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FEBRUARY 15TH
ON THE DISPOSITIONS WITH WHICH WE ARE TO ENTER UPON THE SERVICE OF GOD.
From Ecclus.
Consider first, and diligently attend to these words of the wise man, Ecclus. ii. 1, ‘Son, when thou comest to the service of God, stand in justice, and in fear, and prepare thy soul for temptation,’ and learn from these prescriptions of the Holy Ghost, to enter upon the service of God with a strong resolution of not being discouraged with the opposition thou shalt meet with from the world, the flesh, and the devil; and with a determination to stand thy ground in this spiritual warfare, like a valiant soldier; putting on the armour of Christian justice, and of the fear of God: according to that of the Apostle, Eph. vi. 13, &c., ‘Take unto you the armour of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil days, and to stand in all things perfect. Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, (that is, with sincerity in your intention towards God,) and having on the breastplate of justice, (that is, of Christian virtue, with a full determination, at all events, to be true to your God,) in all things taking the shield of faith, wherewith you may be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the most wicked one, (by a lively sense of God and eternity;) and take unto you the helmet of salvation, (that is, an humble confidence in God,) and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God,’ viz., by frequent hearing, reading, or meditating on divine truths. And being thus prepared for the fight, you will not fail of gaining the victory.
Consider 2ndly, what the wise man further prescribes to all that desire to succeed in this glorious enterprise which is to bring us to God, to eternal life. ‘Humble thy heart,’ says he, ‘and endure (that is, suppress and keep under, all the irregular risings of thy pride and passion, that shall offer to oppose thy undertaking;) wait on God with patience, join thyself to God and endure, that thy life may be increased in the latter end. Take all that shall be brought upon thee, and in thy sorrow endure, and in thy humiliation keep patience. For gold and silver are tried in the fire, but acceptable men in the furnace of humiliation.’ Excellent lessons, not only for beginners, but for all that are on their journey towards heaven; for crosses, sufferings, and humiliations are the portion of all the servants of God; and patience and courage in adversities, humbling ourselves under the hand of God, and a perfect resignation to his holy will, serve to qualify all our afflictions and to make them light and easy, as well as infinitely advantageous to our souls. O how happy are they who have learnt what it is to join themselves to God in all they have to suffer! O what a happiness is to be found in enduring in his company, and with an entire conformity to his blessed will. What an increase will this give to our life in the latter end, by adding it it a happy eternity!
Consider 3rdly, that one of the most excellent dispositions for attaining to all good, and the most effectual means to begin well, to advance daily, and to continue to the end of the happy service of God, is to conceive, and to nourish in the soul, a great esteem for a virtuous and devout life, an earnest desire of being good, a hunger and a thirst after Christian justice; in a word, an ardent love for true wisdom, which indeed is no other than the knowledge, love, and service of God. ‘I wished,’ says the wise man, Wisdom vii. 7, ‘and understanding was given me, and I called upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came upon me, and I preferred her before kingdoms and thrones, and esteemed riches nothing in comparison with her; I loved her above health and beauty, and all good things came to me together with her, and innumerable riches through her hands. For she is an infinite treasure to men, which they that use become the friends of God.’ O how glorious are the things that are said, both here, and in many other passages of the divine oracles, of this heavenly wisdom! O how lovely, how desirable, is this treasure, this precious pearl of virtue and devotion, which is the truest wisdom. Who would not give all things else to purchase such an inestimable jewel? But behold, the wisest of men, yea, the Spirit of God by him, assures us, that we need but desire it, seek it, and love it with all our hearts, and it shall be our own.
Conclude to observe all these heavenly lessons, and they will not fail to bring thee to God. He earnestly desires to make thee happy by making thee his true servant; if thou desirest the same, how canst thou miscarry provided thy desire be fervent and perseverant?