Lord of ALL Being,
There is one thing that
deserves my greatest care,
that calls forth my ardent desires,
That is, that I may answer the great
end for which I am made--
to glorify THEE Who hast given me being,
and to do all the good I can for my
fellow men;
Verily, life is not worth having
if it be not improved for this purpose.
Yet, LORD, how little is this the
thought of mankind!
Most men seem to live for themselves,
without much regard for Thy glory,
or for the good of others;
They earnestly desire and eagerly
pursue the riches, honors, pleasures
of this life, as if they supposed
that wealth, greatness, merriment,
could make their immortal souls happy;
But, Alas, what false delusions are these!
And how miserable before long will those
be who sleep in them, for all our happiness
consists in loving Thee, and being holy
as Thou art holy.
O May I never fall into the tempers and
vanities, the sensuality and folly of
this present world!!
It is a place of inexpressible sorrows,
a vast and empty nothingness; for Time
is a moment, a vapor, all its enjoyments
are but empty bubbles, fleeting gusts of
wind from which nothing satisfactory can
be gained; Give me grace always to keep
covenant with Thee, and to reject as a
delusion name or reputation hereafter,
Help me know continually that there can
be no true happiness, no fulfilling of
Thy purpose for me apart from a life
lived in and for the Son of Thy Love.
from the Valley of Vision
_________________
Martin G. Smith
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