MISCELLANEOUS THOUGHTS. 411 eternal portion. Meditate on him in this view, with a continual renewal of your trust in him, and a daily surrender of your- self to him, till you feel that you love him entirely, that you serve him with sincere delight, and that you cannot live a day without God in the world. VII. You know yourself to be a man, an indigent creature and a sinner, and you profess to be a christian, a disciple of the blessed Jesus : but never think you know Christ nor yourself as you ought, till you find a daily need of him for righteousness and strength, for pardon and sanctification ; and let him be your con- stant introducer to the great God, though he sit upon a throne of grace. Remember his own words ; John xiv. 6. " No man cometb to the Father but by me," VIII. Make prayer a pleasure and not a task, and then you will not forget nor omit it. If ever you have lived in a pray.. ing family, never let it be your fault if you do not live in one always. Believe that day, that hour, or those minutes to be all wasted and lost, which any worldly pretences would tempt you to save out of the public worship of the church, the certain and constant duties of the closet, or any necessary services for God and godliness. Beware lest a blast attend it, and not a blessing. If God had not reserved one day in seven to himself, I fear re- ligion would have been lost out of the world ; and every day of the week is exposed to a curse, which has no morning religion. IX. See that you watch and labour, as well as pray. Dili- gence and dependence must be united in the practice of every christian. It is the same wise man acquaints us, " that the hand of the diligent and the blessing of the Lord join together to make us rich ;" Prov. x. 1-22. rich in the treasures of body or mind, of time or eternity. It is your duty indeed, under a sense of your own weak- ness, to pray daily against sin ; but if you would effectually avoid it, you must also avoid temptation, and every dangerous opportunity. Set a double guard wheresoever you feel or sus- pect an enemy at hand. The world without, and the heart within, have so much flattery and deceit in them, that we must keep a sharp eye upon both, lest we are trapt into mischief between them. X. Honour, profit, and pleasure have been sometimes called tpe world's trinity ; they are its three chief idols ; each of them' is sufficient to draw a soul off from God, and ruin it for ever. Beware of them therefore, and of all their subtle insinu- ations, if you would be innocent or happy. Remember that the honour which comes from God, the ap- probation of heaven, and of your own conscience, are infinite* more valuable than all the esteem or applause of men. Hatt not venture one step out of the road of heaven, for fear of being Dd2
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