ΣΤΑΤ. 23] PRAYER PHYSICALLY BENEFICIAL. 207 "No view we can take of sin appears to me so terrible as that which represents it as a principle, a tendency, a fountain seated in the very centre of the soul, and ever sending forth its filthy streams. If, in a few short years, we are ready to ask, it has wrought so much misery, what must it do in the course of ten thousand years? And oh, appalling thought! what must be its disastrous results throughout eternity? Its fruitful womb is constantly bringing forth new monsters, and every birth, for endless ages, will continue to surpass its predecessors in horribleness. In this world it is hedged in by restraints, but in a future state it will run on in uncurbed malignity." 10th. "I have now no doubt but that prayer is highly conducive to health, and will prove the best counteractive to the debilitating effects of study. It puts the heart into a state of vigorous action, and causes all the powers of the soul to move in harmony."—It is well known that animal spirits exercise a mighty influence upon physical vigour ; and the bright consciousness of our Heavenly Father's love cannot fail to quicken the animal spirits. The intelligent Christian is supplied with a thousand facts unknown to others and unsuspected by them, illustrative of that scripture declaration, "godliness is profitable unto all things." 25th. "I need be under no fear as to my mental improvement. The process is carried on in a thousand ways which escape my observation. If only I keep in view the end of my being, I may safely leave the rest with God. Inferior ends will not be lost, but be drawn by cords too delicate for me to discern. But if I aim at less than the end of my being I shall lose everything. If I daily implant useful, beautiful, and holy thoughts, they cannot fail to become fruitful and multiply."-Experience supplied this sentiment, and cheering, I am persuaded, would be its effect. The absence of that rush of mental vigour which he formerly experienced had caused him much solicitude. He regarded it as the death-knell of progress. Let it cheer all invalids seeking improvement to know that he discovered this to be an error. Pleasurable as it is to realize daily progress, in the mental as in the vegetable world rapid growth is not always durable. The fungus springs up in a night, but a day almost measures its existence. Succulent plants may boast themselves against the oak for rapidity of development, but the stately tree survives the decay of many generations of them. Impetuosity usually supplies the student with much to undo. The man of observant and contemplative habits cannot fail to be constantly acquiring knowledge, and he is at the same time acquiring the elements of a worthy character. A valuable mental and moral process is going on within us, utterly unconscious though we may be of it, if we are daily implanting useful, beautiful, and holy thoughts. Eventually the results will pleasingly appear. "Never saw so clearly the importance of being frank with those I associate with. There is something omnipotent in a free and ingenuous intercouse of the soul. It unlocks the hearts of those with whom you converse, and sweetly constrains them to surrender their treasures. Thus you open to yourself a thousand sources of information inaccessible to others. You carry on a profitable trade where others gain nothing." 26th. "I am called to bear witness to the goodness and grace of God both by my preaching and conduct. Through me all men should see what God is able to do for His creatures. I should be a specimen of the excellence and happiness which results from loving Jesus Christ. I should be known as an advocate of all that is good, and an uncompromising foe of all that is evil."-Omit the reference to preaching in the first sentence, and what person in ETAT. 23] A UNIVERSAL OBLIGATION. 209 Christendom may not appropriate this entire paragraph ? Every Christian professor owns the obligation to "abhor that which is evil," and to let his light so shine before men that they may see his goodworks, and glorify his Father which is in heaven. And is any man released from this obligation by simply disavowing religion? So, it would appear, many persons think. But what would any tradesman think of the reasoning capability of the creditor who should assure him that because he felt reluctant to cancel his debt, he was discharged of the obligation so to do? How can the refusal to recognize a claim annul it? It is as much your duty, my young friend, to be a "specimen of the excellence and happiness which results from loving Jesus Christ as it was John Hessel's. 31st. "My poor heart, contracted alas by selfishness, is ready to burst with the thought which swells these beautiful lines: "Ah, Lord! enlarge our scanty thought, "O that my heart were filled with God!' How can I do anything right when my heart is wrong? My thinking, speaking, conduct, will all be impregnated with a poisonous element. If my heart were filled with God a virtue would be continually going from me. I have long had this conviction that it is easier to live without sin than with a little sin." In a letter to his parents dated Nov. 24th, he says: "My congregations are very good. In the evening the chapel has lately been filled. I now see that I do not labour in vain. Some, I have no doubt, have been truly converted, and many are inquiring what they must do to be saved. A few believers who had sunk into a lukewarm state are quickened, and I believe great good will be done. “You may be anxious to know what are my intentions as to the future. Do not be surprised when I tell you that I have none; at least I wish to have none. I have devoted myself to the service of my great Master, and He may send me where He pleases. I endeavour to act upon His advice, ‘Take no thought for to-morrow,' and I can testify that none are so happy as those who are 'careful for nothing.' I am doing the work of God, and I dare trust Him with my wages. My temporal comfort and welfare have lately given me no care whatever; my wants are at present supplied, and will be, I doubt not, to the end. I make these remarks that you may moderate your parental anxiety respecting me. The path of worldly ease and respectability has been laid open to me, but I shunned it. I wish to be the instrument of doing the greatest amount of good to my fellow-men, and all who practically live under the influence of this desire, must be prepared to make sacrifices." Dec. 1st. "It is a great power and privilege which God gives to the man whom He enables to call into full activity the souls of those he associates with. Such a spirit is placed in a peculiarly favourable position for gathering knowledge and wisdom. The minds around him present him with their best offerings, and where others find nothing he will gather a rich abundance." 13th. "I do not know a finer model of perspicuous writing than John Wesley. He has a wonderful method of calmly placing the word of faith before his readers. I seldom read a sentence from his works without experiencing a quickening power which abides with me." "15th. I see that God rewards everything I do for Him To this statement I cannot remember any ex even now. ETAT. 23] RENUNCIATION AND REWARD. 211 ception. For every thing I give up I receive a hundredfold.”—What value, it may be asked, attaches to this testimony? What had he renounced worthy of mention? I doubt not he could have named several things, some of which were probably of too private a nature to be communicated. Two or three however readily present themselves. It required an effort to abandon literary projects; to conquer all desire for a sphere of activity where his talents would find intelligent and admiring appreciation as well as stimulus, and devote himself to a population consisting chiefly of rustics; his avowal of a change in doctrinal theology had subjected him to some misrepresentation; and he now probably abandoned the hopes of connubial bliss he had previously cherished. These things may look little to the reader's eye, but to his heart they felt great. It was very nearly his "all" that he gave up. And in what did his recompense consist? Not in forms that appeal to sense, but in treasures that enrich the heart-in the graces of resignation, contentment, thankfulness, and love. He proved the truth of that declaration of our Saviour, which many appear unwilling to believe, that " a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth" that real and enduring riches are elevated sentiments; pure aspirations; benevolent purposes; and deeds by which sorrow and suffering are alleviated; ignorance dispelled; and mental and moral capabilities quickened, unfolded, and matured. It is not what a man has, but what he is, that he properly possesses. Hence the Apostle Paul represents himself and fellow-apostles "as having nothing, and yet possessing all things." Hence also the gospel-messenger is authorized to say to the most indigent of Christ's true followers, "All things are yours." And John Hessel's experience may be yours, dear reader. Every one," says Christ, "that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or chil |
