Dr. Holmes read this in Dr. Tom Nettles book The Baptists, Vol. 1 published by Christian Focus. It is a journal entry from Monday, August 5, 1754, written by Oliver Hart, pastor of Charleston Baptist Church, Charleston, SC. Monday, August the 5th, 1754. I do this morning feel myself oppressed under a sense of my barrenness: Alas! What do I for God? I am indeed employed in his vineyard, but I fear to little purpose. I feel a want of the life and power of religion in my own heart: This causes such a langour in all my duties to God: this makes me so poor an improver of time. Alas! I am frequently on my bed when I ought to be on my knees - to my shame. Sometimes the sun appears in the horizon, and begins his daily course, before I have paid my tribute of praise to God: and perhaps, while I am indulging myself in inactive slumbers. Oh! Wretched stupidity! Oh! That, for time to come, I may be more active for God! I would this morning resolve, before thee, O! God, and in thy name and strength, to devote myself more unreservedly to thy service than I hitherto have done: I would resolve to be a better improver of my time than I have heretofore been: to rise earlier in the morning, to be sooner with thee in secret devotion, and Oh, that I may be more devout therein! I would be more engaged in my studies. Grant, O, Lord! That I may improve more by them! And when I go abroad, enable me better to improve my visits; that I may always leave a savour of divine things behind me. When I go to thy house to speak for thee, may I always go full fraught with things divine, and be enabled faithfully and feelingly to dispense the word of life. I would begin and end every day with thee: Teach me to study thy glory in all I do: And wilt thou be with me also in the night watches; teach me to meditate of thee on my bed; may my sleep be sanctified to me, that I may thereby be fitted to thy service, nor ever desire more than answers this important end. Thus teach me to number my days, that I may apply my heart unto wisdom.
Posted on: Tue, 20 May 2014 20:57:42 +0000
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