HEAVENLY MEDITATION. 309 used, methinks this should not entice thy love. If thy successful labours, and thy godly friends, seem better to thee than a life with God, it is time for God to take them from thee. If thy studies have been sweet, have they not also been bitter? And at best, what are they to the everlasting views of the God of truth ? Thy friends here have been thy delight; and have they not also been thy vexation and grief? They are gracious, - and are they not also sinful ? They are kind ; are they not soon displeased ? They are humble, but, alas ! how proud also ! Their graces are sweet, and their gifts helpful ; but are not their corruptions bitter, and their imperfections hurtful ? And art thou so loth to go from them to thy God ? 24. O my soul, look above this world of sórrows Hast thou so long felt the smarting rod of affliction, and no better understood its meaning? Is not every stroke to drive thee hence ? Is not its voice like that to Elijah, What dost thou here? Dost thou forget thy Lord's prediction, In the world ye shall have tribula- tion ; in me ye may have .peace? Ah ! my dear Lord, I feel thy meaning; it is written in my flesh, engraved in my bones. My heart thou aimest at thy rod drives, thy silken cord of love draws; and all to bring it to thyself Lord, can such a heart be worth thy having ? Make it worthy and then it is thine ; .take it to, thy- self, and then take me. This clod hath life to stir, but not to rise. As the feeble child to the tender mother, it looketh up to thee, and stretcheth out the hands, and fain would have thee take it up. Though I cannot say, my soul longeth after thee; yet I can say, I long for such a longing heart. The spirit is willing, the flesh is weak. My spirit cries, Let thy kingdom come, or let me come to thy kingdom ; but the flesh is afraid thou shouldst hear my prayer, and take me at my word. O blessed be thy grace, which makes use of my corruptions to kill themselves ; for I fear nay fears, and sorrow for my sorrows, and long for greater longings : and thus the painful means of attain- ing my desires increase my weariness, and that makes me groan to be at rest.
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