ders, this inestimable complication of mercies; consider the greatness of his love, who did not grudge to do so much for thee. He made thee beautiful at first, but thou didst sully and deform thyself by sin. Notwithstanding this dishonour done to the charms thou hadst received from him, thy stains are washed away, and the purity of thy former complexion renewed again, by his marvellous compassion. Thus was his love the sole cause, both of the gift at first, and of its restitution. When thou hadst no being, his love created thee: when thou hadst defaced his glorious image, his love refreshed the impression and to demonstrate how exceedingly he loved thee, he willingly delivered thee from death, when that could be done at no less expense, than the laying down his own life. He would not do it at a cheaper rate, that so the price might demonstrate the vehemence of his affection, no less than the value of the advantages purchased with it. A mighty favour no doubt it was, that the first man received from his merciful Creator, when the breath of life was breathed into him, and he became a living soul, like the God who made him. But how much greater was the condescension, how much more valuable the blessing, when for the man that he had made, God afterwards gave himself? I acknowledge it a great thing, that I am God's handy-work, and own the gratitude due upon this account; but sure a great deal more is due, when I consider, that God was pleased to make himself my ransom. For thus there is so much expended upon our redemption, as might almost incline us to believe, that man is a valuable consideration for even God himself. O how strangely hath light sprung out of darkness! How happy an

event was my guilt attended with, for the purging whereof, while this love of my Saviour disposes him to it, that love is opened to my view and desires, and if I do but give him my heart, I am secure of an easy access to, and a sure place in his. Had my misery and danger been less, I never could have had so noble a proof of his kindness. Have I not reason then in some respect to bless that fall, from which I rise with greater advantage, than if I had not fallen at all? No kindness could be greater, none more sincere, more chaste, more fervent, more passionately expressed, than that of an innocent person, dying for me, who had no recommendation to deserve, none to engage his love. What was it then, my dearest Lord, that thou didst love in me? What that thou lovedst so much, as even to die for me? What couldst thou find in this poor wretched creature, worth doing so many miracles of goodness, worth suffering so many injuries and agonies for? I am perfectly amazed at this stupendous dispensation; and, the more I consider either thee or myself, the less I find myself able to account for it.

MEDITATION XXXVIII.

The Privileges of the Gospel.

THE merit and sufficiency of this redemption extend to all mankind, but the means ordinarily necessary to render it effectual are not distributed with an even hand. Here then, my soul, observe and be thankful for a discrimination manifestly in thy favour. For how numerous, and of what condition, if compared to thee, are those many, who have not the precious opportunities of that grace which are allowed to thee? Thou canst not but have heard how many generations of men, from the beginning of the world down to this very day, have lived and died without the knowledge of the true God; how many more did formerly, how many even now perish eternally, and never heard one syllable of a redemption purchased by the blood of the Son of God. Above all these, thy Saviour hath distinguished thee, and signalized his love in granting those means of grace, of which none of them were permitted to partake. They were left in their ignorance, and thou art taken to be made wise unto salvation. But for this difference there can be but one reason assigned, which is the same so often inculcated already, thy blessed Master's love. Thy God, thy Redeemer, chose thee rather than them. He chose thee among all. He singled thee from the rest. He hath given thee all possible demonstrations of his kindness. He hath called thee by his own name, that this mark

and memorial might rest perpetually upon thee, that thou mightest never forget to whom thou belongest; he hath not given thee an empty name, but all the advantages imported by, and accruing from it; he hath anointed thee with the same oil of gladness, with which himself was anointed, that thou mightest be the anointed of the anointed, and from Christ, denominated in the most beneficial sense, a Christian.

But whence is this to the servant of thy Lord; didst thou excel in strength, in wisdom, or noble descent, in riches, or virtue, or any other qualification, which might entitle thee to this special favour, from which so many others are excluded? How many strong, how many wise, how many noble, how many rich men have there been, who yet have all been passed over and rejected. This therefore is another enhancement of his favour to thee, that they, notwithstanding all their pompous pretensions, were not admitted to the like privileges with thee, who hadst them not to allege in thy behalf. Thou wert miserable and deformed, naked and poor, dissolute and sinful, an object of abhorrence and detestation, yet did not thy God disdain thee; but even in these wretched, these forbidding circumstances, extended to thee the riches of this marvellous compassion and grace. And now, my soul, that thou hast seen thy happiness, see also what thy duty is resulting from the sense of it. For be assured, that notwithstanding all these kind advances, if thou do not make it thy constant care and most earnest endeavour to deck and adorn thyself as becomes thee, thou shalt not be admitted into the embraces of thy heavenly spouse. Set then about this necessary work, while thou hast time;

for now is the proper season of dressing thyself for the marriage. Abate thy too solicitous concern for the outward appearance of thy body, and employ all thy pains upon thy inward man; set off thy face in the best manner; let thy habit be clean and comely, thy spots washed off, thy complexion clear, thy decays and blemishes refreshed, thy air modest and graceful, thy deportment orderly; and let it be thy chief, thy only business, so to prepare and fit thyself for thy Lord's approach, that the figure thou makest may be suitable to thy character, and become the chastity, the majesty of one who hath the honour of being a bride to an immortal husband, a heavenly king.