|
|
The Pathway of Safety; or, Counsel to the Awakened By the Right Rev. Ashton Oxenden, D.D. CHAPTER VI: HELPS BY THE WAY RELIGIOUS BOOKS – RELIGIOUS INTERCOURSE – MEDITATION – COMMUNION WITH GOD – SELF-EXAMINATION B. INTERCOURSE WITH RELIGIOUS FRIENDS A person, when first led to think seriously, feels himself to be in a new world; and often times he seems to stand alone, and longs for some Christian friend to help him. I have already shown you to whom you should flee for advice. It is to your clergyman especially you should ever turn for spiritual counsel and comfort. But besides your minister, a friend or two in your own rank of life will be of great use to you. If then you are acquainted with any earnest persons in your parish among the communicants, for instance—try and get a word with them, and choose such for your closest companions. You may find them of the greatest assistance to you, just as Aquila and Priscilla were to Apollos. (Acts 18.26) Their Christian counsel, their example, their faith, will cheer and encourage you; for as ‘iron sharpens iron, so sharpens a man the countenance of his friend.’ (Pro. 27.17) In speaking to others of God’s dealings with us, there is something that warms the heart. And such Christian converse is pleasing to God. ‘They that feared the Lord’ (says Malachi) ‘spoke often one to another: and the Lord hearkened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels.’ (Mal. 3.16, 17) It is a great happiness to enjoy the friendship of one or two really religious persons. As you tell them of the various wants, and difficulties, and doubts, and trials, which have at times almost weighed you down, perhaps you will be consoled and encouraged, by finding that they too have passed through the very same rugged ways in their Christian journey. Many a newly-awakened Christian feels as though no one could have experienced the same religious difficulties and temptations as himself, until he unbosoms his heart to his spiritual teacher, or to some Christian brother; and then he learns to his comfort that his own case is far from being a solitary one. There is another way in which a really faithful and religious friend may be of much use to you—he may point out to you your faults, faults perhaps which you would not of yourself discover. ‘Two are better than one,’ says Solomon; and if you are both traveling on the same blessed road, you may thus give one another much seasonable help by the way. He may assist you, too, in the understanding of many things, which you could not see clearly when alone. He may not be a learned person, and may need to be taught himself; but still he may know much which you have no knowledge of. Or you may be able in your turn to impart to him something which you have had an opportunity of learning. And so you may give each other a helping hand. But if you are young in years, or young, in grace, do not forget that your most proper place is that of a learner, and not an instructor. It is true, you know more than you once knew; for light has shone in upon your soul. But Satan will perhaps now endeavor to make you think that you know all, and that you must forthwith begin to instruct others. Beware of falling into this snare. Many have done so to their cost. They become proud and forward, when they ought to be modest and retiring. They want to lead others, even before they have learnt to walk themselves. They desire to be spiritual nurses, while they themselves are but babes in Christ. Be content to receive instruction for a while. You need it; for you have much, very much, to learn. Think more just now of carrying your empty pitcher to the well, than of pouring it out to refresh others. You have yet, I say, much to learn. You are at present like the man mentioned by St. Mark (chap. 7), who, though cured of his blindness by the Savior’s touch, at first looked up and said, ‘I see men as trees, walking.’ And if you as yet see only a little, do not fall into the error of thinking that you see all. Be backward and diffident in giving advice to others; but be always anxious to receive it yourself—according to the apostle’s counsel, ‘Be quick to hear, slow to speak.’ (James 1.19) I would also caution you against being too free in speaking to every one about the working of your own heart. A little reserve is necessary at this point. Well it is to unbosom our feelings to a Christian Friend; but they are too sacred to be laid open to the gaze of all. If God’s grace is really at work in our souls, there will most likely be a shrinking at first from a public announcement of it: it will declare itself by our altered conduct, rather than by our words. But there is another ‘help’ that I would strongly advise you not to neglect, and that is— **************************************************** The Pathway of Safety; or, Counsel to the Awakened, Ashton Oxenden **************************************************** PREVIOUS CHAPTER -- NEXT CHAPTER ©God’sGWG
|