I sat long in silence; many presentations attended my mind, but as I waited for the Word of life, I saw there were many subjects on which a man might either muse or speak, divers fields of doctrine, a large scope for choice; but alas! we cannot choose aright for ourselves, anymore than we know what to pray for, without assistance. So I was made willing to reject all these false openings, however beautiful; and sinking down into the silence of all flesh, this pertinent lesson was opened to my mind: “Ever remember, when thou approachest before thy God, in order to worship Him, that of thyself thou canst do nothing: that thy business is, to wait in true silence, avoiding all imaginary workings of thought, and all self-active motions, cogitations, and conceivings; feeling thy relationship, thy sonship, therein crying, “Abba, Father,” and in a sensible communion with Him that made thee, experiencing that He has graven thee upon the palms of His hands; therein breathing to Him for help and instruction; not presuming to stir him up, nor awake him, before he pleases; nor to form unto thyself a graven image; nor to presume to warm thyself by the sparks of thy own kindling, lest thou lie down in sorrow.
Job Scott (1751-1793), Pearls from the Deep
