August 1

Second Thursday after Trinity

I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it. . . . I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. S. Luke 14:18, 19.

WE must not be taken up with things out of God, if we would have His secret presence. Not man's manifold labours, but his manifold cares, hinder the presence of God. Labour, ordained by God and wrought for and in God, invites God's fuller presence; for God is in the heart of him who, in the very sweat of his brow, toils as God appoints him. Cares, whereof man himself is the end, so far shut out that fuller presence, because they enter into and take up the heart. God, Who chose the fishermen and the tax-gatherer and the tentmaker to confound the wisdom and the greatness of the world, yea, He Who framed the worlds, but Himself became the Carpenter's Son and the Carpenter, will fill and inundate with the sweetness of His love and enlighten with His wisdom and enrich with His consolations the poorest and most unlettered who plies his daily task for Him. The very things of God Himself, if sought for themselves, not for Him, may shut out God. How can God speak to the soul when the eye is ever roving with curiosity, the ear ever listening for some new thing? "If," says a holy man, "thou preparest the inward ear for this voice of thy God, sweeter than honey and the honeycomb, flee outward cares. So shall thy inner sense be clear and free, and thou mayest say with Samuel, 'Speak, Lord; for Thy servant heareth.'"

Speak to me, O my Saviour, low and sweet,

Lest I should fear and fall, and miss Thee so, Who art not missed where faithful hearts intreat; Speak to me, as to Mary at Thy Feet.