W Hofoever fhall feek to fave his Life, fhall lofe it: and whofoever fhall lose his Life, fhall preferve it. Luke xvii. 33. Happy is the Lofs when a Man lofes himself, full of Sins and corrupt Inclinations, and fubject to Death, in order to find himfelf again innocent, full of Love, immortal and glorious! ---- The Love alone of this fhort and perifhing Life can make us refolve to lofe All in Order to fave it; but we must resolve to lofe even this Life it felf for the Sake of One infinitely better and eternal. ---- Had we but Faith fhould we not be willing to do more for the Life of the Soul, than for that of the Body? But that which we do now is too often the direct Contrary. To fuffer and abstain My Calling here I see, Renounce myself my LORD to gain, With Thee I daily die, Thy welcome Burthen bear, I Tell Tell you, in that Night there fhall be two Men in one Bed; the one shall be taken, and the other fhall be left. Luke 34. xvii. It is an Advantage to be united to Chriftians, either by Friendship or Relation; but if we defire to improve this Advantage as we ought, and to be faved with them, we must imitate their Example. --- God can easily discern, in all Places, and distinguish those who are his. It is in the Night of Tribulation, Perfecution, extreme Calamity, and Death, that this Diftinction is made. Let us prepare ourselves for it, while it is Day. If Thou, my JESUS, ftill be nigh, I know Thee, Saviour, who Thou art, TWO WO Women fhall be grinding, together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. --- Two Men fhall be in the Field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Luke xvii. 35, 36. God has his Children, and the Devil his Slaves, in all Places, and in all Conditions of Life; it is therefore neceffary in all, for Men to labour and watch, that they may be of the Number of those who belong to God, and that they may avoid the Snares of the Devil. I would be stript of all, I would be truly fill, But act according to thy Will, ND they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And wherefore Body is, thither will Eagles be gathered together. Luke xvii. 37. The Children of God are fpiritual Eagles, who foar towards Heaven, to feek Jefus Chrift there; and not Ravens who feek only to gorge themselves with the Things on Earth. --- These Eagles and Ravens are here below mixed together in the Church, which is the Body of Chrift, diffused throughout the World, and composed of all Nations. But in Heaven none but Eagles will be gathered together, and reunited in this immortal Body of which Chrift is the Head, the Strength, the Food, the Joy and the eternal Felicity. Let Cares like a wild Deluge come, And Storms of Sorrow fall, May I but fafely reach my Home, My God, my Heav'n, my ALL. There fhall I bathe my weary Soal In Seas of Heav'nly Reft, AND he fpake a Parable unto them to this End, that Men ought always to pray, and not to faint. Luke xviii. 1. Prayer is a Duty properly belonging to fuch as are Poor and Needy; which must be continual in this Life, because we are continually filled with Wants. The Tempter is never weary in affaulting us, let us never grow weary in refifting him with the Arms of Prayer. To pray always, and to fpeak but little, is one of the Paradoxes of the Gofpel: This Duty requires little of the Tongue, much of the Heart. - A Man may be justly faid always to pray when he has God always prefent to his Mind, and always defires him, whether he do it ftanding or kneeling, in Reft or Labour, in Grief or Joy, Surely if we ought, we may, Thou, who gaveft the Command, |