Chapter 9. A Reproof to those who do not meditate on God's Law
Chapter 9.
A Reproof to those who do not meditate on God's Law USE 2. Reproof. It serves to reprove those who meditate indeed, but not in the law of God. They turn all their meditations the wrong way; like a man who lets out the water of his mill, which should be used to grind his corn, into the highway where it does no good. So too, there are many who let out their meditations on other fruitless things, which are in no way beneficial to their souls.
The farmer may meditate on his acres of land, and not upon his soul. His meditation is how he may improve a barren piece of ground, not how he may improve a barren mind. He will not let his ground lie fallow, and yet he lets his heart lie fallow. There is no spiritual cultivation; not one seed of grace is sown there.
The physician meditates on his prescriptions, but seldom on those prescriptions which the gospel gives for his salvation — faith and repentance. Commonly the devil is physician to the physician, having given him such stupefying medicine that, for the most part, the physician dies of lethargy.
The lawyer meditates on the common law; but as for God's law, he seldom meditates on it, either day or night. While the lawyer is meditating on his client's evidences, he often forgets his own. Most wearing this robe are still seeking their spiritual evidences, when they should have them to show.
The tradesman is for the most part meditating on his wares and drugs. His study is how he may increase his estate, and make the ten talents into a hundred. He is "distracted about many things," (Luk
10.40). He doesn't meditate on the book of God's law, but in his account-book day and night. In the long run, you will see these were fruitless meditations. You will find that you are but golden beggars, and have gotten but the fool's purchase when you die (Luk 12.20).71
There is another sort that meditate only on mischief, "who devise iniquity," Mic 2.1. They meditate on how to defame and defraud;
"they make the ephah small, and the shekel great," Amo 8.5. The
ephah was a measure used in buying, the shekel a weight used in selling. They know how to collude and sophisticate.72 Christians, who should support one another, too often supplant. And how many meditate on revenge! It is as sweet to them as dripping honey, as Homer puts it.73 "Their hearts will meditate on terror," Isa 33.18.
The sinner is a felon to himself, and God will make him a terror to himself, Jer 20.4.