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the hidden manna; let them toil and spin for their apparel, but let them be covered in the surety's righteousness. How would I count my house renowned, and my family ennobled, if there sprang from it, not ministers of state, princes or kings (let potsherds of the earth strive for earthly things) but pillars for the temple of God in glory, and such as should stand in the presence of the Prince of the kings of the earth, when time is no more.

Again, whatever bowels of compassion I feel towards my tender offspring, such pity will the Lord show towards those that fear him. And though I will not give my child every thing it cries for, or is fond of, yet as I will give it what I know to be good for it, so will our heavenly Father deal with us; why, then, are we so often on the fret?

Again, how does a child confide in his parents? To them he makes all his complaints; he has not the least doubt of their affection; he boasts of their protection to his play-fellows, and thinks himself safe in their presence. Why, then, should the children of our heavenly Father, the sons of adoption, not bring all their complaints to God, rely on his love, boast of his protection, and conclude themselves safe under the conduct of his unerring providence?

MEDITATION CXL.

ON BEING CREATED A PEER.

Feb. 27, 1782.

My readers, no doubt, will be surprised at my singular exaltation; and no wonder, for I stand astonished at it myself; the more so when I reflect, that I have never rendered to king or country any remarkable services, that can claim this as a reward. But it is not the first time that the poor have been raised out of the dust to high honours, and lifted from the dung-hill to sit with princes.

A peer of Great-Britain, then, is a great man, and takes his seat in the house of lords ;-has access, free access, into the king's palace, and into the king's presence ;-has a yote in the affairs of state-and letters post-free.-Nor can any creditor arrest him, being a member of parliament, for any debt.-He has rank and precedence according to the time of his creation. His king may visit him without any stain to his majesty. And his children have rank among the children of other nobles.

The world will now account me extremely happy; but I must swell their wonder, and raise their astonishment still, while I tell them, that my peerage is spiritual, heavenly, and divine. My heart would not greatly beat with joy for a British peerage; but here I have cause of endless exultation; for henceforth,

1. I take my seat among the saints of God, among the angels of glory; being come to the city of the living God, a place infinitely more noble than the house of lords, to an innumerable company of angels,

and to the general assembly and church of the firstborn.

2. I have boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, and palaces of kings are too often sinks of sin; yea, to bring all my petitions to this King of heaven on his throne of grace, who in the time of trouble (and what is human life but a time of trouble?) shall hide me in his pavilion, and at last admit me into his royal palace with gladness and rejoicing, there to abide for ever.

3. A vote in the affairs of state! This sounds like blasphemy, had not the King of heaven himself said it: "Ask me of things to come, concerning my sons, and concerning the works of my hand, command ye me." And to Moses, "Let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot;" as if God would not be wroth, without permission from a praying saint. And indeed, at last, as assessors with the supreme Judge, we shall judge the world and angels.

4. Promises come all free from heaven, and petitions and prayers are all sent free to heaven, through the hands of the glorious Intercessor. Our requests for our friends, though removed to the ends of the earth, can be answered, when our friendly correspondence is often interrupted and uncertain.

5. I shall never be arrested by law or justice, because my debts are all discharged; and the Son having made me free, I am free indeed. Even death, that king of terrors, and sergeant at arms, that takes nobles, princes, and kings into custody, shall never arrest me; for he that has ennobled me has promised that I shall never see death, never feel the sting of death, never be hurt of the second death. How many princes and kings would give their crowns at their last moments for this heavenly privilege!

6. Though once poor and grovelling on the dunghill, yet since, by my spiritual peerage, the new birth, I am become precious in his sight, I shall be honour able-be set with princes, and made to inherit a throne of glory. Some nobles have been their sovereign's favourites, but none were ever their chief ornament, their crown; but I shall be (astonishing to tell!) a crown of glory to the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of my God. And no wonder I be so high in his esteem, who has given more than Egypt for my ransom, than Sheba and Ethiopia, for me; more than men for me, and people for my life, even his beloved Son to the death for me.

7. The King of kings, consistently with his majesty, may visit me; for the high and lofty One, who inhabits eternity, and dwells in the high and holy place, also dwells with the humble and contrite soul; and, says the divine Redeemer, " If any man serve me, him will my Father honour; and if a man love me, he will keep my words, and my Father will love him; and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." Nothing on earth bears a shadow of this honour; though crowned heads should visit cottagers, beggars, the condescension disappears before this heavenly kindness.

And, 8. The children of believing parents are federally holy; and though grace does not go by nature, yet in the sight of heaven and earth, the seed of the saints are esteemed. Even the envious Jews, who were enemies to the Gentiles, because the gospel was preached to them, yet, touching the election, were beloved for their fathers' sakes. How pleasant when a person can say, "He is my father's God, and I will exalt him." "I am thy servant, the son of thine

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handmaid." And even a king that was butchered, had burial bestowed on him by his very murderers, "because," said they," he is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the Lord with all his heart."

In these particulars, there is some similitude between a British peer and me, comparing earthly to heavenly things, though the advantage is all on my side; but in what follows there is no comparison

at all.

1. What boundless generosity, and unmerited kindness, appear in my creation! I can plead nothing on the piety of my progenitors; for my first father hath sinned, and so was an Amorite, and my mother an Hittite, and I myself a transgressor from the womb. Though pages, and mean-born persons, may have been raised from the dung-hill, and made ministers of state, yet what is that to my attainment? For his mercy is great toward me, and he has delivered my soul from the lowest hell, and, in my spiritual peerage, exalted me to the highest heavens; so henceforth through all generations I shall be blessed.

2. Some have been ennobled for their real services to their king and country; but the King of heaven needs nothing at my hand, yea, before my spiritual promotion, I was an alien, an enemy, a rebel to his government and glory. Now, though a rebel has now and then been reprieved and pardoned, yet never was a rebel, who had spent his whole past life in acts of rebellion against his sovereign, taken immediately into favour, and ennobled. O the depth of divine wisdom! O the riches of grace!

3. A nobleman, on his creation, assumes a new title; and whatever his name be, he henceforth is called, and subscribes himself by his new title, and

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