18. A CHECK FOR NOT MEDITATING ON DIVINE THINGS.
18. A CHECK FOR NOT MEDITATING ON DIVINE THINGS.
Does my faith expect a kingdom—a heavenly kingdom, and a crown of glory which fades not away? And can I live days and weeks, months and years, without a real ardent desire to be put in possession of the promised land? I wonder not so much that the wicked think nothing of heaven (for who admire unknown lands?) as that the saints think so little of it, though now and then allowed to pluck the fruits of paradise!
Were the day fixed, on which I should make my appearance at an earthly court, to be crowned a prince—how often would my thoughts revolve the encouraging day, and feast on the imaginary, the transitory grandeur!
And in the mean time, were it notified to me, that my sovereign expected that I should often meditate on the majesty of his throne, on the equity of his scepter, on the immutability of his laws, on the wisdom of his government, on the riches of his treasures, on the sweetness of his favor, on the munificence of his love, on all his admirable perfections—I would not need a second invitation to these meditations.
Now, when all these supposed excellencies in an earthly monarch are realized in the King Eternal; and I am not only permitted—but invited and commanded to meditate on him, assured that the day is on wing when I shall be brought into the palace of the King, crowned with immortality, and serve him in his temple evermore; what a shame, what a sin, yes, what a loss is it—that my whole soul, in all her thoughts, meditations, desires, delights, longings, and outgoings—is not on God, and the things of God!