Insufficiency of Created Good.

THY wise providence, oh God, hath so ordered it, that every man's mind seeks and finds contentment in some thing otherwise, since we must meet with such frequent crosses in the world, every man's life would be burdensome to him. One takes pleasure in his hawk or hound, another in his horses and furniture. One, in fair buildings; another, in pleasant walks and beautiful gardens; one, in travelling abroad; another, in enjoying the profits and pleasures of home; one, in a comfortable wife; another, in loving and dutiful children. But when all is done, if there be not somewhat else to uphold the heart in the evil day, it must sink. Oh God, do thou possess my soul of thee: let me place all my felicity in the fruition of thine infinite goodness: so, I am sure the worst of the world hath not power to render me otherwise than happy.

Indifference to Worldly Fame.

OH Lord God, under what opposite aspects do I stand towards the world, and how variously am I construed by men. One pities my condition, another praises my patience; one favours me out of the opinion of some good that he thinks he sees in me; another dislikes me for some imagined evil. What are the eyes or tongues of men to me? Let me not know what they say or think of me, for what am I the better or the worse for them? They can have no influence upon me, without my own apprehension. All is, in what terms I stand with thee, my God. If thou be pleased to look upon me, with the eye of thy tender mercy and compassion, what care I to be unjustly brow-beaten of the world? If I nay be blessed with thy favour, let me be made a gazing-stock to the world, to angels, and to men.

Rest in God.

'SPEAK, Lord, for thy servant heareth:' what is it which thou wouldest have me to do, that I may find rest to my soul? I am willing to exercise myself in all the acts of piety which thou requirest: I am ready to fast, to pray, to read, to hear, to meditate, to communicate, to give alms, to exhort, admonish, reprove, and to comfort where thou biddest me; and if there be any other duty appertaining to devotion or mercy, let me serve thee in it. But oh my God, though I know these works are in themselves well-pleasing to thee, yet as they fall from my wretchedness, they are stained with so many imperfections, that I have more reason to crave pardon for them than to put confidence in them; and if I could perform them never so exquisitely, yet one sin is more than enough to dash all my obedience. I see then, oh Lord, I well see there is no act that I can perform, wherein I can find any repose: it must be thine act towards me, which only can effect it. It is thy gracious word, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Lo, this rest must be thy gift, not my earning: and what can be freer than a gift? Thou givest it then, but to those that come to thee; not to those that come not. To those that come to thee laden and labouring under a sense of their own wretchedness; not to the proud and careless. Oh Saviour, thy sinner is sufficiently laden with the burden of his iniquities: lade thou me yet more with true penitent sorrow for my sins, and enable me then to come to thee by a lively faith. Take thou the praise of thine own work. Give me the grace to come, and give me rest in coming.

The Millennium.

OH blessed Saviour, what a strange variety of opinions do I find concerning thy thousand years' reign! What riddles are in that prophecy, which no human tongue can read! Where to fix the beginning of that marvellous

millenary, and where the end; and what manner of reign it shall be, whether temporal or spiritual, on earth or in heaven; these things undergo as many constructions as there are pens that have undertaken it. Yet when all is done, I see thine apostle speaks only of the souls of thy martyrs, reigning so long with thee; not of thy reigning on earth so long with those martyrs. How busy are the tongues of men, how are their brains taken up with the indeterminable construction of this enigmatical truth; when, in the mean time, the care of thy spiritual reign in their hearts is neglected. Oh my Saviour, while others weary themselves with the disquisition of thy personal reign upon earth for a thousand years, let it be the whole bent and study of my soul to make sure my personal reign with thee in heaven to all eternity.

Evil Angels.

BLESSED be thy name, oh God, who hast made a good use even of hell itself. How many atheistical hearts have been convinced by the very operation of devils! Those who would, with the stupid sadducees, persuade themselves there are no spirits; yet when they have sensibly found the marvellous effects wrought even by the base instruments of Satan, they have been forced to confess, Doubtless there is a God that rules the world; for so great powers of evil spirits must necessarily evince the greater powers of good. It is of thy wise and holy dispensations, that thy good angels do not so frequently exhibit themselves, and give such visible demonstrations of their presence to thy saints, as the evil angels do to their vassals, though they are ever as present and more powerful. What need they, when thou so mightily overrulest those malignant spirits, that thou forcest from them thine own glory, and the advantage of thy chosen? Lord, how much more shall all thy other creatures serve to praise thee, when thy very enemies in hell shall proclaim thy justice, goodness and omnipotence!

Speculation and Practice.

SPECULATION, oh Lord, is not more easy than practice is difficult. How many have we known, who, as it was said of the philosophers of old, know how to speak well, but live ill! How many have written books of chemistry, and given very confident directions for the finding out of that precious stone of the philosophers; but how many have indeed made gold? Practice is what thou, oh God, chiefly requirest and respectest; for thou hast said, If ye know these things, blessed are ye if you do them. Knowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth. Oh Lord, do thou enlighten mine eyes with the knowledge of thy will; but above all, do thou rectify my affections, guide my feet into the way of thy commandments, apply my heart to fulfil thy statutes alway, and prosper thou the work of my hands upon me, oh prosper thou my handy-work. Psal. xc. 17. cxix. 35, 112.

Effects of Unbelief.

How oft have I wondered, oh Lord, at the boldness of those, who knowing they must shortly die, yet dare to do those things which will draw upon them an eternity of torments. What shall I say, but that the fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. Surely, men love themselves well enough; and would be loth to do that which would procure them inevitable misery and pain. Did they therefore believe there were another world, and that they must be called to a strict reckoning for all their actions, and be doomed to everlasting death for their wicked deeds, they durst not, they could not do those acts, which should make them eternally miserable. Let me say to the most desperate ruffian, There is poison in this cup; drink this draught, and thou diest; he would have the wit to keep his lips close, and cast the potion to the ground. Were it not for their infidelity, so would men do to the most plausible but deadly offers of sin. Oh Lord, since I know thy righteous judgments, teach

me to tremble at them. Restrain thou my feet from every evil way; and teach me so to walk, as one that looks every hour to appear before thy just and dreadful tribunal.

Wonders of Creation.

THE longer I live, oh my God, the more do I wonder at all the works of thy hands. I see such admirable art in the very least and most despicable of all thy creatures, as astonishes me more and more every day. While I have a spider in my window, or a bee in my garden, or a worm under my feet, I need not look so far as heaven for matter of observation; every one of these overcomes me with a just amazement. Yet can I see no more than their very outsides; their inward form, which gives their being and operations, I cannot penetrate. The less I can satisfy myself with marvelling at thy works, the more let me adore that majesty and omnipotence which have wrought them.

Imperfect Obedience.

ALAS, my Lord God, what poor, weak, imperfect services are those, even at the best, that I can present to thee. What lean, lame, and blemished sacrifices do I bring to thine altar! I know thou art worthy of more than my soul is able to perform; and fain would I tender thee the best of thine own. But what I would, that I do not; yea, cannot do. Surely, had I not to do with infinite mercy, I might justly look to be punished for my very obedience. But now, Lord, my impotence redounds to the praise of thy goodness: for were I more conformable to thy justice, the glory of thy mercy would be so much the less eminent in my remission and acceptance. Here I am before thee, to wait thy good pleasure. Thou knowest whether it be better to give me more ability, or to accept of that poor ability thou hast given me; but when thou hast given me most, I shall still and ever stand in need of thy forgiveness; let my humble suit be to thee always, rather for pardon of my defects, than for a supply of thy graces.