by Nathanael Ranew
in ePub, .mobi & .pdf formats
This text has been initially updated from EEBO-TCP by Project Puritas (Logan West, David Jonescue, Alex Sarrouf) www.puritansearch.org. Further revision and editing done by Monergism. Copyright Monergism via universal text usage permission from the above.
Nathanael Ranew's "Solitude Improved by Divine Meditation" is a profound exploration of the Christian duty and practice of meditation. This treatise, initially intended for a person of honor during a time of widespread pestilence, argues for the necessity, excellence, and usefulness of divine meditation. Ranew presents meditation as a crucial means of engaging with God, enriching the soul, and navigating the complexities of spiritual life. He outlines various types of meditation, emphasizing its role in self-examination, contemplation of divine truths, and the application of these truths to one's life. The work encourages believers to use solitude as an opportunity for deep spiritual reflection and communion with God, highlighting the transformative power of meditative practice on the believer's relationship with God, understanding of Scripture, and personal holiness.
This book stands as the gold-standard among Puritan works on the discipline of meditation. It eloquently argues for the practice's vital role in personal spirituality, emphasizing the transformative power of solitude when used for divine reflection and the profound impact of meditation on deepening one's relationship with God and understanding of biblical truths. This seminal work champions meditation as essential for spiritual growth and intimacy with God, offering timeless guidance for engaging deeply with one's faith.
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Table of Contents
To the Christian Reader
PART I.
Chap. 1. Of Divine Meditation in general.
Chap. 2. Containing a description of Meditation.
Chap. 3. Meditation our duty and obedience.
Chap. 4. Of the Requisites of Meditation.
Chap. 5. What the will must intend in Meditation.
Chap. 6. Of the proper Object of Divine Meditation.
Chap. 7. Of the Requisites in and concerning Meditation.
Chap. 8. More Requisites in Meditation.
Chap. 9. Of Meditation in applying the mind to a proper Object.
Chap. 10. Meditation includes an intension and seriousness of thoughts.
Chap. 11. Meditation includes a scanning and diving of the thoughts into a thing.
Chap. 12. Meditation includes a dwelling of the thoughts upon a thing proposed.
Chap. 13. Meditation is an affectionate acting.
Chap. 14. Of the Affection of desire acted in Meditation.
Chap. 15. Of the Affection of Love acted in Meditation.
Chap. 16. Of the Affection of Delight acted in Meditation.
Chap. 17. Of other Particulars in some special Scripture-expressions.
Chap. 18. Of the Ends of Meditation.
Chap. 19. Of Meditation relating to ourselves.
Chap. 20. Of the particular Ends of Meditation respecting ourselves.
Chap. 21. Of producing habitual wisdom by Divine Meditation.
Chap. 22. Meditation kindles and inflames the Affections.
Chap. 23. The end of Meditation in reference to the will.
Chap. 24. Meditation a grand supporter of a Christian course.
PART II.
Chap. 1. Of the Kinds of Meditation.
Chap. 2. Of the way and manner of daily Meditation.
Chap. 3. Rules about Meditation
Chap. 4. Of one chief end of Meditation as to ourselves, namely, Salvation.
Chap. 5. Of things conducing to the chief end.
Chap. 6. The Holy Spirit the Applier of Meditation.
Chap. 7. Of Meditation in reference to the Ordinances of Christ.
Chap. 8. Of Meditation on the Word and Promises.
Chap. 9. Of the Spirits drawing to Christ by the Promises.
Chap. 10. Of the things Meditation may best perform on our part.
Chap. 11. Some Particulars added to the former general.
Chap. 12. Meditation on daily self-denial.
Chap. 13. Of other Particulars to be meditated upon.
Chap. 14. Of Meditation on the Lord's-day.
Chap. 15. Of occasional Meditation.
Chap. 16. Of Meditation on the deceitfulness of the heart.
Chap. 17. Of Meditation on the four last things.
Chap. 18. Of Meditation on Death.
Chap. 19. Of Meditation on Judgment.
Chap. 20. Of the General Judgment Day.
Chap. 21. Of Meditation on Hell.
Chap. 22. Of Meditation on Heaven.
Chap. 23. Of Meditation on things providential.
Chap. 24. Of ejaculatory Meditation.
Chap. 25. Of the Grounds and Reasons of Meditation.
Chap. 26. Other Grounds of Meditation.
Chap. 27. Of the ends and uses of Meditation.
Chap. 28. Of other ends of Meditation.
Chap. 29. Of grounds supporting the Duty of Meditation.
Chap. 30. Of solace and spiritual pleasure in Meditation.
PART III.
Chap. 1. Containing the Improvement of the whole Doctrine of Meditation.
Chap. 2. Another Improvement of the duty of Meditation.
Chap. 3. An Improvement by way of Humiliation unto those that have begun this work of Meditation so late.
Chap. 4. A Reproof to those that are yet to begin this work of Meditation.
Chap. 5. A Reproof for negligence in this Duty, after experiencing the benefit and sweetness of it. pag.
Chap. 6. A persuasion to all such who never yet used Meditation.
Chap. 7. An Exhortation to the Godly, to take heed of neglecting this duty of Meditation.
Chap. 8. Of the Evidences of Meditation.
Chap. 9. Directions relating to Meditation.
Chap. 10. Directions to young Christians newly converted.
Chap. 11. Further Directions to young Christians in some particular cases.
Chap. 12. Of Meditation respecting weakness ro imperfection of Grace.
Chap. 13. Of Meditation in respect of stirring and prevailing corruptions.
Chap. 14. Of Meditation respecting Assaults from Satan.
Chap. 15. Some Directions for Occasional Meditation.
Chap. 16. Directions for Ejaculatory Meditation.
Chap. 17. Directions for strong Christians.
Chap. 18. More particular Directions.
Chap. 19. More Directions to old Christians.
Chap. 20. More Directions for setting Meditation on work.
Chap. 21. Of Meditation respecting those that are called Fathers.
Chap. 22. Of the particular management of Meditation of those called Fathers.
Chap. 23. The Conclusion exciting everyone to a constant daily performance of this excellent duty of divine Meditation.