Page:The pastor in his closet.djvu/45

 the world within me, of all earthly loves and affections. “Lord, I believe, help Thou mine unbelief;” help me from whatever of unbelief remains in me.

I am athirst for grace; “as the hart desireth the water-brooks, so longeth my soul after Thee, O Lord.” What grace I have wasted through mine own fault, or through Satan’s guiles, do Thou restore to me once again, that the second gift may be better esteemed than the first. I am but in the beginning and youth of holiness, when I should be of a goodly stature. I halt oftentimes, and walk weakly, and love languidly, and pray distractedly, and labour imperfectly, and have many worldly thoughts swelling like a flood within me, drowning my resolves and washing out my remembrances of Thee.

But do Thou, God, this day “renew a right spirit within me,” “establish me with Thy free Spirit,” so shall I love with a sincere love both Thee, my Lord, and this flock which Thou hast given me.

It is a great mercy that my calling is religious, that spiritual concerns are pressed daily before my soul, that I must needs occupy myself therein and keep them in my thoughts, and pass into sick rooms, and see dying men; for thus have I