world to the love of our Redeemer? What are they in comparison of him, but as a vain shadow, nothing? If there be any thing worthy a wish, it is eminently, transcendantly in him alone; there is no honour, no felicity like that which is in him who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

O that we may be enabled to say, as Jacob did, when he saw the angels of God ascending and descending, "surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not: if God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, so that I come to my father's house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God." (h)

If we are now favoured to arrive at this state of holy dependance, waiting till he, the enlivening, quickening spirit, manifests himself in our hearts, whereby we shall be enabled to say Abba, Father, my Lord and

(h) Gen. 28. 12, 16, 20, 21.

C

my God; who in his adorable mercy and goodness has borne so long with us when we slighted and resisted his good spirit in our minds; and in his tender compassion and unbounded love towards us, has promised never to leave nor forsake those who faithfully and truly serve him in their day and generation.

Let us then dedicate body, soul and spirit unto him, who is the Rock of Ages, that we may drink of that pure fountain and partake of the fruition of that love, where we may sit under his shadow with great delight, and whose fruit will be sweet to our taste. “For, lo! the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; the fig-tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines, with the tender grape, give a good smell.” (i)

(1) Song of Sol. 2. 11, 12, 13.

Chapter EE.

HOW soon, alas! do the darkening clouds cast a shadow over the vivifying rays of the sun, to prevent the promising and delightful spring from producing autumnal fruit, and bringing it to perfection! How ought we to watch, and strengthen the things which remain, which are ready to die! The true path of self-denial is too apt to be deviated from, and then coolness and indifference step in the way, which hinder our progress Zion-ward; arising from a variety of causes as well as in different individuals; as the too great love of the world, its ways and maxims, pride, &c. which all tend to lead the mind to vanity, and in the end produce vexation,

sorrow and disappointment. In others, it may be as John the Divine said, when writing to the Church at Ephesus, “I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are Apostles and are not; and hast found them liars; and hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. (j)

It may also arise from the decay of those lively apprehensions the soul enjoyed in the love of the Almighty, whilst it felt the freeing of the soul from that sin it

(j) Rev. 2. 2-5.

sighed so deeply under. Strive to examine the secret causes of these relapses, which occasion drowsiness and lukewarmness. It is not what we were, but what we now are, that he who sees all our hearts looks at.

But while we retain the first impressions of the mercy of him whom we love, because he first loved us, our souls will be humbled, and we shall be more willing to submit to his yoke which is easy, and his burden which is light.

We must therefore look to ourselves, that we lose not those things we have already gained, but that we receive a full reward. Persevere then and go on to perfection; for if we be willing and obedient, we shall eat the good of the land. Let us not get into deadness without endeavouring to search the grounds of our corruptions in the which we also walked, when we lived in them, but earnestly seek after a clear view of the narrow way which leads to everlasting life; and the necessity of con