AMDigital Reference:MS 6497

National Library of Scotland MS 6497 is the ninth of fourteen extant manuscripts of religious meditations written by Anne, Lady Halkett. For a discussion of all of the surviving manuscripts plus the lost volumes, see the Context and Purpose article in NLS MS 6489. This manuscript consists of select or biblical meditations, followed by occasional meditations. Halkett begins by meditating on St Peter (pp.1-122, msItem 5), then on Christ's Passion for every day of the week (Monday to Sunday) (pp.123-273, msItem 6-6.7). This is followed by a one-page meditation on the Passion of Christ (p.274, msItem 7). A new section begins on p.275. These are occasional meditations on Halkett's typically wide range of topics (pp.275-392, msItems 8-65). The topics range from events in her personal life (relating mainly to her son, her medical practice, her reading, and taking children into her household), wider political events (the anniversary of the Restoration, the pregnancy of the Queen) and her spiritual life (preparing for the sacrament, the activities of Presbyterians in her parish). These meditations are followed by a brief table of contents on the back pastedown. The manuscript is preceded by some prefatory material. There is an unpaginated flyleaf, followed by a paginated flyleaf (pp. i-ii, msItem 2), which contains an explanation of why Halkett chose to meditate on St Peter. The next two leaves were pasted into the manuscript. They consist of a meditation on Leviticus 8:22-24 (pp. iii-iv, msItem 3) and some extracts from p.138 of R[ichard] A[lleine]'s The Godly Man's Portion and Sanctuary Opened, in two Sermons, Preached August 17. 1662 (London, 1662) (pp. v-vi, msItem 4).

Reproduction of: Meditations, 24 January 1686/7 - 18 May 1688.

National Library of Scotland