4 
 

 FOR THE 
 
 CHIIiDREJT OF GOD, 
 
 TVHOSE TREASURE IS IN HEAVEN. 
 
 CONSISTING OF 
 
 Select Kty:X% of i%t JSiiiU^ 
 
 WITH 
 
 PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS, 
 
 IN PROSE AND VERSE, 
 
 FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 
 
 /- 
 
 BY C. H. V. BOGATZKY, 
 
 TOGETHER WITH A FEW 
 
 FORMS OF PRAYER, 
 
 FOR PRIVATE USE. 
 
 " Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." 
 
 Matt. vi. 21. 
 
 NEW-YORK : 
 
 PRINTED BV JOHN H. TURXEY, NO. 133 EAST BROADWAY. 
 
 1831. 
 
««««ift •\^ ^^^ 
 
 AS s. 
 
TO THE READER. 
 
 The translation of this little book having been 
 undertaken by a particular hint of Providence, I 
 am not without hopes, that it will meet with a fa- 
 vourable reception from serious readers. 
 
 It is not to be expected, that a performance of 
 this nature will suit the taste of those, who unhap- 
 pily mistake mere outward morality, for true Chris- 
 tianity, and go on no farther than natural reason 
 and strength will carry them. But such as have, 
 or desire to have a real experience of the kingdom 
 of God in their souls, will find much in it to the 
 awakening, comforting, and encouraging their 
 hearts in the right way. 
 
 The author very properly calls it a Golden 
 Treasury for the children of God, who esteem 
 the word of God, more than gold and much fine 
 gold, from which they may be daily supplied with 
 proper advice and relief, in all manner of spiritual 
 necessities, as thousands have happily experienced 
 already. 
 
 The frequent use of this book among the chil- 
 dren of God abroad, manifestly appears, from the 
 many impressions it has undergone : it being twen- 
 ty times reprinted since the first publication. 
 
IV TO THE HEADER. 
 
 In translating it, great care was taken never to 
 deviate from the true and genuine sense of the au- 
 thor, though it was not possible always to keep his 
 expressions : the different idioms of the languages 
 sometimes, requiring a short paraphrase, to make 
 the sense plain and easy in the English. 
 
 And to bring it also in the poetic part, to as near 
 a resemblance to the original as possible, the best 
 expedient seemed, to have recourse to the excellent 
 hymns and psalms of the late reverend and worthy 
 Dr. Watts, which furnish me with a variety of 
 elegant and edifying verses on most of the subjects. 
 These being properly chosen, are, in my humble 
 opinion, no disgrace to the author's performance, 
 and make the fullest compensation for his thoughts 
 I could think of. 
 
 May the Lord, in his infinite goodness, be pleas- 
 ed to bless these endeavours to the glory of his 
 name and the good of many souls, is the earnest 
 desire, and prayer of the 
 
 TRANSLATOR. 
 
PREFACE, 
 
 CONCERNING THE BIGHT USE OF THIS 
 
 DIVINE TREASURIT. 
 
 As the Lord has been pleased signally to bless 
 this little book to many souls, it has been a decisive 
 encouragement to this further edition of it. But 
 as this, like other extracts from Scripture, is liable 
 to abuses, it has been conceived proper to take all 
 possible measures against such evils, and direct the 
 inexperienced reader4o a right use of it. First it 
 is to be noticed, of which, indeed, every intelligent 
 person will be aware, that this piece is not a mat- 
 ter of light amusement, or calculated for the grati- 
 fication of mere curiosity : no, the scope of it is, in 
 a regular and perspicuous manner, to lead the su- 
 pine world into spirituality, to enlarge their views of 
 many edifying truths, and especially, as far as can 
 be, to detach them from their low, puerile, and un- 
 worthy usages. The inculcating such admonitions 
 has been thought peculiarly necessary to the too nu- 
 1* 
 
VI PREFACE. 
 
 merous tribes of sensual, trifling Christians ; there- 
 fore, some reflections to this purpose have been 
 added. Should any vi^ho are still in love with the 
 world, vouchsafe to cast an eye on this work, I 
 assure them it will turn to quite another advantage 
 than wasting their time in gaming and dancing, in 
 futile jests, or ill-natured censures on others, or the 
 like amusements ; this short and precious time not 
 being bestowed on them for such levities, but for 
 a steady preparation for eternity, and of which they 
 are to give a most strict account. They are at the 
 same time candidly warned, not to make a play- 
 thibg of this work, but that they labour to improve 
 it to their effectual conversion and amendment. If 
 any expressions touch them to the quick, if they 
 see themselves any where drawn in their proper 
 colours, let them not slight these as chance and 
 accident, but be firmly persuaded, that in these the 
 Lord knocks at their hearts, and calls them to re- 
 pentance. To this blessed call, let them immedi- 
 ately attend, and yield themselves to be drawn 
 from the world to God, by this gentle cord of love, 
 as more eligible, than to be compelled by bit and 
 scourge- But if they meet with nothing here but 
 words of comfort and confidence, let them beware 
 of fostering a false consolation, by precipitately era- 
 bracing them ; the safe way is to be moved by them 
 to repentance, imploring God that he would give 
 them an humiliating insight into all their sins, and 
 especially their grievous depravation by original 
 sin, and a broken, contrite, and penitent heart, and 
 implant in them that lively faith, by which love 
 works, and which overcomes the world. As they 
 grow in faith and repentance, they become sensible 
 
PREFACE. VU 
 
 of the power and sweetness of the gospel, and may 
 solace and strengthen themselves in the glorious 
 comforts thereof, all the evangelical promises of 
 grace, being the portion only of the penitent and 
 mortified ; the obdurate, the proud, the sensual, have 
 not the least share in them. As to the children of 
 God, to them this book is peculiarly adapted, they, 
 remaining in meekness and simplicity, know by their 
 own, and the experiences of others, that their in- 
 dulgent Father, according to his tender mercies, 
 suits himself to our imbecility, and thus, not unfre- 
 quently, applies to our hearts, words of strength 
 and exhortation, exactly corresponding with our 
 circumstances, and thus makes our darkness to be 
 light, and our weakness strength ; these, therefore 
 are secure from perverting the texts to any perni- 
 cious abuse, being divinely taught to improve all 
 to their real edification ; these, in all circumstances 
 and accidents, in their going out and coming in, 
 their rising up and lying down ; and still more re- 
 markably when they are at a stand how or for what 
 they shall pray, find matter to enliven them, and 
 form a prayer of the contents of these discourses, 
 also from hence have subjects always ready for 
 godly conference with others, thus excluding all 
 frothy words or idle deportment. Do they light up- 
 on any sharp sayings of the law, these serve for 
 their examination and trial, they particularly turn 
 them to this inestimable benefit, that seeing in them 
 as in a looking glass, their defects and guiltiness, 
 they are the more convinced of their need of the gos- 
 pel promises, and run with more eager pantings and 
 love to the precious blood of the dear Lamb of God, 
 which was shed on the cross, the only fountain 
 
Vll 1»REFACE. 
 
 against sin and uncleanness, to wash their robes 
 white in all that inestimable propitiation. This is 
 the most happy employment, and herein should we 
 be daily and hourly employed, as still the motions 
 of sin are felt in us, hereby the peace of God which 
 dwells only with a child-like, flexible temper, and 
 that true godliness which irsues.from faith, are best 
 promoted. In order to their further edification, 
 they will do well, in turning to their bible for the 
 texts, comparing their harmony, and weighing, and 
 digesting the parallel places, which are here and 
 there added- 
 
 May the Lord, our God, who at the building of the 
 material temple of Jerusalem, did not despise the 
 least service or contribution-, graciously accept in 
 Christ-, of this feeble labour of love, towards build- 
 ing up his spiritual temple-, and continue still to bless 
 it richly in the further edification of more souls to 
 the glory of his name, and for the sake of his eternal 
 love. Amen. 
 
 Halle, July 4, 1746. 
 
JANUARY 1. 9 
 
 Aaron shall hear the names of the children of Israel 
 in his breast-plate of judgment, upon his heart, 
 when hegoeth into the holy place, for a memorial 
 before the Lord continually ; and thou shaltput in- 
 to the breast-plate of judgment the urim and thum- 
 mim, namely, light and integrity. Exod. xxviii. 29. 
 
 Now I am forever in gracious remembrance with 
 God, since my great high-priest, and advocate, 
 Christ Jesus, bears my name continually before him, 
 on his heart. Whenever I am troubled about my 
 sins, his powerful mediation will surely plead mercy 
 for all my transgressions, and supply my wants abun- 
 dantly. God not denying him any thing, I can, 
 through him, continually be heard and obtain grace ; 
 for he makes perpetual intercessions for me in hea- 
 ven, by which all my prayers at all times, and even 
 now, are sanctified and presented to the Father, 
 who heareth him always. O ! who would not often 
 send up his petitions to heaven in faith ! 
 
 Now may our joyful tongues, 
 
 Our Maker's honour sing : 
 Jesus the Priest receives our songs, 
 
 And bears them to the King. 
 
 Before his Father's eye, 
 
 Our humble suit he moves : 
 The Father lays his thunder by. 
 
 And looks, and smiles, and loves. 
 
 No fiery vengeance now, 
 
 No burning wrath comes down. 
 
 If justice calls for sinner's blood, 
 The Saviour shows his own. 
 
10 JANUARY 2. ♦ 
 
 / will ransom them from the power of the grave. 1 
 will redeem them from death : O Death, I will he 
 thy plague; O grave, I will he thy destruction. 
 Hos. xiii. 14. Christ having spoiled principali- 
 ties and powers, he made a show of them openly, 
 triumphing over them in it. Col. ii. 16. 
 
 The world is afraid of a hidden poison where 
 there is none. The real hidden poison is sin, which 
 the Lord grant me to fear every where ; for it has 
 infected all things and all places. But, O rny dear 
 Saviour, thou being my all-sufficient preservative 
 and antidote in all places, O ! dwell in mc continu- 
 ally, and increase thou my faith, that I may know 
 thee and enjoy thee more and more. Take away 
 all fear of death, since thou the Prince of life livest 
 in me, and hast totally destroyed both death and 
 hell. 
 
 Hosanna to the Prince of light 
 That clothed himself in clay, 
 
 Enter'd the iron gates of death, 
 And tore the bars away. 
 
 Death is no more the king of dread; 
 
 Since our Emmanuel rose, 
 He took the tyrant's sting away. 
 
 And spoil'd our hellish foes. 
 
 Now holy triumphs of the soul 
 Shall death itself oiit-brave ; 
 
 Leave dull mortality behind, 
 And fly beyond the grave. 
 
JANUARY 3. 11 
 
 But now, O Lord, thou art our father : We are the 
 clay, and thou our potter, and we all are the work 
 of thy hand. Isaiah Ixi v. 8. 
 
 Being only thy clay, O Almighty Potter, as I 
 must not, and will not resist thy workings by any 
 means, I assuredly believe that thou wilt prepare 
 and perfect me for a meet vessel of grace, in spite 
 of a thousand hindrances. No work of thine 
 comes ever short of its intended perfection : for 
 ivho can stay thy hand ? It is thy own saying ; I 
 will work, and who shall let it? Isaiah, xHii. 13. 
 
 An artist delights in his own workmanship, and 
 would not leave one single flaw or defect in it de- 
 signedly. Phil. i. 6. Oh! then look upon me 
 too, thou wise Creator ; see how flesh and blood 
 disorder my poor soul 1 and deliver me from all 
 that may endanger my spiritual hfe. Knowing 
 thou canst do no less than an human artist, who is 
 ever ready and exerts his skill to mend and perfect 
 his work ; I trust that thou wilt not always suflfer 
 these impediments to hinder and disgrace thy work. 
 Nay, such is thy wisdom and power, that out of 
 darkness thou canst bring light, out of sickness 
 health ; and though I am now desitute of strength 
 and hfe ; yet I believe thy work will be finished at 
 last, and glorify the name of its maker. 1 Pet. v. 10. 
 
12 JANUARY 4. 
 
 O that the salvation of Israel were come out ofZion! 
 When the Lord brings hack the captivity of his 
 people, Jacob shall rejoice and Israel shall he 
 glad. Psal. xiv. 7. Divine answer. If the Son 
 make youfrecy then you are free indeed. John viii. 
 37. See also verses 31, 32. 
 
 Not as if sin should be utterly destroyed, or en- 
 tirely dead, and could not stir any more in the heart 
 of believers. For the scripture speaks of them as 
 having still the lusts and motions of sin. Gal. v. 1 3. 
 But it imports only, that it has no power either to 
 condemn, or reign over us, nay it shall be weakened 
 more and more. Rom. vi. 12, 14. So that Christ 
 reigns in the heart even where sin dwells, in the 
 midst of his enemies ; and it is a dangerous error 
 indeed, to believe that sin is destroyed to the root. 
 If it were so, whence these frequent expressions 
 and exhortations, to crucify, withstand, and rule 
 over it? Gal.y. 24. 
 
 Now sits our Saviour on his throne, 
 
 With pity in his eyes : 
 He hears the dying pris'ners' groan, 
 
 And sees their sighs arise. 
 
 He frees the soul condemn'd to death. 
 And when his saints complain, 
 
 It shan't be said, that praying breath 
 Was ever spent in vain. 
 
 This shall be known when we are dead, 
 
 And left on long record, 
 That ages yet unborn may 'read, 
 
 And trust and praise the Lord. 
 
JANUARY 5. 13 
 
 All that mil live godly, Note, in Christ Jesus^ 
 (for bare morality the world likes well enough,) 
 shall suffer persecution. 2 Tim. iii. 12. The 
 world hates them, because they are not of the 
 world. John, xvii. 14. 
 
 The children of God do not love and please the 
 world, and are oftentimes greatly afflicted on ac- 
 count of the abounding wickedness, and particu- 
 larly the profanation of the Lord's name. Now 
 when you can like the world, and the world can 
 like you, there must be much worldliness in you : 
 for the world loves its own. 
 
 Many pretend to be Christians, but they will not 
 endure persecution. Instead of this, they blame 
 others for too much rashness, and not acting pru- 
 dently enough to avoid the mockings and hatred of 
 the world. Therefore they propose to take wiser 
 measures,»and to do more good, take great care not 
 to be despised and rejected. But under this pre- 
 tence of wisdom and prudence, very often lies con- 
 cealed a most abominable love and fear of men. 
 Be thou nobler minded, live as a Christian indeed, 
 and be not ashamed to bear the cross of Christ. 
 The disciple is not above his master. Has eternal 
 love, wisdom and power, endured the contradiction 
 and reproach of sinners ? Thou shouldst be wiser 
 than him indeed, if thou couldst escape the re- 
 proach and hatred of the world. 
 
 May but his grace my soul renew ; 
 
 Let sinners gaze and hate me too ! 
 The Word that saves me, does engage 
 
 A sure defence from all their rage. 
 
U JANUARY 6. 
 
 All things are possible to him that believeth. Mark 
 ix. 23. 
 
 Faith is the most essential part, the eye and the 
 very light of the eye in the Christian religion ; the 
 whole turns upon that. As our faith is, so is our 
 strength and faithfulness in good works. But at the 
 same time there is nothing more out of our power 
 than to believe, even after the work of grace has 
 been actually wrought in our hearts. Therefore 
 nothing more needful than to pray for faith as long 
 as we live. May the Lord give and increase it 
 continually! 
 
 Nothing can be stronger in the universe than the 
 hand of faith. By this we lay sure hold on our 
 most glorious and almighty Lord in heaven, and 
 such an inviolable union is established between 
 Christ and a believing soul, that none cap separate 
 the one from the other, all the powers of hell and 
 sin avail nothing. against it. Faith breaks through 
 the greatest obstacles, removes mountains of diffi- 
 culties, and has, as it were a kind of omnipotence 
 in it. For this is the victory that overcomes the 
 world, even our faith. 1 Johriy v. 4. Nay, it even 
 wrestles with God and prevails. Gen. xxxii. 28. A 
 straw cannot withstand the force of fire, so God 
 being a wall of fire around his people, the greatest 
 power of our mighty enemies shall be consumed, 
 like the stubble. O ! then look upon him stead- 
 fastly, my soul, and believe in him with a simple 
 heart. Wondrous are his ways with his people, 
 and past finding out ; but at last all their sorrows 
 and strife, by the management of his infinite wis- 
 dom, must come to a glorious and triumphant end. 
 
JANUARY?. J 5 
 
 Christ is all in all. Col. iii. 2. 
 For a believer to receive and know Christ as his 
 all, is the only means to live truly a life of faith ; 
 and when he has done this, it will not be hard to 
 resign all other things. To talk much of Christ, 
 and make frequent use of his name one to another, 
 is commendable, if the heart goes along with the 
 words : but to call upon God the Father with a fil- 
 ial confidence, is also our duty, and does not con- 
 tradict the apostle's meaning at all, for it is only 
 through Christ we can do it ; and as he says him- 
 self, the Father and he are one. Thou art my all, 
 O gracious Lord ! what then can I want ? I desire 
 no more than to be put always in mind of this, by 
 the animating voice of thy Spirit. 
 
 My Lord, my life, my love, 
 To thee, to thee I call : 
 I cannot live, if thou remove, 
 
 For thou art all in all. 
 Thy shining grace shall cheer 
 
 This dungeon where I dwell : 
 'Tis paradise when thou art here, 
 
 If thou depart, 'tis hell. 
 The smilings of thy face. 
 How amiable they are, 
 'Tis heav'n to rest in thine embrace, 
 
 And no where else, but there. 
 Nor earth, nor all the sky, 
 Can one delight afford : 
 No, not a drop of real joy. 
 
 Without thy presence, Lord. 
 To thee my spirits fly 
 
 With infinite desire ; 
 And yet, how far from thee I he ! 
 Dear Jesus raise me higher. 
 
16 JANUARY 8. 
 
 Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name 
 of the Lord Jesus , giving thanks to God, and the 
 Father by him. Col. iii. 17. Whether, therefore, 
 ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the 
 glory of God. 1 Cor. x. 31. 
 
 Who, enough, considers these words in all his ac- 
 tions, and remembers especially when he sits down 
 at his table, that it is written for our admonition. 
 The idolatrous Israelites sat down to eat and drink, 
 and immediately rose up to play. Is it not matter of 
 lamentation, that in these our happy and enlight- 
 ened times, even the ministers of Christ should con- 
 nive at, approve of, and indulge themselves, or 
 their own household in the excesses of the age ? 
 Must not this be a stumbling-block both to the chil- 
 dren of God, and the children of this world ? 
 
 It highly concerns you, O ye vain and worldly 
 people, to try your works by the touch-stone of these 
 words. Judge ye yourselves, whether your dan- 
 cings, plays, sports, and other darling pleasures, 
 can be done in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
 and to the glory of God ? Pray consider in time how 
 you will answer for these things, before the Judge 
 of heaven and earth. 
 
 But examine yourselves, all ye that profess re- 
 ligion, whether ye have truly acted up to this rule ? 
 Have all your doings been, and are they still to the 
 glory of God alone? For by this test, all your 
 words and works are to be tried, and whatsoever 
 does not tend to honour God, is worse than vanity. 
 
JANUARY 9. 17 
 
 All that the Father giveth unto me, shall come to me; 
 and him that comes to me-, I will in no wise cast 
 outf and this is the Father^ s willf which has sent 
 me, that of all which he has given me, I should 
 lose nothing. John, vi. 37, 39. 
 
 O my dear Saviour, I am also given unto thee 
 from thy Father ; for lo ! I corae to thee. Conse- 
 quently I cannot be lost nor cast out by thee, be- 
 cause thou art come to save, and not to condemn 
 and reject even the most wicked and hardened sin- 
 ners. For if they are lost, it is not for being re- 
 jected by thee, but for rejecting thee ; much less 
 wilt thou reject him that believes in thee, though 
 it be but faintly. 
 
 Not to condemn the sons of men. 
 Did Christ the Son of God appear, 
 
 No weapons in his hands are seen, 
 No flaming sword nor thunder there. 
 
 Such was the pity of our God, 
 He loved the race of men so well, 
 
 He sent his Son to bear our load 
 Of sins, and save our souls from hell. 
 
 pinners believe the Saviour's word. 
 
 Trust in his mighty name, and live : 
 A thousand joys his lips afford, 
 
 1 lis hands a thousand blessings give. 
 
 But vengeance and damnation lies, 
 Oi I rebels who refuse the grace ; 
 
 Who God's eternal Son despise, 
 Th^ e hottest hell shall be their place. 
 2* 
 
18 JANUARY 10. 
 
 Let every thing that has breath praise the Lord, 
 Psal. cl. 6. 
 
 Hypocrites praise the Lord when all goes well 
 with them : but true Christians do it even in ad- 
 versity ; nay, when they are most humbled under 
 afflictions, they most acknowledge themselves un- 
 worthy even of the least of God's mercies, and 
 praise him the more for every thing. Hence it is 
 that good old Baruch says, Chap. ii. 8. " But the 
 soul that is greatly vexed, which goeth stooping 
 and feeble, and the eyes that fail, and the hungry 
 soul, will give thee praise and righteousness, 
 Lord." 
 
 Nature with all her powers shall sing, 
 God the Creator and the King : 
 Nor air, nor earth, nor skies, nor seas, 
 Deny the tribute of their praise. 
 
 Begin to make his glories known, 
 Ye seraphs that sit near his throne ; 
 Tune your harps high, and spread the sound 
 To the creation's utmost bound. 
 
 All mortal things of meaner frame, 
 Exert your force and own his name ; 
 Whilst with our souls and with our voice. 
 We sing his honours and our joys. 
 
 To him be sacred all we have, 
 From the young cradle to the grave ; 
 Our lips shall his loud wonders tell, 
 And ev'ry word a miracle. 
 
JANUARY 11. 19 
 
 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only he- 
 gotten Sonrj that ivhosoever believeth in him should 
 not perish, hut have everlasting life. For God sent 
 not his Son into the world to condemn the world, 
 hut that the world through him might he saved. 
 He that helieves on him is not condemned. John, 
 iii. 16, 17, 18. 
 
 Oh that these truly precious words were ever 
 warmly impressed on our hearts, that they were 
 our last thoughts at night, and the first of our wak- 
 ing in the morning, and that by this means they 
 were improved in such a manner, as to make our dy- 
 ing-bed easy in the evening of our life, and to insure 
 our rising with gladness in the morning of the re- 
 surrection. And what more blessed and delightful 
 meditations can I daily dwell upon, than to think 
 thus : God has loved me, even me, when I was his 
 enemy ; and so loved me, that he gave me his only 
 Son. Now he is mine indeed, and all things are 
 mine. 1 Cor. iii, 2 1 . For he has not spared his own 
 Son, but dehvered him up for us all, and being thus 
 reconciled to him, how shall he not with him, also 
 freely give us all things ? Rom. viii. 32. He shall 
 never suffer me to perish. He passes his word 
 for it. It is he that says, that " I shall not perish, 
 I shall not be condemned," but have everlasting life, 
 if I believe. This will I build and depend upon, to 
 my last moments, as upon an inmoveable rock. 
 Amen and Amen. 
 
 O ! for this love let earth and skies 
 
 With hallelujahs ring ; 
 And the full choir of human tongues 
 
 All hallelujah sing. 
 
20 JANUARY 12. 
 
 In Christ we have redemption through his hloodt 
 even the forgiveness of sins. Col. i. 14. Having 
 forgiven you all trespasses. Blotting out the 
 hand-writing of ordinances that was against us,, 
 which was contrary to us ; and took it out' of the 
 way, nailing it to the cross. Col. ii. 13,14. There- 
 fore, said he, it is finished. John, xix. 30. 
 
 Then all the daily transgressions aud infirmities 
 of believers, says a certain good writer, are alrea- 
 dy forgiven through Christ ; the whole sum of 
 them having been paid at once, and a whole Christ, 
 with all his merits, having been applied to us for 
 our justification ; his merits, not only extend to 
 our past, but even to our present and future sins. 
 Hence we are daily justified, as long as we believe 
 in Christ; and for this reason may have great as- 
 surance and confidence towards God through him.. 
 
 Not all the blood of beasts 
 
 On Jewish altar slain, 
 Could give the guilty conscience peace, 
 
 Or wash away the stain. 
 
 But Christ the heavenly Iamb, 
 
 Takes all our sins away, 
 A sacrifice of nobler name, 
 
 And richer blood than they. 
 
 My faith would lay her hand 
 
 On that dear head of thine, 
 While like a penitent I stand. 
 
 And there confess my sin. 
 
 My soul looks back to see 
 The burthens thou didst bear. 
 
 When hanging on the cursed tree. 
 And hopes her guilt was there. 
 
JANUARY 13. 21 
 
 Keep me as the apple of thine eye, hide me under 
 the shadow &fthy wings. Psal. xvii. 8. Divine 
 answer. JUe shall cover thee with his feathers, 
 and under his wings shalt thou trust ; his truth 
 shall he thy shield and buckler. Psal. xci. 4. 
 
 There is none, O Lord ! that has more need con- 
 tinually to keep close to thee in prayer and faith ! 
 and at the same time, none is more unable to do it, 
 than I, the least of all thy flo5k. O ! that thou 
 wouldst be graciously pleased to incline and ena- 
 ble me to this blessed work ; and grant that thy good 
 spirit, according to its own pleasure, may never 
 suffer me to be faint and backward in the same. 
 Forasmuch as I truly rest by faith, under the wings 
 of thy grace, I am sure of defence, power, and com- 
 fort ; but as soon as I wander from thee, I am in 
 danger of losing these privileges and falling away. 
 
 He that has made his refuge, God, 
 Shall find a most secure abode. 
 Shall walk all day beneath his shade, 
 And there at night shall rest his head. 
 
 Just as a hen protects her brood 
 From birds of prey, that se^ their blood. 
 Under her feathers ; so the Lord, 
 Makes his own arm his people's guard. 
 
 Thrice happy man 1 thy maker's care 
 Shall keep thee from the fowler's snare. 
 Satan the fowler who betrays 
 Unguarded souls a thousand ways. 
 
 What though a thousand at thy side, 
 At thy right hand a thousand died, 
 Thy God his chosen people saves 
 Amongst the dead, amidst the graves. 
 
tt JANUARY 14. 
 
 Set thine house in order ^ for thou shalt die and not 
 live. 2 Kings, xx. 1. So teach us, O Lord, to num- 
 ber our days, that we may apply our hearts to wis- 
 dom. Psal. xc. 12. 
 
 Such as live not outwardly in open sins, though 
 they do not deny themselves, and the world, but 
 conform in many things to the ungodly customs in 
 practices of this agj^e, are very often reckoned to be 
 good sober Christians, and perhaps much applauded 
 for their wisdom and discretion, in steering a middle 
 course, and keeping clear of the dangerous extremes 
 of the loose or profane, and the superstitious or 
 hypocritical enthusiasts, who in their ignorance and 
 folly pretend to tax every innocent diversion with 
 sin ; but this, their wisdom, will certainly prove fol- 
 ly in the hour of death. What profit can they then 
 reap from the time that has been spent in dancing, 
 gaming, and other worldly amusements and plea- 
 sures ! 
 
 My soul, come meditate the day, 
 
 And think how near it stands, 
 When thou must quit the house of clay, 
 
 And fly 4o unknown lands. 
 
 And you, mine eyes, look down and view, 
 
 The hollow gaping tomb. 
 This gloomy prison waits for you, 
 
 Whene'er the summons come. 
 
 ! could we die with those that die, 
 
 And place us in their stead. 
 Then would our spirits learn to fly, 
 
 And converse with the dead. 
 
JANUARY 15. 23 
 
 Pray without ceasing, 1 Thess v. 17. 
 
 If we have not grace enough, it is because we do 
 not pray enough, for most true it is, we need not 
 strive to move God to compassion, and extort, as it 
 were, the blessings from him by our prayers. Very 
 far from it. He is every minute communicating 
 himself to us ; in every word he holds forth Christ 
 and every good thing to us ; but we must always 
 have a soul hungering after Christ, and by incessant 
 prayer stretch out the hand of faith to receive him. 
 This is chiefly to be understood of the inward de- 
 sires and groanings of our spirit ; but we must not 
 omit to pour out our supplications daily, as oft as we 
 can by words, else our secret mental prayers, at last, 
 may become so secret, as to cease perhaps entirely. 
 
 Father, in the mighty name 
 
 Of thy well-beloved Son, 
 
 One of all thy gifts I claim, 
 
 All my wants I speak in one. 
 Let me for thy promise stay. 
 Only give me power to pray. 
 
 Grant me the comfort or deny, 
 
 Visit, or from me depart, 
 Only let my spirit cry, 
 
 Abba Father in my heart. 
 Abba Father would I say ; 
 Only give me power to pray. 
 
24 JANUARY 16. 
 
 Abide in me. John, xv. 4. Lord, to whom shall we 
 go, thou hast the words of eternal life. John, vi. 
 68. For, it is good for me to draw near to God. 
 I have put my trust in the Lord God. Psal. Ixiii 28. 
 
 To abide in Christ, who is our righteousness and 
 strength, and not to be moved from him, is the very 
 life and power of Christianity ; for to know him 
 to be our righteousness, brings peace and joy : 
 which joy in the Lord is certainly followed with 
 strength, to overcome sin in the world, which be- 
 lievers renounce the more readily, as they have 
 found something better in Christ. May the Lord 
 give me grace, likewise, immoveably to abide in 
 him. 
 
 Christ is my light, my life, my care, 
 My blessed hope, my heav'nly prize ; 
 
 Dearer than all my passions are, 
 My limbs, my bowels, or my eyes. 
 
 The strings that twine about my heart, 
 Tortures and racks may tear them off, 
 
 But they can never, never part. 
 
 With their dear hold of Christ my love. 
 
 My God ! how can a humble child. 
 That loves thee with a flame so high, 
 
 Be ever from thy face exil'd 
 Without the pity of thine eye ? 
 
 Impossible ! for thine own hand« 
 Have tied my heart so fast to thee, 
 
 And in thy book the promise stands, 
 That where thou art, thy friends must be. 
 
JANUARY 17. 25 
 
 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, 
 being made a curse f&r us : for it is written, 
 Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree. That 
 the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gen- 
 tiles through Jesus Christ ; that we might receive 
 the promise of the spirit through faith. Gal. iii. 
 13, 14. 
 
 The spirit of sanctification is the gift of Christ. 
 Consequently there is a great difference between 
 moral actions done by our own strength, and true 
 sanctification of the spirit. The latter cannot take 
 place before the soul truly receives Christ, and 
 abides in him as its only propitiation, righteousness, 
 and peace ; for he being first made to us of God our 
 righteousness, will then be made our sanctification 
 likewise. 1 Cor. i. 30. And the kingdom, work, 
 and image of God, will go on best when we trust 
 least to our own strength ; sanctification is now be- 
 come a more easy task, and we need not be com- 
 pelled to it by the terrors of the law, since Christ 
 lives and works in us, and we in a child-like temper 
 live henceforth to him, who died for us. 
 
 The law commands and makes us know 
 What duties to our God we owe, 
 But 'tis the gospel must reveal 
 Where lies our strength to do his will. 
 
 The law discovers guilt and sin, 
 And shows how vile our hearts have been ; 
 Only the gospel can express 
 Forgiving love, and cleansing grace. 
 
26 JANUARY 18. 
 
 Christ is the end of the law for righteousness ^ to 
 every one that believes. Rom. x. 4. 
 
 When the law, by its spirituahty, has condemned 
 all our works and doings, convinced us of our 
 weakness, and slain us, it has done its work, and 
 has no further business, but to be our schoolmas- 
 ter to bring us unto Christ ; and being in him, 
 the law has no demands upon us any more, since 
 we have an abundant righteousness, beyond all 
 that can be required by the law, even in the righ- 
 teousness of God himself. 
 
 Lord, when my thoughts with wonder roll 
 O'er the sharp sorrows of my soul, 
 And read my Maker's broken laws, 
 Repair'd and honour'd by thy cross : 
 
 When I behold, death, hell and sin, 
 Vanquish'd by that dear blood of thine, 
 And see the man that groan'd and died, 
 Sit glorious by his Father's side ; 
 
 My passions rise and soar above, 
 I'm wing'd with faith, and fir'd with love, 
 Fain would I reach eternal things, 
 And learn the notes that Gabriel sings. 
 
 But my heart fails, my tongue complains, 
 For want of their immortal strains ; 
 And in such humble notes as these 
 Must fall below thy victories. 
 
JANUARY 19. 27 
 
 But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, 
 
 and she returned unto Noah into the ark, when 
 
 he put forth his hand and took her, and pulled 
 
 her m unto him into the ark. Gen. viii. 9. 
 
 Many, on their first awakening from sin, apply 
 
 themselves to very hard works and rigorous dudes, 
 
 thereby expecting to find rest for their wounded 
 
 consciences. But though the right and diligent use 
 
 of all the means of grace is absolutely required, vet 
 
 great care must be taken not to quiet ourselves by 
 
 that only. We should not place any confidence at 
 
 all in our do.ngs, but only look for rest through 
 
 «ie work of the redemption, and the blood of Christ. 
 
 lo know ourselves entirely justified by him, would 
 
 soon fill our hearts with peace, nay, encourage and 
 
 enable us to do good works. 2 Chron. xvii. 6, 
 
 In vain the trembling conscience seeks 
 
 Some solid ground for rest, 
 With long despair the spirit breaks, 
 
 'Till we apply to Christ. * 
 
 Just as we see the lonesome dove 
 
 Bemoan her widow'd state, 
 Wand'ring she flies through all the grove, 
 
 And mourns her loving mate. 
 
 Just so our thoughts from thing to thing, 
 
 In restless circles rove. 
 Just so we droop and hang the wing. 
 
 When Jesus hides his love. 
 
 While Jesus shines with quick'ning grace, 
 
 We sing and mount on high, 
 But if a frown becloud his face, 
 
 We faint, and tire, and die. 
 
28 JANUARY 20. 
 
 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, 
 if ye have love one to another. John, xiii. 35. Foi^- 
 bearing one another in love. Endeavouring to 
 keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. 
 Let not the sun go down upon your wrath ; but be 
 ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving 
 one another, even as God for Christ's sake has 
 forgiven you. Eph. iv. 2, 3, 26, 32. 
 
 Humble Christians never affect singularity, nor 
 pretend to have the preference one of another ; they 
 rather study to be of one mind. Strive not about 
 words, lest the general harmor.y subsisting between 
 them, and the edification of souls should be hinder- 
 ed. Whoever judges and blames every thing, and 
 can never agree in words and notions, or join in de- 
 votion with other experienced Christians, is puffed 
 up with self-conceit, and will certainly make a dan- 
 gerous ship-wreck ; for pride comes before a fall. 
 
 •Not diff 'rent food, or diff 'rent dress, 
 Compose the kingdom of our Lord, 
 But peace, and joy, and righteousness ; 
 Faith, and obedience to his word. 
 
 When weaker Christians we despise, 
 We do the gospel mighty wrong. 
 
 For God the gracious and the wise. 
 Receives the feeble with the strong. 
 
 Let pride and wrath be banish'd hence, 
 Meekness and love our souls pursue ; 
 
 Nor shall our practice give offence 
 To Saints, the Gentile, or the Jew. 
 
JANUARY 21. -29 
 
 While the bridegroom tairied, they all slumbered 
 and slept. Matt. xxv. 5. 
 
 O that r may be roused out of my slumber, and be 
 watchful, and ready against the coming of my 
 bridegroom. 
 
 How many are there that set out in good earnest 
 in their way to heaven, and rnn well for some time, 
 but at last are lulled to rest, and entangled again 
 with a false notion of liberty 1 even the wise virgins 
 fell asleep. Let this be a warning to me, O Lord! 
 set thou a guard before my eyes, ears, and other 
 faculties, lest the world should enter again through 
 these avenues of the heart ; if the spark be not 
 speedily extinguished, it will soon break out in a 
 flame ; thus sin is of a progressive nature, and its 
 venom spreads quickly, and very wide, unless it be 
 stopped and opposed in time. Watch, therefore, 
 over that unsteady heart of mine, O thou keeper 
 of Israel ! that as soon as it begins to wander from 
 thee, I may be alarmed to flee from sin as from a 
 serpent. Give me grace to look upon every hour as 
 my last, so that being ever wisely upon my guard, 
 I may meet thee with joy when my time is run 
 out, whenever it shall please thee to call me hencCj 
 
 The fearful soul that tires and faint, 
 And walks the ways of God no more, 
 
 Is but esteemed almost a saint, 
 
 And makes his own destruction sure. 
 
 Lord, let not all my hopes be vain : 
 
 Create my heart entirely new, 
 Which hypocrites could ne'er attain, 
 
 Which false apostates never knew. 
 
 .'^* 
 
30 JANUARY 22. 
 
 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed 
 
 tares among the wheat. Matt. xiii. 25. 
 
 • 
 
 No wonder that Christians lose their power and 
 strength, if the enemy of souls find them asleep. 
 How soon may he gain an advantage from without, 
 if a strict guard is not kept within ! though Satan 
 seems to sleep sometimes, and we should in all ap- 
 pearance be in no danger, it is only his stratagem 
 to make us careless. He never fails to be vigilant, 
 and watch his opportunity that he may offer us bat- 
 tle with advantage ; and who knows but he may 
 gain the victory by those very sins to which per- 
 paps we, for many years, had hardly any tempta- 
 tion. O ! how cunningly does he work ? how in- 
 ticing is the world ? even in lawful things, very of- 
 ten, the most dangerous snares lay hidden. A sin- 
 gle word that we hear may be able to disturb our 
 peace. One unguarded look is sometimes enough 
 to infatuate our hearts. There is danger on all 
 sides. Unless the Lord opens our eyes and preserves 
 us on all occasions, each of us, even the best, may 
 still be overcome, and deadly hurt, by sin and the 
 world. Satan is particularly busy to sift the godly 
 most of all, and having catched them in his net, 
 triumphs exceedingly over them. 
 
 O Lord, suffer me never to fall asleep again. 
 
JANUARY 23. 31 
 
 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to he made 
 like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful 
 and faithful high-priest in things pertaining to 
 God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the peo- 
 ple. Heb. xi. 1 7. Therefore because he continues 
 ever, he has an unchangeable priesthood, where- 
 fore he is also able to save them to the uttermost 
 that come unto God by him, seeing he ever lives 
 to make intercession for them. Chap. vii. 24, 25. 
 
 If we have really experienced in our hearts that 
 Christ is our brother, it will be such an exceeding 
 great thing to us, that we shall be constrained rath- 
 er to be silent upon, than to talk much of it. Such 
 as only cry out, and make the greatest noise, have 
 very often the least experience of it. 
 
 Luther, on these words, says, Christ is the pro- 
 pitiation for the sins of the whole world, and so for 
 mine too. His continual intercession abolishes all 
 charges against me, old and new, he being able to 
 save to the uttermost, and living for ever. This 
 is by him very emphatically repeated again. As 
 long, therefore, as this lasteth, his salvation lasteth 
 also, and will be ever ready and able to take away 
 my sins, and accomplish my eternal happiness, in 
 spite of all obstacles and hindrances. 
 
 Jesus, the king of glory reigns, 
 
 On Zion's heav'nly hill : 
 Looks like a lamb that^has been slain, 
 
 And wears his priesthood still. 
 
 He ever lives to intercede, 
 
 Before his Father's face : 
 Give him, my soul, thy cause to plead. 
 
 Nor doubt the Father's grace. 
 
32 JANUARY 24. 
 
 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he lov- 
 ed us, and sent his Son to be a propitiation for 
 our sins. We love him because hejirst loved us. 
 1 John, iv. 10, 19. He that loves me shallbc luved 
 of my Fatherland I will love him, and will mani- 
 fest mysefunto him. We will come unto him, and 
 make our lohole abode with him. John xiv. 21, 23. 
 
 O what a glorious promise, what manner oflove 
 is this ! Lord, I would not exchange my cross and 
 sufferings, much less thy love, for the love and hon- 
 ours of the world. Only make it more known to 
 me, how great thy love is, and how much thou hast 
 forgiven me, that I may love thee much again, and 
 be thereby still better purged from the inordinate 
 lovG of temporal things. It is my earnest desire 
 that the gates of my heart, should be open to none 
 but to thee, that thou alone may dwell in me. Shed 
 thy love abroad in my heart, quicken and renew 
 all the faculties of mind and body, and work every 
 thing in and for me. 
 
 O ! for this love, let rocks and hills, 
 
 Their lasting silence break, 
 And all harmonious human tongues 
 
 The Saviour's praises speak. 
 
 Yes, we will praise thee, dearest Lord, 
 
 Our souls are all on flame ; 
 Hosanna round the spacious earth 
 
 To thine adored name. 
 
 Angels, assist our mighty joys, 
 Strike all your harps of-gold, 
 But when you raise your highest notes, 
 His love can ne'er be told. 
 
JANUARY 25. 33 
 
 Wherefore we labour-, that whether present or ab- 
 sent-, we may be accepted of him. 2 Cor. v. 9. 
 
 This indeed is the true disposition of a soul es- 
 poused to Christ. She has but one care, which is 
 to please him in all things. And this desire to do 
 his will, is, as it were, the ring and the seal of her 
 bridegroom, which she may look upon even in the 
 absence of all spiritual joy, as a token for good, 
 that she is his spouse. 
 
 Ought not then this day, O my soul, to be a new 
 wedding-day with Christ ? He is desirous that thou 
 shouldst be betrothed unto him, even now, and waits 
 only for thy consent. Hearken, O daughter, consi- 
 der and incline thine ear, be no longer married to 
 the world. Forget thy own people and thy father's 
 house, and take him alone for thy husband ; so shall 
 the King greatly desire thy beauty. Wilt thou give 
 the refusal to this glorious and loving Saviour ? I 
 hope not. Give it rather to the world, and resolute- 
 ly say. It is enough, I have done with thee, O poor 
 world ! I break the bonds of my former love ; my 
 eyes and my feet shall henceforth only be directed 
 to the blessed and eternal city of the new Jerusalem, 
 where my heavenly bridegroom resides. And O, 
 what need have I to be daily prepared, dressed, and 
 beautified, against his coming, and the time of his 
 taking me home to himself! Far be it from me to 
 please the world any longer. No, no ; but since I 
 am betrothed, and have given myself in marriage 
 to Christ, I will love him alone, and be true to 
 him, whilst any drop of blood flows in my veins. 
 Amen. 
 
34 JANUARY 26. 
 
 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of 
 grace, that we may ohtain mercy, and find grace 
 to help in time of need. Heb. iv. 16. 
 O that we were all, so wise, as to prepare and 
 provide ourselves, in due time, with the right ar- 
 mour of faith, before the time of need, and hour 
 of death approach. Come, my reader, let us be- 
 gin now, directly, to lay in a good stock of grace by 
 continual prayer, lest we should come too late and 
 be undone. Behold the encouragement of Christ. 
 I am the door, says he, and the way. John, x. 1. 
 Chap. xiv. 6. Now by this door you may find the 
 entrance into the heart and favour of God ; Christ 
 himself setting on a mercy seat, to receive and vvel- 
 come the vilest of sinners. And there is no draw- 
 ing near to God but through him, and clothed in the 
 robes of righteousness of our only Redeemer, 
 Mediator, and Advocate. He is Alpha and OmO' 
 ga, the Beginning and the End, nay, the very All, 
 in all believers. With Christ they never can part; 
 and he can never part with them. 
 
 Now we may bow before his feet 
 
 And venture near the Lord : 
 No fiery cherub guards his seat. 
 
 Nor double flaming sword. 
 
 Once 'twas a seat of dreadful wrath, 
 
 And shot devouring flame : 
 Our God appear'd consuming fire, 
 
 And vengeance was his name. 
 
 Rich were the drops of Jesus' blood 
 That calm'd his frowning face, 
 
 That sprinkled o'er the burning throne, 
 And turn'd the wrath to grace. 
 
JANUARY 27. 35 
 
 God commendeth his love towards m, in that while 
 we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Much 
 more than being now justified by his blood, we 
 shall be saved from wrath through him. For if 
 tohen we were enemies, we were reconciled to God 
 by the death of his Son ; much more being recoil 
 ciled. we shall be saved by his life. Rom v 8 9 
 
 Here we have much more reason to cry out th-a 
 Moses. Deut. xxxviii. 3. The Lord loved the poo- 
 pie. But here I must beseech thee, too, O Lord ' 
 
 that this mfinite gift of thy Son, may appear to me 
 greater and greater every day, and that thy love 
 shming out m his redemption, may go on so as to 
 increase in my soul ; as to disperse all clouds of 
 darkness, unbelief, and hard thoughts of thy .rood- 
 ness Whenever this slanderous spirit tries to lift up 
 his head, grant that my faith and love may be quick- 
 ened, and strengthened in such a manner, as heart- 
 ily to praise thy great love, in spite of all his sug- 
 gestions. This is the chief desire, which I offer 
 unto thee in all my prayers, night and day. The 
 want of faith and love, I am sensible, is still my 
 greatest want. My soul is like a large empty ves- 
 sel ; but I pray thee to fill it speedily, notwithstan- 
 ding any opposition that may be made by mv unre- 
 newed part. ' J J iic 
 
 So strange, so boundless was the love, 
 
 That pitied dying men, 
 The Father sent his equal Son, 
 
 To give them hfe again. 
 
 Thy hands, dear Jesus, were not arm'd 
 
 With a revenging rod, 
 No hard commission to perform 
 
 The vengeance of a God. 
 
36 JANUARY 28. 
 
 The combat of the flesh and the spirit. Gal. v. 17. 
 The flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit 
 against the flesh ; and these are contrary, the one 
 to the other ; so that you cannot do those things 
 that you should. 
 
 Faith only puts an end to that Hfeless, faint, and 
 unprofitable conflict under the law ; not of the com- 
 bat between the flesh and the spirit. The last, ra- 
 ther begins on our believing in Christ ; for till then 
 we have not the spirit of God, which is only given 
 by the gospel. 
 
 What diflf'rent powers of grace and sin 
 
 Attend our mortal state ? 
 I hate the thoughts that work within, 
 
 And do the works I hate. 
 
 Now I complain, and groan, and die, 
 
 While sin and satan reign : 
 Now raise my songs of triumph high, 
 
 For grace prevails again. 
 
 So darkness struggles with the light, 
 
 Till perfect day arise : 
 Water and fire maintain the fight, 
 
 Until the weaker dies. 
 
 Thus will the flesh and spirit strive, 
 
 And vex and break my peace : 
 But I shall quit this mortal hfe. 
 
 And sin for ever cease. 
 
JANUARY 29. 37 
 
 The prosperity of fools (the wicked) shall destroy 
 them ; hut whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell 
 safely, and shall be quietfromfear of evil. Prov. 
 i. 32, 33. The young lions do lack and suffer 
 hunger, but they that fear the Lord shall not want 
 any good thing. Psl. xxxiv. 1 1 . For godliness is 
 profitable unto all things, having promise ofthelife 
 that now is, and of that which is to come. 1 Tim. 
 iv. 8. 
 
 Even the rich ones suffer want, whereas a true 
 believer always has enough, and is equally rich 
 and contented at all times. The all-sufficient hand 
 of God, who supplies all creatures, and is never 
 shortened, is his never faihng treasure. And be- 
 sides, having Christ, who is his All, what can he 
 want ? In darkness and ignorance he is his coun- 
 sellor; in weakness, his strength. Whatever he 
 denies him, either is not good for him, ®r at least 
 not at that time. And thus all things, even wants, 
 are a real gain and blessing to him, for they serve 
 and are intended to keep him humble, to make him 
 better acquainted with the word of God, and ex- 
 cite him to be more zealous in prayer. 
 Now I shall envy them no more 
 
 Who grow profanely great, 
 Though they increase their golden store, 
 
 And rise to wondrous height. 
 They taste of all the joys that grow 
 
 Upon this earthly clod ! 
 Well, they may search the creatures through, 
 
 For they have ne'er a God. 
 Shake off the thoughts of dying too, 
 
 And think your life your own : 
 But death comes hast'ning on to you. 
 To mow your glory down. 
 4 
 
38 JANUARY 3:0. 
 
 All these things have I kept from my youth up. 
 Matt. xix. 20. They return, but not to the most 
 High, they are like a deceitful bow. Hos. vii. 16. 
 
 To part with one's most secret bosom sin and 
 darling lust, is true and unfeigned conversion, that 
 is the right turning to Christ, for whose sake it is as 
 possible, as needful to renounce even that which is 
 nearest and dearest to us. What great reason have 
 we then to search our hearts very narrowly that we 
 may not be deceived 1 For we must not imagine our- 
 selves converted, though by the advantage of a reli- 
 gious education, wc may have acquired many good 
 habits ; and give our consent to all the sacred truths, 
 but are approved of by others, who either ignorant- 
 ]y, or in a judgment of charity, take us to be very 
 good Christians. Nor is it enough to think that all 
 must be well, and safe, because the good work of 
 God once was begun, or we are still under the draw- 
 ings of his good spirit. In this manner a great many 
 have miserably deluded their own souls : and this 
 delusion cannot be avoided but by resolutely break- 
 ing forth, and pressiiig to the above mentioned mark. 
 All our wakenings will be to no purpose, except they 
 are improved to the resisting, even unto blood, in 
 striving against sin. If this is not thy case, be not 
 deceived any longer, my dear reader, with false no- 
 tions of such an important work : but pull down 
 that old building of thy own fancy, which will stand 
 thee in no stead in the period of death : and delay 
 not to begin the new one with all the necessary ap- 
 plications in earnest prayers and wrestlings, for the 
 obtaining of the right victory, and to be not only 
 almost, but a Chrisiian indeed. 
 
JANUARY 31. 39 
 
 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man 
 seeking goodly pearls ; who, when he had found 
 one pearl of great price, went and sold all that 
 he had, and bought it. Matt. xiii. 46, 46. There- 
 fore lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven (not 
 on earth :) for where your treasure is, there will 
 yoiir heart he also. Matt. vi. 20, 21. 
 The love of money is the root of all evil. Such 
 a dreadful description the scripture gives of no oth- 
 er vice. Who considers this enough ? These roots 
 lie often deeply concealed : if we do not search them 
 out to the bottom, but spare and nourish them in 
 the least, they will stick fast in our hearts ; and be- 
 fore the disposition of a covetous man is truly 
 changed to be benevolent and charitable, he cannot 
 have a sure mark of his real conversion, and of 
 Christ's being the sublime good and treasure of his 
 heart. May the Lord refine and put us all in the 
 right way ! 
 
 Why doth the man of riches grow 
 
 To insolence and pride ? 
 To see his wealth and honours flow 
 
 With every rising tide ? 
 Why doth he treat the poor with scorn, 
 
 Made of the self-same clay, 
 And boast as though his fiesh were born 
 
 Of better dust than they ! 
 Not all his treasures can procure 
 
 His soul a short reprieve, 
 Redeem from death one guilty hour, 
 
 Or make his brother live. 
 The love of gold be banish'd hence, 
 
 That vile idolatry, 
 And every member, every sense 
 In sweet subjection lie. 
 
40 FEBRUARY 1. 
 
 This is a faithful sayings and worthy of all accepta- 
 tioUf that Christ Jesus came into the world to save 
 sinners, of whom lam the chief Hoivbeit, for this 
 cause, I obtained mercy; that in me, first Jesus 
 Christ might show forth all long suffering, for a 
 pattern to them-, which should hereafter believe on 
 him to life everlasting. 1 Tim. i. 15, 16. 
 
 Whoever is in himself convinced that he is a 
 very guilty, nay, thechief of sinners, may look upon 
 himself also as freely justified and saved through 
 Christ ; he being come to save all sinners without 
 exception, even the most enormous. They who be- 
 lieve this, make light of no sin, far from it ; on every 
 motion of sin they apply the blood of Christ, which 
 as it is humbling, so it cherishes in them a filial 
 confidence to draw near to God through Christ. 
 
 Plung'd in a gulf of dark despair 
 
 We wretched sinners lay ; 
 Without one cheerful beam of hope 
 
 Or spark of glimm'ring day. 
 
 With pitying eyes the prince of grace 
 
 Beheld our helpless grief, 
 He saw, and (O amazing love !) 
 
 He ran to our relief. 
 
 Down from the shining seats above 
 
 With joyful haste he fled, 
 Enter'd the grave in mortal flesh, 
 
 And dwelt among the dead. 
 
 He spoil'd the powers of darkness thus. 
 
 And broke our iron chains, 
 Jesus has freed our captive souls 
 
 From everlasting pains. 
 
FEBRUARY 2. 41 
 
 This is his commandment, that we should believe on 
 the name of his Son Jesus Christ. 1 John, iii.23. 
 For God has sent his Son into the world that we 
 might live through him. Chap. iv. 9. 
 
 The Father breaks forth, as it were, through the 
 whole scripture, in high praises of his Son. He 
 calls out from heaven, " This is my beloved Son, in 
 whom I am well pleased, hear ye him." Matt. xvii. 
 5. Nothing therefore can be more agreeable to 
 him than to receive this his Son^ and believe his re- 
 ports. John, xvi. 27. and on doing this, we shall 
 have life : but by omitting it, we look upon him as 
 a liar. Unbelief therefore in him who refuses to 
 accept of this great gift, is no doubt, the greatest of 
 all sins. O Lord, teach me this, and grant me faith. 
 
 *' Why art thou so backward, O my poor soul, 
 to believe like the rest of God's children, in Christ ! 
 Hast thou not as good a right to it as they have ! 
 who can dispute with thee this privilege ! It is the 
 express will of the Father, nay. he even commands 
 thee to do it. Has^he given his only Son, by an 
 act of inconceivable love, to die for thee, to the 
 very end that thou shouldst live : O what a pleas- 
 ing thing will it be to him, to put thy whole trust 
 upon this his well-beloved Sen ! This would be 
 the joy of his heart, more than any thing else. 
 Therefore delay no longer to receive what his love 
 has offered thee ; but firmly believe that the Fa- 
 ther loves thee, as well as the Son." 
 
 4* 
 
42 FEBRUARY 3. 
 
 Worthy is the Lamb that ivas slain, to receive power, 
 and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and ho- 
 nour, and glory, andhlessing. Rev. v. 12. 
 
 O Lord! how mean and slight notions have I 
 often of thy great power ; by these I am discour- 
 aged, and thou art robbed of thy praise: grant, 
 therefore, that though I would always be duly de- 
 based, and convinced of iRy nothingness, in such a 
 manner as never to ascribe any good to myself, or 
 thinking myself worthy of the least thing to the 
 prejudice of thine honour; yet thy grace and power 
 may at the same time appear to me abundantly 
 greater than all my sins, so that I may have always 
 encouragement enough to believe in and praise thy 
 holy name. 
 
 Come let us join our cheerful songs. 
 
 With angels round the throne, 
 Ten thousand thousand are their tongues, 
 
 But all their joys are one. 
 
 Worthy the Lamb that died, they cry, 
 
 To be exalted thus ; 
 Worthy the Lamb, our lips reply. 
 
 For he was slain for us. 
 
 Let all that dwell above the sky, 
 
 And air, and earth, and seas, 
 Conspire to lift his glories high, 
 
 And speak his endless praise. 
 
 The whole creation join in one. 
 
 To bless the sacred name 
 Of him that sits upon the throne, 
 
 And to adore the Lamb. 
 
FEBRUARY 4. 43 
 
 My soul shall he satisfied as with marrow and fat- 
 ness, and my mouth shall j^raise thee with joyful 
 lips. Psal. Ixiii. 6. Alleluia! for the Lord God 
 omnipotent reigns. Let us be glad and rejoice, and 
 give honour to him, for the marriage of the Lamb is 
 come. Rev. xix. 6. 
 
 What tends not to thy glory, O Lord, and is not 
 thy own work, whatever appearance it may have, 
 it is not really good and profitable. Preserve and 
 assist me, therefore, to do all things as of thee, in 
 thy sight, and to thy honour ; may my soul be ever 
 magnifying thy name, O my dear Redeemer and 
 Bridegroom, and my whole conversation be direct- 
 ed to thy praise. Grant that my heart and mouth 
 may be ever full of thy great mercies, and over- 
 flow continually with thanksgiving. 
 
 My God, my King, thy various praise 
 Shall fill the remnant of my days ; 
 Thy grace employ my humble tongue 
 'Till death and glory raise the song. 
 
 The wings of every hour shall bear 
 Some thankful tribute to thine ear ; 
 And every setting sun shall see 
 New works of duty done for thee. 
 
 Thy truth and beauty I'll proclaim. 
 Thy bounty flows in endless stream ; 
 Thy mercy swift, thine anger slow, 
 But dreadful to the stubborn foe. 
 
 And who can speak thy wondrous deeds ? 
 Thy greatness all our thoughts exceeds : 
 Vast and unsearchable thy ways. 
 Vast and immortal be thy praise. 
 
44 FEBRUARY 5. 
 
 Forsake not the worJcs of thy own hands. Psal. 
 cxxxviii. 8. Divine Answer. He which has begun 
 a good work in you, will perform it unto the day 
 of Jesus Christ. Phil. i. 6. 
 
 The right way to grow in grace is not to draw 
 it from God, as it were, by *force, from a wrong 
 principle or design ; but first, to give thyself en- 
 tirely over to thy heavenly Father through Christ, 
 who knows what thou wantest, and will never for- 
 sake thee. Secondly, to abide in Christ, and care- 
 fully cherish the new life, which, be it ever so 
 weak and little now, in comparison to the old man, 
 will increase and gradually outgrow him, as new 
 skin does the old. May the Lord only give us grace 
 to watch against the opposite extreme, so as never 
 to be lulled into a false rest, or a lukewarm spirit ; 
 but to be ever diligently and seriously employed 
 in crucifying the flesh, and using all the means of 
 grace ; then we need not be anxiously troubled for 
 the growing of the work of God in our souls. 
 
 My soul lies cleaving to the dust ; 
 
 Lord, give me life divine, 
 From vain desires and every lust, 
 
 Turn off these eyes of mine. 
 
 I need the influence of thy grace 
 
 To speed me in thy way, 
 Lest I should loiter in my race, 
 
 Or turn my feet astray. 
 
 Are not thy mercies sov'reign still, 
 
 And thou a faithful God ? 
 Wilt thou not grant me warmer zeal 
 
 To run the heavenly road ? 
 
FEBRUARY 6. 45 
 
 TJte fashion of this world passes away. 1 Cor. 
 vii. 31. 
 As long as we feed on the husks of the world, 
 and are in love with it, we are neither willing nor 
 able to taste the comforts of the love of God. But 
 when sin and the world are become an ambomina- 
 tion to us, and we strive to get rid of them, we are 
 fit vessels to receive him : then we begin to hun- 
 ger after him. And though we are chastened by 
 the Lord, yet he is not angry with us, but does it to 
 embitter sin and the world, more and more to us, 
 and to make us loathe them, that we may not be 
 condemned with the world. 
 
 Up to the fields where angels lie, 
 
 And living waters gently roll, 
 Fain would my thoughts leap out and fly, 
 
 But sin hangs heavy on my soul. 
 Thy wondrous blood, dear dying Christ, 
 
 Can make this world of guilt remove ; 
 And thou canst bear me where thou fly'st 
 
 On thy kind wings, celestial dove. 
 O might I once mount up and see 
 
 The glories of the eternal skies, 
 What little things these worlds would be ? 
 
 How despicable to my eyes ! 
 Had I a glance of thee, my God, 
 
 Kingdoms and men would vanish soon, 
 Vanish as though I saw them not, 
 
 As a dim candle dies at noon. 
 Great All in All, eternal King, 
 
 Let me but view thy lovely face. 
 And all my powers shall bow and sing 
 
 Thine endless grandeur and thy grace. 
 
46 FEBRUARY 7. 
 
 Thine is the kingdom^ and the power, and the glory, 
 for ever and ever, Amen. Matt. vi. 13. They cast 
 their crowns hef(yre the throne, saying, Thou art 
 worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and 
 power. Rev. iv. 10, 11. Praise ye the Lord as 
 much as ye can, he is still higher ; nay, he is all, 
 and but a little portion is heard of him. Eccles. 
 xliii. 29—32. Job. xxvi. 14. 
 
 One that is really poor in spirit, though he has 
 practised the duties of the Christian life ever so 
 long, and so well, always thinks himself to have 
 received but a very little portion of Christ, and the 
 work of sanctification hardly begun in his soul. 
 So far is he from believing he has already attained 
 to it, that after all his best actions, he counts him- 
 self not worthy to be called by the name of a 
 grateful son ; he is never pleased with himself. No 
 degree of holiness will satisfy his soul. He seeks 
 and finds no rest or comfort, but in the infinite mer- 
 cy of God, and in the pardon of his sins by faith ; 
 though he does not divide Christ, but receives him 
 in all his offices, and gives himself entirely up to 
 him without reserve, to be more and more sancti- 
 fied and perfected. And in this state he is safe in- 
 deed, he is prepared for death, and has no reason to 
 be anxiously troubled for higher degrees of sancti- 
 fication. Death might come upon him before he 
 arrived to it ; and even his very best actions, with- 
 out a sense of God's forgiveness, would not sup- 
 port and comfort him in death. 
 
 All the assembling saints around 
 Fall worshipping before the Lamb, 
 
 And in new songs of gospel sound) 
 Address their honours to his name. 
 
FEBRUARY 8. 47 
 
 Hallowed he thy name. Matt. v. 9. For Tie must 
 increase, and I must decrease. John, iii. 30. 
 Chris fs intercession. John, xvii. 1 — 19. Ho- 
 ly Father, keep them through thine own name, 
 sanctify them through thy truth. For their 
 saJces I sanctify myself, that they also might 
 be sanctified through the truth. 
 
 We must not only plead our own cause in our 
 prayers, but have the cause and the glory of God 
 at heart ; intercede for all without distinction, and 
 carefully avoid that uncharitable narrowness of 
 spirit, so common to all parties, by which we seek 
 only our own, and selfishly labour to erect, as it 
 were, a new kingdom of God, even on the ruins of 
 others, and at their expense. But this is not the 
 right communion of all saints in the whole uni- 
 verse. 
 
 Many are we now, and one, 
 We who Jesus have put on ; 
 Names, and sects, and parties fall, 
 Thou, O Christ, art all in all! 
 
 Move, and actuate, and guide, 
 Divers gifts to each divide ; 
 Plac'd according to thy will, 
 Let us all our work fulfil. 
 
 One the Father is with thee j 
 Knit as in like unity : 
 Make us, O uniting Son, 
 One, as thou and he are one. 
 
48 FEBRUARY 9. 
 
 Thy kingdom come. Matt. vi. 10. Divine answer. 
 Behold, the kingdom of God, is within t/ou, (and 
 amongst you.) Luke xvii. 22. The kingdom of 
 God, is not in word, hut in power. 1 Cor. iv. 20. 
 Consisting in righteousness^ peace and joy of the 
 Holy Ghost. Rom. xiv. 17. 
 
 O ! how many thousands deceive themselves, 
 with a vain, dead presumption of faith, moral ho- 
 nesty and fine words ; whilst the lust of the flesh, 
 the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, still 
 have the dominion in their liearts. Consequently 
 the power of Christ, by which even the most be- 
 loved idol, is cast down and trod under feet, has no 
 place in them. O Lord, help thy children, that 
 they may not return again to vanity ; some being 
 still entangled even in their old age. May this 
 never be my case, I beseech thee. 
 The gospel bids the dead revive, 
 Sinners obey the voice and live : 
 Dry bones are rais'd, and cloth'd afresh. 
 And hearts of stone are turn'd to flesh. 
 This is the word of truth and love. 
 Sent to the nations from above ; 
 Jehovah here resolves to show 
 What his almighty grace can do. 
 This remedy did wisdom find, 
 To heal diseases of the mind, 
 This sovereign balm, whose virtues can 
 Restore the ruin'd creature, man. 
 Where Satan reign'd in shades of night, 
 The gospel strikes a heavenly light, 
 Our lust its wondrous power controls. 
 And calms the rage of angry souls. 
 
FEBRUARY 10. 49 
 
 Thy will he done on earth as it is in heanen. Matt, 
 vi. 10. Answer. God will have all mento he sav- 
 ed, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth : 
 for there is one God, and one Mediator, hetween 
 God and man, the man Christ Jesus who gave him- 
 self a ransom for all. 1 Tim. ii. 4, 6. Therefore 
 he is not willing that any should perish, hut that 
 all should come to repentance. 2 Pet. iii. 9. Ezek. 
 xiii. 23, 32. 
 
 O the inestimable riches of universal grace ! this 
 minute, O my distressed soul, thou canst lay hold 
 on them, and firmly believe this promise to belong 
 even to thee, and that thy lovely Saviour is as wil- 
 ling, as he is able to save thee from all thy sins. 
 Whatever objections may be raised against it, and 
 engross thy thoughts, hearken not to them, but re- 
 solutely reject them as the most detestable sugges- 
 tions of the devil, who above all things, fights most 
 against faith, knowing well enough that unbehef is 
 the source of all wickedness. Therefore, mind 
 him not, he is a Har. But the word of God may 
 be depended upon : hence thou mayest confidently 
 say, that I am exceedingly corrupted, is too true ; 
 but not beyond the infinite grace and power of God. 
 Still 1 am a man : and he being wilhng that no man 
 should perish, but that all should be saved ; this his 
 will is to me, the surest pledge of my justification, 
 sanctification, and salvation. It is his will, and it 
 is mine too, that I should be saved : wh^t enemy 
 then can hinder it ? 
 
 But O my soul, for ever praise, 
 
 For ever love his name. 
 Who turns thy feet from dangerous ways 
 
 Of folly, sin, and shame. 
 5 
 
50 FEBRUARY li. 
 
 Light is sown for the righteous^ and gladness far 
 the upright in heart. Psal. xcvii. 11. Unto the 
 upright there arises light in darkness; he is gra^ 
 cious-, full of compassion, and righteous. Psal. 
 cxii. 4. Therefore cast not away confidence, which 
 has great recompense of reward ; for ye have need 
 of patience, S^c. For yet a little while, and he that 
 shall come will come, and will not tarry. Heb. x. 
 .36,37. Isaiah Iviii. 10, 11, 12. 
 
 ^his shows that believers are subject to many 
 changes of joy and sorrow. In a state of gladness, 
 therefore, we have reason to fear : and in the hours 
 of trouble and sadness, to entertain good hopes. 
 Thus we shall always be able to keep the happy 
 medium between the extremes of levity and despair. 
 Before a man has a true sense of his own miseries, 
 the complaints and infirmities of the saints, are of- 
 ten a stumbHng-block; but afterwards, they will 
 administer him great comfort. This is the reason 
 that God has revealed them in scripture ; for the 
 complaints of his children, and elect, as Luther 
 observes, gives more comfort than all their most 
 heroic actions. 
 
 Alas ! it swells my sorrows high, 
 To see my blessed Jesus frown : 
 
 My spirits sink, my comforts die, 
 And all the springs of life are down. 
 
 Yet why, my soul, why these complaints ? 
 
 Still while he frowns his bowels move : 
 Still on his heart he bears his saints. 
 
 And feels their sorrows, and his love. 
 
FEBRUARY 12. bl 
 
 For in that he himself has suffered, being tempted, 
 he is able to succour them that are tempted. Heb. 
 ii. 18. For we have not a high priest which cannot 
 be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but 
 was in all points tempted like as we are, yet with- 
 out sin- Chap. iv. 18. 
 
 To have this High-Priest and Saviour, is to be- 
 lieve in him, though in vi^eakness and trembhng. 
 The sensible, sweet, and full assurance of his in- 
 dwelling, proceeds from the sealing of the Spirit, 
 which follows afterwards, and is not always expe- 
 rienced in a state of darkness and temptation. 
 But the Lord disowns us not for wanting it, but 
 graciously bears with our infirmities. 
 
 With joy we meditate the grace 
 
 Of ouF High Priest above, 
 His heart is made of tenderness, 
 
 Hi^ bowels melt with love. 
 
 Touch'd with a sympathy within, 
 
 He knows our feeble frame, 
 He knows what sore temptations meaii^ 
 
 For he has feh the same. 
 
 He in the days of feeble flesh 
 
 Pour'd out his cries and tears, 
 And in a measure feels afresh 
 
 What every member bears. 
 
 Then let our humble faith address 
 
 His mercy and his power, 
 We shall obtain deliv'ring grace 
 
 In the distressing hour. 
 
52 FEBRUARY 13. 
 
 God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto him- 
 self-, not imputing their trespasses unto them; for 
 he has made Mm to he sin for us who knew no sin, 
 that we might be made the righteousness of God 
 in him. 2 Cor. v. 19, 21. Col. i. 20. 1 Pet. ii. 24. 
 
 It highly concerns all believers, who are desirous 
 to have always peace and support within, to be 
 ever sensible of their own misery, and spiritual 
 poverty, and so to live, and rest solely and wholly 
 in the all-sufficient atonement and righteousness of 
 Christ Jesus our Saviour. Disquietness and lazi- 
 ness generally proceed from self-righteousness, and 
 our not looking up and being indebted to him for 
 every thing, but secretly trusting in something in 
 ourselves. 
 
 Jesus, thou art my righteousness, 
 
 For all my sins were thine, 
 Thy death, has bought of God my peace, 
 
 Thy life has made him mine. 
 
 Spotless and just in thee I am : 
 
 I feel my sins forgiven : 
 I taste salvation in thy name, 
 
 And antedate my heaven. 
 
 For ever here my rest shall be. 
 
 Close to thy bleeding side ; 
 'Tis all my hope, and all my plea : 
 
 For me the Saviour died ! 
 
 My dying Saviour and my God, 
 
 Fountain for guilt and sin, 
 Sprinkle me ever in thy blood, 
 
 And cleanse and keep me clean. 
 
FEBRUARY 14. b% 
 
 Nevertheless I am continually with thee. Th<m 
 hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shall 
 guide me with thy counsel-, and afterwards re- 
 ceive me into thy glory. Whom have I in heaven 
 but thee ? and there is none upon earth that I 
 desire besides thee. My flesh and rry heart fail- 
 etht but God is the strength of my heart and my^ 
 portion for ever. Psal. Ixxiii. 23 — 26. Psal. xyi. 
 18. 
 
 Babes in religion not only long for Christ, but foi;, 
 sensible communion with him ; and very often they 
 are indulged with it, that they ^nay be weaned 
 from the world. But those of fuller age, who 
 have their senses more exercised, are content to^ 
 have him only, and to be adopted by him ; relying 
 more on the word and covenant of God, than upon 
 sweet sensations of the soul, which, in times of trial 
 and temptations, are often wanting. 
 
 How oft have sin and Satan strove 
 
 To rend my soul from thee, my God ?> 
 
 But everlasting is thy love, 
 
 And Jesus seals it with his blood. 
 
 Amidst temptations sharp and long, 
 My soul to this dear refuge flies ; 
 
 Hope is my anchor, firm and strong, 
 While tempests blow and billows rise. 
 
 The gospel bears my spirits up : 
 A faithful and unchanging God 
 
 Lays the foundation for my hope, 
 in oaths, and promises, and blood. 
 
 5* 
 
54 FEBRUARY 15. 
 
 There is a river, the streams thereof shall make glad 
 the city of God. God is in the midst of her, she 
 shall not be moved. Psal. xlvi. 4, 5. Ye that are 
 of God, little children, and have overcome them; 
 because greater is he that is in you, than he that 
 is in the world. 1 John iv. 4. Psal. ex. 2. Zech. 
 ii. 5. 
 
 True Christians still are subject to temptations 
 from within and without ; but watching unto prayer 
 they do not fall by them. On the contrary, as 
 temptations are great helps to discover their hidden 
 infirmities, and stir them up to be more cautious, 
 Berious and faithful, they are followed and reward- 
 ed with great and glorious victories ; consequently 
 are so far from being half a fall, that they rather 
 serve to keep believers from falling. What rea- 
 son have we then to be afraid of temptations, since 
 every one carries a new blessing along with it ? 
 How honourable is the place 
 
 Where we adoring stand, 
 Zion, the glory of the earth, 
 
 And beauty of the land. 
 Bulwarks of mighty grace defend 
 
 The city where we dwell, 
 The walls of strong salvation made, 
 
 Defy the assaults of hell. 
 Trust in the Lord, for ever trust, 
 
 And banish all your fears ; 
 Strength in the Lord Jehovah, dwells. 
 
 Eternal as his years. 
 What though the rebels dwell on high, 
 
 His arm shall bring them low. 
 Low as the caverns of the grave, 
 Their lofty heads shall bow. 
 
FEBRUARY 16. 55 
 
 For our light affliction, which is hut for a moment^ 
 works for us a far more exceeding and eternal 
 weight of glory-, while we look not at the things 
 which are s^^en ; for the things which are seen are 
 temporal, but the things ichich are not seen are 
 eternal. 2 Cor. iv. 17, 18. Therefore, blessed ai'e 
 the dead which die in the Lord, note-, from hence- 
 forth; yea, saith the spirit, that they may rest 
 from their labours-, (also from all their afflictions) 
 and their works do follow them. Rev. xiv. 13. 
 
 Some pretend to be so evangelical as to have no 
 longer any inward troubles and vexations ; neither 
 will they allow of such prayers, or other acts of 
 Christian duty and devotion, as are done with any 
 reluctance of heart, calling them legal and merito- 
 rious works of our own. This would be true, if 
 there were in a true Christian, no remains of un- 
 belief and sin, which often make him dull and 
 heavy, and must be always overcome, as it were, 
 by force : though the spirit be willing, and in the 
 midst of all troubles and groanings, longs the more 
 after that perfect rest above. 
 
 Our sins, alas ! how strong they be, 
 
 And like a raging sea, 
 They break our duty, Lord to thee, 
 
 And hurry us away. 
 
 The waves of trouble, how they rise ! 
 
 How loud the tempests roar ! 
 But death shall land our weary soul 
 
 Safe on the heavenly shore. 
 
66 FEBRUARY 17. 
 
 The jpeace of God^ which passeth all under-^- 
 standing, shall keep your hearts and minds, 
 fhrough Christ Jesus. Phil. iv. 7. Isa. liii. 5. 
 Col. i. 10. 
 
 As long as a man sees no good in himself, and yet 
 finds every thing in Christ, his heart enjoys a heav- 
 enly peace. But as soon as he is puffed up, and 
 does not seek and find his rest and salvation pure- 
 ly and solely in the forgiveness of his sins, he steps 
 out into a false road, which is full of disquietness. 
 These are the words of the late pious Mr. Profes- 
 sor Francke. 
 
 Lord, how secure and blest are they 
 Who feel the joys of pardon'd sin ! 
 
 Should storms of wrath shake earth and sea, 
 Their minds have heaven and peace within. 
 
 The day glides swiftly o'ef their heads, 
 Made up of innocence and love, 
 
 And soft, and silent as the shades 
 Their nightly minutes gently move. 
 
 How oft they look to the heav'nly hills 
 Where groves of living pleasure grow, 
 
 And longing hopes and fearless smiles, 
 Sit undisturb'd upon their brow. 
 
 While wretched we, like worms and mol^s, 
 Lie grov'Uing in the dust below : 
 
 Almighty grace renew our souls, 
 And we'll aspire to glory too. 
 
FEBRUARY 18. 57 
 
 The Lord preserves the simple ; I was "brought low, 
 and he helped me. Psal. cxvi. 6. 
 
 He who walks in godly simplicity and humility, 
 accounting his own infirmities always the greatest, 
 will best be preserved from ^eing pufted up and 
 sifted by the enemy of souls. And surely nothing 
 should humble us more, than justification by free 
 grace. The more we consider and carefully cher- 
 ish that, the more this simple, childlike, quiet tem- 
 per will increase ; for since there is nothing in our- 
 selves which can be depended upon, but all must 
 be freely received from Christ : this, at the same 
 time cutting off all vain boasting, brings us low, 
 settles our peace on Christ, who is our all, and is 
 sure enough to be rested^ upon. 
 
 It is only from thee, O my dear Saviour, I can 
 learn true siinnplicity ; teach me therefore to turn 
 my eye not upon others, but upon myself. Hum- 
 ble me to the utmost, and fashion me after thy own 
 mind, that I may be careful to avoid every thing 
 that is contrary to love. Keep me, O my light, 
 from all self-conceitedness, bridle my carnal reason, 
 pull down ail vain imaginations. Grant that my 
 eye may be fixed only upon that one thing need- 
 ful which ia^as eternally ; and that in aU my words, 
 deeds, and gestures, I may always resemble the 
 simpHcity, innocence, fidelity, and love of a little 
 child. Matt. xiii. 3. 
 
58 FEBRUARY 19. 
 
 The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. Psal. 
 xxiii. 1. He says it himself. lam come that they 
 might have life-, and that they might have it more 
 abundantly. I give unto t'hem eternal life, and 
 they shall never perish, neither shall any plucTc 
 them out of my hands. John x. 10,28. 
 
 The Lord being my shepherd also, what then 
 can I want ? Nothing that is really good for me. 
 The sense of it may sometimes be wanting ; but 
 even this want is the beginning of a greater full- 
 ness, and certainly works for my good. It stirreth 
 me up to pray more earnestly ; and thus my wants 
 drive me to the green pastures, and to the brooks 
 of fresh water, even- to my good shepherd, who is. 
 himself the bestfood^ and the spripg pf ^ivipg waterx. 
 
 My shepherd is the living Lord : 
 ' Now shall my wants be well supplied : 
 His prbvidence and holy word 
 Become my safety and my ^uid^. 
 
 In pastures where salvation grows, 
 He mak«s me feed, he makes me rest; 
 
 There living water gently flows, 
 And all the food divinely blest. 
 
 My wand'ring feet his ways mistake, 
 But he restores my soul to peace, 
 
 And leads me for his mercy's sake 
 In the fair paths of righteousness.. 
 
 Though I walk through the gloomy vale, 
 Where death and all his terrors are, 
 
 My heart and hope shall never fail. 
 For God my shepherd's with me therOo 
 
FEBRUARY. 20. 5§ 
 
 The Lord is our king, he will save us. Isa. xxxiii; 
 22. The Lord is strong and mighty in battle. 
 Psal. xxiv. 8. The voice of rejoicing and salva- 
 tion is in the tabernacle of the righteous, the right 
 hand of the Lord does valiantly. Psal. cxviii. 152. 
 Therefore 1 can do all things through Christ 
 which strengtheneth me. Phil. iv. l3. For here 
 is Emmanuel. Isa. viii. 10. 
 
 No victory without a combat, and combats some- 
 times are attended with dangerous wounds ; but 
 this only humbles us, and makes us more circum-, 
 spect. Abide, therefore, always in the wounds of 
 Jesus, which will certainly make thee whole and 
 strong in faith, so as to baffle all the assaults of thine 
 enemies, and gladly to sing in thy tabernacle, 
 ** Thanks be unto God, who always causes us to 
 triumph in Christ." 2 Cor. ii. 14. 
 
 Whence do our mournful thoughts arise ? 
 
 And where's our courage fled ? 
 Has restless sin and raging hell 
 Struck all our comforts dead ? 
 Have we forgot the almighty name 
 That form'd the earth and sea? 
 And can an all-creating arm 
 
 Grow weary or decay ? 
 Treasures of everlasting might 
 
 In our Jehovah dwell. 
 He gives the conquest to the weak, 
 
 And treads their foes to hell. 
 The saints shall mount on eagle's wings, 
 
 And taste the promis'd bliss, 
 Till their unwearied feet arrive 
 Where perfect pleasure is. 
 
60 FEBRUARY 21. 
 
 The Lord hath delivered my soul in 'peace. PsaU 
 Iv. 19. 
 
 O* Lord, give me grace always to seek and find 
 rest for my spirit and conscience in thy wounds, 
 and never yield to the condemnation of the law ; 
 but to be as ready on the other hand to mortify the 
 desires of the flesh, so as to fall neither into slavish 
 fear, and distrust, nor into carnal rest and security ; 
 but to make good use both of the law and the 
 gospel in its turn, and so to adorn myself continu- 
 ally, that I may be ready to follow thyi call to the 
 place of everlasting rest, witliout any further warn- 
 ing. 
 
 Jesus, I throw my arms around, 
 
 And hang upon thy breast ; 
 Without a gracious smile from thee, 
 
 My spirit cannot rest. 
 
 Oh ! tell me that my worthless name 
 
 Is graven on thy hands ; 
 Show me some promise in thy book, 
 
 Where my salvation stands. 
 
 Give me one kind assuring word. 
 
 To sink my fears again ; 
 And cheerfully my soul shall wait, 
 
 Her threescore years and ten. 
 
FEBRUARY 22. 61 
 
 The Lord bless thee and keep thee ; the Lord make his 
 face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee ; 
 the Lord lift up his countenance uponthee, and give 
 iheepeace. Numb. vi. 24, 25, 26. Peace I leave 
 with you, my peace I give unto you, not as the world 
 gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be trou' 
 bled, neither let it be afraid, I will not leave you 
 comfortless; Iwill come to you. John xiv. 27, 28. 
 In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of 
 good cheer, I have overcome the world. Chap, xvi, 
 33. 
 
 Being still in the world, we cannot be without 
 trouble ; nay, out of Christ, every thing causes 
 trouble. But that we should not be weighed 
 down by it, he says, Abide in me ; in me ye have 
 peace. This carrieth us safely through all tribu- 
 lations. O Lord, grant that I may ever be found 
 in the strong hold of thy wounds, and enjoy peace 
 amidst all the troubles of this world. 
 
 Bless' d be the Father and his love, 
 To whose celestial source we owe 
 
 Rivers of endless joy above. 
 And rills of comfort here below. 
 
 Glory to thee, great Son of God, 
 
 From whose dear wounded body, rolls 
 
 A precious stream of vital blood, 
 Pardon and life for dying souls. 
 
 We give thee, sacred Spirit, praise, 
 Who in our hearts of sin and wo 
 
 Makes living springs of grace arise. 
 And into endless glory flow. 
 6 
 
62 FEBRUARY 23. 
 
 The Lord do that which seems him good, 2, Sam# 
 X. 12, 
 
 A Christian still feels the motions of self-will, 
 and consequently of sin, in his heart. And if it be 
 asked, how can Christ and sin dwell together in 
 one heart ? the answer is, As a king and rebels in 
 one kingdom or town. He does not agree or cor- 
 respond with them, but subdues them, and main- 
 tains peace. But where self-will has the dominion, 
 there is nothing but trouble and confusion ; for un- 
 sanctified passions and a bad conscience not only 
 are inward tortures, but often turn to our great dis- 
 advantage, even in worldly affairs ; whereas in the 
 blood of Christ we have a good conscience, abund- 
 ance of peace, and can be content and happy in 
 the most indifferent outward circumstances. 
 
 Take great heed, therefore, O my dear Chris- 
 tian, never to be led by thy own spirit, were it even 
 in such things as seem to bring glory to God, if it is 
 not of his own appointment. Our hearts sometimes 
 are very deceitfully desirous of what pleases our- 
 selves, while we pretend to seek God's glory ; and 
 were we not crossed in these our designs, they 
 would prove a great burden to our life. Blessed is 
 he, who not only prays with his lips, but is heartily 
 wiUing also that nothing but the will of the Lord 
 should be done in every thing. It is he alone that 
 understands what may be good or dangerous to our 
 spiritual or temporal circumstances. We being 
 often blinded and drawn by our lusts, are too much 
 inclined to choose at random what woujd perhaps 
 be most detrimental. 
 
FEBRUARY 24. 63 
 
 The Lord will regard the prayer of the destitute, 
 and not despise their prayers. Psal. cii. 17. 
 They looked unto him and were lightened, and 
 their faces were not ashamed. Psal. xxxiv.5. See 
 also the instance of the woman of Canaan. Matt. 
 XV. 21 — 28 . And what Christ says,LuJcei xi. 5. — 
 13. Chap, xviii. 1 — 8. Likewise of a tossed 
 vessel. Matt. viii. 24—27. 
 
 The load of outward and inward afflictions is 
 not always prayed away with a few words, or in a 
 few days. Sometimes it is necessary even to wres- 
 tle with God, and be very instant too. How else 
 could faith and patience be exercised ? If, there- 
 fore, the trials are sharp and lasting, it is not to 
 weaken our faith ; but to stir us up to be more in- 
 stant, zealous in prayer, and the right use of the 
 word of God ; and by these means to be so much 
 more gloriously delivered and strengthened in faith ; 
 for whatever God sends upon us, it is not for the 
 lessening, but for the increase of our faith. 
 
 God is the refuge of his saints, 
 
 When storms of sharp distress invade ; 
 
 Ere we can offer our complaints, 
 Behold him present with his aid. 
 
 Let mountains from their seats be hurl'd 
 Down to the deep, and buried there ; 
 
 Convulsions shake the solid world, 
 Our faith shall never yieid to fear. 
 
 Loud may the troubled ocean roar, 
 In sacred peace our souls abide, 
 
 While every nation every shore, 
 
 Trembles and dreads the swelling tide. 
 
64 FEBRUARY 25. 
 
 / dwell in the high and holy place, with him also, 
 that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the 
 spirit qfthe humble, and to revive the heart of the 
 contrite ones. For I will not contend for ever ^ 
 neither will I be always wroth, for the spirit should 
 fail before me f and the souls which I have made. 
 Isa. Ivii. 15, 16. 
 
 To insist too much upon the sensible joy of faith, 
 might produce a wrong joy, and make weak souls 
 weaker still. Many a sincere Christian's heart, is 
 like a bottle of a very narrow passage, which can 
 receive the dew of heavenly comfort only by little 
 drops. But dost thou feel thyself quite naked and 
 void of all good. Christ will surely cover thee 
 with the robes of righteousness. Go entirely out 
 of thyself, looking only to him for every thing ; 
 and whatever gift of joy, peace, and hoHness, may 
 be given thee, trust not to them, but to Christ alone, 
 This will make thee sure, and keep thy heart at 
 rest. 
 
 Thus saith the high and lofty One, 
 I sit upon my holy throne ; 
 My name is God, I dwell on high ; 
 Dwell in my own eternity. 
 
 But I descend to worlds below, 
 On earth l have a mansion too ; 
 The humble spirit and contrite, 
 Is an abode of my delight. 
 
 The humble soul my words revive, 
 I bid the mourning sinner live ; 
 Heal all the broken hearts I find, 
 And ease the sorrows of the mind. 
 
FEBRUARY 26. 65 
 
 One of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side^ 
 and forthwith came thereout blood and water, 
 John, xix. 34. 
 
 Here the fountain of grace and salvation, is 
 opened for cleansing us from all sin and unclean- 
 ness. If thou only canst and will acknowledge and 
 accuse thyself in every thing, (sins and duties,) to 
 be a trangressor, and humbly desirestto be sprink- 
 led and washed by the blood of Christ, thou canst 
 do enough, and art blessed indeed. Matt, v. 6» 
 Heb. ix. 13, 14. 
 
 My Saviour's pierced side, 
 
 Pour'd out a double flood; 
 By water we are purified, 
 
 And pardon' d by the blood. 
 
 Look up, my soul, to him 
 
 Whose death was thy desert, . • 
 
 And humbly view the Uving stream 
 Flow from his breaking heart. 
 
 There on the cursed tree, 
 
 In dying pangs he lies ; 
 Fulfils the Father's great decree, 
 
 And all our wants supplies. 
 
 Thus the Redeemer came 
 
 By water and by blood ; x 
 And when the spirit speaks the same. 
 
 We feel his witness good. 
 
 Lord, cleanse my soul from sin. 
 
 Nor let thy grace depart ; 
 Great Comforter, abide within,. 
 
 And witness to my heart. 
 
 6* 
 
66 FEBRUARY 27. 
 
 Satan has desired to have you-, that he might sift you 
 ax wheat; but I have prayed for thee- that thy faith 
 fail not. Luke xxii. 31. 52. Yet shall not the 
 least grain fall upon the earth. Amos, ix. 9. For 
 I will keep thee from the hour of temptation. Rev. 
 iii. 10. 
 
 Sometimes we may imagine ourselves to be di- 
 vinely convinced of the will of God, both by seem- 
 ing outward providences, and inward persuasions 
 of faith ; and yet it is possible that the siftings of 
 Satan, arc at the bottom : however the Lord will 
 over-rule him at last, and order all things for the 
 best, for his people. May the Lord make us watch- 
 ful against our own spirit, and against the evil one, 
 especially when he is transformed into an angel of 
 light, that it may not be in his power to sift us. 
 
 In vain the baffled prince of hell, 
 
 His cursed project tries ; 
 We that were doom'd his endless slaves, 
 
 Are rais'd above the skies. 
 
 Jesus the Lord, shall guard me safe 
 
 From every ill design ; 
 And to his heav'nly kingdom keep 
 
 This feeble soul of mine. 
 
 God is my everlasting aid, 
 
 And hell shall rage in vain I 
 To him be highest glory paid, 
 
 And endless praise. Amen. 
 
FEBRUARY 28. 67 
 
 Whose adorning, let it not he that outward adorning 
 of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, S^c. 
 But let it he the hidden man of the heart-, in that 
 which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a 
 meek and quiet spirit, which is, in the sight of 
 God, of great price. 1 Pet. iii. 3, 4. In rest shall 
 ye be saved, in quietness and confidence shall be 
 your strength. Isa. xxx. 15. 
 
 A Christian's best accoutrements and festival 
 clothes, in which he daily celebrates his sabbath, is 
 called. Col. iii. 10, 12, 14, the new man, bowels of 
 mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, 
 long suffering ; and above all, charity. These are 
 our ornaments we shall be dressed and adorned 
 with. What dost thon adorn most, body or soul ? 
 ** O thou meek and quiet lamb of God, justly I 
 blush before thee, when I consider my impatience, 
 though I am never innocent like thee. I humbly 
 beseech thee to forgive me these my transgres- 
 sions, since thou hast made sufficient atonement for 
 all by the meritorious silence. But deliver me, 
 from this choleric, hot, and peevish temper also ; 
 and give me grace in all inward and outward 
 troubles, to have that long-bearing mind which was 
 in thee. Make me daily more and more like a 
 lamb ; that on all occasions, grievous or joyful, I 
 may be duly composed, and show that excellent, 
 heavenly ornament, of a meek and quiet spirit ; not 
 in many words, but in reality annd power. Amen." 
 
 Giver of concord. Prince of Peace, 
 
 Meek, lamb-like Son of God, 
 Bid our Unruly passions cease. 
 
 And quench them with thy blood. 
 
6a MARCH I. 
 
 Death is swallowed up in victory. O deaths where h 
 thy sting ? O grave, where is thy victory ? Thank f 
 he to God ivho giveth us the victory through' our 
 Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Cor. xv. 64 — 57. 
 
 O gracious Lord, I know and receive thee as my 
 Redeemer, and rely on thy death in some measure ; 
 but alas ! I do not know thee yet as I ought, and am 
 far from being strong and firm enough, since I am 
 frightened still at the thoughts of death. Grant, 
 therefore, th-at by all thy providences, trials, and 
 deliverances, I may be so established in faith on 
 thy word, as to prevail against all darkness and 
 fears ; that at last I may be enabled with humble 
 boldness, to look death in the face, and really find it 
 swallowed up in victory by thy meritorious death. 
 
 O for an overcoming faith 
 
 To cheer my dying hoursi 
 To triumph o'er the monster Death, 
 
 And all his frightfiil powers. 
 
 Joyful with all the strength I have, 
 
 My quiv'ring lips should sing, 
 «' Where is thy l^oasted victory, grave ?'* 
 
 '< And where 'the monster's sting ?" 
 
 If sin be pardoned, Vm secure, 
 
 Death has no sting beside ; 
 The law gives sin its damning power ; 
 
 But Christ, my ransom, died. 
 
 Now to the God of victory 
 
 Immortal thanks be paid, 
 Who makes us conq'rors while we die* 
 
 Through Christ, our living head* 
 
MARCH 2. 69 
 
 Broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and 
 many there be which go in thereat: But, narrow 
 is tJie way which leadeth unto life, and few there 
 be that find it. Matt. vii. 13, 14. 
 This sounds too harsh in the ears of the old man, 
 who would not have the law made use of in these 
 gospel times, either to the converted or unconvert- 
 ed ; and yet to the old man the law of the gospel, 
 properly belongs. St. Paul, that great preacher of 
 the gospel, made use of the law to rouse converted 
 Felix from his security, (Acts xxiv. 25.) and to 
 warn the converted Romans from falling into it 
 again. Rom. viii. 13. For Christians are still in the 
 flesh, which must be restrained by the law ; the gos- 
 pel is designed only for the spirit, not for the flesh. 
 O Lord, keep the flesh always within due bounds 
 in the narrow way, that it may never be nourished 
 by the food of the spirit. 
 
 Which way dost thou walk ? examine thyself. Is 
 it the narrow way ? art thou quite sure of it ? ven- 
 ture not to go any further at random. It is matter 
 of great consequence ; if thou wilt be safe, try bet- 
 ter for it, thou mayest easily be deceived. Alas ! 
 thou art surely in the broad way to destruction, if 
 thou lovest and art conformed to the world. Art 
 thou but indifferent with regard to the things of 
 God, relishing more the vanities, pleasures, compa- 
 nies, treasures, and honours of this world ? thou art 
 not in the good narrow way that leads unto life. O 
 consider this well, and stop short, before it is too late, 
 and thou drop into the bottomless pit of perdition. 
 Straight is the way, the door is straight, 
 
 That leads to joys on high ; 
 'Tis but a few that find the gate. 
 While crowds mistake and die. 
 
70 MARCH 3. 
 
 The desire of our soul is to thy name and to the 
 remembrance of thee, Isa. xxvi. 8. My soul 
 followeth hard after thee, Psal. Ixiii. 8. 
 Cant. ii. 4. 
 
 Dost thou give thyself entirely tp me, O my 
 heavenly bridegroom : It is but reasonable I should 
 grant thee thy desire also, and give myself entirely 
 up to thee again, that each may have a true delight 
 in the other ; here I offer, therefore, all that I have, 
 body, soul, and spirit, with all the faculties and sen- 
 ses belonging to the same, do I subscribe myself for 
 ever to be thy own, if thou wilt be pleased to ac- 
 cept of this my poor and little all. 
 
 Infinite pity touch'd the heart 
 
 Of the eternal Son, 
 Descending from the heavenly court. 
 
 He left his Father's throne. 
 
 His living power, and dying love, 
 
 Redeem'd unhappy men, 
 And rais'd the ruins of our race 
 
 To life and God again. 
 
 To thee, dear Lord, our flesh and soul. 
 
 We joyfully resign ; 
 Bless'd Jesus take us for thy own, 
 
 For we are doubly thine. 
 
 Thine honour shall for ever be 
 
 The business of our days. 
 For ever shall our thankful tongues, 
 
 Speak thy deserved praise. 
 
MARCH 4. 71 
 
 A man^s heart deviseth his way , but the Lord di- 
 rectethhis steps. Prov. xxi. 9. There are ma- 
 ny devices in a man's heart, nevertheless the 
 counsel of the Lord, that shall stand. Chap. 
 xix. 21. 
 
 Many pretend to have a clean heart, and a good 
 will, whilst they harbour foolish, and consequently 
 unclean designs in their bosoms. It is said, a good 
 man brings forth good things out of the good trea- 
 sure of the heart, and it is very true ; but observe, 
 that it is said, " out of the good treasure" of the 
 heart ; (which is the new man) and not simply out 
 of the heart, for there also, still dwells the old man 
 and evil treasure of sin and corruption, which free- 
 ly spring up, like the weeds. 
 
 Lord, send thy spirit down to write 
 
 Thy law upon my heart ! 
 Nor let my tongue indulge deceit, 
 
 Nor act a liar's part. 
 
 From vanity turn off my eyes, 
 
 Let no currupt design. 
 Nor covetous desires arise 
 
 Within this soul of mine. 
 
 Order my footsteps by thy word, 
 
 And make my heart sincere ; 
 Let sin have no dominion Lord, 
 
 But keep my conscience clear. 
 
 Make me to walk in thy commands ; 
 
 'Tis a delightful road ; 
 Nor let my head, or heart, or hands, 
 
 Offend against my God. 
 
72 MARCH 5, 
 
 The troubles of my heart are enlarged. O bring me 
 out of my distresses, Psal. xxv. 17. Divine an- 
 swer. The sacrifices of God arc a broken spirit ; 
 a broken and a contrite hearty O Gody thou wilt not 
 despise. Psal. li. 17. 
 
 Some take great pains to warn and caution oth- 
 ers, exceedingly against contrition and inward trou- 
 ble of heart. But whoever, without having such a 
 broken heart, desires nothing but the comforts of 
 the gospel ; makes light of sin, and will make a 
 dangerous shipwreck at last. For in this world we 
 have trouble, not only in the beginning, but also in 
 the progress of our Christian course. Neither does 
 it any harm, but it humbles deeply, and drives us 
 to Christ, to seek and find comfort in him ; conse- 
 quently, godly sorrow and holy mourning, are not 
 looked upon, and trusted to as meritorious works, 
 by no means. It is only Christ ; who by his merits 
 has recovered us from sin and wrath, who can be 
 rehed upon. May the Lord prepare and make us 
 evermore fit ; duly to receive his gospel, that we 
 may never trifle and make light with this holy thing. 
 
 Where are the mourners (says the Lord) 
 That wait and tremble at my word ; 
 That walk in darkness all the day ? 
 Come, make my name your trust and stay. 
 
 The softest couch that nature knows 
 Can give the conscience no repose : 
 Look to my righteousness and live ; 
 Comfort and peace are mine to give. 
 
MARCH 6. 73 
 
 Upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of 
 Ophir. The king's daughter is all glorious withiuy 
 her clothing is wrought gold. Hearken, O daugh- 
 ter, andconsider and incline thine ear. Forget all 
 thine own people, and thy father's house, so shall 
 the king greatly desire thy beauty ; for he is thy 
 Lord, and worship thou him. Psal. xlv. lO, 11, 
 12, 14. 
 
 Observe, O my soul! that thy celestial bride- 
 groom does not require any ornament, merit, wor- 
 thiness, and beauty of thy own : no, he will wash 
 thee himself with his blood, he will adorn thee and 
 make thee truly amiable to himself, and to his Fa- 
 ther. O! sweet and eternal truth! "He has loved 
 and washed me also for my sins in his own blood.'* 
 He has, and 1 have in him, a more than angelical 
 beauty. O ! the unspeakable fairness of this bride- 
 groom and his spouse ! Why should I not cleave 
 to him alone, and love him above all others ? 
 The King of saints, how fair his face, 
 Adorn'd with majesty and grace I 
 He comes with blessings from above, 
 And wins the nations to his love. 
 At his right hand our eyes behold 
 The queen array'd in purest gold ; 
 The world admires her heavenly dress, 
 Her robe of joy and righteousness. 
 He forms her beauties like his own, 
 He calls and seats her near his throne : 
 Fair stranger, let thine heart forget 
 The idols of thy native state. 
 So shall the King the more rejoice, 
 In thee the fav'rite of his choice ; 
 Let him be lov'd and yet ador'd, 
 For he's thy Maker and thy Lord. ^ 
 
 7 • 
 
^4 MARCH 7. 
 
 Th^y that are Chris fs, have crucified thefiesh 
 with the lusts and affections thereof. Gal. v. 24. 
 
 Luther on these words, says, *' Although the 
 flesh is alive still, and frequently stirs, yet it can- 
 not fulfil its desires, because it is fastened to the 
 cross." With the crucifying of the flesh we have 
 to do as long as we live. This is the cross we are 
 to take up daily, and which, either prevents many 
 outward crosses, or at least yields great comfort 
 under it. 
 
 The cross being an extraordinary good means tb 
 experience the sweetness of the word of God, O 
 my soul, thou must always be ready and prepared 
 for it. And if none comes from without, take care 
 to break thy own will in every thing. Painful and 
 hard as this may seem to be at first, yet will it cer- 
 tainly very soon grow easier, and be matter of real 
 joy. Blessing and peace will attend thy ways and 
 steps, that thou shalt glorify God for having been 
 resigned and guided^ not by thy own, but his good 
 will and pleasure. Self-will, on the other hand, 
 creates nothing but vexation, trouble, and uneasi- 
 ness. It is punished by itself, deprives us of all 
 real blessings, and therefore desferves, and is best 
 Co be broke and crucified in its first motions^ 
 
MARCH 8. 7,5 
 
 J%e thorns y of the care, the riches, and the plea-. 
 sures of life, sprung up with it, and choked 
 it. Luke, viii. 7. Therefore break up your 
 fallow ground, and sow not among the thorns. 
 Jer. iv. 3. Of good and useful thorns, see 
 Hos. xi. 6. 
 
 Those who hy the power of Christ, faithfully 
 pluck up the least thorn of sin without delay, can 
 happily avoid many great struggles. It is by 
 this means, that the flesh is weakened, the spirit 
 strengthened, and consequently, the combat made 
 easier. But to come off without any struggle or 
 conflict at all, is impossible, as long as we carry 
 our enemy, the flesh, about us, which is ever oppo- 
 sing all that is good. 
 
 Of such thorns as prick the lustful flesh, our no- 
 ble spirit gathers the sweetest roses ; but those 
 gardens of roses which gratify the flesh, bring such 
 thorns as will certainly soon kill the spirit. Choose, 
 therefore, whatever thou pleasest, thorns must be 
 chosen, who either hurt the flesh or the spirit. 
 But I hope thou wilt be wise enough to pluck out 
 the least thorns of sinful lusts before they are grown 
 up to a whole hedge; wl)ich would greatly increase 
 thy trouble and pains, and make thee suflfer, and 
 pay dear enough for so short and poor a pleasure. 
 
76 MARCH 9. 
 
 And account that the long suffering of our 
 Lord, is salvation. 2 Pet. iii. 15. 
 
 That even believers, considering their present 
 weak condition, may account this long suffering of 
 the Lord, their salvation, and bear with others 
 also ; sometimes the work of renovation is not of so 
 quick a growth. 
 
 And are we, wretches, still alive : 
 
 And do we yet rebel ! 
 'Tis boundless, 'tis amazing love, 
 
 That bears us up from hell. 
 
 The burden of my weighty guilt 
 
 Would sink us down to flames, 
 And threat'ning vengeance roll above, 
 
 To crush our feeble frame. 
 
 Almighty goodness cries, forbear ! 
 
 And straight the thunder stays ; 
 And dare we now provoke his wrath, 
 
 And weary out his grace ? 
 
 Lord, we have long abus'd thy love. 
 
 Too long indulg'd our sin, 
 Our aching hearts e'en bleed to see 
 
 What rebels we have been. 
 
 No more, ye lusts, shall ye command, 
 
 No more will we obey ; 
 Stretch out, O God, thy conqu'ring hand, 
 
 And drive thy foes away. 
 
MARCH 10. 77 
 
 It is of the Lord's mercies that weare not consumed, 
 because his compassions fail not. They are new 
 every morning ; great is thy faithfulness. For the 
 Lord will not cast ojffor ever. But though he cause 
 grief yet will he have compassion according to the 
 multitude of his mercies : for he does not afflict 
 willingly-, nor grieve the children of men. Lament. 
 iii.22,31,32, 33.Heb.xii. 11. IS ow no chastening 
 for the present seemeth to he joyous, ^c. 
 
 Though our sins be forgiven, chastisenients may 
 be inflicted upon us nevertheless ; but it proceeds 
 from affection and not from anger. These, by our 
 Wjsaknesses are laid open to us and lessened. For- 
 asmuch as we feel our infirmities, and are desirous 
 of help, our hearts are empty vessels which Christ 
 is willing to fill up witlxhis ^race. And though thy 
 wants were never so great and particular, be not 
 discouraged ; but rather say, O Lord, here I bring 
 thee a very large vessel, which to fill it up, very 
 much grace and power will be required ; but thy 
 love and faithfulness have engaged to supply even 
 our greatest wants. 
 
 Lord, if thy saints deserve rebuke. 
 
 Thou hast a gentle rod : 
 Thy providences and thy book 
 
 Shall mako them know their God. 
 Blest is the man thy hands chastise. 
 
 And to his duty- draw : 
 The scourges make thy children wise, 
 
 When they forget thy law. 
 
 But God will ne'er cast off his saints, 
 
 Nor his own promise break : 
 He pardons his inheritance 
 
 For their Redeemer's sake. 
 
 7* 
 
78 MARCH 11. 
 
 The love of Christ constraineth W5, because we 
 thus judge f that if one died for all, then were 
 all dead; and that he died for all, that they 
 who live should not henceforth live unto them- 
 selves, hut unto him who died for them and 
 rose again, 2 Cor. v. 14, 15. 
 
 If the love and power of Christ shall constrain 
 us, we must needs be always meditating and re- 
 lying on him and his death. This will cut off all 
 workings of our own, and make room for Christ to 
 work every thing in us and through us. O Lord, 
 may thy love on the cross, fire my frozen heart also, 
 that once I may begin to love and praise thee 
 purely and fervently, and to offer my whole life up 
 to thee as an entire sacrifice of love. 
 
 Raise your triumphant songs 
 
 To an immortal tune, 
 Let the wide earth resound the deeds 
 
 Celestial grace has done. 
 
 Sing how eternal love 
 
 Its chief beloved chose, 
 And bid him raise our wretched race 
 
 From their abyss of woes. 
 
 Now, sinnerrs, dry your tears, 
 
 Let hopeless sorrows cease ; 
 Bow to the sceptre of his love. 
 
 And take the offer'd peace. 
 
 Lord, we obey thy call ; 
 
 We lay a humble claim 
 To the salvation thou hast brought, 
 
 And love and praise thy name. 
 
MARCH 12. 79 
 
 But the greatest of these is charity^ Love. 
 1 Cor. xiii. 13. Therefore let all your things 
 be done with love. Chap. xvi. 14. In case 
 they shall be done m God, who is love, and 
 shall follow us, and be rewarded eternally. 
 Owe no man any thing, hut to love one an- 
 other. Rom. xiii. 8. 
 
 ' The debt of love can never be discharged by 
 alms-givings, or greater acts of charity. Having 
 done all these, v/e still owe ourselves and our whole 
 substance to God, to offer it up to his service when- 
 ever he should be pleased to require it of our hands ; 
 for we can call nothing our own. Whatever we 
 reserve as our own against his will, is laid up as a 
 great treasure of trouble and vexation, which gives 
 much more uneasiness than comfort to our minds. 
 
 O let thy love our hearts constrain ! 
 
 Jesus, the crucified, 
 What hast thou done our hearts to gain ? 
 
 Languish'd, and groan'd, and died. 
 
 Who then would now refuse the way 
 
 Where Jesus' footsteps shine ? 
 Who would not own the pleasing sway 
 
 Of charity divine ? 
 
 Love is the grace that keeps her power, 
 
 In all the realms above ; 
 There faith and hope are known no more, 
 
 But saints for ever love. 
 
80 MARCH 13. 
 
 Sin is a reproach to any people. Prov. xiv.' 34. 
 
 Be Hot deceived, therefore, with false notions of 
 faith. Where there is true faith, no sin has domin- 
 ion. A man having no feeling of the desperate 
 wickedness of his heart, may imagine to have faith 
 enough ; but being once convinced of that, he soon 
 perceives that it is the hardest thing in the world to 
 believe. It requires the same power by which 
 Christ was raised from the dead. St. Paul most 
 emphatically describes it with six remarkable words. 
 Eph. i. 19, 20. How then can any man think it an 
 easy matter to believe ? O the dreadful blindness 
 and security which all the world runs into ? May 
 the Lord open their eyes ! 
 
 Lord, how secure my conscience was, 
 
 And felt no inward dread ! 
 I was alive without the law, 
 
 And thought my sins were dead. 
 
 My hopes of heaven were firm and bright, 
 
 But since the precept came 
 With a convincing power and light, 
 
 I find how vile I am. 
 
 I'm like a helpless captive sold, 
 
 Under the power of sin : 
 I cannot do the good I would. 
 
 Nor keep my conscience clean. 
 
 My God, I cry with every breath, 
 
 For some kind power to save, 
 To break the yoke of sin and death. 
 
 And thus redeem the slave. 
 
MARCH 14. 81 
 
 Seeing we also are compassed about with so great a 
 cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weighty 
 and the sin which does s6 easily beset uSf and let 
 us run with patience the race that is set before usy 
 looking unto Jesus, the author arid finisher of our 
 faith. Heb. xii. 1,2. 
 
 This sin is the old man, and consequently does 
 not mean only that which is outwardly in the world, 
 but which we carry about in our bosoms. Accord- 
 ing to St. Paul, and the whole tenor of the scrip- 
 ture, the Christian's warfare consists in putting off 
 the old, and putting on the new man. Therefore 
 is it not a strange thing for Christians still to have 
 conflicts? nay, their whole life is engaged therein ; 
 and he that has no experience of it, either is a very 
 rash and ignorant man, or an indolent and slothful 
 Christian. 
 
 Blest are the undefil'd in heart. 
 
 Whose ways are right and clean ; 
 Who never from thy law depart. 
 
 But fly from every sin. 
 Blest are the men that keep thy word, 
 
 And practice thy commands : 
 With their whole heart they seek the Lord, 
 
 And serve thee with thnir hands. 
 Great is their peace who love thy law, 
 
 How firm their souls abide ; 
 Nor can a bold temptation draw 
 
 Their steady feet aside. 
 Then shall my heart have inward joy, 
 
 And keep my face from shame, 
 When all thy statues I obey^ 
 
 And honour all thy name. 
 
82 MARCH 15. 
 
 The time is short. 1 Cor. vii. 29. Therefore, 
 redeem the time. Eph. v. 16. For we have 
 here no continuing city, but we seek one to 
 come. Heb. xiii. 14. 
 
 A Christian is only covetous of time, always to 
 lay up something for eternity ; but not greedy of 
 money, or given to other lusts. It grieves him ra- 
 ther, when he feels something of this against his 
 will. He is content to have little of temporal 
 things, and even to suffer losses in these, if he can 
 hut gain something for the life to come. This he 
 chiefly aims at in his trade and conversation, look- 
 ing upon himself in this world only as a traveller 
 in an inn. 
 
 Why should this earth delight us so ? 
 
 Why should we fix our eyes 
 On these low grounds where sorrows grow, 
 
 And every pleasure dies ? 
 
 While time his sharpest teeth prepares 
 
 Our comforts to devour, 
 There is a land above the stars. 
 
 And joys above his power. 
 
 There we shall be dissolved and die. 
 
 The sun must end his race ; 
 The earth and sea for ever fly 
 
 Before my Saviour's face. 
 
 When will, that glorious morning rise ? 
 
 When the last trumpet sound, 
 And call the nations to the skiea 
 
 From underneath the ground ? 
 
MARCH 16. 83 
 
 We then that are strong, ought to bear the 
 infirmities of the weak, and not to please 
 ourselves, Rom. xv. 1. Considering thyself 
 lest thou also be tempted. Gal. v. 1. Who 
 art thou that judgest another rnan^s servant? 
 Rom. xiv. 4. 
 
 Extraordinary quickenings and strengthenings, 
 being often followed by particular temptations^ corj- 
 flicts and sufferings, require a particular watchful- 
 ness, if we would be earnest not to provoke the 
 Lord to visit us \yith sore punishments, for our 
 carelessness. Fear therefore, rejoice with trem- 
 bling, and secure thyself from falling, by temper- 
 ing thy joy with true humility and gentleness to- 
 wards the faults of others. 
 
 Be never so high-minded, O man ! at the miscar- 
 riages of others, as to think thou wouldst not do so, 
 should it happen to be thy case ; for if God does 
 not hold thee up himself, thou wilt surely make 
 greater mistakes. Therefore thou hadst better not 
 lock upon others, but upon thyself; and for fear of 
 falling, be continually watchful in prayer. A great 
 many would not have fallen so deep had they been 
 truly humble and more charitable in judging of oth- 
 ers. He who exalteth himself above others, and 
 does not bear with the weak, is sometimes humbled 
 and debased under the very weakest of all. Bear, 
 therefore, since God bears with thee ; and he that 
 bears most with others shows the greatest strfength. 
 
84 MARCH 17. 
 
 Thou art my rock and my fortress ; therefore for thy 
 name's sake lead me and guide me. Psal. xxxi. 4. 
 They shall come with weeping, and with supplica- 
 tions will Head thee : I will cause them to walk by 
 the rivers of waters in a straightway, tvherein they 
 shall not stumble : for I am a father to Israel. 
 Jer. xxxi. 9. 
 
 He that comes in this manner, will certainly be 
 led of God. Na»', O Lord, 1 am blind, and heartily 
 desire also to be directed by thee alone in all my 
 ways and steps, in great and little things. Suffer 
 me never to follow my own spirit and natural incli- 
 nations, whatever good appearance they may have. 
 Be pleased to cross them continually, and give me 
 grace to resist the least motions of self-will also 
 without delay, that nothing may overcome and 
 cause me afterwards an invincible or even a sorer 
 conflict. 
 
 Thou art my portion, O my God, 
 
 Soon as 1 know thy way. 
 My heart makes haste to obey thy word, 
 
 And suffers no delay. 
 If once I wander from thy path, 
 
 I think upon my ways, 
 Then turn my feet to thy commands, 
 
 And trust thy pard'ning grace. 
 Now I am thine, for ever thine, 
 
 O save thy servant Lord : 
 Thou art my shield, my hiding-place, 
 
 My hope is in thy word. 
 Thou hast inclin'd this heart of mine 
 
 Thy statutes to fulfil ; 
 And thus till mortal life shall end, 
 
 Would I perform thy T^^ill. 
 
MARCH 18. 85 
 
 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is 
 stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee. Trust 
 ye in the Lord for ever ; for in the Lord Jehovah 
 is everlasting strength. Isa. xxvi. 3, 4. Let him 
 take hold of my strength, that he may make peace 
 with me, and he shall make peace with me. Chap, 
 xxvii. 6. 
 
 To enjoy an undisturbed peace, great care is to 
 be taken that we do not look and depend upon any 
 thing in ourselves, since all is but imperfect, and 
 ever will be so. We are to trust only in the Lamb 
 of God, which takes away the sin of the world, to 
 feed our souls continually in this gospel of peace, 
 and be ever watchful, faithful, quiet, and humble ; 
 for we never loose any thing of our peace, except 
 it is stolen by some pride, or other unguarded af- 
 fections. 
 
 Hence from my soul, sad thoughts, begone, 
 
 And leave me to my joys ; 
 My tongue shall triumph in my God, 
 
 And make a joyful noise. 
 Darkness and doubts have veil'd my mind, 
 
 And drown'd my head in tears, 
 Till sov'reign grace with shining rays 
 
 Dispeird my gloomy fears. 
 Oh, what immortal joys I felt, 
 
 And raptures all divine, 
 When Jesus told me I was his, 
 
 And my beloved mine. 
 In vain the tempter frights my soul. 
 
 And breaks my peace in vain ; 
 One glimpse, dear Saviour, of thy face, 
 
 Revives ray joys again. 
 8 
 
86 MARCH 19. 
 
 With his stripes ive are healed, Isa. liii. 5. 
 
 O mighty Saviour, preserve me, the weakest of 
 all thy members, in the invincible fortress of thy 
 wounds, till I am perfectly whole and fitted to live 
 with thee eternally. It shall be ever my favourite 
 song ; I am Christ and his wounds. I am nothing ; 
 he is my all. In myself I am unclean, yea, abom- 
 inably filthy ; but in him, all is covered and made 
 acceptable and lovely like himself. Therefore his 
 cross is my only glory and resting place. 
 
 Here at thy cross, my dying God, 
 1 lay my soul beneath thy love, 
 
 Beneath the droppings of thy blood, 
 Jesus, nor shall it e'er remove. 
 
 Should worlds conspire to drive me hence, 
 Moveless and firm this heart should lie ; 
 
 Resolv'd, (for that's my last defence) 
 If I must perish, there to die. 
 
 But speak, my Lord, and calm my fear, 
 Am I not safe beneath thy shade *? 
 
 Thy vengeance will not strike me here. 
 Nor Satan dares my soul invade. 
 
 Yes, I'm secure beneath thy blood, 
 
 And all my foes should loose their aim : 
 
 Hosannah to my dying God, 
 
 And my beet honours to his name. 
 
MARCH 20. 87 
 
 Thou shalt have no inheritance in her land, nei- 
 ther shah thou have any part among them. 
 I am thy part and thine inheritance. Numb, 
 xyiii. 20. 
 
 Who has and loves the Lord Jesus, finds unspeak- 
 ably more delight, honour, and riches in him, than 
 in ail other things. Then all is willingly denied 
 for his sake, and this denial, springs from faith. 
 Now, O Lord! thou art my all, also ; and to draw 
 near to thee is my greatest happiness. This shall 
 be my treasure and portion, that thou lovest me, 
 and I love thee eternally, and keep thy statutes. 
 
 Lord, what a thoughtless wretch was I 
 To mourn, and murmer, and repine, 
 
 To see the wicked plac'd on high. 
 In pride and robes of honour shine. 
 
 But, O their end, their dreadful end 1 
 
 Thy sanctuary taught me so : 
 On slipp'ry rocks I see them stand, 
 
 And fiery billow.s roll below. 
 
 Now let them boast how tall they rise, 
 
 I'll never envy them again ; 
 There they may stand with haughty eyes, 
 
 Till they plunge deep in endless pain. 
 
 Now I esteem their mirth and wine 
 Too dear to purchase with my blood : 
 
 Lord, 'tis enough that thou art mme, 
 My life, my portion, and my God. 
 
88 MARCH 21. 
 
 Make haste to kelp me, O God of my salvation, Psal. 
 xxxviii. 22. Say unto my soul, lam thy salvation. 
 XXXV. 3. Divine Answer. Fear not, for I am with 
 thee ; he not dismayed, for I am thy God : I will 
 strengthen thee; yea-, I will help thee; yea, I will 
 uphold thee with the right hand of my righteous- 
 ness. For I the Lord thy God ivill hold thy right 
 hand, and thou shalt rejoice in the Lord, and shalt 
 glory in the holy one of Israel. Isa. xli. 10,13, 16. 
 
 This shows that believers are not always without 
 fear, yet it is much better for theni, than presump- 
 tion. Many of the primitive Christians presented 
 themselves to martyrdom, but shrunk at the trial : 
 Others were afraid to fall away, and yet went un- 
 dauntedly through the torments. This was the 
 case with many of the Bohemian brethren, who fre- 
 quently used to say, "The tortures should be their 
 breakfast, and the faggot-pile their dinner ; and 
 yet fell away also. And so. God always punishe^ 
 presumption. 
 
 God shall preserve my soul from fear, 
 
 Or shield me when afraid : 
 Ten thousaud angels must appear 
 
 If he con^mands their aid. 
 
 I cast my burdens on the Lord, 
 
 The Lord sustains them all ; 
 My courage rests upon his word, 
 
 That saints shall never fall. 
 
 My highest hopes shall not be vain, 
 My lips shall spread his praise : 
 
 While cruel and deceitful men, 
 Scarce live out half their days. 
 
MARCH 22. 89 
 
 j^uery mart that striveth for the mastery is temper- 
 Qie in, all things ; now they do it to obtain a cor- 
 ruptahle crown^ and uie an incorrnptahle. 1 Cor. 
 ix. 25. For, He that overcometh shall inherit all 
 tjf,ings. Rev. xxi. 7. 
 
 To be. only an almost Christian, is a very hard 
 thing ; but to be a Christian altogether, makes all 
 easy and pleasant. And such as desire to have the 
 whole Christ, his whole salvation and all that is his, 
 must needs give themselves up to him, not only in 
 part, but wholly again according to that fundamen- 
 tal and most reasonable rule, " All for all." And as 
 far as we deny him any thing, we make ourselves 
 unhappy ; but the more we are resigned to him, 
 the more we are fit to enjoy him and his spiritual 
 blessings. 
 
 Many would sooner be persuaded to followChrist, 
 if it was enough to serve him by halves, and reserve 
 some things to themselves. But what could that 
 profit them ? Christ will not be bargained with ; 
 and nothing more dangerous than the dividing our 
 hearts between him and the world, or waiting from 
 time to time for a more convenient season to break 
 tjirough. Thus you may live many years, and be 
 neither cold nor hot ; and so at last be spewed out 
 of the Lord's mouth. Consider this well, O ye 
 double minded, luliewarm souls! Christianity re- 
 quires great striving and overcoming all things even 
 our most favourite and darlings lusts. Rouse, there- 
 fore, thy drowsy heart ; spare thyself no longer ; 
 rise above the trifles of this world ; fight the good 
 fight of faith, and lay liold on eternal life, where- 
 \jnto thou art called. 
 
 8* 
 
90 MARCH 23. 
 
 A new commandment give I unto you, that y^ 
 love one another; as I have loved yon, that 
 ye also love one another, John, xiii. 34. 
 
 All commandments of God, are commandmentg 
 of love, tending to our real good and great happi- 
 ness, far from being grievous to those who have 
 faith and love ; the practice therefore is life and 
 peace. The world may think it a grievous burden y 
 but this is a great mistake indeed. Sin is grievous. 
 In hatred, envy, anger, revenge, pride, there is no- 
 thing but torment and slavery ; but in love, there 
 is a sweet rest and pleasure. Thus a sinner always 
 punishes himself, and is robbed of great peace and 
 blessings by transgressing the commandments of' 
 God. 
 
 Saviour, look down with pitying eyes, 
 
 Our jarring wills control : 
 Let cordial, kind affection rise, 
 
 And harmonize the soul. 
 
 Subdue in us the carnal mind, 
 
 Its enmity destroy ; 
 With cords of love the old adam bind, 
 
 And melt him into joy. 
 
 Us into closest union draw, 
 
 And in our inward parts 
 Let kindness sweetly write her law, 
 
 Let love command our hearts. 
 
MARCH 24. 9J 
 
 One thing is needful And Mary has chosen 
 that good part, which shall never be taken 
 away from her, Luke x. 42. 
 
 We must not pretend to serve God with only go- 
 ing to church and doing other acts of outward de- 
 votion ; whilst we are dead and cold, our religion 
 is vain, Who first by faith, seeks grace from the 
 words of Christ, like Mary, is served by Christ, and 
 this constrains him to serve him and his neighbour 
 readily again. It is almost impossible for such, to 
 go on in haughtiness, envy, hatred, and disobedi- 
 ence. Grace and faith will resist it, and makes 
 them lowly, gentle, willing, obedient, active, with- 
 out relying on any works of their own. 
 
 He that obtains Christ, the one thing needful, re- 
 ceives with him all the rest, and has no more need 
 to be troubled about many things. He being our all, 
 we can always hve happy, whereas the children of 
 this world must always be cumbered and divided be- 
 tween fears and hopes about their fate. In vanity 
 we shall never find this good part ; neither is there 
 any salvation in the works of the law. Faith alone 
 takes hold of it. And whoever withdraws his heart 
 and senses from the noise and bustle of this world, 
 and quietly looks for salvation in the wounds of 
 Christ, the blessed fountains of blood and w;ater, 
 will certainly find it his better part. 
 
92 MARCH 25. 
 
 Purgeme with hyssop and I shall be clean, washing 
 and I shall he whiter than snow. Psal. li. 7. Hide 
 thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniqui- 
 ties ; ver. 2. Though your sins, be as scarlet, they 
 shall be as white as snow ; though they be red like 
 crimson, they shall be as wool. Isa. i. 18. I have- 
 blotted out as a thick cloud-, thy transgressions , 
 and as a cloud thy sins. Return unto me, for I. 
 have redeemed thee. Chap. xliv. 22. 
 
 We must not keep away from Christ on account 
 of our stumbhngs and manifold faults, if we will 
 not come under the law again ; but by humbling 
 ourselves directly, we are tp crave pardon in his 
 blood: By delaying this, our case will be worse. 
 But the sooner it is done, the sooner we shall be 
 forgiven. The Lord not imputing those sins to us, 
 which are sincerely repented of, our soul returns to 
 its rest again. And instead of falling into carnal 
 security (assome may think) it will rather strength- 
 en our faith and make us more confident. Hasten,' 
 therefore, and come as soon and as well as thoo" 
 canst. He will receive thee, if thou couldst bui^ 
 creep. 
 
 O Lord, I fall before thy face 
 
 My only refuge is thy grace ; 
 
 No bleeding beast, nor flood, nor sea 
 
 Can wash the dismal stain away. 
 
 Jesus, my God, thy blood alone, 
 Has power sufficient to atone : 
 Thy blood can make me white as snow ; 
 No Jewish types could cleanse me so. 
 
MARCH 26. 93 
 
 Deliver us from evil. Matt. vi. 13. Divine answer. 
 Fear not for I have redeemed thee : I have called 
 thee hy thy name, thou art mine. When thou pas- 
 sest through the waters, I ivill be with thee, and 
 through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee : 
 When thou ivulkest titrovgh the fire thou shalt not 
 be burnt ; jieither shall the flame kindle upon thee. 
 Isa. xliii. 1, 2. Christ has, by his owi(i blood, once 
 entered into the holy place, having obtained eter- 
 nal redemption for us. Heb. ix. 12. 
 
 This redemj3tion, is the ground that we are de- 
 livered daily, and at last shall be delivered from all 
 evil. Who loathes and detests not only the evil of 
 punishment, but especially the evil of sin itself, and 
 so earnestly pants after the Redeemer, has faith al- 
 ready, and sin has lost its dominion. And though 
 he may be tempted with it severely, yet he is under 
 the law no more ; for the reigning power of sin be- 
 ing broke, the law has lost its condemning power 
 also, and we may be sure of a continual, nay, eter- 
 nal redemption. We may often feel the evil, but 
 j)e as often delivered from it also. 
 
 Thy solemn vows are on me, Lord, 
 
 Thou shalt receive thy praise : 
 ril sing, " How faithful is thy word ; 
 
 " How righteous all thy ways." 
 
 Thou hast secur'd my soul from death, 
 
 O set thy pris'ner free ! 
 That heart and hand, and life and breath, 
 
 May be employ'd for thee, 
 
94 MARCH 27. 
 
 Stir up the gift of God which is in thee, Tim. 
 i. 6. Psal. Ixii. 2. Sam. vii. 18, 28. 
 
 How can this be done ? Answer. By looking as 
 well upon thy own great poverty and wants, as 
 upon the riches of grace, which is in Christ for thee, 
 and. so drawing near to God, through him in faith. 
 But it is not enough to do this once for all, or now 
 and then only. It is to be thy daily work. One 
 day's omission may greatly hurt thy soul. Espe- 
 cially the morning hours are very proper for this 
 purpose. These must directly be laid hold on to 
 converse with God in prayers, before we meddle 
 with' any thing else in our business, though ever so 
 needful and important, for fear of being entangled 
 arid distracted, perhaps, the whole day. And to 
 gather the more strength, draw as near to Christ as 
 possible, and even wrestle with him, as if it was the 
 last time. Pour out thy whole heart before him ; 
 not giving over too soon ; but be instant in thy sup- 
 plication, at least with continual inward groanings, 
 till thy heart burns within thee, and thou feelest the 
 quickning influence of his grace and Spirit. Then 
 great care is to be taken to preserve this blessing 
 and strength in a quiet and well composed mind, 
 examining thyself frequently, especially at nights, 
 how the day has been spent. 
 
 I'll lift my hands, I'll raise my voice, 
 While I have breath to pray or praise ; 
 
 This work shall make my heart rejoice.. 
 And spend the remnant of my days. 
 
MARCH 28. 95 
 
 Vanity of vanities, all is vanity. Eccles. i. 2. 
 
 Not only foolish doings in state and trade, and 
 other filthy cares and pleasures are vain-; but great 
 knowledge and sciences also, in which we aim only 
 at our own glory ; and even the most specious 
 works, unless they are done in Christ from the right 
 principle of faith and love, fall under this denomi- 
 nation. 
 
 Man has a soul of vast desires, 
 He burns within with restless fires : 
 Toss'd to and fro, his passions fly 
 From vanity to vanity. 
 
 In vain on earth we hope to find 
 Some solid good to fill the mind : 
 We try new pleasures, but we feel 
 The inward thirst and torment still. 
 
 So when a raging fever burns, 
 
 He shifts from side to side by turns ; 
 
 And 'tis a poor relief to gain, 
 
 To change the place but keep the pain. 
 
 Great God ! subdue this vicious thirst, 
 This love of vanity and dust : 
 Cure this wild fever of the mind, 
 And feed our souls with joys refiri'dl 
 
96 MARCH 29. 
 
 It is good that a man should both hope, and quietly 
 wait for the salvation of the Lord. It is good that 
 he bear the yoke in his youth. Lam. iii. 26, 27. 
 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ 
 in God. When Christ, who is your life-, shall ap- 
 jtear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. 
 Col. iii. 3, 4. In rest shall ye be saved, in quiet' 
 ness shall be your strength. Isa. xxx. 15. 
 
 Lord, I stand in continual need of thy help ; but 
 thy desire to help me is greater than mine own. 
 For it is said, ' ' I will not turn away from them, yea, 
 I will rejoice over them, to do them good." Jer, 
 xxxii. 40, 41. O give me but faith and patience 
 to wait for thy help, which always comes in the 
 best season. 
 
 I to my God my ways commit, 
 
 And cheerful wait his will : 
 Thy hand, which guides my doubtful feet, 
 
 fchall my desires fulfil. 
 
 Mine innocence shalt thou display, 
 And make thy judgments known. 
 
 Fair as the light of dawning day, 
 And glorious as the noon. 
 
 The meek at last the earth possess, 
 
 And are the heirs of heaven. 
 True riches with abundant peace, 
 
 To humble souls are given. 
 
MARCH 30. 97 
 
 The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared 
 to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness 
 and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, towards 
 ourselves ; righteously towards others, and godly 
 towards God, in this present world. Not only 
 hereafter in heaven. Tit. ii. 11, 12. 
 
 Some pretend to be very evangelical, and under 
 the colour of avoiding their own workings and le- 
 gal doings, fall into dangerous excesses and licen- 
 tiousness. But true evangelical grace lays a strict 
 restraint on all our sensual lusts, and prevents us 
 from sliding out either into the broad way of the 
 world, or into spiritual pride ; real grace making 
 us humble, careful, and serious. 
 
 It is not lawful for Christians to enjoy the pleas- 
 ures of the world. They have nothing to do with 
 its dancings, plays, and other carnal sports and 
 jokes. This would dry up their spirit, and be quite 
 inconsistent with the cross of Christ, and the char- 
 acter of the militant church. Does not dancing 
 and gaming belong to the lust of the world? Is not 
 this plainly forbidden here? Can it then be any 
 thing but sin ? Couldst thou pray and die in such 
 a disposition ? Surely not. Will not the noise of 
 the company follow thee into thy closet, and make 
 thee unfit for prayers, even a good while after? 
 And what comfort dost thou hope to draw from 
 these pleasures in the hour of death ? 
 
 Almighty God, turn off their eyes 
 From these alluring vanities ; 
 And let the thunder of thy word, 
 Awake their souls to fear the Lord. 
 9 
 
98 MARCH 31. 
 
 It is enough now, O Lord, talce away my life, 
 1 Kings, xix. 4. Divine answer. Mine hour 
 is not yet come, John, xi. 4. 
 
 Here I offer myself, O Lord, to thy own dispo- 
 sal, without exception, to work, to suffer, to live, 
 and to die, as thou thinkest fit. Receive me and 
 my household as thy property. Let us be used 
 as instruments in thy hands, to be employed where, 
 how, and to what purpose thou pleasest. I do not 
 desire to have any power over myself; I know it 
 would be only to my great disadvantage and vex- 
 ation, whereas I can be easy, and may firmly be- 
 lieve, that all will go well with me, and I shall at 
 last be saved eternally, if I am entirely surrendered 
 to thee. 
 
 Behold thy waiting servant, Lotd, 
 
 Devoted to thy fear ; 
 Remember and confirm thy word, 
 
 For all my hopes are there, 
 
 Hast thou not writ salvation down, 
 And promis'd quick'ning grace ? 
 
 Doth not my heart address thy throne 1 
 And yet thy love delays. 
 
 Mine eyes for thy salvation fail, 
 
 O bear thy servant up ; 
 Nor let the scoflfiing lips prevail, 
 
 Who dare approach my hope. 
 
 Didst thou not raise my faith, O Lord ? 
 
 Then let thy truth appear : 
 Saints shall rejoice in my reward, 
 
 And trust as well as fear. 
 
APRIL J. 99 
 
 It is finished, J.ohn, xix. 30. 
 
 O Lord, sufFer me never to be lulled into a false 
 rest, till all be finished. But grant that by true 
 faith I may always take up my abode and resting 
 place in wounds, and most perfect work on the 
 cross ; since I want nothing more than always to 
 know myself justified in thee. In thee I am per- 
 fect already^ 
 
 I'll sing my Saviour's wondrous death ; 
 * H6 conquer'd when he fell : 
 'Tis finish'd, said his dying breath, 
 And shook the gates of hell. 
 
 'Tis finish'd, our Emanuel cries, 
 
 The dreadfiil work is done : 
 Hence shall his sov'reign throne arise> 
 
 His kingdom is begun. 
 
 *Twas for my sins, my dearest Lord 
 
 Hung on the cursed tree. 
 And groan'd away a dying life 
 
 For thee, my soul, for thee. 
 
 His cross a sure foundation laid 
 
 For glory and renown, 
 When through the regions of the dead 
 
 He pass'd, to reach the crown. 
 
100 APRIL 2. 
 
 Godforbidy that I should glory, save in the cross 
 of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world 
 is crucified unto me, and I unto the worlds 
 Gal. vi. 4. 
 
 A true believer has nothing to glory in, but 
 Christ only. Even in his very best performances 
 be will be often deeply humbled, and cry out, 
 Lord, enter not into judgment. And well he 
 may ; for the ground of our glory, comfort, and sal- 
 vation is not in works, but in Christ and the free 
 grace of God, who for his Son's sake, lays nothing 
 to our charge, but richly and daily covers and par- 
 dons all our iniquities. And thus we may always 
 be preserved in true rest and peace ; for the cross 
 of Christ is a true, solid, and unmoveable foun-s 
 dation. / 
 
 When I survey the wondrous cross 
 On which the Prince of glory died, 
 
 My richest gain I count but loss, 
 
 And pour contempt on all my pride. 
 
 Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast. 
 Save in the death of Christ my God : 
 
 All the vain things that charm me most, 
 I sacrifice them to his blood. 
 
 His dying crimson, like a robe, 
 Spreads o'er his body on the tree : 
 
 Then am I dead to all the globe, 
 And all the globe is dead to me. 
 
 Were the whole realm of nature mine, 
 That were a present far too small : 
 
 Love so amazing, so divine, 
 
 Demands my souU ixiiy life, my all. 
 
APRIL 3. 101 
 
 And they shall be unto you cities of refuge (these 
 are the wounds of Christ ;)yrow the avenger. 
 Numb. XXXV. 12. There we have a strong city, 
 salvation will God appoint for walls and bul- 
 warks. Isaiah, xxvi. 1. Therefore taJce heed of 
 coming without the borders of this your city of 
 refuge. 
 
 What is once done amiss cannot be altered any 
 more, neither can we, nor shall we make satisfac- 
 tion for it by particular degrees of grief and agonies. 
 This Christ has done already. Sometimes we are 
 hindered to lay hold on his atonement by subtle 
 pride and self-righteousness, and we had better to 
 accuse ourselves and to confess our guilt, but at the 
 same time to flee to the wounds of Christ, and to 
 offer the ransom of his blood for our trespasses to 
 the offended God. O Lord, grant that I may al- 
 ways look upon the debts of my sins as actually 
 paid and forgiven, and so always fight and conquer 
 them by faith. • 
 
 Jesus, the vision of thy face 
 
 Hath overpow'ring charms ! 
 Scarce, shall I feel death's cold embrace,. 
 
 If Christ be in my arms. 
 
 Then will you hear my heart-strings break, 
 
 How sweet my minutes roll ! 
 A mortal paleness on my cheek; 
 
 And glory in my soul. ' 
 
 9* 
 
102 APRIL 4. 
 
 He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take rooty 
 Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the 
 world with fruit, Isaiah, xxvi. 6. They shall again 
 take root downward and bear fruit upward. Chap^ 
 xxxvii. 3 1 . TAey shall bring forth fruit in old age ; 
 they shall be fat and flourishing. Psal. xcii. 14, 16. 
 Her leaf shall be green, and shall not be careful iii 
 the year of drought, neither shall cease from yield- 
 ing fruit. Jer. xvii. 8. 
 
 True evanganical Christians look upon them- 
 selves as the most barren trees, ever crying out, O 
 pny leanness ! my leanness ! Even before the judgr 
 ment-seat of Christ, they know no fruits. Matt. 
 XXV. 37,38, 39. The reason is, they are poor in 
 spirit, and are not pleased with their fruits, but 
 only with Christ. O Lord, grant that I may de- 
 sire not only earnestly, but singly also, to bring, 
 forth more fruits, that I may grow in fruitfulness 
 ^s I grow in years ; sq as to be ever green, and 
 never ceasing from yielding fruits in my old age, 
 fruits which may last to all eternity. 
 
 Lord 'tis a pleasant thing to stand 
 In grandens planted by thine hand : 
 Let me within thy courts be seen, 
 Like a young cedar fresh and green. 
 
 There grow thy saints in faith and love, 
 Blest with thy influence from above : , 
 Time, that does all things else impair. 
 Still makes them flourish strong and fair. 
 
 Laden with fruits of age, they show 
 The Lord is holy, just, and true : 
 None that attend his gates shall find 
 A God unfaithful or unkind. 
 
APRIL 5. 103 
 
 The breaker is come up before them ; theyha^ebroke 
 up and have passed through the gate, and their 
 king (as the author and finisher of faith) shall 
 jpass before them, and the Lord on the head of 
 them. Micah. ii. 13. Be of good cheer, I have 
 overcome the world. John, xvi. 33. Heb. xii. 1,2. 
 
 Sometimes the enemy seems to get an advantage 
 over us, but the battle is not over yet. At last thou 
 shalt have the victory, and carry the day for all that. 
 In hard struggles remember the power of Christ, 
 who in his resurrection broke through every thing. 
 With Mm thou canst also break through, and be 
 more than conquerer. Yea, in every conflict thou 
 canst be sure of the victory before landed ; for his 
 victory is thy victory also. It as impossible for 
 thine enemies to keep thee always in bonds and sub- 
 jection, as it was that Christ could be kept in the 
 grave, by the stone, seal, and keepers. Nay, the 
 greater their force is, the more glorious the farce 
 is, and the more glorious will be the victory, 
 
 Hosanna to our conqu'ring King! 
 
 The prince of darkness flies, 
 His troops rush headlong down to hell, 
 
 Like light'ning from the skies. 
 
 There, bound in chains, the lions roar, 
 
 And fright the rescu'd sheep ; 
 But heavy bars confine their power 
 
 And mahce to the deep. 
 
 Hosanna to the conqu'ring king! 
 
 All hail incarnate Love ! 
 Ten thousand sons and glories wait 
 
 To crown the hand above. 
 
104 APRIL 6. 
 
 But unto you that fear my name, shall the sun of 
 'righteousness arise with healing in his wings, and 
 he shall go forth-, and grow up as the caltes of the 
 stall. Mai. iv. 2. If thou wouldst believe, thou 
 shouldst see the glory of God. John, xi. 4Q. 
 Against hope we believe in hope. Rom. iv. 18. 
 
 He that pretends to see and comprehend every 
 thing before hand, with his own natural reason, 
 shuts his 6yes against the sun of righteousness, and 
 can never learn to see 'rightly by faith. This is 
 downright unbelief f and unbelief is the source of 
 all sins, though it is hardly believed. Hundreds be- 
 ing asked, whether they are in faith, they will all an- 
 swer in the affirmative, though thereis not so much 
 as the least beginning of it; since they are without 
 the necessary hunger and thirst after righteousness : 
 they want that broken heart to which the Lord has 
 ^vdn the promise of faith alone; neither have they 
 eVfer prayed Ibr it earnestly : whereas, Luther, and' 
 ail t»ther' faithful witnesses, say, '* we must needs 
 first ardently jyray to God for faith, else we shall be 
 faithless to all eternity." But this done, we may 
 say, Lord, I have long prayed, and am still praying 
 for faith, consequently I am in the same. 
 
 Our guilty souls are drown'd in tears 
 'Till Christ's atoning blood apj^ears ;' 
 Then we awake from deep distress, 
 Anxl sino the Lord our righteousness. 
 
 Our very frame is mix'd with sin, 
 His spirit makes our natures clean : 
 Such virtues froni his suff'rings flow, 
 At once to cleanse and pardon too. 
 
APRIL 7. \0b 
 
 Jjet your moderation he known unto all men. 
 Phil. iv. 5. For Charity, that is love, edifi- 
 eth, 1 Cor. viii. 1. 
 
 If thou rebukest others, and wouldst have them 
 to be Hke thee, thou oughtest to examine thyself 
 first, whether it flows from a blind party-zeal, im- 
 patience and self will, or from a true' principle of 
 love ; and \Yhether thou art also much in prayers 
 for them, both before and after. Who lays the 
 Jong-sufferings of God truly to heart, and considers 
 how gently he has treated him, and still treats him, 
 like the weakest child, must needs be moderate also 
 towards all men, and think, " if nobody would bear 
 with others, sqrely I must:" he must always pray, 
 *.' Lord ! give me the right spirit of meekness, tot 
 show all leriity to my fellow-christians." 
 
 Watch o'er my lips, and guard them, Lord} 
 From ev'ry rash and heedless word ! 
 Ner let my feet incline 'to tread 
 The guilty path where simiers lead. 
 
 O may the righteous, when I stray, 
 Smite and reprove my wand'ring way ! 
 Their gentle words, like ointment shed, 
 Shall never bruise, but cheer my head. 
 
 When I behold them prest with grief, 
 rU cry to heav'n for their relief ; 
 And by my warm petitions prove 
 IJow much I prize their faithful lore. 
 
106 APRIL 8. 
 
 Put thou my tears into thy bottles ; are they not in 
 ■ thy hook ?.' Psal. vi. 9. Divine Answer. They that 
 sow in tears ^ shall reap in joy. He .that goes 
 forth and weeps ^ bearing precious seed, shall 
 doubtless come again with rejoicing-, bringing his 
 sheaves with him. Psal. cxxvi. 5, 6. 
 
 If thou canst reap, yet sing the hymns of joy 
 and triumph, remember that this belongs more to 
 \he future than to this present world. Hefe sor- 
 row and faith can be united. Thine enemies have 
 not left and given thee over yet. There is no re- 
 treat from the field of battle, before the hour of 
 death. Let this be a cheer to thine impatient 
 heart. But must thou be humbled under the sense 
 of thy misery, so as to fight, groan, aud weep very 
 often ; consider that this is the very seed for eter- 
 nity. Not a single tear and groan will be lost. They 
 are all in the book of the Lord. 
 
 God counts the sorrows of his saints, 
 
 Their groans affect his ears ; 
 He has a book for their coniplaints, 
 
 A bottle for their tears. 
 
 The Lord can clear the darkest skies, 
 
 Can give us day for ni^ht, 
 Make drops of sacred sorrow rise 
 
 To rivers of delight. 
 
 Let those that sow in sadness wait 
 
 "Till the fair harvest come ; 
 They shall confess their sheaves are great. 
 
 And shout the blessings home. 
 
APRIL 9. 107 
 
 Flee from sin f as thou toouldst flee from a serpent; 
 for if thou comest near it, it will sting thee. 
 Eccles. xxi. 2, 3. Narrow is the way that lead- 
 etkunto life. Matt. vii. 14. Therefore, follow 
 holiness, in this way, without which no man shall 
 see the Lord. Heb. xii 14. 
 
 This advice properly belongs to staints and true 
 believers ; for even these have need still to be 
 warned against sin and stirred up to more holiness. 
 How dangerous then must be the condition, and 
 what will become of those, who have not followed 
 holiness at ail, but followed only the love of money, 
 pleasures, and honours, and made a mock of tjoli- 
 ness. These go the broad way indeed, whatever 
 moral honesty they may seem to have ; for it is a 
 true saying " either a saint or a beast," and conse- 
 quently a brand of hell. 
 
 Ye sons of ADAM, vain and young, ... 
 
 Indulge your eyes, indulge your tongue, 
 
 Taste the delights your souls desire. 
 
 And give a loose to all your 6re. 
 
 Pursue the pleasure you design, ., . ^ 
 
 And cheer your hearts with songs and wine, 
 
 Enjoy the day of mirth, but know 
 
 There is a day of jud-gftient too. 
 
 God from dn hig'h beholds your thoughts. 
 
 His book records your secret faults, 
 
 The works of darkness you have done 
 
 Must all appear before the sun. 
 
 The vengeance of your follies due .r • ; .j., 
 
 Should strike your hearts with terror through, 
 
 How will you stand before bis face, 
 
 Or answer for his injur'd grace ? 
 
log APRIL 10; 
 
 Lead us not into temptation. Matt. vi. 13. Diving 
 answer. God is faithful, who will not suffer yoU 
 to he tempted above what ye are able, but will with 
 the temptation also make a way to escape ^ that ye 
 may be able to bear it. 1 Cor. x. 13. Psal. Ixvii. 
 i. Compared with the beautiful words, Eccls. 
 i. 13* 
 
 The nearer to heaven, the higher the mountains^ 
 the deeper the vallies, and the sharper the conflicts* 
 But be npt discouraged ! itjs only for the trial of 
 faith. God gives also more strength, carrieth us 
 through all, as he has done from the beginning, and 
 suffers none to be ashamed who trust in him. Some- 
 limes we may seem to be tempted above measure, 
 and are afraid of being confounded ; but far froni 
 it, it is quite impossible we should. Here thoii 
 hast the plain words of the Lord. Take hold on 
 them, and wait his time ; for since tlie world stands^ 
 no one has been confounded in any thing who has 
 waited for his promise ; and surely he will not 
 make thee the first instance of the failure of his 
 word ; by no means. Phil. i. 10. ha. liv. 10. 
 Rather should the mountains depart, and the hills 
 be removed, says the Lord, that hath mercy on thee* 
 
 Our God, how firm his promise stands, 
 
 Even when he hides his face ! 
 He trusts in our Redeemer's hands 
 
 His glory and his grace. 
 
 Then why, my soul, these sad coraplaints. 
 
 Since Christ and we are one ? 
 Thy God is faithful to his saints, 
 
 !• faithful to hii Son. 
 
APRIL 11. 109 
 
 O satisfy us early with thy mercy . Psal. xc. 14. 
 
 God's answer. Open thy mouth wide, and Iwilljill 
 
 i7. Psal. Ixxxi. 10. For, my people shall be satis- 
 Jied with my goodness. Jer. xxxi. 14. The river of 
 
 God is full ofivater, Psal. Ixv. 9. With joy shall 
 
 we draw water out of the wells of salvation. Isa. 
 
 xii. 13. This is the fountain opened for sin and 
 
 uncleanness. Zech. xlii. 
 
 O, soul ! keep close to the gospel ; there is the ful- 
 ness here spoken of; food and raiment, and every 
 thing in plenty. Let not the law hinder thee from 
 eating, drinking, rejoicing, and adorning thyself. 
 Isa. Iv. 1, 2, 10-12. The law as one justly observes, 
 brings in a great bill, but nothing wherewith to dis- 
 charge it. It sets the soul a working, but so as to ne- 
 glect the proper nourishments necessary for it. No 
 wonder, therefore, that she is destitute of sufficient 
 strength, that she faints and comes never to the right 
 mark. There is no such thing as nniaking amends by 
 the law ; we must go directly to Christ, and receive 
 first the strength and grace required, out of his ful- 
 ness, by faith. 
 
 Let every mortal ear attend, 
 
 And every heart rejoice, 
 The trumpet of the gospel sounds 
 
 With an inviting voice. 
 Rivers of love and mercy here 
 
 In a rich ocean join ; 
 Salvation in adundance flows, 
 
 Like floods of milk and wine. 
 The happy gates of Gospel grace 
 
 Stand open night and day ; 
 Lord, we are come to seek supphes, 
 
 And drive our wants away. 
 10 
 
110 APRIL 12. 
 
 Fear noU daughter of Zion. John, xii. 15. But re- 
 joice greatly and shout-, O daughter of Jerusalem^ 
 Behold thy king comes unto thee ; he is just and 
 having salvation. Zech. ix. 9. For the Lord has 
 taken away thy judgments ^ he has cast out thine 
 enemy; the king of Israel, even the Lord, is in 
 th£ midst of thee ; thou shalt not see evil any more. 
 Zeph. iii. 16. Behold they shall surely gath£r to- 
 gether hit not by me. Whosoever shall gather to- 
 gether against thee, shall fall for thy sake. Isa. 
 liv. 16. Let them return unto thee, but return not 
 thou unto them. Jer. xv. 19. 
 
 How strong soever thine inward enemies, thy 
 corruptions, may be now, fear not and be not dis- 
 couraged. So much the more, saith faith, thy king 
 is bound by his office, love, and promise, to help' 
 and assist thee with strength to overcome : and 
 thus, as the ancients said, shall even the hardships 
 of a Christian, under his corruptions, be rewarded 
 with a crown. O Lord, grant that I may be always 
 faithful and resolute enough not to spend needlessly 
 too much time in one conflict, but directly putting 
 on the armour of faith, I may soon conquer, press 
 forward, and experience thee every hour, as a 
 mighty King and Saviour. 
 
 My Lord, my conqu'ror, and my king, 
 
 Thy sceptre and thy sword I sing ; 
 Thine is the vict'ry, and I sit, 
 
 A joyful subject at thy feet. 
 Great Prophet, let me bless thy name ; 
 
 By thee the joyful tidings came, 
 Of wrath appeas'd, or sins forgiven. 
 
 Of hell subdued, and peace with heaven. 
 
APRIL 13. Ill 
 
 Thou shaltnot he afraid of them, hut shall well 
 remember what the Lord thy God did unto 
 Pharaoh, and unto all Egypt, Deut. vii. 18. 
 Be ye not terrified because of them, for the 
 Lord your God is he that goes with you, to 
 Jig ht for you against your enemies, to save you. 
 Chap. XX. 3, 4. Hitherto shalt thou come, and 
 no farther, and here shall thy proud waves be 
 stayed. Job, xxxviii. 11. 
 
 The assaults of original sin will ever return, and 
 we must not be suprised, when one conflict is over, 
 that another arises. This contest is unavoidable, 
 for the enemy is within us. It makes us more care- 
 ful and humble to know this, than if we believe 
 that we had only to encounter with sin from with- 
 out and not from within ; and if we desire to feel 
 less evil in us than God suffers us to have, we may 
 look to it, whether it proceeds not sometimes from 
 pride and impatience, that we wished to get rid of 
 the trouble of striving always against sin ; where- 
 as it should be enough for us, that God suffers it, 
 lays it not U> our charge, and carries us through all 
 dangers. * 
 
 Let the redeemed of the Lord. 
 The wonders of his grace record ; 
 Israel, the nation whom he chose, 
 And rescued from their mighty foes. 
 
 He feeds and clothes us all the way ; 
 He guides our footsteps lest we stray ; 
 He guards us with a powerful hand, 
 And brings us to the heavenly land. 
 
112 APRIL 14. 
 
 Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of 
 Israel, the Saviour! Isa. xlv. 15. Ail the paths of 
 the Lord are mercy and truth. Psal. xxv. 10. The 
 Lord of hosts is iconderful in counsel and excellent 
 in working. Isa. xxviii. 29. 
 
 G©d is wonderful in all his doings, his ways are 
 past finding out, at the end we can see best what 
 wise and gracious steps he took with us. There- 
 fore, when things take such a wonderful turn that 
 we are quite at our wits end, and do not know 
 which way to go, we piay beheve the hand of the 
 Lord IS in it, and some good will come of it at last. 
 As we experience the name of Christ to be won- 
 derful at such times, we may well expect that he 
 will show himself to be our counsellor, and a migh- 
 ty God also. At first every thing may seem to be 
 against us and quite contrary ; but at last we see 
 plainly, that it was highly and needful it should go 
 contrary to our corrupt nature, ^and that thus it 
 went well. For though the ways of God are mar- 
 vellous, yet they are glorious. 
 
 Lord v/e adore thy vast designs, 
 
 The obscure abyss of providence, 
 Too deep to sound with mortal lines, 
 
 Too dark to view with feeble sense. 
 Now thou array'st thine awful face 
 In angry frowns without a smile : 
 We through the cloud believe thy grace, 
 
 Secure of thy compassion still. 
 Dear Father, if thy lifted rod 
 
 Resolve to scourge us here below, 
 Still we must lean Upon our God, 
 
 Thine arm shall bear us safely through. 
 
APRIL 15. 113 
 
 Verily he hath home our griefs and carried our sor- 
 rows ; yet we did esteem him stricken-, smitten of 
 God, and afflicted : but he was wounded for our 
 transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities ; 
 the chastisement of our peace was laid upon him, 
 (as upon the Lamb of God that takes away the 
 sins of the world,) and with his stripes we are 
 healed. Isa. liii. 4, 5. Thus Christ our passover 
 is sacrificed for us. 1 Cor. v. 7. 
 Under a continual sense of our misery, we must 
 have our eyes of faith immoveably fixed upon 
 Christ the Lamb of God, and believe ourselves to 
 be ever justified and healed by his stripes ; contin- 
 ually saying, this sin and this punishment is also 
 taken away. In Christ, I am without sin, and need 
 not fear the least condemnation at all. This keeps 
 us in peace. O Lord help us, for as yet we are but 
 weak babes. 
 
 How condescending and how kind 
 
 Was God's eternal son ; 
 Our misery reach'd his heavenly mind, 
 
 And pity brought him down. 
 When justice, by our sins provoked, 
 
 Drew forth its dreadful sword, 
 He gave his soul up to the stroke. 
 
 Without a murm'ring word. 
 Now we receive repeated seals 
 
 Of Jesus' dying love : 
 Hard is the wretch that never feels 
 
 One soft affection move. 
 Oh, let our hearts begin to melt. 
 
 While we his death record. 
 And, with our joy for pardon'd guilt, 
 Mourn that we pierc'd the Lord. 
 10* 
 
APRIL 1^. 
 
 Hemember me, O my God, for good. Neh. xiii. 31. 
 Divine answer. Is Ephraim my dear son? is 
 he a pleasant child ? For since 1 spake against 
 him, I do earnestly remember hhn still; therefore 
 m^y bowels are troubled for him; I will surely 
 have mercy uponhim. Jer. xxxi. 2 1. j4 book of re- 
 membrance was written before him, for them that 
 feared the Lord, and that thought vpon his name. 
 Mai. iii. 16, 17, 18. I know the thoughts which I 
 have toward you. Jer. xxix- 1 J . 
 
 As soon as I appear with my prayers before the 
 Lord, he writes all my petitions upon his book of 
 remembrance. Should 1 not pray much ? Yes, O 
 Lord, and though I have many things already upon 
 thy book, yet I will give thee occasion to write 
 down more and more every hour. Thus nothing 
 can be forgotten. All will be granted by him. De- 
 lays we must expect, but all shall be made up 
 with so much larger gifts, in due time, though the 
 best will be reserved for a blissful eternity. 
 
 Now let the Lord my Saviour smile, 
 And show my name upon his heart ; 
 
 I Avould forget my pains awhile. 
 And in the pleasure lose the smart. 
 
 My name is printed on his breast ; 
 
 His book of life contains my name : 
 I'd rather have it there impress'd, 
 
 Than in the bright records of fame. 
 
 When the vast fire burns all things here> 
 Those letters shall securely stand, 
 
 And in the Lamb's book fair appear. 
 Writ by the eternal Father's hand. 
 
APRIL 17. 115 
 
 O remember not against us former iniquities. Psal. 
 Ixxix. 8. The sins of our youth : Thus sins long 
 forgiven, may revive again in the heart. Forgive 
 us our trespasses as ive forgive thevi that trespass 
 against us. Matt. vi. 10. Divine answer. None 
 of his sins which he has committed shall be men- 
 tioned unto him. Ezek xxxiii 16. Who is a God 
 like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity and passes 
 by the transgression of ihe remnant of his heri- 
 tage ? He retaineth not his anger for ever, be- 
 cause he delights in mercy : He will have com- 
 passion upon us ; He will subdue our iniquities-, 
 and thou will cast all their sins into the depths of 
 the sea. Micah. vii. 18, 19. 
 
 The weakest Christian who is full of fears and 
 doubts, by sincerely praying the fifth petition of the 
 Lord's prayer, may be convinced that his sins are 
 actually pardoned ; for both the forgiveness and the 
 full assurance of it are comprehended in the same ; 
 and since he prays according to the will of God, and 
 forgives them that trespass against him, it shows that 
 the work ofsanctification is begun in his heart also ; 
 and though at present it be but very weak and im- 
 perfect, yet it evidences his faith ; and the Lord has 
 often used this evidence and still may use it, to con- 
 vince souls, for the first time, to be actually in faith 
 and a state of grace. Who can hinder him from do- 
 ing this, or even prove the contrary of it ? for this is 
 not making sanctification the foundation of the for- 
 giveness of sin ; but Christ is, and ever will be the 
 foundation of it, and a great difference there is be- 
 tween grounding myself upon something, and be- 
 tween trying my faith in a state of darkness and un- 
 certainty, by such marks as the Lord himself has 
 appointed. 
 
116 APRIL 18. 
 
 Remember from whence thou art fallen. Rev. i. 5. 
 
 When we have stumbled, it chiefly proceeded 
 from unbelief, therefore instead of disputing long 
 with ourselves, we must stir up our hearts so much 
 more to faith ; and before we go on, seek first with 
 a humble sense of our guilt and weakness, new 
 pardon and strength in Christ ; and afterwards 
 keep close and steadfastly to him also by faith, like a 
 weak child, to draw from him alone all necessary 
 virtues evermore. Thus we shall be preserved by 
 him from faUing again. 
 
 O could we call to mind the grace, 
 
 The glorious grace from which we fell ; 
 
 Live o'er again the ancient days, 
 
 And do the works thou lov'st so well ! 
 
 O that we might through thee repent, 
 And timely turn to thee and live ! 
 
 So should thy grace our doom prevent, 
 Thou wouldst abundantly forgive. 
 
 Before thou dost in vengeance come, 
 Our candlestick far off remove, 
 
 And fix the unalterable doom ; 
 O let us weep, believe, and love. 
 
 Call on us, by thy spirit call, 
 Yet once again our church restore, 
 
 Show us thy grace is over all. 
 And lift us up to fall no more. 
 
APRIL 19. 117 
 
 Escape for thy life, and hole not behind thee. 
 Gen. xix. 17. Be thou faithful unto death, and 
 I will give thee a crown of life. Rev. ii. 10. 
 
 When there is a fire, people in general run to 
 extinguish it and to save what they can : O that 
 we would all run so, to save our souls and the 
 souls of others from hell-fire, and to obtain the 
 crown of glory ! O, Lord, give us more zeal and 
 watchfulness, and suffer us not to stand still and 
 draw insensibly back to perdition ; but let "our 
 whole life be a continual preparation to meet our 
 blessed bridegroom. Amen and Amen. 
 
 The fulness of eternal bliss 
 
 We shall from thee receive above, 
 
 This the reward of conquests, this 
 The crown of all victorious love. 
 
 Conquerer of sin, and hell, and death, 
 As thou the dreadful fight hast won, 
 
 And wearest now the immortal wreath ; 
 And sittest on thy father's throne. 
 
 So that thou grant to all that fight, 
 And conquer in thy mighty name, 
 
 To claim the kingdom as their right. 
 
 Their suft' 'rings and their crown the same. 
 
 Who bore thy cross shall wear thy crown, 
 
 Shall triumph in thy victory, 
 And in thy glorious throne sit down, 
 
 And reign in endless bliss with thee. 
 
118 APRIL 20. 
 
 My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes ob- 
 serve my ways, Prov. xxiii. 26. 
 
 By giving the whole, that is, thy heart, to the 
 Lord Jesus, not only every part of thy duty will 
 be facilitated, but whatever thou dost to his glory, 
 great or small, will be equally acceptable to him. 
 Therefore the language of a believer is, '' My Lord, 
 and my God, I am my beloved's, and my beloved is 
 mine, and his desire is towards me." Cant. vi. 3. 
 and vii. 10. Thou being mine, what can I want? 
 I being thine, how can I deny thee any thing ? 
 
 My worthless heart to gain, 
 
 The God of all that breathe 
 Was found in fashion as a man, 
 
 And died a cursed death. 
 
 And can I yet delay 
 
 My little all to give, 
 To tear my soul from earth away, 
 
 For Jesus to receive % 
 
 Nay, but I yield, I yield ! 
 
 I can hold out no more, 
 I sink, by dying love compell'd. 
 
 And own thee conquerer. 
 Come, and possess me whole, 
 
 Nor hence again remove : 
 Settle, and fix my wavering soul 
 
 With all thy weight of love. 
 My life, my portion, thou. 
 
 Thou all sufficient art. 
 My hope, my heavenly treasure, now, 
 
 Enter and keep my heart. 
 
APRIL 21. 119 
 
 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful, he 
 cannot deny himself. 2 Tim. ii. 13. Isa. 1. 7, 
 10. Chap. xlii. 3. Rom. x. 13. Blessed are 
 they who do hunger and thirst after righteous- 
 ness, for they shall be filled. Matt v. 6. 
 
 Whoever has such a hungering and thirsting 
 heart, desiring grace above all things, calling upon 
 the name of the Lord, and depending only upon 
 Christ, as a justifying faith already, and is in a state 
 of salvation, though as yet he has not the full assur- 
 ance of it. This is a fruit of the former, but it 
 is not always enjoyed so soon, nor constantly, at 
 least not without hard conflicts. 
 
 Jesus, if still the same thou art, 
 
 If all thy promises are sure, 
 Set up thy kingdom in my heart, 
 
 And make me rich, for I am poor ; 
 To me be all thy treasures given, 
 The kingdom of an inward heaven. 
 
 Where is the blessedness bestowed 
 
 On all that hunger after thee ? 
 I hunger now, I thirst for God 1 
 
 See, the poor fainting sinner, see, 
 And satisfy with endless peace, 
 And fill me with thy righteousness. 
 
 Lord, I believe the promise sure, 
 And trust thou wilt not long delay : 
 
 Hungry, and sorrowful, and poor, 
 Upon thy word myself I stay ! 
 
 Into thine hands my all resign, 
 
 And wait till ail thou art is mine. 
 
120 APRIL 22. 
 
 God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love where- 
 with he loved us, even when ive were dead in sins, 
 has quickened together with Christ, (by grace are 
 ye saved) and has raised us up together, and made 
 us sit together in heavenly places in Chtist Jesus. 
 Eph. ii. 4, 5, 6. 
 
 Christ being our head, who are his members, are 
 together with him dead, buried, raised up, and seat- 
 ed in heavenly places ; for he is the new Adam, and 
 has done all these things as our representative in 
 our stead, and for our good. Thus have 1 suffered 
 in thee, O my glorious head, for all my sms already. 
 I am discharged, I have no punishment to fear any 
 more. Thou hast fully answered the charge against 
 me, satisfied the infinite justice of God for me ; and 
 it is impossible with his equity and love, to require 
 a double payment of my debts. Consequently I 
 die no more, since thou canst die no more ; nay I 
 live already, and have my place with thee eternally 
 in heaven, since the head can, and will never part, 
 even with the weakest of his membeis, but influ- 
 ence and draw it after him wherever he goes. 
 O Lord we praise thee for thy Son, 
 Who join'd our nature to his own ; 
 Adam the second, from the dust, 
 Raises the ruins of the first. 
 By the rebellion of one man 
 Through all his seed the mischief ran : 
 And by one man's obedience now 
 Are rill his seed made righteous too. 
 When sin did reign and death abound, 
 There have the sons of Adam found 
 Abounding life ; there glorious grace 
 Reigns through the Lord our righteousness. 
 
APRIL 23. 121 
 
 God has made him to be sin for us, who knew nosing 
 that we might be made the righteousness of God 
 in him. 2 Cor. v. 2 1 . But to him that worketh not, 
 hut believeth on him that juHifes the ungodly, his 
 faith is counted for righteousness. Rom. iv. 5. 
 
 These are very sweet and precious words, to those 
 who look upon their own best virtues and performan- 
 ces by nature as sinful, arid upon their best condition 
 by grace, as extremely weak and imperfect. How 
 comfortable a thing is the justification of the ungodly 
 by faith, when the soul is first stript quite naked be- 
 fore God, and thoroughly convinced of her wicked- 
 ness and weakness. This a mere moral and legal 
 man does not meddle with. He pretends to make 
 amends for his former sins, by altering his course 
 and doing better works ; but this is not making 
 amends at all, since we are but unprofitable servants 
 and want continually forgiveness of sin, even when 
 we have done all. We never have any reason to 
 justify ourselves before God, though we should do 
 ever so well and suffer ever so innocently in regard 
 to men. For from it there is but one way to be 
 justified, and to obtain and preserve the blessing of 
 a good conscience, which is by humbling and con- 
 fessing ourselves guilty, and looking only for for- 
 giveness and righteousness in Christ. Thus we are 
 made by him the righteousness of God itself. May 
 the Lord put us all in this way. 
 
 Yes, I must and will esteem 
 
 All things but loss for Jesus' sakcj 
 
 O may my soul be found in him, 
 And of his righteousness partake. 
 11 
 
122 APRIL 24. 
 
 God has exalted Christ Jesus with his right hand, 
 to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repent' 
 ance unto Israel, and forgiveness of sins. Acts, 
 V.31. 
 
 Think not, what reason have I to repent ! I am 
 DO murderer or robber ; for thou art both. By thy 
 sins thoa hast murdered the Son of God, and by thy 
 pride robbed God of his own : Therefore, if thy old 
 heart is not changed yet into a new one, and thou 
 feeiest some uneasiness on account of thine eternal 
 salvation, great care is to be taken not to mistake 
 it for temptations of the devil ; but believe me, that 
 it is the work of Christ, who awakes thee, and of- 
 fers thee repentance, and Will make thee quite an- 
 other man. " He stands at the door and knocks ; 
 and if any man will hear his voice and open the 
 door, he will come in to him and sup with him.** 
 Rev. iii. 20. 
 
 Now Christ will every want supply, 
 
 And fill our hearts with peace ; 
 He gives by cov'nant and by oath, 
 
 The riches of his grace. 
 Our heart, that flinty stubborn thing, 
 
 That terrors cannot move, 
 That fears no threat'nings of his wrath, 
 
 Shall be dissolved by love. 
 There shall his sacred spirit dwell, 
 
 And deep engrave his law, 
 And every motion of our souls. 
 
 To swift obedience draw. 
 Thus will he pour salvation down. 
 
 And we shall render praise ; 
 We the dear people of his love, 
 And he our God of grace. 
 
APRIL 26. 123 
 
 God is not a God of confusion. 1 Cor. xiv. 33. He 
 has made every thing beautiful in its season. Also 
 he has set the world in their hearts^ so that no man 
 can find out the work that God makes from the he- 
 ginning to the end. Eccles. iii. 11. 
 
 O Lord, I am like a little child, knowing neither 
 the beginning nor end of my ways ; but thou be- 
 ing my counsellor, I think it my only wisdom to be 
 advised and ruled by thee. O show me then al- 
 ways the way in all things, even in the least, that I 
 may never miss to do thy work in due season and 
 due order. Make me such a faithful steward as not 
 to go one inch from thy will, but on all occasions 
 to act and suffer according to thy good pleasure. 
 
 Whither, O whither should I fly, 
 But to my loving Saviour's breast, 
 
 Secure within thy arms to lie, 
 
 And safe beneath thy wings to rest. 
 
 I have no might to oppose the foe. 
 But everlasting strength is thine ; 
 
 Show me the way that I should go, 
 Show me the path I should decline. 
 
 Which shall I leave and which pursue ? 
 
 Thou only my adviser be ; 
 My God, I know not what to do, 
 
 But oh ! mine eyes are fixed on thee. 
 
 Foolish, and impotent, and Wind, 
 Lead me a way I have not known, 
 
 Bring me where I my heaven may find» 
 The heaven of love and thee alone* 
 
124 APRIL 26. 
 
 Now he who establisheth us with yonin Christy 
 and has annointed us, is God ; who has also 
 sealed us, and gives us the earnest of the spi- 
 rit in our hearts. 2 Cor. i. 21, 22. Eph. i. 14. 
 
 A sensible joy of faith, and great delight in pray- 
 er, are not the only evidences of this earnest and 
 sealing of the spirit ; these sometimes are wanting ; 
 but we may know also, to be sealed by these 
 marks, that we receive Christ in all his offices, that 
 we have a sincere desire to do only the will of God 
 in all things, that we hate sin irreconcilably, that 
 we are humbled, convinced, and led into all truths 
 by the spirit. These are constant marks even for 
 the weakest. 
 
 Why should the children of a king 
 
 Go mourning all their days, 
 Great comforter descend and bring 
 
 Some tokens of thy grace. 
 
 Dost thou not dwell in all thy saints, 
 
 And seal the heirs of heaven ? 
 When wilt thou banish my complaints^ 
 
 And show my sins forgiven ? 
 
 Assure my conscience of her part 
 
 In the Redeemer's blood, 
 And bear thy witness with my heart,. 
 
 That I am born of God. 
 
 Thou art the earnest of his love, 
 
 The pledge of joys to come, 
 And thy soft wings, celestial Dove, 
 
 Will safe convey me home. 
 
APRIL 27. 126 
 
 Ood he merciful to me a sinner, Luke, xviii. 13. 
 Look upon my affliction and my pain, and for- 
 give all my sins, Psal. xxv. 18. Divine answer. 
 The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, 
 and of great mercy; the Lord is good to all, 
 and his tender mercies are over all his works, 
 Psal. cxlv. 8, 9. Therefore, my son, be of 
 good cheer, thy sins are forgiven thee. Matt. 
 ix. 2. 
 
 Justification or remission of sins before the tri- 
 bunal of God, and the comfortable assurance of it 
 in the heart, do not always go together. The sen- 
 tence of pardon may be passed, and the sense of it 
 be wanting for a time, or consist only in some fee- 
 ble glimpses now and then. The former is done all 
 at once, in the most perfect manner : The latter is 
 given by degrees, as far as beUevers are able to re- 
 ceive it : therefore a penitent soul must converse 
 much with the gospel, and pray continually for 
 more light and a greater degree of faith and peace. 
 O God of mercy, hear my call ; 
 
 My load of guilt remove. 
 Break down this separating wall, 
 
 That bars me from thy love. 
 Give me the presence of thy grace, 
 
 Then my rejoicing tongue 
 Shall speak around thy righteousness, 
 And make thy praise my song. 
 
 A soul opprest with sin's desert 
 
 My God will ne'er despise, 
 A humble groan, a broken heart 
 
 Is our best sacrifice. 
 11* 
 
126 APRIL 28. 
 
 Delight thyself in the Lord, and he shall give 
 thee the desires of thine heart. Psal. xxxvii. 4». 
 
 If thou desirest to delight thyself only in the^ 
 Lord, and art more solicitous for the increase o€ 
 faith, love, and holiness, than temporal happiness* 
 and wouldst even loose the latter, provided there- 
 was an addition to the former ; this comes not from 
 nature, but is an infallible mark of grace and re- 
 generation ; and the Lord shall give thee also the 
 desires of thine heart, and even more than thou.; 
 desirest. I 
 
 Nothing can be more foolish, than to harbour 
 one or more secret lusts in our hearts, after we 
 have been once awakened. We must certainly 
 suffer for it ; our conscience will check us for it : 
 we cannot enjoy it with half the pleasure as before; 
 Our course is hindered, and our peace disturbed- 
 How much more prudent and profitable then would 
 it be, to forsake all and follow Christ straight, who 
 can only satisfy the desires of our heart ! Consider 
 this, O my soul ! act the wiser part ; let thy eye be 
 single; cleave to him alone, wlien others cleaving 
 to the creatures, pretend to serve two masters. 
 Thus thou wilt be able to taste the kisses of his 
 mouth, and the crystal streams of his comfortable 
 and heavenly love. 
 
 Dear Saviour, let thy beauties be 
 
 My soul's eternal food : 
 And grace command my heart away 
 
 From all created good. 
 
APRIL 29- 127 
 
 Healme, O Lord, and I shall he healed. Jer. xvii 14. 
 Divine answer. / am the Lord that healed thee. 
 Exod. XV. 26. They that be whole need not a phy- 
 sician, but they that are sick. Mat. ix. 12. / have 
 seen his tvays, and will heal them. Isa. Ixii. 18. 
 xlii. 3. and ixi. 1 . He healed all that were sick. 
 Matt. viii. 15-17. 
 
 This vi'as an emblem of his power and grace to 
 Ileal all spiritual diseases of our souls, though ever 
 so desperate and dangerous. Therefore give thy- 
 self only up to his cure, he understands thy distem- 
 per also, and will certainly restore thee. He has 
 healed a great many already : nay, all those who 
 ever desired it, from all their infirmities. Thou 
 canst never be too miserable and bad for him ; he 
 is ever willing and able to help. The worse thy 
 case is, the more he will pity thee and have pa- 
 tience. Before we can be made whole, his way is 
 to make us thoroughly sensible of our sickness, and 
 lay our wounds more and more open. But as the 
 physician then is most wanted, we must be the 
 more earnest to implore his help, and he will sure- 
 ly bind us up again and heal us, though perhaps 
 not at once, but sometimes slowly and wonderful- 
 ly, yet thoroughly at last, for he heals all, even 
 the most incurable diseases. Psal. ciii. 3. 
 
 Bind up, O Lord, and cheer my soul 
 
 With thy forgiving love : 
 O make my broken spirit whole, 
 
 And bid my pains remove. 
 
 Let not thy spirit quite depart. 
 
 Nor drive me from thy face ! 
 Create anew my vicious heart, 
 
 And fill it with thy grace. 
 
128 APRIL 30. 
 
 Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. Johtij 
 xxi. 15. 
 
 This love is the fruit of the love of Christ, and 
 consequently cannot have place till this is shed 
 abroad in our hearts, that we can confidently rest 
 upon it. As in striking a circle, one point of the 
 compasses must be kept steady in the centre, if the 
 other shall go right ; so our faith must be irnmove- 
 ably fixed in Christ, in his righteousness, grace, and 
 love, if the reciprocal love and sanctification shall 
 follow; but relying only on gifts of sanctification, 
 yields no settled peace and assurance, and conse- 
 quently no strength to walk steadily in love. 
 
 , Jesus, thy boundless love to me 
 
 No thought can reach, no tongue declare : 
 
 O knit my thankful heart to thee, 
 And reign without a rival there ; 
 
 Thine wholly, thine alone I am : 
 Be thou alone my constant flame. 
 
 O grant that nothing in my soul 
 
 May dwell, but thy pure love alone : 
 
 O may thy love possess me whole, 
 My joy, my treasure, and my crown, 
 
 Strange fires far from my soul remove, 
 My every act, word, thoughts be love. 
 
MAY 1. 129 
 
 Lord, enter not into judgment with thy servant. 
 Psal. cxlii. 2. Divine answer. Verily^ verily-, I say 
 unto you, he that heareth my voice-, and believeth 
 on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and 
 shall not come into condemnation, but is i)assed 
 from death unto Ife. John v. 24. See also John 
 viii. 61. Isa. xxv. 8. 
 
 Since the Judge himself is our brother, our 
 bridegroom, the Lord of death and life, yea even 
 our life, believers cannot die any more, but are 
 passed from death unto life, it being impossible 
 that Christ should die again. He that owns the justice 
 of God's judgment, confesses himself guilty in all 
 things, and appeals from the judgment-seat to the 
 mercy-seat, him the Lord will own and justify again 
 through the righteousness of his Son : for " if we 
 would judge ourselves we should not be judged. 
 We shall even judge together with Christ." 1 Cor. 
 vi. 2. and surely we will not condemn ourselves, 
 much less will Christ; for he loves us more than 
 we do ourselves. 
 
 Who shall the Lord's elect condemn ? 
 
 'Tis God that justifies their souls, 
 And mercy, like a mighty stream, 
 O'er all their sins divinely rolls. 
 Who shall adjudge the saints to hell ? 
 
 'Tis Christ that suffered in their stead j 
 And the salvatiori to fulfil, 
 
 Behold him rising from the dead. 
 Faith hath an overcoming power, 
 It triumphs in the dying hour ; 
 Christ is our life, our joy, our hope, 
 Nor can we sink with such a prop* 
 
130 MAY 2. 
 
 Crive heed to me, O Lord. Jer. xviii. 19. Divine an- 
 swer. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither 
 slumber nor sleep. Psal. cxxi. 4. They that put 
 their trust in him shall understand the truth, and 
 such as be faithful, shall remain with him in lavd 
 for grace and mercy is to his saints ^ and he has 
 care for his elect. Wisd. iii. 9. 
 The care of the Lord which he takes for his lit- 
 tle ones, far and infinitely exceeds the care of the 
 most tender mother over her weak and helpless 
 ^hild. Be I then never so weak, miserable, and fool- 
 ish in my own eyes, the Lord being the guardian of 
 such babes, will have patience with me. Nay, these 
 are the very vessels of his grace. Therefore, con- 
 sidering myself always as a weak, ignorant child, I 
 will keep close to him. He is the minister of the 
 sanctuary, and will never let me want any thing ; 
 but defend, provide, and train me up in the best and 
 most suitable manner. 
 
 Be thou my counsellor, 
 
 My pattern, and my guide ; 
 And through this desert land 
 Still keep me near thy side. 
 O let my feet 
 Ne'er run astray, 
 Nor rove, nor seek 
 The crooked way. 
 Should all the hosts of death, 
 
 And powers of hell unknown, 
 Put their most dreadful forms 
 Of rage and mischief on, 
 IshaU be safe: 
 For Christ displays 
 Superior power 
 And guardian grace. 
 
MAY 3. 131 
 
 The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious^ 
 long-suffering and abundant in goodness and 
 truth. Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving 
 iniquity, and transgression and sin, Exod. 
 xxxiv. 6, 7. God is love. Who will separate vs 
 from the love of God9 In all things we are 
 more than conquerors, fyc* 1 John, iv. 16. 
 Rom. viii. 35, 37. 
 
 O my dear Saviour, pour thy love out into my 
 heart by thy holy spirit, that by a true sense and 
 enjoyment of it, I may be able to love thee recipro- 
 cally with ray whole heart, and do all things singly 
 from u principle of love and gratitude towards thee. 
 I have long prayed for it, O Lord I thou canst not 
 deny it me ; I must have this petition granted. 
 
 Christ died, and lives, and sits above, 
 
 For ever interceding there : 
 Who shall divide us from his love, 
 
 Or what should tempt us to despair ? 
 
 Shall persecution, or distress, 
 Famine, or sword, or nakedness ? 
 He that has loved us, bears us through, 
 And makes us more than conqu'rors too. 
 
 Not all that men on earth can do, 
 Nor powers on high, nor powers below. 
 Shall cause his mercy to remove. 
 Or wean our hearts from God, our love. 
 
132 MAY 4. 
 
 In thee O Lord, do I put my trust, let me never 
 he put to confusion. Psal. Ixxi. 1. Christ's 
 intercession : Let not 'them that wait on thee, 
 O Lord God of hosts, he ashamed for my 
 sake, Psal. Ixix. 6. / have prayed fox thee. 
 That thy faith fail not, Luke, xxii. 32. 
 
 Some say I have enough of faith ; how could I 
 else be a Christian ? If I could live godly according- 
 ly. But it is just the contrary ; godliness is the fruit 
 of faith, and if there was the tree of the heart, 
 the fruit will soon follow. An historical and ra- 
 tional faith is not enough. Was it such an easy 
 matter to believe, whal need of Christ's interces- 
 sion ? O my dear Saviour, pray for me also, that 
 the gift of faith may be given me, and that I may 
 persevere to the end. 
 
 Jesus the Lord shall guard me safe 
 
 From every ill design; 
 And to his heavenly kingdom take 
 
 This feeble soul of mine. 
 
 Mine eyes and my desire 
 
 Are ever to the Lord : 
 I love to plead his promises, 
 
 And rest upon his word. 
 
 O keep my soul from death, 
 
 Nor put my hope to shame ; 
 For I have plac'd my only trust 
 
 In my Redeemer's name. 
 
MAY 6. 133 
 
 Lord, teach us to number our days, that we 
 may apply our hearts to wisdom. Psal. xc. 12. 
 
 He that does not lay much and seriously to heart, 
 the shortness of his life, and the uncertainty, as 
 well as the infinitely important consequences of Iws 
 death, is not a wise, but a foolish and very incon- 
 siderate man, though he was never so great a phi- 
 losopher and statesman. But the right and true 
 consideration of death, must be earnestly prayed 
 for, and this we must do directly, without the least 
 delay ; for the art of dying well, is not so soon and 
 so easily learned. 
 
 Thee we adore, eternal name, 
 
 And humbly own to thee. 
 How feeble is our mortal frame, 
 What dying worms are we ! 
 
 Dangers stand thick through all the ground 
 
 To push us to the tomb ; 
 And fierce diseases wait around, 
 To hurry mortals home. 
 
 Good God ! on what a slender thread 
 
 Hang everlasting things ! 
 The eternal states of all the dead 
 
 Upon life's feeble strings. 
 
 Infinite joy or endless wo 
 
 Attends on every breath ; 
 And yet how unconcerned we go 
 
 Upon the brink of death. 
 
 Waken, O Lord, our drowsy sense, 
 
 To walk this dangerous road ; 
 And if our souls are hurried hence, 
 
 May they be found with God. 
 12 
 
134 MAY 6. 
 
 O Lordfpardon mine iniquity, for it is great. Psal. 
 XXV. 1 1 . Divine answer. Where sin abounded, 
 grace did much more abound. Rom. v. 20. For 
 God will abundantly pardon. Isa.lv. 7. 
 
 It is all one v«^ith God to forgive a repenting sin- 
 ner his trespasses, whether great or small, many or 
 few ; for they are all paid with one ransom. No 
 sin, properly speaking, is little in itself ; and none 
 greater than the grace of God, and the infinite 
 price laid down for it. Whatever sins therefore a 
 man feels, yet he may throw himself upon the 
 abounding grace of God. But this grace must al- 
 ways be our comfort, to depend upon it alone, even 
 when it is best for us ; for then only it is best with 
 us when we depend alone on grace, and live in it 
 as in our element. 
 
 Why does your face, ye humble souls, 
 
 Those mournful colors wear ? 
 What doubts are these that waste your faith, 
 
 And nourish your despair ? 
 
 What though your num'rous sins exceed 
 
 The stars that fill the skies, 
 And aiming at the eternal throne, 
 
 Like pointed mountains rise ? 
 
 See here an endless ocean flows 
 
 Of never-failing grace : 
 Behold a dying Saviour's veins 
 
 The sacred flood increase. 
 It raises high and drowns the hills, 
 
 Has neither shore nor bound : 
 Now if we search to find our sins, 
 
 Our sins can ne'er be found. 
 
MAY 7. 135 
 
 Hai^e mercy upon me. O Lord, for lam weak. Psal. 
 vi. 8. And strengthen me with strength in my soul. 
 Psal. cxxxviii. 3. Divine answer. My grace is suf- 
 Jicientfor thee ; for my strength is made perfect in 
 weakness. 2 Cor. xii. 9. TJie Lord delights not 
 in the strength of the horse, he takes not pleasure 
 in the legs of a man. The Lord takes pleasure in 
 them that fear him, in those that hope for mercy* 
 Psal. cxlvii. 10, 11. The Lord, our strength, 
 mighty God, and Emmanuel, will give strength 
 unto his people. Psal. xxix. 11. 
 
 Wherein the soul seems to be weakest, and has 
 the greatest struggle with nature, she may be 
 strongest through grace, and come off with a most 
 glorious crown. Therefore judge and despair not of 
 overcoming by the power of God, be there ever so 
 strong and obstinate enemies in thee or in others ; 
 I am weak indeed, but Christ is strong ; I am poor, 
 he is rich; 1 am sick, he the physician of the sick; 
 I a sinner, he the Saviour of sinners ; consequent- 
 ly he suits me, and I suit him extremely well. 
 
 Let me but hear my Saviour say, 
 Strength shall be equal to thy day ; 
 Then I rejoice in deep distress, 
 Leaning on all-sufficient grace. 
 I glory in infirmity, 
 
 That Christ's own power may rest on me * 
 When I am weak, then am I strong, 
 Grace is my shield, and Christ my song. 
 I can do all things, or can bear 
 All suff 'rings if my Lord be there; 
 Sweet pleasures mingle with the pains, 
 While his left hand my head sustains. 
 
136 MAY 8. 
 
 Have mercy upon met O Lord-, for I am weak. Psal. 
 vi. 8. Divine answer. Fear thou not, let not thine 
 hands he slack. The Lord thy God in the midst of 
 thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over 
 thee with joy ; he will rest in his love, he will joy 
 over thee with singing. Zeph. iii. 16, 17. For 
 unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given; 
 and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and 
 his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, 
 the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the 
 Prince of Peace. Isaiah, ix. 6, 7. Fear not, for 
 behold I bring you good tidings of great joy. 
 Luke ii. 10. 
 
 O Lord, thou being also my mighty Saviour, 
 Counsellor, mighty God and all, what can I want ?' 
 Why am I discouraged ? Why should it be impos- 
 sible to get the victory in all things? There is 
 none too deeply corrupted, none too weak, and no 
 enemy too strong for thee. Thou art too great a 
 match for them all. Yea, Amen, Hallelujah. 
 
 The virgin's promis'd son is born, 
 
 Behold the expected Child appear ; 
 What shall his name or titles be ? 
 
 The Wonderful, the Counsellor^ 
 This infant is the mighty God, 
 
 Come to be suckled and ador'd ; 
 The eternal Father, Prince of Peace, 
 
 The Son of David and his Lord. 
 Jesus the holy Child, shall sit 
 
 High on his father David^s throne, 
 Shall crush his foes beneath his feet, 
 
 And reign to ages yet unknown. 
 
MAY 9. 137 
 
 Teach me thy way, O Lord-, and lead me in a 'plain 
 path, because of mine enemies. Psal. xxvii. 2. 
 Teach me thy way O Lord, I will walk in thy truth; 
 unite my heart to fear thy name. Psal. Ixxxvi. 11, 
 Divine answer. Good and upi'ight is the Lord-, 
 therefore loill he teach sinners in the way. What 
 man is he that fears the Lord ! Him shall he teach 
 intheway that he shall choose. Psal. xxv. 8. 12. 
 
 O Lord, be pleased to fulfil this gracious promise 
 in me also. Thou knovvest that I have nothing so 
 much at heart, as to do thy will, and yet I am very 
 often lost in darkness. I trust thou wilt do it. 
 Here it is written ; it is thy own word ; I depend 
 upon it : thou hast many times accomplished the 
 same already ; and art willing and able to do it 
 evermore, for thy own n-nne's sake, and for my 
 enemies' sake. Thou being the God of my cove- 
 nant, I keep close to thy words, which can never 
 pass away, but all are yea and amen in Christ Je- 
 sus our Lord and Saviour. Amen. 
 
 I lift my soul to God, 
 
 My trust is in his name; 
 Let not my foes that seek my blood 
 
 Still triumph in my shame. 
 
 Sin and the powers of hell, 
 
 Persuade me to despair ; 
 Lord, let me know thy cov'nant well, 
 
 That I may 'scape the snare. 
 
 The Lord is just and kind, 
 
 The meek shall learn his ways : 
 
 And every humble sinner find 
 The methods of his grace. 
 
 12* 
 
138 MAY 10. 
 
 Turn again our captivity^ O Lord. Psal. cxxvi. 4. 
 Divine answer. The Lord has anointed me to 
 preach good things unto the meek-, to proclaim 
 liberty to the captives, and the opening of the pri- 
 son to them that are hound. Isa. Ixi. 1 . For thus 
 saith the Lord. <^c. I will give thee for a cove- 
 nant to the people, ^c. that thou mayest say to 
 the prisoners, go forth; to them that are in dark- 
 ness, show yourselves : they shall feed in the 
 ways-, and their pastures shall be in all high pla- 
 ces, they shall not hunger and thirst. Isa. xlix. 
 8, 9, 10. See also Chap. xxxv. 10. 
 
 O Lord, I am hungering after the righteousness 
 and freedom, not only of faith, but of life and holi- 
 ness also ; not to please myself in the latter, but that 
 the evidence of the former may be so much clearer 
 by it to me, and I may be able to rejoice and take 
 the comfort of thy righteousness alone, without 
 deceiving rny soul. Grant, therefore, that I maybe 
 truly filled, and may be strong, easy, and free, as 
 not to be kept any longer in any of the most sub- 
 tle bonds, either of the law, unbelief, and a bad 
 conscience, or of a carnal and worldly mind. 
 Buried in shadows of the night, 
 We lie till Christ restores the light ; 
 Wisdom descends to heal the blind, 
 And chase the darkness of the mind. 
 Jesus beholds where Satan reigns, 
 Binding his slaves in heavy chains- 
 He sets the prisner's free, and breaks 
 The iron bondage from our necks. 
 Poor helpless worms in thee possess 
 Grace, wisdom, power, and righteousness; 
 Thou art my mighty all, and we 
 Give our whole selves, O Lord, to thee. 
 
MAY 11. 13^ 
 
 How long wilt tJiou Jiide thy face from me, O Lord ? 
 Psal. xiii. 2. Divine answer. For a small moment 
 have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I 
 gather thee. In a little tvrath I hid my face from 
 thee for a moment ; hut with everlasting kindness 
 will I have mercy on thee, for this is as the waters 
 of Noah, unto vie: For as I ha'pe sworn that the 
 waters of Noah should no more go over the earth ; 
 so I have sworn that I would not he wroth with 
 thee, nor rehuke thee. Isaiah, liv. 7, 9. 
 When the Lord is pleased to quicken us in our 
 prayers, with a lively impression of one or more pro- 
 raises, we are apt to think that the hour of his help was 
 come. But afterwards it may be, he not only hides 
 himself for a great while again, but things take even 
 such a strange contrary course, as if all had been 
 nothing, or (as Luther says) " as if nothing was 
 more uncertain than the word of God, nay, even 
 God himself." They who deny such temptations, 
 are strangers both to themselves and to the devices 
 of Satan. But Christians must then be prudently 
 upon their guard, thinking that God is going to do 
 some glorious things for them, for if they are first 
 more convinced of their utter unworthiness, if they 
 act faith and patience, and more earnest in pray- 
 ers, they are fit to receive so much more grace af- 
 terwards. 
 
 Dear Lord, behold our sore distress, 
 
 Our sins attempt to reign : 
 Stretch out thine arm of conqu'ring grace, 
 
 And let thy foes be slain. 
 How boundless is our Father's grace, 
 
 In height, and depth, and length ? 
 He made his Son our righteousness, 
 His spirit is our strength. 
 
140 MAY 12. 
 
 How long loilt thou for get me, O Lord? Psal. xiii. 2. 
 Divine answer. Can a woman forget her sucking 
 child' that she should not have compassion on the 
 son of her womb? Yea, they may forget-, yet will 
 I not forget thee. Behold I have graven thee upon 
 the palms of my hands, thy walls are continually 
 before me. Isa. xliv. 15, 16. I will not leave you 
 comfortless. John, xiv. 18. 
 
 Were all our sins and afflictions so soon to be 
 prayed away with a few words, whence these sad 
 and repeated words of David ? Why should God 
 advise us to wait for him and persevere in hope ? 
 and how could faith and patience be exercised ? In 
 our closets we may be lifted up with high specula- 
 tions ; seem to be strono-. and able to leap over all 
 the walls ; but in great distress we see how deject- 
 ed, and as it were despondent our hearts are. Psal. 
 XXX. 7, 8. But the Lord preserve us. 
 Why do we thus iiidulge our fears, 
 
 Suspicions, and complaints? 
 Is he a God, and irhall his grace 
 
 Grow weary of his saints ? 
 Can a kind woman e'er forget 
 
 The infant of her womb ; 
 And 'mongst a thousand tender thoughts 
 
 Her suckling have no room ? 
 Yet, says the Lord- should nature change, 
 
 And mothers, monsters prove ; 
 Zion still dwells upon the heart 
 
 Of everlasting K>ve. 
 Deep on the palms of both my hands 
 
 I have engraved her name ; 
 My hands shall raise her ruined walls> 
 And build her broken frame. 
 
MAY 13. 141 
 
 Show me thy ways, O Lord, and teach me thy 
 paths. Psal. xxv. 4. Show me now thy way, 
 that I may knoiv thee. Exod. xxx. iii. 13. 
 Divine answer. I will instruct thee and teach 
 thee in the way which thou shalt go : I vjill 
 guide thee with mine eye. Psal. xxxii. 8. My 
 presence shall go with thee, and I will give 
 thee rest. Ex. xxx iii. 
 
 O Lord, suffer me not to deviate one inch from 
 the way, much less to fall away from thee, the true 
 vine and fortress of my soul, by the plausible in- 
 sinuations of my own brain and imagination. May 
 I never run, before thou hast called me, to the hurt 
 of my soul ; but constantly and confidently abide in 
 thee, always drawing first the necessary light and 
 strength from thee by never ceasing supplications. 
 Grant that my eye being fixed continually upon 
 thee, I may be guided into all truth, my doings be 
 attended with thy blessings, and my whole life be d. 
 constant progress towards heaven. Christ's answer : 
 " I will keep thee as the apple of mine eye, that 
 no evil shall come near thee. As a careful mother, 
 watches over her child, so have 1 undertaken to 
 teach thee my path, and guide thee with'mine own 
 eyes. Whatever faintings and failings may befall 
 thee, yet will I be ever faithful, raising thee up 
 again, and pushing thee on evermore in my ways. 
 Nay, as a good shepherd, I'll carry thee in my own 
 arms, whenever thy increasing weakness shall re- 
 
 quire." 
 
 My honour is engaged to save 
 The meanest of my sheep ; 
 
 All that my heavenly Father gave, 
 My hands securely keep." 
 
142 MAY 14. 
 
 By these (books) my son, be admonished. Eccles. 
 
 xii. 1 2. But, as new-born babes, desire the sincere 
 
 milk of the word, thut ye may grow thereby. 
 
 1 Pet. ii. 2. 
 
 New-born babes must not self-conceitedly be de- 
 sirous of high things and strong meat. Such have 
 more need experimentally to understand the first 
 oracles of Christ, and taste evermore the milk and 
 saving power of the gospel. This would best make 
 them grow in grace and wean them from the world ; 
 since a sucking child esteems nothing else in com- 
 parison of his mother's breast ; and those that de- 
 light more in lofty, vain imaginations and a strange 
 sort of hymns, than the bible, do not follow the true 
 spirit, and at last must come to their catechism 
 again. For the more a Christian is approaching to 
 his end, and desires to be duly prepared for heaven, 
 the more he walks in deep humility and godly sim- 
 plicity, placing himself on the lowest bench of 
 weak and little children. And thus they are the 
 fittest vessels of grace ; they will certainly be en- 
 lightened, and have the mystery of Christ revealed 
 in their heart. Matt. xi. 25. 
 
 There was an hour when Christ rejoic'd, 
 And spoke his joy in words of praise ; 
 
 *• Father I thank thee ; mighty God, 
 
 Lord of the Earth, and heaven, and seas. 
 
 I thank thy sov'reign power and love. 
 That crowns my doctrine with success ; 
 
 And makes the babes ia knowledge, learn 
 The heights, and breadths, and lengths of grace. 
 
 Father, 'tis thus, because thy will 
 Chose and ordain'd it should be so ; 
 
 'Tis thy delight to abuse the proud, 
 And lay the haughty scorner low." 
 
MAY 15. 143 
 
 Take heed to yourselves, shunning bad companies 
 and occasions, lest at any time your hearts he 
 overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness^ 
 and the cares of this life; and so that day come 
 upon you unawares. If the heart must not be so 
 much as overcharged, what will become of those 
 on that day, that are mighty to drink wine, and 
 men of strength to mingle strong drink? Watch 
 ye therefore, and pray always. Luke, xxi. 34, 
 36. Be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 
 1 Pet. iv. 7. 
 
 Sober and watchful we must be even against the 
 love of the world ; since the heart being filled with 
 any thing that is vain, is unable to .pray right and 
 enjoy peace ; peace being disturbed even by re 
 serving, much more by striving after something for 
 the flesh. But cleaving to Christ alone, ever seek- 
 ing to relish him and the fullness of his grace, is the 
 best means to secure ourselves from worldliness, 
 uneasiness, and sloth of spirit. 
 
 Vain man, on foolish pleasures bent, 
 Prepares for his own punishment ; 
 What pains, what loathsome maladies 
 From luxury and lust arise. 
 
 The drunkard feels his vitals waste. 
 Yet drowns his health to please his taste : 
 Till all his active powers are lost. 
 And fainting hfe draws near the dust. 
 
 The glutton groans and loathes to eat. 
 His soul abhors delicious meat : 
 Nature with heavy loads oppress'd, 
 Would yield to death to be releas'd. 
 
144 MAY 16. 
 
 Thy word hate I hid in my hearty that I might not 
 sin against thee. Establish thy word unto thy 
 servant, who is devoted to thy love. Then shall I 
 not be ashamedf when I have respect unto all thy 
 commandments. Therefore, remember the word 
 unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me 
 to hope. I shall run in the way of thy command- 
 ments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart. Psla. 
 cxix. 11, 38, and ver. 6, 49, 32. 
 
 Thus gospel comfort powerfully stirreth up to 
 walk according to the law, and the law urges ever- 
 more^ to lay hold on and make right use of the gos- 
 pel, as not to abuse it to security ; which are both 
 very needful. For whosoever makes void, and neg- 
 lects the lavv, cannot but make a wrong application 
 of the gospel, and is in danger of either being hurri- 
 ed into libertinism, following the bent of his own 
 imagination, or to his great punishment falls under 
 a heavy yoke of mere human invention. May the 
 Lord lead and keep us in the right way, 
 
 Laden with guilt, and full of fears, 
 
 I'll fly to thee, my Lord ; 
 And not a glimpse of hope appears, 
 
 But in thy written word. 
 
 This is the Judge that ends the strife. 
 
 Where wit and reason fail ; 
 My guide to everlasting life, 
 
 Through all this gloomy vale. 
 
 O! may thy counsels, mighty God, 
 
 My roving feet command : 
 Nor I forsake the happy road, 
 
 That leads to thy right hand. 
 
MAY 17. 145 
 
 Through the law lam dead to the law, that I might 
 live unto God. 1 am crucified with Christ, never- 
 theless I live ; yet not J, hut Christ liveth in me^ 
 and the life which I now live in thejiesh-, I live hy 
 the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and 
 gave himself for me. Gal. ii. 19. 
 
 Christ being our head, in whom all fulness dwells, 
 he will certainly fill all his members with life and 
 strength, according to his promise, John, xiv. 19. I 
 live, and ye shall hve, also ; and chap. xvii. 3. 
 *' This is eternal life," &:,c. To know Christ, and 
 God in Christ as love, is true light and hfe ; he 
 that has this, has enough. O the excellency of the 
 knowledge of Christ ! O Lord, teach me to know 
 thee as the Bridegroom of my soul, that the law 
 may not rush into my conscience, now thy bride- 
 chamber, and condemn me any more. I am devoted 
 to none but thee. Rom. vii. 4. Grant therefore that 
 my whole heart and hfe, all my words and actions, 
 may be governed only by a living faith on thee, 
 that thou hast loved and given thyself for me. 
 
 Come, dearest Lord, descend and dwell, 
 
 By faith and love in every breast : 
 Then shall we know, and taste, and feel 
 
 The joys that cannot be expressed. 
 Come, fill our hearts with inward strength 
 
 Make our enlarged soul possess, 
 And learn the height, and breadth, and length, 
 
 Of thy unmeasurable grace. 
 Now to the God whose power can do 
 
 More than our thoughts and wishes know, 
 Be everlasting honours done 
 
 By all the church, through Christ his Son. 
 13 
 
146 MAY 18. 
 
 I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded with^ 
 in me. Psal. cix. 22. Divine answer. I know thy 
 poverty, but thou art rich. Rev. ii. 9. For blessed 
 are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of 
 heaven. Matt. v. 3. The meek shall eat and be 
 satisfied ; they shall praise the Lord that seek 
 him : your heart shall live for ever. Psal. xxii. 27. 
 The Lord healeth the broken in heart, the Lord 
 lifts up the meek. Psal. cxlvii. 3, 6. A bruised 
 reed shall he not break, and smoking fax shall he 
 not quench, till he send forth judgment unto vic- 
 tory. Matt. xii. 20. 
 
 Such are the tender mercies of Christ, towards 
 the weakest of his people, that he supplies them 
 from time to time, with all proportionable strength, 
 till at last they are able to gain a complete victory. 
 As soon therefore as we are sensible of our poverty, 
 or miserable condition, and are truly desirous of 
 grace and strength, to overcome sin, we have actu- 
 ally some grace and spiritual life, and are delivered 
 already from the jaws of hell ; for there is no such 
 feeling in dead souls, and in hell there is only a de- 
 sire to be delivered from the punishment, but not 
 from sin itself. 
 
 Blest are the humble souls that see, 
 Their emptiness and poverty : 
 Treasures of grace to them are given, 
 And crowns of joy laid up in heaven. 
 
 Blest are the men with broken heart, 
 Who mourn, for sin, with inward smart : 
 The blood of Christ divinely flows, 
 A healing^ balm for all their woei. 
 
MAY H. 147 
 
 lam the light of the world, he thatfolloweth me shall 
 not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of 
 life. John, viii. 1 2. Therefore, walk while ye have 
 the light, lest darkness come upon you, for he that 
 walks in darkness, knows not whither he goes. 
 Chap. xii. 35. 
 
 He that is faithfuL keeping ever close to Christ, 
 and his light, strictly watching and obeying the mo- 
 tions of his spirit, will be evermore tender in con- 
 science, and receive so much more light ; conse- 
 quently, he will be from time to time, more deeply 
 rooted in repentance, faith, and assurance, so as 
 either to be preserved from many combats and dis- 
 orders, or at least be carried sooner through the 
 same. He may meet with dark vallies, (nature 
 being as it were, a great, dark abyss, and grace 
 sometimes as a small span,) yet by degrees it will 
 blaze, and at last break through, and enlighten all 
 our darkness. 
 
 Is he a star ? he breaks the night, 
 
 Piercing the shades with dawning light : 
 
 I know his glories from afar, 
 
 I know the bright, the morning star. 
 
 Is he a sun ? his beams are grace, 
 
 His course, his joys and righteousness : 
 
 Nations rejoice when he appears, 
 
 To chase their clouds and dry their tears. 
 
 Nor earth, nor seas, nor sun, nor stars, 
 
 Nor heaven his full resemblance bears : 
 
 His beauties we can never trace, 
 
 Till we behold him face to face. * 
 
 O let me climb those higher skies, 
 
 Where storms and darkness never rise! 
 
 There he displays his powers abroad, 
 
 And shines and reigns the incarnate God. 
 
148 MAY 20. 
 
 I am the Lord thy God, which teaches thee to profit, 
 which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldst 
 go. O that thou hadst hearkened to my command- 
 merits^ then had thy peace been as a river, and thy 
 righteousness as the waves of the sea. Isa. xlviii. 
 17, 18. Behold I stand at the door and knock ; 
 if any man hear my voice and open the door-, I 
 will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he 
 with me. Rev. iii. 20. 
 
 How often and how variously does the Lord, 
 knock at the door of our hearts ? how clearly are 
 his commandments held forth to us ? but, how sel- 
 dom are we inclined to give him the hearing ? Very 
 often we are so distracted, that we can hardly hear 
 his voice, from the noise of worldly tilings in our 
 senses ; and we are not at home, when he is pleased 
 to take up his abode with us. Well, even now he 
 is knocking by this. O let us open the door for 
 him, directly, since he desires nothing from us that 
 might be grievous, but intends to make our heaits 
 a glorious residence and banqueting room of his 
 love, to fill it with heavenly goods, and to prepare 
 and give every thing himself. 
 
 I'll bring him to my mother's home, 
 Nor does my Lord refuse to come 
 To Zion's sacred chambers, where 
 My soul first drew the vital air. 
 He gives me there his bleeding heart, 
 Pierc'd for my sake, with deadly smart : 
 I give my soul to him, and there 
 Our loves their mutual tokens share. 
 I charge ye all, ye earthly toys. 
 Approach not to disturb my joys ; 
 Nor sin, nor hell, come near my heart 
 Nor cause my Saviour to depart. 
 
MAY 21. 149 
 
 / am the true vine, and my Father is the husband- 
 man ; every branch in me that beareth not fruit, 
 he takes away ; and every branch that beareth 
 fruity he purges it, that it may bring forth mere 
 fruit. Abide in me and I in you ; he that abides 
 in me-, and I in him, the same brings forth much 
 fruit. John, xv. 1,6. 
 
 O Lord, I trust that this word will have its ac- 
 complishment in me also ; though as yet I have 
 great reason to be humbled on account of my bar- 
 renness. Grant, therefore, that I may always abide 
 in thee, faithfully and quietly; since there is every 
 thing in thy power, and nothing can be got and 
 done by our own stren^fth; but as it is thy will, and 
 it tends both to the glory of thy Father, and thine 
 own, 1 depend upon being replenished in due sea- 
 son with fruits of righteousness. suffer nothing in 
 me, which is to the dishonour of thy name, and which 
 may be offensive to me and to others. But whatever 
 thou thinkest as yet fit for me to suffer, let it work 
 for my real good. 
 
 How can I sufficiently adore the patience of the 
 Lord my gracious husbandman, who still bears with 
 me, the weakest of all his branches. He has not cut 
 me off yet, but still addresses me to bring forth more 
 fruit, though as yet I hardly yield him one good, 
 but a multitude of wild grapes. Why then shouldst 
 thou grumble, O my heart, at the application of 
 his pruning knife ? It is really for thy good. He is 
 angry only with the degenerate, unfruitful branches. 
 The more these are purged the more fruit thou shalt 
 bring forth. 
 
 13* 
 
150 MAY 22. 
 
 I am glorified in them. I have declared unto them 
 thy name, and tvill declare it, that the love where- 
 with thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in 
 them : I in them, and thou in me, that I may be 
 made perfect in one. John, xvii. 10, 23, 26. 
 
 O glorious promise ! how could he love us more ? 
 What blessed and intimate union is this? O for 
 such a faith that could always truly believe it ! 
 Christ is the vine, believers are the branches : he 
 the Bridegroom, we the bride ; he the head, we 
 the members of his body, of his very flesh and very 
 bones, and consequently one body with him. And 
 who ever hated his own flesh ? So in loving and 
 cherishing us, he loves himself Eph. v. 28, 29. 
 Whenever he shall cease to love himself, then, and 
 no sooner, shall he cease to love and cherish us 
 also. It is his own delight to do us good, more than 
 the mother that suckles her child. 
 
 Lord, what a heaven of saving grace 
 Shines through the beauties of thy face, 
 And light our passions to a flame ! 
 Lord, how we love thy charming name J 
 
 When can I say, my God is mine, 
 When I can see thy glories shine : 
 I tread the World beneath my feet, 
 And all that earth calls good or great. 
 
 Send comforts down from thy right hand, 
 While we pass through this barren land ; 
 And in thy temple let us see 
 A glimpse of love, a glimpse of thee. 
 
MAY 23. 151 
 
 lam weary with groaning. Psal. vi. 6. Divine an- 
 swer. He gives 'power to the faint, and to them 
 that have no might he increaseth strength. Isa. xl. 
 29. I have satisfied the weary soul, and I have 
 replenished every sorrowful soul. Jer. xxxi. 25. 
 Therefore, Come unto me all ye that labour, and 
 are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take 
 my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek 
 and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest to your 
 souls, for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. 
 Matt. xi. 28, 30. 
 
 Here Christ is commending his meekness, not so 
 much as a pattern to be imitated, and does not prop- 
 erly promise his rest and comforts for our labour 
 and humility, but to the coming and believing in 
 him, to encourage the heavy laden souls not to be 
 frightened, but draw near to him with confidence 
 and boldness ; he says I am not so rough and proud 
 as Pharisees and other men generally are towards 
 offenders ; but meek, lowly in heart, full of com- 
 passion, and wilHng to receive, to forgive, and com- 
 fort them. Come, therefore, to him, O sinner, with 
 all thy loads of sin and misery, he will in no wise 
 cast thee out, but receive thee gladly. 
 
 Blest is the man whose shoulders take 
 My yoke and bear it with delight. 
 
 My yoke is easy to his neck. 
 
 My grace shall make the burden light. 
 
 Jesus, we come at thy command, 
 
 With faith, and hope, and humble zeal 
 
 Resign our spirits to thy hand. 
 To mould and guide us at thy will. 
 
152 MAY Zr. 
 
 I have gone astray like a lost sheep: seek thy servant. 
 
 Psal. cxix. 176. God's answer. Behold I, even L 
 will both search my sheep and seek them out; I will 
 seek that which was lost, bring again that which 
 was driven away, and ivill bind vp that which was 
 broken, and will strengthen that which was sick. 
 Ezek. xxxi V. 11, 16. He shall feed hisjlock like a 
 shepherd ; he shall gather the lambs with his arms 
 and carry them in his bosom^ S^c. Isa. xl. 11. 
 
 He that is wise in his own conceit, as many of 
 our philosophers, does not pray hke David in this 
 place ; therefore he continues, with all his proud 
 wisdom, in his natural errors and foolishness. But 
 as thou hast given me, O thou good Shepherd, to 
 know and understand my lost and helpless condi- 
 tion ; and I cannot find or advise myself in any 
 thing. Like a sheep that is gone astray, I beseech 
 thee to seek, heal, lead, feed, carry and strengthen 
 me also, as I stand in need of, and seems good to 
 thee, that I may be able to say with David, '* The 
 Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want." 
 
 My shepherd, my supply, my need, 
 
 Jehovah is his name ; 
 In pastures fresh he makes me feed, 
 
 Beside the living stream. 
 
 He brings my wand'ring spirit back, 
 
 When I forsake his ways. 
 And leads me, for his mercies' sake, 
 
 In paths of truth and grace. 
 
 The sure provisions of my God, 
 
 Attend me all my days ; 
 O may thy house be mine abode, 
 
 And all my work be praise. 
 
MAY 25. 153 
 
 I am not worthy the least of all thy mercies, 
 and of all thy truth which thou hast showed 
 unto thy servant. Gen. xxxii. 10. Who am 
 /, O Lord God! and what is my house, that 
 thou hast brought me hither, 2 Sam. vii. 
 
 A soul truly humbled through afflictions, highly 
 esteems the least favour, and judges itself utterly 
 unworthy of it, looking upon every thing as a free 
 gift, only for Jesus Christ's sake. Now, O my dear 
 Father! it is true, in myself I deserve none, no, 
 not the least of thy mercies ; but as thou hast 
 thought me more worthy, and given me thine own 
 son, who hath punjhased all again, and paid a great 
 price for them ; yet I firmly believe, that goodness 
 and mercy will follow me all the days of my life. 
 
 Now to the power of God supreme, 
 
 Be everlasting honours given ; 
 He saves from hell, (we bless his name) 
 
 He calls our wand'ring feet to heav'n. 
 
 Not for our duties or deserts. 
 
 But of his own abounding grace, 
 
 He works salvation in our hearts. 
 And forms a people for his praise. 
 
 'Twas his own purpose that begun, 
 To rescue rebels doom'd to die : 
 
 He gave us grace in Christ his Son, 
 Before he spread the starry sky. 
 
 Jesus the Lord appears at last, 
 
 And makes his Father's counsels known 
 
 Declares the great transactions past, 
 And brings immortal blessings down. 
 
164 MAY 26. 
 
 / beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of 
 God,that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, 
 holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasona- 
 ble service. And be not conformed to this world; 
 but be ye transformed by the renewing of your 
 mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and ac- 
 ceptable, and perfect will of God. Rom. xii. 1 , 2. 
 
 This, in conjunction with the word of God, and 
 serious prayers, is the best means to know the will 
 of God. The neglecting of it, and using other 
 means, is tempting God, and exposing ourselves to 
 the temptations and siftings of the wicked one. We 
 may think ourselves, to be divinely convinced by 
 faith, of the will of God, though we follow our own 
 imaginations, and spoil the best of our actions. 
 Self-will generally takes quick resolutions, and has 
 a great deal of assurance ; whereas, God very often 
 leads his people blindly, and takes methods quite 
 different from ours. " Who therefore believes, shall 
 not make haste." Zsa. xxviii. 16. But be very care- 
 ful that he do not mistake self-will and plausible re- 
 presentations, for divine convictions and assurance 
 of faith; always strictly examining himself first, 
 whether his body, soul, and affections, are entirely 
 offered up to the good-will and pleasure of God ; for 
 the only true service which God delights in, is the 
 sacrificing our whole selves to him at all times ; and 
 not only at church, but in all other places, that we 
 do not conform to the world, but be daily transfor- 
 med by the renewing of our minds. 
 
 Lord, search my thoughts and try my way 
 
 And make my soul sincere ; 
 Then shall I stand before thy face, 
 
 And find acceptance there. 
 
MAY 26. 165 
 
 / miill greatly rejoice in the Lord ; my soul shall he 
 joyful in my God .for he has clothed me in the gar- 
 ments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe 
 of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself 
 with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself 
 with jewels. Isa. Ixi. 10. 
 
 In vain dost thou dress up and adorn thyself, O 
 my soul, before thou approachest Christ. To hini 
 thou must come, filthy, naked, and miserable as 
 thou art ; he will clothe and adorn thee himself, and 
 in this ornament alone thou shalt rejoice. For the 
 very best of our robes and performances, are not 
 without spots, but still want to be washed in the 
 blood of Christ and covered with this ornament. 
 Rev. vii. 14. This, and this alone is the way to 
 enjoy and maintain a true peace. This will enable 
 us to rejoice that our nam.es are written in heaven. 
 Awake my heart, arise my tongue, 
 
 Prepare a tuneful voice : 
 In God. the life of all my joys, 
 
 Aloud will I rejoice. 
 'Tis he adorn'd my naked soul, 
 
 And made salvation mine ; 
 Upon a poor polluted worm 
 
 He makes his graces shine. 
 The spirit wrought my faith and love, 
 
 And hope, and every grace ; 
 But Jesus spent his life to work 
 
 The robe of righteousness. 
 Strangely my soul art thou arrayed 
 
 By the great sacred Three ! 
 In sweetest harmony of praise 
 Let all the powers agree. 
 
156 MAY 28. 
 
 I have sinned against the Lord. Divine answer. 
 The Lord also has put away thy sin, thou shalt 
 not die. 2 Sam. xii. 13. For if we would judge 
 ourselves, we should not he judged, 1 Cor. xi. 3 1 . 
 
 He that with unfeigned repentance accuses and 
 judges himself, accounting his own righteousness 
 and best doings, as filthy rags, will soon receive 
 grace, pardon, and remission of all his sins at once, 
 though chastisement may follow ; for grace is not 
 divided as gifts are. God, through Christ, receives 
 the whole person of a penitent sinner into his 
 favour, forgiving both original and actual sins in 
 one instant ; so that either none or all are for- 
 given ; not one, even the least, is forgiven, only 
 on account of our repentance (as some vainly ima- 
 gine) without the blood of Christ ; but by this, all, 
 even the most heinous, are taken away ; for the 
 blood of Christ cleanses us from all sins. 1 John, i. 7. 
 
 Show pity. Lord, O Lord forgive ; 
 Let a repenting sinner live ; 
 Are not thy mercies large and free ! 
 May not a sinner trust in thee ? 
 My lips with shame my sins confess, 
 Against thy law, against thy grace : 
 Lord, should thy judgment grow severe, 
 I am condemned, but thou art clear. 
 Should sudden vengeance seize my breathy 
 I must pronounce thee just in death ; 
 And if my soul were sent to hell, 
 Thy righteous law approves it well. 
 My crimes are great, but not surpass 
 The power and glory of thy grace ; 
 Great God, thy nature has no bound. 
 So let thy pard'ning love be foundo. 
 
MAY 29. 167 
 
 / have somewhat against thee^ because thou hast 
 left thy first love. Rev. ii. 4. 
 
 This comforts me, my dear father ! that thou 
 hast shown me thy mercy, and lovest me in Christ ; 
 but this grieves me alsoi that my love is still so 
 weak towards thee. O supply these my great de- 
 fects, and whatever thou suffereth to remain, lay it 
 not to my charge, and let it not disturb my filial 
 confidence ; rather let it serve that I trust so much 
 more upon Christ alone, and that I may be stirred 
 up to more earnest prayers ; then there is no doubt 
 but my great wants, shall in due time, be all filled 
 up with a real constant love. 
 
 Why is my heart so far from thee. 
 
 My God, my chief delight ? 
 Why are my thoughts no more by day 
 
 With thee, no more by night ? 
 
 Why should my foolish passions rove? 
 
 Where can such sweetness be. 
 As I have tasted in thy love, 
 
 As I have found in thee ? 
 
 Trifles of nature or of art 
 
 With fair deceitful charms, 
 Intrude into my thoughtless heart. 
 
 And thrust me from thy arms. 
 
 Wretch that I am, to wander thus 
 
 In chase of false delight ! 
 Let me be fastened to thy cross, 
 
 Rather than lose thy sight. 
 
 14 
 
158 MAY 30. 
 
 I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait. PsaK cxxx* 
 5. God's answer. They that wait upon the Lord 
 shall renew their strength, they shall mount up 
 with win2;s like eagles, they shall run and not be 
 weary, and they shall walk and not faint. Isa. xiv» 
 31. For the Lord is good unlo them, that wait for 
 Mm, to the soul that- seeks him. Lament, iii. 25. 
 
 When we have prayed, we must remember to 
 wait also ; for it is not only an express command, 
 but very acceptable to the Lord. The more we 
 wait, and are instant in prayer, so much more will 
 he give : nay, he always hears and grants our pe- 
 titions directly, and lays them up for his children ; 
 but that we may not abuse them, he gives the en- 
 joyment only when it is most needfid. Therefore 
 we may confidently say, such and such gifts 1 have, 
 since 1 have prayed for them : they are actually 
 laid up for me, and the use and benefit thereof, I 
 shall reap in due season, especially in death and all 
 eternity. 
 
 My spirit looks to God alone ; 
 My rock and refuge in his throne : 
 In all my fears, in all my straits, 
 My soul on his salvation waits. 
 
 Trust him, ye saints, in all your ways, 
 Pour out your hearts before his face ; 
 When helpers fail, and foes invade, 
 God is our all-sufflcient aid. 
 
 For Sov'reign Power reigns not alone 
 Grace is a partner of his throne : 
 Thy grace and justice mighty Lord, 
 Shall well divide our last reward. 
 
MAY 31. 169 
 
 In the multitude of my thoughts within me, thy 
 comforts delights my souL Psal. xciv. 19. See 
 also 2 Cor. i. 3—5. 
 
 A man without afflictions, seeks his trust, and 
 seeks his comPjrts chiefly in temporal things ; he is 
 full of earthly desires, and the true image of vani- 
 ty ; whereas we can never taste the sweet comforts 
 of the word of God, so well, as under the burden 
 of the cross. There our spirits sometimes enjoy 
 more rest and joy than if we were without it, for 
 then that word is fulfilled which Christ says, Matt, 
 xi. 30. <' my yoke is easy and my burden is light." 
 Thus our hearts are set against the world, recon- 
 ciled to heavenly things, and easily disunited from 
 many idols, which were impossible to deny and 
 forsake before. Well then, may we bear this salu- 
 tary burden, which will certainly end, and who 
 knows how soon, in eternal glory and rest. And 
 as the Lord will also give patience and strength 
 suflficient for the day, so as to be never tempted 
 above measure, there is abundant reason again tQ 
 say, that his burden is light indeed. 
 
 'Tis good for me to wear the yoke, 
 For pride is apt to rise and swell : 
 
 'Tis good to bear my father's stroke, 
 That I may learn his statutes well. 
 
 Father, I bless thy gentle hand ; 
 
 How kind is thy chastising rod 
 That forced my conscience to a stand, 
 
 And brought my waiid'ring soul to God. 
 
160 JUNE 1. 
 
 / determined not to know any thing among youy save 
 Jesus Christ and him crucified. 1 Cor. ii. 2, The 
 love of God is most excellent wisdom, Eccles.i. 13. 
 Thefearofthe Lord is the beginning of wisdom, 
 4*^. Psal. cxi. 10. The wisdom that is from above 
 is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, arid easy to be 
 intreated, full of mercy, and good fruity without 
 partiality and without hypocrisy. James, iii. 1 7. 
 Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifies, 1 Cor. 
 viii. 1. 
 
 Christ crucified, and he alone is the power and 
 wisdom of God ; him all Christians, and especially 
 divines, should make their particular practice to 
 study well. Were our faith builded on human 
 wisdom, then surely carnal philosophers would be 
 the greatest believers ; whereas they are sometimes 
 the worst infidels, or at best the most silly and 
 faithless people in times of distress. And besides, 
 their being pufied up is another evidence that they 
 have not the true wisdom ; for the wisdom from 
 above is only with the lowly, and babes, who pray for 
 it earnestly. Prov. xi. 2. Matt. ix. 25. What would 
 all knowledge avail us, then, without the knowledge 
 of Christ ? one spark of pure love yields more power 
 than all the stores of empty human learning. May 
 the Lord Jesus shed his love abroad into my heart ; 
 him have I determined only to know ; his love at the 
 cross I account for my greatest wisdom and glory. 
 
 To fear his power, to trust his grace 
 
 Is our divinest skill. 
 And he's the wisest of our race 
 
 That best obeys his will. 
 
JUNE 2. 161 
 
 / will not let thee go except thou bless me. Gen. 
 xxxii. 12. Forsake me nut, O Lord, O my God. 
 Psal. xxxviii. 22. Divine answer. Behold I am 
 with thee, a,nd will keep thee in all places whither 
 thou guest, for I Will not have thte until I have 
 done that which I have spoken to thee of. Gen. 
 xxviii. 15. / hiow thee by name, and thou hast al- 
 so found grace in my sight. Ex. xxxiii. 12. J will 
 never leave thee norjorsake thee. Heb. xiii. 5. 
 
 God will have me to be faithful, and should not 
 he be so himself? am I to trust in his word ; then 
 surely he will not forsake me, but be as good as his 
 word. Heaven and earth must pass away, but 
 his word will not : He is ever faithful. If I do not 
 believe this, I beheve no God at all : but if I truly 
 believe him to be faithful, I believe enough. This 
 is what he only desires, and if I really do, my faith 
 will not be moved even in the hottest trials; the 
 word will hold me up, though 1 receive it even 
 in weakness. 
 
 Begin, my tongue some heav'nly theme, 
 And speak some boundless thing, 
 
 The mighty works or mightier name 
 Of our eternal King. 
 
 Proclaim salvation from the Lord 
 
 For wretched dying men ; 
 His hand has writ the sacred word 
 
 With an immortal pen. 
 
 Engrav'd, as in eternal brass, 
 
 The mighty promise shines ; 
 Nor can the powers of darkness 'rase 
 
 Those everlasting lines. 
 
 14* 
 
162 JUNE 3. 
 
 / say unto you, that every idle word that men shall 
 speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of 
 judgment. Matt. xii. 36. See also Eph. iv. 29. 
 V. 4. 
 
 Here all corrupt communication, jesting, foolish 
 talking, or whatever is not convenient, and good to 
 the use of edifying, is plainly forbidden, But who 
 truly believes the report and the truth of these aw- 
 ful words ? Surely the world does not believe them 
 at all ? This is quite plain, from that very com- 
 mon and shocking practice and custom of judging, 
 lying, swearing, jesting, and talking all manner of 
 filthiness, yea, even religious people very often do 
 not believe and consider them enough. How many 
 heedless, slanderous, idle, and unprofitable words, 
 are sometimes spoken by these ! be therefore care- 
 ful, my reader, to weigh every word, and to make 
 light of none, for each will increase thine account. 
 Whenever you are going to speak, let the question 
 be first. Is it needfiil to speak ? does it tend to the 
 glory of God ? will it profit me or others ? O Lord* 
 grant that never an idle word may drop from my 
 lips. Whenever I am to converse with others, give 
 me grace to converse with thee by secret prayers. 
 In all companies, let thy presence be before mine 
 eyes, always looking upon thee, as the chief person 
 in the place, and receiving direction, when and 
 what I am to speak. May thy good spirit always 
 teach me and sanctify all my thoughts and words. 
 
 Thus I resolve before the Lord, 
 
 Now will I watch my tongue, 
 Lest I let slip one sinful word, 
 
 Or do my neighbour wrong. 
 
JUNE 4. 163 
 
 I will declare mine iniquity: I will he sorry for my 
 sin. I acknowledge my transgressions, and my 
 sin is ever before me. Psal. xxxviii. Psal. li. 5. 
 Divine answer. He has not dealt with us after 
 our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniqui- 
 ties ; for as the heaven is high above the earth, so 
 great is his mercy towards them that fear him. 
 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he 
 removed our transgressions from us. Like as a 
 father pi tieth his children, so the Lordpitieth them 
 that fear him. Psal. ciii. 10 — 13. 
 
 As njy sins are ever before me, so the ransom of 
 my Mediator is ever before God and me also. God 
 having dealt already with Christ my surety for my 
 sins, he cannot deal for them with me again : for 
 he cannot take double payment, and punish them 
 twice ; not only his mercy, but even his justice re- 
 quires him to save me, when I lay hold on the 
 merits and the most perfect atonements of his dear 
 Son, my Hedeemer. Thus all my sins and punish- 
 ments are taken away for ever, my conscience is 
 perfectly purged, and by faith I am able to answer 
 all the charges of the law. 1 John, i. 9. Heb.ix. 14. 
 Chap. X. 2, 22. 
 
 High as the heavens are raised 
 ''^ ^ Above the ground we tread, 
 So far the riches of his grace 
 Our highest thoughts exceed. 
 
 His power subdues our sins. 
 
 And his forgiving love. 
 Far as the east is from the west, 
 
 Doth all our guilt remove. 
 
164 JUNE 6. 
 
 By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul 
 loveth. Cant. iii. 1. 
 
 Many are seeking Christ who have him already, 
 though he hides himself; and many imagine they 
 have him, who have him not ; for such as have him 
 only in their thoughts, and in their mouth, have him 
 not in their heart. O my dear Saviour, let me al- 
 ways remember and firmly believe that thy Father 
 loves me as he loves thee, and that thou lovest me 
 also as thy very spouse and a member of thy body^ 
 Happy would that be for me, then I could love 
 thee again ; and we would delight in one another 
 reciprocally, above all creatures. 
 
 Jesus, my portion, and my love, 
 
 My everlasting All, 
 I've none but thee in heaven above, 
 
 Or on this earthly ball. 
 
 How vain a toy is glitt'ring wealth, 
 
 If once con)pared to thee ? 
 Or what's my safety, or my health, 
 
 Or all my friends to me ? 
 
 Let others stretch their arms like seas, 
 
 And grasp in all the shore, 
 Grant me the visits of thy face. 
 
 And I desire no more. 
 
 For whilst upon my restless bed 
 
 Amongst the shades I roll, 
 If my Redeemer shows his head, 
 
 'Tis morning with my soul. 
 
JUNE 6. 165 
 
 I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and 
 hast pleasure in uprightness, 1 Chron. xxix. 17. 
 He is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. Prov. 
 xi. 8. The Lord looks on tlie heart. 1 Sam. xvi. 7. 
 
 Since God cannot be deceived with a mere out- 
 ward form, though ever so fine, it is an infallible 
 proof of a sincere, real conversion, if a man has re- 
 formed only the grosser sins of hi? former life, much 
 less if he only abstains from such things which by 
 nature he is not so much inclined to: but if our 
 hearts are changed, and especially in those things 
 we have the strongest propensity to, this is an in- 
 faUible evidence of a true conversion. For these 
 inward capital enemies, the Lord, and all his up- 
 right followers attack most, before all the rest. 
 But if thou wouldst give over that which is dear- 
 est to thee, thou must know and believe first, that 
 Christ loves thee. These thoughts we must prose- 
 cute, though all other things should be forgotten. 
 
 Mistaken souls ! that dream of heaven, 
 
 And make their empty boast 
 Of inward joys and sins forgiven, 
 
 While they are slaves to lust. 
 
 Vain are our fancies, airy flights, 
 
 If faith be cold and dead : 
 None but a living power unites 
 
 To Christ the living head. 
 
 'Tis faith that changes all the heart, 
 
 'Tis faith that works by love, 
 That bids all sinful joys depart, 
 
 And lifls the thoughts above. 
 
166 JUNE 7. 
 
 I will hedge up the way with thorns, and make a 
 wall that she shall not find her paths ; and she 
 shall folloio after her lovers, hut she shall not 
 overtake therii, and she shall seek them and not 
 find them; then shall she say, I will gJ and re- 
 turn unto my first husband, for then was it bet^- 
 ter with me-> than now. Hos. ii. 6, 7. 
 
 As it is only with thee, my dear Saviour, that. 
 I can be happy, I would never leave thee any more^.. 
 and that I may not give thee the slip unawares,, 
 even under good pretences, I desire to have my way 
 well hedged up, and be encompassed every where 
 with thorns. Let me quickly discover and crucify 
 every thing which can in the least disturb me in the 
 enjoyment of thy love, that I may always closely 
 walk with thee alone, and never step one inch out 
 of thy way, for fear of running myself into the 
 thorns, and brifiging unnecessary sufferings upon 
 me though I do not mean to avoid the cross of Christ 
 in other respects, but would willingly submit to any 
 sufferings, which are never without good fruit. 
 
 Glory be to thee, O my blessed Saviour, that 
 thou hast not given me up yet, and suffered me to 
 run into destruction, in my own ways. O be pleased 
 to restrain me evermore, and whenever I am in dan- 
 ger to slide out into the broad way, grant that I may 
 not find any rest till I am brought back again, should 
 it even be by means of the pricking thorns of afflic- 
 tion. 
 
 I know thy judgments, Lord, are right> 
 Though they may seem severe ; 
 
 The sharpest suff'rings I endure 
 Flow from thy faithful care. 
 
JUNE 8. 167 
 
 / mill make tJiee an eternal excellency, a joy of many 
 generations. Thy sun shall no more go down, nei- 
 ther shall thy moon withdraw itself; for the Lord 
 shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy 
 mourning shall be ended. 'I 'hy people also shall be 
 all, righteous, they shall inherit the land for every 
 the branch of my planting, the works of my hands 
 shall be glorified. Isa. Ix 15, 20, 21. I wid direct 
 their work in truth, and will make an everlasting 
 covenant with them. Chap. Ixi. 8. Thou shaltbe 
 a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a 
 royal diadem in the hand of thy God ! and as the 
 bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy 
 God rejoice over thee. Isa. Ixii. 3, 5. See also, 
 Prov. iv. 9. Eccles. xv. 2. 
 
 O my dear Saviour and Bridegroom, how could 
 it be possible for thee to take delight in such a sinful 
 worm as I, if it was not entirely for the sake of thy 
 gracious beauties, garment, and ornaments. But 
 since it is thy pleasure to rejoice in thine own, 
 works, what can I desire more agreeable to thy 
 will, than the fulfilling of these engagements. Let 
 me prosper evermore by the plantings of thy hand, 
 that my works being done in thee, may glorify thy 
 wondrous grace, and my life abound evermore 
 with fruits meet for eternity. 
 
 Kind is the speech of Christ our Lord, 
 Affection sounds in every word : 
 What mighty wonders love performs, 
 And puts a comeliness on worms. 
 
 Defil'd and loathsome as we are, 
 He makes us white, and calls us fair. 
 Adorns us with that heav'nly dress, 
 His graces, and his righteousness. 
 
168 JUNE 9. 
 
 I will make an everlasting covenant with tkentf that 
 I will not turn away from them to do them good, 
 and I will put my fear into their hearts, that they 
 shall not departfrom md ; yea, I will rejoice over 
 them to do them good. I will plant them in this 
 land assuredly, with my whole heart and with my 
 whole soul. Jer. xxxii. 40^ 41. / will cleanse 
 them from all their iniquity, whereby they have 
 sinned against me, and I will pardon all their in- 
 iquity. Jer. xxxiii. 8. See also Ezek. xxxvi. 26. 
 26, 27. 
 
 O glorious promise ! God will plant us, cleanse 
 us, and not leave off to do us good. If we do not ex- 
 perience it, the reason is, that either we resist, or do 
 not mind the workings of his grace enough, which 
 certainly is a great loss ; for the least spiritual loss 
 is greater than the loss of the whole world. O 
 thou God of my covenant, as it is thy heart's desire 
 to work and give all that is good without ceasing, 
 so let me also be careful without ceasing, to open 
 wide the mouth of faith by prayers, and receive the 
 blessed gifts of thy goodness. And whereas my 
 heart is even now prepared for thee, be pleased to 
 fill it up with thy grace. 
 
 Dear God, the treasures of thy love 
 
 Are everlasting mines : 
 Deep as our helpless miseries are, 
 
 And boundless as our sins. 
 
 The happy gates of gospel grace 
 
 Stand open night and day ; 
 Lord, we are come to seek supplies. 
 
 And drive our wants away. 
 
JUNE 10. 169 
 
 My mercy will I keep for evermore j and my cove- 
 nant shall stand fast with him, Psal. Ixxxix. 
 29. 
 
 Generally there is much spoken of grace, remis- 
 sion of sins, and the assurance thereof; but seldom 
 enough of baptism, which gives both ; for though 
 I should break my baptism vow, yet the covenant 
 and grace of God does not fall away. As soon as 
 I repent of my fall, ask pardon through Christ, and 
 return to my duty, it is the same again as if I had 
 never fallen : I have recovered the eternal grace 
 and forgiveness of all sins, which was given me in 
 baptism. 
 
 The promise of my Father's love, 
 
 Shall stand for ever good : 
 He said and gave his son to death, 
 
 And seal'd the grace with blood. 
 To this dear cov'nant of thy word 
 
 I set my worthless name : 
 I seal the engagement of my Lord, 
 
 And make my humble claim. 
 The light, and strength, and pard'ning grace, 
 
 And glory shall be mine : 
 My hfe, and soul, my heart and flesh, 
 
 And all my powers are thine. 
 I call that legacy my own. 
 
 Which Jesus did bequeath ; 
 'Twas purchased with a dying groan, 
 
 And ratified in death. 
 
 Sweet is the mem'ry of his name, 
 
 Who blest us in his will, 
 And to his testament of love 
 
 Made his own life the seal. 
 15 
 
170 JUNE 11. 
 
 I will he as the dew unto Israel; he shall grow as 
 the lili/f and cast forth his roots as Lebanon, 
 His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall 
 be as the olive tree, Hos. xiv. Let my beloved 
 come into his garden and eat his pleasant fruits. 
 Cant. iv. 16. But the fruit of the spirit is love, 
 fyc. Gal. V. 22. 
 
 Whatever vile lusts and profane thoughts are 
 started up against my own will, by the remainder 
 of the evil root, the blessed God will not lay them 
 to my charge; but since they humble me deep, 
 they must also work for my good, though they 
 seem sometimes to destroy faith, love, and all other 
 good fruit, that I am like a barren tree. The Lord 
 has promised that I shall be green, blossom, and 
 bring forth fruit. This word must also be fulfilled 
 in me, though it should grow ever so slow, and even 
 by contrary ways. His love will yet be shed abroad 
 in my heart, and constrain powerfully. 
 
 We are a garden wall'd around, 
 Chosen and made peculiar ground, 
 A little spot, enclos'd by grace, 
 Out of the world's wide wilderness. 
 
 Awake, O heavenly wind, and come. 
 Blow on this garden of perfume : 
 Spirit divine descend and breathe, 
 A gracious gale on plants beneath. 
 
 Make our best spices flow abroad 
 To entertain our Saviour, God : 
 And faith, and love, and joy appear. 
 And every grace be active here. 
 
JUNE 12. 171 
 
 I will perform my good word towards you; for I 
 know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith 
 the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to 
 give you an expected end. Then you shall pray 
 unto vie, and 1 will hearken unto you, and ye shall 
 seek me and find me ; I will turn away your cap- 
 tivily. Jer. xxix. 10, 11, 13. For the word of the 
 Lord is right ; for he spoke and it was done, he 
 commanded and it stood fast. PsaJ- xxxiii. 4, 9. 
 
 Were it so light a matter to rely on the faithful- 
 ness of God in times of distress, what need to give 
 us so many and various promises? If our faith be 
 right, we must also endure, and wait his time with 
 patience, which certainly is not an easy task : since 
 the promise of the Lord, not only tarries very often, 
 but sometimes even the counterpart will happen, 
 that Providence goes quite contrary to the word, 
 and seems as if it could not be true at all. And 
 then we must remember that these are the very 
 ways and methods of God, which have been in the 
 deep, and acted per contraria, contrary to our ex- 
 pectation. This the corruption of our nature re- 
 quires ; and the wisdom of God, ever chooses first, 
 to help us inwardly, and prepare us to a right use of 
 his outward helps and favours : and thus we receive 
 always a double blessing at once from his hands. 
 Who shall pretend to teach him skill, 
 Or guide the counsels of his will ? 
 His wisdom, like a sea divine, 
 Flows deep and high beyond our line. 
 
 Each of his words demand my faith, 
 My soul can rest on all he saifh, 
 His truth inviolably keeps 
 The largest promise of his Hps 
 
172 JUNE 13. 
 
 Beliold I will allure Iter-, and bring her into the wil- 
 derness, and speak comfortably unto her. Hos. ii. 
 14. Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the 
 field; let us lodge in the villages. Cant. vii. 11. 
 
 O Lord, the world is nothing to me but a wil- 
 derness, a place of tribulation, where, being daily 
 tossed to and fro, i enjoy no rest ; but whenever I 
 lifted up my heart, and looked for peace in thee by 
 prayers, thou hast always spoke comfortable things 
 to me, and even carried me safe through all out- 
 ward distresses. Grant, that by this I may be 
 stren»>thened for the time to corae, Avhen I am at a 
 loss again what course to take. Let me always 
 firmly believe thee to be a present help in all things, 
 who art willing and able to carry me furthermore, 
 through ever so many and great troubles and oppo- 
 sitions, till I shall be safely arrived at the ports of 
 heaven. 
 
 Lord, what a wretched land is this, 
 
 That yields us no supply ? 
 No cheering fruits, no wholesome trees, 
 
 Nor streams of living joy. 
 But pricking thorns through all the ground, 
 
 And mortal poisons grow. 
 And all the rivers that are found, 
 
 With dangerous waters flow. 
 Yet the dear path to thine abode 
 Lies through this horrid land : 
 Lord, we would keep the heavenly road, 
 
 And run at thy command. 
 Our souls shall tread the desert through, 
 
 With uAdiverted feet, 
 And faith and flaming zeal subdue 
 The terrors that we meet. 
 
JUNE 14. 173 
 
 For the power of the Lord is great, and he is hon- 
 oured of the lowly. Sirach, iii. 20. For those that 
 walk in jpride, he is able to abase. Dan. iv. 37. 
 The kings of the earth, bring their glory and ho- 
 nour-, into the city of God. Rev. xxi. 24. 
 
 Some are of such insatiable pride, that they think 
 themselves not proud enough, but spend sometimes 
 much money upon great titles and offices, only to 
 show themselves with more pride. For every one, 
 as Mr. John Ardnt observes, " by nature desires to 
 be something great, but none to be lowly with 
 Christ and follow him, for he has many servants, 
 but very few followers." Grant, O Lord, that I 
 may never defile myself with pride ; but give my- 
 self up to thee entirely, with all my inward and out- 
 ward prerogatives ; to seek only thine, not mine own 
 honour, in all things. What greater pride can there 
 be than to be jealous of the honours of his station 
 and birth ? Have we not much more reason to be 
 humble and ashamed, on account of our birth and 
 progenitors ? Have not all our ancestors from the 
 very first to the last, been sinners ? Is not all human 
 blood alike corrupted ? What can it then be else 
 but a vain sort of pride, to seek any difference and 
 glory in the blood ? There is no difference before 
 God, except we are born again, and we act in every 
 rank and station like true Christians, and do all 
 things in unfeigned humility to the glory of God. 
 This is the only birth and prerogative, in which we 
 can please God, and adorn our outward station. 
 
 All honours perish in the dust. 
 
 And pomp and beauty, birth and blood : 
 
 The glorious day exalts the just 
 To full dominion o'er the proud. 
 16* 
 
174 JUNE 16. 
 
 Jesus Christy the same yesterday^ to-day, and for 
 ever. Heb. xiii. 8. tVho of God is made unto 
 us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctifica- 
 tion? that, as it is written, he that glories, 
 let him glory in the Lord. 1 Cor. i. 30, 31. 
 He has finished the transgression, he has made 
 reconciliation for iniquity, he has brought in 
 everlasting righteousness. Dan. ix. 24. In 
 him have we righteousness and strength. Isa, 
 xlv. 24. 
 
 In ourselves we find nothing but misery: in 
 Christ, all that is good, nay he is himself our all ; 
 he works and gives what is necessary to salvation, 
 therefore we cannot, and need not bring any thing 
 to him of our own ; but since he is made unto us 
 wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and all, we 
 may, and must rely only on his name, and draw 
 every thing from him, by continual prayers of faith. 
 And he being our ail, the law, sin, satan, and even 
 our own judgments have lost their power and right 
 of condemnation over us. 
 
 Jehovah speaks, let Israel hear, 
 
 Let all the earth rejoice and fear, 
 
 While God's eternal Son proclaims 
 
 His sovereign honours and his names. 
 
 I am the last, and I the first, 
 
 The Saviour God, and God the just ; 
 
 There's none beside pretends to show 
 
 Such justice and salvation too. 
 
 In me alone shall men confess, 
 
 Lays all their strength and righteousness ; 
 
 But such as dare despise my name, 
 
 I'll clothe them with eternal shame. 
 
JUNE 16, 175 
 
 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one 
 another. 1 John, iv. II. / say unto you, love 
 your enemies-, bless them that curse you, do good 
 to them that hate you, and pray for them that des- 
 pitefully useyou^and persecute you, that you may 
 be the children of your Father which is in heaven. 
 Matt. V. 44. 
 
 Hypocrites may counterfeit the children of God 
 in many things, but they cannot love their enemies 
 from their hearts ; and yet by this we must try and 
 know ourselves whether we are actually children of 
 God or not. The world very easily but falsely sup- 
 poses this ; but sincere Christians find it often very 
 hard to believe it without a divine sense and assu- 
 rance of it; it costs them many a sore conflict; for 
 if Satan disputed the sonship of Christ, much less 
 will he spare any of us. But since a true love to 
 the children of God and to our enemies is a sure 
 evidence of our state of grace, we have our titles 
 clear to it, though we should walk in darkness, and 
 be destitute of all pleasant sensations. 
 
 Now by the bowels of my God, 
 
 His sharp distress, his sore complaints, 
 By his last groans, his dying blood, 
 
 I charge my soul to love the saints. 
 Clamour, and wrath, and war begone, 
 
 Envy and spite for ever cease : 
 Let bitter words no more be known 
 
 Amongst the saints, the sons of peace. 
 Tender and kind be all our thoughts, 
 
 Through all our lives let mercy run, 
 O God forgive our num'rous faults, 
 
 For the dear sake of Christ thy Son. 
 
176 JUNE 17. 
 
 You are to come unto Mount Sion,and unto the city of 
 the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an 
 innumerable company of angels^ to the general as- 
 sembly of the first-born, which are written in hea- 
 ven, and to God the judge of alL and to the spirits 
 of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator 
 of the new covenant ; and to the blood of sprink- 
 ling, that speaJcs better things than that of Abel. 
 Heb. xii. 22 — 24. This has fulfilled the promise. 
 Isa. XXXV. 10. The ransomed fthc Lord shall re- 
 turn, <^c. See also Eph. ii. 5, 6. Phil. iii. 20. 
 
 The members of the church militant and trium- 
 phant are one body, of which Christ is the head ; 
 consequently the former are as blessed here below, 
 and if they continue in Christ, as safe as the other 
 above. By faith, we are just as near and dear to 
 Christ, as just and happy, as we can desire ; it is 
 the same even now as when we shall come to be 
 more sanctified ; nay, if we were in heaven already; 
 The weak children enjoy the very same love and 
 pardon as the strong ones, and are looked upon like 
 the perfect souls in heaven. May the Lord but 
 clear our hearts from unbelief and worldly desires, 
 to receive this inestimable treasure, and give us 
 more assurance of it, by a lively faith. 
 
 The saints on earth and all the dead. 
 
 But one communion make, 
 All join in Christ their living head, 
 
 And of his grace partake. 
 
 In such society as this, 
 
 My weary soul would rest : 
 The man that dwells were Jesus is, 
 
 Must be for ever blest. 
 
JUNE 18. 177 
 
 Ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land ; 
 hut if you will not drive out the inhabitants of the 
 land from before you, then it shall come to pass 
 that those which you let remain of them, shall be 
 pricks in your eyes and thorns iuyour sides, and 
 shall vex you in the land wherein you dwell. 
 Numb, xxxiii. or xxxiv. 52 — 55. See this ful- 
 filled. Judges, i. 17. Chap. ii. 14. Manasseh 
 did not drive out the inhabitants of Bethshean, 
 <^c. and the Cananites would diiell in that land; 
 so that they, the Israelites, could not any longer 
 stand before their enemies. 
 
 The very same is to be observed in the holy and 
 spiritual battles of the Lord. He that fights only 
 against outward sins is but very little, if at all, ac- 
 quainted with the dangerous enemies in his heart, 
 or the deep corruption of original sin, and so the 
 tempter may easily gain an advantage over him. 
 Experienced Christians guard more against the in- 
 ward assauls of wickedness ; they are at peace 
 with no sin, but keep up a constant war with all 
 their most subtle and darling lu?t«, even when they 
 appear under spiritual disguise. O Lord, give me 
 grace never to spare myself or any of my sinful 
 lusts and passions, but to destroy them without de- 
 lay as soon as they begin to move or stir, that I 
 may not be destroyed by any. 
 
 Forgive my guilt, O Prince of Peace, 
 
 I'll wound my soul no more : 
 Hence from my heart, ye sins, begone, 
 
 For Jesus 1 adore. 
 
178 JUNE 19. 
 
 In the beginning God created the heaven and the 
 earth, and the earth was without form, and void, 
 and darkness was upon the face of the deep ; and 
 the spirit of God moved upon the face of the wa- 
 ters. Gen. i. 1,2. We are his workmanship, ere- 
 ated in Christ Jesus : Note, unto good works, not 
 to indifferent things, ivhich God has before ordain- 
 ed that we should walk in them. Eph. ii. 10. 
 
 Therefore, before we can do truly, good works, 
 we must first be created and born anew. How is 
 it possible for a man to make any progress in reno- 
 vation, if a real change has not been wrought in 
 his heart ? We must needs be first stripped of our 
 own righteousness and strength, and made sensible 
 of our spiiitual nakedness, poverty, and nothing- 
 ness by true repentance, then seek remission of sins 
 and be justified, before we can be sanctified. Christ 
 being the vine, we must first be planted in him, and 
 draw nourishment and strength from him, by faith. 
 When it is fulfilled, they shall feed and lie down on 
 his pasture, and none shall make them afraid. Zeph. 
 iii. 13. Then we shall be able to bring forth good 
 fruits, and obtain victories. For it is God himself 
 that thus makes us perfect in every good work, and 
 prepares a table before us ia the presence of our 
 enemies. 
 
 Mighty Redeemer set me free. 
 
 From my old state of sin ; 
 Oh, make my soul alive to thee, 
 
 Create new powers within. 
 
 Renew mine eyes, and form mine ears, 
 
 And mould my heart afresh ; 
 Give me new passions, joys, and fears. 
 
 And turn the stone to flesh. 
 
JUNE 20. 179 
 
 In the Lord have I righteousness and strength* 
 Isa. xlv. 24. 2 Cor. ii. 14. Chap. v. 9. 
 Justification, through faith in Christ, at first is a 
 very dark doctrine, hard to be understood ; but af- 
 terwards we find, by experience, that it would be 
 impossible to be saved in another way, and that 
 nothing can be surer than this, though all mankind 
 should turn away from it. It will soon plainly ap- 
 pear, that all things, even our best pe«formances, 
 are unclean in the sight of God, and could not be 
 agreeable to him in the least, without the covering 
 of Christ's righteousness. Thus we are brought to 
 submit entirely to Christ, and at last to look upon 
 ourselves wholly justified through him, which alone 
 produces rest, strength, and a gentle spirit, the true 
 image of Christ. 
 
 In vain do we expect to effect this, by the persua- 
 sions of our natural reason, or the strong resolutions 
 of a generous mind. It is only to keep us off from 
 earnestly wrestling in prayer, if by our own strength 
 sometimes we are able to master our affections. But 
 this only a building of our own. The form of god- 
 liness we have, without its power ; we deceive our 
 own souls. Nothing can be pleasing in the sight of 
 God, and profit us at the last day, but what he works 
 himself. Away, therefore, with all these doings of 
 our own. Let us acknowledge the weakness and 
 nothingness of our strength, and apply, in our poor, 
 blind, naked, lost, and miserable condition, to the 
 righteousness of Christ's blood : then we shall also 
 find power and dominion over sin. Isa. xxxiii. 24. 
 
 Sinners shall hear the sound, 
 
 Their thankful tongues shall own. 
 
 Our righteousness and strength is found 
 In thee, the Lord alone. 
 
180 JUNE 21. 
 
 In the day of my trouble will I call upon thee-, for 
 thou wilt hear me. Psal. Ixxxvi. 7. God's an- 
 swer. Then shalt thou call and the Lord shall 
 answer ; thou shalt cry, and he shall say-, here I 
 am. Isa. Iviii 9. The Lord is rich unto all that 
 call upon Mm, and it shall come to pass, that 
 2chosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord 
 shall be saved. (This, to the comfort of the 
 weak, is 'several times repeated in scripture. 
 Joel, ii. 32. Acts, ii. 21. Rom. x. 12, 13, 19.) 
 Therefore when the righteous cry. the Lord hear- 
 eth them, anddelivereth them out of their troubles. 
 Psal. xxxiv. ; 8. The Lord is nigh unto all that 
 call upon him. Psal. cxlv. 18. The prayer of a 
 righteous man availeth much. James v. 16. 
 
 O glorious promise 1 How can God deny me any 
 thing now that I pray for ? He has passed his word 
 for it ; his Son has purchased it ; the Holy Spirit 
 works the prayer ; the word holds it forth, and the 
 prayer of faith lays hold of it and actually receives 
 it. Prayer is the mouth of faith. If thou wilt 
 have much, open thy mouth wide and it shall be 
 filled. Who then should not be stirred up to pray 
 much ! O what foolishness is this, that we have 
 nothing, but can obtain all from God, and yet are 
 so loth to pray much and pray right. 
 
 God knows the pains his servants feel 
 
 He hears his children cry ; 
 And their best wishes to fulfil, 
 
 His grace is ever nigh. 
 
JUNE 22. 181 
 
 Joseph said unto his brethren, come near to wie, / 
 prayyoUi <S^c. lam Joseph your brother, whom ye 
 sold into Egypt; now be not angry with your- 
 selves, that ye sold me hither; for God did send 
 me before for to preserve your life. Gen.xlv. 4, 5. 
 In like manner does Christ speak to his brethren. 
 
 Ephraim, tchat shall I do unto thee ? O Ju- 
 dah, what shall I do unto thee ? for your goodness 
 is as a morning cloud. S^c. Hos. vi. 4. That thou 
 mayest remember and be confounded, and never 
 more open thy mouth because of thy shame, when 
 
 1 am pacified toward thee for all thou hast done, 
 Ezek. xvi. 63. 
 
 We must never offer to vindicate or extenuate 
 our failings and sins, but rather be ashamed and 
 humbly confess our guilt. Thus the Lord not only 
 pardons our transgressions, but even makes them 
 turn to our advantage, and clears us often from the 
 most intricate difficulties into which we have run 
 ourselves. He averts the offence given by our 
 faults, and orders them to the good of others, that 
 they must serve to their improvement, or at least 
 do them no harm. O. the riches of his grace ! 
 
 What mortal pov/er from things unclean 
 
 Can pure productions bring ? 
 Who can command a vital stream 
 
 From an infected spring. 
 
 Yet, mighty God, thy wondrous love ; 
 
 Can make our nature clean ; 
 While Christ and grace prevail above 
 
 The tempter, death, and sin. 
 
 16 
 
182 JUNE 23. 
 
 Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as 
 are of a pure heart, Psal. Ixxiii. 1. Dearly 
 beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pil^ 
 grims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war 
 against the soul. 1 Pet. ii. 11. 
 
 Therefore, says Luther on this passage, a con- 
 stant conflict is required, to subdue not only the 
 grosser sort of carnal lusts, but even the most subtle 
 motions against the Spirit, which also war against 
 the soul. He that yields his members instruments 
 of sin, wounds and destroys himself with his own 
 sword, Sirach, xxi. 1. and fights at the same time 
 against God with his own weapons. O the unnatu- 
 ral madness ; consequently if we would not be kil- 
 led by our lusts, we must kill them ; though not by 
 our own power or anger, but by the spirit of God. 
 O Lord, make me sensible of their wills, and ear- 
 nest in the conflict. 
 
 Thus shall we best proclaim abroad 
 The honours of our Saviour God : 
 When the salvation reigns within. 
 And grace subdues the power of sin. 
 
 Our flesh and sense must be denied, 
 Passion and envy, lust and pride ; 
 While justice, temperance, truth, and love 
 Our inward piety approve. 
 
 Religion bears our spirits up, 
 While we expect that blessed hope, 
 The bright appearance of the Lord, 
 And faith stands leaning on his word- 
 
JUNE 24. 185 
 
 If God be for us, who can he against us ; he who 
 spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for 
 us all, how shall he not imih him freely give us all 
 things? Even his holy Spirit which he promised 
 us so often, and is purchased already by Christ. 
 Luke, xi. 5. — 13. Who shall lay any thing to 
 the charge of God's elect ? It is God that justi- 
 fieth, who is he that condemneth ? It is Christ 
 that died, yea, rather, that is risen again, who is 
 even at the right hand of God, who also maketh 
 intercession for us. Rom. viii. 31, 34. Like- 
 wise, the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities, for 
 we know not ivhat to pray for, as we ought, but 
 the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with 
 groanings, which cannot be uttered. Ver. 26. 
 See also the 15th and 16 verses of this chapter. 
 
 The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, being 
 for me, nay, mine own, all that belongs to them, 
 even the whole heaven is mine, and he pours down 
 continually the blessing of his grace for the never 
 ceasing intercessions and cryings of Christ's blood ; 
 for through my Mediator and Minister of the true 
 tabernacle, my prayer ascends to God, and all the 
 fulness of God descents to me. O that only my 
 heart was always vv^ide open to receive the same. 
 Come, let us lift our joyful eyes 
 
 Up to the courts above, 
 And smile to see our Father there 
 
 Upon a throne of love. 
 The peaceful gates of heavenly bliss 
 
 Are opened by the Son : 
 High let us raise our notes of praise 
 And reach the Almighty throne. 
 
184 JUNE 25. 
 
 Return, thou backsliding Israel^ saith the Lordy and 
 J will not cause mine anger to fall upon you ; for 
 I am mercifuh saith the Lord, and I will not keep 
 anger for ever. Jer. iii. 12. Thou hast received 
 gifts for men. yea, for the rebellious also, that the 
 Lord God might dwell among them. Psal. Ixviii. 
 19. My covenant will I not break or alter. Psal. 
 Ixxxix. 35. See also, 1 Pet. iii. 21. what is said 
 of our baptismal covenant, and Luke xv. of the 
 prodigal son, how his father went out to meet 
 hinci, when he returned. 
 
 Even when we do not seek God, but flee from 
 him, yet he seeks and longs for us, showing us the 
 misery of our condition, and drawing to his Son. 
 "Why should he not receive us now, when we by his 
 drawings conie to him, through Christ, earnestly 
 seeking him, and instead of fleeing from him, flee 
 to him. What mother will not willingly receive 
 her once lost, but now returning child again ? 
 
 "Who can describe the joys that rise 
 Through all the courts of Paradise, 
 To see a prodigal return, 
 To see an heir of glory born ? 
 
 "With joy the Father doth approve 
 The fruit of his eternal love ; 
 The Son with joy looks down and sees 
 The purchase of his agonies. 
 
 The Spirit takes delight to view 
 The holy soul he formed anew ; 
 And saints and angels join to sing 
 The growing empire of the'ir King. 
 
JUNE 56. 18& 
 
 And the inhabitants shall not say^ I am sick ; 
 the people, that dwell therein shall he for- 
 given their iniquity. Isa. xxxiii. 24. See also, 
 Psal. cxxx. 4. Ezek. xvi. 63. Luke, vii. 1. 
 John, ii. 1, 2. 
 
 In these passages we see that a right belief of 
 the remission of sins, or of justification, constrains 
 us most of all things to fear and love God, which 
 cannot fail of producing true holiness. This faith of 
 a believer hanging upon grace, and fixing its eye 
 upon Christ alone, as if there was nothing good in 
 him, yet, since all is really but very imperfect; 
 both keeps him in rest and joy, and makes him 
 willing and able to run the Christian race ; whereas 
 a reliance on works, and experiences produces 
 nothing but unbelief, uneasiness, uncertainty, and 
 weakness. 
 
 There is a voice of sovereign grace 
 
 Sounds from the sacred word, 
 Oh ! ye despairing sinners, come, 
 
 And trust upon the Lord. 
 My soul obeys the Almighty call, 
 
 And runs to this relief, 
 I would believe thy promise, Lord, 
 
 Oh, help my unbelief. 
 Stretch out thine arm, victorious King, 
 
 My reigning sins subdue, 
 Drive the old dragon from his seat, 
 
 With all his hellish crew. 
 A guilty, weak, and helpless worm, 
 
 On thy kind arms I fall : 
 Be thou my strength and righteousnesi, 
 
 My Jesus and my all. 
 
 16* 
 
186 JUNE 27. 
 
 Let your loins he girded about ^ and your lights hum- 
 ing, and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for 
 their Lord. Blessed are those servants^ whom the 
 Lord-, when he comes, shall jind watching ; verily 
 I say unto you thai he shall gird himself, and 
 make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth 
 and serve them ; but that servant who knew his 
 Lord s will and prepared not himself neither did 
 according to his will, shall be beaten with many 
 stripes ; for unto whomsoever much is given^ of 
 him shall be much required- Luke, xii. 35, 37, 
 41, 48. See also, John, xiii. 27. Chap. xv. 14. 
 
 Suffer me never, O my dear Saviour, to be luke- 
 warm, careless, and drowsy again ; make me ever- 
 more vigilant and zealous in drawing the necessary 
 ointment and oil of the spirit from thy blessed name, 
 that I may be always ready, and the light of my 
 faith and love, may be burning clear every day. 
 Let me not commit the foolishness, to put off my 
 preparation to future times, but do thou prepare me 
 every hour. Amen. 
 
 My drowsy powers, why sleep ye so ? 
 
 Awake my sluggish soul. 
 Nothing has half thy work to do, 
 
 Yet nothing's half so dull. 
 We, for whom God the Son came down, 
 
 And labour'd for our good : 
 How careless to secure that crown 
 
 He purchased — with his blood ! 
 Lord, shall we lie so sluggish still, 
 
 And never act our parts ! 
 Come, holy Dove, from the heavenly hill, 
 
 And sit and warm our hearts. 
 
JUNE 28. 187 
 
 Be content with such things as ye have, Heb. 
 xiii. 5. rejoicing (of eternity.) Rom. xii. 12. 
 
 A true believer being content, is not much con. 
 cerned about temporal things, Perhups he is more 
 afraid of worldly prosperity, goods, and money, 
 than of calamities and losses ; which sometimes dis- 
 turb him less than the former. He knows that the 
 hand of God, who supplies him alone, having the 
 whole world and all its treasures at his disposal, 
 can easily command another mine if one fails. The 
 Lord is his portion, therefore, says his soul, will I 
 hope in him. Lament, iii. 24. 
 
 My soul forsakes her vain delight, 
 
 And bids the world farewell ; 
 Base as the dirt beneath my feet, 
 
 And mischievous as hell. 
 
 There's nothing round this spacious earth 
 
 That suits my large desire, 
 To boundless joy and solid mirth 
 
 My nobler thoughts aspire. 
 
 Where pleasure rolls its living flood. 
 
 From sin and dross refined, 
 Still springing from the throne of God, 
 
 And fit to cheer the mind. 
 
 Had I the pinions of a dove, 
 
 I'd climb the heavenly road, 
 There sits my Saviour drest in love, 
 
 And there my smiling God. 
 
188 JUNE 29. 
 
 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of 
 your mouth, but that which is good to the use of 
 edifying J that it may minister grace unto the 
 hearers; and grieve not the holy Spirit of 
 God. Let not filthiness be once named among 
 you, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which 
 are not convenient. Eph. iv. 29. Chap. v. 4. 
 
 Idle words are hurtful words ; they grieve the 
 holy Spirit, destroy what power has been obtain- 
 ed by prayer, and cause nothing but levity and dis- 
 traction of mind : let this be a caution against talk- 
 ing too much ; for if it does not tend to the glory of 
 God, it is nothing but corrupt communication. May 
 all Christians take heed to refrain their tongues, 
 and never speak unadvisedly, but always consider 
 first whether their words can be profitable to others 
 and acceptable to God in heaven. O Lord, teach 
 me by thy wisdom to put a lock to my mouth, and 
 to weigh every word like gold. Let my heart and 
 lips be moved and governed by thy holy Spirit, 
 that both my silence and talking may be according 
 to thy will and direction. Grant that I may always 
 chiefly converse with thee in prayer and thanksgiv- 
 ing, for the good of my own soul and others. And 
 whenever I am to open my lips in due time, let my 
 words be so seasoned and blessed as to administer 
 grace to the hearers. 
 
 So let our lips and lives express 
 The holy gospel wo profess ; 
 So let our words and virtues shine, 
 To prove the doctrine all divine. 
 
JUNE 30. 189t 
 
 Ijct us net he weary in well doing; for in dwt 
 season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we 
 have therefore opportunity, let us do good. 
 Gal. vi. 9. 
 
 Riches and goods are not given unto us to heap 
 them up, to take delight in the counting of them, 
 and to sully both hands and hearts at once with 
 the same. In telling our money we might well pray. 
 Lord keep me from covetousness, teach me so to 
 reckon my money in faith as never to besmear my 
 heart, as it does my fingers, and make me wise and 
 willing to do good in time, that I may improve all 
 opportunities and gifts, to the best and eternal pur- 
 poses ; and may not neglect or misapply any. 
 What more precious in the whole universe than 
 time "^ every minute is a part of eternity, which if 
 well spent, brings a glorious fruit in heaven. It is 
 a thousand pities that they should often so shame- 
 fully be trifled away, or not redeemed enough to 
 the sowing of a good seed for eternity. O, the 
 dreadful loss of so many precious hours, of which 
 we cannot reap a blessed fruit in the world to 
 come ! 
 
 Life is the time that God hath given 
 To escape from hell and fly to heaven, 
 The day of grace, and mortals may 
 Secure the blessings of the day. 
 
 Then what my thoughts design to do, 
 My hands, with all your might pursue, 
 Since no device, nor work is found, 
 Nor faith, nor hope, beneath the ground. 
 
190 JULY 1. 
 
 Teach me to do thy will, for thou art my God ; thy 
 Spirit is good ; lead me into the land of upright- 
 ness. Psal. cxliii. 10. Divine answer. He that 
 has mercy on them, shall lead them, even by the 
 springs of loater shall he guide them. Isa. xlix. 10. 
 I will bring the blind by a loay that they knoio not. 
 I will lead them in paths that they have not known. 
 I will make darkness light before them, and crook- 
 ed things straight. These things will I do unto 
 them, and not forsake them. Chap. xlii. 16. 
 
 Believing souls, resting on the merits of Christ, 
 do not make it their business legally to fulfil the 
 law, and yet are always doing the works of the law. 
 Nay, being sensible of their blindness, saying 
 " neither do we know what to do," they give them- 
 selves willingly and entirely up to their heavenly 
 Leader, to be guided into all his ways and steps, 
 only at his pleasure, praying continually even in 
 the least things. 
 
 In thee I trust, to thee I sigh, 
 And lift my heavy soul on high, 
 For thee sit waiting all the day, 
 And wear the tiresome hours away. 
 
 Break off my fetters, Lord, and show 
 Which is the path my feet shall go, 
 If snares and foes beset the road, 
 I flee to hide me near my God. 
 
 Teach me to do thy holy will, 
 And lead me to thy heavenly hill ; 
 Let the good spirit of thy love 
 Conduct me to thy courts above. 
 
JULY 2. 191 
 
 Thou therefore endure hardness as a soldier of 
 Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangles 
 himself with the affairs of this life. 2 Tim. 
 ii. 3, 4. 
 
 Our way lying here through many tribulations, 
 sorrow, and vexation, O what need we have then 
 always to abide in Christ, our peace, quietly and 
 faithfully to keep to his word and to be instant in 
 prayer. Thus we will certainly be delivered at last, 
 though we were in the utmost straits. Nay, every 
 thing, even the sufferings themselves, are nothing 
 but salvation and a sowing for eternity, which we 
 must look for and depend upon. 
 
 When I can read my title clear, 
 
 To mansions in the skies, 
 I bid farewell to every fear, 
 
 And wipe my weeping eyes. 
 
 Should earth against my soul engage, 
 
 And hellish darts be hurled, 
 Then can 1 smile at Satan's rage, 
 
 And face a frowning world. 
 
 Let cares like a wide deluge come, 
 
 And storms of sorrow fall, 
 May 1 but safely reach my home, 
 
 My God, my heaven, my all. 
 
 There shall I bathe my weary soul 
 
 In seas of heavenly rest, 
 And not a wave of trouble roll, 
 
 Across my peaceful breast. 
 
192 JULY 3. 
 
 Learn of rne^for I am meeJe and lowly in heart, and 
 ye shalljind rest unto your souls. Matt. xi. 29. Be 
 clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, 
 and gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves 
 therefore under the mighty hand of God. that he 
 may exalt youin due time. 1 Pet. v. 6, 6. Judith, 
 ix. 13. 
 
 Such as are haughty and self-conceited, rush 
 against the mighty hand of God, and destroy them- 
 selves ; but those that bow and humble under it, 
 will be protected by the same. Whatever skill of 
 learning and demonstration we may acquire in the 
 schools of human sciences, if we do not learn to be 
 lowly in heart, and dead to the world, the scripture 
 does not allow us to be truly wise and enlightened, 
 but calls us poor, blind, miserable, worldly stu- 
 dents of glory. Prov. xi. 2. 1 Cor. first and second 
 chapters. Therefore St. Austin says, "the more a 
 man dies to this world, the more he is enlightened." 
 
 Is there ambition in my heart ? 
 
 Search gracious God and see, 
 Or do I act a haughty part? 
 
 Lord, I appeal to thee. 
 
 I charge my thoughts be humble still, 
 
 And all my carriage mild ; 
 Content, my Father, with thy will, 
 
 And quiet as a child. 
 
 The patient soul, the lowly mind, 
 
 Shall have a large reward ; 
 Let saints in sorrow lie resigned, 
 
 And trust a faithful Lord, 
 
JULY 4. 193 
 
 JLove the Lord, all ye his saints, Psal. xxxi. 23. 
 
 It is highly necessary for all, even the most re- 
 ligious, but especially for young people, to avoid a 
 familiar conversation with persons of the other 
 sex. The corruption of our nature being too great, 
 and the enemy too cunning ; it may at least produce 
 an addicteduess inconsistent with the love of Christ, 
 and have a bad appearance, which will be matter 
 of grief to the righteous, and of slander to the 
 wicked. But to cleave only to Christ is the best 
 preservative against the love of creatures. 
 
 Come, holy Spirit, heavenly Dove, 
 With all thy quick'ning powers. 
 
 Kindle a flame of sacred love 
 In these cold hearts of ours. 
 
 Look how we grovel here below, 
 
 Fond of these trifling toys : 
 Our souls can neither fly nor go 
 
 To reach eternal joys. 
 
 Dear Lord ! and shall we ever live ■ 
 
 At this poor dying rate ? 
 Our love so faint, so cold to thee 
 
 And thine to us so great. 
 
 Come, holy Spirit, heavenly Dove, 
 With all thy quick'ning powers; 
 
 Come shed abroad a Saviour's love, 
 And that shall kindle ours. 
 
 17 
 
194 JULY 5. 
 
 Love ye your enemies and do good, and lend, hoping 
 for nothing again, and your reward shall be great. 
 Be ye therefore mercifuh as your Father also is 
 merciful ; give, and it shall be given unto you, 
 good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, 
 and running over. Luke, vi. 36 — 38. WhosO' 
 ever shall give to drink, to one of these little ones, 
 a cup of cold water only, in the name of a disci- 
 ple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose 
 his reward. Matt. x. 42. For, inasmuch as ye 
 have done it unto the least of these my brethren, 
 ye have done it unto ms. Chap. xxv. 40. God 
 loveth a cheerful giver ; God is able to make all 
 grace abound towards you. He that ministers 
 seed to the sower, can minister your food, and 
 multiply your seed sown. 2 Cor. ix. 7, 8, 10. 
 
 Who will refuse the sower his victuals ? The 
 more we bestow upon others, the more the Lord 
 bestows upon us again. The more plentifully we 
 sow, the more the seed will multiply here to sow 
 more, and the more our harvest will be blessed. 
 Prov. xvii. 18. Eccles. xi. 1 — 6. 
 
 Happy is he that fears the Lord, 
 
 And follows his commands ; 
 That lends the poor without reward, 
 
 Or gives with lib'ral hands. 
 
 As pity dwells within his breast 
 
 To all the sons of need ; 
 So God shall answer his request 
 
 With blessings on his seed. 
 
JULY 6. 195 
 
 Loose them and bring them unto me ; and if any 
 say aught unto you, ye shall say-, the Lord hath 
 need of them, and straightway he will send them. 
 Matt. xxi. 2, 3. The spirit of the Lord came 
 mightily upon him, and the cords that icere upon 
 his arms, became as fax that was burnt with f re, 
 and his bands loosed from off his hands. Judges, 
 XV. 14. 
 
 Thus the Spirit of the Lord makes us free from 
 all spiritual bonds ; for where the Spirit of the 
 Lord is, there is liberty. 2 Cor. iii. 17. Though I 
 was torn from Christ by the enemy, yet as a rob- 
 ber he gets no right to me. Christ does not give 
 up for this reason, his right which he has to me on 
 so many accounts, and as soon as I am willing by 
 his grace, to give up myself to him, and desire to 
 be delivered from the power of satan, he vindicates 
 and saves me as his property ; I am his, satan loses 
 his hold, and nothing in the world can withhold 
 me from him. All the fetters must fall off. 
 
 What though the hosts of death and hell 
 
 All armed against me stood, 
 Terrors no more shall shake my soul, 
 
 My refuge is my God. 
 
 Arise, O Lord, fulfil thy grace, 
 
 While I thy glory sing : 
 My God has broke the serpent's teeth, 
 
 And Death has lost his sting. 
 
 Salvation to the Lord belongs, 
 
 His arm alone can save : 
 Blessings attend thy people here, 
 
 And reach beyond the grave. 
 
196 JULY 7. 
 
 Make you a new heart, and a new spirit, Ezek. 
 xviii. 31. See also, 2 Cor. v. 17—21. 
 
 Many are converted, hut not entirely to Christ, 
 and from their own ri^rhteousness, so as to be truly 
 sensible of their wickedness and abomination, and 
 earnestly to tide to Christ for reconciliation and 
 righteousness : and therefore never get their hearts 
 changed, but continue on in their mere outward 
 moral state, year after year. O Lord, let me daily 
 receive a word from thee, to nourish and strength- 
 en my soul, so as to be renewed daily by it more 
 and more. 
 
 Not all the outward forms on earth, 
 
 Nor rites that God has given, 
 Nor will of man, nor blood, nor birth, 
 
 Can raise a soul to heaven. 
 
 The sov'reign will of God, alone, 
 
 Creates us heirs of grace, 
 Born in the image of his son, 
 
 A new, peculiar race. 
 
 The Spirit, like some heavenly wind, 
 
 Blows on the sons of flesh, 
 New models all the carnal mind. 
 
 And forms the man afresh. 
 
 Our quicken'd souls awake and rise 
 From the long sleep of death ; 
 
 On heavenly things we fix our eyes, 
 And praise employs our breath. 
 
g[ULY 8. 1&7 
 
 Martha^ Martha, thou art careful and troubled 
 about many things, Luke, x, 41. Keep thy 
 heart with all diligence, for out of it are the 
 issues of life. Prov. iv. 23, 
 
 As the virtue of a strong spirituous liquor evapo- 
 rates by degress iu a vial which is not closely stop- 
 ped, in like manner, the life and power of the spi- 
 rit insensibly vanishes away, if the heart is not kept 
 with all diligence. Of the fornner, remains only 
 water ; of the latter, nothing but the form of reli- 
 gion ; or perhaps some false principles amt errors 
 are crept in. Therefore, many must be tried and 
 sifted, that they may know, like Hezekiah, what 
 is in their hearts. 2 Chron. xxxii. 31. Conse- 
 quently, what more needful, than to take heed to 
 our spirits, and to keep close to the written word ; 
 for as the latter times draw nearer, the more plau- 
 sible will errors and seducements appear, both on 
 your right hand, and on your left, to be drawn off 
 from the truth, either by the false worldly pru- 
 dence, or the pretended, spiritual form of fanatics. 
 
 Lord, permit me not to be, 
 A stranger to myself and thee ; 
 Amidst a thousand thoughts I rove, 
 Forgetful of my highest love. 
 
 Call me away from JBesh and sense, 
 
 One sovereign word can draw me thence, 
 
 1 would obey the voice divine, 
 And all inferior things resign. 
 
 Be earth with all her scenes withdrawn, 
 Let noise and vanity begone ; 
 In secret silence of the mind, 
 My heaven and there my God I find, 
 17* 
 
198 JULY 9. 
 
 My soul thirsteth after thee as a barren land. Psal» 
 cxiiii. 6. Let him that is athirst come, and whoso- 
 ever will, let him take the water of life freely. Rev. 
 xxii. 17. If any man thirst, let him come unto me 
 and drink. He that believes on wie, as the scrip- 
 ture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of 
 living water. John, vii. 37, 38. 
 
 When thou art dry and barren, examine thyself 
 closely what may be the cause : ask pardon for all 
 oifences, and take care to mend them. And though 
 thou shouldst not find any thing particular, yet 
 humble thyself deeply before the Lord ; but at the 
 same time remember that thou art accepted, belov- 
 ed, justified, and blessed in Christ ; and in this dis« 
 position quietly wait the return of some new drops 
 of living water and grace ; but be also sure after- 
 wards to cherish and make a right use of them. 
 Thus thou shalt be like a watered garden. Isa. 
 Iviii. 11. 
 
 For thee T thirst, O Lord, I mourn ; 
 When will thy smiling face return ? 
 Shall all my joys on earth remove, 
 And God for ever hide his love ? 
 
 ANSWER. 
 
 Ho! ye that pant for living streams, 
 
 And pine away and die ; 
 Here you may quench your raging thirst. 
 
 With springs that never dry. 
 Rivers of love and mercy, here, 
 
 In a rich ocean join : 
 Salvation in abundance flows. 
 
 Like floods of milk and wind. 
 
JULY 10. 199> 
 
 My soul waiteth upon God; from him comes my 
 salvation; he only is my defence^ I shall not 
 he greatly moved. Therefore, trust in him at 
 all times, ye people, pour out your hearts be- 
 fore him,, God is a refuge for us. Psal. Ixii. 
 2, 3, 9. 
 
 The more quiet, patient, believing, faithful, ar- 
 dent, and single v/e are, the sooner we shall see the 
 salvation and victory of the Lord. Double minded 
 souls have the gieatest struggle, and the slothful 
 must tarry the longer. Sometimes it is true, though 
 we are faithful, yet we must cry out, O Lord 
 hoto long ? Psal. vi. 4. But nevertheless he always 
 hears and delivers us, though we do not see and 
 feel it directly, but seem to suffer continually. In 
 heaven, we shall certainly see it, and reap the 
 blessed fruits of all our afflictions and prayers. 
 
 My spirit looks to God alone ; 
 My rock and refuge is his throne : 
 In all my fears, in all my straits, 
 My soul on his salvation waits. 
 
 Trust him ye saints, in all your ways, 
 Pour out your hearts before his face : 
 When helpers fail and foes invade, 
 God is our all-sufficient aid. 
 
 For sovereign power reigns not alone? 
 Grace is a partner of the throne : 
 Thy grace and justice, mighty Lord, 
 Shall well divide our last reward. 
 
200 JULY 11. 
 
 My soul fainteth for thy salvation* My soul is 
 continually in thy hand. Uphold me accord-- 
 ing to thy word, that I may live, and let me 
 not be ashamed, of my hope. Look thou upon 
 me and be merciful vnto me, as thou used to do 
 unto those that love thy name, Psal. cxix. 81, 
 109, 116, 132. 
 
 O Lord. I love thy name also, since thou art 
 called merciful, gracious, long suffering, and even 
 the Lord our righteousness ; and therefore, I de- 
 pend upon nothing of my own, but throw myself 
 entirely upon thy free grace and righteousness, 
 which keeps me alone in peace. Without thee> 
 I am ignorant and weak, and Satan, being as wick- 
 ed as he is cunning, what would become of me, if 
 I was not kept and preserved by thee ? 
 
 The arms of everlasting love 
 
 Beneath my soul be placed ; 
 And on the rock of ages, get 
 
 My slipp'ry footsteps fast. 
 
 The city of my blest abode 
 
 Is wall'd around with grace, 
 Salvation for a bulwark stands 
 
 To shield the sacred place. 
 
 Satan may vent his sharpest spite, 
 
 And all his legions roar ; 
 Almighty mercy guards my life. 
 
 And bounds his raging power. 
 
JULY 12. 201 
 
 Mine iniquities are gone over my head as a hea- 
 vy burden, they are too heavy for me, Psal. 
 xxxviii. 4. Divine answer. Behold the Lamb 
 of God, which talces away the sins of the 
 world. John, i. 29. Behold I have caused 
 thine iniquity to pass from thee, Zech. iii. 4. 
 
 Christ thy surety, has taken away thy sins already 
 from thee in one clay, by one offering ; and he hav- 
 ing satisfied divine justice, and being cleared and 
 absolved from all sins as the surety, thou hast in him 
 received the same favour. The chief absolution 
 is passed already, of which thou hast also been 
 made partaker in baptism. And though the pre- 
 sumptuous have no sufficient reason to beheve the 
 forgiveness of their sins on that account ; yet the 
 faithful have none to doubt of it, the word of God 
 removing all their doubts. 
 
 Here, sinners, you may heal your wounds, 
 
 And wipe your sorrows dry, 
 Trust in the mighty Saviour's name, 
 
 And you shall never die. 
 
 So strange, so boundless was the love 
 
 That pited dying men, 
 The father sent his equal Son, 
 
 To give them life again. 
 
 See, dearest Lord, our willing souls 
 
 Accept thine offered grace, 
 We bless the great Redeemer's love, 
 
 And give the Father praise. 
 
205 JULY 13. 
 
 My Beloved is mine and I am his. Cant. ii. 16. 
 Divine answer. / will betroth thee unto me 
 for ever, yea, I will betroth thee unto me in 
 righteousness and in judgment, and in lov- 
 ing kindness. I will even betroth thee unto 
 unto me in faithfulness, and thou shalt know 
 the Lord, Hos. ii. 19,20. 
 
 By faith in the blood of Christ, we are accepted, 
 and closely united to him as our bridegroom. By 
 that, we daily eat his flesh, drink his blood, and are 
 sprinkled all over, since even the best of our works, 
 our prayers, and other performances, still want it 
 continually ; as appears from the type, Heb. ix. 
 19, 20, 21, where it is said, that " all the vessels 
 of the ministry, and even the book was sprinkled.'* 
 
 Hark ! the Redeemer from on high, 
 Sweetly invites his favourites nigh, 
 From caves of ddrkness and of doubt, 
 He gently speaks and calls us out. 
 
 My sister and my spouse he cries, 
 Bound to my heart by various ties, 
 Thy powerful love my heart detains 
 In strong delight and pleasing chains. 
 
 Dear Lord, our thankful heart receives 
 The hope thine invitation gives : 
 To thee, our joyful lips shall raise 
 The voice of prayer, the voice of praise. 
 
 I am my love's, and he is mine, 
 
 Our hearts, our hopes, our passions join. 
 
 Nor let a motion nor a word, 
 
 Nor thought arise to grieve my Lord* 
 
cTULY 14. 2aS 
 
 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face ; my heart said 
 
 unto thee, thy face, Lord, will I seek. Psal. 
 |; xxvii. 8. lam thine, save me ; for I have sought 
 
 thy precepts. Psal. cxix. 74. Divine answer. 
 
 They who seek me early shall find me. Prov. vii. 
 
 17. The humble shall see this and he glad, and 
 
 your hearts shall live that seek God. Psal. Ixix. 
 
 33. Seek and you shall find. Matt. vii. 8. 
 
 And whosoever finds me, finds life. Prov. viii. 
 
 35. For lam the Life. John, xiv. 6. 
 
 Such arguments and entreaties we may use with 
 God to strengthen us in faith ; he does not want 
 them, but we do, and he is well pleased when we 
 take him at his word. For if we would not draw 
 near to God in prayer, till our hearts are quicken- 
 ed, perhaps we might never come to it. Therefore 
 we must not indulge ourselves, in such a state of 
 dullness, but rather put a force upon ourselves, and 
 pray against our natural inclination. Being faith- 
 ful and instant in this, we will certainly have our 
 affections warmed, and great power and blessings 
 given from above, that our hearts may live. O 
 Lord, I plead thy precious promises and all thy for- 
 mer deliverances. Thou canst not deny thy word, 
 I am a child of thy covenant, and thou hast laid 
 thyself under an obligation to help me out, nay, to 
 abide, to live and reign in me, that I may not 
 grieve and lose thee any more by my sins. 
 
 Lord, I address thy heavenly throne : 
 
 Call me a child of thine ; 
 Send down the spirit of thy Son 
 
 To iorm my heart divine. 
 
204 JULY 15. 
 
 O my God, I trust in thee-, let me not he ashamed, 
 Psal. XXV. 2. In thee, O Lord, do I hope ; thou 
 wilt hear, O Lord, my God. Psal. xxxviii. 15. Let 
 none that loait on thee be ashamed. Psal. xxv. 3. 
 Divine answer. Hope makes not ashamed. Rom. 
 V. 5. They that trust in the Lord shall be as 
 mount Zioa, which abideth forever. Psal. cxxv. 1. 
 Who was ever put to shame that trusted in God? 
 Sirach, ii. II. Pray for help, and though it tarry ^ 
 wait for it ; because it tvill surely come, it will 
 not tarry. Heb. ii. 3. Then thou shalt know, 6^c. 
 Isa. xlix. 33. 
 
 Does God delay his promises, and the enemy 
 raise a suspicion against his faithfulness? remem- 
 ber that it is said, Wait. Thou art still in being, 
 and shalt be a witness to God's faithfulness. If he 
 was not faithful and true, he could not be God. 
 His faithfulness is eternal, and as sure and great as 
 himself; above all our thoughts. Thou shalt at 
 last, the more gloriously experience it, and not be 
 ashamed ; sooner shall heaven and earth pass away. 
 **He keeps the truth for ever." Psal. cxlvi. 6. 
 
 Happy the man whose hopes rely 
 On Israel's God : he made the sky, 
 And earth, and seas, with all their train ; 
 And none shall find his promise vain : 
 
 His truth for ever stands secure, 
 He saves the oppress'd, he feeds the poor, 
 He sends the lab'ring conscience peace, 
 And grants the pris'ner gweet releaic. 
 
JULY 16 205 
 
 Man, thou must die, Sirach, xiv. 18. There- 
 fore, be not deceived, God is not mocked ; for 
 vjhat amansovjs that shall he reap. Gal vi. 7. 
 A certain true and faithful servant of God de- 
 clared upon his death bed, that the last thing-, 
 should be more frequently laid before people and se- 
 riously pressed upon them. This was the practice of 
 St. Paul himself, though he was of an uncommon 
 evangelical spirit. Acts, xxiv. 25. Such repre- 
 sentations may be very useful at this time, and per- 
 haps still more for the time to come, to restrain that 
 growing levity and indifference in spiritual and 
 gospel matters. For this false, and unevangehcal 
 method of playing with the wounds of Christ, does 
 not stand its ground, nor will it avail us in the hour 
 of death. Many will then find their joy changed 
 into heaviness, and others their heaviness into joy. 
 
 Life is the time to serve the Lord, 
 
 The time to ensure the great reward ; 
 
 And while the lamp holds out to burn, 
 
 The vilest sinner may return. 
 
 The living know that they must die, 
 
 But all the dead forgotten lie, 
 
 Their mem'ry and their sense is gone 
 
 Alike unknowing and unknown. 
 
 Their hatred and their love is lost, 
 
 Their envy buried in the dust : 
 
 They have no share in all that's done 
 
 Beneath the circuit of the sun. 
 
 There are no acts of pardon pass'd 
 
 In the cold grave to which we haste ; 
 
 But darkness, death, and long despair 
 
 Reign in eternal silence there. 
 18 
 
206 JULY 17. 
 
 Moses said, there shall not a hoof be left hehind* 
 And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, 
 that they might send them out of the land in haste. 
 Exod. X. 26, and xii. 33. Behold we have for- 
 saken all, and followed thee. Whosoever he be 
 of you, that forsakes not all that he has, he can- 
 not be my disciple. Luke, xiv. 34. And they 
 that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not. 1 Cor. 
 vii. 29, 3L 
 
 Christ being my all, self-denial and following 
 him is so easy and pleasant, that there is no need to 
 make a particular work and duty of it. And if I 
 am his property and have entirely devoted myself 
 to him, I neither dare, nor will reserve any thing 
 for myself ; and yet I have no reason to be troubled 
 for any thing, but can safely trust and leave all to 
 him. He will certainly take care of me, protect 
 and perfect me in the best manner. 
 How can I sink with such a prop 
 
 As my eternal God, 
 Who bears the earth's huge pillars up, 
 
 And spreads the heaven's abroad. 
 How can I die while Jesus lives, 
 
 Who rose and left the dead ? 
 Pardon and grace my soul receives 
 
 From mine exalted head. 
 All that I am and all I have 
 
 Shall be for ever tliine, 
 Whate'er my duty bids me give, 
 
 My cheerful hands resign. 
 Yet if I might make some reserve, 
 
 And duty did not call, 
 I love my God with zeal so great 
 That I should give him all. 
 
JULY 18. 207 
 
 Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. Psal. 
 XXV. I. Divine answer. Thou hast heard the 
 desire of the humble, thou wilt prepare their 
 hearts, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear. 
 Psal. X. 7. 
 
 Faith only desires Christ and does neither delight 
 in the gain, nor grieve much in the loss of tempo- 
 ral things ; but as Luther says, "fciith through an 
 earnest desire for Christ and his word, rises above 
 all creatures, and overcomes all worldly pleasures 
 and fears." And this being the work of God, will 
 certainly be accomplished ; nay, is looked upon as 
 really accomplished, already in our own desires and 
 endeavours after it ; in the same manner as evil 
 desires are reckoned for deeds in the sight of Godji. 
 though they never proceed to overt acts. 
 
 I cannot bear thine absence Lord, 
 
 My life expires if thou depart : 
 Be thou, my heart, still near my God, 
 
 And thou, my God, be near my heart 
 
 I was not born for earth and sin. 
 Nor can I live on things so vile j 
 
 Yet I will stay my Father's time, 
 
 And hope and wait for heaven awhile^ 
 
 Then, dearest Lord, in thine embracej 
 Let me resign my fleeting breath, 
 
 And with a smile upon my face, 
 Pass the important hour of deaths 
 
208 JULY 19. 
 
 Draw near in the day that I call upon thee; say 
 unto me fear not. O Lord, plead thou the 
 cause of my soul, and redeem my life. Lam. 
 iii. 57, 58. God's answer. Fear not, for lam 
 with thee. Isa. xliii. 5. I am he that lives and 
 was dead, and behold I am alive forevermore^ 
 and have the keys of hell and death. Rev. i. 1 8. 
 
 '< Christ has overcome death, led captivity cap- 
 tive, and by one offering, perfected for ever them 
 that are sanctified." Heb. x. 14. Whoever leaves 
 this vi^orld, believing in him, being perfected already, 
 has nothing to fear after death. O ! my heavenly 
 father, grant that the imperfect work of sanctifi- 
 cation may humble me much : yet let it cause no 
 fear of death, or disturb my filial confidence ; since 
 this does not depend on any particular degree of 
 holiness but only on my being in Christ, and being 
 adopted through him, which the weakest child, 
 as well as the strongest may boldly believe ; having 
 both, like right, like grace, and like pardon. Being 
 therefore a child, I am an heir, and shall find life 
 and deliverance in death. 
 
 Exalted at his Father's side 
 
 Sits our victorious Lord : 
 To heaven and hell his hands divide 
 
 The vengeance or reward. 
 
 The saints from his propitious eye 
 
 Await their sev'ral crowns, 
 And all the sons of darkness, flj 
 
 The terror of his frowns. 
 
JULY 20. 209 
 
 Take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word 
 of God, praying always with all prayer and 
 supplication in (he Spirit, E-ph. vi. 17. 18. 
 Continuing instant in prayer. Rom. xii. 12. 
 For every one that asketh receiveth, (out of 
 the fullness of Christ, grace for grace,) and 
 he that seeketh finds, and to him that knock- 
 eth it shall be opened; for if ye, being evil, 
 know how to give good gifts unto your chil- 
 dren; how much mure shall your heavenly 
 Father, give the holy Spirit to them that ask 
 him! Luke, xi. 10, 13. 
 
 A sword is necessary for battle ; and if I use the 
 word of God against sin by faith in Christ, with 
 prayer, I encounter it at last effectually ; and in the 
 mean time I engage in this conflict willingly, at 
 least as to the Spirit ; for as long as we remain in 
 the flesh and are not all spirit, our combats with 
 sin is made with some backwardness, which if we 
 did not strive against, many prayers and other good 
 actions would entirely be left undone. May the 
 Lord grant us all a mortal hatred against sin, and 
 true earnestness in the conflict with it. 
 
 These weapons of the holy war, 
 Of what almighty force they are ! 
 To make our stubborn passions bow, 
 And lay the proudest rebel low. 
 
 Great King of grace, my heart subdue ; 
 I would be led in triumph too, 
 A willing captive to my Lord, ^ 
 
 And sing the vict'ries of his word. 
 18* 
 
210 JULY 21. 
 
 TakCf eat ; this is my body; and drinJc ye all of 
 it, for this is my blood of the New Testament, 
 which is shed for many for the remission of 
 sins. Matt. xxvi. 26. 
 
 This supper, as Luther observes, requires nothing 
 of us but gives every thing freely ; we bring no- 
 thing with us, but receive every thing there ; we 
 are not to prepare and adorn ourselves ; but rather 
 to come naked, poor, and miserable. For why do 
 we go to the sacrament ? but that we may learn 
 truly to believe that Christ died for our sins. This 
 is the greatest art and principal part of Christianity, 
 the entire work of God, which humbles us most, 
 but at the same time affords the greatest peace and 
 strength. Some may vainly imagine to have learnt 
 this well enough, but real Christians must make 
 it their particular study to learn this lesson better 
 every day. 
 
 Lord ! how divine thy comforts are. 
 
 How heav'nly is the place. 
 Where Jesus spreads the sacred feast 
 
 Of his redeeming grace ! 
 
 There the rich bounties of our God 
 
 And sweetest glory shine : 
 There Jesus says, that I am his, 
 
 And my beloved's mine. 
 
 What shall we pay our heav'nly King 
 
 For grace so vast as this? 
 He brings our pardon to our eyes, 
 
 And seals it with a kiss. 
 
JULY 22. 21 i 
 
 Take therefore the talent from him: and give it unto 
 him that hath ten talents, for unto him that hath 
 shall be given, and he shall have abundance. But 
 from him that hath not shall be taken away even 
 that which he hath. Matt. xxv. 28, 29. He that 
 is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also 
 in much-, and he that is unjust in tJie leasts is also 
 unjust inmuch. Luke, xvi. 10. 
 
 God requires nothing but faithfulness ; with this 
 thou needest not to fear any thing, nor to say, if 
 only such and such a thing was not in the way ; but 
 rather confidently believe that all is thine, and will 
 work together for thy good. Nay, what seems to 
 be most dangerous may perhaps prove most advan- 
 tageous ; so that if it were wanting, it would be 
 the same as if the clock was without its weights. 
 By fidelity our gifts and graces will be increased* 
 and that which is bad, turned into good ; which 
 made a certain faithful servant of the Lord in his 
 last moments call upon all the children of God, 
 *' to be only faithful, since God is certainly faithful 
 on his part." Whoever therefore, desires to be rich 
 in grace, let him mind these words of a dying experi- 
 enced Christian, nay, of Christ himself. Whatever 
 the Lord gives us to know, we must be careful to 
 bring it directly into practice, by watching, prayer, 
 and wrestling, if we will be called faithful, and ar- 
 rive to a state of true life and power. Thus for 
 one drachm of fidelity we shall certainly be reward- 
 ed, even in this life, but much more in heaven, with 
 many talents, and also receive that which bai 
 been buried by a slothful servant. 
 
212 JULY 23. 
 
 Not unto lis, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy 
 name be the glory. Psal. cxv. 1 . 
 
 How little reason have we to glory in any thing 
 of our own, since nothing but sin is ours, which 
 even defiles that which is of God. O Lord, grant 
 that I may always give thee thy own ; that 1 may 
 know of no delight and glory but in thee, and have 
 no other design and request but to live in godly 
 simplicity, innocence and quietness, for " he that 
 walketh uprightly, walketh surely." Prov. x. 9. 
 And the best method to have much confidence is to 
 have a single eye which does not seek its own. For 
 whence is all this disquietude of mind, but from 
 our own lusts, and unmortified affections, which 
 are like the troubled sea ; and what affords more 
 peace than to have nothing at heart but the glory 
 of God, and to count ourselves worthy of no good. 
 Thus we shall be enabled to call our misfortunes 
 a happiness, and be satisfied and praise the Lord as 
 much when he has taken something from us, as if 
 he had gmnted a blessmg, being sure that it tends 
 to our good and to his glory, which he knows best 
 how to promote, and that nothing but sin can make 
 us unhappy and miserable. 
 
 Great God ! how infinite art thou ! 
 
 What worthless worms are we ! 
 Let the whole race of creatures bow, 
 
 And pay their praise to thee. 
 
 Our hves through various scenes are drawn> 
 
 And vex'd with trifling cares, 
 While thine eternal thought moves on 
 
 Thine undisturb'd affairs. 
 
JULY 24. 213 
 
 No man can serve two masters. Matt. vi. 24. 
 
 O Lord ! as thou hast given thy whole self to 
 me, how shall I dare to offer thee only the half of 
 my heart ? O ! no, I am wholly thine. Here I re- 
 sign my body, soul, and spirit, again into thine 
 hands for an entire sacrifice. Grant that I may al- 
 ways be constant, pure, and single towards thee, 
 Amen and Amen. 
 
 How vain are all things here below ! 
 
 How false, and yet how fair ! 
 Each pleasure has its poison too, 
 
 And every sweet a snare. 
 
 The brightest things below the sky 
 
 Give but a flatt'ring light ; 
 We should suspect some danger nigh. 
 
 Where we possess delight. 
 
 Our dearest joys and nearest friends. 
 
 The partners of our blood, 
 How they divide our wav'ring minds, 
 
 And leave but half for God. 
 
 The fondness of a creature's love, 
 How strong it strikes the sense : 
 
 Thither the strong affections move, 
 Nor can we call them thence. 
 
 Dear Saviour, let thy beauties be 
 
 My soul's eternal food ; 
 And grace command my heart away 
 
 From all created good. 
 
214 JULY 25. 
 
 But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the 
 glory of the Lord-, are changed into the same im- 
 age, from glory to glory. 2 Cor. iii. 18. There- 
 fore, let this mind be in you which was in Christ 
 Jesus. Phil. ii. 5. For he has left us an exam- 
 ple, that we should follow his steps. 1 Pet. ii. 21. 
 
 If, before we say or do any thing, we would but 
 always consider whether it was agreeable to the 
 pattern of Christ, a multitude of sins would not 
 be committed. O Lord, however miserable 1 am, 
 when I humble myself before thee with a filial con- 
 fidence, looking upon myself as united to thee, and 
 as the vilest of sinners ; depending only upon thy 
 free grace, I enjoy peace. Grant, therefore, O my 
 God, that this beholding of thee, may be my con- 
 stant exercise, and that by this means I may be 
 strengthened cheerfully to follow thy pattern daily, 
 to be changed more and more into the glorious im- 
 age of thy love, patience, and humility, and thus to 
 be truly prepared for .eternal life. 
 
 My dear Redeemer, and my Lord ! 
 I read my duty in thy word : 
 But in thy life the law appears, 
 Drawn out in living characters. 
 
 Such was thy truth and such thy zeal, 
 Such defrence to thy Father's will, 
 Such love and meekness so divine, 
 I would transcribe, and make them mine. 
 
 Be thou my pattern, make me bear 
 More of thy gracious image here ; 
 Then God the judge shall own my name. 
 Among the followers of the Lamb. 
 
JULY 26. 215 
 
 Being justified by faiths we have peace with 
 God through our Lord Jesus Christ, Rom. 
 V.'; 1 . For he is our peace. Eph. ii. 1 1 . There 
 is now no condemnation to them who are in 
 Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, 
 but after the spirit. Rom. viii. 1. 
 
 A justified soul must not only study to be dili- 
 gent and punctual in the duties of holiness, which 
 may turn into a legal working, and> bring it under 
 the law again, but must before all things continu- 
 ally endeavour to enjoy the peace of Christ and 
 the blessings of salvation, that its sanctification 
 may proceed from faith, and be of the right kind. 
 We must first receive Christ, and be strong in faith, 
 then shall we be able to give, to love, and to work. 
 O may the Author and Finisher of faith give me 
 always such a faith. 
 
 Our guilty spirits dread 
 
 To meet the wrath of heaven, 
 But in his righteousness arrayed 
 
 We see our sins forgiven. 
 
 Unholy and impure 
 
 Are all our thoughts and ways, 
 His hands infected nature cures 
 
 With sanctifying grace. 
 
 Lord, we adore thy ways, 
 
 To bring us near to God, 
 Thy sovereign power, thy heafing grace, 
 'And thine atoning blood. 
 
216 JULY 27. 
 
 Though I walk through the valley of the shadow 
 ofdeathf I will fear no evil, for thou art 
 with me, th^ rod and thy staff comfort me. 
 Psal. xxiii. 4. See also, Exod. xiv. of the 
 deliverance of the Israelites and the destruc- 
 of the Egyptians in the Red Sea. 
 
 To rejoice in the light is certainly most agreea- 
 ble, but not always so profitable to every one, as 
 sometimes to walk in the dark, nay in the valley of 
 the shadow of death. In this condition some are 
 more humble and cautious than in the former, and 
 the preciousness of the glimpses of grace is more 
 valued. O Lord, I will willingly rely upon thy 
 bare word, even when deprived of sensible com- 
 forts ; grant only that in death I may be refreshed 
 by the light of thy countenance. Amen. Yes, thou 
 hast promised, that the righteous shall have ho^ie in 
 his death. Prov. xiv. 32. 
 
 Death cannot make our souls afraid, 
 
 If God be with us there; 
 We may walk through its darkest shade, 
 
 And never yield to fear. 
 
 May I but climb to Pisgah's top, 
 
 And view the promis'd land, 
 My flesh itself shall long to drop, 
 
 And pray for the command. 
 
 Clasp'd in my heavenly Father's arms, 
 
 I shall forget my breath, 
 And lose my life among the charmi 
 
 Of so diVib6 a^ death. 
 
JULY 28. 217 
 
 Who shall set scourges over my thoughts^ and 
 the discipline of wisdom over mine hearth that 
 :>^. they spare me not for mine ignorance , and 
 ^ it pass not by my sins, Sirach, xxiii. 2. 
 
 Thoughts are by no means toll-free in the sight 
 of God, and evil thoughts do not always proceed 
 even in the hearts of believers from injection of Sa- 
 tan, but also very often from their own natural 
 corruption, which ought to humble them the more. 
 Mark, vii. 21, 22, 23. Being therefore always in 
 danger from the darkness and wickedness of my 
 heart, I have always need to be employed in the 
 word and in prayer. Assist my weakness, O Lord, 
 that by the inspiration of thy holy Spirit, I may 
 always think right, and put in mind every thing in 
 its due season. 
 
 Sin, like a venomous disease, 
 
 Infects our vital blood : 
 The only balm is sov'reign grace, 
 
 And the physician God. 
 Madness by nature reigns within, 
 
 The passions burn and rage, 
 Till God's own Son with skill divine 
 
 The inward fire assuage. 
 We Hck the dust, we grasp the wind 
 
 And solid good despise : 
 Such is the folly of the mind, 
 
 Till Jesus makes us wise. 
 We give our souls the wounds they feek 
 
 We drink the pois'nous gall ; 
 And rush with fury down to hell, 
 
 But heaven prevents the fall. 
 19 
 
218 JULY 29. 
 
 Open thou mine eyes, that I may see wonderful things 
 out of thy law. Psal. cxix. 18. Lighten mine eyes, 
 lest I sleep the sleep of death. Psal. xiii. 3. For 
 with thee is the fountain of life, in thy light shall 
 we see light. Psal. xxxvi. 9. Divine answer. I 
 am come a light into the world') that whosoever 
 believes in me shall not abide in darkness. John, 
 xii. 46 . The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. Psal. 
 cxlvi. 8. 
 
 Many imagine, that their eyes are opened, and 
 that they have clear notions of religion in their 
 heads ; but they see just like Eve, after eating the 
 forbidden fruit, their hearts being corrupted, and 
 destitute of simplicity, a most essential part of a 
 Christian. For he that does not understand the 
 word of God by the light of the holy Spirit, through 
 prayer and faith, but only by his natural reason, 
 is certainly blind still. Rev. iii. 17. And one devil- 
 ish and plausible temptation to error and sin, is 
 enough to break the strongest chains of demonstra- 
 tion, for it is only faith that gets the victory. 1 
 John, V. 4. 
 
 The souls enlightened from above. 
 
 With joy receive the word ; 
 They see that wisdom, power, and love 
 
 Shines in their dying Lord. 
 The vital savour of his name 
 
 Restores their fainting breath ; 
 But unbelief perverts the same 
 
 To guilt, despair, and death. 
 Till God diffuse his graces down, 
 
 Like showers of heavenly rain, 
 In vain Apollo sows the ground, 
 
 And Paul may plant in vain. 
 
JULY 30. . 219 
 
 Without me ye can do nothing. Therefore, 
 abide in me. John, xv. 4, 5. 
 
 I can no more do without thee, O ! my dear Sa- 
 viour, than the branch can without the vine ! keep 
 me, therefore, always in thee, else I shall have re- 
 course to my old fmcied stock of grace, though I 
 have been a thousand times convinced of my in- 
 sufficiency. May I never be left in the least thing 
 to my own strength, but be directed, assisted, and 
 blessed by thee in all my doings. For as far as I 
 trust to myself I am distrustful of thee, and conse- 
 quently weak ; and on the other hand, the more I 
 distrust myself, the more I trust to thee, and will 
 be strengthened and blessed. 
 
 Let the wild leopards of the wood 
 Put off the spots that nature gives, 
 
 Then may the wicked turn to God, 
 
 And change their temper and their lives. 
 
 As well as may Ethiopian slaves, 
 
 Wash out the darkness of their skin ; 
 
 The dead as well may leave their graves, 
 As old transgressors cease to sin. 
 
 Where vice has held its empire long, 
 'Twill not endure the least controul, 
 
 None but a power divinely strong 
 Can turn the current of the soul. 
 
 Great God ! I own thy power divine, 
 
 That works to change this heart of mine, 
 
 I would be formed anew, and bless 
 The wonders of creating grace. 
 
220 JULY 31. 
 
 Offer unto God thanksgivings and pay thy vows un^' 
 to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of 
 trouble. I will deliver thee and thou shalt glori- 
 fy me ; whoso offers praise glorifies, me ; and to 
 him that ordereth his conversation aright, will I 
 show the salvation of God. Psal. 1. 14, 15, 23. 
 See also, Isa. xxv. 9. 
 
 Nothing moves God more to hear us, than the 
 glorifying him by faith with thanksgiving, and the 
 keeping up a filial confidence in him ; and nothing 
 quickeneth us more in faith, than the finest proofs 
 of the hearing of our prayers. Thus God will cer- 
 tainly hear and dehver us, since all his ways are 
 only designed to strengthen us in faith and to save 
 our souls. Why need we then be afraid in times 
 of trouble ? Ought we not rather to draw near to 
 God in prayer and thanksgiving, and glorify him 
 even before hand, confidently believing that we 
 shall certainly meet with new deliverances and 
 quickenings of faith. 
 
 To what a stubborn frame 
 
 Has sin reduced our mind! 
 What strange ungrateful wretches we, 
 
 And God as strangely kind. 
 
 Tjurn, turn us, mighty God, 
 
 And mould our souls afresh ; 
 Break, sov'reign grace, these hearts of stone, 
 
 And give us hearts of flesh. 
 
 Let old ingratitude 
 
 Provoke our weeping eyes, 
 And hourly as new mercies fall 
 
 Let hourly thanks arise. 
 
AUGUST 1. 221 
 
 Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well 
 with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their 
 doings. Isa. iii. 10. Therefore, marlc the per- 
 fect man, and behold the upright; for the end 
 of that man is peace. Psal. xxxvii. 37. 
 
 Many are for having that first which is to be ex- 
 pected at the end ; they would be glad of the 
 triumph, but will not fight ; the waiting for the 
 Lord seems to them too long ; but for the most glo- 
 rious promises we must often wait the longest. Ja- 
 cob was obliged to wait longer than Esau, though 
 he had greater promises than he ; and how long 
 was it before the promise of Christ, the greatest of 
 all, was accomplished ? It is therefore well to be 
 observed, that it is said at last, '« It shall be well 
 with the righteous, and the end of the upright is 
 peace ;" when his faith, love, and patience are 
 tried enough in the furnace of afflictions, then the 
 acceptable year shall come, and the blessed days ef 
 joy will appear. 
 
 As sparks break out of burning coals. 
 
 And still are upwards borne ; 
 So grief is rooted in our souls, 
 
 And man grows up to mourn. 
 Yet with my God I leave my cause, 
 
 And trust his promised grace ; 
 He rules me by his well-known laws 
 
 Of love and righteousness. 
 Not all the pains that e'er I bore 
 
 Shall spoil my future peace, 
 For death and hell can do no more 
 
 Than what my Father please. 
 19* 
 
222 AUGUST 2. 
 
 Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my 
 reins and my heart. Psal. xxvi. 3. Search 
 me, O God, and Jcnow my heart, and see if 
 there he any wicTced way in me, and lead me in 
 the way everlasting, Psal. cxxxix. 23, 24. 
 
 Would David, the man after God's own heart, not 
 trust himself, but present his heart to the Lord, to be 
 tried ; much less can or ought we trust our hearts, 
 *' for he that trusts in his heart," says the wise man, 
 ** is a fool." Prov. xxxviii. 26. We have more rea- 
 son to be afraid of our own hearts, as Luther ob- 
 servs, than of all other enemies. Have we so much 
 reason to be jealous of our own hearts, and are we so 
 much in the dark oftentimes with regard to the time, 
 the circumstances, and even the reality of our con- 
 version ; how careful ought we to be in judging of 
 others ? This is assuming the office of the Searcher 
 of hearts, censuring the holy Spirit, and modelling 
 every thing to one manner of working. By experi- 
 ence we find, that it is not with one as another. 
 Some may be worked upon in a quite different man- 
 ner from what we have been, and such are perhaps 
 the changes even in one hour, that the end may 
 seem to be no more than the beginning, though all 
 goes regular in the sight of God. This should check 
 our judgment of others, and make us cautious in ad- 
 vising and directing them in matters which concern 
 their souls. 
 
 Doth secret mischief lurk within? 
 Do I indulge some unknown sin ? 
 O turn my feet whene'er I stray, 
 And lead me in the perfect way. 
 
AUGUST 3. 223 
 
 Both a fountain at the same place send forth sweet 
 water and bitter? James, iii. 11. What con- 
 cord has Christ with Belial? 2 Cor. vi. 16. 
 Therefore, have no felloivship with the unfruitful 
 works of darkness, but rather reprove them. Eph. 
 V. 11. Be not partakers of other men's sins, 
 1 Tim. V. 22. (Which we are, in showing them 
 the least countenance, or not reproving them.) 
 But if a man purge himself from these, he shall 
 be a vessel unto honour-, sanctified-) and meet for 
 the Master's use. 2 Tim. ii. 21. 
 
 Having, therefore, these promises, dearly belov- 
 ed, let us cleanse ourselves of all filthiness of flesh 
 and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 
 2 Cor. vii. 1 . Else we draw back ; since there is 
 no resting or standing still in the way of holiness. 
 Let me, therefore, daily press forward, O Lord, so 
 as not to be retarded and tired out, but rather 
 quickened by every thing. 
 
 Pure are the joys above the sky, 
 
 And all the region peace ; 
 No wanton lips nor envious eye, 
 
 Can see or taste the bliss, 
 
 Those holy gates for ever bar 
 
 Pollution, sin, and shame ; 
 None shall obtain admittance there, 
 
 But followers of the Lamb. 
 
 He keeps the Father's book of life, 
 There all the names are found ! 
 
 The hypocrite in vain shall strive 
 To tread the heavenly ground. 
 
224 AUGUST 4- 
 
 Strive to enter in at the straight gate, Luke, 
 xiii. 24. Work out your salvation with fear 
 and trembling. Phil. ii. 12. Forgetting those 
 things that are behind, I reach forth unto 
 those things which are before, Phil. iii. 13. 
 
 He that feeds only upon Christ, and yet, with 
 fear and trembling, works out his salvation, is in 
 the right way ; the former preventing discourage- 
 ment, and the latter presumption. Grant, O Lord, 
 that I may still continue to fight the good fight of 
 faith, and never look back on the flesh-pots of 
 Egypt ; and rather "choose to suffer affliction with 
 the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of 
 sin for a season." May nothing but the painful death 
 which thou suffered for me, have always a place in 
 my heart, that thereby all unbelief and slavish fears 
 may be destroyed on one hand, and all security on 
 the other, so as to work at all times and in all pla- 
 ces with holy and filial reverence as in thy pre- 
 sence. Amen. 
 
 So new-born babes desire the breast 
 
 To feed, and grow, and thrive, 
 So saints with joy the gospel taste 
 
 And by the gospel live. 
 
 Grace, like an uncorrupted seed. 
 
 Abides and reigns within, 
 Immortal principles forbid 
 
 The sons of God to sin. 
 
 Not by the terrors of a slave 
 
 Doth they perform his will, 
 But with the noblest powers they have 
 
 His sweet commands fulfil. 
 
AUGUST 6. 225 
 
 Create in me a dean heart, O God, and renew 
 a right spirit within me, Psal. li. 10. See 
 God's answer, Ezek. xi. 19, 20. 
 
 A glorious promise ! but you may rely upon it, 
 O my soul, and plead it in thy prayer, for it will 
 certainly be accomplished. "And blessed are the 
 pure in heart, for they shall see God." Matt. v. 8. 
 In regard to justification we are perfectly clean by 
 Christ's atonement ; but in regard to sanctification 
 our hearts are not perfectly clean yet ; but we have 
 still need to pray, '' Create in me a clean heart." 
 Amen, O Lord ! may thy blood and spirit cleanse 
 and sanctify me thoroughly from all my sins. Amen. 
 
 Blest with the joys of innocence 
 
 Adam our father stood, 
 Till he debas'd his soul to sense, 
 
 And eat the unlawful food. 
 
 Now we are born a sensual race 
 
 To sinful joys inchn'd ; 
 Reason has lost its native place. 
 
 And flesh enslaves the mind. 
 
 Great God, renew our ruin'd frame, 
 
 Our broken powers restore, 
 Inspire us with a heavenly flame, 
 
 And flesh shall reign no more. 
 
 Eternal spirit, write thy law 
 
 Upon our inward parts ; 
 And let the second Adam draw 
 
 His image on our hearts. 
 
226 AUGUST 6. 
 
 O taste and see that the Lord is good, blessed is the 
 man that trusteth in him. Psal. xxxiv. 8. How 
 excellent is thy loving kindness, O God! therefore 
 the children of men, put their trust under the sha- 
 dow of thy wings, they shall be abundantly satis- 
 Jled with the fatness of thine house, and they shaU 
 make them drink of the river of thy pleasure. 
 Psal. cxxxvi. 7, 8. Heflls the hungry with good 
 things ; and sends the rich empty away. Luke, i. 
 53. The full soul loatheth the honey -comb; but 
 to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet. 
 Prov. xxvii. 7. 
 
 As it is no subject of boasting with natural men 
 when they can eat and drink, stand and walk ; so 
 neither is it with behevers, who can spiritually eat 
 and work. May the Lord give us all such a 
 childlike, hungry disposition of mind for spiritual 
 things. Praise be to him, that by his free grace he 
 justifies, saves, and abundantly fills our poverty with 
 the fatness of his house. 
 
 Blest are the souls that thirst for grace, 
 Hunger and long for righteousness ; 
 They shall be well supplied and fed * 
 With living streams and living bread. 
 
 Blest Jesus, what delicious fare! 
 How sweet thy entertainments are ! 
 Never did angels taste above 
 Redeeming grace and dying love. 
 
 Haste then, but with a smiling face 
 And spread a table of thy grace ; 
 Bring down a taste of truth divine, 
 And cheer my heart with sacred wine. 
 
AUGUST 1. 227 
 
 Bee that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, 
 hut as wise. Be ye therefore not unvAse, hut 
 understanding what the will of the Lord is, 
 Eph. V. 15, 17. That ye may approve things 
 that are excellent, that ye may he sincere and 
 without offence, Phil. i. 10. See also, Luke, 
 xii. 36. 
 
 Believers have nothing more at heart than the 
 will of God ; being once convinced of that, they 
 immediately set about it at all hazards ; but some- 
 times they cannot come to a thorough, true know- 
 ledge of the same, without great conflicts and pa- 
 tience. Heb. X. 36. For the flesh is oftentimes 
 exceeding cunning and forward, often calling out, 
 " But howsoever let me run." 2 Sam xviii. 23. 
 But the Lord will nevertheless carry them through. 
 Yes, Lord! this thou hast done innumerable times. 
 O that I might trust thee also for the time to come, 
 and not be weak in faith any more. 
 
 Beloved self must be denied, 
 
 The mind and will renew'd, 
 Passion suppress'd and patience tried. 
 
 And vain desires subdu'd. 
 
 Flesh is a dangerous foe to grace, 
 
 Where it prevails and rules ; 
 Flesh must be humbled, pride abas'd, 
 
 Lest they destroy our souls. 
 
 Lord ! can a feeble helpless worm 
 
 Fulfil a task so hard ? 
 Thy grace must all my works perform; 
 
 And give thee free reward. 
 
228 AUGUST 8. 
 
 If ye he reproached for the name of Christ, happp 
 are ye, for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth 
 upon you. 1 Pet. iv. 14, 19. Rejoice ye in that 
 day and leap for joy; for, behold your reward is 
 great in heaven. Luke, vi. 23. Whosoever shall 
 confess me before men, him will I confess before 
 my Father who is in heaven, but whosoever shall 
 deny me, <S^c. Matt. x. 32, 33. 
 
 Inward sufferings are greater afflictions than those 
 outward persecutions, which Christians bring not 
 upon themselves by giving unnecessary offences by 
 self-will, imprudent and unseasonable behaviour, 
 soaring beyond the limits of the written word of 
 God ; but neither do they shun it, being willing 
 to suffer every thing after the will of God, rather 
 than to hurt the cause of God the least, and depart 
 a hair's breadth from his express will, out of com- 
 plaisance to the world. They openly confess Christ 
 their Lord, and do not mind to be called fools by 
 the wicked, as they are persuaded that at last they 
 will call themselves by that name. Wisd. v. 4. 
 Therefore, they care not for the approbation and 
 praise of the world, but count it a great honour to 
 bear the reproaches of Christ. 
 
 Blest are the sufferers who partake 
 Of pain and shame for Jesus' sake 
 Their souls shall triumph in the Lord, 
 Glory and joy are their reward. 
 
 The Lamb shall lead his heavenly flock 
 
 Where living fountains rise. 
 And love divine shall wipe away 
 
 The sorrows of their eyes. 
 
AUGUST 9. 229 
 
 Take heed to your spirit. Matt. ii. 16. The heart 
 is deceitful above all things and desperately wick- 
 ed; who can know it? Jer. xvii. 9. 
 
 Even believers feel this virickedness of their hearts, 
 Psal. XXX. 7, 8. For the heart, as John Bunyan ob- 
 serves, has many secret ways and private loop-holes, 
 in which the diabolists, that is, sinful lusts, can hide 
 themselves so well, that they seem to be quite over- 
 come ; but upon occasion, especially when we are 
 careless, they spring up again, though sometimes 
 under other and perhaps quite spiritual names. — 
 Therefore we ought always to be jealous of our- 
 selves. For the flesh is never more fleshly and dan- 
 gerous, than when it has the most spiritual appear- 
 ance, and covers its lusts with the holiness and 
 spirituality of angels. 
 
 Sin has a thousand treach'rous arts 
 
 To practice on the mind ; 
 With flatt'ring looks she tempts our hearts 
 
 But leaves a sting behind. 
 
 With names of virtue, she deceives 
 
 The aged and the young ; 
 And while the heedless wretch believes, 
 
 She makes his fetters strong. 
 
 She pleads for all the joys she brings, 
 
 And gives a fair pretence ; 
 But cheats the soul of heavenly things, 
 
 And chains it down to sense. 
 
 So on a tree divinely fair. 
 
 Grew the forbidden food ; 
 Our mother took the poison there? 
 
 And tainted all her blood. 
 
 20 
 
230 AUGUST 10. 
 
 send out thy light and truth, let them lead me, Ut 
 them bring me unto thy holy hill and to thy taber- 
 nacles. Psal. xliii. 3. O send thy ivisdom out of 
 thy holy heavens and from the throne of thy glo- 
 ry, that being present she may labour icith me, 
 that I may know what is pleasing unto thee, ^c. 
 Wisd. ix. 4, 10, 17, 19. Divine answer. The 
 path of the just is as the shining light, that shin- 
 eth more and more unto the perfect day. Prov. 
 iv. 18. 
 
 The wiser we are in our own conceits, the more 
 negligent are we in prayer, and more destitute of 
 true wisdom and faith, " For the Lord gives only 
 isight to the blind and to the babes who pray for 
 it." Therefore the deepest humblings go before 
 the greatest blessings. O ! my blessed Saviour ! 
 since I am always blind and ignorant of myself, if 
 
 1 am not guided by thine eyes, I desire always to 
 look up to thee, and do every thing under thy di- 
 rection. 
 
 But few among the carnal wise, 
 
 But few of noble race, 
 Obtain the favour of thine eyes, 
 
 Almighty King of Grace. 
 
 He takes the men of meanest name 
 
 For sons and heirs of God, 
 And thus he pours abundant shame 
 
 On honourable blood. 
 
 He call the fool and makes him know. 
 
 The mysteries of his grace, 
 To bring aspiring wisdom low, 
 
 And all its pride abase. 
 
AUGUST 11. 231 
 
 By grace ye are saved. Eph. ii. 5. 
 
 To rely on grace, and desire to be saved only by- 
 free grace, is a sweet exercise ; but so far from be- 
 ing practised enough, that we have all need to 
 learn the prayer of the publican better still, since 
 the pharisee and the old monk, as Luther observes, 
 are ever busy to creep in again. 
 
 But care must be taken, that we do not build 
 our fahh only upon the sv/eet enjoyments of the 
 grace of God in our hearts; but also, upon the 
 grace in the heart of God, as It is recovered by 
 Christ and promised to us through Christ. For 
 which reason God sometimes denies us sensible en- 
 joyments, that true faith may begin to act like it- 
 self, and depend upon nothing but his free grace in 
 Christ. And this we have also boldness to do, 
 should we even seem to fall short of due measure 
 of faith, godly sorrow and repentance. For since 
 there is no merit to be placed in these things there 
 is no certain measure and degree prescribed to all ; 
 but it is enough truly to hate sin, to desire grace, 
 and sincerely to enter upon the Christian race. 
 'Tis not by works of righteousness 
 
 Which our own hands have done; 
 But we are saved by sovereign grace, 
 
 Abounding through his Son. 
 'Tis from the mercy of our God 
 
 That all our hopes begin ; 
 'Tis by the water and the blood 
 
 Our souls are washed from sin. 
 Kaised from the dead we Hve anew? 
 
 And justified by grace, 
 We shall appear in glory too, 
 And see our Father's face. 
 
232 AUGUST 12. 
 
 Be fervent in spirit, Rom. xii. 11. That thou 
 hast a name, that thou livest, and art dead. 
 Rev. iii. 1, 16. 
 
 If thou canst not pray fervently, ask God the 
 reason of it, humbly, and accuse thyself in every 
 thing, and come quite empty, poor, and miserable, 
 looking upon thyself at the same time as reconciled, 
 just covered, spotless, accepted, and beloved through 
 Christ. Thus boldly to lay hold on Christ, his Fa- 
 ther and the holy Spirit, as being thine with every 
 thing, will certainly rouse thee up and make thee 
 fervent again. May the Lord teach me to practise 
 this and keep me ever awake. 
 
 Long have I sat beneath the sound 
 
 Of thy salvation. Lord ; 
 But still how weak my faith is found, 
 
 And knowledge of thy word ! 
 
 How cold and feeble is my love ! 
 
 How negligent my fear ! 
 How long my hopes of joys above! 
 
 How few affections there ! 
 
 My dear Almighty and my God, 
 
 How little art thou known 
 By all the judgments of thy rod. 
 
 And blessings of thy throne ! 
 
 Great God ! thy sovereign power impart. 
 
 To give thy word success. 
 Write thy salvation in my heart. 
 
 And make me learn thy grace. 
 
AUGUST 13. 233 
 
 Be ye not as the horse or as the mule, which have no 
 understanding ; whose mouth must be held in with 
 hit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee. 
 Psal. xxxii. 9. Therefore, if ye call on the Fa- 
 ther, who, without respect of persons-, judgeth 
 according to every man's ivork, pass the time of 
 your sojourning here in fear- 1 Pet. i. 1 7. 
 
 O wretched man ! dost thou really believe that 
 God is the judge of all things, even what is private- 
 ly done, the secrets of the heart not excepted ; 
 how canst thou meet thy Judge in this thy security 
 or hypocrisy, without a true change of the heart ; 
 dost thou think that there is such a thing as dis- 
 sembling, excusing, or escaping then, as there is 
 now ? By no means ? O begin therefore in time to 
 consider it well. How wilt thou appear before 
 that awful, holy, and impartial judgment seat? 
 what canst thou answer for thyself? and what then 
 must become of thee ? 
 
 Think, O my soul, the dreadful day 
 
 When this incensed God 
 Shall rend the sky, and burn the sea, 
 
 And fling his wrath abroad! 
 
 What shall the wretch, the sinner do ? 
 
 He once defied the Lord : 
 But he shall dread the thund'rer now 
 
 And sink beneath his word. 
 
 Tempests of angry fire shall roll, 
 
 To blast the rebel worm ; 
 And beat upon his naked soul 
 
 In one eternal storm. 
 20* 
 
234 AUGUST 14. 
 
 Be strong and of good courage* I will he with 
 thee, I will not fail thee nor forsalce thee. 
 Only be thou strong and very courageous ! 
 O sweet commandment ! he not afraid, nei- 
 ther he thou dismayed, for the Lord thy God 
 is with thee, whithersoever thougoest, O glo- 
 rious promise ! Joshua, i. 5, 6, 9. Nay, I 
 have called thee by thy name : I have surna- 
 med thee, though thou hast not Icnovm me, 
 Isa. xlv. 4. 
 
 God requires nothing but faith, which removes 
 and does great things, makes cheerful, strong, and 
 easy in difficulties. Therefore have always the best 
 confidence in God, and fear nothing ; for he is with 
 thee in all things. He that has but this one care 
 and fear, not to displease him, need not care and 
 fear any thing else. His safety is ensured in the 
 promise of God, who will keep him harmless in all 
 things. 
 
 Awake our souls (away our fears, 
 Let every trembling thought be gone) 
 
 Awake and run the heavenly race, 
 And put a cheerful courage on. 
 
 True, 'tis a straight and thorny road, 
 And mortal spirits tire and faint ; 
 
 But they forget the mighty God 
 
 That feeds the strength of every saint. 
 
 From him, the overflowing spring. 
 Our souls shall drink a fresh supply, 
 
 While such as trust their native strength 
 Shall melt away, and droop, and die. 
 
AUGUST 15. 235 
 
 Behold the Lamh of God, who takes away the si7is 
 of the world. John, i. 29. These are they who 
 came out of great tribulation, and have ivashed 
 their robes and inade them white in the blood of 
 the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne 
 of God, and serve him day and night in his tem- 
 ple. Rev. vii. 14, 15. 
 
 He that washes himself continually in the blood 
 of Christ, does not make light of sin, but detests it 
 above all things ; for what can be more abomina- 
 ble than sin, since it cannot be taken away but by 
 the blood of the Son of God. This humbles and 
 makes us serious : and without this, it is not right 
 with our souls. To speak continually of the blood 
 of the Lamb, and yet be puffed up, and boast, and 
 trifle with sin, cannot agree together. 
 
 Now will I hate those lusts of mine, 
 
 That crucified my God, 
 Those sins, that pierced and nailed his flesh, 
 
 First to the fatal wood. 
 
 Yes, my Redeemer, they shall die, 
 
 My heart has so decreed ; ' 
 
 Nor will I spare the guilty things, 
 That made my Saviour bleed. 
 
 Whilst with a melting, broken heart, 
 
 My murder'd Lord I view, 
 I'll wage revenge against my sins, 
 
 And slay thy murd'rers too. 
 
236 AUGUST 16. 
 
 Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. Matt, 
 vi. 2. But the righteous live forevermore ; their 
 reicard is with the Lord, and the care of them 
 is with the Most High. Therefore shall they re- 
 ceive a kingdom of o- lory, and a crown of beauty 
 at the hand of the Lord ; for with his right hand 
 he will cover them, and with his arm he will pro- 
 tect them. VVisd. v. 16, 17. 
 
 For this crown, faith strives. And because this 
 faith justifies, it makes the world say, well. I also 
 believe ; but where is their conflict and conquest 1 
 It is answered, 1 rely on Christ and grace ; but 
 Canaan was also a {ree gift of grace, and yet it was 
 not taken without conflicts. And moreover, as 
 worldly people, are not acquainted with the wick- 
 edness of their hearts, they do not trust alone upon 
 grace, but upon their outward form, self-love and 
 pride reigning in their hearts. 
 
 No works nor duties of your own, 
 Can for the smallest sins atone : 
 The robes that nature may provide, 
 Will not your least pollutions hide. 
 
 Ye sons of pride, that kindle coals 
 With your own hands, to warm your souIs>. 
 Walk in the light of your own fire, 
 Enjoy the sparks that ye desire. 
 
 This is your portion at my hands, 
 Hell waits you with her iron bands ; 
 You shall lie down in sorrow there, 
 In death, in darkness, and despair. 
 
AUGUST IT: 237 
 
 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he thatwatch- 
 eth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked 
 and they see his shame. Rev. xvi. 15. Behold I 
 come quickly, and my reivard is loith me, to give 
 every man according as his ivork shall be. Bhss- 
 ed are they that do his commandments, that they 
 may have the right to the tree of life (which is 
 Christ himself,) and may enter in through the 
 gates into the city. Surely, I come quickly. Amen! 
 Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our 
 Lord Jesus Christ be zvith you all, Jlmen. Rev. 
 xxii. 14, 20, 21. 
 
 As sin, always besets us, so Christ himself and 
 his blood, must always be our robes, else there is 
 no peace. The heart must firmly be centered in 
 Christ, and the centre to be fixed upon in the 
 whole progress of inward Chritstianity, is that we 
 have forgiveness in the blood of Christ ; for if this 
 is revealed in the soul by God, himself, heaven and 
 paradise seem to open to her. 
 
 He is a God of sovereign love, 
 
 That promis'd heaven to me, 
 And taught my thoughts to soar above 
 
 Where happy spirits be. 
 
 Prepare me, Lord, for thy right hand, 
 
 Then come the joyful day ; 
 Come death and some celestial band, 
 
 To bear my soul away. 
 
 Haste, my beloved, fetch my soul 
 
 Up to thy blest abode ; 
 Fly, for my spirit longs to see, 
 
 My Saviour, and my God. 
 
238 AUGUST 18. 
 
 Behold, I maJce all things new, Sfc. And he said 
 untome, it is done, I am Jilpha and Omega, the 
 heginning and the end : I will give unto him 
 that is aihirst of the fountain of the water of life 
 freely. Kev. xxi. 5, 6, 7. 
 
 To thirst after Christ, and receive him by faith, 
 Jaclongs to justification ; but to drink with peace 
 and joy from Christ, the fountain of life, is the seal- 
 ing of faith, and belongs to sanctification, and helps 
 greatly to the promoting of it. Therefore, the seal- 
 ing, assurance, and sense of grace, is not the same 
 thing with justification ; but the fruit of it, which 
 does not always follow directly ; and it increases 
 according as the soul drinks more and more from 
 the living stream. 
 
 Attend, while God's exalted Son, 
 
 Doth his own glories show, 
 Behold, I sit upon my throne, 
 
 Creating all things new. 
 
 Such favours as a God can give, 
 
 My royal grace bestows. 
 Ye thirsty souls, come, taste the streams, 
 
 Where life and pleasure flows. 
 
 Far from the rcfjions of the dead, 
 From sin, and earth, and hell ; ' 
 
 In the new world that grace has made, 
 I would for ever dwell. 
 
 O may I stand before the Lamb, 
 
 When earth and seas are fled ! 
 And hear the judge pronounce my njtme, 
 
 With blessings on my head, 
 
AUGUST 19. 233 
 
 Behold I se7id an angel (Christ the angel of the 
 covenant) before thee, to keep thee in the way, 
 and to bring thee in the 'place which I have pre- 
 pared. Exod. xxiii. 20. And a highway shall 
 be there, and a way, and it shall he called the 
 way of holiness, the unclean shall not pass over it; 
 but it shall be for those, the wnyfuring men, though 
 fools, shall not err therein. Christ himself is this 
 way, the new and living way ; who gives, not 
 only life and strength that we walk and be not 
 weaned, John xiv. 6. Heb. x. 20. but keeps also 
 the road clear, even the last road of death, for 
 no lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall 
 go up Ihereon, it shall not be found there, but the 
 redeemed shall walk there. Isa. xxxv. 8, 9. 
 O Lord, let me never err from this way ; and 
 suffer no other temptation to come near me, but 
 what humbles and stirs me up to prayer, and the 
 right use of thy word in faith, that I may be car- 
 ried through all difficulties, and especially in time 
 of death. 
 
 Is he a way ? he leads to God, 
 The path is drawn in lines of blood ; 
 There would I walk with hope and zeal, 
 Till I arrive at Sion's hill. 
 
 Aspire my soul to glorious deeds, 
 The captain of salvation leads : 
 March on, nor fear to win the day, 
 Though death and hell obstruct the way. 
 
 Should death, and hell, and powers unknown. 
 Put all their forms of mischief on, 
 I shall be safe for Christ displays 
 Salvation in more sovereign way*. 
 
240 AUGUST 20. 
 
 Surely they are my people^ children that will not lie, 
 Sfc. Isa. Ixiii. 8. Jlnd in their mouth was found 
 no guile. Rev. xiv. 5. Therefore, sujfer little 
 chUdren to come unto me, and forbid them not, 
 for of such is the kingdom of God. Mark, x. 14. 
 
 Bare morality, is at best, but patchwork. It is 
 attempting to mend our hves, without the necessa- 
 ry means ; when instead of this, we should rather 
 first renounce all our own works, come to Christ, 
 without guile and reserve, and in a word turn and 
 be like a child ; since the privilege of adoption, 
 and the baptismal covenant, is not only lost by gross 
 and outward immoralities, but even by guile and 
 worldly mindedness. Therefore, moral men must 
 also be born again and become of a harmless and 
 child-like, though not a childish disposition, as ma- 
 ny fanciful sectarian children now, who sometimes 
 trifle and play, as it were, with the wounds of Christ, 
 and the most sacred things, or at least do not treat 
 them reverently enough. 
 
 Behold, what wondrous grace 
 
 The Father has bestow 'd 
 On sinners of a mortal race, 
 
 To call them sons of God. 
 
 A hope so much divine 
 
 May trials well endure, 
 May purge our souls from sense and sin, 
 
 As Christ the Lord is pure. 
 
 If in my Father's love 
 
 I share a filial part. 
 Send down thy spirit like a dove, 
 
 To rest upon my heart. 
 
AUGUST 21. 241 
 
 They are virgins which follow the Lamb whither- 
 soever he goes ; these were redeemed from among 
 men, being the first fruits unto God and unto the 
 Lamb, And in their mouth was found no guile ; 
 for they are without fault before the throne of 
 God. Rev. x'lv. 4, 5. 
 
 Peter, being still in his presunnption, pretended 
 to follow Christ unto death ; but when he was truly 
 humbled, and near his end, he prudently added to 
 his exhortations in sufferings, "if need be," 1 Pet. 
 i. 6. *' If the will of God be so." Chap. iii. 17. 
 " According to the will of God." Chap. iv. 19. 
 This is quite opposite to the spiritual, hypocritical, 
 and presumptuous pride and self-will ; for many in 
 their own will, resolve to be martyrs, and cannot 
 bear so much as only a contradiction. 
 
 Give me the wings of faith, to rise 
 
 Within the veil, to see 
 The saints above, how great their joys, 
 
 And bright their glories be. 
 
 Once they were mourning here below, 
 And wet their couch with tears ; 
 
 They wrestled hard, as we do now, 
 With sin, and doubts, and fears. . 
 
 I ask them whence their victory came ? 
 
 They, with united breath, 
 Ascribe their conquest to the Lamb, 
 
 Their triumph to his death. 
 
 They mark'd the footsteps that he trod, 
 
 His love inspir'd their breast, 
 And following their incarnate God, 
 
 Possess'd th9 promis'd rest. 
 21 
 
242 AUGUST 22. 
 
 They are of the world, therefore speak they of the 
 world, and the world hears them. We are of 
 God, Sfc. 1 John, iv. 5, 6. 
 
 What should set us more against the world, than 
 the cross of Christ 1 and what is generally more 
 turned into security and worldly lusts than this? 
 O ! miserable spiders, that suck poison out of the 
 sweetest flowers. 
 
 When in the light of faith divine, 
 
 We look on things below, 
 Honour, and gold, and sensual joy, 
 
 How vain and dangerous too ! 
 
 The pleasures that allure our sense 
 
 Are dangerous snares to souls. 
 There's but a drop of flattering sweetj 
 
 And dash'd with bitter bowls. 
 
 God is my all-sufficient good, 
 
 My portion and my choice. 
 In him my vast desires are fill'd, 
 
 And all my powers rejoice. 
 
 In vain the world accosts my ear. 
 
 And tempts my heart anew, 
 I cannot buy your bliss so dear, 
 
 Nor part with heaven for you. 
 
AUGUST 23. 243 
 
 She (Love) seeJceth not her own, is not easily, pra- 
 vokedf and never faileth. 1 Cor. xiii. 5, 8. 
 
 It being my heart's desire, O my dear heavenly 
 Father, once to love thee and my neighbour, up- 
 rightly and ardently, I beg that thou wouldst let 
 jne know and enjoy thy love in Christ, which is 
 the only means to come to the same ; for how can I 
 possibly be cold and hard, when resting at the cross 
 of Christ ! and in thy bosom, I enjoy thy free grace, 
 and truly experience thine infinite love towards me, 
 the most miserable and chiefest of sinners. O i 
 may this melt down and change me thoroughly. 
 
 Had I the tongues of Greeks and Jews, 
 And nobler speech than angels use. 
 If love be absent, I am found, 
 Like tinkling brass, an empty sound. 
 
 "Were I inspir'd to preach, and tell 
 All that is done in heaven, and hell. 
 Or could my faith the world remove, 
 Still I am wanting, without love. 
 
 Should I distribute all my store 
 To feed the bowels of the poor, 
 Or give my body to the flame 
 To gain a martyr's glorious name. 
 
 If love to God, and love to men 
 Be absent, all my hopes are vain ; 
 Npr tongue, nor gifts, nor fiery zeal:^ 
 The work of love can e'er fulfil 
 
244 AUGUST 24. 
 
 If a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not 
 croioned except he strive lawfully. 2 Tim. ii. 5. 
 namely, in faith, by which we have victory. And 
 as the enemies return again and again, and al- 
 ways become more crafty and more strong, we 
 must continually be in arms. Until now, the 
 kingdom of heaven suffereth violence. Matt. xi. 
 12. 
 
 If those cannot expect to be crowned, who strive, 
 but not lawfully, what must become of those who 
 do not strive at all ! O Lord, strengthen me, there- 
 fore, to get the victory, for it greatly exalts thy 
 glory, if the power of mine enemies is broke ; and 
 the least degree of thy grace and strength, is able 
 to overcome the greatest power of sin at last, which 
 is thy promise, and cannot fail of being performed, 
 since in the former, there is the promise of life, and 
 growth, whilst the latter is condemned to death, 
 and actually dies, more and more, if nailed to the 
 cross of Christ. 
 
 Stand up, my soul, shake off thy fears, 
 And gird the gospel armour on, 
 
 March to the gates of endless joy. 
 
 Where thy great Captain, Saviour's gone. 
 
 What though the prince of darkness rage, 
 And waste the fury of his spite. 
 
 Eternal chains confine him down 
 To fiery deeps and endless night. 
 
 What though thine inward lusts rebel ? 
 
 'Tis but a strugghng gasp for Ufe ; 
 The weapons of victorious grace 
 
 Shall slay thy sins and end the strife. 
 
AUGUST 25. 2i'5 
 
 So then it is not of Mm that willeth, nor of them 
 that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy. 
 Rom. ix. 16. Thou hast a little strength. Rev. 
 iii. 8. But go in this thy might, S^^c. Surely I 
 will be with thee. Judges, vi. 14, 16. 
 
 A little strength, is also the strength of God 
 through Christ, the second Adam, and consequent- 
 ly stronger than the power of Satan, and the first 
 Adam, should it seem ever so strong. Nay, it is 
 the death of the old man, already, and kills him by 
 degrees more and more, till at last, when we drop 
 this body of sin, it will destroy him entirely. Be- 
 lievers, in such a state, may think themselves weak- 
 er than before they had any grace, not being able 
 now to put such a force upon themselves as former- 
 ly. But it is to be remembered, that hypocrisy and 
 proud nature, derirous of being seen and taken no- 
 tice of, sometimes can out-do grace, in many out- 
 ward things, and have a better appearance in the 
 eyes of man ; for real Christians, not being wiHing 
 to be worked upon by nature any longer, and yet 
 having but little strength, cannot put such a con- 
 strait upon themselves continually, but they may be 
 in this manner tossed to and fro ; which the Lord 
 wisely permits for their good, to convince them the 
 more of their own insufficiency and nothingness, 
 that they may rely only on the strength of the Lord. 
 Therefore we must not give over praying and ho- 
 ping in this case ; but as it is only the mercy and 
 power of Christ, which preserves and strengthens 
 the poor and feeble, we rather ought to be more 
 earnest in drawing near to him with all our misery? 
 weariness, and nakedness. 
 21* 
 
246 AUGUST 26. 
 
 If after they have escaped the pollutions of the world, 
 through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour 
 Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, 
 and overcome, the latter end is ivorse with them 
 than the beginning. 2 Pet. iii. 20. 
 
 Some not only deny strong temptation, but even 
 all inward evil suggestions and strivings against the 
 same, especially in experienced Christians ; but it 
 is quite the contrary ; for beginners strive general- 
 ly more against the outward pollutions of the world, 
 whilst the experienced turn their force more against 
 their inward, spiritual iniquities. Therefore take 
 heed to your spirit, though your meaning be ever 
 so good, and your assurance ever so great. Be 
 not too high minded, for fear of falling. Beware 
 of all sins, for the least may unawares and by de- 
 grees draw thee into many others, so as to be at 
 last entangled in such a manner, that without great 
 watchfulness it will be impossible to be disengaged, 
 therefore be not deceived ; flee all occasions of sin. 
 Say not within thyself, it is no matter ; it concerns 
 only outward things, which do not belong to the 
 essence of Christianity. For such outward levity is 
 a sure evidence of a false inward levity and hght- 
 ness of mind. And by conforming to the world 
 we give a good handle to the enemy of souls to 
 ruin us ; and by sad experience we shall be con- 
 vinced m time, that the latter end is worse than 
 the beginning. 
 
 O for a persevering power, 
 
 To keep thy just commands ; 
 We would defile our hearts no more ; 
 
 No more pollute our hands. 
 
AUGUST 27. f47 
 
 If it he possible, as much as lies in you, live 
 peaceably ivith all men. Rom. xii. 18. 
 
 There is mucli contest in the world about meum 
 and tuum-, that is, ?nine and thine; but believers 
 taking Christ, to be their only property, who nobody 
 can take from them, have as much as lies in them, 
 peace with all men, saying, 
 
 If by hundreds I can gain, 
 
 A farthing's loss makes httle pain. 
 
 And since wrath and anger turn into nothing but 
 disquietness, and are punished by themselves, why 
 dost thou suffer thyself to be so easily moved by 
 them ; the least provocation, even a single word 
 perhaps, will stir up the corruption of the heart, so 
 as to change thy countenance and utter dreadful 
 words. Therefore consider how God bears with 
 thee, and what an abomination anger is. It is a fire 
 from hell, the true image of the old dragon : but be- 
 ing called to bear the image of God and bring forth 
 the fruits of the good spirit, thou art to follow the 
 lamb-like mind of Christ, and to that purpose it is 
 highly necessary, first to avoid all occasions of strife 
 and contention. Secondly, to bridle our tongues if 
 quarrels arise. Thirdly, to suffer, when we are 
 wronged. Fourthly, to pray directly and quench the 
 sparks of fire before they break out into a flame. This 
 is the easiest and the only method to prevent great 
 troubles, and lead a peaceful, happy life, for anger 
 carries uneasiness, and love a sweet rest in itself^ 
 
 Blest are the men of peaceful life, 
 Who quench the coals of growing strife, 
 They shall be called the heirs bliss, 
 The sons of God, the God of peace. 
 
248 AUGUST £8. 
 
 Having, therefore, brethren, boldness to enter 
 into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, &lc. let 
 us draw near with a true heart, in full assur- 
 ance of faith, having our heart sprinkled 
 {with the blood of Christ, by which he once 
 entered into the holy place, having obtained 
 eternal redemption for us, and purged our 
 consciences from dead works, to serve the 
 living God,) from an evil conscience, and our 
 bodies washed with pure water. Heb. x. 19, 
 22. 
 
 Christ has for ever purged our sins by himself; 
 for by one offering he has perfected for ever, them that 
 are sanctifed. Chap. x. 14. And to this sprinkling 
 of the blood of Christ, all believers, even the weak- 
 est, are come, that is to say he has the forgiveness 
 of sins, in his blood. This is the element and life ; 
 thus he lives by the faith of the Son of God, who 
 also loved him, always applying his ransom to his 
 soul, and pleading his merits before his heavenly 
 Father, which keeps his conscience pure and easy. 
 
 They find access at every hour 
 
 To God within the veil ; 
 Hence they derive a quickening power. 
 
 And joys that never fail. 
 
 O happy souls ! O glorious state 
 
 Of overflowing grace ! 
 To dwell so near their Father's seat, 
 
 And see his lovely face. 
 
AUGUST 29. 249 
 
 Put on (therefore, as the elect of God, holy and he- 
 loved) bowels of mercy, kindness, humbleness of 
 mind, meekness, long- suffering ; forbearing one 
 another, (Sfc. and above all these things, put on 
 charity, love, ivhich is the bond of perfection. 
 Col. iii. 12, 13, 14. Judge not, <^c. Matt. vii. 1. 
 And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts 
 against his neighbour. Zech. viii. 17. 
 
 Therefore, let us be watchful against suspicions, 
 always putting the best construction upon the be- 
 haviour of our neighbour. For love beareth all 
 things, and hopeth always the best. And since we 
 are mistaken in our judgments, a hundred to one, 
 says Mr. Professor Francke, we ought to be exceed- 
 ing cautious, not to be too quick and hasty in judg- 
 ing of others. 
 
 Love suffers long with patient eye, 
 
 Nor is provoked in haste, 
 She lets the present injury die. 
 
 And long forgets the past. 
 
 Malice and rage, those fires of hell, 
 She quenches with her tongue, 
 
 Hopes, and believes, and thinks no ill, 
 Though she endures the wrong. 
 
 She lays her own advantage by, 
 To seek her neighbour's good, 
 
 So God's own Son came down to die. 
 And bought our lives with blood. 
 
 Love ia the grace that keeps her power 
 
 In all the realms above. 
 There faith and hope are known no more 
 
 But saints for ever love. 
 
250 AUGUST 30. 
 
 Hold thou me up, amd I shall, he safe; and I 
 will have respect unto (delight myself in) thy 
 statutes continually. Psal. cxix. 117. 
 
 Though the flesh still remains in believers, that 
 they cannot always practice that which is good, 
 without constraint, strife, and crucifying the old 
 man ; yet as to the spirit, they have delight in the 
 word of the Lord through faith, by the upholding 
 of God; for being humbled on this account, and 
 earnestly craving pardon and strength, they always 
 receive not only peace, but strength for the subdu- 
 ing of the flesh, and doing all things with pleasure. 
 
 Eternal Spirit I we confess, 
 And sing the wonders of thy grace, 
 Thy power conveys our blessings do\\rn, 
 From God the Father and the Son. 
 
 Enlightened by thine heavenly ray, 
 Our shades and darkness turn to day,. 
 Thine inward teachings make us knoWj 
 Our danger and our refuge too. 
 
 Thy power and glory works within, 
 And breaks the chains of reigning sin» 
 Doth our imperious lusts subdue 
 And forms our wretched hearts anew. 
 
 The troubled conscience knoAvs thy voice* 
 Thy cheering words awake our joys ; 
 Thy words allay the stormy wind, 
 j^nd calm the surges of the mind. 
 
AUGUST 31. 251 
 
 Rise up, my love.^myfair one, and come away; for 
 lOf the winter is past, the rain is over and gone, 
 Thejlowers appear on the earth, the time of the 
 singing of birds is come, and the voice of the tur- 
 tle is heard hi our land ^c. Arise, my love, my 
 fair one^ and come aivay. O ! my dove-, thou art 
 in the clefts of the rock, ^Sfc. Cant. ii. 10—14. 
 O Lord ! how often has it been winter with me, 
 but thou hast always quickened me again. Grant 
 that by these experiences I may be so used to thy 
 ways, as always to expect the best from thee, in 
 every thing, and to have only this one care, name- 
 ly, how I may please theei, as thy bride and dove» 
 and be accepted through thee^ with thy Father. 
 Let my faith be strengthened in such a manner by 
 all thy various dealings with me, that at last, I may 
 have boldness, and find rest in thy wounds, since 
 there is room for the greatest of sinners, and even 
 for me. 
 
 The voice of my beloved sounds, 
 Over the rocks and rising grounds, 
 O'er hills of guilt, and seas of grief, 
 He leaps, he flies to my relief. 
 Gently he draws my heart along, 
 Both with his beauties and his tongue ; 
 Rise, says my Lord, make haste away, 
 No mortal joys are worth thy stay. 
 The Jewish wint'ry state is gone, 
 The mists are fled, the spring comes on, 
 The sacred turtle-dove we hear 
 Proclaim the new, the joyful year. 
 And when we hear our Jesus say, 
 Rise up, my love, make haste away 
 Our hearts would fain out-fly the wind, 
 And leave all earthly love behind. 
 
252 SEPTEMBER 1. 
 
 Be not conformed to this world. Rom. xii. 2. 
 And love not the world, neither the things that 
 are in the world. If any man love the world, 
 the love of the Father is not in him. And the 
 world passeth away, and the lust thereof ; hut 
 he that doeth the will of God, abidethfor ever, 
 1 John, ii. 15, 17. 
 
 Reader ! whose will dost thou do ? examine thy- 
 self. Perhaps thou thinkest, that to love the world 
 and do her will, cannot be so great a sin, since the 
 most honest people do the same. But observe, as 
 thou wouldst be saved, that ifthoulovest the world, 
 the love of the Father is not in thee ; and without 
 the love of the Father, thou hast no faith ; and be- 
 ing destitute of faith, thou hast no Christ, and con- 
 sequently no life and salvation, 
 
 I send the things of earth away, 
 
 Ye tempters of the mind. 
 False as the smooth deceitful sea, 
 
 And empty as the whistling wind. 
 Your streams were floating me along 
 
 Down to the gulf of black despair, 
 And whilst I listen'd to your song 
 
 Your streams had e'en convey'd me there. 
 Now to the shining realms above 
 
 I stretch my hands, and glance my eyes ; 
 O for the pinions of a dove, 
 
 To bear me to the upper skies. 
 Lord, I adore thy matchless grace, 
 
 That warn'd me of that dark abyss. 
 That drew me from those treach'rous seas., 
 
 And bid me seek superior bliss. 
 
SEPTEMBER 2. ^53 
 
 Not fashioning yourselves according to the former '^ 
 lusts in your ignorance ; hut as he who has called^ 
 you is holy, so be ye holy ; note, in all manner of 
 conversation. 1 Pet. i. 14, 15. Give diligence 
 to make your calling and election sure; for the 
 time past of our Ufe may svfice us to have wrought 
 the will of the Gentiles, &lz. 2 Pet. i. 10. 1 Pet. 
 iv. 3. 
 
 None can be so sure of his salvation, as to be 
 for ever free from fears and doubts, for there is no 
 assurance without conflicts ; therefore all diligence 
 is required, to be evermore sure of it, so as to have 
 boldness even in death. But let us take heed of 
 presumption, since we do not know what may l>e- 
 fall us at last ; and be careful not to despise, and 
 over-drive the weaker sort of Christians, that by 
 making general rules of our own experience, this 
 comfortable doctrine of assurance may not be mat- 
 ter of torment to others. 
 
 How short and hasty is our life! 
 
 How vast our soul's affairs ! 
 Yet senseless mortals, vainly strive 
 
 To lavish out their years. 
 God from on high invites us home, 
 
 But we march heedless on, 
 And ever hastening to the tomb, 
 
 Stoop downwards as we run. 
 How we deserve the deepest hell, 
 
 That slight the joys above ! 
 What chains of vengeance should we feel ! 
 
 That break such cords of love. 
 Draw us, O God, with sovereign grace, 
 
 And hft our thoughts on high, 
 That we may end this mortal race, 
 And see salvation nigh. 
 22 
 
254 SEPTEMBER 5. 
 
 ~6fo not after thy lusts ^ but refrain thyself from 
 i thine aj)petites, Sirach, xviii. 30. 
 
 Self, will mix too often with the most religious 
 things, which produces nothing but divisions, dis- 
 orders, and, as it is now in our days, many outward 
 forms of our own invention, nay at last a new sort 
 of popery. OLord! heal thou the breaches of Zi- 
 on. Even well-meaning people, not denying their 
 own will, and not taking advice from more expe- 
 rienced Christians, who understand the devices of 
 Satan, better, may be sifted and lifted up by the 
 enemy, that they must be made humble and wise 
 at the expense of some misfortune or other. 
 
 I hate the tempter and his charms, 
 
 I hate his flatt'ring breath. 
 The serpent takes a thousand forms, 
 
 To cheat our souls to death. 
 
 Ye sons of God, oppose his rage, 
 
 Resist, and he'll be gone. 
 Thus did our dearest Lord engage, 
 
 And vanquish him, alone. 
 
 Now he appears almost divine, 
 
 Like innocence and love, 
 J5utthe old serpent lurks within, 
 
 When he assumes the dove. 
 
 Ely from the false deceiver's tongue, 
 
 Ye soHS of Adam, fly, 
 Our parents found the snare too strong, 
 
 Nor should the children try. 
 
SEPTEMBER i. 265 
 
 Rqyent ye, (O change your mind) and heliepe 
 the gospel. Mark i. ]5. 
 
 O the great comfort, that God requires only faith, 
 and such a faith, which is his own gift, and is held 
 forth, truly, to every one that will receive his par- 
 don, grace, and love. But that this may not be un- 
 derstood of presumptuous notions, in our heads, it 
 is well to be observed, that true repentance goes 
 before faith, by which the heart is not only con- 
 vinced of sin, and filled with godly sorrow, but 
 changed so as to hate and abandon all sin. It is 
 not enough to cleave off some of our sins, or bo 
 outwardly reformed; but it must be an inward 
 and thorough change of the whole mind ; for if 
 one sin be reigning, we cannot be said to have re- 
 pented, and received that faith and power of God 
 whicli overcomes the world and sin. 
 
 Life and immortal joys are given 
 
 To souls that mourn the sins they've done 3 
 
 Children of wrath made heirs of heaven, 
 By faith in God^s eternal Son. 
 
 Wo to the wretch, that never felt, 
 The inward pangs of pious grief; 
 
 But adds to all his crying guilt 
 The stubborn sin of unbehef. 
 
 The law condemns the rebel dead, 
 Under the wrath of God he lies, 
 
 lie sealed the curse on his own head^ 
 And with a double vengeance dies. 
 
256 SEPTEMBER 5. 
 
 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and 
 iiphold me with thy free spirit, Psal. li. 12. 
 Divine answer. As one whom his mother cowr- 
 forteth, so will I comfort you. Then shall ye 
 suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and 
 your heart shall rejoice. Isa. Ixvi. 13, 24. 
 For my words do good to him that walks up- 
 rightly^ Micah, ii. 7, 
 
 Comfort belongs to such as really pant after it, 
 and God is more desirous they should confidently 
 rely upon his salvation in all things, suck the com- 
 forts of his promises, and be strong, than a tender 
 mother can be desirous that her child should suck 
 her full breasts. And where else should strength 
 come from 'I 
 
 O sinner, come and taste his love \ 
 
 Come, learn his pleasant ways, 
 And let your own experience prove 
 
 The sweetness of his grace. 
 
 Go tell him all your secret grief* 
 Your groanings reach his ears ; 
 
 He gives your inward pains relief, 
 And calms your greatest fears. 
 
 O love the Lord, ye saints of his, 
 
 His eye regards the just ; 
 How richly blest their portion is 
 
 Who make the Lord their trust I 
 
 * A Christian sometimes must open and pour out his he§rt 
 in secret before the Lord alone, for fear of hurting himself and 
 others. This liberty must be allowed. Too close uniting* 
 often cause distress, hypocrisy, and divisions. 
 
SEPTEMBER 6. 257 
 
 Now also, wlien I am om and gray Jieaded, O God 
 forsake me not. Psal. Ixxi. 18. O keep my soul 
 and deliver me I let me not be ashamed, for I pttt 
 my trust in thee. Let integrity and righteous- 
 ness preserve me; for I wait on thee. Psal. xxv. 
 20,21. Divine answer. Hearken unto me, O 
 house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house 
 of Israel ; which are borne by me from the belly-, 
 which are carried from the womb. And even to 
 your old age, I am he, and even to your hoary 
 hairs will I carry you : I have made, and J will 
 bear, even I will carry, and will deliver you. Isa. 
 xlvi. 3, 4. For the Lord is full of compassion 
 and mercy, long suffering, and very pitiful, and 
 forgiveth sins, and saveth in time of affliction, 
 Sirach, ii. 11. «S^c. 
 
 God never does nor can forsake me, since I am as 
 near and as closely united to him as a child which is 
 carried in the mother's womb. O great comfort ! 
 What can I have to fear ? May I not expect every 
 thing now confidently from him ? Yes, and this is 
 what pleases him above all things. Therefore I will 
 be careful for nothing, but in every thing by prayer 
 and suppHcation with thanksgiving, make my re- 
 quest known unto him, Phil. iv. 6. always trusting 
 that he will certainly carry me through all difficul- 
 ties to come, as he has done hitherto, that I can even 
 give him 'thanks for it beforehand. O Lord, grant 
 that I may practise this better still. 
 
 My God, my everlasting hope, 
 
 I live upon thy truth ! 
 Thine hands have held my childhood up^ 
 
 And strengthen'd all my youth. 
 22* 
 
258 SEPTEMBER 7. 
 
 Tntst ye not in lying words^ saying, the temple 
 of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the 
 temple of the Lord are these ; but thorough" 
 ly mend your ways and your doings, &ic. Jer. 
 vii. 4, 5. Of true prayer and worship in spi- 
 rit and truth. See also, John, iv. 24. Rom. 
 xii. 1. James, i. 27. 
 
 As a contrite heart is the most pleasing temple 
 of God, so speaking with God, in words of our 
 own, as a child does with his father, is the best book 
 of prayer. The most cunning method, by which 
 Satan deceives many now, is, the mistaking an ex- 
 tensive knowledge and assurance of their own ma- 
 king for true faith ; or trusting on some outward 
 forms of worship, sensible motives, or communing 
 with others, and pretending too soon to evangelical 
 experiences, liberties, and building of souls up ; 
 though there was never a true change wrought in 
 their own hearts. For what can all our reading, 
 prayers, going to church, and sacrament profit us 
 without this ? Before all this shall be acceptable 
 to the Lord, we must be renewed in our minds, 
 and prove by our own works and deeds, that we 
 are the living temples of God. 
 
 It is not towers of stone or wood, 
 
 Pillars or paintings, please our God ; 
 
 Of living stones his church is built, • 
 
 It was for souls Christ's blood was spilt. 
 
 It is not any splendid house, 
 
 That Jesus calls his married spouse, 
 
 Believers, Oh, amazing love ! 
 
 'Tis you, the Lord, your husband prove. 
 
SEPTEMBER 8. 259 
 
 Forsake me not, O Lord, O my God, be not far from 
 me. Divine answer. The mountains shall depart 
 and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not 
 depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my 
 peace be removed, sailh the Lord that has mercy on 
 thee. thou affiicted^ tossed with tempesis and 
 not comforted, behold I -jdiU lay thy stones with 
 fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sap- 
 phires. Jlnd I will make thy windows of agates, 
 and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of 
 pleasant stones. Isa. liv* 10. 15. 
 
 Such as never have been destitute of comfort, do 
 not relish this word. O Lord, as thou hast once 
 quickened me by it in great distress, I will hence- 
 forth, evermore take hold of it, and firmly believe, 
 even without feeling, that thou wilt peform every 
 thing punctually. Thou being my God, in cove- 
 nant, wilt never forsake me, but order all things for 
 my good ; adorn, and carry me through, though all 
 tempests should fall upon me, and every thing be 
 dashed to pieces. This, thy faithfulness requires. 
 Firm as the word which prophets give, 
 Sweet words, on which believers live, 
 Each of them is the voice of God, 
 Who spoke and spread the skies abroad. 
 Oh ! for a strong, a lasting faith, 
 To credit what the Almighty saith, 
 To embrace the message of his son, 
 And call the joys of heaven our own. 
 Then should the earth's old pillars shake. 
 And all the wheels of nature break, 
 Our steady souls shall fear no more 
 Than solid rocks when billows roar. 
 
260 SEPTEMBER 9. 
 
 Lean not unto thine own understanding. Prov. iii. 6. 
 Be not wise in yoor own conceits. Rom. xii. 16. 
 Put your neck under the yoke, and let your soul 
 receive instruction ; she is hard at hand to Jind. 
 Behold zn'ithyour eyes, how that I have had but lit- 
 tle labour, and have gotten unto me much rest. 
 Siracb, xli. 26, 27. For the wisdom of this zaorld, 
 is foolishness with God. 1 Cor. iii. 19. 
 
 Whosoever will do the will of the Lord, and is 
 not wise in his own conceit, avoiding vain curiosi- 
 ty, and praying earnestly, shall certainly know the 
 counsels &nd will of God. John, viii. 17. But he 
 must depend more upon the word of God, than his 
 own feeling ; since our own spirit often mixes with 
 spiritual sensations, and tempts us to lusts, fear, 
 presumption, and pride ; and many trust even to 
 their scandalous whims and fancies, as if all were 
 from our Saviour. O Lord, grant that I may be al- 
 ways jealous over myself, go in and out with prayer, 
 and not err in any thing to the hurt of my soul. 
 
 Thus saith the wisdom of the Lord, 
 Blest is the man that hears my word, 
 Keeps daily watch before my gates, 
 And at my feet for mercy waits. 
 
 The soul that seeks me, shall obtain 
 Immortal wealth and heavenly gain ; 
 Immortal life is his reward, 
 Life, and the favour of the Lord. 
 
 But the vile wretch that flies from me, 
 Doth his own soul an injury : 
 Fools, that against my grace rebel, 
 Seek death, and love the road to hell. 
 
SEPTEMBER 10. 261 
 
 And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a ^ 
 cloud, to lead them the way ; and by night in a pillar 
 ofjirey to give them light ; to go by day and nighty 
 ^c. consequently he never left them. Exod. xiii. 
 21. And the pillar of the cloud went from before 
 their face and stood behind them : and it came be-, 
 iween the/Camp of the Egyptians and the camp of 
 Israel; -which prevented the meeting of them. 
 And the children of Israel went into the midst of the 
 sea upon the dry ground ; and the waters were a 
 •mall unto them on their right hand and on their left. 
 Chap. xiv. 19, 22. And all the Israelites passed 
 over Jordan. Joshua, iii. 17. Therefore, nre know 
 that all things work together for good to them that 
 love God. Rorn. yiii .28. 
 
 We want daily, some sort or other of affliction, 
 and burden, to serve us as rails, and walls, against 
 the carnal wanderings of our hearts. Therefore, 
 when we meet with distress, we must think it ia 
 the wall or burden for the day, to keep ftom swerv-% 
 ing and falling into the snares of the enemy. 
 
 There is a land of pure delight^ 
 
 Where saints immortal reign, 
 Infinite day excludes the night, 
 
 And pleasures banish pain. 
 But tim'rous mortals start and shrink, 
 
 To cross this narrow sea, 
 And linger, shivering on the brink. 
 
 And fear to launch away. 
 Could we but climb where Moses stood, 
 
 And view the landscape o'er, 
 PiJot Jordan's streams, nor death's cold floods 
 
 Should fright us from the shore. 
 
262 SEPTEMBER 11. 
 
 And it came to pass, when Moses held tip his handy that 
 Israel prevailed ; and when he let down his hand, 
 Jlmalek prevailed. But Moseses hands were heavy, 
 <^c. Exod. xvii. 11,12. J3ncZ /le the King of Is- 
 rael, shot. And he, Elisha, said, the arrow of the 
 Lord's deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance 
 from Syria, <^'C. And he, the King, smote thrice 
 and stayed. And, the man of God was wroth with 
 him, and said, thou shouldst have smitten five or 
 six times, then hadst thou smitten Syria, till thou 
 hadst consumed it, S^c. 2 Kings, xiii. 17, 19. 
 
 The more prayer, the more victory. Every 
 groan, is a stroke, and a sling-stone on the head of 
 the old man. Though he should appear as a Go- 
 liah, he must die, but by degress. May the Lord 
 make me instant in prayer, and give a true desire 
 for his word. 
 
 Praise waits in Sion, Lord, for thee. 
 
 There shall our vows be paid : 
 Thou hast an ear, when sinners pray. 
 
 All flesh shall seek thine aid. 
 
 Lord, our iniquities prevail. 
 
 But pard'ning grace is thine, 
 And thou wilt grant us power and skill 
 
 To conquer every sin. 
 
 O free the souls condemn'd to death, 
 
 And when thy saints complain, 
 Let not be said, that praying breath 
 
 Was ever spent in vain. 
 
SEPTEMBER 12. 363 
 
 Jlnd Jesus bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. 
 John, xix. 30. 
 
 To lay evermore hold on Christ crucified, and 
 rest continually upon his meritorious death, with a 
 true faith, is the one thing needful for a Christian, 
 which is the sum and substance, nay, the very 
 marrow of the Old and New Testament, and above 
 all things, gives the greatest strength. 
 
 Alas ! and did my Saviour bleed ? 
 
 And did my Sov'reign die? 
 Would he devote that sacred head 
 
 For such a worm as I ? 
 
 Was it for crimes that I had done, 
 
 He groaned upon the tree ? 
 Amazing pity ! grace unknown I 
 
 And love beyond degree. 
 
 Well might the sun in darkness hide, 
 
 And shut his glories in, 
 When God, the mighty Maker died, 
 
 For man, the creature's sin. 
 
 Thus might 1 hide my blushing face, 
 
 While his dear cross appears. 
 Dissolve my heart in thankfulness, 
 
 And melt my eyes to tears. 
 
 But drops of grief can ne'er repay 
 
 The debt of love I owe ; 
 Here, Lord, I call myself awav, 
 
 'Tis all that I can do. 
 
264 SEPTEMBER 13. 
 
 Our Father who art in heaven. Matt. vi. 9. Divine an- 
 swer. Wherefore come out from among them, and 
 be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the 
 unclean thing ; and i will receive you, and will 
 he a Father unto you, and ye shall he my sons and 
 daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 2 Cor. vi. 
 17, 18. 
 
 To apply the gospel in general, without distinc- 
 tion, as if all were children of God, nay. in a state 
 of temptation, does exceeding great harm. St. 
 Paul acts otherwise here. The heart must first be 
 broke and discharged from the comfort of the 
 world. Christ comes only to comfort, namely, all 
 mourners ; consequently, every one must mourn 
 first, though not in the same degree, and to make 
 amends, but so much that he may be really hum- 
 bled, sufficiently desirous and prepared to receive 
 the comfort. To experience the gospel, requires 
 time. Many pretend now too soon to an evangeli- 
 cal state, insisting upon assurance and boldness 
 which they have not themselves. 
 
 Jehovah reigns, his throne is high, 
 His robes are light and majesty ; 
 His glory shines with beams so bright, 
 No mortal can sustain the sight. 
 
 His terrors keep the world in awe. 
 His justice guards his holy law, 
 His love reveals a smiling face, 
 His truth and promise seal the grace. 
 
 And will this glorious Lord descend 
 To be ray Father and my friend ? 
 Then let my songs with angels join ; 
 Heaven is secure if God be mine. 
 
SEPTEMBER 14. 265 
 
 Give us this day our daily bread. Matt. vi. 11. Di- 
 vine answer. Seek yejirsi the kingdom of God, 
 and his righteousness ; and all these things shall 
 he added unto you. Ver. 33. 
 
 By this fourth petition of the Lord's prayer, my 
 daily bread is well secured. Is this what I live 
 upon to-day ? and suppose I had nothing for to- 
 morrow, yet praying the same to-morrow, I have 
 it again, and so on every day, if it is only done in 
 faith. The want of faith on divine Providence, 
 which is the first article of our creed, is generally 
 much complained of; but very few are sensible of 
 the want of faith in Christ, as to the second article, 
 and this is most wanted ; there sometimes being 
 hardly one in a hundred, who has a true, living faith 
 in Christ. 
 
 God reigns on high, but not confines 
 
 His goodness to the skies, 
 Through the whole earth his bounty shines 
 
 And every want supplies. 
 With longing eyes the creatures wait 
 
 On thee for daily food ; 
 Thy lib'ral hand provides their meat, - 
 
 And fills their mouth with good. 
 How kind are thy compassions Lord ! 
 
 How slow thine anger moves ! 
 But soon he sends his pard'ning word 
 
 To cheer the souls he loves. 
 Creatures with all their endless race 
 
 Thy power and praise proclaim, 
 But saints, that taste thy richer grace, 
 
 Delight to bless thy name. 
 
 23 
 
266 SEPTEMBER 15. 
 
 Our conversation, or our citizenship, is in heaven, 
 Phil. iii. 20. Therefore, rejoice, because your 
 names are written in heaven. Luke, x. 20. And 
 set your affections on things above, not on things 
 on earth. Col. iii. 2. 
 
 A Christian being only a traveller through this 
 world, having, as it were, a night's lodging in it, 
 does not desire to have every thing so convenient ; 
 but since his journey's end, and city is in heaven, 
 all his actions, sufferings, prayers, trade, and con- 
 versation turn that way. O Lord, grant that mine 
 eyes may always be fixed upon this mark, so as to 
 regulate all my designs and doings accordingly, ask- 
 ing myself in every thing, whether it be fit for 
 heaven, and agreeable to the mind and manners of 
 the celestial citizens and Bridegroom above ? 
 
 Raise thee, my soul, fly up and run 
 Through every heavenly street ; 
 
 And say, there's nought below the sun 
 That's worthy of thy feet. 
 
 Thus will we mount on sacred wings, 
 
 And tread the courts above ; 
 Nor earth, nor all her mightiest things. 
 
 Shall tempt our meanest love. 
 
 The glorious tenants of the place, 
 Stand bending round the throne ; 
 
 And saints and seraphs sing and praise. 
 The infinite Three-one. 
 
 Jesus ! O when shall that dear day, 
 
 That joyful hour appear, 
 When I shall leave this house of clay. 
 
 To dwell amongst them there. 
 
SEPTEMBER 16. 267 
 
 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his 
 name, whosoever believes in him, shall receive re- 
 mission of sins. Acts, X. 43. Chap. iv. 12. This 
 name is as ointment poured forth, the fullness of 
 all grace. Cant. i. 3. It is a strong tower ; the 
 righteous runneth into it, and is safe. Prov. xviii. 
 10. 
 
 In this name, we shall draw nigh to the Father, 
 in prayer, and not come before him with a strange 
 fire of our own worthiness of devotion, and he will 
 dnaw nigh to us again. James, iv. 8. He will cer- 
 tainly grant our petitions, "and we shall receive, 
 that our joy may be full." John, xvi. 24. " For 
 the Lord is good and ready to forgive, and plente- 
 ous in mercy unto all them that call upon him." 
 Psal. Ixxxi. 5. And all these promises are yea 
 and amen in Christ, that every one can say, " the 
 Lord will receive my prayer." Psal. vi. 9. " Bless- 
 ed be God who has not turned away my prayer nor 
 his mercy from me :" for he has dealt bountifully 
 with me. Psal. Ixvi. 20. xiii. 6. 
 
 Lift up your eyes to the heavenly seat, 
 Where your Redeemer stays ; 
 g^ Kind Intercessor, there he sits. 
 
 And loves, and pleads, and prays. 
 Petitions now, and praise may rise, 
 And saints their offerings bring ; 
 The priest with his own sacrifice, 
 
 Presents them to the king. 
 Jesus alone shall bear my cries, 
 
 Up to the Father's throne ; 
 He, dearest Lord ! perfumes my sighs, 
 And sweetens every groan. 
 
268 SEPTEMBER 17. 
 
 In thy presence is fulness of joy, at thy right hand are 
 pleasures forevermore. Psal. xvi. l].A7idIsaw 
 the holy city, the new Jerusalem, descending out of 
 heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for 
 her husband. Rev. xxi. 2, 3, 4, 10, 12. 
 
 O my dear Saviour, being still so very imperfect, 
 and little prepared for heaven, grant that 1 may be 
 more adorned with faith and love,, with a heavenly 
 mind, and spiritual desires. And since thou know- 
 est what I am wanting, and hath justified and cloth- 
 ed me already, with thy own garment and bloodv 
 and hast brought so many sons to glory, I trust, 
 that thou wilt inwardly adorn, perfect, and bring 
 me home in due time. 
 
 Oh, the delights, the heavenly joys. 
 
 The glories of the place, 
 Where Jesus sends the brightest beam!} 
 
 Of his overflowing grace r 
 
 Archangels sound his lofty praise^ 
 
 Through every heavenly street. 
 And lay their highest honours down,. 
 
 Submissive at his feet. 
 
 Lord, how our souls are all on fire, 
 
 To see thy blest abode ; 
 Our tongues rejoice in tunes of praise- 
 
 To our incarnate God. 
 
 And while our faith enjoys this sight,. 
 
 We long to leave our clay ; 
 And wish thy fiery chariots, Lord, 
 
 To fetch our souls away. 
 
SEPTEMBER 18. 269 
 
 Watch and pray ; let us be doing. Malt. xxvi. 41, 46. 
 Remember Lot's wife. Luke xvii. 32. This is the 
 way, walk yein it^ when you turn to the right hand, 
 and when you turn to the left. Isa. xxx. 21. 
 
 To keep free from self-righteousness, and false 
 joy and liberty, is the safest way. O my dear 
 Saviour, thou art my way, I walk in thy name, I 
 live in faith, I look upon thee, I cleave to thee, I 
 abide in thee, and my constant saying is, I am jus- 
 tified, clean, and free by thee, not to live licentious- 
 ly, but to be kept from it. For if I was not to rest 
 in thee, I should rest in the flesh ; but being taken 
 up with thee, all other things must vanish away, 
 and I am able to be watchful, close, and fervent. 
 
 When my forgetful soul renews 
 
 The favour of thy grace, 
 My heart presumes I cannot lose 
 
 The relish all my days. 
 
 But ere one fleeting hour is past, 
 
 The flattering world employs 
 Some sensual bait to seize my taste, 
 
 And to pollute my joys. 
 
 Then I repent and vex my soul, 
 
 That I should leave thee so ; 
 Where will those wild reflections roll, 
 
 That let a Saviour go ? 
 
 Show my forgetful feet the way 
 
 That leads to joys on high ; 
 There knowledge grows without decay, 
 
 And love shall never die. 
 23* 
 
270 SEPTEMBER 19. 
 
 Walk before me, as in my presence, and be thou per'- 
 feet. Gen. xvii. 1. Fear God, and keep his com.' 
 mandments, nil, not one accepted, /or this is the: 
 whole duty of all men. For God shall bring everif 
 TJi'ork into judgment, zmth every secret thing, wheth-* 
 er it be good, or whether it be evil. Eccles. xiL 
 13, 14. 
 
 Consequently, all such things as are now called" 
 indifferent, in their nature, will also be arraigned 
 and not judged indifferent, but either actually good^ 
 or actually evil. O ! the prodigious harm that i» 
 done by this false doctrine of innocent things ! It 
 opens the door to innumerable sins. For though 
 our conscience often tells us, that we should not da 
 such things, as are not actually good ; yet present- 
 ly, the innocence is pleaded, it is called a harmless 
 thing ; which though it could not be said to be 
 good, yet it was not evil, neither, but quite indilTer- 
 ent in its nature ; thousands are drawn into the 
 snares of the devil. O Lord, grant that all my 
 works be done unto thee, and in thy presence, 
 agreeable to thy commandments, that even my 
 leaves may not wither, and whatsoever I do may 
 prosper and abide for ever. 
 
 Within thy circling power I stand ; 
 On every side I find thy hand : 
 Awake, asleep, at home, abroad, 
 I am surrounded still with God. 
 
 O may these thoughts possess my breast, 
 Where'er I rove, where'er I rest, 
 Nor let my weaker passions dare 
 Consent to sin, for God is there. 
 
SEPTEMBER 20. 271 
 
 Eerily, verily, I say unto you, except a man be born 
 again he cannot see the kingdom oj God. John,iii. 3. 
 
 Consequently, no outward form of religion will 
 do ; but we must be spiritually born by the spirit 
 of God, and have our hearts changed, else we can- 
 not enter into the kingdom of God. Christ con- 
 firmed it twice with an oath. How is it possible 
 then, that mere honest and moral men can be sa- 
 ved ? Will Christ break his double oath ? No, 
 surely. Therefore, outward, gross immoralities 
 being only blamed and rebuked, moral Christians 
 always slip through ; and the looser sort think that 
 they can leave off their open sins one time or an- 
 other, and so none is duly concerned to be tho- 
 roughly converted ; but the new birth, and a real 
 change of the heart being insisted upon, and Christ 
 held forth in this only true way, every one who 
 will, can be turned. 
 
 The second Adam shall restore 
 
 The ruins of the first, 
 Hosanna to that sovereign power, 
 
 That new creates our dust. 
 
 When from the curse he sets us free, 
 
 He makes our natures clean ; 
 Nor would our Saviour come, to be 
 
 The minister of sin. 
 
 His spirit purifies our frame, 
 And seals our peace with God : 
 
 Jesus and his salvation, came 
 By water and by blood. 
 
272 SEPTEMBER 21. 
 
 Why art thou cast down, O my soul, and why art thou 
 disquieted within me I Hope thou in God,forIshall 
 yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance 
 andmyGod. Psal. xlii. 2. Ver. 5,6. Forlreckon, 
 that the sufferings of this present time, are not wor- 
 thy to be compared with the glory which shall be 
 revealed in us. Rom. viii. 10. 
 
 This shows that even believers are still in dis- 
 quietness, but they conquer it by faith, and hope to 
 the end. If the Lord had said, that they should 
 strive, pray, and hope, till such and such a time, 
 and his help should fail, then they might despair ; 
 but as he fixes no certain time, but without limita- 
 tion, requires them to hope, this keeps them from 
 impatience and despair ; should he even tarry to 
 the end, they will certainly experience him then, 
 if no sooner, to be faithful in his promises. O 
 Lord, suffer not the load to lie too long and too hea- 
 vy upon me, that I may not be unfaithful, I trust 
 thou wilt in due time prove thyself to be my help, 
 and thy word to be true. 
 
 'Tis God that lifts our comforts high 
 
 Or sinks them in the grave, 
 He gives (and blessed be his name !) 
 
 He takes but what he gave. 
 Peace, all our angry passions then. 
 
 Let each rebellious sigh 
 Be silent at his sovereign will, 
 
 And every murmur die. 
 If smiling mercy crown our lives, 
 
 Its praises shall be spread ; 
 And we'll adore the justice too, 
 That strikes our comforts dead. 
 
SEPTEMBER 22. 273 
 
 Faint not, but be strong in the Lord ; thai he may 
 confirm you, cleave unto him ; for the Lord Al- 
 mighty is God alone, and beside him there is no 
 other Saviour. Hejllhth all things n-ith his uns- 
 dom. Sirach, xxiv. 24, 25. 
 
 O my dear Saviour, grant that I may rest quietly 
 and humbly in the avoiding all swerving and pre- 
 sumptuous actions which are not commended to 
 me. He that always covets novelties, it is a sign 
 that he hath not as yet tasted the power of the old 
 word of God ; else he would certainly be satisfied 
 with it. Better daily to improve in the power of 
 godliness, than in new words, forms, and methods. 
 To be talking always of wounds is not an apostolic 
 method. "May the Lord quicken me by the old 
 truths, and humble my heart evermore, so as to re- 
 ceive them better, in that which I have heard from 
 the beginning." Novelty is the bane of souls, by 
 which we are often grievously tormented and dis- 
 tracted. It is work enough for a meek and quiet 
 soul to keep within the bounds of a settled -mind, 
 and effectually to centre in God. How is it possi- 
 ble for such as from a vain curiosity, desire to know 
 every thing, to enjoy true rest 1 What have we to 
 do with the world ? What need to meddle with the 
 business of others ? What signifies all knowledge, 
 if it does not profit our souls ? Had we not better to 
 be ignorant of some other things, than to want a 
 paving knowledge of Christ 1 
 
 O that the Lord would guide my ways 
 
 To keep his statutes still : 
 O that my God would grant me grace, 
 
 To know and do his will. 
 
274 SEPTEMBER 23. 
 
 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleame 
 me from my sin. Psal. li. 2. Divine answer. The 
 blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God cleanseih us 
 from all sins. 1 John, i. 6. 
 
 Under the ceremonial law all things were pur- 
 ged with blood, and without shedding of blood 
 there was no i emission ; thus it is impossible that 
 any one sin, even the least sinful motion, should be 
 taken away except by the blood of Christ Jesus. 
 This teaches us the greatness of sin, keeps us hum- 
 ble, tender, and watchful, and yet gives sufficient 
 peace and strength at the same time. 
 
 My dying Saviour and ray God, 
 
 Fountain for guilt and sin, 
 Sprinkle me ever with thy blood, 
 
 And cleanse and keep me clean. 
 
 Wash me and make me thus thy own ; 
 
 Wash me, and mine thou art ! 
 Wash me, but not my feet alone, 
 
 My hands, my head, my heart. 
 
 The atonement of thy blood apply, 
 
 Till faith to sight improve ; 
 Till hope shall in fruition die, 
 
 And all my soul be love. 
 
 For ever here, my rest shall be 
 
 Close to thy bleeding side ; 
 'Tis all my hope and all my plea, 
 
 For me the Saviour died. 
 
SEPTEMBER 24. 276 
 
 Whatsoever thou tahest in hand, remember the endf 
 and thou shalt never do amiss. Sirach, vii. 39. 
 
 O ! how many trifles and vanities would be avoid- 
 ed, if it were but always duly considered, that we 
 could die even this very day. O Lord! teach 
 me the number of my days, and since I must and 
 will be prepared and perfect against that decisive 
 hour, suffer me not to desire, to speak, or to do, or 
 so to leave any thing undone, that may be matter of 
 grief at last. How long I may still have to live, I 
 know not, and being sensible that I am not so 
 heavenly minded yet, as I could wish, I beseech 
 thee to fashion me according to thine own pleasure, 
 and preserve me every hour prepared in thee, that 
 death may not overtake me in an unexpected time. 
 
 Hark ! from the tombs a doleful sound, 
 
 My ears attend the cry ; 
 Ye living men, come view the ground 
 
 Where you must shortly lie. 
 
 Princes, this clay must be your bed, 
 
 In spite of all your towers ; 
 The tall, the wise, the rev'rend head 
 
 Must lie as low as ours. 
 
 Great God ! is this our certain doom ! 
 
 And are we still secure ? 
 Still walking downward to our tomb, 
 
 And yet prepare no more ? 
 
 Grant us the power of quick'ning grace, 
 
 To fit our souls to fly ! 
 Then, when we drop this dying flesh, 
 
 We'll rise above the sky. 
 
276 SEPTEMBER 25. 
 
 What lack I yet ? Matt. xix. 20. Yet tackest thou one 
 thing. Luke, xviii. 22. For, one thing is need- 
 ful. Luke, X. 42. 
 
 This one thing needful is to have Christ ; and by 
 being first, with Mary, served and treated by him, 
 we draw the necessary strength from him, to serve 
 him again. He must be first our meat, before we 
 can feed on him, or do any thing for him. Faith 
 receives grace first, from the fulness of Christ, and 
 being thus strengthened, begins to give and work 
 also, though it were but faintly. However, it is 
 not by our working and giving, but by the receiv- 
 ing in faith, that we become Christians, and remain 
 in a perfect state of salvation ; since we received 
 even with the feeble hands of faith, a whole and per- 
 fect Christ. This one thing is needful. 
 
 ril hear of nothing else beside, 
 My Jesus, and him crucified ; 
 
 In him is all I want ; 
 His blood, his meritorious blood. 
 Alone is rich, alone is good ; 
 
 For that alone I pant. 
 
 Sure none refuse to join this song, 
 To praise our saviour all along 
 
 Their pilgrimage below : 
 To sing, " There's none, there's none beside 
 But Jesus, and him crucified, 
 
 Needful for us to know." 
 
SEPTEMBER 26. 277 
 
 What I say unto you, I say unto ally watch. Mark, 
 xiii. 37. ^ut^awakejirst to righteousness, 1 Cor, 
 XV. 34. 
 
 Even believers are still tempted with heaviness 
 and drowsiness in prayer : but it is their great cross 
 and burden. O Lord Jesus, grant that mine eyes 
 being continually fixed upon thee and upon my- 
 self, I may always have grace not only to believe 
 myself clean and justified in thee, but also to keep 
 up my zeal and watchfulness. 
 
 O thou who all things canst control, 
 Chase the dead slumbers from my soul ! 
 With joy and fear, with love and awe 
 Give me to keep thy perfect law. 
 
 may one beam oF thy blest light 
 Pierce through, dispel the shades of night ; 
 Touch my cold breast with heavenly fire, 
 With holy conquering zeal inspire. 
 
 With out-stretch'd hands and streaming eyes, 
 Oft I begin to grasp the prize ; 
 
 1 groan, I strive, I watch, I pray ; 
 But ah ! how soon it dies away ! 
 
 The deadly slumbers soon I feel 
 Afresh upon my spirit steal ; 
 Rise, Lord ! stir up thy quickening power, 
 And wake me, that I sleep no more. 
 
 24 
 
278 SEPTEMBER 27. 
 
 What things were gain to me, these I counted lossfor 
 Christ, yea, doubtless, and I count all things hut 
 loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ 
 Jesus my Lord ; for whom I have suffered the loss 
 of all things, and do count them but dung, that^ I 
 may win Christ, and be found in him, as my right- 
 eousness. Phil. iii. 1, 9. 
 
 This was the Hfe and constant mind of St. Paul. 
 The words, "In him, in Christ, in the Lord, I am 
 in Christ," &.c. occur continually. I chose it for 
 my motto also. It shall be my great tower, my 
 strong fortress, my sweet paradise, mine only ele- 
 ment in life. Here I will take up my abode for 
 eyer. It is good for us to be here ; here let us 
 make tabernacles. Here death shall find me at 
 last. 
 
 Had I ten thousand gifts beside, 
 I'd cleave to Jesus crucified. 
 
 And build on him alone ; . 
 For no foundation is there given, 
 On which I'd place my hopes of heaven, 
 
 But Christ the corner stone. 
 
 Professing Christ I all profess ; 
 Wisdom, and strength, and righteousness, 
 
 And sanctity complete ; 
 Bold in his name I dare draw nigh 
 Before the Ruler of the sky, 
 
 And all his Justice meet^ 
 
SEPTEMBER 28. 279 
 
 What must I do to be saved ? Divine answer. Be- 
 lieve in the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt h% saved., 
 and thy house. Acts, xvi. 31. 
 
 Faith is not a confidence of our own making, but 
 it is God that works it in a contrite and repenting 
 heart. This faith as Luther in his preface to the 
 epistle to the Romans o!)serves, purifies the heart, 
 destroys the old Adam, overcomes the world, en- 
 genders us anew, and changes us in heart, mind, 
 and all the powers and faculties of the soul ; which 
 is the true protestant faith, and not that we only 
 think and say, I believe. By this we must try 
 our faith. All true hehevers have received it un- 
 der a sense of our holy contrition, sorrow, and ter- 
 rors. If we feel something of this, and apply to 
 Christ by prayer, for faith and grace, we have a 
 sure mark for faith already : for if we did not be- 
 lieve, we would not pray. And he that daily clean- 
 ses himself in the blood of Christ, has true faith 
 and hope already, though he is but weak, and does 
 not taste any joy. 
 
 Ye dying souls that sit 
 In darkness and distress. 
 Look from the borders of the pit. 
 To Christ's recovering grace. 
 
 Sinners shall hear his sound ; 
 Their thankful tongues shall own, 
 Their righteousness and strength is found 
 In Christ, the Lord, alone. 
 
 In him shall Israel trust, 
 And see their guilt forgiven : 
 God will pronounce the sinners just, 
 And take the saints to heaven. 
 
2B0 SEPTEMBER 29. 
 
 Wo unto hirrif through whom qff'ences come. What 
 wo then must befall such immoral teachers, as 
 give offence to youth ? take heed to yourselves. 
 Luke, xvii. 1, 3. Abstain from all appearance of 
 evily that ye may be blameless and harmless^ the 
 sons of God, without rebuke in the midst of a 
 crooked and perverse nation^ among whom you 
 shine as lights in the world. Phil. ii. 15. 
 
 Lord ! I desire also to shine in good works and 
 fruits of faith, but thou art more desirous to give, 
 than I am to receive it ; for it tends to thy own 
 glory, and thou lovest the growing of my graces 
 more than L Therefore I will give myself up to 
 thee, for to purge, cleanse, and make me fruitful, 
 
 O Lord my stubborn will subdue, 
 Create my ruin'd frame anew ; 
 
 Dispel my darkness by thy light : 
 Into ail truth my spirit guide, 
 But from mine eye for ever hide 
 
 All things displeasing in thy sight. 
 
 Be heaven now my soul's abode, 
 Hid be my life with Christ in God, 
 
 My spirit, Lord, be one with thine ; 
 Let all my works in thee be wrought, 
 And fiird with thee be all my thought 
 
 Till in me thy full likeness shinQ, 
 
SEPTEMBER 30. 281 
 
 As Christ hath suffered for us in thejiesh, arm your- 
 selves likewise with the same mind ; for he that 
 sufferethinthejleshhas ceased from si7i. 1 Pet. 
 iv. 1. 
 
 By outward affliction the Lord very often morti- 
 fies our inward corruptions of the heart, and facil- 
 itates our victory. But nothing will bring us soon- 
 er to loathing of sin and destroying its power, than 
 a true consideration of Christ's suffering and dying 
 for us ; for his death on the cross produces true 
 repentance, by which the heart is broken and yet 
 comforted ; without a broken heart, all the boas- 
 ting of Christ's cross, blood, and wounds, are no- 
 thing but a vain babbUng, and the play work of our. 
 fancies. 
 
 Father, I bless thy gentle hand ! 
 
 How kind was thy chastising rod ! 
 That forc'd my conscience to a stand, 
 
 And brought my wandering soul to God ! 
 
 Foolish and vain I went astray 
 Ere I had felt thy scourges, Lord, 
 
 I left my guide and lost my way. 
 But now 1 love and keep thy word. 
 
 'Tis good for me to wear the yoke, 
 
 For sin is apt to rise and swell ; 
 'Tis good to bear my Father's stroke. 
 
 That I might learn his statutes well. 
 
 Thy hands have made my mortal frame, 
 Thy Spirit form'd my soul within : 
 
 Teach me to know thy wondrous name, 
 And guard me safe from death and sin. 
 24* 
 
282 OCTOBER 1. 
 
 Weep not : Behold the lion of the tribe of the Judah, 
 the root of David f has prevailed. Rev. v. 5. He 
 rose triumphantly and destroyed the works of the 
 devil ; therefore sin shall not have dominion over 
 us. Rom. vi. 14. 
 
 Many complain, that though they will not turn 
 back, yet they have no power to advance further. 
 If this is thy case, my reader, remember that the 
 enemy of souls will discourage thee. Go on pray- 
 ing, and venture it evermore upon the Lord. Con- 
 sider how he has awakened you at first, how often 
 he has heard your prayers afterward, and assisted 
 you in many hard struggles. Surely he will help 
 you now also ! if that will not do, begin, as it were, 
 afresh, acknowledge yourself guilty in every re- 
 spect, and as the chief of sinners, plead for mercy, 
 and be instant in your humble supplications ; look- 
 ing at the same time upon yourselves as reconciled 
 and pardoned in Christ, in spite of all your misery : 
 then you will soon make a better progress. To 
 despair of our own strength is good ! but we must 
 never despair of the power of Christ, who is risen 
 from the dead, but be sure to overcome with him 
 at last. He will certainly help you in the due and 
 best season. 
 
 Hell and thy sins resist thy course, 
 But hell and sin are vanquish'd foes ; 
 
 Thy Jesus nail'd them to the cross. 
 And sung the triumph when he rose. 
 
 He dies, and in that dreadful night, 
 Did all the powers of hell destroy ; 
 
 Rising he brought our heaven to light. 
 And took possession of the joy. 
 
OCTOBER 2. 283 
 
 Whom the Lord loveth he chastenethj and scour- 
 geth every son whom he receiveth. If ye en- 
 dure chastening, God dealeth with you as 
 with sons. For what son is he whom the 
 Father chasteneth nof? But he chasteneth 
 us for our profit, that we might be partakers 
 of his holiness, Heb, xii. 6, 10. 
 
 To these chastenings also belong outward afflic- 
 tions, which are precious means and sanctified to 
 believers. O my dear heavenly Father ! thou art 
 only pleased with a true, filial confidence, but I am 
 still of a distrusting heart, when any thing comes 
 upon me on a sudden. Grant that I may always 
 entertain the best hope of thee, fear no adversity, 
 or look upon it as a sign of displeasure, but of 
 love ; really believing it to be intended as a bless- 
 ing to my good. Whatever thy providence may 
 order, let me only be convinced of thy paternal 
 affection, and fall in with thy salutary designs. 
 
 So for my sin I justly feel 
 
 Thy disciphne, O God ; 
 Yet wait the gracious moment still, 
 
 'Till thou remove thy rod. 
 
 For I have found, 'tis good for me 
 
 To bear my Father's rod : 
 Afflictions make me learn thy law, 
 
 And hve upon my God. 
 
 This is the comfort I enjoy 
 
 When new distress begins : 
 1 read thy word, I run thy way, 
 
 And hate my former sins. 
 
284 OCTOBER 3. 
 
 The entrance of the word gives light: Itgiveth 
 understanding to the simple. Psal. cxix. 130. 
 Order my steps in thy word; and let not any 
 iniquities have dominion over me. Ver. 33. 
 
 We may have a clear sight and a real taste of 
 the gospel, and yet be soon deprived of it again, if 
 we do not walk in godly simplicity and poverty of 
 spirit, for Christ will have none but humble and 
 child-like disciples. But thus abiding always in 
 the word and in Christ, we will come to great and 
 lasting assurance ; for neither a sweet sense, nor 
 even faith itself, but Christ alone is the foundation 
 of our salvation, whom the weakest as well as the 
 strongest' behever receives. And we must believe 
 first, before we can feel. To trust only on feeling 
 is not true faith, and does not last long. 
 
 Thy mercies fill the earth, O Lord, 
 
 How good thy works appear ! 
 Open mine eyes to read thy word, 
 
 And see thy wonders there. 
 When once it enters to the mind 
 
 It spreads such light abroad, 
 The meanest souls instruction find, 
 
 And raise their thoughts to God. 
 'Tis like the sun, a heavenly light 
 
 That guides us all the day. 
 And through the dangers of the night 
 
 A lamp to lead our way. 
 Since Fm a stranger here below, 
 
 Let net thy path be hid, 
 But mark the road my feet should gp, 
 
 And be my constant guide. 
 
OCTOBER 4. 285 
 
 Thj/ genthnessy discipline, hath made me great, 
 Psal. xviii. 35. 
 
 It is not so easy a thing as may be imagined, to 
 be kept humble. Great gifts require great afflic- 
 tions, or other humbling disciplines. Without these 
 we are in danger of being lifted up, especially if we 
 slight the inward abominations of the heart, and 
 will have the conquest of sin to be no more than 
 the killing of a fly, as many vainly pretend in our 
 days. Odd heroes, those, and a poor victory in- 
 deed ! what crown can they expect for it ? those 
 that extenuate and lessen sin, lessen the merits and 
 power of Christ also. 
 
 Father, here to thee I cry, 
 Thee in Jesus' name conjure, 
 
 With my one request comply, 
 Make me humble, make me poor. 
 
 This of all thy gifts impart. 
 When I am of this possess'd. 
 
 When thou givest a humble heart. 
 If thou canst withhold the rest, 
 
 Wean my soul and keep it low, 
 Do not with thy gifts destroy ; 
 
 Lowliness of heart bestow, 
 Give me this, or take my joy. 
 
 If with me thou wilt not stay, 
 
 Let my comfort all depart, 
 Take my joy and peace away, 
 
 Leave me but an humble heart, 
 
286 OCTOBER 6. 
 
 Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not thyself 
 from my supplication. Psal.lv. 1. Christ's an- 
 swer. Verily, verily, I say unto you, whatsoever 
 ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give 
 it you. John xvi. 23. For the Father himself 
 lovethyou. ver. 27. He has promised, before 
 they call, I will answer, and lohilst they are 
 speaking, I will hear. Isa. Ixv. 24. Therefore 
 I say unto you, what things soever you desire 
 when ye pray, believe that you receive them, and 
 you shall have them. Mark, xi. 24. 
 
 He that converses much and is humbly confident 
 with God in prayer, shall certainly be heard ; and 
 these answers of prayer are undeniable evidences 
 of the truth, faithfulness, and love of God, and 
 greatly strengthen his faith, and at last bring him 
 to be intimately acquainted with him. The more 
 we receive, the more we are enlightened to see 
 how much there is still wanting. This stirs us up 
 to more frequent prayer, and to desire evermore ; 
 and the more we desire and believe that we shall 
 receive it, the more shall be granted. Unbelief 
 receives nothing. Matt. xiii. 68. But faith opens 
 all the treasures of God, and never goes away 
 empty. 
 
 Because on me they set their love, 
 
 I'll save them, saith the Lord : 
 I'll bear their joyful souls above 
 
 Destruction and the sword. 
 
 My grace shall answer when they calL 
 
 In trouble I'll be nigh : 
 My power shall help them when they faU> 
 
 And raise them when they die. 
 
OCTOBER 6. 287 
 
 If I yet pleased men-, I should not be the servant of 
 Christ. Gal. i. 10. Let every one of us please 
 his neighbour for his good edifcation. Rom, xv. 
 2. Fear or love of men and hypocrisy, very of- 
 ten are nearly allied. A man that flattereth his 
 neighbour, spreadeth a net for his feet. Prov. 
 xxix. 5. But he that rebuketh aman, afterwards 
 shall fnd more favour than he that fattereth with 
 the tongue. Chap, xxvii. 23. 
 We are ever inclined to extremes, even when 
 God has begun his work in our soul. At one time 
 we are apt to run into a false activity for the con- 
 version of others, trusting too much on our own 
 sufficiency and strength ; at other times, perhaps 
 we fall into too much remissness and inactivity for 
 the salvation of otheis. May the Lord, therefore, 
 always guide me to steer the middle course, so as 
 to walk in all singleness and humility of heart, as 
 well in true fervency of spirit, faith, and love, that 
 it may be said, I believe, therefore do I speak. 
 Grant, O my dear Saviour, that 1 may shine as a 
 light and be useful to all about me, never seeking 
 my oivn, but only the salvation and good of others, 
 with unfeigned love. O that thy love may con- 
 strain me in all things ! Amen. 
 My own glory still I seek. 
 
 Still I covet human praise ; 
 Still in all I do or speak, 
 
 Thee I wrong and rob thy grace. 
 And must that which is so good, 
 
 Evil prove to sinful me ? 
 Poison shall I draw from food ? 
 
 Sin from grace, and pride from thee 'L 
 O forbid it, humble love ! 
 
 Hide me, O my Father, hide, 
 Far away this snare remove. 
 Save me from the sin of pride. 
 
288 OCTOBER 7. 
 
 Whosoever is born of God, doth not commit sin. i 
 John, iii. 9. For this is the love of God, that ye 
 keep his commandments. 1 John, v. 3. But how 
 can that be possible, are we not weak men ? An- 
 swer. Would God require it from us if it was im- 
 possible ? Is it not farther said, And his command- 
 ments are not grievous. Now if they are grie- 
 vous to you, you are not born anew, consequent- 
 Jy not in faith, and therefore not strong in the 
 Lord. Eph. vi. 10. For uihatsoever is horn of 
 God-, overcomes the world, and this is the victory 
 that overcomes the world, even our faith. 1 John, 
 V. 3, 4. 
 
 Therefore, pray earnestly to God, for faith, read 
 diligently the word of God, avoid every sin, and 
 shun the occasion of it, and all that may be a hin- 
 drance of what is good. If you meet with difficul- 
 ties, faint not, but be instant ; and pray not only 
 mornings and evenings out of your prayer book, but 
 fall down also upon your knees at other times of 
 the day, and pray with your own words, from the 
 heart. And though you should not find directly the 
 desired effect, you must not give over, but go on, 
 and try again and again. By this method you will 
 succeed, and by none else ; this is carefully to be 
 observed. O Lord ! having prayed for nothing more 
 than for faith, all the days of my life, I trust thou 
 wilt not only grant, but keep it also to the end, and 
 carry me through all difficulties. Amen. 
 
 Till thou anew my soul create, 
 
 Still may I strive, and watch, and pray, 
 
 Humbly and confidently wait, 
 And long to see thy perfect day. 
 
OCTOBER 8. 28^ 
 
 He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall 
 be saved. Matt. xxiv. 13. Behold I come quick- 
 ly ; hold that fast which thou hast, that no man 
 take thy crown. Rev. ii. 11. Wherefore let him 
 that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall. 
 1 Cor. X. 12. 
 
 He that stands in faith, and by nature is of a 
 cheerful temper, must not magnify the measure of 
 his own faith, and undervalue that of weaker souls, 
 for fear of falling away. He who knows the nature 
 and power of temptations, will not discourage the 
 weak, nor insist too much upon particular enjoy- 
 ments and sensible assurance, which are not the 
 constant witness and marks of faith. The holy 
 Spirit himself is the earnest and seal of adoption, 
 who is to be known not only by this joy, but by all 
 his other fruits and operations. To trust too much 
 upon feeling, disturbs our peace, as soon as it is 
 gone ; but to rely on the word of God preserves a 
 settled assurance. 
 
 Jesus, shall I never be 
 Firmly grounded upon thee ? 
 Strong in faith I seem this hour, 
 Stript tiie next of all my power. 
 
 Plant, and root, and fix in me, 
 All the rnind that was in thee ; 
 Settled peace I then shall find 
 When I am renew'd in mind. 
 
 Grant that ev'ry moment I 
 May believe and feel thee nigh, 
 Stedfastly behold thy face, 
 'Stablish'd with abiding grace. 
 
 25 
 
290 OCTOBER 9. 
 
 If any man have not the Spirit of Christ (but 
 the spirit of this world) he is none of his, 
 Rom. viii. 9. See also, verses 7, 8, 14. 
 
 For not only gross wickedness, but even a carnal 
 mind and the friendship of this world is enmity 
 against God. Phil. iii. 18, 19. Jam. iv. 4. But 
 how do 1 know that I have the spirit of Christ ? 
 Answer. I have prayed for him earnestly : this 
 cannot be in vain. Luke, xi. 13. He works also 
 hatred and sorrow of sin, rebukes, comforts, and 
 drives me to Christ, and to prayers. This is his 
 abiding witness, built upon the word of God, which 
 no man of this world, but even the weakest believer 
 can have. 
 
 Holy, and true, and righteous Lord, 
 I wait to prove thy perfect will, 
 
 Be mindful of thy gracious word, 
 And stamp me with thy Spirit's seal. 
 
 The hatred of the carnal mind 
 Out of my flesh at once remove ; 
 
 Give me a tender heart, resign'd, 
 And pure, and full of faith and love. 
 
 Within me thy good Spirit place. 
 
 Spirit of health, and love, and power ; 
 
 And grant me such victorious grace, 
 That inbred sin may reign no more. 
 
 Purge me from every sinful blot, 
 
 My idols all be cast aside : 
 Cleanse me from every evil thought, 
 
 From all the filth of self, and pride. 
 
OCTOBER 10. 291 
 
 Whosoever hath^ to him shall be given, and he shall 
 have more abundance. Matt. xiii. 12. For, the wa- 
 ter that I shall give him, shall be in him a well of 
 water, springing up into everlasting life. John, 
 iv. 14. 
 
 Of the remarkable increase of the kingdom of 
 God, even from the least beginning, see also. Matt, 
 xiii. 31, 33; and that beautiful figure, Ezek. 
 xlvii. 1, 12. This well, therefore being once opened 
 to you, it is highly necessary to draw evermore the 
 living water out of it by prayers, since it runs freely 
 then. But if you begin to be slothful and distract- 
 ed, not abiding closely in Christ, by true watchful- 
 ness, as in the presence of God, your spirit \^ill 
 soon be dried up ; that afterwards you will hardly 
 be able with the most anxious groans, to draw as it 
 were one single drop out of the deep of this foun- 
 tain. O Lord ! grant that I may uninteruptedly re- 
 main in thee and in thy presence, and always live in 
 thy communion, as the fish in the water. 
 
 Cheerful I feast on heavenly fruit, 
 
 And drink the pleasures down, 
 Pleasures that flow hard by the foot 
 
 Of the eternal throne. 
 
 But ah ! how soon my joys decay, 
 
 How soon my sins arise, 
 And snatch the heavenly scene away 
 
 From these lamenting eyes ! 
 
 When shall the time, dear Jesus, when 
 
 The shining day appear, 
 That I shall leave those clouds of sin, 
 
 And guilt, and darkness here ? 
 
292 OCTOBER 11. 
 
 Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on 
 high ? Who humhleth himself to behold the things 
 that are in heaven and in the earth ? He ^aiseth up 
 the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of 
 the dunghill, Psal. cxiii. 6, 6, 7. He hath scat- 
 tered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, 
 (though outwardly they seem to be humble :) He 
 hath put down the mighty from their seats, (as he 
 did to him thatsaid, is not this great Babylon ?) and 
 exalted them of low degree. Luke, i. 54. Therefore 
 teek meekness, humbleness. Zeph. ii. 3. 
 
 All things in heaven, even the highest angels, 
 being so exceedingly humble before the majesty of 
 God, (Isa. vi.) how much more shall we be laid 
 low upon the earth, who still have so much sin ? 
 Even the most righteous have still some hidden cor- 
 ruption left in their hearts, which appears to them 
 more and more as they grow in grace. For though 
 we should not feel it always, we must not imagine 
 that there is none ; it lies concealed only, and is so 
 much more dangerous, as perhaps it may be a be- 
 ginning of presumption and backsliding. Therefore 
 take care and be not proud. For such as pretend 
 to have done with sin, are not of the right spirit. 
 
 Lo ! at thy feet with awful fear 
 
 The adoring armies fall ! 
 With joy they shrink to nothing there 
 
 Before the eternal All. 
 
 There I would lie with all the host, 
 
 In duty and in bliss : 
 While less than nothing I eould boMt, 
 
 And vanity confess. 
 
OCTOBER 12. 293 
 
 Through (vain) desire a man having separated 
 himself, seeJceth and intermeddleth with all 
 wisdom, Prov. xviii. 1. But the fruit of the 
 spirit is love, joy., peace, long-suffering, gen- 
 tleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance^ 
 ^c. Gal. V. 22. 23. 
 
 Bawling, judging and revelling does not become 
 a Christian. The Lord was not in the strong wind, 
 nor in the earthquake, nor in the fire, but in a still 
 small voice. 1 Kings, xix. 11, 12. He that takes 
 offence at every thing is still blind ; and who can 
 bear nothing, is but very weak. Such should re- 
 member that it is said, " Destroy it not," &.c. Isa. 
 Ixv. 8. Not only the grosser sort of divisions, but 
 also such well-meaning, particular separations and 
 alterations, as are imprudently made at improper 
 times and places, do a great deal of harm, and dis- 
 turb the general harmony and mutual confidence of 
 Christian brethren. For some religious exercises 
 are good in themselves, but brotherly love and 
 harmony is better still. The true Spirit of God is 
 no sectarian, makes no divisions, is far from boast- 
 ing, and uses no arts and cunning tricks. Thus 
 you may try the spirits. 
 
 Lo ! what an entertaining sight 
 
 Are brethren that agree, 
 Brethren whose cheerful hearts unite 
 
 In bands of piety. 
 
 When streams of love from Christ the spring 
 
 Descend to every soul. 
 And heavenly peace with balmy wing, 
 
 Shades and bedews the whole. 
 25^^ 
 
2»4 OCTOBER 15. 
 
 He that has pity upon the poor, lendeth unto 
 the LdOrd, and that vjhich he has given^ will 
 he pay him again. Prov. xix. 17. See also, 
 Acts, iv. 32, 35. 2 Cor. ix. 6, 15. 1 Tim. 
 yi. 6, 10, 19. 
 
 Who would not willingly give charity ? Faith 
 always expects and receives something for that pur- 
 pose from the treasure of God, who is rich enough 
 when we have nothing. God bestows his gifts upon 
 us, and gives us also the heart to bestow them 
 again upon others, consequently he rewards his own 
 gifts, which passed only through our hands, and 
 crowns his own works. Note, 1 Chron. xxix. 14, 16. 
 
 Blest is the man whose bowels move, 
 And melt with pity to the poor ; 
 
 Whose soul by sympathizing love 
 Feels what his fellow-saints endure. 
 
 His heart contrives for their relief 
 
 More good than his own hands can do ; 
 
 He in the time of general grief, 
 Shall find the Lord has bowels too. 
 
 His soul shall live secure on earth, 
 With secret blessings on his head, 
 
 When drought, and pestilence, and dearth 
 Around him multiply their dead. 
 
 Or if he languish on his couch, 
 
 God will pronounce his sins forgiven, 
 
 Will save him with a heahng touch, 
 Or tak« his soul to hoaven. 
 
OCTOBER 14. t95 
 
 Whosoever shall humble himself as this Utile 
 child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of 
 heaven. Matt, xviii. 4. For every one that 
 exaheth himself shall be abased; and he that 
 humbleth himself shall be exalted. Luke, xviii. 
 14. 
 
 If we had learned all things, yet we could never 
 be said to have learned humility enough. For 
 though we have once been thoroughly convinced, 
 that we deserve to be damned, nay the chief of 
 sinners, yet are we still in danger of being puffed 
 up. An humble mind does not know itself; he that 
 believeth himself to be humble enough, is very far 
 from really being so. Oh my dear Saviour ! give 
 me thy humble mind, to be willingly little and hum- 
 ble, so as never to delight in honour, since it does 
 not belong to me. 
 
 Show me, Father, what I am, 
 
 Show me what in Christ thou art ; 
 
 All my glory, all my shame : 
 
 Give me, Lord, an humble heart. 
 
 Listen to my cc?iseless cries, 
 
 Mean and little may I be, 
 Base and vile in my own eyes, 
 
 Griev'd at my own misery. 
 
 Show, and then my sickness cure ; 
 
 Make me know as I am known, 
 Wound my spirit, make me poor, 
 
 Break, O break this heart of stone. 
 
296 OCTOBER 15. 
 
 As the kartpanteth after the water -hroohs, so pant- 
 eth my soul after thee-, O God. My soul thirsteth 
 for God, for the living God. Psal. xlii. 2, 3. 
 Divine answer. Ho.-, every one that thirsteth, come 
 ye to the waters, and he that hath no money, come 
 ye, buy and eat ; yea, come, buy wine and 7nilk 
 without money and tcithout price. Hearken dili- 
 gently unto me, and eat ye that ichich is good, and 
 let your soul delight itself in fatness. Isa. Iv. 1 , 2. 
 
 There is a great difference between a legal and 
 a faint-hearted soul ; the former is puffed up with 
 self-righteousness, the latter humbly thirsts after 
 Christ's righteousness ; therefore he is not under 
 the law, but has grace already. It is only the 
 child or the hew man actually born, that can cry 
 and thirst. And though he cannot so fully believe 
 it, yet to have grace, is one thing, and to feel and 
 enjoy it, is another. Therefore let not the weak 
 be confounded, which is done very easily, the ene- 
 my himself contributing to it, as much as he can ; 
 but let it be declared even to the weakest, that they 
 are actually saved, as soon as ,they are earnestly 
 panting and willing to receive all without price. 
 Matt. V. 3. 
 
 Eternal Wisdom has prepar'd 
 
 A soul-reviving feast, 
 And bids our longing appetites 
 
 The rich provisions taste. 
 
 O ! glorious God, what can we pay, 
 
 For favours so divine ? 
 We would devote our hearts away, 
 
 To be for ever thine. 
 
OCTOBER 16. J97 
 
 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sor- 
 row in my heart daily. Psal. xiii. 2. God's an- 
 swer. Be careful for nothing ; but in every thing, 
 by prayer and supplication with thanksgivings let 
 your requests be made known unto God. Phil. iv. 6. 
 Commit thy icay unto the Lord ; trust also in him, 
 and he shall bring it to pass. Psal. xxxvii. 5. 
 Cast thy burden upon the Lord-, and he shall sus- 
 tain thee : He shall never suffer the righteous to 
 be moved. Psal. Iv. 22. For he has done wonder- 
 ful things; his counsels of old are faithfulness 
 and truth. Isa. xxv. 1,9. 
 
 This one word, " Be careful for nothing," is a 
 wall against a thousand troubles. But if we give 
 room to any care and unbelief, it is like a leaven 
 that spreads through all our actions. Therefore 
 we ought never to despair in our lawful calling, 
 but rely in all things on the good Providence and 
 faithfulness of God, firmly believing that he will 
 never fail to carry us through the most difficult and 
 intricate circumstances, though there should be 
 ever so little appearance for it in our own eyes. 
 He that can dash all worlds to death, 
 
 And make them when he please, 
 He speaks, and that Almighty breath 
 
 Fulfils his great decrees. 
 His very word or grace, is strong 
 As that which built the skies ; 
 The voice that rolls the stars along 
 
 Speaks all the promises. 
 He said, "Let the wide heaven be spread," 
 
 And heaven was stretch'd abroad ; 
 '< Abra'm, I'll be thy God," he said, 
 And h« was Abra'm's God. 
 
298 OCTOBER 17. 
 
 All our days are 'passed away in thy wrath : we append 
 our years as a tale that is told. Psal. xc. 9. But 
 they counted our life a pastime-, and our time here 
 a market for gain : for, say they, we must be get- 
 ting every way, though it be by evil means. All 
 those things are passed aivay like a shadoio, and 
 as a 2>ost that I^steth by, and as a ship thatpas- 
 seth over the waves of the ivater, which, when it 
 is gone by, the trace there f cannot be found, nei- 
 ther the pathway of the keel in the waves. Wisd. 
 XV. 12. Chap. V. 9, 11. 
 
 The whole life of many people is nothing else but 
 sporting, playing, dancing, and running for temporal 
 things, as in a fair. God strikes and visits them with 
 poverty, sickness, and national judgments. But who 
 knows and believes the power of his anger ? Consid- 
 er, O man ! the dreadful eternity, and make haste 
 to repent, that nothing worse may come upon thee. 
 No wonder that even the children of God are chas- 
 tised and deprived of their comfort, if they are dis- 
 tracted with many things. May the Lord keep me 
 always closely united to himself, and make me wise 
 and diligent in laying up something for eternity. 
 Can laughter feed the immortal mind ? 
 Were spirits of celestial kind 
 Made for a jest, for sport and play, 
 To wear out time and waste the day ? 
 Lord, raise our hearts and passions higher, 
 Touch our vain souls with sacred fire ; 
 Then, with an elevated eye, 
 We'll pass these glitt'ring trifles by. 
 We'll look on all the toys below, 
 With such disdain as angels do, 
 And wait the call that bids us rise 
 To promis'd mansions in the skies. 
 
OCTOBER 18. 299 
 
 We must, through much tribulation-, enter into the 
 kingdom of God. Acts, xiv. 22. Therefore, let 
 us run, with patience the race that is set before 
 us. Heb. xii. 1. Ye have not yet resisted unto 
 blood, striving against sin. Ver. 4. 
 
 How is it possible for any man to deny the striv- 
 ings against sin? For, 1. Here we are plainly 
 told, 2. What is spoke of the conflict between the 
 flesh and the spirit, Gal. v. 17. is the very same. 
 3. The most experienced Christians are witnesses 
 to it. 4. The word of God is said to be a sword, 
 our prayers are wrestling, and our faith the victo- 
 ry. Thus our whole race consists in strivings and 
 conquests. There is always an enemy to be con- 
 quered first, before we can make a considerable 
 progress in something that is good ; and none of our 
 enemies are very easily to be overcome, but some 
 are very stubborn. Therefore courage and pa- 
 tience are required ; and thus we may be sure to 
 have the victory at last. 
 
 Subdue thy passions, O my soul, 
 Maintain the fight, thy work pursue, 
 
 Daily thy rising sins control, 
 And be thy victories ever new. 
 
 The land of triumph lies on high, 
 There are no fields of battle there ; 
 
 Lord, I would conquer till I die, 
 And finish all the glorious war. 
 
 Let every flying hour confess 
 I gain thy gospel fresh renown : 
 
 And when my life and labours cease 
 May I possess the promis'd crown. 
 
300 OCTOBER 19. 
 
 We are justified freely by his grace, through the re- 
 demption that is in Jesus Christ : whom God has 
 set forth to he a propitiation through faith in his 
 bhod-, to declare his righteousness for the remis- 
 sion of sins that are past. Rom. iii. 24, 25, 
 How sweet are the words, " By grace, without 
 merits, ye are saved !" O, an inexhaustible fountain 
 of all comfort and divine strength ! O, how little 
 is the generality of vain and worldly people, who 
 still feed upon husks, acquainted with these words! 
 How little are they relished by our self-righteous, 
 moral Christians! But O how deliciously does a 
 poor, hungering sinner, fare upon them ! There 
 is hardly any thing less known and understood as 
 to the power and experience, than the mystery of 
 Christ's suffering and dying for us, and justifica- 
 tion by faith in him, though it is the only paradise 
 and element of believers, and the greatest jewel re- 
 stored by the reformation. Such talking and re- 
 presentations as strike the imagination are not suf- 
 ficient ; but we must also feel the mortal wounds 
 of sin, by which the flesh is mortified, and be actu- 
 ally healed by the stripes of Christ. 
 
 God, the great God that rules the skies. 
 
 The gracious and the just. 
 Makes his own Son a sacrifice, 
 
 And here lies all our trust. 
 Here rest my faith, and ne'er remove» 
 
 Here let repentance rise, 
 While I behold his bleeding love, 
 
 His dying agonies. 
 With shame and sorrow here I own, 
 
 How great my guilt has been ; 
 This is my way to approach the throne. 
 And God fbrfrive« mv sin. 
 
OCTOBER 20. SOI 
 
 We know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle 
 were dissolved we have a building of God, an house 
 not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 Cor. 
 V. 1 . For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that 
 he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth ; and 
 though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet 
 in myfleth shall I see God, &.c. Job, xix. 26, 26, 
 27. 
 
 The world, calls him a wise man, who knows 
 how to make ample provision and to lay up much 
 for his household. But this is foolishness, since he 
 does not know whether it will be a real blessing to 
 his posterity, or not. He is wise indeed, that lays 
 up treasures in heaven, and regulates all things, 
 even his domestic affairs, in such a manner, as to 
 reap the benefit of them hereafter. 
 
 happy soul that lives on high, 
 
 While men lie grovelling here! 
 His hopes are fix'd above the sky, 
 
 And faith forbids his fear. 
 
 He cannot let his Saviour go 
 
 To hold his riches fast ; 
 Or hunt for empty joys below. 
 
 And lose his heaven at last. 
 
 His pleasures rise from things unseen, 
 
 Beyond this world and time ; 
 Where neither eyes nor ears have been, 
 
 Nor thoughts of mortals climb. 
 
 He looks to heaven's eternal hills, 
 
 To meet that glorious day. 
 Dear Lord, how slow thy chariot wheel* ! 
 
 How long is thy delay. 
 
 2{i 
 
302 OCTOBER 21. 
 
 Where shall I find rest ? Answer. Thus saitk 
 the Lord, stand ye in the ways and see, and 
 ask for the old paths, where is the good way, 
 and walk therein, and you shall find rest for 
 your souls. Jer. \i. 16. See also, Matt. xi. 
 28, 29. 
 
 In our own ways there is nothing but trouble ; 
 but giving ourselves entirely up, to be guided of 
 God, at his own pleasure, we can always be easy, 
 since we know, that by every step, he brings us 
 nearer to heaven. The only way to rest, is the Avay 
 of repentance and faith, in which we look always 
 upon ourselves from the beginning to the end, not 
 only as uttterly lost and condemned, but also as per- 
 fectly reconciled, and justified malefactors in Christ. 
 Thus to abide in him, to let him work alone, and 
 be truly resigned to his ways, will certainly have 
 the desired effect, whilst by the righteousness and 
 workings of our hearts we can never attain to it, 
 and which is worse, be lulled into false rest. 
 
 Lord, I believe a rest remains 
 
 To all thy people known ; 
 A rest, where pure enjoyment reigns. 
 
 And thou art loved alone. 
 
 A rest, where all our soul's desire 
 
 Is fix'd on things above, 
 Where grief, and pain, and fear expire, 
 
 Cast out by perfect love. 
 
 O that I now this rest may know, 
 
 Believe and enter in ! 
 Now, Saviour, now thy power bestow, 
 
 And let me cease from sin. 
 
OCTOBER 22. 303 
 
 From whence can a man satisfy these men with 
 bread. Matt. viii. 4. Divine Answer. Take 
 no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, 
 or what ye shall drinJc ; nor yet, for your bo- 
 dy what ye shall put on. Yea, take no thought 
 for to-morrow (much less for many years.) 
 Matt. vi. 25, 34. Casting all your care upon 
 him: for he cares for you. 1 Pet. v. 7. 
 
 The Lord never wants means and ways to help 
 our necessities, though we do, and as long as we 
 take the care upon ourselves and trust upon things 
 foreseen, we cannot experience the paternal care, 
 and providence of God, and are without the least 
 grain of faith. For relying upon God for bread, is 
 the very least degree of faith, or as Luther observes, 
 The faith of little children : and if we cannot 
 trust him with our bellies, how can we trust him 
 with our souls and her spiritual and eternal con- 
 cerns ? Faith does every thing, he prays, works, 
 suffers, justifies, sanctifies, and makes us victorious> 
 content, and free from anxious cares. 
 
 Commit thou all thy grief 
 
 And ways unto his hands, 
 To his sure truth and tender care 
 
 Who earth and heaven commands. 
 
 Still heavy is thy heart ? 
 
 Still sink thy spirits down ? 
 Cast off the weight, let fear depart? 
 
 And every care be gone. 
 
 No profit canst thou gain 
 
 By self-consuming care*, 
 To him commend thy cause, his ea? 
 
 Attends the softest prayer. 
 
304 OCTOBER 23. 
 
 Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. PsaL 
 ii. 12. For, whosoever believeth on him shall not he 
 ashamed. Rom. x. 11. Blessed is the man that 
 walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly s nor 
 stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat 
 of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of 
 the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and 
 night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the 
 rivers of water that bring forth his fruit m his sea- 
 son ; his leaf also shall not wither, and whatso- 
 evA' he doth shall prosper. Psal. i. 1, 2. 
 
 O glorious promise ! there can be nothing above 
 the fear of God and the love of his word. Now, 
 O Lord, since thou hast worked in me a good will 
 and a delight m thy word, which is a true mark of 
 my new birth, and shows that I am no more under 
 the law, grant that I may also understand and do 
 thy will ; and that the old man may be mortified, 
 and the new strengthened evermore. 1 desire to 
 have this love of thy word daily increased in such a 
 manner, as never to be satiated with it. 
 
 Great God, mine eyes with pleasure, look 
 On the dear volume of thy book ; 
 There my Redeemer's face I see. 
 And read his name who died for me. 
 Let the false raptures of the mind 
 Be lost and vanish'd in the wind : 
 Here I can fix my hope secure, 
 This is thy word, and must endure. 
 God's kindest thouglits are here express'd. 
 Able to make us wise and bless'd ; 
 The doctrines are divinely true, 
 Fit for reproof and comfort too. 
 
OCTOBER 24. 305 
 
 tfihe Son should make you free, you should he 
 free indeed, John, viii. 36. Ye have been caU 
 led unto liberty, only use not liberty for an 
 occasion to the fiesh» Gal. v. 13. Rom. vi. 
 20—23, 
 
 Such as use an unhounded liberty, to do what 
 they please, are the greatest slaves of their own 
 passions ; nay, of Satan himself. But such as omit 
 only the gross and outward sins, are far from true 
 repentance, and fall into self-righteousness. The 
 greatest of all sins is the original sin, which is al- 
 ways before the eyes of true converts, and becomes 
 daily more abominable. This makes them groan 
 and pray evermore : O Lord, pardon mine iniqui- 
 ty, for it is great ; and that they abide in Christ 
 continually, who gives true liberty, not to commit, 
 but to overcome sin. 
 
 Shall we go on to sin, 
 
 Because thy grace abounds ; 
 
 Or crucify the Lord again. 
 And open all his wounds 1 
 
 Forbid it, mighty God ! 
 
 Nor let it e'er be said, 
 That we, whose sins are crucified. 
 
 Should raise them from the dead. 
 
 We shall be slaves no more, 
 Since Christ has made us free, 
 
 Has nail'd our tyrants to his cross, 
 And bought our liberty. 
 
 26* 
 
306 OCTOBER 25. 
 
 Whither shall I go from thy spirit '7 Or whi- 
 ther shall I flee from thy presence ? PsaL 
 cxxxix. 7. Answer. To Christ, who is my 
 never-failing refuge and rest. 
 
 For though my sins and the law are always ac- 
 cusing me, yet when I plead guilty, not only in 
 what I am accused of, but in all other things, and 
 look upon myself as justified and perfect in Christ, 
 I find true rest. But suffering a little self-right- 
 eousness, or some earthly desires to steal into my 
 heart again, my peace is presently disturbed. O 
 Lord, let my desires be only after thee, and grant 
 that I may always find rest. 
 
 Jesus, the spring of all my joys, 
 
 The life of my delights, 
 The glory of my brightest days, 
 
 And comfort of my nights. 
 
 In darkest shades if he appear, 
 
 My dawning is begun. 
 He is my soul's sweet morning star, 
 
 And he my rising sun. 
 
 The opening heavens around me shine 
 
 With beams of sacred bliss, 
 While Jesus shows his heart is mine, 
 
 And whispers / am his. 
 
 My soul would leave this heavy clay 
 
 At that transporting word. 
 Run up with joy the shining way 
 
 To embrace my dearest Lord. 
 
OCTOBER 2Ci. 307 
 
 Draw me, vje will run after thee. Solomon's 
 Song, i. 4. Divine answer. / loved thee with 
 an everlasting love; therefore with loving 
 kindness have I drawn thee. Jer. xxxi. 3. 
 
 Christ having promised to draw us all after him, 
 John, xii. 32. He actually loves and draws us 
 continually. If you do not feel it, it is your own 
 fault. Therefore, you must pray always to him to 
 make you sensible of the secret, tender drawings 
 of his love, and willing to follow them directly. 
 This praying always is very needful, because we 
 are always miserable; and without being instant 
 and earnest, we cannot receive much. Therefore, 
 it is not a hard command, but a great benefit and 
 privilege ; as if God should say, you are a poor 
 child, always wanting something, but you may al- 
 ways pray to me, and I will always hear, and as- 
 sist, and draw thee after me. 
 
 O draw me. Saviour after thee, 
 
 So shall I run and never tire : 
 With gracious words still comfort me, 
 
 Be theu my hope, my sole desire : 
 Free me from every weight ; nor fear, 
 Nor sin, can come if thou art here. 
 
 O that I, as a little child, 
 
 May follow thee, nor ever rest 
 Till sweetly thou hast pour'd thy mild 
 
 And lowly mind into my breast : 
 Nor ever may we parted be 
 Till I become one soul with thee. 
 
508 OCTOBER 27. 
 
 Finally-, my hretheren be strong in the Lord, and m 
 the power of his might. Eph. vi. 10. Be thou my 
 strong habitation-, whereunto I may continually^ 
 resort. Thou hast given commandment to save 
 me, for thou art my rock and my fortress. PsaU. 
 Ixxi. 2. See also, Psal. xxxi. 1, 6. For thou hasp 
 been a strengthfor the poor-, a strength to theneedy 
 in his distress, a refuge from the storm. Isa. xxv,. 
 4. Divine answer. There shall be a tabernacle 
 for the shadow in the day time from the heat, and 
 for a place of refuge-, and for a covert from storm 
 and from rain. Isa. iv. 6. See also, Zech. ii. 5. 
 
 This is to be understood of the wounds of 
 Christ ; therefore he says, " abide in me," which is 
 done, when we have always such a penitent feeling 
 of our sins, that thereby our hearts are evermore 
 broken, humbled, and made desirous and able of 
 being thoroughly healed by his stripes. Without 
 this, the knowledge of Christ antl his wounds, is to 
 no purpose : dead, and like the water poured upon 
 a hard stone. 
 
 Where shall I hide this guilty head ? 
 
 Can rocks or mountains save ? 
 Or shall I wrap me in the shade 
 
 Of midnight and the grave? 
 
 Is there no shelter from the eye 
 
 Of a revenging God ? 
 Jesus, to thy dear wounds I fly, 
 
 Bedew me with thy blood. 
 
 Those guardian drops my soul secure, 
 
 And wash away my sin ; 
 Eternal justice frowns no more, 
 
 And conscience smiles within. 
 
OCTOBER 28. 309 
 
 Ahraharriy against hope^ helieved in hope, Rom. 
 iv. 21. 
 
 O my soul! thou having not, like Abraham, only 
 one single but many thousand promises and pat- 
 terns of faithful believers before thee, it is fit that 
 thou shouldst strongly rely on the word in faith. 
 And though the Lord delayeth his help, and the 
 evil seemeth to grow worse and worse, be not weak, 
 but rather strong, and rejoice ; since the most glo- 
 rious promises of God are generally fulfilled in such 
 a wondrous manner, that he steps forth to save us 
 at a time when there is the least appearance of it, 
 nay, the contrary of it For in the greatest extremi- 
 ties, God is nearest with his help. And this meth- 
 od he chooses, that we may not trust upon any 
 thing that we see or feel, as we are always apt to 
 do, but only upon his bare word, which we can and 
 must only depend upon in the hour of death. 
 
 How large the promise ! how divine ! 
 
 To Ab'ram and his seed ; 
 I'll be a God to thee and thine, 
 
 Supplying all their need. 
 
 The words of this extensive love 
 
 From age to age endure, 
 The angel of the covenant proves 
 
 And seals tl>e blessing sure. 
 
 Our God! how faithful are his ways ! 
 
 His love endures the same, 
 Nor from the promise of his grace 
 
 Blots out the sinner's name. 
 
310 OCTOBER 29, 
 
 Immediately I confer rednot with flesh and hlood., 
 Gal. i. 16. For, the king^ s commandment was 
 urgent, much more the commandment of the 
 King of kings. Dan. iii. 22. Therefore, he 
 not slothful in business. Rom. xii. 11. 
 
 The speediest and easiest method to accomplish 
 our desire of overcoming the evil, and doing the 
 good, is an immediate cotnpliance with our first 
 convictions, without conferring with flesh and 
 blood. If we delay the work, we give room to 
 other people without, and to Satan, and to our 
 sinful hearts from within, to persuade us to the 
 contrary, by which the flesh can easily renew its 
 strength, and the spirit will be weakened. And 
 what will be the consequence of this, but that ei- 
 ther we miscarry in our design, or that the conflict 
 will be afterwards so much sharper, and the good 
 work, if not stifled, dropt entirely; yet it will not 
 be done so completely, and with such singleness of 
 heart, as should be.' But if we always narrowly 
 watch our hearts, and are faithfully engaged, di- 
 rectly, even with the least opposition, then our 
 enemies will not be so strong, and we shall hay^, 
 po reason to despair. 
 
 Jesus, mighty to renew^ 
 Work in me to will and do, 
 Turn my nature's rapid tide, 
 Stem the torrent of my pride. 
 
 Take away my darling sin, 
 Make me willing to be clean ; 
 Make me willing to receive 
 \yhat thy goodness waits to giye-i. 
 
OCTOBER 30. 311 
 
 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of 
 unrighteousness unto sin; but yield yourselves 
 unto God, as those that are alive from the dead ; 
 und your members as instruments of righteous- 
 ness unto God. Rom. vi. 13. 
 
 If God has my members as weapons and instru- 
 ments in his hands, I shall certainly be able not 
 only to work, but also to conquer, since he under- 
 stands full well how to manage them. May the 
 Lord only give me grace not to wind myself out of 
 his hands, else I must needs be like a dead, useless 
 carcass. For how can a pen write alone without 
 being in the hand of the writer ? It is true indeed, 
 that it is very hard, nay, impossible to be really 
 good, and do all that is good, if we undertake it 
 alone ; but God himself living and working in us, 
 and we truly delighting in him, it is very easy and 
 pleasant. Therefore care is only to be taken, that 
 our hearts may be always the working place, and 
 our members the instruments of God, in which and 
 through which he can perform every thing himself. 
 
 Now God I serve, to him alone 
 
 My thankful homage pay ; 
 My only Master, Christ, I own. 
 
 And him will I obey. 
 To him my members I present, 
 
 Which he will not refuse, 
 The meanest, basest instrument, 
 
 His glory deigns to use. 
 Servant of sin too long I was, 
 
 But Christ has set me free! 
 Glory to his victorious grace 
 
 Which freely ransomed me. 
 
312 OCTOBER 81. 
 
 Ask and it shall he given unto you Sic. for eve^ 
 ry one that asketh receivethj &tc. Luke, i. 
 9, 10. 
 
 It is not said, he shall receive, but he receives 
 directly- consequently praying and receiving is the 
 same thing ; every groan is an effectual grasp into 
 the tender heart and treasury of our loving Father 
 in heaven. Why should we then be slothful and 
 not rather pray without ceasing ? For though we 
 should be obliged to tarry, and are only instant in 
 prayer, we have no reason to think that we have 
 received nothing ; since even this being instant is a 
 new ffift and a hearing of our prayer ; for without 
 an addition of grace and strength, we would cer- 
 tainly not be so instant. 
 
 Rise my soul, with ardour rise, 
 Breathe thy wishes to the skies ; 
 Freely pour out all thy mind, 
 Seek, and thou art sure to find ; 
 Ready art thou to receive ; 
 Readier is thy God to give. 
 
 Heavenly Father, Lord of all, 
 Hear, and show thou hearest my call ; 
 Let my cries thy throne assail, 
 Entering now within the veil ; 
 Give the benefits I claim 
 Lord I ask in Jesus' name. 
 
NOVEMBER 1. 315 
 
 At the heginning of thy supplications the command- 
 ment came forth. Dan. IX. 23. Continuing in- 
 stant in prayer. Rom. xii. 12. 
 
 As soon as we begin to pray earnestly, the Lord 
 hears and signs our petitions to help and bless us ; 
 for every supplication is the pronouncing and seal- 
 ing of a blessing. It is true we do not always ob- 
 serve it immediately ; but in due time, we shall 
 certainly receive even a visible help. Therefore 
 let us only go on, and put as it were, one weight of 
 prayers after another upon the scales of the sanctu- 
 ary ; surely our greatest distress will at last be over- 
 balanced, and salvation brought down, if not by the 
 first, yet perhaps by the second, or the rest of our 
 prayers. But it is well to be observed that we must 
 also be watchful, and not act contrary to the intent 
 of our prayers, which might provoke the Lord to 
 disannul the signing of his^a^ (grant) again, or at 
 least to delay his help. But when he tarries long, 
 it is not his intention to give us a denial, but rather 
 make us more desirous and earnest that he may be- 
 stow so much more upon us afterwards ; for this de- 
 lay he will certainly well recompense, and grant us 
 abundantly above all that we could ask or think. 
 
 Lord, I will not let thee go, 
 Till the blessing thou bestow, 
 Hear my advocate divine ; 
 Lo ! to his my suit I join : 
 Joined to his it cannot fail, 
 Bless me, for I will prevail ! 
 
 27 
 
514 NOVEMBER 2. 
 
 When the woman saw thatihe tree was gootlforfoodi 
 and that it teas pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to 
 he desired to make one wise ; she took of the fruit 
 thereof and did eat, and gave also unto her hus- 
 band with her, and he did eat, Gen. iii. 6. Every 
 man is temjyted, when he is drawn away of his own 
 lust, and enticed. Then when lust has conceived, 
 it brings forth sin, &c. James, i. 14, 16. 
 Thus one sin always begets another. By the 
 «yes it rushes into the heart, from the heart it pro- 
 ceeds into the mouth, hands, and feet ; from us it is 
 transferred upon others ; and thus we go on sinninjj 
 and falling deeper and deeper. Therefore we must 
 set a strict guard over our eyes and ears, be very 
 cautious and resist the least beginnings of sin, not 
 making light of any ; for the least spark of worldly 
 lust being entertained and cherished, we eat of the 
 forbidden tree standing every where before us, and 
 thereby a great fire may be kindled. But having 
 always our eyes fixed in all our conversation upon 
 the presence of God in Christ, so as to walk contin* 
 ually in the light, and directly to quell the least in- 
 ward motion of evil, they will never break forth into 
 gross outward sins, but we shall daily grow in grace. 
 May the I^ord enable me to practise this good les- 
 son, and watch himself continually over my heart, 
 eyes, lips, and all other senses and thoughts. 
 With my whole heart I seek thy face, 
 
 O let me never stray 
 From thy commands, O God of grace, 
 
 Nor tread the sinner's way. 
 Thy word I hide within my heart, 
 
 To keep my conscience clean, 
 And be an everlasting guard 
 From every rising sin. 
 
NOVEMBER 3. 315 
 
 The preaching of the cross is to ms, which are 
 saved, the power of God^ 1 Cor. i. 18. 
 
 O that I might always feed upon, and experience 
 its power till I have obtained a complete victory. 
 Whosoever was bit by the fiery serpent, and looked 
 upon the brazen serpent, lived. Numbers, xxi. 9., 
 Thus always to look upon Christ crucified, is the 
 one thing needful, fi-om which all other blessings 
 flow. John, iii. 14, 15. O Lord, grant that the 
 eyes of my faith may be immoveably fixed on me, 
 and on thee, upon the cross, so as to be entirely 
 healed at last ; for as long as I live I feel the biting 
 of the old serpent, therefore must I also look upor\ 
 thee continually. 
 
 So did the Hebrew prophet raise 
 
 The brazen serpent high ; 
 The wounded felt immediate ease,. 
 
 The camp forbore to die. 
 
 Look upward in the dying hour 
 
 And live, the prophet cries ; 
 But Christ performs a nobler cure 
 
 When faith lifts up her eyes. 
 
 High on the cross the Saviour hung* 
 High on the heavens he reigns: 
 
 Here sinners, by the old serpent stung>. 
 Look, and forget their pains. 
 
 When God's own Son is lifted up, 
 
 A dying world revives ; 
 The Jew beholds the glorious hope*. 
 
 The expiring Gentile lives. 
 
316 NOVEMBER 4. 
 
 The law is not made for a righteous man, to 
 condemn him. 1 Tim. i. 9. 
 
 For he being dead to the law, by the death of 
 Christ, and living to God in eternal righteousness, 
 innocence, life, and happiness ; the law c;in condemn 
 him no more tiian a dead man, or one that llveth 
 in heaven already, nay, Christ himself; for it con- 
 demns only the sin, but he is in Christ without sin, 
 since he has him who has taken away the sins of 
 the whole world, and consequently his sins also. 
 But the sin being abolished, the wrath and curse of 
 the law is also removed, and grace and blessing re- 
 stored in its place. Christ has taken all sins upon 
 himself, and imparted his own perfect obedience to 
 the law to him ; therefi)re, in Christ, he has fully 
 satisfied all the demands of the law, and can be 
 entirely free from its dreadful denunciations in his 
 conscience ; the blood of Christ cleansing us from 
 all sins, and consequently from an evil conscience. 
 Heb. ix. 9, 14. Chap. x. 22. Being sprinkled and 
 covered with his blood and golden robes of grace, 
 the Lord is perfectly pleased, and does not find fault 
 with us any more. It makes intercession for us 
 with God, crying continually, as Luther observes, 
 Abba, abba, mercy mercy , peace, peace, and obtains 
 grace, pardon, life and salvation. 
 
 Blood has a voice to pierce the skies, 
 Revenge, the blood of Abel cries : 
 But the dear stream when Christ was slain 
 Speaks peace as loud from every vein. 
 
 Pardon and peace from God on high, 
 Behold he lays his vengeance by ; 
 And rebels that deserve his sword 
 Kecome t.li« fav'ritcs of the Lord. 
 
NOVEMBER 5. 317 
 
 The man will not he in rest, until he has finished 
 the thing this day. Ruth, iij. 18. 
 
 This we may say with more reason and propriety 
 of Christ, the Author and Finisher of faith. O my 
 soul, keep close to him, he will surely finish his 
 work in thy heart. But be thou not at rest neither, 
 but abiding, through faith, in Christ ; follow holi- 
 ness constantly, and press toward the mark ever-, 
 more, crying always, " The very God of peace 
 sanctify us wholly," &c. 1 TAe^y.'v. 23, 24. That 
 thou mayest also finish thy day's work here in this 
 present life, and receive thy full lot and inheritance 
 hereafter. Now, O Lord, grant that by thy own 
 planting and care I may have plenty of fruits and be 
 thoroughly prepared for mine inheritance. John, 
 XV. 16. Let me cease from working in my own 
 strength, and keep me always from running impru- 
 dently into unnecessary sufferings ; but whatever 
 measure of work and sufferings thou hast thought 
 proper to ordain for me, grant that I may cheerfully 
 take it upon me, and never rest until it is finished. 
 
 Then let my soul march boldly on. 
 Press forward to the heavenly gate, 
 
 There peace and joy eternal reign, 
 
 And glittering robes for conquerors wait. 
 
 Oh ! like the sun, may I fulfil, 
 The appointed duties of my life. 
 
 With ready mind and active will **:■ 
 
 March on and finish all my strife. 
 
 There shall I wear a starry crown. 
 And triumph in Almighty grace. 
 
 While all the armies of the skies 
 Join in my glorious Leader's praise. 
 27* 
 
318 NOVEMBER 6. 
 
 Let your conversation he without covetousness, and he 
 content with such things as ye have. Heb. xiii. 5. 
 For they that will be rich fall into temptation, and 
 a snare, and info many foolish and hurtful lusts 
 which drown men in perdition and destruction ; for 
 the love of money is the root of all evil, &.c. 1 Tim. 
 vi. i>, 10. 
 
 A covetous man is called an idolator, and has no 
 part in the kingdom of God ; hut who. believes that 
 he is covetous ? Now here you see that every one 
 is actually covetous, who is not content with what 
 he has. And what says the apostle of such as will 
 be rich ? They fall. Not only, it was possible for 
 them to fall : no, they actually fall. O reader ! 
 be frightened, destroy the covetous desires of thy 
 heart, and keep it disentangled from temporal 
 things ; for who knows how soon you must go out 
 of this world and leave every thing behind '^ Away 
 fiom it with thy heart, else death will be very hard. 
 The Christian's motto is, God A^'D Enough ; for 
 he that has God, is content, and consequently al- 
 ways rich enough, even in poverty. And that must 
 be a covetous man indeed, who has not enough, 
 having God. O Lord, make me so free by faith 
 from the love of earthly things, that I may equally 
 praise thee, whether thou be pleased to give me 
 something or take it away from me ; and that I 
 may never covetously refuse that to others or to 
 myself, what thou hast given and should be be- 
 stowed upon us. 
 
 The rich young man whom Jesus loved> 
 
 Should warn us to forbear : 
 His love of earthly treasure*, proreel 
 
 A fataK fl^oldeti tnare, 
 
NOVEMBER 7. 319 
 
 The soul of the diligent shall be made fat, Prov. 
 xiii. 4. 
 
 You are conoerned for having no more grace. 
 What is the reason ? Because you are indolent, 
 careless, and unfaithful. And though you have no 
 warrant even for an hour to live, yet unreasonably 
 you suppose to have time enough, therefore you are 
 not serious, diligent, and fervent every hour in pray- 
 ing for sufficient strength, to be always prepared 
 and have bohhiess in death. No wonder, if you do 
 not immediately resist sin, that it grows strong, and 
 you are always weak atul discouraged. And how 
 can you expect to receive more grace, if you do not 
 faithfully improve what little yf»u have^ If you 
 would but diligently and faithfully apply yourself 
 to the word and prayer, God would certainly not 
 be wanting on his part to fulfil his promises and 
 give you enough ; but not otherwise. For it is 
 well to be observed, and we must know it once for 
 all, that there is no such a thing as making any 
 progress in grace and carrying our point, unless we 
 are hourly mindful of ourselves, watching and 
 praying against all sins, and whatever may be a 
 hindrance on one hand ; and following with all dili- 
 gence that which is good, and what may be a fur- 
 therance on the other. It is not enough to use- 
 some, but we must use all diligence, and according- 
 as our sfrace is increased, our diligence must in'* 
 crease also ; since it goes against the stream. 
 
 Right to resist the sinful power, 
 
 Requires a strong restraint ; 
 We must be watchful every hour, 
 
 And pray, but never faint. 
 
320 NOVEMBER 8. 
 
 In loxdiness of mind let each esteeem others better 
 than themselves. Phil. ii. 3. Bear you one ano- 
 ther's burdens-, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 
 For if a man think himself to be something, &c. 
 But let every man prove his own tvork, and then 
 shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not 
 in another. Gal. vi. 2, 3, 4. 
 
 If we were truly humble, and looked upon our- 
 selves as the most miserable of all, we would wil- 
 lingly submit to all adversities, and patiently bear 
 the burdens and infirmities of others, considering, 
 that God must bear with us a great deal more. 
 Observing therefore, the fiiults of our neighbour, 
 we must Qot forget our own. Perhaps in other 
 things we are weaker than he. This must restrain 
 us from judging rashly, or speaking unadvisedly to 
 others ; but first w^e should speak to God about it, 
 and then try with gentle means to bring him to 
 rights again. Nay, the best method is to consider 
 our neighbour on the good, and ourselves on the 
 bad side, and see whether we can excuse him, and 
 accuse ourselves. And if his fault could not be 
 excused in any manner, we must not ^uflfer hirn to 
 stir up our corruption, but come in with prayer 
 between God and him, to plead his cause before 
 his throne in heaity love. This requires more than 
 censorious judging. It is very easy to find fault 
 with others, but to show love and restore them by 
 prayer and brotherly correction, is quite another 
 thing. 
 
 Blest are the souls who stand afar 
 From rage and passion, noise and war ; 
 God will secure their happy state, 
 And plead their cause against the great. 
 
NOVEMBER 9. . 321 
 
 TAoM openest thy hand, and satisfieth the desire 
 of every living thing, Psal. cxlv. 16. 
 
 Who considers these words enough ? The hand 
 of God being my capital cellar and store-house, is 
 it not a shame to be atixiously careful for any thing ? 
 Has the Lord all things in his hand ? Then surely 
 I shall receive what he has for me ; none will be 
 able to withold it. Faith has always a free access 
 to the treasures of God, who is never wanting. 
 " Christians as (Luther observes) have their chests, 
 cellar, and treasures in such a high place, even in 
 God, that no thief can rob them, and they are sure 
 to have enough in God. And though the Lord 
 should try them with want a little while, yet he re- 
 lieves them in due time, their bread must rain from 
 heaven, rather than that they should be left with- 
 out. You need not, says Christ, seek these other 
 things, straight they shall be brought to you, if you 
 only abide in me. If this does not comfort and 
 strengthen us, nothing else will. Now many reljr 
 on their full pockets and purses, but if they had true 
 faith it would be equally the same, whether they 
 had it in their fists and trunks already, or not ; it 
 would be enough, that they believed, and had it in 
 God's hand, purse, and chest. It is all one to be- 
 lievers, full purses or none. If the Lord is pleased 
 to bestow some provision upon him, he blesses him 
 for it, and is careful to apply it well. But if he 
 thinks proper to deny it him, he is equally content 
 and cheerful." 
 
 The Lord is good, the Lord is kind ; 
 
 Great is his grace, his mercy sure ; 
 And the whole race of man shall find 
 
 Hh truth from ag^e to age endure. 
 
322 NOVEMBER 10. 
 
 Every man has his proper gift of God. 1 Cor. 
 vii. 7. 
 
 Therefore what God withholds from us, namely, 
 sensible joy, or other particular gifts, to do some- 
 thing extraordinary for his glory, cannot be extort- 
 ed from him by force. Neither does he require it of 
 us, since it is his own gift, which he freely bestows 
 upon whom and when he pleases. Be ye only faith- 
 ful in what you have, and what you are command- 
 ed to do. Especially avoid sin (which above all 
 things disturbs our peace) and keep close to the 
 word of God and to prayer ; for this is thy own, 
 what God requires of thee. And if you do your part, 
 God will do his part also, he will quicken thee and 
 grant thee all, when it is most needful, and you 
 have learned how to use it right. O Lord, suffer 
 me never to go beyond the bounds of my own meas- 
 ure, that I may undertake nothing without thy 
 grace and call, and neglect that which I am called 
 to Show me always my own gift and proper work 
 which 1 am ordered to perform. Let me never be 
 drawn away, even in seemingly good things, by my 
 own will, that I may not run before thee, but listen 
 always at thy command, and thus be ever ready at 
 thy service according to thy own will. Grant, O 
 Lord, that I may be entirely resigned to thy good 
 pleasure, and be faithful in all things, as it becomes 
 one, that is thy whole sacrifice and property. Amen., 
 
 Behold the potter and the clay. 
 He forms the vessel as he please ; 
 
 Such is our God, and such are we, 
 The subjects of his high decree3^ 
 
November ii. 323 
 
 He, the Lord, will beautify the meek (poor) tvith 
 salvation, Psal. cxlix. 4. And if ye suffer for 
 righteouness* sake, happy are ye. 1 Pet. iii. 
 4. Psal. X. 17. xxii. 26. xxxvii. 11. xlviii* 
 10. Isa.liv. 11. 
 
 All this is for the humble and poor in spirit. 
 How does this agree ? Poor, and yet blessed ? O 
 yes, poor in ourselves, but blessed and glorious irt 
 Christ. If we never experience his glory, the rea- 
 son is^ we are not truly sensible of our misery; 
 but when we are come quite low, let us confidently 
 lay hold on Christ, and we shall be blessed ; for all 
 is ours. We may say, O Lord, if thou art a glori- 
 ous help to the needy, lo ! here is want and misery 
 enough ; therefore 1 come with all ray want and 
 poverty to the fulness of thy grace and riches, 
 with my darkness to thy light, with my death to 
 thy life. Grant that all my evils may be swallow* 
 ed up by thy goodness and glorious deliverance, 
 Mine innumerable wants I set before thee as so 
 many empty vessels, and desire to have them filled 
 with thy spiritual and heavenly blessings. 
 
 might I hear thy heavenly tongue 
 But whisper, '< Thou art mine I" 
 
 Those gentle words should raise my song 
 To notes almost divine. 
 
 How would my leaping heart rejoice, 
 And think my heaven secure i 
 
 1 trust the all-creating voice, 
 
 And faith desires no more. 
 
324 NOVEMBER 12. 
 
 Be renewed in the spirit of your mind. Eph, 
 iv. 23. 
 
 O Lord, grant that I may daily and hourly re- 
 pent, have evermore a tender feeling of my sins 
 and so renew my baptismal covenant, that by the 
 power of thy death, the old man may be crucified, 
 and by the power of thy resurrection the new man 
 may rise up and grow more and more every morn- 
 ing. Let me ever be in true earnest, and look upon 
 every day as the very first and the very last, that 
 with each I may, as it were, begin anew to work 
 out my salvation with fear and trembling, and so 
 be always prepared for death and eternity. Give 
 me grace to surmount all diflficulties, and to avoid 
 every thing which may prove a torment of con- 
 science in the hour of death. And as there is no 
 standing still, I humbly beseech thee to stir me up 
 daily and hourly, more and more, that I may make 
 all haste and save my soul. 
 
 Lord, I am vile, conceived in sin, 
 And born unholy and unclean ; 
 Sprung fiom the man whose guilty fall 
 Corrupts our race and taints us all. 
 
 Soon as we draw our infant breath 
 The seeds of sin grow up for death : 
 The law demands a perfect heart ; 
 But we're defiled in every part. 
 
 Great God, create my heart anew, 
 And form my spirit pure and true ; 
 O make me wise betimes to spy 
 My danger and my remedy. 
 
NOVEMBER 13. 325 
 
 He has dispersed, he has given to the poor ; his 
 righteousness endures for ever. Psal. cxii. 9, In 
 the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening 
 withhold not thine hand. Eccles. xi. 6. 
 
 Those that lay up treasures on earth suffer noth- 
 ing to He long useless, but lend it out as fast as they 
 can ; and such as desire to reap soon and plentiful- 
 ly, are careful to sow soon and plentifully. There- 
 fore lend and sow ye also in good time, for there 
 may be times when you cannot show charity, or at 
 least not so largely. Luther, on this passage, says, 
 '* We must not pretend to pay the debt of charity 
 with some poor mites and pences. If you will give 
 something, give bountifully ; take your hands full 
 as if you were sowing, like the poor widow with 
 her two mites, which she sowed out freely, though 
 it was her whole substance. But the rich ones 
 were not liberal, but covetously offered only what 
 they could spare very well. It is not said, we should 
 sow, and consequently take hands full ; for God, 
 loving a cheerful giver, will in his turn, dispense 
 again bountifully with you, that ye shall have all 
 sufficiency in all things, to every good work. (But 
 God dispensing so bountifully with you, why 
 should you then grudge him any thing, or make 
 only such poor returns ?) For what we do to our 
 neighbour, is the same as if it were done to God 
 himself." 
 
 Awake, my charity, and feed 
 
 The hungry soul, and clothe the poor ; 
 
 In heaven are found no sons of need, 
 There all these duties are no more. 
 
326 NOVEMBER 14. 
 
 He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities. PsaL 
 cxxx. 8. Othe hojye of Israel, the Saviour thereof 
 ill time of trouble. Jer. xiv. 8. In lorath remem- 
 ber mercy Habak. iii. 2. 
 
 Despair not O my soul, in any tribulation or con- 
 flict, as if it were impossible to overcome it. The 
 all-hoaling word of God, contains advice and com- 
 fort for all cases. The Lord being thy helper in all 
 adversities, and able to turn the sharpest afflictions 
 into the greatest blessings, he would never sn.ite, 
 or withhold something from thee, if he was not 
 willing also to heal, and give thee something bet- 
 ter in its place. O Lord- I trust that thou wilt 
 carry me through all difficulties. Tltough my 
 misery and weakness were ever so great, yet there 
 is nothing too great for thee, it is all one to thee, 
 to help in great and little distresses ; nay, the 
 more I am surrounded with grief and weakness, 
 the more wilt thou pity, spare, and nourish me, as 
 a tender mother does the least of all her children, 
 and the more there wiil be occasion for thee to 
 show thy miglity salvation ; for the least is impos- 
 sible to me, but the greatest and most difficult 
 things, are possible and very easy to thee. The 
 sharper and longer my distress and conflicts have 
 been, the nearer, greater, and sweeter, 1 trust, will 
 also be my victory and salvation, and I shall not be 
 tempted above measure. Yes, the Lord will as- 
 sist me to conquer all, even the most stubborn en- 
 emies. 
 
 There's full redemption at his throne, 
 
 For sinners long enslaved ; 
 The great Redeemer is his Son, 
 
 And Israel shall be saved. 
 
NOVEMBER 16. 327 
 
 There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Is- 
 rael; thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until 
 you take arc ay the accursed thing from among you. 
 Josliua, vii. 13. See also, 2 Pet. i. 4. Having escap- 
 ed the corruption that is in the woi'ld through lust. 
 
 The entertaining of every worldly lust, and in- 
 clulgence of any known, wilful sin, is such an ac- 
 cursed thing, by which we are deprived of the pow- 
 er of God, that we cannot stand before our ene- 
 mies. Behold therefore the severity of God, {Joshua 
 vii. 21, 26.) and be more earnest. Make all haste 
 to flee from the lust of the world, especially from 
 the lust of the eye, which is the love of money. It 
 being impossible to receive any grace and strength 
 until the accursed thing be taken away, what 
 more needful than to break off even \he most subtle 
 and specious bonds of unrighteousness. Unless 
 all splinters of the unjust Mammon be taken out, 
 the wound cannot be healed up. Nay, examine 
 thyself closely in other things, and whatever sin- 
 ful lust harlxnjrs in thy breast, be faithful to put it 
 off and flee from it, else you must not wonder at 
 your being so weak in spirit. He that does not 
 resist the sinful motion of his heart, will also very 
 easily give a loose to his hands and tongue. But he 
 that immediately subdues the inward corruption, 
 will certainly be preserved from their breaking 
 out in sinful actions. O Lord, deliver me from all 
 accursed things, and keep ray heart always under 
 thy closest inspection and discipline. Amen. 
 
 Why should ray passions mix with earth, 
 And thus debase my heavenly birth, 
 Why should I cleave to things below, 
 Ajad let my God, my Saviour go. 
 
328 NOVEMBER 16. 
 
 It is done as thou hast commanded. Luke xiv. 22. 
 Ihave finished the work thou gavest me to do. John 
 xvii. 4 . By once offering he has perfected for ever 
 them that are sanctified. Heb. x. 14. 
 
 We must do to-day all that is possible. The day 
 that is to come has its own work again, and is very 
 uncertain. Especially we must not defer it one hour, 
 to repent and get a true interest in the salvation of 
 Christ. O may the Lord give me such an assurance, 
 that I may always be able, even in the hour of 
 death, to look upon myself as one that is perfect 
 by his offering. 
 
 And is this life prolonged to me ? 
 
 Are days and seasons given ? 
 Shall 1 not then prepare to be 
 
 A fitter heir for heaven ? 
 
 I'll never let these moments pass, 
 These golden hours be gone : 
 
 Lord, I accept thy offered grace, 
 I bow before thy throne. 
 
 Now cleanse my soul from every sin 
 
 By my Redeemer's blood ; 
 Now let my flesh and heart begin 
 
 The honours of my God. 
 
 Let me no more my soul defile 
 
 With sin's deceitful toys : 
 Let cheerful hope, increasing still, 
 
 Approach to heavenly joys, 
 
NOVEMBER 17. 329 
 
 Shall there be an evil in the city, and the Lord has not 
 done it ? Amos, iii. 6. And in very deedfor thi9 
 cause, have I raised thee (Pharaoh) up. Exod. ix. 
 16. For all things come from God. Sirach, xi. 14. 
 
 A " Christian has a great deal to siiffi^r, but he is so 
 feacless, sure, and content, as if he were possessor of 
 all the goods in the world ; and if every thing should 
 be taken from him he comforts himself with God, 
 who cannot be taken frojn him, and who can always 
 make as much again, and more, ns there is in the 
 whole world. Whether he be rich or poor, praised 
 or blamed, is all the same to him, for he knows that 
 every thing comes from God. Therefore every one 
 in his greatest distress must know, that it is the 
 Loid who ordered it, when death and devils rise up 
 against him, for thus saitli the Lord : This devil 
 have I in my hand, his wicked will and desires are 
 in my power, to control them as I please. Thou 
 art my poor worm, and hast kept my word ; but 
 when i call the devil to tear thee to pieces, he is 
 swelled with pride and anger, desiring to devour 
 thee all at once, and thou art discouraged and 
 frightened ; but when thou risest up again upon 
 the wings of thy fijth, God is above death, devils, 
 sin, and hell, that all these enemies cannot even hurt 
 only one of thy hairs. For who can attack and de- 
 stroy the good allies of God, the children of his 
 covenant, who are carried in his womb ; nay, the 
 very apple of his eye."" These, are Luther's words. 
 
 He brought the Spirit's powerful sword 
 
 To slay our deadly foes : 
 Our sins shall die beneath his word, 
 
 And hell in vain oppose. 
 28* 
 
330 NOVEMBER 18. 
 
 Follow me. Luke, v. 27. And, he not led by thy ovm 
 will. Sirach, xviii. 30. And endure hardness as a 
 good soldier of Christ. 2 Tim. ii. 3. 
 He that breaks his own will in every thing, and 
 resolutely resists his natural reluctance to prayer, 
 loves humility, and every good work, shows more 
 power than another who can do it with more ease. 
 With this faithfulness the Lord is so well pleased, 
 that he rewards it at last, and gives us grace to do 
 it also with a willing heart ; but we must first be 
 made truly sensible of the deep corruption of our 
 hearts, that then we may use the more violence in 
 prayer. And if we are but going on in this conflict, 
 the delays of God are soon made up with so much 
 greater deliverance. But if we pray only, and do 
 not quickly resist the propensity of our own heart 
 in all things, there will never be such a thing as 
 making any progress at all, since the stubborness 
 of our flesh recjuires it, that prayer and conflict must 
 always go hand in hand. Only it is to be observed, 
 that all this must be done in faith. Now, O Lord, 
 grant that I may quickly take all thy hints. Thou 
 art a faithful God, indeed, thou callest, vvarnest, 
 and movest me often enough ; O that I was faith- 
 ful also, punctually and immediately to follow thee 
 in all things, should it be ever so much against the 
 inclination of my heart at first. May 1 never, 
 throuvih unbelief, unfaithfulness, confusion, self- 
 will, and overdoings, bring any affliction upon me, 
 and hurt myself, not so much as in body, much less 
 in soul. 
 
 My dearest Saviour and my guide, 
 
 I would be walking at thy side ; 
 
 O never let me run astray, 
 
 Nor follow the forbidden way. 
 
NOVEMBER 19. 331 
 
 The Lord is not far from every one of us; for in 
 him we live, move, and have our being. Acts, 
 xvii. 27, 28. Even the very hairs of our heads 
 are all numbered. Luke, xii. 7. 
 
 O the close, and more than maternal care ! Nothing 
 is so mean, but it is under the providence of God, 
 since even the least things can neither hurt nor profit 
 the soul. And how sweet it is to observe his foot- 
 steps even in the minutest things, and to be satisfied 
 that we may trust our greater and lesser concerns 
 to his care 1 O Lord, grant that I may never swerve 
 from, nor do any thing without thee ; but that my 
 going in and going out may be always done in thy 
 presence, as if I had to do with none but thee ; nay, 
 as if we both lived alone together in the world. O 
 that I could transact, as it were, all my aflfairs with 
 thee alone, and in ail places look upon thee as if thou 
 wast only a God for me. Let me always carefully 
 observe all the inward and outward testimonies of 
 thy providence, so as daily and hourly to have a true 
 sense of thy gracious presence in every thing more 
 or less important ; thereby to be ever strengthened 
 in faith, and kept in a composed state of mind, con- 
 sidering that nothing happens by mere chance, but 
 every thing is wisely ordered by thy providential care 
 to our good : firmly believing, if any thing goes con- 
 trary to expectation, that something better will fol- 
 low in its stead if we can only be quiet and wait the 
 time. 
 
 God, that must stoop to view the skies, 
 And bow to see what angels do, 
 
 Down to our earth he casts his eyes, 
 And bends his footsteps downward too. 
 
532 NOVEMBER 20. 
 
 Cleave to'that ivhich is good, Rom. xiii. 9. Seek 
 those things which are above. Col. iii. 1. 
 
 The manners of such things or persons as we fre- 
 quently converse with, cleave very easily to us. If 
 we con verse much with God and heavenly things, we 
 shall be heavenly minded : but if we deal much with 
 the world and temporal things, we must be sensual 
 and worldly-minded. Up, therefore, with thy heart 
 to God. Lift it hourly up to him ; and though it 
 sinks down often to the earth again, yet the Lord 
 has patience, and will as often receive and accept of 
 it again. Therefore raise it up continually and take 
 great care to keep it above, that it may not sink down 
 and be defiled and cloyed with worldly things again. 
 Thus it will be easy, whilst on the contrary it is a 
 hard matter to abide in a spiritual frame, like a fea- 
 ther which easily rises higher and higher when kept 
 above ground, but moves very heavy upwards, when 
 once fallen into the dirt. This you may take as a 
 lively figure of an easy and heavy method in the prac- 
 tice of religion. Choose, now, which you please. 
 O ! that I may always choose the best ; namely, the 
 work and sufferings of the Lord, and never plunge 
 myself into needless troubles and conflicts. 
 
 Descend from heaven, immortal Dove, 
 Stoop down and take us on thy wings, 
 
 And mount and bear us far above 
 The reach of these inferior things. 
 
 Beyond, beyond this lower sky, 
 
 Up where eternal ages roll, 
 Where solid pleasures never die, 
 
 And fruits immortal feasts the soul. 
 
NOVEMBER 21. 333 
 
 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in 
 peace, &lc. Luke, ii. 29, 30. Say to them 
 that are of a fearful heart, he strong, kc. 
 Isa. XXXV. 3, 4. 
 
 Not the weak faith of a fearful, trembling;, and 
 tempted believer, but the wilful unbelief only, is 
 damnable. If I do not reject the ransom of Christ 
 my surety, but am desirous to accept of it by faith, 
 it is as impossible that God can reject me, as it is im- 
 possible for him to reject my surety, and his own 
 decree and eternal counsel of love : which can ne- 
 ver be. O Lord, it goes beyond the reach of all 
 reason! how shall I depart in faith and peace, since 
 I am the weakest of all, and would despair a thou- 
 sand times for once; but, "as thy peace is said to 
 pass all understanding," Phil. iv. 7. it will never- 
 theless be sufficient to keep even the most fearful 
 and weakest soul : for it is not by any power of our 
 own, but solely by thy divine power, that we shall 
 ** be kept through faith unto salvation." And it is 
 equally the same to thee, to carry the weakest or 
 the strongest through the gates of death : for since 
 thou art always the same wise, gracious, and migh- 
 ty God, in all circumstances, and must do the work 
 alone, for both, thou wilt then surely lend me also, 
 thine all-sufficient aid and assistance. 
 
 Saints by the power of God are kept. 
 
 Till the salvation come ; 
 We walk by faith, as strangers here, 
 
 Till Christ shall call us home. 
 Lord, at thy temple we appear, 
 
 As happy Simeon came, 
 And hope to meet our Saviour here : 
 
 O make our joys the same ! 
 
334 NOVEMBER 22. 
 
 Lord, how manifold are thy works ! in wis- 
 dom hast thou made them all ; the earth is full 
 of thy riches. Psal. civ. 24. Whoso is wise 
 and will observe these things. Psal. cvii. 43. 
 
 O Lord, how many are thine unknown mercies ! 
 
 1 am surrounded with thy goods on all sides, and 
 yet I observe and acknowledge them so little ! If 
 thou hast punished even the heathen for not having 
 minded and glorified thee by thy works, what will 
 become of me ? Pardon O Lord, this my blindness 
 and ingratitude, and be pleased to add to all thy 
 benefactions, this one more, that I may always be 
 thankful for every thing, especially for the unspeak- 
 able gift of thy Son, and after that for all thy works 
 of creation and providence also. Grant that in all 
 thy creatures. I may see and adore thine infinite 
 power, wisdom, and goodness, thereby continually 
 to be strengthened in faith, and stirred up to thy 
 praise and love. Thus let me always converse 
 with, cleave to thee, and have uninterrupted com- 
 munion with thee, that nothing may interfere and 
 disturb this religious disposition of my soul, in the 
 least. Yes, O Lord, grant me this wisdom and 
 close attention, for thy glory's sake. Amen. 
 
 The glories of my Maker, God, 
 
 My joyful voice shall sing. 
 And call the nations to adore 
 
 Their Former and their King. 
 
 The brightness of our Maker's name, 
 
 The wide creation fills ; 
 And his unbounded grandeur flies 
 
 Beyond the heavenly hills. 
 
NOVEMBER 23. 335 
 
 The sword of the Lord and Gideon, Judges, 
 vii. 20. For they are bread for us ; their 
 defence is departed from them, and the Lord 
 is with us ; fear them not. Numb. xiv. 9. 
 Bat my servant Calebs because he had an- 
 other spirit with him, and has followed, me 
 fully, him will I bring into the land, ivhere- 
 unto he went, ver. 24. Surely the wrath of 
 men shall praise thee, Psal. Ixxvi. 10. 
 
 Take care, O my soul, tliat there may also be 
 another, namely, a kingly spirit with thee, as there 
 was with Joshua and Caleb ; not to b<; discouraged 
 on account of my weakness and great numbers of 
 frailties and enemies, as if it was impossible to live 
 only, and get the victory. Behold Christ, the true 
 and great Joshua and Caleb, marches out before 
 thee, to make war himself against thine enemies, 
 and who can conquer him ? he is unchangeable, 
 his spirit now is as mighty as ever, and his sword 
 as powerful, and sharper than a two-edged sword. 
 Against thy various infirmities he offers also a va- 
 riety of divine strength, and against eaah of thine 
 enemies he holds forth to thee a particular sword in 
 his word ; and abiding in his word thou shalt sure- 
 ly conquer. Though the enemy should raise thine 
 inward and outward calamities, to the highest de- 
 gree, as so many strong wails, yet he must fall; 
 one single word will strike him down. 
 
 Not all that tyrants tliink or say. 
 
 With rage and lightning in their eyes, 
 
 Nor hell shall fright my heart away, 
 Should hell with all its legions rise. 
 
336 NOVEMBER 24. 
 
 ZrO, / am with you always^ even unto the end of 
 the world. Matt, xxviii. 20. / will he with 
 him in trouble, Psal xci. 15. Therefore, he 
 not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound 
 thee hefore them, Jer. i. 17. 
 
 O my soul, tell the Lord all thy complaint, as if 
 he was visibly present, for he is actually present in 
 all thy troubles, with his advice and help. Faith 
 does not see God, yet he keeps and speaks to him, 
 as if he saw him, and by his trials and assistance 
 grows only stronger ; consequently we have no rea- 
 son to fear any distress. By afflictions God will 
 not discourage us for believing ; far from it, he 
 rather encourages us to lay holl on his word by 
 faith. And though we feel more sin and anguish 
 of conscience in times of distress, it ought to make 
 us more humble indeed, but at the same time to 
 bring us closer to Christ, who blotteth out all our 
 transgressions, and exercises and strengthens our 
 faith. Therefore (^as Luther observes) '*even the 
 sins of a Christian are for his good, and if he had 
 no sin, he sJiould not be so well off; for without the 
 feeling of the sins and desperate corruptions of the 
 heart in my conscience, I should never take so much 
 of the |)ower of the word of God." Neither would 
 prayer flow so well, for the fire being removed from 
 under a skillet, a congealing follows presently. 
 
 Cheerful we walk the desert through. 
 While faith inspires a heavenly ray ; 
 
 The lions roar, and tempests blow, 
 And rocks and dangers fill the way. 
 
NOVEMBER 25. 337 
 
 I in them, and thou in me. John, xvil. 23. Christ 
 liveth in me. Gal. ii. 20. 
 
 Luther, on these words, says, " Christ living in 
 me, (who is, as it weie, one piece with me) there 
 must by him be grace, righteousness, eternal Hfe, 
 and salvation in me ; and law, sin, and death be 
 abolished. There is such a close union between 
 Christ and a believer, as if there were but one per- 
 son, and never can be separated from one another. 
 Faith, cleaving always to Christ, can boldly say, I 
 am Christ ; not personally, but his righteousness, 
 victory, life, and all that he has, is my own ; and 
 Christ says again, I am this poor sinner, for having 
 taken his sins and death upon me, they are actually 
 mine." happy change! without Christ there is 
 not a moment's peace, but being in him, and one 
 body with him, who can hurt me and lay any thing 
 to my charge. O Lord, grant that I may always 
 truly live in thee by faith as in my element. Thou 
 being the Son of God, hast loved and given thy- 
 self for me, I can never, never be given over to 
 death and hell. 
 
 Why should we start, and fear to die ? 
 
 What timorous worms we mortals are! 
 Death is the gate of endless joy. 
 
 And yet we dread to enter there. 
 
 Jesus can make a dying bed 
 
 Feel soft as downy pillars are, 
 While on his breast 1 lean my head, 
 
 And breatlie my life out sweetly there. 
 
 29 
 
338 NOVEMBER 26. 
 
 I ivill heal your hackslidings. Jer. iii. 22. It is 
 God ivlio worketh in you, both to will and to 
 do of his good pleasure. Phil. ii. 13. 
 
 O my dear Saviour, I would fain believe in thoe, 
 be faithful, obedient, and work always that which 
 is good. And since this is also thy will, 1 trust it 
 shall be done ; for if thou wilt, and I will, who can 
 hinder it? True; sin, flesh, world, and devils are 
 against it : but shall these enemies be stronger than 
 t^iou, the mighty God 1 Shall their opposition be 
 able to quell thy work in me, if I do not consent 
 to it? That can never be. The more violence they 
 use upon me, the more violence will 1 use upon 
 thee in prayer; and the more I pray, the inore glo- 
 rious will thine assistance be ; the more they hin- 
 der, the more thou wilt further, that all their hin- 
 drances shall be swallowed up by thy furtherances, 
 as the serpents of the sorcererr^in Egypt were swal- 
 lowed up by the serpent of Moses. The enemy 
 will fall by his own sword, and the greatest distress 
 and opposition will turn to my good, and to the 
 promoting of thy work. For if I do not abide in 
 Christ, praying continually, every thing can, hinder 
 me, but abiding in him, all obstructions not only 
 prove effectual, but useful and prohiable. 
 
 We honour our exalted King ; 
 
 How sweet are his commands ! 
 He guards our souls from hell and sin, 
 
 By his Almighty hands. 
 
 Fearless of hell and ghastly death, 
 ■ We'll break through every foe ; 
 The wings of love, and arms of faith 
 Shall bear us conquerors through. 
 
NOVEMBER 27. 339 
 
 I am like a green fir tree, from me is thy fruit 
 found. Hos. xiv. 8. 1 will rebuke the de- 
 vour er for your sakesj and he shall not de- 
 stroy the fruits of your ground. Mai. iii. 11. 
 See also, Isa. xxvii. 2, 6. 
 
 Is it not a disagreeable thing for a gardener to see 
 the finest blossoms and fruits destroyed by the ca- 
 terpillars ? Doth it not rejoice him to see all the 
 branches bow with ripe fruits ! O my heavenly 
 gardener, grant that I may not displease but rejoice 
 thy heart also. Let me abide in Christ, my true 
 vine, and always bring forth good fruit. But since 
 every fruit has its enemies, and thou hast no sooner 
 worked any thing, than the insects of sin endeavour 
 to destroy it ; 1 beseech thee to make me fearful 
 and careful in every good work. Rebuke the de- 
 vourer presently, and preserve me as a branch of 
 Christ, night and day, as thou hast promised, that 
 my fruits may endure to eternity. Doth a diligent 
 gardener dress and cultivate his garden as well as he 
 can, why should not thou cultivate my heart also ? 
 since thou art honoured by my fruits. O, yes, I trust 
 the crystal stream of thy throne will water me, that 
 I can go and bring forth greater plenty of fruits. 
 
 Like trees of myrrh and s[)ice we stand 
 Planted by God the Father's hand; 
 And all his springs in Zion flow. 
 To make the young plantation grow. 
 
 Let my beloved come and taste 
 His pleasant fruits at his own feast : 
 I come, my spouse, I come, he cries, 
 With love and pleasure in his eyes. 
 
340 NOVEMBER 28. 
 
 I will (do it.) Matt. viii. 3. And what is that9 
 Whatever thou desired. For, the Lord will 
 fulfil the desire of them that fear him, Psal. 
 cxlv. 19. 
 
 Yea, he does exceedincr abundantly, above all 
 that we ask or think, granting not only according 
 to the notion of our narrow hearts, but according 
 to the riches of his glory, as becomes his majesty. 
 Christ delights in great petitions, for he is a great 
 Lord, and is rich unto all that call upon him. He 
 has all the riches of his merits and gifts not for hirn- 
 self, (since being the very God, he wanted nothing 
 for himself) but only for us, even the rebellious, 
 who sincerely call upon him. Therefore what he 
 has as mediator i-< not his, but all belongs to me, if 
 I but call upon him. O my soul, pray to him ; nay, 
 be much in prayer, and as often as thou pourest out 
 thy soul before him in prayer, let nothing resound 
 in thy heart but these words, I will ^ I will do it. 
 As God can never lie, there is not one single groan 
 lost; but every one will be found to be a chaff, yea, 
 a jewel in the life to come, by which thy riches are 
 increased, and one treasure put to another. O how 
 much is there neglected in this already! Why 
 should you not be earnest and instant now to re- 
 deem that little remaining part of thy time, by 
 prayer, for eternity, to lay up there many treasures, 
 and richly adorn thy crown. O Lord, grant that 
 this may be done. 
 
 Now is the time he bends his ear, 
 
 And waits for your request ; 
 Come, lest he rouse his wrath, and swear. 
 
 Ye shall not see my rest. 
 
NOVEMBER 29. 141 
 
 Joshua drew not his hand hack, wherewith he 
 stretched out his spear, until he had utterly 
 destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai. Josh, 
 viii. 26. For this purpose the Son of God 
 was manifented^ that he might destroy the 
 works of the devil, 1 John, iii. 8. 
 
 The. dominion of any one sin, is inconsistent 
 with the grace of God and true saving faith. Rom. 
 vi. 14. Therefore all these wicked inhabitants of 
 thy heart must be destroyed, and none sutfered to 
 live and reign in thee ; since even by one single sin 
 we may be utterly undone and destroyed, as a bird 
 is catched in one single snare. And though you 
 are actually converted, and have gained the dominion 
 over your sins, yet you must not draw back your 
 hand, and lay the spear and sword of the spirit aside. 
 There is no rest or cessation of arms here. Satan 
 left Christ only for a time ; much more will he re- 
 new his assaults upon us again and again ; nay, if 
 a man is not watchful, but presumptuous, he takes 
 to himself, seven other spirits more wicked than 
 himself. But if one conflict lasteth long, remem- 
 ber that this is the case also of others ; and even the 
 ancient fathers have gone under it until they were 
 gray. At last the victory will be the more sweet 
 and glorious. Only above all things take the shield 
 of faith ; for faith alone triumphs, by which we 
 are in covenant with Christ, and he makes one 
 cause with us. 
 
 'Tis faith that conquers earth and hell, 
 
 By a celestial power ; 
 This is the grace that shall prevail, 
 
 In the decisive hour, 
 29* 
 
342 NOVEMBER 30. 
 
 Come, buy, without money and without price, 
 Isa. Iv. 1. Come, for all things are now rea- 
 dy, Luke, xiv. 17. Him (be who it will,) that 
 comes unto me, I will in no wise cast out* 
 John, vi. 37. 
 
 How could a tender mother's heart cast out her 
 sick child, calling for help ? Come, my poor soul, 
 come only as well as thou canst. Better to Come 
 in thy miserable, unwilling and lazy condition, than 
 not at all. Do not imagine that it will be disagree- 
 able to Christ, if you must put a constraint upon 
 yourself, and cannot come, and pray to him with a 
 sensible joy, and strong faith ; for he does not say, 
 him that comes with a sensible strong faith, but, 
 '*him that comes," without any limitation, " I will 
 in no wise cast out." It is not required, to bring 
 any money of our own worthiness ; but only the 
 whole heap of our misery along with us, and desire 
 grace. God does not look upon the sensible pow- 
 er ; (for this is his particular gift, which he could 
 soon give, if need was) but upon the sincerity, ap- 
 plication, and earnestness of a poor sinner. John 
 Bunyan very fitly compares such a one, to a man who 
 would fain ride a full gallop, whose horse is hardly 
 able to go a good trot. In this instance the inten- 
 tion of the rider is not to be judged by the slow 
 paces of his horse, (which resembles our corrupt 
 and unwilling nature) but by his whippings, spur- 
 rings, and beatings of the beast. 
 
 See, dearest Lord, our willing souls 
 
 Accept thine offered grace : 
 We bless the great Redeemer's love, 
 
 And give the Father praise. 
 
DECEMBER 1. 343 
 
 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. 
 Kom. xii. 2 1 . For, who is he that will harm you, if 
 ye he followers of that which is good. 1 Pet. iii. 13. 
 There is none, for it is twice said, All is yours. 1 
 Cor. iii. 2 1 , 22. But what is mine must be service- 
 able and useful to me. Rom. viii. 1 8. We are told 
 that all things, consequently the very devils, with 
 their whole armour, work together for our good, to 
 make us more victorious and religious ; and having 
 so many assistants, we must at last be good indeed. 
 For whatever will hurt us if we take the right 
 course, must rather serve for a sword of defence in 
 the hand of faith. For instance, if any thing con- 
 trary happens to you, do not look upon it, but di- 
 rectly upon God himself, as if you had to do with 
 him alone. Therefore take it patiently from his 
 hands, for your trial and humbling, then you have 
 a blessing directly. If you meet with strong tempta- 
 tions by the great corruptions from within and with- 
 out, let them make you only so much more wise and 
 careful as to think, because there are dangerous 
 enemies, I must watch and use all possible vio- 
 lence. And though it is right and needlul to despair 
 of thy own sufficiency and strength ; yet, if you 
 keep and only press so much closer to Christ in 
 prayer and faith, like a child to its mother, when it 
 sees a devouring beast running upon it, all the evil 
 will certainly turn to your good. Luther says, 
 very well, " Every thing of a sheep of Christ, is of 
 some use, even its dung (sin) not excepted." 
 How glorious, Lord, thy wisdom shines, 
 AnAbaffles Satan's deep designs, 
 Thy power is sovereign to fulfil 
 The noblest counsels of thy will. 
 
244 DECJeMBER t. 
 
 Prayer shall be made for him continually ^ and 
 daily shall he be praised. Psal. Ixxii. 15. 
 
 O ! a condescending king, who can always be 
 approciclied. Who would not pray ? You say. O that 
 rriy coldness and indifference would perruit me to 
 do it ! But are you not sensible of your wants and 
 miseries ? Is not this coldness and backwardness 
 misery enough ? Therefore you ought also to 
 pray, and pray most when you are so dull and drow- 
 sy ; else it will never bo better with you. Arise, 
 therefore, and pray ; the good spirit of God will as- 
 sist you in it. " Encouraged by the promises of a 
 prayer-hearing God, (says Luther) and the special 
 assistance of the Holy Spirit in this work, we must 
 even in the greatest conflicts, not omit to resist the 
 temptations of the devil. And though we have 
 sinned, not defer it long ; but pray directly, and say, 
 the Lord is merciful, and I am unworthy and una- 
 ble to pray : But, alas 1 what shall 1 do ? Shall I 
 wait till I am worthy and able ? O no, perhaps this 
 time will never come ; for I am always a great, 
 miserable sinner." A Christian stands always in 
 need of the Lord's prayer, for since the sense and 
 tenor of sin does not leave him, he can never leave 
 off prayers. O Lord, grant that this continual fire 
 may never be extinguished in my heart ! 
 
 Arise, my soul, from deep distress, 
 
 And banish every fear ; 
 God calls thee to his throne of grace, 
 
 To spread thy sorrows there. 
 
DECEMBER 3. 345 
 
 It is required in stewards, that a man he found faith- 
 ful. 1 Cor. iv. 2. You are not your own. Chap* 
 vi. 13. 
 
 O Lord, I beseech thee, either to give me nothing, 
 in case I should not be faithful : or whenever thou 
 art pleased to bestow something- upon me, grant me 
 also with every good gift, that more needful and ex- 
 cellent gift of faithfulness. Let my heart always be 
 prepared before hand for a fit vessel, that I may 
 never abuse and spoil ray goods, but always with 
 fear and humbleness preserve and apply them thus, 
 that I may receive niore and more. Make me also 
 faithful in my ordinary call, that I may be duly 
 mindful of all my duties, and have them at heart in 
 such a manner, as never to omit any thing, hut 
 hasten and be careful to have finished my day's 
 work in due time. But that I may not be hurried 
 away by the hasty and inordi-nate motions of my 
 own spirit, I beseech thee to use me just as a man 
 uses his own hand, according to thy good pleasure, 
 nay, work every thing in me and through me? as it 
 seems proper to thee. And whenever thou hast 
 done something for me and by me, that I may give 
 all the glory to thee, and ascribe nothing to me but 
 what is defective and sinful, since this is the only 
 thing which I can call my own. Now, O Lord, 
 grant that I may never rob thee of thy honour, but 
 be faithful in every thing, and especially in humili- 
 ty, since the worm of pride spoils the most excel- 
 lent fruits. 
 
 My faithful Saviour and my God, 
 Let grace my sinful heart renew ; 
 
 Wash my offences in thy blood, 
 And make me true and faithful too. 
 
346 DECEMBER 4. 
 
 Mine eyes are ever towards the Lord ; for he shall 
 pluckmyfeetoutofthenet. Psal. xxv. 15. Happy 
 is the man that f car eth always. Prov. xxviii. 14. 
 
 O how long can some enemies hide themselves 
 with their nets before our eyes, and draw ns in all 
 on a sudden. It is unspeakable how cunning and 
 powerful our enemies are, how they lay in wait 
 every where, that in all places and at all times we 
 are surrounded, as it were, with many cruel mur- 
 derers of souls. Blessed is he that keeps clear from 
 self-confidence, but rather fearing always, says 
 within himself, as soon as he awakes in the morn- 
 ing, Who knows what tem[)tations I may meet with 
 to-day ? perhaps by the first step, when I rise, my 
 feet may be entangled into dangerous snares and 
 nets. And as self-confidence always will put true 
 confidence in thee, O Lord, I never shall be asham- 
 ed. Rom. ix. 33. 'Grant, I beseech thee, that dis- 
 trusting myself, I may fully put my trust in thee, 
 watching evermore in all tilings, and looking cau- 
 tiously in all places about me, where there is any 
 fear of danger. Wliatever 1 am about to do or to 
 speak, let me first look upon,' and converse with 
 thee, that thus keeping always close to thee, I may 
 be preserved against the power and craft of mine 
 enemies, as in a strong hold ; and confidently say, 
 according to thy own pattern given : Psal. xvi. 8. " I 
 have set the Lord before nie, because he is at my 
 right hand, I shall not be moved." 
 
 ' God is my portion and my joy ! 
 His counsels are my light ; 
 He gives me sweet advice by day, 
 And gentle hints by night. 
 
DECEMBER 6. 347 
 
 My Father works hitherto, and Iworh, (as also the 
 holy Spirit.) John, v. 17. 
 
 O my poor soul, should the blessed Trinity not be 
 able to destroy the works of the devil and fulfil his 
 good will in thee ! O, yes, he works both to will^ and 
 to do ; and that very thing which is above your own 
 power, he works, and nothing else. If you can do 
 little, he works much : if nothing at all, so much 
 the better, then he works all ; for he is our All, 
 since we are nothing and can do nothing. And hap- 
 py are we that we can have him for our assistance 
 in all things, and that the children of God are not 
 required to direct their own steps, but shall be 
 led by their heavenly Father. Now O Lord, since 
 by the will, guidings, and workings of my own 
 heart, I throw only so many hindrances and blocks 
 in my way ; grant, I beseech thee, that in true de- 
 pendence on thee, I may venture every thing, and 
 despairing of my own sufficiency, may always abide 
 in thee, draw all necessary strength from thee by 
 prayer, and bring forth many good fruits which 
 last to eternity. For the power in me being an eter- 
 nal power ; thy work, weak as it seems now, will 
 also last eternally, that none shall be able to destroy 
 it. 
 
 Thy counsels. Lord, shall guide my feet 
 
 Through this dark wilderness ; 
 Thy hand conduct me near thy seat, 
 
 To dwell before thy face. 
 
 What if the springs of life were broke, 
 And flesh and heart should faint ? 
 
 God is my soul's eternal rock, 
 The strength of every saint. 
 
348 DECEMBER 6. 
 
 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. 
 Resist the devil, and he will Jlee from you. James, 
 iv. 1. 8. And thus the effectual, fervent frayer of 
 a righteous man availeth much. Chap. v. 16. 
 
 O my dear soul, draw nigh to God in prayer, 
 and he will draw nigh to thee ; be instant in it, 
 and the devil cannot stand against thee ; for the 
 incense of prayer chases all devils, as smoke the 
 bees ; it works wonderful great things, and will 
 make possible what seemed most impossible. God 
 having given thee many things by thy prayers al- 
 ready, this is a great encouragement to hope also 
 for that which thou lackest yet. Therefore pray 
 only confidently, and you shall receive evermore ; 
 for unbelief is the only reason that God cannot 
 work wonders for us. 
 
 My God, I bow before thy feet, 
 When shall my soul get near thy seat? 
 When shall I see thy glorious face, 
 With mingled majesty and grace ? 
 
 How should I love thee and adore, 
 With hopes and joys unknown before ! 
 And bid this trifling world be gone, 
 Nor teaze my heart so near thy throne ! 
 
 Creatures, with all their charms, should fly 
 The presence of a God so nigh : 
 My darling sins should lose their name, 
 And grow my hatred and my shame. 
 
 My soul shall pour out all her cares, 
 In flowing words or flowing tears : 
 Thy smiles would ease my sharpest paim 
 Nor shall I seek my God in vain. 
 
DECEMBER 7. 349 
 
 There is none good but one, that is God. Matt. 
 xix. 17. But, every imagination of the 
 thoughts of our hearts is only evil continual- 
 ly. Gen. vi. 5. 
 
 A christian, feeling continually the vile corruption 
 of his heart, with grief, thinks himself to be the least 
 of all the saints ; but a hypocrite having little sense 
 of sin, takes himself to be better than others. There- 
 fore we cannot be said to have truly repented, ex- 
 cept we have an experimental knowledge of there 
 being no good in us, no, not so much as one drop 
 of blood. Nay, when we are even come to this 
 and are converted, we must not presumptuously 
 imagine to have got over all the mountains. After 
 many years we may see such abominations, which 
 we thought little of in the beginning : consequent- 
 ly we have always reason to be afraid of our own 
 hearts and to depend entirely on free grace, like a 
 poor penitent, condemned malefactor, else the 
 pharisee will soon lift up his head again. But he 
 that is really convinced to be such a miserable, lost 
 sinner, as has no good in him by nature, pleading 
 guiity in all things, and seeking every thing freely in 
 Christ, is actually a partaker of all the merits of 
 Christ, and can look upon himself as entirely justi- 
 fied in him. Now, Lord, grant that I may patiently 
 know and cleanse myself more and more ; and 
 though I cannot effect it by my own power, yet my 
 comfort is, that thou art good alone, and art willing 
 and able to work in me all that which is good. 
 Nature has all its glories lost 
 
 When brought before thy throne ! 
 No flesh shall in thy presence boast 
 
 But in the Lord alone. 
 30 
 
350 DECEMBER 8. 
 
 Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I 
 will give thee thy wages, Exod. ii. 9. 
 
 As Moses was ordered to be saved by the most 
 cruel eneinys daughter ; so Satan himself, even 
 when he meditates our destruction, must be a means 
 of our life. See also, Matt. xii. 48. Who is my 
 mother ? &LC. Isa. viii. 10. Chap. ix. 6. O Lord Je- 
 sus, thou being also a child born unto me, and I 
 willing to receive thee as my' Emmanuel, I shall 
 certainly have good wages, nay, even thou wilt be 
 my shield and exceeding great reward, and defend 
 me powerfully against all mine enemies. O my dear 
 Saviour, since thou art mine, all is mine, even thy 
 Father, thy Spirit, and thy heavenly glory ; all ac- 
 cidents, all enemies must work for my good, and 
 be instruments and ministers of my salvation. O 
 that I may never fear any thing, but thinking di- 
 rectly, it is mine, may only make good use of every 
 thing. Thus even the very worst would turn to my 
 greatest blessing ; and without it perhaps I should 
 want such a needful thing, as if a mill or a ship was 
 destitute of wind and water. 
 
 My soul surveys thy happiness, 
 If thou art l'our)d a child of grace ; 
 How richly is the gospel stored ! 
 What joy the promises afford ! 
 All things are new, the gift of God, 
 And purchas'd with our Saviour's blood ; 
 While the good Spirit, shows us how 
 To use, and to enjoy them too. 
 If peace and plenty crown my days, 
 They help me Lord to speak thy praise ; 
 If biead of sorrow be my food, 
 These sorrows work my real good. 
 
DECEMBER 9. 351 
 
 SpeaJcing unto yourselves in psalms and hymns. 
 Eph. V. 19. Teaching and admonishing one an- 
 other in psalms and hymns. Col. iii. 16. For, 
 God recommended every one his neighbour. Si- 
 rach, xvii. 15. 
 
 If we are obliged to promote the temporal good 
 of our neighbour, how much more the spiritual, by 
 edifying discourses But how is it ? The children of 
 God, when somebody visits them, (says a certain 
 divine,) are sometimes troubled and know not what 
 discourse to enter upon; at last they begin, if not 
 entirely vain, yet perhaps unprofitable discourses, 
 or at least they suffer others to do it, and are silent 
 to it. I will tell you what I have done in such cases : 
 I first prayed to God, saying, O good God, there I 
 received a guest, and having nothing to set before 
 and treat him with, I pray thee to give me the 
 right bread for him, which the Lord was pleased to 
 hear in such a gracious manner, that I could soon 
 enter into an edifying discourse. And thus we 
 keep our conscience clean, though perhaps the lips 
 were frozen up. Some foolish philosophers, to the 
 great offence of others, mock at divine things, and 
 even at prayers, as if natural reason and will vt^as 
 not corrupted, and highly wanted to be prayed 
 for. But what St. Paul says, Rom. i. 22. is fulfilled 
 in them. What will become of these poor scofiers 
 upon their dying bed, and at the day of judgment! 
 O that they would take warning while it is time ! 
 
 Now if some proper hour appear, 
 
 Let none be overawed ; 
 But let the scoffing sinners hear, 
 
 That we can speak to God. 
 
352 DECEMBER 10. 
 
 Tell his disciples and Peter, (who was deeply fallen 
 especially) Mark, xvi. 7. If any man sin, we have 
 an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the 
 righteous ; for the whole world, 1 John, ii. 1, 2. 
 Wherefore lift up the hands that hang down, and 
 the feeble knees. Heb. xi. 12. 
 
 Hast thou been slack, unfaithful, and fallen away, 
 O poor soul, ihou art not to make light of it. But 
 why wilt thou continue in thy fallen condition any 
 longer, and complain ? Get thee up, and ask par- 
 don of Christ ; he is ready to forgive and receive 
 thee again, like Peter, having received gifts for the 
 rebellious. Delay not to lay hold of thy ransom, 
 which is greater than all the sins of the world, con- 
 sidering that it is paid even for this very sin, whose 
 remission is purchased by it already, and applied 
 to thee in baptism. Therefore be not discouraged, 
 much less suffer the temptation of drawing back 
 to the world to prevail upon you. The Lord even 
 now reaches forth his hands to thee anew by this 
 very word ; come, lift thyself up at it, and be care- 
 ful for the time to come, to be so much more cau- 
 tious, humble, and gentle towards others, for a 
 Christian's feet will slide, but only into humility. 
 
 Salvation ! O the joyful sound ; 
 
 'Tis pleasure to my ears ; 
 A sovereign balm for every wound, 
 
 A cordial for my fears. 
 
 Buried in sorrow and in sin, 
 
 At hell's dark door I lay ; 
 But I arise by grace divine, 
 
 To see a heavenly day. 
 
DECEMBER 11. 363 
 
 Behold we come unto thee. Jer. iii. 22. (and) Iwill 
 come unto you. John, xiv. 18. A lively representa- 
 tion ofthis happy meeting", see Luke, xix. 4, 5^ 6., 
 Zaccheus ran; and Christ said unto him, Make 
 haste and come down, for to-day I must abide at 
 thy house. 
 
 O my dear Saviour, since I come to thee and 
 thou to me, we shall certainly meet one another. 
 Who vi^ill oppose and obstruct it ? Devil and sin ? 
 
 no ! This wall of separation is pulled down. 
 *• Christ says, (as Luther observes,) come unto me, 
 
 1 am not an angry judije, but a loving mediator be- 
 tween God and thy frightened conscience : keep 
 to me and fear not wrath. Therefore, I sit here, 
 that believing in me to make intercession for thee 
 with God, no wrath or disgrace can befall thee. 
 Should wrath and punishment come upon thee, it 
 must first come upon me ; which is quite impossible, 
 since he is the dear Son of God, in whom dwells all 
 the fulness of grace ; and the Father looking upon 
 him, his wrath must vanish away, and every thing 
 in heaven and earth be changed into smiles of love 
 and grace." Eph. i. 6. Dangers and conflicts being 
 hot, God hastens with his assistance. At other times 
 he tarries, and the work of our whole renovation 
 goes on little by little, that improving in the exer- 
 cise of patience and faith, we may also bear with 
 others, and learn not only to quicken our diligence, 
 but also to wait for him. 
 
 In thine own ways, O God of love, 
 
 We wait the visits of thy grace ; ♦ 
 
 Our soul's desire is to thy name, 
 And the remembrance of thv face. 
 30* 
 
354 DECEMBER 12. 
 
 Since I come to Pharoak to speak in thy name, he 
 hath done evil to this jteople, neither hast thou de- 
 livered thy people at all. Exod. v. 23. 
 
 At the very time when God is about to deliver 
 us from the power of a particular sin or weakness, 
 he suffers it most to be stirred up and felt, that we 
 imagine, perhaps, to have never been so wicked and 
 oppressed before. But thus out of darkness he 
 brings forth light ; of unbelief, faith ; of pride, hu- 
 mility, &.C. " For God (as Luther observes,) makes 
 none a great saint, except he has first made him a 
 great sinner." Sin must first appear so great and sin- 
 ful, that we heartily plead guilty of damnation. 
 Rom. vii. 13. Humbly begging pardon and renounc- 
 ing dll self-righteousness and strength ; and that we 
 not only receive Christ for our only righteousness, 
 but also abide in him, continually drawing all ne- 
 cessary strength from him for san<;tlfication. This 
 is the only method of bruising the head of sin. Thus 
 I build not the comfort of pardon upon my victory, 
 but the victory upon my pardon. I strive, not 
 thinking, that I shall have only remission of sin, 
 when I conquer it, but 1 seek first remission, and 
 believe that it is forgiven. Being assured of this, I 
 strive in faith against sins forgiven already, as one 
 who is not only accepted with God through Christ, 
 but even in league and covenant with him against 
 all our enemies. And by these means I have peace, 
 courage, strength, and victory. 
 
 O may thy pardoning grade be nigh, 
 Lest we should faint, despair and die ! 
 Thus shall our better thoughts approv« 
 The methods of thy wondrous love. 
 
DECEMBER 13. 355 
 
 Return ye hacksUding children^ and I will heal 
 your hackslidings, Jer iii. 22. See also Luke, 
 XV. 20. When he was yet a great way off* 
 
 Hear ye therefore, the voice of thy loving Father 
 and Shepherd, O thou backsliding chikl, and lost 
 sheep, crying earnestly. Return-, return. Do not run 
 on in the broad way with the world any longer. 
 Are you not tired yet of the husks of the world? 
 Do you feel no troubles in the soul? Shall not 
 these drive thee to God ? Lo ! thy Father and 
 Shepherd seeks ihee. He is gone forth to call and 
 meet thee already. He will receive thee willingly 
 and joyfully. Come only weeping and praying as 
 the prodigal Son, he will freely forgive thee all, 
 though thou hadst sinned ever so much. He is also 
 able to heal and correct the most desperate cor- 
 ruptions of thy heart. He can deliver thee from 
 the very jaws of hell and the devil. Nay, if thou even 
 wast possessed with more than seven devils, he 
 can still cast them out. Begin only to call upon 
 him earnestly in prayer, and poor and wretched as 
 thou art, come to him as the physician of thy soul ; 
 for the physician and the sick, the rich and the 
 poor, are the best match for one another. He heal- 
 eth ALL our diseases, and can make possible what 
 seems most impossible to thee. 
 
 Come all ye vilest sinners, come, 
 
 He'll form your souls anew ; 
 His gospel and his heart has room 
 
 For rebels such as you. 
 
356 DECEMBER 14. 
 
 Watch ye therefore and pray ahvays. Luke, xxi, 
 36. Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin 
 which doth so easily beset us. Heb. xii. 1. 
 
 The hearts of men are not like clocks, which only 
 want to be wound up once a day ; D no 1 the dul- 
 ness and distraction is too great, which so easily be- 
 sets us. We must Hft them up many times a-day, 
 yea, watch continually to lay aside every weight. 
 Our going out and coming in, nay, all things, even 
 the very least, we must do with prayer, always 
 strictly examining what is the will of the Lord ; else, 
 if they are done after our own will, they do not tend 
 to the glory of God, and cannot be attended with 
 his blessing. But if we earnestly strive against our 
 own will in prayer, willingly suffering every hour 
 what the Lord thinks proper to lay upon us, and 
 will be ruled by his hints, and slight strokes of his 
 rod, many heavy afflictions, scourges, and whips 
 can be avoided ; for the burdens which we bring 
 upon ourselves by our own will and impatience, are 
 always the heaviest. A Christian has daily his 
 proper burden and affliction, like the clock its 
 weights, by which the flesh is kept under, that the 
 spirit can raise up. Therefore, when any thing 
 comes cross, he looks upon it, as its weights for.the 
 day, to stir him up to the exercise of prayer and 
 meditation of the word of God. (> Lord, grant that 
 I may always bear thy easy yoke, and be never the 
 cause of my distress and dulness. <fl 
 
 Wait on the Lord, ye trembling saints, 
 And keep your courage up ; 
 
 He'll raise your spirit when it faints, 
 And far exceed your hope. 
 
 I 
 
DECEMBER 15. 357 
 
 Give anaccount of thy stewardship. Luke xvi. 2. 
 
 O Lord, how have I wasted my time, goods, and 
 faculties ! O pardon me for thine infinite mercy's 
 sake, blot out my debt by thy blood, and grant that 
 keeping henceforth daily and hourly a good account, 
 and acting more prudent, faithful, and diligent, my 
 reckoning may not be too foul at last. But preserve 
 me also from all ney Hess cares ; since the care where 
 to get something is not the steward's business, but 
 only to husband every thing fiithfully . Therefore Lu- 
 ther often prayed, -'■ teach me, O Lord, and give me 
 wisdom and grace to govern my house, and manage 
 all my affiirs rightly. Be thou the principal Gover- 
 nor and Father of my family. I will be nothing but 
 thy servant ; direct me only in all things, that I may 
 not suflfer or do any harm." He that does not expos- 
 tulate with God, but accuses himself as guilty in all 
 things, even his best performances, and flies to Christ 
 as his only refuge, will bejustified of God through the 
 righteousness ofhis dear Son. And being thus adopt- 
 ed of God, he is ready and willing to be governed and 
 directed by him in all things as a child. 
 
 That awful day will surely come, 
 The appointed hour makes haste, 
 
 When I must stand before my Judge, 
 And pass the solemn test. 
 
 Thou lovely chief of all my joys. 
 
 Thou sovereign of my heart : 
 How could I bear to hear thy voice, 
 
 Pronounce the sound, Depart ! 
 
368 DECEMBER 16. 
 
 Examine yourselves , whether you be in the faith, 
 2 Cor. xiii. 5. 
 
 Many would be converted and become believers, if 
 they did not presumptuously pretend to it, thinking 
 they were no heathens, but had faith already. For 
 such as have actually faith, often doubt whether they 
 have any or not ; and those that are without, imagine 
 that they have enough. But faith is only wrought in 
 the souls of those who are deeply humbled by a tho- 
 rough conviction of the greatness and heinousness of 
 their sins, confessing themselves not only with their 
 lips, but with a true sense of their hearts, to be the 
 chief of sinners, and looking upon themselves as the 
 most unworthy of all creatures. Without this repent- 
 ance we do not enter through the right gate, and our 
 faith is a false imagination. For faith is the greatest 
 and most difficult thing even to a child of God ; it re- 
 ceives Christ into the heart and overcomes the devil, 
 world, and all sins, which is not so easily done. There- 
 fore, ifthegeneralityof people had true faith, nothing 
 would be easier than that. For what can be easier 
 than to conceive thoughts and imaginations of any 
 thing ? Then there would be no need to pray for faith, 
 to strive and examine ourselves ; consequently, these 
 words were superfluous in the bible. For such a 
 faith has every one, even the most wicked. But they 
 deceive themselves, for faith is said to be the victory 
 over the world. And if the first Christians had need 
 to examine themselves, how much more have we ? 
 Therefore, the best and safest way is, to pray ear- 
 nestly for that faith which has boldness, and triumph 
 even in death. 
 
DECEMBER 17. 369 
 
 For thy name^s sake lead me and guide me. Pull 
 me out of the net, ^c. Psal. xxxi. 3 — 5. When 
 the ark set forward, Moses said, rise up, Lord, 
 and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them 
 that hate thee flee bejorethee. Numb. x. 35. 
 
 Every one has his own particular gift, as also his 
 own particular enemies, who lay various nets and hin- 
 drances in his way. But as every body must clear 
 the way for a king, when he travels, much more for 
 our enemies, when the King of kings guides us and 
 goes before us. Grant only, O Lord, that all my go- 
 ing and resting may be done at thy hints. Numb. iv. 
 17 — 23. Be gloriously pleased to go always before 
 me, and to make room, that mine enemies may be 
 scattered and fall into their own nets. For thou who 
 dvvelleth in heaven, laughest at all, even at mine in- 
 ward spiritual enemies, and art willing and able to 
 confound the greatest craft and power even of the 
 most inveterate and dangerous. And '' since thou 
 enlightens my darkness, and art a buckler to all those 
 that trust in thee, and not only teachest my hands to 
 war, but even fightest for me as the God of my cove- 
 nant," Psal. xviii. 23 — 36. I shall surely come oflf 
 more than conquerer. 
 
 My faith would seize some promise, Lord, 
 There's power and safety in thy word ; 
 Not all that earth and hell can say, 
 Shall tempt or drive my soul away. 
 
S60 DECEMBER 18. 
 
 Watch (and be faithful every hour) for ye Tcnow^ 
 not what hour your Lord doth come. Matt, 
 xxiv. 42. 
 
 A christian hath two watchful eyes ; with one, 
 he looks always upon himself as a sinner, with the 
 other he looks upon Christ as being without sin in 
 him. These things must be watched evermore, 
 for as soon as we turn our eyes off, and look upon 
 others, or our own gifts, either pride or despair 
 will follow ; both which is very dangerous in the 
 last hour. 
 
 Death ! 'tis a melancholy day 
 
 To those that have no God, 
 When the poor soul is forced away 
 
 To seek her last abode. 
 
 In vain to heaven she lifts her eyes; 
 
 But guilt, a heavy chain, 
 Still drags her downward from the skies, 
 
 To darkness, fire, and pain. 
 
 Awake and mourn, ye heirs of hell ; 
 
 Let stubborn sinners fear ; 
 You must be driven from earth, and dwell 
 
 A long FOR EVER there. 
 
 See how thr pit gapes wide for you, 
 
 And flashes in your face : 
 And thou, my souU look downwards too, 
 
 And sing recovering grace. 
 
DECEMBER 19. 361 
 
 What wilt thou, queen Esther ? and what is thy 
 request? it shall be even given thee to the half 
 of the kingdom. Esther, v. 3. 
 
 Dost thou want nothing, O poor soul ? hast thou 
 nothing to ask ? O yes ! you say a great deal. Well 
 then, draw near to tiiy Gracious King and Bride- 
 groom without fear. Lo ! he holds out his golden 
 isceptre to thee, saying, ask, only ask, Bot only the 
 half hut my whole kingdom shall be granted ; nay, 
 I will g^ive myself unto thee. O dear soul, pray and 
 tell him every thing that is wanting, be it ever so 
 great or ever so small. His loving kindness will hear 
 even the least petitiori, nay he will pretend to be ig- 
 norant of what thou dost not tell him. But what- 
 ever is poured out before him, is actually addressed 
 and lodged in its proper place, and does not lie upon 
 thy heart any longer, but upon his heart which can- 
 not rest till yoii are relieved. An(\ since you have 
 experienced his assistance so often, in greater or 
 lesser things, you may depend upon his being as 
 willing arid able now to help thee out of all troubles. 
 We often irnagine we were willing and drawing him, 
 but he was unwiHinj* an</ refused our request ; but 
 it is not so ; he rather draws us and desires our re- 
 lief more than we do ; for it is he that works even 
 this willing mind. 
 
 Are those the happy persons Jiere, 
 
 Who dwell the nearest to their God ! 
 Has God invited sinners near ? 
 
 And Jesus bought this grace with blood ! 
 Go then, my soul, address the Son, 
 
 To lead thee near the Father's face, 
 Gaze on his glories yet unknown. 
 
 And taste the blessings of his grace. 
 31 
 
362 DECEMBER 20. 
 
 What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? 
 Luke, xviii, 18. 
 
 O Lord, dost thou ask me also this question ? O 
 yes ! well then, I answer, that 1 may see how gra- 
 cious thou art, that knowing thy love in thy light, 
 I may love thee again. This is the sum and sub- 
 stance of all my prayer; because thou requirest it 
 so seriously of me. iCor. xvi.22. But thou dost 
 not require it as of myself, well knowing that I can 
 do nothing ; but signifieth only what I am to ask of 
 thee, and what thou art willing to give and to work. 
 For, thou dost not require any thirjg, but what thou 
 workest thyself ; and workest every thing, what thou 
 requirest. Therefore, faith and love being required 
 by thee, I require the same from thee again. Grant, 
 O grant them to me, that I may return them to thee 
 again. And since nothing is pleasing to thee but 
 what is thy own gift, I trust that thou wilt certainly 
 hear and fulfil this my request. However as my salva- 
 tion is not grounded on my own but on thine and thy 
 Father's love and counsel, to save me by free grace 
 through thy merits, I go on covered all over with 
 grace and pardon. This is treasure enough, by which 
 my heart can be well satisfied. 
 
 He that can shake the worlds he made, 
 Or with his word or with his rod, 
 
 His goodness, how amazmg great ! 
 And what a condescending God. 
 
 Our sorrows and our tears we pour 
 
 Into the bosom of our God ; 
 He hears us in the mournful hour, 
 
 And helps to bear the heavy load. 
 
DECEMBER 21. 363 
 
 In returning and rest shall ye he saved, in quietness 
 and confidence shall be your strength. Isa. xxx. 
 15. Suffer every thing that befalls thee. Sirach, 
 ii. 4. 
 
 Christians must suffer patiently. This is their 
 armour, God fightinjr for and assisting them. But 
 when we are unwilling to suffer, going about to 
 make complaints every where, and to seek human 
 comfort, or to aid ourselves, we neglect and lose 
 the comfort and aid of the Lord, we are stirring up 
 the wasp-nest of our unruly thoughts, and bring 
 more troubles upon ourselves and others ; nay, we 
 are fighting against God, who thereby intends to 
 cure our impatience, pride, and anger. For the 
 more we are peevish and wild, the more desperate 
 is our disease, and consequently we have so much 
 moie need of such sharp, but w^holesome plasters 
 of afflictions, to mortify these wWd passions of the 
 flesh. Therefore we must not presume to tear 
 them off, for fear of making the wounds and pains 
 any worse. For he that will avoid one trouble, 
 perhaps runs into ten others. Sometimes it is pos- 
 sible and easy to rid ourselves, but the help is not 
 so glorious and blessed, as if we had waited for the 
 help of the Lord. 
 
 Sure I must bear if I would reign, 
 
 Increase my courage. Lord ! 
 rU bear the toil, endure the pain, 
 
 Supported by thy word. 
 Must 1 be carried to the skies, 
 
 On flow'ry beds of ease, 
 While others suffered for the prize, 
 
 And sailed through bloody seas. 
 
364 DECEMBER 22. 
 
 Whoso loveth instruction loves knowledge, but he 
 that (self-conceitedly) hates reproof is brutish, 
 Prov. 1. Was he even a great philosopher. 
 
 Therefore we should take and make the best of 
 the reproofs of others, though they were not with- 
 out blemishes, and not be like thorns and briers, 
 pricking and hurting those that touch them. Noth- 
 ing can be said so bad of us, which we hrive not 
 the root of in our heart. And though we are con- 
 vinced of, and strive against our own weakness, 
 yet it may not be so earnestly that we conquer. 
 Therefore God comes to our assistance in a sharp, 
 reproof of others; for he knows how to use even 
 the faults of others to our good. And if we re- 
 ceive every thing as from him alone, striving sa 
 much against tliis our frniltVj that we may not be 
 offensive to our neighbour any more, we certainly 
 gain a great victory and blessing. But if we grow 
 impatient and make many excuses, unv'illing to 
 put up any thing, we make evil worde, and neglect 
 the amendment of ourselves and others. O Lord^ 
 make us better and give patience. 
 
 How should the sons of Adam's race 
 
 Be pure before their God ? 
 If he contend in righteousness 
 
 We fall beneath his rod, 
 
 To vindicate my words and thoughts 
 
 I'll make no more pretence ; 
 Not one of all my thousand faults 
 
 Can bear a just defence. 
 
 
DECEMBER 23. 565 
 
 When I am weak, then lam strong. 2 Cor. xii. 10. 
 
 The Lord is my strength. Exod. xv. 2. In the 
 
 fear of the Lord is strong confidence. Prov. xiv. 
 
 The more we are sensible of our weakness, and 
 despair of our own strength, the more boldness we 
 can have in our confidence to God. Fear and dis- 
 trust generally take their rise from self-confidence. 
 " A christian (as Luther observes) has always a true 
 fear of God in his heart, thinking in all things, O 
 Lord, that I may not displease thee ; for the right 
 spirit is very faint-hearted towards God, but against 
 tyrants and devils the Holy Ghost inspires him with 
 courage, that he says, though 1 am a poor, weak 
 worm, yet I am strong ; the Lord being my strength, 
 who can be so strong as to oppose hiu» ? they do not 
 fight against me, but against thee, O God ; I am thy 
 wcakfiess, thou art my strength. The devil takes 
 us to be weak, but in times of distress, the Lord 
 says, I am here. Then it is as with the worm on 
 the hook, which the fish is going to swallow up, and 
 thereby is catched. Thus God suffers us to be weak 
 and f iint, ,but he being hidden in us with his strength, 
 preserves us when the enemies rise to devour us, 
 not knowing that their endeavour is to devour God, 
 which they will never execute, by any means." 
 
 His power the whole creation rules, 
 
 And on the starry skies 
 Sits smiling at the weak designs 
 
 Which envious foes devise. 
 In vain the busy sons of hell 
 
 Still new distractions try, 
 Their souls shall pine with envious rage, 
 
 And vex away and die. 
 31* 
 
3G6 DECEMBER. 24. 
 
 He that believes shall not make haste. Isa. xxviiu 
 16. Lift up thy rod. Exod. xiv. 16. Netc trials y 
 Tieti) blessings! 
 
 What seems to oppose, nay to destroy our faith, 
 inust further and quicken it most. Faith, is the 
 m(»st j)Ie:isant and important thing in the eyes of 
 God. Jer. v. .3- For he is exceeding: willing to help 
 us, but cannot do it till he has first given us faith ; 
 since it is always said, thy faith halh saved ihee. 
 Therefore, if you will have his assistriuce, believe 
 only; for humble faith has tlie Lord as it would 
 have him, and receives all things. Matt xv. 28. 
 Luther says, " Faith, is a great, miraculous thing ; 
 giving such courage to a j)oor, weak man, that he 
 can say, if oil the devils fall upon me, and all the 
 emperors and kings, nay, heaven and earth o{)pose4 
 me, yet I am sure that 1 shall be saved." But with- 
 out faith God can do no wonders and miracles for 
 us. But such as believe shall be saved, should even 
 heaven and eaith pass away: for he has promised 
 and said, He that believes shall be saved,; which 
 word stands firmer than heaven and earth, since 
 thereby he has created all things, consequently he 
 ■will, and it is fit we should depend and trust upon 
 that, though heaven and earth and all the stars and 
 elements were against us. Taking therefore the 
 word in our hands, and fighting resolutely with it 
 against our enemies, we shall surely beat them, 
 down and break through all assaults and oppositions. 
 
 His sovereign power, what mortal knows? 
 If he commands, who dare oppose ? 
 With strength he girds himself around, 
 And treads the rebels to the ground. 
 
DECEMBER 25. 367 
 
 If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, 
 Luke, ix. 23. 
 
 Doing this, all the rest will go easy ; if we know 
 that we are nothing, are unworthy of every thing, 
 and have nothing of our own, we can lose nothing. 
 We have no property, since we are but stewards 
 of the Lord. We have no honour of shame of 
 our own, after the manner of the world ; this be- 
 ing our only honour, if God is glorified, and our 
 only shame, if he he dishonoured by us. The glory 
 of God we must have at heart, and in this case be 
 like lions, but in our own cause like lambs. There- 
 fore when we are crossed in things which do not 
 concern the glory of God and the real good of our 
 neighbour, but our own interest, and are unwilling 
 to suffer something, we shall miscarry and be in- 
 volved in greater troubles. But denying ourselves 
 we shall loose only a good deal of vexation, and in- 
 stead of this, receive Christ, with all his spiritual; 
 and temporal blessings, as far as we want them, 
 which alone can make us cheerful and happy. But 
 whosoever desires to please the world in its taste, 
 " with his singularities," seeking himself and his 
 own glory, cannot be a follower of Christ in this, 
 and have boldness towards God. And how will it 
 be with them in the hour of death and judgment ? 
 |iere the learned may try themselves also ; ^yhoIr^ 
 <io they please ? God or the world ? 
 
 Deny thyself and take the cross, 
 Is the Redeemer's great command. 
 
 Nature must count her glory dross 
 If she will gain the heavenly land, 
 
368 DECEMBER 26. 
 
 How long do ye halt between two opinions 9 If 
 the Lord be God, folio whim. 1 Kings, xviii. 
 21. For as it was your mind to go astray 
 from God; so being returned, seek him ten 
 times more, Baruch, iv. 28. 
 
 Many pretend to be friends to the children of 
 God and to the children of this world at once, and 
 take it to be great wisdom : but such the Lord 
 catches in their wisdom, and very often puts them 
 to x>pen shame before the world. O ! poor soul, 
 how long will you divide your soul ? How long 
 will you tarry to surrender yourself entirely up to 
 God, without exception ? If you would be saved, 
 your change must be entire and absolute, you must 
 be made spiritual and heavenly minded. But the 
 longer you neglect this and bargain with God, the 
 harder the work of conversion will go ; and how 
 soon may death overtake you ! What can the world 
 profit you then ? But with Christ you would be a 
 thousand times more happy in life and in death, 
 Haiiten therefore and bargain no longer with God, 
 he will have your whole heart, saying, " Give me 
 thy heart, thy whole heart," or nothing at all. And 
 he that does not give up his all to him, can never 
 come to rest. 
 
 No longer will I ask the love 
 
 Of worldly friendship more ; 
 The happiness that I approve 
 
 Is not within its power. 
 Jesus, my God ! I know his name. 
 
 His name is all my trust ; 
 Nor will he put my soul to shame, 
 
 Nor let my hope be lost. 
 
DECEMBER 27. 369 
 
 How often would I have gathered thy children 
 together, and ye would not ! Matt, xviii. 37, 
 For, who has believed our report? Isa. liii. 1, 
 How often does God allure thee by his word and 
 many agreeable and disagreeable providences, but 
 thou dost not feel it, or hast a thousand excuses, 
 though before God, they are all vain, and will stand 
 thee in no stead. The true reason is. because thou 
 wilt not, therefore thou canst not. Thou dost not 
 follow the word of God ; hence comes that great 
 darkness and offence at God and his children. O 
 Lord, cast out that evil spirit of slandering and ly- 
 ing, that I may never be offended at thee, but be 
 entirely reconciled to all thy ways, that my heswt 
 may be won over to thee, and stirred up to incessant 
 thanksgiving and praise. O good Lord deliver me 
 from all the powers of darkness, and suffer nothing to. 
 abide in me, which can in any wise hurt me. Amen^ 
 O that thy statues every hour 
 
 Might dwell upon my mind ! 
 Thence I derive a quick'ning power. 
 
 And daily peace I find. 
 To meditate thy precepts. Lord, 
 
 Shall be my sweet employ : 
 My soul shall ne'er forget thy word, 
 
 Thy word is all my joy. 
 How would I run in thy commands, 
 
 If thou my heart discharge 
 From sin and Satan's hateful chains. 
 
 And set my feet at large ! 
 Pepart from me, ye wicked race, 
 Whose hands and hearts are ill 
 * I love my God, I love his waya, 
 ^nd myst obey his will. 
 
370 DECEMBER 28. 
 
 Labour not for the meat that perishes, hut for the 
 meat which endureth unto everlasting life. 
 John, vi. 27. / must work the works o/ 
 him that sent me vjhile it is day. Chap. ix. 
 4. For the time is short. 1 Cor. vii. 29. 
 
 There is much labouring, writing, and doing, but 
 it is only to get the name of a great learned man ; 
 which does not bring any fruit and reward for eter- 
 nity. O Lord, how soon is my life at a period ! 
 How little or nothing good have I worked ! O how 
 much have I wasted of my time and strength al- 
 ready, only in vain thoughts ! And what shall I say 
 of all the unprofitable, nay sinful words and works? 
 
 Lord, I cannot answer thee one of a thousand. 
 
 1 am ashamed and humbled in thy sight. Pardon, 
 pardon me, O Lord, and grant me that henceforth 
 I may redeem my time and strength better, and 
 bestow every part of them upon the most impor- 
 tant and useful things, especially upon prayers for 
 myself and others. Nay, let me spend all my 
 hours, as it were, with prayers, and thus send them 
 before me into eternity, that I may reap a blessed 
 fruit of every hour, in the world to come. O there- 
 fore, set eternity in all things before my eyes as my 
 only mark. 
 
 Our days alas! our mortal days 
 
 Are short and wretched too ; 
 Evil and few, the patriarch says, 
 
 And well the patriarch knew. 
 Let heavenly love prepare my soul, 
 
 And call her to the skies, 
 Where years of long salvation roll, 
 
 And glory never dies. 
 
DECEMBER 29. 371 
 
 We being many, are one body in Christ, and 
 everyone members one of another, Rom. xii. 5. 
 
 O the blessed commnnion of saints ! one member 
 has the benefit of all other members, gifts, prayers, 
 and ministrations. One prays for ail, and all pray 
 for one. What one has, the other enjoys also. It 
 may be truly said of them, It is all yours. There is 
 no envy, no haughtiness, no strife, or harm : For 
 why should 1 envy that which is my own ? Why 
 should I despise that which serves for my necessary 
 assistance ? And why should I strive against, and 
 hurt him, whose hurt is my own ? Is there any strife 
 or collision between the members of our natural bo- 
 dy ? By no means ; they all serve, help, and assist 
 one another, and if one be injured and suffers, all 
 the rest, as it were, run to its relief, and are neither 
 tired nor angry, if the healing does not follow imme- 
 diately. O Lord, unite us all into such a conimunion 
 and general sympathy, and stop all open and subtle 
 divisions amongst our members, who pretend to 
 'something extraordinary and to be wise above the 
 rest. Restrain that mean, sectarian, and self-con- 
 ceited spirit of the world, granting true humility to 
 all, then we shall hve in a solid union and uninter- 
 rupted harmony. 
 
 O glorious portion of the saints ! 
 Let love suppress our sore complaints, 
 And tune our hearts and tongues to sing 
 All glory to our sovereign King. 
 
372 DECEMBER 30. 
 
 Except the Lord build th^ house, they labour in 
 vain that build it. Psal. cxxvii. 1. 
 
 Luther on these words says, " Let the Lord build 
 and manage the house ; meddle not with this work ; 
 it is his part, and not thine own to take care of it ; 
 therefore leave the care to him that is the supreme 
 Landlord and husbandman. Is there much wanted 
 to furnish and provide for a house ? The Lord is 
 greater than a house. He that fills heaven and earth 
 will Certainly be able to fill a house. No wonder that 
 there is a great want in a house, if God is not the 
 governor in it ! because thou dost not see him that is 
 to fill the house, surely all the corners must seem to 
 be empty ; but looking upon him thou wouldst never 
 observe one corner to be empty, every one would 
 seem to be full, and is really full : if it is not, the fault 
 is only in thy eye, as it is in a blind man who cannot 
 see the sun. To him that sees rightly, the Lord 
 changes the word, and says not, there goes much into 
 a house, but there goes much out of it.'' O Lord, give 
 only faith, love, and knowledge of thy will, that I may 
 not only expect all things confidently from thy hand, 
 since a labourer is worthy of his hire ; but also man- 
 age every thing afterwards as a faithful steward to 
 such purposes thou hast granted it for, be it for my 
 own use, or for the use of others, and that I may never 
 be saving to thy dishonour, for my purse is thine, and 
 consequently rich enough. 
 
 'Tis all in vain, till God hath blest ; 
 He can make rich, yet give us rest : 
 Children and friends are blessings too. 
 If God our sovereign makes them so. 
 
DECEMBER 31. 373 
 
 In those days and in that time, saith the Lord, 
 the iniquity of Israel shall he sought for, and 
 there shall be none. Jer. 1. 20. I^or I will for- 
 give their iniquity, and I will remember their 
 sins no more. Chap. xxxi. 34* 
 
 I blush, O Lord, when I remember my sins and 
 consider that thy pure eyes have seen them all ; but 
 thou hast promised not only to pardon and not be an- 
 gry at or upbraid me for them, as men do ; but even 
 to forget every thing entirely, as if thou didst not 
 know what has passed in the sinful years of my hfe, 
 and to look upon me in time and eternity, as a dear 
 child who had never done any thing amiss ; since thoii 
 dost not see any sin, nor even a spot or wrinkle in me> 
 but only thy dear son, and his blood, consequentl/ 
 nothing but v^'hat is worthy of thy love. Therefor3 
 thou lovest me more than I love myself; for the lo^e 
 I bear myself is but human. Thou lovest me as iItou 
 lovest thine own son. John,xvii. 16. And since this 
 is a divine, perfect, and eternal love, I must needs en- 
 joy the same being in him, and one with him, his 
 member, his bride, and very child. If it is possible 
 for thee to hate him, then thou canst hate me also ; 
 but this can never be, since sin, which only de- 
 serves to be hated, is perfectly and eternally put 
 away. 
 
 Jesus, we bless thy Father's name ; 
 Thy God and ours are both the same r 
 What heavenly blessings from his throne 
 Flow down to sinners through his Son I 
 
 With Christ our Lord we share our part. 
 In the affections of .his heart ; 
 Nor shall our souls be thence removed, 
 Till he forgets his first beloved. 
 
 32 
 
374 FEBRUARY 29. (leap-year.) 
 
 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose 
 sin is covered, Psal. xxxii. J . 
 
 We have all need of learning and praying the 
 fifth petition of the Lord's prayer better and better; 
 for we still feel sin, nay, when it is best with us we 
 have the most tender feeling of sin ; but when we 
 draw back we become blind to ourselves. To do 
 sin is wrong ; but to feel sin, and run to the phy- 
 sician with it, is good. Luther says, " To be sen- 
 sible of sin is a good sign, therefore we are not to 
 despair, but to thank God heartily for it. For as 
 long as a Christian lives in the flesh, sin remains in 
 hun ; but since he is protected under the shadow of 
 ihe wings of Christ, as a chicken under the wings 
 bf a hen, and is covered with that larje, extensive 
 heaven, whose name is forgiveness of sin, the Lord 
 does not lay the remaining sins to his charge." Now, 
 O Lord, grant that 1 may look beyond all that is 
 good and bad, upon thee alone, how thou coverest 
 all my sin ; and let me not only always hve and rest 
 in the remission of sin as mine element, but also die 
 in it at last. 
 
 Justice upon a dreadful throne 
 
 Maintains the rights of God, 
 While mercy sends her pardon down, 
 
 Bought with a Saviour's blood. 
 
 Now, to my soul, immortal King, 
 
 Speak some forgiving word ; 
 Then 'twill be double joy to sing 
 
 The glories of my Lord. 
 
A FEW 
 FOR PRIVATE USE. 
 
 A TRAYEK FOK THE GKACE OF rEKSEVERAISCE. 
 
 Eternal God, with whom is everlasting strength, 
 thou art able to keep us from falling, and to per- 
 form the good work begun in us, till the day of Je- 
 sus Christ. But, Lord, thou knowest how weak 
 and changeable I am, how wavering, and bent to 
 backsliding; how apt to shrink back or start aside 
 after 1 have been hopefully set ivi the way towards 
 heaven ; and in what danger 1 still am of ruining 
 myself, after all the great things thou hast done for 
 me. O Lord of love, have pity on my infirmities, 
 and strengthen me in my weakness. Preserve me, 
 thou blessed guardian of thy people, who keepest 
 the feet of thy saints ; O preserve me from the dan- 
 ger of apostacy, and falling away from any good 
 beginnings, which thy grace has wrought in me : 
 And put thy fear in my heart, that T may not depart 
 from thee. Make me so firmly thine, that nothing 
 which befalls me in the world, may ever part thee 
 and my soul ; and make me so resolute for thy ser- 
 vice, that nothing which any one can say or do, may 
 interrupt me in, or take me off from that way of 
 life which is to depart from hell beneath. O let 
 me not be of the number of those who draw back 
 to destruction ; but of their happy number, who do 
 hollevG to the saving of the soul. 
 
376 
 
 O Lord God, thou hast begun to show thy ser- 
 vant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand ; go en, I 
 pray thee, to work for the glory of thy name» and 
 to perfect that which concerns me. Thou hast been 
 my help, leave me not, nor forsake me, O God of 
 my salvation ; but hold thou me up and I shall be 
 safe, and 1 will have respect to thy statutes con- 
 tinually. Establish, O Lord, strengthen, settle me ; 
 and leave me no will or power to resist the gracious 
 designs and methods of thy love and mercy, for the 
 healing and saving of my soul. And as 1, by my 
 frailty, do still renew my sins, gracious Lord, 
 through thy mercy, renew me to repentance ; and 
 though I fall, let me not utterly be cast down, but 
 uphold me by thy almighty hand ; preserve me to 
 thy heavenly kingdom, and keep me by thy power, 
 through faith to salvation. Lord make me faithful 
 unto death, that t/iou mayest give me the crown of 
 life, that blessed end of my faith, even the eternal 
 salvation of my soul, through Jesus Christ, my dear 
 Lord and Saviour. Amen, 
 
 A PRAYER FOR A CHILD. 
 
 Glory be to thee, O Lord, in whom I live, and 
 move, and have my being ; who hast preserved me 
 ever since I was born. 
 
 I humbly worship thee, O Lord my heavenly 
 Father, through Jesus Christ, my Redeemer ; O, 
 give me thy grace, that 1 may faithfully serve thee 
 all the days of my life : Wash me from the guilt of 
 my sins in the fountain of Christ's precious blood, 
 save me daily by thy grace from the practise of sin ; 
 let thy good Spirit restrain and cleanse the corrup- 
 tion of my nature : help me to remember thee, my 
 
377 
 
 Creator, in the days of my youth : preserve me from 
 those errors and follies to which the frailty of my age 
 does most expose me, and keep me innocent from 
 every great oftence ; deliver me from lying and vani- 
 ty, from picking and stealing, from swearing and 
 sabbath-breaking, and from the temptations of evil 
 company. 
 
 Incline my heart to all that is good, that I may 
 be modest and humble, true and just, meek and 
 kind, temperate and diligent, respectful and obedient 
 to all my superiors, that I may fear and love thee 
 above all, and my neighbour as myself. Let thy 
 good providence defend me from all evil night and 
 day : let the grace of thy holy Spirit continually 
 direct and assist me; bless me in my learning, and 
 help me daily to increase in knowledge and wisdom, 
 and in all virtues ; instruct me O Lord, more and 
 more in the truths of thy holy word, and in the 
 knowledge of thy salvation, that I may live holy, 
 die comfortably, and be eternally happy in thy king- 
 dom of bliss and glory. 
 
 Bless all my dear friends, relations, and benefac- 
 tors ; grant to them whatever may be good for them 
 in this life, and guide them and me to everlasting 
 happiness in thy kingdom, through Jesus Christ, 
 my dear Lord and Saviour. Amen. 
 Our Father, &c. 
 
 A MORNING PRAYER. 
 
 O Lord God, that hearest prayers, and art nigh 
 to all that call upon thee in truth, having thy ears 
 open to a world of creatures, that continually depend 
 upon thee ! As we are moved by our own necessities, 
 so are we encouraged by the daily experience of 
 
 32* 
 
378 
 
 thy mercies still to shelter ourselves under the- 
 shadow of thy wings, and to continue our suits and 
 supplications at the throne of thy grace. And we- 
 beg of thee, who fashionest ail the hearts of the- 
 sons of men, that thou wilt prepare our hearts to 
 come into thy holy presence and to call upon thy bles- 
 sed name, in a due and acceptable manner. O ! pour 
 upon us the spirit of grace and of supplications ; 
 and let thy good Spirit help our infirmities, and 
 teach us to pray, and to ask such things, and in 
 such a way, as shall be most agreeable to thy will 
 and most advantageous to our souls. 
 
 We have taken upon us to speak unto thee, the 
 Sovereign Majesty of heaven and earth, who are 
 but poor worms, and sinful dust and ashes ; that 
 have too just cause to be afraid, lest our great and 
 manifold sins had provoked thee to hide thy face 
 from us, and shut up thy loving kindness in dis- 
 pleasure against us. For we have done foolishly 
 and wickedly, in not hearkening to the calls of thy 
 word, nor yielding to the monitions of thy Spirit, 
 to walk in the ways which thou hast set before us. 
 Our iniquities are increased over our heads, our 
 trespass is grown even up to heaven, and our sins 
 are a sore burden, too grievous and heavy for us to 
 bear. They are infinite debts, and sad accounts ; 
 for which if thou, O Lord, shouldst enter into 
 judgment with us, we could not answer thee one 
 of a thousand; but must lay our hands upon our 
 mouths, and plead nothing but guilty, having our 
 whole dependence upon thy mercy. 
 
 O God, be merciful to us, miserable sinners, for 
 his sake, whom thou hast exalted to be a Prince and 
 9 Saviour, to give repentance to thy people, and for- 
 
379 
 
 giveness of their sins: be merciful to us, we praj 
 thee, and heal our souls, that have greatly sinned 
 against thee. O heal our backslidings, renew us 
 to repentance, establish our hearts in thy true fear 
 and love, and establish our goings in thy holy ways ; 
 that we may not be so wavering and bent to back- 
 sliding, nor revolt from thee to turn to folly, after 
 thou in mercy hast spoken peace to our souls ; but 
 may go on conquering and to conquer all the ene- 
 mies of our souls, and all the hindrances of our sal- 
 vation, till Satan be bruised under our feet. 
 
 O thou God of all grace ! bring such thoughts 
 to our minds, and lay such considerations home 
 powerfully upon our hearts, as thou knowest most 
 effectual to prevail with us, to work us in thy will, 
 and to keep us from our iniquity, within the bounds 
 of our duty, till thou receive us into the blessed 
 kingdom of thy glory. And, in the mean time, 
 sanctify to us all thy dealings with us ; and bless us 
 in all our undertakings, and in all our conditions, 
 fruitions, and relations. Make us humble in an 
 high estate, contented in a low, and still duly care- 
 ful of our souls in all : following after the things 
 now which will bring us true peace and comfort at 
 the last. 
 
 Dispose of us, we beseech thee, (our God) and 
 of all that concerns us this day, to the glory of thy 
 name. O keep us at all times, and in all places 
 and companies, from the evil of sin, and from all 
 other evils, to which the greatness of our sins does 
 make us liable. And take thou, O heavenly Father, 
 the gracious charge, and guidance, and government 
 of us ; and so lead us here in all our ways, with thy 
 counsel, that hereafter thou mayest receive us into 
 
380 
 
 thy glory ; through thy tender mercies, and our Sa- 
 viour's abundant merits ; in whose own words, we 
 beg all things needful for ourselves and others, at 
 thy hands, 
 
 Our Father, &c. 
 
 AN EVETsING PRAYER. 
 
 O liORD, the infinite, incomprehensible God, who 
 art before all, art above all, and will be for ever the 
 same, when time shall be no more ! Thou hast 
 heaven for thy throne and the earth for thy foot- 
 stool ; and all the things in both, continually in thy 
 sight, and at thy disposal. Thou art the Searcher 
 of our hearts and the Overseer of our whole lives, 
 here and every where present ; and now and ever- 
 more thou seest us, and compasselh our path, and 
 lying down, and art thoroughly acquainted with all 
 our ways. Thou knowest, O Lord, the dulness and 
 hardness, the vanity and deceitfulness of our hearts; 
 how much ado have we to bring and keep them in 
 an holy frame, fit to attend upon thy heavenly Ma- 
 jesty. For that we were born sinners, and so have 
 lived and continued ; and by custom of sinning, 
 and still adding sin unto sin, we have made our- 
 selves more the children of wrath than we are by 
 nature ; transgressing thy holy, good, and righteous 
 laws, abusing thy great and manifold mercies, tempt- 
 ing thy patience, despising thy goodness, ofTendingr 
 thee more, even for thy long forbearance with us, 
 and making the very abundance of thy grace our en- 
 couragement to continue in our sins. So that the 
 least of all those mercies which we do enjoy, is far 
 above any thing that we have reason to expect, at 
 the hands of that God whom we have so greatly 
 
381 
 
 provoked. And justly mightest thou, O Lord, with- 
 draw thy tender mercies from us, and pour out thy 
 wrath and indignation to the uttermost upon us ; 
 making us to find and feel by woful experience, 
 what an evil and bitter thing it is to trespass upon 
 thee, as we have done. Thou mightest make us 
 experience the same, in the place of torment, and 
 outward darkness, where is weeping and wailing 
 and gnashing of teeth, and from whence there is 
 no redemption. 
 
 But thou art a God of wonderful patience to bear 
 with sinners ; and a God of infinite goodness and 
 mercy, to forgive the sins of all them that are peni- 
 tent. Thou hast said, that if the wicked forsake 
 his w^ay, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and 
 return to the Lord, thou wilt have mercy upon him, 
 and abundantly pardon. But, O Lord, thou know- 
 est that without thee we cannot so much as come 
 unto thee, unless thou meet us witlj thy heavenly 
 grace, and help us with thy Almighty assistance. 
 We humbly beg, therefore, that thou wilt be gra- 
 ciouly pleased to stretch forth thy powerful and 
 merciful hand, to loose the captive chain wherein 
 our sins have entangled our souls. And let it be 
 thy gracious pleasure, O blessed Lord, to set us 
 free from every weight of sin and yoke of bondage, 
 that lies heavy upon our souls, and unfits us to 
 serve thee with that sincerity and readiness, and 
 gladness which thou requirest of thy people. O 
 help us to see and feel, so to hate and bewail," and 
 confess, and forsake our sins, that we may have the 
 well-grounded apprehension, and the comfortable 
 persuasion of thy forgiveness of them ! thy acccept-. 
 
382 
 
 ance of us, and that love to us in the blessed Son 
 of thy eternal love. 
 
 And for his sake wilt thou grant us, O Lord, the 
 increase of thy grace, and such aids of thy holy 
 Spirit, as may enable us to subdue our sins, and fit 
 us for all the duties of thy service, which either we 
 have neglected, or but uriduly and faultily performed. 
 That we may serve thee, our God, sincerely with- 
 out hypocrisy; cheerfully, without dulness; uni- 
 versally without partiality ; and constantly without 
 falling away, or being weary of well-doing. Thou 
 art not weary to do us good : O let us never be 
 weary to do thee service. But as thou hast plea- 
 sure in the prosperity of thy servants, so let us take 
 pleasure in the service of our Lord, and abound in 
 thy work, and in thy love and praise evermore. 
 O fill up all that is wanting, and reform whatever 
 is amiss in us, and perfect that which concerns 
 us ; making ususuch in our hearts, and in our lives, 
 towards thee our God, that we may obtain thy bles- 
 sed peace here, and thy heavenly glory hereafter. 
 And be thou pleased to grant us now (out of the 
 riches of thy grace) the comfortable sense of thy 
 gracious acceptance of uS: and thy merciful inten- 
 tions towards us. O speak peace to our con- 
 sciences, and say to our souls, thou art our salva- 
 tion ; that we may look upon thee our God, as a 
 reconciled Father to us in Jesus Christ. 
 
 In his great namp, and prevailing mediation we 
 enlarge our petitions, in behalf of the whole race 
 of mankind, that are now with us alive upon earth. 
 O that all the ends of the world may remember 
 themselves, and tarn to the Lord, and see the sal- 
 ration of our God! Do good, O God, in thy gooij 
 
383 - 
 
 pleasure to Zion, and build thou the walls of Jeru- 
 salem, that we may see the good of it all the days 
 of our life. Continue thy mercies to this sinful 
 land, whereof we are sinful members. Teach us 
 to know the meaning of thy dispensations to us; 
 and help us to improve by all thy dealings with us. 
 O turn all our hearts to thee, as the heart of one 
 man ; and reform all our lives, according to the 
 holy pattern and precepts of our Lord, that thou 
 mayest cause thy anger towards us to cease ; and 
 go on still to take care of us, and never leave nor 
 forsake us. 
 
 Bless abundantly, we humbly beseech thee, thy 
 servant the President of the United States, and all 
 others in authority ; and so replenish them with the 
 grace of thy holy spirit, that they may always in- 
 cline to thy will and walk in thy way. Endue them 
 plenteously with heavenly gifts ; and grant them 
 in health and prosperity long to live : and grant 
 unto all ministers of thy gospel, continual supplies 
 of all needful gifts and graces of thy holy Spirit, 
 for the faithful and comfortable discharge of their 
 several duties. O bring all our neighbours near to 
 thyself; and be thou a friend to all our friends, a 
 father to the fatherless, a husband to the widow, a 
 refuge to the oppressed, a physician to the sick, 
 a helper to the friendless, a God of consolation to 
 to the distressed and sorrowful, whatever be their 
 trouble and affliction. O bless to us, whatever thou 
 art pleased to allot us, and every thing that befalls 
 us. Make all work for our good : to build us up 
 in thy grace, and to help us on to thy glory. 
 
 And as thou hast been good and kind to us the 
 day past, and throughout our whole lives : (for 
 
384 
 
 which we desire, O Lord, humbly and thankfully 
 to admire thy love, and to bless thy name : so we 
 beg that we may experience the continuance of 
 thy gracious goodness, to us, and thy fatherly care 
 over us, this present night. O preserve, and de- 
 fend, and bless, and keep us, that no evil may be- 
 fall us, nor any plague come nigh our dwelling. 
 Give us sleep and rest to refresh and strengthen us 
 for thy service, and our duty : and prepare us, O 
 Lord, for our last sleep in death, and for our depar- 
 ture out of this mortal life, and those great ac- 
 counts that we must make before the judgment-seat 
 of Jesus Christ. instruct us, and assist us, in 
 that great work of preparation for our cverhsting 
 condition : that we may (in this only time of pre- 
 paration) finish the great work which thou hast 
 given us to do, before the night of death overtake 
 us, wherein we cannot work. That, whenever 
 thou shalt be pleased to give us the summons of 
 death, we may find nothing to do but to die, and 
 cheerfully resign our spirits into thy gracious hands, 
 who gavest them to us, through the riches of thy 
 grace, and the worthiness of thy son ; in whose 
 merits alone we trust, and for all that he has so 
 wonderfully effected, to recover and help us, and 
 to obtain eternal redem|)tion for us. To thy name, 
 O blessed God of our salvation, be the praise, and 
 honour, and glory, given by us and all thy people, 
 from this time forth for evermore. Amen. 
 
 55 
 
383 
 
 A PRAYER FOR REPENTANCE* 
 
 O MOST holy Lord God, against whom I have 
 greatly sinned, and who for my sins art justly dis- 
 pleased : thou hast revealed thy wrath from hea- 
 ven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of 
 men, that impenitently go on in their trespasses ; 
 and hast let us know, that as we all have sinned, so, 
 except we repent, we shall all perish. Even the 
 Saviour of sinners, will not save any sinner without 
 repentance ; nor dost thou remit what we do not 
 repent ; though, upon our repentance, thou hast 
 assured us of thy gracious pardon and acceptance : 
 and when we return unto thee, and humble our- 
 selves before thee, thou wilt show us thy compas- 
 sion, and grant us thy salvation. O gracious Lord! 
 great is thy mercy to vouchsafe unto us this reme- 
 dy ; and to deal so favourably with us as to forgive 
 and receive us, when we are but sensible of our 
 miscarriages and rebellions ; and humbly submit 
 ourselves, and leave off to do so foolishly and wick- 
 edly. Such humiliation and reformation is the best 
 and most needful thing for me to do ; but O how 
 averse and insufficient am I to do it ! thou. Search- 
 er of hearts, knowest my heart to be so hardened, 
 through the deceilfulness of sin, that as soon may I 
 fetch water out of the flint, as godly sorrow out of 
 'this obdurate heart, if thou the great God, do not 
 soften it with thy holy fear, and dissolve and over- 
 come it with thy powerful love : and that I can no 
 more turn with all my heart to the Lord, than I can 
 turn the course of a river to run back to the foun- 
 tain, unless thou draw me by thy grace, and giv« 
 
386 
 
 me power from on high, to enable me for the bles- 
 sed work. 
 
 O thou that didst cause water to gush out of the 
 stony rock, wilt tbou break and melt my rocky 
 heart into such contrition, as works repentance un- 
 to salvation ! Yea, thou that fashionest all the 
 hearts of the sons of men, take away from me the 
 heart of stone, and give me a heart of flesh, brok- 
 en and contrite, such as thou wilt not despise, that 
 1 may look upon him whom my sins have pierced, 
 and mourn ; and be in bitterness for all the foul 
 offences that I have committed against the Lord of 
 love, the God of all my mercies. O give me such 
 true repentance for them, that thou mayest also 
 give me full pardon of them. Give me, good 
 Lord, that repentance which thy holy word re- 
 quires, and such as thy gracious goodness in Christ 
 Jesus will mercifully accept : even the repentance 
 unto life, never to be repented of. O help me so 
 to repent, and to be converted, that my sins may 
 be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall 
 come from the presence of the Lord. Turn thou 
 me, O Lord God of my salvation, and so shall I 
 be turned, and change my mind, and amend my 
 life, and bring forth fruits meet for repentance : not 
 only confessing and bewailing sins committed, but 
 also hating and forsaking sins confessed and be- 
 wailed : loathing, as much, as ever I have loved, 
 the things that displease thy holy wili, and disho- 
 nour thy blessed name. 
 
 What I cannot recall, yet, Lord, give me grace 
 to repent. And where I am (alas!) so far from 
 innocent, Father of mercies, make me penitent. 
 And touch my heart with such a powerful sense of 
 
387 
 
 all thy loving kindness, as may work upon my in- 
 genuity : to break my heart for my sins, and from 
 them : and make me sorrowfully concerned, that 
 ever I should commit offences so great against the 
 God so infinitely good : yea, make me so circum- 
 spect and full of care, to keep myself henceforth in 
 thy fear and love, that I may never be so strange 
 to thee, as I have been , nor fall away from thee, 
 and trespass upon thee, as I have done. O my 
 God ! let thy goodness lead me to such repentance. 
 And help me so to break off my sins, and to turn 
 and cleave unto thy blessed self, that thou mayest 
 have mercy upon me, and abundantly pardon all 
 my abounding sins, through the infinite riches of 
 ihy grace and goodness, in the Son of thy lov§i 
 my onlj Saviour, Jesus Christ, Amen, 
 
 WNW, 
 
•v-^v? 
 
Theological Seminary-Speer Library 
 
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