opens it to pleaſures that the thoughtleſs and vicious have not a glimpſe of. You muſt, believe me, be acquainted with God to find peace, to riſe ſuperior to worldly temptations. Habitual devotion is of the utmoſt conſequence to our happineſs, as what ofteneſt occupies the thoughts will influence our actions. But observe what I ſay—that devotion is mockery and ſelfiſhneſs, which does not improve our moral character.
Men, of old, prayed to the devil, ſacrificed their children to him; and committed every kind of barbarity and impurity. But we who ſerve a long-ſuffering God ſhould pity the weakneſs of our fellow-creatures; we muſt not beg for mercy and not ſhew it; we muſt not acknowledge that we have offended, without trying to avoid doing ſo in future. We are to deal with our fellow-creatures as we expect to be dealt with. This is practical prayer!—Thoſe who practiſe it feel frequently ſublime pleaſures, and lively hopes animate them in this vale of tears; that ſeem a foretaſte of the felicity
