Meditate On The Word In The Word.

Spiritual Wisdom Consists In Finding Out The Subtleties, Policies, And Depths Of Any Indwelling Sin... To Trace This Serpent In All Its Turnings And Windings; Be Able To Say, At Its Most Secret Actings, 'this Is Your Old Way And Course; I Know What You Aim At.'

Great Winds And Storms Help Fruit-bearing Trees. So Also Do Corruptions And Temptations Help The Fruitfulness Of Grace And Holiness. The Storm Loosens The Earth Round Its Roots So The Tree Is Able To Get Its Roots Deeper Into The Earth, Where It Receives Fresh Supplies Of Nourishment. But Only Much Later Will It Be Seen To Bring Forth Better Fruit. So Corruptions And Temptations Develop The Roots Of Humility, Self-abasement And Mourning In A Deeper Search For That Grace By Which Holiness Grows Strong. But Only Later Will There Be Visible Fruits Of Increased Holiness.

It Must Be Observed, That The Best Of Men, The Most Holy And Spiritually Minded, May Have, Nay, Ought To Have, Their Thoughts Of Spiritual Things Excited, Multiplied, And Confirmed, By The Preaching Of The Word.

Many There Are Who, Not Comprehending, Not Being Affected With, That Divine, Spiritual Description Of The Person Of Christ Which Is Given Us By The Holy Ghost In The Scripture, Do Feign Unto Themselves False Representations Of Him By Images And Pictures, So As To Excite Carnal And Corrupt Affections In Their Minds. By The Help Of Their Outward Senses, They Reflect On Their Imaginations The Shape Of A Human Body, Cast Into Postures And Circumstances Dolorous Or Triumphant; And So, By The Working Of Their Fancy, Raise A Commotion Of Mind In Themselves, Which They Suppose To Be Love Unto Christ.

We Ought As Much To Pray For A Blessing Upon Our Daily Rod As Upon Our Daily Bread.