nal would rage at the loss of a finger, who deserved to have lost his head? So, why should I repine at a little ill, who deserve a great deal worse? Indeed, at all times, and in every case, I should not look to the hand of God, but into his heart; not barely look upon the providence with fear, but into the promise with faith; where, be the providence adverse or prosperous, to my comfort I am told, that all things work together for good to God's called and chosen ones; and if my fluctuating breast is composed amidst all my sorrows, by a firm belief of the promise, that happy moment I find the promise performed to me; and aver, with the royal sufferer," It has been good for me that I have been afflicted."

MEDITATION XL.

SAINTS UNKNOWN, STARS UNSEEN.

Feb. 14, 1758.

As there are stars in the sparkling firmament of

heaven of different magnitudes and glory, so there are saints of different stations in the church of God. Some, like stars of the first magnitude, point out the way to bliss; while others, like stars of a second, third, and fourh magnitude, sparkle with an upright walk, and heavenly conversation, and condemn a wicked world. All these glorify God, as it were, in an active manner; but there is another class of his precious ones, who glorify God only in a passive manner, compared to others. These are the secret, private, and retired Christians; who, like the stars that

lie concealed in the amazing voids of space, and never strike the naked eye, nor seem connected with our system, are only known to God. But as the glory of God's creating hand, though less visible to us, is as really displayed among those stars that he has stationed so sublime, as among those which he has dropped nearer to our earth, so he is glorified by the private, as well as the public Christian; and the resignation of the one to the divine disposal may be as acceptable to God, as the more active labours of the other. How is God satisfied, so to speak, to see his creature wholly at his command; his will moulded into the will of the Most High, his desires measured by heaven's distribution of mercies, and his ambition only to be like God. Here the whole man, with his whole concerns, is wholly devoted to God. Here rebel-thoughts are slain, and the unknown saint only waits the will of God to fall in with fully, freely, and without reserve. Such a heart God dwells in, and such a soul is his throne. Nothing pleases God better, than when all he does pleases his people. Thus the soul ripens for glory, and a sacred interesting correspondence is carried on between the heart and heaven. The man rolls himself and all his concerns over on the indisputed will of him that cannot err. Nothing can go wrong with the man, because divine wisdom orders all for him ; what he thinks hard in itself, if he have no sinful yea, hand in it, he embraces and submits to, because of him that sends it. He sounds God's praise loudest, who is silent before God. While the profession of some is blazing, the love of his soul is burning, While others march heavenward in the broad day, and before the wide world, this is a walk within doors, in his own house at home. Of all things, grace grows

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best in retirement, and, like Jacob, when left alone, he wrestles with the angel of the covenant, for blessings to himself, his family, the church, and the whole world. He is not less circumspect that not an eye is on him, but keeps clean hands, from a clean heart; not like the painted hypocrite, that must be religious for credit's sake. He has his conversation in heaven, and his communion with the Most High. Happy is he in his life, happy at his death, for he lives with God, dies in the Lord, and goes to be for ever with the Lord.

MEDITATION XLI.

THE EXCELLENT HAPPINESS OF THE BLESSED.

Spithead, May 21, 1758.

TIME is short, and eternity is long; yet, in this

short time, I must prepare for long eternity. O! what a duration is before me! but what an infatuation is within me, that I should mind the trifling things of time, and forget the interests of eternity! Truly, when I compare eternity and time, I am astonished that eternity does not swallow up time in my concerns and meditations. With what night-visions, deceptive phantasies, and delusive dreams, are we entertained here, in comparison of that divine understanding, intuitive knowledge, noon-day discoveries, vigour and activity of soul, we shall be possessed of, when we awake to immortality, from all the slumbers of a transitory life! And yet (wo is me!) am I not more anxious to grow in earth, than to grow for heaven? Will not the fear of temporal losses at

times outbalance the joy I should have in believing? While God and glory have a passing meditation in my heart, have not the vanities of the world a permanent mansion? Does not worldly sorrow take deeper root in my soul than spiritual joy? And, were my thoughts counted one by one, while vanities reap the whole harvest, sacred things have scarce the tythe! Is this, alas! the behaviour of a candidate for bliss, the practice of an expectant of glory? One thinks least on what he loves least: O mournful conclusion! that I love God least, since he is least in my thoughts! But, let me rise in my contemplation, and see the goodly hosts of the ransomed nations, dwelling in the noon-day display of his glory, possessed of pleasures free as the fountain whence they flow, and full as their unlimited desire. Their souls are replenished with the most refined satisfaction, sacred delight, and substantial joy. What an august assembly are the inhabitants of the better country! wearing crowns, holding sceptres, reigning on thrones, walking in white, exalted in their natures, their conceptions bright, their visions cloudless, their thoughts elevated, their songs transporting, their happiness confirmed, their love burning, and all their powers entranced for ever!

Seeing such, and much more (for eye hath not seen, ear hath not heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive what God hath laid up for them that love and fear him) is the happiness of the triumphant throng, who have the substance, marrow, and kernel of bliss, no wonder to see the saints settling their affections on the things above, and longing to join the happy company.

What, then, though it be a steep ascent to the mount of God, since verdant arbours, and a blooming paradise, are on the summit of the hill. A prospect of the heavenly state might make me lie, without repining, in the dungeon of a prison, till the very moment I were brought to the palace. What though I bear my cross till the day I wear the crown? or die daily, till Christ, with whom my life is hid in God, appear, and I appear with him in glory? Should any thing below move him who has his portion above? Should the pleasures of the world, which are but painted clouds, and airy appearances, entice him, or the troubles of the world terrify him, who is in a little to take his eternal farewell of both? Let adversities keep close at his heels, heaven has an open door for him, into which, while they must stand without, he shall enter, and remember his misery no more. Hence let it be my daily study to walk in the view of a world to come, till that happy day when (O wondrous word!) I shall enter into the joy of my Lord.

MEDITATION XLII.

ONLY A RUMOUR HEARD OF THE TRIUMPHANT

STATE.

Spithead, May 22, 1758.

THIS thought is now come into my mind, that the

triumphant state of glory is but little understood, even after all the divine descriptions given thereof in sacred revelation. Not that God cannot tell, but man cannot hear; for when Paul was caught up to