276 An Example of the genuine Workings Chap. 27.

"that the Keepers of the House do not yet tremble, nor "the Strong Men bow themselves; that they that look "out of the Windows are not yet darkened, nor the Daugh"ters of Music brought 'low: I bless Thee O GOD of 66 my Life, that the Silver Cords are not yet loosed, nor "the Golden Bowl broken (s): For it is Thine Hand

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that braces all my Nerves, and Thine infinite Skill that prepares those Spirits, which flow in so freely, and when exhausted, recruit so soon and so plentifully.

"I praise Thee for that Royal Bounty, with which "Thou providest for the daily Support of Mankind in "general, and for mine in particular; for the various Tables which Thou spreadest before me, and for the overflowing Cup which Thou puttest into my Hands (t). I bless Thee, that these Bounties of Thy Providence do not serve, as it were, to upbraid a disabled Appe tite, and are not like Messes of Meat set before the dead. I bless Thee too that I eat not my Morsel alone (u), but share it with so many agreeable Friends, who add "the Relish of a social Life, to that of the Animal, at our Seasons of common Repast. I thank Thee for so many dear Relatives at Home, for so many kind Friends abroad, who are capable of serving me in various Instances, and disposed to make an obliging Use of that Capacity...

"Nor would I forget to acknowledge Thy Favour, in rendering me capable of serving others, and giving me in any Instance to know, how much more blessed "it is to give than to receive (x). I thank Thee for a Heart which feels the Sorrows of the Necessitous, and a Mind which can make it my early Care and Re"freshment to contrive, according to my little Ability, for their Relief: For this also cometh forth from Thee, O Lord (y), the great Author of every benevolent Inclination, of every prudent Scheme, of every successful "Attempt to spread Happiness around us, or in any Instance to lessen Distress.

"And surely, O Lord, if I thus acknowledge the "Pleasures of Sympathy with the Afflicted, much more ❝ must

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(6) Eccl. xii. 3, 4, 6. (t) Psal. xxiii. 5. (u) Job xxxi. 17. (x) Acts xx. 35. (y) Isai. xxviii. 29.

of a grateful Joy in GOD.

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Chap. 27. must I bless Thee for those of Sympathy with the Happy, with those that are completely blessed. I adore Thee for the Streams that water Paradise, and maintain it "in ever-flourishing, ever-growing Delight. I praise "Thee for the Rest, the Joy, the Transport, Thou art "giving to many that were once dear to me on Earth; 66 whose Sorrows it was my Labour to sooth, and whose "Joys, especially in Thee, it was the Delight of my "Heart to promote. I praise Thee for the Blessedness "of every Saint, and of every Angel, that surrounds Thy Throne above; and I praise Thee with Accents of distinguished Pleasure, for that reviving Hope which Thou hast implanted in my Bosom, that I shall ere long, know by clear Sight, and, by ever. "lasting Experience, what that Felicity of theirs is, which I now only discover at a Distance, through the "comparatively obscure Glass of Faith. Even now, through Thy Grace do I feel myself borne forward by "Thy Supporting Arm to those Regions of Blessedness

Even now, am I waiting for Thy Salvation (z), with "that ardent Desire on the one Hand, which its sublime "Greatness cannot but inspire into the believing Soul, and that calm Resignation on the other, which the Immutability of Thy Promise establishes.

.

And now, O my Gon, What shall I say unto Thee! "What, but that I love Thee above all the Powers of "Language to express! That I love Thee for what "Thou art to Thy Creatures, who are in their various "Forms, every Moment deriving Being, Knowledge, "and Happiness from Thee, in Numbers and Degrees, "far beyond what my narrow Imagination can con

ceive. But O I adore and love Thee, yet far more, "for what Thou art in Thyself, for those Stores of Peri "fection which Creation has not diminished, and which 66 can never be exhausted by all the Effects of it which "Thon impartest to Thy Creatures; that infinite Per"fection which makes Thee Thine own Happiness,

Thine own End; amiable, infinitely amiable, and ve"nerable, were all derived Excellence and Happiness ❝ forgot. "O Thou

(z) Gen. xlix. 18.

278 An Example of the genuine Workings, &c. Chap. 27.

O Thou first, Thou greatest, Thou fairest of all Objects! Thou only great, Thou only fair, possess all my Soul! And surely Thou dost possess it. While I thus feel Thy sacred Spirit breathing on my Heart, and exciting these Fervors of Love to Thee, I can. ❝ not doubt it any more, than I can doubt the Reality of this Animal Life, while I exert the Actings of it, and feel its Sensations. Surely if ever I knew the Appetite of Hunger, my Soul hungers after Righteousness (a), and longs for a greater Conformity to Thy blessed Nature and holy Will. If ever my Palate ❝ felt Thirst, my Soul thirsteth for GOD, even for the $ living GOD (b), and panteth for the more abundant ❝ Communication of His Favour. If ever this Body, when wearied with Labours or Journies, knew what it was to wish for the Refreshment of my Bed and rejoice to rest there, my Soul with sweet Acquiescence "rests upon Thy gracious Bosom, O my Heavenly

Father, and returns to its Repose in the Embraces of "its Gon, who hath dealt so bountifully with it (c). And ❝ if ever I saw the Face of a beloved Friend with Com

placency and Joy, I rejoice in beholding Thy Face, ❝ O Lord, and in calling Thee my Father in Christ. "Such Thou art, and such Thou wilt be, for Time and for Eternity. What have I more to do, but to commit myself to Thee for both? Leaving it to Thee to chuse my Inheritance and to order my Affairs for me (d), 44 while all my Business is to serve Thee, and all my "Delight to praise Thee. My Soul follows hard after “GOD, because Ilis Right Hand upholds me (e). Let ❝ it still bear me up, and I shall press on towards Thee, till all my Desires be accomplished in the eternal Enjoyment of Thee! Amen."

(a) Matt. v. 6. (b) Psal. xlii. 2. (d) Pral. xlvii. 4.

(c) Psal. cxvi. 7,

(c) Psal. Ixiii. 8.

СНАР.

Chap. 28.

The established Christian urged, &c. 279

CHAP. XXVIII.

The Established CHRISTIAN urged to exert himself for Purposes of Usefulness.

A sincere Love to GOD will express itself, not only in Devotion, but in Benevolence to Men: §. 1, 2. This is the Command of GOD; §. 3. The true Christian feels his Soul wrought to a Holy Conformity to it : §. 4. And therefore will desire Instructions on this Head. §. 5. Accordingly Directions are given for the Improvement of various Talents: Particularly, (1.) Genius and Learning, §. 6. (2.) Power, §. 7. (3.) Domestic Authority, §. 8. (4.) Esteem, §. 9. (5.) Riches, §. 10. Several good Ways of employing them hinted at, §. 11. Prudence in Expence urged, for the Support of Charity, §. 12, 13. Divine Direction in this Respect to be sought. §. 14. The Christian breathing after more extensive Usefulness.

§. 1.

UCH as I have described in the former Chapter, I trust, are and will be the frequent Exercises of your Soul before Gon. Thus will your Love and Gratitude breathe itself forth in the Divine Presence, and will, through JESUS the great Mediator, come up before it as Incense, and yield an acceptable Savour. But then you must remember, this will not be the only Effect of that Love to GOD, which I have supposed so warm in your Heart. If it be sincere, it will not spend itself in Words alone, but will discover itself in Actions, and will produce, as its genuine Fruit, an unfeigned Love to your Fellow Creatures, and an unwearied Desire and Labour to do them good continually.

§. 2. Has

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He should improve his Capacity,

Chap. 23.

§. 2. Has the great Father of Mercies," will you say, "looked upon me with so gracious an Eye; has "He not only forgiven me Ten Thousand Offences, but "enriched me with such a Variety of Benefits! Oh what "shall I render to Him for them all! Instruct me, O ye "Oracles of Eternal Truth! Instruct me, ye elder Brethren, in the Family of my Heavenly Father! Instruct me, above all, O Thou Spirit of Wisdom and "Love, what I may be able to do, to express my Love to the Eternal Fountain of Love, and to approve my Fidelity to Him, who has already done so much to 66 engage it, and who will take so much Pleasure in "owning and rewarding it!"

§. 3. This, O Christian, is the Command which we have heard from the Beginning, and it will ever continue in unimpaired Force, that he who loveth GOD, should love his Brother also (a); and should express that Love not in Word and in Profession alone, but in Deed and in Truth (b). You are to love your Neighbour as yourself; to love the whole Creation of GOD; and, so far as your Influence can extend, must endeavour to make it happy. * §. 4. "Yes," you will say, and "I do love it. I feel "the golden Chain of Divine Love encircling us all, and

binding ns close to each other, joining us in one Body, and diffusing (as it were) one Soul through all. May "Happiness, true and sublime, perpetual and ever-grow

ing Happiness, reign through the whole World of "GoD's rational and obedient Creatures in Heaven and

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on Earth! and may every revolted Creature, that is "capable of being recovered and restored, be made obe"dient? Yea, may the necessary Punishment of those, "who are irrecoverable, be over-ruled by Infinite Wis"dom and Love to the good of the Whole!"

§. 5. These are right Sentiments; and if they are indeed the Sentiments of your Heart, O Reader, and not an empty Form of vain Words, they will be attended with a serious Concern to act in Subordination to this great Scheme of Divine Providence, according to your Abilities in their utmost Extent. And to this Purpose, they will put you on surveying the peculiar Circumstances of your Life and Being; that you may discover what

(a) John iv. 21.

(b) 1 John iii. 13.