Imatges de pàgina
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OF THE

RIGHT REVEREND JOSEPH HALL, D. D.

BISHOP OF EXETER AND AFTERWARDS OF NORWICH.

A NEW EDITION,

REVISED AND CORRECTED, WITH SOME ADDITIONS,

BY

PHILIP WYNTER, D. D.

PRESIDENT OF ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE, OXFORD.

VOL. VIII.

OXFORD:

AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS.

MDCCCLXIII.

Clar. Press

1.6.59.

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THE BREATHINGS

OF

THE DEVOUT SOUL.

I.-BLESSED Lord God, thou callest me to obedience, and fain would I follow thee; but what good can this wretched heart of mine be capable of except thou put it there? Thou knowest I cannot so much as wish to think well without thee. I have strong powers to offend thee: my sins are my own: but whence should I have any inclination to good but from thee, who art only and all good? Lord, work me to what thou requirest, and then require what thou wilt.

II.-Lord God, whither need I go to seek thee! Thou art so with me, as that I cannot move but in thee. I look up to heaven: there I know thy Majesty most manifests itself; but withal, I know, that being here thou art never out of thy heaven, for it is thy presence only that makes heaven. O, give me to enjoy thee, in this lowest region of thy heavenly habitation: and as, in respect of my natural being, I live and move in thee; so let me not live and move spiritually, but with thee and to thee.

III.-Whither now, O whither do ye rove, O my thoughts? Can ye hope to find rest in any of these sublunary contentments? Alas, how can they yield any stay to you, that have no settlement in themselves? Is there not enough in the Infinite Good to take you up, but that ye will be wandering after earthly vanities? O my Lord, how justly mightest thou cast me off with scorn, for casting any affective glances upon so base a rival! Truly, Lord, I am ashamed of this my hateful inconstancy; but it is thou only that must remedy it. O thou that art the Father of mercies, pity my wildness and weak distractions. Take thou my heart to thee it is thine own: keep it with thee: tie it close to thee by the cords of love; that it may not so much as cast down an eye upon this wretched and perishing world.

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