by Matthew Henry
(Continued from page 310)
Lay before you (my brethren) the example of the Lord Jesus, and as He was so let us be in this world; walking as He walked—as in other things, so in this: let us make visits as He did, with a design to do good, according as the sphere of our activity is. His lips dropt as a honey-comb, and fed many; let our’s do so too, as we are able. Wherever He was, still He was about His Father’s business; and let us, though unworthy such an honour, still endeavour to be so employed. When He visited His friends, He sympathised with them in their griefs, comforted them under their afflictions, reproved them for what was amiss, and entertained them with edifying and instructive discourse, taking rise for it usually by an admirable yet imitable art from common occurrences; and these things are written for our learning: Go thou and do likewise.
And that we may be thoroughly furnished, like the good householder, who brings out of his treasury things new and old, let us daily pray to God for that wisdom of the prudent, which is to understand His way in everything. There is no one grace that we are more particularly directed and encouraged to pray for than this; (Jam. i: 5) If any man lack wisdom (and which of us is there that does not?) let him ask it of God, who gives liberally and upbraids us not with our former follies, our present necessity, or the frequency of our addresses and applications to Him. Solomon, who in his youth made wisdom his choice, wisdom his request, had that granted him, and abundance of other good things added thereto. In putting up this petition, let us, therefore, be not only constant and earnest, but very particular: Lord give me wisdom to direct me in such a case that is difficult and doubtful! Lord enable me to behave myself wisely in a perfect way towards my family, and my friends and neighbours whom I visit, and to walk in wisdom also toward them that are without, that my profession of religion and relation to Christ, may never suffer damage or reproach through any imprudence or indiscretion of mine; in any visit, given or received.
And lest this wisdom should degenerate into that which is worldly, and err by an excess of caution, let us pray to God for a spirit of holy boldness and courage also, that we may be enabled to appear and act for God and godliness in all companies, and upon all occasions, with that pious zeal which becomes the good soldiers of Jesus Christ, that all we converse with may see, that we serve a Master whom we are neither ashamed or afraid to own; and that we have ventured all our credit with men, upon the security of that promise of God, Them that honour Me I will honour.