text: there are times when solitude is better than society and silence is wiser than speech we should be better christians if we were more alone waiting upon god and gathering through meditation on his word spiritual strength for labour in his service we ought to muse upon the things of god because we thus get the real nutriment out of them why is it that some christians although they hear many sermons make but slow advances in the divine life because they neglect their closets and do not thoughtfully meditate on god s word they love the wheat but they do not grind it they would have the corn but they will not go forth into the fields to gather it the fruit hangs upon the tree but they will not pluck it the water flows at their feet but they will not stoop to drink it from such folly deliver us o lord