“BUT, O my God, how much cause have I for shame, that I impart so little of the glorious light of Thy truth to those around me. Perhaps some poor trembling sinner 'has been glad when he saw me,' hoping to hear something of the Savior from my lips, and has found me straightened and cold and dumb. Oh that I may be so 'filled with the Spirit,' so experienced in Thy heavenly ways, that I may invite `all that fear Thee to come,' that I may ' tell them what Thou hast done for my soul;' so that `when men are cast down, they may say, There is lifting up.”
HAPPINESS is the gift of God to those who truly believe the gospel, walk with God, and hold communion with Him. The blood of Christ cleanseth their souls from all sin. They are accepted in the Beloved; adopted to be the sons of God; have His Spirit dwelling in them to sanctify and comfort them; have a consolatory persuasion that all things shall work together for their good. They look back with humble gratitude, forward with joyful hope; and, inwardly supported by grace, are enabled to resign themselves to the present trial, and leave the unseen to-morrow to their God.
You say, “If a man so spend his time in his business, as to be doing his duty both to God and man, this will as a moral duty, supply the place of continual prayer.” First let me ask, where did a man of your natural sagacity pick up the strange notion of the performance of one duty compensating for the neglect of another? Not from the scriptures: for, if any keep the whole law and offend in one point, he is guilty of all. Not from the measures of human government for, if you break one law, they do not inquire whether you have broken others or kept them, but condemn the transgressor of one. Not from your dealings with your neighbors: you would think him a poor customer, who should suppose that by paying for one article he compensated for defrauding you of another. Not from reason: for we can pay God no more than His due, when we do all that He commands. Even then we are but unprofitable servants.