tain and unspeakable. These thoughts, therefore, I fhould keep upon my mind, through the whole week: they fhould be the amufement of my labour, and the relief of my weariness: and when my heart is thus ready, I fhall gladly take every opportunity to fing and give praife. I fhall awake early to worship that God, who is my Defence and my Delight; and I fhall close every evening with prayer and thanksgiving to Him, whofe "Ways "are Ways of Pleafantnefs, and all "whofe Paths are Peace." Whenever I can have a quarter of an hour to fpare from the neceffary business, and the (at fit times) as neceffary relaxations of life, which, while they are innocent, moderate, and reafonable, will never be disapproved by that good God, who has created every thing thing that is comely and pleafant in the world, and invites us to rejoice and do good, all the days of our life : when I have any fpare time, I fhall gladly spend it in reading with reverence and attention, fome portions of the Bible. In all my common converfation, I fhall have my eye conti-. nually up to Him, who alone can direct my paths to happiness and improvement, and crown all my endeavours with the beft fuccefs. I fhall try to be fomething the better for every scene of life I am engaged in : to be fomething the wifer for every day's converfation and experience.And let me not fear, but that if I daily thus faithfully ftrive to grow in Holinefs and Goodnefs, be my growth at the prefent never fo imperceptible, "I fhall, in due time, arrive at the "meafure meafure of the fulness of ftature in "Chrift." That I may be better for the laft twenty-four hours, let me examine a little what temper I have been in all that time. In general, perhaps, I can recollect nothing much amifs in it: but let me defcend to particulars.Things are often very faulty, that appear at first fight very trifling. Perhaps I have fo fond a conceit of myfelf, as to think, that I can never be in the wrong. Has any uneasiness happened in the Family this last day? Perhaps I think the fault was wholly in others, and the right entirely on my fide. But ought I not to remember, that in all difputes, there is generally fome fault on both fides? Perhaps they begun :-but did not I car ry ry it on? They gave me provocation: but did not I take it? Am not I too apt to imagine that it would be mean entirely to let a quarrel drop, when I have a fair opportunity to reason, and argue, and reproach, to vindicate my injured merit, and affert my right? Yet, is this agreeable to the precepts and example of Him, "who "when he was reviled, reviled not "again." Is it agreeable to His Commands, who has charged me, if my Brother trefpafs against me, to forgive him, not feven times only, but seventy times feven? Is it agreeable to that Christian Doctrine, which exhorts us, not to think of ourselves highly, but foberly, as we ought to think: and that in lowliness of mind, every one fhould think others better than himself? And alas! How often do do I think this difrefpect, though a flight one, provoking to me? This fituation, though a happy one, not good enough for me? How often have I had in my mouth that wife maxim, that a Worm if it is trod upon will turn again? Wretch that I am, fhall I plead the example of a vile worm of the earth, for disobeying the Commands of my Saviour, with whom I hope hereafter to fit in heavenly places! TUESDAY. |