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neral, and a costly tomb? What can friends do, but weep about the bed, and bewail their dying relative? But thy love, dear Lord, can enlighten my passage through death, and lead me safely to my Father's house.

MEDITATION XXXVII.

DEATH A BLESSING TO GOOD MEN.

WHY so much complain of death? It is true, it is

the fruit of sin, for by sin came death into the world; but it is also true, that it is the finisher of sin to the godly, for by death sin shall be cast out for ever.Sin, conveyed to us in our conception, is so interwoven with the human frame, that the tie must be dissolved betwixt the soul and body, before a full and final separation can take place between the soul and sin. Who, then, would fear the furnace that is only to consume the dross, that the gold may come forth without alloy ? What candidate for heaven would be averse to lay down mortality, in order to take up immortality? to put off this corruptible, in order to put on incorruption? to have his body sown in dishonour, in order to be raised in honour and glory? and to have the soul dislodged from his body, that sin might be dislodged from his soul? Why, then, should I be displeased at such a glorious exchange? To lay down frail flesh, feeble nature, all my lusts and passions, occasions and temptations to sin, my infirmities and imperfections, and to be clothed with perfect beauty and eternal glory, might rather transport than perplex me. Wherefore tremble at the ghastly

gloom, that shall beam into a boundless noon? or startle at the dark step that shall usher me into eternal day? If my separation for a few years from my friends, issue in uninterrupted communion with God, is not the change most happy? If my distant views, and dim glances of the land afar off, and the King in his beauty, pass away, that the nearest approaches, most steady views, and brightest visions, may eternally take place, am not I a gainer to the highest degree? Then, Lord, take away the sting of death, and at thy appointed time, through faith, I shall fly into his arms, not dismayed at his cold embrace, burning with an heavenly desire to be for ever with the Lord; which is far better than all the happiness of crowns and thrones below.

MEDITATION XXXVIII.

MERCY GOING BEFORE GOD, MAKES MEETING HIM A

MERCY.

1757.

GOD and I must meet; there is a day appointed for it; and surely the thoughts thereof would be like death, and worse, were I not assured that mercy goes before his face. Why, then, should I be afraid to meet with God, since mercy goes before his face ? Mercy means no ill-will do no harm-displays the flag of peace-proclaims the manifesto, that "mercy shall be built up for ever." But how shall I know that mercy goes before his face? Because truth goes hand in hand with mercy; and the veracity of truth forbids me to doubt the certainty of mercy. How must the heart of a guilty rebel rejoice to find that

pardon is proclaimed by his offended Sovereign!Mercy and truth are the best means of preserving the kings of the earth, and when they exercise it, their throne is upholden by mercy; but the King of heaven, in every act of his administration, preserves mercy and truth, and in them establishes his throne. The King of kings will never go without his royal retinue, his life-guards; mercy and truth shall form the van; justice and judgment support his throne ; infinity, eternity, and immutability carry his crown; power and omnipotence bear the robe of royalty; wisdom and righteousness hold the regal sceptre ; goodness and holiness unfurl the flag of majesty ; graciousness, long-suffering, and patience, proclaim his sacred name; and love encircles all the flaming train. In every circumstance, then, I can be in, I have comfort; for, in his providence towards me, mercy goes before him, and it works for my good; yea, even in my afflictions, mercy goes before him, and I am chastened, that I may not be condemned with the world. Thus, mercy is the precious ointment that, in all things, at all times, and in all places, casts its pleasant scent abroad, and perfumes his conduct towards me. And whenever, or wherever I meet God, whether in the dissolving pang, or solemn appearance at his bar, I shall find him a reconciled Father, and all his bowels yearning on the son of his adoption. Neither the hour of death, therefore, nor the day of judgment, shall terrify me. "But I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever; with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever; thy faithfulness shalt thou, in the sight of all the ransomed nations, establish in the very heavens !"

MEDITATION XXXIX.

Ic

THE NECESSITY OF AFFLICTIONS.

Jan. 28, 1758. COMPLAIN without a cause, seeing it is good for me that I be afflicted. Whatever be food to the soul surely affliction is physic; and if there is a necessity of the one to preserve life, there is a necessity of the other to preserve health. Can a muchesteemed flower think that it is unkindly dealt with, because the weeds that twisted with its roots are plucked away with force, such force that the flower seems to be pulled along? Just so am I displeased at severe afflictions, sent to root out some rampant Justs, or deep-rooted earthly affections, when afflictions less severe would prove ineffectual for such a noble end? Corruption is not totally removed, it is only subdued in part; but the more I am afflicted, the more it is subdued. Neither is grace perfect here; but the more grace is exercised, the more perfect it grows. The better part never suffers in affliction ; for, even when it is so ponderous and crushing, that under it the outward man decays, and wastes away, yet the inner man is renewed day by day. For very shame, can I take it amiss, that my sins are mortified, my lusts subdued, my fond and foolish desires reprimanded, my afflictions purged, my eager grasp of created things loosed, and that I am, by line upon line, affliction on the back of affliction, instructed of the vanity of all sublunary things? Again, dare I be displeased, that, by various, repeated, and uncommon afflictions, and from sinful instruments too, my faith

is tried, my patience and resignation proved, my love and esteem of heavenly things heightened, and all my graces improved, invigorated, furbished, to the glory of God, and advantage of my own soul?

Every new trial is like a new combat set to the valiant hero. If he comes off a conqueror, it is another trophy to all his former victories, and a fresh display of his military skill in the eyes of enemies and friends. There never was a traveller to the throne of God, but pursued his way through the thorny path of affliction; and yet there is not, this day, one person in all the august assembly of the higher house, that has the least complaint upon the hardships or afflictions that befel him by the way.— Why should I, then, so much complain of the deep steps and rugged roads, the stormy days and dark nights, that distress me in my pilgrimage, seeing that, when I shall see things in the light of glory, I shall approve of all; and the storm of hail, claps of thunder, and midnight-gloom, shall only add to the variety of the subjects, and multiply the stanzas of my eternal song.

While here below, the intoxicating juice of carnal pleasure breeds diseases; so that the bitter potion of affliction is absolutely necessary to dispel those infections which threaten damage to the soul. Since it is not my happiness to be free from sin below, it is my happiness that I am not without afflictions, which are a noble antidote against sin. I have reason to bewail, bitterly to bewail, the corruption of my nature, but not the correction of my corruption. Were I punished as I deserve, instead of being washed with the soap and nitre of castigation, I would be swept away with the besom of destruction. What condemned crimi

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