sten on the
minds of those that are hearers of the word and not doers! O, sir! be
ambitious for the glory of God and the salvation of souls: it will add
to the lustre of your crown in glory, as well as to your present joy
and peace. We should be willing to spend and be spent in his service,
saying, 'Lord, may thy will be done by me on earth, even as it is by
thy angels in heaven.' So you may expect to see his face with joy,
and say, 'Here am I, Lord, and all the souls thou hast given me.'
"It seems wonderful that we should neglect any opportunity of doing
good, when there is, if it be done from love to God and his creatures,
a present reward of grace, in reflecting that we are using the talents
committed to our care, according to the power and ability which we
receive from Him. God requires not what He has not promised to give.
But when we look back and reflect that there have been opportunities
in which we have neglected to take up our cross, and speak and act for
God, what a dejection of mind we feel! We are then justly filled with
shame. Conscious of being ashamed of Christ, we cannot come with that
holy boldness to a throne of grace, nor feel that free access when we
make our supplications.
"We are commanded to provoke one another to love and good works; and
where two are agreed together in the things of God, they may say:
"'And if our fellowship below
In Jesus be so sweet,
What heights of rapture shall we know
When round the throne we meet!'
"Sir, I hope Mrs --- and you are both of one heart and one mind. Then
you will sweetly agree in all things that make for your present and
eternal happiness. Christ sent his disciples out, not singly, but two
and two, that they might comfort and help each other in those ways and
works which their Lord commanded them to pursue.
"It has been my lot to have been alone the greatest part of the time
that I have known the ways of God. I therefore find it such a treat
to my soul when I can meet with any who loves to talk of the goodness
and love of God, and all his gracious dealings. What a comfortable
reflection, to think of spending a whole eternity in that delightful
employment--to tell to listening angels his love, 'immense,
unsearchable!'
"Dear sir, I thank you for your kindness and condescension in leaving
those that are of high rank and b
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