loving, embracing.”^179 While there is some overlap between both of these lists it is
difficult to gauge their impact upon Ambrose’s schema. Meanwhile, Chan claims that
knowing and considering relate to the intellect, desiring, hoping, believing, loving,
and joying are affections, and calling and conforming pertain to the will.^180 While
there is some truth to his assessment it is overly simplistic. For example, considering,
which is “consideration” is really a combination of the intellect and affections.^181
Further according to Ambrose believing also has a strong component of consideration
to it.^182
The title for this thesis is taken from Ambrose’s definition of contemplation.
Early in Looking Unto Jesus he declares, “contemplation is soul-recreation, &
recreation is kept up by variety.”^183 However this wonderful image was not original
to him but borrowed from Nicholas Lockyer’s commentary on Colossians 1:16.^184
Therefore, understanding the nature of recreation in the seventeenth-century can
expand one’s awareness of this term as a definition for contemplation.^185 While many
people think of the Puritans as rigid and joyless this was certainly not an accurate
picture for all. Downame provides a detailed treatment of recreation in his massive
treatise on godliness. The introductory heading provides a clear summary of his
purpose “[r]ecreation, which are not onely lawfull, but also profitable and necessary,
if wee bee exercised in them according to Gods Word.” He reminds his readers of
Jesus’ example, and since he rested “to refresh himselfe and repaire his strength”
(^179) Hooker, Soules Exaltation (^) , 5. (^)
(^180) Chan, “Puritan Meditative Tradition,” 183.
(^181) Ambrose, Looking Unto Jesus, 88, 319, etc.
(^182) Ambrose, Looking Unto Jesus, 225-9, 329.
(^183) Ambrose, Looking Unto Jesus, 21.
(^184) Lockyer England Faithfully Watcht, 87. cf. Ranew, Solitude Improved, 144.
(^185) For a good summary of the understanding of recreation in early modern England
see McKay, “For Refreshment and Preservinge Health.”