FROM DAVID BRAINERD.
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I felt insatiable longings after God this day. I wondered how poor souls live that have no God. The world, with all its enjoyments, quite vanished. I longed exceedingly to be dissolved, and to be with Christ. Oh, my weary soul longs to arrive at my Father’s house!
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Oh, how divinely sweet it is to come into the secret of His presence, and abide in His pavilion!
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None knows but those who feel it, what the soul endures when shut out from the sensible presence of God. It is more bitter than death!
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I exhorted the people to love one another, and not to set up their own frames as a standard to try all their brethren by.
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Filling up our time with and for God is the way to rise up and lie down in peace.
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Oh, how dark it looked to think of being unholy for ever! This I could not endure.
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There are many with whom I can talk about religion; but alas! I find few with whom I can talk religion itself.
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I longed to spend the little inch of time I have in the world more for God. My soul, my very soul, longed for the ingathering of the poor heathen. I was tenderly affected toward all the world, longing that every sinner might be saved, and could not have entertained any bitterness towards the worst enemy living.
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My soul was drawn out for the interest of Zion, and comforted with the lively hope of the appearing of the kingdom of the great Redeemer. These were sweet moments! I felt almost loth to go to bed, and grieved that sleep was necessary.
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If I cannot behold the excellencies of God as to cause me to rejoice in Him for what He is in Himself, I have no solid foundation for joy. To rejoice only because I apprehend I have an interest in Christ, and shall be finally saved, is a poor mean business indeed.
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My soul centred in God as my only portion; and I felt that I should be for ever unhappy if He did not reign.
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I viewed the infinite excellency of God till my soul even broke with longings that He should be glorified. I thought of dignity in heaven; but instantly the thought returned, “I do not go to heaven to get honour, but to give all possible glory and praise.” Oh, how I longed that God should be glorified on earth also! Oh, I was made for eternity, if God might be glorified!
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I was born on a Sabbath-day; I was new-born on a Sabbath-day; and I hope I shall die on a Sabbath-day. I long for the time. Oh, why is His chariot so long in coming!
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O that His kingdom might come; that all might love and glorify Him for what He is in Himself, and that the blessed Redeemer might see of the travail of His soul, and be satisfied! Oh, come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. Amen!
He that willingly takes from my good name, unwillingly adds to my reward.—Thomas Brooks.
To begin a sin, is to lay the foundation for a continuance; this continuance is the mother of custom, and impudence at last the issue.—John Bunyan.
Zeal to a Christian is like a high wind filling the sails of a ship, which unless it be ballasted with discretion, doth but the sooner overturn it.—George Swinnock.