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An Outline of Joseph Hall's work, "The Art of Divine Meditation Profitable for All Christians to Know and Practice"

What the Bible says about Godly Meditation through the Word
Today, many Christians are turning back to the puritans to, “walk in the old paths,” of God’s word, and to continue to proclaim old truth that glorifies Jesus Christ. There is no new theology. In our electronic age, more and more people are looking to add electronic books (ePubs, mobi and PDF formats) to their library – books from the Reformers and Puritans – in order to become a “digital puritan” themselves. Take a moment to visit Puritan Publications (click the banner below) to find the biggest selection of rare puritan works updated in modern English in both print form and in multiple electronic forms. There are new books published every month. All proceeds go to support A Puritan’s Mind.

Check out these works on Divine Meditation.

Josephs’ Hall classic work on Divine Mediation.

Hall, Joseph, (1574-1656). The Art of Divine Meditation Profitable for All Christians to Know and Practice: Exemplified with a Large Meditation of Eternal Life, (London: Humfrey Lownes, 1606).

The benefit and uses of Meditation. Chapter 1
The description and kinds of Meditation. Chapter 2
Concerning Meditation Extemporal. Chapter 3
Cautions of Extemporary Meditation. Chapter 4
Of Meditation deliberate: wherein first the quality of the person: of whom is required;
1. That he be pure from his sins. Chapter 5
2. That he be free from worldly thoughts. Chapter 6
3. Constant In the time set. Chapter 7
In continuance. Chapter 8
Of other necessary circumstances: and,
1. Of the place fit for meditation. Chapter 9
2. Of the time. Chapter 10
3. Of the site and gesture of body. Chapter 11
Of the matter and subject of Medit. Chapter 12
The order of handling the work itself. Chapter 13
The entrance into the work
1. Common entrance, which is prayer. Chapter 14
2. The particular and proper entrance into the matter, which is in our choice thereof. Chapter 15
The proceeding of our Meditation, therein a Method allowed by some Authors, rejected. Chapter 16
Premonitions concerning our proceeding in the first part of Med. Chapter 17
The practice of Meditation: the first part whereof in the understanding: therein,
1. We begin with some description of that which we meditate of. Chapter 18
2. An easy and voluntary division of the matter meditated. Chapter 19
3. A consideration of the causes thereof in all the kinds of them. Chapter 20
4. The consideration of the Fruits and Effects. Chapter 21
5. The consideration of the subject wherein, or whereabouts it is employed. Chapter 22
6. Consideration of the Appendances and qualities of it. Chapter 23.
7. Consideration of that which is contrary to it, or diverse from it. Chapter 24
8. Of Comparisons and similitudes whereby it may be most fitly set forth to us. Chapter 25
9. The Titles and Names of the matter considered. Chapter 26
10. Consideration of fit Testimonies of Scripture concerning our Theme. Chapter 27
Of the second part of Meditation, which is in the affections: wherein is,
1. First required, a taste and relish of what we thought upon. Chapter 28
2. A complaint bewailing our want and untowardness. Chapter 29
3. A hearty wish of the soul for what it complains to want. Chapter 30
4. An humble confession of our disability to effect what wee wish. Chapter 31
5. An earnest Petition for that which we confess to want. Chapter 32
6. A vehement enforcement of our Petition. Chapter 33
7. A cheerful confidence of obtaining what we have requested and enforced. Chapter 34
The conclusion of our Meditation, in what order. Chapter 35
First, with thanksgiving for what we are confident to be granted.
Secondly, with a Recommendation of our souls and ways to God. Chapter 36
The Epilogue; reproving the neglect, and exhorting to the use of Meditation. Chapter 37

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