are the gl ory o f God :

W h at th o ug h i n s o le m n s ile nc e all
Mo ve r o un d th e d a r k te rr es tri al ball ;
W h at th o u g h n o r eal vo i c e no r s o un d
A m i d th e i r r ad i an t o r bs be fo u nd
'
I n r ea s o n s c ar th e y all r ejo i c e
An d utter fo r th a g lo r i o u s vo i c e
Fo r ever Si n g i ng as th e y s h i n e ,

The h an d th at m a d e us i s D ivi ne .
 MEDITATION AN D NATURE 47

All nature w i l l rem i nd us th at we have a

cove n an t keepi n g God and H e who cares ,

for a n d c l oth es th e l i l i es of the fiel d wi ll

sure l y take care of us for whom H e made the
li lies .

M e d i ta ti on on nature w i l l g ive us a n ew
‘
co n cepti o n of th e p o w e r (y G o d A reverent .

Th Pe ow er
study of the great f orces o f
o fG d o
e l ectric i ty a n d g ra vitation and
chem i cal a ffi n i ty shoul d bri n g i n to the lif e
a new co n sc i ous n ess of the presence of a n
om n i potent G o d Th e smallest th ings in
.

l i fe w i ll h a ve a n e w i n terest i f we s e e Go d s ’

power unveile d i n th em S i r O liver Lo d ge .

says that if a d ewdrop were e x panded to th e

size of a p l a n et the molecules of h y d ro g en ,

o f which i t co n s i sts would resemble ora n g es

,

or footballs ; a n d now sc i e n ti sts tell u s th at

with i n each molecule i s a stell a r system
which is a n almost exa ct repro d ucti on of our
sol a r sy stem a n d that all we fi n d in the
,

pl a n ets both as to th e i r orbits a n d the i r

,

speed we fi n d in the flying e l ectrons o f an

,

invis i ble atom of m a tter .

T hen too who ca n me d itate on the gl ory

, ,
4 8 TH E L OS T A RT O F ME D ITATION

and maj esty of th e heavens as revealed in

th e se l a ter d a ys t h ro u g h the me d i um of te l e
scope a n d spectroscope a n d p h otographic
l e n s wit h out h av i n g a n e w v i s i on of th e
,

power of G o d ! Look for i n sta n ce at that

, ,

wonderful g roup of worl d s k n ow n to us as

t h e Ple i ades .O nly seven or e i g h t are v i s
i ble to the nake d eye But we now kno w
.

th at there are n early t h ree thousan d su n s in

th a t beaut i fu l co n stellat i o n An d we kn o w
.
,

too th at suc h i n fi n i te d i stances separa te

,

some o f these blaz i n g suns that it t akes l i g ht

at l east three or four y ears to go from o n e
—
pleia d to a n other Al cyone the br i ghtest
.

—
of th e group g i ves out twe n ty four hu n d red -

ti mes more l i g h t th an o u r s u n a n d i s s ix ty
,

times more brill i ant than Si rius S uch i s the .

g lory a n d m a j esty of that m i g hty s u n

that
w h e n th e gre a t sc i ent i st Mae d ler stu d i e d i t
, ,

t h rough the telescope h e d ecl a red that it was

th e ce ntre of the universe the s eat of the
,

E ternal the throne of God Lor d Kelv i n

, . ,

decl a re d th a t t h ere w ere at least one t h ou

sa n d m i ll i o n su n s sc a ttere d t h rou g h space ,

m any of them much lar g er than our sun .

 ME D ITAT ION AN D NAT U R E 49

Wh o can th i nk of the m i ghty forces th at

must contr ol a n d preserve th ese myr ia d
worl d s with o ut a n overw h el m i n g consciou s
ness of the power of our G o d !
M e d i ta t i on o n n a ture w il l g i ve a new a p
preci a t i o n of th e h o li n e s s of G o d In t h ese .

d a ys we are i n d a n g er of los i n g
Th H li
e o nes s
o fG d o
s i g h t of th e h ol i n ess of G o d .

We think of Go d s o m n i pote n ce a n d om n i
’

prese n ce a n d o m n iscie n ce a n d for g et a bout

H i s hol i n ess Perh a ps t h i s i s th e reason
.

w h
y m a n y h a ve co m e to t h i n k l i g h tl y of
“
s i n D e a n C h urc h s a i d : T h i s d eep a u
.

stere n ote of rel i g i o n ru n s like a n un d erto n e

th rou g h a ll the O ld T esta m e n t a n d th e N ew
,
.

T he Chr i sti a n d oes n o t s h u d d er a t mere

‘

omn i potence But he bows h i s h e a d a n d

.

worsh i ps th e u n utterable h ol i n ess of th e

”
Fa ther . T o h a ve th e v i s i o n of Go d s ho li ’

“
ness is to cry out l i ke I s a i a h Woe is me,

“
for I am u n d o n e or l i ke Peter
,
D epart
,

from me fo r I a m a s i nful m a n . But th a t

’

cry w h en from the d ept h s of th e heart

, ,

alw a ys brin g s p eace a n d gives ne w z est to ,

l i fe .
50 TH E LOS T ART O F ME D ITATI O N

What a freshness and interest al l li fe w ou l d

have if w e kne w that in flami n g l etters on
e v ery l ea f and flo w er a n d b l ade o f grass w ere
w ritten the words H oly H oly Ho ly Lord , , , ,

”
God Al mighty l But to the meditative sou l
the y are written there N ot in the La tin o f .

the text books to be sure but in the l anguage

-
,

“
o f design and beauty E very flower is God s .
’

”
angel o f the grass and every clover b l ossom ,

is an ameth y st to him w ho l ike E noch o f ,

o ld w a l ks w ith God
, .

2 1 h ym n
S till , s ti ll w i th T hee , w h en p ur p le r i
m o n ng break eth ,

Wh en th e bir d
k eth an d th e s h a d o w s flee ;
w a ,

F ai r er th a n m o r n i ng l o veli er th an d a ylig h t
, ,

D aw n s th e s w e e t c o ns c io u sn es s I a m w i th T h ee , .

Alo n e w i th T h ee , am i d th e m ys tic s h ad o w s ,

Th e s o em n l h ush o f n atur e n e w l y b o rn ;

Alo ne w it h T hee in br ea th les s i

a d o r at o n ,

In th e ca m l d ew and fres h n e s s o f th e m o m .

As i n th e d aw i
n n g o e r th e w a
’
vel e ss o c ean ,

Th e i m ag e o f th e m o r n i ng s tar d o th r e s t,

S o i n thi s l
s ti l n e s s , Th o u b eh o l d es t o n l y
T h i n e i m ag e i n th e w a te r s o f m y b r e as t .
 M E D ITAT I ON AN D TH E
I N T E L L E C T U A L L IFE
l
B y a ll m e a n s u s e s o m e ti m e s to b e a o n e .

hy l wh
S alu te t s e f : s e e ld hwa t th
y s o u o t e a.r

h hi
.

l
D a r e to o o k i n th y c e s t fo r ti s t n e o w n :
’

l d w wh h
A n d tu m b e u p a n d o n h
a t t o u fi n d e s t t er e .

Wh o c an n o t r e s t t b e o o fe o s h u e ,
ill g d ll w d
k h d
H e b r ea s u p o us e , tu r n s o u t o f o o r s h i s m I n d e
—
- -
.

G e o r g e H er ber t .
 IV

M E DITATI ON A N D TH E INTE L LE C
T U A L L I FE

N O W LE D G E is po w er is a trite
,

say ing glib ly uttered b y man y .

But that depends T here are some

.

kinds o f kno w ing that w eaken and destro y

the noblest in man T here is a w ay o f a c
.

“
quiring kn ow l edge that makes the know
”
in g of l i ttl e u s e to us T here are human
.

sponges that absorb every thing they touch .

But the i r knowled g e is o f l ittl e or no p racti ca l

v a l ue to them O nl y that kno wl edge is
.

power w h i ch can be used in the deve l opment

of h i g he r man h ood and w omanhoo d w h i ch —
c a n be u s e d — m a rk you . A thing kno w n ”
,

“
says a certa i n wr i ter is a thing incorporated
,

into the human personality and ma d e sp i rit

”
ual .
-

Knowledge to be use d effectively

, ,

must be ma d e a part of the very life T h i s .

c a n be done o n l y by meditation When some

.

g r e at truth has taken ho l d Of the inmost

55
56 TH E L OST A RT O F M EDITATION

be i ng t h en knowle d g e is power When th e

, .

”
I know comes w i th the d e fin i te n e s s of a
great conv i cti on wh i ch h a s seeme d a real
,

e x per i ence the n k n ow l e d g e is power

, .

An o ld man rec a l li n g some of th e most ln

,

te r e s ti n g i nc i d e n ts of h i s e a rly l i fe to l d h o w ,

h e had o nce heard J e n n y Lind

“
Th e I K no w

sm g th at b e a u tIfu l m m from
H ande l s Me s s Ia h
’ “
I Know that M y Re
,

” “ ‘
dee m er Liveth S aid he : T he I know
.
’

of th a t woman s voice has thr i lled my l i fe

’

th rough a ll these y e ar s T hat was mus i ca l

.

know l e dge w i t h power An d wh en i n an y .

“
department o f human achievement the I
k n ow of a great conviction thr il ls the life ,

then k n owled g e is power .

I . M e d i ta ti o n on g r ea t
‘
z h e m es w i ll p ro

“
d u ce p o s i ti ve n e s s
f Oone mc o n v i c ti o n
a n .

P i iv
o s t e
w i t h conv i ct i o n l s wort h a h u n
C v i ict o n ”
d red m e n w i t h mere op i n i o n s
o n
,

sa i d Joh n S tu a rt Mi ll We h a ve too m a n y .

colourless op i n ions a n d too l i ttle rea l assura n ce

to da y Vic tor Hugo sa i d of ! uee n An n e
-
.

that no qu a l i ti es of hers ever a tta i n ed to v i r

tue a n d none to v i ce ; wh i ch w as anoth er
,
 MEDITATION AND INTE LL E C T U A L L IFE 57

w ay of say i n g t h a t s h e h a d no d ist i nct and

posit i ve co n v i cti o n s T he man who is not
.

settle d i n h i s t h ou g ht co n cern i n g certain

g re a t pr i nciples a n d ver i t i es of l i fe will be

l i ke a ree d s h a ke n w i th th e w i n d T h ere wil l .

be n o sta b i l i ty i n h i s C hr i st i a n l i fe a n d h e ,

w i l l be th e easy prey of every pass i n g r e

li g i o u s fad a n d fa n t a sy From th i s class
.

come th e people w h o a r e le d c a ptive b y every

silly a d ve n turess of some n e w rel i gi o n T h ey .

h ave not allowe d the trut h s of God to take

d eep root i n h eart a n d m i n d a n d s o are the
re a d y victi m s of every fa lse prop h et T o .

compe l the m i n d to d well lo n g o n the great

truths of G o d u n ti l from every a n g le we g e t
,

a g li mpse of the i r m a j esty w i ll produce in ,

the min d a pos i tive n ess of co n v i cti o n that

w i l l g ive ste a d i n ess of faith and set our feet
upo n a rock .

2 . M e d i ta li o n on
g r ea t th e m e s e n co u r a
g es

i n te lle ctu a lg vi C h
ourr i.sti a n i ty i s ever an
ad to th e d evelo pment of m i nd
I
nt ell l
e ctu a
“g “m
power T h i s a ccou n ts for th e
.

fact that so m a ny of th e g reat di scoverers i n

th e r e a l m of sci e ntifi c know l e d g e h a ve b e e n
58 TH E L OST A RT O F MEDITATION

earnest Chr i sti a n s Whe n the mind d w e ll s

.

much o n the grea t truths of God it wil l be all

the keener to u n lock the secrets o f nature .

T he wisdom of l ife says an O riental prov

,

“ ”
erb is to throw a noose over the sta rs
, .

M en are constantly seekin g to un l ock the

secrets o f the great cosmic f orces But the .

m a n who has taken time to commune with

nature s G o d wil l have a d i stinct a d va nta g e

’
.

N ature s secrets wil l open more eas ily their

’

fast c l osed d oors to him w ho se thoughts have

-

been stirred b y vis i ons of th e I n fi n i te I t is .

in Les Miserab l es that we find this strik

”

ing paragraph
, ,
—
T hought meditation pra y er these are
great a n d mysterious radiations L et us r e .
c

spect them Whither go these mysterious

.

irra diatio n s of the soul ! I nto the darknes s ;

that is to s a y to the l i g ht
,
.

M edita t i o n o n g reat themes means a surer

mental g ra sp of th e p r o b le m s o f every d a y -

li fe Th e d a rkness th a t so often perp l e x es

.

wil l usu a lly y i el d to qu i et pra yerfu l th o ught

,
.

I t is said th at o n e of the g re a test of En gl i sh

engineers when confro n ted with so m e tre
,
60 T H E L OST ART OF M EDI TATION

theme will soon find th at the inner eye of the

soul sees more clea rl y the soul s n ee d T here ’
.

is n oth i n g more d a n g erous to hi g h thinking

than th a t subtle pri d e of i n te l lect which keeps
us f rom see i n g our o w n fra i lt y and i g n o
rance But whe n we shut ourselves u p w i th
.

some great a n d goo d t h oug h t our o w n l i ttle

ness a n d weakness will be reflecte d by i ts
pure li g ht and we will seek aga i n the source
,

o f al l true wis d om and l ove a n d power N ot .

“
unti l l ike Paul we c a n s a y But fa r be it ,

f rom me to glory save in the cross o f our

,

Lord Jesus Christ throu g h which th e worl d

,

hath been cruc i fied unto me a n d I unto the ,

”
w orld wi ll there be re al sou l satisfaction
,

and rest o f heart .

4 . M e d i ta ti o n on g r ea t th e m es w i ll f
o te n

g i i
ve to th e l fe a n u n dy i ng I t will
i nfl u e n ce .

A U dy i g
n n
proj
n
ect in d ividu a lit y through
I fl
n uence

g enerations to come N ewe l l .

“
D wight H i l lis well says : M oses wi ll c o n
trol all our j urists to morrow because he -
.

spent forty y ears in the desert reflecting

upon the pr i nc i p l es of j usti ce Pau l h a d th e .

honour to fash i on our pol i ti cal i n st i tutions

 ME D I TAT IO N AN D IN TE LL E C T UAL LIFE 61

because he gave twe l ve y ears o f gen e ra l

p reparation and three y ears o f specia l a p
p l icati on to the study of in d ividua l rights .

M i l ton tel l s us that he spent four and thirt y

y ears o f so li tar y and unceas i ng stud y in a c
cumul a ti n g h i s m a terial f or a heroic poem
that the wor l d wou l d not w il li ngly l et d i e .

Pasteur gave our generation much

because f or thirty years he iso l ated himse lf
”
and got much to give .

T he Church of God needs great inte ll ectua l

l eaders men who w ill think through its great
,

soci a l problems and be able to turn the con

,

s e c r a te d li fe of the Church i nto the channe l s

o f h i g hest service We need men who wi ll

.

stand i n advance o f all the C hurch s activities

’

and beckon us onward toward s the paths

that l ea d to the h ighest goo d We need
.

men w ho have more th a n a o n e side d V ie w

-

o f our ma n y comple x soci a l conditions men ,

w ho are l ar g e e n ough i n thou g ht and wide

,

enough in symp a t h y a n d Christly e n ough i n

,

li fe to see all s i des of these g reat i n terests .

S uch men come only from th e p lac e of qu i et

w a i ting and meditati on where the H o ly S p irit
62 T H E L OST ART OF ME D ITATION

touches h eart a n d bra i n A nd such men w i ll

.

l eave beh i n d them an i nfluence for good that

w i ll gather impetus with the c i rc li ng y ears .

El P raye r
0 H o ly S pirit teach me that the f ear o f
,

”
th e Lor d i s th e be g i n n ing of wis d om I .

subm i t myself to Th y i n struct i on T h ou .

canst un l ock every treasure house of the

intellect T hou canst lead the w a y through
.

ever y lab y rinth of th e great w orl d s th ough t

’
.

T hou canst guide to th e h i g h est peaks of

reason s wonderfu l realm
’
I wou ld g o to
.

s choo l to T hee a n d let T hee teach me the

,

higher wisdom I cannot penetrate the deep

.

th ings of n a ture and grace un l ess T hou dost

ope n th e eyes of my understan d ing and e n
l arge my sou l I n the quie t o f this secret
.

place spe ak to me no w w ords that shall

waken every s l umbering faculty o f m y
he a ven born nature ; and thus T hou wilt
-

he l p me to live at m y b est f or m y Lord .

M E D ITATI ON A N D REVE L AT I ON
i d kly
F o r n o w w e s e e i n a m rr o r , ar
h k w
b u t t e n fa c e to fa c e : n o w I n o
p h h ll k w ll
i n a r t b u t t e n s a I n o fu y
ll k w
l
e v e n as a s o I w a s fu y
—no . n

P au1
.
 V
M E D ITAT I ON AN D REV E L ATI ON

H E march of true science i s a l ways

forwar d to w ar d s the heights of
revelation T here is no conflict
between rea so n and fa i th a n d never can be
,
.

T hey are co m rades but one is fleeter and

,

stronger th an the other a n d g oes farther .

j ust as th e microscope a n d te l escope go

farther than the n a ked eye s o fa i th outru n s
a n d g oes infi n itely farther t h an re a son Or
.

it m i ght be sa i d that fa ith i s reason s tel e

’

scope . S o there is no c o n fl i c t between

science a n d revelati on T hey too are com
.
, ,

rades but o n e is a lways i n advance j ust

, .

as surely as Go d s prophets h a ve al w ays

’

been i n adva n ce of th e people le a d i n g them

on, so reve la tion has alw a ys beckone d to
sc i e n ce
.

An d th e sp i ritua l w i ll ever lea d the

natural T he nearer sc i ence a pproaches the
.

6s
66 TH E LO S T A RT OF M E D ITATIO N

go a l of some definite know l ed g e conc e rnin g

the myster i es of n a ture th e more re a d y s h e
Th S p i i t
e l
r ua
wi l l be to u n cover h e r h e a d and
an d th N t
e l
a ura
“
cry Great a n d m a rvellous are
,

T hy w orks O Lord God th e Al m i g h ty ;

, ,

righteous and true are T h y w ay s T hou king ,

”
o f the ages .

T here w as a time w hen the atomic theory

w as cons i dered th e end o f wisdom concern
ing matter We had three con d i ti o n s o f
.

—
matter so l i d liquid and gaseous But no w
, , .
.

w e have radiant matter : now we have elec

trons w ith al l their w onderfu l sym m etry and
ethereal energies N o w we have a lmost an .

exact repro d ucti on of th e sol a r syste m i n the

ato m th at o n l y so recently was suppose d to
be in d i vis i ble N ow we k n ow t h a t th e tin y
.

a n d inv i s i b l e electrons i n the curve of the i r

,

o rbits a n d the spee d o f their fl i g h t r i val th e ,

stars i n th e i r courses T hus the more w e .

kno w o f th e mysteri es of nature th e more ,

w e kno w of the glory and po w er and maj

esty o f God .

A nd every path way of true knowled g e

l ea ds toward s th e sp i ritual a n d thus to w ards
68 T H E L OST ART OF MEDITATION

on earth ; a n d l o ! th e ve i l of the m orta l is

parted and t h ey behol d H i s g l ory But .

Luke says th a t H e we n t up i n to th e moun

ta i n to p r ay T he hour of me d i tati on a n d
.

pray er h a d become the hour o f revel a tion .

M editation and communion alw ay s resul t in

tr a n s fi g u r a ti o n .

1 M e d itat i on w ith J esus on th e mount

.

revea l s the immane n ce of the spiritual wor l d .

Im m a nence of
S o near did it se e m to Peter to
theSp i i t l r ua
be the i d eal o f j oy th at his first
thought w as to stay there “
Let Us make .

three tabernac l es ; one for T hee a nd one f or ,

M oses and one for Eli j ah

,
H eaven is not .

far from those w ho tarry on the mount w ith

their Lord .

No t w h er e th e Wh e el i n g s y ste m s d ar k en,
An d o ur b en u m b e d c o n c ei vi n
g s o a rs
;
Th e d r i ft of pi ni o n s , w o u ld w e h ar ke n ,
-

B ea ts at o u r o w n c a l y s h u tter e d d o o rs .

H o w beautifully R ich a r d W atso n Gi l d er ex

presse d the i mm a n e n ce o f th e spiritual H e .

w a s ca mp i n g w i t h some friends under the

p i ne trees a n d o n e summer e ve n i ng they sa t

,

talking o f the future and w hat it had in store

 M EDITATION A N D REVE L ATION 69

for d eath l ess souls when face to face w ith

God T h at n i g h t as th e poet la y awake the
.

pi n e branches above him seemed to be w h i s

peri n g among themselves a n d sayi n g

H
’
ea r d s t th o u th es e w a n d er er s d r e am ing o f a ti m e

W h en m an m o r e n e ar th e E ter n al O ne s h al l
c li m b
H ow li k e th e n ew -
bo rn b a b e ,
th at c a n n o t te ll
Th e
’
m o th er s ar m th a t w ra ps it w ar m an d w e ll .

I f every God created sense o f this i m m o r

-

ta l soul were w i d e awake how real w ou l d ,

become th e etern a l worl d a n d how near God ,

w oul d be ! T he n wou l d we real ize the truth

o f the poet s words :
’

C l o s er to m e th a n b r ea th i ng
N ear er th a n h an d s a n d fe e t .

Who has not i n moments of me d itation a n d

prayer c a u g ht a g limpse of open i n g g ates !
Who h a s n o t i n the secret place of h oly com
munio n felt the rush of some wh i te surging
w ave of emot i o n — a foretaste of th e j oy of

the b l esse d ! S omet i mes it is as if some

an g e l h a d touch ed th i s fra il bo d y a n d bade
us l ook upwar d I t i s i n such a moment
.
70 TH E L OST ART OF ME D I T ATION
that t h e stru g gl i n g soul i s nerve d anew f or
the co n flict with s i n Were i t not that God
.

v ouchsafes to l e a d us up i n to some mou n t o f

tr a n s fi g u r a ti o n no w a n d t h en ma n y of us

w ou l d become utterl y d i scoura ged D r J o. .

“
s e p h Parker onc e s a id : I f we do n o t g e t
back to vis io ns peeps into heaven con
, ,

s c i o u s n e s s o f the higher glory and the l a r g er

l i f e we sha ll l ose our rel i gion ; our a l tar wil l

,

be a bare stone unb l essed b y visitant from

,

”
he a ven .

2
. M editation with J esus on the mount
reveal s something of the g l o ry o f the spi ri t
Th S p i i t l
ual bo d y Here. w ere men who

—
e r ua
B dy
were o n ce as we are subj ect to
all the w eaknesses a nd d i s e a s e s o f th i s earth l y
—
l i fe yet now clothed in i mmortal youth .

Th e m o r ta l h a d given way to th e immorta l ;

the n atural to the sp i ritual An d yet the y
.

reta i n e d their i d entity T hey were st i ll M oses

.

a n d E l i j a h a s tr uly as whe n they walked the

earth N o l on g er enc umbere d with th e g ross

.

body of fles h but the earthly bod y tran s

,

mute d i n to t h at gl ori ous sp i r i tu a l or g anism

of etherea l mou l d a n d i m morta l be a uty .
 MEDITATION AND R EVE L ATION 7 1

T ha t the sp i ri tu a l bo d y s h al l be possesse d
of m i g h ty stre n gt h see m s ev i d e n t We are
.

“ ”
to be a s th e a n g e l s a n d D a v i d s a id O h
, , ,

ye H i s a n g els t h a t e x cel i n stre n g th . To

m o v e fr o m sp h ere to sphere w i th the speed
of t h ou g h t o n His h ig h erran d s of love and
m ercy a n d j u d g m ent woul d seem to be at

le a st a p a rt o f th e employme n t of the glori

fied . Wh at m ust i t be to be worth y to be
e n truste d by th e K i n g of k i n g s w i t h a m i s
s i o n s i m i l a r to th a t of M oses a n d E l ij a h or ,

of th e a n g el who m j ohn s a w i n v i s i o n who , ,

w i th o n e foot o n th e s e a a n d th e other on
the l a n d sw a re by H i m th a t l i veth forever
,

a n d ever t h a t t i m e s h a ll be n o more .

Here we a r e pr i soners of the fle sh here ,

ma n y of us suffer w i th pai n every w a ki ng

h our here m a n y g o l i mpi n g a ll t h e i r d ays
, ,

h ere m a n y n ever k n ow th e sweet se n se o f

s i g h t or h e a r i n g here m a n y are bur d e n ed
,

w i th th e fra i lti es of o ld a g e here m a n y s u fl e r

,
‘

poverty a n d a r e bur d e n e d i n bo d y a n d m i nd .

But w h a t m ust i t be to be free etern ally — ,

g lor i ously fr
,
e e a n d to be me s se n g ers of th e

Ki n g ! W h at must it be to be one mo
72 T H E L OST ART OF M E DITATION

ment in the dark n ess a n d d istress of g reat

”

p hys i ca l pa i n a n d t h e n ext forever b eyond

“
pain a n d sorrow a n d d well i n g in a house
,

”
not made w i th h an ds etern a l i n the heavens
, ,

a n d worth y to h ave a p a rt in th e h i gh minis

tries o i the E ternal T hrone ! S urel y this is a

change not to be feared but w e l com ed when
,

“
our work is done . Beloved now are we ,

the sons o f God and it doth not yet appear

w hat w e s h all be ; but we kno w that when ,

H e sha ll appear we shall be l ike H i m ; f or

,

w e s ha ll see Him as H e i s .

M editation with j esus on the mo unt gives

reality to the po w er and maj esty of Christ .

Th R
e eali ty f
o
T he discip l es had seen the g lory
Ch i t
r s
of His humanity T h e y h a d be en
.

reproved by H i m exhorted by Him e n c o u r

, ,

a g e d b y Him But as yet they had a ppar

.

ently little concepti on of H i s real gl ory T he .

real i ty of the prese n ce of the S on of God

with th em they coul d not g rasp .

H ow ma n y there are to W hom the i r Lord

is a mere p h a ntom ! H e h a s no real person
al i ty T hey th ink of o n e who li ve d a n d d i ed
.

n i neteen hun d red years a g o a n d they revere

 MEDITATION AN D REVE L ATION 73

H is m emory But of a li vi n g present Lord

.
,

and S aviour and Fr i end they seem to have

n o conception . T h i s is the reason wh y there
are so many church members w ho a r e i n
-

act i ve in Christi an w ork T o them Christ is

.

a nam e a memory ; not a l ife a power

, , .

T here i s n o impelling influence o f ho l y l ove

in the i r hearts Look at S a vonarola When
. .

he had on l y the f orm o f re li g ion he w as con

tent to stay i n th e convent But w hen the
.

Christ became a rea li ty in his l i f e then con

vent walls cou l d n o t ho l d him Fl orence .

soon heard th e th un d er to n e s of his voice ,

and trembled With Chri st we will dare g o

.

down from the mounta in top to battle with

d emons . T he reali ty of H i s prese n ce and
power w ill make heroes of the w eakest of us ,

and one w il l ch a se a th ousand and two put ,

ten th ousa n d to fl i g ht .

’
—
Here i s th e worl d s nee d to d a y m e n w h o
-

h a v e s e e n th e i r L o r d
. Th e world c a n n ever
expect m uch from those to w h om C h rist is
a mere n a me or a va g ue co n cept i on I f th e .

C hurch of t h i s twenti eth cen tury would go

forward with a confiden c e born of ho ly ,
74 TH E L OST A RT O F MEDITATIO N

wai ting before God to s a y to thiz l ost ,

”
mu l t i tudes We have seen the Lor d noth
, ,

ing could sta y her co n quer i ng march .

M e d itation with j esus on the mount give s

new fa i th in th e supernatural H ere the .

F ith i
a h
n t
disciples
e
had a glimp se int o
s p
u l
er n a tu r a
another k i ng d o m H e re was a .

s amp l e o f the heaven ly ki n gdom a nd what ,

to them seemed unna tura l whe n the M aster

ta l ked about it no w se e med per f ectly n a tura l
in the m oment of experience T h ey w a n te d .

to stay here T hese are day s w hen so m e

.

men are tr yln g to eliminate the su pernatura l

from the B i b le T hey seek to e x p l a i n a w ay
.

th e mirac l es o f the O ld an d N ew T estame n ts

a n d d iscou n t a ll t h at is s uperhuma n i n the

l ife of Chr i st But such h ave n ever dwe l t on

.

the mou n t He who dwells o n the mou ntai n

.

of me d i ta ti o n w i t h the glorifie d Lor d w i l l

eas ily come to s e e that wha t is supern atura l
to us m a y be very n a tura l to those I n a l i ttle
h igher re a lm of bei n g I n deed he w il l b e
.

come co nsc i ous o f w h a t i s ca lled th e supe r

natural F or to be o n the mou n t i s to be
.

i n com m union w i th the l i ving C hri st a n d ,

M E DITATI ON A N D C A L V A RY
B u t fa r b e i t fr o m m e to gl yo r , sa v e

d hi
i n th e c r o ss o f o u r Lo r j e s u s C r s t,
h
t ro u gh wh i h c w ld h h
th e or at be e n
i d
cr u c fi e un to m e , a n d I un to th e
wo rl d .

—P a u l.
 VI
M E D ITATI O N AN D C A L V A RY

H ERE is n o d y n a m i c l i k e Calvary .

T h ere i s n o m a g n et l i ke th e story o f
th e cross .A m o n g a ll the g l or i ous
d octrines of th e Wor d of G o d th e ato n ement
must ever m a intain th e pr i macy I t is the .

m a ster tru th of a ll S cr i pture .T he apostles

knew n o other pre a c h i n g th an th e pre a ch i n g
of th e cross T h ey h a d only o n e th e m e
.

—
C h ri st a n d H i m c r u c i fi e d a bout w h ich were
“
g roupe d all ot h er t h e m es . Be i t far from
” “
me s a i d Paul to g lory s a ve i n th e cross
, , ,

of our Lor d j esus C h r i st t h rou g h w h ic h the

,

w orl d h a th bee n cruc i fie d u n to me a n d I ,

”
u n to the worl d .

We l i ve in a d a y of lesse n ing emphasis

upo n th e pre a c h i n g of th e cross of C h ri st .

We d o n o t t a ke ti m e to m e d i t a te ,
S t C th i
. a er n e

a s d i d th e f a t h ers o n th e p a ss i o n
,

of our Lord , a n d so we lose our a pprec i a ti on

of i ts i n fi n i te me a ni n g . T h rou g h n e g lect of
C alva ry we b ecome a fra i d of C alvary We .

79
80 T H E L OST A RT OF ME D ITAT ION

are not wil l ing to see its sufferi ng lest w e

be come partakers Look at S t Cath er i ne
. . .

S he felt such keen d i s tress for l ost souls

about her th a t as s h e turned tow a rds
,

“
C a lvary s h e cri ed G i ve me Th y prom i se
, ,

dear Lor d t h at T hou w i lt save them !

, T hen
it seeme d to her that the Lor d grasped her
han d a n d ga ve her the pro m ise ; but as H e
did so she f elt a sharp pain as if a nai l had
pierce d her pa l m I n these d ays of ps y cho
.

l og i cal wisdom w e speak lightl y o f an ex

p e r i e n c e li ke this and
, eas i ly explain it a w a y .

But this is sure S t Catherine k n e w her Lord

, .

as man y o f us do not know Him and s h e ,

shared with H i m the pass i on for l ost sou l s .

I f we wou l d stop to l ook at Calvary and see

the su ffering L a mb of G o d we too might
s h are H i s trav a i l of soul for th e lost .

Th e exper i ence of S t F ra n c 1 3 I s 5 1 mi l ar to
.

t h at of S t Cath eri n e and is fa mil i a r to a ll

.
,

students of s o ca lle d myst i cal l i t

-

St F
. i
r a nc s

e r a tu r e F or weeks h e had been

.

recal l ing the scenes of the cruc i fix i on H e .

h a d fa ste d and praye d w i th the me mory of

Ca l vary ever before him A g a i n and again .
 MEDITATION AND C A LVARY 8I

he h ad re a d th e story of th e P a ss i o n until th e
l ove a n d su fferi n g of th e S a v i our h a d burne d
itself i n to h i s h ear t H e h a d spe n t th e n i g h t
.

in pra yer w h e n w i th th e r i s i n g s u n there

, , ,

came to h i m a wo n d rous v i s i o n
A sera p h w i t h outspr e a d wi n g s flew
tow a r d s h i m from the e d g e of th e horizon ,

a n d b a th e d h i s soul i n r a ptures u n utterable .

In the ce n tre of th e V i s i o n a ppe a re d a cross ,

a n d the seraph w a s n a i le d upo n i t W h en .

th e v i s i o n d i s appe a re d he felt sh a rp suffer

,

i n g s m i n g l e d w i th ecsta sy i n th e first mo
,

m e n ts S ti rred to the very d epths of h i s

.

bei n g he w a s a n xi ously a sk i n g the mean i ng

,

of i t all w h en b e perce i ve d upon his bo d y the

,

S tig m a ta of the C r u c i fi e d .

Come with me ye re d eemed by th e blood

, ,

and s e e now your dy i n g Lor d C ome first .

to Gethse m a n e w h ere i n H i s , ,
A M d i t ti
e a on

ago n y He l i es prostra te o n th e
,

col d groun d S ee H i m swe a t g re a t d rops of

.

“
bloo d He a r H i m cry Fa ther i f T h ou be
.
, ,

wil l i n g re m ove th i s cup from M e : n e v e r th e

,

”
less not M y w ill but T h i n e be done
,
Th i s
,
.

w as the cri s i s in th at ti ta n ic stru g g le with sin

82 T H E L OST ART OF MEDITATION

and death F rom t h is mome n t the ti d e of

.

battl e sur g es tow a r d s th e cross N ow l et sin .

and d eath d o their worst .

S ee h ere th ey come ! T he torches are

,

flashing throu g h the trees H i s own d isci p l e

.

Th e
l eads the murderous m ob T hey .

A t
r res
surround him w i th fie n dish gl ee ,

and j udas gives the kiss of betra y a l T hen .

the y drag H i m from th e Gar d en tow a rds the

c i ty But w e s ha ll never k n ow a ll that He
.

endured on that wa y of sorrow Ti ssot the .

,

great painter represe n ts them w h ile crossing

, ,

the stone bri d g e over Ke d ro n pus h i n g Him ,

over th e side of the bridge a n d He falls pros ,

trate in the bed of the brook below T here .

f or a moment H e ma y l a ve H i s feverish l ips

in the cool i n g waters thus fu l fill i n g a n o l d
,

prophecy H e s h a l l dri n k of th e brook in

,

the way ”
But t h e y dra g Him up a g a in a n d
.
,

hurry H i m on to the city T hey take Him .

first to the house of A n nas that gree d y o l d ,

S adducee who prob a bly h a d much to do with

,

the part j ud a s pla yed i n th e tra g e d y M ean .

w hi l e the S a n he d ri m is be i n g assemble d in
the house of C a i a phas T h i ther t h ey hurr y
.
84 T H E L OST ART OF M E DITATION

T he n P il a te after washing his hands and

,

decl a r i n g h i mself i n noce n t orders Him ,

Th C e l
rue
scourge d H e i s turne .d over to
M k g
°° m
th e cruel R om a n sold ie rs to ,

“
w h om H e is n ot h i ng more th a n a hunted
”
an im a l for the dogs to worry Here He .

suffers th e V il est i n d i gn i ti es Here the y .

m a ke a wreath o f thorns a n d put i t on H i s

brow T hey have heard t h at H e ca ll ed
.

Himself a k i ng a n d so they put a reed

,

i n His ha n d and bowi n g be f ore Him

, , ,

mock Him Here all the baser passions

.

Of these R oman butchers are turne d lo o se ,

and hel l itse lf spits its venom on the S on o f

God .

N o w begi n s the march to Cal vary H e .

fai n ts beneath the heavy cross they put on

H i s shou l ders but they hurry ,
C lv y
a ar

H i m o n N ow the h ill is reached

. .

With ro u gh han d s they strip H i s g arments

a n d b i n d Him to the cross T hey drive the
.

n a i ls th rou g h H i s quiver i n g flesh a n d l ift ,

up the cross before th e eyes of the b l ood

th i rsty mu l titu d e An d there H e hangs
.

y our d ying Lord !

 MEDITATION AND C A LVAR Y 85

“
H ea r H i m cry M y G o d M y G o d w h y
, , ,

”
hast T hou fors a ke n M e ! T h e n th e d ar k
ness t h i cke n s Th e s u n h i d es i ts fa ce A
. .

str a n g e s i le n ce fa lls upo n th e j esti n g murd er

ers T he misti n ess of d e a th g a t h ers o n th e
.

“ ”
S a v i our s eyes a s H e cr i es I t i s fi n i s h e d !
’
,

Fro m th e ci ty yo n der i s hear d the mur m ur

o f vo i ces a n d the sou n d of tru m pets and i n
, ,

the g atheri ng g loom may be see n th e co l umn

of smoke rI s m g from the a lta r of bur n t s a c
r i fic e. But o h j erusalem ! th e h our of th y
, ,

d eso l ation h a s come Wh a t a v a i ls your sac

.

r i fi c e s now ! Th e g lory has d ep a rte d Be .

h old the ve il i s re n t i n twa i n the earth ,

qu a kes th e rocks are re n t th e tombs a r e

, ,

O pe n e d ! Yo n d er i s th e s a cr i fice o t e a v e n
— the true Lamb of G o d A cruel worl d h a s .

rej ecte d H i m T hey h a ve sl a i n their M ess i a h

.

and K i n g He i s th e l a st a n d o n ly s a c
.

ri fic e for s i n An d t h a t
. bloo d sta i n e d -

cross w i th i ts blee d i n g v i ct i m sh a ll yet be

th e g lory of th e etern i ti es a n d u n cou n te d ,

mill i o n s s h a ll turn th e ir eyes of fa i th

tow a r d s Gol g oth a s hill and t h rou g h th e
’
,

cen turi es cry

86 T H E L OST ART OF M E D ITATIO N
j es u s Th y b l o o d a n d r ig h te o u s nes s
,

M y b e au ty a r e m y g l o r i o u s d r e ss
,
’
Mi d s t fl a m i n g w o r ld s i n th e s e a r r a yed , ,

Wi th j o y s h al l I li ft u p m y h ea d .

H ai l ! T hou su ffering Christ ! All hai l ! H ai l !

T hou conquer i ng C h rist ! A l l hai l ! Th e
darkness of Calvary is past and the w orl d ,

is rej oicing in T hy resurrecti on power and

victory But far be it from me to g l or y save
.

In T h y cross !

2 1 Dr ag er
0 Sa c r e d H ea d , no w w o un d ed ,

Wi th
g f a n d ri e
s h a m e w e ig h ed d o w n ,

No w s c o r n fully s u r r o un d e d
Wi th th o r n s T hi n e o n l y c r o w n ;
,

0 S ac r ed H e a d w h a t g lo r y , ,

W h at bli s s ti ll n o w w a s T hi n e
,

Ye t th o u g h d es p i s e d a n d g o r y
, ,

I j o y to c all The e m ine .

What lan g u ag e s h a ll I bo r ro w
To th a n k
!

Thee , d ear est Fr i end ,

F o r thi s , Th y d y i n g so r r o w ,

Th y p i ty Wi th o u t e nd

O h, m a ke m e T h i n e fo r eve r ;
An d sh o u ld fa i n ti n g b e
I ,

Lo r d , le t m e neve r n e v e r, ,

O utl i v e m
y lo ve to Th ee .
MEDITATI O N AN D C A LVAR Y 87

Be h en I d yi ng ,
’
n e ar m e w m

O h, sh o w Th y c r o ss to m e ;

An d , fo r m y s uc c o ur flying ,

C o m e Lo r d
, , fr e e ;
an d s et m e

T hes e e y e s n e w fa i th r e c e ivi n g
, ,

Fr o m j e s u s s h all n o t m o ve ;
F o r he w ho d i es b eli e v i n g ,

D i es sa elf y th r o u g h Th y l o ve
—B
, .

f C
’
er n a r d
q ta i r w ux .
M E D I TAT I ON AN D T H E B I BL E
d li gh
B ut h i s e t i s i n th e la w o f th e
d
L o r , a n d i n H i s la w d h
o t he m e di
ta te d a y a n d n i ght .
9 2 T H E L OST ART OF MEDITATION

A mo n gst th e i n s ects wh i ch subsist on

the sweet s a p of flowers th ere are two ,

B ee o r
ver y d i ffer e nt c l a sses O n e is
.

B fly
u tt e r
remarka ble f or its impos i n g
p l umage w h i ch s h ows in the sunl i ght like
,

the d ust of gems ; a n d a s you watch its

j au nty gy ratio n s over th e fie l ds a n d its ,

m i nuet dance from flower to flower y ou can ,

not h elp a d mir i n g i ts gracefu l activity f or it ,

is pl a i n ly g etti ng over a great deal o f

groun d But i n the same fi eld there is
.

another w orker whose brown vest a nd busi

,

n e s s li ke straightfor w ard flight ma y not have

,

arrested y our eye His fluttering neighbour

.

darts d own h ere a n d there a n d sip s e l e ,

g a n t ly w h erever he can fi n d a d rop o f rea d y

nectar ; b u t th i s d i n gy p l od d er m a kes a poi n t
of ali g hti n g ever y where a n d wherever he ,

a li g hts h e e i ther fi n d s ho n ey or m a kes i t If .

the flow e r cup be deep he g oes d ow n to the

,

bottom ; if its d ra g on mouth be shut he ,

thrusts its l ips a sunder a n d if the nectar be

-

pecu l i a r or reco n dite he explores a l l about

,

ti ll he d iscovers it a n d t h e n h a v i n g a s c e r
'

ta i n e d th e kn a ck of i t j oyful a s one who has

,
 M E D ITATI O N AN D TH E B I BL E 93

found g re a t spo i l he s i n gs hi s wa y down

,

into i ts l usc i ous recesses H i s riva l of the .

,

painted velvet w i n g h a s no pat i ence f or such

,

dul l and l o n g w i n d e d d eta i ls But what is

-
.

the e n d ! W h y the one d i e d l a st O ctober

,

al on g with th e flo w ers ; th e oth er i s warm in

his h ive to n i ght am i dst the fragrant stores
-
,

w h i ch he gathere d be n eath the br i ght b e ams

”
of summer .

I t was Leigh R ichmond who describes so

beautifu lly one of his v i s i ts to the Young
Th Y e oun
g
Cottager H e fou n d her .asleep
c t g
o ta er
w ith her fi n ger on the open
B i b l e be fore her S he w a s point i ng at the
.

“
w or d s Lord remember me when T hou
, ,

comest into Th y kingdom I s th is casual .

or des i gne d ! though t I Ei ther way i t is r e .

markable But i n anoth er mome n t I d i s

covered that her fin g er was i n d ee d a n in d ex
to the thou g hts of her heart S h e ha lf .

awoke fro m her d oz i n g state but not s u ffi ,

c i e n tly so to perceive that any person was

present a n d sai d i n a kin d Of wh i sper

, ,

‘
Lord remember me remember m e r e
,
— -

—
member remember a poor chi l d ; Lor d r e ,
94 . TH E L OST ART OF MEDITATION
mem b er me T hat is true meditation
.
,

w hen we appropr i a te the Word to our own

so ul need and make its promises a part of
,

the very l ife .

O ne o f the great spiritua l masters o f the

l ast century D ean Goulbur n formul a te d
, ,

R l
u es f or
some ru l es for Bible stu d y that
M dit ti
e a on
shoul d be he l p fu l to every sin
“
cere student o f the Word M editatio n on .

” “
S cripture said he need not be li m i ted to
, ,

set times but may be carrie d on profitab ly

,

in an y hour o f so l itude and whenever the ,

mind is not other wi se engaged Possibl y at .

some interva l duri ng the day you may be

alone Hav e recourse then to the passage
.

of S cri p ture which y ou have previous ly

l odged in your mind and a s k yourse l f seri ,

o u s ly as in the s i g ht of God what practica l

‘

, ,

l essons it is d esigned to teach and what ,

bearing it has on your spiritua l we lfare .

D uring a so l itar y w a l k or at an y ,

period o f leisure imagine t hat when y ou r e

, ,

turn y ou w il l be ca l led upon to address an

,
-

aud i ence on the subj ect w h i ch you propose

f or meditati on I t wonderf ul ly disentang l e s
.
 MEDITATION AN D TH E B I BL E 95

a ll di ffi culti es to co n s i der h o w w e cou l d ,

m a ke pl a i n to other m i n d s th e truth which is

thus beset to our own .

I
. E n d eavour to realize the presence of
G o d a ccor d i n g to that co n ceptio n of th i s

g re a t trut h w h i ch best suits your ow n mind .

F eel th at H e is here .

2
. C a ll upon God as a n essential condi
ti on of success to i n spire you w i th hol y
,

thoughts a n d to b l ess t h em to your sp i ri tu al

,

profit a n d g rowth i n g ra ce for C hrist s s a ke ’

.

D o i t very bri efly but w i th great e a r n estness .

3
. O pen t h e p a ss a ge of S cr i pture which
i s to form th e subj ect of m e d ita tion ; or r e
peat i t me n ta lly .

“
4 .T h e B i ble be i n g ope n e d a t the p a s

s a ge p i cture to yourself th e circumstances

,

by a n effort of the i m a g i nati o n .

“
5 .T h e c i rcumst a n ces h av i n g been
pictured ne xt co m es th e exercise of the
,

u n d erstan d i n g upo n th e wor d s We refle ct .

upo n th em tur n them over i n our m in d

, ,

e n d ea vour to m a ke out w h a t th ey teach ,

what doctri n e is w rapped up in them and ,

w hat duty .
9 6 TH E L OST A RT O F M EDITATION

6 N ext f o l lows the e x erc i se of the

.

a ffe ct i on s and the w ill i n co m parab ly the

,

most im porta nt p a rt of th e w h o l e me d i ta
t i o n In this co n s i sts the pract i c a l a pplica
.

t i on of th e l i ttle sermon to yo u r own hea rt ,

i n th e a bsence of wh i ch it i s useless o r i n ,

some respects worse th a n use l ess I t will be .

a g ood pl a n to a llow a n y feel i n g which stirs

with i n you as you re g a r d the truth s of th e
,

pass ag e to express I tself i n prayer Con

, .

c lu d e a ll by an exerc i se of the w i l l that i s , ,

b y one or more reso l utions .

But to these very h elpful ru l e s ma y be -

a d d e d some ot h er pra ctic a l s u g g es tio n s :

I. M e m o r i z e th e S c r ip tu r e I t i s a goo d .

p l an to commit at least o n e verse to memory

every d a y L e t th i s be d o n e
Me i e
.

m or z

upo n risin g i n th e mor n i n g th e n ,

al l through th e d a y l et th a t verse be c a rri e d

in th e mem or y a n d from i t w i ll flow an ever
,

fres h e n i n g stream of c o m fort and strength -

and hope I n after l i fe th is memo r ized

.

S cripture w il l gi ve forth a fragrance that w i l l

e n r i ch a n d beauti fy li fe s clo s i n g yea rs F or
’
.

God s ch i l d ren who to i l i n th e fields or i n

’
,
 MEDITATION AND T H E B I BL E 97

th e factory o r i n th e o ffice or i n the mine

, , ,

a n d who d o n o t h a ve muc h t i me to d evote

to systemat i c B i ble stu d y th is i s a g ood ,

pla n O ne
. verse kept i n th e memory
throu g h out th e d a y m a y be tur n e d over and
over a g a i n i n th e m i n d u n ti l every word
fl a s h es with some beaut i ful lesso n .

2 . R ea d and r er ea f
d th e g r ea t p a s s ag es o

th e Wo r d T h ere i s a wo n d erfu l variety i n

.

Rea d h t e
t h e B i ble T h ere i s variet y of
.

Grea t P g ass a es
l i tera ry structure a n d styl e v a ,

r i e ty i n th e rel i g ious po i n t of v i ew of the

wr i ters variety i n th e i n d i v i d uality of the

,

wr i ters a n d vari ety i n th e sp i r i tu a l intens i ty

,

of d i ffere n t p a rts But th i s vari ety d oes n o t

.

i n terfere wit h i ts real unity T h ere a re parts .

of S cri pture h owever th a t w il l appeal with

m ore interest a n d power to some m i n d s th a n

to others Yet t h ere are certa i n p a ssages

.

and c h apters of such o u tstan d i n g beauty a n d

power that all sp i r i tua l mi n d s are n a turally
!

attracted to them In the O ld T esta me n t for.

,

instance suc h p a ss a g es a s Ge n es i s i D euter

, .
,

o n o m y xxxii — xxxi v Th e S o n g of D ebo rah

.
~

.
, ,

T he Prayer of H a n n a h 2 S amuel xxi i S o l o , .

,
9 8 T H E L OST ART OF ME D ITAT IO N

mon s Pray er of D edication Psal ms xix xxiii

’
, .
,

xl viii lxv lxxii lxxxiv a n d ciii and I saiah

—
.
, .
, . .
,

xl l xvi wi ll n ever lose their freshness I n

. . .

th e N ew T estament T he Words o f j esus ,

and such passages as R oma n s viii I Cor .

,

i n th i a n s xiii and S t Pau l s l etter to the

.
, .
’

E phesians w e w i ll w ant to read again and

,

again .

3 . A lw a
y s s ee h th e a id
of th e H ol S
y pi r it .

S ome one has sa i d that the Bib l e without the

Th H ly
e o
H ol y S pirit is l ike a sun dia l by -

moo n l i g ht T he H o l y S pirit is
”

the great I nterpreter o f S cripture When in .

,

the quiet hour the mind and heart are open ,

to His i n fluence H e sheds l i g ht divine on the

sacred page H e uncovers the hidden things
.

of truth H e makes p l ain th e ways o f God

. .

“
H owbeit when H e the S p i rit o f T ruth is ,

”
come H e shal l guide you into all truth
,
.

E v e r y h o u r of med i tat i on therefore should

begin with prayer f or H is presence and H is
enlighteni n g influence t e n H e is present .

there wil l be no t i me spent in da y dream i ng .

M i n d a n d heart w ill be wo nderfully qu i ck

ened and the d eep th i n g s of G o d will be
,
 M E D I T ATIO N A N D
P REA C H IN G
My h ear t w a s ho t w i th i n m e ;
Wh il e I w as m us n i g th e fir e k i dl dn e

Th en s p ke
a I w i th m
y to n gue .
1 04 . T H E L OST ART OF MEDITATION

I t i s n o t a th i n g of ecsta ti c momentary
,

sta tes a n d i t i s n o t a bl i n d i n g o f the e y es in

,

the hope o f d iscovering another organ to see

with I t is a life of normal j oyous corre
.
,

s p o n d e n c e with th e presence of G o d who ,

streams into every person whos e inner win

dows are open and who floo d s every act and
,

”
impu l se w ith constructive ener g y .

We have become s o practi ca l and s o inte l

l ectua l in the se l atter day s that w e seem a l
most tempt ed to g e t a l ong without God We .

seem to have l ost our consciousness o f the

unseen and etern a l and thus have l ost spir ,

i tu a l de p th S aid the A rchbishop o f Canter

.

bury We have high churchmen and l ow

, ,

churchme n a n d broa d churchmen ; w hat w e

,

”
need is d e ep ch u r ch m e n .

F or the successfu l m In ls te r spiritua l medita

tion is necessary .

I . In o r d er to s e ttle d co n v i c ti o n co n ce r n

i ng th e g f r ea How
t tr u th s
c a n an o
y God .

m a n pre a ch t h e great d octr i n es

P i t
r es f s o
T h
r ut
of the B i ble with power unless he
have a pro fou n d conviction o f the i r truth !
H e must fee l t h a t these great teachings have
 MEDITATION AN D P REA C H IN G 1 05

become a part of h i s very life I t w a s j o h ann .

Gottl i eb F i c h te th e prop h et of tra n scende n ta l

,

idea l i sm a n d a man of sta i nless c h a racter who

,

s ai d I a m a p r i e s t of tr u th M y l ife m y for
,
.
,

—
tunes are of li ttle moment the resu l ts of m y
l ife are of i n fi n ite moment I have bound .

m y sel f to ve n ture al l th i ngs to suffer al l ,

”
th i ngs for truth An d th i s must be the
gospe l pre a c h er s i de a l co n cern i n g his holy
’

voca ti on H e is a p r i e s t of tr u th in the h igh

.

est se n se .

N eglect o f sp i r i tual med i tati o n wil l al way s

be n oti ceable in th e m i n i ster His g rasp o f .

truth will be u n certa i n a n d h is preach i ng

,

wi ll pro d uce u n certa i n ty a n d vaci l lation in

h i s hearers T here will be little soul food
.

in what h e s a ys S ome modern preaching

.

i s much like th e d i sh of w h i ch Abraham

L i ncoln speaks a s h o m eop a th i c soup made
”
fro m the s h a dow of a ch i cke n I t l a cks .

foo d e l eme n ts I t d oes n o t satisfy sp i ritu a l

.

h u n g er
. P r a yerfu l m e d i ta t i on upo n th e
g reat the m es of th e Wor d of G o d wil l
deepen a n d fa ste n th e hol d di truth on th e
m i n d a n d he a rt a n d pro d uce i n th e preach
,
 1 06 TH E L OST ART O F M EDITATION

er s life such e a rn estn e ss of co n viction c o n

’

cernin g the S cr i ptures that h e wi l l not ques

tion th eir i n spi ra t i o n T hen h i s m ess a ge w i ll
.

“
have authority I t wi ll be i n demonstra ti o n
.

”
o f the spirit a n d o f power I t wi ll be a .

message from God a n d th e people will kno w

,

th a t it is .

I f the truth w ere kno w n it w ou l d easi ly be

s een that man y mi n isters who are pre a chi n g
“ ” “
w hat is c al l e d l iberalism a n d n e w the
ology to da y are men w ho ne g l ected to
” -

keep in touch wit h G od through me d i ta tion

and private devot i on A n emi n ent professor .

in o n e of our theologica l schoo ls s a ys th a t

w hen he finds a you n g mi nister who h a s
falle n into doubt i n vesti ga tion al wa ys r e
,

vea l s the fact th at the youn g m a n ne g l ected

secret prayer a n d me d i ta t i o n o n the great
truths of th e B i ble N oth i n g w i ll so qu i ck ly
.

ta ke the keen edge o ff a m a n s o w n re l igious ’

e x perience and u n d e r m ln e his fa i th i n the

,

inerra n cy of ho ly S crip ture li ke negl ect o f

sp i r i tual med i ta tion .

2 . In or d e r to pa ti e n ce co n ce r n i ng th e vi s

i ble r e s u lts o f our w or k

. When w e l ook f rom
1 08 TH E L OS T AR T OF ME D ITAT ION
sador w il l be content to l eave resu l ts w ith

3 . In o r d er to p r epa r a ti o n f o r th e d e li v

e ry f o th e A g reat natura
m es s ag e .l ist o f
D e li e y f
v r
the o
e i ghteent h century h a s S ll g

th Me g
gested o n e o f the secrets o f
es s a e

powerfu l and success fu l preaching H e say s .

I nvention depends on patience Contem .

p l ate your subj ect l ong ; it wil l gr adual ly

unfo l d t i ll a sort of e l ectric spark convu l ses
,

for a moment the brain and spreads do w n ,

to the very heart a glo w of irritation T hen .

come the l uxuries of genius the true hours ,

f or production a n d composition ; hours s o

de li ghtfu l that I have spent twelve and four
teen successive ly a t my wr i ti n g desk and
”
have stil l been in a state of p l e a sure T he .

me nta l preparat i on is a lw a ys necessary Th e .

thought must take fi r e before the word s take

’
fire But i f there be me n ta l prep a rati on onl y
.
,

the message w i ll n o t be w h at i t s h ould be .

We must come from a V i s i on of th e heavenl y

if we woul d be true messe n g ers of G o d .

We are th re a te n ed to d a y Wi th a spirit o f-

profession a l i sm i n the pulp i t ; a n d apostol i c

 ME D ITATION AN D P R E A C H IN G 1 09

idea l s have been all but l ost sight o f b y man y

w ho a ssu m e th e sacre d o ffice of th e C h ri s
tian m i nistry I t w a s th e great A postl e to
.

“
th e Ge n tiles who s a i d But far be i t from
,

me to glory save in the cross of our Lord

,

j esus Christ through which the worl d hath

,

bee n crucified u n to me and I unto the w orl d

, .

H e who wou l d m a i ntai n an i d ea l li ke this

must be much al one with God H e must .

see someth i ng of the re l ative val ue of the

earthl y a n d the heaven l y a n d he must s e e ,

something of the rea l g lo r y o f the cross of

Christ When he h a s med i ta ted on the s a c
.

r i fi c i a l d eath o f h i s Lord u n t i l his heart is

a fla m e with l ove then his w ords w i l l be as

fire whenever and wherever he speaks .

T hat i s a beautiful l e g end of th e F east of

S t Francis of A ss i si a n d S t C lara in the
. .

Vi i
s f
o n o Church of S t M ar y and t h e.

S t 'F d
ran s
A n g el s An d. at the first
dish runs the l egend S t Fra ncis began to
, , .

speak of G o d so sweetl y s o sublimely so , ,

w ondrously th a t th e full n ess of d i v i n e g race

,

came dow n on th e m fa n d th ey were r a pt i n

Go d . A nd as th ey w ere thus rapt w ith ey es ,
1 10 T H E L OST ART OF MEDITATION

and hands upl i ft to heaven th e folk o f Assisi

,

and the country rou n d a bout saw th a t S t .

M ary and the A nge l s a n d al l the house and

, ,

the w ood that w as hard b y the h o use were ,

b u rning brightl y and it seemed as if it w ere

,

a great fire that filled the church a n d the

house and the w ho l e w ood to g ether F or .

w hich cause the people of A ssisi ran th i ther

in great haste to quench the flames but —
co m i n g c l ose up to the house a n d fi n d in g
,

n o fire at a ll t h ey entered w i t h i n and f ound

,

S t F rancis a n d S t C l ara and a ll thei r com

. .
1 -

pan y in contemp l ation ra p t in God and

sitt i ng aroun d th at humb l e board Whereb y
.

of a truth they understood that th i s had been

”
a heavenl y fl a me a n d no earth ly one at all
, .

N eglect of med i tation upon the great

veriti es of S cri p ture wi ll mean a shal lo w
i n tellectual i sm or a l az y forma l ism f or the
preach er . T here w i l l be n o b l ood red -

earn estness i n h i s ma n ner ; there wi l l be no

fl a me in his word s H e w il l have no heart
.
-

gri p on his con g re g ati on because he has not

waited in me d i tat i on a n d prayer u n ti l th e
truth he preaches has gri pped h i s o w n sou l .
1 1 2 T H E L OST ART OF MED ITATION

tho ught a n d exper i en c e a n d that be ar so

,

p l a inly the m a rks of th e hours spe n t in ho ly

me d ita ti o n .

T h ro u g h th e mu l t i plic i ty of or g a nizations
a n d d epartme n ts i n mo d er n c h urch work it

Tem pe i e
ee e n
ie
s to be fe a re d t h at t h e pu l pit is
se rv e T bl
a es
fa st becom i n g secu la r i zed I n .

some commun i ties th e m i n i ster is no l onger

a prea cher H e i s the bus i n ess man a ger for
.

th e various departments of church act i vity .

I n other co m m un i ties he is the eccl esiasti cal

administrator or the social leader T here is
, .

a consta nt tempt a t i on i n th ese d ay s for the

“
minister to forsake the Wor d o f G o d a n d
serve tables I n many ch u rches a m a n is
.

v alued more for h i s adm i nistrative abi li ty

than for h i s po w er to preach the Gospe l or
teach the Word of God S u c h a man m u st .

fi n d the secret place and me d itate on those

,

th in g s that led h i m to e n ter this holy o ffice ,

and then a s k h i mself w h ether he i s really

d oi n g the work to w h ich the H ol y S pirit
calle d h i m .

T he m i n i ster w h o fi n d s t i me for co n temp l a

tion of th e g reat v e r i fi e s a n d awful sublimiti es
 MEDITATION AND P REA C H IN G I I3

of t i me a n d etern i ty as set forth i n the ,

S cri ptures w i ll qu i ckly co m e to a h i g h con

,

c e p ti o n of h i s m i ss i o n a s a n amb a ss a dor of

th e K i n g of k i n g s H e w i ll s e e t h a t his
.

g re a t work i s to p r e a ch th e G o sp e l S uch a .

m a n w i ll h a ve n o t i me for m ere i n tellectu al

gym n a sti cs i n th e pulpit H e w ill seek to be .

a g r e at preacher but a gre a t preacher af ter

,

th e a postol i c i d eal An d the co n sc i ousness

.

of the g reatn ess of h i s call i n g w i ll gi ve to

his m es s a g es a to n e of h e a ve n ly au thority
th a t h a s bee n m a de sweet a n d te n d er b y
hours of w a i ti ng I n th e i n ner c h amber with
h i s Lord .

5 . In or d e r to he f
s a ve d
f r om th e sin o li o

i ng a s e lfi s h li e Th e co n d i t i o n s of mo d ern
.

c h urch l i fe a r e ofte n suc h as to

S v dF m
a e ro
S lfi m
e s es s
e x pose th e m i n i ster to th i s subtle
tempta ti on Th e te n d e n cy tow a r d s pro i es
.

s i o n a li s m makes i t e a sy for th e m a n w h o i s
much before th e publ i c to d ri ft i n to self l i v -

in g . T o be sure o n ly th e g ra ce of G o d ca n
cle a n se us from selfis h ness but we must be ,

co n sci ous of o u r n ee d we m us t s e e ourselves ,

.

as G o d se e s us before we w ill seek this cleans

1 14. TH E L OST ART OF MEDITATION

ing W h at a beauti f u l examp l e o f the u h

.

s e l fish spir it w e have in Barnabas . H e had

been sent as a de l egate from the church
at j erusa l em to the church at A ntioch .

B u t he soon decided that Pau l was the

man for the situat i on there a n d accord
,

i n g ly w ent to T arsus and found Pau l and

brought him to Antioch H e was more a n x
.

ious f or the success o f the church at Antioch

and f or the comi n g o f the k i n g d om o f Christ
than f or his own position or popular ity ; so
he surrendered the l eadersh i p to anothe r
w hom he be l ieve d to be better fitt ed f or the
p l ace What a beauti f u l spirit o f magna
.

n i m i ty ! H ow much w e need it i n the Chris

tian ministry to day ! I f we coul d h ave more
-

time to meditate on the u n s e lfi s h n es s of Christ

w e w ould o ftener show f orth the Gospe l o f
”
the S on o f G o d and w ou l d be more e ffectiv e
,

i n th e g re a test work in the wor l d A fe w

words l eft us by S t Francis revea l th e secret

.

of h i s marvellous influence and might we ll

,

be pondered by us upon whom is the cal l o f

heaven to preach the everl a sti n g Gospe l :
“
A bove al l the gifts and the graces which
M E D ITATIO N AN D W O RS H I P
Wi thi n m
y h ea r t is th e E te r n a l
A d i
o rat o n .
12 0 TH E L OST ART OF MEDITATION

th e i n sti n ct o f work s o e m pty of G o d o f rev

, ,

erence a n d of pra yer T he tende n cy has

.
’

been towards the grossest mater i al i sm result

ing in an in d i ff erence to th e great prob l ems
of li fe and dest i ny D r Campbel l M organ
. .

recently s a i d that th e a tti tu d e of the worl d to

“
day could be summed u p in one wo rd i h ,

di fference Because o i t h i s sp i rit of i n d iffe r

.

ence the supern atura l has become a bugb e ar

to man y Crit i cism of the Word of God and
.

the Church has bee n ramp a n t M a n y have .

the f orm of go dl i n ess without th e power W e .

-

need a n e w spiritu al consciousness a new —

—
touch of th e D i vine a G o d co n scious ness .

O n l y this can stay the fl o o d tide of sceptic i sm -

and material i sm a n d i rreverence a l ready all

about us .

S ee how li ttle of th e spirit Of true wo rsh i p

‘

there is i n m a n y c h urches I t woul d s e e m .

S L
o i ltt e
as i f the d es i re for musical enter
“

Rea l W h p ta i n m e n t or for i n tellectua l gym

°’ S ’
,

n a s ti c s h a d a l m ost ent i rely supersede d th e

d e sire for real sp i ritua l wors h i p S uppose .

th a t i n th e a vera g e co n g re g a ti on th e ques
tion W h y a r e you at church ! w ere aske d
“
,
”
 MEDITATION AND W ORS H I P 1 2 1

each perso n a n d ea c h s h ould a n s wer hon

,
‘

es tly
, w h a t woul d be the result ! S ome ,

d oubtl ess woul d b e t h ere to h e ar a g oo d

,

ser m o n others to he a r the music oth ers

, ,

from a se n se of d uty others to m eet fri e n d s

, ,

and yet oth ers from h a bit But h o w few

.

m i g h t be fou n d t h ere bec a use of a s i n cere

desire to wors h i p G o d Is n o t th i s th e
.

rea so n w h y there i s s o li ttle of th e presence

a n d power of th e Holy S p i r i t i n m a n y of

our c h urch serv i ces ! An d m a y n o t th i s

co n d i ti o n be tra ced d irectly to the fa ct t h at
we g i ve s o l i ttle th ou g h t to a n d m a ke s o
,

l i ttle prep a r a ti o n for th e h our of wors h i p ! ‘

,

D o we g o to churc h to meet G o d ! D o w e
e x pect to h e a r H i s mess a g e H a ve we
gi ve n ti m e to h e a rt prep a ra ti o n for th e r e
c e p ti o n of Go d s m ess a g e ! How d i ffere n t
’

woul d be th e sp i r i t i n w h i ch m a ny of us
e n ter th e pl a ce of h o ly w o r s h i p i f we re a lly
‘

e x pecte d to be fa ce to fa ce w i th our Lor d !

An i n c i d e n t i n th e l i fe of th e l a te D r A j . . .

Gor d o n of th e C l a re n d o n S treet B a pti st

C h urch Bosto n tr a n s r m e d h i s m i n i stry
, ,
’

a n d m a d e h i s churc h a gre a t centre of sp i r

12 2 TH E L OS T A RT OF M E D ITATION

i tu a l po w er I t can be to l d b est in D r G o r
.
. .

don s own words

’

I t was S aturday night w hen w earied w ith ,

the w ork of prepari n g S unday s sermon ’

,

th a t I f e ll as l eep and the d ream

D r m a
. v u e
D r e am
came I w a s in the pu l pit before .

a f u ll congregation j us t read y to begin m y ,

sermon w hen a stranger entered and passed

,

s l ow ly up the l e ft ais l e of the church l ooking

fi rst to the one side and then to the other
as though si l ent l y asking wit h his eyes that
“

some one would g i ve him a seat H e had .

proceeded nearly ha lf way up the ais l e when -

a gentl eman stepped out and o ffered him a

place in his pew which w as quietly accepted , .

E xcepting the face and f eatures o f the

stranger everything in the scene is distinctly
remembered the number o f the pe w the -
,

Christi an man who o ffered its hospita l ity ,

the exact seat which was occup i ed O n l y .

the cou n tenance of the visitor co uld never

be recalle d T hat h i s face w ore a pecu l iarly
.

S e r ious l ook as of one who had kno w n some

,

great sorro w i s c l early i m pressed on m y,

m i nd His beari ng too was exceeding hum

.
1 2 4 TH E L OST A RT O F MEDITATION

I s a id : M y dear s i r w h y d i d you let Him

,

go without i ntroduci n g me to H i m ! I was

s o des i rous to speak w it h Him A nd w i t h ’
.

th e s a me no n c h a l a n t a i r the g e n tl eman r e
‘
p l ie d : O h d o n o t be troubled H e has
,
.

been here to day an d no doubt H e w ill

-
,

come
j esus of N a z a reth is present in ever y p l ace
where H i s people are g at h ered for w ors h ip .

Lo I am with you a lw a y B u t do we ex
’
.
,

p e c t to meet H i m ! A nd d o we a lways rec

o g n iz e H im ! I s not t h i s o n e of th e most
—
cruel sin s of the age our fa i lure to recog
n i ze the Lor d i n H i s H oly Pl a ce ! An d 1 5
not th i s failure ofte n th e d irect result of so l i t
tl e medit a ti on prece d i n g the hour of wors h i p !
T h ere are three things pecul i a r to th i s a g e
th a t supplan t me d i tatio n a n d thus h i nde r ,

the prepar a tio n for h oly wors h i p .

I . N o n r e lig i o u s r e a d i ng
-
T he S u n d a y
.

morning newspaper h a s become a n e n or

m ous factor i n th e l i fe o f th e
R lig i
s

N o n- e ous
R ea di g n
A mer i ca n people a n d i s o n e of ,

the g reatest h i n drances to h o ly worsh i p that

c a n be named I ts pa g es a r e ofte n reekin g
.
 M E D I TA T ION AN D W ORS H I P 1 2 5

w ith every f orm of soci al corruption an d

nonsense easi ly destro yi n g the sou l s a p p a
,
’

tite fo r sp i r i tual food T he man w ho spends

b
.

his S unday mornings w all owing in the fi l th

of the cri m inal socia l and sporting columns
, ,

of the avera g e S u n d a y newsp a per w il l h a ve

n o time or d i spos i t i on to prep a re himself b y

me d i tation for the hour of wors h i p An d if .

he does atte n d the h ouse of God he w i ll

likel y have li ttle appreci ation of that which
is spiritua l and sou l stre n gthening in the
service .

I n the cheap stor y magazine may be

f ou n d too the husks upon which man y
, ,

you n g people are fee d i ng the i r minds duri n g

th e h ours of the Lor d s d a y Th e vicious
’
.

su g gest i ons a n d i n a n e plots a n d stor i es to be

fou n d in much of th e ch e a p m a g a zine l i tera
ture that is be i n g sown bro a d cast over the
l a n d is a n yth i n g but helpful to th ou g htful
n ess a n d pr a yer Paren ts who a llow their
.

ch il d re n to feed on th i s k i n d of menta l food

— '

w ill al m ost surely fi n d th em g row i n g u p with

li ttle d esi re for th e pl a ce of worship and l ittl e
appreciation o f the spiritual l ife .
1 2 6 TH E L OST A RT O F MEDITATION

2 . Cr i ti ci s m of th e m i n i stry and th e m es

s ag e I n too many homes to d a y parents

.
-

fa ll into the habit o f criticizing

U ki d C it i i
n n r c sm

the preacher and the sermon .

O n the w a y from the p l ace o f w orship and

around the dinner tab l e chi l dren and y oung
peop l e sometimes hear unkind re f erences to
the sermo n and to the m essenger o f heaven .

We f orget that God is j ea l ous f or the men

whom H e ca ll s and anoints to be H is a m
b a s s a d o r s and bear H is message to a l ost
w orl d O nce upon a t i me when a w oman
.

critici z ed God s servant M oses she w as

’
, ,

stricken w ith the deadl y l eprosy and the ,

story o f M iriam has stood through the ages

as a warning to a ll w ho w ou l d touch God s ’

anointe d or do His prophets harm T he re is .

no surer way of d estroying th e in fluence o f

the gospe l message than b y this method of
criti cism and there is no surer way o f mak
,

ing certain that l ittl e time w il l be spent in

preparation for the h our of w orship Let the .

atmosp h ere of unkind cr i ticism o f ministers

a n d churches perv a de the home circ l e then ,

c h ildren and y oung peop l e wi ll soon l ose

12 8 T H E L OST ART OF M E D I TATION

avai l them little for th e ki n g d o m o f the

,

peop l e would only e n d i n a secular parad i se ,

a nd the soul of the nat i on would d i e I t .

w ere better fo r th e n a tion to be il l fe d a n d

-

ill clothe d better to h a ve no share in g o v

-
,

e r n m e n t a n d o n ly th e poorest me a n s of e d u
,

cat i on th a n to lose the i n sp i rati o n of fa i th

, ,

a n d th e ho p e of a worl d t o come W h a t
.

len d s glory to th i s e a rth i s the arch of h eave n

above u s a n d t he s u n which gives i ts col o ur
,

to th e ti n iest flower ; a n d what le n d s d i g nity

to l i fe 1 5 the se n se o f eternity a n d the fe ll ow
,

”
s h ip of man w ith G o d .

O ur Lord a n d M aste r kne w we ll the resu l t

of setti n g the he a rt upon ea rthly thi n g s a n d ,

d ecl a re d t h a t it w a s e a s i er for a ca m el to g o
throu g h the e ye of a nee d le tha n for a m a n
w h o sets h i s he a rt upon ric h es to e n ter the

k i n g d om of hea ve n H e whose i d ol i s ric hes

.

is more li kely to have h i s m i n d upo n his

bus i ness pl an s o n th e morn i n g of the Lord s ’

D a y th a n u pon th e t h i n g s th a t fit th e mi n d
and heart for h oly wors h i p M e d itati on upon
.

sacre d thi n g s w i l l h ave litt l e p l ace I n the l i fe

of the worl d l i ng .
 ME D I TAT IO N AN D WORSH I P 12 9

How b l essed to come to the sanctuary with

the h ea rt a n d mi n d prep a red for communion
w ith the Hi g hest ! T h e n every so n g will be
a n act o f w orship and every p ray er w i l l
,

th rob with li f e and every serm on wi ll be to

,

u s th e mess age o f God T he n ever y p l ace .

o f w orsh i p w ill be a p l ace where we meet

God face to face and th e humb l est church
,

edifice wi l l conta in the S hekinah of heaven .

T hen Bishop B i c ke r s te th s l ove ly h y mn w i ll ’

have a ne w meaning for us

i t mg m n
Co m e ye yo ur s elves a p art a n d r es t a w h il e,
Wear y I kn o w i t o f th e p r es s an d th r o n g
, ,

W i p e fr o m y o u r br o w th e s w e a t an d d us t o f to il ,

An d i n M y qu i e t s tr e n g th ag a i n b e s tr o n g .

Co m e ye as i d e fr o m a ll th e w o r ld h o l d s d e ar ,
For co n ver se w h i c h th e w o r ld h as ne ver kn o w n ,

Al o n e w i th Me , an d w i th M y Fa th e r he r e ,
W i th Me an d w i th M y Fa th er l
n o t a o ne .

Co m e , tel m e l a ll th a t ye h a e v sa id an d d o n e,
Yo u r v i c to r i e s a n d fa i lur e s , ho p
e s an d fe ar s .

I kn o w h o w h ar d ly s o u ls a r e w o o e d an d w o n

My c h o i c es t w r e a th s a r e a w a l ys w et w ith tear s ,
1 30 TH E LO S T ART OF ME D I TAT I O N

Co m e ye a n d r e s t : j
th e o u rn e yi s to o g r e at,
And ye w i ll fa i n t b es i d e th e w a y a n d Si n k

The br ea d of l i fe i s h er e fo r yo u to e a t,
An d h er e fo r yo u t h e w i n e o f lo v e to d ri n k .

T hen fre s h fro m ver s e w i th yo ur Lo r d r e turn

co n ,

An d w o r k ti l l d a y l i g h t s o fte n s i n to e ve n
Th e b r i e f h o u rs ar e n o t l o s t i n w h i c h ye l e ar n
Mo r e o f yo ur M as ter an d H i s r est i n h e aven .
 !

M E D ITAT I O N AN D RESERVE P O W ER

N TH U S IAS M is one thing ; mere

noise qu i te another R eal e n th u s i
.

asm is the fruitage of strength o f

l ife ; mere noise may be an i n d icat i on of
weakness j oh n Wes l ey was wise enou g h
.

to disti n gui sh betwee n the two and exhorted ,

h i s preachers to beware o f screaming Wes .

ley kne w very w ell that the secret of po w er

was in that h oly w ai ti n g before G o d w hich
be g ets stre n gth through confi d ence .

N ow the r e c a n be no rea l enthusiasm in

l i f e where there is not alway s a goo d supply
A G oo d
of reserve power S o m .an y live t
’

Res e r v e
”
“
from hand to mouth in menta l
and spiri tual th i n g s T his was sure l y not
.

th e pl a n of our h eaven l y F ather S ee wi th

.

what pro d i ga l i ty H e has en d owed this

p h ysica l bo d y of ours I t is a well lm o w n
.
-

fact for instance that the bones of the

, ,

human bo d y h a ve a much g re ater resisti ng

p o w er than is needed under ordinar y circum
.
I 33
1 34 TH E L OS T AR T OF M E D ITAT ION
stances a n d that wh il e w e have two l ungs
,

w e can get al o n g very c o mfortabl y wit h o n e ,

or i f w e l ose fi v e S ixths o f the th y roid g l and

-

w e can get a l ong very nicely with what r e

,

mains A nd is there not here a suggestion

.

that H e who create d the human bod y h a s

provided j ust as l avish menta l and spiri tual
equipment and that these reserve pos sib il itie s
,

shou l d be nourish ed and deve l ope d j ust a s

carefu lly as our ph y sical powers !
T he man w ho gives attention to the de
v e lo p m e n t of his reserves w ill have a great,

A G r ea t
advantage in l i f e both f rom the
Ad van at g e
standpoint o f efficiency and e n
“
j y
o m e n t S ir
.
j oshua R e y no l d s s aid A
,

picture must not on l y be done w e ll but it

“

must seem to have been do n e easi l y . To

have po w er with men we mu st giv e the i m
pression of su ffi ciency and we cannot give
,

th is impressi o n un l ess we have th e re a l i ty ;

A nd the rea l ity can On ly be f ound b y the
“

deve l opment o f our re se r ve p o w ers through

m editation and stud y and prayer .

T he temptation o f modern life is to pay

l ittl e attention to this matter bu t to use up
,
1 36 TH E L OS T ART O F ME D ITATION

these y ears of quiet in N az areth w h i l e H e ,

“
advanced in w i sd om and stature a n d i n
”
favour with God a n d men H e w as l ay in g ,

up a supp ly o f reserve force that s ho u l d

c arry H i m through th e hardships and
s trugg l es o f H is active earthly ministry ! I n
the face o f the severe st temptations an d i n ,

the face of desertion and betraya l b y friend s

Hi s courage never fai l ed And there is a .

great c a l l to day f or men of unwavering

-

courage w h o wil l take their stand in every

realm o f human activity and scorn to com
‘

promise with wrong men o f h igh m Or al con

,

v i c ti o n a n d king li ness o f soul whose co u r

a g e w il l not f alter S uch men must co m e

.

from the secret p l ace o f communion and

med itation where exhaustl ess supp li es o f
reserve po w er have been g enerated a n d
stored in the l ife .

If w e would deve l op reserve power w e

m ust first be cleansed from the d e fi le m en t o f
Cl fi
ee ee d
sin S i n.weakens and para l yzes
f m Si
ro n
every h i g h purpose a n d every
nob l e ambitio n When fou l t h ou g hts fi ll the
.

heart and ev il passions sway the l i f e ther e

 MEDITATION AN D RESERVE P O W ER 1 37
’
can be no true deve l opme n t of l i fe s reser v es .

We m ust be ab l e to say sinc e rel y

M ak e m y b reas t
Tran sp ar ent as p ur e cr y s tal , th a t th e w o r ld ,

j ealo u s o f m e, m ay see th e fo ul es t th o ug h t
”
My h e ar t d o es h o l d .

T o be a reservoir o f po w er the l i f e must be

c l eansed from that which destroys power .

j ust s o l ong as an uncon f essed a n d u n fo r

given s i n remains in the heart there can be
no con s ciousness of spiritual power I n the .

quiet hour the S pirit of God wi ll uncover

every hidden sin a n d every secret thought
, ,

an d S ho w us our need for clea nsing T he .

\

earnest sou l will al ways we l come such l ight

and fly at once to Him w hose b l ood
“
clean seth from all s i n .

T o d evelop rese rve power we must have

a defi n ite purpose i n l i fe T he S hi ll y shal .
-

A n fi it
e n e
ly ple a sure loving
, amusement -
,
Pur p e os
seek i n g e xi ste n ce with which
some p eople see m co n te n t will n ever devel op
any reserve force How few y ou ng peop l e
.

in these days have any high aim i n li fe Go .

1 3 8 TH E L OST A RT O F MEDITATION

into any h i g h schoo l or colle g e and call f or

t h ose w ho have d efinitel y d ecide d upo n some
great lif e purpose a n d see how few will ,

respond T he m a j ority of y oung pe o ple in

.

the average commu n i ty are like drift w ood in

th e river s curre n t
’
T hey have reall y g iven
.

l i ttle th ou g ht to the matter of d e fin i ten es s o f

aim in life A nd from th i s cl ass in future
.
,

y ears sh all come the men a n d wo m en who

,

wi l l fi ll our j ail s and pen i tentiaries a n d

pau per houses and lunat i c asylums T hey .

al l ow th emselves to drift unti l li fe loses its

halo and there i s nothi n g b u t the black
storm y sea o f remorse and despair before
them Pitiable i n deed is the c o n d i tion of the
.

li fe that has bee n l ived with no h igh purpose ,

a n d terr i ble the ru i n that often f o l lo w s .

T he man w i thout a purpose is the man

o nl y part l y al i ve T here are heaven born
.
-

g i fts a n d f acult i es in h i s nature o f w hich he

has never been consc i ous a n d w hich are
dying through neglect S omebod y once
.

pai n ted a picture of the resurrection in which

he tried to represent the Work as on ly half
done Of course it w as a freak picture
. .
 TH E L OST ART OF MEDITATION

stre ngth T he crow d e d f everish d ays o f

.
,

busi n ess a n d soc i a l act ivity qu i ckl y u s e up

th e soul s v i t al forces but th e se a son o f qu i et
’
,

t h ought and commu n i o n with h eaven not

only quickly restores sp i ri tual vital i ty but
enab l es u s to la y up a reserve supp ly against
the d a ys to come .

Fi n a lly to d eve l op reserve power w e must

,

thi n k much on th e power a n d boundl ess

“
Hi P s ow
grace
er
o f God I n Him we live .

an d G race
”
and move and have our be i ng .

j esus said All authorit y hath

, been g i ven
unto M e in heaven and on e a rth G o y e .

“
therefore H e s a i d too
. If ye ,

ab i d e in M e a n d M y wor d s ab i d e in you ask ,

whatsoever y e will a n d it S h a ll be d o n e unto

you H e who i s the source of a ll power
.

a uthority has pro m i se d to bes tow a ll

‘

and

“
neede d power a n d grace upon us Ye .

s h all r e ce i ve power when the H oly S piri t i s

come upon you P a u l beca m e a partaker
.
’i

“
of this d i v i n e power a n d he e x cl a i m e d I ,

c a n do all t h i n g s i n H i m t h at s tr e n g th e n e th

W h e n our th ou g h t d we l ls o n th e
“

m e .

bo undless power a n d mercy of God fa i th

 ME D I TATION AN D RESERVE P O W ER 1 4 1

w i ll be strength e n ed to appropri ate power .

We s h al l not onl y see our barre n ness and

need bu t w e s h all s e e our h i gh privi l ege in
,

C h rist a n d shal l seek the i n fi lli n g of the

H o ly S pirit Go d s promise d Gift An d he
,
’
.

w ho has receive d th e Hol y S pirit has f ound

a never fail i ng source o f strength and grace
and w isdom .

El P rane t
D e ar Lo r d and F a th er of M a n kin d ,

Fo r g i v e o ur feveri s h w a ys
Re -
c lo th e u s in o ur h tfu l m i n d ;
r ig

In p ure r li v es Th y s er vi c e fi n d ,
I n d e e p er p r a is e
“

r e ve r e n c e , .

D r o p Th y s ti ll d ew s o f q u i etnes s ,
T i ll a ll o ur s tr i v i n g s c e a s e
T a k e fr o m o u r s o u ls th e s tr a i n a n d s r ess , t
An d le t o ur o r d e r e d live s c o n es sf
Th e b ea u ty of Th y p ea c e .

Br e ath e th r o u g h th e h e a ts o f o ur d e si r e
Th y l
c o o n es s a n d Th y bal m
L e t s en s e b e d u m b , le t fl es h r e ti r e

S pe a k th r o u g h th e e ar th q u a e , w k ind , an d fir e ,
O h, s ti ll sm a ll vo i c e o f c a lm

-
] o hn G . Whi tti er .
 ! I

M E D IT AT ION AN D SOU L W IN N I N G
“
T was Geor g e Wh i tfiel d who s a i d When ,

I wake I am p l an n i n g to save souls .

Whe n I sleep I am d rea m i n g of sa vi n g

sou l s a n d my whole h e a rt s d es ire is to save
’

”
so u ls . T he true Chr i sti a n s g reat business
’

i s to save souls Whether h e be i n the

.

pulpit or in the pew he shoul d be a sou l

w i nner Of course it is the gospe l min i ster s
.
’

great business Professor Phelps use d to

.

say that the m a n who h a d lost interest in

men was fit only for a sem i n ary S omebod y .

has sug g este d th a t he m i g h t h ave sai d with

“
perh a ps more truth i s fit o n ly fo r a ceme
,

”
te r y
. But our Lor d d i d n o t i n te n d th a t the
w ork of sou l sav i n g s h ould be co n fi n ed to
the m i n i stry H e i n s i ste d th a t every Chris
.

“
ti an shoul d be H i s witn ess Ye shal l be
.

”
wi tn esses u n to M e H e s a i d to th e earl y
Church ; a n d i f there h a d been foun d in the
1 45
1 4 6 T H E L OST ART OF MEDITATION

e a rl y C h urc h a m a n or wom a n who was not

doing someth i n g to w i n oth ers to Christ th e
S i ncerity of th a t C h ristian s exper i ence w ou l d
’

have been serious ly d oubte d .

But th e best w a y to le a rn the art o f sou l

winning is not from books o n soul wi n ning ,

nor from l ectures o n th a t s ub

j e c,
t a lthough t h ese may be ver y
helpfu l I sa ac Walton h a s a suggestion that
.

is app l ica ble h ere H e sa y s :

.

N ow f or the art o f catch i ng fish that is ,

,
—
to say ho w to make a man th a t w a s not '

to be an angl er b y a book ; he that under

takes i t sh a l l un d ertake a harder task than
M r Hales a most v a li a n t a n d exce ll ent
.
,

‘
f encer who i n the pri n ted book ca lle d A
,

Private S ch oo l of D efe ns e un d ertook to

’

teach that ar t or sc i ence a n d was laugh ed a t

,

—
f or h i s la bour not th a t many useful thin g s
m i g ht be l earned by that book but he was ,

l aughe d at because that art was not to be

”
taught by w ords .

A nd you cannot l earn sou l winning b y

wor d s O ne m a y get ma n y he l pful s u g g e s
.

tions f rom books and l ectures but unti l a ,

1 48 T H E L OST ART OF M EDITATION

p r eacher no w h a s no ki n gdom to set up but ,

some l i ttl e apo l ogy to o ff er N ow th e cry is

.

‘
not Lift up your he a ds oh ye g a tes a n d
, , ,

be y e l ift up ye everl a st i n g d oors a n d the

, ,

king o f g lory sh a l l come i h — i t i s so m e

,
’

w eaker cry some pa l try to n e of e x cuse or

, ,

some dainty endeavour to esca pe the

traged y o f the occa sion C h ri stianity is .

”
nothing i f not a kingdom .

I n the quiet hour o f pray erf u l w aiting be

f ore God we are girded with the stren gth o f
authority to spea k the mess a g e of the H i g h
es t . T hen w e sh a l l no more a po l ogize f or
our miss i on but g o forth with the co n scious
,

n ess that w e are hera l ds o f the King o f

G l ory .

We must meditate upon the w orth o f a

sou l unti l w e come to see somethin g o f its
Th W t h
e o r
i n fi n ite va l ue . Th e m ateria l istic
“ 3
drift of modern li fe h a s l essened
the emphasis upon the va l ue of the soul .

Th e ten d enc y h a s been to emphasize the

th i n g s of ti m e a n d se n se a n d preach what is
,

ca lle d th e g ospel of succ ess i n stea d o f th e

g ospel of s a lvat i o n by t h e bloo d of Chris t .
 MEDITATION AND SOU L W INNIN G 1 49

An d so i t h a s co m e to p a ss t h a t some m i n is
ters a n d some S u n d a y sch ool workers seem
-

to th i nk it more i m port a n t to be known a s

interesting a n d e n terta i n ing sp e akers than to
be known a s so ul w i n n ers .

W h en w e lose s i g h t of the immortal i ty of

m an an d l ose fa i t h i n th e super n atura l i n r e
,

li g i o n then th e soul will h a ve l ost much of

,

i ts wort h But w h en our thou gh t d we l ls on

.

th e so u l s etern al d est i n y a n d we me d i tate

’
,

o n what G o d h a s d o n e for the soul s r e d e m p

’

t i on then we s h al l easily come to s e e that

,

“
there is noth i n g really great on eart h but
man and noth i n g reall y great in man but his
,

”
sou l .

We must me d i tate upo n the necessity f or

a ho l y life i f w e wou l d be soul wi n ners T he .

A H ly o
matter of character i s o f first im
w e
porta n ce in w i tn ess i ng f or God .

W h en we come to h elp m e n a n d women to

Chri st i t i s much m ore n ecessary that w e
S houl d be k n o w n to be g o d ly th an to be
kno w n as g r e at scholars or g reat th e o lo
“ ”
g i ans T h e.aut h or of T h e Pr i ce of Power
“
has a terse p ara g ra p h on th i s po i n t : We
1 50 T H E L OST A RT O F M EDITATION

ca n ne v er have power u n t i l we a r e imp l icit ly

obedie n t to all t h a t w e know of Go d s wi ll ’

regar d i n g our own perso n al l ives T he .

d i rectio n and force of exter n al aim is a lw ay s

determ i ned b y the fas h i on of inner li f e a n d ,

power is a lw a ys accor d ing to purity I f .

there is an yth ing known to be unholy u n ,

c l ean unworthy yet wil lfull y pers i sted i n we

, , ,

S hal l pray in vain fo r an enduement w ith the

power of G o d The one thing needed on

.

the part of a man who realizes his l ack o f

‘
power is honestly to pra y : S earch m e ,

oh God and to w a i t in the p res e nce o f

, ,
’

”
G od t h at H e may do it .

S ome years a g o a man was sent to I ndia

as a missionary But when he u n dert o ok to
.

l earn the language h e found himsel f utterl y

un a b l e to master it After tryi n g f or s o me
.

time he d ec i de d to ask to be returned home .

But when th e peop l e among w hom he had

lived hea rd th a t he was l i ke l y to be recall e d
they petit i oned the miss i on a ry society not to
remove h i m decl a r i n g that he was more help
,

ful to th em t h a n a n y oth e r m i ss i o n a ry F or .

w h i le he co ul d n o t spe a k th e i r l an g uage his

1 52 T H E L OST ART OF MEDITATION

power i n our w ords as wil l make us succe ss

f ul sou l w inners .

a h ym n
j es us ,
th e tr u th an d po w er d i vi ne ,
S en d fo r th th es e m e ss e n g e r s o f T h ine ;
T he i r h an d s co nfir m , th e i r h ear ts i n s pire,
An d to u c h th ei r li p s w i th h all o w ed fir e .

Be Tho u th e i r m o u th an d w i sd o m ,
-
Lo r d
T ho u b y ,
th e h a m m er o f Th y w o rd ,

Th e ro c ky h e a r ts i n p i ec e s br e a k ,

An d bi d th e suns o f th u n d er Sp e a k .

To th o s e w ho w ou ld th e i r Lo r d e mbr ac e ,

Give th e m top r e a c h th e w o r d o f g r a c e ;
S w e e tly th ei r y i e l d i ng b o s o m s m o ve ,

An d m e l t th e m w i th th e fi r e o f lo ve .

Le t a ll w i th th a n k ful h ea r ts f
c o n es s

Th y l
w e c o m e m es sen
g er s o f pe a c e ;
Th y po w er i n th e i r r e p o r t b e fo u n d ,

An d le t Thy fe e t b eh i n d th e m so und .
M E DI T ATI ON AN D VISIO N
H i g
av n th e e yes o f yo ur un de r

s ta n d i n g en li g h ten e d .

P a u l to th e E p hes i a n s .
1 56 T H E L OST ART OF MEDITATION

rac e ! I f every C hr i sti a n worker cou l d say

“
w i th the sai n tly A u g usti n e O ur w h ole work
,

i s to hea l th e eye of th e hea rt by which we

”
see God w hat a new inspiration wou l d come
,

in a ll our work .

N o w the h i story of nations is in a very

l arge sense the history of great men S ome .

Vi is d
o n an
t i mes i t is a W ill iam the Con
L d h ip
ea e rs
the a F re d eri the Great
q u e r o r n , c ,

then a N apoleo n but the crow n i n g eve n ts o f

,

nat i ona l h i story cluster about g reat person

a li ti e s An d what is the history of nat i o ns
.

but a record o f ho w God has b e e n li fti n g the

w orl d out o f darkness and chaos into l ight
and order b y the l eaders h ip of great men .

T here is a specia l sense i n which God has a l

w a ys h a d H i s m a n ready to turn th e scal e o f
events a n d fit them into His etern a l purposes .

We do n o t a l w ays kno w a b out the burnin g

bush or th e D amascus road or th e cel esti a l
, ,

cross or the Bresc i an convent but God h a s

, ,

a pro g ram and there are no brea ks i n H i s

,

pl a n T o H i s chose n l ea d ers God al ways

.

vouchsafes a vision a n d happ y is th e m a n who

,

”
i s n o t d i sobe d i e n t to th e heavenly Vision .
 ME D ITATION AND VISION 1 57
“
It is said of M oses th a t he endured as
seeing H i m who i s i n vis i ble In the l onel y
mountains o f H oreb keepi n g w a tch over h i s
,

father i n l aw s flocks he h a d ample ti me to

- -
’
,

ponder the great mysteri es of l i fe A nd .

“
what a p l ace for me d itati o n ! Were I a
painter said a certain mo d ern trave ll er
, ,

and cou l d I i l lustrate D ante s I n f erno I ’

,

wou l d have p i tched m y camp stoo l here and -

have fi l led my sketch book for there could -

,

never be wanting to the limner of the dark

abyss o f the p i t lan d scapes savage terrib ly
, , ,

unmeasurab l y s a d unutterab ly w i l d u n a p
, ,

”
p r o a c h a b ly gra n d a n d awful H ere it w as .

that this m a n of desti n y caught g l impses o f

the l ight i n effab l e and sa w the w i l d acacia
,

a fla m e with the fire of Go d H e ha d a .

vision Of duty and responsibility to G o d that

transformed h i s li f e and m a de h i m the mes
senger a n d ambassador of heaven And .

such a v i sion must have every true states

man and min i ster a n d l eader H e may .

be a po l it i ci a n but n ever a statesman unti l

,

he gets the vis i o n H e may b e a deacon

.
,

o r an e l der o r ,
a priest but never a fla m ,
1 58 T H E L OST A RT O F MEDITATION

ing evange l for C hr i st unti l he ge ts the

V ision .

S uch a vision had S avonaro l a the prophet ,

o f th e renaissance w h en yo n d er i n the littl e

,

Brescia n conve n t h e me d i tated

A vi i s on

P mph t e
upon the Word of God a n d p r a c
ticed the presence o f God unti l h i s heart was
a fla m e H e went down into the streets o f
.

the w icked city o f F loren ce a n d pre a ched ,

Christ and Him crucified Lore n zo h i m self .

tremb l ed at the words of th is bold you n g

monk who seemed to have no f ea r o f the
face o f man .

S uch a vision too h a d Wende ll Phi ll ips a

, , ,

graduate o f Ca m bri d g e w ho had every ,

prospect f or w orl d ly success and greatness .

But from his o ffice win d ow he h a d seen a

f e ll o w man kicke d through the streets and
hurried to the j ai l b y a crue l bloodthirsty ,

mob That night this you n g p a trician —l a w

.

y er could not s l eep T here came be fore .

him a vision of a mu l t i tude of su ffering

human beings N ext morn i n g h e rose from
.

h i s bed to d edica te his l ife to the l i ber

ation of the slave A nd such a vision .
1 60 T H E L OST ART OF ME D ITATION

more closely i ts hugeness its god li ke vast ,

ness R ivers ! n o t a trickl et or a b a bb li n g

.

—
brook b y i ts b a bbli n g proclaim i n g i ts sh a l
—
low n ess o r a stream or a river but Ri vers l , ,

What d i vi n e pro d i g a l i ty ! I t is the Br i sb a ne ,

the Clarence th e H awkesbury the M urra y

, , ,

the M urrumbi d g ee the T amar and the D er ,

—
went al l rolled i nto one R IVERS ! By th e
w idest wil d est stretch o f i m a g i n ation cou l d it
,

be sa i d o f you that R ivers of li ving water

are flowing f rom you flow i ng m i nd you ,
’
,

flowing ! S ee the freshness th e freedom

’
, ,

and the spontaneity o f the serv ic e ; no force

pump w ork about the flowing o f the rivers ;
no n e of the hard l abour o f the sou l i n
prison (P S cxl ii When the rivers begin
. .

to flow the worker may sel l his f orce pump -

his prayer h a s been answe red Bri n g m y ,

s ou l o u t o f prison
’
.

“
I t is worth noti ng the gradation in j ohn
’
iii iv V ll In j ohn i i i 7 we h a ve Life in
.
,
.
,
. .

—
its be g i n n i n g s th e n e w b i rth I n j o h n iv 1 4 . .

w e have L i fe a bu n d antly a wel l of water ’

sprin g i n g up T he secret o f the perennia l

’

—
.

‘ ’
upsprin g i n g is i n th e wor d d ri n k e t h ; - -
 MEDITATION AN D VISION 1 61

‘he that d rinketh ’

—not
ta kes a dr i nk but ,

dr i nks a n d d r i n ks a n d keeps o n d ri n king

th at m a n never th i rsts ; for h o w c a n a ma n s ’

soul be dry a n d th i rsty w i th a well o f water

i n it ! M a ny people a r e l i v i n g i n th e th i rd
o f j ohn they h ave Li fe but it i s not
,
-
,
’

stro n g and v i gorous ; they are su ffer i ng from

—
defic i e n t V ital i ty when j esus w a n ts them to
,

be i n th e fourth enj oying L i fe Abund a ntly .

’

T he d i fference in the two e x per i ences is we ll

illustrated i n the case of Ha g ar I n Genesis .

xx i 1 4 we rea d th at Abraham g ave H a ga r a

.

bott l e o f water a n d sent her a way A s she

’
.

‘
w a n d ered in the w i ldern ess the water w as
spent in th e bottle (verse fi f tee n ! But in
’
.

‘ od
verse n i n eteen G ,
opened her eyes ,and
S h e saw a well of water T here are bo ttle
.
’

”
C h r i sti a ns a n d there a r e w e ll C hr i stians
, .

Vi s i o n m a h e s u s co n s ci o u s of th e n ea r n e s s
of G o d T .he g reat n ee d of the a g e is a new
GOD C ONS C IOUSNESS We n ee d .

O ur G t
rea
N d
a rev i v a l of m yst i c i sm i n its b est
ee

se n se T here i s a d octri n e ta u g h t by the

.

R oman C a th ol i c C h urc h w hi ch m a i n t a i n s
”

th at the bread a n d wi n e of th e sacrament

1 62 TH E L OST ART OF ME D ITATION
become th e re a l flesh and bloo d of Christ .

—
We n e e d a r e n ew a l not of th e doctri n e of
~

transubstant i ation but of the d octri n e of the

,

r e a l p r es e n ce T oo m a n y l i ve now as i f
.

under a n empty he a ven forgetti n g that we ,

are co m p a ssed about with s o g r eat a cloud

”
of witnesses a n d that we are made a spec
,

tac l e u n to the worl d both to a n gels and to

-

,
'

“
D i d n o t j e s u s say Lo I a m with
N
m en .
, ,

“
you al way D id not H e say If a man ,

love M e he will keep M y word : a n d M y

,

Father w i l l l ove h i m a n d we wi l l come u nto

,

hi m a n d m a ke our abo d e w i th hi m
”
, ! If
we are H i s c h i ldren the L ord propos es to
keep u s compan y in eve r y h our of life bu t ,

how often we forget this and l ose th e con

“
s c i o u s n e s s of His presence H e wa l ks as .

”
in th e presence of God sa i d go o d j er e my ,

“
T ay l or ,
that converses w i th H i m i n i r e
quent prayer a n d f requent communion ; that
,

ru n s to H i m i n all h i s necessities ; th a t asks

counse l of H i m in al l his doubtings ; that
opens al l h i s wants to Him ; that we eps b e
fore H i m for h i s si n s that asks re m edy and
support for h i s weakn ess ; th a t fears H im as
1 64 TH E L OS T ART OF M E D ITATION

him f rom an evil man T he praise is not i n

.

th e t h ing do n e but in the manner o f its

,

doing I f a man visits h i s S ick friend a n d

.
,

w atche s at his p i l l ow for charity s sake a n d ’

because o f his o l d affection we approve it ; ,

but if he does it in hope of a legacy he is a

vu l ture and on ly watches for th e carcas s
, .

T he same things are honest and dishonest ;

th e manner o f doing them the end o f th e ,

design makes the separation

, .

H o l y intentio n is to the actions o f a man

that w hich the sou l is to the b o d y, o r for m to
its matter or the ro ot to the tree or the s u n
, ,

to the wor l d or the fountain to a river or the

, ,

base to a p i llar ; for w i thout these the bod y

is a dead trunk the matter is s l ugg i sh the
, ,

tree is a block the worl d is darkness the

, ,

river is quickly d r y the pi ll ar rushes i nto

“

flatness and a ru i n and the action i s sinfu l ,

or unprofitab l e and vain .

“
I n every act i on reflect upon the end and
in your underta k i ng i t cons i der wh y y ou do
—

i t a n d w h at you propound to y ourself fo r a

,

reward .

“
Let every action and concernment be be
 M E D ITATION A N D VISION 1 65

gun w ith prayer th a t G o d woul d n o t only

,

bless th e act i on but san cti fy your pur

pose and make an ob l ation of the a ction to
Go d .

“
I t is l ike ly our hearts are pure and our
intentions spotless w h en w e are n o t solic i tous
of the opi n io n a n d ce n sures of men but o n ly ,

that w h at w e d o be our duty a n d accepted

of G o d F or our ey es will certa i n ly be fi x ed
.

there f rom whence we expect our reward ;

and if we desire t h at G o d shou l d approve us
it i s a S i g n we do H i s w ork a n d expect Him
our paymaster .

“
H e l oves virtue for God s sake and its o w n
’
,

th at loves a n d honours it wherever i t is to be

seen But h e th a t is e n v i ous or an gryat a
.

v i rtue t h at i s n o t h i s own a t the perfect i on

,

or excelle n cy of h i s n e i g h bour i s not covet

,

ous of th e V i rtue but of its reward a n d

,

reputat i on ; a n d th e n h i s inte n tio n s are

pollute d I t was a g reat i n g e n u i ty i n M oses
.

t h a t w i she d a ll the people m i g h t be prop h ets ;

but i f h e h a d d es i g n e d h i s o w n h o n our h e
woul d h a ve prop h es i e d a lo n e But h e th a t
.
r
-

d es i res o n ly t h a t th e work of G o d a n d rel i g i on

1 64 TH E L OST A RT O F M E D ITATION

h im from an evil man T he praise is not i n

.

th e t h i n g done but in the manner o f its

,

doing If a man visits h i s S ick friend a n d

.
,

w atche s at h i s p i llow for charity s sake a n d ’

because o f his o ld a ffection we approve it ; ,

but i f he does it in hope of a le g acy he is a

vu l ture a n d on ly watches for th e carcass
, .

T he same things are honest and dishonest ;

th e manner o f doing them the end o f th e ,

design makes the separation

, .

H o ly intention is to the actions o f a man

that w hich the sou l is to the bod y or form to ,

its matter or the root to the tree or the s u n

, ,

to the wor l d or th e fountain to a river or the

, ,

base to a p i l l ar for w i thout these the body

is a dead trunk the matter is s l uggish the
, ,

tree is a block the wor l d is darkn ess the

, ,

river is quickly d r y the pi ll ar rushes i nto

,

flatness a n d a ru i n and the action is sin fu l ,

or unprofitab l e and va i n .

“
I n ever y action reflect upon the e n d and
in y our undertak i n g it cons i der w h y y ou do
it and w hat you propound to y ourse lf fo r a
,

reward .

Let every action and concernment be be

1 66 T H E L OST AR T OF ME D ITATION

shal l g o on is p l eased with it whosoever is ,

the instrument .

“
If we are not so l icitous concerning the
instruments a n d me a n s o f our actions but ,

use those means wh i ch God hath laid b e fore

us with res i gnatio n i n d i ffere n ce and thank
, ,

f u l ness it is a goo d S i g n t h at we are rather

,

intent upon the end of Go d s g l ory than our ’

”
o w n convenience or tempora l satisfaction .

2 1 fibr auer
‘

A l might y God we tha n k Th e e fo r voic e s

,

th a t come from oth er worl d s br i n gi n g sweet ,

mus i c a n d s a vin g g ospels We k n ow T hy .

w or d w h e n we hear i t T h ere i s none li ke

.

it ; th a t vo i ce i s as a m i ghty rush i n g w in d
from h eave n Ma y we a lways l iste n for the
.

vo i c e s from beyo n d a n d reply to th em with

,

obe d i e n ce a n d t h a n kfu l ness T hou hast set .

us i n a gre a t school m any a r e the teachers

se n t from G o d : T hou h a st ta u g ht u s on _

every scale a n d a ccor d i n g to every metho d ;

T h ou h ast a ddressed T h yself to our under
sta n d i n g a n d o u r lov e a n d our co n sc i ence
, , ,

a n d our i mmort a l i ty In t h i s g reat sc h ool

.

we h ave h a d prop h ets m i g h ty men g ifte d

,
 ME D ITATION AND VISION 1 67

wi th penetrating vis i on ch ar g ed w ith the

,

thunders of eloque n ce gentl e souls that w ept

,

w ith us in our d i stress mighty sou l s that

,

coul d deliver us i n our d espair I f we have .

li stene d to common teachers w h en we m i ght

have l i stene d to prophets the good G o d of ,

the prophets forgi ve u S E nab l e us a l ways to

.

l isten o n l y to th e g reat the te n d er the wise

, , ,

th e s y mp a thet i c ; m a y we S he d o ff from us all

weakn ess frivol i ty pett i ness a n d cry m i g h ti l y
, , ,

a ft er th a t w h i c h i s subl i me d i v i ne
,
T he Lord .

give us S i g ht clear a n d penetrat i n g the Lord

,

give us ey es in our heart

—j
.

ph
ose P a r her .
 ! III

M E DITAT ION AN D A C T I O N

O W watch me burn out f or God ,

sa i d H enry M arty n H e h a d been

.

tal kin g with h i s Lor d in the secret

place unti l h i s soul burne d with i n h i m H e.

had been qu i et before G o d u n ti l his heart w as

a fla m e Wise o ld Pythagoras kn e w th e val ue
'

of th i s qu i et wa i ti ng for he requ i red each o f

,

h i s pupils to live for a year wit h out once a s k

ing a question or making an ex planation .

But h o w i n fin i tely more i t mean s to the

d isc i ple of j esus to w a i t quietl y before his
Lord A fter such a w ai ti n g action is i h
.

evita ble .

How ca n o n e who has talked with God

a n d hear d th e vo i ce of the u n resting C hrist

d o otherw i se th an go for w ard

H i P
s res ence
M ea n sA i ct o n
when he com e s fr o m th e Pres
e n ce C h am ber ! T here is a n a tm osp h ere of
res i stless e n th usi a sm wherever th e S o n of
1 7 1
 1 72 TH E L OST A RT O F MEDITATION

Go d g oes His presence trans f orms every

z
.

v a l ley of d r y bo n es i n to a l i vi n g u n c o n qu e r a
b l e ar m y I t w a s o n e of N a po l eo n s veteran
.
’

sol d iers a serge a n t o f th e g uar d to whom

, ,

N apo l eon w a s everythi n g w h o said to a ,

new ly enlisted man for w h om he h a d f orme d

a friendship Th e E mperor i s come ! T he
,

”
E mperor is here ! A nd the y oung so l dier
sa i d H o w do y ou know sergeant ! I h a ve
, ,

j ust been do w n to the genera l s quarters a n d ’

”
I have seen nothing o f him A nd the ser .

geant said D on t y ou see that a ll the w orld ’

is u p and stirring ! You don t understand ’

,

bu t he is here I f ee l it in th e so l es o f m y
.

f eet When he is not here eve ry thing limps

.
,

but no w see down there ! E verythin g i s

,

moving Look at those e x presses ga l loping

.

”
a l ong the road T he E mperor is come l .

T here is no l oitering or limp i ng where j esus

is H i s presence trans f orms th e hesitating
.

s ou l i n to a hero th e s l eepi n g host in to a

,

m i g hty army You can al w ays te ll when the

.

K i n g h a s come .

Be h ind every successful li fe must be some

great purpose T h i s is w h at Proc l us the
.
 1 74 T H E L OS T ART OF M E D ITATION

when th e mon ster is at work and every p a rt

co operates with every other part in smooth
and perfect commun i on Peace is not found .

whe n every i n strume n t in the orch estra is

silent but whe n every instrument is making
,

its own contributio n and the resu l t is rich ,

”
and perfect h ar mony .

N o w meditation takes th e grit and san d

from the axle a n d mak e s the wheels of li fe
,

run m o re smooth ly M ed i tat i on removes the

.

discordant n ote from the orchestra and makes

the music p erf ect M editation g i ves us a ne w
.

consciousne ss o f the presence o f H im w hom

the w ind s and the sea o bey and so brings ,

peace I t is the pres ence of Christ that e l im

.

i na te s w orry a n d d istraction f rom the lif e .

” “
Peace said Jesus I l eave with you M y
, , ,

pea ce I gi ve unto you : not a s the w orld

g i veth g ive I unto you Let not y our heart
, .

be trouble d ne i ther let it be afr aid

,
Where
H e is peac e abides I t is then that w e do
, .

our best w ork .

T hen too j oy is essentia l to the nob l est

, ,

actio n H enry Churc h i ll K i n g speaki n g of

.
,

the re l ation of j o y to the w i ll puts it thus ,

 MEDITATION A N D AC TION 1 75

T he relation i s close a n d simple Joy di .

r e c tly i ncreases our v i ta l ity . Gre a ter v i tality

gi ves gre a ter sense of rea li ty .

J y E e ti l
o ss n a

T h i s me a n s stron g er convictions .

O f co n victi ons purposes are born A nd con .

v i c ti o n and purpose m a ke i n flue n ce cer

ta i n . A n ultim a te messa g e o f hope
”
is essenti al to the s tro n g est liv i n g .

An d herein may be foun d the reason w h y

J esus h a s so much to s a y a bout j oy W i th .

H i m it is vital to a g gressive Chri st i a n serv i ce .

—
I n sp i te of the stra i n of s a d n ess th e s a d n ess
—
of farewel l that runs through that remark
able sixteenth chapter O f S t J ohn s Gospe l
.
’
,

the note of j o y is sounde d l oud a n d cle ar

A sk and rec e i ve that y our j oy may b e
,

fu ll. Your j o y no m a n taketh from

you . Your sorrow shall be turn ed
i nto j o y . I n the w orl d ye shal l have
tribu l ation : but be of good cheer I have
O vercome the w or l d . A li fe fil l ed w ith the
J y
o of the Lord is a l most cer tain to be a l i fe
o f intensest acti v i ty i n do i ng g ood Pau l .

knew th i s a n d i n h i s l etters so often exhorts

, ,

“ ”
his converts to rej o i ce in the Lord In .
1 76 T H E L OST ART OF MED ITATION

deed he dec l a res that the k i ngdom of heaven

“
is righteousne ss a n d peace a n d j oy i n tke
”
H o ly G fi o s t An d know i n g P a ul s idea l s
.
’

f or the ki n gdom o f God w e must s e e h o w

intimate in h i s mind w as the re l ation between
j oy and action .

T hen too love is n ecessary to the nob l est

, ,

acti on Where all e l se fai l s l ove will w in

. .

Love wil l make O pportunity

L v E
.

o eti l s s en a

Love for God w ill keep the

hear t motive pure and the lif e c l ean T here .

is no motive po w er l ike l ove I t is ir r es i s t .

ib l e N othing can stand be f ore l ove not

.
—
e ven death .

Si nk d o w n ye s e p ar a ti ng h i ll s
L et si n an d d e a th r em o ve
T i s l o ve th at d r ive s m y c h a ri o t w h eel s ,
”
An d d e a th m u s t y i e ld to l o ve .

Yonder in N orthern I ndia stand the t w o

great c it i es o f Luckno w a n d Cawnpore B e .

tween them lies forty mi l es of d ense ly p o p u

l ated country Just before th e terrible S epo y
.

rebel l i on broke out a l i ttle E ngl i sh w oman ,

l eft her bab y gi rl i n char g e of the nurse at

th e res i d ency i n Luckno w and w ent to
1 78 T H E L OST ART OF MEDITATION

mo ther to defy death in i ts most horrib l e

f or m ! What but l ove ! T here is n o i d le
,

w aiting where l ove is T here is no co w ard ice

.

w here l ove is .

But peace and j o y a n d l ov e thrive best

w hen time i s given to medita tion upon the
p ro mises and goodness o f God I t is then .

that the H o ly S pirit has opportunity to

speak to the sou l and pour out H i s gifts
, .

I t is then that H e quickens and stre n gthe n s

all these virtues and thus prepares us f or the

highest and nob l est service S avonaro l a

.

w aited in the quiet o f the Brescian convent

unti l peace and j o y and l ove flooded his
sou l and the presence of God s o enriche d
,

and empowere d his l i fe t h at th e m ultitudes

,

thron g e d to hear h i m whi l e princes and

,

popes tremb l ed at his words o f fir e .

 ME D ITATION AN D A C TION I 79

El Dra p e r

O h Lord Jesus T h ou art nearer to me

, ,

no w than to Th y d i sc i ples in the days o f

T h y flesh
C l o s er to m e th a n b r e a th i ng ,

N e a r er th a n h a n d s a n d fe e t .

T hou art the constant friend and T hou a rt ,

th e L i g h t of the worl d T h en I sha l l w a l k

.

stea d i ly i n Th y li g h t T hen I shal l not

.

stumble or stray or lose my way Th y com .

pa n y is better t h an th at of pri nces and T h y ,

g u i da n ce surer t h an the st a rs U n f alter .

i n g ly w oul d I keep step with T hee even ,

thou g h the p a th T hou takest leads to the

Gar d e n a n d th e Cross knowing that T hou
,

w i lt l ead at l a st to the d a ybreak that is

eterna l and the glory that is undimme d ‘

.
 ! IV

H E LP S T O M E DITATI O N

H E art o f meditation must be l earned .

T here is no possibi l ity o f stumbling

upon it by chance T here is no ro y a l
.

course o f ease to its gateway I ts b l esse d .

paths are trodden on l y b y those w ho have

to il ed along many a tiresome road But God .
,

in His goodness has provide d so man y helps

,

for him who seeks t h is way that a ll w ho w ant

to know its j o y may do so .

T here is one Companion and on ly one for

the pathway of med i tation and that is the ,

One
Ho l y S p i rit
. H i s compan y is
ind i spensab l e H e kno w s the
.

way a n d is ever w i lli n g to gu i de us S ome .

”
place their re l i gion i n books sa ys T homas a
,

Ke m p i s some i n images some in th e pomp

, ,

and sp l e ndour of external worship but ,

some wi th i l luminat e d understandings hear

1 83
1 84 T H E L OST ART OF MEDITATION

eth w hat the H oly S pirit speaketh in the i r

”
hearts .

His mission is to r eveal Christ and so open

the eyes of our understand i ng that the cruci
fi e d and r i sen S aviour sha l l be al l in al l to us
.

H e makes us sensible too o f the nearness

, ,

and real ity o f the spiritual w orl d T he more

.

w e have o f the S pirit s comp a nionship the

’

more responsive we are to spiri tual things .

T he ey e sees more c l ear ly the d eep things o f

God and the ear is more sensitive to th e
,

voice o f God .

I t is said that at the siege O f Luckno w the

first person to kno w of the near approach o f
th e British troups marching to th e rescue of
,

th e c i t y was a litt l e gir l w h ose senses h a d

,

become so keen throu g h l ong il l ness that

she hear d the hi g h l a nd p i pers while they
were yet m i les a w a y An d h e whose sp i r i t
.

ual senses h a ve been ma d e keen b y c o m p a n

i o n s h i p with the H oly S p i r i t in hours of med
i ta ti o n and prayer w il l h ave suc h keen n ess of
sp i ritua l sight a n d hearing th a t h e w ill s ense
victory from a d i sta n ce and wi l l a l ways
,

recognize th e ear l iest s i gns of gospe l tri ump h .

1 86 TH E L OST A RT OF M E D I TATION

kno w n passages T o him who i s a ne w

.

creature o l d th i n gs a r e a ll made ne w ; the

mind that was empty to the ey e o f sense ,

to the spirit reveals gold .

T he H o ly S pirit makes use o f good books

to enrich the hour of meditation T here are .

a number of sp i ritual cl a ssics

G dB k
oo oo s

w hich shou l d be in the home o f

every gro w ing Christi an Prominent among .

these is T he I mita tio n o f Christ by T h omas

a Kempis In sp i te of i ts deep note of pessi
.

mism and its d ark pictures o f th i s w orld yet , ,

outside the Bib l e perhaps no other book h as

,

bee n such a permanent inspiration to rea l

spiritual worship and heart devotion .

T hat was a beauti fu l tribute paid b y G eorge

E liot to th i s book when in T he M ill on the
,

”
Fl oss she say s
,

T his small o ld fashione d b ook f or w hich

,
-
,

y ou ne e d p a y only sixpe n ce a t a book sta l l -

,

w o r ks m i r a cle s to th is d ay turnin g b i tter

,

waters into sweetness : while expensive ser

mons a n d treatises new l y issued l eave a ll
, ,

things a s they were before I t was w ri tten .

’
do w n by a h a n d that waited fo r the heart s
 H E LP S To M E D ITAT I ON 1 87

prompting ; it i s the chronicl e of a so l itary ,

h i dde n an g uish struggle trust and triumph

, , ,

n o t writte n on velvet cushions to te a ch

en d urance to th ose who are treading with
blee d ing feet o n the stones A nd so it r e .

ma i n s to all time a lasti n g record of human

nee d s and human co n sol a tions ; the voice of
a brother who a g es a g o fe l t suffere d and
, , ,

renounce d with a fashion o f speech

d i fferent from ours but under th e same silent
, ,

fa r o ff heaven s th e s a me str i v i n gs the same

-
, ,

”
failures the same weariness
, .

E very Christian home shou l d have i f pos ,

sible a supply of these d evot i ona l books a

, ,

l ist o f w h i c h can be secure d from a ny relig

ious publis h in g house a n d a part of the qu i et
,

hour shoul d be g i ven to their perusal I t is .

to the s h ame of many Chri stian homes that

one fi n d s i n th e ho m e l i bra ry so much o f the
sent i m e n ta l a n d tra s h y ficti o n of the d a y and ,

so little of th e g re a t class i cal spir i tua l l itera

ture of th e ce n turies .

T he Holy S piri t uses the biograph ies o f

g o d l y m e n a n d wo m e n to m ake h elpful th e

hour of me d i ta tio n In A uguste Comte s

.
’
1 88 T H E L OST ART OF MEDITATION

cal endar he proposes that each day we shou l d

med i tate on the l i fe o f some benefa ctor of
humanity to w hom th a t day s ’

B i g
o p hy
ra

thoughts shoul d be devoted .

Here and there on the mountain peaks o f

Christian h i story h ave stood men a n d w omen
o f mighty fa i th i n G o d a n d to w h om God h a s
,

revea l ed H i mself i n wo n derfu l power a n d

b l essi n g T o study th ese li ves a n d med i tate
.

on their devot i o n and heroism w i ll almost

surel y stea d y w a vering f eet and l ift up hands
that hang do w n .

T ake for i n stance the i fe of J ohn the

, ,

“
S cot w h o wrote T here are as man y u m
, ,

”
ve ili ngs of G o d as there are s a int l y sou l s .

L i ving I n the days of the N orse i nvaders ,

a n d when E uropean civilizat i on was at lo w

ebb th i s I rish sch o l ar was one of the torch

,

bearers i n th e lo n g l i n e o f teac h ers of mys

tical reli g i on His C h r i st i a n polem i cs m i ght
.
’

be stu d i e d w i th great s p i r i tu a l profit in our

own d a y S o m e t h i n g s w i ll be fou n d t h at
.

have upon them th e musti n ess of the dark

ened age in which he l i ve d but i n ma n y ,

th i ngs he was fa r i n a d vance of h i s ti me .

1 9 0 T H E L OST A RT OF M EDITATI O N

I as k n o p r o p h e t e c s ta s i es
d r e am , no ,

No s u d d en r e n d i n g o f th i s ve i l o f c l a y ;
N o a n g e l vi s i tan t n o O p e n i n g s k i es
, ,

B u t ta k e th e d i m n e s s o f m y s o u l a w a y .

T oo o ften sp i ritual thi n gs a ppe a r as mere

shadows Ma y I beg i n to s e e th a t t h ey a r e
.

th e great re a l i ties of life S h ow me O Lord .

, ,

h o w to open th e door of he a venly co n temp l a

“
tion a n d th e n i n th e secret of H i s pres
, ,

”
e n ce I sh a ll co m e to k n ow better the re a l i ty
,

a n d authority of the sp i r i tu a l M a ke m e a .

myst i c i n th e h i ghest a n d best se n se of that

much misu n d erstoo d wor d Ma y I c ome to .

know th e h i d d e n th i n g s of G o d T h o u h a st .

sai d that th e secret of th e Lor d i s w i th t h em

”
that f ear H i m T hou knowest O Lord
.
, ,

that I fear T hee and love T hee But I want .

to know T h ee better a n d love T hee more .

T herefore I wait at T hy feet a n d plead for ,

T hy mercy Be gracious Lor d even unto

.
, ,

“
me a n d let the wor d s of my mout h a n d
,

th e m ed i tat i on of my heart be a cceptable i n

Th y si g h t O Lor d m y strength and m y
, ,
”
red e emer .
 C LIN I C A L S TUDI E S OF C H R I S T I AN I T Y
H A RO LD B E G B I E

Tw i c e B o r n
- Men
A C l in i c i n Re g e n e r a ti o n .

r am o . l
c o th , n et
fo o t n o t e i n n a r r a t e to P r o f Wm
A J am es T he iv ’ “
V i i li p i
. .

”
a r e t e s O f Re g i o u s E x e r e n c e
di ph m v m d
.

S tu e s i n th e en o e n a o f c o n e r s i o n fr o th e s ta n
pi d
o n t O f th e s tu e n t o f u m an n a tu r e h
illi m m
P ro f W v d y bi
.

“
J a e s , o f H a r ar , S a s : M r B e g e s
’
a
b w d l i p l d i dly w d
. .

o o k is a o n e r fu s e t o f s to r e s s en o r ke up It
i ly d p m mi h w ll ll
.

c e r ta n r e fa c e f r o I m y
nee s no m e g t as e ca
b p d d di i
.

o o k a fo o t n o t e t o his I am -
rou o f th e e ca t o n an d
wi h b
.

”
Df t h e r e f e r e n c e s a n d I s th e o o k a g r e at s u c c e s s
ilb Ch pm
I W ur y m h illi l
.

“
a an sa s : O n e o f th e o st t r ng y
i i b hv v d ld i h h v
.

n te r e s t n g o o ks I a e e e r r ea I co u W s t at e e r y
Ch i i mi h d b iv m h
.

r s t an g t r ea th e o ok an d r ece e as uc p er
l pi i l p fi
so n a s r tu a ro t as h as co e to m e
”
m .

H O RA CE E M O RY WA RN E R , P lz D . .

Th e P s y c h o l o g y C h r i st i an Life o f th e
8 l th t
vo c o ne
ll y h l l y d t h m tim i p t ll y
, ,

A n u nu sua sc o ar an a t e sa e e s cr ura
en f d dy f h Ch i i li f i w h i h h
o r ce s tu o l t e r st an e n c t e u sua ter
m i l i p l d b y d p ti p y h l i l d i
gh
no o s re g a ce escr i ons s c o o ca an se e n
y
ti fi c h h h ev y au t l l fi ld d or as c o s en a er n ea r y c e ar e an
wh l m y h v w i p y h l g y f lig i
.

i e f h
an a e r tt e n o t e s c o o o re ous ex

p i
er en c e D W fi h i m l f t th Ch i ti
r a r n er con n es se o e r s an
d Ev g li l fi l d h m ki g i v l bl t ib t i
. .

an an e ca e t us a n an n a ua e co n r u on
b th t Ch i ti h l h i p d th ph il ph y f lig i
,

o o r s an sc o ars an e o so o re on.

WI L L I AM A L E ! AN D E R G RI S T

Th e H i s to r i c C h r i st i n th e F a i th o fT 0 - d ay
8vo c otl h n et
hi w k l Ch i ti i ty pi
, ,

T h s o r on t e c e n tr a fig u r e o f r s an o c cu es a
g d mi dw y b w
r oun a et een a r eg u ar l Ch i t l r s o o gy on th e one
h d d bi g phy
an an a o ra o f Ch i r st on th e o h
t er It i s c o n se r v a
b w d v y d i i tly
.

i
tl v e h n t e est s en s e o f th e o r an d is a er st nc
w th y t ib i lit
,

n o te or co n r ut o n t o th e e r a tu r e on th e s u b ec t. j

R e c r u i ti n g fo r C h r i st
H an d to H an d Li e th o d s wi th Me n
h
.

r am p Clo t n et
Th e
,

c hp a
,

te r s Wh I Ch co mp i 0

r se th I S b oo k iv w e re g en as
Le ctu r e s b e fo r e a c as s l co n d u ct e d un d th
er i e au sp ce s o f
th e F e e r at o n o f d
h Cl b
ur c u s i Ch an d B r o th h d i Ch i
er oo n ca g o
b wi h pi i l w k
.

D r S to n e 5 ak s o th t th e s r t o f p er so n a o r an d
b l ] vi g
.

th e e s t m e t O d e o f g etti n i
at it n an u n u s ua o r o u s an d
whl m o e so
y Th b d i ff e b l ly
w a e oo er s a so u t e rom
t h e s t e ri
d m le h k y d ll i f p
.
,
eot p d e ct o n o s at i al a ses
g q ll y
e an o re or ss ac ne e co p
t yp d l i d w il l b i
f

an e ua f
s te r e o e s e ect o n s , an e o un d n val
uabl e tof p ib ili y i th i
ar o u se a sense o r es o ns t n s s u b e ct j as
W ll ef i h i g w i d i ti f i p it
as ur n s n se rec o ns or ts ursu .
g
 E S S AYS . AD D RE S S E S , E t c .

Te n d e n c y : Th e E ffe c t o f T r e n d an d D ri f t

in th e D evelo p m ent o f L i fe .

1 2 m o h c lo t n et
A im p i m il y h l p i g y h y w ill h
, ,
“
s r ar at e n o ung m en so t at t e
t
urn h i liv i h i g h t e r es n
‘

t e r t d i h v y
i r ect o n at t e er s ta r t
di i li v Th y f ll iv
.

Th es e s cu s s o n s ar e a e e f gg are u o su est e
h g h Th y f il t i pi Th y d l W h h
.

t ou ts e c an n o t a o ns re e ea i t t e
v y di i i wh i h fi d h m lv d th y
. .

d —C E W ld
er co n t ons n c m en n t e se es, an e ar e
a pt Th y. b dt d g e ar e o un o o oo .
’
. . or .

if .
] 0 WE T T

Th e Tr a n s fi g ur e d C h ur c h
l th t
12 m o ,
c o , ne

A t l y m k bl p t y l f w h t th Ch h i g h t
ru r e ar a e o r ra a o a e ur c m
b i f i t f ll y v il d t l f f ll th f
e d p w
u t it a a e I se o a e o r ces an o er s a s
d i p l Th g t B i mi g h m p h i
s o sa i th i l e r ea r n a r e ac er s s e en n s vo .

v y b t d th m k bl kill i p i
.

um e t hi a s er es an e re ar a e s n ex ress o n

l ity f th g h t d b dth f y mp th y m if t ,

i n c ar o ou an r ea o s a ar e an es
on e v yp er ag e .

H E N RY W . C LA RK

L a w s o f th e In n e r Ki n g d o m
12 m o l th t , c o , ne

Th i i
“
d i i l y Ch i t i t d y f h l w
s s a s t n ct r s an s u o t e a s o f
S p i it l li f d p i
r ua Th b k i th g htf l
e an ex e r en ce e oo s ou u r ev
i h l l y —d w i ll b f p fit t ,
.

ere n t d s n ce r e an sc o ar an e o ro o th e
o ne h d it
w
,

f ll y oJ l d M
r ea g s c ar e u .
”
ourna an es s en er .

Th e P ilg r i m C h u r c h an d O th e r S e r m o ns
Iz m o , l h t
c ot , ne

S i r Ro b t N i ll y
er so n co sa s : E v ypg er d l t v y a e an a m os e er
s e n te n c e i st i ki g Th i
s r n s is a b k w h i h m t i vit bl y
oo c us ne a

y i t h d v y p h w hy f h
.

fi n d i ts w a th n o e an s o f e er r eac e r o rt o t e
na m e an d m l tit d h
u u es w o ar e not p h w ill fi d i i t r eac er s n n
th e h lp h e t at t hy
e n ee d . I t is t ly g l d b k
ru a o en oo .
”

W . L . WA TKIN S O N
Th e F atal B a r te r an d O th e r Se r m o ns
m l h
,

ta o, c ot , n et
“
Re v l h ea s f h t e s e cr et o t e e ag e r n e s s w i th w h i h th c e nu

t orh is h d i hi h m l d
ea r n s o e an an d in th i st y t N
co u n r a or t h
l wh v li l hi l yl
, ,

fi e ld an d H i
e se ere e si n hi s t e a c n g , o a
e an g e ca
S ip md
.

to th e b t hi
cr pi tu r e s , u s s r It I s o e r n , a n d o n e o f th e
c hi e f c h m f hiar m s o s s er ons i s i n th e a c a ti o n o f
the pp li
011 3 11 2 1
6 6 88 h t th d
tr u t o e n e e s an d co n t o n s o f o u r da y di i .

L u the r cm (J r/ s er ve r .