Judges 12:15

REFLECTIONS

My soul! in all the contentions and animosities of life, and especially among brethren, never lose sight of Him, and his unequalled love, who passeth by the repeated provocations of thy sinful nature, and in return for thy manifold instances of ingratitude, pours himself, and his fullness of mercies into thy bosom. Precious Jesus! thou hast indeed endured the contradiction of sinners against thyself, and on the cross remembered our poor blind nature, when in that sweet prayer, thou didst call upon the Father to forgive the sins of ignorance, for they knew not what they did. Wilt thou be pleased, dearest Lord, to be to me all I need. Do thou fill up all relations: make up the want of every tie of natural affinities, and so influence my soul by the constraining graces of thine Holy Spirit, that the language of my heart may be the true Shibboleth of thy gospel; so as never to betray thy interest, nor give the enemy cause to blaspheme; but that thy name, thy person, thy righteousness, thy salvation, may be as ointment poured forth, for the fragrancy of it, and my mouth may daily speak of it among the people, for I know no end thereof.