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J They fly unto him, Yea, Lord all

ESUS faith unto them, Have yé understood all these Things?

Let us not flightly pass over thefe divine Truths, if we defire to be the better for them. Let this Question of our bleffed Lord convince us of their Importance.---It is very proper when we read them, to call ourselves to an Account, as to the Impreffions which they make upon our Minds and Hearts, as to the Confequences which we should draw from them for the Regulation of our Lives, and as to that Estrangement from worldly Lufts and Amusements which they ought to inspire into us.

Midft all our various Forms,

We in this Center meet,
Our Hearts cemented by his Blood,
Shall tafte Communion sweet.

Then let us walk in Light,

Like Chrift, whofe Name we bear, And as the Pledge of endless Blifs, Our Father's Image bear.

PET

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ETER faid, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto Thee on the Water. And he faid, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the Ship, he walked on the Water to go to Jefus. Mat. xiv. 28, 29.

To walk on the Water to go to Jefus, is to follow him, and to do his Will, notwithstanding all Troubles and Loffes, Contradictions and Perfecutions of carnal Men. Lord, fay to my Soul, Come, and it will then go to Thee, and do whatever Thou wouldst have it, without the least Apprehenfion from the World.

Saviour, thou hast bid me come,

But bid me come, again, 'Till I reach my heavenly Home, My finking Soul fuftain:

Walking on at thy Command,

O'er Danger's moft tempeftuous Sea, Save me by thine out-ftretch'd Hand, And fave me up to Thee.

BUT

UT when he saw the Wind boiftrous, he was afraid: and beginning to fink, he cried, faying, Lord, fave me. Mat. xiv. 30.

Upon every new Danger and Temptation, there is new Want of Grace, and new Neceffity for Prayer. --- It is of great_Advantage to a Chriftian, for God to make him fenfible, from Time to Time, of his natural Weakness and Inability, that he may ftill have recourse to his Saviour. --- Temptation in the Children of God, ferves to awake their Faith. --- Not one Moment passes, but we have Occafion to fay, Lord, fave me.

O may I cry for Help to Thee,
The Moment I begin
To fink into the troubled Sea,
Or yield to my own Sin;

Tendereft Branch, alas! am I,
Wither without Thee, and die,
Week as helpless Infancy,
O confirm my Soul in Thee.

I know, in answer to my Prayer,

Thou would'st extend thine Hand,
My Soul above the Billows bear
To the celeftial Land.

Unfuftain'd by Thee I fall,
Send the Strength for which I call,
Weaker than a bruifed Reed,
Help I every Moment need.

A

ND immediately Jefus ftretched forth his Hand, and caught him, and faid unto him, O thou of little Faith, wherefore didft thou doubt? Mat. xiv. 31.

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Jefus holds Peter up in the midst of the Water, and knows the Bottom of his Heart. Let us take great Care that we do not, like Peter, confider more the Danger in which we are than the Power of Chrift; fuch a Piece of Infidelity would make us deferve to be left entirely to ourselves --- His Word is our Light; his Hand our Strength.. He permits his Children to be exercifed with Trials and Temptations, in order to humble them, and by delivering them out of them to increase their Faith and Patience.

--

Whether or no my Heart of Stone

Will yield to be renew'd, Sufficient is thy Grace I own, I juftify my GoD.

This Record do I leave behind,

Whether I ftand or fall,
Sinners, ye all his Grace may find,
His Grace is free for all.

AND when they were come into the Ship, the Wind ceased.

Mat. xiv. 32.

Wherever Chrift is there is Reft--- The Ship represents the Church, which is the House of Faith, of Peace, and of God himfelf, but continually subject to be toffed to and fro in this World. Command the Winds which tofs it to cease, O my God; for Thou haft full and abfolute Power over them.

He does the raging Storm appease,
And makes the Billows calm and ftill,
With Joy they fee their Fury cease,
And their intended Course fulfil.
O then that all the Earth, with me,
WouldGod for this his Goodness praise,

And for the mighty Works which He
Throughout the wond'ring World dif-
ToGod your grateful Voices raife plays.
Who does your daily Patron prove,
And let your never-ceafing Praise
Attend on his eternal Love.

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