have with the world, the less is our union with God. A Chriftian, therefore, who ftrives after devotion, fhould taste sensual pleasures very fparingly, should make neceffity, not bodily delight, his rule.

In order to difpofe our hearts to devotion, THE ACTIVE LIFE to be preferred to the CONTEMPLATIVE.

To be doing good to mankind, difpofes the foul moft powerfully to devotion. And indeed, we are furrounded with motives to piety and devotion, if we would but mind them.

The poor are defigned to excite our liberality; the miferable, our pity;the fick, our affiftance;-the ignorant, our inftruction;-those that are fallen, our helping hand. In thofe that are vain, we see the vanity of this world. In those that are wicked, our own frailty. When we fee good men rewarded, it

confirms

confirms our hope; and when evil men are punished, it excites us to fear.

He that would be devout, must beware of indulging an habit of wandering in prayer. It is a crime that will grow upon us, and will deprive us of the bleffings we pray for.

Avoid, as much as may be, multiplicity of bufinefs: Neither the innocency, nor the goodness of the employment, will excufe us, if it poffefs our hearts when we are praying to God.

When our Lord bids us TO TAKE NO THOUGHT FOR THE MORROW, he intended to hinder thofe cares and fears which are apt to diftract our devotions,-which are the more unreasonable, because they never can change the state of things.

Never be curious to know what paffes in the world, any further than duty obliges you; it will only distract

the

the mind when it fhould be better em

ployed.

Never intermit devotion, if

you can

help it; you will return to your duty, like Samfon when his locks were cut, weak and indifferent as other people of the world.

The oftner we renew our intercourse with God, the greater will be our devotion.

Frequent prayer, as it is an exercise of holy thoughts, is a most natural remedy against the power of fin.

Importunity makes no change in God, but it creates in us fuch dispositions as God thinks fit to reward.

Make it a law to yourself to meditate before you pray; as alfo to make certain pauses, to see whether

goes along with your lips.

your heart

They whose hearts defire nothing,

pray for nothing.

A 4

Give

Give me, O God, the Spirit of true devotion, fuch as may give life to all my prayers, so that they may find acceptance in thy fight, for Jefus Chrift's fake! Amen.

Sacra

Matth. vi. 6. Thou when thou prayeft, enter into thy clofet, and when thou haft fhut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in fecret; and thy Father, which feeth in fecret, fhall reward thee openly.

HOW

OW good is God! who will not only give us what we pray for, but will reward us for going to him, and laying our wants before him.

May I always prefent myself before God-with a firm faith and hope in his promises and mercy;-with great reverence to his infinite majefty;with the humility of an offender; and with a full purpose of keeping all God's commandments!

May the thoughts of eternity quicken my devotions;-my wants make me earneft;-my backflidings make me. perfevere;