Directions for Daily Communion with God (continued)
we may be fitted to serve our souls in the service of God, to his honour in this world. We must taste covenant-love in common mercies, and enjoy the Creator while we are using the creature; we must depend upon the word of blessing from the mouth of God, to make our food nourishing to us; and if our provisions be mean and scanty, we must make up the want of them by faith in the promise of God, and rejoice in him, as the God of our salvation, though the fig-tree doth not blossom, and there is no fruit in the vine.
6. When you visit your friends, or receive their visits, wait upon God; let your eye be to him with thankfulness for your friends and acquaintances, that you have comfort in; that the wilderness is not made your habitation, and the solitary and desert land your dwelling; that you have comfort not only in your own houses, but in those of your neighbors, with whom you have freedom of converse; and that you are not driven out from among all men, and made a burden and terror to all about you. That you have clothing not only for necessity but for ornament, to go abroad in, is a mercy which, that we may not pride ourselves in, we must take notice of God in, I decked thee with ornaments, saith God, and put earrings in thine ears, EZEK 16:11, 12. Ezekiel 16:11-12 (KJV) That you have houses, furniture, and entertainment, not only for yourselves, but for your friends, is a mercy in which God must be acknowledged.
And when we are in company, we must look up to God for wisdom to carry ourselves, so as that we may do much good to, and get no harm by those with whom we converse; wait on God for that grace with which our speech should be always seasoned, by which all corrupt communication may be prevented, and we may abound in all that which is good, and to the use of edifying, and which may minister grace to the hearers, that our lips may feed many.
7. When you give alms, or do any act of charity, wait on God, do it as unto him, give to a disciple in the name of a disciple, to the poor because they belong to Christ; do it not for the praise of men, but for the glory of God, with a single eye, and an upright heart, direct it to him, and then your alms as well as your prayers, like those of Cornelius, come up for a memorial before God, ACTS 10:4. Acts 10:4 (KJV) Beg of God to accept what you do for the good of others, that your alms may indeed be