s n I rn i.3 vv 'MIVJ-JO- 1 ^. S I I I 5 I i ^ >ii 5v flf I I | g 5 ^ ^illBRARYO/ \i 1 )s s %^AiNfi3\\ = i II s 3 10^ ^ ^OF-CAIIFO/?^ ^\\E-IJNIVER% ^:U)S-AMCElFj> ? -i i/' i atJfo i GOSPEL SONNETS; O R, SPIRITUAL SONGS. IN SIX PARTS. I. The BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. II. The BELIEVER'S Joi NTU R E. III. The BELIEVER'S KIDDLE. IV. The BELIEVER'S LODGING. V. The BELIEVER'S SOLILOQ.UY. VI. The B E L r E v E K'S PRINCIPLES, CONCERNING CREATION and REDEMPTION, LAW and GOSPEL, JUSTIFICATION and SANCTIFICATION, FAITH and SENSE, HEAVEN and EARTH. THE TWENTY-THIRD EDITION. In which the Holy Scriptures are fully extended. . By the late Reverend Mr RALPH ERSKINX, Minifter of the Gofpel at DUKFERMLINE. To which is now prefixed, An Account of the AUTHOR'S Life and Writings. Mlra canam, fed ^, T TT 7 H ATEVER apologies this book lias-formerl y been VV prefaced with (as to the manner in which many linco in it are written), (hall be here altogether clropt and forborn. I nowdifmilV.it as it is, under the conduc.1 of divine providence, to take its hazard in the world; fmce It has already fevved its apprentkeihi;), under feveral impreffions, and gone both through kind and hard u- fnge, through good report and bad report. It never pro- mi fed much to them that feck nothing but picafnre and fut-isfi'.fiion to their fancy:, but I have heard, that il done fome for/ice (and, I hope, through the blefung of Heaven, it may yet d/: more) to diem that feek profit and edificciiion to their fouls. The late edition of this book at London, being more full and complete than any that was formerly emitted, it is fit here to acquaint the reader, that this U pri exactly of/ the Lcndo dition or alteration, excepi; . that comes under the n::;re of Ill-liUm, or : and part Jtx/'/j, chap. ii. frr tlie benefit of diofe that are weak in knov."' ;ind unacqu-iint! fcripture v . I have dir."-.'l-- cd them by a letter of iL: :vciy branch. *of the fentei.-. [J'y orpofite o die oti 1 : , vie fcripti' ie or more, for evinci- ... . , means t ] :e weal-,. 1 :.. uadcrfland the .. or myflefy, i iehtion( d ' - : : i v/ork; at iou:; : , nvJtebv 2 THE PREFACE. pLin and neceflary confequence. Only this general i ule is to be obferved, namely, That the reader always con- fider what is the fubjecl treated in every feftion or ftan- *a; and this, for the fake of the more'illrterale, I fhall ilhiftrate by two examples, the one concerning the law, the other concerning the believer. The former you fee j> , TTT r-' * x art III. feet. vi. ver. 25. I'm net obliged to keep it more; Yet more obliged than e'er before. Here you are to remark, that as the fubjecl fpoke of, is the i, AW ; fo the lav/ in fcripture ia ccnfidered two ways, t'.'z. both as a covenant of works, and as a rule of dt.ty. Now, that the believer is under no obligation to the law, as it is a cerpfnant 'of works, or to perform o- beclience to it .as a ground of juftification, (which is al- fo the fubjecl treated in that feclion), is confirmed in the foot-notes by the following fcriptures, to which you are dire-tied by the letter (j-), Rom. vi. 14. Gal. v. i, 2, 3, 4. Where you may fee believers are faid to be not un- der the Liiu, but ur.der grace ; and exhorted to Jland fa ft it: the liberty ivkerfkvith C./:riJt balk mcde them free /and alTured, that Cbrijl is become of no effect to them, ivbofce- ver of them are j unified kv the laiv ; they are fallen fnm {rrac'e. Ag?.iir, that the believer is under mere obliga- tion than ever before he was juftified, to yield obedi- ence to the 1-aw as it is a rule of life , (which is the other branch of that paradox), is confirmed by thefe follow- ing texts of fcripture, to which you are directed by the letter (/), Rom. vi. i, 2, 15. where it is faid, Shall tie continue infill) the,': gytice may abound ? God forbid : honu faall we that arc dead to fin , //'i-v any longer therein ? What " then ?ft:c.H i-ceftn , becanfe tue are net under the la ct,-, //// ::?;rA r frrace? God forbid.-- From which texts, together with their contexts, it is evident, that the believer's freedom from the lav/ as a covenant, does not at all free him frornob- Jjgation to it as a rule, but fuperaddsto the natural obiiga- tipr^BKof grace, \\-hichbotiiargurr.entativelv and effec- tively teaches what the law does authoritatively and pre- ceptivelVj namely, /V dfir: tingctUitiefs andivcp/dty ////.Vjf?/.;'* THE P R F A C ,, _ . Tit. ji. n, 12. The other example I addu:e, you may read, PartllL feet. ii. vcr. 47. where the words are, To good and evil equal bent ; I'm both a devil and a faint. Here the reader may notice, that the fubjet fppken of is the BELIEVER, or the faint's old and new man defcribed (which is part of the title of that feel ion), or confidered as to his unregenerate and regenerate part; in which view he is frequently fpoke of in fcripture ; ex.gr. i John iii. 6, 9. it is faid of the believer, or the perfon born of God, 'hat he ftnneth not, and that he cannot fin t becanfe bj is l:rn of Gin: there he is fpoken of as to his new nature, or regenerate part. But, i John i. 8. the words are, If tue fay that we have no fin, ws ilsrzi-vs our- felves, and the truth is not in us: where the apoitle fpeaks of believers unregenerate and corrupt part. Now, this being the fcriptural reprefentation of tlie believer, the forefaid paradox is eafily proven from fcripture. They/V/7 branch is, That he is equally bent to good and to evil. For the proof of this, you are directed in the foot-note to Rom.vii. 21. where the apoftle Paul, fpeaking both- of his corrupt and renewed part, fays, I find a law, that nvhen Inujuld do goid, evil is prefint with me. And, if you read the preceding and Following con- text, you will find him complaining how corruption bends him as far one way as grace another. The other part of the fame paradox is, That the be- liever is, on thefe accounts,botli zdcvil and v.fr.int. Now, that the believer is by nature and corraption a dsvil, is one branch of this pofition here to be confirmed. That he is fo by nature,'^ proven by the following fcrijll in the forecited page at the bottom, John \\. viii. 44. compared; where Chfift, fpealcing were in a natural flate, viz. of Judas and covers what is the (late of all men by n;: are of their father the devil, fince the lit-fls of i,>. ..-' - : fjtj- 7t-;7/ do; and therefore maybe called devi^, as c A 2 Lord call-,; Judas, faying, I haw clr.fcn y.u tivel\x one of you is a fli-'ji!. And fuch are believers uifo natur- ally, as dependents of the fir II Adam, being children of tlipbedience, and children of iurath l\- nature, fjen as others, Eph. ii. 2, 3. And that the believer is fo, not only by nature, but alfo by reaibn of remaining corruption, is proven at the foot of the fame page, from James 111.15. where that apoitlc, fpeaking of ftrife and envy, that may be even among the children of Gccl (which indeed has too much taken place in all ages), fays, This tuifdom de- fccndeth not from above, but is earth! ;, fcnf;n:l, tL'vi/i/l\ Again, that though the believer be by nature and cor- ruption a devil, yet he is, by grace and regeneration, a faint, is documented alfo, in the fame page, from i Cor. vi. 1 1. Such ivere fonie of you ; but ye arefanflified, &c. In this manner you may eafily go over ail the reft of the paradoxes, riddles, or myileiies, contained in this book, and find them evidently confirmed by the fcrip- tures of truth, the word of God. This might be no un- profitable exereife, but tend to lead you in to the true knowledge of the goipel, to which myfteries are fo ef- fential,that it is defigned by them, and called//^ ivrfdoin if God in a myjtery, i Cor. ii. 7. and the knowledge of which is fo eilcritral to Chriftianity, and fo ribfolutely neceilivry to falvatioii,that the fame apoftle declares, that if our gcTpel be hid, it is hid tj them that are lojl : in 'whom the god of this i9orld hath blinded the minds of them ivhich believe not left the light of the glorious gofpel of Chrifl, 'who Is the image of Gcd^JljouldJhine utito tvem. 2 Cor. vi. 3. Again, if you fearch the fcriptures, you will fee many rnofe proofs for every point than I have adduced, and perhaps many much more appofite ; for thefe only are let down at the bottom of the page ^that iirit occurred to me : yet, I fuppofe, though fometimes but one, and ibmetimes more fcriptures are pointed out, they are fucli as fuflkiently confirm the pofitions they relate to. But that cither fcriptures might have been adduced in plenty, I fhali give one inftancc; in the paradox juit now men- tioned, viz. That every believer, while in this world, is THE PREFACE. 5 loth a devil and a fuint. The latter claufe is what none will deny, namely, That every true believer is a fuint; for further proof of which, you might fee Acts xv. 9. and xxvi. 1 8. bV. But becaufe the fir ft claufe may feem more harfh, it may by fcripture be alfo further evinced two ways : i/?, In reipeft of the daily commiflion of fin he has to challenge himfelf with; for the fcripture fays, EccL vii. 20. There is not a jujl man upon earth) that clo- etb good and finneih int. And with this compare i John iii. 8. He that commltteth fin, is of the devil. Hence it is plain, there is net a jult man upon earth, but may, in refuedl: of the comm'imon of fin, be called a devil. idly, In refpecl of prevalent temptations, by which he may be hurried into thole things lhaffavottr r itofofG0d t but vfir.cn , on which account Chviil fays to Peter, Matt. xvi. 23. Get thee behind me, Satan. And if Chrift calls Peter a devil, whom he had defcribed as a faint of the firft magnitude, ver. 1 7. one divinely blefled and en- lightened ; what occafion may every believer have to call himfelf a devil ! Yea, it is a part of his faith and fantity, to fee and acknowledge, with ihame before the Lord, his own devil ifh and deiperately wicked heart and nature ; which a blind, felf-conceited world are ig- norant of, being neither acquainted with themfelves, nor with God and his word. However, fo it is, that the more any fhall fearch the feripture, the more, I hope, will they diicern. not only by the texts I have quoted, but from many others alfo, the truth and evidence of every part of thi* hook, however myllerious fome paf- fages of it may feem to many. Though fome of thefo lines may want the politcnefs that can pleafe the curious age:, yet, while they (land firm upon a fcriptural foundation, none of them want authority, and that of the higheil nature, except in the account of mockers, and thole (of whom there are too rnuny in our day) that are either Deilts, who underva- lue the fcripture, or Atheil'ts, who deride it: and it is fadly to be regretted, that thofe people are hardened in their wicked principles arid practices, by fome that per- A ? 6 THE P R E F A C E. haps have a higher profefiion. For, I have feen two prints, one called the Groan, and another the Laugh t wherein fome lines, picked-out among others, have been expofed to ridicule; but however fuch gentlemen may laugh at their own fport, and wickedly divert themfelves with ferious matters for a time, I fear their laughing- will iflue in weeping for ever; if God, by giving them repentance, do not make them groan to purpo.ie, for the evidence they thus give of either their grievous ig- norance of the fcripture, or their grofs profanity, and of their readinefs to yield themfelves instruments of the devil, to promote the Atheiftical fpirit of the age, which i ; bent enough (without ;\r\\ fuch provocations) to laugh at every thing ferious, facred, and fcriptural. This is fo palpable, without my obfervation upon it, and fo felf- evident to all that fear God, and have had the patience to read fuch prints, that I would not have thought them worth my noticing fo far, as to make this bare men- tion of them, had not Providence put the pen in my hand to preface this edition, wherein fcriptural proofs iC added to that part of the book. Reader, It gives me fatisf action enough to under- stand, that this book has already been ufeful and edi- fying to forne, hoM'ever it. is intertained by others. The gofpel itielf is to feme the favour of life, to others the ; of 'death; to fome wtfdom, to others fosli/bnefs; to lome matter ot faith, love, and comfort, to others mat- ter of mockery and fcorn. I (hall be far from thinking it any ciifcrenit or difparagement to this bock, if it meet with the like entertainment. May the Lord of heaven and earth who over-rules all things, accompany it, in ^3 journies abroad or at home, with his bleiimg to ma- ny fouls; and to his care I commend it, in the words of a famous Scots poet, upon Pfalm xxxv. r. Rerum f ancle Opifex, ades, ILt pat roc inio prctege me tuo, Wl4h may be adapted to the matter in hand thus 1 The trtith ivhich ke!t may criticije^ Great G;d } ? r.. A POEM, dedicated to the Reverend Mr RALPH ERSKINE, by a. Lady in New England, upon reading his Gofpel Son- nets. T7 1 RSKINE, thou Me/Ted herald, found JQj Till fin's black empire totter to the ground. Weil haft thou Sinai's awful flumes difplay'd, And rebels doom before their conluence laid : From fin, from felf, from trail in duty fly, Commit thy naked foul to Chriil, or die. Go on and profper in the name of God, Seraphic preacher, through the thorny road; The gracious Chrift, thy labours will reward; His angel-bands be thy perpetual guard; Though hell's dark regions at the prefent hifs, The God of glory thy ftrong refuge is. Mere moral preachers have no pow'r to charm, Thy lines are fuch my nobler paffions warm ; Thefe glorious truths have fet my foul on fire, And while read, I'm love and pure defire. May the black train of errors hatch'd in hell No longer on this globe in quiet dwell; May more like you be rais'd to (how their fhame, And call them by their diabolic name. Kxalt the Lamb in lovely white and red, Angels and faints Ins lading honours fpread; My trembling foul mall bear her feeble part, ' 1'is he hath charm'd my foul, asid won my heart, l>lefs'd be the Father for electing love. x Hlefs'd be the Son who does my guilt remove, I'lefs'd be the Dove who does his grace apply. Oh ! may I praifing livo, and praiiing die ! 1 SOME ACCOUNT OF THE REVEP, END R RALPH ERSKINE. HE Rev. Mr RALPH ERSKINE was honour- ably defcended of very refpectable anceftors; his father, the Rev. Mr HENRY ERSKINK, being one of the thirty-three children of RALPH ERSKINE of Shiel- iield, a family of confiderable repute and ftanding in the county of Merfe, and originally defcended from the ancient houfe of MAR. Our Author, and his bro- ther, the Rev. Mr EBENEZER ERSKISK, late minifter (if the gofpel at Stirling, were two of the children of the laid Rev. Mr HF.N R v Ei< ; KI NE, who was fometime minifter of the gofpel at Cornwal, afterwards at Chirn- iide * j a man eminent in his day, and juftly diftinguifh- cd fcr his piety and firm attachment to Prelbyterian, principles : For his lledfait adherence to which, he was lubjocted to many confiderable hardfhips in the latter part of the lail century, during the persecuting period of Charles II. and James VII -K The Author of the following Poems was born at Monilaws, in the county of Northumberland, on Sab- bath the ijth of March 1685, at three o'clock in the afternoon ; and baptized at Chirnfide on the 5th of A- pril faid year, by the Rev. Mr William Violancl. He gave pretty early proofs of a great genius and fine fancy ; and feveral inftances of a pious difpofition and a folid way of reflecting on matters. On this ac- count he was, by his parents, early dellined for the ho- ly miniftry, who refolved to give him a regular and li- beral education, in order to qualify him for that im- portant office. * CORNWAL is in the fhiie of Northumberland; CHIS:NSTD E Les about five miles from I'eiwick upon Tweed, in the Scots lid f See the continuation of Calaniv's life of Baxter, p. 681 When he had acquired a competent meafure of Grammar, an.! ovhcr introductory parts of education, he went: ;-o the univerfity of Edinburgh, to complete Lis ftudies , wit :re he went through the ordinary courfes of PJiilofophy and. Divinity with fuccefs ; and made a coniiderabie pv-ogrefs in all the different branches of li- terature : for he ibon became a' fine Grecian, an excel- lent Logician, and an accomplished Philofopher. But after having acquired fuch a competent rner.fure or. knowledge, in theft; various branches of erudition, he gaKe luiiifelf up to the iludy of theology, his darling ar,'.] beloved topic ; in which he rnr.de. great progrefs, as his productions therein do abundantly evidonco. The ordinary courfe of philofophical and theologi- cal ftudies being gone throug/i, at the College of E- dinburgh, with fuccefs ; he v/as, ir. the providence of God, called forth to appear in a public character j and being well reported of, by all who knew him, lor <\ eonverfatioa becoming die gofpel, he was accordingly taken upon trials by the prelbytery, of^ Dunfermline : and haying ilniilied the ufual pieces of trial afFigned him, to the entire fatisfaclion of the Prelbtery he was by them licenuxl to preach, as a probnti'jner, the ever- lading gofpel, on the '8th of June, 1709. In which capacity he exercifed the talent! which the Lord had graciouily conferred 0:1 .him, wivhin the bounds of the faid Preibtery, both in vacancies and fettled con- grei^uions, to the great fatisfaclion of his hearers, both ininifters and people, as his certificate from that Prei- bytery, dated April .jlhj 1711. exprefsly bears. In this flation of life he did not long remain: Providence loon opened a door for him; and his got an unanimous call, irom the parifhoncrs of Dunfermline, on the firft of may 171 1, to cxercife his miniilerial talents and abili- ties amongit them ; which call was approver of by the Prelbytery on the day following, as regularly proceed- ed in. He went through the ufual pieces of trial, for ordination, prescribed by the Prefbytery, with appro- bation -, and thereupon they fet him apart to the office E of.i he A u r H o R . of the hoiy miniiiry, in the -collegiate charge ol Dun- fermline, 0:1 -Augtiil 7th 1711. Under the character of a minifter of the gofpel, hav- ing now a paftoral relation to a particular flock, in the church univerfal, ha determined not to know any thing fu'-je jft'fus Chrift and him crucified : He was injlant in j'c-.tfon and cut of fe a foil) in all parts of his miniilerial la- bours, and gave himfelf wholly thereunto; exhorting the people under his trufl, from houfe to houfe, in the way of family vintaticn ; examining them more pub- licly upon the principles of our holy religion; vifiting the fick, when called; and preaching the everlafting gcfpel, in which he had a very pleafant and edifying gift. He preached, by turns, with his colleague, eve- ry Sabbath and Thurfday, through the year; and after- wards, when he had none, for feveral years before his death, he officiated alone, very punctually, both on Sabbath and week-day. He delivered fe\v extemporary productions. His fermons were generally the frait of diligent (tudy, and affiduous application. For the moft part lie wrote all; and kept very clofe by his notes in the delivery, except n-hen the Lord was pleafed to carry in upon his mind, in time of preaching, fcine pat and appofite enlarge- ments, whereof he had no previous fludy, and to which he neverthelefs chearfully gave way, as coming from HIM who has the tongue of the learned ; who knows how to fpeak a tvord hi feafon to him that is weary ; and who fays, Itfbali be given you the fame hour what yejhall fpeak ,- for it is not ye that fpeak, but the Spirit of your Father that fpeaketh in you, He was blefied with a rich and fertile invention, as appears in the agreeable and entertaining diverfity, wherewith his heads of doctrine are every where adorned. The poetical genius, with which he was happily endowed, contributed not a little to the embellishment of his difcourfes, with a variety of per- tinent epithets and ftriking metaphors. His gitt oi preaching was both inilrudHng and fearch- Fi' ;irgi;nieii' . 8ftw of werifs, Whicl ous and IV.': . -v liave been greatly h f'^ur i-l ti;e I are ver\ . .] Fn ? K! NJ- ; V- wi 1 10 ri " view fo The < . . ; :t!-, icl t! tojr.- . ' The LIFT of the AUTHOR, xiii Tacter. He was "not only defervedly efteemed, as a ju- dicious DIVINE ; but alfo much refpeted as a good POET : And he hath favoured the world with feveral excellent productions of that nature, which have all met with a very favourable reception. His poetical talent was employed chiefly on divine fubjecls ; he had no relifli and tafte for any other. In his younger years, at his leifure hours, he compofed the following piece, which is now intitled, GOSTEL SONNETS ; or, Spi- ritual Songs, in fix parts. The ufefulnefs of this poeti- cal compend of the revealed principles of our holy re- ligion, for promoting the life of faith, comfort and ho- linefs, will be experienced, it is hoped, by many of the faints of God, to the lateft pofterity. This piece was fo well relifhed, that it hath undergone a multitude of impreflions ; and the demand for it is as great as ever. About the year I 738, lie emitted into the world his poetical paraphrafe upon the whole book of the SONG OF SOLOMON : which indeed is an evangelical com- ment, done in a ftrain adapted to the New-Teftament difpenfation, upon that allegorical or figurative part of holy writ. This performance has likewife been very acceptable, and undergone a variety of editions. By emitting the above poetical effays into the workij and fome fmaller performances, our Author's abilities as a poet came to be known ; and induced the Reve_ rend Synod, of which he was a member, repeatedly to importune him, to employ fome of his vacant hours, in turning all the poetical paiTages of facred writ into common metre, of the fame kind with the Pfalms of David. Thefe recommendations he at laft complied with ; and his productions at laft made their appear- ance, under the title of SCRIPTURE SONGS, felefted from feveral paflages in the Old and New Teftamenr, which were well relifhed, and have now undergone three editions. Our Author, befides his fermons and poems, pub- lifhed feveral traces, on fome points of controverfy, in B NIV 27v LIFE of tie AUTHOR. which he difplayed his abilities as a writer : particu- larly an elaborate treatife, intitled, FAITH NO FANCY ', or, a Treatife of Mental Images : a book fmgularly va- luable, for the clear and perfpicuous manner in which he hath handled and eftablifhed this important point ; every way worthy of our Author, and reflected the greateft honour upon him ; in regard it hath given the greateft difplay of his abilities, both as a divine and philofopher, and how capable he was to exhauil any point, when he fet himfelf to it, even in an abflraft way of reafoning : a book that effectually filenccd all his opponents; and {lands to this day unanfwer- ed. This faithful and laborious fervant of Jefus Chrift, laboured fuccefsfully in the work of the miniftry, and continued publicly ufeful in his Matter's work, till with- in a few days of his departure; for he preached in his own pulpit on Sabbath the 2pth of Oclober 1752. and he was thereafter feized, in the end of the fame month, viz. October 1752, with a nervous fever, (wherein, ne- verthelefs he enjoyed the exercife of his judgment and fenfes) which lailed only for a few days, and at lalt was the happy meffenger of freeing him from the incum- brances of an imbodied Hate, and leading him to the world of fpirits, and the regions of eternal blifs and fe- licity; for on the eight day of the fever, he fell afleep in the Lord, being Monday Nov. 6th, 1752. in the 68th vear of his age, after labouring unweariedly and fuccefs- fully in the work of the miniflry, .among his flock in Dunfermline, for the fpace of forty-two years. Mr Erfkine, our worthy Author, affords room for large commendations, were we difpofed to give them; and his complete character is truly great, and his dif- pofition exceedingly amiable. If he is confidered as to his natural endowments > he poffeffed many fine qualities ; he had a fweet temper, a clear head, a rich invention, a lively imagination, and a great memory. If he is : 'v,ed as to his acquired abilities -, he was well acquaint- The LIFE of the AuTirn. xv ed with all the ufeful branches of literature, ;ieceflary to adorn the fcholar, and the minifter. If he is confi- dered as to his office; he was a gre.it and judicious di- vine, a pious evangelical preacher, and an able cafuift. In fhort, he was not only a learned man, and an able divine, but an affectionate familiar friend, a focial com- panion, a devout Chrittiaii, and a burning and Jhining K s ht. By his death, the churJ} of Chrift loft a great light, a heroic champion for the truth, and a bold contender for the faith, once delivered unto the faints, The body he was lad connected with, have been deprived of an ufefu4 member, and a mining ornament to their caufe. The congregation^ laboured among, loft an able faith- ful minifter, a laborious and fuccefsful wreftler, and a painful and diligent inftruclqr. Hisfomi/yzndre/atives, loft a true friend, an affecliionatehufband, a tender-hearted parent, and a ftriking pattern of virtue. His acquain- tance and intimates y an endearing brother, a focial com- panion, and an engaging friend. Mr. Erflcine was twice married. His fir ft marriage was with Margaret Dewar, a daughter of the laird of Laflodie -, wliich commenced the I5th of July, 1714. She lived with him about fixteen years; during which time me bore ten children, five fons and five daughters: three of thefe fons were minifters in the aflbciation, viz. the Rev. Meflrs Henry John, and James; the firft or- dained minifter at Falkirk, the fecond at Lefslie, and the third at Stirling. All of them died in the prime of life, when they had given the world juft ground to conceive high expectations of their ufefulnefs in the church. His fecond marriage was with Maragret Sim- fon, a daughter of Mr. Simfon, writer to the Signet ^t Edinburgh, which took place, February 24th, 1732. She bore him four fons, and furvived himfelf fome few years. One of the fons of this marriage is ftill in life, and re fides at London. All his other childred are now removed by death. B 2 .xvi 27vLiFE of the AUTHOR. AN ACROSTIC. M UCH fanrd on earth, renown'd for piety j A midft bright feraphs now fings chearfully. S acred thine anthems yield much pleafure here. T hefe fongs of thine do truly charm the ear *. E ach line tiiou wrot'il doth admiration raife; R oufe up the foul to true feraphic praife. R eligioufly thy life below was fpent: A mazing pleafures now thy foul content. /, ong didit thou labour in the church below, P ointing out Chrift, the Lamb who laves from wo, > H eav'n's blcficdnefs on linners to beftow. J E RSKINE the great! whofe pen fpread far abroad, R edeeming love; the fole device of God. S ubftantial themes thy thoughts did much purfus; K ept pure the truth, efpous'd bat by a few. / ntegrity of heart, of foul ferenej ) N o friend to vice, no cloke t<5 the profane: E mploy'd thy talents to reclaim the vain. * Alluding to his poetical pieeei. A T A B L E OF THE GOSPEL SONNETS. P A R T I. The Believer's Efpoufals. Preface, Page 25 /">H AP. I. A general account of man's fall in A- ^ dam t and the remedy provided in Cbrijl : and a particular account of man's being naturally wed- ded to the law as a covenant of works, 26 Sect. i. The fall of Adam, ib. Sect. 2. Redemption through Cbrlfl, 2J Sect. 3. Man's legal difpofition, 30 Sect. 4. Man's ftricl attachment to legal terms, or to the law as a condition of life, 31 Sect. 5. Man's vain attempt to feck life by Chr'ijfs righ- teoufnefs, joined with their own ; and legal hopes natu- ral to all, 33 Chap. II. The manner of a finner's divorce from the law in a work of humiliation, and of his mar- riage to the Lord Jefus Cbrift; or, The way how a finner comes to be a believer, 37 Sect. i. Of a law-work, and the workings of legal pride under it, ib. Sect. 2. Conviction of fin and wrath carried on more deeply and effectually on the heart, 40 Sect. 3. The deeply humbled foul relieved, with fome faving discoveries of Chnjl the Redeemer, - 43 Sect. 4. The workings of the Spirit of faith, in fe-par- ating the heart from ?.ll fclf-righteoufnefs,and drawing out its content .to, and df-lirc after Clrijl alone and wholly, 4^ Sect, v' Faith's vi-.-.v cf the freedom of grace, cord:- 13 3 iS THE TABLE. al renunciation of ail its own ragged righteoufnefs, and formal acceptance of and clofmg with the perfon of glo- rious Cbrift, 48 Chap. III. The fruits of the believer's marriage with Ckrffty particularly gofpel-hoiinefs, and obedience to the law as a rule, 5 1 Sect. j. The fweet folemnity of the marriage now o- ver, and the fad effedts of the remains of a legal fpirit, ib. Sect. 2. Faith's difcoveries_"over fin and Satanjh rough new and fnrtHer difcoveries of Chrijl, making believers more fruitful in holinefs, than all other pretenders to works, 5 } Sect. 3. True faying faith magnifying the law, both as a covenant and rule. Falfe faith unfruitful and ruining, 55 Sect. 4. The believer only, being married td Chrift, is juftifred and fandlihed ; and the more gofpel -freedom from the law as a covenant, the more holy conformity to it as a rule, 58 Sect, 5. Gofpel-grace giving no liberty to fin, but to holy fervice and pure obedience, 61 Chap. IV. A caution to all againft a legal fpirit, e- fpecially to thofc that have a profeiliori without power, and learning without grace, 62 ".hap. V. Arguments and encouragements to gofpel- miniilcrs to avoid a legal ftrain of doctrine, and en ' .avour the fmner's match with Chriit by gof- pel-maam, 65 Sect. i. A legal fpirit the root of damnable errors, ib. Sect. . A legal Itrain of doctrine difcovered and dif- cnrded, 67 Sect. 2. The hurtfulnefs of not preaching Chrift, and diilinguifhing duly between law and gofpel, 68 Sect. 4. Damnable pride and felf-righteoufnefs, fo na- tural to all men, has little need to be encouraged by le- gal preaching, 70 Sect. 5. The gofpel of divine grace the only means of converting finners; and therefore fiiould be preached moft clearly, fully, and freely, 73 THE TABLE. 19 Chap. VI. An exhortation to all that p.re cut of Chrift, in order to their clofmg the match with him; containing alfo motives and directions, 77 Sect. I. Conviction offered to finners, efpecially fuch as are wedded ftrictly to the law, or felt-righteous ; that they may fee their need of Chart's righteoufnefs, ib- Sect. 2. Direction given with reference to the right ufe of the means, that we reit not on thcfe inf'cead of Chriit the glorious Hufband, in whom alone our help lies, 80 Sect. 3. A call to believe in Jefus Chriit, with fome hints at the act and object of faith, 84 Sect. 4. An advice to finners to apply to the fove- reign mercy of God, as it is difcovered through Chriit, to the higheit honour of jurticeand other divine attributes, in order to further their faith in him unto ialvation, 86 Sect. 5. The terrible doom of unbelievers that reject the goi'pel-match, the offered Saviour and falvation, 90 PART II. The Believer's Jointure. ^'up. I. Containing the Privileges of the Believer that isefpouied to Chrift, by faith of divine operation, 96 Sect. i. The believer's perfect beauty, free accept- ance, and full fecurity, through the imputation of Chrilt's perfect righteoufnefs, though imparted grace be im- perfect, ib. Sect. 2. Chrifh the believer's friend, prophet, pried, king, defence, guide, guard, help, and healer, 98 Sect. 3. Chriit the believer's wonderful phyfician, and wealthy friend, 100 Sect. 4. The believer's fafety under the covert of Chriil's atoning blood, and powerful interceflion, 102 Sect. 5. The believer's faith and hope encouraged even in the darkeft nights of ueiertion and diitrefs, 105 Sect. 6. Benefits accruing to believers, from the of- fices, names, natures, and fufferings of Chriit, 107 Sect. 7. Chrift's fufierings further improved, and believers called to live by faith, both when they have and want feniiblc influences^ 109 THE TABLE. Sect. 8. Chriit the believer's enriching treafure, m Sect. 9. Chriit the believer's adorning garment, 1 12 Sect. ic. Chrift the believer's fweet nourishment, 113 Chap. II. Containing marks and characters of be- lievers in Chrift; together with fome farther privileges and grounds of comfort to faints, 1 14 Sect. i. Doubting believers called to examine thern- felves by marks drawn from their love to him and his prefence, their view of his glory, and their being emp- tied of felf-righteoufnefs, te'c. ib. Sect. 2. Believers defcribed from their faith acting by divine aid, and fleeing quite out of themfelves to Jefus Chrift, 117 Sect. 3. Believers characterized by the objects and purity of their deiire, delight, joy, hatred, and love, difcovcring they have the bpirit of Chrift, uj S^ct. 4. Believers in Chriit affect his counfel, word, ordinaces, appearance, full enjoyment in beavex, and f-.vcet prefence here, 121 Sect. 5. The true believer's humility, dependence, o\vth, admiration of free grace, and knowledge of Chriit 's voice, 123 Sect. 6. True believers are willing to be tried and examined. Alfo comforts arifing to them from Chriit's ready fupply, real fympathy y and relieving names fuit- ing their need, 125 Sect. 7. The believer's experience of Chrift's com- fortable prefence, or of former comforts, to be improv- ed for his encouragement and fupport under hidings, 128 Sect. S. Comfort to believers from the ftability of thepromife.notwithftandingheavychaftifementsforiin, 131 1 Sect. 9. Comfort to bep-jvers from Chriil's relations, his dying love, his glory in heaven, to which he will lead them throurh death, and fupply them with all nc- eeflaries by the way, 133 Sect. 10. Comfort to believers from the text, Thy Maker is thy HuflanJ, inverted thus, Thy HulLar.d is thy Maker; and the conclufion of this fubject, 13 c THE TABLE. 21 PAR T III. The Believer's Riddle ,- or The Myjiery of Faith. The Preface, (hewing the ufe ahd defign of the Riddle, and how all fatal errors proceed irom ignorance, of fuch myfteries, 138 Sect. i. The myftery of the faints pedigree, and e- fpecially of their relation to Chrift's wonderful perfon, 142 Sect. 2. The rnyileiy of the faints life, (late, ami frame, 151 Sect. 3. Myfteries about the faints work and war- fare, lins, farrows, aud joys, 159 Sect. 4. Myfteries in faith's extractions, way and walk, prayers and anfwers, heights and depths, fear and love, 166 Sect. 5. Myfteries about fleui and fpirit, liberty and bondage, life and death, 1 79 Sect. 6. The myftery of free juftification through ChrirTs obedience and fatisfacHon, 184 Sect. 7. The myftery of God the juftifierj and faith juftifying him, both in his juftifying and condemning ; or, foul-juftincation and felf- condemnation, 191 Sect. 8. The myftery of fancYification, imperfect in this life ; or, The believer doing all, and doing nothing, 200 Sect. 9. The myftery of various names given to faints; or, The flefh and fpirit defcribed from inani- mate things, vegetables, and feniitives, 207 Sect. 10. The myftery of the faints old and new man further defcribed, and the means of their fpiritual life, 214 Sect. n. The myftery of Chriit, his names, natures, and offices, 222 Sect. 12. The myftery of the believer's mixed ftate further enlarged, and his getting good out of evil, 230 Sect. 13. The myftery o/ the faints adverfaries and adveriities, 236 Sect. 14. The myftery of the believer's pardon and fecurity from revenging wrath, notwithftanding his fin's defert, 242 Sect. 15. The myftery of faith and fight, 250 Sect. 16. The myftery of faith and works, 252 22 THE TABLE. And of rewards of grace and debt, 258 The conclufion, 261 P A R T IV. The Believers Lcdgitig. A paraphrafe upon Pfalm l.xxxiv. 2^3' Exerciil- for the believer in his lodging, fourfold, 276 ; . The holy law , or, The ten commandments, /'/>, 2- The unholy heart the ruverfe of God's law, ib. 3. The glorious gofpel of Chrilt the remedy, 271 4. The prayer of faith exemplified, '& PART V. 'The Believer's Soliloquy; efpecially in times cf clifer- tion, temptation y affliElion^ &c. 272 Sect. i. The deferted believer longing for perfect freedom from fin, $ Sect. 2. The deferted believer's prayer under com- plaints of unbelief, darknefs, deadnefs, and hardnefs, 275 Sect. 3. The believer wading through depths of de- ll rtion and corruption, 2/7 Sect. 4. The believer's complaint of fin, forrow, and want of love, 279 Sect. 5. The deferted foul's prayer for the Lord's gracious and fin-fubduing prefence, 281 Sect. 6. The fong of heaven defired by faints on earth, 283 PART VJ. The Believer' 's Principles. Chap. I. Concerning Creatian and Redemption; or, Some of the firft principles of the oracles of God, 286 Sect. i. Of creation. The rirft chapter of Genefis compendized, '* The fum of creation, 287 THE TABLE. 23 Sect. 2. Of redemption. The myllery of the Re- deemer's incarnation ; or, God manifested in the flelh, 288 The fum of redemption, 289 Sect. 3* The Redeemer's works; or, Chrift all in all, and our complete redemption. Agofpel catechifm for young Chriftians, ib. Sect. 4. Faith and works both excluded from the matter of juftification before God, that redemption jnay appear to be only in Chrift, 294 {Jkap. II. Concerning the Laiv and the Gofpel, 296 Sect. i. The myftery of law and gofpel, ib. Sect. 2. The difference between the law and the gofpel, 311 Sect. 3. The harmony between the lawand the gofpel, 316 Sect. 4. The proper place and Nation of the law arid the gofpel, in four paragraphs, 319 Paragraph I. The place and flation of law and gof- pel in general, ib. Parag. 2. The place and ftntion of law and gofpel in particular, 320 Parag. 3. The gofpel no new law 5 but a joyful found of grace and mercy, 325 Parag. 4. The gofpel further defcribeti, as a bundle or good news and gracious prornifes, 327 Chap. III. Concerning JuJIificatioii and Sa?iclijica- tion, their difference and harmony, 330 Sect. I. The difference between juflification and ianftification, or righteoufnefs imputed and grace im- parted, in upwards of thirty particulars, ib. Sect. 2. The harmony between justification and fanc- tification, 335 Chap. IV. Concerning Faith and Senfe. 337 Sect. i. Faith and fenfe natural compared and dif- tinguiihed, ib. Sect. 2. Faith and fenfe fpiritual compared and dif- i tinguiihed, 339 I Sect. 3. The harmony atid difcord between faith and fenfe, 342 24 T H E T A B L E. Sect. 4. The valour and victories of faith, 343 Sect. 5. The heights and depths of fenfe, 345 Sect. 6. Faith and frames compared, or faith Luild- ing upon fenfc difcovered, 346 Chap. V. Concerning Heaven and Earth. 349 Sect. i. The work and contention of heaven, ib, Sect. 2. Earth defpicable, heaven defirable, 3^2 GOSPEL SONNETS. PART I. The BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS! A POEM upon ISAIAH liv. 5. Thy Maker is fhv Htijbar.d. PREFACE. TLTARK, dying mortal, if the 'Sonnet prove A fong of living and immortal love, 'Tis then thy grand concern the theme to knoiu, If life and immortality befo. Are eyes to read, or ears to hear a trujl? Shall both in death be cram'd anon ivith duft? Then trifle net to pleafe thine ear and eye, But read thou, hear thott, for eternity. Purfue notjJjadoivs ivingd, but, be thy chafe, The God of glory on the field cf grace: The mighty hunter' J name is loft and vain, That runs not this fubftantial prize to gam. Thefe humble lines afjiime no high pretence, To pleafe thy fancy, or allure thy fenfe : But aim, if everlajling life's thy chafe, To clear thy mind, and ivann thy heart through grace. A marriage fo myjlerious Lproclaim, Betwixt tiuo parties tffuch diff' rent fan 1 .?, That human tongues may bluff j their names to tell, To ivit, the PRINCE O/"HEAV'N, the heir of hell! But, on fo vajl a fubjecJ, ivho can find Words fuiting the conceptions of his mind? Or, if our language ivith our thought could vie, What mortal thought can raife itfelffo high? t \ When 'words and thoughts both fail, may faith and pray* r i Afccnd by climbing up the fcr'ipture-ftair : I From facred writ thefe ft range efpoitfals may I JBe explicated in the foil' wing ivav. c 2<6 GOSPEL SONNETS. Parti. C H A P. I. A general account of Man's fall in. AD A M, and the remedy provided in CHRIST; and a particular account of man's being naturally weded to the law, as a cove- nant of works. * * SECT. I. The FALL of ADAM. ^"\LD Adam once a heav'n of pleafure found, ^* While he with perfect innocence was crown'd ; His'wing'd affections to his God could move In raptures of defire, and ftrains of love. Man Handing fpotlefs, pure* and innocent, Could well the law of works with works content; Though then, (nor fmce), it could demand no lefs Than perfonal and perfect righteoufnefs : Thefe unto finlefs man were eafy terms, Though now beyond the reach of wither'd arms. The legal cov'nant then upon the field, Perfection fought, man could perfection yield Rich had he, and his progeny remain'd, Had he primeval innocence maintained: His life had been a reft without annoy, A fcene of blifs, a paradife of joy. But fabtile Satan, in the ferpent hid, Propofmg fair the fruit that God forbid, Man foon feduc'd by hell's alluring art, Did, difobedieut, from the rule depart, Devour'd the bait, and*by his bold offence Fell from his blifsful ftate of innocence*. Proftrate, he loft his God, his life, his crown, From all his glory tumbled headlong down; Plung'd in a deep abyfs of fin and wo, Where, void of heart to will, or hand to do; Chap. I. The Believer's Efpcufals. 1 7 For's own relief he can't command a thought, The total fum of what he can is nought. He's able only now t' increafe his thrall; He can deftroy himfelf, and this is all. But can the hellim brat Heav'n's law fulfil, Whofe precepts high furmount his ilrengthaiulflcili? Can filthy drofs produce a golden beam? Or poifon'd fprings a falutif 'rous ftream ? Can carnal minds, fierce enmity's wide maw, Be duly fubjecl: to the divine law? Nay, now its direfuH threat* nings mufh take place On all the difobedient human race, Who do by guilt Omnipotence provoke, Obnoxious ftand to his uplifted ftroke. They muft ingulf themfelvcs in endlefs woes, Who to the living God are deadly foes; Who natively his holy will gainfay, Mud to his awful juftice fall a prey. In vain do mankind now expect, in vain By legal deeds immortal life to gain: Nay, death is threaten'd, threats muft have their due Or fouls thatfm muft die *, as God is true. SECT. II. Redemption through CHRIST. THE fecond Adam, fov'reign Lord of all, Did, by his Father's authorizing call, From bofom of eternal love defcend, To fave the guilty race that him offend; To treat an everlafling peace with thofe, Who were and ever would have been his foes. His errand, never ending life to give To them, whofe malice would not let him live; To make a match with rebels, and efpoufe The brat which at his love her fpite avows. Himfelf he humbled to deprefs her pride, And make his mortal foe his loving bride. * Ezek. xviii. 4. C 2 28 GOSPEL SONNETS. Parti. But, ere the marriage can be folemniz'd, All lets mult be remov'd, all parties pleas'd. Law-righteoufnefs requir'd, muft be procur'd Law- vengeance threatened, muft be full endur'd, Stern juftice muft have credit by the match, Sweet mercy by the heart the bride muft catch. Poor bankrupt! all her debt muft firft be paid, Her former hufband in the grave bo laid : Her prefent lover muft be at the coft, To fave and ranfom to the uttcrmoit, If all thefe things this fuitor kind can do, Then he may win her, and her blefling too. Hard terms indeed! while death's the firft demand: But love is ftrong as death*, and will not ftand To carry on the fuit, and make it good, Though at the dearelt rate of wounds and blood The burden's heavy, but the back is broad, The glorious lover is the mighty God f. Kind bowels yearning in'th* eternal Son. He left his Father's court, his heav'nly throne: Afide he threw his moft divine array, And wrapt his Godhead in a veil of clay, Angelic armies, who in glory crown'd, With joyful harps his awful throne furround, Down to the cryital frontier of the fky | To fee the Saviour born, did eager fly; And ever fince behold with wonder frefh Their Sov'reign and our Saviour wrapt in flefh. Who in this garb did mighty love difplay, Reflating what he never took away ||, To God his glory, to the law its due, To heav'n its honour, to the earth its hue; To man a righteoufnefs divine, complete, - A royal robe to fuit the nuptial rite. He in her favours, whom he lov'd fo well, At once did purchafe heav'n, and vanquifh hell. * Song viii. 6- f !& ix - 6 - t Luke " 9> J 4 U Pfalm Ixix, 4. Chap. I. The Believer's Efpoufals. 29 Oh ! unexampled love ! fo vaft, fo ftrong, So great, fo high, fo deep, fo broad, fo long ! Can finite thought this ocean huge explore, Unconfcious of a bottom or a fhore ? His love admits no parallel, for why, At one great draught of love he drank heil dry. No drop of wrathful gall he left behind ; No dreg to witnefs that he was unkind. The fword of awful juilice pierc'd his fide, That mercy thence might gufti upon the bride. The meritorious labours of his life, And glorious conqueits of his dying ftrife; Her debt of doing, fuif'ring, both cancell'd, And broke the bars his lawful Captive held. Down to the ground the helliih liofts he threw, Then mounting high the trump of triumph blew, Attended with a bright feraphic band, Sat down enthron'd fublime on God's right hand; Where glorious choirs their various harps employ, To found his praifes with confed'rate joy. There he, the bride's ftrong Interceflbr (its, And thence the blefllngs of his blood tranfmits, Sprinkling all o'er the naming throne of God, Pleads for her pardon his atoning blood ; Sends- down his holy co-eternal Dove, To fliew the wonders of incarnate love, To woo and win the bride's reluctant heart, And pierce it with his kindly killing dart; By gofpel light to manifeit that now She has no further with the law to- do ; That her new Lord has loos'd the fed'ral tie, That once hard bound her or to do or die; That precepts, threats, no tingle mite can crave. Trias for her former fpoufe he di^g'd a grave; Tlie law fait to his crofb did nail aau pin, ~) Then bury'd the defunct; his'tomr: within, That he the lonely widow to himielf might win. j 30 GOSPEL SONNETS. Parti. SECT. III. Man's LEGAL difpo/ition. 1DTJT, after all, the bride's fo malecontent, ~) " No argument, fave pow'r, is prevalent To bow her will, and gain her heart's confent. j The glorious Prince's fuit fhe disapproves, The law, her old primordial hufband loves; Hopeful in its embraces life to have, Though dead, and bury'd in her fuitor's grave; Unable to give life, as once before; Unfit to be a hufband any more. Yet proudly fhe the new addrefs difdains, And all the bled Redeemer's love and pains; Though now his head, that cruel thorns did wound, Is with immortal glory circled round; Archangels at his awful fcotflool bow, And drawing love fits fmiling on his brow. Though down he fends, in gofpel-tidings good, Epiftles of his love, fign'd with his blood : Yet lordly fhe the royal fuit rejects, Eternal life by legal works affe6ts; In vain the living feeks among the dead *, Sues quick'ning comforts in a killing head. Her dead and bury'd hufband has her heart, Which can nor death remove, nor life impart. Thus all revolting Adam's blinded race In their firft fpoufe their hope and comfort place. They natively expect, if guilt them prefs, Salvation by a home-bred righteoufnefs: They look for favour in JEHOVAH'S eyes, By careful doing all that in them lies. 'Tis flill their primary attempt to draw Their life and comfort from the vet'ran law; They flee not to the hope the gofpel gives ; ~) To truft a prcmife bare, their minds aggrieves, x Which judge the man that does, the man that lives, j * .Luke xxyi- ,$ Chap. I. The Believer'? Efpoufal:. '.31 As native as they draw their vital breath, Their fond recourfe isjto the legal path. Why, fays old nature, in law-wedded man, Won't Heav'n be pleas'd, if I do all I can? If I conform my walk to nature's light, And drive, intent to pradtife what is right? Thus won't I by the God of heav'n be blefs'd, And win his favour, if I do my beft? [thrall, Good God! (he cries) when prefs'd with debt and Have patience with me, and I'll pay thee all *.' Upon their all, their beft t they're fondly mad, Though yet their all is naught, their beft is bad Proud man his can does mightily exalts, Yet are his brighteft works but fplendid faults. ( A (inner may have mews of good, but ftill The belt he can, ev'n at his beft, is ill. Can heav'n or divine favour e'er be win By thofe that are a mafs of hell and fin ? The righteous law does num'rous woes denounce Againft the wretched foul that fails but once : What heaps of curfes on their heads it rears, That have amafs'd the guilt of num'rous years 1 SECT. IV. Man's Jlricl attachment to legal TERMS, or to the law as a condition of life. C AY, on what terms then Heav'n appeas'd will be ? ^ Why, fure perfection is the lead degree. Yea, more, full fatisf action mult be giv'n For trefpafs done againft the laws of Heav'n. Thefe are the terms: what mortal back'fo broad, But muft for ever fink beneath the load? A ranfom muft be found, or die they muft, Sure, ev'n as juftice infinite is juft. But,, fays the legal, proud, felf-righteous heart, Which cannot with her ancient confort part,. * Matth. xviii. 26. 2 GOSPEL SONNETS. Parti. What! won't the goodnefs of the God of heav'n, Admit of fmalis, when greater can't be giv'n ? He knows our fall diminifh'd all our funds, Won't he accept of pennies now for pounds? Sincere endeavours for perfection take, Or terms more poffible for mankind make?' Ah! poor divinity, and jargon loofe; Such hay and ftraw will never build the houfe. Miftake not here, proud mortal, don't miftake, God changes not, nor other terms will make. Will divine faithfulnefs itfelf deny, Which fwore folemnly, Man fliall do, or die.* Will God moft true extend to us, fbrfooth, His goodnefs, to the damage of his truth? Will fpotlefs holinefs be baffled thus? Or awful juftice be unjuft for us? Shall faithfulnefs be faithlefs for our fake, And he his threats, as we his precepts break? Will our great Creditor deny himfelf; And for full payment take our filthy pelf? Difpenfe with juftice, to let mercy vent? And ftain his royal crown with 'ininifh'd rent ? Unworthy thought ! O let no mortal clod Hold fuch bafe notions of a glorious God. Heav'h's holy cov'nant, made for human race, Con(ifts, or whole of works, or' whole of grace. If -works will take the field, then works muft be For ever perfect to the lalt degree: Will God difpenfe with lefs? Nay> fure he won't With ragged toll his royal law affront. Can raggs, that Sinai flames will foon difpatch, E'er prove the fiery law's adequate match ? Vain man muft be divorc'd, and choofe to take AnorVov hufband, or a burning lake. , , , We i!nd the divine volume nu vi.ire teach New legal terms within our mortal :e .cii. Some m ike, though in :';e facred page unknown, Sincerity aflame perfajun's throae: Part I. The Believer's Efpoufals. 33 But who will boaft this bafe ufurper's fway, ") Save minifters of darkncfs, that difplay Invented night to ftifle fcripture day? j The nat'ralift's fincerity is naught, That of the gracious is divinely taught; Which teaching keeps their graces, if fincere, Within the limits of the gofpel-fphere, Where vaunting, none created graces fing, Nor boaft of ftreams, but of the Lord the i'pring. Sincerity's the foul of ev'ry grace, The quality of all the ranibm'd race. Of promis'd favour 'tis a fruit, a claufc ; But no procuring term, no moving caufe. How unadvis'd the legal mind confounds The marks of divine favour with the grounds, And qualities of covenanted friends With the condition of the cov'nant blends? Thus holding gofpel truths with legal arms, Miftakes new-cov'nanty>w/Vj- for fed'ral terms. The joyful found no change of terms allows, But change of perfons, or another fpoufe. The natu/e fame that finn'd muft do and dies . No milder terms in gofpel-offers lie. For grace no other law-abatement (hews, But how law-debtors may reftore its dues ; Reftore, yea, through a Surety in their place, With double int'reft and a better grace. Here we of no new terms of life are told, But of a Hufband to fulfil the old ; With him alone by faith we're cali'd to wed, And let no rival * bruik the marriage-bed. * Enjoy. SECT. V. Mens vain attempt to feek LIFE by CHRIST'S righ- teoufnefsy joined with their own; and legal hopes, na- tural to all. B UT ftill the bride reluctant difallows The junior fuit, and hugs the fenior fpoufe. 34 GOSPEL SONNETS. ,Chap. I. Such the old felfifh folly of her mind, So bent to lick the duft, and grafp the wind, Alleging works and duties of her own May for her criminal offence atone ; She will her antic dirty robe provide, Which vain (he hopes will all pollutions hide. The filthy rags that faints away have flung. She holding, wraps and rolls herfelf in dung. Thus maugre all the light the gofpel gives, Unto her nat'ral confort fondly cleaves. Though mercy fet the royal match in view, She's loth to bid her ancient mate adieu. When light of fcripture, reafon, common fenfe Can hardly mortify her vain pretence To legal righteoufnefs ; yet if at laft Her confcience rous'd begins to ftand aghafl, Prefs'd with the dread of hell, {he'll rafhly patch, And halve a bargain with the profFer'd match; In hopes his help, together with her own, Will turn to peaceful fmiles the wrathful frown. Though grace the riling Sun delightful fings, With full falvation in Ins golden wings, And righteoufnefs complete; the faithlefs foul, Receiving half the light, rejects the whole; Revolves the facred page, but reads purblind The gofpel-meffags with a legal mind. Men dxeam their ftate, ah! too, too flightly view'd, Needs only be amended, not renew'd; Scorn to be wholly debtors unto grace, Hopeful their works may meliorate their cafe. They fancy prefent prayers, and future pains - Will for their former failings make amends : To legal yokes they bow their fervile necks, *) And, left foul-flips their falfe repofe perplex, Think Jefus' merits make up all defects. j They patch his glorious robe with filthy rags, And burn but incenfe to their proper drags *, * Hab. i. 1 6. Parti. The Believer's Efpoufals. 3 Difdain to ufe his righteoufnefs alone, But as an aiding ftirr'p to mount their own ; Thus in Chrift's room his rival felf enthrone, _) And vainly would, drefs'd up in legal trim, Divide falvation 'tween them.felves and him. But know, vain man, that to his fhare muft fall The glory of the whole, or none at a!'. In him all wifdom's hidden treafures lie *', And all thefulnefs of the Deity f . This ftore alone, immenfe, and never fpent, Might poor infolvent debtors well content j But to hell-prifon juftly Heav'n will doom Proud fools that on their petty flock prefume. The fofteft couch that gilded nature knows, Can give the waken'd confcience no repofe. When~God arraigns, what mortal pow'r can (land Beneath the terror of his lifted hand ? Our fafety lies beyond the nat'ral line, Beneath a purple covert all divfne. Yet how is precious Chrift, the way, defpis'd, And high the way of life by doing priz'd ! But can its vot'ries all its levy mow? They prize it moft, who leaft its burden know: Who by the law in part would fave his foul, Becomes a debtor to fulfil the luhole |. Its pris'ner he remains, and without bail, 'Till ev'ry mite be paid ; and if he fail, (As fure he muft, fmcc, by our fmful breach, Perfection far furmounts all mortal reach), Then curs'd for ever muft his foul remain ; And ail the folk of God mnjl fay, AMEN . Why, feeking that the law mould help afford, In honouring the law, he flights its Lord, Who gives his law-fulfilling righteoufnefs To be the naked fmner's perfect d*efs, In which he might with, fpotlefs beauty mine Before the face of majefty divine: * Col. ii. 3. f Col. ii. 9. \ Gal. v. 3. Deut. xxvii. 26. 3 6 GOSPEL SONNETS. Chap. I. Yet, lo ! the firmer works with mighty pains A garment of his own to hide his ftains; Ungrateful overlooks the gifts of God, The robe wrought by his hand, dy'd in his blood. In vain the Son of God this web did weave, Could our vile rags fufficient fhelter give. In vain he ev'ry thread of it did draw, Could fmners be o'ermantled by the law. Can mens falvntion on their works be built, Whofe faireft actions nothing are but guilt? Or can the law fupprefs th' avenging flame, When now its only office is to damn ? Did life come by the law in part or whole, Bleft Jefus dy'd in vain to fave a foul. Thofe then who life by legal means expect, To them is Chrift become of n$ effefi *; Becaufe their legal mixtures do in fact Wifdom's grand project plainly counteract. How clofs proud carnal reafonings combine, To fruftrate fov'reign grace's great defign? Man's heart by nature weds the law alone, Nor will another paramour enthrone. True, many feem by courfe of life profane, No favour for the law to entertain; But break the bands, and caft the cords away, That would their raging lofts and paffions flay. Yet ev'n this reigning madnefs may declare, Htnv r>rictly v/edded to the law they arej For now (however rich they feem'd before) Hopelefs to pay law-debt, they give it o'er, [more. > Like defp'rate debtors mad, ftill run thcmfelves in J Dcfpair of fuccefs fhews their ftrong defires, Till legal hopes are parch'd in luftful fires. Let's give, fay they, our lawlefs will free Jcope, * And live at ransom, for there is no hope f .' The law, that can't them help, they ftab with hate, Yet fcorn t~ beg, or court another mate. * Ga. ii. 21. v. 2, 4. t Jer. xviii. iz. Parti. The Believer's Efpoufah. 37 Here lufls mofl oppofite their hearts divide, Their beaftly paffion, and their bankrupt pride. In paflion they their native mate deface, In pride difdain to be oblig'd to grace. Hence plainly, as a rule 'gainil law they live, Yet clofely to it as a cov'nant cleave. Thus legal pride lies hid beneath the patch, And ftrong averfion to the gofpel-match. C H A P. II. The manlier of alinner's divorce from th law in a work of humiliation, and of his marriage to the Lord JESUS CHRIST; or, the way how a (inner comes to be a believer. SECT. I. Of a LAW-WORK, and the workings of legal pride under it. C O proud's the bride, fb backwardly difpos'd; "^ How then fhall e'er the happy match be clos'd? Kind grace the tumults of her heart mufl quell, And draw her heav'nward by the gates of hell. The bridegroom's Father makes, by's holy Sp4j& His ftern command with her ftiff confcience meet; To dam her pride, and {hew her utmoft need, Purfues for double debt with awful dread. He makes her former hufband's frightful ghoft Appear and damn her, as a bankrupt loft; With curfes, threats, and Sinai thunder-claps Her lofty tow'r of legal boafting faps. Thefe humbling ftorms, in high or low degrees, Heav'n's Majefty will rneafure as he pleafe ; ' But ftill he makes the fiery law at lead Pronounce its awful fentence in her breaft? D 3 GO-SPEL SONNETS. Chap. II. Till through the laiv* convicl: of being loft, She hopelcfs to the laiv gives up the ghoft : Which now in rigour comes full debt to crave, And in clofe prifon caft; but not to fave. For now 'tis weak and can't (through our default) Its greateft votaries to life exalt. But well it can command with fire and flame, And to the loweft pit of ruin damn. Thus doth it, by commiflion from above, Deal with the bride, when Heav'n would courther love. Ijo! now fhe ftartles at the Sinai trump, Which throws her foul into a difmal dump, Confcious another huftand fhe muft have, Elfe die for ever in destruction's grave. While in conviction's jail fhe's thus inclos'd, Glad news are heard, the royal Mate's propos'd. And now the fcornful bride's inverted ftir Is racking fear, he fcorjn to match with her. She dreads his fury, and defpairs that he Will ever wed fo vile a wretch as fhe. And here the legal humour ftirs again To her prodigious lofs, and grievous pain: For when die Prince prefents himfelf to be Her Kufband, then fhe deems; Ah! is not he Too fair a match for fuch a filthy bride ? TJnconfcious that the thought bewrays her pride, Ev'n pride of merit, pride of righteoufnefs, Expecting Heav'n fhould love her for her drefs; Unmindful how the fall her face did ftain, And made her but a black unlovely fwainj Her whole primeval beauty quite defac'd, And to the rank of fiends her form debas'd; Without disfigur'd, and defil'd within, Uncapabic of any thing but fin. Heav'n courts not any for their comely face, But fcr the glorious praife of fov'reign grace, Elfe ne'er had courted one of Adam's race, J Which all as children of corruption be, Part I. The Believers Efpotifals. 3 Heirs rightful of immortal mifery. Yet here the bride employs her foolifh wit, For this bright match her ugly form to fit> To daub her features o'er with legal paint, That with a grace (he may herfelf prefent. Hopeful the Prince with credit might her wed, If once fome comely qualities fhe had. In humble pride, her haughty fpirit flags; She cannot think of coming all in rags. Were (he a humble, faithful penitent, She dreams he'd then contract with full content, Bafe varlet ! thinks ihe'd be a match for him, Did flic but deck herfelf in handfome trim, Ah! foolifh thoughts! in legal deeps that plod, Ah! forry notions of a fov'reign God! Will God expofe his great, his glorious Son, For our vile baggage to be fold and won ? Should finful modefty the match decline, Until its garb be brifk and fuperfine j Alas! when fhould we fee the marriage-day? The happy bargain muft flee up for ay. Prefumptuous iouls in furly modefty, Half-faviours themfelves would fondly be. Then hopeful th' other half their due will fall, Difdain to be in Jefus' debt for all. ** Vainly they firft would warn themfelves, and then Addrefs the fountain to be wafh'd more clean ; Firft heal themfelves, and then expeft the blam: Ah ! many {lightly cure their fudden qualm. They heal their confcience with a tear or pray'rj And feek no other Chrift, but perifh there. O firmer! fearch the houfe, and fee the thief ~) That fpoils thy Saviour's crown, thy foul's relief, > The hid, but heinous fin of unbelief. j Who can poflefs a quality that's good, Till irft he come to Jefu-,' cleanfmg blood? The pow'r that draws the bride, will alfo fhew Unto her by the way her heliiih hue, D 2 40 GOSPEL SONNETS, Chap. II. As void of ev'ry virtue to commend, And full of ev'ry vice that will offend. Till fov'reign grace the fullen bride fhall catch, , She'll never fit herfelf for fuch a match. Moft qualify'd they are in heav'n to dwell, Who fee themfelves moft qualify'd for hell; And, ere the bride can drink falvation's cup, Kind Heav'n muft reach to hell and lift her up: For no decorum e'er about her found, Is fhe belov'd; but on a nobler ground. JEHOVAH'S love is like his nature free, Nor mull his creature challenge his decree; But low at fov'reign grace's footllool creep, Whofe ways are fearchlefs, and his judgments deep. Yet grace's fuit meets with refiftance rude From haughty fouls ; for lack of innate good To recommend them. Thus the backward bride Affronts her fuitor with her modeft pride. Black hatred for his offer'd love repays, Pride under mafic of modefty difplays: In part would fave herfelf; hence, faucy foul} Rejects the matchlefs Mate would fave in whole* SECT. II. Conviction of six and V/RATH, carried en wire deeply and effectually on the heart. C O proudly forward is the bride, and now ^ Scern Heav'n begins to flare with cloudier brow ; Law-curfes come with more condemning pow'r, To fcorch her confcience with a fiery fhow'r. And more refulgent flafhes darted in^ for by the law the knowledge is of fin. * Black Sinai thund'ring louder than before, Does awful in her lofty bofom roar. Heav'n's furious ftorrns now rife from ev'ry airth f> In ways more terrible to foal e the earth J, * Horn, iiii 20. f Wind, or Qjiarier. \ Ifa. ii. 17, 19. Part I The Believer's Efroufals. 41 "Till baugbtinefs of men be funk thereby, That Chrtft alone may be exalted high. Now ftable earth feems from her centre toft, And lofty mountains in the ocean loft. Hard rocks of flint, and haughty hills of pride, Are torn in pieces by the roaring tide. Each flafh of new conviction's lucid rays Heart-errors, undifcern'd till now, difplays; Wrath's mafiy cloud upon the confcicnce breaks. And thus menacing Heav'n, in thunder fpeaks ; * Black wretch, thou madly under foot hail trode * Th' authority of a commanding God j * Thou, like thy kindred that in Adam fell, ~) * Art but a law-renverfmg lump of hell, * And there by law and juftice doom'd to dwell.' _) Now, now, the daunted bride her ftate bewails, And downward furls her felf-exalting fails ; With pua^ent fear, and piercing terror brought To mortify her lofty legal thought. Why, the commandment comes y fin is reviv'd *, That lay fo hid, while to the law {he liv'd ; Infinite majefty in God is feen, And infinite malignity in fin ; That to its expiation muft amount A facrifice of infinite account. Juftice its dire feverity difplays, The law its vaft dimenfions open lays. She fees for this broad itandard nothing meet, Save an obedience finlefs and complete. Her cob-web righteoufnefs, once in renown, Is with a happy vengeance now fwept down. She who of daily faults could once but prate, Sees now her finful, miferable ftate. Her heart, where once fhe thought fome good to The devil's cab'net fill'd with trafh of hell. [dwell, Her boafted features now unmafked bare, Her vaunted hopes are plung'd in deep defpair* * Rom. vii. 9. ' 42 GOSPEL SONNETS. Chap II. Her haunted fhelter-houfe in bypaft years, Comes tumbling down about her frighted ears. Her former rotten faith, love, penitence, She fees a boiving watt, a tot? ring fence. Excellencies of thought, and word, and deed, All fwimming, drowning in a fea of dread ; Her beauty now deformity me deems, Her heart much blacker than the devil feems, With ready lips fhe can herfelf declare The vileft ever breath'cl in vital air. Her former hopes, as refuges of lies, Are fwept away, and all her boafting dies. She once imagin'd Heav'n would be unjuft To damn fo many lumps of human duit Form'd by himfelf ; but now fhe owns it true, Damnation furely is the fmner's due : Yea, now applauds the law's juft doom fo well, That juftly fhe condemns herfelf to hell;. Does herein divine equity acquit, Herfelf adjudging to the loweft pit. Her language, < Oh ! if God condemn, I muffc < From bottom of my foul declare him juft. * But if his great falvation me embrace, '' How loudly will I fing furprifmg grace! * If from the pit he to the throne me raife, * Fll rival angels in his endlefs praife. ( If hell-deferving me to heav'n he bring, * No heart fo glad, no tongue fo loud (hall Cng> * If wifdom has not laid the faving plan, I nothing have to claim, I nothing can.. * My works but fin, my merit death I feej < Oh ! mercy, mercy, mercy ! pity me.' Thus all felf-juflifying pleas are dropp'd, Moft guilty fhe becomes, her mouth is ftopp'd. Pungent reinorfe does her paft conduct blame,. And flufh her confcious cheek with fpreading fliajjie*. Her felf-conceited heart is felf-convicl, With barbed arrows of compunftion. prick'di Part. I. The Befaver's EfpoufcJs. 43 Wonders how juftice fpares her vital breath, How patient Heav'n adjourns the day of wrath i How pliant earth does not with open jaws Devour her, Korah-like, for equal caufe ; How yawning hell 3 that gapes for fuch a prey, Is fruilrate with a further hour's delay. She that could once her mighty works exalt, And boaft devotion frarn'd without a fault, Extol her nat'ral pow'rs, is now brought down, Her former madnefs, not her pow'rs, to own. Her preient beggar'd ilate, molt void of grace, Unable even to wail her woful cafe, Quite pow'rlefs to believe, repent, or pray; Thus pride of dudes flies and dies away. She, like a harden'd wretch, a ftupid itone. Lies in the duft, and cries, Undone^ Undone^ S E C T. III. The deeply humbled foul RELIEVED with fame faving difcoveries o/"CHR.!ST the Redeemer. \ T 7HEN thus the wounded bride perceives full well VV Herfelf the vileft Tinner out of hell, The blackeft monfter in the univerfe-, Penfive if clouds of wo fhall e'er difperfe. When in her breaft Heav'n's wrath fo fiercely glowSj *Twixt fear and guilt her bones have no repoie.. When flowing billows of amazing dread Swell to a deluge o'er her finking head; When nothing in her heart is found to dwell, But horrid Atheifm, enmity, and hell; When endlefs death and ruin feems at hand, And yet fhe cannot for her foul command Aftgh to eafe it, or a gracious thought \ Though heav'n could at this petty rate be bought. When darknefs and confufion overcloud, And unto black 4efpair temptations 44 GOSPEL SONNETS. Chap. II. When wholly without ftrength to move or ftir, And not a (tar by night appears to her: But (he, while to the brim her troubles flow, Stands, trembling on the utmoft brink of wo. Ah! weary cafe! But, lo! in this fad plight The fun arifes with furprifmg light. The darkeft midnight is his ufual time Of rifing and appearing in his prime. To (hew the hills from whence falvation fprings, And chafe the gloomy fhades with golden wings, The glorious Hufband now unvails his face, And {hews his glory full of truth and grace *, Prefents unto the bride, in that dark hour, Himfelf a Saviour, both by price and pow'r: A mighty helper to redeem the loft, Relieve and ranfom to the uttermoftf; To feek the vagrant (heep to deferts driv'n, And fave from loweft hell to higheft heav'n. Her doleful cafe he fees, his bowels move, And make her time of need his time of love \. He (hews, to prove himfelf her mighty fhield, His name is JESUS, by his father feal'd || : A name with attributes engrav'd within, To fave from ev'ry attribute of fin. "W ith ivifdom fin's great j//j to expofe, And righteoufnefs its chain of guilt to loofe, Sanclification to fubdue \t$fivay y Redemptisn all its woful brood to fiay . Each golden letter of his glorious name Bears full deliv'rance both from fin and fhame. Yea, not privation bare from fin and wo, ~) But thence all pofitive falvations flow, To make her ivife t jitft t ho!y> happy too. ^ He now appears a match exactly meet To make her ev'ry way in him complete , * Jolui i. 14- t Heb. vii. 25. J Ezek. xvi. 6> 8* 1 Matth. i. ai, i Cvr, i, 30, Part. I. The Believer's Efpoufals. 45 In ivhom the fitlnefs of the Godhead diuells *, That ilie may boail in him and nothing elfe. In gofpel-lines fhe now perceives the dawn Of Jefus' love with bloody pencil drawn j How God in him is infinitely pleas'd, And Heav'n's avenging fury whole appeas'd : Law-precepts magnify 'd by her belov'd, * And ev'ry let to itop the match remov'd. Now in her view her prifon-gates break ope, Wide to the walls flies up the door of hope; And now me fees with pleafure uncxprefs'd For fhatter'd barks a happy fhore of reft. SECT. IV. The working of the Spirit of faith in feparating the heart from all felf-righteouf/'.efs, and drawing out its confent ty } and defire after CHRIST alone and ivholly. rip HE bride at Sinai little underftood, [good, > I. How thefe law-humblings were defign'd for V T' enhance tlie value of her Hafband's blood. j The tow'r of tott'ring pride thus batter'd down, Makes way for Chrift alone to wear the crown. Conviction's arrows pierc'd her heart, that fo The blood from his pierc'd heart, to hers might flow, The law's (harp plough tears up the fallow ground, Where not a grain of grace was to be found, Till (tr.iight perhaps behind the plough is fown The hidden feed of faith, as yet unknown. Hence now the once reluctant bride's inciin'd To give the gofpel an affenting mind y Difpos'd to take, would grace the pow'r impart, Heav'n's offer with a free counting heart* His Spirit in the gofpel-chariot rides, And fhews his loving heart to draw the bride's j > Tho' oft in clouds his drawing pow'r he hides, j * Col. ii. 9, 10. 46 GOSPEL SONNETS. Chap. II. His love in gracious offers to her bears, In kindly anfwers to her doubts and feajs, Refolving all objections more or lefs From former fins, or prefent worthleflhefs. Perfuades her mind of's conjugal confent, And then impow'rs her heart to fay, Content. Content to be divorced from the law, No more the yoke of legal terms to draw. Content that he diffolve the former match, And to himfelf alone her heart attach. Content to join with Chrift at any rate, And wed him as her everlafting mate. Content that he fhould ever wear the bays, And of her whole falvation have the praife. Content that he mould rife, though fhe mould fall, And to be nothing, that he may be all. Content that he, becaufe fhe nought can do, T)ofor her all her work, and in her too. Here fhe a peremptory mind difplays, That he do all the work, get all the praife. And now fhe is, which ne'er till now took place, Content entirely to be fav'd by grace. She owns that her damnation juft would be, And therefore her falvation muft be freej That nothing being hers but fin and thrall, She muft be debtor unto grace for all. Hence comes flie to him in her naked cafe, To be inveiled with his righteoufnefs. She comes, as guilty, to a pardon freej As vile zndflthyy to a cleanfing fea: As poor and empty, to the richeft ftock; As weak and feeble to the ftrongeft rock : As perifhing, unto a fhield from thrall \ As worfe than nothing*, to an all in all. She, as a blinded mole, an ign'rant fool, Comes for inftruction to the Prophet's fchool. She, with a hell-deferving confcious breaft, Flees for atonement to the worthy Prieft. Part I. The Believer's Efpoufals. 47 She, as a flave to fin and Satan, wii>gs Her flight for help unto the King of kings. She all her maladies and plagues brings forth To this Phyfician of eternal worth. She fpreads before his throne her filthy fore; And lays her broken bones down at his door. No mite fhe has to buy a crumb of blifs, And therefore comes impov'rifh'd, as fhe is. By fin and Satan of all good bereft, Comes e'en as bare as they her foul have left. To fenfe, as free of holinefs within, As Chrifl, the fpotlefs Lamb, was free of fin. She comes by faith, true ; but it fliews her want, And brings her as a finner, not a faint } A wretched finner flying for her good To juftifying, fanctifyirig blood. Strong faith no ftrength, nor pow'r of acting, vaunt?, But acts in fenfe of weaknefs and of wants. Drain'd now of ev'ry thing that men may call ~) Terms and conditions of relief from thrall ; Except this one, that Jefus be her all. j When to the bride he gives efpoufing faith, It finds her under fin, and guilt, and wrath, And makes her as a plagued wretch to fall At Jefus' footftool for the cure of all. Her whole falvation now in him fhe feeks, And mufing thus perhaps in fecret fpeaks: * Lo ! all my burdens may in him be eas'd ; The juftice I offended he has pleas'd ; < The blifs that I have forfeit he procur'd ; * The curfe that I deferved he endur'd ; < The law that I have broken he obey'd ; * The debt that I contracted he lias paid : < And though a match unfit for him I be, * I fnid him ev'ry way moft fit for me. < SweetLord, I think, wouldft thou thyfelf, impart, ' Yd welcome thee with open hand and heart. ( But thou that fav'ft by price, muft fave by pow'r ; t O fend thy Spirit in a fiery fhow'r, 48 GOSPEL SONNETS. Chap. II. < This cold and frozen heart of mine to thaw* That nought, fave cords of burning love, can draw* < O draw me, Lord, then will I run to thee, e And glad into thy glowing bofom flee. I own myfelf a mafs of fin and hell, < A brat that can do nothing but rebel : * But didjl tkou not t as facred pages mew *, < (When rifing up to fpoil the hellifli crew, < That had by thoufands, finners captive made, ( And hadfl in conqu'ring chains them captive led) Get donatives, not for thy proper gain, < But royal bounties for rebellions men, < Gifts y graces, and the Spirit without bounds, ( for God's neiv houfe with man on firmer grounds? < O then let me a rebel now come fpeed, * Thy holy Spirit is the gift I need. < His precious graces too, the glorious grant, Thou kindly promis'd, and I greatly want. < Thou art exalted to the higheft place, < 7*0 give repentance forth, and ev'ry grace -J-. O Giver of fpiritual life and breath, < The author and th&fou/bfr of faith J; . < Thou hufband-like limit ev'ry thing provide^ < If e'er the like of me become thy bride.' S E C T. V. FiF.'t'tfs "vieiv of tLe freedom of grace, cordial rennn* ciation of all its own ragged trightaufrtffs, and for* mal acceptance cf and clofing ivith tke per/on of glo-> rkus CHRIST. E bride with open eyes, that once were dim, JL Sees now her whole falvation lies in him j The Prince, who is not in difpenfing nice, But freely gives without her pains or price. This magnifies the wonder in her eye, Who not a farthing has wherewith to buy : * Pfal. Ixvin. j8, f Afts v. 31. J Heb. xii. "- Chap. II, The Belitvet's Rfpoufalt. < For now her humbled mind can difavow Her boafted beauty and afluraing brow; With confcious eye difcern her emptinefs, With candid lips her poverty confefs. * O glory to the Lord, that grace is free, Elfc never would it light on guilty me. 4 I nothing have with me to be its price, But hellifh blacknefs, enmity, and vice.' In former times fhe durll presuming come, To grace's market with a petty fum Of duties, prayers, tears, a boafted fet, Expecling Heav'n would thus be in her debf Thcfe were the price, at leaft {he did fuppof? She'd be the welcomer becaufe of thofe : But now fhe fees the vilenefs of her vogue, The dung that clofe doth ev'ry duty clog j The fin that doth her holinefs reprove, The enmity that clofe attends her low; The great heart hardnefs of her penitence, The ftupid dulnefs of her vaunted fenfe; The unbelief of former blazed faith, The utter nothingnefs of all (lie hath. The blacknefs of her beauty fhe can fee, The pompous pride of ftrain'd humility, The naughtinefs -of all her tears and pray'rs, And now renounces all as worthlefs wares; And finding nothing to commend herfelf, But what might d?.mn her, her embezzled r At fov'reigu grace's feet docs pro ft rate fall, Content to be in Jefus' debt for all. Her noifed virtues vanifh out of fight, As ftarry tapers at meridian light; While fweetly, humbly, fhe beholds at length Chrift, as her only righteoufnefs and itrength. He with the view throws down his loving dart, Impreft with pow'r into her tender heart. The deeper that the law's fierce dart w?.s thrown. The deeper now the dart of love goes down; K jo GOSPEL SONNETS* Parti, Hence, fweetly pain'd, her cries to heav'n do ftee; * O none but Jefus, none but Chrift, for me: 6 O glorious Chrift, O beauty, beauty rare, 4 Ten thoufand thoufand heav'ns are not fo fair. * In him at once all beauties meet and mine, * The white and ruddy, human and divine. * As in his low, he's in his high abode, * The brightefl image of the unfeen God. * How juftly do the harpers fing- above, * His doing, dying, rifing, reigning love] * How juftly does he, when his wt>rk is done^ * PofTefs the centre of his Father's throne? * How juftly do his awful throne before < Seraphic armies proftrate him adore; ' That's both by nature and donation crown'd, < With all the grandeur of the Godhead round? But wilt thou, Lord, in very deed come dwell * With me, that was a burning brand of hell? * With me fo juftly reckon'd worfe and lefs *' Than infect,, mite, or atom can exprefs? * Wilt thou debafe thy high imperial form, < To match with fuch a mortal, crawling worm? s Yea, fure thine errand to our earthly coaft, Was in deep love tofeek and fave the loft *; * And fmce thou deign'ft the like of me to wed, * O come and make my heart thy marriage-bed. < Fair Jefus, wilt thou marry filthy me ? f Amen, Amen, Amen ; fo let it be.' Luke xix. to. Chap, III. The Believers Efpoufah. 5 1 CHAP. III. The FRUITS of the Believer's Marriage with CHRIST, particularly gofpel-hoii- nefs and obedience to the law as a rule, SECT. L Thefiueet folemnity of the marriage now over, and the fad effects of the remains of a legal f pint. THE match is made, with little din 'tis done, But with great pow'r, unequal prizes won. The Lamb has fairly won his worthlefs bride ; She her great Lord, and all his ftore befide. He made the poo.reft bargain, though mod wife; And (he, the fool, has won the worthy prize. Deep fiood,s of everlafting love and grace, That under ground ran an eternal fpace, Now rife aloft 'bove banks of fin and hell, And o'er the tops of mafTy mountains fwell. In ftreams of blood are tow'rs of guilt o'erflown. Down with the rapid purple current thrown. The bride now as her all can Jefus own. And proftrate at his fcotftool cait her crown, Difclaimihg all her former groundlefs hope, While in the dark her foul did weary grope. Down tumble all the hills of felf-conceit, In him alone fhe fees herfelf complete; Does his fair perfon with fond arms embrace, And all her hopes on hi;? full merit place; Difcard her former mate, and henceforth draw No hope, no expectation from the law. Though thus her new-created nature foars, And lives aloft on Jefus' heav'nly flores ; Yet, apt to ftray, her old adult' rous heart Oft takes her old renounced hu (band's part : E a $ i G o s p E L S o N N i- T s . Fart L A legal eov'nant is fo deep ingrain'd, Upon the human nature laps'd and iiain'd, That, till her fpirit mount the pure ft clime, She's never totally divorc'd in time. Hid in her corrupt part's proud bofom lurks Some hope of life flill by the law of works. Hence flow the following evils more or left; Preferring oft her partial holy drefs, Before her Kufband's perfect righteoufnefs. Hence joying more in grace already giv'n Than in her Head and flock that's all in heav'n, ' Hence grieving more the want of frames and grace, Than of himfelf the fpring of all folace. Hence guilt her foul'imprifons, lufhs prevail, ~) While to the law her rents infolvcnt fail, > AndyetherfaithlefsheartrtjecbherHufband'sbail. j Hence foul diforders rife, and racking fears, While doubtful of his clearing pad' arrears; Vain dreaming, fmce her own obedience fails, His likewise little for her help avails. Hence duties are a tafk, while all in view Is heavy yokes of laws, or old or new: Wherer.s, were once her legal bias broke, She'd find her Lord's commands an e;uy yoke. No galling precepts on her neck he lays, Nor any debt demands, fave what he pays ' By promis'd aid; but, lo! the grievous law, Demanding brick, won't aid her vrivh a ftraw. Hence aifo fretful, grudging, difcontent, ~> CravM by the law, finding her treafure fpent, /- And doubting if her Lord will pay the rent. J Hence pride of duties too does often fwell, Prefuming fhe perform'd fo very well. Hence pride of graces and inherent worth Springs from her corrupt legal bias forth ^ And boalling more a prelent with'ring frame, Than her exalted Lord's unfading name. Hence many falls and plunges in the mire, As many new converfions do require : Chap. III. Ths Belters Efcoufafs. rj Becaufe her faithlefs heart fad follies breed, Much lewd departure from her living Head, Who, to reprove her aggravated crimec, Leaves her abandon'd to herfelf at times ; That, falling into frightful deeps, ihc may From fad experience learn more ftrefs to Jay, Not on her native efforts, but at length On Chrift alone, her righteoufnefs and flrength: Confcious, while in her works fhc feeks repoie, Her legal fpirit breeds her many woes. SECT. II. Faith's victories ever Jin and Safari, through new and farther difcoveries 0/~CHRlST, making believers more fruitful in holi'nefs than all other pretenders to works. THE gofpel-path leads heav'n ward; hence the fray, Hell pow'rs flill pufh the bride the legal way. So hot the war, her life's a troubled flood, A field of battle, and a fcene of blood.. But he that once commenc'd the work in her, Whofe working fingers drop the fweeteft myrrh, Will ftill advance it by alluring force, And, from her ancient mate, more clean divorce; Since 'tis her antiquated fpoufe the law, The ftrength of fin and hell did on her draw. Piece meal fhe finds hell's mighty force abate, By new recruits from her ajmighty Mate. Frefh armour fent from grace's magazine, Makes her proclaim eternal war with (in. The ihield of faith, dipt in the Surety's blood. Drowns fiery darts, as in a crimfon flood. The Captain's ruddy banner, lifted high, Makes hell retire, and all the furies fly. Yea, of his glory ev'ry recent ghnce Makes fin decay, and holinefs advance. In kindnefs therefore does her heav'nly Lord Renew'd difcov'rie3 of his love afford, E 3 4 GOSPEL SONNETS. Parti. That her enarnour'd foul may with the view Be caft into his holy mould anew: For when he manifefts his glorious grace, The charming favour of his fmiling face, Into his image fair transforms her foul *, And wafts her upward to the heav'niy pole, From glory unto glory by decrees, Till vifion and fruition mall iuffice. And thus in holy beauty Jefus' bride Shines far beyond the painted fons of pride, Vain merit-vouchers, and their fubtle apes, In all their vafh refin'd, delufive fhapes. No lawful child is ere the marriage born; Though therefore virtues feign'' d their life adorn. The fruit they bear is but a fpurious brood, Before this happy marriage be made good. And 'tis not ftrange; for, from a corrupt tree No fruit divinely good producd cat'} be ||. But, lo! the bride, graft in the living Root, Brings forth moft precious aromatic fruit. "When her new heart and her new Hufband meet. Her fruitful womb is like a htap of wheat y Befet with fragrant lilies round about f, "; AH divine graces, in a comely rout, Burning within, and fhining bright without. j And thus the bride, as facred fcripture faith, When dead unto the law through Jefuf death \ y And malctid with him, bears to her God and Lord Accepted fruit with incenfe pure decor d. Freed from law-debt, and blefs'd with gofpel cafe, Her work is now her deareft Lord to pieafe, By living on him as her ample flock, And leaning to him as her potent rock. The fruit, that each law-wedded mortal brings To felf accrefces, as fr.om felf it fprings. So bafe a rife mud have a bale recourfe, The itre;itn can mount no hi 6 hor than its fource. r. iii. i3. |i Mat. vii 17,18, t Cant. vii,. 3i i ilor.it vii. 4, Chap. III. WeB^- ..-.-:. 55 But Jefus can his bride's fv/ect fruii; commend, As brought from him the root, to hiai the end. She docs by iuch an offspring him avow To be her ALPHA and OMEGA too. The work and warfare lie begins, he crowns, Though maugre various conflicts, ups and downs. Thus through the d,ukfome vail ihe makes her way Until the morning-dawn of glory's day. SECT. III. Truefavingfaiih magnifying the laiu^lota as a covenant, and a rule. Falfe faith unfruitful and ruining,. TJROUD nature may reject this gofpel-theme, -*- And curie it as an Antino'mhn fcheme. Let flander bark, let envy grin and fight, The curfe that is fo caufelefs {hall not light *. If they that fain would make by holy force 'Twixt finners and the law a clean divorce, And court the Lamb a virgin chafte to wife, Be charg'd as foes to holinefs of life, Well may they fuffer gladly on this fcore, Apoftles great were fo malign'd before. Do wt make void the la^o through faith^ ? nay } why, We do it more fulfil and magnify Than fiery icraphs can with holidt flaihj Avant, vain legalifts, unworthy traih. When as a counant item the law commands, Faith puts her Lamb's obedience in its hands; And when its threats guih out a fiery flood, F.iith itops the current with her victim's blood. The law can crave no more, yet craves no iefs, Than aKve, pailive, prefect rightcoufnefs. Y.t here is ail, yea, more than its demand, All render'd to it by a divine hand. Mankind is bound law-fervice itiil to pay, x r ea, angel-kind is alfo bound t' obey. * Prov. xxvi, 2, t R- 0;n s "i- al ' s6 GOSPEL SON NETS. Part I. It may by human and angelic blaze Have honour, but in finite partial ways. Thefe natures have its lustre once defac'd, 'Twill be by part of both for ay difgrac'd. Y-t, had they all obfequious t-tood and true, They'd giv'n the law no more than homage due But faith gives't honour yet more great, more odd; The high, the humble fervice of its God. Again to view the holy law's command, As lodged in a Meditator's hand; Faith gives it honour, as a rule of life, And makes the bride the Lamb's obedient wife Due homage to the law thofe never did, To whom th' obedience pure of faith is hid. Faith works by love " ): , and purifies the heart {-, And truth advances in the inward part; On carnal heart* imprefles divine ftamps, And fully'd lives inverts to mining lamps. From Abram's feed that are moll ftrong in faith, The law moll honour, God moil glory hath. But due refpecr. to neither can be found, ~) Where unbelief ne'er got a mortal wound, To (till the virtue-vaunter's empty found. j Good works he boafts a path he never trode. Who is not yet the. workmanjhip of God $, In Jefus thereunto created tieiu , Nois'd works that fpring not hence are but a fhcw True faith, that's of a noble divine race, Is ftill a holy fanclifying grace; And greater honour to the law does fhare, Than boafters all that breathe the vital air. Ev'n Heathen morals vaftly may outfhine The works that flow not from a faith divine. Pretenfions high to faith a number have, But, ah! it is a faith that cannot fave: We trufl) fay they, in Chrijl t we hope in God: Nor blufh to blaze their rotten faith abroad. * Eph, ii, 13, f Gal. v. 9, Chap. III. The Believer's Efrwfali. 57 Nor try the truft of which they make a {hew, If of a faving or a damning hue. They own their fins are ill; true, but 'tis fad They never thought their faith and hope were bad. How evident's their home-bred nat'ral blaze, Who dream they have believ'd well all their days; Yet never felt their unbelief, nor knew The need of pov/'r their nature to renew? Blind fouls that boaft of faith, yet live in fin, May hence conclude their faith is to begin ; Or know they fhall, by fuch an airy faith, Believe themfelves to everlafting wrr.th. Faith that nor leads to good, nor keeps from ///, Will never lead to heav'n, nor keep from hell. The body without breath is dead*; no lefs - Is faith without the works of holinefs {-. How rare is faving faith, when earth is cramm'd With fuch as v/ill believe, and yet be damn'd; Believe the gofptl, yet with dread and a\ve Have never truly firft believ'd the law? Th.it matters fhall be well, they hone too foon Who never yet have feen they were undone. Can of falvation their belief be true, Who never yet believ'd damnation due? Can thefe of 'end lefs life have fclid /,: : ih. Who never fear'd law-threat; of er.dk-is tbalh? Nay, fail'd t'.iey han't yet to the healing fhore, Who never felt their iir.i'ul, v/cful fore. Imaginary faith is but a blind, Tliat bears no fruit but of a deadly kind: Nor can from fuch a wild un.i/h<.lefome root The leall production rife of iivl.i^ fruit. ' But faviug faith can fuch an olFspring breed, Her native produ& is a holy fitxl. The faireft iflues of the vital breath Spring from the fertile womb of heav'n-born faith; * Janu-3 ii- 16. f James ii. j?. ao. <; 8 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part I. Yet boafts fhe nothing of her own, but brings Auxiliaries from the King of kings, Who graves his royal law in rocky hearts, And gracious aid in foft'ning (hbw'rs imparts: This gives prolific virtue to the faith, Infpir'd at firft by his almighty breath. Hence, fetching all her fuccours from abroad, She ftill employs this mighty pow'r of God. Drain'd clean of native powers and legal aims, No ftrength but in and from JEHOVAH claims: And thus her fervice to the law o'ertops The towYing zeal of Pharifaic fops. SECT. IV. T hebeliever only, being married to CHRIST, is jufti- fied sWfanftified : and the more gofpe I freedom from the laio as a covenant, the more holy conformity to it as a rule. THUS doth the Hufband by his Father's will Roth for and in his bride the law fulfil : For her, as 'tis a covenant ; and then In her, as 'tis a ride of life to men. Firft all law-debt he moft comp'rtely pays, Then of law-duties all the charge defrays. Does firft affume her guilt, and loofe hur chains, And then with living water wafh her ftainsj Her fund reftore, and then her form repair, And make his filthy bride a beauty fair ; His perfect righteoufnefs moft freely grant, And then his holy image deep implant j Into her heart his precious feed indrop, Which in his time will yield a glorious crop. But by alternate turns his plants he brings Through robbing winters and repairing iprings. Hence, pining oft, they fuffer fad decays By dint of fhady nights and flormy days. But blefl with fap, and influence from above, They live and grow anew in faith ami love ; Chap. III. The Believer's Ejpevfali. $ Until tranfplanted to the higher foil, Where furies tread no more, nor foxes fpoil. While Chrift the living root remains on high, The noble plant of grace can never die; Nature decays, and fo will all the fruit That merely rifes on a mortal root. Their works, however fpiendid, are but dead, That from a living fountain don't proceed; Their faireft fruit is but a garnifh'd fhrine That are not grafted in the glorious Vine. JDevouteft hypocrites ai - e rank'd in rolls Of painted puppets, not of living fouls. No offspring but of Chrift's fair bride is good, This happy marriage has a holy brood. Let finners learn this myftery to read, . We bear to glorious Chrift no precious feed, Till through the law, ive to the laiv be dead*. ,J No true obedience to the law, but forc'd, Can any yield, till from the law divorc'd. Nor to it t as a ntie t is homage giv'n, T\\\fromit t as a co-v'uant, men be driv'n. Yea more, till once they this divorce attain,. Divorce from fin they but attempt in vain; The curfed yoke of iin they bafely draw; Till once unyoked from the curfing law. Sin's full dominion keeps its native place, While men are under !aiu, net under grace f . For mighty hills of enmity woi^t move, Till touch'd by conqu'ring grace and mighty love, Were but the gofpel-fecret underftood, How God can pardon where he fees no good: How grace and mercy free, that can't be bought, Reign through a righteoufnefs already wrought ; Were woful reigning unbelief depos'd, Myfterious grace to blinded minds difclos'd; * Gal. ii. 19. f Rom. vi. x#. 6o Gos PEL SONNETS. Parti. Did Hcnv'n with gofpel-news its pow'r convey, ") And fmners hear a faithful God but fay, < No more law-debt remains for you to pay; j ' Lo, by the loving Surety all'g difcharg'd,' Their hearts behov'd with love to be enlarg'd: Love, the focdn&fu/f8ttgoft&f/a& *, Were then the eafy yoke they'd fweetly draw; Love would conftrain and to his fervice move, Who left them nothing elfe to do but love. "Slight now his loving precepts if they can ; No, no ; his conqu'ring kindnefs leads the van. When everlailing love exerts the fway, They judge themfelves more kindly bound t' obey, Bound by redeeming grace in ftricler fenfe Than ever Adam was in innocence. Why now, they are not bound, as formerly, To (h and live, nor yet to do or die ; Both life and death are put in Jefus' hands, Who urges neither in his kind commands, Not fervile work their life nnd heav'n to win, Nor fiavifh labour death nnd hell to fhun. Their aims are purer, fiuce they underftood, [blood- Their heav'n wasbought, their hell was quench'd with The oars of gofpel-fervice now they fteer, rut or legal hope or flavifh fear. The bride in fweet fecurity can dwell, Xor bound to purchafe heav'n, nor vanquifh hell: But bound for him the race of love to run, Whofe love to her left-Hone of thefe undone \ She's bound to be the Lamb's obedient wife, And in his ftrength to ferve him during life; To glorify his lovir.g name for ay, Who left her not a fmgle mite to pay Of legal debt, but wrote for her at large In characters of blood a full difcharge. Henceforth no fervile talk her labours prove. But grateful fruits of reverential love, * Ho in. xi i. ?o. Chap. III. The Believers Efpoufals. TfT SECT. V. Gofpel-grace giving no liberty nor freedom fojtx, -but t holy ftrvice and pure obedience. ^r^HE glorious Hufband's Jove can't lead the wi/e L To whoredom or licentioufnefs of life: Nay, nay, (he finds his warmeil love within, The hotted fire to melt her heart for fin. His kind embrace is ftill the flrongett cord To bind her to the fervice of her Lord. The more her faith infurcs this love of his, The more his law her delectation is. Some dream, they might, who this affurarice win, Take latitude and liberty to fin. Ah! fuch bewray their ignorance, and prove ") They want the lively fenfe of drawing love; And how its fweet conftraining force can move"-, j The ark of grace came never in to dwell, But Dagon-lufts before it headlong fell. Men bafely can unto lacivioufnefs Abufe the doctrine, not the work of grace. Hnggers of divine love in vice's path, Have but the fancy of it, not the faith. They never foar'd aloft on grace'.--, wing, That knew not grace to be a holy thing : When regnant fhe the pow'rs cf hell appals, And fin's dominion iri the ruin falls. Curs'd is the crew whofe Antinornian drefs Makes grace a cover to iheir idlenefs. The bride of Chrift vvill fure be very loth To make his love a pillow for her {loth. Why, mayn't fhe fin the more that grace abounds! Oh, God forbid! the Very thought confounds. When dead unto the law, (he's dead to fin; How can fhe any longer live therein *? To neither of them is ihe now a {lave, >vat (hares the conquefl of the great, the brave, * Rom- vi. r, 2. F 6z GOSPEL SONNETS. Parti The mighty Gen'ral, her victorious Head, Who broke the double chain to free the bride. Hence, prompted now with gratitude and love, Her cheerful feet in fwift obedience, move. More ftrong the cords of love to duty draw, Than hell, and all the curfes of the law. When with feraphic love the breail's infpir'd, .By that are all the other grace's fir'd; Thefe kindling round, the burning heart and frame In life and walk fend forth a holy flame. CHAP. IV. A Caution to all againft a legal fpirit; efpecially to thofe that have a profef- {ion without power, and learning with- out grace. WHY, fays the haughty heart of legalifts, Bound to the law of works by nat'ral twifts, Why fucb aclo about a law-divorce ? Mens lives are bad, and would youhave'em worfe? Such Antinomirm fluff with labour'd toil Would human beauty's native luftre fpoil. What wickednefs beneath the cov'ring lurks, That lewdly would divorce us all from works ? Why fuch a llir about the law and grace? We know that merit cannot now take place. And what needs more?' Well, to let flander drop, Be merit for a little here the fcope. Ah ! many learn to lifp in gofpel-terms, Who yet embrace the law with legal arms. By wholefome education fome are taught To own that human merit now is naught-, Who faintly but renounce proud merit's name, And cleave refin'dly to the Popifli fcheme. For graceful works expecting divine blifs, And, when they fail, truft Chrift for what's amifs. Chap. IV. The Jieliewr's Efpoufals. 63 Thus to his righteoufnefs profefs to llee, Yet by it ftill would their own faviours be. They i-eem to works of merit bloody foes, Yet feek falvation as it were* by thole. Blind Gentiles found, who did nor feek no-r knowi But Ifra'l loll it whole, who fought it fo. Let all that love to wear the legal drefs, Know that as fin. fo bailard righteoufnefs Has flain its thoufands, who in tow'ring pride The righteoufnefs of Jefus Chrifl deride j A robe divinely wrought, divinely won, Yet call by men for rags that are their own. But fome to legal works feem whole deny'd, Yet would by gofpel-works be juftify'd, By faith, repentance, love, and other fuch : ~y Thefe dreamers being righteous overmuch, C Like Uzza, give the ark a wrongful touch. j By legal deeds, however gofpeliz'd, Can e'er tremendous juftice be appeas'd Or finners juftify'd before that God, Whofe law is perfect, and exceeding broad ? Nay, faith itfelf, that leading gofpel-grace, Molds as a work no j unifying place. Juft Heav'n to man for righteoufnefs imputes Not faith itfelf, or in its ads or fruits ; But Jefus' meritorious life and death, Faith's proper object, all the honour hath. From this doth faith derive its glorious fame, Its great renown and juilifying name; Receiving all things, but dcferving nought; By faith all's begg'd and taken, nothing bought. Its higheft name is from the wedding vote, So initrumental in the marriage-knot. JEHOVAH lends the bride in that bletl hour, Th' exceeding greatnefs of his mighty poiu'r f ; Which fweetly does her heart-confent command, To reach the wealthy Prince her naked hand. * Rom. ix. 33. f Eph. vii. 1 6. F 2 64 G o s P E L S o K N E T s . Part I. For clofe to his embrace {he'd never ftir, If firft his loving arms embrac'd not her : But this he does by kindly gradual chafe, Of roufing, raifing, teaching, drawing grace. He {hews her in his fweeteft love addrefs, His glory as the Sun of righteoufnefs; At which all dying glories earth adorn, Shrink like the fick moon at the wholefome morn This glorious Sun arifing with a grace, Dark ihade of creature-righteoufnefs to chafe, Faith now difclaima itfelf, and all the train , } Of virtues formerly accounted gain; And counts them dung\^ with holy, meek difdain. j For now appears the height, the depth immenfe Of divine bounty and benevolence ; Amazing mercy ! ignorant of bounds ! Which moft enlarged faculties confounds. How vain, how void now feem the vulgar charms, The monarch's pomp of courts, and pride of arms? The boafled beauties of the human kind, The pow'rs of body, and the gifts of mind? Lo! in the grandeur of Immanuel's train, All's fwallow'd up as rivers in the main. He's feen, when gofpel-light and iight is giv'n, Encompafs'd round with all the pomp of heav'n. The foul, now taught of God, fee's human fchools Make Chriftlefs rabbi's only lit'rate fools; And that, till divine teaching pow'rful draw, No learning will divorce them from the law. Mere argument may clear the head, and force A verbal, not a cordial clean divorce, Hence many, taught the wholefome terras of art, Have gofpel-heads, but ftill a legal heart. Till fov'reign grace and pow'r the fmner catch, He takes not Jefus for his only match. Nay, works complete ! ah ! true, however odd, Dead works are rivals with the living God. t Pliil. iii. 7, 8. Chap. V. The Believers Efpoufals* 6$ Till Heav'n's preventing mercy clear the fight, Confound the pride with fupernat'ral light; No haughty foul of human kind is brought To mortify her felf-exalting thought. Yet holiell creatures in clay-tents that lodge, Be but their lives fcann'd by the dreadful Judge; How (hall they e'er his awful fearch endure, Before whofe purell eyes heav'n is not pure? How niuft their black indictment be enlarged, When by him angels are with folly charg'd? What human worth mall (land, when he fhall fcan? O may his glory ilain the pride of man. How wondrous are the tracks of divine grace! How fearchlefs are his ways, how vaft th'abyfs! Let haughty reafon ftoop, and fear to leap; Angelic plummets cannot found the deep. With fcorn he turns his eyes from haughty kings, With pleafure looks on low and worthlefs things ; Deep are his judgments, fov'reign is his will, Let ev'ry mortal worm be dumb, be ftill. In vain proud reafon fwells beyond its bound; God and his counfels are a gulf profound, An ocean wherein all our thoughts are drowu'd CHAP. V. Arguments and Encouragements to Gofpel mimiters to avoid a legal {train of doc- trine, and endeavour the (inner's match; \vith CHRIST by gofpel-means. SECT. I. A legal SPIRIT the root of damnable Errors. YE heralds great, that blow in name ;>f God The filver trump of gofpsl-grace abroad; F 3 66 Go s PEL SONNET s. Parti. And found, by warrant from the great I AM, The nuptial treaty with the worthy Lamb : Might ye but (loop th' unpolifh'd mufe to brook, And from a fhrub an wholefome berry pluck ; Ye'd take encouragement from what is faid, ~) By gofpel-means to make the marriage-bed, > And to your glorious Lord a virgin chafte to wed. j The more proud nature bears a legal fway, The more fhould preachers bend the gofpel-way : Oft in the church arife deftruclive fchifms From anti-evangelic aphorifms ; A legal fpirit may be juftly namM The fertile womb of ev'ry error damn'd. Hence Pop'ry, fo connat'ral fince the fall, Makes legal works, like faviours, merit all ; Yea, more than merit on their moulder loads, To fupererogate like demi-gods. Hence proud Socinians feat their reafon highj 'Bove ev'ry precious gofpel-myftery, Its divine Author ftab, and without fear The purple covert of his chariot tear. With thefe run Arian monfters in a line, All gofpel-truth at once to undermine ! To darken and delete, like hellifh foes, The brighteft colour of the Sharon Rofe. At beft its human red they but decry, That blot the divine ivhite y the native dye. Hence dare Arminians too, with brazen face, Give man's free-will the throne of God's free grace i Whofe felf-exalting tenets clearly fliew Great ignorance of law and gofpel too. Hence Neonomians fpring, as fundry call The new law-makers, to redrefs our fall. The law of works into repentance, faith, ' Is chang'd, as their Baxterian bible faith. Shaping the gofpel to an eafy law, They build their tott'ring houfe with hay and ftraw J Yet hide/like Rachel's idols in the ftuff, Their legal hands within a gofpel muff. Chap. V. The Believer's Ffpoufals. . 6j Yea, hence fprings Antinomian vile refufe, Whofe grofs abettors gofpel grace abufe : UnikilI'd how grace's filken latchet binds Her captives to the law with willing minds. SECT. II. y^ legal STRAIN ofdoElrlne difcovsred and discarded, NO wonder Paul the legal fpirit curfe, Of fatal errors fuch a feeding nurfe. He, in JEHOVAH'S great tremendous name, Condemns perverters of the gofpel-fcheme. He damn'd the fophift rude, the babbling prieft Would venture to corrupt it in the leaft; Yea, curs'd the heav'nly angel down to hell, That daring would another gofpel tell *. Which crime is charg'd on thefe that dare difpenfb The felf-fame gofpel in another fenfe. Chrift is not preach'd in truth, but in difguifc, If his bright glory half abfconded lies. When gofpel foldiers that divide the word, Scarce brandim any but the legal fword. While Chrift the author of the law they prefs, More than the end of it for righteoufnefs ; Chrift as zfeeker of our fervice trace, More than a giver of enabling grace. The King commanding holinefs they (how, More than the Prince exalted to beftow; Yea, more on Chrift the fin-revenger dwell, Than Chrift Redeemer both from fin and hell. With legal fpade the gofpel-field he delves, Who thus drives finners in unto themfelves; Halving the truth that mould be all reveal'd, The fweeteft part of Chrift is oft conceal'd. We bid men turn from fin, but feldom fay, Behold the Lamb that takes all ft n aivay-\ \ 4 * Gal, i, 7, 8, t Jhn 29. 63 G o s P K L S o N N E T s. Part I . Chrift, by the gofpel rightly underftood, Not only treats a peace, but makes it good. Thofe uiitors therefore of the bride, who hope By force to drag her with the legal rope, Nor ufe the drawing cord of conqu'ring grace, Purfue with flaming zeal a fruitlefs chafe; In vain lame doings urge, with folemn awe, To bribe the fury of the fiery law: With equal fuccefs to the fool that aims By paper walls to bound devouring flames. The law's but mock'd by their molt graceful deed, That wed not firit the law-fulfilling Head; It values neither how they wrought nor wept, That flight the ark wherein alone 'tis kept. Yet legalifts, DO, DO, with ardour prefs, ~) And with prepoft'rous zeal and warm addrefs > Would feem the greateft friends to holinefo: j But vainly (could fuch oppofites accord) Refpect the law, and yet reject the Lord. They (hew not Jefus as the way to blifs, But Judas-like betray him with a kifs Of boafted vvorks^ or mere profeflion puft, Law-boalters proving but law-breakers oft, SECT. III. The HURTFULNESS of not preac king CHRIST, and. diftingulfbing duly between law a. HELL cares not how crude holinefs be preach'd, If fmners match with Chrift be never reach'dj Knowing their holinefs is but a fham, Who ne'er are married to the holy Lamb. Let words have never fuch a pious fhew, And blaze aloft in rude profeflbr's view, With facred aromatics richly fpic'd, If they but drown in filence glorious Chrift; Chap. V. Tie Believer's Eftouja/s. 6

ifni^u iwi ths'i c,rs naked blind and oor-^ y ~) Cdunfeird to buy or beg at Jefus' aoor, /- And take the glorious robe, cye-falve, and goldtn-Jtore, j This prize they are oblig'd by faith to \vin, Elfe uabelief would never be their fin. Yea, gofpel offers but a fham we make, If ev'ry finner has not right to take. Be gofpel-heralds fortify'd from this, To trumpet-grace, howe'er the ferpent hifs. Did hell's malicious mouth in dreadful fhape 'Gainft innocence itfelf malignant gape? Then facred truth's devoted vouchers may For dire reproach their meafures conftant lay. With cruel calumny of old commenc'd, Tkisfeff will evry where be fpoke again/} fo While to and fro he runs the earth acrofs, Whofe name is ADELPHON KATEGOROS|J. In fpite of hell be then our conftant ftrife To win the glorious Lamb a virgin-wife. * Luke xiv. ai. t Rev. iii. 17, 1 8. | Arts xxviii. Z^. t Or. The accufer of the brethren. Chap. VI. Tfy Believers Eftwfals. 77 CHAP. VI. An Exhortation to all that are out of CHRIST ; in order to their doling the match with him: containing alfo mo- tives and directions. READER, into thine hands thefe lines are.giv'n, But not without the providence of Heav'n ; Or to advance thy blifs, if thou art wife, Or aggravate thy wo, if thou defpife. For thee, for thee, perhaps th' omnifcient ken Has form'd the- counfel here, and led the pen. The writer then does thy attention plead, In liis great name that gave thee eyes to read. SECT. I. Cynviciion offered to Sinners, efpecially fuch as are wedded Jlriftly to the law, prfelf-righftoux, that they may fie the need of CHRIST'S rigbteoufnefs . IF never yet thou didft fair Jefus wed, Nor yield thy heart to be his marriag:-bed But hitherto art wedded to the law, Which never could thy chain'd affections draw From brutifh lufts and fordid lover's charms; Lo ! thou art yet in Satan's folded arms. Hell's pow'r invifible thy foul retains His captive flave, lock'd up in malty chains. O! (inner then, as thou regard'it thy life, "} Seek, feek with ardent care and earneit itrife, C To be the glorious Lamb's betrothed wife. ^) For ba~fe corrivals never let him lofe Thy heart, his bed of conjugal repofe. Wed Chrift alone, and witii fevere remorfe ~) From other mates puriue a clean divorce i For they thy ruin feek by fraud or force. j 78 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part L As lurking ferpents in the fhady bow'rs Conceal their malice under fpreading flow'rs ; 80 thy deceitful lufts with cruel fpite Hide ghaftly danger under gay delight. Art thou a legal zealot, foft or rude, Renounce thy nat'ral and acquired good. As bafe deceitful lufts may work thy fmart, So may deceitful frames upon thy heart. Seeming good motions may in fome be found, Much joy in hearing, like the ftony ground *j Much forrow too in praying, as appears In Efau's careful fuit with rueful tears f. Touching the laiv, they blamelefs may appear 'if, From fpurious views moil fpacious virtues bear* Nor merely be devout in mens efteem, But prove to be fincerely what they feem, Friends to the Jioly law in heart and life, Suers of heav'n with utmoft legal ftrife ; Yet ftill with innate pride fo rankly fpic'd, Converted but to duties, not to Chrift, That publicans and harlots heaifn obtain \\ Before a crew fo righteous and fo vain. Sooner will thofe make off their vicious drefs Than thefe blind zealots will their righteoufnefs, Who judge they have (which fortifies their pride) The law of God itfelf upon their fide. Old nature, new brufh'd up with legal pains, ouch ftricl attachment to the law retains, No means, no motives can to Jefus draw Vain fouls fo doubly wedded to the law. But wouldft the glorious Prince in marriage have, Know that thy nat'ral hufband cannot fave. Thy beft eflays to pay the legal rent Can never in the lead the law content. Didft thou in pray'rs employ the morning-light, In tears and groans the watches of the night, * Luke viii, 13, t Heb. xii. 17. \ Phil. iii. 9. l|Matth. xxi. 31, Chap; VI. The Believer's Efpmtf.ils. Pafs thy whole life in clofe devotion o'er ; 'Tis nothing to the law ftili craving more. There's no proportion 'twixt its high commands And puny works from thy polluted hands ; Perfection is the leaii that it demands Would/} enter into life, then keep the law * ; But keep it perfectly without a flaw. It won't have lefs, nor will abate at laft , A drop of vengeance for the fin that's paft. Tell, finful mortal, is thy (lock fo large As duly can defray this double charge ? Why thefe are mere impombles,' (lay'ft thou.) Yea, truely fo they are, and therefore now, That down thy legal confidence may fall, The law's black doom, home to thy bofom call. Lo! I (the divine law) demand no lefs Than perfect everlafting righteoufnefs; But thou halt fail'd, and loll thy Strength to DO; Therefore I doom thee to eternal wo; In prifon clofe to be fhut up for ay, Ere I be baffled with thy partial pay. Thou always didit and doit my precepts break, I therefore curfe thee to the burning lake. In God the great Lawgiver's glorious name, I judge thy foul to everlafting fhame.' Nojlefa can by the laiu be jujlified'\\ Yet dareft thou thy legal duties plead ? As Paul appeal'd to Caefar, wilt thou fo, Unto the law? then to it fhalt thou go, And find it doom thee to eternal wo. J What 1 would ye have us plung'd in deep defpair r Amen; yea, God himfelf v/ould have you there. His will it is that you defpair of life, And fafety by the iaw, or legal ftrife ; That cleanly thence divorc'd at any rate, His faireft Son may have a faithful mate. Mattb. xxi. 17, f Rom. iii. c, 8o GOSPEL SONNETS. Parti. Till this law-fentence pafs within your bread, You'll never wed the la\v-di (charging Prieft. You prize not heav'n till he through hell you draw; Nor iove the gofpel till you know the law. Know then, the divine law moft perfect cares For none of thy imperfect legal wares ; Dooms th.ee to vengeance for thy finful ftate, As well as finful actions fmall or great. If any fin can be accounted fmall, To hell it dooms thy foul for one and all. for fins of nature, practice, heart, and way, Damnation-rent it fummons thee to pay. Yea, not for fin alone, which is thy fhame, But for thy boaited fervice too fo lame, The law adjudges thee and hell to meet, Becaufe thy righteoufnefs is incomplete. As tow'ring flames burn up the wither 'd. flags, So will the fiery law thy filthy rags. SECT. II. Direction given -with reference to the right life of the means , that ive rejt not en thefe hi/lead of CHRIST the glorious Hit/band, in whom our help lies. A D^Myivhert art thou* ? S oul, where art thou now ? *^-* Oh! art thou faying, Sir, what flail I do\l I dare not ufe that proud felf-raifing ftrain, Go help yourfclfy and God ivill help you then. Nay, rather know, O Ifr'el, that thou haft Dejlroy'd tfyfelf, and can ft not in the leaft, From fin nor wrath thyfelf the captive free, Thy help (fays Jefus) only lies in me\. Heav'n's oracles direct to him alone; Full help is laid upon this mighty One. In him, in him complete falvation dwells; He's God the helper, and there is none e!fe\\. * Gen. in. 9. t Mark x. 17. f Hof. jdii. 9. I Ifa, xlv, a 2, Chap. VI. The Believer's Efpoufals. 8 1 Fig-leaves won't hide thee from the fiery fhow'r, 'Tis he alone that faves by price and pow'r. Muft we do nothing then (will mockers fay) But reft in floth til! Heav'n the help convey? Pray, flop a little, finner, don't abufe God's awful word, that charges thee to ufe Means, ordinances, which he's pleas'd to place, As precious channels of his pow'rful grace. Reftlefs improve all thefc, until from Heav'n The whole falvation needful thus be given. Wait in this path, according to his call, On him whofe pow'r alone effecteth all. Wouldfl thou him wed, in duties wait, I fay : But marry not thy duties by the way. Thou'lt wofully come fhort of faving grace, If duties only be thy reding place. Nay, go a little further * through them all, To him whofe office is to fave from thrall. Thus in a gofpel-manner hopeful waii Strivine to nater fa il* ~;;- r p W ga te f : So ftrait and narrow, that it won't admit The bunch upon thy back to enter it. Not only bulky lufts may ceafe to prefs, But ev'n the bunch of boalted righteouihefs. Many, as in the facred page we fee, Shad Jt l rive to etiter, but unable be ^ : Becaufe, miftaking this new way of life, They pufh a legal, not a gofpel-ftnfe: As if their duties did JEHOVAH bind, Becaufe 'tis written, Seek and ye foall fmd. Perverted fcripture does their error fence, They read the letter, but neglect thefe/ife. While to the word no gofpel-glofs they give, Theiry,-, Thy money perifi ivilh thy fiulfor ay*. j Duties are means which to the marriage-bed Should chaftlylead us like a chamber-maul; But if with her inilead of Chrift we match, We not our fafety but our ruin hatch. To Gefsr what is C^far's fhould be giv'n, But Gcfav muft not have what's due to Heav'n ; So duiies fnould have duty's room, 'tis true, Ziut nothing of the glorious hufliand's due. Afts viii. ao. 84 GOSPEL SONNETS. Parti, "While means the debt of clofe attendance crave, Our whole dependance God alone mufl have. If duties, tears, our conscience pacify, They with the blood of Chrift prefume to vie. Means are his vaflals; fliall we without grudge Difcard the mafler, and efpoufe the drudge? The hypocrite, the legalift does fin, To live on duties, not on Chrift therein. He only feeds on empty dimes, plates, Who dotes on means, but at the manna frets. Let never means content thy foul at all, Without the Hufband, who is all in all. \\ Cry daily for the happy marriage-hour; To thee belongs the mean, to him the pow'r. SECT. III. -.-^CALL to believe in JESUS CHRIST, with feme hints at the alt and objeft of faith. FRIEND, is the queftion on thy heart engrav'd, WLitJball I do to be for everja-u'd^ Lo! here's a living rock to build upon; Relieve in Jefits*^ and on him alone For righteoufnefs and ftrength thine anchor drop, Renouncing all thy former legal hope. < Believe (fay you)! I can no more believe, Than keep the law of works, the DO and LIVE-' True; and it were thy mercy, didlt thou fee Thine utter want of all ability. New cov'nant graces he alone can grant, Whom God has giv'n to be the covenant\\ Ev'n Jefus, whom the facred letters call Faith's object, author, finilher, and all: In him alone, net in thy act of faith, Thy foul believing full falvation hath. In this new cov'nant judge net fsith to hold The room of perfect doing in the old. 3 Col. hi. 3. t Act: xvi. 30. * Ver. 31. t Ifa. xlii 6- Chap. VI. The Believer's Efpoufals. 85 Faith is not giv'n to be the fed'ral price Of other blefiings, or of paradife: But Heav'n, by giving this, ftrikes out a door At which is carried in ftill more and more. No finner muft upon his faith lay ftrefs, As if it were a perfect righteoufnefs. God ne'er alTign'd unto it fuch a place ; 'Tis but at beft a bankrupt begging grace. Its object makes its fame to fly abroad, So clofe it grips the righteoufnefs of God; Which righteoufnefs receiv'd, is (without ftrifcj The true condition of eternal life. But ftill, fay you, pow'r to believe I mifs. You may; but know you what believing is? Faith lies not in your building up a tow'r Of fome, great action by your proper pow'r, For Heav'n well knows, that by the killing fall No pow'r, no will remains in man at all For acts divinely good; 'till fov'reign grace By pow'rful drawing virtue turn the chafe. Hence none believe in Jefus as they ought, "} 'Till once they firft believe they can do nought, Nor are fufficient e'en to form a thought *-' 3 They're confcious, in the right believing hour, Of human weakneis, and of divine pow'r. Faith acts not in the fenfe of ftrength and jnighr, But in the fenfe of weaknefs acts outright. ' It is (no boafting arm of pow'r or length,) But lueaknefs aEling on almighty Jtrength -j-. It is the pow'rlefs, helplefs finner's .ilight Into the open arms of faving might : 'Tis an employing Jefus to do all That can within falvation's compafs fall ; To be the agent kind in ev'ry thing Belonging to a prophet, pried, and king; To teach, to pardon, fan'ctify, and fave, And nothing to the creature's pow'r to leave. * 5 Cor. iii. r+ fa Cor, r.ii. 9. 86 GOSPEL SONNET 5. Part L Faith makes us joyfully content that he Our Head, our Hufband, and our All fhould be; Our righteoufnefs and ftrength, our ftock and ftore r Our fund for food and raiment, grace and glore. It makes the creature down to nothing fall, Content that Chrift alone be all in all. The plan of grace is faith's delightful view, With which it clofes both as good and true, Unto the truth^ the mind's ajjent is full, Unto the good, a free confenting ivill. The Holy Spirit here the agent chief, Creates this faith, and dafhes unbelief. That very God who calls us to believe, The very faith he feeks muft alfo give. Why calls he then? fay you. Pray, man, be wife; Why did he call dead Lazarus to rife? Becaufe the orders in their bofom bear Almighty pow'r to make the carcafe hear. But Heav'n may not this mighty pow'r difplaj. Moft true-, yet ftill thou art oblig'd t' obey. But God is not at all oblig'd to ftretch His faving arm to fuch a fmful wretch. Ail who within falvation-rolls have place, Are fav'd by a prerogative of grace; But veffeis ail that fliall with wrath be cramm'd, Are by an act of holy juftke damn'd. Take then, dear foul, as from a friendly heart, The counfei which the foil' wing lines impart. SECT. IV. An ADVICE to f inner s to apply to the fwereign n:err$ of 'God ', as it is dif covered through CHRIST, to the highefl honour fff JuAtC0 t and other divine attributes, in order to further their faith in him unto fahathn. GO, friend, and at JEHOVAH'S footitool bow; ; Thou know'fl not what a fov'reign God may do> Confcfs, if he commiferate thy cafe, 'Twill be an^act of pov/'rful fo\ 'reign grace. Chap, VI. The Believer's Ejpoufah. 87 Sequeftrate carefully fome fokmn hours, To {hew thy grand concern in fecret pow'rs. Then in th' enfuing drain to God impart, And pour into his bofom all thy heart. O glorious, gracious, pow'rful, fov'reign Lord, Thy help unto a fmful worm afford ; Who from my wretched birth to this fad hour Have ftill been deftitute of will and pow'r To clofe with glorious Chrift ; yea,fill'd with fpite ~) At thy fair darling, and thy faints delight, Refifting all his grace with all my might. j Come, Lord, and fap my enmity's ftrong tow'r; O hafte the marriage-day, the day of pow'r: That fweetly, by reiiillefs grace inclin'd, My once reluctant be a willing mind. Thou fpak'il to being ev'ry thing we fee, When thy almighty will laid, Let it be. Nothings to being in a moment pafs : Let there be light, thoufaidft; find fo it tuas*. A pow'rful word like this, a mighty call, Mud fay, Let there be -faith, and then it fhall. Thou feek'il my faith and flight from fin and guilt; Give what thou ieek'ft, Lord; then feek what thou What good can iiTue from a root fo ill! f_\vilt. This heart of mine's a wicked lump of hell; 'Twill all thy common motions {till refift, Unlefs with fpecial drawing virtue bleft. Thou calls, but with the call thy pow'r convey; ~) Command me to believe, and I'll obey, Nor any more thy gracious call gain i ay.- j Command, O Lord, effectually command, ~) And grant I be not able to withftand; Then pow'riefsl willflretch the whitherM hand, j ' I to thy favour can pretend no claim, But what is borrowed from thy glorious name; Which though moil juftly thou may ft glorify. In damning fuch a guilty wretch as me, Gen. i. 3. H 2 88 GOSPEL SONNETS. Parti. A faggot fitted for the burning fire * Of thine incenfed everlafting ire: ' Yet, Lord, fince now I hear thy glorious Son, * In favour of a race that was undone, * Did in thy name, by thy authority, * Once to the full ftern juftice fatisfy; And paid more glorious tribute thereunto, * Than hell and all its torments e'er can do. * Since my falvation through his blood can raife ") * A revenue to juftice' higheft praife, ? ' Higher than rents, which hell for ever pays: _) * Thefe to tremendous juftice never bring ' A fa tisf action equal and condign. ' But Jefus our once dying God performs, * What never could by ever dying worms : * Since thus thy threat'ning law is honour'd more ' Than e'er my fins affronted it before : ' Since juftice ftern may greater glory win, ' Y>y justifying in thy darling Son, ' Than by condemning ev'n the rebel me ; * To this device of \vifaom, lo! I flee. f Let juftice, Lord, according to thy will, * Be glorify'd with glory great and full; Not now in hell where juftice petty pay Is but extorted parcels minc'd for ay: ' But glorify'd in Chrift, who down hus told The total fum at once in liquid gold. ' In lowed hell low praife is only won, t But juftice has the higheft in thy Son ; * The Sun of righteoufnefs that fet in red, * To fhew the glorious morning would fucceed. ' In him then fave thou me from fin and fhame, ( And to the higheft glorify thy name. ' Since this bright fcene thy glories all exprefs, * And grace as emprefs reigns through righteoufnejs ; * Since mercy fair runs in a crimfon flood, ' And vents through juftice-fatisfying blood: * Not only then for mercy's fake I fue, * But for the glory of thy juftice too. Chap. VI. The Believers Ejpoufals. < And fince each letter of thy nime divine * Has in fair Jefus' face the brighteft fhine, * This glorious Hufband be for ever mine. < On this ftrong. argument fo fweet, fo bleft, < With thy allowance, Lord, I muft infill. * Great God, fince thou allow'ft unworthy me * To make thy glorious name my humble plea ; 4 No glory worthy of it wilt thou gain, c By cafting me into the burning main. ' My feeble back can never fuit the load, * That fpeaks thy name a fin-revenging God. t Scarce would that name feem a confuming fire * Upon a v.'orm unworthy of thine ire. But fee the worthy Lamb, thy chofen Pried, ,' Withjuftice' burning-glafs againit his breail, Contracting all die beams of 'venging wrath, ' As in their centre, till he burn to deafK ' Vengeance can never be fo much prociaim'd, By fcatter'd beams among the millions damn'd. * Then, Lord, in him me to the utmoft fave, * And thou fhait glory to the higheft have : ( Glory to lulfdom, that contriv'd fo well ! ( Glory to pow'r, that bore and bury'd hell ! * Glory to bottnefs, which fin defac'd, With fmlefs fervice now divinely grac'd ! * Glory \.Q jitflice fword, that flaming ftood, ' Now drunk to pleafure with atoning blood ! * Glory to trut/jy that now in fcarlet clad, * Has feal'd both threats and promifes with red ! * Glory to mercy, now in purple ftreams, f So fweetly gliding through the divine flames ' Of other once offended, now exalted names ! * Each attribute confpires, with joint embrace, * To fhew its fparkling rays in Jefus' face ; * And thus to deck the crown of matchlefs grace. _ * But to thy name in hell ne'er can accrue * The thouiandth part of this great revenue, H 3 po GOSPEL SONNETS. Parti. * O ravifliing contrivance ! light that blinds Cherubic gazers, and feraphic minds. They pry into the deep, and love to learn What yet (h-juld vaftly more be my concern. Lord, once my hope moft reafoniefs could dream Of heav'n, without regard to thy great name : But here is laid my lafting hope to found, A highly' rational, a divine ground. 'Tis reasonable, I expect thou'lt take The way that moft will for thine honour make. Is this the plan ? Lord, let me build my claim To life, on this high glory of thy name. Nor let my faithlefs heart or think, or fa^r, That all this glory (hall be thrown away In my perdition ; which will never raife To thy great name fo vaft a rent of praife. O then a rebel into favour take : Lord, fhield and fave me for thy glory's fake, My endlefs ruin is not worth the coft, That fo much glory be for ever loft. I'll of the greatefl fmner bear the fhame, To bring the greateft honour to thy name. Small lofs, though I mould periih endlefs days, But thoufand pities grace mould lofe the praife. O hear, JEHOVAH, get the glory then, And to my fupplication fay, Amen. 1 SECT. V. The terrible DOOM of unbelievers, and rejecters cf CHRIST, or defpifers of the gofpeL THUS, fmner, into Jefus' bofom flee, Then there is hope in Ifra'l fure for thee. Slight not the call, as running by in rhime, Left thou repent for ay, if not in time. 'Tis moft unlawful to contemn and fhun All whokfome counfels that in metre run ; Chap. VI. The Be/lever's Efpoitfnls. pi Since the prime fountains of the facred writ Much heav'nly truth in holy rhimes tranfmit. If this don't pleafe, yet hence it is no crime To verify the word, and preach in rhime. But in whatever mould the dottrine lies, ~) Some erring minds will gofpel-truth defpife Without remede, till Heav'n anoint their eyes, j Thefe lines pretend no conqu'ring art nor ikill, But (hew, in weak attempts, a ftrong good-will, To mortify all native legal pride, And court the Lamb of God a virgin bride. If he thy conjunct match be never giv'n, Thou'rt doom'd to hell, as fure as God's in heav'n. If gofpel-grace and goodnefs don't thee draw, Thou art condemn d already by the law. Yea, hence damnation deep will doably brace, If (till thy heart contemn redeeming grace. No argument from fear or hope will move, Or draw thy heart, if not the bond of love: Nor flowing joys, nor flaming terrors chafe To Chrift the hav'n, without the gales of grace. O ilighter then of grace's joyful found, Thou'rt over to the wrathful ocean bound. Anon thou It fink into the gulf of woes, Whene'er thy wafting hours are at a clofe: Thy falfe old legal hope will then be loft, And with thy wretched foul give up the ghoft Then farewel God and Chrift, and grace and glorej Undone thou art, undone for evermore, For ever finking underneath the load And preflure of a fin-revenging God. The facred awful text aflerts, To fall Into his living hands is fearful thrall ; When no more facrifice for fin remains *, But ever-living wrath, and lading chains: Heav'n ftill upholding life in dreadful death, Still throwing down hot thunderbolts of wrath, * Heb. x, 29, 31, 9 ~ GOSPELS o s- N a T s. Part I. As lull of terror, and as manifold, As finite veifelu of his wrath can hold. ' Then, then we may fuppofe the wretch to cry, ~~) ' Oh ! if this damning God would let me die, C * And not torment me to eternity ! _) f Why from the filent womb of llupid eartli, f Did Heav n awake, and puili me into birth ? { Curs'd be the day that ever gave me life ^ * Curs'd be the cruel parents, man and wife, * Means of my being, initrumcnts of wo ; * For now I'm damn'd, I'm damn'd, and always fo ! Curs'd be the day that ever made me hear * The gofpel-call, which brought falvation near. * The endlefs found of flighted mercy's bell, Has in mine ears the moll tormenting knell. ' Of offer' d grace I vain repent the lofs, * The joyful found with horror recognofce. ' The hollow vault reverberates the found; * This killing echo ftrikes the deepeft wound, * And with too late vemorfe does no\v confound. * Inio the dungeon of defpair I'm lock'd, ' Th' once open door of hope for ever block'd: ' Hopelefs, I fink* into the dark abyfs, ' Banifli'd for ever from eternal blifs. * In boiling waves of vengeance mufl I lie ? * O could I curfe this dreadful God, and die I * Infinite years in torment (hall I fpend, ( And never, never, never at an end ! * Ah ! mull I live in torturing defpair * As many years as atoms in the air? * When thefe are fpent, as many thoufands more * As grains of fand that croud the ebbing fhore? ' When thefe are done as many yet behind * As leaves of forefl fhaken with the wind ? * When thefe are gone, as many -to enfue * As ftems of grafs on hills and dales that grew ? * When thefe run out, as many on the march & As ftarry lamps that gild the fpangled arch.?. Chap. VI. The Believer's Efpoufils. 9 When thefe expire, as many millions more * As moments in the millions pall before ? When all thefe doleful years are fpent in pain, And multiply'd by myriads agafn, Till numbers drown the thought; could I fuppofe * That then my wretched years were at a cloie, 4 This would afford fome eafe : but, ah ! I fhiver * To think upon the dreadful found, for evt*r\ ' The burning gulph, where I blafpheming iy, * Is time no more, but vaft eternity. ' The growing torment I endure for fin, * Through ages all, is always to begin. ' How did I but a grain of pleafure fbw, ' To reap an harveit of immortal wo? Bound to the bottom of the burning m * Gnawing my chains, I wifh for death ii Juft doom! fince I that bear th' eternal load f Contetmn'd the death of an eternal God. ' Oh! if the God that curs'd me to the lafli, * Would blefs me back to nothing \vith a tUih. ! * But hopelefs I the juft avenger hate, * Blafpheme the wrathful God, and curfe my fate. To thefe this word of terror I direct, Who now the great falvation dare nrgleft * : To all the Chvitt-defpifing multitude, That trample on the great Redeemer's blood ; That fee no beauty in his glorious face, But flight his offers, and refufe his grace. A meffenger of wrath to none I am, But thofe that hate to wed the worthy Lamb. For though the fmalleft fins, if fmall can be, Will plunge the Chriftlefs foul in mifery : Yet, lo ! the greateft that to mortals cleave, Shan't damn the fouls in Jefus that believe , Becaufe they on the very method fall That well can make amends to God for ali. Whereas proud fouls, through unbelief won't lot The glorious God a reparation get * Heb. ii. 3. 94 GOSPEL SONNETS. Parti, Of all his honour, in his darling Son, For all the great dimonours they have done. A faithlefs foul the glorious God bereaves Of all the fatisfaction that he craves ; Hence under divine holeft fury lies, And with a double vengeance juttly dies^ The blackeft part of Tophet is their place, Who flight the tenders of redeeming grace. That facrilegious monfler, Unbelief, So hard'ned 'gainft remorfe and pious grief, Robs God of all the glory of his names, And ev'ry divine attribute defames. It loudly calls the truth of God a lie;. The God of truth a liar*: horrid cry ! Doubts and denies his precious v/ords of grace, Spits venom in the royal Suitors face. This monfter cannot ceafe all fin to hatch, Becaufe it proudly mars the happy match. As each law-wedded foul is join'd to fin, And deftitute of holinefs within; So all that wed the law, muft wed the curfe, Which rent they fcorn to pay with Chrift's full purfe. They clear may read their dreadful doom in brier, Whofe fefter'd fore is final unbelief: Though to the law their life exaclly .vamM, ) For zealous nets and paHions too were fam'd: Yet, lo! K. ,Jlall be da;nvd\. ) But tmu 'tis proper, on the otoerjidtj lyiib words of comfort to addrefs the bride. She in her glorious Huftiand does pffife j&dyrning gi'sce, acquitting nghteiufnefs : And hence to her pertain the golden minis Of ccmfort ofir.edin the fiW wing !:t;es. * '." v. io, f John iii. ;S t 95 ] GOSPEL SONNETS. PART II. The BELIEVER'S JOINTURE: Or, The POEM continued upon ISAIAH liv. 5. Thy Maker is thy Hujband. N. B. The following lines being primarily intended for the life and edification of picujly-cxercijed fouls, and ffpecially thofe of a more common and ordinary capa- city ; the author thought fit, through the whole of this fec.ond part of the book, to continue, as in the former fditions, to repeat that part of the text, Thy Hufband, in the lafl line of every "jerfe : bccauje, however it tended to limit him, and rejlrict his liberty of words in the compaction, yet having ground to judge, that this appropriating compellation ftill refumed, has rend- ered thefe lines formerly the mere favoury to fame ex- ercifcd Ckriftians, to whom .the name of CHRIS r (particularly as their Head and Hujband) is as oint- ment poured forth; he chcfe raiher to fubjccl hitn- J elf to that rtjrriiion, than to zuith-ho'd what /;.\-?y tend to the JatisfacJion and comfort of thofc to whom CHRIST is all in all ; and to whom his name, as their Hit/land, fo many "various nvavs applied, wiS 96 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part II. CHAP. I. Containing the PRIVILEGES of the Be- liever that is efpoufecl to CHRIST by faith of divine operation. SECT. I. The BELIEVER'S perfcEl beauty , free acceptance ', and fullfccurity^ through the imputation tifCHtusT^per- ftct rlghteoufnefS) though imparted gm e be imperfeEl, (~\ Happy foul, JEHOVAH'S bride, V^ The Lamb's beloved fpoufe; Strong confolation's flowing tide, Thy Hufband thee allows. In thee, though like thy father's race, By nature black as hell ; Yet now fo beautify'd by grace, Thy Haiband loves to dwell. Pair its the mocm thy robes appear, Vvhile graces are in drefs : Clear ns il:e fun *, while found to wear Thy Hufband's righteoufnefs. Thy moon- like graces, changing much, Have here and there a fpot ; Thy fun-like glory is not fuch, Thy Hufband changes not. Thy white and ruddy vefture fair Outvies the rofy leaf; For 'mong ten thoufand beauties rare Thy Hulband is the chief. Scr.g vi. 3. Chap. I. The Believer's Jointure. 97 Cloth'd with the fun, thy robes of light The morning rays outfhine; The lamps of heav'n are not fo bright, Thy Hufband decks thee fine. Though heilifh fmoke thy duties (lain, And fin deforms thee quite; Thy Surety's merit makes thee clean, Thy Hufband's beauty white. Thy pray'rs and tears, -nor pure, nor good, But vile and loathfome feem; Yet gain, by dipping in his blood, Thy Hufband's high efteem. No fear thou ftarve, though wants be great, In him thou art complete : Thy hungry foul may hopeful wait, Thy Hufband gives thee meat. Thy money, merit, pow'r, and pelf, Were fquander'd by thy fall; Yet, having nothing in thyfelf, Thy Hufband is thy all. Law-precepts, threats, may both befet To crave of thee their due; But juftice for thy double debt Thy Hufband did purfue. Though juftice flern as much belong As mercy to a God ; Yet juftice fuffer'd here no wrong, Thy Hufband's back was broad. He bore the load of wrath alone, That mercy might take vent; Heav'n's pointed arrows all upon Thy Hufband's heart were fpent. No partial pay could juftice (till, No farthing was retrench'd ; Vengeance exacted all, until Thy Hufband all advanc'd. E L S O N N E T S. Part II. This can thee more to God commend, And cloudy wrath difpel, Than e'er thy finning could offend; Thy Husband vanquifh'd hell. When vengeance feems, for broken laws, To light on thee with dread; Let Chrift be umpire of thy caufe, Thy Husband well can plead. He pleads his righteoufnefs that brought, Ail rents the law could crave; Whate'er its precepts, threat'nings, fought, Thy \ iusband fully gave. Did holinefs in precepts ftand, And for perfection call, Juftice in threat'nings death demand? Thy Husband gave it all. Ins blood the fiery law did quench, Its fummons need not fcare; Tho't cite thee to Heav'n's awful bench, Thy Husband's at the bar. This Advocate has much to fay", iiis clients need not fear; For God the Father hears him ay, Thy Hufband hath his ear. A caufe fail'd never in his hand, So ftrong his pleading is; Iiis Father grants his whole demand, Thy Husband's will is his. . Hell-forces all may rendezvous, Accufers may combine: Yet fear thou not who art his fpoufe, Thy - usband's caufe is thine. By folemn oath JEHOVAH did r'is priefthood ratify; Let earth and hell then counterplead. Thy husband gains the plea. Chap. I- . T.'je Believer's Jointure. IO- S E C T. V. The Believer's FAITH and HOPP: encouraged , ev?n in tie darkejl nights cf defertion and d\jlr?f<. THE cunning ferpsnt may accufe, But never fhall lucceed; The God cf peace i-jill Sa^in brnifc y Thy Huikmd brske his htad\. Hell-furies threaten to devour, Like lions robb'd of whelps: But, lo! in ev'ry per'lous hour Thy Husband ahvays helps. That feeble faith may never fail, Thine Advocate has pray'd; Though winnowing ternpelt may afiail, Thy Husband's near to.aid. Though grievous trials grow a-pace, And put thee to a ftand j Thou may ft rejoice in ev'ry cafe, Thy Husband's help at hand Truft, though, when in defertion dark No twinkling ftar by night, No ray appear, no glim'ring fpark ; Thy Husband is thy light. His beams anon the clouds can rent, And through the vapours runj For of the brightest firmament. Thy Husband is the fun. Without the fun tuko mourning ga t And fcarce the way can find, He brings through paths they do not ltiow\-^ Thy Husband leads the blind. Through Ji re and ivater he ivithjkill Brings to a "wealthy land; Rude flames and roaring floods, BE STILL, Thy Husband can command. * Horn. xvi. so,. f Ifa. xlii. 16. io6 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part II. When fin diforders heavy brings, That prefs thy foul with weight ; 'J'hen mind how many crocked things Thy Husband has made Jlraight . otiil look to him with longing eyes, Though both thine eyes mould fail ; Cry, and at length, though not thy cries, Thy Husband mail prevail. Still hope for favour at his hand, Though favour don't appear ; "When help feems mod aloof to Hand, Thy Husband's then moft near. In cafes hopelefs-like, faint hopes May fail, and fears annoy ; But moft when ftript of earthly props, Thy Husband thou'lt enjoy. If providence the prcmife thwart, And yet thy humbled mind ''Gainjl hope believes in hope]-, thou art Thy Husband's dcarctt friend. Art thou a weakling, poor and faint, In jeopardy each hour? Let not thy weaknefs move thy plaint, Thy Husband has the pow'r. Dread net the foes that foil'd thee long, Will ruin thee at length: When thou art weak, then art thou flrong; Thy Hufband is thy ftrength. When foes are mighty, many too, Don't fear, nor quit the field; 'Tis not with thee they have to do, Thy Husband is thy fnield. 'Tis hard to fight againft an hod, Or itrive againil the dream; But, lo! when all feems to be Jod, Thy Husband will redeem. *Ilom. vi, 1 8. Chap. I. 'The Believer's 'Jointure. 107 SECT. VI. BENEFITS accruingtb Believer* 's from the offices^ ;:ames t natures > and fufferings of CHRIST. ART thou by lufts a captive led, Which breeds thy deeped grief To ranfom captives is his' trade, Thy Husband's thy relief. His precious name is JESUS, why? Becaufe he Javes from fin * ; Redemption-right he won't deny^ Thy Hfband's near of kin. His wounds have fav'd thee once from woes, His blood from vengeance fcreen'd ; When heav'n, and earth, and hell were foes, Thy Husband was a friend : And will thy Captain now look on, And fee thee trampled down? When, lo! thy Champion has the throne, Thy Husband wears the crown. Yield not, though cunning Satan bribe, Or like a lion roar ? The Lion ftrong of Juclah's tribe, Thy Husband's to the fore. And that be never iviil forfake j, tiis credit fair he pawn'd; In hotteft broils, then, courage take, Thy Husband's at thy hand. No llorm needs drive thee to a (Irair, Who dofl his aid invoke: Fierce winds may blow, proud waves may beat; T by \ usband is the rock. Renounce thine own ability, Lean to his promis'd might; The ftrength of Ifr'el cannot lie, Thy \ usband's pow'r is plight. * Mauh. i. 21 t Heb. xiii. 5, *o8 GOSPEL SONNETS. An awful -truth does here prefent, Whoever think it odd; In him thou art omnipotent, Thy Husband is a God. JKHOVAH'S ilrength is in thy Head. Which faith may boldly fcan ; God in thy nature does refide, Thy Husband is a man. Thy flefh is his, his Spirit thine j And that you both are one, One body, fpirit, temple, vine, Thy usband deigns to own. Kind he afium'd thy fl'efh and blood This union to purfue; And without ihame his brotherhood Thy Husband does avow. He bore the crofs thy crown to win. His blood he freely fpilt ; The holy One afiuming fin, Thy Husband bore the guilt. Lo ! what a blefs'd exchange is this ! What wifdom mines therein ! That thou mightjl be made rigkiecuf fiefs Thy M usband ivas made Jin *. The God of joy a man of grief, Thyforrows to difcufs ; Pure innocence hang'd as a thief : Thy Husband lov'd thee thus. Bright beauty had his vifage marr'd, His comely form abus'd : True reft was from all reft debarr'd, Thy Husband's heel was bruis'd. The God of bleflings was a curfe, The Lord of lords a drudge, The heir of all things poor in purfe : Thy Hufband did not grudge. 2 Cor. v. a r. Chap. 1. The Be/lever's Jointure. lo? The Judge of all condemned was, The God immortal (lain: No favour, in thy woful caufe, Thy Husband did obtain. SECT. VII. CHRIST'S Sufferings further improved; and Believers called to live by faith) both when they have and want feti/ible influences. IO U D praifes fing, without furceafe, ^t To him that frankly came, And gave his foul a facrifice; Thy Husband was the Lamb. What waken'd vengeance could denounce, All round him did befet; And never left his foul, till once Thy Husband paid the debt. And though new debt thou fti.il contract, And run in deep arrears; Yet all thy burdens on his back Thy Husband always bears. Thy Judge will ne'er demand of thee Two payments for one debt; Thee with one vidtim wholly free Thy Husband kindly fet. That no grim vengeance might thee meet, Thy Husband met with all; And, that thy foul might drink the fweet, Thy Husband drank the gall. Full Ireafts of joy he loves t' extend, Like to a kindly nurfe And, that thy blifs might full be gain'd, Thy Husband was a curfe. Thy fins he glu'd unto the tree, His blood this virtue hath; For, that thy heart to fin might die, Thy Husband fuffer'd death. K o' GOSPEL SON-NETS. Part II. To purcliafe fully all thy good, All evil him bcfel; To win thy heav'n with dreams of blood, Thy Husband quenched hell. That this kind DAY S-M A N in one band Might God and man betroth, He on both parties lays his band t Thy Hufband pleafes both. The blood that could ftern juflice pleafe, And law-demands fulfil, Can alfo guilty confcience eafe; Thy Hufband clears the bill. Thy higheft glory is obtain'd By his abatement deep; And, that thy tears might all be drained, Thy Hufband chofe to weep. His bondage all thy freedom bought, He ftoop'd fo lowly down : His grappling all thy grandeur brought, Thy Husband's crofs thy crown. Tis by his {hock thy fceptre fways, His warfare ends thy ftrife; His poverty thy wealth conveys, Thy Husband's death thy life. Do mortal damps invade thy heart, And deadnefs feize thee fore? Rejoice in this, that life t' impart Thy Hufband has in flore. And when new life imparted feems Eftablifh'd as a rock, Boaft in the fountain, not the ftreams-, Thy Hufband is thy flock. The ftreams may take a various turn, The fountain never moves : Ceafe then, o'er failing ftreams tomourn, Thy Huiband thus thee proves. Chap. I. The Believers Jointure. That glad thou mayft, when drops are gone, Joy in the fpacious fea: When incomes fail, then flill upon Thy Hufband keep thine eye. But can't thou look, nor moan thy ftrait, So dark's the difmal hour? Yet, as thou'rt able, cry and wait Thy Hufband's day of pow'r. Tell him, though fin prolong the term, Yet love can fcarce delay: Thy want, his promife, all affirm, Thy Husband mull not flay. SECT. VIII. CHRIST the Believer s enriching Treafure* KIND Jefus lives, thy life to be Who mak'ft him thy refuge; And, when he comes, thou'lt joy to fee Thy Hulband fhall be judge. Should pafling troubles thee .annoy, Without, within, or both ? Since endlefs life thou'lt then enjoy, Thy Hufband pledg'd his truth. What won't he, ev'n in time impart That's for thy real good ? He gave his love, he gave his heart, Thy Hufband gave his blood. He gives himfelf, and what fhould more? What can he then refufe? If this won't pleafe thee, ah ! how fore Thy Hufband doit abufc ! Earth's fruit, heav'n's dew he won't deny, Whofe eyes thy need behold : Nought under or above the ficy Thy Huiband will withhold. K 2 ii2 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part IL Doft lofles grieve ? Since all is thine, What lofs can thee befal ? All things for good to thee combine *, Thy Hufband orders all. Thou'rt not put off with barren leaves, Or dung of earthly pelf; More wealth than heav'n and earth he gives, Thy Hufband's thine himfelf. Thou haft enough to (lay thy plaint, Elfe thou complain'fl of eafe ; For, having all, don't fpeak of want,. Thy Hufband may fuffice. From this thy ftore, believing, take Wealth to the utmoft pitch : The gold of Ophir cannot make, Thy Hufoand makes thee rich. Some flying gains acquire by pains, And fome by plundering toil ; Such treaiure fades, but thine remains, Thy Hufband's cannot fpoi!. SECT. IX. CHRIST the Believers adorning Gar;>x;it. YLA, thou excell'ft in rich attire The lamp that lights, the globe ; Thy fparkling garment heav'ns admire, Thy Husband is thy robe. This raiment never waxes old, 'Tis always new and clean : From fummer-heat, and winter-cold, Thy Husband can thee fcreen. All who the name of worthies bore, Since Adam was undreft, No worth acquir'd, but as they wore Thy Husband's purple vert. Horn. viii. 38. Chap. I. The Believer s Jointure. I This linen fine can beautify The foul with fin begirt ; O blefs his name that e'er on thee Thy Husband fpread his Ikirt. Are dung-hills deck'd with flow'ry glore, Which Solomon's outvie ? Sure thine is infinitely more, Thy Husband decks the fky. Thy hands could never work the drefs, By grace alone thou'rt gay; Grace vents and reigns through righteoufncfs, Thy Hufband's bright array. To fpin thy robe no more doft need Than lilies toil for theirs; Out of his bowels ev'ry thread Thy Husband thine prepares. SECT. X. CHRIST the Believer's fweet Njuri/hment. THY food, conform to thine array Is heav'nly and divine; On paftures green, where angels play, Thy Husband feeds thee fine. Angelic food may make thee fair, And look with cheerful face ; The bread of life, the double {hare, Thy Husband's love and grace. What can he give or thou defire, More than his flefh and blood ? Let angels wonder, faints admire, Thy Husband is thy food. His flefh thp incarnation bears, From whence thy feeding flows; His blood the fatisfaclion clears Thy Husband both bellows. ii4 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part II. Th' incarnate God a facrifice To turn the wrathful tide, Is food for faith j that may fufHce Thy Husband's guilty bride. This ftrength'ning food may fit and fence For work and war to come > Till through the croud, fome moments hence, Thy Husband bring thee home. Where plenteous featling will fucceed To fcanty feeding here: Aod joyful at the table-head Thy Husband fair appear. The crumbs to banquets will give placej. And drops to rivers new: While heart and eye will face to face Thy Husband ever view. CHAP. II. Containing the MA R K s and CHARAC- TERS of the Believer in CHRIST; to- gether with fome farther privileges and grounds of comfort to the faints. SECT. I. Deal-ting Believers called to examine ', by marks drawn fran their love to kirn and his prefence, thei of his glory t and their, being emptied of felf-rtghie- Sec. GOOD news! but, fays the drooping bride, r A"h! what's all this to me? Thou doubtfl thy right when fhadows hide Thy Hufband's face from thee. Through fin and guilt thy fpirit faints, And trembling fears thy fate-, But harbour not thy groundiefs plaints, Thy Hulbaud's advent wait. Chap. II. The Believer's Jointure. ri Thou fob'ftj " O were I fare he's mine, This would give glad'ning cafe 5" And fayil, Though wants and woes combine, Thy Husband would thee pleafe. But up and down, and ieldom clear, Inclos'd with hellifh routs; Yet yield thou not, nor fofler fear: Thy Husband hates thy doubts. Thy cries and tears may flighted feem, And barr'd from prefent eafe ; Yet blame thyfelf, but never dream Thy Husband's ill to pleafe. Thy jealous unbelieving heart Still droops, and knows not why; Then prove thyfelf to eafe thy fmart, Thy Husband bids thee try. The foil' wing queftions put to thee, As fcriplure-marks, may tell And fhew whate'er thy failings be, Thy Husband loves thee well. MARKS. A RT thou content when he's away?' * Can earth allay thy pants ? If confcience witnefs, won't it fay, Thy Husband's all thou wants ? When he is near t (though in a crofs) And thee with comfort feeds; Doll thou not count the earth as drofs, Thy Husband all thou needs ? In duties art thou pleas'd or pain'd, When far he's out of view ? And finding him, think'ft all regain'd, Thy Husband always new. Though once thou thought'ft, while Sinai mift And darknefs compafs'd thee, Thou waft undone; and glorious Chrift Thy Husband ne'er would be. 6 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part II. Yet know' ft thou not a fairer place, Of which it may be told, That there the glory of his grace Thy Hufoand did unfold? Where heav'nly beams innam'd thy foul, And love's feraphic art, With hallelujahs, did extol Thy Hufband in thy heart. Couldft then have wifh'd all Adam's race Had join'd with thce to gaze; That viewing fond his comely face, Thy Hufband might get praife ? Art thou disjoined from other lords? Divorc'd from fed'ral laivs? While with moft loving gofpel cords Thy Husband kindly draws? A'n't thou enlighten'd now to fee Thy righteoufnefs is naught But rags*, that cannot cover thee? Thy Husband fo has taught. Doft fee thy beft performances Deferve but hell indeed? And hence art led, renouncing thefe, Thy Husband's blood to plead ? When ftrengthen'd boldly to addrefs That gracious throne of his, Doft find thy ftrength and righteoufnefs, Thy Husband only is? Canft thou thy moft exalted frame Renounce, as with'ring grafs, And firmly hold thine only claim, Thy Husband's worthinefs? Canft pray with utmoft holy pithf, And yet renounce thy good ? And wafh, not with thy tears, but with Thy Husband's precious blood ? * Ifiu Ixiv. 6 f Vigour or ftrengtfi. Chap. II. The Believers Jointure. 1 1 7- SECT. II. Believers described from thtir Faith aSling py divine aid? find feeing quite out of tbzmfefaes to CHRIS'!'. CAN nothing lefs thy conscience eafe, And pleafe thy heart; no lefs Than that which juflice fatisfies, Thy Husband's righteoufnefs ? Doft fee thy works fo ftain'd with fm, That thou through grace art mov'd To feek acceptance oitty in Thy Husband, the Belov'd ? Doft thou remind, that once a-day Free grace did itrengthen thee, Togift thy guilty foul away, Thy Husband's bride to be? Or doft thou mind the day of pow'r. Wherein he broke thy pride, And gain'd thy heart? O happy hour! Thy Husband caught the bride! He did thy enmity fubdue, Thy bondage fad recal, Made thee to choofe, and clofe purfue Thy Husband as thy all. What reft, and peace, and joy enfu'd Upon this noble choice ? Thy heart, with flow'rs of pleafure ftrew'd, Thy Husband made rejoice. Doft know thou ne'er couldft him embrace^ Till he embraced thee ? Nor ever fee him, till his face Thy Husband open'd free ? And findeft to this very hour, That this is iliil the charm j Thou canft do nothing, till with pov/r Thy Husband fhew his arm ? 8 GOSPEL SONNETS. PartIL Canft thou do nought by nature, art, Or any ftrength of thine, Until thy wicked froward heart Thy Husband fhall incline? But art thou, though without a wing Of pow'r aloft to flee, Yet able to do ev'ry thing, Thy Husband ftrength'ning thee ? Doft not alone at duties fork *, But foreign aid enjoy? And ftill in ev'ry piece of work Thy Husband's ftrength employ? Thy motion heav'nly is indeed, While thou by faith doll move And ftill in ev'ry time of need Thy Husband's grace improve. No common nat'ral faith can (hew Its divine brood like this ; Whofe object, author, feeder too, Thy Husband only is. Doft thou by faith on him rely ? On him, not on thy faith? If faith mall with its object vie, Thy Husband's fet beneath. Their hands receiving faculty Poor beggars never view; But hold the royal gift in eye: Thy Husband fo wilt thou. Faith, like a gazing eye, ne'er waita To boaft in feeing pow'rs ; Its object views, itfelf forgets, Thy Husband it adores. It humbly ftill itfelf denies, Nor brags its acts at all ; .Deep plung'd into its object lies, Thy Husband is its all. * Labour, wreftlc, or toil. Chap. II. The Believer's Jointure. 1 1 9 No (Irength but his it has, and vaunts, No ftore but his can (how : Hence nothing has, yet nothing wants, Thy Husband trains it fo. Faith, of its own, no might can fliew, Elfe would itfelf deftroy ; But will for all it has to do, Thy Hufband Hill employ. Self-faviours none could ever be By faith or grace of theirs ; Their fruitlefs toil, fo high that flee, Thy Husband's praife impairs. The feemingly devouteft deed, That would with fhamelefs brow His faving trade take o'er his head, Thy Husband won't allow. Doft therefore thou to him alone Commit thy fmful foul ? Knowing of thy falvation Thy Husband is the whole ? SECT. III. Believers chnrafterifed by the objeEls and purity of 'their defire, delight, joy, hatred, a fid love y discovering they have the Spirit of CHRIST. DOST thou his Spirit's conduct wait? And, when compared to this, All worldly wifdom under-rate ? Thy Husband waits to blefs. Tak'ft thou his Spirit for thy guide Through Baca's valley dry, Whofe ftreams of influences glide Thy Husband's garden by ? In digging wells here by his pow'r, Doft find it not in vain, While here a drop, and there a (how'r Thv Husband makes to rain? 2o GOSPEL SONNETS. Part II Hence doft thou through each weary cafe From itrcngth to ftrength go on, From faith to faith, while grace for grace Thy Husband gives anon ? The good, the gracious work begun, And further'd by his ftrength, Shall profp'rous, though with wreftling, win Thy Husband's crown at length. Sin's pow'r and prefence canft thou own Is thy moft grievous fmart, That makes thee fob, and weep alone ? Thy Husband knows thy heart. Does love to him make thee diftafte Thy lufts with all their charms ? And moft them loath'ft, when mcft thou haft Thy Husband in thine arms ? Are cords of Jove the fweeteft ties To bind thee duty-ways ? And beft thou ferv'ft when moft thou fpies Thy Husband's beauteous rays ? Didft ever thou thy pardon read In tears of untold joy ? When mercy made thy heart to bleed, Thy Hufband was not coy. Do pardons fweetly melt thy heart And moft imbitter fin ? And make thee long with drofs to part, Thy Husband's throne to win ? When he arifes lufts to kill, Corruptions to deftroy, Does gladnefs then thy fpirit fill ? Thy Hufband is thy joy. Doft thou his perfon fair embrace Beyond his bleffings all ? Sure, then, thou boldly mayft through grace Thy Husband JESUS call. Chap. "II. The Believer's Jointure I2f What company doft thou prefer? What friends above the reft? Of all relations every where, Thy Husband is the beft. Whom in the earth or heav'u dofl thou Mod ardently defire ? Is love's afcending fpark unto Thy Hufband let on fire? Haft ihou a hatred to his foes, And doft their courfe decline? Lov'ft thou his faints, and dar'ft fuppofe Thy Hutband's friends are thine. Doft thou their talk and walk efteem, When moft divinely grave? And favour'ft beft when moft they feem Thy Hufband's Sp'rit to have. SEC T. IV. iBeRtvers in CHRIST affeEl bis counfel, ivord, crdt* nances , appearance., full enjoyment in heaven, and f-weet prefence here. WHERE go'ft thou firft when in a ftrait, Or when with grief oppreft? Fleeft thou to him? O happy gate! Thy Hufband is thy reft. His counfel feek'ft thou ftill prepar'd, Nor canft without him live? Wifdom to guide, and ftrength to guardj Thy Hulbdnd hath to give. Canft thou produce no pleafant pawn, Or token of his love? Won't fignets, bracelets, from his hand, Thy Mufband's kindnefs prove? Mind'ft when he fent his healing word, Y.'" ' :h dartioj.; from on high, Did light, and life, and joy afford ? Thy Kufland then was 'nigh. JL 22 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part II. Canft thou the promife fweet forget, He dropt into thy heart ? Such glad'ning pow'r, and love with it, Thy Husband did impart. Doft thou affect his dwelling-place, And mak'ft it thy repair ; Bccaufe thine eyes have feen, through grace, Thy Husband's glory there? Doft love his great appearing day, And thereon mufe with joy 5 When duflcy {hades will fly away, Thy Husband death deftroy ? Doft long to fee his glorious face Within the higher orb, Where humid forrows lofing place, Thy Husband's rays abforb? Long'ft to be free of ev'ry fault, To bid all fin adieu? And mount the hill, where glad thou (halt Thy Husband's glory view ? Life where it lives, love where it loves, Will moft defire to be : Such love-fi-ck longing plainly proves Thy Husband's love to thee. What is it beft can eafe thy plaint, Spread mornirg o'er thine ev'n? Is his approach thy heart's content, Thy Husband's prefence heav'n? And when deny'd this fweet relief, Canft thou aflert full well, His hiding is thy greateft grief, Thy Husband's abfence hell? Let thy experience be difclos'd; If confcience anfwer Yea To all the queries here propos'd, Thy Husband's thine for ay. Chap. II. The Believer's Jwiture. 125 Pertain thefe characters to thee? Then, foul, begin and praife His glorious worthy name, for he Thy Husband is always. SECT. V. The true Believer's humility, dependence, zeal, groiuiij } admiration of free grace,and knowledge of C voice. PERH APS a faint may figh and fay, " I fear I'm yet to learn <( Thefe marks of marriage love." Yet ftay, Thy Husband's bowels yearn. Though darknefs may thy light obfcure, And ftorms furmount thy calms, Day yield to night, and thou be poor, Thy Husband yet has alms. Doft fee thyfelf an empty brat, A poor unworthy thing, With heart upon the dull laid flat! Thy Husband there does reign. Art in thine own efteem a beaft, And doit thyfelf abhor ?j The more thou haft of felf-diftafte, Thy Husband loves the more. Can hell breed no fuch wicked elf, As thou in thine own fight? Thou' it got, to fee thy filthy felf, Thy Husband's pureft light. Canft find no names fo black, fo vile, With which thou wouldil compare, But call'ft thyfelf a lump of hell ? Thy Husband calls thee fair. When his kind vifits make thee fee He's precious, thou art vile, Then mark the hand of God with thee^ Thy Husband gives a fmile. L 2 J-4 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part IT, He knows what vifits fuit thy flate, And though moil rare they be, It fets thee well on him to wait, Thy Husband waits on thee. Doft fee thou art both poor and weakj And he both full and ftrong ? O don't his kind delays miftake, Thy Hufband comes ere long. Though during Sinai's ftormy day, Thou dread'ft the difmal blaft, And fears thou art a cafl-away, Thy Husband comes at laft. The glorious Sun will rife apace, And fpread his healing wings, In fparkling pomp of fov'reign grace, Thy Husband gladaefs brings. Canfl thou, whate'er fhould come of thee,. Yet wifh his Zion well, And joy in her profperity? Thy Husband loves thy zeal. Doft thou admire his love to fome, Though thou fhouldil never marc ? Mercy to thee will alfo come, Thy Husband hath to fpare* Poor foul! doft grieve for want of grace, And weep for want of love, And Jefus feek'it ! O hopeful cafe ! Thy Husband lives above. Regretting much thy failing fhort, Doft after more afpire? There's hope in Ifrael for thy fort,. Thy Husband's thy deCre. Art thou well pleas'd that fov'reign grace., Through Chrifl, exalted be? This frame denotes no hopelefs cafe, Thy Husband's pleas'd with thee.. Chap. II. Tbs Believer's Jointure'.- 12 j Couldft love to be the footftool low, On which his throne might rife, Its pompous grace around to mow ? Thy Husband does thee prize. If but a glance of his fair face Can cheer thee more than wine ; Thou in his loving heart haft place, Thy Husband place in thine. Doft make his blood thy daily bath? His word and oath thy flay ? His law of love thy lightforne path ? Thy Husband is thy way. All things within earth's fpacious womb Doft count but lofs and dung, For one fweet word in feafon from Thy Hufband's learned tongue? Skill to difcern and know his voice, From words of wit and art, Will clearly prove thou art his choice, Thy Husband thine in h<2art. The pompous words that fops admire, May vagrant fancy feaft; But with feraphic harmlefs fire Thy Husband'^ burn the breaft. SECT. VI. 'frue Believers are willing to be tried and examined. Comforts cirifing to them from CHRIST'S ready f apply, realfympathy y and relieving names, fuiting their needs, DOST thou upon thy trait'rous heart Still keep a jealous eye? Moft willing that thine inward part Thy Husband ftridly try? The thieving croud will hate the light, Left ftol'neffeasbefhown; But^truth defires what's wrong or right Thy Husband would make known. n<5 GOSPE'L SONNETS. Part IT. Doft then his trying word await, His fearching doctrine love? Fond, left thou err through felf-deceit s Thy Husband would thee prove ? Does oft thy mind with inward fmart Bewail thy unbelief? And confcious fue from plagues of heart Thy Huiband for relief? Why doubfft his love? and yet, behold,, With him thou wouldft not part For thoufand thoufand earths of gold ; Thy Hufband has thy heart. Though darknefs, deadnefs, unbelief, May all thy foul attend; Light, life, and faith's mature relief, Thy Huiband has to fend. Of wants annoying, why complain ? Supply arifes hence ; What gifts he has receivdfor men % Thy Hufband will difpenfe. He got them in's exalted ftate For rebels fuch as thou; All then that's, needful, good, or great, Thy Hufband will allow. Thy wants he fees, thy cries he hears;. And, marking all thy moans,. He in his bottle keeps thy tears, Thy Hufband notes thy groans.. All thine infirmities him touch, They ftrike his feeling heart; Mis kindly fympathy is fuch, Thy Hufoand finds the fmart. Whatever touches thee affedls The apple of his eye ; Whatever harms he therefore checks. Thy Husband's aid is nigh. Chap. II. The Believers Jointure. I If foes are fpar'd, thy need is fuch, He flays them but in part: He can do all, and will do much, Thy Hufband acts by art. He often for. the faddeit hour Referves the fweeteft aid : See how fuch banners heretofore Thy Huiband has difplay'd. * Mind where he vouched his good-will, Sometimes at Hermon * mount, In Jordan land, at Mizar hill; Thy Huiband keeps the count. At fundry times, and divers ways, To fuit thy various frames, Haft feen like riling golden rays, Thy Hufband's various names. When guilty confcience ghaftly ftar'd, : jEHOVAH-TSIDKENUf, The Lord thy righteoufnefs appear'd, Thy Hufband in thy view. When in thy ftraits or wants extreme, Help fail'd on ev'ry fide, JEHOVAH-JIREH % was his name, Thy Hufband did provide. When thy long abfent Lord didft moan, And to his courts repair; Then was JEHOVAH-SHAM MAH || known Thy Hufband prefent there. When thy afTaulting foes appear'd In robes of terror clad, JEHOVAH-NISSI then was rear'd, Tli Hufband's banner fpread. When furies arm'd with fright'ning guilt, Dunn'd war without furceafe; JEHOVAH-SHALOM^ then was built, Thy Husband fent thee peace. Pfal. xlii. 6. f Jer. xxiii. 6. \ Gen. xxii. 14, 11 Esejk, xlyiu- 3j. Exod,xvu- J* Kj ud S- vi- 4.- 123 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part If. When thy difeafes death proclaim'd, And creature-balfams fail'd, JEHOVAH-ROPHI* then was built; Thy Husband kindly heal'd. Thus, as thy various needs require, In various modes like thefc, The help that fuits thy heart's defire, Thy Husband's name conveys. To th* little fiocky as cafes vary, The great JEHOVAH fhews Himfelf a little fanhtary\ t Thy Hulband gives the views. SECT. VII. The Believer s experience of CHRIST'S comfortable prf- fence y or of former comforts to be improved for his en- couragement and fupfort under darknefs and hidings.. DOST mind the place, the fpot of land, Where Jefus did thee meet ? And how he got thy heart and hand ? Thy Husband then was fweet. Doft mind the garden, chamber, bank, A vale of vifion feem'd ? Thy joy was full, thy heart: was frank,. Thy Liusband much eiteem'd. Let thy experience fweet declare, If able to remind j A Bochim here, a Bethel there, Thy Husband made thee find. Was fuch a corner, fuch a place, Aparadife to thee, A Peniel, where face to face Thy Husband fair didft fee ? Exod. xv. *6, f Ezek. xi, 16. Chap. II. The Believer s Jointure Therc did he clear thy cloudy caufe, Thy doubts and fears deftroy; And on thy fpirit feal'd he was . Thy Husband with great joy ? Couldit thou have faid it boldly then, And feal'd it with thy blood? Yea, welcome death with pleafure, when Thy Husband by thee flood? That earth again fhould thee infnare, how thy heart was pain'd ! For all its fading glory there Thy Husband's beauty ftain'd. The thoughts of living more in fin Were then like hell to thee; T he life of heav'n did thus begin, "I hy Husband fet thee free. Whate'er thou foundft him at thy bed, He's at thy worft the fame And in his lave * Jean, How Chrijl is truly God and truly man ; Holding the one part of Immanuel's nuins y The other part outrageoujly blajphemc. The found in faith no part of truth control : Heretics own the half, but not the whole. Keep then the j acred myjl'ryjlill entire; To both the fides (f truth do fa-vour bear, Not quitting one to hold the other branch ,- But pajjing judgment on an equal bench ; The Riddle has two feet, and were but one Cut off, truth falling to the ground were gone^ 'Tis all a contradiction , yet all true. And happy truth, if verify d in you. Go forward then to read the lines, but Jlay To read the riddle alfo by the w.ay\ Hie R I D D L E. SECT. I. The tnyjiery of the Saints PEDIGREE, and efpeciaL'y of i/.'fir relation to CHRIST'.; wonderful perf an. MY life's a maze of feeming traps a, A fcene of mercies and inifhaps b; A heap of jarring to and froes c y A field of joys, a flood of woes d. I'm in mine own and others eyes, A labyrinth of myfieries e. a Jofh. xxii. 13. And Jofnua faid, Know for a certain- ty, that the Lord your God vviil no more drive out any of thefe nations from before you ; but they fhali be fnares and traps unto you, and fcourges inyourfdes, and thorns in your eyes, &c. Pfaim cxxiv. 7. Our foul is efcaped as a bird out of the fnare of the fowlers ; the iaare is broken, and we are efcaped. b Or miferies, .Lam. iii. 19. Remembering mine a&iJ- tion and my miieiy, the wormwood and the gall. *o. 22. It is of the Lord's mercies that we are act coniu.nea, becaufe his companions fail not. Piai. ci. I I will ling of mercy an judgment: unto thee, O Lord, will ! iing. c Pialm cii. 10. Thou halt lifted me up, and c; down. Pfal. cix. 23. I am tofl'cd up ^i,d dov,--. d Hab. iii. ;. 7, 10. Altliou:.;h the rh'-tiee llyail not blofibm, nehlicr ihail fruit be in the V.IM.-S, thi of the olive i.iali tail, and the fields i .. the fiocks fliail be cat oh from the fold, and th< : be no herd in the flails ; y< t will 1 rejoice in the J will joy in the God of my falvation. e Ifa. viii. 18. Behold I and 'the children whom the Lord hath given me, are for figns, and for wonders in Ifracl ; from the Lord of hoils, which dwehYta in mount Zion. Zech. iii. 8. Hear now, O Jomua the high prieft, thou and thy fellows that fit -before thee : for they c re men wondered at, . 143 I'm fomething that from nothing came/, Yet fure it is, I nothing am g. Once was I dead, and blind, and lame h t Yea, I continue ftill the fame i; Yet what I was, I am no more k t . Nor ever ihall be as before /. f Gen. i. I. In the beginning God created the heaven -and the earth. Hcb. xi. 3. Through faith we uhderftand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, fo that things which arc teen were not made of things which do appear. g Ifa. xl. 17. All nations before him are as nothing, and they are accounted to him lefs than nothing, and a- nity. Dan. iv. 35. All the inhabitants of the tarlh are reputed as nothing. h Eph. ii. i. And. you hath he quickened who were dead in trefpafles and fins. Rev. iii. 17. Became thou iayeft, I am rich, and increafed in goods, and have need of nothing ; and knowelt not that then art wretched, and miferable, and poor, and blind, and naked. Ifa. xxxv*. 6. Then {hall the larne man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb ling ; for in the \vilclernefs Ihall waters break out, and ftreama in the defert. i Rom. vii. 14. For we know that the law is fp! ritual : but I am carnal, fold under lin. i>. 24. O wretched man that I am, who fliall deliver me from the body of this death ! k Rom. vii. 17. Now then, k is no more I that do it, out fin that dwelleth in me. ?>. 20. Now, if I do would not, it i:, no more I that doit, but iin that dwell- eth in me. John ix. 2>. He [the blind manj aniv.-ered and faid, Whether he be a iinn-^r, or no, I know not ; one tiling I kno.vr, that whereas I was blind, no\v I fee. / Rom. xi. 29. For the gifts a-r.d calling of God are without repentance. Jer. tfxxii, 40. And I will make an . ; m>; covenant \vilh them, that 1 \vill net turn a- v/ay from them, to do them good ; but 1 \vul put my fear .^n their heart!; that they fliall not depart from me. 744 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part 111 My Father lives w, my father's gone , My vital head both loft and won o. My parents cruel are and kind p, Of one, and of a difFrent mind q. My father poifon'd me to death r, My mother's hand will flop my breath/; Her womb, that once my fub (lance gave, Will very quickly be my grave s. m Ifa. ix. 6. His name (hall be called The everlafling Pather. Rev. i. 18. I am he that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore. Amen. n Hof. xiv. 3. In thee the fatherlefs findeth mercy. Zech. i. 5. Your fathers, where are they ? and the pro- phets, do they live for ever? o i Cor. xv. 45. It is written, The firil man Adam was made a living foul, the lail Adam was made a quickening fpirit. p Pfalm ciii. 13. Likeas a father pitieth his children ? fo the Lord pitieth them that fear him. Ifa. xliii. 27. Thy firil father hath finned, and thy teachers have tranf- grelfed againft me. q Job xxiii. 13. But he is in one mind, and who can turn him ? and what his foul defireth even that he doth. Rom. viii. 5. For they that are after the flefh, do mind the things of the flefh ; but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit, v. 7. Becaufe the carnal mind is enmity againft God : for it is not fubjecl to the law of God, neither kideed can be. r Rom. v. 12. Wherefore, as by one man fin entered into the world, and death by fin ; and fo death paffgd upon all men, for that all have iinned. /Gen. iii. 16. Unto the woman he faid, I will great- ly multiply thy forrow, and thy conception : in forrow thou {halt bring forth children, <&Y. - s Pfalm clxvi. 4. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth ; in that very day his thoughts perifli. Eccl. iii. 20. All go unto one place, all are of the duft, and ail turn to dull again. Sett I. The Believer's Riddle. i-jr My fitters all my flefh will eat t, My brethren tread me under feet u ,- My neareft friends are moil unkind v, My greateft foe's my greateft friend iu~ He could from feud to friendship pafs, Yet never change from what he was x. He is my Father, he alone, Who is my Father's only Son y. i Job xvii. 14. I have faid.to corruption, Thou art my fa- ther; to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my fuler. Chap, xix. 26. And though after my (kin worms deltroy this body, yet in my tie (h mail I fee God. u Even In a moral fenfe, Jer. xii. 10. Many paftorshave de~ ftroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleafant portion a defolate wil- dernefs. Ezek. xxxiv. iS.Seemethita fmall thing unto you, to have eaten up the good palture, but ye muft tread down with your feet the relidue of your paftures ? and to have drunk of the deep waters, but ye mult foul the reildue with your feet ? v Pfahn Iv. 12, 13. For it was not an enemy that re- proached me, then I could have borne it; neither was it he that hated me, that did magnify himfelf againft me, then I would have hid myfelf from him. But it was thou, a man, mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. Mic". vii. j, 6. Trull ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide : keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bofom. For the fon difhonourelh the. father, the daughter rifeth up againft the mother, the daughter-in- law, againil her mother-in-law ; a man's enemies are the men of his own houfe. tv Pfalm vii. n. God is angry with the wicked every day. 2 Cor. v. 19. God was in Chrift, reconciling the world unto himfelf, not imputing their trafpailcj; unto them. x Mai. iii. 16. For I am the Lord, I change not; there- fore ye fons of Jacob are not confumcd. Hoi', xiv. 4. 1 will heal their backfliding, I will love then freely ; for niiur anger is turned away from him. y John xx. 17. Jefus faith unto her [Mary], Touch me not: for I am ntt yet afcfndcd to ; . i^u! f--o t-> N 146 G o s -p E L S o N N E T s. Part III. I am his mother's fon z, yet more, A fon his mother a never bore ; But born of him I?, and yet aver His Father's fon my mother's were c. I am divorc'd, yet marry 'd ftill d, With full confent, againft my wiH e. My huiband prefent is /', yet gone g, We differ much, yet ft'ill are one b. my brethren, and fay unto them, I afcend unto my Father -ind your Father, and to my God and your God. Ifa. ix. 6. Unto us a Son is given : and his name mail he called The everlafting Father. John i. 14. And the word was made flefh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth. s Song in. 4, It was but a little that I pafied from them, but I found him whom my foul loveth : I held him and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mo- ther's houfe, and into the chamber of her that conceived me. i>. ii. Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon with the crown wherewith his mother crown- ed him in the day of his efpoufals, and in the day of the gladnefs of his heart. a viz. l:is naurnl mother according to tbejlefb. b John i. i?. Vvhich were born not of blood, nor of the will of the fk{h, nor of the will of man, but of God. c Gal. iv. 26. But Jeruialtm which is above, is free, which is the mother of us all. d Rom. vii. .4. Wherefore my brethren, ye alfo are be- come dead to the law by the body of Chrift ; and that ye ihould be married to another, even to him who is raifed from the dead. e Ffal. ex. 3. Thy people fhall be willing in the day of thy, power-. /Matth.xxviii. 20. Lo, I am with you aiway, even un- to the end of the world. % John xiv. 2. I go to prepare a place for yon. h John xvii. 21. That they all may be one, as thou, Fa- alfo mav be one Seft. I. The Believer's Riddle. 14" He is the firft, the laft, the all /', Yet number'd up with infects fmall *. The firft of all things /, yet alone The fecond of the great Three-one m. A creature never could he be, Yet is a creature ftrange I fee//; And own this uncreated one. The fon of man, yet 310 man's fon o. i Rev. i. u. I am Alpha and Omega, the firft and the bii. Col. iii. ii. Chriil is all, and in all. k Pfal. xxii. 6. But I am a worm, and no man. / Col.i. ic, 16. Who is the image of the invifible God, the firft -born of every creature : for by him were ail things created that are in heaven, and that are in earth, vifible and invilible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or princi- palities, or powers : all things were created by him, and for him. m i John v. 7. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghofl : and thefe three are one. Matth. xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Fa- ther, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoft. n John i. 2, 3. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The fame was in the beginning with God. All things were mads by him ; and without him was not any thing made that was made. v. 14. And the Word was made flefh, and dwelt a- mong us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the on- ly begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth. o Matth. i. 23. Behold a virgin mall be with child, and fiiall bring forth a fon, and they (hall call his name Emma- nuel, which being interpreted, is, God with us. Luke i. 34, 35. Then faid Mary unto the angel, How mall this be, fet- ing I know not a man : And the angel anfwered and laid unto her, The Holy Ghoft faall come upon thee, and the power of the higheit fliall ovorfhadow thee: therefore alfo that holy thing which mail be born of thee, fliall be called the Son of God'. N 2 M 8 GOSPEL SONNETS, Pai t III, He's omniprefent all may know_^; Yet never could be wholly fo q. His manhood is not here and there r, Yet he is God-man ev'ry where f. Ke comes and goes, none can him trace s , Ytt never could he change his phce t. But though he's good u y and ev'ry where, No good's in hell, yet he is there v. I by him iv, in him x chofen was j>, Yet of the choice he's not the cauie z : p Pfal. cxx;:ix. 7, 3, 9, ic. Whither /hall I go from thy Spirit ? or, whither mall I ilee from thy preience ? If I afcend i:p into heaven thou art there : If I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning,, and dwell in the uttermoft parts of the fea : even there mall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand mail hold me.' q Luke xxiv. 6. He is not here but is rifen. r John xvi. if\ A little while and ye mall not fee me ; and again, a little while, and ye fhail fee me, becaufe 1 go to the Father. /Matth. i. 23. See letter o. Chap, xxviii. 20. Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. j John iii. 8. The wind bloweth where it lifteth, and thou Iieareft the found thereof, but canft not tell whence it cometh, and whether it goeth: f6*is every one that is born of the Spirit. / Ifa. Ixvi. i. Thus faith the Lord, the heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footflool : where is the houfe that ye build unto me ? and where is the place of ray reft ? u Pfal. c. 5. The Lord is good, his mercy is everlailing. i} Pfal. cxxxix. 8. ' If I make my bed in hell, behold,, thou art there. iu as God. x as Mediator. y Eph. i. 4. According as he hath chofen us in him be- fore the foundation of the world, that we mould be holy, and without blame before him in love. z ~&\\tl.nmfe!f the Father' sfujl cleft. Ifa.xlii. I. Behold my- fervant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my foul de- lighteth. Matth. xii. 18. Behold my fervant, whom I have chofen, my beloved, in whom my foul is well pleafed. Se. 22, 23. And almoft all things are by the law purged \vitii blood; and without (bedding of blood is no remilfion. It was therefore necejTary that the patterns of things in the N 3 150 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III, And dy'd in mercy and in wrath, A lawful and a lawlefs death i. With him I neither liv'd nor dy'd, And yet with him was crucify'd k. Law-curfes ftopt his breath, that he Might ftop its mouth from curfmg me /. 'Tis now a thoufand years and moe Since heav'n receiv'd him ; yet I know, When he afcended up on high To mount the throne, ev'n fo did I m. Hence though earth's dunghill I embrace, I fit with him in heav'nly place . In divers diflant orbs I move, Inthrall'd below, inthron'd above. heavens fa ould be purified with thefe; but the heavenly- things themfelves with better facrifices than thefe. h Matth. xxvii. 4. I [Judas] have finned, in that I have betrayed the innocent blood, -v. 23. Andthe governor faid, Why, what evil hath he done ? But they cried out the more, faying, Let him be crucified. i Acls ii. 23. Jefus of Nazareth being delivered by the determinate counfel and foreknowledge of God, ye have ta- ken, and by wicked hands have crucified and ilain. Chap, iv. 27. For of a truth againft thy holy child Jefus, whom ihou haft anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Ifrael were gathered together, &.c. L Gal. ii. 20. I am crucified with Chrift. / Gal.iii. 13. Chrift hath redeemed us from the curfe of the law, being made a curfe for us: for it is written, Curfed is every one that hangeth on a tree. m Col. iii. I. If ye then be rifen with Chrift, <&c. Heb. vu 20. Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jefus, , Yet do more eager than before q. With meat and drink indeed I'm bleft r, Yet feed on hunger, drink on thirft /'. n Lukexxii. 42. Father, if thou be willing, remove this eup from me : nevertheleis, not my will, but thine be done. Aits xxi. 14. And when he [Paul] would not be periuaded, we ceafed, faying, The will of the Lord be done. o 2 Cor.vi 10. As having nothing,and yet pofleiTin;-; all things. / John vi. 35. And Jefus faid unto them, I urn the breayd of life, he that cometh to me ihall never hunger ; and he that believeth on me, ihall never thirft. q Pfalm xlii. i, 2. As the hart panteth after the water- brooks, fo panteth my foul after thee, O God. My foul thirtieth for God, for the living God : when ihall 1 come a ad appear before God? and Ixiii. i. O God, thou art my God, early will I feek thce: my foul thirfleth for thee, my flelh longeth for thee in a dry and thirity land, where no water is. And Ixxiii. 25. Whom have 1 ia heaven but thee ? and there is none upon earth that 1 defire befides thee. lia. xxvi. 3, 9. Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O Lord, have we waited for thee : the defire of our foul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee. With my foul have I de- fired thee in the night, yea, with my fpiiit within me will feek thee early. r John vi. 55. For my fleih is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. /Job xxix. 2, 3, 4. Oh that I were as in months paft, as in the days when God preferved me ; when his candle mined upon "my head, and when by his light I walked through darknefs : as I was in the days of my youth, when the fecret of God was upon my tabernacle. Pfalm Ixxvii. 10, i r, 12. I will remember the years of the right hand of the Moft High, I will remember the works of the Lord : furely I will remember thy wonders of old. I will meditate alfo of all' thy work, and talk of thy doings. Song v. 8. I charge you, O daughters of Jerufaleni; if ye find my Be- loved, that ye tell him that I am fick of love. Chap. vi:i. i- i_s4 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III, My lumber brings a plenteous (lore s t My plenty makes me hunger more t. Strange is the place of my abode, I dwell at home, I dwell abroad n. - \ am not \vliere all men may fee, But where I never yet could be i>. I'm full of hell w, yet full of heav'n x; I'm ilill upright y, yet itill unev'n z , O that thou wert as my brother that fucked the breads of rny mother ! when I mould find thee without, I would kifs thee, yen. I fhoulcl not be defpifed. s Mnuh. v.6. BlefTed are they which do hunger and thirft Ueouihcfs, for they fliall be filled. t 2 Cor. v. 2. For in this we groan earneflly, defiring to be clothed upon with our houfe which is from heaven. Phil, i. 23. For I am in a ftrait betwixt two, having a defire to depart, and to be with Chriil ; which is far better, <&c. Song ii, 3, 4, r. I fat down tinder his {had ow with great delight, and his fruit was fweet to my tafte. He brought me to the banquettin^-houfe, and his banner over me was love. Stay me with tlaggoas, comfort me with apples ; for I am Tick of love. u Job iv. 19. How much lefs them that dwell in houfe s of clay, -whofe foundation is in the duft, which are before the moth? Pfaknxo. i. Lord thou haft been our dwelling- place in all generations, and xci. i. He that dweileth in the iecret place of the Moft High, lhall abide under the fha- dow of the Almighty, i johniv. 16. God is love; and he that dweileth in love, dweileth in God, and God in him. v Ifa. xxxiii. 16. He (hall dwell on high: his place of defence fliall be the munition of rocks. Eph. ii. 6. And hath railed us up together, and made us fit together in hea- venly places in'Chrift Jefus. iu Eccl. ix. 3. The heart of the fons of men is full of evil, and madnefs is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the~dead. x Eph.iii. ly. And to know the love of Chrift, whichpafleth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulnefs of God. y Pfalm xviii. 23. I was alfo upright before him : and I kept myfelf from mine iniquity. Sea. II. The Miner's Riddle. ! 55 Im perfect <3, yet a perfect faint b ; I'm ever poor r, yet never want d. No mortal eye fees God and lives ; .Maintaining truth in tli' inward part 2, With falfehood rooted in my heart a. s Song i. 5. I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerufalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of So- lomon, v. 1 5. 'Behold thou art fair, my lovej behold thou art fair, thou haft doves eyes. / i John iii. 8. He that committeth fin, is of the devil j for the devil finneth from the beginning. u i John i. 8. If we fay that we have no fin, we deceive ourfelves, and the truth is not in us. i) Rom. vii. 23. But I fee another law in my members, waning againft the law of my mind, and bringing ine into captivity to the: law of fin, which is in my members. CP Pfalm Ixv. 3. Iniquities prevail againft me: as for our tranfgrefiions, thou (halt purge them away. Rom. vi. 14. For An mail not have dominion over you j for ye are not under the law, but under grace. x John i. 47. Jcfus law Nathanael coming to him. and faith of him, Behold an Ifraelite indeed in whom is no guile. Pfalm xxxii. 2. Blefied is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whofe ipirit tlitrc is no guile. y Pfalm xix, 12. tVho can underftaud liiserrcrs? cleanfi- thou rne from fecret faults. z Pfalm li. 6. Behold thou defireft truth in the mv,.:re parts 5 and in the hidden part thou. (halt make me to know \vifdom. a Matth. :-;v. 19. For out of the heart proti. thoughts, murdets, Adulteries, f on .:<-;' : o:>: f tlvefts, : a. ' '' - Vvltr.-:. .' 158 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III. Two makers, fure, I cannot ferve b, But muft from one regardlefs fwerve; Yet felf is for my mailer known c y And Jefus is my Lord alone d. I feek myfelf inceffantly c Yet daily do myfelf deny/". To me 'tis lawful evermore I Matth. vi. 24. No man can ferve two matters: for ei- ther he will hate the one, and love the other ; or elfe he will hold to the one, and defpife the other. Ye cannot ferve God and mammon. c Hof. x. i. Ifrael is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himfelf : according to the multitude of his fruit, he hath increafed the altars; according to the goodnefs of his land, they have made goodly images. Matth. xvi. 24. Then faid Jefus unto his difciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himfelf, and take up his crofs, and follow me. d Ifa. xxvi. 13. O Lord otir God, other lords befides thee have had dominion over us : but by thee only will we make mention of thy name. John xx. 28. And Thcmas anfwered and faid unto him, My Lord and my God. e Jam. iv. 3. Ye ?fk, and receive not, becaufe ye afk a- nrlfs, that ye may ccnfume it upon your luft:s. Jer.xlv. 2, 5. Thus faith the Lord the God of Ifrael unto thee, O Ba- ,ruch, And feekeit tbou great things for thy felf? Seek them not-, for behold, I will bring evil upon all fiefh, faith the Lord : but thy life will I give unto thee fur a prey in all places whither tliou goeli. /Matth. xvi.- 2.]. te tetter c. g Lev. xix. 1 8. Thou fnah not avenge, nor bear any grudge againit the children of thy people, but thou (halt love thy neighbour as thy felf : I am the Lord. -Eph.v. 29. For no man ever yet hated his own flelhj but nourifheth and cheriiheth it, even as the Lord the church. John xii. 25. He that loveth his life, (hall k>fe it : and he that lofuth hi> life in this wcr;d, fiia'l keep it unto life eternal. Job xh'i.6. "Whe:efore I abhor mjlelf, and reuent in duft and fifnes. Sect. III. The Believers Ruuiii. 159 In this vain world I live, yet iee I'm dead to it, and it to me b. My joy is endlefs ;', yet at beft Dues hardly for a moment lail k. SECT. III. Myjleries about the fain? s work and warfare^ their Jins. for rows t and joys. THE work is great I'm call'd unto , Yet nothing's left for me to do b\ Hence for my work Heav'n has prepar'd No wages c y yet a great reward d. h Col. iii. 3. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Chrift in God. Gal. vi, 14. But God forbid that I fliould glory fare in the crofs of our Lord Jeius Chrift, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. i John xvi. 22. And ye now therefore have forrow: but I will fee you again, and you^ heart ihall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. 2 ThefT.ii. 16. Now our Lord Jefus Chriit himfelf, and God the Father, which hath lov- ed us, and hath given us everlafting confolation, and good hope through grace, tec. k Ffalm xxx. 7. Lord, by thy favour thou haft made my mountain to ftand ftrong : thou didft hide thy face, and i was troubled. Ifa. xlix. 13, 14. Sing, O heavens, and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into finging, O moun- tains : for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted. But Zion faid, The Lord hath forfaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. a Phil, ii. 12. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have al- ways obeyed, not as in my prefence only, but now much more in my abfeneej work out your own falvation with fear and trembling. b Phil, ii- i 3. For it is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do of his good pleafure. Lev. xx. 7, 8- Sanc- tify yourfelves therefore, and be ye holy : for I am the Lord your God. And ye fhall keep my ftatutes, and do them: I am the Lord which fanctify you. c Rom. vi. 23* For the wages of fin is death, but the O 2 160 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part IIL T? -vvorks, but not to working dead , Yet I maintain a liable peace q. My foes aflaulting conquer me, Vet ne'er obtain the victory r; For all my battles loft or won, Were gain'd before they were begun^C neither {hall the covenant of my peace be removed, faith the Lord, that hath mercy on thee. / Hab. i. 13. Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canft not look on iniquity. Jer. xliv. 4. Howbeit I fent unto you all my fervants the prophets, riling early and fend- ing them, faying, Oh do not this abominable thing that I hate. m Matth. iii. 17. And lo, a voice from heaven, faying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleafed. Rom. v. 10. When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son. n 2Cor.ii. 14. Now thanks be unto God which always caufeth us to triumph in Chrift. o Rom. vii. 23. But I fee another law in my members, warring againfl the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of fin, which is in my members. p v klier o. I Tim. vi. 1 2. Fight the good fight of faith, &<;. Gal. v. 17. For the flelh luiteth againil the Spirit, and the Spirit againil the flefh : and thefe are contrary the one to the other ; fo that ye cannot do the things that ye would. q Rom. v.i. Therefore being juilified by faith, \ve have peace w'th God, through our Lord Jefus Chrift. Ifa. liv. 10. See letter k. r Rom. vii. 23. See letter o. Chap. viii. 37. Nay, in all thefe things we are more than conquerors, through him that loved us. / 1 Cor. xv. 57. But thanks be to God, which givedi U3 the victory, through our Lord Jefus Chrift. O 3 i62 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III. I'm ftill at eafe, and ftill oppreft ; Heve conflant trouble, conitant reft j; Both clear and cloudy /, free and bound u ; Both dead and living v, loft and found-si;. Sin for my good does work and win #; Yet 'tis not good for me to fin j>. s 2 Cor. iv. 8^ We are troubled on every fide, yet not di- ilrefled; \ve are perplexed, but not in defpair. John xvi. 33. Thefe things have I fpoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye fhall have tribulation j but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. Heb. iv. 3. For. we which have believed do enter into reft. / Zech. xiv. 6, 7. And it fhall come to pafs in that day, that the light fliall not be clear, nor dark. But it fhall be one day, which fliall be known to the Lord, not day nor night : but it fliall come to pafs, that at evening-time it fliall be light. Mic. vii. 8. Rejoice not againft me, O mine enemy; when I fall, I fliall arife; when 1 fit in darknefs, the Z,ord ihali be a light unto me. u John viii. 36. If the Son therefore fhall make you free, ye fhall be free indeed. Acts xx. 23. The holy Ghoft wit- Tiefleth in every city, faying, that bonds and afilidtions a- l?ide me. i} 2 Cor. vi. 9. as dying, and behold we live. Col. Hi. 3^ For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Chrift in God. 10 Matth. xviii, n. For the Son of man is come to fave- that, which was loft, Pfalm cxix. 176. I have gone aftray like a loft flieep, feek thy fervant. Phil, iii. 9. And be found in him, not having mine own righteoufncfs, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Chrift. the righteoufnefs which is of God by faith. x Rom. viii. 28. And we know that all things work to- gether for good, to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpofe. Chap. xi. n. I fay then, Have they {tumbled that they fliould fall? God for- bid 5 but rather through their fall falvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealoufy. y Pfalm Ixxxix. 31, 32. If they break my ftatutes, and keep not my commandments, then will I vifit their tranf- grellion with the rod, and their iniquity with ftripes, Seel. III. The Believer's Riddle. X 6> My pleafure riTucs from my pain z ; My loffes ftill inereafe my gain a. I'm heal'd ev'n when v my plagues abound , Cover'd with daft ev'n when I'm crown'd <: : As low as death when living high d t Nor (hall I live, yet cannot die e, z Pfalm cxi.x. 67. Before I was afflicted, I went aftray: but now have I kept thy word. v. 71. It is good for me that I have been afHicled : that I might learn thy ftatutes. James i. 2. My brethren, count it all joy when you fall in- to divers temptations. a Matth. x. 39. He that lofeth his life for my fake fhall find it. Mark x. 29,30. And Jefusanfwered and laid, Vtriiy I fay unto you, There is no man that left houfe, or brethren, or filters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my fake and the goipel's, but he fhall receive an hun- dred-fold now in this time, houfes, and brethren, and fifters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with j-eii'ecutions ; and in the world to come eternal life. b Rom. vii. 24, 25. O wretched man that I am, who fhall deliver me from the body of this death ! 1 thank God, through Jefus Chriil our JLord. c viz. nvith mercy, Job xlii. 5, fi. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear : but now mine eye feeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myfelf,. and repent in daft and aihes. Ezek. xvi. 63. That thou inayeft remember and be con- founded, and never open thy mouth any more becaufe of thy fhame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou haft done, faith the .Lord God. d 2 Cor. vi.9- as dying, and beheld, we live. e Heb. ix. 27. It is appointed unto men once to die. John v. 24. Verily, verily I fay unto you, He that heareth my word, and belie veth on him that fent me, hath ever- laiting life, and fhall not come into condemnation j but is paffed from death unto life. Chap. vi. 40. And this is the will of him that fent me, that every one which feeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlafting life. v. 50, 51. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and riot die. I am the living bread which, gam? down from heaven j if any man eat of io'4 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III. For all my fins my heart is fad, Since God's difhonour'dy~; yet I'm glad, Though once I w;is a fiave to fin g, Since God does thereby honour win k. My fins are ever in his eye *, Yet he beholds no fin in me k: His mind that keeps them all in ftore, Will yet remember them no more /. Becaufe my fins are great, I feel Great fears of heavy wrath m ; yet ilill this bread, he fliall live for ever : and the bread that I will give, is my flcih, which I will give for the life of the world. _/T J falm li. 4. Againft thee, thee only have I finned, and done this evil in thy fight. g Rom. vi. 17. But God be thanked, that ye v?ere the ftrvants of fin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doclrine which was delivered unto you. h Ifa. xli. 24. Sing, O ye heavens; for the Lord hath done it : ihout, ye lower parts of the earth : break forth in- to finging, ye mountains, O forefts, and every tree therein : for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himfelf in Ifrael. Eph. i. 6. To the praife of the glory of his grace, ver. 12. That we mould be to the praife of his glory. i Rev. iii. i. I know thy works, that thou haft a name, that thou liveft, and art dead. v. 15. 1 know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot. k Num. xxiii. 21. He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he feen perverfenefs in Ifrael. Song iv. 7. Thou art all fair, my love, there is no fpot in thee. Ezek. xvi. 14. And thy renown went forth among the Heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfecl through my comelinefs which I had put upon thee, faith the Lord God. /Ifa. xliii. 25. I, even I am he that blotteth out thy tranfgreflions for mine own fake, and will not remember thy fins. Jer. xxxi. 34. I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their fin no more. Heb. viii. 12. 1 will be merciful to their unrighteoufnefs, and their fins and their iniquities will I remember no more. m Ezra ix. 13, 14. And after all that is come upoa us Sett. III. The Believer's Riddle. 1 65 For mercy fesfc, for pardon wait, Becaufe my fins arc very great ;;. I hope when plung'd into defpnir . They reach to me a deadly ftroke q, Yet fend rne to a living rock r. They make me long for Canaan's banks s, Yet fure I owe them little thanks. I travel /, yet (land firm and fait u ; I run v t but yet 1 make no hade iu. i Pet. iii. 13. Who is he that will harm you; if ye be followers of that which is good? * viz. hi themfelves, but much evi/, I Pet. 11. 12. Dearly beloved, I befeech you as ftrangers and pilgrims, abllain f:-om rkfhly lufts, which war againft the foul. James i. 14, 15. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn a- \vay by his own luft, and enticed. Then when luft hath conceived, it bringeth forth fin ; and fin, when it is finifli- vd, bringeth forth death. p Pfalm cxliii. 9. Deliver me, O Lord, from mine e- nemies: I flee unto thee to hide me. q Rom. viii. 13. If ye live after the fiem, ye fliall die. r Pfalm xviii. 46, 47. The Lord liveth, and bleffed be my rock: and let the God of my falvation be exalted. It is God that avengeth me, and fubdueth the people un- der me. s Pfalm Iv. 6. And I faid, O that I had wings like a dove ! for then would I fly away and be at reft. And cxx. 5. Wo is me, that I fojourn in Mefech, that I dwell in tents of Kedar. Rom. viii. 20, 23. For the creature was made fubjecT: to vanity, not willingly, but by reafon of him who hath fubjected the fame in hope : becaufe the creature itfelf alfo lhall be delivered from the bondage of corruption, into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know the whole creation groaneth, and travelled! in pain together until now : and not only they, but our- felves alfo, which have the firft-fruits of the Spirit, even \ve ourfelves groan within ourfelves, waiting for the a- doption. to wit, the redemption of our body. / Heb. xi. 13. and confefied that they were ftrangers and pilgrims on the earth. P :i7 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III. I take away both old and nc.w .v, Within my fight y, yet out of view z, My way directs me in the way , And will not fuffer me to ftray bi Though high and out of fight-it be, I'm in the way, the way's in me c. n I Cor. xvi. 13. Watch ye, fland fail in the faith ; quit you like men, be ftrong. v Heb. xii. i. Let us run with patience the race that -is fet before us. iu Ifa. xxviii. 16. He thatbelievcth. (hall not make hafte. x Jer. vi. 1 6. Thus faith the Lord, vStand ye .in the ways and fee, and afk for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye iliall find reft for your fouls. Heb. x.iy, 20. Having therefore, brethren, boldnefs to enter into the holiett by the blood of Jefus, by a new and living way, which he hath confecrated for us, through the vail, that Js to fay, his rlefh. y I Cor. xiii. 12. For we now fee through a glafs, dark- ly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then {hall I know even as I alfo am known. z John xvi. ic. I go to my Father, and ye fee me no more. a John xvi. 6. Jefus faith unto him, I am the way : no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. b Ifa. xlii. 1 6. And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known : I will make darknefs light before them, and crooked things ftraight. Thefe things will I do unto them, and not for fake them. Chap. v. 4. Behold, I have given him to be a leader and commander to the people. c Ifa. xxxv. 8. And an high-way Iliall be there, and a way, and it fhall be called the way of holinefs ; the un- clean (hall not pafs over it, but it ihall be for thofe : the wayfaring men, though fools, mail not err therein. John xv. 14. Abide in me, and I in you. Chap. xvii. 2 }. I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfeft in one, and that the world may h now that thou hall fent me, ivnd haft loved them, as thou haft lovul me. v. 2^. And I hr.ve dcchixd unto tl'.uri thy name., and v>ili c!-. Sea. IV. The Believer s Riddle. 171. 'Tis flraight d t yet full of heights and depths e\. I keep the wayyj the way me keeps g* And being that to which I tend, My very way's my journey's end h. When I'm in company I groan, Becaufe I then am. moil alone i, dare it : that the love wherewith thou hall loved me, may be in them, and I in them. d Matth. iii. 3. This is he that was fpoken of by the prophet Efaias, faying, The voice of one crying in the wildernefs, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths ftraight. e Ifa. xl. 3,4. The voice of him that crieth in the wil- dernefs, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make tlraight in the defart a highway for our God. Every valley lhall be exalted, and- every mountain and hill fiinll be made low: and the crooked ihall be made ftraight, and the rough places plain. Chap. xlii. 16. See letter b. Pfal. Ixxvii. i :% Thy way, O God, is in the [ancillary, v. 19. Thy way- is in the tea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footileps arc not known. f Pfalm xx-cvii. ^j. Wait on the Lord, and keen his way, and he lhall exalt thee to inherit the land. g Pfalm cxxi. 2, 4. He will not fu'Fer thy foot to be moved : he th-it kecpcth thee will not (lumber. Beheld, he that keepcah lirael, th:;ll neither Hum her nor fleep. h Hrb. xii. 22, 2 ], 24. But ye are eoine unto mount Sion, and u:ito the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerufdlem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general uMcmbly and church of the rlrit-bom, which are written in heaven, and to God the judge of all, aatl to the fpirits of juit men made perfect, and to Jefus the Mediator of the iu\v co vena-it, and to the blood of fprir.k- ii-i.j-, that fp^:iketa better things than the blood of Abel. i Th'.-iT. iv. r 7. The.i we which are alive and re;rr.i:\, ihali be caught r.p tog-jther with them in the clouds. J.J meet tiie Lord in the air: and fo ihall we ever be with the Lord. .' i-'ong i, .]. Tell me, O tlinu whom my foul lQveth> P 2 172 GOSPEL So NNE TS. Part IIL Yet, in my clofeft fecrecy, I'm joyful in my company k. Fm heard afar /, without a noifej I cry without a lifted voice m: Still moving in devotion's fphere , Yet feldom iteady perfevere o. I'm heard when anfwer'd foon or late /> ; And heard when I no anfwer get q j where thou feedeft, where thou makeft thy flock to reft at noon : for why fhould I be as one that turneth afide by the flocks of thy companions ? k Song vii. ii, 12. Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field, let us lodge in the villages. Let us get up t-arly to the vineyards, let us fee if the vine rlowrilh, whe- ther the tender grape appear, and the pomgranates bud forth : for there will I give thee my loves. / Pfalm xx. 6. Now know I, that the Lord faveth his anointed : he will hear him from his holy heaven, with the faving ttrength of his right-hand. m I Sarn.i. 13, 14, 15. Now Hannah, (he fpake in her heart, only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought ihe had .been drunken. And Eli faid unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken ? put away thy wine from thee. And Hannah anfwered and faid., No, my Lord, I am a woman of a forrowful fpirit ; I have drunk neither wine nor ftrong drink, but have poured out my foul before the Lord. n I Theflf. v. 17. Pray without ceaiing. o Hof. vi. 4. O Ephraim, what fnall I do unto thee ? Judah, what (hall I do unto thee? for your goodnefs i.s as a morning-cloud, and as the early dew it goetii away. p Ifa. xlix. 8. Thus faith the Lord, in an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of falvation have 1 helped thee. q Matth. xxvi. 39. And Jefus went a little further,, and fell on his face, and prayed, faying, O my Father, if it be poffible, let this cup pafs from me: neverthelefs, not as I will, but as thou wilt. .Sett. IV. The Believer's Ridd/e. 173 Yea, kindly aiuwer'd when refus'd r, And friendly treat .\vhen harihly us'clyl My fervant pray'rs ne'er did prevail /, Nor e'er of prcvalency fail t. I wreille till my ilrength be fpent it, Yet yield when ftrong recruits are fent v. r Pfalm xxii. i, 2, 3. My God, my God, why halt them forfakeu me ? why art thou fo far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring ? O my God, I cry in the day-time, but thou heareit not ; and in the night fea- ton, and am not lilent. But thou art holy, O thou that inhabited the praifes of Ifrael. /Heb. xii. 5, 6, .7, .8, 9, 10. And ye have forgotten the exhortation which fpeaketh unto you as children, My ion, defpife not thou the chaftening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him. For whom the Lord loveth he chafteneth, and feourgeth every fon whom he reeeiveth. If ye endure ehaltening,, God dealeth with you as with ibnsj for what fon is he whom the father diailuneth not ? But if ye be without chaiHfement, where- of all are partakers, then are ye bafbtrds, and not fons. Furthermore, we have had fathers of our riefli, which cor- reeled us, and we gave them rcvc'-eace : fhall we not much rather be in fubjg&ion to the Father of fpirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chaitened us after tiicir own pleafiire; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holinefs. s D.m. ix. 8, ii). O my God, incline thine ear, and h.;-.;-; O;K-!I thine eyes, and behold our defolations, and the city which is called by thy name; for we do not pro feat our lupplicatious before thee for our righteouf- nefs, but for thy great m^vcies. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O' Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own fake, O my God : for thy city, and thy people are called by thy name, t fames v. i^. The effectual fervent prayer of a righ- teous man availeth much. u Gen. xxxii. 24, 25. And Jacob was left alone : and there wreftlcd a man v;ith him until the breaking of the- P 3 J 74 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III. I languifh for my Hufban.i's charms iu, Yet faint away when in his arms x My fweeteft health does ficknefs prove; "When love me heals, I'm fick of love y. I am moft merry when Fm fad z ; Moft full of forrow when I'm glad a: Moft precious when I'm moft vile b y And moft at home when in exile c. day. And when he faw that he prevailed not again ft him, he touched the hollow of his thigh : and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wreflled with him. v Plalm cxxxviii. 3. In the day when I cried, thou an- fw.eredft me: and flrengthenedit me with ftrength-in my foul. Gen. xviii. 32, 33. And he faid, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will fpeak but this once : Perad- venture ten lhall be found there. And the Lord went his way, as foon as he had left communing with Abra- ham: and Abraham returned unto his place. tu Pfalm Ixiii. 2. My flefh longeth to fee thy power ;:nd thy glory, fo as I hare feen thee in the fanduary. And xxvii. 4. One thing have I defired of the Lord, that will I feek after, that I may dwell in the houie of the J,'.rd all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple. x Rev. i. 17. And when I faw him, I fell at his feet as dead : and he laid his right hand upon me, faying un- to me, Fear not; I am the firft and the laft. y Song ii. 4, 5. lie brought me to the banquetting- houfe, and his banner over me was love. Stay me with ilagg'ons, comfort rne with apples : for I am fick of love. % i Cor. vii. io. For godly forrow werketh, repentance unto falvation not to be repented of. Eccl. vii. 3. Sor- low is better than laughter; for by the fadnefs of the countenance the heart is made better. a Prov. xiv. 13. Even in laughter the :.eart is forrow- fal \ and the end of that mirth is heavinefs. b Job xl. 4. Behold, I am vile, what (hall I anfwer thee? I will lay rnine hand upon my mouth. Chap, xlii.'j, 6. 1 have heard of thee by_the tearing of the ear j but now Sea. IV. The Belie...'.: ;:.;.; . i-- My bafe and honourable birth Excites my mourning and rny mirth d, mine eye feeth thec. Wherefore I abhor jnyfelf, and re- pent in duft and allies. Jer. xxxi. 18, 19, 20. 1 have fure- ly heard Ephraim bemoaning himfelf thus, Thou hall challifed me, and I was chaitifed, as a bullock unaccuf- tomed to the yoke : turn thou me, and I iliall be turned; for thou art the Lord my God. Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and -after that I was intruded, I imote upon my thigh : 1 was aihamed ; yea, even con- founded, becaufe 1 did bear the reproach of my youth. Is Ephraim my dear ion ? Is he a pleafant child > for iiuce I Ipake againft him, I do earneftly remember him llill: therefore my bowels are troubled for him ; I will furely have mercy upon him, faith the Lord. c Ezek. i. i. Now it came to pafs in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, (as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar), that the heavens were opened, and I favv vifions of God. Rev. i. y, 10. I John, who alfo am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jefus Chriit, was in the ifle that is called Patinos, for the word of God, and for the teltimony of Jefus Chrift. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a gieat voice, as of a trumpet, We. John xvi. 32. Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye ihall be fcat- tered, every man to his own, and lhall leave me alone : aud yet 1 am not alone, becaufe the Father is with me. d Ezek. xvi. 3, 4 . Thus faith the Lod God unto Je- rutalem, Thy birth, and thy nativity is of the land of Ca- naan ; thy father was an Amorite, and thy mother an Hittite. And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wait born, thy navel was not cut, neither Wait thou warned irr water to fupple thee : thou waft not falted at all, nor fw addled at all. John i. 13. Which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the neih, nor of the will of man, but of God. Pfalm li. 5. Behold, I was ihapen in iniqui- ty : and in fin did my mother conceive me. 2 Pet. i. 3. Blefied be the God and Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift, which according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us I'm poor, yet fiock'd with untold rent >; Ivioit weak, and yet cmniroteiity] On earth there's none fo great and high g y Nor yet fo low and mean as I h: None or fo foclifh /', or fo wife ; So often full, fo often rife A ;;.to a lively hope, by the refurrection of Jefus .ium the dead. e i a praife and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which (hall hear all the good that I do unto them; and they Hull fear and tremble for all the goodnelb, and for all the profperity that I procure unto it. Kof. iii. 5. Af- terwards mall the children of Ifrael return, and feek the Lord their God, and David their king, and fliall fear the Lord, and his goodnefs in the latter days. q i Cor. vi. 12. All things are lawful unto me, but all things, are not expedient: ail things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. r Exod. xx. i, ^, 3, y, Yet bound to love and pray for thofe iu. Jhec out of the land of Egypt, out of the houfc of bond- age. Thou ihalt have no other gods before me, &c. _/ Fiaim cxxxix. 21, 22. Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee ? and am not I grieved with thofe that rife up againft thee ? I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies. s 2 Chron. xix. 2. And Jehu the fon of Hanani the feer, went out to meet him, and faid to king Jehofhaphat, Shouldll thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord? therefore is wrath upon thee from before iix. Lord. / Lev. xlx. 1 8. Thou malt not avenge, n-or bear any, grade, againit the children of thy people, but thou (halt love thy neighbour as thyfeif : I am the Lord. u Luke >;iv. 26. If any man come to me, and hate not hi-o father, and mother, and wife, and children, and bre- iuuM, a. id fillers, yea, and his own life alfo, lie cannot be my difciple. V .,/,- A-lv;.' are i be foes of Gad, Judg. v. 31. So let all. Vt-rii'n, O J^ord y but let them that love liii.'i. ;>- as the iun when he gocth forth in his might. Waim xvi?. i _3, i.-\. Arife^ O Lord, clJiappoint him, call him down: deliver n;y foul from the wicked, which i:; thy fword ; from me-i vhich are thv hand, O Lord, from men of the world,, which have their portion in. this life,. ;>;j i ?hofj be^-y thon Ml^ft \vith thy hid treafure : they are full of chi:, . - . li.e reit of their fubftance to tlici- bal i iu lN!:ilt.Ii. v. j,:. . ; . :nto you, Love your ene-. miep, bjffs them i-h.at curft you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which dcfpitefully uie you^ Seel:. V. The Believer's Riddle. 179 Heart-love to men I'm cali'd to impart, Yet God flill calls for all my heart .v. I do him and his fervice both By nature love y> by nature lothe z. S E C T. V. Myjleries about flej}} and fpirit, liberty and bondage^ life and cLuth. MUCH like my heart both falfe and true a I have a name both old and new b. x Matth.^xix. 19. Jefus faid unto him, Thou fhalt love thy neighbour as thytelf. Chap. xxii. 37. Thou {halt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy foul, and with all thy mind. y i John v. 2. By this we know that we love the chil- dren of God, when we love God and keep his com- mandments. z Rom. viii. 7. The carnal mind is enmity againft God : for it is not fubjecl: to the. law of God, neither indeed can be. Col. i. 21. And you that were fometimes alien- ated, and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled. a Jer. xvii. 9. The heart is deceitful above all things, and defperatcly wicked, who can knorv it? Heb. x. 22. l,et us draw near with a true heart, in full affurance of faith, having our hearts fprinkled from an evil confcieftce, and our bodies waflicd with pure water. I Rom. ix 25, 26. As he faith alfo in Ofee, I will call them my people, which were not my people : and her, beloved, which was not my beloved. And it mall come to pafs, that in the place where it was faid unto them, Ye are not my people ; there (hall they be called, The children of the living God. Rev. ii. 17. He that hath an car, let him hear what the Spirit faith unto the churches. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white Hone, and in the (tone a new name written, which no man knoWeth, faving lie- that received! it. Chap. iii. 12. Him that overcometh 3 8o GOSPEL SONNKTS. P;irt IIL No new thing is beneath the fun r; Yet all is new, and old things gone d. Though in my fiem dwells no good thing c t Yet Chrift in me I joyful fingV Sin I confcfs, and I deny: For though I fin it is not I g, will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he ifhall go no more out : and will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerufalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God, and I will write upon him my new name. c Eccl. i. 9. The thing that hath been, it is that which mall be : and that which is done, is that which mall be done: nnd there is no new thing under the fun. d 2 Cor. v. 17. If any man be in Chrift he is a new creature : old things are paft away, behold all things are become new. Rev. xxi. 5. And he that fat upon the throne, faid, Behold, I make all things new. e Rom. vii. rS. For I know, that in me (that is, in my fiem) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is prefent with me, but how to perform that which is good, I find not. /Col. i. 27. To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this myftery among the Gen- tiles, which is Chrift in you the hope of glory. g Rom. vii. 14, 20. For we know that the law is fpi- ritual; but I am carnal, fold under fin. For that which J do, I allow not-: for what I would, that do I not ; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I confent unto the law that it is good. Now then, it is no more I that do it, but fin that dwelleth in me. For I know, that in me (that is, in my flefh) dwelleth no good tiling: for 'to will is prefent with me, but how to perform that which is good, I rind not. For the good that I would, I do not : but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it. but fin that dwelleth in me. I John iii. g. "Whofocver is born of God, doth not commit fin ; for his feed retnaiseth in him : and he cc:nnot fin, becaufe he ir, born of God. Sett. V. 27v Believers Riddle. 181 I fin againft, and with my will b\ I'm innocent, yet guilty ftill /'. Though fain I'd be the greater! faint /', To be the leaf I I'd be content /. My lownefs may my height evince m y I'm both a beggar and a prince n. h Rom. vii. 21, 25. I find then a law, that when I would do good evil is prefcnt with me. For I delight in the law of God, after the inward man. But I fee another law in my members, warring againft the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of fin, which is in my members. O wretched man that I am, who (hall deliver me from the body of this death! 1 thank God, through Jefus Chriit our Lord. So then, with the mind 1 inyfelf fcrve the law of God, but with the flcfli the law of fin. / Pfal.xix. 13. Keep back thy fervant alfo from pre- fumptuous fins, let them not have dominion over me j then mall I be upright, and I mall be innocent from the great Iranfgrefiion. And cxx. ?. If thou, Lord, fhoukHl mark iniquities: O Lord, who thai! {hand? k Pfal. xxvii. 4. One thing have I dciired of the Lord, that will I feek after, that 1 may dwell in the houfe of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple. / Pfalm Ixxxiv. 10. For a day in thy courts is better than a thoufand: I had rather be a door-keeper in the houfe of my God, than to dwell in the tf-nts of wickedncfs. in Job v. ii. To fet up on high thofe that be low; that thofe which mourn may be exalted to fafety. n i Sam. ii. 8. The Lord raifeth up the poor out of the duft, and Hfteth up the beggar from the dung-hill, to fet them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory : for the pillars of the earth arc the Lord's, and he hath fet the world upon them. Gen. xxxii. 28. And the angel faid, Thy name mall' be called no more Jacob, but IlYnei-, for as a prince thou hail power with God and with men, and hail prevailed. Rev. i. ;, 6. IVito him that loved us, and wafted us from our iii.s in b i'->2 GOSPEL SONNKTS. Part III. Witli meaneft fubje&s I appear o, "With kings a royal fceptre bear p. I'm both unfettered and involv'd q. By law condemn'd, by law abfolv'd r, My guilt condignly punifli'd fee, Yet I the guilty wretch go free .r. My gain did by my lofs begin /; My righteoufnefs commenc'd by fin //; his own blood, and hath made us kings and prieils unto God and his father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. o Phil. ii. jo. That at the name of Jefus every knee fhould bowj of things in heaven, ami things in earth, and things under the earth. Heb. i. 6. And again when he .bringeth in the Mi-begotten into the world, he faith, And let all the angels of God -worihip him. p Rev. ii. 26, 27. And he that overcometh, nnd keep- eth my works unto the end, to him will I give power o- vcr the nations: (and he ihall rule them as with a rod of iron : as the vefTc's of a potter, {hall they be broken to fhivers) even as I received of my Father. q Pfalm cxvi. i(\ Oh Lord, truly I am thy fervant, I am thy ferva'.i-, and the f<..n of thy handmaid: thou haft loofed my- bonds. Ron*., vii. 23. But I fee another law in my members, warring ag;ainft the law of my mind, and br" : .-:o captivity to the law of fin, which is in my me:"'. r i John iii. ~o. For if our heart conckrr.n us, -God is :art, cind kr.owtth nli things. Horn, viii. i. Then I now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jefus, who \valk not after the flefli, but after the Spirit. of a Lamb without blemiih and without fpot. Eph. i. 7. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgivenefs of fins, according to the riches of his grace. 2 Tim. i. 9. Who hath favccl us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according" to hh own pnrp-jfe and grace which was given us in Chnii Tei'us before the world began. 0.3 I 86 G O S P E L S O N N H T 3 . Tart I1I All pardon that I need I have, Yet daily pardon need to crave k. The law's arrelt keeps me in awe /, But yet 'gainll me there is no law m. Though truth my juit damnation crave , Yet truth's engag'd my foul to fave a. My whole falvation comes by this, Fair truth and mercy's mutual kifs />. Law-breakers ne'er its curfe have mifs'd; But I ne'er kept it, yet am blefs'd q. k Pfalm ciii. 3. Who forgivetli all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy difeafes. And xxv. u. For thy name's fake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity ; for it is very great. Luke xi. 4. And forgive us our fins: for we alfo forgive every one that is indebted to us. Dan. ix. 19. O Lord, hear} O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not for thine own fake, O my God; for thy eity, and thy people are called by thy name. / Pfalm cxix. 1 20. My flelh trembleth for fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy judgments. Rom. vii. 9. 1 was ..live without the law once : but when the commandment ;<.mc, nn revived, and I died. i>. 13. Was then that which is good, made death unto me? God forbid. But iin, that it might appear fin, working death in me by tlist which is good ; that fin by the commandment might be- come exceeding finful. m Gal. v. 23. The fruit of the fpirit is meeknefs, temperance, againft fuch there is no law. i Tim. i. 9. Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous :nnn, but for the lawlefs and difobedient, . 3, 4- ~F'- n ~ v>r hat the law could not do, in that it was weak through the rblh, God did, fending his own Son, in the liker.eis of iinful fleih, and for fin condemned tin. in the fleih j that the righteoufnefs of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the tlefh, but after the Spirit. 2 Cor. v. 21. For he hath made him to be iin for us, who knew no I'm j that we might be made the righteoumefs of God in him. Rom. iii. 26. To declare, 1 lay, at this time his righteoufnefs; that he might be juit, and the juftifier of him which believeth in Jefus. s Rom. vi. 14. Sin (hail not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. Gal. v. I, 4. Stand fafl therefore in the liberty wherewith Chriit hnth made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul fay unto you, that it ye be circumcifed, Chrift ihall proht you notiiing. For, I teftify again to every man that is circumcifed, that he is a debtor tQ. do ths Vi'hpl.e law. Chriit is become of no S. Part III, By perfect doing life I find //, Yet do and live no more me bind v, Thefb terms no change can undergo, Ycc iweetly chang'd they arc iv\ for io, My doing caus'd my life A', but now My life's the caufe that makes me do ;'. tiFecl unto you, whofoever of you are juftified by the law ; ye are fallen from grace. / Rom. vi. 1,2. What fhall I fay then ? {hall we continue in lin, that grace may abound ? God forbid: how lhall we thai are dead to fin, iive any longer therein? i>. 15. What then : ihall we iin, becaufe we are hot under the law, but under grace ? God forbid. u Rom. v. 17, 18, jy. They which receive abundance of grace, and of the gift of righteoufnefs, {hall reign in life by one, Jefus Chrilt. By the righteoufnefs of one, the free gift came upon all men unto j unification of life. 13y the obedience of one (hall many be made righteous. y Rom. x. 5, 9. For Moles deicribeth the righteouf- nefs which is of the law. That the man which doth thole things, (hail live by them. But the righteoufnefs which is oi faith fpeaketh on this wife, Say not in thine heart Who ihall afcend into heaven? (that is, to bring Chrift down from above) ; or, who ftiall defcend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Chvirl again from the dead); but what faith it? The word is nigh thce, jveain thy mouth, and in thy heart : that is the word of faith which we preach, That if thou {halt conftfs with thy mouth the Lord Jefus, and {halt believe in thine heart, that God hath ruifed him from the dead, thou {halt be faved. iv Rom. iii; 31. Do we then make void the lav; thro' faith? God forbid j yea, -we eilablifli the law. x Rom. x. 5. See letter v. y John xiv. iy. Becaufe I live, ye ihall live alib. Chap* xv. 5. I am the vine, ye are the branches : he that abid- eth in me, and I in him, the fame bringeth forth much fruit; lor without me ye can do nothing. Rom. vii. 4. Wherefore, my brethren, ye alfo are become dead to the law by the body of Chritt ; that ye fhould be married to another, ev^n to him who is rnifed from the dead, that Sea. VI. The Believer's Riddle. 1 89 Though ivoi ks of righteoufnefs I {lore z Yet righteoufnefs of ivorks abhor n ; For righteoufnefs without a flaw Is righteoufnefs ivithoitt the la'w b. In duties way I'm bound to lie r, Yet out of duties bound to fly d: Hence merit I renounce with fhame e, Yet right to life by merit claimy". we fhould bring forth fruit unto God. Ezek. xxxvi. 27. And I will put my Spirit within you, and caufe you to walk in my ilatutes, and ye (hall keep my judgments and do them. z rhil. i, n. Being filled with the fruits of righteouf- nefs, which are by Jefus Chrilt unto the glory and praifc of God. a Pnii. iii. o. And be found in him, not having mine own righteoufnefs-, which ; is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Chriil, the righteoufnefs which is of G'od by faith. Ifa. l:-;iv. 6. All our right eoufnefles are r;s filthy rags. .Rom. iv. 6. Even :is David alib defcrib- cth the bleifednefs of the man unto whom God imputeth righteoufnefs without works. b Rorn. iii. .20, 21, 22. I'hcrefore by the deeds of the Liw there flrail no ft h be juftiiu-d in his light : for by the law is the knowledge of fin. But now the rightecufnefs of God without the law is manifdted, being witnefTed by the law and the prophets ; even the righteoufnefs of God v.-hich is by faith of Jefus Chrift. unto all, and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference. c Prov. viii. 3^ Bit fled is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the' polls of my doors. d Ifa. Ivii. 12. I will declare thy righteoufnefs, and thy works, for they (hall not profit thee. Luke xvii. 10. \Vhen ye (hall have done all thole things which are commanded you, fay, We are unprofitable fervants : we have done that which war, our duty to do. e Pfal. xvi. 2. O my foul, thou haft faid unto the Lord,, Thou art my Lord ; my goodnefs extcndeth not to thee, E/ek. xxxvi, 32. Not for j-oar faker, do I this, faith the GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III. Merit of perfect righteoufnefs I never had g, yet never mify #; On this condition I have all z, Yet all is unconditional k Lord God, be it known unto you: be afhamed and con- founded for your own ways, O houfe of Ifrael. f Rom. v. 18, 19. By the righteoufnefs of one, the free gift came upon all men unto juitification of life. By the obedience of one (hall many be made righteous. Ifa. xlv. 2..), 25. Surely, mall one fay, In the Lord have I righ- teoufnefs and irrength: even to him iliall men come, raid all that are incenfed againft him lhall be afharaed. in the Lord '/hall all the feed of Ifrael be juftified, a:ftl fli glory. g Rom. iii. 9. 10. What then ? are we better than they? No, in no \vife: for we have -proved both Jews -and Gen- ;it they are all under . H. For the trapfgreffioi? of ray people was he ftricken. Heb. vii. 22. By fo much was jefus made a furety of a better teilamcnt. /"Rom. iii. 9, 10, 19. See letter gfcrciltu!. g Dan. ix. 2^. Seventy weeks are determined upon thy 7-eople, and upon thy holy city, to fmilh the tranfgreflion, and to make an end of fins, ar 'd to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlafting rightcoufncfs, isv. 'Zech. xiii. 7. Awake, O fword, ^gainft my Shepherd, ajid againil the man that is my fellow, faith the Lord cf holts: Smite the Shepherd, and the , ^'9. My mercy will 1 keep for ever more, nnd my covennut ihnll fiand fail with him. His feed alfo will I make to endure for ever, and his throne us the days of heaven. Jer. xxxii. 40. Arid I will make an evcrlafting covenant with them. th;. 23. And I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy, and I will iy to them which were not my people, Thou art my people ; and they ihaii fay, Thou art my God. b Song i. 5. I am black, but comely, O ye daughter.^ of Jerufalem, as the teats at" Kcdar, as the curtains of Salomon, i Tim., i. 15. This is a faithful faying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Chrifb Jefas came into the world to fave iinaers j or whom i am chief. Ifa. Ixii. 2, ^. And the Gentiles lhall fee thy righteoufuefs, aad all kings thy glory : aud thou lhalt be called by u view naaie, which the mouth of the Lord (hall name. Thou flialt alfo be a crown of glory in the hand of the I. the feed of the land, and planted it in a fruitful field, he placed it by great waters, and fat it as a willow-tree. And it grew, and became a fpreading vine of low Ita- ture, whole branches turned toward him, and the roots thereof were under him ; ib it became a vine, and brought forth branches, and mot forth fprigs. v. 24. And all the trees of the field (hall know that I the Lord have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourifh: I the Lord have fpoken and have done it. Mark iv..3O, 31. And Jefus faid, Whereunto ihall we liken the kingdom of God ? or, with what corn- pa rifon (hall we compare it ? It is like a grain of muf- tard-feed, which, when it is fown in the earth, is lei's than all the feeds that be in the earth. g Pfalm xcii. 12. The righteous fhall grow like a ce- dar in Lebanon. h Mic. vii. 4. See letter, c. . * Ifa. xli. 19. I will fet in the defart the fir-tree, and L the pine, and the box-tree together. k John xv. 4. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itfelf, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. v. 6. If a man abide not in. me, he is call forth as a branch, and is withered. / John xv. 5. I am the vine, ye are the branches : He that abideth in me, and I in him, the fame bringeth forth much fruit j for without me ye can do nothing. Song ii. 13. The fig-tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good fmell. v. 15. Take us the foxes, the little foxes that fpoil the vines ; for our vines have tender grapes. m Ifa. Iv. 13. Inftead of the thorn lhall come up the fir-tree, and i:i(tead of the brier fliall come up the myr- tle-tree : and'it mail be to the Lord for a name, for an tverlaiting fign that ftuill not be cut off. Andlx, 13. The 2JC2 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III With fen/ft ivfs I may compare,. Wiiiie 1 t. - r various natures lhare: Their di'tiuct names, may jaiiiy fait A itrange, a reaibnable brute q. The facred page my ilate defcribes From volatile and reptile tribes; From ugly vipers r, beauteous birds/; Faom foLiring holts s t and . fwiniih herds /. glory of Lebanon fliall come unto thee, the fir-tree, the pine-tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of of my fauCtuar,;, and I will make the place of my feet glorious* n Matth. .vi. 7. And as they departed, Jefus began to fay unto the multitudes concerning John, What : oxjt into the wildeniefs to fee? A reed fhaken :',e wind ? o Ha. vi. 13. But yet in it fhall be a tenth, and it {hall' return, and lhall be eaten: as a teil-tree, and as an oak whofc fubftance is in them, when they call their leaves : fo the holy feed ihall be the fubftance thereof. p Ifa, Iviii. 5. Is it fnch a fait that F have chofen f n day for a man to afflict his foul? is it to bow down his. head as a bulrufh, and to fpread fackcloth and afhes un- der him? wilt thou call this a fait, and an acceptable day to the Lord ? q Pfalm Ixxiii. 22. So fooliih was I [Afaph] and ig- norant: I was a beaft before thee. Prov. xxx. 2. Surely I [Agur] am more brutim than any man, and have not the undedtanding. of a man. r Matt. iii. 7. But when John faw many of the Pha^ rifees and Sadducees come to his baptifm, he faid unto them, O generation of vipers, &c. /Song ii. 12. The time of the fmging of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land. s Ifa. Ix. 8. Who are thefe that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows? t Matth. vii. 6. Give not that 'which' is holy unto the dogs, neither caft ye your pearls before fvvine, left they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rent' Seel. IX. The Believers Riddle. 2l3 I'm rank'd with beafbs of ditPrent kinds, With fpiteful tygers u, loving hinds -y; And creatures of diftinguim'd forms, With mounting eagles -w, creeping worms x. A mixture of each fort I a;n ; A hurtful fnake y } a harmlefs lamb z ; A tardy afs a, a fpeedy roe b; A lion bold c, a tim'rous doe d. you. 2 Pet. ii. 22. But it is happened to them accord- ing to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his owa vomit again : and the low that was waihed to her wal- lowing in the mire. u Pfalm xxii. 16. For dogs have compared me, the afiembly of the wicked have inclofed me : they pierced my hands and my feet. Phil. iii. 2. Beware of dogs, beware of evil-workers, beware of the concilion. "v Pfalm xviii. 33. God maketn my feet like hinds feet, and fetteth me upon my high places. Prov. v. 19. Let her [the wife of thy youth] be as the loving hind, and pleafant roe; let her breaits fatisfy thee at all times, and be thou raviihed alwavs with her love. w Ifa. xl. 31. They mall mount up with wings as eagles. x Pi'tlm xxii. 6. But I am a worm and no man. Ifa. xli. 14. Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Ifrael, ; Still better grow, yet never mend q-. n Pfal. xlii. 6, 7. O my God, my foul is carl down with in me : therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jor- dan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar. Deep calleth unto deep, at the noife of thy water-ipouts : all thy waves and thy. billows are gone over me. o Pfalm xlii. .8, 9. Yet the Lord will command his lov- ing kindnefs in the day-time, and in the night his fong ihall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. I will fay unto God my rock, Why halt thou forgotten me i 1 why go I mourning becaufe of the oppreffion of the enemy ? i). ii. Why art thou caftdown, O my foul? and why art thou difquieted within me ? hope thou in God, for I will yet praife him, who is the health of my countenance, and my Gocl. p Col. Hi. 1,2. If ye then be nfen with Chrift, feek thofe. things which are above, where Chrifl fitteth on the right hand of God. Set your afreclion on things above, not on things on the earth. Pfalm xliv. 2y Our foul is bowed down to the duft : our belly cleavcth unto the earth. q Hof. xiv. 5. I will be as the due unto Ifraei : he mail grow as the lilly, and call forth his roots as Lebanon, v. 7. They that dwell under his fnadow {hall return, they (hall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the (cent the; tor" ihall be as the wine rf Lebanon,. Phil. Hi. 12, i }, 14. Not as though I had already attained, either were already per- fect : but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which alfo I am apprehended of Chiiil [dus. Brethren, I count not myfelf to have apprehended : but this one thing I do, forgetting thofe things which aie behind, and reach- ing forth unto thofe things which are before, I prefc toward the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Chiiic [efus. Rom. vii. 27, 2.'. But I fee another law in my mem- bers, warring againft the law of my rnir.d, and bringing me into captivity to the law of fin, which is in my muiihers. O wretched man that 1 am, who ihall dJhtr n.e irwn the body of this der.th? 2i S GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III My heav'n -and glory's fure to me, Though therefore ielclom fure I be r: Yet what makes me the furer is, God is my glory j\ I am his s. My life's expos'd to open view /, Yet clofely hid and known to few u. Some know my place, and whence I came, Yet neither whence, nor where I am v. T live in earth, which is not odd; But lo, I aifo live in Godw: r John xiv. 2, 3. In my Father's houfe are ninny inan- ;-.);;; if it were not fo, I would have told you: I go to prepare r. place for you. And if I go and prepare a place tor you,' I will come again, and receive you unto myfelf, that where I am, there ye may be alfo. 2 Pet. i. 10. Where- fore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your call- ing and election fure. Heb. iv. I. Let us therefore fear, if.fi. a promifc being left us of entering into his reft, any of you Should feem to come fiiort of it. jf Pfol, iii. i. But thou, O Lord, art a fliield for me; my giory, and the lifter up of mine head. ifa. Ix. 10. The . fun fhall be no more thy light by day, neither for bright- nefd (hall the moon give light unto thee, but the Lord fhall be unto thee an everlafting light, and thy God thy g'ory. s Ifa. xlvi. i q. J will place falvation in Zion for Ifrael my L'lerv. 2 Cor. viii. 2q. WhetlrtT any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner, ar.d fellow-helper concerning you: or our brethren be inr.uived of. they are the mefleng^s of the d \}'.i' gl;:iy of Chrift. / Pial. xliv. ] ;;. Thou mukefl us a reproach to our neigli- Lr.urs,a fco r n arc! ;>. clcrifion to them that are rounji about us. // Col. iii. 5. Your lift is hid with Chrift in God. v John iii. 9, 10. Nicodemus anfweredand faid unto him, Hov; can th.:fe tilings be? Jems anfwered and faid unto i.i..n, Art. thovi n mailer of Ifrati, arid knovreil not thefe ]' jgs? Prov. xiv. J3. The heart Sinowfth his own bitter- , : . a fi.ran.2er doth not nitrrn.eddle \vidi ];is joy. i [we have known ar.cl believed the lo\c to lis. Go I live, yet net I, but Chriit liveth in me : am! uvj life \vh' ; c;^ 1 now live in the ildh, I live by thc-fiirh cf the Son 01 God, who loved me and gave himfelf for me. x John iv. 24. God is a Spirit, and they that woriliii) him, mull worship him in ipirh and in Und:. And vi. 53, 54, 55. Then Jefus fliid unto them, ("the Je'-vs], Verily ve- rily I fay unto you, Except ye eat the ti-jiii cf the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. V\ cateth my fleih, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal ln.% and I will raife him up at the la ft day. For my flesh KS meat indeed, and ir.y blood is drink indeed. y Matth. iv. .1. But Jefus unfwered and faid fjunto the tempter], It is written, Man (hall net live by bread alone, but by every word thst proc-edeth out of the mouth of God. Jer. xv. 16. Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy \vord was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine^heart, for I am called by thy np.rncyD Lord God of Ho:U -. s John vi. 57, 58. As the living Father hath fent me, and I live by the Father: fo he that eateth me, even he i-:all live by me. This is that bread which came down from hea- ven:' not as your fathers did eat manna, and are tk.i a : he that eateth of this bread fhall live for ever. -u. 6-]. It is the Spirit that quickeneth, the fleih profiteth nothing : the words that I fpeak unto you, they are fpirit. and they are life. a Ifa. xxv. 6. And in this mountain fhall the Lord of Holts make unto all people a feait of fat things, a feail of '-- G(J:>PEL SONNKTS. P,;: My leannefe, leannefs, ah i I crv c^ Yet fat and full of fap am I d. ' As all amphibious creatures do, 1 Jive in land and water too ^: i'o good and evii equal bent/i I'm both a devil gj and a faint /. wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on- the lees well refined. Pfal. i. 2. But his dtiight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night. b Ifa. xli. 17. When the poor and needy feck v:ater, and ' litre is none, and their tongue faileth fjrthint, I the Lord wUl hear them. I the God of Ifracl will not forfake them. ::!. 17. But I am poor and need y , yet the Lord think- oon me: thou art my help and my deliverer, make ing, O my God. c Ifa. xxiv. i (~. From the uttermost part of the earth have v-e heard fongs, even glory to the righteous : but I-faid, My leannefs, my leannefs,- wo unto me : the treacherous >I alerd have dealt treacheroufiy ; yea, the treacherous deal- ers have dealt very treachercuily. el Ffalm xeii. i ?, 14. Thofe that be planted in the houfe .: Lord, Jhall Hourifn in the courts of our God. They ihall ftill bring forth fruit in old aee : they fliall be fat and tlourifhing. And civ. 10. The trees of the Lord are full of i.ip: the cedars of Lebanon which he hath planted. e Pfal.cxvi, 9. I will walk before the Lord in the land : living. And Ixix. i, 2. Save me, O God, for the wa- ters are conic in unto my foul. I fmk in deep mire, where there is no {landing : I am come into deep waters, where th-j Poods overflow me. Pfal. Isxxviii. 17. Thy terrors come round about me daily like water, they compaffed me about together. f Rom. vii. 21. I find then a law, that when I would do good evil is prefent with me. g John vi. 70. Jefus anfwered them, Have not I chofen vou twelve, and one of you is a devil r and viii. 44. Y of your father the devil, and the lufts of your fathi will do. James iii. 15. This wifdom defcendeth not from above. but-U earthly, fcniual, deviliih. i Cor. vj, n. And fuch were fome of you; but ye are Wiiile font 2 men who 0:1 earth arc gods /, Arc- with the God of heaven at odds k, My heart, wh-rs helliih legions ?.r? !, is with the hofts of hell at war n>. My will fulfils what's hard to tell, The couniel both of Heav'n , and hell o: Heav'n, without fin, will'd fin to be p \ Yet will to fin, is fin in me q. v.-afhed, but ye are far.ctiiied, but ye are juilified in the ratine of the Lord Jefus, and by the Spirit of oar God. / Finlm lxx\ii. 6. I have i.r.d, Ye are gods: and all of you are children o; ItgH* k PfaL Ixxxii. I, 2. God it'indeth in the congregation of the mighty: he judge th arnor.^ the gods. How lor. r ye judge unjuilly, and accept the perfons of the v/ickcd ? Selah. v. 5. They know not, neiilu-r \vill they imdeniand : they walk on iu darknefs: ail the foundations of the earth are out of courfe. / Mat. xv. iit fpiritunl -.viekednel-;, JM lil^i' fhlCS ^. n Rev. j.vii. 17. I-'oi God Iiatli p::t in. their hearts tof'.il- i^d the o Eph. ij. -:. I ,-.11 } la d our <,aion in times paft, i:. . / the' defires of the i]e: : .; and wc-r-j by n'dturc he children of wrath, even as others. p James i. I?. Let -no :r.-.n fay when lie is tempted. lam tempted of God : for G/xi c '. with evil, neither tempteth he ;u:v ;. i ^ \(,. And in thofe days Peter flood up in the midit of the difciples, and faid ? -'.-.id brcthr.;.. . : ^ fovfbef T 3 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part IIL To duty feldom I adhere r, Yet to the end I perfevere/. I die and rot beneath the clod s } Yet live and reign as long as God /. SECT. XI. t/ h; myhi~y. cf CHRIST, his fta'/ief, natures^ and offices* MY Lord, appears; awake my foul, Admire his name, the Wonderful , filled, which the Holy Ghoit by the mouth of David fpake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jefus. and ii. 23. Jelus of Nazareth, being delivered by t.hs determinate counfel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, arid by wicked hands have crucified and flain. .'id iv. 27, 2S. For of a truth, againit thy holy child Jcfus, whom thou hall anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, wirh the Gentiles, and the people of Ifrael were gathered together, for to do whatfoever thy hand and thy counfel determined before to be done. q Hof. v. ii. Ephraim is oppreffed, and broken in judg- ment, becaufe he willingly walked after the command- . 2 Cor. viii. 1 1, 12. Now therefore, perform the doing of it; that as there was a readinefs to will, fo there may ;c :i performance alfo out of that which you have. For if .'litre be firil a wiiliag mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. r 1 "fal. cxix. 1 76. I have gone aftray like a loft fheep, feek r iv ff-vant: for I do not forget thy commandments. / Heb. s. 39. But we are not of them who draw back unto vi rdition ; but of them that believe, to the faving of the foul. s Pfuhn .\c. 3. Thou turneit man to deftrudlion ; and r ;.veft, RLIUITI, ye children of men. / John v. 24. Verily verily I fay unto you, He that hear- :th my word, 'and believeth on him that font me, hath e- vcrlafting life, and mall not come into condemnation j but i > paffed from death unto life. Rev. iii. 21.- To him that ometh will I grant to fit with me in my throne, even a I alfo overcame, and am fet down with my Father in his ::. Andxxii. 5. And there-fhall be no night there, and ::eed no canule. i^lthtr light cf the fun; ""or the Lord 'I be Bdia-er's Riddle. 22.3 An infinite ?.nd finite mind b y Eternity and time conjoin'd c. The everlajling Father ityi'd, Yet lately born, the virgin's child d. Nor father he, nor motucr had, Yet full with both relations clad e. His titles differ and accord, As David's fan, and David's Lardy. God giveth them light: and they ihall reign for eve. ever. a Ifa. ix. 6. For unto us a child is bora, unto us a fon is given, and the government ihali be upon his (hou)der : and his name Ihall be called, Wonderful. b Pfal. cxivii. 5. Great is our Lord, and of great power : IKS understanding is infinite. Luke ii. j'2- And Jcfus increaf- cd in wifdom and ilature, and in favour -with God and man. c Gal. iv4- Bat when the fuinels of the time was eume, God fc ,. forth his Son made of a woman, made under the law. d Ifa. ix. 6. For unto us a child is born : ana his name ihall be called The everiailing lather. Matth.i. 25. ik- hold, a virgin (hall be with child, and mull bring torth a Son, and they (hall call his name Emmanuel, \vlvch being interpreted, is, God with us. e Heb. vii. 3. For this Melchifedec without father, without mother, without defcent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of lire; but made like unto the Son of God, abideth a prieit continually. Luke li. 4^, 49. And when they faw him, they were amazed : and his mother laid unto him, Son, why haft thou fo dcuit wit la us ? be- hold, thy father and I have fought thee ion-owing. And he faid unto them, How is it that ye fought rne i wilt ye :io that I muft be about my Father's buhnefs ? /Matth. xxii. 41, 45. While the Phari fees were gather- ed together, Jefus aiked them, faying, Wiiat thinK ye of Chrilt ? whofe fon is he? They fay unto him, The fun of David. Ke faith unto them, How then doth David in fpirit call him Lord, faying, The Lord ibid unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy foot/loci? If David then call him Lord, ho-,v io he his ion? 6v. ::4 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III .i hell " .n, the riling God g\ re is corruption doom'd /:; Vet v.-heu my nature he aiiurri'd, He nor on him (to drink the brc My perfon nor corruption took k. g Matth. xxi. c. Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy Ki;;g coin^th unto thee, meek, andiitting upon an ai'-. -j. S. ,j. And a very great multitude fpread their garments HI the way: othfers ; rt dtown branchoi irom Uie trees, i. i j ;t:\. . And the multitude that went before, and that followed, cried, laying, Hoianna to the Son of David: bleiTed is he that coincth in the name of the Lord, Hoianna in the higheil:. v. 12. And Jefus went into tlte temple of God, and caft out all them that I bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, -and the feats of them that fold doves. Col. ii. 15. And having fpoiled principalities and .'j\v;ri:o, he made a fhcw of them openly, triumphing over them in it [his crofs]. Rom, iv. 25. Jefus our Lord was i for our offences, and was raited again for our juf- tiiica'd'jn. Epii. iv. 8. Wherefore he [David] faith, When ho ;ifc>aded up on high, he led captivity eaptive. and gave gifts unto men, Rom. i. ^. Jefus Chriit our .Lord v,-..s de- clared to be the oon of Li^u v.'ith p0fer .igtothe fpirit of holinefs, by the rcfurrectiu lead. /' Eph. iv. 22. Put off concerning the former ccnverfc-.' tion, the old man which is corrupt, according to the deceit- ful lults. i Ffal. ex. 7. He ihall drink of the brook in the way : thereof Ihall he lift up the head. I Rom. viii. 3. God fent his o\vn Son, in the likenefs- of finful flefh, and for iiu condemned fin In the rieih. John i. 14. And the Word \vas made ileih, and dwelt amos;g. us (and we beheld his glory. the glory ai of the only begot- ten of the Father) full of grace and truth. And the angel anfwercd avid faid unto i Gho.1 mall come upon ' . : th- ; '- flwlfbeboraoftbee, Tie Bdle-,; 225 Yet he affum'd my fin anJ guilt /, For which the noble blood was fpilt. Great was the guih-o'^rflowing flood, The creature's and Creator's blood rn \ The Chief of chiefs amazing came ;;, To bear the glory and the ihame o; 16. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels j but he took on him the feed of Abraham, and vii. 26, 27. For fuch an high prieit became us, who is holy, harmlefs, un- defiled, feparate from fmners, and made higher than the heavens ; who needeth not daily, as thofe high priefb, to offer up facrifice, firft for his own iins, and then for the people's : for this he did once, when he offered up himfelr. / Ifa. liii. 5, 6. All we like iheep have gone aitray: we have turned every one to his own way, and the jLord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 2 Cor. v. 21. God huth made Chrift to be iin for us, who knew no iinj that we might, be made the righteoufnefs of God in him. Matt. xx. 28. The Son of man came to give his life a' raniom for many. m Rom. Hi. 25. Whom God hath fel forth to be a propi- tiation, through faith in his blood, to declare his righte- oufnefs for the remillion of lias that are pail, through the forbearance of God. Adsxx. 28. Feed the church ol God, which he hath purchaied with his own blood, i Pet. i. i3,iy. For as much as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as filver and gold, from your vain converfation received by tradition from your fathers j but with the precious blocd of Chrift, as of a Lamb without blemiih and without fpot. I John iii. 16. Hereby perceive we the love of God, becaufe he laid down his life for us. n Rev. i. 4, 5. Grace be unto you, and peace from Jefus Chrift, who is the faithful witness, and the firft begot- ten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. o Zech. vi. 12, 13. Behold, the man whofe name is the BRANCH he lhp.il build the temple of the Lord, and he mail bear the glory. Heb. xii. 2. Jcfus, for the joy that was fet before him. endured the crofs, ciefpifing the ihame, <6v. 22(5 GOSPEL SON- NET s. Part III. Anointed Chief with oil of joy/, Crown'd Chief with thorns of i'harp annoy q. Lo, in his white and ruddy face Rfes and lilies ft rive for plac : r; The morning-ftar, the rifing fun With equal fpeed and fplendour runf. How glorious is the church's head, The Son of God, the woman's feed s\ How learchlefs is his noble clan /, The firf t, the hit, the fecond man u I p PfaL xlv. 7. Thou loveft righteoufnefs, and hatcft wicked 'iefs: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladnefs above thy fellows. q Matth. xxvii 29. When they had platted a crown of thorns, they put upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, faying, Hail king of the Jews. r Song ii. i. I am the rofe, of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. Chap. v. 10. My beloved is white ;\ I [jefus] am the root and the offspring or David, and the bright and morning-ftar. Mai. iv. 2. ^ :it unto you that tear my name, 'hall the Sun of righteouf- u'.-is ariie with ! T.iing in his wings; and ye ihail go forth and grow up as calves of the fir 11. s Col. i. 1 3. And Chrift is the head of the body, the church: who is the begining-, the hril-bora from the dead; that in all things he might have the pre-emineccc. John iii. 1 6, God fo loved the \vorld, that he gave his oniy begot- ten Son, that whofocver uelieveth inhim,thoukl not perifh^ but have everlafting life. Gen. iii. 15. and I [the Lord God] will put enmity between thee and the -woman, and bsuvefc-n thy feed and her feed ; it (liaH bruife thy head and thou ihalt bruife his heel. / lia. liii. 8. He was talcen from prifon and from judg- ment : and who iliall declare his generation ? Prov. xxx. 4. Who hath afcendcd up into heaven, or defcended r who hath lathered the v,:'nd in his fifts ; who hath bound the waters . ,1-i.cnt:* who hatii edabliilled all the ends of ;h.s SecVXF. . The Believer's Riddle. ^ 227 With eq'-ial brightnefs in his face, Shines divine jullice, divine grace v\ The jarring glories kindly meet, Stern vengeance and companion fweet ?y. God is Spirit, feems it odd To (ing aloud the blood of God .v ? Yea, hence my peace and joy rcfult, And here my la'iling hope is built;-. earth ? what is his name, and what Is his Son's name, if thou canft tell? u Rev. i. 1 1. I am Alpha and Omega, the firft and the laft. i Cor. xv. 25. The laft Adam-\vas made a quicken- ning fpirit. i>.. 47. The fecond man is the Lord from hea- ven. v i Cor. iv. 6. For God who commanded the light to mine out of darknefs, hath fhined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of Gcd, in the fac-.- of Jcfus Chrift. Rom. iii. 2_J, 25, 2^. Being juftified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Jefus Chrift : whom God hath fet forth to be a propitiation, thro' faith? in his blood, to declare his righteoufnefs for the remifiion of fins that are paft, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I fay, at this time his righteoufnefs : that he might be juft, and the juftifier of him which believeth in Jefus. Eph. i. 6, 7. ^Fo the praife of the glory of his grace, where- in he hath made us accepted in the beloved : in whom \ve have redemption through his blood, the forgivenefs of fins according to the riches of his grace. W Rom. v. 20, 21. But where fin abounded, grace did rruch more abound: that as fin hath reigned unto death, even fo might grace reign thru'.. nef& unto eter- nal life, by Jefus Chrift our Lord. PiaJ. Ixxxv. 10. Mercy and truth are met tcguhcr : righteoufnefs and peace have each other. x John iv. 24. God is a Spirit, and they that wcr/Hp him, muft \vorfhip him in fpirit and in truth. Acts xx. z' . 1'Ved ihe church of God, v, Iii eh he hath purchafed with ' :! l)v fifth, \vi' have 1'. 1C. 228 . GOSPEL SONNETS. PartllL Love through his blood a vent has fought, Yet divine love was never bought : Mercy could never purchas'd be, Yet ev'ry mercy purchas'd he 2. His triple flation brought my peace, The Altar, Pried, and Sacrifice : 23 2 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part II.L As feamfters into pieces cut Thj cloth they into form would put, H cuts me clown to make me up, 'And empties me to fill my cup ;;.-. I never can myfelf enjoy, Till he my woful felf deftroy; And moil of all myfeif I am, When rnofl I do myfelf difclaim . I glory in infirmites r, Yet daily am afham'd of thefe p. that he may have mercy upon you : for the Lord is a God ci' judgment; hlefled are all they that wait for him. m Hof. v. 15. I will go and return unto my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and fcek my face : in their a^Uclion they will fcek me early. Chap. vi. i, 2. Come and let us return unto the Lord : for he hath torn, and he will heal us ; he hath fmitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us, in the third day he will raife us up, and we fhall live in his fight. Pfkl. cvii. 9. God fa- tisfieth the longing foul, and fiileth the hungry foul with goodnefs. Luke i. 53. And Mary faid, He hath filled the h'.iagry with good things, and the rich he hath fent empty away. n Luke ix. 23, 24. And Jefus faid to them all, If any. vail come after me, let him deny himfelf, and take up ; ;>fs daily and follow me. For whofoever will fave his lift, (hall lofe it: but whofoever will lofe his life for my lake, the fame fhall fave it. Rom.viii. 13. If ye live after the tlelh, ye fhall die ; but if ye through the Spirit do mor- tify the deeds of the body, ye fhall live. 2 Cor. xii. 10. Sec fetter i. o 2 Cor. xii. 9. Moil gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Chriit may reft upon me. p Pfal. Ixxiii. 15, 1 6. If I fay, I will fpeak thus ; behold, I mould offend againit the generation of thy children. When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me.. Pfalm Ixxvii. 8, 9, 10. Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promife fail for evermore ? hath God forgotten to bo gra- caiou^? hath he in ar.gcr fhut up his tender mercies ? Selah. Sea. XII. TfoB'dfoetfT'ltt .; Yea, all mr pride gives up the ghoft, When once I but begin to boafl q. My chymiftry is moil exar, Heav'n oat of hell I do extract r: This art to me a tribute brings Of ufeful out of hurtful tilings y I learn to draw well out of woe, And thus to difappoinr the foe s; And I faid, This is my infirmity : but I \vill rea : years of the light hand of the -Moil High. q It. xlv. 24, 25. Surely, mall one fay, In l!.: L- I nghtcoufncfs and ftrength: even to him lhall men come, and all that are incenft.d ''.<-'.i-iit him, llu-ii! be amarned. In the Lord {hall all the feed of Ifraei be juftified, and lhall glory. Pfalm xliv. 6. I v/iil not truft ia my bow, neither lhall my fvvord favc me. v. 8. Iu God we boail all the day long : and praife thy name for ever. Sd r Jonah ii. i, 2. Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord hL-; God out of the iiiri's belly, and fnid, I cried by reafon of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me ; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou hear, hi my voice. . 3. Then I faid, I am cail out of thy fight \ yet I will look again to- ward thy holy temple. Matth. xv. 2 ', 27, 2'S. Jiut Jefus an fwered and faid [unto the woman of Canaan], It is not mec'r. to take the Ihildrens bread, and to cail it to dogs. And fhc faid, Truth, Lml ; yet the dogs cat of the crumbs v/hich fall IVoiU tlieiv m.illtT's taij'e. Then Jefus aaiwercd and faid unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee e-- ven as thou wiit. And her daughter was made \va;.'ie from that, very ho'ir. P:'.ii.n , Q my God. my : call down within rne : therefore will I remember thee froiii the land of Jordan, and of the Ilirrmonites, from the hiii Mizar. Deep calleth unto deep, at the noife of the vvater- ipouts : all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. Yet the Lord will command ,his loving-kmclnefs i;i the djiy-timc, and in the night his fong lhall be- with me. and rny prayer uuto the God of in; y'Koin. v. :; 4, 5. Sec letter i. j Mic. vii, 8. Rejoice not .. .;, ... () mku " itj.-.. GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III. The thorns that in my flefh. abide, Do prick the tympany of pride t. By wounding foils the field I win. And fin itfelf deftroys my fin : My lulls break one another's pate, And each corruption kills its mate i>. when I fall, I fhall arife j when I fit in darknefs, the Lord fhall be a light unto me. t 2 Cor. xii. 7. Left I mould be exalted above meafure, through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flefli, the meffenger of Satan to buffet me, left I fliould be exalted above meafure. Rom. viii. 35, 37. Who ihall feparate us from the love- ofChrift? friall tribulation, cr diftrefs, or persecution, cr famine, or nakednefs, or peril, or fword ? Nay in all thefe thingT,, we are more than conquerors, through him that lov- ed us. Pfal. Ixv. 3. Iniquities prevail againft me-, as for our trartfgreffionSj thou fhalt purge them away. 2 Chron. xxxii. 24, 2f, "6. In thofe days Hezekiah was lick to death, and prayed unto the Lord : and he fpake unto him, and he gave him a fign. But Hezekiah rendered not again, according to the benefit done unto him : for his heart was lifted up : therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerufalem, Notwithstanding, Hezekiah humbled himfelf for the pride of his heart, (both he and the inhabitants of [eruffilem). fo that the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah. <;> Rom. vii. 7, 8, 9. What fhall we fay then ? Is the lav/ ii: : ' God fobid. Nay, I had not known fin, but by the law : for I had not known luit, except the law had faid, Thou ihalt not covet. But fin taking occafion by the command- ment, wrought in me all manner of concupifcence. For without thi; law fin was dead. For I was alive without the law once ; but when the commandment came, fin revi- ved, and I died. v. n. For fin takirg occafion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it flew me. v. 13. Was then that which is good made cU'aih unto me? God forbid. But fin that k ni:,;ht appear fin, working death in me by thai which is c ri l.-v tli!- commandment iftd. Wketi.juafct tbej^ht and Sect. XII. The Believers Riddle. 235 I fmell the bait, \feel the harm Of corrupt way's, and take th' alarm. - I tafte the bitternefs of fin, And then to relifh grace begin iu. I hear the fools profanely talk, Thence wifdom learn in word and walk .v: feeling of fin killed f elf . John ix. 39,40, 41. And Jefus laid, For judgment I am come into this world: that they which foe not, might fee ; and that they which fce, might be made blind. And fome of the Phanfees which were with him, heard thefe words, and faid unto him, Are we blind alfo? Jefus faid unto them, If ye were blind, ye fliould have no fm : but now ye fay, We lee ; therefore your fin rernaineth. Pialm lix. n. Slay them not, leit my people forget: fcatter them by thy power; and bring them down, Lord, our Ihield. Mutth. xxvi. 33, 34. Peter anfwered and faid unto him, Th'Migh all men fhall be offended be- caufe of thee, yet will I never be offended. Jefus faid unto him, Verily I fay unto thee, that this night, before the cock crow, thou Oialt deny me thrice. i>. 73. And Peter remembered the words of Jefus, which he faid unto him, Before the cock crow, thou ihalt deny Tie thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly. w Rom. vi. 21. What fruit had ye then in thofe things, \vl>:reof ye are now alhamed ? for the end of thofe things is death. Pfalm xix. n. Moreover by them [the judgments of the Lord] is thy fervant warned : and in keeping of them there is great reward. Pfal. Ixxiii. 17, iS, 19. Until 1 went into the fauctuary of God ; then underftood I their end. Surely thou didfl let them in flippcry places: thou .caftedft them down into deftrudtion. How are they brought into defolation, as in a moment ! they are utterly confum- ed with terrors. Jer. ii. 19. Thine own wickecluefs ihall correcl thee, and thy backflidings ihall reprove thee : know therefore and fee, that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou haft foriaken the Lord thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, :&itu the Lord Gjd of holts. x Job xxi. i.,, n, 15. They i', c..c' theii days : i wealth, arid i ; a aa st , s 't> cio vn 10 tu. grave. Thecefore. C-iey f;iy a i.o VJTJJ, l)- > Ht .Vj.a ,u , i.:: \vu dca re uot luekuovv- 236 GOSP EL SONNE TS. Part III. I fee them throng the pafiage broad, And learn to take the narrow road y. SECT. XIIL The nrjf.ery of the Saints adverfarie: r.nd adverftties.- \ Lump of v.-o affliction is, *V Yet thence I borrow lumps of blifs a: Though few can fee a blefling in't, It is my furnace and my mint b. It ^rre of thy ways. What is the Almighty, that we floould ll-rv'.. 1 him? and what profit ihouid we have if we pray un- to hiin ? Eph. iv 20, 21, 22. But ye have not fo learned Chriit ; if to be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jefus : that ye put o(F concerning the former converfa'don, the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lufts. Ciiap. v. 6, 7, 8. no man deceive you with vain words: for bccaufe of thefe things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of difobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. l'"or ye were fornetimes darknefs, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of the lir;!it. i'. u. And have no fellowfliip with the unfruitful works of darknefs, but rather reprove them. y Matth. vii. 13, 14. Enter ye in at the ilrait gate; for wide i the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to dc- flruelion, and many there be which go in thereat ; becaufe itiTtit is the gate, and narrow is the \vay which leadeth un- to life, end few there be "that find it. a Heb. xii. u. Now no chaftening for the prefent feem- eth to be joyous, but grievous : neverthelefs, afterward it. yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteoufnefs, unto them which are exercifed thereby. James i. 12. Blefled is the man that endureth temptation : for when he is tried he fhall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath pro- mifbd to them that love him. l> Ifa. xxxi. 9. And he [the AiTyriah] Oiall pafsover to his ftrong-hdld for fear, and his princes fhall b- ifraid of the eniign, faith the Lord, whole fire is in Zion, and his fur-- nace in'er::fale:n. Seel. XiIL I*A ; --r's RUUl,-. C37 Its fharpnefs doss my lulls

  • , A wing to lift my foul apace /j c Pfalm xlv. 5. Thine arrows are fhurp in the heart of the King's enemies: whereby the people fail under thee. d Mark xiiK 35, 36, 37. Watch ye therefore, (for ye know not when the mafter of the houfe cometh : :it even, or at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning), left, coming fuddenly, he find you. ileeping. And \vhat I fay unto you, I fay unto all, Watch. e Jer. ii. 19. See letter w forecited. Jer. iv. 18. Thy way nnd thy iloings have procured thefe things unto thee, this is thy wickednefs, becauie it is bitter, became it reacheth unto thine heart*. f Jam. i. 2, 3, 4. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations : knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. g Ifa. xxvii. 8, 9. In meafure when it fhooteth forth, thou wilt debate with it ; he ftayeth his rough wind in the day of his call wind. By this therefore ihall the iniquity of Jacob be purged, and this is all the fruit to take away hjs fin. h Mai. ill. 3. And he [the meflenger of the covenant] fhall fit as a refiner and purifier of filver: and he fhall pu- rify the fons of Levi, and purge them as gold and lilver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteouf- nefs. i Pfalm cxliii. 9. Deliver me, O Lord, from mine ene-- mies: I flee unto thee to hide me, 2 3 S GOSPF.L HONNF.TS. Part III. Hence ftill the more I fob diftreft, The more I fing my endlefs reft k. Mine enemies that feek my hurt, Of all their bad defigns come fhort /; They ferve me duly to my mind, With favours which they ne'er defign'd in. The fury of my foes makes me Faft to my peaceful refuge fiee n\ And ev'ry perfecuting elf Does make me underltand myfelf o, 1: 2 Cor. iv. 1 6, 17. For which eaufe we faint not, but though our outward man periih, yet the inward man is re- newed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a iar more exceeding and e- fo-nal weight of glory. / Ffalm xxxiii. 10. The Lord bringeth the counfel of the Heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the peo- ple of none effedl. m Gen. 1. 20. And Jofeph faid unto his brethren As for you, ye thought evil againft me : but God meant it un- lo good, to bring to pafs, as it is this day, to fave much people alive. Pfalm Iv. 23. But thou, O God, (halt bring them down into the pit of deuructiijn : bloody and deceitful men ihall not live out half their days j but I will truft in thee. o My Jin, Ifa. xlii. 24. Who gave Jacob for a fpoil, and Ifratl to the robbers ? did not the .Lord, he againft whom we have finned ? for they would not walk in his ways, nei- ther were they obedient unto his law. My duty, 2 Sim- xvi. ii, 12. And David faid to Abifhai, and to all his fer- vants, Behold, my fon which came forth of my bowelg,. feekeft my life-, how much more now may this Benjamite do it ''. let him alone, and let him curfe ; for the Lord hath bidden him. It may be that the Lord will look on mine affliction, nnd that the Lord will requite me good for his curfing this day. Mic. vii. 8, 9. Rejoice not againft me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I mail arifej when I fit in darknefs, the Lord mall be a light unto me. I will bear the indignation of the Lord, becaufe I have finned againft ium, until he plead my caufe, and execute judgment for Seel. XIII, ' Th Beli^rs RidJIe. 239 Their flanders cannot work my fhame />, Their vile reproaches raife my name q; In peace with Heav'n my foul can dwell, Ev'n when they damn me down to hell r. Their fury can't the treaty harm j\ Their paffion does my pity warm s: Their madnefs only calms my blood /; By doing hurt they do me good iu me : he will bring me forth to the light, and L/hall behold his righteoufnefs. Myfaftty, Pfalm ix. y, 10. The Lord alfo will be a refuge for the opprelfed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name, will put their truft in thee. v. 16. The Lord is known by the judgment which he executeth : the wicked is fnared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion, Selab. p Ffal. xxxi. 13, 14. For I have heard the flander of many, fear was on every fide, while they took counfel to- gether againft me they devifed to take away my life. But I trufted in thee, O Lord : I faid, Thou art my God. q i Pet.iv. 14. If ye be reproached for the name of Chrift, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God refteth upon you : on their part he is evil fpoken of, but on your part he is glorified. r Numb, xxiii. 7, 8. And Balaam took up his parable, and faid, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the call,, faying, Come, curfe me Jacob, and come, defy me Ifrael. How mall I curfe, whom God hath not curfed ? or how /hall I defy, whom the Lord hath not defied? v. 23. Surely there is no inchantment a- gainft Jacob, neither is there any divination againll: Ifrael : nctording to this time it ihall be faid of Jacob, and of If- lael, What hath God wrought ! / Prov. xxvi. 2. As the bird by wandering, as the f wallow by llying, fo the curfe caufelefs Ovall not come. s j Fet. iii. 8, 9. Finally,- be ye all of one mind, having compaflicii one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous ; not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing j but contrariv/ife, bleffing j knowing that ye art thereunto railed, that ye fliould inherit a bleillrg. . / Pial, Ixix. i -.'., 13. They that fit in the gate fpeak againft 24' Gosi'KL ^ONNKTS. Part 111. They are my fordid Haves I wot ; My drudges, though they know it not v : me: and I was the fong of the drunknrds. But as for -me, my prayer is unto thee, O Lord, in an acceptable time : O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy falvation. u Gen. 1. 20. See letter mfirectted. Eflherix. 20, 25. Ar.d Mordecai wrote thefe things, and fent letters unto all the jews that wene in all the provinces of the king Ahafuerus, both nigh and far, to ftabliih this ajnor.g them, that thev fhould keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the fame yearly: as the days wherein the Jews relied from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from forrow to joy, and from mourri'- ing into a good day: that they mould make them days of feafting and joy, and of fending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor. And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto then-.. Becaufe Haman the fon of Hamedatha the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devifed againft the Jews tode- ftroy them, and had call Fur, (that is, the lot) to confume them, and to dcftroy them : but when Efter came before the king, he commanded bv letters, that his wicked device which he deviled againft the Jews, mould return upon his own head, and that he and his fons fhould be hanged on the gallows. v Jer. xxv. 8, 9. Therefore thus faith the Lord of hofts, Becaufe ye have not heard my words, behold I will fend and take all the families of the north, faith the Lord, and Nebuchadnez/ar the king of Babylon my fervant, and will bring them againft this land, and againft the inhabitants thereof, and agr.inft all thefe nations round about, and will utterly deflroy them, and make them an aftonifhment, and vn hiding, and perpetual defolations. v. 12. It ihall come to pafs, when feventy years are accornpliihed, that I will puniih the king of Babylon and that nation, faith the Lord, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and vii! m;.ke it perpetual deflations. Ifa. x. 5, (\ O Affyrian, the rod of mine ar.ger, find the fiaff in their hand is mine in- digJiation, I will fcrd him ugair.fi rn Hypcntical ration; :;:,.liv. 2.4, 28. Thus faith the- .Lord thy Redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, 1 am the Lord that faith of Cyrus, He is my fliep- herd, and fliall perform all my pleafure, even faying to Je- rufalem, Thou malt be built ; and to the temple, Thy foun- dations fhall be laid. Chap. xlv. i. Thus faith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whofe right hand I have holden, to fubdue nations before him: and I will loofe the loins of kings to open before him the two-leaved gates, and the gates ihall not be flint, "u. 4. For Jacob my fervant's fake, and Ifrael mine eleft, I have even called thee by thy name :. I have iirnamed thee, though thou hail not known me. that in me-(that is, in my flefh) dwelleth no good thing; for to will is prefent with me, but how to perform that which is good, I find not. I Tim. i. 15, 16. This is a faithful faying and worthy of all acceptation, that Chrift Jefus aane into the world to fave finners ; of whom I am chief. Ho for this caufe I obtained mercy, that in me firit Jefus Chrift might (hew forth nil long-fufrering, for a pattern to them h fnould hereafter believe on him to life evcrlaiting. b Gal. iii. 13. Chrift hath redeemed us from the curfeof the law,bcir.g madeacurfe for us: for it is written, Curfed js everyone that hmuyeth on a tree. Rojn. v. o. Much more then being now ji .'... ';. hi '.,. . , we fliall be l^.v.d SeA. XIV. * Tbs Denver's Riddle. 343 And having now a pardon free, To hell obnoxious cannot be, Nor to a threat, except * anent * about. Paternal wrath and challifement c. My foul may oft be fill'd indeed With flavifh fear and hellifti dread d: This from my unbelief does- fpring^, My faith fpeaks out fome better thing: Faith fees no legal gilt again, Though fin and its defert remain^/": from wrath through him, Eph. i. 7. In whom we have re- demption through his blood, the forgivenefs of fins, accord- ing to the riches of his grace. c I Theff. i. 10. And to wait for his Sen from heaven, whom he raifed from the dead, even Jefus which delivered us from the wrath to come. Ifa. liv. 9, 10. .For this is as the waters of Noah unto me : for as I have fworn that the waters of Noah Ihould no more go OVer the earth j fohave I fworn that I would not be wroth with thee nor rebuke thee. For the mountains ihall depart, and the hills be re- moved) but my kindnefs lhall not depart from thee, nei- ther fliall the covenant of my peace be removed, faith the Lord, that hath mercy on thee. Pfal. Ixxxix. 30, 33. If his children forfake my law, and walk not in my judgments : if they break my flatutes, and keep not my commandments ; then will I viih their tranfgreflion with the rod, and their iniquity with ftripes. Neverthelefs my loving-kindnefs will I not utterly take from him, nor fuffer my faithfulnefs to fail. d Mat.xiv. 26. And when the difciples faw Jefus walk- ing on the feu, they were troubled, laying, It is a fpivit - r ^nd they cried out for fear. > e Mark iv. 40. Jefus faid uiito his difciples, Why are ys fo fearful ? how is it that you have no faith ? f Rom. vii. 6. But now we are delivered from the law, that hieing dead wherein we were held ; that we fliould ferve in newnefs of fpirit, and not in the oldnefs of the let- ter. Chap. viii. 3, 4. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flefh, God fending his own Soil in the likenefs of fmful flelh, and for fin condemned fin in the X 2 244 GOSPEL SONNETS. P.irt IIL Some hidden wonders hence refult; I'm full of fin, yet free of guilty: Guilt is the legal bond or knot, That binds to wrath and vengeance hot h \ But fin may be where guilt's away, And guilt where fin could never ftay. Guilt without any fin has been, As in my Surety may be feen; The elel's guilt upon him came, Yet ftill he was the holy Lamb /, Sin without guilt may likewife be, As may appear in pardon'ii m_>: For though my fin, alas ! does ilay. Yet pardon takes the guilt a\vay . Thus free I am, yet ft ill invulv'dj A guilty fi nner, yet abfolv'd /: flefh : that the righteoufnefs of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flefh but after the Spirit. g Rom. iv. 14. For we know that the law is fpiritual: but I am carnal, fold under fin. Chap. viii. 32, 34. Who fhall lay any thing to the charge of God's elecl ? It is God that juftineth: who is he that condemneth? It is Chrill that died, yea rather, that is rifen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who alfo maketh interceilion for us. h Deut. xxvii. 26. Curfed be he that confirmetli not all the words of this law to do them : and all the people fliall fay, Amen. Rom. i. 18. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven againft all ungodlinefs, and unrighteoufnefs of men, who hold the truth in unrighteoufnefs. i Ifa.]iii.6. The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of! us all. Heb. vii. 26. For fush an high prieft became us, : who is holy harmlcfs, undefiled, feparate from finners. k Rom. vii. 24. O wretched man that I am ! who mall deliver me from the body of this death ? Afts xiii. 38, 39. Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgivenefs of fins: and by him all that believe are juftified from all things from which ye could not be juiliried by the law of Mofes. / Rom. iii. 19. Now we know that what things foever Sea. XIV. The Befogs P Though pardon leave no guilt behind, Yec fin's defert remains I find ;/;. Guilt and demerit differ here, Though oft their names confounded arc, I'm guilty in rnyjelf always, Since fin's demerit ever (lays n. Yet in my bead I'm always free From proper guilt affecting me; Becaufe my Surety's blood cancell\i The bond of curfes once me held c. the law faith, it faith to them who ar under the law : that every .mouth may be flopped, and all the world may be- come guilty before God. , e you with vain words: for lcv:au:L- of thcIV things coincth the wrath of God upon the ch : i .. In uirncc. o Rom. v. i. Therefore being jiiflificd by f::!th ? we have ptace \yilh Gr:-cl,tb >ugh our Lord Jefus Chi liL. i.y. Much- iaore. . thca being :-o\v jail?ntd bv . . 246 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III. The guilt that pardon did divorce, From legal threat'nings drew its force/) : But fin's defert that lodges dill, Is drawn from fin's intrinfic ill q. Were guilt nought elfe but fin's defer.*. Of pardon I'd renounce my part ; For were I now in heav'n to dwell, I'd own my fins deferred hell r. This doss my higheft wonder move At matchiefs juftifying love, but we alfo joy in God, through oxir Lord Jefus Chrift, by whom we have now received the atonement. p Gal. iii. jo.' For as many as are of the works of the law, are under the curfe : for it is written, Cujfed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. v. 13. Chrift hath redeem- ed us from the curfe of the law, being made a curfe for us : for it is written, Curfed is every one that hangeth on a tree. q Pfalm li. 4. See letter mforeclted. Luke xv. ib. I will srife and go to my father, and will fay unto him, Father,, 1 have fmned againft heaven, and before thee. i" Luke xv. iy. And am no more worthy to be called thy fon. Rev. v. 4. And I [John] wept much, becaufe no man was found worthy to open, and to read the book, nei- ther to look thereon, v. y. They lung a new fong, faying, Thou art' worthy to take the book, and to open the feals thereof; for thou waft (lain, and haft redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and peo- ple, and nation." v. ni2, 15. I beheld, and 1 heard the voice of rmmv anjjtls round about the throne, and the beafts, and the elders ; and the number of them was ten thoufand, times ten thoufand, and thoufands of thoufandsj faying, with a loud voice, Worthy is tne Lamb that was flain, to receive power and riches, and vvifdcm, and ftrength, and honour, and glory, and blefling. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and i'ach as are in the fea, and all that ere in them, heard I, faying, Blefling, and honour, ar/d glory, anu power be un- 4,0 him that iittcth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever arid ever. Sea. XIV. The Believer's Riddle. 247 That thus fecures from endlefs death A wretch deferving double wrath/, Though well my black defert I know, Yet I'm not liable to wo; "While full and complete righteoufnefa Imputed for my freedom is s, Hence my fecttrity from wrath As firmly Hands on Jei'us' death t, f Rom, vii. 24, 25. O wretched man that I am ! who fliall deliver me from the body of this death i i thank God, through Jefus Chritt our Ivjrd. Chap. viii. i. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Chriil Jefus, who walk not after the fleih, but after the Spirit. I Tim. i. i 2. Who was before a blafphemer, and a perfecu- tor, and injurious. But 1 obtained mercy, becaufe I did it ignorantly, in unbelief. i>. 15, 16, 17. This is a faithful faying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Chriil Jefus came into the world to lave finners j of whom 1 am chief, Howbeit, for this caufe I obtained mercy, that in me firit Jefus Chrift might mew forth all long fuifering, fyr a pat- tern to them which fhould hereafter believe on him to life everlafting. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invi- fible, the only v/iie God, be honour and glory, for ever and ever. Amen. s i Cor. i. 30. But of him are }e in Cliri'ft Jefus, who of God is made unto us righteouTqefs and redemption. 2 Cor. v. 21. God hath made Chrift to be fin for us, who knew no fin; that we might be ma-le the righteoufuefs of God in him. Rom. iv. n. And he ["Abraham} received the fign of circumciiion, a fea: of the rightebufnefs of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcifed : that he might be the fa- ther of all them that believe, though they be not circum- cifedj that righteoufneis might be imputed unto them alfo. y. 22, -25. And therefore it was imputed to him for righ- teouinefs. Now it was not written for his fake alone, that it was imputed to him; but for us alfo, to whom it fiiall be imputed, if we beliere on him that raifcd up Jefus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered for our offences, and was raifed again for our juflification. / Rom. v. y. Much more then being new juflJficcl by his blood, we faall be fayed, from wrath through him. -4 > GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III. As does rny title unto heav'n Upon his great obedience giv'n u, The fentence Heav'n did full pronounce, Has pardon'd all my fins at once; And ev'n from future crimes acquit, Before I could the fals commit ^>. I'm always in a pardon'd Mate Before and after fin w; but yet, w Rom. v. i ~, 18, IQ. -They which receive abundance of 5 r ace, and of the gift of righteoufnefs, mall reign in life by one, {efus Chriit.- By the righteonfnefs of one, the free gift came upon all men unto juitification of life By the obedience 'of or.e ihall many be made righteous, v. 21. Grace reigns through rightecufnefs unto eternal life, by Jcfus Chrift our Lord. y Ffal.ciii. 3. Blefs the^Lord, O my foul, who forgiv- eth all thine iniquities; who healeth ail thy difeaies. 2 Cor. v. 19. Gcd was in Chrift, reconciling the world unto him- , not imputing their trcfpaiies unto them. r. 21. See -' tibct-e-dizd. Dan. ix. 2J. Seventy weeks are tietermin- -on thy people, and upon thy holy city, to fmilh the tranfgretlion, and to make an end of ims, and to make re- conciliation for iniquity, and to bring in .evcrlafting r'gh- ttcufnefs.' If A. liv. 10. For the irotintains lhall depart, and the hills be reiroveti, but my kindneis fliall not depart from thee, neither ihall the covenant of my peace be re- moved, faith tVie Lord, that hath msrcy on thee. Heb. viii. i -. For I will be merciful to their unrighteoufnefs , and their r.d their iniquities will I remember no more. iv Rom. viii. I. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Chrift Jefue, who walk r.ot after the flefh, but c'F.rr the S^'rit." v. 2?. 34, _-,5 > 37, .- - ,- 9. Who fhall lay ar-y thir.g to the charge of God's elec\ : I) is God that hnuneJ. : v. ho is he that condemnetfa '. It is Curi^ that died, yea rather, that is rifen again, who is even a; the right ha:;.' of Cod, who aMo jr.;.' ,~h iterccfiicn for us. Who ihall feparatc us IVoir: the love of Chr-fh, ilmli Bulation, or dif-rf f;; or per^'-'-stion, or frjv.ine, or r are than coiKjUvrorSj thfoujh him that love Sea. XIV. The IMievet 's /V.-/,v. ^^ That vainly I prefume not hence, I'm feldom paruon'd to my fenfe x. Slu brings a vengeance on my head, Though from avenging wrath I'm freed y. And though my fins a!! pardon'd be, Their pardon's not apply d to me z. Thus though I need no pardon more, Yet need new pardons ev'ry hour *. In point of application free ; Lord, walh anew, and pardon me. perfuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor prin- cipalities, nor powers, northings prefent, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, (hall be able to feparate us from the love of God which is in Chrill Je- fus our Lord. x Ffnl. xxv. ii. For thy name's fake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity ; for it is great. Pfal. li. 8, 9. Make me to hear joy and gkdr.efs; that the bones which thou haft broken, may rejoice. Hide thy 'face from my fins; and blot out all mine iniquities, sy. 12. Reftore unto me the joy of thy fal- vation ; and uphold me with thy free Spirit. y Pfal. xcix. 8. Thou anfweredit taem, O Lord our God: thou waft a God that forgaveft them, though thou tookefh vengeance of their inventions, i ThefT. i. 10. And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raifed from the dead, even Jefus which delivered us from the wrath to come. z Pfal. xxxv. 3. O Lord, fay unto my foul, I am thy falvation. Pfal. Ixxxv. 8. I will hear what God the Lord will fpeak j for he will fpeak peace unto his people, and to his faints : but let them not turn again to folly. Matth. ix. 2. And behold, they brought to him a man fick of the pal- fy, lying on a bed : and f efus feeing their faith, faid unto the fick of the palfy, Son, be of good cheer, thy fms be forgiven thee * Matth. vi. 12. And forgive us our debts, as we for- give our debtors. I John i. 7, H. If we walk in the light, as God is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jefus Chrift his Son cleanfeth us from all fin. If we fay that we have no fin, we deceive oiirfeh cs, and the truth is not in us. 250 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III. SECT. XV. The tn^ftery of faith and fight, of which more, Part VL Chap. vi. STRANGE contradictions me befal, I can't believe unlefs I fee a; Yet never can believe at all, Till once I fhut the feeing eye b. When fight of fweet experience Can give my faith no helping hand r, The fight of found intelligence Will give it ample ground to ftzmd d. a John vi. 40. And this is the will of him that fent me r that every one which feeth the Son, and bclicveth on him, may have everlafting life. b John xx. 29. Jefus faith unto him, Thomas, becaufe tliou haft feen me, thou hail believed : blefled are they that Lr.ve not feen, and yet have believed. c Ifa.viii. 17. I will wait upon the Lord that hideth his face from the houfe of Jacob, and I will look for him. Chap. 1. 10. Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his iervant, that walketh in dark- nefs, and hath no light ? let him truft in the name of the Lord, and rtay upon his God. d Eph. iv 15, 19. Wherefore I alfo, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jefus, and love unto all the faints, ceafe not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers j that the God of our Lord Jefus Chnft, the Fa - ther of glory, may give unto you the Spirit of wifdom and revelation, in the knowledge of him : the eyes of your un- derftanding being enlightened j that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the faints, and what is the exceeding great - nefs of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, &c. 2 Cor. iv. 6. For God who commanded the light to fhme out of darknefs, hath ihined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jefus Chrift. Seel. XV. 57- Believer's Rulttte. 251 I walk by faith, and not by li^ht e: Yet knowledge does my faith refoundy, Which cannot walk but in the light g, Ev'n when experience runs a-ground h. By knowledge I difcern and fpy In divine light the object fhown i ; By faith I take and clofe apply The glorious object as mine own L; My faith thus ftands on divine light, Believing what it clearly fees /j Yet faith is oppofite to fight, Trufting its ear, and not its eyes m. Faith lift'ning to a fweet report, Still comes by hearing, not by fight // ; Yet is not faith of faving fort, But when it fees in divine light o. e 2 Cor. v. 7. For we walk by faith, not by fight, yjohn ii. ii. This beginning of miracles did Jefus in Cana of Galilee, .and manifeiled forth his glory; and his difciples believed on hin$ ^ Pfalm ix. ID. And they that know thy name will put their truft in thee. h Pfal. xxvii. 14. Wait on the Lord ; be of good courage, find he mail Itrengthen thine heart : wait, I fay> on the Lord. / 2 Cor. iii. 18. But we all with open face, beholding as in a glnfs the glory of the Lord, arc changed into the fame image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. I John i. 12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the fons of God, even to them that believe on his name. / Gal. i. 1 6. But when it pleafed God to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Heathen; im- mediately I conferred not with flefti and blood. m Eph. i. 13. In Chrift ye alfo trufted after that ye heard the word of truth, the gofpel of your falvation. (? Rom. x. 17. So then, faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. o rfalmxixyi. 7. How excellent is thy loving-k' O God! there'; ;;;_ tlie children of men put thtir 'ami un- 252 GOSPEL SON N E T s. Part III, In fears I fpend my vital breath, In doubts I wade my pailing years p\ Yet dill the life I live is faith, The oppofite of doubts and fears q. 5 Twee n clearing faith and clouding fenfe, I walk in darknefs and in light r. I'm certain oft, when in fufpenfe, While fure by faith, and not by fight/. der the fnadow of thy wings, v. 9. For wi;h thec is the fountain of lie : in thy light fhall we fee light. p Pfalm Ixxvii. q, 4. I remembered God, and was trou- bled : I complained, and my fpirit was overwhelmed. Selali. Thou holdeft mine eyes waking : I am fo troubled that I cannot fpeak. John xx. 2 5. But Thomas faid unto the other difciples, Except 1 fliall fee in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thruft my hand into his fide, I will not believe. Lukexxiv. 21. We trufted that it had been he which fhould have re- dtemed Ifrael. q Gal. il. 20. I am crucified with Chrift : Neverthelefs I live; yet not I, but Chrilt liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the tlefh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himfelf for me. Mark v. 3*>. As foon as Jefus heard the word that was fpoken, he faith unto the ruler of the fynagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. Matt. viii. 26. And Jefus faith unto his difciples, Why are ye fo fearful, O ye of little faith ? Chap. xiv. 31. And Jefus faid unto Peter, O thou of little faith, where- fore didft thou doubt ? / Job x'xix. i, 2,3. Moreover, Job continued his parable, and faid, Oh that I were as in months paft, as in the days when God preferved me: when his candle ihined upon my ht-nd, and when by his light 1 walked thro' darknefs. Pfal. cxii. 4. Unto the upright there arifeth light in the darknefs. / 1 Pet. i. 8. Whom having not fccn, ye love-, in whom though now ye fee him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unfpeaknble, and full of glory. Rom. iv. iH, 21. Abra- ham again!!: hope, believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations ; according to that which was fpoken, So fliall thy iced be. And being not weak in faith, Seel:. XVI. The Believer's Riddle. 253 S E C T. XVI. The myftery of Faith and Works, and rewards cf Grace and Debt. I. Of Faith and Works. HE that in word oftendeth not Is call'd a perfect man I wot a ; Yet he whofe thoughts and deeds are bad. The law- perfection never had b. I am defign'd a perfctb foul, Ev'n though I never kept the whole, Nor any precepts c\ for 'tis known, He breaks them all, that breaks but one d. he confidered net his own body now dead, when he was a- bout an hundred years old, neither yet the deadnefs of Sa- rah's womb. He ilaggered not at the promife of God thro' unbelief; but was flrong in faith, giving glory to God ; and being fully perfuaded, that what he had promifed, he was able alfo to perform. Pfal. Ixxxix. 3^. 39. His feed (hall endure for ever, and his throne as the fun before me. It fhall be eitablimed for ever as the moon, and as' a faithful wit- jicfs in heaven. Selah. But thou halt carl off and abhorred, thou haft been wroth with thine anointed. Thou hafl made void the covenant of thy fervant : thou haft profan- ed his crown, by cafting it to the ground. a Jam. iii. 2. If any man offend not in word, the fame is a perfect man, -and able alfo to bridle the whole body. . b James ii. 10. For whofoever fliall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. c Rom. iv. 5, ("i. To him that worketh not, but beiieveth on him that juftineth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteoufnefs. Even as David alfo defcribeth the blefTed- nefs of the man unto whom God imputeth righteoufnefs without works. Job i. I. There was a man in the land of Uz, whofe name was Job, and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and tfchewed evil. Pfal. Ixxi. 1 6. I will go in the ftrength of the Lord God j \ will 254 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III. By faith I t\o perfection claim e, By works I never grafp the name/; Yet without works my faith is nought^-, And thereby no perfection brought. Works without faith will never fpeed />, Faith without works is wholly dead /; Yet I am juftify'd by faith, Which no law-works adjutant hath k. make mention of thy righteoufnefs, even of thine only. Eccl. vii. 20. For there is not a jufl man upon earth, that doth good and finneth not. d James ii. 10. See letter b. e Phil. iii. 9. I count all things but dung, that I may win Chrift, and be found in him, not having mine own righte- oufnefs which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Chnft, the righteoufnefs which is of God by faith. f Gal. ii. 1 6. Knowing that a man is not juflified by the the works of the law, but by the faith of Jefus Chrift : even we have believed in Jefus Chrift ; that we might be jufti- fied by the faith of Chrift, and not by the works of the la\v : for by the works of the law fhall no fleni be juftified. g Jam. 11.14. What doth it profit, my brethren, tho' a man fay he hath faith, and have not works? can faith fave him ? b Heb. xi. 6. Without faith it is impoflible to pleafe God : for he that cometh to God, muft believe that he is, and that he is a jcwavder of th< m that diligently feek him. Rom.xxiv. 2:5. \Vhatfoever is not of faith, is fin. i Jam. ii. 17. Even fo faith if it hath not works, is dead, being alone, v. 26. Forasthe body without thefpirit is dead, fo faith without works is dead alfo. k Rom. iii. 21, 22. But now the righteoufnefs of God without the law is inanifefted being witnefled by the law and the prophets ; even the righteoufnefs of God which is by faith of Jefus Chrift xmto all, and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference. Chap. iv. 4, c, 6. Now to him that worketh, is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him thr.t iuftifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righ- teoufnefs. Even as David aliodefcribeththebieffednefsofthe man unto whom God imputcth righteoufnefs without works. Sea. XVI. The Believer's RUldlt: Yea, gofpel works no help can lend /, Though itill they do my faith attend in : Yet faith by works is pcrfeft made, And by their prefence juitify'd . But works with faith could never vie, And only faith can juftify o: I Phil. iii. 4,- 9. If any other manthinketh that he hath whereof he might trull in the fleih, I more j touching the righteoufnefs which is in the law, blamelefs. But what things were gain to me, thofe I counted lofs for Chriit. Yea doubtlefs, and I count all things but lofs, for the ex- cellency of the knowledge of Chrill Jefus my Lord: for whom I have fuffered the lofs of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Chrill, and be found in him, not having mine own righteoufnefs, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Chriit, the righte- oufnefs which is of God by faith. Ifa. Ixiv. 6. But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteoufneffes are as filthy rags. Hof. xiii. 9. O Ilrael, thou halt deitroyed thy- itif, but in me is thine help. Ifa. xlv. 24, 25. Surely, faail one fay, in the Lord have I righteoufnefs and itrength : even to him ihall men come, and ail that are incenfed a- gainit him ihall be alhamed. In the Lord Ihall all the feed of Ifrael be juftified, and Hull glory. m Tit. iii. 8. This is a faithful faying, and tliefe things I will that thou affirm conttantly, that they which have be- lieved in God, might be careful to maintain good works . tliele things are good and profitable unto men. Jam. ii. iL ; . Yea, a man may fay, Thou halt faith, and I have works : {hew me thy faith without thy works, and I will fhe;v tiic-e my faith by my works. n Jam. ii. 21, 22. Was not Abraham our father juftified by works, when he had offered Ifaac his fon upon the altar ? Secil thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect ? i>. 24. Ye fee then how that by works a man i juftified, and not by faith only. o Rom. iv. 16. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace ; to the end the promife might be fure to all the feed. Titus iii. 4, 7. But after that the kindnefs and love Y 2 25 6 GOSPEL So N N E rs. Part III Yet dill my juftifying faith No juftifying value hath_p. Lo, juftifying grace from heav'n Is foreign ware, and freely giv'n

    . 17. See letter q. f Gal. v. 6. For in Jefus Chrift, neither circumcifion a- vaileth any thing, nor uncircumcifion, but faith which work- The Believers Rld.lle. 257 And frankly own it never went Beyond apaffive instrument/. I labour much like holy Paul ; And yet not I, but grace does all u ; I try to fpread my little fails, And wait for pow'rful moving gales v. When pow'r's convey'd, I work; but fee, 'Tis ilill his pow'r that works in me. eth by love. Acls xv. 9. God put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Chap. xxvi. 18. To open their eyes, and to turn them from darknefs to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may re- cieve forgivenefs of fins, and inheritance among them which are fanAified by faith that is in me. j Rom. iv. 1 6. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace. Chap. xi. 6. And if by grace, then is it no more of works ; otherwife grace is no more grace. t Eph. ii. 8, o,. For by grace are ye faved, through faith ; and that not of yourfelves : it is the gift of God : not of works, left any man mould bbait. I Cor. iv. 7. For who maketh thce to differ from another ? and what halt thou that thou didft not receive ? now if thou didit receive it, why doft thou glory as i: thou had it not received it? Heb. xi. ii. Through faith alfo Sarah herfelf received Hrength to conceive feed, and was delivered of a child when me was pafl age, becaufc ihe judged him faithful who had promif- ed. i>. 17. By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Il'a-ac: and he that had received the promifes. offered up his only begotten ion : v. 19. Accounting that God wa.j able to raife him up, even from the dead ; from whence alfo he received him in a figure, v. 35. Women received their dead raifed to life again : and others were tortured,not accept- ing deliverance j that they might obtain a better refurrection. u i Cor. xv. 10. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was beftovved upon me, was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all : ye', not I, but the grace of God which was with me. y Pfalm Ixxi. 16. I will go in the ftrength of the Lord God: I will make mention of thy righteoufnefs, even of 258 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III. I am an agent at his call, Vet nothing am, for grace is all iu. II. Of rewards of Grace and Debt. T N all my works I ftill regard JL The recompence of full reward x; Yet fuch my working is withal, I look for no reward at all y. God's my reward exceeding great, No kiler heav'n than this I wait z : thine only. Song iv. 16. Awake, O north wind, and come, thou luuth, blow upon my garden, that the fpices thereof may flow out. iv Phi!, ii. 12, i?. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have obeyed, not as in my prefeiice only, but now much more in my abfence : work out your own falvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you to wiil and to do of his good pleafure. Gal. ii. 20. I urn crucified with Chrift : Neverthelefs I live 5 yet not I, but Chriit liveth in me ; and the life which I now live in the rlefn, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himfelf for me. 2 Cor. xii. 9. And the Lord faid unto me. My grace is furficient for thee j for my fti^rigth is made perfect in weaknefs. Moil gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Chrilr, may re it upon me. x Heb. xi. 24, 25. 26. By faith Mofes. when he was come to years, refufed to be called the fon of Pharaoh's daughter : choefiag rather to fuffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleafures of fin for a feafon : esteeming the j ' r- r.tcr rk hcs than the treafures in Egypt : for he had reipect ursto the recompence of the reward. y i Tim. i. 9. God hath fayed us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own parpofe and grace which was given us in Chriit Je. r us, before the world began. Titus iii. 5. Not by works of lighteoufr.efs, which we 'have done, but according to his mercy he faved us by the wafhing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghoft. z Gsn. 2v. i. After thcfe things the word of the Lcrd Sea. XVI. The Believer's Riddle. 259 But where's the earning work fo broad, To fet me up an heir of God a ? Rewards of debt, rewards of grace, Are oppofites in ev'ry cafe b; Yet fure I am they'll both agree Moil jointly ia rewarding me c. Though hell's my juft reward for fin d, Heav : ii as my juit reward I'll win e. came unto Abram in a viiion, faying, Fear not, Abram i 1 arn thy ihield, and thy exceeding great reward. Plain* Ixxiii. 25, 2^. Whom have 1 in heaven but thee * and there is none upon earth that I deiire beildes thee. My nV.a and my heart failcth: but God is the ttremrthur niy heart, and my portion for ever. a Ezek. xxxvi. 32. Not for your fakes do 1 this, faith the Lord God, "be it known unto you : be afiiamed and con- founded for your own ways, O houfe ot' iira_!. Rom. vni. 16, 17. The Spirit itfek bcareth wic;rjij v;ith our ipirit, that we are the children of God. And u children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs wuh Chriil. b R.om. iv. 4. Now to him that woriieth, io the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. c Pial. Iviii. n. Verily there is a reward for the righte- ous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth. Ifa. Ixii. ii. Behold, the Lord hath proclaimed unto the end oi the world, Say ye to the daughter or Zion, beliold, thy iaiva- tion conieth; behold, his reward is with him, and ins wort before him. And xl. 10. Behold, the Lord God will come with itrong hand, and his arm lhall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work, before him. d Rom. vi. 21. What fruit had ye then in thole things, whereof ye are now aihamed ? for the end cf thofe things is death, v. 23. The wages of fin is death. Eph. v. 6. Let no man deceive you with vain words : for becaufe of theie things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of dii- obedience. Gal. iii. 10. For as many as are of the v the law, are under the curfe: for it is written, Curled is e. very one that continueth not in all things va.ich arc writ- ten in the book of the law to do them. e Gait iii. 13, 14. Chriil hath redeemed us from the curfe 260 GOSPEL SONNEY Part III. Both thefe my jufl rewards I know, Yet truly neither of them io \ Hell can't in juftice be my lot, Since juitice iatisfafUou goty"; Nor heav'n in juitice be my ihare, .Since mercy only brings me there g. Yet heav'n is mine by folemn oath, In juftice and in mercy both b\ of the lav/, being made a curfe for us: for it is written, Cur- icd is every one that itangeth on a tree : that the ble fling of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jefu* Chriil; that we might receive the promife of the Spirit through faith. Eph. i. 13, 14. In Chrilt alib after that ye believed, ye were iealed with the holy Spirit of promife, which is the earned of our inheritance, until the redemp- tioa of the purchafed pofleflion, unto the praife of his glo- ry. Rom. v. 2i. Grace reigns through righteoufriefs unto eternal -life, by Jeltis Chriit our Lord. And vi. 23. The gift of God is eternal life, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. * Through thefe oppofite voices of law and gofpel. f Rom. iii. 25, 26. Whom God hath fet forth to be a propitiation, through faith in his blood, to declare his righ- teoufnefs for the remifiion of fins that are pall through the forbearance of God ; to declare, I fay, at this time his righteoufnefs ; that he might bejuft, and the juftifier of him which believeth in Jefus. g Rom. ix. 15, 16. God faith to Mofes, I \villhave mer- cy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compaf- /ion on whom I will have compaflion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth 5 but of God that meweth mercy. Titus iii. 4, 7. But after that the kindnefs and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteoufnefs which we have done, but according to his mercy he faved us by the wafliing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghoft : which he fhed on us a- bundantly, through Jefus Chrift our Saviour; that being juitified by his grace, we mould be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. h Pfal. Ixxxix. 35, 36. Once have I fworn by my holinefs, that I will cot lie unto David, His feed ihall endure for Seel. XVI. The - i-n And God la Car ill i:> all in/ trull, Became he's merciful and jail ;'. CONG L U S I O N. HEr< is the riddle, where r s the mm Of judgment to expound? For mafters farn'd that cannot fcan, In Ifra'l may be found a. We juftly thofe in wifdom's lift Eltablifh'd faints may call, Whofe bitter-fvveet experience bleil Can clearly grafp it all b, ever, and his throne as the fun before me. Heb. vi. 17, 18. Wherein God willing more abundantly to ihew unto the heirs of promife the immutability of his counfel confirmed it by an oath: that by two immutable things, in which it v;a.^ impotlible for God to lie, we might have a ilrong con- ibation, who have fled for refuge to lav hold, upon the hope iV;. bi-fore U3. Pfalm Ixxxix. 14. Juilice a::d judgment are the habitation of thy throne; mercy and truth ihali go be- fore thy face, v, 16. iu thy iiainc iiuJKhey vt-joice all the day : and in thy righteoulhefs iiiall they be exalted, v. 24. But my failhfulneis and my mercy mall be with him [Da- vid my fervantj : aud in my name [hall his horn be exalted, y. 28. My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant thai! it and fait with him. i Heb. ii. 17. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made Jike unto his brethren: that he might be a merci- ful and faithful high prieft, in things pertaining to God, to make ^conciliation for the fms of the people, i John i. 7, 8, 9. If we walk in the light, as God is in the light, we have fellowmip one with another, and the blood of Jefus Chriil his Son cleanfeth us from all fin. If we fay that we have- no fin, we deceive ourfelves, and the trutn is not in us. If we confefs our fins, he is faithful and juft to forgive us our fms, and to clean fe us from all unrighttoufneis. a John iii. IO. Jsfus anfwcred and faid unto Nieodcmus, Art thou a mailer of Ifrael, and knoweft not thefe things ? b Matlh. xi. 25. At that time Jefus anfvvered and faid, 262 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III. Some babes in grace may mint * and nur, * ejjay. Yet aiming right fucceed c; Butjfrangers they in IfraTare, Who not af all can read d. thank thee, O- Father, Lord of heaven and earth, becaufe thou hail hid thefe things from the wife and prudent, and haft revealed them unto babes. Chap. xiii. u. Jefus an- fwered and faid unto his difciples, Becaufe it is given un- to you to know the myileries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. c I Cor. I, 2. And I, brethren, could not fpeak ur.lc you as unto fpirituai, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Chrift. I have fed you with ir.iik, and not with meat : for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. Heb. v. 12, 13, 14. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach vo-^ again which be the firit- principles of the oracles of G jd ; and are be- come inch as have need of milk, and not of ftrong meat. For every one that ufcth milk is unfkilful in the word of righteoufhefs : for he is a babe. But f'rong mtat belor.gtth to^them that are of full age, even thofe who, by.reafc-n of uie, have their fcnies exercifed to difu,-rnboth good ande- vil. Chap. vi. i. Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Chrift, let us goon unto perfection ; not laying again the foundation of repentance Iron. , and oi faith towards God, o'V. i John ii. 12, 13. I write unto you, little c ;;ufe your fins ar.: forgiven you for his name's fake.-- -I write unto little cbiidicn, becaufe ye have known the Fath-:;. d 2 Cur. iv. 3, 4. But if our gofpet be hid, it is hid to them that are loft : in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which bejieve not, left the light of the glorious gofpe! of Chrift, who is the image of .i.ouid mine unto them. GOSPEL SONNETS, PART IV. The BELIEVEIVs LODGING ASD INN WHILE ON EARTH: O R, y^PoEM and PARAPHRASE upon Pfal. Ixxxiv. Ver. I. Hoiu amiable are thy tabernacles^ O Lord of hoJJs! TEHOVAH, Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, J Sole Monarch of the univerfal hofl, Whom the attendant armies fti!I revere, Which in bright robes furround the higher fphere ; Whofe fov'reign empire (ways the hellifh band Of ranked legions in th' infernal land ; Who hold'ft the earth at thy unrival'd beck. And ftay'ft proud forces with a humbling check ; Ev'n thpu whofe name commands an awful dread, Yet deigns to dwell with man in very deed j O what refrefhment fills the dwelling-place Of thine exuberant unbounded grace! Which with fvveet pow'r does joy and praife extort. In Zion's tents, thine ever-lov'd refort: Where glad'ning dreams of mercy from above Make fouls brim-full of warm feraphic love. Of fweeteft odours all thy garments fmells; Thy difmal abfence proves a thoufand hells, But heav'ns of joy are where thine honour dwells. ^) Ver. 2. My foul /ongetb, yea, even faint eth fcr the courts of the Lord ; my heart aadntyjfejb crieth cut fcr the living God. Therefore on thee I centre my defire, Which veh'mentlyburits out in ardent lire. Deprived, ah ! I languifh in my plaint, My bones are feeble, and my fpirits faint. 264 GObPKL -OKKF.T5. Part III. N My longing foul pants to behold a^r.in Thy temple fill'd with thy majeftic train; Thofe palaces with heav'nly odour (trew'd And reg?.l courts, where Zion's King is view'd : To fee the beauty of the higheft One, Upon his holy mount, his lofty throne : Whence virtue running from the living Head Reflores the dying, and revives the dead. For him my heart with Aeries repeated founds, To v.-'lich my flefh with echoes loud rebounds For Hrn, for him, whofe life in death can give. ~) For him, for him, whofe fole prerogative Ts from and to eternity to live. J Ver. 3. l~ea y the fparrciu bath found an boufe, a fid the final hiu a ;:ej} for kerfelf^ lukere Jhe may /ay her : thine altar s^ Lord of hojls y my King and my Gcd. Alas ! how from thy lovely dwellings I, Long banilh'd, do the happy birds envy ; Which, choofing thy high altars for their neft, On rafters of thy tabernacle reft ! Here dwell:; ttefparrow of a chirping tongue, And here \ht fiualloiu lays her tender young: Faint facrilege! they feize the facred foot, And feem to glory o'er my abfent lot. Yet fure I have more fpecial right to thee Than all the brutal hoits of earth and fea: That Sov'reign, at whofe government they bow, Is wholly mine by his eternal vow; My King to rule my heart, and quell my foes, My God t' extract my well from prcfent woes, > And crown with endlefs glory at the clofe. _) Ver. 4. Blffid are they that dwell hi thy kcufe: tl:ey iv ill be Jtill prat/rug the*. O happy they that haunt thy houfe below, Am! to thy royal fanctuary fio\v; Part IV. The Believer's Lodging. 2<5; Not for itfelf, but for the glorious One, Who there inhabits his erected throne ! Others pafs by, but here their dwelling is ! O happy people crown'd with bays of t>lifs! Blefs'd with the fplendid luftre of his face, Blefs'd with the high melodious found of grace, That wakens fouls into a fweet amaze, And turns their fpirits to a harp of praife ; Which loudly makes the lower temple ring With hallelujahs to the mighty King : And thus they antedate the nobler fong Of that celeftial and triumphant throng, Who warble notes of praife eternity along. Ver. 5. -Bkffed is the man ivhcfejlrength is in thee : What weights of blifs their happy fhoulders load. Whofe ftrength lies treafur'd in a potent God ? Self-drained fouls, yet flowing to the brim, Becaufe void in themfelves, but full in him. Adam the firft difcufs'd their (lock of ftrength, The fecond well retriv'd the fum at length ; Who keeps 't himfelf, a furer hand indeed, To give not as they lift, but as they need. When raging furies threaten fudden harms, He then extends his everlafting arms ; When Satan drives his pointed fiery darts, He gives them courage and undaunted hearts To quell his deadly force with divine (kill, And adds new ftrength to do their Sov'reign's will . When fore harafs'd by fome outrageous luft, ~) He levelling its pow'r unto the duft > Makes faints to own him worthy of their truft. j Ver. 6. In ivhcfe hearts are the ivays of them, ivho paffing tk; wigh the valley of Baca, make it a well: the ruin cilfojilkth the fct/s. Such heav'n-born fouls are not to earth confin'd, Truth's high-way fills their elevated mind : Z 266 GOSPEL Sox NETS. Part IV. They, bound for Zion, prefs with forward aim, As Ifra'ls males to old Jerufalem. Their holy path lies through a parched land, Through oppofitions numerous and grand. Traverfmg fcorched defarts, ragged rocks, And Baca's wither'd vale, like thirfty flocks? Yet with unfhaken vigour homeward go, Not mov'd by all oppofing harms below. They digging wells on this Gilboa^top, The vale of Achor yields a door of hope : For Heav'n in plenty does their labour crown, By making filver fhow'rs to trickle down , Till empty pools imbibe a pleafant fill, p And weary fouls are heart'ned up the hill, f By mafiy drops of joy which down diflill. J Ver. 7. T/:ey gofrctnjlrength icjlrcngtb t every one cf them in Zion appearetb before Gcd. Thus they, refrefhed by fuperior aid, Are not defatigated nor difmay'd ; Eecaufe they are, O truth of awful dread ! As potent as Jf HOV/.H in their Head. Hence they fhall travel with triumphant minds, In fpite of rugged paths and boift'rous winds. The rougheil ways their vigour ne'er abates, Each new aiTault their ftrengjth redintegrates. When they through mortal blows ftem to give o'er, Their ftrength by intermitting gathers more. And thus they, with unweary'd zeal endu'd, Still as they journey have their ftrength renew'd >So glorious is the race, that once begun Each one contends his fellow to outrun ; Till all uniting in a glorious band, "> Before the Lamb's high throne adoring ftand, And harp his lofty praife in Zion land. J Vcr. 3. O Lord Gcd af hts, tear w; prcyer : *he ear Gcd c Part IV. 27*? Believer's Lodging. 267 Great God of num'rous hofts, who reigns alon? The fole ppfieflor of th' imperial throne , Since mental tailes of thy delicious grace So fw;etly reliih in thy holy place, This is the fubjecl of my tabled pray'r, To have die vilion of thy glory there. O let my cry pierce the ethereal frame, And mercy's echo follow down the fame. Omnifcient Being, favour my defire, Hide not thy goodnefs in paternal ire : Why, thou haft giv'n in a:i eternal band To Jacob and his feed thy royal hand, And promio'd by thy facred Deity, p His King and covenanted God to be : Therefore my hopes are centcr'd all in thes. J Ver. 9, Behold, O God, oitrjhiM; and look upon the face of thine anointed. Omnipotent, whofe armour none can wield, Zion's great buckler and dafenfive (hield ; Thy pure untainted eyes cannot behold Deformed mortals in their fmful mold, Unlefs their names be graved on the bread Of Zion's holy confecrarecl Prieil. When they his white and glorious garment wear, Then fin and guilt both wholly difappear : Becauie o'erwhelmed in the crimfon flood, And ocean of a dying Surety's blood : They alfo, vefted with his radiant grace, Reflect the luflre of his holy face. They're not themfdves now, but divinely trim, For wholly what they are, they are in him: And hence JEHOVAH'S all-difcerning eye ~J Cannot in them efpy deformity. ;~ Then look on him, Lord ; and in him on me. _) Ver. i o. For a day in thy courts is baiter it.\i!i n tliou- fti 'if! : I had rather be a djir-kecpcr in tbti houji of ixy Gjdy than to divdl hi the te'its of ivickedne/s. Z 2 268 GOSPEL SONNETS. PartlV. May I pofiefs, as thy domeftic child, The houfe that by JKHOVAH'S name is ftyl'd: For royal glories deck thofe courts of thine, Which with majeftic rays fo brightly mine, That mould my mind prefent an earth of gold, As full of worldly joys as earth can hold: Sweet grace fo fills thy houfe, I'd grudge to fpare One moment here, for thoufand ages there. No earthly obje Bjtievars Lodging. 269 All divine treafure to the fain!: is clue; Nothing's deny'd, if truth itielf be true. The treafure is fo vaft it can't be told; Nothing that God can give will God withhold. To whom he doth his faving grace impart, To them he gives himfelf, his hand, hi heart : Uprightnefs too of heart and life does fall Unto their fhare, who having him, have all. In them the grace he gives, he dill regards ; Gives holinels, and then his gift rewards. For to his own upright and divine brood He's bound to grant ev'n all that's great and good, > By's own fure word, firm oath, and facred blood, j Ver. 12. Lord ofhofts^ bleffid is the man that tntft- eth in thee. O then, JEHOVAH, God of armies ftrong, To whom the pow'rs of earth and heav'n belong ; How vaftly blefled is the fixed man, Who by a firm fiducial boldnefs can, Through grace and itrength difpenfed from above, So fweetly fcan the height of divine love, As to derive his comfort wholly thence, And on this rock to found his confidence ? Whofe faith has rear'd up for a firm abode A ftable building on a living God ? Who, fpoil'd of human props both great and fmall, Does choofe a triune Deity for all ? What fcrolls of blifs are in this All inrolFd, Is too fublime for feraphs to unfold. Sift, human wifclom, in a deep amaze ! Let rapid floods of life his glory raiie, Till time be drown'd in his eternal praife. 270 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part IV. A fourfold Exercife for the B E LI E v E R in his Lodging 011 Earth. I. The HOLT LAW; O R, The Ten Commandments, Exod. xx. 3, 17. 1. "^"JO God but me thou fhalt adore. 2. IN No image frame to bow before. 3. My holy name take not in vain. 4. My facred Sabbath don't profane. 5. To parents render due refpeft. 6. All murder ftiun, and malice check. 7. From filth and whoredom bafe abftain. 8. From theft and all unlawful gain. 9. Falfe witnefs flee, and fland'ring fpite. I o. Nor covet what's thy neighbour's right. II. The UN HOLT HEART, the direS oppcftte to God's holy and righteous law, Rom. vii. 14. O R, The knowledge of fin by the law, Rom. iii. 20, 1. IV /f Y heart's to many gods a flave. 2. J\JL Of imagery an hideous cave. 3. An hoard of God difhon'ring crimes. 4. A wafter bafe of holy times. 5. A throne of pride and felf-conceit. 6. A flaughter-houfe of wrath and hate. 7. A cage of birds and thoughts unclean* 8. A den of thieves and frauds unfeen. 9. An heap of calumnies unfpent. 10. A gulf of greed and difcontent. Part IV. The Believer s Lodging. zyi III. The GLORIOUS GOSPEL; o R, Chrift the end of the law for righteoufncfs, Rom. x. 4. And the abfolute need of this remedy inferred from the premiffes. HENCE I conclude and clearly fee, There's by the law no life for me ; Which damns each foul to endlefs thrall, Whofe heart and life fulfils not all. What (hall I do, unlefs for bail I from the law to grace appeal ? She reigns through Jefus' righteoufnefs, Which giving jultice full redrefs, On grace's door, this motto grav'd, Let Jin be damnd, andfinnersfav'd. O wifdom's deep myiterious way 1 ~) Lo, at this door I'll waiting (lay, Till (in and hell both pafs away. j But in this blifs to fhew my part, ~) Grant, through thy law grav'd in my heart, My life may ihew thy graving art. ji IV. The PRATER of FAITH. Which may be conceived in the following words of a certain author. us in vita, tua fitnt meafunera^ Chrifte: *- Da, precor, imperil fceptra tenere tui. Cur etenim, martens, tot vulnerafava^uli/Ji t Si non fum regni portio parva tui ? Cur rigido latuit tua vita inclufa fepttlchra, Si non eft mea mors morte fitgata tua? Ergo mihi certain praftes, O Chrifte y falutenty Meque tUQ lotumf anguine t Chri/ie,juva, 272 GoopfiL SONNE TS. Part V. Which may be tk:;s Engli/bed : Jsfus, I'm thine in life ar.d death, Oh let me conqu'ring hold thy throne, Why fhar'd the crofs thy vital breath, If not to make me fhare thy crown? Why laid in jail of cruel grave, It" not thy death from death me free ? Then, Lord, infure the blifs I crave, Seal'd with thy blood, and fuccour me. GOSPEL SONNETS. PART V. The BELIEVER'S SOLILOQ,UY; efpeci- ally in times of tlefertion, temptation, affli&ion, &c. SECT. I. The deferted believer longing for perfect freedom from fin- AH mournful cafe ! what can afford Contentment, when an abfent Lord Will now his kindnefs neither prove By fmiles of grace, nor lines of love ! What heart can joy, what foul can fing, While winter over runs the fpring ? I die, yet can't my death condole; Lord, fave a dying, drooping foul. In pain, yet unconcern'd I live, And languifh when I mould believe. Lord, if thou ceafe to come and ftay, My foul in fin will pine away. S 274 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part V, Lord, let thy fall my rife obtain^ -**Thy grievous fhame my glory gain; Thy croft my lafting crown procure, Thy death my endlefs life infure. O fend me down a draught of love, Or take me hence to drink above : Here Marah's water fills my cup, But there all griefs are fwallow'd up. Love here is fcarce a faint deGre ; But there the fpark's a flaming fire. Joys here are drops that paffing flee* But there an ever-flowing fes. My faith, that fees fo darkly here. Will there refign to vifion clear; My hope, that's here a weary groan, Will to fruition ^ield the throne. Here fetters hamper freedom's wing, But there the captive is a king : And grace is like a bury'd feed, But finners there are faints indeed. Thy portion's here a crumb at beft, But there the Lamb's eternal feaft : My praife is now a fmother'd fire, But then I'll fing and never tire. Now duflcy fhadows cloud my day, But then the (hades will flee away : My Lord will break the dimming glafej And (hew his glory face to face. My num'rous foes now beat me down, . But then I'll wear the victor's crown; Yet all the revenues I'll bring To Zion's everlailing King. Sea. II. T1:e Believer's Soliloquy. 275 SECT. II. The dfferted Believer's prayer under complaints cf unle- liefy darknefS) deadnefs^ and kardnefs. \ T^HAT means this wicked, wand'ring heart? VV This trembling ague of my foul ? Would Jefus but a look impart, One look from him would make me whole. But will he turn to me his face, From whom he juftly did withdraw? To me who flighted all that grace I in my pafl experience faw ? Lord, for thy promife fake return, Apply thy pard'ning, cleanfing blood ; Look down with pity on a worm, With cov'nant-mercy do me good. When thy free Sp'rit the word applies, And kindly tells me thou art mine, My faithlefs finking heart replies, Ah, Lord! I wifh I could be thine. My faith's fo 'nighted in my doubts, I cad the offer'd good away; Aruj lofe, by raifing vain difputes, The wonted ble flings of the day. Was e'er one prefs'd with fuch a load, Or pierc'd with fuch an unfeen dart: To fm<* at once an abfent God, And yet, alas! a carelefs heart? Such grief as mine, a grieflefs grief, Did ever any mortal fhare ' An hopelefs hope, a lifelefs life, Or fuch unwonted careiefs care ? 'Tis fud, Lord! when for night's folace Nor moon nor ftarry gleams appear: Y'it worfe, when in this cifmal cafe My heart is harcien'd from thy fear- 276 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part V *Twas not becaufe no fhow'rs did flow Of heav'nly manna at my door; But by my folly I'm into A worfe condition than before. Come, Lord, with greater pow'r; for why* Mine, fare, is not a common cafe : Thou offcr'fl to unvail; yet I Do fcarce incline to fee thy face. Such languid faint defires I feel Within this wicked ftupid heart: I fhould, I would, but that I will I hardly dare with truth aflert. to be free of that vile wrack, That bafely keeps me from my God ' 1 flee from thee, Lord; bring me back By tender love, or by thy rod. In paths of righteoufnefs direct. New proofs of thy remiffion give; Then of thy name I'll mention make With grateful praifes while I live. On banks of mercy's boundlefs deep, With fweeter eafe I'll foar and fing, Than kings of feathered hofts, that fweep The oozy more with eafy wing. But if thy mind omnifcient know I'm for this abfent blifs unfit, Give grace to hate my fins, and to Their righteous punifhment fubmit. But let me ne'er thy Spirit lack, That by his aid my pray'rs may come Before him who can wifely make Ev'n diflance lead his people home. Deep wifdom can my foul prepare By prefent woes for abfent blifs. By acid griefs that now I fhare, He can convey the joys I mils- Se And makes me fadly pine ; With blinks of grace, O grant relief, Till beams of glory fhine. SECT IV. Complaint of fin, farrow, and want of love. IF black doom by defert fhould go, Then, Lord, my due defert is death ; Which robs from fouls immortal joy, And from their bodies mortal breath. But in fo great a Saviour, Can e'er fo bafe a worm's annoy Add any glory to thy pow'r, Or any gladnefs to thy joy ? Thou juftly mayft me doom to death, And everlafting flames of fire ; But on a wretch to pour thy wrath Can never fure be \vorth thine ire. Since Jefus the atonement was, Let tender mercy me releafe ; Let him be umpire of my caufe, And pafs the gladfome doom of peace. Let grace forgive, and love forget My bafe, my vile apoltafy; And temper thy deferved hate With love and mercy toward me. The ruffling winds and raging blafts Hold me in conftant cruel chace 5 They break my anchors, fails, and malls. Allowing no repofmg place. * A a 2 3o GCSPE i. SONNETS. Part \ r The boift'rous feas with fwelling floods,, On ev'ry fide againil me fight. Heav'n, overcaft with ftormy clouds, Dims all the planet's guiding light. The hellifh furies lie in wait, To win my foul into their pow'r; To make me bite at ev'ry bait, And thus my killing bane devour., I lie inchain'd in fin and thrall, Next border unto black defpair; Till grace reflore, and- of my fall The doleful ruins all repair. My hov'ring thoughts would flee to glore,, And nettle fafe above the fky; Fain would my tumbling {hip afhore At that fure anchor quiet lie. But mounting thoughts are haled down With heavy poife of corrupt load; And bluft'ring ftorms deny with frown An harbour of fecure abode. To drown the weight that wakes the blaftj Thy fin-fubduing grace afford; The ftorm might ceafe, could I but caft This troublous Jonah over-board. Bafe flefh, with, flefhly pleafures gain'd, Sweet grace's kindly fuit declines; When mercy courts me for its friend, Anon my fordid flefh repines. Soar up, my foul, to Tabor hill, Caft off this lothfome preffing load;" Long is the date of thine exile, While abfent from the Lord, thy God, Dote not on earthly weeds and toys, Which do not, cannot fuit thy tafte : The flow'rs of everlafting joys Grow up apace for thy repaft. Sea. V. The Believers Soliloquy. 281 Sith that the glorious God above In Jefufi bears a love to thee; How bafe, how brutifh is thy love Of any being lefs than he ? Who for thy love did chufe thy grief, Content in love to live and die : Who lov'd thy love more than his life, And with his life thy love did buy. Since then the God of richeft love With thy poor love enamour'd is; How high a crime will thee reprove If not enamour'd deep with his? .Since on the verdant field of grace His love does thine fo hot purfue : Let love meet love with chafte embrace, Thy mite a thoufand-fold is due. Rife love, thou early heav'n and fing,-. Young little dawn of endlefs day: I'll on thy mounting fiery wing In joyful raptures melt away. SEC T. V, The dejerted Soul's prayer for the Lord's gracious and Jin-fubduing prefence. KIND Jefus, come in love to me, And make no longer flay; Or elfe receive my foul to thee,, That breathes to be away. A Lazar at thy gate I lie, As well it me becomes, For childrens bread afham'd to cry; O grant a dog the crumbs. My wounds and rags my need proclaim^ Thy needful help infure : My wounds bear witnefs that I'm lame, My rags that I am poor. Aa 3 2S2 GOSPEL SONNETS, Part V. Thou many at thy door doft feed With mercy when diftreft ; O wilt thou not {hew an alms-deed To me among the reft? None elfe can give my foul relief, None elfe can eafe my moan, But he whofe abfence is my grief: All other joys be gone. How can I ceafe from fad complaint., How can I be at reft ? My mind can never be content To want my noble gueft. Drop down, mine eyes, and never tire,. Ceafe not on any terms, Until I have my heart's defire, My Lord within mine arms. My heart, my hand, my fpirits fail ? When hiding off he goes; My flefli, my foes, my lufts prevail, And work my daily woes. When {hall I fee that glorious fight" Will all my fins deftroy ? That Lord of love, that lamp of light. Will banifh all annoy? O could I but from finning ceafe, And wait on Pifgah's hill, Until I fee him face to face, Then fhould my foul be ft ill. But fince corruption cleaves to m,e While I in Kedar dwell ; O give me leave to long for thee, For abfence is a hell. Thy glory fhould be dear to me, Who me fo dear haft bought : O fave from rend'ring ill to thee For good which thou tuft wrought. 3el. VI. The Believer's Solibqay. 28 3. With fear I crave, with hope I cry, Oh promis'd favour fend ; Be thou thyfelf, though chang'ling I Ungratefully offend. Out of thy way remove the lets, Clearrfe this polluted den ; Tender my fuits, cancel my debts : Sweet Jefus, fay, Amen. SECT. VI. "The Song of Heaven deft red by Saints on Earth-. \ UROR A vails her rofy face / V. When brighter Phoebus takes her place ; So glad will grace refign her room To glory in the heav'niy home. Happy the company that's gone From crofs to crown, from thrall to throne \. flow loud they fing upon the fhore, To which they fail'd in heart before ! Blefe'd are the dead, yea, faith the word, That die in Chrijl the living Lord y And on the other iide of death Thus- joyful fpend their praifmg breath: " Death from all death has fet us free, . But how will God with finful me Again be reconcil'd ? A. In Chrift, in whom his grace to tL' Ami favour is reveal'd. Bb GOSPEL SONNETS. Part VI. }. O how fhall I a fharer prove, And fee his glorious grace? A. In Chrift, the image of his love, And brightnef* of his face, j^. Where fhall I feek all divine ftore, And without fail obtain? A. In Chrift, in'whom for evermore His fulnefs does remain. . But how fhall I efcape and flee Th' avenging wrath of God? A. In Chrift, who bore upcn the tree That whole amazing load. jf>. Alas! I'm daily apt to ftray, How fhall I heav'nward make ? A. Through Chrift the rc?ifecrafed'iuftv> Defign'd for thee to take. 4\ Ah ! where's my title, right, or claim To that eternal blifs? A. In Chrift alone, that glorious name, The Lord our righteoufnefs. j^J. But who unfit can enter there, Or with fuch nafty feet? A. Chrift by his blood prefents thee fair, His Spirit makes thee meet. J9. But may'nt my fpirit weak as grafs, Fail ere it reach the length? A. Jefus the Lord thy righteoufnefs Will be the. Lord thy Jlrength. jf>. Mayn't hellifli hofts, and wicked foes s Sore by the way moleft? A. Chrift is a friend to bridle thofe, And give the weary reft. . Mayn't guilty confcience loudly brand, And all my comfort chafe? A. Chrift with a pardon in his hand Can fhv-w his (mi ling face. Chap. I. The Believer's Principles. 291 j^. But how can divine mercy vent, Where fins are great and throng? A. Chrift is the channel with defcent That mercy runs along. jf>. But may notjujticc interpofe, And Itand in mercy's way? A. Jefus did all the debt thou owes To divine juftice pay. j|J. Where iliall mine eyes the pardon fpy, Unto my faving good? A. In Chrift's free promlfe fee it lie, In his atoning blood. j|J. What ground have I to truft and fay, The promife is not vain? A. In Chrift the promifes are Tea t In him they are Amen. Q But where is Chrift himfelf, O where With promifes fo fweet? A. Chrill's in the promifes, and there Thy faith and he may meet. *%. Is Chrift in them, and they in Chrift? How ihall I this defer y ? A. His blood and Spirit therein lift To feal and to apply. jV 'Gainlt legal fiery threats of wrath, Pray, what defence is belt? A. Chrilt's full obedience ey'd by faith; There fhould the guilty reft. Q. Bat how fhall/rt// be had? Alas'! 1 find I can't believe. A. Chrift is the author of that grace, And faith is his. to give. L Ah ! when may faithlefs I expect He'll fuch a blifs bequeath ? A. He will of unbelief convict, And pave the way for faith. Bb z ,92 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part VI . J^. Repentance mufl attend, but whence Shall I this grace receive? A. Chrift is exalted as a prince All needful grace to give, j^. How can fo vile a lump of dud Heart-holinefs expet ? A. Chrifl by his holy Spirit mud This gradual change efFet. Q Ho\v {hall I do the works aright, I'm daily bound unto? A. Chrift in thee^by his Spirit's might Works both to ivlll and do. S^. How fhall my maladies be heal'd, So fore molefling me? A. Chrift is the great phyfician fenl'd, T/:e Lord that btakth tbce. Q By prayer I ought to feek his face, This courfe how {hall I drive ? .4. 'Tis Chrift alone that has the grace And fp'rit of pray'r to give, j^. Salvation-ivork is great and high, Alas! what (hall I do? A. Chrift as die Alpha hereof eye, And the Omega too. Q. What pillar then is moft fecure To build my hope upon? A. Chrift only ti\s. foundation fur e> The living corner-ftone. p. When I'm with black Dilution ftain'd, Howfhalllcleanfedbe? A. Chrift is a fountain for that end Set open wide for thee. <2j What fhall I do, when plagues abound, With fort-civs, griefs, and fears? A. Chrift has a balfam for thy wounds,. A battle for thy tears. , Chap. I.- The Believer's Principles. Q^But is there any help for one That utterly is loft? A. Chrift faves from fin, and he alone, Ev'n to the uttermoft. CX But where jhall I be fafe at laft From hell and endlefs death? A. Chrift is a refuge from the blaft Of everlafting wrath. Q^But mayn't ev'n natural death to me Become a dreadful thing? A. Chrift by -his death and love to thee Did ev'ry death unfting. CK Why, Sir, is Chrift the whole you fay? No anfwer elfe I find. A. Becaufe, were Chrift our all awa There's nothing left behind. Q^ How can he anfwer ev'ry cafe And help in ev'ry thrall ? A. Becaufe he is the Lord of grace, JEHOVAH all in all. Q^ How is he prefent to fupply, And to relieve us thus? A. Becaufe his glorious name is nigh, IM MANUEL, God with us. Q^ Has he alone all pow'r to fave, Is nothing left to man ? A. Yea, without Chrift we nothing have, Without him nothing can. Q^Mayn't fome from hence take latitude And room their lulls to pleafe ? If Chrift do all, then very good, Let us take carnal eafe. A. Chrift will in flaming vengeance come, With fury in his face, To damn his foes tha't dare prefume, And thus abufe his grace. Bb 3 294 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part VL SECT. IV. Faith and Works bcth excluded from the matter ofjujii- ficatlon before God t that redemption may appear to be only in Chrijl. YX/HO dare an holy God addrefs, * With an unholy righteoufnels? Who can endure his awful probe, Without perfection for their robe? None could liis great tribunal face, Were faith itfelf their faireft drefs: Faith takes the robe, but never brags Itfelf has ought but filthy rags. Faith claims no fhare and works far lefs, In juftice pleafmg righteoufnei's ; The fervant were to be abhorr'd, Would claim the glory of his lord. Blafphemous unbelief may claim The praifes of the worthy Lamb: But faith difclaiming all its beft, Not on itfelf, but Chrift, will reft. I'm fav'd and juftify'd by faith, Which yet no faving value hath; Nor e'er pretends to fave from thrall, But Jn its object has its all. 'Tis Chrift alone faves guilty m<*, And makes my right to life fo free, That in himfelf it (lands alone: Faith takes the right, but gives me none. - I dare not act with this intent, For acts of mine to draw the rent; Nor do good works with this defign, To win the crown by works of mine. I'd thus die promis'd grace forfake, Nor Tefus for my Saviour take; Yea, thus would dreadfully prefume, And work nihie O'.vn etsnia! doom. Chap. I. The Believers Principles. 295 Prefumption cannot rife more high, I'd make the truth of Gcd a lie, The God of truth a liar too ; What more mifchief could Satan do ? Why, I'd difcredit God's record Concerning jcfus Chrift the Lord, His glorious and eternal Son, Whofe blood has life eternal won. In him, fays God, this life I give, In him {hall therefore men believe, My gift embracing in their arms : None fliall be fav'd on other terms. Vain man mud ftoop and freely take, Or elfe embrace a burning lake: Proud nature mult lubmit to grace, And to the divine righteoufnefs. In vain on works our hope is built, Our actions nothing are but guilt : The belt obedience of our own Dare not appear before his throne. What finite worm can bear the load. The fury of an angry God ? What mortal vigour can withftand The vengeance of his lifted hand? The law can never fave us now, To damn is all that it can do. Heav'n cafts all righteoufnefs of ours ; The law of works is out of doors. No merit, money, more or lefs, Can buy the gift of righteoufnefs. O may I take what heav'n does give: JEHOVAH help me to believe; And in that righteoufnefs to truft Which only makes a finner juft. And then, the truth of faith to prove, Lord, make my faith to work by love. ' 2,j6 GOSPEL SONNETS. PartVL. C H A P. II. The Iii LIE VER/S- PRINCIPLES concerning the Law and Gofpel ; PARTICULARLY, 1. The Miftery ~ 2. The Difference c rr , * crt rr M > Chap. H. The Believers Principles 297 They harmonize like niarry'cl pairs d, Yet are at odds, and keep not icjuares e: As mercy {lands from merit far, The letter and \htfyirit jar/. The law does gofpel-comforts harm, The gofpel breaks the legal fliall we fin, becaufe we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Chap. vii. 4, 5, 6. Wherefore, my brethren, ye alfo are become dead to the law by the body of Chrifl : that ye ihould be married to another, even to him who is raifed from the dead, that we mould bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the fleih, the mo- tions of iins which were by the law, did work in our mem- bers to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are de- livered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held ; that we ihould ferve in newnefs of fpirit, and not in the old- nefs of the letter. 2 Cor. iii. 7, 10. But if the miniftration of death written and ingraven in ftones, was glorious, fo that the children of Ifracl could not itedfallly behold the face of Mofes, for the glory of his countenance, which glo- ry was to be done away; how ihall not the miniftration of the Spirit, be rather glorious? For if the miniltration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the miniftration of righteoufnefs exceed in glory. For even that which was made glorious, had no glory in this refpeft, by reafon of the glory that excelleth. d Gal. iii. 24. Wherefore the law was our fchoolmafter to bring us unto Chrift, that we might be juftified by faith. e Rom. xi. 6. And if [eleftion be] by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwife grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace : otherwife work is no more work. / 2 Cor. iii. 6. The letter kllleth, but the fpirit giveth life. g Heb. ii. 15. And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime fubjecl: to bondage. Phil. iii. 7, 9. But what things were gain to me, thofe I counted lofs for Chrift. Yea doubtlefs, and 1 count all things but lofs, for the excellency of the knowledge of Chrift Jefus my Lord: for whom I have fujfferad the lofs of all things, 298 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part VI> Yet both exalt each other's horn, And garlands brings their heads t' adorn b. I through the law am dead to it, To legal works and felf-conceit i ; Yet, lo ! through gofpel-grace I live, And to the law due honour give k. The law great room for boafting makes, But grace ray pride and boafting breaks I; Yet all my boafts the law does kill ?;;, And grace makes room to boaft my till . be found in him, not having mine own righteoufnefs, which- is of the lav/, but that which is through the faith of Chrift,, the righteoufnefs which is of God by faith. h Gal. ii. 19. For I through the law am dead to the law, that 1 might live unto God. / Rom. vii. (\ But now we are delivered from the law,. (hat being clesil wherein we were held ; that we ihould ferve ;u nevvnefs of fpirit, and not in the oldnefs of the letter. v. 9. Fur I was alive without the law once : but when the commandment came, fin revived, and 1 died. /TRem.vii. 4. Wherefore, my brethren, ye alfo are be- come dead to the law by the body of Chrift ; that ye ihould he married to imother, even to. him who is railed from the dead, that we mould bring forth fruit unto God. And x. 4. Chrift is the end of the law for righteoufnefs to every one that believeth-. / Rom. iii. 27. Where is boafting then ? It is excluded. By what law ? of works : Nay ; but by the law of faith. m Rom. iii. if),. Now -we know that what things foever the law faith, it faith to them who are under the law : that every mouth, may be flopped, and all the world may be- come guilty before God. n i Cor. i. 29, 30, 31. That no fleili mould glory in his prefence. But of him are ye in Chrift Jefus, who of God is made unto us wifdom, and righteoufnefs, and fanclifica- tion, and redemption : that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. Chap. II. The Believer's Principles. 299 The gofpel makes me keep the h\vc, Yet from its painful fervice draw/> ; It does all law-demands fulfil q y Yet makes them wholly void and nullr. The gofpel gives me no command f, Yet by obeying it I ftand /, To drift obedience though it call /, Does bind to none, but promife all u. o Titus ii. II, 12. For the grace of God that bringct.li falvation hath appeared to ail men ; teaching us, that de- nying ungodlinefs, and worldly lufts, we fhould live fober- iy, righteoufly, and godly in this p'refent world. p Gal. v. i. Stand fait, therefore, in the liberty where- with Chrift hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. q Rom. viii. 3, 4. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flefh, God did, fending his own Son, in the likenefs of finful fleih, and for fin condemned lin in the flefh : that the righteoufnefs of the law might be fulfill- ed in us, who walk not after the flefh, but after the Spirit. / Rom. vi. 14. Sin (hall not have dominion over you; for ye are not under the law, 'but under grace. Gal. iv. 4, 5. But when the fulnefs of thetime was come, God fent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law. /' Gal. iii. 8. And the fcripture forefceing that God would juilify the Heathen through faith, preached before the gof- pel unto Abraham, faying, in thee fhall ail nations be bleffed. j- Mark xvi. 16. He that belie veth and is baptized, fhall be faved. / 2 ThefT. i. 7, 8. The Lord Jefus. fhall be revealed from heaven, with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking ven- geance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gofpel of our Lord Jefus Chrift. u John iii. 17. God fent not hfs Son into the world to coademn the world ; but that the world through him might bo faved. And xii. 47. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not ; for I came not to judge the world, but to fave the world. Heb. viii. 10, 1 1, 1 2. For this i the covenant that I will make with the houfc of Ifrael 3oo GOSPEL SONNETS. Part VT. The law does ftricft commandment give, That I the gofpel-news believe v; But yet it teaches no fuch thing, Nor e'er could gofpel-tidings bring iv. When I the g-ofpel-truth believe," Obedience to the law I give .v, And when I don't the law * obferve, I from the gofpel-mcthod fwervej. Yet, if I do the law f obey, I am not in the gofpel-\vay z, "Which does to new obedience draw<7, Yet is the gofpel no new law b. after thofe days, faith the Lord ; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts : and I will be to them a God, and they (hall be to me a people. And they ihall net teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, faying, Know the Lord: for all fhall know me from the Icaft to the greatefl. Fcr I will be merciful to their urn ighteo'ufr.efs, and their fins and their iniquities will I remember no more. y John iii. 18. He that believcth on him, is not condemn- ed : but he that believeth not, is condemned already, becaufe he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. ic' Rcm. x. <;. For Mofes defcribtth the righteoufnefs which is of the Jaw, That the man which doth thofe things, fhall live by them. And iii. u;. Now we know that what things foever the law faith, it faith to them who are under the law: that every month may be Hopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. x John iii 1 8. He that believcth or. him, is not condemned. * Viz. As it is a rule, y Titus ii. I f, 12. See letter o forfeited. f Viz. As it is (i covenant. z Gal. v. ;, 4. For I U-ftlfy again to every man that is circumcifed, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Chrifb is become of no effect unto you, whofoever of you arejuf- tif.ed by the law; ye arc -fallen from grace. a Rom. xvi. 2 J, 26. The myilejy which was kept Secret fince the world began, now is made manifctt, and bv Chap. II. 1'ht Believers Principles. As precepts to the law belong, Yet in the goipel field are throng*;. Curs' d ev'ry goipel-fiighter is d, Yet all its office is to blefs-e. It from the law has power to kill f, Yet faving does its pow'r .fulfil g : the fciiptures of the prophets, according to the command- ment of the everlailing God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith. i Gal. iii. 21. Is the law then againll the promifes of God ? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily rightcoufnefs ihould have been by the law. c Matth. v. 1 7, 4'B. Think not that I am come to dellroy the law or the prophets : I am not come to deilroy, but to f ul til. For verily I fay unto you, Til! heaven and earth pals, one jot or one title Ihall in no wife pafs from the law, till all be fulfilled, &c. Pfalm cxix. 96. I have feen an end of all perfection ; but thy commandment is exceeding broad. d Heb. x. 26,. 29. For if we iia wilfully after that \w: have received the knowledge of the truth, their remaineth no more facrilice for fins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgement and fiery indignation, which ihall devour the adverfaries. He that defpifed Mofes' law, died without. mercy, under two or three wifneffes : of how much forer punimment, fuppofe ye, fliall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden underfoot the Son of God, and hath count- ed the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was fanilified, an unholy thing, and hath done dcfpite unto the Spirit of grace. Chap.xii.2C. See that ye refufe not him that f peak - eth : for if they efeaped not who refufed him that fpake on earth, much more ihall not we efcape, if we turn away from him that fpeaketh from heaven. e Rom. xv. 29. And I am fure that when I come unto you, I (hall come in the fulnefs of the blelTing of the golpt! of Chrift. Acls iii. 2f\ Unto you firft, God having raifed up his Son Jefu?, fcnt him tob'tfs you, in turning away ever/ one of you from his iniquities. /John iii, iB. Ke th?t 'believeth not, ia condtm!K.-.l -A- Cc 02 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part T No favour but of life it hath /., Yet moft the favour is of death i. Weaknefs perfection doth exclude, The law is perfect, juft, and good k : Yet can it nothing perfeft make, But all the ccniers to it break /. Strength to the gofpel does belong, Mighty through God it is, and ftrong /.. It to the law does ftrength emit, Yet 'tis the law gives llrength to it. -ready, becaufe he hath not believed in the name of the on- ly begotten Son of God. Mark xvi. 16. He that belie veth not, (hall be damned. Heb. ii. 2. How (hall we efcape, if ive neglect fo great falvation ? ^Eph.i.i-,. In Chrift ye alfo trufled after that ye htard the word of truth, the gofpel of your falvation. i Tim. i. 1 5. This is a faithful faying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Chrift Jefus came into the world to fave finners; of whom I am chief. /jFhil.ii. 16. Holding forth the word of life, sV. 2 Tim. i. i. Paul an apoftle of Jefus Chrift, by the will of God ac- cording to the prcmifc of life, which is in Chrift Jefus. r. i o. Our Saviour Jefus Chrift hath abolilhed death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gofpel. i 2 Cor. ii. i^. To the one we are the favour of death unto death, . 3, 4. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flefh, Goddk/, fending his owii Son, in the likeneiS of iiuful fleih, and for fin con- demned fin in the tlcih: that the righteoufnefs of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flefh, but after the Spirit. o Rom. in, 31. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we eilablilh the law. Chap. x. 4. For Chriil is the end of the law for righteoufnefs to every one that believeth. / Rom. iii. 19, 22. Now we know that what things fo- ever the law faith, it faith to them who arc under the law; that every mouth may be flopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law, there mail no liefh be juftined in his fight: for by the law is the knowledge of fin. But now the righteoufnefs of God without the law is mviifefted, being witnefled by the law and the prophets ; even the righteoufnefs of God which is by faith of Jefus Chriil unto all, and upon all them that believe; for there is no difference. Chap. v. zy. By the C c 2 3 04 GOSPEL SONNETS. .Part VI. .Again the lav/, which yet feems \vorfe, (iives gofpel-news condemning force q,~ ~*> et they are news that never can, Nor never will condemn a man r. Dread threat'nings to the law pertain s y Not to the gofpel's golden chain t :. Yd ;;11 law-threats and Sinai's ire To gofpel-grace are walls of fire u. The righteous law afloileth/ none Of Adam's guilty race, fave one v; obedience of one (hall many be made righteous. y. 2i.. Grace reigns through righteoufnefs unto eternal life, by Jefus Chrift our Lord. q John iii. 1 8. He that believeth on him, is not con- demned: but he that believeth not, is condemned already, becaufe he hath not believed in the name of the only be- gotten Son of God. r Luke ii. 10, n. And the angel faid unto them [the fhepherds], Fear not: for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which mall be to all people. For unto you is bom tins day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Chrift the Lord. John iii. 17. For God fent not his Son in- to the world to condemn the world ;, but that the world thro* him might be faved. Chap. xii. 47. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, 1 judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to fave the world. s Gal. iii. 10. For as many as are of the works of the law, are under the curfe : for it is written, Curfed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. f Acts xiii. 26. Men and brethren, children of the flock of Abraham, and whofoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this falvation fent. Mark xvi. 16 He that believeth not, fliall be damn- ed. Heb. ii. 3. How mall we efcape, if we neglect fo great falvation? Chap. x. 26, 29. See letter & forfeited. i) Rom. v. 19. For as by one man's difobedience many Chap. IT. The Believer's Principles. 305 Who being guilty, for this caufe By God's jail law condemned was nv. Yet free of guilt it did him fee; Hence fully clear'd, and fet him free TV. Yet, had not guilt his foul involv'd, By law he could not been abfolv'd y. But he withal condemn'd and fpoil'd The law of works, which him afibil'd z: were made finners : fo by the obedience of one fhall many be made righteous. John xvii.4- I have glorified lh.ee on the earth : I have rimmed the work which thou gaveil me to do. w Ifa. liii. 6. The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us nil. Gal. iii. 13. Chrift hath redeemed us from the curfe of the law, being made a curfe for us : for it is writ- ten, Curfed is every one that hangeth on artree. x Heb. vii. 26. For fuch an high prieft became us, who is holy, hannlefs, undefiled, feparate from fmners, and made higher than the heavens. Dan.ix. 24. Seventy weeks are de- termined upon thy people, and upon thy holy city, to fi- ning the tranfgreffion. and to make an end of lins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlaft- ing righteoufnefs, and to feal up the vifion and prophecy, and to anoint the molt holy, i Tim. iii. 16. And without controverfy, great is the myftery of godlinefs : God was manifeft in th^ flefh, juiHfied in the Spirit, feen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, re- ceived up into glory. Rom. ii. 13. For not the hearers of the law are jufi before God, but the doers of the law mail be juftitied. Ifa. 1. 8. He is near that juftifieth me, who will, contend with me ? let us ftand together : who is mine ad- verfary ? let him come near to me. y 2 Cor. v. 21. God hath made Chrift to be fin for us, who knew no fin ; that we might be made the righteoufnefs of God in him. i Pet. iii. 18. Chrift hath once fuffered for fins, the juft for the unjuft, (that he might bring us to God) being put to death in the flefh, but quickened by the Spirit^ z Col.ii. 14, 15. Blotting out the hand-writing of ordi- Cc 3 ? nances that was agair.ft us. which was contrary to us, and took it out of the" way, nailing it to his crofs: and having fpoiled principalities and powers, he made a fhew of thenT openly, triumphing over them in it. Rom.viii. 3. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flefh, God did) fending his own Son in the likenefs of finful flefli, and for fin condemned fin in the flefh. a Rom. x. 4. For Chrift is the end of the law for righte- oufnefs, to every one that believeth. Ifa. xlv. 24. Surely, fhall one fay, In the Lord have I righteoufnefs and ftrength. Jer. xxiii. 6. In his days Judah fhall be faved, and Ifrael fhall dwell fafely ; and this is his name whereby he fhall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. 2>0Rbm. iii 19, 20. Now we know that what things foever the law faith, it faith to them who are under the law; that -, veiy mouth may be flopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there fhall no fiefh be juftified in his fight : for by the law is the knowledge of fin. c The law of works as fulfilled by Chrift, can ana does fo. 7?ovn. viii. 3. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flefh, God fending his own Son, in the likenefs of fmful flefh, and for fin condemned fin in the flefh : that the righteoufnefs of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flefh, but after the Spirit. ^.33,34. Who fhall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that juftifieth ; who is he that condemueth ? It is Chrift that died, yea rather, that is rifen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who alfo niaketh intercelnon for us. d Rom. iii. 21, 22. But now the righteoufnefs of God without the law is manifefted, beiag witncfled by the law Chap. II. ?ke Believer's fi-hidf-fts 307 And yet it cleareth none (I grant) But thole who all perfection want e. Thofe that with gofpel-clearance meet,. Mult by the law be found - complete ^j. Yet never could (again 1 grant) The gofpel juftify a faint g. All perfect perfons it controls b y And juftifies ungodly fouls z; and the prophets ; even the righteoufnefs of God which is by faith of Jefus Chrift unto all, and upon all them that believe, for there is no difference. e Rom. iv. 5. To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that juftifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteoufnefs. / I Cor. i. 30. But of him are ye in Chrifi Jefus, who of God is made uato us wifdom, and righteoufnefs, and fanc- titication, and redemption, col. ii. 10. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and povyer. g Matth. ix. 13. I am not come to call the righteous, . but finners to repentance, Rom. iii. 10. There is none righ- teous, no not one. Chap. ix. 30, 31, 32. What /hall we lay then? That the Gentiles which followed .not afcer righte- oafnefs, , have attained to righteoufnefs, even the righteoui- nefs which is of faith : but Ifrael, which followed after the law of righteoufnefs, hath not attained to the lav; of righ- teoufnefs. Wherefore, becaufe they fought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. chap. x. 3. Ifrael being ignorant of God's righteoufnefs, and going about to eftablim their own righteoufnefs, have not fubmitted them- felves unto the righteoufntfs of God. i Tiin.i. 15. This is a faithful faying, and worthy of all acceptation, that chrift Jefus came into the world to fave fmners; of whom I am chief. b Matth. xxi. 31. Jefus faith unto them [the Pharifees], Verily I fay unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. Luke xviii. 9, 14. And Jefus fpake this parable unto certain which truft- ed ih themfelves that they were righteous, and defpifed o- thers ; Two men went up into the temple to pray ; the one 308 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part VI Yet flill no man its grace partakes, But whom it truly godly makes i. a. Pharifee, and the other a publican. The Pharifec flood and prayed thus with himfclf, God, I thank thee that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjuft, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fad twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I pofiefs. And the publican ftanding afar off, would not lift up fo much as his eyes unto heaven, but irnote upon hi.? brealT, faying, God be merciful to me a miner. I tell you this man went down to his houfe julli- iied rather then the other : for every one that exaiteth him- felf (hall be abafed: and he thnthumbleth himfclf, mall be exalted. : / I Cor. xv. 56. rhe ftrcngth of lin is the h^. Rom.vi, 14. Sin fhnll not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. Chap. x. 3. Ifracl being- ignorant of God's righteoufncfs, and going about to eitab- lifli their own righteoufnefs, have not fubrnitted thernfelves uito the righteoufnefs of God. m Ifa. xliL2i. The Lord is \vell pleafed for his righte- oufnefs fake, he wiH magnify the law, and make it honour- able. Matth.iii. 17. And io, a voice from heaven, faying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleafed. n Rom. ix. 3 1, 3 2, 33. But Ifrael, which followed after the law of righteoufnefs, hath not attained to the law of lign- teoufnefs. Wherefore? Becaufe they fought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law : for they flumbled at that ftumbling-ftont; as it is written, Behold, 1 lay m Ziori a ftumbling-ftone, and rock of offence ; and \\huloe- ver believeth on him fhall not lie afhamed. o Rom. vii. 7. What ihall we fay-then: Is the law fin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known fin but by the law: for I had not known luft, except the law had faid, Thou (halt not covet, v. io. And the commandment which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death, v.12. Where- fore the law is holy; and the commandment holy, and jail, and good, f Rom. v. c, 9. For Mofts defcribeth the righteoufnefs which is of the law, That the man which doth thofe things, mail live by them. But the righteoufnefs whick is of faith fpeaketh on this wife, Say not in thine heart, Who fhall a- fcend into heaven f (that is to bring Chrift down from above) : or, Who mall defcend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Chrill again from the dead). But what faith it ? The wor^d. GOSPEL SONNETS, Part VJ. Yet they are blind, who never faw The gofpel juftify the law q. Thus gofpel-grace, and law-commands, Both bind and loofe each other's hands: They can't agree on any terms r, Yet hug each other in their arms_yC Thofe that divide them cannot be The friends of truth and verity s->. is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart; that is the word of faith which we preach, That if thou (halt con- fefs with thy mouth the Lord Jefus, and lhalt believe in thine heart, that God hath raifed him from the detd, thou flialt be favecL q Rom. iii. 31. Do we then make void the law through faith ? God forbid : yea, we eftablim the law. r Gal. iv. 21, 26, Tell me, ye that defire to be under the l:iw, do ye not hear the law? For it is written, that Abraham had two fons ; the one by a bond-maid, the o- ther by a free-woman. But he who was of the bond-Woman was born after the flefh : but he of the free-wtjinan was by promile. Which tilings are an allegory ; for thoie are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gen- eth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arr.bia, and anfwereth to Jeriu r alcm \vhich now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerufalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. /Pfalm Ixxxiv. 10. Mercy and truth are met together: righteouinefs and peace have killed each other. s Matth. xiii. 23. Wo unto you, Scribes and Pharifces, hypocrites ;. for ye pay tithe of mint, and annife, and cum- min, and have omitted the weightier matters of the lav/, judgment, mercy, and faith: thefe ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Rom.ii. 2?. Thou that make/I thy boaft of the law, through breaking the law difhonoureft thou God ? i>. 2$, 26. For circumcifion verily profiteth, if thou keep the law; but if thou be a breaker Chap. II. The Believers Principles. 311 Yet thofe that dare confound the two, Deltroy them both, and gender wo /. This paradox none can decipher, That plow not with the gofpel -heifer. SEC T. II. *Tbe difference betevixt we Law and the Gofpel. THE law, fuppofing 1 1 have #//, Does ever foTferftffion call: The gofpel fuits my total ^f the law, thy circumcifion is made uncircumcifion. There- tore, if the uncircumciriou keep the righteoufnefs of the ivw, fhall not his uncircumcifion be counted for circumcj- non? Matth. xix. 6. What God hath joined together, iet no man put afunder. Chap.iii. 15. And Jefus anfwering, .lid unto him [John], Suffer it to he fo now: for thus it ^ecomcth us to fulfil all righteoufnefs. Then he fuffered him. Chap. v. 17. Think not that I am come to deltroy ' he law or the prophets : I am not come to deftroy, but to fulfil. 11. 19, 20. Whofoever therefore fliall break one of theft Icait commandments, and (hall teach men fo, he lhall 'ic called the leait in the kingdom of heaven: but whofc- i;ver lliall do, and teach them, the fame (hall be called ;reat in the kingdom of htaven. For I fay unto you, That except your righteoufnefs mall exceed the righteoufnefs of the Scribes and Pharifees, ye lhall in no cafe enter into the Kingdom of heaven, i John v. 6. I his is he that came by water and blood, even Jefus Chriil ; not by water only, but by \vater and blood : and it is the Spirit that beareth \vitnefs, becaufe the Spirit is truth. t Gal. i. 6, 7, 8. I marvel that ye are fo foon removed -"rom him that called yen into the? graoj of Chriit, unto 312 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part VI The law could promife life to me, If my obedience perfect be: But grace does promife life upon My Lord's obedience alone. The law fays, Do t and life you'll win'. But grace fays', Liv-i, lor all is done: Thtjbrmfr cannot eafe my grief, The latter yields me full relief. By law convinced of fiafal breach., By gofpel-grace I cvnfort reach : The one my condemnation bears., The other ju/}tfifs and clearp. The law (hews my arrears are great,, The gofpel freely pays my debt: The firft does me the bankrupt cnrfc> The laft does blef; and fill my purfe.. another gofpel : which is not another; but there be fome that trouble you, and would pervert the gofpel of Cluiih but though we or an angel from heaven, preach any c- ther gofpel unto you, than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accnrfed. Zeph. i. 4. I will cut oft" ver". v them that worfhip, and that fwear by the Lord, and that fwear by Malcham. Acls xv. 7. And when there had been much difputing, Peter rofe up and faid unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while n^o, God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth Ihould hear the \vord of the gofpel, and believe, ver. 10, II. New therefore why tempt ye God to put a yoke upon the neck of the difeiples, v,hich neither our fathers nor \ve were abJe to bear ? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jefus Chrift, we fliall be faved even as they. Gal v. I. Stand fail therefore in thj liberty wherewith Chrifl hath made us free, and be not intangled again with the yoke of bondage, ver. 4. Chrili is become of no effect unto you, whofcever of ;. c.; an juliificd by tat !uu ; e are i^illen from grace. Chap. II. The Believer's Principles. 313 The law will not abate a mite, The gofpel all the fum will quite : There God in threat* nings is array'd, But here in promifes difplay'd. The law and gofpel difagree, Like Hagar, Sarah, bond and free : The former's Hagar 's fervitude, The latter Sarah's happy brood. To Siriai black, and Zion fair, The word does law and grace compare. Their curfmg and their blefling vie With Ebal and Gerizzim high. The law excludes not bcajling vain, But rather feed* it to :ny bane : But gofpel-grace allows no bcafts, Save in the King the Lord of hcils. The law ftill irritates my fin, And hardens my proud heart therein : But grace's melting pow'r reneivs, And my corruption fixoTtg-fubdues. The law with thunder, S.inai-like, Does always dread and terror fpeak : The gofpel makes a joyful noife, And charms me with a^/?///, calm voice. The legal trumpet r defcrlbedy as a Bundle of good Neivs and gracious Promifes. r T"M-IE firft grand promife forth did break JL In threats againft the tempting fnake ; So may the gofpel in commands, Yet nor in threats nor precepts (lands : But 'tis a doctrine of free grants To finners that they may be faints : A joyful found of royal gifts, To obviate unbelieving fhifts : E e 2 iS GOSPEL SONNETS. Part VI. A promife of divine fupplies, To work all gracious qualities fn thofe who, proneft to rebel, Are only qualify'd for hell. Courting vile fmners, ev'n the chief,. :t leaves no cloak for unbelief; But ev'n on grofs Manaflehs calls, On Mary Magdalens ^ind Sauls. 'Tis good news of a fountain ope ^crfin and^///i; a door of hope For thofe that lie in blood and gore,. And of ^.falve for ev'ry fore. Glad news of fight unto the blind ; Of light unto the dark'ned mind ; Of hcal'mg to the deadly fick ; And mercy both to Jew and Greek. Good news of gold to poor that lack ; Of raiment to tiie nacked back ; Of binding to the wounds that fmart ; And reft unto the weary heart. Glad news Q$ freedom to the bound j Of fore all Jofles to refcund ; Of eiuih.-fs life unto the dead ; And prefent hip in time of need. Good news of hea-vn^ \vliere angels d\vell> To thofe that well deferred hell; Oijlrength to weak for work and war, And nccefs near to thofe afar. Glad news ofjcy to thofe that weep, And tender care of cripple fheep ; \51jheliir to the foul purfu'd, And clearing to the heililh-hu'd : Of foods to fap the parched ground, Andjtreams to run the defert round ; Of ranfom to the captive caught, And harbour to the fotu:d'ring yacht ; Chap. II. The Believer's Principles. 329 Of timely aid to weary groans; Of joy reitor'd to broken bones; Of grace divine to gracelefs preys, And glory to the vile and bafe : Of living water pure, that teems On fainting fouls refreshing ftreams; Of gen'rous wine to chear the flrong y And milk to feed the tender young: Qt fairing faith to faithlefs ones; Qffoft'nifig grace to flinty ftones ; Of pardon to a guilty crew, And mercy free, where wrath was due. Good news of welcome kind to all, That come to Jefus at his call ; Yea, news of drawing poiv'r, when fcant, To thofe that fain would come, and can't. Glad news of rich myfterious grace, And mercy meeting ev'ry cafe ; Qj}ore immenfe all voids to fill, And free to whofoever willi Of Chrift exalted as a Prince, Pardons to give and penitence ; Of grace o'ercoming ftubborn wills, And leaping over Bether hills. Faith comes by hearing thefe reports ; Straight to the court of grace reforts y And free of mercenary thought, Gets royal bounty all for nought. Faith's wing within the clammy fea Of legal merit cannot fly; But mounting mercy's air apace, Soars in the element of grace. But as free love the blefllng gives To him that works not, but believes ; So faith, once reaching its defire, Works hard by love, but not for hirev 33 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part VI. CHAP. III. The BELIEVER'S PRINCI PLES concern- ing Justification and Sanctification, their Difference and Harmony. SECT. I. The Difference between Juftification and Sanclifica- tion; or righteoufnefs imputed and gtace impart- ed j in upwards of thirty particulars*. ~T7~ IND Jefus fpent his life to fpin jsS^. My robe of perfect righteoufnefs ; But by his Sp'rit's work within He forms my gracious holy drefs. He as a Prieft me juftifies, His blood does roaring confcience ftillj. But as a King he fancliftes, And fubjugates my llubborn will. He juftifying by his merit, Imputes to me his righteoufnefs j But fanftifying by his Spirit, Infufes in me laving grace. My juftifying righteoufnefs Can merit by condignity ; But nothing with my ftrongeft grace Can be deferv'd by naughty me. This juftifying favour fels The guilt of all my fin remote ; But fanttifying grace delates '1^ filth and biacknefs of its blot. * Note, That (metri caufa) J unification is here fotne- iimes exprejjed by the Y.; Sanflification by the names, imparted grace, grace, graces, holinefs, fanclity, <6v. vU the judicious will eaf'ly vnderjland. Chap. III. The Bsl'uvcSs Principles. By virtue of this righteoufnefs Sin can't condemn nor jullly brand : By virtue of infufed grace Anon it ceafes to command. The righteoufnefs which I enjoy, Sin's damning pow'r will wholly flay ; And grace imparted will deitroy Its ruling domineering i\vay. The former is my Judge's aEl Of condonation full and free : The latter his commenced^/?, And gradual work advanc'd in me. The former's inftantaneous. The moment that I firlt believe : The latter is, as Heav'n allows, Progrejfive while on earth I live. The firit will peace to confcience give, The laft the filthy heart will cieanfe : The firlt effects a relative, The laft a real inward change. The former pardons ev'ry^?;;, And counts me righteous, free, and juft The latter quickens grace within, And mortifies my fin and lull. Imputed grace intitles me Unto eternal happinefs ; Imparted grace will qualify That heav'nly kingdom to poflefs. My righteoufnefs is infinite, Both fubjeclively and in kind ; My holinefs moft incomplete, And daily wavers like the wind. So lading is my outer drefs, It never wears nor waxes old ; My inner garb of grace decays And fades, if Heav'n do not uphold. $? GOSPEL SONNETS. Part VI. ISly righteoufnefs and pardon is At once moft perfect and complete ; But fanctity admits degrees, Does vary, fluctuate, and fleet. Hence fix'd my righteoufnefs divine No real change can undergo; But all my graces wax and wane, By various turnings ebb and flow. I'm by the firft as righteous now, As e'er hereafter I can be : The laft will to perfection grotv t Heav'n only is the full degree. The firft is equal, wholly giv'n, And ftill the fame in ev'ry faint: The laft unequal and unev'n, While fome enjoy what others want. My righteoufnefs divine is frefh, For ever pure and heav'nly bothj My fan&ity is partly frfi* And juftly term'd a nienJFrous cloth, My righteoufnefs I magnify, Tis my triumphant lofty flag ; But pois'd with this, my fanctity Is nothing but a filthy rag. I glory in my righteoufnefs, And loud extol it with my tongue j But all my grace, compar'd with this, I under-rate as lofs and dung. By juftifying grace I'm apt Of divine favour free to boaft By holinefs I'm partly fhap'd Into his image I had loft. The firft to divine jujtice pays A rent to ftill the furious ftorm ; The laft to divine holinefs Inftru&s me duly to conform. Chap. IIL 77* Believer's Principle,. 333 The firft does quench the fiery law , Its rigid covenant fully ftay ; The laft its rule embroider'd draw, To deck my heart, and gild my way. TheyJ/3/Vt 5 ? of" ray righteoufnefs Is Chrift himfelf my glorious Kead , But I the fubject am of grace, As he fupplies my daily need. The matter of the former too Is only Chrift-'s -obedience dear ; But lo, his helping me to do Is all the work and matter here. I on my righteoufoefs rely For Henv'n's acceptance free, and wiai But, in this matter, mult deny My grace, ev'n as 1 do my fin. Though all my graces precious are, Yea, perfect alfo in defire ; They cannot lland before tiie bar Where awful juftice is umpire : But, in the robe that Chrifl did fpin, They are of great and high requeit ; They have acceptance wrapt within My elder Brother's bloody vcit. My righteoufnefs proclaims me great A.n<\fnir ev'n in tliejigbt of Godj But f.mctity's my main off-fet Before the gazing world abroad. More juftify'd I cannot be By all my moft religious acts; But thefe increafe my fanttity, That's ftill attended with defects. My righteoufnefs the fafeil ark 'Midft ev'ry threat'ning flood will bej My graces but a leaking bark Upon a ftormy raging fej. 334 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part VI. I fee in juftifying grace God's love to me does ardent burn ; But by imparted holinefs I grateful love for love return. My righteoufnefs is that which draws My thankful heart to this refpect : The former then is firft the cauje, The latter is the fweet effect. Chrift is in juftifying me, By name, The Lord my righteoufnefs ,- But, as he comes to fantify, The Lord my Jlrength and help he is. In that I have the patient's place, For there JEHOVAH'S aft is all; But in the other I'm through grace An agent working at his call. The jr/? doesjtavi//} fear forbid, For there his wrath revenging ends; The loft commands my filial dread, For here paternal ire attends. The former does annul my wo, By God's judicial fentence paft ; The latter makes my graces grow, Faith, love, repentance, and the reft. The firft does divine pard'ning love Moll freely manifeft to me ; The laft makes fhining graces prove Mine int'reft in the pardon free. My foul in justifying grace Does full and free acceptance gain; In fanftity I heav'nward prefs By fweet ajjiftance I obtain. The firft declares I'm free of debt, And nothing left for me to pay; The laft makes me a debtor yet 3 But helps to pay it ev'ry day. Chap. III. The Believer's Principles. 335 My righteoufnefs with wounds and blood Difcharg'd both law and juitice' fcore; Kence with the debt of gratitude I'll charge myTelf for evermore. SECT. II. The Harmony between Juftification and Sanftification. HE who me decks with righteoufnefs, With grace will alfo clothe ; For glorious Jefus came to blefs By blood and ivater both. That in his righteoufnefs I truft, My fanctity will fhow ; Though graces cannot tn*ke me juft Thcyjfjeiu me to be fo. All thofe who freely juftify'd Are of the jiardon'd race, Anon are alfo fanftify'd And purify'd by grace. Where juftice ftern does juftify, There holinefs^is clear'd; Heav'n's equity and fanclity Can never be fever'd. Hence, when my foul with pardon deck'd, Perceives no divine ire, Then holinefs I do affeft With paflionate defire. His juftifying grace is fuch As wafts my foul to heav'n: I cannot choofe but love him much) Who much has meforgivti. The Sun of righteoufnefs that brings Remiffion in his rays, The healing in his golden wings Of light raid heat conveys. Wherever Jefus is a Prieft, There will he be a King; 3& GOSPEL SONNETS. Part VI. He that afibils from fin's arreft, Won't tolerate its reign. The title of a precious grace To faith may juftly fall Becaufe its open arms embrace A precious Chrift for all. From precious faith a precious ftrife Of precious virtues How; A precious heart, a precious life, And precious duties too. Wherever faith does juftify, It purifies the heart ; The pardon and the purity Join hands and never part. The happy ftate of pardon doth An hoiy life infer: In fubje&s capable of both They never funder'd were. Yet in defence of truth muft we Diftinctly view the twain: That how they differ, how agree, We may in truth maintain. . Two natures in one perfon dwell, Which no dlvijlon know, In our renown'd Immanuel, Without conjufton too. Thofe that divide them grofsly err, Though yet diftinl they be: Thofe who confufton hence infer, Imagine blafphemy. Thus righteoufnefs and grace we mud Nor funder nor confound; Elf; holy peace to us is loft, And facred truth we wound. While we their poper place maintain, In friendmip fxveet they dwell; But or to part or blend the twain, Are errors hatch'd in hell. Chap. III. The Believer's Principles. 337 To feparate what God does join, Is wicked and profane j To mix and mutilate his coin, Is damnable and vain. Though plain diftinclion mud take place ; Yet no divifion here, Nor dark confufion, eMe the grace Of both will difappear. Lo! errors grofs on ev'ry fide Confpire to hurt and wound ; Antinomifts do them divide, Arid legalifts confound. C H A P. IV. The BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES concern- ing Faith and Senfe. I . Of Faith and Senfe natural. 1. Of Faith and Senfe fpiritual. 3 . The Harmony andDifcord between Faith and Senfe. 4. The Valour and Vi clones of 'Faith. 5. The Heights and Depths of Senfe. 6. Faith and Frames compared; or Faith building up., on Senfe difcovered. SECT. I. Faith and Senfe Natural, compared and Abram's body, Sarah's womb, Were ripe for nothing but the tomb, Exceeding old, and wholly dead, Unlike to bear the promis'd feed : Faith faid, I fa all an Ifaac fee; A T y fiducial acts, Senfe by its evidential facts. Faith credits the divine report, Senfe to his breathings makes refort: That on his -word of grace will hing, This on his Spirit vuitnejjing. By faith I t?Jce the Lord for mine, By fenfe I feel his love divine: By that I touch his garment's hem, By this find virtue thence to ftream. By faith I have mine all on bandy By fenfe I have fome (lock in hand: By that fome vifton is begun, By this I fome fruition win. My faith can fend ev'n in exile, Senfe cannot live without a fmile. By faith I to his promife fly, By fenfe I in his bofom lie. Faith builds upon the truth of God, That lies within the promife broad; But fenfe upon the truth of grace His hand within my heart did place. Thus Chrift's the object faith will eye, And faith's the object fenfe may fee : Faith keeps the truth of God in view, While fenfe the truth of faith may {hew. Hence faith's afiurance firm can ftand, When fenfe's in the deep may ftrand; And faith's perfuafion full prevail, When comfortable fenfe may fail. Chap. IV. The Believer's Principles. 341 I am aflur'd when faith's in aft, Though fenfe and feeling both I lack ; And thus myfterious is my lot, I'm oft aflur'd when I am not ; Oft pierc'd with racking doubts and fears: Yet faith thefe brambles never bears; But unbelief that cuts my breath, And Hops the language of my faith. Clamours of unbelieving fears, So frequently dillurb mine ears, I cannot hear what faith would fay, Till once the noify clamours Itay. And then will frefh experience find, When faith gets leave to fpeak its mincT, The native language whereof is, My Lord is mine, and I am his. Sad doublings compafs me about, Yet faith itfclf could never doubt; For, as the facred volume faith, Much doubting argues little faith. The doubts and fears that work my grief, Flow not from faith, but unbelief; For faith, whene'er it adleth, cures The plague of doubts, and me aflures. But when mine eye of faith's aileep, I dream of drowning in the deep : But as befals the ileeping eye, Though fight remain, it cannot fee ; The feeing faculty abides, Though fleep from atlive feeing hides j So faith's afluring pow'rs endure Ev'n when it ceafes to aflure. There's [till perfuafion in my faith, Ev'n when I'm fill'd with fears of wrath 5. The trufting habit ftill remains, Though flumbers hold the aft in chains. Ff 3 34 2 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part VI. The afluring faculty it keeps, Ev'n when its eye in darknefs fleeps, Wrapt up in doubts ; but when it wakes, It roufes up afluring acts. SECT. III. The Harmony and Difcord between Faith and Senfe ; hoiv they help y and hoiu they mar each other. HOUGH gallant faith can keep the field ,J When cow'rdly fenfe will fly or yield ; Yet while I view their ufual path, Senfe often ftands and falls with faith. Faith ufhers in fweet peace and joy, Which further heartens faith's employ : Faith like the head, and fenfe the heart, Do mutual vigour frefh impart. When lively faith and feeling fweet, Live deareft darlings, kindly meet, They ftraight each other help and hug In loving friendfhip clofe and fnug. Faith gives to fenfe both life and breath, And fenfe gives joy and ftrength to faith j " O now, fays faith, how fond do I " In fenfe's glowing bofom lie !" Their mutual kindnefs then is fuch, That oft they doting too too much, .Embrace each other out of breath ; As ./Efop hugg'd his child to death. Faith leaping into fenfe's arms, Allur'd with her bewitching charms, In hugging thefe, lets raftily flip The proper object of its grip. Which being loft, behold the thrall ! Anon faith lofes fenfe and all ; Thus unawares cuts fenfe's breath, While fenfe trips up the heels of fnith. Chap. IV. The Believer's Principles. 35 Her charms affuming Jefus' place, While faith's lull'd in her fott embrace j Lo! foon in dying pleafure's wrapt, Its living joy away is fnapt. SECT. IV. The Palour and ViElories of Faith. BY faith I unfeen Being fee Forth lower beings call, And fay to nothing, Let it be t And nothing hatches all. By faith I know the worlds were made By God's great word of might; How foon, Let there be light, he fa id, That moment there was light. By faith I foar and force my flight, Through all the clouds of fenfe ; I fee the glories out of fight, With brighteft evidence. By faith I mount the azure fky, And from the lofty fphere, The earth a little mote efpy, Unworthy of my care. By faith I fee the unfeen things, Hid from all mortal eyes; Proud reafon ftretching all its wings, Beneath me flutt'ring lies. By faith I build my lading hope On righteoufnefs divine; Nor can I fink with fuch a prop, Whatever ftorms combine. By faith my works, my righteoufnefs, And duties all I own But lofs and dung; and lay my ftrefs On what my Lord has done. 344 GOSPEL SONNETS Part VI. By faith I overcome th^e world, And all its hurtful charms; I'm in thelieav'nly chariot hurl'd Through all oppofing harms. By faith I have a conqu'ring pow'r To tread upon my foes, To triumph in a dying hour, And baniih all my woes. By faith in mid ft of wrongs I'm right, In fad decays I thrive ; In weaknefs I am ftrong in might, In death I am alive. By faith I (land when deep I fall, In darknefs I have light; Nor dare I doubt and queilion all When all is out of fight. By faith I trufl a pardon free Which puzzles flefh and bloody To think that God can juflify, Where yet he fees no good. By faith I keep my Lord's commands, To verify my truft ; I purify my heart and hands, And mortify my lull. By faith my melting foul repents, When pierced Chrift appears ; My heart in grateful praifes vents r Mine eyes in joyful tears. By faith I can the mountains vaft Of fin and guilt remove; And them into the ocean caft, The fea of blood and love. By faith I fee JEHOVAH high Upon a throne of grace ; I fee him lay his vengeance by, And fmile in Jefus' face. Chap. IV. The Bdiever's Principles. 3.45 By faith I hope to fee the Sun, The light of grace that lent^ His everlafting circles run, In glory's firmament. By faith I'm more than conqueror, Ev'n though I nothing can ; Becaufe I fet JEHOVAH'S pow'r Before me in the -van. By faith I counterplot my foes, Nor need their ambum fear -, Becaufe my life-guard alfo goes Behind me in the rear. By faith I walk, I run, I fly, By faith I fuffer thrall ; By faith I'm fit to live and die, By faith I can do all. SECT. V. The Heights and Depths of Senfe. W'HEN Heav'n me grant', at certain timer:, Amidft a pow'rful gale, Sweet liberty to moan my crimes, And wand'rings to bewail ; Then do I dream my finful brood, Drown'd in the ocean main Of cryllal tears and crimfou blood, Will never live again. I get my foes beneath my feet, I bruife the ferpent's head ; I hope the vict'ry is complete, And all my lufts are dead. How gladly do I think and fay, When thus it is with me, Sin to vnyfenfe is clean away, And fo (hall ever be ? 346 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part VI' Put, ah ! alas! th' enfuing hour My luffs arife and fwell, They rr.ge and re-iriforce their pow'r, Vv r ith new recruits from hell. Though I refolv'd and fwore, through grace, In very folemn terms, I never fhould my lufts embrace, Nor yield unto their charms i Yet fuch deceitful friends they are, While I no danger dream, I'm fnar'd before I am aware, And hurry'd down the ftream. Into the gulph of fin anon, I'm plunged head and ears; Grace to myfenfe is wholly gone, And I am chain'd in fears ; Till ftraight my Lord with fweet furprifc Returns to loofe my bands, With fcind compaffion in his eyes, And pardon in his hands. Yet thus my life is nothing elfc But heav'n and hell by turns ; My foul, that now in Gofhen dwells, Anon in Eygpt mourns. SEC T. VI. Faith and Frames compared; or. Faith building upon Benfe difcovered. FAITH has for its foundation broad A ftable rock on which I ftand, The truth and faithfulnefs of God, All other grounds are finking fand Chap. IV. The Believer's Principles. My frames and feelings ebb and flow ; And when my faith depends on them, It fleets and flaggers to and fro, And dies amidft the dying frame. That faith is furely moH; unftay'd, Its ftagg'ring can't be counted ftrange, That builds its hope of lafting aid On things that ev'ry moment change. But could my faith lay all its load On Jefus' everlafting name, Upon the righteoufnefs of God, And divine truth that's flill the fame: Could I believe what God has fpoke, Rely on his unchanging love, And ceafe to grafp at fleeting fmoke, No changes would my mountain move. But when, how foon the frame's away, And comfortable feelings fail ; So foon my faith falls in decay, And unbelieving doubts prevail: This proves the charge of latent vice, And plain my faith's defects may {how; I built the houfe on thawing ice, That tumbles with the melting fnow, When divine fmiles in fight appear, And I enjoy the heav'nly gale ; When wind and tide and all is fair, I dream my faith fhall never fail: My heart will falfe conclufions draw, That ftrong my mountain {hall remain j That in my faith there is no flaw, I'll never never doubt aga'in. I think the only reft I take, Is God's unfading word and name; And fancy not my faith fo weak, As e'er to trufl a fading frame. 34 s GOSPEL SONNETS. Part VI, But, all ! by fudden turns I fee My lying heart's fallacious guilt, And that my faith, not firm in me, On finking fand was partly built : For, lo ! when warming beams are gone. And madows fall ; alas, 'tis odd, I cannot wait the rifmg Sun, I cannot truft a hiding God. So much my faith's affiance feems Its life from fading joys to bring, That when I loofe the dying dreams, I cannot truft the living fpring. When dro>s of comfort quickly dry'd, And fenfible enjoyments fail ; When cheering apples are deny'd, Then doubts inftead of faith prevail. But why, though fruit be fnatch'd from niCj Should I diftruft the glorious Root ; And (till affront the Handing tree, By trufting more to falling fruit ? The fmalleft trials may evince My faith unfit to ftand the (hock, That more depends on fleeting fenfe, Than on the fix'd eternal rock. The fafeft ark when floods arife, Is flable truth that changes not ; How weak's my faith, that more relies On jecble fenfe's floating boat ? For when the fleeting frame is gone, I ftraight my flate in queftiou call j I droop and fink in deeps anon, As if iny fnime were all in all. But tKourfn I mil's the pleafing gale, And HeaVn withdraw the charming glance ', TJnlefs JEHOVAH'S oath can fail, -My faith may keep its countenance. Chap. V. Tl-s Believer's Principles. 349 The frame of nature fhall decay, Time-changes break her rufty chains; Yea, heav'n and earth fhall pafs away; But faith's foundation firm remains. Heav'n's promifes fo fix'dly (land, Ingrav'd with an immortal pen, In great Imtnanuel's mighty hand, All hell's attempts to raze are vain. Did faith with none but truth advife, My fteady foul would move no move, Than ftable hills when tempefts rife, Or folid rocks when billows roar. But when my faith the counfel hears Of prefent fenfe and reafon blind, My wav'ring fnirit then appears A feather tofs'd with ev'ry wind. Lame legs of faith unequal crook : Thus mine, alas! unev'nly {land, Elfe I would truft my ftable Rock, Not fading frames and feeble fand. I would, when dying comforts fly, As much as when they prefent were> Upon my living joy rely. Help, Lord, for here I daily err. CHAP. V. The B E LI E v E K'S PR i NC i P L E s concern- ing Heaven and Earth. SECT. I. The Work and Contention of Heaven. TN heav'nly choirs a queflion rofe, I That ftirr'd up ftrife will never clofe, "What rank of all the ranforn'd race Ov.-cs highcft praife to fov'reign grace? G < r 350 Gos PEL SONNETS. Part VI. Babes thither caught from womb and bread, Claim'd right to fing above the reft ; Becaufe they found the happy fhore They never faw nor fought before. Thofe that arriv'd at riper age Before they left the dufky ftage, Thought grace deferv'd yet higher praife, That wafh'd the blots of num'rous days. Anon the war more clofe began, What praifing harp fhould lead the van? And which of grace's heav'nly peers Was deepeft run in her arrears? * 'Tis I (faid one), 'bove all my race, Nor blifs of glitfring clay. Sweet was the hour I freedom felt To call my Jefus mine; To fee his fmiling face, and melt In pleafures all divine. Let fools an heav'ti of fhades purfue, But I for fubftance am: The heavn I feek is likenefs to, And I'ifion of the Lamb: The worthy Lamb with glory crown'd In his augufc abode ; Inthron'd fublime, and deck'd around With all the pomp of God. I long to joiu the faints above, Who, crown'd with glorious bays, 'Through radiant files of angels move, And rival them in praiie: In praife to JAH, the God of love, The fair incarnate Son, The holy co-eternal Dove, The good, the great Three-one. In hope to fing without a fob, The anthem ever new, I gladly bid the dufty globe, And vain delights, Adieu. The following POEM, the fecond part of which tvas ivrote by Mr ERSKINE,ZJ- here in/'ertcd, as a proper of Meditation to Smokers of Tobacco. SMOKING SPIRITUALIZED. IN TWO PARTS. The firft Part being an old Meditation up- on Smoking Tobacco ; the fecond a new Addition to it, or improvement of it. PART I. THIS Indian weed now wither'd quite. Though green at noon, cut down at night, Shows thy decay; All ftefh is hay. Thus think, and fmoke tobacco. The pipe fo lily-like and weak, Does thus thy mortal flate befpeak. Thou art ev'n fuch, Gone with a touch. Thus think, and fmoke tobacco. And when the fmoke afcends on high, Then thou behold'ft the vanity Of worldly fluff, Gone with a puff. Thus think, and fmoke tobacco. And when the pipe grows -foul within, Think on thy foul defiPd with fin ; For then the fire It does require. Thus think, and fmoke tobacco^ And feeft the afhes caft away; Then to thyfelf thou mayeft fay. That to the duft Return thou mull. Thus think, and fmoke tobacco, 356 SMOKING SPIRITUALIZED. PART II. "Was this fmall plant for thee cut down? So was the Plant of great renown j Which mercy fends For nobler ends. Thus think, and fmoke tobacco. Doth juice medicinal proceed From fuch a naughty foreign weed? Then what's the pow'r Of Jefle's ilow'r? Thus think and fmoke .tobacco, The promife, like the pipe, inlays, And by the mouth of faith conveys What virtue flows From Sharon's Rofe. Thus think, and fmoke tobacco, In vain the unlighted pipe you blow; Your pains in outward means are fo. Till heav'nly fire Your heart infpire. Thus think, and fmoke tobacco. The fmoke, like burning incenfe, tow'rs. >o fhould a praying heart of yours With ardent cries Surmount the fkies. Thus think, and fmeke tobacco T H n E Is D. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY Los Angeles This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. FEB181984 FEB 05 35m-8,'71 (P6347s4)-C-120 1 *' ^3AINfl 3\\V 'EW/A >>clOS-ANCElfj> f*$ |>*V__,^ SOl^ I ? ^ ' '-? %^-s *g ^Ormvjjo^ ^OJIIVD-JO^ ^OF-fAllFOJfcfc ^OF-CALIFO/?^ IN^I |^^^% & o* I ! _J i 111^ ^omm\\^ %i]DNv-soi %a3AiNni\\v im/^ ^clOSANCEl^ ^M- SOl^ ^JiHAINfl-aV^ %OJIWDJO^ %OJI1VO-JO^