Part 195

And as a little child is looked upon as an harmless creature, and generally speaks true; so, if we are converted, and become as little children, we shall be guileless as well as harmless. What said the dear Redeemer when he saw _Nathaniel_? As though it was a rare sight he gazed upon, and would have others gaze upon it; “Behold an _Israelite_ indeed:” Why so? “In whom is no guile.” Do not mistake me; I am not saying, that christians ought not to be prudent; they ought exceedingly to pray to GOD for prudence, otherwise they may follow the delusions of the devil, and by their imprudence give wrong touches to the ark of GOD. It was the lamentation of a great man, “GOD has given me many gifts, but GOD has not given me prudence.” Therefore, when I say, a christian must be guileless, I do not mean, he should expose himself, and lie open to every one’s assault: we should pray for the wisdom of the serpent, though we shall generally learn this wisdom by our blunders and imprudence: and we must make some advance in christianity, before we know our imprudence. A person really converted, can say, as it is reported of a philosopher, “I wish there was a window in my breast, that every one may see the uprightness of my heart and intentions:” And though there is too much of the old man in us, yet, if we are really converted, there will be in us no allowed guile, we shall be harmless. And that is the reason why the poor christian is too often imposed upon; he judgeth other people by himself; having an honest heart, he thinks every one as honest as himself, and therefore is a prey to every one. I might enlarge upon each of these points, it is a copious and important truth; but I do not intend to multiply many marks and heads.