Page:Spiritual Reflections for Every Day in the Year - Vol 3.pdf/145

 suffering, that the Divine voice is heard in expostulation, "O man! Where art thou?"

Man sits himself down, and surrounds himself with earthly ties, and links his heart with fondness to his wife, his children, his family interests, and his family connections; and these too frequently occupy his attention to the neglect of the things above. Again the Divine voice calls, "O Man! Where art thou?"

He buys houses, and calls them by his name; at first he sees not the end to which all this too frequently leads; and those who profess to love him most, love him but for the hope of enjoying his possessions. He discovers this, and labours under the persuasion that all men are false, and that "every friend and brother will utterly supplant:" hence ensue misanthropy, anger, hatred, and a desire for revenge on those whom he imagines to have injured him, or who love him not for himself, but for his. But the Divine voice again whispers, "Pause, reflect!" and puts the question, "Man, man! Where art thou?"

The truth is, "Man is not where his body is, but where his affection and thought are. The Divine enquiry is, therefore, concerning the place or state of his affection and thought, and a very important enquiry it is, for every one to attend well unto in his own mind." Let us always endeavour to set the Lord before our eyes. To set our affections on things above. "Let us seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all things needful will be added unto us."