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enrich my treasures; though my throne were of one pearl, and my crown of one diamond; though my life-guards were kings, my menial servants princes, and my immediate subjects nobles; though the daily guests of my table were thousands and ten thousands of honourable personages; and though, for the entertainment of my table, my flocks should cover every hill, my herds range over every flowery vale, and the fowls of every wing alight around my palace, while the fish of every fin came, when needed, spontaneously ashore; though the fountains should flow with oil, the rivers stream with wine, and the forests drop honey; yet my heart would not say, It is enough.Though perpetual summer should shine on the place of my habitation, and storms and tempests stand at a distance from my abode; though, according to the philosopher's conceits, the worlds on the other side the sun should own my sceptre; though the sparkling stars, the glories of the higher firmament, that rise sphere above sphere innumerable, were added to my inheritance; though I had the faculties of the first sons of light, the knowledge of an angel, and the penetration of a seraph; there would still be something wanting, without which I could not be happy. Though my health were never attacked by sickness, but my family flourishing as the blooming flowers, my offspring numerous as the piles of grass that clothe the verdant plain, and never lessened by death; and though in this happiness I should multiply my days as the eagle, and my years as the sand; yet my desires would then be as far from being satisfied, as when I began to enjoy this shadowy, this imaginary all.

Where, then, is this all-sufficient plenitude to be found? or what is it that will satiate my immense de

sires? A triune God reconciled in his own Son, and conveying himself in the promise to my faith, as the spiritual riches, infinite plenitude, and eternal portion of my immortal soul.

All the gathered parts of creation, knowledge, titles, honour, riches, renown, attendants, dependants, family, friends, connexion, dominion, health, longevity, and every other excellence, are but like a drop to my parched soul, of which I could swallow many, and yet be altogether faint beneath the scorching beam. But Christ is an ocean of overflowing fulness. I stand on its shore, and am astonished; I look, and in its boundless extension lose myself; I possess, and am replenished that I can desire no more. What a di

vine plenitude is this divine ONE! All things without Christ cannot give satisfaction; for truly without Christ all things are nothing, but with him what seems next to nothing is more and better than the worldling's all things. Material things, however excellent, suit not, satisfy not the immaterial and immortal soul; but in Christ there is something that satiates, refreshes, and enraptures the believing soul, even when my prospect is towards that tremendous day, when nature shall be set on flames; or further still, towards eternity, where the creature dares not present itself as a proper portion for the soul. him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily;" and my desires are complete in him. I can go no further, I can wish no more than he has. Then, for the present, I am happier than the happiest worldling, having an heaven in possession, for "faith is the substance of things hoped ;" while an heaven of rapture and delight, floods of ecstasy and bliss, are in reserve for me, to be bestowed at the general DEAL of glory to the sons of God.

"In

MEDITATION LXXXII.

THE AGGRANDIZING VISIT.

Mediterranean Sea, March 10, 1759,

IF a fellow-creature, who has gathered together more riches than many of his acquaintance, or has attained to more honour, and has more high-sounding titles than others, condescends, as they call it, to visit an inferior, or to admit an inferior to visit him, thẹ whole neighbourhood is astonished, and the men that receive the compliment consider themselves as highly honoured by it. Yet what is this person with whose visit they are so delighted, but a worm of the earth, a grasshopper, that crawls on the face of the ground? As, however, infinite wisdom has divided the inhabitants of the world into different classes, distinctions, and orders, for a time, the sons of men are not to despise such a visit; but as it is only for a time, the saints, the sons of God, are not to idolize it, or think that riches and honour are the channel through which the favour and love of God to his people is conveyed.

But how stupid are the world, that never observe the great honour done to the saints, when the royal family of heaven makes them an abiding visit! "Behold I stand at the door, and knock; and if any man hear my voice, and open to me, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." There the Creator and creature sit at one table! and God, to the astonishment of angels, is gone to be guest with men! Such a visit is to be contended for; such a guest is to be received with open arms, and entertained with flowing love, like that of the spouse, who

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said, "While the King sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof." Nor is the heavenly visit a transient one, like those among the sons of men; for, says the glorious visitant, “If a man love me, my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him."

It is much to see a great person visit a poor man, more to see a king enter the homely roof, but most of all, if ever after the visit he were to keep his court at the humble cottage. Yet if it holds true, that "where the king is, there is the court," surely it is so here; for, however meanly the saints think of themselves (which, for many reasons, it well becomes them to do, though God deals kindly with them) yet since the King and the King's Son, even the eternal, undivided family of heaven, dwells with them, there must be the life-guards of immortal angels, and thousands of fiery chariots, to defend them from all dangers, to deliver them from all foes.How happy, then, are the saints of God! how happy the select number, whom the world think so meanly of, and count so miserable!

But, again, great men may make a visit to poor creatures, without changing their condition. It will not make a poor man rich, that a rich man visits him, unless he proves a liberal donor, or a generous benefactor also. Nor will it exalt a subject, a slave to a throne, that a king comes to see him. But it is otherwise here: Heaven is always in the visit of the Most High; and whatever the man has been before, he is assuredly an heir of glory, with whom God comes to dwell. For as by his Spirit he dwells in and with his people for eternity, so by faith here, and visions hereafter, they dwell in and with him for the

same desirable term. O then that the saints would think more highly of themselves, in living above the world, and its vanities, and in walking like those whom the King Eternal honours with a visit!Should any of their surly and ill-natured neighbours make them sad of heart, when the Lord of heaven and earth countenances them in so singular a manner?

Now, if it aggrandizes men, that the nobles of the earth visit them, and that great men take any notice of them, surely the saints are to me the most excellent of all men, with whom the God of glory condescends to dwell. But how shall I evidence that God dwells with me? By walking like one who has been with Jesus, with an heavenly mien and divine carriage. Then, let the King of glory visit my heart, and I shall never seek to tread in the courts of kings. Let my conversation be in heaven, and I shall not care, though the great men of the world never converse with me. Between my soul and the throne let a daily correspondence be kept up, and I shall cheerfully live in the most complete retirement, and recluse solitude from all mankind.

MEDITATION LXXXIII.

CAUSES OF HUMILITY.

Under sail, Streights, March 15, 1759.

As only in night-dreams I cross impassable rivers,

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climb tremendous precipices, or fly in the open air; so it is only in spiritual slumber that I mount on the imaginary wing, climb the height of self-conceit, and stand on the precipice of pride. Were I truly awake,

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