Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1841-04-15
.@0ral atg0 aHrIsgiotts.
Selected for the Telegraph.
DEVOTION.

selected for the Telegraph'
DEVOTION
There is commonly much mistaking of devo-
ton, as if it were nothing but an act of vocal
prayer, expiring with that holy breath, and re-
viyed with the next task of our invocation, which
many usually measure by frequency, length,
smoothness, of expression, loudness, or vehe-
rnence. Whereas, indeed, it is rather an habitual
disposition of holy soul, sweety conversine
with God, in all the forms of heavenly, yet
awful, familiarity; and constant entertain
,uent of ourselves here below with the God OF
spirits, in our sanctfed thoughts and affections.
One of the noble exercises whereof is our ac-
cess to the throne of grace in our prayers !;
whereto may be added, the ordering of our holy
attendance upon the blessed word and sacraments
Of the Almighty. Nothing hinders, therefore,
but that stammering supplant may reach to a
more eminent devotion, than he that can deliver
himself in the most fluent and pathetical forms
Of eocution and that our silence may be more
ievout than our noise. We shall not need to
send you to the cells or cloisters for this skill ;
although it will hardly be believed, how far some
of their contemplative men have gone in the
theory hereof Perhaps, like as chemists give
rules for the attaining of that elixir which they
never found for sure they must needs fail of
that perfection they pretend, who err commonly
IN the object of it. always in the ground of It,
which is faith stripped, by their opinion, of the
most comfortable use of it, certainty of applca-
ton.
As there may be many resemblances between
light and devotion, SO this one especially; that as
there is light universally dihused through the
air, and there is particular collection of light
into the body of the sun and stars, so it is in de-
votion. There is general kind of devotion that
goes through the renewed heart and life of i
christian, which may term habltual and viz
tual and there is special and fixed exercise Of
devotion, which we name actual,
The soul that is rightly affected TO God is
never void of n holy devotion; wherever it IS,
whatever it does, it is still lifted up to God, and
fastened upon him, and converses with him; ever
serving the Lord in fear, and rejoicing in him
with trembling.
Neither doth the devout heart see his God a.
far off, as dwelling above, in the circle of heavens;
but beholds that infinite Spirit really present with
him 1.-THE Lord is upon thy right hand saith
the psalmist Our bodily eye does not more GER
tainly see our own flesh, than the spiritual eye
sees God, close by us; yea, in MS. mans own
soul IS not so intimate to himself, God is to his
soul; neither do we move by him only, but in
him. What n sweet conversation, therefore, has
the holy soul with his God What heavenly
conferences have they too, which the world IS
not privy to whilst God entertans the soul with
the divine motions of his Spirit, the soul enter
tans God with gracious compliances Is the
heart heavy with the grevious pressures OF at
Fiction the soul goes into his God, and pours
out itself before him in earnest bemoanings and
suppcations; the God of mercy answers the
soul again, with seasonable refreshings of COM
fort. Is the heart secretly wounded and bleeding
with the consciousness Of some sin, it speedily
betakes itself to the great Physician of the SOUL
who forthwith applies the balm of Gilead for an
unfailing and present cure Is the heart distract
ed with doubts, the soul retires to that inward
oracle of God for counsel, he returns to the soul
a happy settlement of just resolution. Is the
heart deeply affected with the sense OF some
special favour from his God, the soul breaks
forth into the ardent voice of praise and thanks
giving; God returns the pleasing testimony of a
cheerful acceptation. Oh blessed soul, that hath
a God to 60 unto upon all occasions Oh infinite
mercy ola God, that vcuchsafes to stoop to such
entireness with dust and ashes 1t was gracious
speech of a worthy divne+ upon his death-bed,
now breathing towards heaven,-that he should
change his place, not his company. His CONVEX
sation was now before hand with his God, and
his holy angels; the only difference was, that he
was now going to a more free and full fruition of
the Lord of life, in that region of glory above,
whom he had truly (though with weakness and
imperfection) enjoyed in this vale of tears.
Bishop Hall.
sDr. Preston.