Lord resisteth Oh give thy poor unworthy one more grace and keep my soul humble under the sence and feeling of thy gratious Love so shall I Lord still praise thee and whilst I live extol the riches of thy grace O to injoy this sweet communion with thy glorious self Dear Lord this is more delightful and more pretious to me then to injoy the greatest treasures upon eâ—rth how pretious is the Lord unto my soul These are the excellencies and the glorious priviledge of a regenerate soul a new creature whose heart is changed through the gratious opperation of the holy spirit the whole nature is changed the glorious Image of the Lord Jesus is râ—newed on it it is made an heir of Heaven a tempâ—e of the Holy Ghost a member of Christ Of thirsting after assurance of Heaven BLessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled they shall be made to drink deep of the wells of Salvation they shall be filled in the mansions of eternal glory when others shall be deprived of the least crum of comfort t is he that seeks shall find and he that knocks shall have the door opened unto him seek ye first the kingdom of Heaven and the righteousness thereof and all these things shall be added unto you things of this life are but additional acts of his bounty The great and prime part of a Christians work is to make sure of Heaven and his eâ—ernall happyness hereafter O great is that goodness of the Lord how abundant his compassion his love to poor sinful man who would not have them set their hearts on such poor low things as only this world affords but a Kingdom of glory yea an everlasting Kingdom that shall never fade a kingdom in which dwelleth righteousness the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus no less then these things would the Lord have his poor people covet after the rest are but things less material and shall be given over and above these things shall be added to you O wonderful goodness Such great and glorious priviledges such promises such additional comforts Oh what is man that thou shouldest be so mindful of him or the son of man that thou shouldest thus delight to do him good Oh my soul this is the Lords doings it is the great JEHOVAH is thus pleased to stoop and condescend on terms of mercy to take poor sinful souls into his favour I and he willeth nothing less to them then an eternal weight of Glory and is not this worth seeking after O sure it is to that soul who hath had a tast of what it is su e heavenly treasures far exceed all earthly vanities then surely in proportion to the goodness of them should the desire of the â—oul be let out after them Therefore O let thy affections be set on heavenly things since it is the goodness of the Lord to thee that thou mightest â—ast that he is gratious that thou shouldest by sweet experiences find him to be faithful in whatsoever he hath promised for good unto thy soul thy poor immortal soul which without his grace had perished to all eternity O 't is for good to thee the Lord hath thus commanded thee to seek that everlasting Kingdom O t is thy soul will be the gainer and thou through grace shall one day find it so O remember my Soul thy Covenant with God in the day of thy espousal then when it was the time of love when he was pleased to put thee in the clefts of the rock Christ Jesus and then to cause his gâ—ory to pâ—sâ— before thee to make with thee an everlasting Covenant setled and sure thâ—t in the unchangeableness of his Grace shall stand for ever wer 't thou but all wayes in the contemplations of these heavenly joyes thy heart could find no time to place it self on such mean things as this poor world affords to be rich in Grace and to be heirs of Glory O how much better is it then to be incumbred with the things below to have Communion with God and to joy in the presence of thy King is far better then to be in favour with the greatest Princes upon Earth oh let my soul dear father live daily in the rich experience of this blessed truth more and more whilst my abode is here oh let me find the daily quickning of thy gratious spirit to injoy thy presence is to live in Heaven whilst here oh tâ—s thy self that makes the passage sweet to Glory oh t is the cords of thy Love that makes the soul to run with hungrings and breathings after thee that makes it love thy precepts more then its dayly food thus thou hast made me through thy grace experimentally to tast O then hide not thy face dear Lord from my soul The Loves wherewith thou hast delighted my soul goes beyond all earthly glories oh in the sence of this let my soul walk before my God in its integrity yea for this will I go unto my God and Father for daily supplies since he it is that giveth liberally Meditations of Death IS death a terror to a gâ—atious Soul what is there in it can affright thee when as the sting is gone let it put on its worse ill shapen dress it can it shall produce no harm unto thee Death shall but â—elease thee from a wretched world of misery and prefer thee to a glorious Crown of blessedness the one will make thee everlasting miserable the other eternally happy in the fruition of the fathers Love in the full free and perfect injoyment of his glorious presence unto all eternity oh then how happy how blessed a thing it is to be dissolved and be with Christ where sin shâ—ll no more haunt thee here poor soul thou canst not chuse but see thy self daily involved with sin followed with corruptions one of the worst of sinners and in that thy shame should pull thee down into the dust and make thee daily mourn in the abhorrency of thy vile self since 't is a God of so much Love that thou dost daily sin against oh wretched Soul maist thou cry out who shall deliver thee from this body of death Yet O my soul take comfort in a dying Lord and glory in the strength of him who is the God of thy salvation O let his strength be magnified in thy weakness and the riches of his grace appear more glorious in the saving of such a one thou well maist say thou art the worst of sinners and yet through grace thou canst say thou dost abhor sin dost thou delight in it no t is thy burthen and since t is so take comfort In the remembrance of him who sweetly sayes come unto me he hath taken out the sting and is become thine advocate yea and will plead thy cause through his own merit and everlasting Righteousness in which through free grace and infinit mercy he will present thee spotless before the throne of that Heavenly Grace
patience that race which thou hast Lord appointed me to run with perseverance in true Godliness unto the end That when any Bâ—ridegroom comes I may be drest With him to go unto that Marriage Feast And being fitly trim'd may meet my Dear And gratious Lord where I shall never fear More to displease him but delighted be In fresh Communion to Eternity O blessed Lord how hast thou sweetned grace In making me to behold thy Heavenly face How beautiful dost thou appear to thine On whom thou makest thy glorious face to shine Inflame my heart Lord with more heavenly fire And fill my heart with love more to aspire Through grace dear Lord thou hast made love to me More sweet and pleasant then all Wines can be By sweetness blest and put in gratious store Given to those poor Souls which will implore Thy Heavenly blessings O let thy love then fill Mâ— Soul with Songs of praises to thee still If drops of love thus pleasant are to thee What will the Ocean in thy presence be But I have tasted the abundant goodness of my God therefore shall my Soul trust in thee and though my sins are many yet thy love is unchangeable O blessed be thou O Lord and blessed in thy everlasting love by which thou wert pleased to look upon so poor and base a creature and cloath her naked soul When new born by grace in Eternal Wisdom with that most glorious robe of Righteousness through which to afford it so glorious a priviledge as to come into thy presence even I a poor worm and to plead with the great and holy O infinite and transcendant love of the eternal glorious God to poor sinful Dust and Ashes And now what hath the Lord required in return of this his great and tender love by which he hath broken thy bands but love for love again canst thou not love the Lord with all thy heart that thus hath loved thee What love Lord was ever like that of thine to me and shall it be for gotten O shall my stupid heart forget what Christ hath done for me O let it be more deeply ingraven in my Soul But now my Soul should we examine how far thou hast gone in thy Masters work he hath committed to thee how far short doest thou come of doing what thou wert commanded yet through grace my Soul desires to be found faithful in the talent thou Lord hast in mercy committed to my trust and nothing more hath my soul desired then to be made conformable to thy blessed will in all things what is thy will O Lord let my will be wholly assenting thereto thou art he who knowest what is best for me O how sweet and how much pleasure should I find in afflictionâ— or in the greatest evils this life could inflict upon me could but I find my God in them O how sweet and glorious would be the darkest and obscurest corner of the earth might I but find there thy glorious presence far better then the Courts of Princes what are they Lord or all the pleasures of this vain world to one hours communion with thy blessed self O blessed be the holy name of my most gratious Lord who caused me to say with blessed David I had rather be a door-keeper in the House of my God then to injoy the greatest pleasures and preferments upon the earth Yea Lord so do I fear my frail Nature and my Deceitful Heart that I dare not ask thee any thing of that least I fall into temptation or be taken in a snare and so forget my God but this would I do dear â—ord wholly resign my self into thy gratious hands what Lord thou seest fitting for me let me be there with content My time O Lord which here I have is short and thy pleasure shall suffice since thou hast chose for me an Heritage Eternally in thy presence where is fulness of joy and rivâ—rs of plâ—asures for evermore but this Lord let me beg since tâ—s thy gratious pleasure thus to condescend to suffer such poor Worms to plead with thee O that thy grace may be sufficient for me to answer all my wants and subdue all my corruptions and every thing that stands in opposition to thy Glory that I may pass the time of my so journing here iâ— fear to offend my good and gratious God whom I have not found flack concerning his promise but infinitely beyond what I dare ask For Lord in thee are all my fresh springs and thou only knowest of what I stand in need this is my comfort that through grace I can say O let me ever remember it unto thy Glory that though thou feed me with the bread of affliction yet thou art my God and though I am a poor unworthy sinful creature yet art thou still a God that changeth not but thou hast made with me through thy free grace and mercy an everlasting Covenant which shall never be revoked Meditations on the power of God God being her Father FIx thou O Lord my Soul upon those heavenly Mansions those Celestial Glories where thy presence dwells then shall I say Lord make thou here my resting place my soul desires to be with thee and to behold thy Glory man in his best estate is altogether vanity and yet the infinite and holy God sees matter of pitty in him yea he pittyed them in their low estate because his mercies indure for ever it was mercy caused him to take such pitty of the poor Soul when in thy blood when poor and miserable wretchedly miserable and he is the same God still not only able but willing to continue merciful ye the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting unto them that fear him and as the heavens are in height above the earth my poor soul look up then and see O see what great things the Lord hath done for thee it is â—e the holy one of Israel who in habiteth eternity who dwelletlâ— in the â—ighest heavens in the infinite and in compreâ—ensiable God the King of glory the Lord of hosts omnipotent in power Majestyes and gâ—ory omnipotent in every place a God wâ—ose name is wonderfull and who gloryeth in his mercy because he delighteth to be gratious t is he whose own arm brought Salvation for thee and hath redeemed thy life from destruction and saved and called thee out of the cruel boâ—dage of him who sought thy finall destruction O therefore my soul forever bless the Lord and forget not all his benefits let them be written on the table of thy heart for an everlasting memoriall this great King of Heaven and earth that hath condescended so far as to stoop to the poor sinfull dust and ashes from whom thou deservest nothing but frowns and eternall wrath begs thy acceptance of him to be thy Saviour behold I stand at the door and knock O open those everlasting doors that the king of glory may come in Aâ—d take up his abode in the poor Soul so ever
even from my Youth and if my deceitful heart deceive me not I dare appeal unto thee for the sincerity of it oh that thou wouldest make me usefull to thee in that way or any way thou shalt be pleased to choose that I might glorifie thy great and holy Name Sweet Discoveries of the Love of God in Jesus Christ Oh how good a God have I who is pleased every day to bear up my Soul with the sweet influâ—nces of his gratious Spirit and pretious incomes of his tender Love O how could I sit and meditate of thy loving kindness all the day long where can I find any comfort in this World but in thy presence there have I Lord indeed through thy Grace found a fulness of Joy a time of endless pleasures O what am I or what is my Fathers House that I should be the daughter to a King that I a worm a poor detestable creature madâ— up with clay and dust nay worse then a worm they being creatures which shall prey upon me for that I am aâ—pointed for their food yet that the Lord of Hosts the Holy One of Israel the High and Mighty God the King of Glory the King of Kings who is a King over the whole Earth should yet be pleased thus to abase himself as to have thoughts of love for such a poor unworthy wâ—etched creature as I am oh how unworthy am I of thy favours yet Lord because thou hast bâ—d me hope in thy mercy I dare do no otherwise nay Lord thou hast commanded me to believe Loâ—d I believe pardon my unbelief that should in any ways cause me in the least to distrust the riches of thy Grace or thy unspeakable goodness which is thy Glory since thou art pleased dear Lord to make a worm the object of thy grace Oh let my Soul injoy these sweet transcendant pleasures which lye discovered to my soul in the rich treasury of thy unbounded love whilst others take their fill of Worldly vanities When I considered the sinfulness of my nature my weaknesses my frailtyes and my many infirmities oh what is there in me should ever cause the Lord to pitty me or yet to continue his favour to me in so â—aspeakable a manner N my Soul bless thou the Lord for Jesus Christ in whom the Lord is pleased richly to look upon thee O happy is the soul that is born up by such a support how wretched had my soul been had not the Lord laid help on one who is mighty hadst not thou had the Lord to be thy Saviour Christ the dear son of God to be thy Redeemer O blessed be the Lord and blessed be my Rock who hath thus looked upon sinful mankind and thus loved the Sons of Men as to give his only dearly beloved Son to dye for such poor miserable wretches as I O the wonderful goodness of God the transcendant and unspeakable riches of his grace in Jesus Christ O my Soul canst thou but be filled with holy admiration at the infiniteness of his Glory the unspeakable and transcendant beauty of thy dear Redeemer this indeed is rich mercy That the Lord should come into the World and give his life a ransome for poor sinners but that thou shouldest be one for whom the Lord was pleased to leave his glory to take upon him the habit of a servant the nature of a sinful man that thou shouldest be one for whom the Lord became himself a curse to redeem thee from the curse that was due to thee and from that which there was no Redemption but through the blood of that pure and spotless Lamb that Christ the Son of God should give himself to dye a shameful death for thee that thou mightest live that thou mightest be partaker of those glorious benefits and gratious priviledges which came by him O my soul that thou should be one to whom such exceeding love is shown O my soul how doth the love of Christ constrain thee to love him O my poor unworthy soul how art thou bound for ever to admire and only aim at and seek the glory of thy dear Redeemer O my dear Redeemer how is my poor unworthy heart carried out to admire thy dear and tender love Lord if to injoy the Communion with thy Saints and people here on earth be such a glorious priviledge which thou hast made my soul to long after O then what is it to injoy Communion with thy Saints and Angels to all Eternity in the presence of my Lord and Saviour What darkness can Eclipse that glory or rather will not that glory quite put out that glory which the World but falsly yeilds what is all the glory of the World or all the Kingdoms of the Earth compared to the apprehention of a Heavenly Kingdom in the soul here much less to the full injoyment of it to all Eternity What is all the glory of the world but poor empty husks poor deceitful vanities a very lie which at the best makes but ashamed but Lord how glorious art thou in the beauties of holiness my Soul hath found enough in thee to fill it with a holy admiration O that I might forever be admiring of thy glory what are the treasures of the earth poor low base things that we should have our hearts so much carried after them What is it the hearts of the World runs out so much after is if there was their greatest happiness Is it not that they may gain abundance of riches and what are they when they are gotten but thorns to put out their own eyeâ— they â—oyl and labour hard in the woâ—ld â—or that which is at best of no induring substance and if they make a shift to keep it whilst they continue here yet at the Grave this the great happiness must leave them O misserabâ—e are they whose chiefest good consists in worldly vanities what is all the treasure upon Earth to that in esteemable Riches which are only to be found in Jesus Christ of how much greater value is that one pearl of great price then all the Pearls and Diamonds aâ—d the richest treasure upon earth Lord fill thou my heart with Heavenly Treasure and let my Soul be rich in grace oh tâ—at iâ— might be such in which I might bring glory to thy Name Meditations upon my Saviours Love HOw excellent a thing is Love how doth it adorn a Christian and comes most near the Image of a loving Saviour never was any love like to his love he loved us not because we first loved him no we were enemies yet even then he loved us and had compassion on us O the riches of divine Love see the sweet indearments of a loving Saviour greater love can no man show then to lay down his life for his friends yea but our dear Lord said down his life for us when we were enemies and from being enemies he is pleased to stile us friends and not only so but behold what manner of love the Father hath
saith my God But now here is pleasure which proceeds from the breast of wisdom such pleasure as will bring profit to the soul and peace also such pleasure as will never hurt the soul but make it happy for ever What is it people take pleasure in is it not commonly in things that excel for richness for glory and delight c. Pray consider what thing more glorious can we have then to be found in the radiments of Heaven for glory for beauty for splendor for delight and comfort such are not to be found in the earth nor in the least to be equalled with it to injoy Communion with a God who is infinitely glorious so that there is none like unto our God to have an interest in a Christ who is altogether lovely and can it be exprest the good and comfort a soul in Christ is inriched withal even with joy unspeakable and full of Glory Oh what comparison can be made with the joys of heaven and those Rivers of endless pleasures which are at Christs right hand for evermore these are the pleasures which true spiritual Wisdom is accompanied with nay her paths are pleasantness and her ways are peace she leads in the wayes of God and those wayes are the wayes of peace and worldly troubles can never overcome a heavenly peace is it not a comfort to a Soul though in the midst of storms in the world to see himself at peace with God what sufferings would he think hard and too much for him to bear when he sees his Soul in a bond of peace being reconciled unto the Father by the Son even Christ Jesus This is not such a peace as the world giveth no 't is the peace of God which passeth all understandings which God is pleased to give unto his Saints alone as an earnest of eternal happiness and t was the care of our dear Saviour himself at his parting out of the world to leave his peace with us even with his own to bear them out and keep up their hearts in those tryals temptations and conflicts which they are sure to meet withal in their pilgrimage before they come to that holy Hill of Sion that heavenly Jerusalem that glorious City of which the Lamb himself is the light which being attained the recompence surely outpasses very much the labour after it here is the pleasure of a true believer in the fruition of God and here lies his comfort in being at peace with God and this can bear him up and support him though in the midst of a fiery furnace now those are the pleasures of the godly but the worldlings pleasures are of another kind the wicked deliâ—hteth himself in worâ—d iâ— vanities as if their were the greatest happiness and truly so it is to them they think not of their eternal being 〈◊〉 make provision â—or the flâ—sh â—haâ— they may 〈◊〉 the luâ—t thereof And hâ—d rather loose heaven with all the glory of it although it be a being of eternal rest rather then part with their base lusts in which they take pleasure and which they cannot keep long but may in the midst of those their pâ—easures â—e snatched away and 〈◊〉 to receive the reward of their actions in horror and eternal darkness those that had rather sin then suffer for the cause of Christ here shall assuredly suffer for their sin to all eternity he is not worthy of Christ that cannot with coâ—tenâ— parâ— wiâ—hal for him what is our all even nothing when we consider the gain we have by Christ nay what have we of our own to loose what we have is it not from the hand of our heavenly father who is the given of all goodness We â—â—ceive it and cannot he that giveth all take it aâ— again wâ—ensoever he pleaseth and if he â—hrough his infinite wisdom seem good to take hose things from us which might through our base corrupt hearts proves snares to our Souls and give unto us heavenly treasures the riches of his grace and gift of his holy spirit the true wisdom to know him who to know a right is life Eternal and having of these how great will the exchange be what cause can a Soul in such a case have to complain although he were stript of all worldly comforts surely he ought to lay his hand upon his mouth and submit unto the Lord in all things Naked came I out of my mothers womb c. Yet sometimes the Saints of God walk in heaviness under the afflicting hand of God even when the Lord hath withdrawn his quickning presence from them which made David lye sobbing under so great an oppression also all the dear Children of God have been sensible of the loss they have sustained by Gods withdrawing of his presence from them what sad cries and complaints have the church made for the same reason but will God forsake for ever no he will not for a moment I hid my face from thee but in everlasting kindness will I remember thee whom God loves he loves for ever and chastisements are but effects of his love the dearest of Gods Children may stand in need of the rod of Correction And God is pleased as a loving Father to try all waâ—es for his Childrens good he will hide his face from them that they may see the evil of their sin which hath caused them to loose the comfort of their Souls and thereby return with repentance that they receive mercy for he is a tender hearted father who looks with the eyes of compassion on his Children and will hear them when they cry unto him he will put their tears into his bottle so pretious are they in his sight he will comfort the mourner and hath pronounced him blessed O blessed be the means that brings such blessedness to the Soul that it should be taken notice of by the great God who would not be a mourner all his dayes to have such a comforter to help and succour him and who would not forsake the vain pleasures of the world to injoy those heavenly felicities and eternal pleasures which are at Christ right hand for ever more Lord give me evermore that bread and satisfie my Soul there with O see where beauty lies the Kings daughter is all glorious within there 's her beauty not laid open to the eyes of worldlings but in the sight of her well beloved alone to the world they look black and swarthy yet are they washed in the fountain of his blood hence they are declared to be without spot the world seeth not these things but the Lord is the searcher of hearts and the tryer of Reins whose eyes go through the earth and knoweth who they be whose hearts are upright before him O here is wisdom even in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus whom to know to know a rigbt is life Eternal to know God to be a wise just and merciful God to those that have his fear in their hearts who desire to walk in obedience
Grace hath experienced and that alone hath put me upon this according to the measure wherewith the Lord hath inabled me to desire the good and eternal welfare of the Souls of my dear Brothers and Sisters and as we are all one in flesh and blood oh that it were the will of the Lord that we might be all of one and the same spirit sanctified by faith through the blood of Jesus Christ and it may be as I hope it will a Sisters counsel which hath experimentally tasted the wonderful goodness of God may work yet more upon you through the operation of his good spirit therefore suffered me to say it is good to seek the Lord whilst he may be found to call upon him whilst be is near Oh that I could perswade you to lay hold on time whilst the day lasteth not to resist the tenders of Grace when they be offered to you least they be hid from your eyes it is only the infinite wisdom goodness and mercy of God which only causeth him to look upon such sad wretched rebellious creatures as we are who could of stones raise up Children to praise him he hath no need of us nor our services but the need we had of a Saviour hath caused him to look upon us when no eye pittâ—ed us and in his infinite wisdom found ouâ— a means of deliverance even the dear son of his love whom he hath given to be broken bruised suffer death and become a curse for poor sinners that he might redeem them from the curse of the Law but this priviledge doth not belong to all sinners in general but to such who by a lively faith lay hold upon this crucified Christ else they who are sinners will be sinners still they shall dye in their sins and the wrath of God will be upon them to all Eternity great is the misery of a Christless and gracâ—less soul being an enemy to God then how can God be otherwise then an enemy to it Oh how can a soul rest in such a condition as this what peace can they have Doth it not then behove every soul to be earnest in searc hing to find out the true estate of his soul knowing for a truth they being the words of our Saviour that unless a man be born again he cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven till they are regenerated become new creatures in Christ putting off the old man with his deeds and putting on the new man which is after the spirit in righteousness and true â—oliness and this is all to be done by an interest in Christ that so his righteousness may become ours and all those priviledges of grace and mercy which he hath purchased may be imputed to us through the blood of his Cross and so by being in Covenant with the Father through the Son we shall have all things Oh what a blessed state is it to be in Covenant with the great God of Heaven and Earth Oh what a depth of Love iâ— it and how great a comfort is it to a poor soul covered over with a leprosie to see a Phâ—sitian not only able but willing to cure him for a poor lost creature which sees himself undone in himself by reason of the vast guilt and debt which lies upon him the shame which lies upon his soul by reason thereof As not daring to lift up his eyes to heaven when he shall not see only his debts paid but also Christ his advocate pleading with the Father in his behalf oh here lies the Souls true happiness and here is a believers comfort that Christ died not only for sinners but for me a sinner what is this to me or what comfort can it bring me to have a notion as most of the World hath that Christ died for sinners and I am one amongst the rest and therefore I hope to be saved by Christ had I no greater evidence for heaven my condition would surely be ever miserable but blessed be God it is otherwise with me and certainly if it were not my soul would be in a very restless condition oh did but any of you know what it is to be in a state of Grace you would surely see a sweet change you would look over and lament the many pretious hours you have let go in seâ—king after vanity and in the mean while lost so much sweetness and comfort as is to be had in the knowledge of God ways which are the things only delightful having substance and reality and can only proffit the Soul All other things are meer shaddows empty husks which cannoâ— satisfie the Soul these things which appear so pleasing to you now would when bâ— Grace you come to see the evil of them be the objects of your hatred there is nothing so gloriâ—us so sweet and so lovely as is the Lord Jesus he is aâ—together lovely to a gratiouâ— Soul who has tasted of divine goodness and hath been refreshed with the sweet streams of his Love which had you once but tasted you would surely see all earthly injoyments but poor vain things and count them all as nothing yea worse then nothing in comparrison of that hidden treasure that unsearchable riches which is laid up in the Lord Jesus and shall â—e revealed in his Saints oh that the Lord would incline your hearts to consider and weigh these things in your mind which is it better that your bodies should for a moment of time injoy the deceitful pleasures in this World then that your immortal Soulâ—s should injoy those transcendant and certain pleasures which shall never fade those heavenly Mansions of eternal rest which those Souls shall find who are in Christ at the last day and shall live in the presence of their dear redeemer for ever where the Soul shall never find more trouble but be ever praising the Loâ—d and singing HALâ—LE-LUJAHS to the King of Sainâ—â— oh how glorious a time will this be who is it then that would not be content with Balaam to dye the death of the righteous but unless we live the life of the righteous our latter end would not be so if Christ be not in us we are reprobaâ—es we lye under the heavy Wrath of an angry God and as it were dropping into hell every moment there ro receive the just reward of our doings in eternal distruction from which there is no redemption in a Lake which burneth with brimstone and fire and never goeth out is not assurance better then suspence is it not good to have assurance aâ—ways about us that when we shall come to render up our Souls at what timesoever they are required of us we may have nothing to do but resign it unto our fathers bosom Oh presume not in thy own supposed goodness Nothing but Christs blood could purchase Redemption and if by a lively faith thou canst lay hold on him thou shalt be made partaker of Christ and his benefits his righteousness made over to thee Then mayest thou with
upon those glorious objects let Christ be all in all to thee that thou having nothing in thy self might see thy ALL in him and fetch thine ALL from him O blessed be that fountain in whom all fullness yea everlasting fulness dwells Meditations on the 11th Ch. of Matthew verse 28 29 30. See here O Soul the pretious invitations of a glorious Christ Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest c. WHo is it the Lord invites is it not poor distressed sinners O it is such he calls to tast his mercies loe every one that thirsteth come and come freely these tenders of my Love these are the tenders of Love the Soul satisfying comforts come unto me bring hither thy wearied soul though laden with iniquities I will give thee rest cast thy burthen upon me O merciful Redeemer that art thus pleased for the good of man to bear the burthen of our sins those loads of Iniquities which we should have sunk under in wrath to all Erernity But since the Lord hath in his wisdom in his goodness in the abundant riches of his Grace been pleased to be the sinners friend O let it be of great use unto my soul who am the greatest of sinners 't is thou who seest my wearyed tired Soul O blessed be thy holy Name for the riches of this grace thy unspeakable Love that wilt not despise the poorest nor unworthy soul that neeâ—s thy help although they cannot crave it nor dare not lift up their eyes unto the Throne of thy Grace yet wilt thou be gratious unto whom thou wilt be gratious and because thy tender compâ—ssions fail not therefore thou art pleased to have mercy upon me a poor wretched creature ah to thy name be glory and let my soul dear Lord for ever live thy praise for thou alone canst work that frame upon my heart that only pleaseth thee O 't is into thy gratious hands I would commit my soul work in it Lord thy will since I am thine through grace O let me live no longer to my self for thou art my strength by which work O Lord in me such a child like frame of spirit as becomes thine to yeild thee in true obedience with holy fear O let the Image of my Lord be formed in me that so in his light I may see light that I may be filled with joy and comfort and may have something to suâ—port me in an evil day a day of tryal and temptation My soul O meditate upon the unbounded love of God in Christ thy Lord and the Lord in the abundant riches of his Grace in abâ—e thee with a sincere heart and sound judgement to apply these sweet soul experienced comforts and relishes of Love wherewith thou hast through grace been comforted often and since prayer and Meditations is the way to make safe the soul when Satan with his subtle Engines seeks to batter Lord let him not prevail but let thy grace be now sufficient for me and now my soul tast here feed upon the sweetness of this call Come unto me it may be thou hast said thy sins are many and thou darest not come an but consider who it is that calls thee is it not Christ thy Lord yet he commands thee because thy sins are many and thou art troubled with the weight of them therefore come leave not thy sins behind thee for that thou canst not do but bring them to the feet of Christ thy Saviour he in his grace will ease the burthen wherewith thy soul was laden and give thee a blessed exchange even his own righteousness imputed to thee so hast thou found a righteousness in him made thine by which being cloathed thou hast access unto the Throne of Grace and shalt find favour with thy God yea the Lord will be thine everlasting Righteousness and though thou art polluted and defiled with sin and corruption yet in Righteousness were thou called and Christ will cloath thy naked Soul with his Righteousness a garment without spot or blemish O come and come daily at his call give no time to Satan to cast it in thy Teeth that thou shalt one day perish through the mulâ—itude of thine iniquities for Christ is mighty and of power to save unto the utmost and though thou canst see nothing in thy self but that which might bring eternal wrath upon thy head every moment yet here is thy comfort in that he hath accepted thee in the beloved for whose sake he can deny thee nothing and therefore O Lord to thee be Glory for ever who in thy love and tender compassion to my poor Soul hast delivered it from the pit of corruption For thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back O that my Soul made living by thy Grace might ever praise thee who is it calls me O my Soul behold the Lamb of God made Man to take away the sins of the World Christ Jesus the eternal Son of God dis-throned himself to be a Saviour of poor sinful Man lost and undone Man for whom there was no way of Redemption but by him and by him alone O here is love indeed Behold I come says he to do thy will O God he was willing to come from heaven to earth from Glory to be cloathed with flesh the garment of sinful man and all that thou mayest be cloathed with Glory immortality eternal life Behold O my Soul be filled with holy admiration with what manner of Love the father hath loved us that so we should we sinners be called the Children of the great and Holy God a God who inhabitest eternity whose dwelling is in the highest heavens who is the King of Glory and being come to call poor sinners co repentance through the eternal wisdom of the father perfected redemption by taking our natures upon him he who knew no sin became sin for us that we should be made in him partakers of the Righteousness which is by faith in his blood he hath paid thy debts and cancelled thy bonds he is become thy surety and has broken down that pertition wall which was between thee and thy fathers Glory hath made a way that new and living way through his own blood to approach the Throne of Grace and is there now making intercession for thee O blessed is that Soul whose iniquities thou hast covered and whose sin thou hast pardoned and blessed be that Soul to whom thou in grace shalâ— be pleased to impute no sin for how great O Lord are our dayly sinnings against thee the least of which were enough to separate this poor immortal Soul of mine for ever from thy gratious presence but 't is thy grace which makes thy unworthy creature hope and the unchangeableness of thy most glorious will O therefore it is such poor unworthy sinful creatures were not long ago consumed O blessed be God for thy grace and thy long suffering mercy whereby thou bearest and hast pitty on thy poor redeemed
that she fell asleep in Jesus even before we were aware of it and indeed she could hardly bear the absence from her dear Lord any longer as in her last Poem you will perceive Surely by such a despised Testimony the sleepy World is condemned and every Soul tâ—at peruseth it should be provoked to take the Kingdom of Heaven by the same violence And Professors of Godliness may hereby be convinced of slightness of Spirit sinful neglects formality in duty and ordinances Love of the World decays in Grace taking up with priviledges of Saints when intimate Communion with the Lord and growth of grace is not so seriously attended to by them against which this Treatise is also a living Testimony and may be blessed of God to the quickning of them Let all such specially but remark that veâ—n and Spirit runs through their short discourses which was to prepare and keep her Soul to God to be duly calling in her own heart much in deepest humbling and â—elâ— reflexion Praying Reading Meditation being her Morning and Evening exercise highly esteeming every opportunity of enjoying the Lord accounting the feet of those beautifull that brought the good tidings having a high reverence and affection for the servants of Christ in that work and an intire love to all Saints as Saints though of different perswasions at this day in the weakness Tenderness Patience Love of the Spirit especially let me bespeak the Congregation of Christ whereof she was a Member in this City as also all the Churches of Saints to be following this Holy and pretious example and practice which seemâ—th to be ordered by a hand oâ— prâ—vidence and grace to awaken professors from the evils mentioned which I fear have overtaken many instead of their soul being kept in life and warmth and attending to spirituallity and growth in grace and being full of love and good works under the loud calls they have thereunto by the word and providences of God they are under that they may witness a good profession as they are called thereunto in the midst of a gainsaying generation Reader in a word thou maist here learn what it is to live and dye comfortably which is the great concernment before thee which the Lord in his rich grace give unto thee and bless the reading hereof for the ends for which it is published as prayeth Thy Servant for Jesus sake A. P. In the Year 1670. The Account of her early conversation O my Soul considâ—r the wonderful goodness of God revealing his free Grace and unbounded Love towards thee a poor Worm oh how wonderful is this condescention of his that thou shouldest be made an object of mercy my soul forget not his unspeakable love let it be recorded keep in remembrance thâ—se choice blessings of a loving Father bestowed so freely on me in the Lord Jesus Christ the dear Son of his Love who hath born with thee in many weaknesses iâ—firmities and ever seem'd to ovâ—rlook all corruâ—tions and set thee undeâ— his eye of pitty and compassion O let this be a means mâ—re to incite to a near closer walking with God that thou maist be born up against the wâ—les of Sâ—tan thy subtle enemy whose aim iâ— to destroy thee for ever IN the 11 Year of my Age the Lord was pleased to take away my dear Mother my Parents were very dear and tender of me and did not leave me without instructions of the things of God At that time the Lord was pleased to carry out my heart to things I then knew not For as soon as my Parents had taught me there was a God I had an awe upon my heart concerning him I could then reason with my heart and said the Lord made me and he made me to serve him and I must do it so being young the Lord was pleased in the freeness of his Grace to kindle in my heart some small sparks of affections to himself I remember on a time a little Brother of mine was sick and my Mother being very tender of her Child one Lords day would not go to Church which caused me also to stay at home but wanting employment out of my Mothers sight went to work about my babies at night the Lord was pleased to take a way the Child I standing by the Cradle which brought a fear upon me presently that I had been the cause by my working that day of the Lords anger in taking away my brother I also remember that I went out and wept bitterly in the consideration of my days work but never let my friends know it I was much troubled at it but hoped such was the ignorance of my heart that all would be well again by my praying and going to Church which I was careful to do and fearful to omâ—â— one duty which might hinder the means of my salvation and cause the Lord to be displeased with me The Ten Commandments was much upon my heart making that my only rule to walk by and was earnest with the Lord that he would help me to the daily observing and fulfilling of them for then knew there must be a greater power then my own to inable me to the performance of it also my Parents taught me in my Carechism what was my duty towards God and towards my Neighbour by my continual saying of them the Lord was pleased to work them upon my spirit and into my affections and then in mercy to take notice of me in the freeness of his Grace and tender mercy to own me in the Lord Jesus Christ whom I was ignorant of aâ— to what he had done and undergone for my soul but now I can't but admire to behold the infinite goodness and tender love of God who was then pleased to chuse me from amongst my Brethren and his own self took care of me leading me by many paths of providence passing over all my Corruptions my weaknesses and my failings caused me to find a tender hearted Father of a great and Holy God oh how sweetly hath the Lord been pleased to carry on the work of Grace in my poor unworthy Soul How exceedingly doth his Glory shine and his goodness appear in that he whâ— iâ— the high and mighty One the Great God of Heaven and Earth the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords should condescend so far as to cast his eye upon a Worm much more His love upon a distressed creature About the same year of my Age the Lord was pleased to take away my dear Mother by which I had a great loss yet knowing it was my duty to trust God at all times I laboured therefore to be content and the Lord was pleased to bear me up by considerations of his love I was in the time of my Mothers life sickly and weak subject to divers bodily infirmiâ—ies which made my Mother the more tender of me hence I was more sensible of my great loss but such was thâ— goodness of God that he was pleased then wholy to take
little spiritual life and my heart also was carried out after vanities then I found that I had lost the former sweet incombs of the Lord and the refreshings of this blessed spirit and was as one luâ—led a sleep by the deceitful inchantments of Satan and malitious devices O wicked and decâ—iâ—ful â—eaâ—t how couldst thou so soon forget such bondage delivered from such 〈◊〉 aâ— the Devil had so often got thee into how soon hast thou forgot the God of all thy mercies how hast thou made the Lord to serve with thy sins Yet once more was the Lord pleased to call me out of my benumbed conditions and shewed how I was running my self into my own destruction Oh the goodness of the Lord who never dâ—d leave me but to see my oâ—n in aâ—ility to live without his heâ—p then did the Lord in mercy convince me of the emptiâ—ess of all Earthly vanities and also of that way of formal worship that it was a dead carnal lifeless thing under which my soul couâ—d not prosper and so growing weary of it more and more at length besought the Lord to guide my poor iâ—norant Soul which was so easie to be led away with every wicked and â—ubâ—ile device of â—atan my heart desired much to hear goâ—d men and when I could with convenience which some took notice of and said I was one whom the Apostle speaks of having iâ—chiâ—g ears ever lâ—arning c. â—his did muâ—h afflict me about which the Lord was pleased to give me a heart to seeâ— him and that earnestly for his assistance in the knowledge of his truth One more experience of the providence of God appeared unto me as an incouragement to trust in his mercy and to wait upon him by prayer for all things I had at that time a distemper upon me of which I saw no hope of cure yet one day particularly being in a serious meditation of the infinite goodness of the Lord toward me the Lord was pâ—eased to direct my eye upon a place of Scripâ—ure where I found the woman coming to the Lord confessing that she had â—pent aâ—l she hâ—d â—o be cuâ—ed of her Infirmity and one touch of Christs garment had done it from thence may not I come trembling that have received so many testimonies of his love tryed so many medcines before I came unto the Lord or looâ—ed up to him for help then did I bewail my unpâ—ofitableness yet went unto the Lord in the language of the Lepper and said Lord if thâ—u wilt thou canst make me clean who was not deaf to my poor request but in some small time was gratiously pleased as I may say without means wholy to clear me of it this mercy carried up my heart more to praise the Lord then any yet I had received who notwithstanding all my weaknesses and sinfulnesses was gratiously pleased to follow me with many mercys Of further discoveries of Christ Then was the Lord pleased in his gratious Providence to remove me to a place in H. Sh. where I had much more advantage of means and helps for my poor Soul VVHere the Lord was pleased to give me through his grace a little more insight into the mind â—f Christ evidencing himself to be a God graâ—ious and merciful abundant in gâ—odnâ—ss c. I was filled with admiration to see the holy glorious God abase himself to so poor a wretchless Creature as I then was I cryed out with earnest desires and longings after more of the knowledge of this God but here came I under strong temptations Satan was powerful in raising up of spiritual Pride but the Lord whose goodness never failled me did then take care for me thou O Lord who broughtest me out of the Pit of despair O suffer me not to climb up to the Mount of Presumption then was the Lord pleased in the tenderness of his love to convince me that the poor in Spirit were heirs of the Kingdom that the lowly Soul was his habitation then I besought God begging at the Throne of Grace for the assistance of his gratious Spirit without which I could do nothing and that he would humble me even to the dust that so my Soul might not loose the sight of that Glory revealed in the face of Jesus Christ This the Lord was gratiously pleased to grant and sweetly bring me to see a riches in Christ Jesus and that this was more to be desired then all the treasures upon Earth The longings of her Soul after Church Fellowship and all the Ordinances of Christ THen did I long after God and the injoyment of him in his own way and said Lord thou hast made me O lead me in that way wherein I may bring most glory to thy self I durst â—ot trust my own judgement but resign'd my self unto his will and continued my petitions at tâ—e â—hrone of Grace and at length he was pleased gâ—atiâ—usâ— to answer my poor prayer â—lessâ—d be â—hy name O Lord O let my Soul be inlarged in thy pâ—aâ—ses One day the Lord was pleased by a strange providence to cast me into the company of one that I never saw before but of a sweet and free disposition and whose discourse savour'd so much of the Gospel that I could not but at that instant bless God for his goodness in that providence it pleased the Lord to carry out our hearts much towards one another at that time and a little while after the Lord was pleased to bring us together again for the space of three dayes in which time it pleased God by our much converse together to establish and confirm me more in the desires I had to jâ—yn with the people of God in socâ—ety and enjoy Communion with them according to the order of the Gospel she was of a society of the Congregational way called Iudependants and gave me so clear a demonstration of their wayes that upon considerations and searching of the Scripture for the understanding of which learnestly besought the Lord I was cleerly convinc't in my judgment that this was the way which came nearest to the ruâ—e of the Gospel and the commands of Christ then were our hearts firmâ—y united and â— blessed the Lord from my soul for so glorious and vâ—sible an appearance of his love for I had many sweet refreshments given me at that time when she was gone I was sensible of the great mercy the Lord had been pleased to show me but in an instance snatcht it from me again at which I began to be troubled but aâ—ter a few reflections to this purpose why do I not patiently submit to the will of my Father who knows what is best for me my soul was again filled with hungrings and thirstings after God for a more clear and full inâ—oyment of him and that in that bâ—essed ordinance appointed for a seal to coâ—fiâ—m the Covenant he hatâ— gratiously made through hiâ— dear Son with aâ—l believers this was at a time when the Lord was pleased as to
to his ways and whose soul trembleth at his righteous judgements but to such that wilfully disobey his commands and despise his Laws setting their hearts against God and fight against him by their lusts the language of whose heart is truth God seeth it not God seeth all thy doings ye the very thoughts are not hid from him thou hast thy inventions and gloriest in thy strength know vain man God laughs thee to scorn if God sayâ—s but the word thy devices shall perish and thou shalt be consumed in the fire of his Wrath who wil come rendring vengeance upon such who obey not his word and who can stand before a consuming fire if the thoughts of God be so dreadful to unrepentant sinners here what will it be to such as the day of Judgement when they shall be summoned to appear before the presence of an angry God being only covered with their abominati abominations then shall they call to the 〈…〉 fall upon them and the Mountains to hiâ—e 〈◊〉 from â—he fierce wrath â—â— an angry God who will â—onsume thâ—m with tâ—e breaâ—â— of his nostrilâ— Alâ—s then there is no Mediator for their poor Souls no interceeder shall they see hee who would have been a Saviour to them now their Judge then shaâ—l they look back and consider the pâ—etâ—ous time they have lost the many offers of Grace they have rejected and despired the Spirit of the Lord which would havâ— led and instructed them in the way which leads to eternal happiness But now 't is too late the time of grace is gone the day is past Christ knocked at the door of thy heart but thou wouldst not he has proffered grace and mercy but thou rejectedst it and wouldst have none of it Christ has word and intreated and waited that he might be gratious yet thou hast been deaf and blind and hardued thy heart against him who pitriâ—d thee and would Have brought thâ—e out by 〈◊〉 intreaâ—ies of the way thou hast run headlong into to thy own destruction but thy heart was filled with vaniâ—ies at best which now thou hast found to be but shadows and thine ears were stoped and so taken up with thy lusts and pleasures that thou couldest give no ear to the intreaties of a Christ nor the kind invitations of a blessed Saviour who has called upon you to come and buy without mony or prise only with the loss of your lusts justly may it be said that thy destruction is of thy self that thou haâ—t willfully and willingly â—un thy self headlong into that gulf of horâ—â—r and eternal misery O Souls consider whom you do dispise what dulness is it thus posseseth you to reject the Lord of life whoâ—e service is so pretious who is all love sweâ—tnâ—sâ— and the only thing to be desirâ—d what is there to be desired that is not to be found in him who is all fulness out of whose fulness his own receive evâ—n grace for grace and what can we se in our minds to be more plesant to us then that which is but full and lovely what beauty can be like this beautâ— what glory can be equal to thiâ—e what is there can be compared unto thee O my Lord thou art all togather lovely who do you despise O see how wretchedly rather naturally dost thou sit upon a dunghill and feed upon husks rather rhen feed at the banquet of fat things feasted at the Kings banquet that had rather be bondslaves to Sin and Satan which brings nothing but shame and confusion both to Soul and body then to be freemen of Jesus Christ by whom comes life salvaâ—ion and eternall hapyness what thing is there in rhe world is so requisite and so needful that we should be thus blinded from beholding the necesity and the need we have of a crucified Christ what things is there in the world so glorious and so beautyful that should take our hearts off from those heavenly objects those celestial beauties those beams of gâ—ory that are set at the right hand of God O then be no longer fooles but wise redeeming the time get wisdome which is of so glorious a nature as to bring you to the true knowledge of God who calls upon you saying Blessed are they which attain to this Wisdom and lay it up in their hearts in so doing they shall find riches and honour proffit and pleasure and that of a higher Nature then any the world can produce and with all that blessed peace of conscience which brings the Soul to joy eternal what are the riches and the honours of the world richeâ— take wings thy are but a little dust things which God in an ordinary way of providence gives to the wicked whâ—n he has denyed them to the dearest of his Children aye and they are the wickeds portion therefore grudge it them not for they are their good things in this life but thine are laid up in the bosome of the Fathers love theirs shall be but for a time but thine for eternity besides they that have most of them have them not without their trouble they are empty having no substance nor realâ—ity in them but shadows Which by a fair shew delude the Soul and draw it in to a snare these are the things the world is so eagar after which being gained the value of them would not counter vaile the loss of the least smile of God how much better is it to gain Christ though with the loss of the world and allworldly injoyments then to gain the world with the loss of Christ So likewise honeurs they shall all fall and come to nothing keep it as long as thou canst which will be but as long as thou livest it is but for a moment and there be many thing may combine together to cut it short even in the midst of that moment but say thy henor should carry thee to the Grave it will leave thee there it will not carry thee to Heaven the wise and the honourable dyeth as doth the fool the poorest man that is can claim so much ground as to bury them in and thou canst do no more of earth thou wast made and to earth thou shall return there is nothing more sure then what is honour worthy worldly honour What â—ools are we when at the best it is but vanity and most that are in honour perish as doe the beasts happy is the man a fâ—om â—he Lord the Kiâ—g of Kings will honour with hâ—s grace holy Image surely the best Robe is put upon him evâ—n the Robe of Châ—ists Righteousness the White Robe of his inocencâ— the Ring shall be put upon his finger and he shall be more glorious and honourable then the Kings of the earth you 'l say 't is honour to a man to have the King his friend much more honourable it is then when the King is his Father and if this be honour to be a friend or child to an earthly Prince of how much greater honour is it to
thy Love run free my Soul to fill Oh leâ— the bounty of thy Love each day my Soul secure And let dear Lord thy mercies sweet to me poor worm indure So shall I tast with much delight thy blessings which are sure In them O Lord would I rejoyce as coming from the hand Of my dear Lord and Soveraign who doth all things command Let not the fulness fill my heart with pleasure and delight And take away my serious thoughts from praising thee aright O rather let me be in want then filled with loathsome Pride That will the Soul securely blind and sweetned mercies hide O let it be thy mercies still that I through grace may sing A song of praise to my Lord from whence all mercies spring Of self insufficiency HOw apt is the foolish heart of man to be puffed up with strong conceits of its own abilities and think it self something when indeed it is nothing O a monstrous piece of deceit therefore the Lord in his infinite wisdom suffers Souls to wander a little and so discovers the hearts deceitfulness that so poor creatures might go more out of themselves and see their own in abilities to any good and that they have nothing to depend on but the sure mercies of Iesus Christ have I not said with David surely I shall never be mâ—ved these sweet experiences of mercy and constraining love hath so ingaged my Soul to walk uprightly before God but I see there is no strength in me nor am I able to do any thing without fresh supplies of strengthning grace from thee therefore dear father be not far from helping thy poor worm that cries for succour from thee shall I ever give the reigns of my heart to run after the foolish pleasures of the world No not in the least there is a snare and Satan lurking to deceive therefore O Soul be watchful and dispise them all as things unworthy of thy love why they are vain and foolish but increase thou still after that greater good that Souls enamouring sweetness consisting in eternal pleasuâ—es in the most glorious Mansions of heaven where are celestial treasures and transcendant comforts Lord keep my heart from fooiish vanity And let my Soul feed ever upon thee O let my joys and comforts once again Quicken my Soul and there through grace remain O let the glory of thy grace appear To joy my Soul and to suppress my fear In sight of pretious Christ my Saviour dear Then shall I never have more cause of fear Yet t is too great a priviledge for me I have deserved naught but shame from thee Shouldest thou be just â—o mark what is amisâ— There 's nothing Lord of good dwells in my flesh T is at thy gratious footstool I woud lye To plead for mercy without which I dye Of Worldly Honour HOw poor a thing is worldly honour yet how it is hunted as if that were the chiefeli good as if the only way to make them happy were to have respect and honour from this foolish vain World poor Soul why are we so deceived with vain shadows whilst letting go the substance that Soul is truly honourabâ—e which is truly graâ—ious O how much better is it to be blessed with the least smile of Christ then to be made empress of the whole world man being in true honour understandeth not abideth not but is like the beast that perisheth soon forgetting his Maker and from whence he is tâ—ken not willing to remember that he is dust and thither he must â—eturn his heart is taken up with other things how to exceed in state in richness of attire in gallant speeches yea is there not too many who would thing it most honourable to be most vitious O how my Soul bleeds for their desperate blindness O why will you thus rebel and cause the Lord to pour forth the Vials of his Wrath upon your heads who thus prophane that holy and blessed name of the eternal glorious Majesty at whose presence Angels cover their faces and at whose voice the earth shook O what a Monster is sinful man whilst in the state of Nature But now poor Soul go not too far in searching others wayes Keep more at home unvail thy sad deceitful heart thou hast cause enough to lament and sadly bewail thy own miscarriages Is there not still rebelâ—ion harbours in thy breast O too too much many for rebelling against an earthly Prince go not unpunished but from whom dost thou revolt but from thy dear and loving father a tender hearted God who through riches of Grace looked upon thee had mercy on thee and owned thee in his dear Son the Son of his love what punishment mâ—yest thou not be thought worthy of that shouldest grieve the spirit of God who hath abounded thus in love and mercy unto thee Ah wretched soul when he hath hid it from thousands of others Surely had but the Lord been pleased to cause one of the least glimps of Glory to shine upon several of their rejected Souls they had exceeded thee in holiness of life sincerity of heart and all humble obedience they would not have had those daily failâ—ngs thou art attended with had but they tasted of that heavenly banquet that soul inriching treasure which is laid up in an eternity of Glory would they not more thirst and long O could they be satisfied without being swallowed up in Glory without that immediate possession that faith gives Heb. 11. 1. v. Would they see any thing to take delight in in this World below Christ would they not set the Lord ever before them and desire to be ever with him but what art thou and how far comest thou short in every duty but O my Lord in thee is my hope here is my comfort still for what am I without supports and supplies from thee I had fainted long ago hadst not thou by special grace upheld me and given in comforts from thy self Sure Lord it was from free love and thou hast said thy love inâ—ures for ever thou art God and therefore changeth not O therefore it is that I was not consumed long ago and since thy Grace dear Lord is still the same O let my Soul for ever trust in thee till thou shalt please to free me from this body of death in which I cannot serve thee without sin for when I would do good evil is present before me O but blessed be the Lord that there is a deliverance wrought and that by Jesus Christ and that in him I am not left without this blessed hope which being revealed in due time I shall be released and enter into my fathers joy O Heavenly joy indeed where thou shalt be for ever happy in the most glorious presence of thy Lord from whence nothing shall part thee and where thou shalt never sin more but be for ever singing HAL-LELUJAH'S to his holy Glorious Name for this then will I wait but Lord grant me help from us above to run with
thou part with him on any terms surely thou hast not loved him for Loaves only but for that excellency the Father hath cloathed him with the fear of man brings a snare but he that trusteth in the Lord shall be safe man says thou shalt not doe this c. t is disobedience to commands of men and the Issue of it will be either prison Banishment or death but the spirit of God says pay thy vows though it come in competition with thy very life for he that loveth his Father Mother c. Ye his very life better then me is not worthy of me and he that taketh not up his Cross to follow me cannot be my disciple then surely t is better disobeying man on earth then to be found an offender of the Majesty on high the waies of Christ are still the same good waies in persecution and they were in peace nor are they a whit the less disowned by Christ for being disallowed of man the soul that truly is established in Gospel truths is upon a sure foundation and owning Christ to be his Lord and King gives the honour due unto his King his Lord and Law giver As thy redeemer as thy saviour as a mediator now in heaven interceeding for thee as thy Lord and King as one who being fully interested in the fathers love and in all the father is and hath also made thee through grace to perticipate thereof O the unbounded richeâ— of free love what love was ever like to that of Christs who loved not his life unto the death but gave it freely for thee that thou mayest thereby freely come out of that cursed damned estate thou else hadst lain in unto all eternity and into the glorious liberty of Sons O how sweetly sounds that word Sons and Daughters heirs of a Kingdom and Co-heirs with Christ Jesus this is a believers portion and a glorious portion through the lively exercise of faith for the Lord in the offers of his grace sayes come come freely without any worth in your selves or good of your own and take my Son and with him all that shall make you eternally happy the Lord Jesus he a lone is thy redeemer he a lone is thy Redeemer he alone hath perfected the work of thy Redemption And unto him be glory ye all glory for ever and for ever who still had been a glorious and a holy God though thou hadst perished to all eternity and now what hath he required of thee O my soul but to love him to own him and this love begits obedience to him and love unto his laws and from which if thou shouldest now draw back thou wilt deny thy love to him and through a slavish fear make Shipwrack of thy faith deny the power faithfullness soveranity and omnipotency of the great God and so be come a prey to Satan and loose thy soul thy God thy Christ and all thy heavenly treasures forever the Lord in his mercy prevent it and all this for a song a sinful compliance with the men of the worâ—d and for fear of there threats sin against such Light such Love such Convictions of Conscience as the Lord through rich grace hath manifested to thee then consider how the Lord speaks to his poor covenant people who art thou that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall dye when I am on thy side who hath power to do with all men whatsoever he will am not I your Father and cannot you trust me with your preservation though in suffering times there fore O my soul trust in the Lord let him bee all thy stay and â—â—e assured all shall be well with thee if suffering be thy Lot as it is all theirs that will live Godly â—â— Christ â—esus the Lord will give out strength proportionable for he hath said that he will lay no more upon thee then he will inable thee to bear then let thy sufferings be what they will they shall be crowned with a glorious Isue thy small moment of affliction shall work for thee an eternity of glory say they then vaunt over thee with reviling speeches and reproach the too with sedition Hypocriâ— Hereticks Schismaticks c. Better is it to bear the Reproach then be truly guilty but what is this when the Lord saith Blessed are ye when all men hate Reproach and speak all manner of evil against you for my sake shall the Disciples be abâ—vt his Lord for what can they do to thee that they have not done to him He suffered a vile and shamefull death without the camp for the bearing this reproach he was scoffed at made a scorn off reviled buffered spit upon and at lengt crucified and all for thy sake taking it patiently and quietly and can't thou be content to suffer some small thing for his sake who hath suffered such great things for thee therefore my soul fix thou thy faith on Jesus Christ who ever liveth to make intercession for his affiicted ones is ready at hand to give seasonable supplies for every condition O be found still walking in his wayes and full of love to his pretious Laws and trust him with thy condition who can deliver thee from trouble or else preserve thee and bear thee up under it Blessed David saith the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me and for thy sake I have borne reproach shame hath covered my face it was good Davids portion to fall under such reproaches as were even ready sometimes to have broken his heart yet for his help hath his recourse to God ye though the Lord is pleased seemingly to turn away his ear yet he will seek no other help I was a reproach to all mine enemies but especially among my Neighbours ye his very friends reproached him but says he As for me I will call upon God and he shall save me evening and morning and at noon will I pray and cry aloud he shall hear my voice O let this be thy work to approve thy integretie and sincerity unto God And so plead with thy God for mercy and deliverance for what matter is it how man Judgeth of thee so thy heart be right with God what disadvantage will reproaches bring unto thee Mâ—ses esteâ—med the reproaches of Christ greater riches then the treasures of Egypt therefore says Paul I take pleasure in reproaches Yea if you be reproached for the name of Christ hâ—pâ— are ye for the spirit of glory and of God in a more eminent manner resteth upâ—n you the Church of God in all ages hath lain under such afflictions and the father hath so ordained it for the purging away of sin the purifying of man from his dross that so he might become as tryed silver resigned fit for holy use and therefore seeing the necessity of it saith the Apostle beloved think it not stâ—ange concerning the fiery tryal which is to try you as though some strange thing happened unto you t is no new thing