ΤΗ HIS People draweth nigh unto me with their Mouth, and honoureth me with their Lips: but their Heart is far from me. Mat. xv. 8. 819 Nothing is due to a Reputation unjustly acquired It is not evil speaking, but an Act of publick Charity, to expose the Hypocrify of a Seducer. --- Outward Worship is nothing without the inward. It is in the Heart, and by the Religion thereof, that God is honoured. --- True Piety confifts in the Union of the Heart with God: This is what we must labour to accomplish. If in these fatal Fetters bound, A wretched Slave I lie, To humble Penitence and Prayer Smite off my Chains, and wake my Soul Speak ample Pardon to my Heart, To Light and Liberty. And feal its claim to Heav'n. THOSE Things which proceed out of the Mouth, come from the Heart, and they denile the Man. Mat. xv. 18. How neceffary is it, to watch over the Heart, fince that moves the Tongue, and is the Fountain of all human Corruption! It is according to what we are in the inmoft Receffes of the Heart, that we are either righteous or wicked, that we belong either to God, or the World; either to Chrift, or the Devil: And it is according to the State and Condition of our Will, that we shall be judged. The Regulation of this Heart, and the Reformation of this Will, demand our chief Care; the Reft follows their Difpofition. Lord, from Thee I expect to receive this Vigilance and Application. Thou alone art the Light, the Strength, and the Life of my Heart. Omniscient GOD, to Man declare That glad out of ourselves to run, FOR OR out of the Heart proceed evil Thoughts, Murders, Adulteries, Fornications, Thefts, Falfe-witnefs, Blafphemies. Mat. XV. 19. Man has in his Heart the Principle and Seed of all Kinds of Sin and he finds only in the Heart of Jefus Chrift the Principle of the contrary Vertues. Of himself he is nothing but a Sinner, by Grace and Mercy he becomes Righteous. Yes, O my God, whatever Good I do, and whatever Evil I avoid, it is entirely owing to Thee alone. Arm of God, thy Strength put on, Faithless Heart, be this thy Grief, H Conquer thy worst Foe in me, Aggravates thy heavy Load, A Woman of Canaan came out of the Coafts of Tyre and Sidon, and cried unto Jefus, faying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David: my Daughter is grievously vexed with a Devil. Mat. XV. 22. We see here, in this Woman, the Picture of a Sinner deeply fenfible of the Mifery of his Soul. He ought to begin by removing from the Occafions of Sin, by turning towards his Saviour, putting his whole Truft in him, praying heartily to him. --- How proper is this Prayer for a Soul deeply under Conviction? It is fhort, humble, full of Faith, fervent, respectful, rational, relying only upon God's Mercy, modeft, perfevering, not prefuming tb prefcribe to God. --- Čan he, who looks upon himself as a Slave of the Devil, beg with too much Earnestness to be forgiven and delivered? To the Sheep of Ifrael's Fold In Thee their Covenant; See me then, with Pity fee A Sinner, whom thou cam'ft to fave, Mercy, Mercy upon me, Thou Son of David have. BUT he answered her not a Word. And his Difciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away, for she crieth after us. Mat. xv. 23. This Woman's Faith firft caufes her to pray, and then her Prayer adding Strength to her Faith, makes her capable of undergoing the Trial of a flighting Silence, an exprefs Refufal, and a Treatment, in Appearance, fome what hard and injurious. It is fuch a Faith as this which fhould make us cry inceffantly after our Deliverer. Still to Thee, my God, I come, Still thou anfwereft not a Word To my repeated Prayer, Dare not ftand before thy Face, But lowly at thy Feet I fall, Help me, Jefus, fhew thy Grace, Thy Grace is free for all. O let them prevail with thee, To grant the Bleffing, which I crave, Mercy, Mercy upon me, Thou Son of David have. |