Page:Spiritual Reflections for Every Day in the Year - Vol 2.pdf/188

 generate man's family, and his stock; they dwell within—they circulate in his very heart's blood, and, in the language of Scripture, they are at home in his house. Now, that man may be prepared for the enjoyment of heavenly felicity, these impurities of life must be driven out. The expulsion from the mind of what is vile, and the introduction of what is holy and true, is the regenerating process; the commencement of which is, when we first begin to follow the Lord. Who then is the happy man who follows the Lord? He who leaves his inward impurities to perish, and receives with a glad heart the love and wisdom of his Saviour, to guide and to bless him on his way. This is the true disciple that prefers holiness to sin, and instantly forsakes all his evil kindred at his house, to follow the Lord. "Let me first go bid them farewell which are at home?" No; this is contrary to divine order, to turn away from the Lord, and thus to leave Him, in order to bid them farewell which are at home in the house. The request implies, spiritually, a desire to put off the important work of regeneration to a future opportunity. It is as though he said, "Lord, I will follow thee, but let me first return into my former state in which I have long dwelt! let me mingle once more with those evils of heart that I am about to give up! let me dwell a little longer in my own house, and then I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest!" This request, the Lord, in mercy, did not grant; for of all states it is, perhaps, the most dangerous. To put off from time to time the important work of following the Lord, in hopes of a better opportunity than the present, is the very height of absurdity! it is fraught with delusion—it is for-