quently warned you, that you ought always to pray, and not to faint. And though to many this seems difficult, yet they know how easy it is who, amid their very business, and study, and conversation, readily accustom themselves to elevate their minds to God. To raise even once the eyes to heaven, with inward affection of heart, is an ardent prayer in itself, and most tenderly touches my heart. For prayers such as these should originate in affection, in sorrow for sins, in hatred of this world’s vanity, in weariness of the present, and longing for the life to come, in thanksgiving for my many favours, in admiration of the wonderful works of God, in confidence in God, and in zeal for his honour; but chiefly in the burning love of me, with which the soul longs to be united to its beloved.
But it is mostly in meditation that the fire of such affections bursts forth into flame; and therefore they are ever to be fostered with ejaculatory prayers, the substance of which may be suggested as well by the more necessary virtues, as by all the objects of sense. Whence said the man according to my own heart: “ Thou hast given me, O Lord, a delight in thy doings, and in the works of thy hands I shall rejoice!”[1]
But to make such a use of creatures belongs not to all, but to those only who have their senses practised in the discernment of good and evil. For the senseless man shall not know, nor will the fool understand these things. Follow, however, in the steps of that same prophet of mine, and imitate him in sighing after me in brief but burning aspirations. Such are, to give thee a few examples out of many:
How great are thy works, O Lord ! Thou hast made all things in wisdom; the earth is filled with thy riches.
Oh, that my ways may be directed to keep thy justifications!
Woe is me that my sojourning is prolonged! Create in me a clean heart, O Lord, and renew a right spirit within me. As the hart pants after the fountains of water, so my soul pants after thee, O God. My soul has thirsted after the strong living God; when shall I come and appear before the face of God!
Enlighten my eyes, that they never sleep in death, lest at any time my enemy say, I have prevailed against him.
I will love thee, O Lord, my strength; the Lord is my firmament, my refuge, and my deliverer.
The Lord ruleth me, and I shall want nothing. He hath set me in a place of pasture.
- ↑ Ps. xci. 5.
