of the Almighty Sanctifier, and of His blessed operations on the soul of man! 37. I look to God in Christ Jesus, and I see all goodness, fulness, and blessedness; salvation, glory, eternal life. I know and feel the poverty and misery of man; and I know that there are in Christ "unsearchable riches" on man's behalf. 38. But having these views and convictions, am I what I ought to be;-a living, flourishing, and fruitful branch in the true Vine? Such a question fills my soul with solicitude and painful emotions. 39. Where is my hope? It is simply in Christ. If I be saved from the wrath that awaits the ungodly, if I be admitted into the mansions of bliss, to Christ alone I shall for ever owe such deliverance, and such exaltation. 40. But what is my faith, if it do not work by love? And what is my hope, if I do not purify myself? Away with all delusion. A sound creed and fair profession, fine fancies and bold pretensions, will not save me. I may deceive both myself and the world: but God will not be mocked. 41. The Blessed Jesus is not only a Saviour, Mediator, and Intercessor, but also a Prophet, a King, and an Example: and being such, He is not only to be trusted in, but also to be heard, obeyed, and followed. 42. Thus, O my soul, attend to the whole of religion; to all that Mercy gives, to all that Grace effects, to all that Duty demands: attend to sanctifi cation as well as to justification; knowing that nothing which defileth shall enter into the Jerusalem above. "Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." 43. Whatever be the dreams and speculations of some, and whatever be the contentions and divisions of others, give me Thy grace, O blessed Saviour, that I may rightly attend to Thy cross, to Thy spirit, and to Thy example, so that I may be found at last to have been a true believer in Thee and a true follower of Thee. 44. Thus I meditate on religion and on myself and on all mankind. In the Gospel of Christ I see all that is glorious and gracious, all that is holy and good. I may well call it "God's unspeakable gift." And I pray for myself and all men, that we, by the power of the Holy Spirit, may be made partakers of its blessings, imbibe its spirit, and obey its laws. 45. O that I and that all men may "work out our own salvation with fear and trembling;" God "working in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure." 46. Human life is a time of labour, trial, suffering, conflict: O to labour with diligence, to endure with patience, and to contend with courage. Our joys are all to come. The crown is laid up for us in another world. 47. Contented in my station, diligent in business, thankful for every blessing, let me live as a "stranger and pilgrim on the earth," "declaring that I desire a better country, that is, a heavenly." 48. Blessed Jesus! let Thy name be ever in my view; in prosperity and adversity, in life and death; lovely, as the Morning Star; effulgent, as the Sun of righteousness. O, ever let me say, that Thou art all. O be Thou such to me. 49. I meditate: I am lost in the multitude of my thoughts. But what shall I most value? what shall I most earnestly seek? This, only this, a believing, devout, and humble heart. 50. O merciful Father, bless me with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus: make me all that Thou wouldst have me to be: strengthen me in weakness: defend me in danger; direct and uphold me in the way of righteousness: and may I be found at last a lively stone, to occupy a place in the Jerusalem above. 151 CHAPTER XX. THE SONG OF HOPE. 1. Must we feel acutest anguish, Must we through life's stages languish, While we this troubled world survey, 2. Creation's scenes our gaze invite, Ah! what is seen and heard below, 3. The men of every tribe and tongue, All from a common parent sprung, 4. But what hath Sin, fell monster, done? What havoc hath he wrought? Dire was the victory which he won, 5. Review the turbid stream of time, As ages glide away: The story scan of every clime: And then in sorrow say, 6. In the deep gloom of pagan night, Amidst imposture's withering might, What myriads sleep, the dead and blind, 7. See nations, by ambition led, 8. But visit the sequestered plain, Where peasants till the ground; And shall not there the Virtues reign, And happiness abound? |