February 15
Daily Gleanings of the Saintly LifeThursday after Epiphany
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. Galatians 6:15, 16.
WHAT our Lord came above all things to teach us by His very Being as Man; what He preached in act from His birth in the manger to His death, bared of all and in shame upon the Cross; what He made the first step to His Apostles, who were filled with the Holy Ghost, "to become as little children," must be needful for us. Such rules as the following may be useful, they have been tried: Know thyself; pray God to show thee thyself; bear in God's light to see thyself bared of all outward advantages, what thou thyself hast made thyself, what thou hast been, what thou art. By God's grace the light will never again let thee be proud.
Keep ever present with thee the knowledge of thine own infirmity. Never seek praise, nor speak of any good in thee, except for some good end, nor say what may draw out praise. Yea, rather if it be useful to speak of thine own experiences, it is best mostly to hide in some true way that it is thine own. Do not even blame thyself if it makes others think thee humble. Mistrust thyself in everything, and in the very least things seek, whenever thou canst remember it, the help of God, for—
Thou shalt need a guardianship divine; Pray, then, that angel-ministry may stand To gird thy loins, to arm thy feeble hand, To prompt to holy thoughts, to urge the way Of lowly duty, when thy thoughts would stray, To guide thy feet in paths thy Saviour trod, And lead through blest obedience to thy God.