183 / 674
GERM.
XXXifi.l
THE
RIGHT IMPROVEMENT
OI
LIFE.
163
"
But
if
the
characters
of
a
sincere
penitent,
and
a
holy christian
be
found
with
thee
:'
if
thou
art
a
partaker
of
the
love
of
God,
through
the grace
of
Jesus,
then
"
bless
the
Lord,
:O
my soul,
and let
all
that
is
within
we
praise
his
holy-naine,"
that
he
has
not cut
me
off in
the
days
of
my
enmity to
God,
unsanctified,
and uripar-
doned
;
that
he
has
lengthened out
my life
and
the
sea-
sons
of
his
mercy,
till
he has
changed
my
sinful
nature,
and
secured
me in
the
covenant
of
his
grace.
"
Is
life given me as
an opportunity
of
service to
my
Lord Jesus
?
It
is
he
that
has
redeemed
me
;
is is
he
that
has laid
out
his
valuable
life
for
me,
what
shall
I
do,
O
my Saviour,
to make some
humble
returns
of
ac-
knowledgment
and
love? O
let
my
useless
and
unser-
viceable years
be
forgiven,
and let
the remains
of
life,
whether long or
short,
be
all
devoted to the interests
and
hònours of
my
Redeemer. Were it
possible
for
the
saints,
after
they have dwelt
sometime'in
heaven, to
come
down
and
dwell
on
earth
again,
how would
they
multiply their
labours, and
lay out
their
new life in
more
activity
and
service for
their God
and Saviour
?
When
they
:leave
found
and
tasted
what
a heaven
of
happiness
succeeds
the
_short
labours of
life, how
would they
double
all
their
zeal and diligence,
and
be
grieved they
could do
Ao
more
?
When
they have
.seen
and conversed with
their
beloved Lord,
and
beheldhim
face to
face,
with
how
much
warmer
love would they engage in
his
ser-
vice
?
Surely
they
would all cry out,
that
the
longest
life
on earth
is
much too
short
to shew
their
zeal,
affection,
and gratitude
to
so
divine
and glorious a friend.
Think
of
this,
O
my soul,
and
remember,
if
thou ever
arrive
safe
at
heaven, thou wilt
wish
thou hadst done
more for
thy beloved Lord here on
earth.
..
"
Is
this.
mortal
life
continued to
me
that
I
may
spread
a
savour
of
piety amongst
my fellow
-
creatures, and set
a
religious example
to men
?.
Lord,
suffer me to do
no-
thing
that
may
lead sinners astray
from thee.
Pardon
all
the
evil
examples
I
have
ever
given,
and
let
my future-
conduct
shine in holiness,
as
a
pattern
to those
that are
round about
me.
Methinks,
I
would convince the
world
that
religion, has
something excellent
and
divine
in
it,
.
crud
encourage them to the
.practice
of
strict
godliness,
M