ROuze, Rouze thy self, and awake thou slumbering Sin­ner, and think, What that Religion means, thou dost profess, and tell me ingenuously, what it is to be a Christian?

It is not only to profess the Doctrine of Jesus Christ, but also to Live, as He lived; to have the same Mind and Spirit in me, that was in Him, to act upon the great Principle [Page 2] of an unseen everlasting Glory, and to neglect all things rather, then the salvation of my Immortal Soul, John 15. 10. Phil. 2. 5.Mat. 16. 26. Heb. 12. 1, 2.

Hast thou a Soul, that's in a possibility of being either eternally Happy, or eternally Miserable?

I have, for my Soul certain­ly is not of the same nature with my Body, but is a Spiritual substance, Rational, and Intelligent as Angels are, and therefore Incorruptible; and signally differs from Beasts, being ca­pable of obeying, and disobeying God, Mat. 10. 28. Psal. 32. 9. Rev. 22. 8, 9. Isa. 1. 19, 20.

What if thy Soul be capable of obeying, and disobeying God, doth that make it either Happy, or Miserable?

Yes, certainly: For to the Obedient, God hath faithfully pro­mised Eternal Life, and Glory, when they leave this World; and to the Disobedient, He hath peremptorily threatned everlasting Anguish, and [Page 3] Torment, Rom. 2. 6, 7, 8. Heb. 5. 9. 2 Thes. 1. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

What must thou then do to be saved?

I must necessarily obey the Precepts, and Commands of my Lord and Master, and Saviour Christ Jesus, which he hath delivered, and enjoyn'd either with his own Mouth, or by His Apostles, John 14, 15, 21. John 15. 14. 1 Thess. 4. 1.

What Precepts are those, thou art bound to obey in order to be saved?

1. I must necessarily curb mine Anger and Passion, and be very Meek to all Men in my Speeches, An­swers, and Actions, gentle, and not much concern'd under any Affront, or Injury done to my Person, or when any thing is said, or done, which displeases me; and be ready to forgive, and forget all Injuries.

I must not Revile, when I am Re­viled, nor give ill Language to them, that reproach me, nor revenge my self when it lies in my power, nor call Men Fools, and Rogues, upon trivial occasions.

[Page 4] I must so far love mine Enemies, as to do good to them that hate me, if they either desire or want it, bless them that curse me, and pray for them that use me ill, Mat. 5. 22, 44. Tit. 3. 2. Rom. 12. 17, 19. 1 Pet. 2. 21, 23.

2. I must be very humble, and have low and mean Thoughts of my Self, and of my Worth, Knowledg, Fortune, Dignity, Riches, Means, and Condi­tion in the World.

I must when I address my self to God in Prayer, or Praises, be very vile and base in my own sight, and be ashamed to lift up my Eyes and Hands to God.

I must esteem other Men, in whom I see any goodness, better then my self.

I must not commend my self, nor take it ill, if other People do not, nor be fond of Worldly Respect and Honour, but must be Civil, Cour­teous, and Obliging even to the Meanest, and Poorest, and regard the Honour that comes of God more, then the Honour which comes of Men, Mat. 11. 29. Mark 10. 15. John [Page 5] 5. 44. Gal. 5. 26. 2 Sam. 6. 22.

3. I must be kind and tender heart­ed, and compassionate, and love to do good to my Neighbour, either by good Advice, and Counsel, or Re­proof, if he go on in any known Sin; or by my means, and Money and Goods, if he be in want; or by my Labour and Industry, if I can do no more; according as my ability, and his necessity require; and if I know none, must seek out Objects, upon whom, and to whom I may do good, Gal. 6. 6, 9, 10. 2 Tim. 1. 17.

4. I must shun all foreseen, and known occasions of Evil.

If by looking on a Man, or Wo­man any dishonest Lust, or desire rise in me, I must crush it, and look upon that Person no more: I must not go into company, where I am sensible I shall be tempted, and drawn into Sin, whether it be Drunkenness, or Swear­ing, or Passion, or frothy, or filthy Talk, or the like.

I must not touch any thing that would raise any inordinate Appetite in me, and must forbear Gaudy Cloa­thing, [Page 6] and other External Ornam [...] if they prove temptations to Pri [...] or Loftiness, and vanity of Spirit, Mat, 5. 28, 29, 30. 1 Tim. 2. 9. 1 Pet. 3. 3, 4.

5. I must labour to be very patient under any temporal Afflictions, whe­ther Sickness, or Losses, or other Crosses and Disappointments, and nei­ther murmur, nor repine, because God my Heavenly Father sends, it, and hath promised, That if I love Him, to turn all these Troubles unto my unspeakable good, and designs an infinite recompense in Heaven, for my Patience, Jam. 5. 7. Rom. 8. 28. Heb. 12. 7, 8, 9.

6. I must study great simplicity in my Thoughts, Words, Actions, Garb, Cloaths, Furniture, Houses, Meat, Drink, and the like, and avoid all things that may put a stop to my progress in a Spiritual Life; and particularly, all such Recreations, as may dull and damp good things in me, or bring upon me an aversion from that goodness and simplicity which was in Christ and his Apostles▪ and the Primitive Christians, 2 Cor. [...] ▪ [Page 7] 12. Matth. 10. 16. Phil. 2. 5. 15. 1 [...]. 5. 22.

7. I must in all places where-ever I am, watch over my Thoughts and Speeches, and Expressions, and Acti­ons, because God hears, and sees me, and is every where present; and take heed, that neither any Temporal pro­fit, nor pleasure, nor the favour of Men make me say, or do, or comply with any thing, that is sinful, and I suspect to be so, Psal. 139. 1, 2, 3. Matth. 12. 36. Col. 4. 6. 1 Thess. 4. 4, 5, 6. Acts 5. 29.

8. I must not use equivocations, or mental reservations when I speak, or take an Oath, or promise any thing, or make a bargain, nor te [...]ye wit­tingly or wilfully, though I might gain all the Riches of the World, or could save my life by it; but speak the Truth, whenever I think fit to speak, or give an answer, let the incon­venience be what it will, or the dan­ger never so great, Ephes. 4. 28, 1 Pet. 3. 15.

9. I must take special notice of the various dealings of God with my Soul [Page 8] and Body, and praise, and admire him for those providences, whether Spiri­tual or Temporal, as many as come within my cognisance.

I must praise him when I rise, when I lye down, when I sit up, when I walk, when I eat, or drink, or get any lawful gain, or Men are kind, and favourable to me, Es. 5. 11, 12. Psal. 105. 5, Matth. 6. 26, 27, 28. 1 Cor. 10, 31. 1 Thess. 5. 18.

10. I must do the same kindnesses, favours, and services to other Men, which I would have other Men, who are in such circumstances, do to me, and therefore must be charitable, just, honest, faithful, sincere in all my deal­ings with them, and put a good con­struction on their doubtful actions, because I would have them be so, and do so to me, Matth. 7. 12. 1 Cor. 13. 4, 5, 6, 7. Rom. 13. 7, 8, 9.

11. According to the condition, calling, or relation I am in, I must discharge my Duty belonging to that calling, condition, or relation, with very great conscientiousness; as a [Page 9] servant I must be faithful, and respect­ful to my Master, or Mistriss.

As a Son, or Daughter, very tender of my Parents welfare, credit, and command; As a Subject, obedient and loyal to the King, and those who are in Authority under him, in all lawful things, as a member of a publick Church, careful to preserve its peace, and unity; As a Husband, or Wife, loving, kind, and amiable to my yoke-fellow; and in the lawful calling God hath placed me in, diligent and indu­strious 1 Pet. 2. 13, 14, 18. Eph. 6. 1, 4, 5. Col. 3. 18, 19, 20, 21, 22. Col. 4. 1. Rom. 12. 11.

12. I must delight to think of God, and delight to speak of spiritual things, and delight to do the Will of God, and delight in all these, and in other good Works, more then in the gaudes, pomp, glory, and vanity of this pre­sent World.

I must use the World as if I used it not, and be very indifferent whether I have much of this Worlds Goods or no; and my chief aim and design must be, to get a share in God's everlasting [Page 10] Kingdom. Matth. 6. 33. 1 Cor. 7. 29, 30, 31. Psal. 112. 1. Psal. 139. 17. Psal. 119. 72.

Why art thou obliged to do all this in order to Salvation?

Partly because God my Su­preme Governour, expresly commands these things to be done, partly be­cause Eternal Happiness is promised to none but such, as in good earnest apply themselves to the performance of them; partly because infinite glory is a thing of that consequence, that it deserves these pains, and this ex­cellent temper, partly because the LOVE of God to me is so great, that I can do no less in common gratitude. Matth. 5. [...]0. Matth. 19. 17. Luc 13. 24. 2 Cor. 5. [...].

What is that mighty Love of God, that challenges such gratitude?

When with the rest of Man­kind, I was lost, and undone in my first Parents, depriv'd of all hopes of Mercy and Pardon, and Salvation; The Eternal Son of God to restore me to God's favour, and to make me capable of Pardon, and Eternal Salva­tion, [Page 11] took my Nature upon him, be­came Man, suffered, and died for me; and having by his death purchased this Pardon, and Salvation for me, offers me these Mercies, upon conditi­on of obeying the aforesaid Precepts. Joh. 3. 16. Rom. 5. 17. 21. 2 Cor. 5. 19.

But what if thou hast not obeyed these Precepts of the Gospel, is there any remedy, or hopes to re­cover the favour of God?

I must necessarily repent of my disobedience with all speed, and make it my business for the future, to live up to those Rules, in despight of all commands and allurements from Men to the contrary, and upon [...] repentance, sincere resol [...] [...] ▪ and earnest endeavours to obey them; I may certainly hope for Pardon and Salvation, because he hath promised it, Matth. 11. 28, 29. Es. 55. 7. Joel 2. 12, 13, 14.

But is it possible, dost thou think, for any Man to obey, and live up to these Precepts?

If it were not possible for me to obey them, I cannot imagine [Page 12] why God should peremtorily require it of me, and therefore I may certain­ly so far obey them, as not to act wit­tingly or wilfully, or deliberately a­gainst them, and so perform them, as to make them the setled Rule of my Thoughts, Desires, Words, and Acti­ons, if I will but use the means, God hath prescribed in order to this Holy Obedience, Matth. 25. 26, 27, 1 Cor. 10. 13. 1 Joh. 5' 3.

What are those means, where­by this Holy Obedience may be attain­ed?

They are Eight, 1. Consi­deration and Thinking. 2. Earnest Prayer for the assistance of Gods Grace and Spirit. 3. Diligent hear­ing, and reading the word of God. 4. Asking advice, and consulting with faithful Ministers of the Gospel. 5. Self-Examination. 6. A right apprehension of the Nature of God, and of Spiritual things. 7. Humbling the Soul with Fasting. 8. A consci­entious use of the two Sacraments, the Son of God hath instituted, and ordained.

How is Consideration, and Thinking to be managed?

I must seriously and fre­quently retire, and think with my self, that surely Gods promises, and threat­nings will be fulfilled; that upon the moment of my death, there depends Eternity; and what a sad and forlorn condition I should be in, should E­ternal anguish seize on my Soul, when it leaves this World; and though God be patient, yet he will not be mock'd; that there is no Soul in Hell at this time, but would be glad to obey God, if they might be freed, and tryed once more here on Earth; that a work of that concern is not to be neglected for trifles; that my Death is very uncer­tain, and a Death-bed is no place or time to bring my self to a habit of Obedience, Deut. 32. 29. Ps. 90. 12. Ps. 50. 22.

What is the nature of Pray­er, and earnest begging for Grace and assistance of Gods Spirit?

I must take care, that my Heart and Mind do pray as well as my Lips; I must be sensible of what [Page 14] I pray for, and fix my Thoughts up­on God in Prayer, and earnestly long for his Grace and Mercy, and be im­portunate with him, pray often, and with fervour, like a person that am concern'd at the danger I am in; I must watch against wandring Thoughts, or expell them when they come in, and my Soul must esteem and prize the Grace of God, and as­sistance of Gods Spirit, above all the advantages of the World, and be rest­less till I get it, and take notice how God hears and answers my Prayers, Joh. 4. 24. Ps. 66. 18. Ps. 63. 1. Ps. 16. 8.

What dost thou mean by dili­gent hearing and reading of the word of God?

When I read, or hear it, I must read and hear it with attention, and resolution, to know Gods Will, that I may do it: Before I read and hear it, I must beg of God to enlight­en me, and to imprint those good Lessons, I shall hear or read, upon my Soul, and to make them effectu­al to me; I must apply the general [Page 15] commands I read and hear, to mine own Soul, and believe, that what God commands all Men, as Christians and Believers, he commands me in par­ticular. I must watch against worldly Thoughts in reading, and hearing, and remember, I do sin if I do not mind what I read or hear, Luc. 8. 18. Marc. 4. 24. Joh. 5. 39. Ps. 119. 18.

In what manner must thou ask advice of faithful Ministers of the Gospel?

I must go to those who are very serious, or send for any of them, and ask them about the state and condition of my Soul, and what I must do to secure Gods Favour, how I must go about the great work of Salvation, and beg their direction in performing the Will of God, and ac­quaint them how it is with me; what Temptations I am subject to, and what Corruptions I am inclined to, and intreat them to tell me, how to be rid of them, and oblige them to help me with their Prayers, and to encourage me to a vigorous pursuit of the everlasting Riches; and when [Page 16] I have done so, must follow their Ad­vice and Counsel, Acts 16. 30, 31, 32. Marc. 10. 17. Phil. 3. 17.

And what is to be done with Self-Examination?

I must frequently look into my Thoughts, Words, and Actions, and see whether they are agreeable to the Rules of the Gospel; every night, I must take an account of my self, and consider what I have been doing in the day time, whether I have not told a Lye, deceiv'd no bo­dy, broke forth into no passion; done good, resisted temptations, been of­ten with God in Prayer, taken notice of Gods providences, &c. that where I have done amiss, I may watch against it the next day, and where I have done well, I may admire the good­ness of God, and praise him for it, Ps. 4. 4. 2 Cor. 13. 5. Lam. 3. 40.

What apprehensions must thou have of God, and Spiritual things?

I must Believe

1. That God is a Spirit Omnipre­sent, Omniscient, infinitely Good, and Wise, and Holy, and Just, and will [Page 17] be a rewarder to them that diligent­ly seek him; and punish the Disobe­dient, either here, or hereafter, or both here and hereafter, Heb. 11. 6. 2 Thess. 1. 6, 7. Ps. 58. 11. Ps. 50. 21.

2. That this God is our Supream Governour, and hath revealed himself to be Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, or our Creator, Redeemer, and Sancti­fier; and that there is some resemblance of these Three in One in the Sun, in which is the Light and Heat, and Beam, which Three make but one Sun, 1 Joh. 5. 7. Matth. 28. 19. 2 Cor. 13. 14.

3. That all Mankind fell in Adam, the first Man, and by that fall, moved God to withdraw his Love and Fa­vour from them; and that God the Son in commiseration to our Nature, be­came Man of the Virgin Mary, suffered and died, and by his death, rendred God the Father, or rather the whole Trinity, kind and propitious to us, and willing to receive us into Favour, and to give us Pardon and everlasting Life, upon the conditions of Repen­tance, and unfeigned Obedience, and therefore justly called Christ Jesus, i. e. [Page 18] the Anointed Saviour, Rom. 5. 8, 9, 10. Gal. 4. 4, 5. Matth. 1. 21.

4. That the Scripture where all this is revealed, is the word of God, because the Men who revealed this in Scripture, were inspired by the Holy Ghost, and in confirmation of it, wrought true miracles, miracles le­vell'd against the power of Sin, and impossible to be done by humane strength; the truth of which mira­cles hath been conveyed down to po­sterity, by multitudes of eye-witnes­ses, and from them received by all Christian People, Heb. 2. 1, 2, 3, 4.

5. That the promises and threat­nings of the Gospel, will infallibly be fulfilled sooner or later, because God cannot lie, Tit. 1. 2.

6. That our Soul is not our Breath, nor our Blood, nor the Spirits of our Blood, but a Spiritual Substance, able to live, and act without this gross Bo­dy, we carry about us, and will imme­diately upon leaving this Body, be ob­liged to appear before God, and to him give an account of its good and evil Works, and according to the pre­valency [Page 19] or predominancy of either, be made sensible of the Sentence of Absolution, or Condemnation, which shall be pronounced at the day of Judgment, Luc. 16. 22, 23.

7. That at the end of this world, there will be a solemn day of judg­ment, wherein the Bodies of all Men shall rise, and be re-united to their Souls, and their Thoughts, Words and Actions, be brought to light, and judged, and sentence solemnly pro­nounced; and the Good command­ed to take possession of Eternal Joys, and the Bad to go into everlasting Torments, 2 Cor. 5. 10. Matth. 25. 31, 46.

8. That God requires no more of us, then we do of our Children, and Servants, and that's Love, and that this Love, if it be true, and hearty, must necessarily discover it self in Re­pentance, and sorrow for offending him, and a sincere endeavour to please and obey him for the future, Luc. 6. 46. Malach. 1. 6.

[Page 20] 9. That though by nature we are generally more prone to evil, then to good, and have a stronger byass to Sin then Righteousness: yet God the Holy Ghost, by his power and influ­ences, will certainly assist, and help us to abhor that which is evil, and to cleave to that which is good; if so be, that by earnest Prayer, Fasting, and Meditation, we long, and breathe for his help, and influences, Luc. 11. 13.

10. That all the service, I offer to God, must be performed with my Mind, Will, and Affections, or with my inward Man, and with my Heart, and that without my Mind, have the greatest share in the service; it is in­significant, and rejected by God, Prov. 23. 26. Matth. 22. 37.

11. That by Believing in Scripture for the most part, is meant nothing but obeying, and that he who obeys not the precepts of the Gospel, doth not believe that they are either Di­vine, or necessary to be obey'd, or that the Gospel is infallibly true, Acts [Page 21] 6. 7. Heb. 11. 24, 25, 26. 2 Thess. 1. 11.

12. That that frame of Spirit which fits a Man for Eternal Happiness, is neither a customary frequenting of the Ordinances of God, nor shunning the grosser sins and vices of the age we live in; nor being Master of a single Virtue, but a Spiritual temper of Mind, which puts us upon doing all that's necessary to be done in order to Salvation, Rom. 8. 5, 6. 9, 10.

What are the Rules to be ob­served in humbling the Soul with Fa­sting?

I must frequently, as often as my strength will bear it, give my self to Fasting, and Prayer, and on those Fasts, wrestle with God for growth in Grace, and strength against those sins, I am most prone and in­clined to, and greater courage against temptations.

I must give Alms on that day, for the refreshing of some poor Member of Christ, and spend the day in Sup­plications, [Page 22] and Contemplations of my sins, and of the wrath of God, I have deserved, and of Gods mercy to peni­tent sinners in Christ Jesus, and in Holy resolutions, to be watchful over my Heart for the future, that I may perform those Duties I have formerly neglected, and imitate Holy Men and Women in their virtuous practises, Es. 58. 6, 7. Matth. 6. 17, 18. 1 Cor. 7. 5. 1 Cor. 9. 27.

Wherein doth the Consci­entious use of the Holy Sacraments consist?

In entertaining right and su­table notions of the nature of these Sacraments, and using them to those ends, and purposes, for which they are designed, Matth. 6. 22. 1 Cor. 10. 31.

What Notions must thou entertain about these Sacraments?

1. That these Sacraments are in the nature of solemn Vows, and Protestations; that I will be faithful to God in Christ Jesus, by the assistance of the Holy Ghost, or in the nature of Covenants, where [Page 23] God and Man do mutually engage themselves one to another; or in the nature of outward visible signs, where­by some Spiritual thing is represent­ed, Rom. 4. 12. Exod. 13. 9. 1 Pet. 3. 20. 21.

2. That these Sacraments are or­dained, and instituted by the Son of God, my Saviour; and that Baptism and the Supper of the Lord, are all the Sacraments, that are either given by Christ to the Church, or need to be receiv'd by the Church of Christ, Matth. 28. 19. 1 Cor. 11. 23.

3. That Baptism is a significant Ceremony, whereby Children, Men, and Women are washed with Water, which washing imports Gods pardon of our sins, and our Duty to keep our selves pure from Sin for the fu­ture; God promising the one, and we the other, 1 Pet. 3. 21. 1 Cor. 6. 11.

4. That though Children can make no such promises, yet it's fit they should be Baptiz'd, because they are part of the Nations which Christ would have Baptiz'd, and are Di­sciples, and in the Covenant of Grace; [Page 24] and it's enough, that other persons promise for them, as their Guardians, which promise they are bound to per­form, when they come to be of age, Acts 2. 38, 39.

5. That coming to the Lords Sup­per is the strongest engagement to a Holy Life, because I do there perso­nally, freely, and solemnly remember the death of Christ, and that my sins caused his death, and do protest to al­low my self no longer in them, but to imitate Christ Jesus in his Meekness, Patience, Humility, Charity, and Goodness, 1 Cor. 11. 24, 25.

How must these Sacraments be used, in order to thy present and everlasting Comfort?

1. As to Baptism, I must be baptized but once, because that ini­tiates, and admits me into the fellow­ship of Christians, and gives me a Right and Title to the use of the means of Grace; and this need to be done but once: All that is to be done after this, is to keep a good Conscience towards God, and towards Man, in the use of those means, according to the promise [Page 25] made for me when I was washed with water, Eph. 4. 5.

2. As to the Supper of the Lord, that requires my frequent coming, because I stand in need of frequent renewing, not only of my Repentance, and love to God, and Charity to my Neighbours, but of the motives and enforcives to these Graces; whereof the remembrance of the love of God, in the death of Christ is the greatest, and most remarkable, 1 Cor. 11. 26.

IS it not fit, O my Soul thou shouldest pause a little on thy Redeemers death, before thou goest to remember it with the Congregation? there are those charms in that Death, which if right­ly viewed, will be invincible motives to thee to die, to a sinful Life, and to embrace the Holy Life of Jesus.

Shouldst not thou Think? Shouldst not thou Cry?

[Page 27] O that I had wings like a Dove, that I might fly away to Golgotha, and behold the dreadful spectacle of God crucified, for the sins of the chil­dren of men! A mighty mystery this! To the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Greeks foolishness: What all the Jewish Rabbins could not see, what the greatest Heathen Sages could not find out, that hath God reveal­ed. O God! thy Ways are not as our Ways, nor are thy Thoughts as our Thoughts. We entertain mean appre­hensions of Thee, such as our narrow understandings yield; but thou lo­vest to do all things contrary to the measures, we poor mortals take. This hath been thy method, ever since thou hast thought fit to plant a Church in the world! Thou didst send Lot in­to Sodom, and contrary to Mens ima­gination didst preserve him from the infection of that beastly crew. In the midst of an idolatrous Countrey, thou didst bid Elijah stand up, and declare, thy Name to the besotted Israelites [Page 28] a place, where to own the true God, was fatal, and to make mention of thy worship, Heresie; where to pro­fess thy Faith was counted madness, and not to imitate the Luxury of the age, a crime unpardonable; among the wicked Men of Anat hoth: thou didst separate Jeremiah for the Prophetick Office, and in the land of Vz, croud­ed with Pagans and Infidels, gavest Job a heart to fear thy Providence. Out of Vz, the Metropolis of Chaldean Superstition, thou didst call the Be­loved Abraham, and vouchsafedst to him the knowledge of thy Will, in a crooked and perverse Generation; Thou didst fill the bashful Moses with courage to talk to Kings; and a timo­rous Aaron by thy Order, can controul Atheists, and Idolaters. Thou lovest to create a World out of nothing, and to call things that are, out of those which do not appear; Thou lovest to do things, which to us seem im­possibilities; and when the Fig-tree doth not blossom, lovest to produce most pleasant Fruit; When calami­ties [Page 29] are become dangerous, and past remedy, thou lovest to shew thy heal­ing hand; and when no probabilities of help appear, declarest thy Power and Glory. Thou lovest to bring forth Grapes from Thorns, and Figs from Thistles; and out of a barren soil, or cursed ground, many times lettest the richest Spices grow; When all man­kind lay in darkness, and was covered with the shadow of death; When Di­vels plaid about them, and the furies of the burning Lake laid hold of them; When the fiery Dragon was ready to devour them, and the old Serpent going to swallow up their Souls; Be­hold, thy Son appears from Heaven, frights the powers of darkness, and all immediately disappear.

Ah! My dearest Jesu! Meekest of Kings, and fairer then all the children of men! I behold thee Reigning, and hanging on the Cross! Reigning? for in despight of all the reproaches of of thine enemies, thou wast still the everlasting King, and Saints and An­gels bowed to thee, When thy Body [Page 30] was torn, bruised, and wounded on the Tree; Their reproaches could not dethrone thee, their virulent Tongues could not make thee less then thou wert. These impotent wretches might bark at the Sun, but could not ec­clipse its Glory. Thou couldst have destroyed their Tongues, but wouldst not, and it was a Royal act, not to punish them, when thou hadst the greatest provocations. O my Lord! I see thee blotting out the Hand-wri­ting, which was against me! How red were the Characters! How bloody were the Lines! yet thy Blood makes them as white as snow.

O my Lord, I hear thy words sharp­er then any two edged Sword, and piercing, to the dividing asunder of the Bones, and Marrow; I hear thy complaints I mean, which broke the Rocks, and shook the Earth, and shall not my heart be moved at them? For Thee, the Son of God, to cry out, My Soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death! Who can hear this? Who can think of it, and not stand [Page 31] confounded! For Omnipotence to sink thus! For infinite Perfection to faint thus! For him that sate on the circle of the Earth, and before whom all Nations were as Grashoppers; for him thus to Swound, thus to Weep, thus to Mourn! What could be the reason? Oh thou Prince of Peace! For the iniquity of thy Peo­ple thou vast struck, for the sins of the World thou didst suffer banish­ment, and wast used, as if thou hadst not been anointed with Oyl, or been guilty of the crimes thy foes accused thee of. The snares of death did en­compass thee, thy friends forsook thee! and thy heritage, like a Lion out of the Wood did roar against thee! O my Bowels, be ye troubled at this re­membrance! O my flinty Heart, canst thou see thy Lord, as it were crucifi­ed before thine eyes, and not break out into floods of Tears! O Jesu! Thou cryest to thy Father, and he hears thee not! He seems to be cruel to his Son, and deaf to thy lamenta­tions! The windows of Heaven seem [Page 32] to be shut, and a vail to be drawn over all the Joys, and Comforts, and Consolations, that formerly water'd and enrich'd thy Soul! See how dry, and barren, and burnt up, this preci­ous Soil appears. No showers from above come down, no Sun shines up­on it; the Stars of Heaven with-hold their influence, and scarce an Angel will stir to thy assistance. O Thou who art all Glorious within, and art thy self the Glory of the Universe! Were my Sins laid in a ballance, they would weigh heavier then the Sand on the Sea-shore, and then, what need I wonder, that thou cryest so loud under the heavy load? for the arrows of the Lord stick in thee, and his hand presses thee sore.

O Blessed Nazarite! whiter then Snow, brighter then the Sky, purer then the Sun; How is thy Face dis­figured with Grief! How do thine Eyes languish! How dismal dost thou appear! Is this the Face that was the perfection of Beauty? Is this the Face that was once the desire of all Nati­ons? [Page 33] Is this the Face which so many Prophets and Righteous Men have desired to see? Is this the Face that Abraham long'd to behold, and the Patriarchs were ambitious to have a view of? Is this the Face admired by Angels, and dreaded by Divels? What is thy Beloved more then another Be­loved, O thou fairest among Women! Is this the mighty Bridegroom of the Church, who was once transfigured on the Holy Mount, and his Face did shine as the Sun, and his raiment be­came white as the light? Is this he, whom God anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows! whose garments smell of Myrrhe, Aloes, and Cassia; and cast such a scent, that the Daughter of Tyre came with a Gift, and the rich among the People en­treated his favour! How is he alter'd? How is his Countenance chang'd! How is the Gold become dim, and the fine Gold changed! Yet still thou art lovely to a Soul that sees farther then the outside. Still thou art a Cordial to fainting Spirits. Still thou [Page 34] art a fountain of living waters. Still thou art the Joy of the whole Earth, the Light of Heaven, and the Song of Sion. My thoughts, O Lord, shall follow thee to the Cross. Methinks I see how thou art going to die; thou lookest back on thine Enemies, and notwithstanding all their Affronts, of­ferest them Mercy. O incomprehen­sible Goodness! Even then when thou art lifted up to the infamous Tree; Thou drawest and invitest all Men to thee. Thou Preachest on the Cross, and thy very wounds are Sermons to the Children of Men, and thy Blood trickling down, is an exhortation to Repentance. Surely it is good for me to adhere unto thee, and to count it death to be separated from thee!

O whether shall I go but to thee, who hast words of Eternal Life! Thou art my Sun, by Thee I shall be enligh­ten'd, by Thee my Soul shall be warm'd; O how comfortable are thy beams! What a progress must that Soul make, on which thou shinest, and dartest thy Glorious Rays! Thou [Page 35] art that lofty Cedar, whose boughs over-spread the Believing World!

Under the shadow of that Tree will I rest; It is for the healing of the Nations. I will be glad in the Lord, and rejoyce in my bleeding Jesus! While the World despises thee, I will honour thee; While Great Men pass by and regard thee not, I that am poor and needy, will wait to be re­freshed by thee!

Go ye fools! be enamoured with your Trifles, admire your Butterflies, doat on your sensual Pleasures: Here is one that looks charming in his Tears, love­ly in his Blood, amiable in his Wounds, and is more beautiful in the midst of all his distresses, then the brightest Virgins Face, adorned with all the glittering Treasures of the East!

O my Strength! by Thee I desire to be comforted, and supported. O anoint my Eyes with thy Sovereign Eye-salve, and I shall see, and live. O that the Clouds which dwell on my Understanding were dispersed, that I might look upon thee sredfastly! Oh! [Page 36] then thou wouldst appear more love­ly to me on the Cross, then Croesus in his Throne, or Solomon in all his Glo­ry. God forbid that I should glory in any thing, save in the Cross of Christ. In this lie hid vast treasures of Sweetness! O my Jesus! make me conformable to thy death, and give me leave to carry thy marks in my Body; Let me be crucified with thee, and let Christ for ever live in me.

Canst thou live in a Soul, that hath abused thy Mercy, slighted thy Pa­tience, and so often baffled the stra­tagems of thy Compassion! I believe Lord! O help mine unbelief▪ Thou ca­mest to call not the Righteous, but Sinners to repentance. Oh! then my Husband will love me, my Redeemer will come and live with me, for my repentings are kindled, I hate the sins that have defiled my Soul! Away ye Swine! Here are no Divels to enter in. I am to receive my Bridegroom into my Heart. Come Lord Jesu! Come quickly! Thou art the wel­comest Guest I know! How happy [Page 37] shall I be, if thou wilt lodge in this earthly Tabernacle! Happier, then if all the Angels of Heaven took up their Habitation here!

O ye besotted Jews, what makes you run so fast to kill the Lord of Life? ye cannot live without him, and what evil spirit doth possess you to kill and murther him? Can you think of his miracles, and do so? Can you reflect upon his Do­ctrine, and attempt such villanies? Can you remember how he taught you in the Temple, even to astonishment, and venture on such proceedings? Can you call to mind how he hath purged your Countrey of Divels, and your Sick of their Diseases, and suffer the Divel to enter into you!

O dreadful spectacle! O that my Head were Water! Who will rise with me against the wicked! O thou that art purer then the Lillies, purge me with Hysop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and my filthiness shall not be seen! O bathe me in the Fountain open'd for the House of Judah, and [Page 38] Jerusalem; and I shall look fairer then the Children, which fed on the Meat of the King of Babylon's Table. O my God I thirst for thee, as dry Land after Water. My Soul flies and flutters about, like Noah's Dove, and can find no rest, till it gets into thy Ark. Great Gate of Mercy open to me, hide me from the wrath of an offended God, and make a covenant of Peace with me. Ah! Who would not love thee, that hears thee pray for thy greatest enemies. O lovely Bridegroom of my Soul! wound my Heart, that it may be sick of Love. How kind art thou, even to thy most hard-hearted foes! What a motive is this to love thee! What needest thou care what becomes of stubborn sinners! Why shouldst thou trouble thy self about wretches, that will have none of Thee, that will have their Dirt and Dung, and Trash, and Husks, and prefer these trifles before Heaven, and a Sea of Glory? Thou canst live without the society of Men, at least, thou needest no [Page 39] such company, yet thou longest for their Pardon and Happiness, as if they had been thy greatest friends! Was ever Goodness like this? O that my Thoughts and Contemplations might be always busie about this Love! This is no vulgar Love! the love of David to Jonathan, & the love of Ja­cob to Rachel, the love of Brethren, Sisters, Friends, will bear no resem­blance here! Moses his love to the Israelites, for whose sake, and so they might but continue in Gods favour, he was content to be blotted out of Gods Book, and St. Pauls wish to be even accursed of Christ, for his Kins­men of the Jewish Nation, these de monstrations of Love come somewhat nearer; but still thy Love, my dearest Lord, surpasses all these, as the light of the Sun doth that of the Moon, and the lesser Stars. They borrow'd their love from thine, and lighted their Candle by thy brighter Fire; that which was excess of Love in them, was but a spark of that Charity, which overspread thy larger Soul.

[Page 40] They did but wish to die for the People, thou didst actually exspire for their good; their Love was confined to a single Nation, thine extended to the whole World! These Men were still their friends, that they wish'd to be miserable for; but those, thou sufferest for, were thine enemies! Their Love had great defects mingled with it, but thine was pure and spot­less; Theirs had Clouds and Mists to darken it, Thine was all Light and Glory; Theirs was a suddain trans­port, which might not last many days, but Thine was constant to a miracle, and those whom thou lovedst, thou lovedst unto the end!

Great Emperour of Souls! thou hangest betwixt Thieves, and not without reason, for thou stealest the Heart away! What Heart can see thy Beauty, and forbear being enamoured with it! Thou dost ravish my Soul with thine Eyes of pity. To see thee cast a favourable look on such a monster as I am, Who can forbear fal­ling in love with so much clemency? [Page 41] I am a Captive in this World. The Law of my Members makes me cap­tive to the Law of Sin: O take me by force from that prison. O set me as a Seal upon thy Heart, Rule thou in my Members. Erect a Trophy over my Head! and rejoyce in conquering me. O let me be content to undergo the Cross, and reproach with thee, that thou mayst remember me, now thou art in thy Kingdom. O remem­ber me with the favour, thou bearest unto thy People!

O my Jesus! Who can hear thee cry, I Thirst, and not wish for Rivers of Tears! What canst thou Thirst for, but the Salvation of Mankind! Thou camest for that purpose from Heaven! Leftst those brighter Mansions, to in­vite poor sinners to the mighty Ban­quet there! For this thou didst travel up and down, and enduredst Cold and Hunger, and Weariness; for this thou wroughtest miracles; for this thou didst Intreat, Rebuke, preach the Word in season, and out of season; for this thou couldst be content to want a [Page 42] place, where to lay thy Head; for this thou taughtest daily in the Tem­ple, sometimes on the Mount, some­times in a Ship, sometimes in a De­sart, for this thy Soul did long; for this thou sufferedst, for this thou wast buffeted, beaten, bruised, and wound­ed, even because, thou wouldst not give over calling poor deluded sinners, to a sense of their Duty! for this thou Thirstest here! The rude mul­titude fancies it is either Water, or some cordial thou wishest for! They measure thy condition by their own sensual appetite! but they were purer desires that glow'd in thy Breast! It is Water indeed, thou thirstest for, but such Water, as David made his Bed to swim in. The Tears of a penitent Soul are the Wine thou longest for; They are the Drink the Son of God, thirsts after. Weep, weep mine Eyes, that the Lord Jesus may Drink and be satisfied! O Lord, I have given thee Gall to Drink, I have offered thee the cup of Trembling, and Astonishment. Ah bitter, Ah wretched Drink! worse [Page 43] then the foulest Ditch-water! Drink my dearest Lord, Drink of the Brook by the way. Drink of these Tears, Drink of this Holy Water, I do shed. O it is the Sweat of a grieved Soul; of a Soul weary of Sin, and heavy la­den with the sense of it. My Heart melts, my Soul dissolves at the thoughts of my follies. Drink up this Heart of mine, and let it mingle with thy bowels of Mercy. Here Lord! accept of the Vows I offer thee! Be­hold, and visit this Vine, which thine own right hath planted. Shine upon it Lord, let it bring forth pleasant Grapes, no more Grapes of the Vine of Sodom, but Grapes sweet, and which may cheer the Heart of God, and Man.

The Drink-offerings I bring to thee, are insatiable desires after thee, the most fervent breathings of my Heart, after thy Grace and Mercy. O receive them Graciously, and love me freely. I bring on Rivers of Oyl, no Rams, no Bullocks with Horns and Hoofs. Thou desirest not Sacrifice, else would I give it thee; thou delightest not in [Page 44] Burnt-offerings! Thou wilt take no Bullock out of my House, nor He-Goats out of my Folds; for every Beast of the Forest is thine, and so is the Cattle upon a thousand Hills. Thou knowest all the Fowls of the Mountains, and the wild Beasts of the Field are thine: if thou wert Hungry thou wouldst not tell me, for the World is thine, and the fulness there­of. Thou wilt not eat the flesh of Bulls, nor drink the blood of Goats; but the offerings thou expectest, are Thanksgivings, and paying my hum­ble Vows to thy Divine Majesty, and calling upon thee in the day of trou­ble. O my God! my Soul fainteth for thee! when shall I come to ap­pear before thee! My Soul is cast down within me! When wilt thou comfort me! I long for thy Salvati­on! I hunger and thirst after Righ­teousness; I see Beauty, and splendor, and excellency in it, and would fain be cloathed with that Ornament! Thou deservest my strongest desires, my most vigorous Breathings, my [Page 45] most lively Pantings after thee! not to long after thee, is to be a stran­ger to real Bliss; not to follow hard after thee, is to be ignorant of thy Riches, and the plenty of thy House! But what do I talk of desires of a sin­gle Heart? would to God, that all Mankind might offer unto thee their reasonable service; thou deservest it, and deservest all the love of Angels too. But thou desirest nothing so much, as the Hearts of the Children of Men The Angels are happy already, only Mankind lies ingulfed in misery; and so great is thy Charity, that ha­ving taken their Nature upon thee, thou wouldst willingly make them equal with Angels.

Great Darling of the Holy Trinity! What haste dost thou make to dye?

How dost thou run to redeem the Sons of Men! Nothing can hold thee, nothing can restrain thee, not thine own Greatness, not thy Majesty, not thy being the Son of God, not love to thine own preservation. Thou didst love me better then thy self. How [Page 46] didst thou fly to my deliverance! How dost thou leap in to prevent my hurt! No Divels can fright thee, no danger terrify thee, no pain discourage thee, no anguish make thee afraid. Thou longest till the great Work be done. The other Malefactors that are cruci­fied with thee (What honour had these wretches, and yet were not sen­sible of it! One at last opens his Eyes, and sees it, and stands amazed) these held out longer on the Gibbet, but thou bidst Death come away, and seize thy Life! It's a pleasure to thee to die. Oh surprizing Mercy! Other Men seek to escape Death as long as they can; they run away from the sight of the Monster, if they do but see the shadow of it, they tremble and to them, Death is truly a King of Terrors. Thou goest out to meet it, as that, which must put an end to thy sufferings, and my misery. It's death to thee not to die. Thou chidest it for staying; T [...] hast a Baptism to be Baptized with, and Oh what wouldst thou that it were accomplish'd! Ah! My Lord, I see [Page 47] thy dying Lips, from which dropt Speeches sweeter then Honey, and the Honey-comb. Death is going to close them up, yet O vouchsafe me a look that may refresh my Soul. And now the Glory is departed from Israel. The Saviour of the World gives up the Ghost! O let me die with thee! O draw me after thee, and I shall live. I wonder not that the Graves open at thy death, and the Rocks rend, and the Sun hides his Face; but I wonder the whole Earth did not dissolve, and nature it self did not run into its primitive chaos, and confusion.

O my crucified Master! How ill art thou rewarded for thy kindness? Thou wert Eyes to the blind, and Feet to the lame; Thou wert a Father to the Poor, and a Staff to the Aged. Thou didst cause the Widows Heart to sing for joy. Thou didst deliver the Poor, that cryed the Fatherless, and him, that had no helper. Unto thee Men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at thy Counsel; after thy words they [Page 48] spake not again, and thy Speech dropt upon them: the naked deck'd them­selves with the Wooll of thy Sheep, and thy Door was open to the weary Traveller. But now they that are younger then thou, have thee in de­rision, and they that were Children of Fools, Children of base Men, Men viler then the Earth, gape upon thee. Thou art their Song, and art be­come their By-word; They abhorr thee, and flee far from thee, and spare not to spit in thy Face. They marr thy Path, they set forward thy Ca­lamity. Terrours are turned upon thee, they pursue thy Soul as the Wind, and thy welfare passes away as a Cloud.

O infinite Patience! Yet these Sin­ners are offered Salvation by him, whom they abused thus. Salvation? What do I hear? O then there is hopes for me, for I have been one of thy enemies. I have mock'd thee by by my Sins! I have derided thy suffer­ings by my contempt of thy Laws; I have scorned thee by preferring [Page 49] mine own Will before thine; I have spit upon thee by my filthy communica­tions; I have abused thee by sheltring my Sins under thy Cross; I have dis­honoured thee by my Life, disgraced thee by my carelesness, buffeted thee by my impatience, affronted thee by my pride, made light of thy Power and Goodness by my mistrust of thy Providence; undervalued thy Love, by my affection to vanity, and yet thou stretchest forth thine arm to lay hold on me, art loath to see me pe­rish, unwilling to see me undone, and proclaimest mercy to a forlorn wretch! Blessed news! O King of Kings thou cryest, It is fulfilled; The work is done, the vast work of re­demption; Now thy Fathers anger is broke, now the Floodgates of indig­nation are shut; Now Heaven stands open; Now thy Fathers bosom is held out to all that thirst after thee.

Hear this all ye prisoners! listen to this message ye guilty Souls! Come all that are laden with a sense of sin! Open the door! Throw off your [Page 50] Chains! Run to this Rock! Make haste to this Fountain! Kiss this Sun! Make much of this Light! Embrace this Mercy. Do ye dispute the thing? Do ye question whether ye shall do it or no? Is it possible you can stand out? Is it possible you can demur upon it? Is it possible your Hearts do not turn within you? Can you refuse your Cordial? neglect the Medicine that must recover you? slight the Reme­dy that must fetch you to life again? O Jesu! Thou hast done all things well; Thou hast made the Blind to see, and the Dumb to speak, and the Deaf to hear. O open thou my Lips and my Mouth shall shew forth thy Praise. Open thou mine Ears, and let me hear thy loving kindness betimes in the Morning. O open thou mine Eyes, and I shall see how Sweet and Graci­ous thou art. O my Life! thou di­est, and dying, fulfillest thy Fathers Will; for indeed it was fit that one Man should die for the People, and that the whole Nation perish not. Ah! What would Mankind have done, [Page 51] if thou hadst not paid the Ransom! Whether must they have fled for re­fuge, if thou hadst not given thy self a Sacrifice? They must have wandred about in Caves, and Dens, destitute, tormented, afflicted, disconsolate, li­ved in perpetual fear of death, and the dreadful consequences of it. Death must have been for ever a King of ter­rours to them, if they had but look'd upon that Hell, that death would have open'd into. How could they but have lived in perpetual horror! There could have been no hope of Mercy, no pro­bability of Bliss, their Souls would have been in Eternal confusion, always doubting, always afraid, always upon the Rack. O my Jesus! Thou, through death hast deliver'd them, who through fear of Death, were all their life-time subject unto bondage! Thou hast knock'd off their shackles! loosed their Bands! freed their Souls! set their Spirits at libery! I feel the pow­er of thy death. My Heart takes cou­rage! O let me rise with thee to Eter­nal▪ life, O let me not lie in the mire, but [Page 52] set my Feet upon a Rock, and establish my goings! I have gone astray like a lost Sheep; O seek thy servant, that I may not forget thy Commandements

Thou art the Bread which came down from Heaven, and with the Bread in thy Sacred Supper thou of­ferest me all the benefits of thy death and passion; such a Feast hast thou pre­pared for me; such a Table hast thou spread for me; my Soul is invited to Sup with the Lamb that was slain! What an honour is this! What a con­descention is it! In this Sacrament thou erectest a Banner for me, bidst me sit under thy Vine, and strengh­then my self with the Fruit that drops from it. Were all the Fishes of the Sea, and all the Fowls of the Air, and all the Beasts of the Field, drest for my entertainment, it would not be so much, as this plain, but Heavenly Di­et is. Tell not me of Belshazzer's Ban­quet, nor of Ahashuerus's Feast, nor of the rich mans curious Dishes; they are all scraps and Offals to this Entertain­ment! Here my Blessed Redeemer [Page 53] courts my Soul; Here he makes love to a miserable Sinner! Here he presents me with the Riches of his Merits! No African Gold, no Eastern Pearls, no Indian Stones are to be compared with these. Here the Lord of Glory offers to marry me, to unite me to him, to make an everlasting Covenant with me, to be flesh of his flesh, and bones of his bones, promises to endow me with all his Goods, puts a Ring on my Finger, and bids me lie in his bo­som. This is Honour, this is Glory, this is Preferment, which no Royal Courts can give, no Solomon can af­ford, no Emperour Grant, no Mo­narch Conferr, no King bestow. This is the mighty Wedding-Feast, at which the blessed Angels wait how should not they be there, when their Master is President, and Director of the Banquet? This puts me in mind of all the admirable things thou hast done for me; in this Bread are con­tracted all the Dainties and Delica­cies imaginable. O wonderful Love that wast not content to be known [Page 54] to me, but art willing to give thy self for Food to me! What pains dost thou take to melt my stubborn Heart! Thou art willing to live in me, Thou art willing to be one with me, that I may not warp from thee. Thou art willing to be my Meat and Drink, not only my King to protect me, not only my Father to tender me, not only my Master to take care of me, not only my Saviour to snatch me out of the burning Lake, not only my Mediator to secure me against Heavens ven­geance, but my Diet too. Thou seest my Soul wants Meat proper for her nature: Alas! the World cannot be that Meat! That's a Heterogeneous thing! as well may Angels feed on Hay, or Grass, as my Soul on things that profit not. That which my Soul must feed on, must be something Spi­ritual. Thou O Jesu! art that Great Spiritual Object, my Soul must fix on, nothing else will content it; and when my Thoughts contemplate thee, when my Soul Meditates of thy Charity, when my Affections love thee, when [Page 55] my Desires long for thee, When my Will submits to thy easie yoak; When all my Faculties delight in thee, when thou appearest lovely, and charming, and amiable to my mind, Then, then my Soul hath its proper food, then it's like to live, then it's in a way to thrive, then it prospers, then it grows, then it gets a cheerful look, then the Angels visit it; the World perfect­ly soures it; Sensual pleasures ruine it, carnal satisfactions make it meager. Thou O Lord, thou alone canst make it flourish like the Palm-tree, and sa­tisfy it with the Rivers of thy Plea­sures.

O my Lord, how sweet is it to suck Honey out of this Rock! Thy Bread strengthens to a miracle, and thy Blood makes Souls Drunk. It is as the Dew of Hermon, and as the Dew that descends on the Mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the Blessing, even Life for evermore. O my God, I care not for Abana, and Pharpar now, nor for the Rivers of Damascus. I will stand under thy Cross, and open my [Page 56] Mouth. O do thou fill it; while others go to rejoyce in their Corn, and Wine, and Oyl, I will go to the Supper of the Lamb. Here Lord, here is my Heart, ready to receive that Heavenly Food thou offerest me. Awake thou Eternal Spirit, awake, blow upon my Garden, that the Spices may flow out! O let this Maenna satisfy my, taste, that I may forget the Fleshpots of Egypt. Behold Lord, here I make a vow, that if thou wilt give me this Bread to eat, which endures to everla­sting life, Thou shalt be my God, I will serve no other Gods but thee. Thou shalt command my Heart, my Desires, and my Affections, and with­out thee no passion shall lift up its Hand or Foot in all the land of Goshen, I will set thee over all that I have, and all shall be at thy dispose.

I feel my Heart warmed with this consideration. I will now turn aside and see this great sight, who it is that hangs upon the Cross, and bleeds for my Sins. Oh! it is the Son of God, he that was in the form of God, and [Page 57] thought it no robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no re­putation, and took upon him the form of a Servant, and became obedient to the death of the Cross, that I might be made the Righteousness of God through him.

But is there nothing else to be done by way of preparation for this Blessed Sacrament?

O Yes! For I must, First, Re­tire sometimes, and celebrate, and ad­mire the love of God to me in Christ Jesus, in some such reflections as these.

Be astonish'd ye Heavens, stand amazed ye Quires of Angels, at the condescension of my God. I have be­tray'd him to the Philistines, yet he loves the miserable Wretch, and so loves him, that he gives his Son to re­deem him.

O God what dost thou see in me?? Nothing but misery, nothing but rags, nothing but poverty, and yet thou lovest me.

[Page 58] I am but Dust and Ashes, and will God vouchsafe a Gracious look, to so mean an object? O Sovereign Being, Didst thou ever behold a viler crea­ture then I am! and wilt thou goe out of the common road of Love, and spread thy Garments over me, and offer me thy friendship?

O Love! which Cherubim admire, and Seraphim adore! It passes under­standing. It goes beyond my Cogni­zance; It confounds my Reason, I admire the love of a Prince to a Sub­ject, but that will bear no resemblance to this Love!

God might have triumph'd in my Groans, Glorified his Justice by my stripes; but pity abounds in him, it hath no Banks, it flows at large, its extended even to the most abject Creature, as I am.

O Love! How humble art thou! How violent art thou! Thou break­est through all the Clouds of Heaven to come down. Thou forgoest the Rules of Greatness and Majesty, to shew thy Glory, That the Eternal [Page 59] Son of God should take Flesh upon him, and dye to give life to the World! Oh where can I parallel this Love!

I will sing of Love, I will speak of Love, I will think of Love, my very Dreams shall be employ'd about it. O that I could write Panegyricks of it! Were not my Tongue confined, it should do nothing else but talk of Love.

Here is Love, to which all natural sympathies must vail. I see no end thereof. The farther I go in the search, the more I lose my self. But how should a creature find out the end of that which is infinite?

Where shall I find out the spring of this mighty stream? Where shall I find the beginning of it? Alas! The line of Reason is too short! There is no fathoming of this depth. Who can search into the recesses of Eterni­ty? In that vast Abysse, the head of this great River lies; but who shall dive into it? It's enough that I am so happy as to be acquainted with it. It's enough that the Almighty hath [Page 60] revealed it unto Babes. Even so Fa­ther it seemed good in thy sight. I can give no reason of it. Thy Love Lord, was the cause of this Love; thy Love was the motive. Nothing else could be any inforcive. I am sensi­ble thou art merciful, because thou wilt be merciful.

O thou Eternal Wisdom, whom the Lord possessed in the beginning of his way, before his Works of old, who wast set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the Earth was; when there were no depths thou wast brought forth, when there were no Fountains abounding with Water, before the Mountains were setled; be­fore the Hills wast thou brought forth, while as yet he had not made the Earth, nor the Fields, nor the highest part of the Dust of the World, who wast there when he prepared the Hea­vens, when he set a compass upon the face of the depth, when he establish'd the Clouds above, when he strength­ned the deep, when he gave to the Sea his Decree, that the Waters [Page 61] should not pass his Commandement; O thou! who wast by him, as one brought up with him, who wast dai­ly his delight, rejoycing always be­fore him, enlighten my Mind, that I may have clearer apprehensions of this Charity!

Arise my Thoughts! Awake up my Glory! See O my Soul how that Love smiles upon thee! See how bright, how clear, how charming it is! See how Divels tremble at it! See how they grin, and fret to think, they must have no share in it; See what Glorious Beams it darts on penitent sinners! See how it warms their Hearts! See how it follows them, how loath it is to leave them! See how it adjures them, and how importunate it is with them to suffer themselves to be conquer'd by it.

2. I must examine my self, not only what, and where, and when, and how I have (especially of late) been acting against God, and affronted his Goodness, Mercy, and Patience; and what Sorrow, Grief, and Fear these [Page 62] particular offences have caused in me; but whether I am unfeignedly resolved to part with all these particular sins, I am most prone, and inclined to; whether my Heart and purpose be fix'd to know the Will of God, and to do it; Whether I do sincerely, and without reservation, intend for the future to prefer God's Will before my Will, and his Favour before the Fa­vour of Men; and whether I do in good earnest design to forgoe my pro­fit, gain, or interest in the World, rather then do any thing, that is dis­pleasing to God; Whether I do tru­ly prize the love of God above all the Riches of this World, and see greater Beauty in that Holiness, to which I am invited by this Love, then in all the gaudes and satisfactions of of the World. And if I do, and my Conscience bears me witness of it, I may chearfully go to the Lords Table, and expect the benefits that are offered there.

[Page 63] 3. If I have done any signal wrong to my Neighbour, I must make him either restitution or satisfaction; I must either restore to him, what I have cheated or wronged him in, or have secretly, and against his Will taken away from him; or if I am not able to restore, make confession of the fault, and beg his forgiveness. I must be re­conciled to him, if I have offended him, or given him just occasion to be angry; and if after that attempt, he will still keep his anger, I have deli­ver'd my own Soul.

I must let my neighbour know, that I do as truly forgive him, as I hope to be forgiven of Christ Jesus, and be as ready to give, as my neighbour to ask my pardon.

I must remember how God hath en­tailed his Pardon upon mine, and if I forgive not from my Heart, neither will my Heavenly Father forgive my Trespasses. If I have abused my neighbour, either in Words or Deeds, and he either hath receiv'd, or is like to receive any prejudice by it, I must [Page 64] not be ashamed to acknowledge my error, but prefer a quiet Conscience before my Reputation in the World.

4. I must survey the bitter suffer­ings of my Blessed Saviour, as they are laid down and described by the Evangelists. I must follow him into the Garden of Gethsemane, and go up with him to the Mount of Olives, and there behold how his Heart was trou­bled, and how the fears of death fell upon him; how his Soul was filled with sorrow, and how his Life drew near unto the Grave. How he trode the Wine-press of Gods anger alone, and humbled himself before his Fa­ther. How, as Man, he begg'd, that the Cup might pass from him, and yet as Mediator, freely consented to his Fathers Will. How distress and an­guish came upon him, and in the midst of those miseries, the weary Disci­ples fell asleep; how he wept and mourned, and sweat drops of Blood; and how Hell open'd her Mouth upon him; how he bore our Griefs, and took the chastisement of our Peace up­on [Page 65] him. How he drank the bitter Cup, and his Heart within him became as melting Wax. How he was led to Annas, and he to whom all the Angels in Heaven bow'd, stood before a sin­ful Man. How from Annas he was dragg'd to Caiphas, and like a Lamb led to the slaughter. How he was ac­cused before Pontius Pilate, and there bespattered with all the ill language that Men or Divels could invent. How he was set at nought by Herod, and in scorn deck'd with a Purple Robe. How from thence he returned to Pi­late, and thereupon was scourged, and crowned with Thorns. How after this he bore his Cross, and was actu­ally crucified. How he was made to drink Gall and Vinegar, and at last, bowed the Head and died.

But then I must not only barely survey these sufferings, but reflect at the same time upon my sins that pro­cured them, and accuse not only my grosser sins, if I have been guilty of any, but my lesser errours of using the Son of God so barbarously; I must [Page 66] not reflect upon his bloody Sweat, without thinking of my proud Thoughts, and Speeches, and Acti­ons that pulled it on him, nor upon his wounds, without beating my Breast for my Envy and Malice, and reveng­ful desires that caused them; nor up­on the Crown of Thorns, without de­testing my intemperance, and sinister designs in doing good, and affectation of vain Glory, that set it on his Head; nor on the Nails that tore his Flesh, without taking a view of my pettish­ness, and peevishness, and impatience, which struck them in; nor upon the Spear that opened his side, without entertaining some dismal Thoughts of my neglect of Meditation, and Prayer, and fervency of Spirit, and Holy Dis­courses, and bearing of Injuries, and Heavenly Thoughts; nor upon his Tears, without looking stern upon my slight, and superficial performan­ces; for all these help'd towards his Death and Agonies.

[Page 67] 5. I must shew my willingness to imitate Christ Jesus, by doing some good Work, if health and strength do give me leave. This must be the first fruits of my future treading in his steps, and will make my coming to the Holy Sacrament more comforta­ble. I must in this, imitate the Wo­man that poured out the ointment on Christ's Head, before his sufferings be­gan; and Christ himself, who wash'd his Disciples Feet, before he refresh'd their Souls with the Holy Sacrament. I must either free some prisoner, to te­stify my resentment of the Mercy, Christ shewed me, in freeing me from the bondage of the Divel, or relieve some poor Family, to express my sense of Christ's relieving my Soul in the greatest strait, or impart some good Counsel to a wicked and careless neigh­bour, to shew how kind Christ was in visiting me with his Admonitions; or visit some sick persons that are under great distress; and comfort them, or help them, or give them, or procure them some Physick that may do them good; [Page 68] if they be needy; to shew how sensible I am of Christ's being my Physician, or forgive some small Debt, a poor Man owes me, to shew how I rejoyce at Christ's forgiving me Ten thousand Talents; Or visit a man that hates me, and behave my self most courteously to him, to see whether his Heart will melt, and come to a better temper, thereby to express my sense of Christ's Love to me, that have been his Ene­my; or give a good Book to one that hath no Money to buy one; to shew my sense of Christ's feeding me with the word of Life; or deny my self in a lawful Re­creation, or lawful Ornament, or law­ful Meal, to shew, I am sensible how Christ hath denied himself for mysake; or pray earnestly for the conversion, of a person I have no acquaintance with, and whom I hear to be very vitious to express my sense of Christ's care of my Salvation.

6. I must frequently pray, that God would give me a Heart to breathe and pant after him, and particularly, a Heart to esteem and prize his Love [Page 69] manifested in this Sacrament, above all the pleasures of this World; that he would give me a Faith active and vigorous, and which may press through all impediments, and purify my Heart and Life, and forget what is behind it; That he would give me a contrite Spirit, and Grace to tremble at his Word, and threatnings; that he would give me courage to undervalue, and despise the World, and the Glories and Vanities of it; that he would give me a burning Zeal to his Glory, a tran­scendent love to his Name, and Ways, and Ordinances; that he would make me sincere in Devotion, in Prayer, and in all good Works, and banish from me all sinister and worldly ends, and designs in Holy performances; that he would give me a firm resolu­tion to imitate the Saints of old, and the best examples at this day, and to stop my ears against all the suggesti­ons of Flesh and Blood to the con­trary; that he would give me a Mind which may delight in contemplating the Divine Goodness, and Perfection, [Page 70] and would teach me the great Art of Self-resignation, of trusting him with my Soul and Body, and of relying in­tirely upon his providence.

7. I must resolve, and unfeignedly upon my bended knees, or in a very solemn manner resolve to watch and strive for the future against those par­ticular sins and errors, and sinful in­clinations I am most inclined to; If I have neglected such a Self-denial, to neglect it no more; if I have been guil­ty of such acts of pride, and envy, and ill nature, to be guilty of them no more; if I have been careless and slo­venly in my Prayers, to be so no more; if I have pleased my self with vain Thoughts, to please my self with them no more; if I have delighted in fine Cloaths, to delight in them no more; if I have been false to my Vows and Pro­mises, to be false to them no more; if I have made nothing of ill Names, and ill Language, to dread it like poison for the future; I must resolve to mor­tifie such a habit of sin with rigors, with being unkind to my flesh, with [Page 71] Fasting, and with mulcts of Money; if I commit but a single act of the sin, I must resolve to use the proper means to subdue such a corruption; I must resolve to avoid that company where I am, and have been apt to yield to a certain sin; I must resolve to spend my time better, and if I have spent too much of it in Dressing, in Pleasure, in Carding, and Dice, &c. to do so no more, whatever disgrace, dis-respect, or frowns I may meet with from the World, or from mine Acquaintance; and if I have been careless of medita­ting, and being serious on the Lords day, to make a better improvement of that day. And I must so resolve, as to think my self concerned to fulfil and perform my solemn Resolution, unto which I have call'd God as a witness.

8. I must watch against all things that would discompose, and disorder my mind, put me into a rage or pas­sion, and make me peevish and discon­tented, and consequently unfit for the worthy receiving of this Sacrament: I must labour to preserve a calmness, [Page 72] and serenity of Mind; and that nei­ther multitude of worldly business do distract me, nor injuries past and gone, discompose me, or put me into impa­tient Thoughts, and expressions, nor present disappointments rob me of my quiet? I must watch against impe­diments, that would tempt me to de­lay my coming to this Table, and take heed I do not yield to Temptations, that would make me neglect the op­portunity, put into my hand, of ma­king Peace with God, and mine own Conscience. I must reject suggestions of this nature, and regard more, the necessary concerns of my Soul, then things, that at the best are but sensual satisfactions.

And what must thy Thoughts be, and what frame must thy heart be in when thou comest to the Holy Ta­ble of the Lord?

I must,

1. Employ my Soul in Holy ejacu­lations, such as these.

[Page 73] O who will give me to drink of the Water of the Well of Bethlehem! Wherewith shall I come before the Lord! How shall I bow my self before the most high! Shall I come before him with Burnt-offerings, with Calves of a year old?

O my Lord! Thou hast shew'd me what is good, and what dost thou re­quire of me, but to do justly, to shew mercy, and to walk humbly with my God! O my God, I bring an humble Heart, a Soul that desires to lye low before thee; a Soul that longs to be clean, and to be washed in the blood of the Lamb; a Soul weary of Sin, that sees no comfort, no satisfaction, no con­tent in things below, but behold's afar off, the treasures of Consolation, that lye hid in Christ Jesus!

These are things to be desired. These are Mercies worth having. These enrich banckrupt Souls, with these Pardon is purchased, and Heaven is procured. O give me a Title to them, Thou that art the true Morning Star! O shine upon me! O enlighten me! [Page 74] O enlighten me! O let me feel thy comfortable beams! These burn not, These scorch not, but sanctify, and po­lish, and adorn.

I have seen an end of all perfection, but thy Merits are exceeding broad. They enlarge Heaven, subue Death, conquer Hell, expel Divels, and make God my friend.

How have I doted on the vanities of this World! They are bubbles all; but thou sweet Jesu art perfect Beauty, a fountain of Joy, which never wants Water, never dries up, never fails, and never dies.

How much better is it to be here in the Courts of the Lord, then in the Tents of the proudest Monarchs! one day here is better then a thousand else­where.

Here God bows to poor sinners. Here infinite Majesty converses with Dust and Ashes. Here the King of Heaven is not ashamed to call such poor Worms as we are, Brethren!

How different are the ways of God from the ways of Men! They shun a [Page 75] Lazarus, and a Beggar; God receives them, and the Soul that's sensible of her poverty, and begs to be enrich'd, is refresh'd by him, and invited into his bosom.

How Lovely art thou my Great Re­deemer! How Amiable! How Kind! How Beautiful! Therefore do the Virgins love thee.

Could there be greater Love, then to spill thy Blood for me! Could there be greater Charity then to dye for me! What miracles of Mercy are these!

I come to beg an alms at thine hands; it's too great a gift for me to ask, but not too great for thee to give, for it is thy self I beg.

O warm my Heart! Touch it with a coal from the Altar! O kindle Holy Fire in my Breast! Burn up the dross and Tin there, and let nothing but pure Gold remain. Let Love prevail. O change my Heart into fesrvent Love, and turn all my faculties into Cha­rity!

[Page 76] 2. I must joyn with the Congrega­tion in their Prayers. I must put my Perfumes into that common Genser, that the Holy Smoak may go up with joyned force to the throne of Mercy.

I must not come behind my fellow-members in Zeal, and Earnestness.

They pray for the prosperity of the Universal Church, that God would guide her by his Holy Spirit; so must I.

They pray for all Christian Kings and Princes, that they may promote the Glory of God, and the Churches welfare; so must I.

They pray for the Ministers of God's Holy Word, that they may be sound in the Faith, and patterns of Ho­liness; so must I.

They pray for all distressed Mem­bers of Christ, that the Consolations of Christ may abound in them; so must I.

They prostrate themselves in Holy Confessions of their Sins, and pray for Remission and Pardon, and San­ctification; so must I.

[Page 77] They pray to be made partakers of the benefits of Christ's Body and Blood; so must I.

3. I must shew my compassion to the Poor, by contributing to their ne­cessities, if I am able.

I must remember how poor, how wretched, how naked, how miserable I was, when the Son of God first took pity on me, being yet in the Loins of my Father Adam.

I must consider, that my self at this instant am lying at the pool of Bethes­da, waiting for the Angel of the Co­venant to come down, and stir the Waters that I may be healed.

I must look upon my self as a Per­son full of Sores and Sickness, and re­flect, that I come to be cured for Gods sake, by the Great Physitian of Souls.

From my Self, I must look down on the Poor, that want my help; and as I would have my Great Master have compassion on me, so I must have compassion on my fellow-Servants.

[Page 78] 4. I must at this time resist all worldly Thoughts, and did my Oxen, and my Farms, and my Domestique Affairs stand aloof like Lepers, that must not come near a place so full of Majesty, and a Work so big with wonders.

I must with Mary chuse the better part, and look upon Martha's serving as unseasonable.

I must lay aside contrivances how to make a bargain with my neighbour, and know no other Covenant, but what I am making with God in the blood of Jesus.

I must not think of my Trade and Trafick, but remember, it is for the Pearl of Price, that I am Trading now, and laying out my strength, and la­bour.

I must not be disturbed with a des­perate Debt that's owing me, but re­member the Debts I owe to God; and how I do expect that at this time they should be struck out, and can­cell'd for ever.

[Page 79] I must not now torment my self about a livelyhood, when I come to get a Title to a Life of everlasting Glory.

I must not now think how to get Bread, and make provision for my Fa­mily, but rather reflect with joy, what large provision the Almighty makes for my Soul, and what care he takes to make me a Son of God, an Heir of Heaven, and Coheir with Christ.

When sensual Thoughts fly through my Mind at this time, I must continue to say to them, Arise, and Depart, for here shall not be your rest.

5. I must now make some Spiritual reflexions on the breaking of the Bread, and upon pouring out of the Holy Wine.

And is this all that is to be observed upon this occasion?

No. For after I have been made Partaker of these Mysteries and Tokens of God's Love, I must,

1. Bless God for the opportunity I have had of going with the Multitude to the House of God, with the Voice of Joy and Praise, with the Multitude which keeps Holy-day.

I must Magnifie his Goodness, who so loved the World as to give his only Begotten Son, to the end that all those that believe in him should not Perish, but have everlasting Life.

I must summon my thoughts to enter into some such Meditation as this;

Whence is it that the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, in whose eyes the very Angels are not pure, should come to visit such a Wretch as I? O my Lord,! to whom doest thou stoop! What is that Creature that [Page 90] thou bowest thus low to? A Den of Thieves, a Habitation of Vipers, a Vessel of Dishonour! O how often have I polluted my self, even after thou hast washed me! Is it possible that God will dwell in such a pollu­ted House! Is it possible that God will come and Feast and Sup with such an unprofitable Servant! O my Soul! It is not only possible, but thy Lord hath done it to day: Thine eyes have seen the mighty Works of thy Redeemer. Thou hast seen him converse to day with a Wretch, that hath undone what God hath done, hath rendred him evil for good, and hatred for his good-will. Thou hast seen thy Lord this day vouchsafing to sit with one who is full of Bruises and putrifying Sores, and those not bound up, nor mollified with Ointment.

Alass! my Lord! I have abused the mighty Creator to please a Murtherer, affronted the great Preserver of Men to please a Fiend, and undervalued him that call'd me to Salvation, to please a usurping Tyrant. I can give [Page 91] no reason why I have offended thee, except it be thy Goodness and Pati­ence; and could fair Weather make me angry?

What didst thou see in me, Lord! that should attract thee, and make thee leave the highest Heavens to de­scend into an Abyss of Misery?

O my Jesus! water my Soul with the Tears thou hast shed, anoint me with the Myrrhe of thy Grief and Sorrow, tye me by thy Bonds, let thy Scourges soften my Heart, let thy De­risions strengthen me, let thy Cross raise me; Reign over me, do with me what seems good to thy Power, Wis­dom, and Goodness. O let me never depart from thee; let not the Crea­ture draw me more than the Creator, Vanity more than Eternity, Misery more than Felicity, Filthiness more than Beauty, Slavery more than Great­ness, Bitterness more than Sweetness. My Beloved is mine, and I am his, he feeds among the Lillies. O that thou wert as my Brother, that suck'd the Breasts of my Mother, I would kiss [Page 92] thee, yea, I should not be despised.

O Lord! all my desire is before thee, take away from me whatever doth displease thee. Give me an hum­ble heart, that I may be content to be counted as Dung for thy sake: give me an obedient heart, that I may be entirely guided by thee: give me a strong heart, that I may cheerfully bear whatever thy hand lays upon me: give me a tender heart, that I may be kindly affectionate to my Neighbour: give me a free heart, that nothing may hinder me from running to thee: give me a heart of Flesh, that I may love thee perfectly.

Praise ye the Lord, I will praise the Lord with my whole heart in the Assembly of the Upright, and in the Congregation. The Works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein: His work is honourable and glorious, and his Righteousness endureth for ever. He hath made his wonderful Works to be remembred. The Lord is gracious and full of Compassion, he hath given Meat [Page 93] to them that fear him, he will ever be mindful of his Covenant; he hath shewed his People the Power of his Works, that he may give them the He­ritage of the Heathen. The Works of his hands are Verity and Judgment; All his Commandments are sure, they stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in Truth and Uprightness. He sent Redemption unto his People. He hath commanded his Covenant for e­ver. Holy and Reverend is his Name. He raises the Poor out of the Dust, and lifts the Needy out of the Dunghill, that he may set him with Princes, e­ven with the Princes of his People. Praise ye the Lord.

2. I must pray for the Congrega­tion, and my fellow Christians, that do eat of the same Bread, and drink of the same Cup with me, that they may all be satisfied, as with Marrow and Fatness, and their Souls may live.

I must beg that none of them may receive the Grace of God in vain, That they may keep and stand to the [Page 94] conditions of the Covenant they have made or renew'd with God, That they may indeed fight for the future against the World, the Flesh, and the Devil, and be more than Conquerors, through him that loved them, the Lord Jesus Christ.

My love to Christ must constrain me to wish and beg that every Man may love him, else he doth not appear truly lovely to me.

I must entreat the Father of Mer­cies to dispense his Spirit abundantly at this time, That the love of Christ prevailing, may pull down in my fel­low-Receivers all the strong Holds of Iniquity, and all Imaginations which exalt themselves against the Obedi­ence of Christ Jesus, That Christ may Reign victoriously in every one of them, live in them, act in them, go­vern them by his Spirit, That they may indeed bring forth the Fruits of the Spirit, Love, Joy, Peace, Good­ness, Faith, Gentleness, Meekness, Temperance, &c.

[Page 95] I must be importunate with God to make them all Partakers of the Be­nefits of Christ's Death and Passion, even of that Pardon, and Peace, and Salvation he hath purchased, and cause them to walk worthy of it, like per­sons that are sensible of the greatness of the Favour and the depth and breadth and length and height of the Love of God, and consequently may be fill'd with all the fullness of God.

3. I must be thankful for the Honor I have received at such a time. I must look upon't as more than ordinary Preferment that God hath vouchsafed me a place at his Table, admitted me into the number of his Children, made me Partaker of the promises of the Gospel, open'd his Bosom to me, re­ceived me into favour, assisted me with his Spirit, given me a right to the Tree of Life, and visited me with his Sal­vation.

Here the Words of David may just­ly be applied, My Soul shall joy in thy strength, O Lord, and in thy Salvation how greatly may I rejoice! Thou hast [Page 96] given me my hearts desire, and hast not withholden the request of my Lips; thou hast prevented me with the Blessings of Goodness, thou settest a Crown of Pure Gold on my head. I asked life of thee, and thou gavest it me, even length of days for ever and ever. My glory is great in thy Salva­tion, Honour and Majesty hast thou laid upon me, for thou hast made me Blessed for ever. Thou hast made me exceeding glad with thy countenance. Therefore will I trust in the Lord, and through the Mercy of the most High I shall not miscarry. Thine hand shall find out all my spiritual Enemies, thy right hand shall find out all those that hate thee. Be thou exalted, Lord, in thine own strength, so will we sing and praise thy Power.

4. I must go home rejoicing, and praising God. Praise is comely for the Upright; the poor Cripple did so when he was Healed, and have not I far greater reason to do so? Behold I am healed at this time from mine In­firmity, and shall not his Praise be con­tinually in my mouth?

[Page 97] I must say in my heart, My Soul doth magnifie the Lord, and my Spi­rit rejoices in God my Salvation. I will extol thee, O God my King, and I will Praise thy Name for ever and ever. Every day will I Bless thee, and Praise thy Name for ever and ever. O all ye that fear the Lord, come and I will tell you what he hath done for my Soul. His Love hath overcome my Corruption, his fervent Charity my Coldness, his Goodness my Sins and Follies. Except the Lord had been on my side, now might I say, if the Lord had not been on my side, when Temptations and Corruptions rose up against me, then they had swallow'd me up quick, when their Wrath was kindled against me, then the Waters had overwhelm'd me, the Stream had gone over my Soul: Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given me over as a Prey unto their Teeth. My Soul is escaped as a Bird out of the Snare of the Fowlers, the Snare is broken, and I am escaped. My help is in the Name of the Lord, who made Heaven and Earth.

[Page 98] 5. Being made whole, I must for the future take heed, and sin wilfully no more: Having wash'd my Feet, I must not defile them again.

I must stand upon my watch, and shun those occasions, which formerly led me into Sin.

I must be cautious and afraid of an ill Word, as much as of an evil Acti­on, and my very Thoughts must be purged from that filth, that used to cleave to them.

I must strangle an evil suggestion in its birth, and when I find any motion rising in my mind, that looks like En­vy, or Pride, or desire of Vain Glory, or greediness after the World, I must check it upon its first appearance.

I must bid an Eternal farewel to Un­belief, and mistrust of Gods Provi­dence, and shun those sinful compli­ances with Men, which heretofore I was used to be guilty of.

I must not only watch against grosser Sins, and such as Jews and Heathens can avoid, but against the secret dis­orders and errors of my Heart, which [Page 99] none sees but God, who is over all, Blessed for evermore.

6. I must frequently compare my Acti­ons and Behaviour with the Vow and Promise, and solemn Resolution I have made in the Holy Sacrament, whether my Deportment be agreeable to those Engagements; Whether I stand in awe of those Vows and Promises; and whether they influence my Thoughts and Words, and Practices; Whether my hatred of Sin increases, and my love to Holiness grows steady, and unmoveable; Whether I check my self, upon feeling an inclination, or propensity to a sinful act with such Thoughts as these. Is this the effect of my late Vow? Is this to stand to the Covenant, I lately made with God? Is it possible, I can be so perfi­dious as to break with God? Hath the Cross of Christ so little power with me? Shall it not restrain me from such a sin as this? Foolish Creature! shall a little profit or pleasure tempt me to please the Divel, and wrong my im­mortal Soul? I am tied by a solemn [Page 100] promise made in a most solemn place, by a promise made to God, by a pro­mise Sealed with the Blood of Jesus, not to do it; and shall I presume to do it, or hope for pardon, after this pre­sumption?

I must take notice, Whether the Thoughts of Christs death, make my passions weak; Whether they lessen the heat of them; Whether they repress their fierceness; Whether they work in me that contempt of the World, which was so signal in my dear Lord and Master.

I must ever and anon look how my Graces thrive, Whether no weeds grow among them, that are like to choak the wholsome Herbs.

7. I must now study Self-denial, even in things lawful, and that seem to have no harm in them. Self-denial in Eating and Drinking, in my Cloaths, in my Recreations, in my Time, in my Discourses, in my Wit, in my Read­ing, in my Profit, in my Ease, and in my Sleep.

[Page 101] I must now take heed, I do not Eat and Drink to satiety, but labour still to rise from my Meals with an Appe­tite.

I must now and then humble my Soul with a Religious Fast, and ma­ny times forbear eating of that Dish, I have most mind to, to bring my sen­sual Desires into order.

I must not imitate every vain fashi­on, I see other people use, but must be very modest and decent in my garb; and having means and opportunities to buy me better, reserve that Mo­ney, I would have laid out upon a richer Suit, for Pious uses.

I must not think every recreation lawful, because it's commonly used by Men, who are none of the worst. I must not encourage the vanity of Men and Women, that are in love with Stage-Plays by my example, as being things, I abjured in my Baptisme, but my recreation must be such, as may fit me for Spiritual Devotions.

[Page 102] I must not spend my time as some lux­urious, and idle People do, in need­less, and complemental Visits, in play­ing at Cards and Dice, but in Words, and Actions, and Discourses, as may be useful and profitable: either to the Souls or Bodies of my Family, and my Neighbours.

I must not censure, or judge my Neighbour rashly in my Speeches and Discourses, and not be easily drawn to give a Verdict or Judgment of Peo­ple, except it be in their Praise and Commendation, if they do deserve it.

I must not give my self too great liberty in jesting, but forbear blurt­ing out a witty Saying, if it be smut­ty or abusive of my neighbours Cre­dit, and Reputation.

I must not give my self to reading of Romances, and such Books as serve to render the Mind vain, and the Af­fections loose and regardless of Spiri­tual things.

I must express my gratitude to God, for the Temporal Gain and Profit his [Page 103] Hand sends me, by consecrating some part of it to good uses; nor must I be fond of that Profit which arises from undermining my neighbour.

I must not study the ease of my Flesh much, but take opportunities to use it to some hardships, that it may be­come more obedient to my Reason.

I must not stay at my sport so long as my sensual desires crave, but use on­ly so much of it, as may render me serviceable to God and Man.

And dost thou verily believe that this is the way to Eternal Life?

Yes certainly, for this is the way, that the Primitive Believers walked in. They did not think that Heaven was to be gained at a cheap­er rate, and why should I? Thus did the Apostles, thus did their Followers, and without such Self-denial, they thought there was no arriving to Hap­piness. Besides, this is most agreeable to the Precepts of the Gospel; and why should I think, that I may be-Saved another way, then God himself hath appointed.

If thou art perswaded that this is the way, Lord! Why dost not thou set about it? Why art thou so loth to come to it? Why dost thou act so contrary to it, when every mo­ment thou art in danger of death, and upon thy death, there depends Eter­nity?

O this base, this wicked World hinders me, the ill examples of my careless Neighbours, care of get­ting a livelyhood, the many crosses and disappointments I meet with, hopes of having more time hereafter; the company I converse with, the peo­ple I have to deal with, fear of Want, and the Calling and Condition I am in, are such impediments, I know not how to shake off?

Is it not possible to live in the World, and to keep thy self un­spotted from it? If it be not, live a Beggar rather, live despised, live con­temptible, live dis-regarded by all Men, rather then not enter into these everlasting Joys! Shall a pleasant sin­ful Life hinder thee from the everlast­ing [Page 105] enjoyment of God! Shall the fawnings, or applauses of Men, hinder thee from the Eternal applause of An­gels! Think, if thou wert standing at the great Tribunal, trembling at the Eternal horror thou art condemned too; Think whether thou wouldst not wish, that thou hadst lived in Caves and Holes, poor, destitute, afflicted, for a few years rather, then have come to this miserable end? Why should the examples of thy careless neighbors move thee, when thou knowest there are but few that will be saved? Canst not thou get a livelyhood, except thou art rich and greedy after the glo­ries of the World? If thou canst but get Food and Raiment, content thy self; and that most certainly thou wilt get, if thou art industrious in thy lawful Calling, and darest but trust God▪ Crosses, Losses, and Disappoint­ments, are necessary for thee to drive thee from Earth to Heaven; and if all this while thou dost not lose thy Soul, thou art safe enough. Do but look up­on thy Soul as worth more then a thou­sand [Page 106] Worlds, and none of these things will deject thee! Thy hopes of having time to repent hereafter, is a meer cheat, and if thou trust to that, thou wilt never be saved. A Spiritual life is a thing of labour, and pains, and cir­cumspection, and canst thou be so silly as to think, a few careless Pray­ers at last will plant it in thee? Alas! These are childish reasonings. The company thou conversest withal, if they are thy bane, must be shaken off, whatever comes on't. There is no dally­ing in a thing of this consequence; and if other men will poison themselves, why shouldst thou? Let the People thou dealest with, be never so bad, tha'ts no example for thee to follow. If they are unreasonable, why shouldst thou lose thy Wits, and thy Salvation for their sakes? If they cheat or abuse thee, they do themselves more wrong then thee; nor will thy fuming and fretting at them, convert, or bring them into a better temper. Why shouldst thou be afraid of Want, when thou doest not see a Bird starve, or die [Page 107] for want of Food, and can Want be grievous, when the Author and Cap­tain of thy Salvation was in want, and his followers were so too, and yet did live in Heaven? Either thy Calling is honest, or dishonest; if dishonest, and an inevitable occasion of sinning, away with it, and turn Ploughman, or Servant rather, then live in it. If ho­honest, do not involve thy self in too much business, for that will certainly hinder thee from frequent Prayer and Meditation: and looking after the concerns of thy Soul; and as for necessaries, thy God will not suffer thee to want them.

Lift up thine Eyes, look upon this World. The greatest part of the Men thou seest, will certainly be Eternally miserable. Why shouldst thou venture with them? Doest thou think that howling with them at last will give thee any comfort? There is a prize put in thy hand; Why shouldst thou slight it, and lament thy contempt for ever? Neglect not the present time; [Page 108] Do not let this opportunity slip. Thy God waits for thee. Come in, before the door be shut, believe in good earnest, and nothing will seem diffi­cult.

I am convinced, I yield, I have nothing to say against all this. Great God! Help me. Draw me after thee, and I will run. Up, up my lazy, idle, sleeping Soul! Open thine Eyes, put on Resolution, wash away thy filth, shake off thy prison Garments; gird up thy Loins; make haste, run to God, break the chains of Sin, and pre­sent thy Heart to the living God. Lift up thine Eyes. Look into Heaven. Li­sten with thine Ears, view the Holy Angels, hearken to their Hallelujah's; chase away thy darkness, cleanse thy self, become an humble Spouse of the Lord Jesus! Feed thy self with his Beauty! Kiss him with the Lips of Faith; make him thy Darling, receive him into thy bosom; Quench thy Thirst with his Blood. Hold him fast. Do not let him goe. Sing his Praises. Ad­mire [Page 109] his Love. Meet him by Repen­tance. Keep him by Holy Fervours. Honour his Name. Dare to speak for him. Be not ashamed of him. Confess him before Men, and he will confess thee before his Father, and his Holy Angels.