(Concluded.)
In conclusion under this head, we feel constrained to say a few words to the young, that are looking for immortality and eternal life at the appearing of Jesus. Do not feel that you can be excused from bearing responsibility in family worship. Do not feel that the obligation of this duty rests wholly upon the heads of the family.
It is lamentable that most of the young among us, feel no more on this subject than they do. Their repeated neglect to join with others in the performance of this important duty; and the coldness and indifference often manifested during family worship, indicate a strong lack of interest here. It should not be so. It must be otherwise, if the union and strength, and power to prevail with God exists as it should in every Christian family in these last days. May the Lord pity and spare the young in the church of God, is my prayer.
Having offered the above remarks on the different kinds of devotion, private, public, and family, which we desire the reader may attend to as duty demands, we observe that it is the privilege of every Christian to possess a spirit of devotion, and prayer to God continually. A few examples from the Scriptures we think justify us in this conclusion.
Says David, "I give myself unto prayer." Ps. cix, 4. "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance." Eph. vi, 18. "Pray without ceasing." 1 Thess. v, 17. "Continuing instant in prayer." Rom. xii, 12.
These directions are in some measure fulfilled by faithfulness in the kinds of prayer previously mentioned, but they have a more complete fulfillment in bringing our mind to a heavenly and prayerful frame and constantly watching thereunto. Truly, "to be spiritually minded is life and peace." Rom. viii, 6.
In the language of another we say, "Such an habitually devout disposition of mind, will make every action of your life holy. You will learn to do nothing without connecting it by prayer with the presence and glory of God. You will see nothing, and hear nothing, without its raising your heart to him. What a spiritual life may the Christian, improving every thing by prayer, lead. This will consecrate every field, every wood, and every dwelling place. It will turn an ordinary walk into a morning or evening sacrifice. Making this heavenly use of earthly things, you will rapidly advance in conformity to the divine image, you will be strong in overcoming sin, and you will carry on schemes of good with a power which nothing can resist."
Again he remarks,
"We do not sufficiently attend to the growth of a devout spirit. We are too much content with former attainments, and often even fall short of them. But let us labor not only to keep our ground, but to make daily progress. The Christian's devotion should be like the flowing tide, which gradually gaining point after point, the retiring waves again and again returning, filling up all the vacancies, advancing and still advancing, at length replenishes, in regular progress, the whole space. Let the spirit of devotion advance till it fill our whole souls.
"Indeed the truly advanced Christian is known by this mark, as much as by any other. The man after God's own heart, is the man of devotion; one who is always in prayer; who says in the morning, 'when I awake I am still with thee;' and in the evening, 'I will both lay me down in peace, and take my rest, for thou Lord only makest me to dwell in safety.' Ps. iv, 8. In the midst of his business he is 'fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.' Rom. xii, 11. He can say, 'On thee do I wait all the day.' Ps. xxv, 5. 'He,' says Law, 'is the devout man, who considers God in every thing, who serves God in everything, who makes all the parts of his common life, parts of piety, by doing every thing in the name of God, and under such rules as are conformable to his glory.'
"Men of this world, the covetous and the impure, the licentious and the gay, even when outwardly engaged in other things, have their minds full of their particular sins. Let the Christian's heart then be filled with that great work in which he is engaged. As they pollute all their sacred duties by worldly thoughts, so let him consecrate all his common actions, by the constant and heavenly breathings of the soul unto God.
"In conversing with others on religious subjects, in going to the poor and afflicted, in visiting your own friends, in coming to the house of God, in hearing his word, in these, and the various other circumstances of our lives, the heart of the devout Christian will be sending upward many a secret petition; he will be silently wrestling with God; and gaining that divine blessing on all in which he is engaged, which others lose by carelessness and indifference.
"This is the old religion; this is the good way; these are the old paths. Jer. vi, 16. Thus Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and David walked with God; and those who walk thus now, find rest to their souls. In inviting the reader to this constant intercourse with God, we are inviting him to his highest privilege—friendship with his Creator; and to his richest enjoyment—delighting himself in communion with his Lord.
"Do you ask, how you are to obtain, and how you are to keep alive this spirit of prayer? You must seek it; you must cultivate it. The grace of God is sufficient."
It is the noble and exalted privilege of the real Christian to enjoy this blessed and saving communion with God, and to have his treasure, his heart and his conversation in heaven. Let this be his happy state of mind, and his affections will twine around the closing works of our great High Priest, with inexpressible fondness.
His heart ever flows with praise and gratitude to God. The service of our heavenly Master is most delightful. And as the unfolding signs indicate the near approach of the solemn moments when the wrath of God shall be poured out upon the wicked, the language of his heart is "The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe." Prov. xviii, 10. O praise the Lord for this blessed reflection! for such a transporting prospect.
In conclusion I would say as I have written on this interesting subject, my heart has burned within me for a closer walk with God; for a more prayerful and watchful state of mind at all times. And it is my firm purpose by assisting grace, to be sober and WATCH UNTO PRAYER. And to all who may read this, suffer me to urge upon you the impressive exhortation of him whom my soul loveth. "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." Luke xxi, 36.