p. 91 | Desires of the Soul

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 22, 1857

Desires of the Soul.

WHAT wantest thou? O my soul! With what imaginable excellency wouldst thou clothe thyself? What desirable object wouldst thou pitch upon? Is it beauty? The righteous shall shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of heaven, and the wise as the brightness of the firmament for ever and ever. Is it riches? Wealth and riches are in the house of God; every one in his family shall have a rich, a glorious, an incorruptible and eternal inheritance among the saints. What is it then? Is it honor? What honor like to this, to be a friend and favorite of God? To have a crown of righteousness, of life, and of glory? Yet more, a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory set upon thy head? Yet again, is it pleasure? The just shall enter into their Master's joy, and there are rivers of pleasure at his right hand forevermore. In a word, what wouldst thou have, O my soul? a confluence of all the glorious things both in heaven and in earth? Why, godliness hath the promise of this life, and of that which is to come. If heaven, and the righteousness thereof be the thing thou dost seek; both heaven and earth, with the excellencies thereof, is that which thou shalt find. Lord, make me holy, and then I am sure I shall be happy.