Gathering Honey

William Bates, "On Divine Meditation," in Works, Vol. 3, p. 116:

Consider the end of meditation. It is in order to practice. There are many persons that fly over a garden of flowers, (I mean over many spiritual objects) their thoughts run and they gather no honey, they bring no fruit to their souls; but this is not the way of a christian; and therefore spiritual meditation is thus described by God himself. "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do all according to all that is written therein." Josh. 1.8. The end of it is to observe for practice and use. So in the Book of Job we have an expression applicable to this purpose; "lo this, we have searched it; so it is, hear it, and know thou it for thy good." Job 5.27. Some know things that they may know them, and some know things that they may be known, and taken notice of; but spiritual meditation draws forth the strength of an object for a man's own good.