not I make some allowance for this in the folly of my friend? especially if incendiaries come between, who always represent things in the worst light.

I may be apt to think, that, had my haters the least appearance of the grace of God about them, I could then frankly forgive them. But, would not this be the cruelty of a fiend? If they have no interest in God, are they not doubly the objects of my most tender compassion? If a man has lost a hand, will I pity him? but if he has lost eyes, legs, and arms, will I storm in cruel rage against him? In offending brethren, I must pity the error, and forgive them; but, in offending sinners, I must commiserate their very state, and pray for them. And, indeed, this

would be the only way to render love for hatred, and good for evil. Henceforth, therefore, I will carry my bitterest enemies to the throne of grace, and implore the best of blessings on my most flagitious foes,

If a man uses me rudely or injuriously in the rage of a fever, I feel nothing for mine own maltreatment, but a real concern for my frantic friend, and hope the crisis of the fever will restore him to the use of his reason; or, if another person would gnaw his own flesh to do me a mischief all the year round, then, with deeper compassion, I consider my unhappy acquaintance as a confirmed lunatic, or miserable bedlamite. Even so I should look on the man that uses me ill in a fit of passion, as in a mental delirium, and pity him; and on him that maltreats me from month to month, and from year to year, as a mental lunatic, and commiserate his mournful situation from the botom of my soul.

If I will not forgive a fellow-creature a hundred pence (about poor three pounds!) how can I daily

plead with heaven to be forgiven my ten thousand talents (twenty-two millions sterling!) and yet, unless I am daily favoured with richer pardons than the remission of any given sum, I am undone for ever.

As it is noble to prevent the needy with our charity, and not wait till importuned, so it is truly noble to forgive injuries, though neither desired to do it, nor thanked for it. When an offending person confesses his fault, and begs pardon, it is praise-worthy to pardon, and yet we can do no less, because we are victorious over him in his submission. But it is much more noble, from a sense of duty, to forgive stubborn offenders, because then we obtain a victory over ourselves, which is the best of all conquests.

To indulge rancour and revenge may gratify my unrenewed part, but cannot benefit my better part here or hereafter; but to forgive and forget enemies and injuries, will be no grief of mind to me when I arrive at the heavenly state, mingle among saints and angels, and dwell in the presence of God.

April 6, 1777.

Alas! my meditation is not finished till my antagonist is no more! O how few years bring us to our latter end! and why should we keep our anger for ever, and our contentions while we live? It is comfort to me, that some years ago we were reconciled; and O how feeble is the wrath of a mortal, who cannot defend himself from a moment's sickness! Now he is taken up with the great concerns of the world of spirits, and that for eternity; and in a little I shall also arrive at my fixed state, and be taken up with eternal things. O that the precious time, and pre

cious thoughts, which I employed on what I accounted ill usage, had been spent in heavenly meditations! then I had brought meat out of the eater, and sweetness out of the strong. May this be a caveat to me in all time coming, that whatever maltreatment I may get from a fellow-creature, quite to overlook it, and to acknowledge heaven in all, and to meditate on heaven for all: Thus shall I behave like a child of God, and a candidate for glory. O how foolish is it to fear a worm or a grasshopper, as if the Most High did not rule over all the children of men !

To live in view of eternity would make me think little of the love or the hatred, the affection or af fronts, of my fellow-creatures, since in a little they shall go from me, or I from them, into the invisible world; and I cannot tell how soon.

MEDITATION CXXVII.

WHITSUNDAY.

May 28, 1773.

FROM ROM every season of the year, from every period of time, natural or artificial, we may learn something. At this time, then, the landed proprietors set the whole country in motion, and there is a mighty stir to answer their demands. Some wealthy farmers care not a farthing for this critical day, because they are prepared for it; others have plenty both of money and chattels, but their money lies so scattered in the country, that they cannot command one shilling, and they cannot convert their stock into cash, so that for the time their credit is like to break, not,

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withstanding all their plenty. But the poor farmer finds term-day overtake him, and he knows not what to do, or where to turn. Well, let this remind the landlord and the tenant, that a day of accounts will come, when the lease of life expires, and the great Proprietor of heaven and earth will reckon with them for all they have enjoyed. Some saints are so clear respecting their interest in Christ, so rich in his imputed righteousness, so full of heavenly assurance, that they rather rejoice than tremble at the day of judgment; others, though in a gracious state, are so encumbered with worldly cares, are so beclouded with desponding thoughts, that they cannot collect their evidences for the better country, and are afraid that, when they stand in the judgment, they shall be condemned. But the sinner, who is poor towards God, and has nothing provided for eternity, not the least evidence for heaven, well may tremble and be horribly afraid for the judgment.

Again, every other creditor will be staved off, and delayed for a time, that the landlord be not disappointed of his rents. O that we were thus wise in spiritual things! first to have matters between God and our souls on a comfortable footing, and then all other things shall run in a pleasant channel.

Being to clear with the landlord, occasions an universal clearance with one another. Even so, in the day of judgment, not only the sins committed directly against God, but injuries against one another, whereby he also is offended, shall be condemned in his presence.

The thoughtless and improvident tenant makes no diligence till the very term-day comes, and then what running from person to person, to borrow but for a

few days! but in vain, since the same term has overtaken them all, as well as him. Even so the foolish virgins, in that awful day, will find no oil to buy, but must be shut out from the heavenly marriage, for ever to dwell in darkness and despair.

Again, some may think themselves richly provided for this day, and able to answer all their landlord's demands, but how are they confounded to find their bank-bills refused, as being forged or insufficient, or their cash cast back as being foreign, counterfeit, or too light. Just so, alas! many presumptuous hypccrites will find all their feigned righteousness rejected; proud legalists will find their good works, when weighed, miserably wanting; and all who depend on. any thing but the perfect righteousness of Jesus, will find themselves eternally lost.

Again, whether we look to town or country, we will find the confusion universal; people removing from place to place, houses left without inhabitant, and some families thrown out, that can scarce find a house to go to; masters changing servants, and for a few days with scarce a servant to attend them; servants going to new masters, and some thrown altogether out of a place; and even young infants, that know not whither they are going, are subjects of the general confusion. May not this remind us all, whether masters or servants, house-holders or lodgers, landlords or tenants, that we must all soon, how soon we cannot tell, remove from this to the invisible world? Wo to the inhabitant, whether he dwell in a palace or in a cottage, who must quit his clay tabernacle, without any hopes of being admitted into the mansions of glory! Wo to the man who has all his life-time been the servant of sin, and shall find,