Vol 16 - THE SECOND EXERCISE.

THE SECOND EXERCISE.
Every Morning, when we hive paid our homage to GOD, by Prayer and Thanksgiving let us solemnly resolve to tie ourselves to certain rules of living that day.
THIS Exercise is recommended to us in Psalms 17:3-4; Psalms 76:11; Psalms 57:7-8; Psalms 119:101; Psalms 119:106. To this purpose, PLINY says of the Christians in TRAJAN'S time, that they used to bind themselves by an oath in the morning, before they went to their business, not to sin, not to cheat, not to lie, not to steal, not to keep any thing unjustly from their neighbors. And this Exercise was observed, many hundred years before that time, by DAVID. See Psal. 5:3; which our translation renders, a In the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up: " but the import of the original is thus: " In the morning I do order, or dispose myself to thee, or towards thee,’ as a man from a high tower watches and observes the motion of the enemy." Our translation reaches DAVID'S sense well enough; but it does not so fully express it as it might have done. He had, in the foregoing words, spoken of his prayer in the morning; and behold what he presently subjoins to that duty: " When I have done this, I then resolve how to order my conversation that day, and how I may please GOD; and consider how I may best watch against those corruptions which do most easily beset me." The truth is, that men who run abroad abruptly, without any previous consideration of what they mean to do for their souls that day, must needs continue strangers to that spiritual life to which our profession obliges us; for this makes them rush into sin, as the horse rushes into the battle, having no bridle to restrain, no curb to keep them in order, no solemn resolutions upon their souls, to check and govern them. Therefore, before I venture upon any worldly business, let me solemnly resolve, in the presence of ALMIGHTY GOD, " This day I seriously intend thus and thus to behave myself, by the assistance of ALMIGHTY GOD. I resolve, if a neighbor should be very angry or insolent with me, to answer him with meekness and gentleness. If I meet with success in my business, as soon as I come home, I will enter into my chamber, and praise the great Giver of every good thing. If I am tempted to go into company, and have reason to suspect that they will draw me into sin, I will refuse to go, though they revile and abuse me never so much; or if I go into any company, I will speak but little, or endeavor to divert any vain discourse to better subjects. If my servants, or my children, do things indecent or unlawful, I will reprove them with tenderness and compassion. If I am asked a question, which I know not how to answer readily, without telling a lie, I am resolved either to be silent, or to take time to consider of an answer, that I may not be surprised into an untruth."
If I resolve thus, before I set about any of my secular affairs, I set up a kind of Remembrance Office in my soul; and constitute a monitor in my conscience, that will put me in mind of my obligations, and pull me back, when my appetite would push me on to sin. Where people venture out, without putting on this armor of GOD, this shield of faith, and this breastplate of righteousness; no wonder if they expose themselves to the fiery darts of the Devil, and to the insolence of that roaring lion, who walks about seeking whom he may devour. Such souls he open to his incursions; and, having no hedge to fence them, " the boar out of the wood does waste them, and the wild beast of the field devours them." (Psal. 80: 1a.) Such resolutions in the morning are a wall about the soul; and the Devil cannot easily climb it. Such resolutions show, that we do not take up religion out of custom, but upon serious deliberation, and persuasion that it is the one thing needful; a temper, without which God rejects our service, hides his face from our customary devotions, and gives them no other welcome but this, " Who has required this at your hands "
Sirs, you purpose in a morning to despatch such and such of your worldly affairs that day, why should you not purpose to do something for GOD, or for your souls, every day How come your spiritual concerns to deserve so little care Why must ye be slovenly and careless in this particular Is not your soul more than your trade, and your eternal welfare more than a livelihood "on earth Why, of all things, must your souls and your GOD be neglected LAB AN was more concerned for his GOD than for his sheep and oxen shall an idolater mind his idol more, than you the great GOD of heaven and earth You complain that you cannot conquer your corruptions: How should you conquer when you do not strive How should you strive, if you enter into no holy purposes, to arm yourselves against the sins of the day Are corruptions blown away with a breath; or lusts, that are deeply rooted, expelled with sighs and wishes Did you ever know cedars fall with the touch of a hand Or did ever children with a switch strike a sturdy oak out of its place Will your sins leave you when you do not think of them Do you think that the Devil values your souls as little as yourselves Or do you fancy that " the strong man " will leave his habitation, except you come against him with swords and axes " Can you draw Leviathan with a hook, or his tongue with a cord which you lettest down Can you put a hook into his nose, or bore his jaw through with a thorn Wilt you play with him as with a bird Or wilt you bind him for thy maidens "
With what face can you confess your sins at night, when your consciences tell you, that you did nothing to prevent them; that you left yourselves naked, and exposed to the assault of temptations, and would take no measures to preserve you from the infection What do you confess your sins for, but to be better And if to be better, how is it possible you should be so, unless you guard your souls, by such holy purposes, the next day Do you make no more than a formality of it Do you think that GOD will be put off with shadows, and the ALMIGHTY imposed upon with counterfeit devotion Have you lived so long under the Gospel, and learned CHRIST no better Have you conversed with Ministers so long, and are you no better scholars The Devil himself cannot but smile, to see how ridiculously you go to work; to see you content yourselves with the bare confession, and take no care to tear the pernicious weeds from your hearts. If therefore you would not make a jest of religion; if you would not turn your duties into ridicule; for GOD’s sake enter into protestations against your sins every morning, lest you increase your guilt, and add sin unto sin.
THE PRAYER.
O YOU who dwellest in the heavens, and yet humblest thyself to behold the ways of the children of men:—you have been graciously pleased to reveal thy will to me, and given me rules to walk by; rules, which if a man follow, he shall live for ever. How sweet are thy testimonies! They enlighten the eyes, and give understanding to the simple. How glorious is that soul in thy sight, which makes thy will a lantern to her feet, and a light unto her paths! LORD, in these pleasant paths I desire to walk; there is nothing like them. They end in peace. I read of those who have found it so. Thy SPIRIT inflamed their souls. They ventured their lives to attain unto it. O the serenity, O the calmness of mind, O the inward joy, which they found while walking in the paths of righteousness!’Why should not I taste of this Tree of Life, and live, as well as they! This, O LORD, I often think of, and see great loveliness in it: But my will is weak, my resolution faint: when I resolve, I meet with waves and billows, that overpower those resolutions. O You whose power is infinite, open thy storehouse, and furnish me` with weapons to defend myself against all assaults from the world and/ the Devil! O strengthen these feeble knees: hold up these weary hands! I desire to follow thee; let thy SPIRIT lift me up, and cause me to run. Touch my will with thy sceptre, that it may bow to thy commands. Manifest thy power in my weakness; give me courage to purpose, and to fulfill my' purposes. When my will would start back like a broken bow, come in with thy salvation. Endue me with power from on high. Through thee I shall do valiantly; through thee I shall be able to overcome all difficulties. O leave not my soul in misery! Send from above and take me; draw me out of many waters; send out thine arrows, and scatter my vain imaginations. With thee I will run through a troop; by my GOD will I leap over a wall. Quicken me, O Lord, for thy name's sake; and for thy righteousness' sake, bring my soul out of trouble. Teach me to do thy will, for you art my Gan. Thy SPIRIT is good; lead me into the land of uprightness, for thy mercy's sake, and for CHRIST'S sake. Amen.