]t5 THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE MIND. XV. Watch against the pride of your awn reason, and a" 'rain conceit ofyour intellectual powers, with the neglect of divine' aid and blessing. Presume not upon great attainments in know- ledge by your own self-sufñciency those who trust to their own understanding entirely are pronounced-fools in the svord of God ; and it is the wisest of mers gives them`this character, he that tru.st- eth in his own heart is a fool ; Prov. xxviii. 26. And the same divine writer advises to trust in the Lord with all our heart : and not to lean to our awn understandings, nor to be wise in our Own eyes Chap. iii. 5, 7. Those who'with áneglect of religion, and' dependence On God, apply themselves to search out every article in the things of God by the mere dint of theirown reason, have been suffered to run into wild excesses of foolery, and strange extravagance of opinions. Every one who pursues this vain course, and will not ask for .he conduct of God in the study of religion, has just rea- son to fear he shall be left of God, and given up a prey to a thousand prejudices : that he should be consigned over to the fol- lies of his own heart, and pursue his own temporal and eternal ruin. And even in common studies; we should by humility and dependence engage the God of truth on our side, XVI. Offer up therefore your daily requests tó God the .rather of lights, that he would bless allyour attemptsand labours in reading, study, and conversation. Think yourself, how easily and how insensibly by one turn of thought he can lead you into a large scene of useful ideas ; he can teach you to lay hold on a clue which may guide your thoughts with "safety and ease through all the difficulties of an intricate subject. Think bow easily the Author of your beings can direct your motions by his providence, so that the glance of an eye, or a word striking the ear, or a sudden turn of the fancy, shall conduct you to a train of happy sentiments. Byhis secret and supreme method of government he can-draw you to read such a treatise, or to converse with such a person who may give, yod more light into some deep subject in an hour, than you couldobtain by a month of your ownsolitary labour. Think with yourself, with how much ease the God-ofspirits can cast into our mind some useful suggestion, and give a happy turn to your own thoughts, or the thoughts of those with whom you converse, whence you may derive unspeakable light and satisfaction in a-matter that has long puzzled and entangled you he can chew you a path which the vulture's eye has not seen, and lead you by some unknown gate or portal, out of the wilderness and labyrinthof difficulties wherein you have been long wandering. Implore constantly his divine grace to point your inclination to proper studies, and to fix your heart there. He can keep off`
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