discarded hastily-the past of our own life must not be too fondly dwelt upon passages in which the Law and the Prophets as well as the Gospel teach this-sentiment, in order to be sound, must be in accordance with truth-the days of childhood had their troubles, as well as later days-the trick of memory, which makes us believe that former days were better than these-Christ has for those who The connexion traced between this and the preceding Chapter- our proneness to live in the future rather than in the present- especially developed in youth-the tendency of the present age to foster a restless desire for a better position-the Scriptural precepts to abide in, and be content with, our present position-touching example of the Shunammite-the principle of rest, and the principle of progress, in our nature, and how they each operate upon that which is the end of the other-we must restore these principles to their right functions-importance of redeeming present opportu- nities, and enjoying present privileges-St. Paul's advice to the slave not to push for liberty, and the emphatic lesson of content- ment which it teaches his advice justified by the consideration of the "shortness of the time" which remains to us- -the unspeakable importance of eternity throws into the shade our earthly circum- stances the restless discontent which is now abroad, with the Church of our Baptism-our Church offers us more opportunities than we avail ourselves of, of serving God and benefiting man-a perfect communion not to be found upon earth-duty of acquiescing CHAPTER XVII. THE CENTRIPETAL AND CENTRIFUGAL FORCES OF THE SOUL. Οὐχὶ πάντες εἰσὶ λειτουργικὰ πνεύματα, εἰς διακονίαν ἀποστελλόμενα διὰ τοὺς μέλλοντας κληρονομεῖν σωτηρίαν ; Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation ?"-HEB. i. 14. PAGE Case of a devout man who craves after a regular pursuitquestion raised whether such a craving is part of the mind's constitution, or part of its disease-practical importance of the question -advantage of studying this question in the case of the Angels rather than in that of men-the Angels proposed to us by Our Lord as a model of human duty-failure of the English Translation to represent the point of Heb. i. 14-twofold function of the Angels as officiating priests in the Heavenly Temple, and as employed on ministries of mercy to the heirs of salvation-discrimination of these functions in the Collect for St. Michael the Angels exhibited to us in Holy Scripture in both characters-two tendencies in the constitution of every rational being, a desire for external work, and an attraction towards God as its source and centre-a pursuit the condition of happiness—but we may not be absorbed in any pursuit -weariness resulting from mere external activity-the soul's need of God—the recognition of God must be, not kept apart from our business, but interlaced with it-edifying extract from "Hele's Devotions"-the New Testament prayer-precept enjoins unintermitting prayer are we making an effort to keep it ?—the necessity of collecting the mind as often as we find it has wandered from God 209 CHAPTER XVIII. OF THE NECESSITY OF AN OCCUPATION, AND OF THE RIGHT WAY OF PURSUING IT. "Because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought for by their occupation they were tent-makers."ACTS xviii. 3. PAGE Reasons why St. Paul would not stand upon his right to receive support from his converts-how he found his advantage in labouring with his hands for his own support-many Scriptural instances of Divine calls being addressed to men in the way of their ordinary business-necessity to holiness of an outward occupation-an occupation made ready for the majority of ren-let it be settled in the mind that this business is the task set us by God's Providencelet us work under the eye of our Heavenly Master, and look up into His face, and ask His help-never regard work as a hindrance to, but as a furtherance of, piety-think how often God has met men in the way of their calling-aim rather at doing well what you do than at getting through much-hurry and impulsiveness prejudicial -how a man may be slothful while he is busy-the spirit in which the Angels work-how our leisure moments may be employed in some gratuitous work for Christ-St. Paul's work, though large and anxious, yet left him time for a manufacture, which was a gratuitous toil-advices for those who are under no necessity of working for their bread-why reading is not for such persons a sufficient occupation-many posts of Christian usefulness and Church work open to such people-let them choose and addict themselves to one province of such work-the intellectual inferiority of a handicraft more than compensated by its spiritual advantages 221 "And when He was gone forth into the way, there came one run- ning, and kneeled to Him, and asked Him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou Me good? there is none good but One, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto Him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt The love of God the spring of holiness-our aptness to deceive PAGE tion-what has to be mortified is our affection to created good in all its forms-fasting and almsgiving, the two specially recognized forms of it their principle-how the tasting of the powers of the world to come loosens this world's power over the heart-mortifi- cation to be regarded as the negative form of the love of God-and "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can A second practical test of the love of God proposed any pretence to the love of God, in the absence of the love of our neighbour, a delusion-the love of our neighbour easier than the love of our God, inasmuch as it is easier to walk by sight than by faith- reason why the love of God might seem to be the easier of the two -our neighbour full of imperfections, while the idea of God is attractive but to be attracted towards the idea of God is not to love God-we must realize God's existence before we can love Him—and this realization can only be by faith-I. how the love of our neighbour is wrapped up in the love of God—what we are required to love in our neighbour is God's image in him—every human soul has a fragment of this image—a man's true self to be distinguished from his failings-this distinction generally recog- nized, when it is said that God loves the sinner, while He hates the sin-II. the love of our neighbour must be brought to practical tests-1. what are we doing for him ?-jealousy shown by St. John and St. James of professions of benevolence-quick evapora- tion of benevolent sentiment, if it is not immediately acted upon- 2. Do we pray for others ?-intercession recognized as an essential element of Prayer in the Lord's Prayer-if we do not pray in a spirit of love to others, our prayer is out of harmony with God's mind-and such a prayer cannot reach God's heart-seek to make your prayers for others specific by considering their wants and trials |
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