94. ,THE SOGL L1`.AWING NEAR .T() GOD. [SERb1. V. spoils the devotion, and almost destroys the, pretence to any sublime degrees of it. Such persons liad need look well to themselves, and make a narrow search within, whether their hearts be sincere with God or no, lest they build all their hopes upon the flashy efforts of ani- mal nature, coupled with the thoughts of some sacred objects, and tacked on. to a divine meditation. REFLECTION. What a wretched hindrance is this world to our chris. tian profit and pleasure ! How often does it keep the soul at a sad distance from God ! With what difficulty and uneasy reluctance, are we sometimes drawn, or rather dragged into retirement, that the soul may seek after God there ! How many excuses does the flesh 'borrow from the cares and necessities of this life,. to de- lay, or to divert the duty of prayer ? Our memory, our imagination, and our senses, are faithful purveyors and treasurers for the world ; they are ever representing to us the things of this present state, the trifles or the busi- nesses, the cares or amusements of it, the labours or delights which relate to this life; and thereby, we are diverted and separated from Gad, and called away from him often, as soon as we begin to approach his presence. What a pernicious enemy is this flesh to the soul, both in the pleasures and the pains of it! and this world, both in the flatteries and the frowns of it, and even in its necessary cares ! When we would give our God the upper-room in our .hearts, how is this world ready to get the ascendant ! How often does it break in upon our most sacred retirements, and thrust itself, with all its impertinencies, into our holy meditations! How often does it spread a carnal scene all over our thoughts at . once, and. spoil our devoutest hours ! " I cannot dwell so,long in my closet as I would, says a christian, the world has such importunate demands .upon me." The world follows us, into our places of retirement; the ex- change, or the shop, presses into the temple, and robs God even, to his face. Let us then have a careof the flesh ; let us have a care of this world; we must be watchful over them as our most subtle and dangerous enemies, if we would keep our souls near to God, or, often enjoy this divine privi-
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=