that is in Christ, in the highest degree that it is possible for redeemed sinner to receive it, and at all times, till death.

“I ought to meditate often on heaven as a world of holiness,—­where all are holy, where the joy is holy joy, the work holy work; so that, without personal holiness, I never can be there ...  I ought to avoid the appearance of evil.  God commands me; and I find that Satan has a singular art in linking the appearance and reality together.

“I find that speaking of some sins defiles my mind and leads me into temptation; and I find that God forbids even saints to speak of the things that are done of them in secret.  I ought to avoid this.

“Eve, Achan, David, all fell through the lust of the eye.  I should make a covenant with mine, and pray, ’Turn away mine eyes from viewing vanity.’ ...  Satan makes unconverted men like the deaf adder to the sound of the gospel.  I should pray to be made deaf by the Holy Spirit to all that would tempt me to sin.

“One of my most frequent occasions of being led into temptation is this,—­I say it is needful to my office that I listen to this, or look into this, or speak of this.  So far this is true; yet I am sure Satan has his part in this argument.  I should seek divine direction to settle how far it will be good for my ministry, and how far evil for my soul, that I may avoid the latter.

“I am persuaded that nothing is thriving in my soul unless it is growing.  ‘Grow in grace.’  ‘Lord, increase our faith.’  ‘Forgetting the things that are behind.’ ...  I am persuaded that I ought to be inquiring at God and man what grace I want, and how I may become more like Christ ...  I ought to strive for more purity, humility, meekness, patience under suffering, love.  ‘Make me Christ-like in all things,’ should be my constant prayer.  ‘Fill me with the Holy Spirit.’

“2. Reformation in Secret Prayer.

“I ought not to omit any of the parts of prayer—­confession,
adoration, thanksgiving, petition, and intercession.

“There is a fearful tendency to omit confession, proceeding from low views of God and his law, slight views of my heart and the sins of my past life.  This must be resisted.  There is a constant tendency to omit adoration, when I forget to whom I am speaking—­when I rush heedlessly into the presence of Jehovah, without remembering his awful name and character—­when I have little eyesight for his glory, and little admiration of his wonders.  ‘Where are the wise?’ I have the native tendency of the heart to omit giving thanks.  And yet it is specially commanded, Phil. 4:6.  Often when the heart is selfish, dead to the salvation of others, I omit intercession.  And yet it especially is the spirit of the great Advocate, who has the name of Israel always on his heart.

   “Perhaps every prayer need not have all these; but surely a day
   should not pass without some space being devoted to each.