—Col. iii. 3. “Pass ye into me,” saith God, “all ye who earnestly seek after me.”—Ec- m eles. xxiv. 16. But how is it that we pass Hi into God? We leave and forsake ourselves, that we may be lost in him; and this can | be effected only by annihilation, which be- i) ae ing the true prayer of adoration, renders unto God alone, all “ Blessing, honour, glory, and power, for ever and ever.”n7706 ¶1
THis is the prayer of truth; “It is worshipping God in spirit and in truth:” : —John iv. 23. ‘In spirit,” because we en- > ter into the purity of that Spirit which prayeth within us, and are drawn forth and freed from our own carnal and corrupt manner of praying; “ In truth,” because we are thereby placed in the truth of the All of Gop, and the Nothing of the creature.n7706 ¶2
Tuere are but these two truths, the All, and the Nothing; every thing else is falsehood. We can pay due honour to the ! All of Gop, only in our own annihilation; which is no sooner accomplished, than he, 1 who never suffers a void in nature, instantly fills us with himself. | Dip we but know the virtues and the blessings which the soul derives from this prayer, we should willingly be employed therein without ceasing. ‘It is the pearl of great price: it is the hidden treasure,” (Matt. xiii, 44, 45.) which, whoever findeth, selleth freely all that he hath to purchase it: it is the well of living water, .“ which springeth up unto everlasting life:” It is the adoration of God, “in spirit and in truth :’—John iv. 14—23. And, itis the full performance of the purest evangelical precepts.n7706 ¶3
Jesus Curist assureth us, that the ‘kingdom of God is within us:” (Luke xvii. 21.) and this is true in two senses: First, God becometh so fully the Master and Lord in us, that nothing resisteth his dominion; then is our interior his kingdom: And again, when we possess God, who is the Supreme Good, we possess his kingdom also, wherein there is fullness of joy, and where we attain the end of our creation: thus it is said, “ To serve God, is to reign.” The end of our creation, indeed, is to enjoy our God, even in this life; but alas! haw few there are who advert to this!n7706 ¶4