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Psalm xxiii. 5. I bless thee, that these bounties of thy providence do not serve, as it were, to upbraid a disabled appetite, and are not like messes of meat set before the dead.' I bless thee too, that I eat not my morsel alone,' (Job, xxxi. 17.) but share it with so many agreeable friends, who add the relish of a social life to that of the animal, at our seasons of common repast. I thank thee for so many dear relatives at home, for so many kind friends abroad, who are capable of serving me in various instances, and disposed to make an obliging use of that capacity. "Nor would I forget to acknowledge thy favour in rendering me capable of serving others, and giving me in any instance to know, how much more blessed it is to give than to receive.' Acts, xx. 35. I thank thee for a heart which feels the sorrows of the necessitous, and a mind which can make it my early care and refreshment to contrive, according to my little ability, for their relief; for 'this also cometh forth from thee, O Lord!' (Isaiah, xxviii. 29.) the great Author of every benevolent inclination, of every prudent scheme, of every successful attempt to spread happiness around us, or in any instance to lessen distress.

"And surely, O Lord, if I thus acknowledge the pleasures of sympathy with the afflicted, much more must I bless thee for those of sympathy with the happy, with those that are completely blessed. I adore thee for the streams that water Paradise, and maintain it in ever-flourishing, ever-growing delight. I praise thee for the rest, the joy, the transport, thou art giving to many that were once dear to me on earth, whose sorrows it was my labour to soothe, and whose joys, especially in thee, it was the delight of my heart to promote. I praise thee for the blessedness of every saint, and of every angel, that surrounds thy throne above and I praise thee, with accents of distinguished pleasure, for that reviving hope which thou hast implanted in my bosom, that I shall, ere long, know, by clear sight, and by everlasting experience, what that felicity of theirs is, which I now only discover at a distance, through the comparatively obscure glass of faith. Even now, through thy grace, do I feel myself borne forward by thy supporting

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arm to those regions of blessedness. Even now am I 'waiting for thy salvation,' (Gen. xlix. 18.) with that ardent desire, on the one hand, which its sublime greatness cannot but inspire into the believing soul, and that calm resignation, on the other, which the immutability of thy promise establishes.

"And now, O my God, what shall I say unto thee? what, but that I love thee above all the powers of language to express! That I love thee for what thou art to thy creatures, who are, in their various forms, every moment deriving being, knowledge, and happiness from thee, in numbers and degrees far beyond what my narrow imagination can conceive. But, oh! I adore and love thee yet far more for what thou art in thyself, for those stores of perfection which creation has not diminished, and which can never be exhausted by all the effects of it which thou impartest to thy creatures; that infinite perfection which makes thee thine own happiness, thine own end; amiable, infinitely amiable and venerable, were all derived excellence and happiness forgot.

“O thou first, thou greatest, thou fairest of all objects! thou only great, thou only fair, possess all my soul! And surely thou dost possess it. While I thus feel thy sacred Spirit breathing on my heart, and exciting these fervours of love to thee, I cannot doubt it any more than I can doubt the reality of this animal life, while I exert the actings of it, and feel its sensations. Surely, if ever I knew the appetite of hunger, my soul hungers after righteousness,' (Matt. v. 6.) and longs for a greater conformity to thy blessed nature and holy will. If ever my palate felt thirst, 'my soul thirsteth for God, even for the living God,' (Psalm xlii. 2.) and panteth for the more abundant communication of his favour. If ever this body, when wearied with labour or journies, knew what it was to wish for the refreshment of my bed, and rejoice to rest there, my soul, with sweet acquiescence rests upon thy gracious bosom, O my heavenly Father, and returns to its repose in the embraces of its God, who hath dealt so bountifully with it.' Psalm cxvi. 2. And if ever I saw the face of a beloved

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friend with complacency and joy, I rejoice in beholding thy face, O Lord, and in calling thee my Father in Christ. Such thou art, and such thou wilt be, for time and for eternity. What have I more to do, but to commit myself to thee for both? Leaving it to thee to choose my inheritance,' and to order my affairs for me, (Psalm xlvii. 4.) while all my business is to serve thee, and all my delight to praise thee. 'My soul follows hard after God,' because his right hand upholds me.' Psalm lxiii. 8. Let it still bear me up, and I shall press on toward thee, till all my desires be accomplished in the eternal enjoyment of thee! Amen."

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CHAPTER XXVIII.

THE ESTABLISHED CHRISTIAN URGED TO EXERT HIMSELF FOR PURPOSES OF USEFULNESS.

1,2. A sincere love to God will express itself not only in devotion, but in benevolence to men.-3. This is the command of God.-4. The true Christian feels his soul wrought to a holy conformity to it. 5. And therefore will desire instruction on this head.-6. Accordingly, directions are given for the improvement of various talents; particularly genius and learning.-7. Power.-8. Domestic authority.-9. Esteem.-10. Riches.-11. Several good ways of employing them hinted at.-12, 13. Prudence in expense urged, for the support of charity.-14. Divine direction in this respect to be sought. The Christian breathing after more extensive usefulness.

1. SUCH as I have described in the former chapter, I trust, are and will be the frequent exercises of your soul before God. Thus will your love and gratitude breathe itself forth in the divine presence, and will, through Jesus the great Mediator, come up before it as incense, and yield an acceptable savour. But then, you must remember, this will not be the only effect of that love to God, which I have supposed so warm in your heart. If it be sincere, it will not spend itself in words alone, but will discover itself in actions, and will produce, as its genuine fruit, an unfeigned love to your fellow-creatures and an unwearied desire and labour to do them good continually.

2. "Has the great Father of mercies," will you say, "looked upon me with so gracious an eye! has he not only

forgiven me ten thousand offences, but enriched me with such a variety of benefits? O what shall I render to him for them all? Instruct me, O ye oracles of eternal truth! Instruct me, ye elder brethren in the family of my heavenly Father! Instruct me, above all, O thou Spirit of wisdom and love! what I may be able to do, to express my love to the great eternal Fountain of love, and to approve my fidelity to him who has already done so much to engage it, and who will take so much pleasure in owning and rewarding it !"

3. This, O Christian! is the command which we have heard from the beginning, and it will ever continue in unimpaired force, "that he who loveth God," should "love his brother also," (1 John, iv. 21.) and should express that love, "not in word and profession alone, but in deed and in truth." 1 John, iii. 18. You are to love You are to love your neighbour as yourself; to love the whole creation of God; and, so far as your influence can extend, must endeavour to make it happy.

4. "Yes," will you not say, and "I do love it. I feel the golden chain of divine love encircling us all, and binding us close to each other, joining us in one body, and diffusing, as it were, one soul through all. May happiness, true and sublime, perpetual and ever-growing happiness, reign through the whole world of God's rational and obedient creatures in heaven and on earth! And may every revolted creature, that is capable of being recovered and restored, be made obedient! Yea, may the necessary punishment of those who are irrecoverable, be overruled by infinite wisdom and love to the good of the whole !"

5. These are right sentiments, and if they are indeed the sentiments of your heart, O reader! and not an empty form of vain words, they will be "attended with a serious concern to act in subordination to this great scheme of divine Providence, according to your abilities in their utmost extent. And to this purpose, they will put you on surveying the peculiar circumstances of your life and being, that you may discover what opportunities of usefulness they now afford, and how those opportunities and capacities

may be improved. Enter therefore into such a survey, not that you may pride yourself in the distinctions of divine Providence or grace towards you, or, "having received, may glory as if you had not received;" (1 Cor. iv. 7.) but that you may deal faithfully with the great Proprietor, whose steward you are, and by whom you are entrusted with every talent, which, with respect to any claim from your fellow-creatures, you may call And here, your own. having gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us," (Rom. xii. 6.) let us hold the balance with an impartial hand, that so we may determine what it is that God requires of us; which is nothing less than doing the most we can invent, contrive, and effect, for the general good. But, oh! how seldom is this estimate faithfully made! And how much does the world around us, and how much do our own souls suffer, for want of that fidelity!

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6. Hath God given you genius and learning? It was not that you might amuse or deck yourself with it, and kindle a blaze which should only serve to attract and dazzle the eyes of men. It was intended to be the means of leading both yourself and them to the Father of lights. And it will be your duty, according to the peculiar turn of that genius and capacity, either to endeavour to improve and adorn human life, or, by a more direct application of it to divine subjects, to d the cause of religion, to defend its truths, to enfor and recommend its practice, to deter men from courses which would be dishonourable to God and fatal to themselves, and to try the utmost efforts of all the solemnity and tenderness with which you can clothe your addresses, to lead them into the paths of virtue and happiness.

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7. Has God invested you with power, whether it be in a larger or smaller society? Remember that this power was given you, that God might be honoured, and those placed under your government, whether domestic or public, might be made happy. Be concerned, therefore, that, whether you be entrusted with the rod, or the sword, it may "not be borne in vain." Rom. xiii. 4. Are you a magistrate? Have you any share in the great and tremendous

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