Every one has, (or thinks he has,) something to forgive and every day brings idle minutes, perhaps leisure hours, during which such things recur; or rather, are brought to us by the Enemy of our souls, to see whether we have any pleasure in them. The solitary walk, and the sleepless pillow, the time spent in dressing, or at meals, all these afford him the opportunities he desires. . . Let us dismiss the subject with once more declaring that all such thoughts become our masters or our slaves, as we will. In GOD's strength, let us arm ourselves with the words of a Collect, or a Psalm; (for the Sword of the SPIRIT is the Word of GOD;) and then, resolutely turn away from such. dreadful company, to better thoughts. We may be sure that we shall never struggle against such enemies in vain. The SPIRIT Himself, whom we fear to grieve, will have compassion on our infirmities, come to our aid, and effectually help us. GOD, of His infinite Mercy and Goodness, endue us with all heavenly graces! By the inspiration of His HOLY SPIRIT, (who, as at this time, came to dwell with His Church,) enable us, day by day, both to perceive and to know 311 what things we ought to do; and also give us grace and power faithfully to fulfil the same; for the sake of JESUS CHRIST, His SON, our LORD! Monday in Whitsun-week. THE SOUL'S THIRST.-PART I. ST. JOHN vii. 37. JESUS stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. We shall not do amiss, as it seems, on the two days which follow after, and wait upon Whit-Sunday, if we bend our thoughts in the direction suggested by our LORD in the text; for 'this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe in Him should receive: for the HOLY GHOST was not yet given.' In other words, the Divine Speaker was alluding to the season which has now at length arrived: was proclaiming wherein would consist its blessedness; and was teaching men to long for it, as Eastern Travellers are said to long for the fountain of living water in the waste. Although the meaning of such words must be plain to many, and a matter of blissful experience to some, yet will it benefit all of us to fasten our thoughts, for a short space of time, on these words of our SAVIOUR CHRIST, and to be reminded of their deep and affecting fulness. He speaks of the Thirst of the Soul; concerning which we propose, on this occasion, to say somewhat. Now, consider what Thirst' is a passionate longing from within, and nothing to satisfy it from without. That is Thirst. And who has not felt it? who does not feel it now? : For example who does not thirst after Happiness? Consider the end proposed by almost all our worldly plans and arrangements. Settlement in life, Holy Matrimony, the careful rearing of Children; the provision we make, or seek to make, against the morrow, against winter, against old age. The whole scheme of our lives is formed with this view. If we were to be asked, Why we do all these things? we should answer, Because we thought it would make for our Happiness. Now this shews that we thirst after Happiness. There is a passionate longing from within there is nothing adequate to that longing from without. We therefore seek to find that which may satisfy it. : - Once more. Who does not thirst after something to love? The heart was meant for affection, and cannot live without it. Like a vine, it : must have something to cling to. Observe how Children, (unless they have lost their nature,) cling to their Parents, and Parents to their Children how the man, (unless he be a wretch,) loves his Wife, and the Wife her Husband. Take notice of the friendships of all ages; the affection which subsists, or ought to subsist, between Masters and Servants. Nay, the feeling is so strong in us that we bestow some of it on the brute creation, the animals which are with us most! Surely, all this shews that we thirst for something to love. There is a passionate longing from within. We require something to satisfy it from without. We therefore reach after that which may effectually quench our thirst. Again. He must be a miserably degraded being who has never felt a thirst for Knowledge. We speak not so much of what is popularly called by that name, as of something far higher and better. To know more of GOD, and of the hidden things of Creation: the nature, and history, and offices of the Holy Angels: the future destiny of man, and all that most concerns him: we have probably all felt something of this thirst. Still keener must our desire be for greater light in the study of GoD's Holy Word. Our LORD's discourses, how difficult parts of them are! and : |