Receive therefore every day, as a _resurrection_ from death, as a new enjoyment of life; meet every _rising sun_ with such sentiments of God’s goodness, as if you had seen it, and all things, _new created_ upon your account; and under the sense of so great a blessing, let your heart praise and magnify so good and glorious a Creator.
Therefore _praise_ and _thanksgiving_, and _oblation_ of yourself to God, may be the _fixed_ subject of your _first_ prayers in the morning; and then take the liberty of adding such other devotions, as the _accidental_ difference of your state, or the accidental difference of your heart, shall direct.
12. *One of the greatest benefits of _private_ devotion, consists in adapting our prayers to the difference of our _state_, and the difference of our hearts.
*By the difference of our _state_, is meant the difference of our _external state_, as of _sickness_, _health_, _pains_, _losses_, _disappointments_, _troubles_, particular _mercies_ or _judgments_ from God, and all sorts of _kindnesses_, _injuries_, or _reproaches_ from other people.
Now, as these are great parts of our state of life, as they make great difference in it, by continually changing; so our devotion will be made doubly beneficial to us, when it watches to receive and sanctify all these _changes_ of our state, and turns them all into so many occasions of a more particular application to God, of such thanksgivings, such resignation, such petitions, as our present state more especially requires.
*And he that makes every change in his state, a reason of presenting unto God some particular petitions suitable to that change, will soon find, that he has taken an excellent means, not only of _praying_ with fervour, but of _living_ as he prays.
13. *We are likewise always to adapt some part of our prayers to the _difference_ of our _hearts_; by which is meant the different tempers of our hearts, as of _love_, _joy_, _peace_, _tranquility_, _dulness_ and _dryness_ of _spirit_, _anxiety_, _discontent_, _motions_ of _envy_ and _ambition_, _dark_ and _disconsolate thoughts_, _resentments_, _fretfulness_, and _peevish tempers_.
If we are in the delightful calm of sweet and easy passions, of _love_ and _joy_ in God, we should then offer the tribute of thanksgiving.
If, on the other hand, we feel ourselves laden with _heavy_ passions, with _dulness_ of spirit, _anxiety_ and _uneasiness_, we must then look up to God in acts of humility, confessing our unworthiness, opening our troubles to him, beseeching him in his good time to lessen our infirmities, and to deliver us from these passions.
By this wise application of our prayers, we shall get all the relief from them that is possible; and the very _changeableness_ of our hearts, will prove a means of exercising a greater variety of holy tempers.
You will perceive by this, that persons ought to have a great share in composing their own devotions.
As to that part of their prayers, which is always fixed, they may use forms composed by other persons; but in that part which they are to suit to the present _state_ of their _life_, and the _present_ state of their _heart_, they must let the sense of their own condition help them to such kinds of _petition_, _thanksgiving_, or _resignation_, as their present state requires.
14. But it is amazing to see how ♦eagerly men employ their _parts_, their _study_, _application_, and _exercise_; how all helps are called to their assistance, when any thing is intended in worldly matters; and how little they use their _parts_, _sagacity_, and abilities, to raise and increase their devotion.
♦ ‘eargerly’ replaced with ‘eagerly’
*_Mandanus_ is a man of excellent parts, and clear apprehension. He is well advanced in age, and has made a great figure in his business. Every part of _trade_ that has fallen in his way, has had some improvement from him; and he is always contriving to carry every method of doing any thing well to its greatest height. _Mandanus_ aims at the greatest perfection in every thing. The _strength_ of his mind, and his just way of thinking, make him intent upon removing all imperfections.
He can tell you all the defects and errors in all the common methods, whether of _trade_, _building_, or improving _land_ or _manufactures_. The clearness and strength of his understanding, which he is constantly improving, by continual exercise in these matters, by often digesting his thoughts in writing, and trying every thing every way, has rendered him a great master in most concerns in human life.
Thus has _Mandanus_ gone on, increasing his _knowledge_ and _judgment_, as fast as his years came upon him.
The one thing which has not fallen under his improvement, nor received any benefit from his judicious mind, is his _devotion_: this is just in the same _poor_ state it was, when he was only six years of age; and the _old man_ prays now in that little form of words which his mother used to hear him repeat night and morning.