1 HINTS, &c. WHY will not men be contented with appearing what they are? As sure as we attempt to pass for what we are not, we make ourselves ridiculous. With religious professors this ought to be a consideration of importance; for when we assume credit for what we do not possess, we break the laws of God in more ways than we are aware of: vanity and deceit are both implicated. Why art thou so disquieted, O my soul, and why so full of heaviness? O put thy trust in God; for 1 will yet thank him which is the help of my countenance, and my God. Ps. 42.' Domine Jesu in te speravi, miserere mei! Ne sperne animum miserrimi peccatoris. The love of Christ is the only source from whence a Christian can hope to derive spiritual happiness and peace. Now the love of Christ will not reside in the bosom already pre-occupied with the love of the world, or any other predominating affection. We must give up every thing for it, and we know it deserves that distinction; yet, upon this principle, unless the energy of Divine grace were what it is, mighty and irresistible, who would be saved? The excellence of our liturgy, and our establishment, iz more and more impressed upon my mind: how admirable do her confessions, her penitentiary offerings, her intercessious, her prayers, suit with the case of the christian! It is a sign that a man's heart is not right with God, when he finds fault with the liturgy. Contempt of religion is distinct from unbelief: unbelief may be the result of proud reasonings, and independent research; but contempt of the christian doctrine must proceed from profound ignorance. LORD, give me a heart to turn all knowledge to thy glory, and not to mine: keep me from being deluded with the lights of vain philosophy; keep me from the pride of human reason: let me not think my own thoughts, nor dream my own imaginations; but in all things acting under the good guidance of thy Holy Spirit, may I live in all simplicity, humility, and singleness of heart, unto the Lord Jesus Christ, now and for evermore. Amen. [The above Prayer was prefixed to a Manual, or Memorandumbook.] A PRAYER. ALMIGHTY Father, at the close of another day I kneel before thee in supplication, and ere I compose my body to sleep, I would steal a few moments from weariness, to lift up my thoughts to thy perfections, to meditate on thy wonderful dispensations, and to make my request known unto thee. Although the hours of this day have not been spent in the busy haunts of society, but in the pursuit of needful and godly knowledge, yet I am conscious that my thoughts and actions have been far from pure; and many vain and foolish speculations, many sinful thoughts and ambitious anticipations, have obtruded themselves on my mind. I know that I have felt pleasure in what I ought to have abhorred, and that I have not had thy presence continually in mind; so that my ghostly enemy has mixed poison with my best food, and sowed tares with the good seed of instruction. Sometimes, too, the world has had too much to do with my thoughts: I have longed for its pleasures, its splendors, its honours, and have forgotten that I am a poor follower of Jesus Christ, whose inheritance is not in this land, but in the fields above. I do therefore supplicate and beseech thee, Oh! thou my God and Father, that thou wilt not only forgive these my wanderings, but that thou wilt chasten my heart, and establish my affections, so that they may not be shaken by the light suggestions of the tempter Satan; and since I am of myself very weak, I implore thy restraining hand upon my understanding, that I may not reason in the pride of worldly wisdom, nor flatter myself on my attainments, but ever hold my judgment in subordination to thy word, and see myself as what I am, an helpless dependant on thy bounty. If a spirit of indolence and lassitude have at times crept on me, I pray thy forgiveness for it; and if I have felt rather inclined to prosecute studies which procure respect from the world, than the humble knowledge which becomes a servant of Christ, do thou check this growing propensity, and only bless my studies so far as they conduce to thy glory, and as thy glory is their chief end. My heart, O Lord! is but too fond of this vain and deceitful world, and I have many fears lest I should make shipwreck of my hope on the rocks of ambition and vanity. Give me, I pray thee, thy grace to repress these propensities: illumine more completely my wandering mind, rectify my understanding, and give me a simple, humble, and affectionate heart, to love thee and thy sheep with all sincerity. As I increase in learning, let me increase in lowness of spirit; and inasmuch as the habits of studious life, unless tempered by preventing grace, but too much tend to produce formality and lifelessness in devotion, do thou, O heavenly Father, preserve me from all cold and speculative views of thy blessed Gospel; and while with regular constancy I kneel down daily before thee, do not fail to light up the fire of heavenly love in my bosom, and to draw my heart heavenward with earnest longing [to thyself]. And now, O Blessed Redeemer! my rock, my hope, and only sure defence, to thee do I chearfully commit both my soul and my body. If thy wise Providence see fit, grant that I may rise in the morning, refreshed with sleep, and with a spirit of cheerful activity for the duties of the day but whether I wake here or in eternity, grant that my trust in thee may remain sure, and my hope unshaken. Our Father, &c. : [This prayer was discovered amongst some dirty loose papers of H. K. W's.] Mem. SEPTEMBER 22, 1806. ON running over the pages of this book, I am constrained to observe, with sorrow and shame, that my progress in divine light has been little or none. I have made a few conquests over my corrupt inclinations, but my heart still hankers after its old delights; still lingers half willing, half unwilling, in the ways of worldly-mindedness. My knowledge of divine things is very little improved. I have read less of the Scriptures than I did last year. In reading the Fathers, I have consulted rather the pride of my heart, than my spiritual good. |