Page:The pastor in his closet.djvu/19

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GENERAL DEVOTION.
5

and tabernacles of Thy Presence, sanctuaries where Thou dost dwell. Thou art with the Church, even unto the end of the world.

Therefore I am emboldened to draw near unto Thee, O God, Holy, Blessed, Glorious Trinity. I want to be Thine, not in part only, but altogether, to be Thine of a truth, to be saved from sin and from everlasting death, to serve Thee with all my heart all my days.

And whereunto hast Thou called me? To what office in Thy Church? Thou hast chosen me to be an Evangelist, a Priest, a preacher unto Thy people, a shepherd of Thy flock, a watcher of souls, an ambassador, a steward of Thy mysteries, and an ensample to the flock over which Thou hast made me overseer.

O what great duties are laid on me through this mine office! How great a charge, how difficult a work and how awful, how great a weight of holy honours and responsibilities! What a work is this to do among men! to teach—guide—feed—watch—nourish souls immortal! Who is sufficient for these things? Who can fulfil so great duties? Is it not enough to keep guard over myself? Must I, who need to be fed, feed others? Must I, who need to be ministered unto, be myself ministering? Must I, who can learn so much