The Art of Divine Meditation

by Edmund Calamy

“Meditation is the activity of calling to mind, and thinking over, and dwelling on, and applying to oneself, the various things that one knows about the works and ways and purposes and promises of God...It is an activity of holy thought, consciously performed in the presence of God, under the eye of God, by the help of God, as a means of communion with God.” (Packer, J Knowing God)

Genres: Christian Living

70 pages, Paperback

First published April 29, 2010

About the author

Edmund Calamy was an English Presbyterian church leader and divine. Known as "the elder", he was the first of four generations of nonconformist ministers bearing the same name.

Reviews

[Becky Pliego · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the subject and the way the principles are laid out. However, as with other Puritans, I don’t agree 100% with their method of application.

[Theodore Brode · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Herein lies the excellency of a Christian, that he is able to spiritualize natural things: Herein lies the wickedness of a wicked man, a wicked man doth naturalize spiritual things. But herein lies the godliness of a godly man; a godly man doth spiritualize natural things; a wicked man carnalizes even spiritual things; when he is at the Ordinances, at the very Sacrament, if he be not truly godly he doth carnalize and naturalize even that spiritual Ordinance of the Sacrament; but a godly Christian is like a Heavenly Alchemist, that can draw Heaven out of a Spider as it were, draw something of God out of a Toad, Heavenly instructions out of a Toad, out of a Viper, out of any Creature of God, much more out of the Heavens, Sun, Moon and Stars. You wonder at the Chemist, when he can extract all the four Elements out of a mixt body; much more excellent is that Christian which can extract heaven out of every Creature of God, that can heavenlize and spiritualize the Creatures of God."

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very fine treatise on meditation. In 134 pages he covers all the bases and gets quite practical towards the end. There is rigorous and seriousness here.

One quibble: there is the assumption that heaven is the real goal and content of meditation, which gives the motivation a slightly otherworldly tinge. We can meditate on plants, trees and mountains etc, only because they point elsewhere , ie to some other “higher” reality. In other words, the things of creation don’t appear to be goods in themselves. That is to say a tree cannot be a God-created and God-glorifying tree by just being a tree. This is the other-worldly and pietistic tendency in Puritanism.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Resource on Christian Mediation

People often forget that mediation is a Christian practice. Calamy takes the reader through the importance and practice of meditation. Highly informative and instructive

[Gary Wayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book.

Detailed and informative on Christian Meditation.
I found it to be very inspiring.
I would recommend this book to all Christians who want to grow in Grace.

[Michael Stilley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful, comprehensive handbook on meditation.

[Suzanne McDonald]

Another rubbish edition of an important Puritan work that is clumsily edited with utterly stupid attempts at modernization-via-search-and-replace that turns this text into a travesty.

[Kari Birks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every Christian should read this thought provoking book. In the midst of our busy, busy society/culture, it reminds us of the importance of stopping & always focusing on the one thing that is most important. When our days start with a meditative focus on Christ our priorities with Him at the forefront of everything we do and say will regulate & keep us near to Him throughout each day. Fear and worry will be kept at bay because there is no need for either when the promises of God are in your mind & heart.

I am reading Puritan John Ball's book called A Treatise of Divine Meditation and so far I much prefer Calamy...the main reason being is that Satan is not on every doorknob as I am finding so far in Ball's book.

[Jeff McCormack · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offers a great reminder and detailed examination of the missing art of meditation and how it can affect the Christians walk. This was timely for when the author wrote it, but is even more needed in today's world. Great instruction for how to get the most out of hearing sermons, the Lord's Supper, Bible reading and prayer. A worthy read for any Christian. Five stars for content, there stars for cheap Kindle version that was made and released with scanning errors galore.