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Beloved and I shall meet, to part no more, refresh and ravish all my soul; hence I triumph amidst all the transitory scenes of sorrow which I labour under, and am not moved, either by unjust reproach, or vain applause. O the emptiness of this present world! but O the excellencies of the world to come! Faith and hope cut down, and fetch me some of the first ripe-fruits, some of the grapes of Eshcol. Surely, this world were a wilderness to me, did I not look on myself only as a traveller through it, as a way-faring man that shall tarry therein but for a few nights.

There is a restlessness in my breast, that shall never be removed till I rest in God. Yea, even now, God is the resting-place of my soul, otherwise I should be tormented with strong pain, and torn with agonies of mind. Yet the most pleasant calm and tranquillity I enjoy here, through the imperfections of this state, and remaining corruption, is far from being complete at best, and oftentimes is interrupted; but the rest I wait for, is refreshing, perfect, and eternal.

Hasten, then, the day when thou shalt descend to mount thy glorious throne, and appear the second time without sin unto salvation; when thou shalt accomplish all my desires, fill my longing soul, admit me to the nearest communion, and satisfy me with the sublimest bliss. For this I impatient wait; and in the mean time lay up my treasures in heaven, where I dwell by hope, and have taken up my mansion by faith in the promise, till the day of my solemn removal come, when, by the divine command, I shall be carried over to the land of rest.

Miserable they who have no joy in the prospect of a world to come, without which I should be swallow

ed up of sorrow; who find their pleasure, and place their happiness, in the painted trifles of a momentary life, but are tortured with the thoughts of eternity, and put on the rack if they glance beyond the

grave.

MEDITATION XLVIII.

ON THE SCRIPTURES.

Under sail, near Jersey, June 23, 1758.

AN entertaining history, or a striking description of some famous battle, will challenge our attention, and cause us light another candle: but a small portion of the scriptures suffices us; yea, some are more taken with a well written romance, than with all the interesting truths of the word of God.

mentation, and shall be for a lamentation.

This is a la

Ah! how am I to blame that do not more value this invaluable book, where the style is lofty, the images striking, the figures beautiful, the harmony conspicuous, the subjects of infinite moment, and the glory of God the scope of all. Here corruption and grace are pourtrayed to the life, the struggles of the old and new man set forth in an instructive light.Here are arrows that pierce the stubborn heart, and balm of comfort for the bleeding soul. Here kings are taught how to reign, and princes how to judge; and here is an unerring directory for churches in their public, and Christians in their private capacities, to walk by. This is the armoury of heaven, from. which I may be furnished with weapons for my spiri

tual warfare; for the sword of the Spirit is the word of God. Like a kindly comforter, it stills my complaints, chases my sorrows, cheers my sinking spirit, revives my hope, strengthens my faith, and sets me above the hurricanes of time. This feeds me with manna; not the manna of the wilderness, of which all who ate are dead, but the divine manna, preserved in the golden pot of the promise, laid up in the ark of the covenant of grace, for all the chosen seed. Surely "thy words were found of me, and I did eat them, and thy word was the joy and rejoicing of my heart." This is the only food that can support the strength of the traveller heavenward. This makes my table so well furnished, and so richly spread, in presence of my foes. With this my cup overflows; and this is my daily allowance from the King's table, till the day I am admitted to sit at table with the King. "The words of thy mouth are better to me than thousands of gold and silver. I rejoice at thy word as one that finds great spoil." Without this sacred book I should have no happiness here, no hope for futurity; for it is the Christian's charter for the glorious inheritance above. It is my directory in all conditions, at all times, in all difficulties, amidst all companies, and in all places. To be condemned to read a human composition again and again, would be intolerable; but to be debarred from reading the scriptures, would be death. They are always savoury and refreshful to the spiritual taste; as the traveller drinks at the stream that attends him through the desart, as often as he is parched with thirst, and finds it always refreshful. Those truths, which at one time we read with a belief that they are divine, come at another time, when the Spirit breathes on them with such

power, that in them we hear God talking with us, and our heart burns within us.

Here time is bounded, and eternity brought forth: the world set on flames, and the new creation formed; here heaven and earth talk together, God and man converse; here conscience is accosted, thoughts discerned, and secrets brought to light; so that it is both full of eyes, and dreadful round about.

This is the light of revelation that dispels the darkness of corrupt nature, shows me the world to come as present, sets the judgment-throne, sounds the trumpet, gathers the nations, passes the sentence, and brings in eternity: Yea, from this sacred volume, I may learn on what hand I shall stand, and what my sentence shall be in that tremendous day.

May I build for myself a dwelling in the word of promise, which shall stand when the hail shall sweep away the refuges of lies. From this dear book will I choose my songs in the house of my pilgrimage; and will count myself happier with a few promises from it, than if possessed of sceptres, crowns, and kingdoms. This is the window out at which the Beloved looks; the lattice through which he shows himself, till the day break and the shadows flee away. In a word, this sacred word is the beauteous day-star that gives the pleasant dawn, till the Sun himself arise, and shine in the firmament of glory.

MEDITATION XLIX.

TRUE JOY.

At anchor, St. Helens, July 4, 1758.

SOMETIMES, indeed, I am amazed at the joy of sinners, while those who have the greatest cause of exultation are rather too sad. Yea, I wonder that, on due consideration, joy of soul bursts not my mortal frame. Though I should never think highly of myself, yet I should never think lowly or meanly of the manifestations of the love and favour of God. What shall I, then, think of this quiet of mind, this peace of God that passes understanding, pouring into my soul, and giving me the life of a prince, while one would be ready to conclude that I lived like a prisoner ?—— What of this dwelling under the smile of Heaven? this joy that I have in believing? these transforming glances of glory, which give a sweet antepast of the fruition to come, and make me long for the day of communion? What of my daily allowance from the table of the King, yea, sometimes my being allowed to eat at the King's table of the hidden manna, and bread of life, and to behold his glory with the eye of faith.

Surely, then, I ought to sing and rejoice; for as the sorrow of the world worketh death, so the joy that is spiritual tendeth to life. God remembers both the place and time where he lets out his love to his people; hence, says he to Jacob, "I am the God of Bethel ;" and of Jacob to his posterity, "He found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us; even the Lord God of hosts, the Lord is his memorial." "I remem

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