2. The time and manner of Meditation. It should be constant.  Our minds and hearts should be so habitually fixed on heavenly things, that, after having been necessarily employed about our worldly affairs, our thoughts will voluntarily revert back to spiritual things, as to their proper element.  Their tendency should be upward.  Speaking of the godly man, David says, “in his law doth he meditate, day and night.”  “O how love I thy law,” says the Psalmist; “it is my meditation all the day.”  You may, perhaps, find it profitable to select a subject every morning for meditation during the day; and whenever your thoughts are not necessarily occupied with your ordinary employments, turn them to that subject.  Labor after clear and practical views of the truth; and see that your heart is affected by it.  One of the most difficult points of Christian experience is, to keep the mind habitually upon heavenly things, while engaged in worldly employments, or surrounded by objects which affect the senses.  Satan will be continually seeking to divert your mind; but do not be discouraged by his assaults.  The Bible saints were fervent in spirit, even while engaged in business; and we have accounts of pious persons in every age, who have been like them.  A heavenly mind is worth the labor of years.  Do not rest till you obtain it.  Meditation should also be mixed with the reading of God’s word.  It requires the closest meditation to understand the Holy Scriptures, and apply them to our hearts.

But, it is also necessary to set apart particular seasons of retirement for fixed and holy meditation.  This position is warranted by Scripture.  Holy men of old embraced the most favorable opportunities for this devout exercise.  Isaac went out into the field to meditate in the stillness and solemnity of the evening.  David sometimes chose the calmness of the morning.  At other times, he fixed his thoughts in holy meditation, during the wakeful hours of the night.  “I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night-watches.”  “Mine eyes prevent the night-watches, that I might meditate in thy word.”  But, lest the adversary should get the advantage of you, fix upon regular seasons for this sacred employment.  Select some subject, and think upon it deeply, systematically, practically, and devoutly.  System is a great assistance in everything.  We can never obtain clear views of any complex object, without separately viewing the various parts of which it is composed.  We cannot see the beautiful mechanism of a watch, nor understand the principles which keep it in motion, without taking it in pieces, and viewing the parts separately.  So, in contemplating any great truth, which contains many different propositions; if we look at them all at once, our ideas will be confused and imperfect; but if we separate them, and examine one at a time, our views will be clear and distinct.  Our meditation must be practical, because every