Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1863-05-15
FOR THE DELAWARE Ssz
Conjunction OF HEART.

II thou. Wouldst make progress, keep thy
self in the fear Of God, and be not too free /:
curb all thy senses under discipline, and give
not thyself up to mirth. Give thyself to CON-
junction Of heart, and thou shalt find devo-
tiOn. Compuncfion opens the way to much
good, which dissipation is won't quickly to
lose. Ills wonderful that any man can ever
abandon himself wholly to joy in this life,
when he c0nsidereth and weigheth his exile
and the many dangers Of his soul. Through
levity Of heart and neglect Of our defects we
feel not the sorrow Of the soul and We often
vainly laugh, when. in all reason, we should
weep. There Is 20 true liberty or profitable
joy but 10 the fear Of God, with good con-
science. Happy is the man that can cast
away all the hindrance Of distraction, and
recollect himself in unity of holy com
punctiOn. Happy the man who casteth away
from him whatever may stain or burden his
conscience. Strive manfully; habit is over
come by habit. If thou canst let men alone,
they will let thee alone to do whatever thou
hast TO do. Busy not thyself in matters ap-
pertaining to Others and entangIe not thy
self in the affairs of the great. Have always
an eye upon thyseIf in the first place, and ad-
monish thyself preferably TO all thy dearest
friends. If thou hast not the favor of men,
be not afflicted; but let il seriously concern
thee, that thou dost not carry thyself so well
and circumspectly as servant of God and
devOut religious man ought to do. 0ftentimes
it is better and safer for man not to have
many consultations in this life, especially such
as are according to the flesh. Still that we
have not divine comfort is our own fault, be-
cause we seek not compunction of heart, and
not wholly renounce vain and outward salts
faction. Know that thou art unworthy of
heavenly consolation, but rather deserveth
much tribulation. When a man hath per-
feet compunction, then the whole world
is to him burdensome and distasteful. A good
man 6Bdeth abundant matter for sorrow and
tears, for whether he considereth himself, or
thinkest of his neighbor, be knoveth that no
man hveth here below without tribulatious.-
And the more strictly he doth consider himself
the greater is bis sorrow. The subjects of
just sorrow and interior conjunction are our
sins and vices, in which we are so enwrapt
that we are seldom able to fix our mind on
heavenly things. Didst thou think oftener of
thy death than Of long life, no doubt bat
thou Wouldst be more in earnest for thy amend
ment. Didst thou also well ponder in thy
heart the future pains of hell Tor purgatory)
as Roman Catholics believe in, methinks thou
wOuldst bear willingly labor and sorrow, and
fear no kind of austerity. But because these
things reach not the heart, and we still love
hattering pleasure, therefore we~remain cold
and very sIothful Oftentimes it is our want
Of spirit that maketh the wretched body com
plain for so slight cause. Pray, therefore,
humbly to the Lord to give unto thee the spir-
it of cOmpunetiou, and say with the Prophet,
"Feed me, D Lord, with the food of tears, and
give me to drink of tears in measure Amen
DELAwARE, o., 1868. UNAS.