Predictions of Christopher Love, Part 7
The Quaker's Advice.
AS I have often, in passing along the streets and highways, heard the Most Sacred Name very profane…y made use of, both by men and women, and many grievously calling for damnation on themselves and one on another, my heart has been, and is, deeply afflicted t…ereat: and therefore I beseech you, in the Name of JESUS CHRIST, do not defile your Souls which are dear and precious, by any wilful sin: and amongst other things, do not ta…e the Holy Name of God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him or her guiltless that taketh his holy Name in vain.
GOD is willing to save you; why should any of you lose and destroy yourselves? Observe this attentively; for notwithstanding all that the LORD has done, and is d…ing for us, such as die in their sins, where he is gone, they can never come.
Abstain from drunkenness, and all excess, and from every appearance of evil, love one another, as JESUS CHRIST hath loved you; apply yourselves to the witness of God within you, which reproves you for evil; submit to, and obey its holy manifestations and discoveries and it will do much more for you than a… you can hear from any man. This witness of GOD is the word of his Grace, even the word of Life, the Holy Ghost, which is able to save your souls. In the love of the Gospel, I invite you all to come and taste how good and merciful the LORD is towards all those that return to him with their whole hearts. If you are such a one, who can, through an ill habit and bad custom, curse, swear, and do any other bad action, almost without reproof or feeling; though your case be so desperate, there is yet mercy with God that he may be feared: and I advise you to endeavour to be still a few minutes in the morning, when you awake, before you rise up, and then think seriously with yourself thus: I have not given my being to myself: I am accountable to the Author and Creator of it; and this day He (the LORD of all) will take notice of all my actions; this day he will hear all my Words; this day he will know all my thoughts; and at a certain time (yet unknown to me when) my soul must give him a full account. I am not without some degree of hope, that such serious reflections may be conducive to raise desires like these: Oh! that I may be watchful. Oh! that I may sin no more as long as I live: For we must cease to do evil before we can learn to do well. Therefore silence before the LORD, and attention to his reproofs of instruction in your own heart, which are the way to life, are the first steps to come to CHRIST, and to be made a real Christian.
Self Enquiries for Every Morning.
1. Was God in my thoughts at lying down and …ising up? and were the thoughts of him sweet and refreshing to my soul?
2. In what frame is my heart this morning? Do I admire the goodness of God in the last night's Sleep, and for adding more time to my life? and am I heartily thankful?
3. Can I r…ally commit myself and all my affairs to God this day, to be guided by his counsel, and protected and provided for, by his care, and to be entirely at his disposal?
4. Am I resolved to speak for God and his Glory? and in the strength of Christ, will I n…ither be afraid, ashamed, nor weary of well-doing?
5. Am I a child of God and an heir of Glory? and does the Spirit of God testify that I am born again. If I am God's child, should I not wear the garments of righteousness, and take heed of defiling myself with sin? should I n…t do more than others?
6. Who is the greatest deceiver? if my heart should I not be jealous. and watchful over it: where are the greatest dangers, and m…st p…rnicious mistakes? if in so…l concerns, should I not venture the loss of all things rather than lose my precious, never-dying soul?
7 Who are my most implacable, powerful and soul-destroying Enemies, but the World, the Flesh and the Devil? and should I no… w…ch and be sober; so as neither to idoli…e the … ▪ pamper the second, nor listen to the third?
8 Who is or can be my best Friend▪ but God? And should I not fear his displeasure more than death, desire his favour more than life, and thro' all this day love, honour, and obey him.
9. Where is the greatest vanity and vexation, but in the World? And should I not live above it? … not Godliness the greatest gain? and should I not make it my chiefest business.
10. What is my heavenly work▪ but to Strive, R…, W…estle, Fight? and can … do all this withou… Care, Dilige…ce and Watchfulness?
11. Whose eyes will be upon me all this day, to observe my head and heart, my Lip, and Life, but his who is the Judge of all the Earth? And dare I Sin in his presence, and affront him to his Face?
12. If I should spend this day in Vanity, Idleness, or Sin, will it not be sorrow…ul at night? if I spend it holily and p…ofitably, shall I not pray with greater confidence, lie down more peacefully, and have … …estimony of a good conscience for my rejoicing.
13 How would I have this day appear at the day of Judgment? Ought not my Though…s, Words and Actions to be such now, as I … then wish them to have been?
14. How may I this day order my secular business with most prudence and wisdom, integrity and upligh…ness and for my real advantage?
15. Am I now fit to draw nigh to God in pray…, and can I seek first. and as my chief concern, the Kingdom of God and his righteousness?
16. Am I now willing to take Christ alone for righteousness? and to devote all my time and … to him? And to offer him praise continually?
Self Enquiries for every Evening.
1. What have I done this day for God and his Glory? what can I look back upon with comfo…?
2. In what frame hath my heart been all this day? Have I more desired heavenly or earthly things? hath my jo…s been more in God and in the hopes of …uture Glory, than in worldly Riches, Honours or Pleasures▪ was my g…ef more for sin or for the troubles of Li…e? Have I more derived comfort from the broken cis…erns of created good, or from God the living fountain?
3. What were m… intentions? Have I been sincere, and maintained a conscience void of off…c… towards God and towards man? Did I eat and drink, pray, and converse to the Glory of Ged, or was Self …ppermost in all?
4. What spiritual duties have I performed this day? Did I regard the manner as well as the ma…er, and do them from conscience not from custom? Did I pray servently, and …ead and m…ditate so as to affect my heart?
5. How faithful diligent▪ and care…ul, have I been in my place and calling? And have there been no idle hours in the day?
6. What has been my company this day? What good have I done them or received from them? Did … reprove, exhort and strengthen▪ encourage, comfort and w…rn, as the matter required?
7. How have I bo…e the crosses and troubles of the day? Did I neither despise them, nor saint under them; neither entert…in hard thoughts of God, nor utter rash words against him?
8. What were my temptations this day? was I easi…y d…awn into Sin, or restrained and overawed by God's all-seeing eye, merciful heart, or a…enging hand? What convict…on, merey, or warning did I sin against? and have I repented of my sin?
9. What were my enjoyments, and how was my hear… …ffected under them? Was I affected with the goodness of God to me in my health, …riends and estate, and unfeignedly thankful for them?
10. What have I learned this day? have I got more heart-affecting knowledge of God and of his Glory; and of myself and of my sins? Of this word and that which is to come?
11. What have I remembered of the word of God, whether read or heard? Was any … sweet … my soul, and did I by …aith make any promise my ow… Did any particular precept …?
12. What graces have I …? have I lived by …ai…h. loved God, and … for Chr…st: have I had … to God the …, as my … and …; to … saviour, … and …; and to the holy … as my … strength and com…o…er?
13 Have I been suitably affected with the … or miseries of others, whether … have I had a compassionate heart, and … hand to any in want?
14 Have I especially done good to them who a…e of the …. however …?
15. Did the C…ch of God … of Christ …e near my heart? Have I … the welfare of Christs Chu…ch, and … its desolations, and … Heav…n abo…e my … Joy.
16. Have I really set death before me, and … my life as a vapour? if God should this …ight clo…e my eyes in death, how is it like to be with my soul?
17. lo…nceivably great, glorious and terrible as the day of Judgment will be, dare I meet Christ at his coming? Will my graces bear the t…ial of that day? Can I now with joy say, even so, Come … Iesus?