show it in the way that is competent to you in your stations. So as I
was saying before, I expostulate with you for some testimonies of your
love. "Make a free and full resignation of yourselves and your all to
Christ, that ye may say with the spouse, I am my Beloved's! Oh, ye
should not prig (higgle) with Him about anything. Some prig with Him
about their hearts, and will have a part thereof in their darling idols,
which they cannot think to quit. Some prig with Him about their time,
and will make religion but their by-work. If their worldly employments
be throng, they will neglect the worship in their families, and prayer
in secret. Others, if they keep any family worship, it is in the
evening: ordinarily they are impatient, and haste to an end in it: and
neglect it in the morning altogether. Oh, what a sad prigging is this.
Some prig with him about their relations. They will not quit these when
He calls them to suffer for His sake; but will tempt them, or will
insinuate upon them to comply, and deny His cause. Some prig with Him
about their possessions, and yielding to this or that iniquity, will
keep their houses and lands, they will not quit them. And some will prig
with Him about their lives; and if the swearing of a sinful oath, the
subscribing to an iniquitous bond, or denying of His cause, will save
their lives, they will not lose them. Oh, what sad prigging is this! Oh,
be ashamed of it. Will ye lay all at his feet, and count it your honour
and joy that He dispose of the same as He pleaseth? Give this testimony
of your love to Christ, rejoice in Him when present, and keep His room
empty when absent. I say rejoice in him when present. I need not press
you much to do this, for in his presence there is great joy: though the
enjoyment of Him here be imperfect, yet it brings exceeding gladness
with it. Therefore saith the Psalmist,--'Thou hast put gladness in my
heart, more than when corn and wine are increased.' But when He is
absent, see that ye keep His room empty for Him. When He sees it meet at
any time for your correction, trial, and instruction, to withdraw