a THE SAINT'S REST. 31. God with joy, and rest in our love, and joy in him with singing. 15 15. Alas ! my fearful heart scarce dares proceed. -- Methin ;s Ì hear the Almighty's' voice saying to me, " Who is this that darkeneth councel by words, without knowledge ! "(n) But pardon thy servant, O Lord, I have not pried into unrevealed things. I bewail that my apprehensions are so dull, my thoughts so mean, my affections so stupid, and my expressions so low, and unbeseemiñg such a glory. I have only heard by the hearing of the ear : oh, let thy servant see thee, and possess these joys ; and then shall I have more suitable conceptions, and shall give thee fuller glory ; I shall abhor my present self, and dis- claim and renounce all these imperfections. "-I have uttered that Ì understood not things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.(o) Yet I believed, and therefore have I spoken."(p) What, Lord, canst thou expect from dust, but levity ! or from corruption, but defilement ? Though the weakness and irreverence be the fruit of ,my own corruption, yet the fire is from thine altar, and the work of thy commanding. I looked not into thy ark, nor put forth my hand unto it, without thee. Wash away these stains also in the, blood of the Lamb ! Imperfect, or none, must be my service here. O take thy Son's excuse, " The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. "(q) (n) Job xxxvii. 2. (o) Job xlii. 3, 5, 6. (p) 2 Cor. iv. 13. (g) Matt. xxvi. 41.
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