Understanding Puritan Meditation

The doctrinal basis for Puritan meditation

General introduction

Puritan meditation was based upon Scripture; yet in order to understand what the Scripture actually says and how the different parts of Scripture relate to one another, they relied on accepted doctrinal positions. Such doctrines took into account the whole counsel of Scripture through a standard interpretive framework, and were of use to Puritan meditators as they worked to understand, interpret and apply Scripture.

Further explanation

Puritan views of Scripture were related to their understanding of how the Bible's major areas of emphasis work together and how its various parts should be understood and categorized; in a word, doctrine. Historian Simon Chan has argued that the methodological similarities between Catholic and Protestant meditations "should caution us against the question-begging procedure of deriving our understanding of protestant meditation from what is supposed to be the logical outcome of its theology." Yet beliefs do have an important effect, and a lack of superficial, practical, or outwardly observable differences does not necessarily imply that there are no critical inward differences. For this reason, it is imperative to consider the Puritans' practical application of meditation in relationship with their doctrine, because this provides greater insight into the thoughts and motivations at the root of their outward religious actions.

How, then, did Puritans understand meditation? They believed that it was a duty of great importance and was necessary for the continuing sanctification of the believer. Edmund Calamy writes: "...the meditation of holy and heavenly things is a work that God requires at the hands of all people. That God that requires you to pray, requires you to meditate as well as pray... That God that requires you to hear Sermons, requires you to meditate on the Sermons you hear. "

William Fenner further notes, "The onely way therefore to perform duties of Gods worship purely, is chiefly meditation, meditation, meditation." Nathanael Ranew even goes so far as to assert that not only is meditation a duty in reference to paying obedience and homage to Christ, but is also a duty to one's own soul - a work which is "a doing my soul right." In addition, Puritans believed that although God requires this discipline, it is also dependent upon the work of the Holy Spirit. Ball describes the dual truths of human responsibility and the need for God very poignantly:

Of our selves wee are not able to think one good thought, and if in presumption of our wit, invention, memory, learning, or any thing beside, wee set upon this work, the success is like to bee answerable to the beginning: without the help of God wee can do nothing that is good. The matter or form of our prayer must bee this, or such like: Oh Lord, sith it hath pleased thee to give mee a minde ready, and desirous to perform this holy duty (for which I humbly thank thy heavenly Majesty) I beseech thee by thy holy Spirit to assist mee therein that I may bring the same to a profitable and comfortable issue. Thou hast charged mee, Oh Lord, to see thy face, that is, thy blessed and holy presence; Let my soul answer, and say with thy faithful servant, Lord, I will seek thy face...

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