378 MISCELLANEOUS THOUGHTS. ling in this land of graves, as though immortal blessings were to' be drawn from the clods of it. Our real and eternal interest depends more on thy single favour, than on the united friendship of the whole creation ; and yet, foolish wanderers that we are ! we absent ourselves from our God, and rove far and wide to seek interests and friendships among creatures whose character is weakness, vanity and disap- pointing vexation. How fond are we of a word or a look from a worm in a high station ? How do we caress them and court their love, at the expence of virtue and truth, and the favour of God our Maker? And yet they are nothing without God, but he is our all, without their leave. Should my father and my mother, and every mortal friend forsake me, and every good ahgel take his flight ; should these heavens and this earth, with all their innumerable inhabitants, disappear at once, and vanish into their first nothing ; thy pre- sence with me is all- sufficient ; thy hand would support my being, and thy love would furnish oat an eternity of life and coeval hap- piness. Why then do I tie myself so fast to my mortal friends, as though my separation from them were certain misery? Why do I lean upon creatures with my whole weight, as though no- thing else could support me? O my God ! I am convinced that I have more affairs, and of far higher importance, to transact with thee, than with all thy creatures, and yet I am ever chattering with thy creatures, and say little to my God ; or at best give him a morning or an even- ing salutation, and perhaps too with indolence and formality. Whom have I in heaven or in earth but thee, that can supply all my wants, and fill up all the vacancies of my heart ? And yet how are my thoughts and hours busily employed in quest of satis- faction among the shining snares, or at best among the flattering impertinencias of the world ; though every new experiment shows me they are all unsatisfying ? If I happen to find any thing here below made a channel to convey some blessing to me from thy hand, how-prone am Ito make an idol of it, and place it in the room of my God ? How much, alas? do I'trust to my food to nourish, and physic to heal me ! but it is thou alone canst bless me with ease, nourishment and health, while I dwell in this cottage of flesh and blood. Let medicines and physicians pronounce des- pair and death upon me, a word of thine can shut the mouth of the grave, can renew the vigour and bloom of youth, and repair the decays of nature. If thou withhold thy vital influence, my flesh languishes'and expires, even among the luxurious provisions of the table, and the recipes of the learned ; and it is thou only cant provide me a blissful habitation, when thiscottage has fallen to the ground. Father; into thy hand I commend my spirit,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=