Such prayers as these amongst _neighbours_ and _acquaintance_, would unite them to one another in the strongest bonds of love and tenderness. It would teach them to consider one another in a higher state, as members of a _spiritual society_, that are created for the enjoyment of the common blessings of God, and fellow heirs of the same glory.
And by being thus desirous that every one should have their full share of the favours of God, they would be glad to see one another happy in the little enjoyments of this life.
5. *_Ouranius_ is a holy priest, full of the spirit of the gospel, watching, labouring, and praying for a poor _country village_. Every soul in it is as dear to him as himself; and he loves them all, as he loves himself, because he _prays_ for them all, as often as he prays for himself.
If his whole life is one continual exercise of great zeal and labour, hardly ever satisfied with any degrees of care and watchfulness, ’tis because he has learned the great value of souls, by so often appearing before God as an _intercessor_ for them.
He never thinks he can love, or do enough for his flock; because he never considers them in any other view, than as so many persons, that, by receiving the gifts and graces of God, are to become his _hope_, his _joy_, and his _crown of rejoicing_.
He goes about his parish, and visits every body in it; but visits in the same spirit of piety that he preaches to them: he visits them to encourage their virtues, to assist them with his advice, to discover their manner of life, and to know the state of their souls, that he may _interceed_ with God for them, according to their _particular necessities_.
6. When _Ouranius_ first entered into holy orders, he had a _haughtiness_ in his temper, a great _contempt_ for all foolish and unreasonable people: but he has _prayed away_ this spirit, and has now the greatest tenderness for the most obstinate sinners; because he is always hoping, that God will sooner or later hear those _prayers_ that he makes for their repentance.
The _rudeness_, _ill-nature_, or _perverse_ behaviour of any of his flock, used at first to betray him into impatience; but it now raises no other passion in him, than a desire of being upon his knees in prayer to God for them.
Thus have his _prayers_ for others _altered_ and _amended_ the state of his own heart.
It would delight you to see with what _spirit_ he converses, with what _tenderness_ he reproves, with what _affection_ he exhorts, and with what _vigour_ he preaches; and ’tis all owing to this, because he reproves, exhorts, and preaches to those, for whom he first _prays_ to God.
This devotion softens his heart, enlightens his mind, sweetens his temper, and makes every thing that comes from him, instructive, amiable and affecting.
7. At his first coming to this little _village_, it was as disagreeable to him as a _prison_, and every day seemed too tedious to be endured in so retired a place. He thought his parish was too full of _poor_ and _mean_ people, that were none of them fit for the conversation of a _gentleman_.
This put him upon a close application to his studies. He kept much at home, writ _notes_ upon _Homer_ and _Plautus_, and sometimes thought it hard to be called to pray by any poor body, when he was just in the midst of one of _Homer’s battles_.
This was his _polite_, or I may rather say, _poor, ignorant_ turn of mind, before devotion had got the government of his heart.
But now his days are so far from being tedious, or his parish too great a retirement, that he only wants more time to do that variety of good which his soul thirsts after. The solitude of his little parish is become matter of great comfort to him, because he hopes that God has placed him and his flock there, to make it their way to heaven.
He can now not only converse with, but gladly _wait_ upon the poorest kind of people. He is now daily watching over the _weak_, humbling himself to perverse, rude, ignorant people, wherever he can find them; and is so far from desiring to be considered as a _gentleman_, that he desires to be used as the _servant_ of all; and in the Spirit of his Lord and Master _girds himself_, and is glad to _kneel down_ and _wash_ any of their _feet_.
He now thinks the poorest creature in his parish good enough, and great enough, to deserve the humblest attendances, the kindest friendships, the tenderest offices, he can possibly shew them.
He is so far now from wanting agreeable company, that he thinks there is no better conversation in the world, than to be talking with _poor_ and _mean_ people about the kingdom of heaven.
All these noble thoughts and divine sentiments are the effects of his great devotion; he presents every one so often before God in his prayers, that he never thinks he can _esteem_, or serve those enough, for whom he implores so many mercies from God.