Food of the Soul

It is easy to observe that there are five degrees of the digestion of our spiritual food: first, it is received into the cell of the ear, and there digested by careful attention; then it is conveyed into the brain, and there concocted by due meditation; from thence it is sent down into the heart, and there digested by the affections; and from thence it is conveyed to the tongue in conference and holy confession; and lastly, it is thence transmitted to the hand, and there receives perfect digestion in our actions and performance; and, as the life and health of the body cannot be maintained except the material food pass through all the degrees of bodily concoction, no more can the soul live and prosper in the want of any of these spiritual degrees of digestion.—Bishop Hall.