what it would smite you if you were upon a dying bed, and within this hour to enter on eternity. When you have made any discovery, note it down; and go on in your search, till you can say, these are the remaining corruptions of my heart, these are the sins and follies of my life; this have I neglected; this have I done amiss. And when the account is as complete as you can make it, set yourself in the strength of God to a serious reformation, or rather begin the reformation of every thing that seems amiss as soon as ever you discover it: "return to the Almighty, and thou shalt be built up; put iniquity far from thy tabernacle, and then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God. Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee; thou shalt pay thy vows unto him, and his light shall shine upon thy ways.' Job, xxii. 23, 26, 27.

10. In the mean time, be waiting for God with the deepest humility, and submit yourself to the discipline of your heavenly Father, acknowledging his justice, and hoping in his mercy; even when your conscience is least severe in its remonstrances, and discovers nothing more than the common infirmities of God's people; yet still bow yourself down before him, and own that, so many are the evils of your best days, so many the imperfections of your best services, that by them you have deserved all, and more than all that you suffer deserved, not only that your sun should be clouded, but that it should go down, and arise no more, but leave your soul in a state of everlasting darkness. And while the shade continues, be not impatient. Fret not yourself in any wise, but rather, with a holy calmness and gentleness of soul, "wait on the Lord." Psalm xxxvii. 8, 34. Be willing to stay his time, willing to bear his frown, in humble hope that he will at length "return and have compassion on you." Jer. xii. 15. He has not utterly forgotten to be gracious, nor resolved that "he will be favourable no more. .” Psalm lxxvii. 7, 9. "For the Lord will not cast off for ever; but though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies." Lam. iii. 31, 32. It is comparatively but "for

a small moment, that he hides his face from you;" but you may humbly hope, that with great mercies he will gather you, and that "with everlasting kindness he will have mercy on you." Isaiah, liv. 7, 8. These suitable words are not mine, but his; and they wear this, as in the very front of them, "That a soul, under the hidings of God's face, may at last be one whom he will gather, and to whom he will extend everlasting favour."

11. But while the darkness continues, "go on in the way of your duty." Continue the use of means and ordinances; read and meditate; pray, yes, and sing the praises of God too, though it may be with a heavy heart. Follow the "footsteps of his flock;" (Cant. i. 8.) you may perhaps meet the Shepherd of souls in doing it. Place yourself at least in his way. It is possible you may by this means get a kind look from him; and one look, one turn of thought, which may happen in a moment, may, as it were, create a heaven in your soul at once. Go to the table of the Lord. If you cannot rejoice, go and mourn there. Go and "mourn for that Saviour, whom," by your sins, "you have pierced :" (Zech. xii. 10.) go and lament the breaches of that covenant which you have there so often confirmed. Christ may perhaps make himself known unto you" in the breaking of the bread," (Luke, xxiv, 35.) and you may find, to your surprise, that he hath been near you, when you imagined he was at the greatest distance from you; near you, when you thought you were cast out from his presence." Seek your comfort in such enjcyments as these, and not in the vain amusements of this world, and in the pleasures of sense. I shall never forget

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that affectionate expression, which I am well assured broke out from an eminently pious heart, then almost ready to break under its sorrows of this kind; "Lord, if I may not enjoy thee, let me enjoy nothing else; but go down mourning after thee to the grave!" I wondered not to hear, that, almost as soon as the sentiment had been breathed out before God in prayer, the burden was taken off, and "the joy of God's salvation restored."

12. I shall add but one advice more, and that is, that

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"you renew your application to the blood of Jesus, through whom the reconciliation between God and your soul has been accomplished." It is he that is our peace, and by his blood it is that "we are made nigh:" (Eph. ii. 13, 14.) it is in him, as the beloved of his soul, that God declares he is well pleased, (Matt. iii. 17.) and it is in him that we are made accepted, to the glory of his grace." Eph. i. 6. Go therefore, O Christian, and apply by faith to a crucified Saviour: go, and apply to him, as to a merciful high-priest," and pour out thy complaint before him, and show before him thy trouble." Psalm cxlii. 2. Lay open the distress and anguish of thy soul to him, who once knew what it was to say, (O astonishing, that He should ever have said it!) "My God! my God! why hast thou forsaken me?" Matt. xxvii. 46. Look up for pity and relief to him, who himself suffered, being not only tempted, but, with regard to sensible manifestations, deserted, that he might thus know how to pity those that are in such a melancholy case, and be ready, as well as able, "to succour them." Heb. ii. 18. He is "Immanuel, God with us," (Matt. i. 23.) and it is only in and through him that his Father shines forth upon us with the mildest beams of mercy and of love. Let it be therefore your immediate care to renew your acquaintance with him. Review the records of his life and death; hear his words; behold his actions; and when you do so, surely you will feel a secret sweetness diffusing itself over your soul. You will be brought into a calm, gentle, silent frame, in which faith and love will operate powerfully, and God may probably cause "the still small voice" of his comforting Spirit to be heard, (1 Kings, xix. 12.) till your soul burst out into a song of praise, and you are "made glad according to the days in which you have been afflicted." Psalm xc. 15. In the mean time, such language as the following supplication speaks, may be suitable.

An humble Supplication for one under the Hidings of God's Face. "Blessed God! with thee is the fountain of life' and of happiness. Psalm xxxvi. 9. I adore thy name that I

have ever tasted of thy streams; that I have ever had the peculiar pleasure arising from the light of thy countenance, and the shedding abroad of thy love in my soul. But, alas! these delightful seasons are now to me no more; and the remembrance of them engages me to 'pour out my soul within me.' Psalm xlii. 4. I would come, as I have formerly done, and call thee, with the same endearment, ' my Father and my God;' but, alas! I know not how to do it. Guilt and fear arise, and forbid the delightful language. I seek thee, O Lord! but I seek in vain. I would pray, but my lips are sealed up. I would read thy word, but all the promises of it are veiled from mine eyes. I frequent those ordinances which have been formerly most nourishing and comfortable to my soul, but, alas! they are only the shadows of ordinances; the substance is gone; the animating spirit is fled, and leaves them now at best but the image of what I once knew them.

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But, Lord, hast thou cast off for ev ever, and favourable no more? Psalm lxxvii. 7. Hast thou in awful judgement determined, that my soul must be left to a perpetual winter, the sad emblem of eternal darkness? Indeed, I deserve it should be so. I acknowledge, O Lord! I deserve to be cast away from thy presence with disdain, to be sunk lower than I am, much lower; I deserve to have 'the shadow of death upon my eyelids,' (Job, xvi. 16.) and even to be surrounded with the thick gloom of the infernal prison. But hast thou not raised multitudes, who have deserved like me to be delivered into chains of darkness,' (2 Pet. ii. 4.) to the vision of thy glory above, where no cloud can ever interpose between thee and their rejoicing spirits? Have mercy upon me, O Lord! have mercy upon me!' Psalm cxxiii. 3. And though my iniquities have now justly 'caused thee to hide thy face from me,' (Isa. lix. 2.) yet be thou rather pleased, agreeably to the gracious language of thy word, to hide thy face from my sins, and to blot out all my iniquities.' Psalm li. 9. Cheer my heart with the tokens of thy returning favour, and say unto my soul, I am thy salvation!' Psalm xxxv. 3. Remember, O Lord God! remember that dreadful day,

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in which Jesus thy dear Son endured what my sins have deserved! Remember that agony, in which he poured out his soul before thee, and said, 'My God! My God! why hast thou forsaken me?' Matt. xxvii. 46. Did he not, O Lord! endure all this, that humble penitents might through him be brought near unto thee, and might behold thee with pleasure, as their Father and their God? Thus do I desire to come unto thee. Blessed Saviour, art thou not appointed to give unto them that mourn in Zion, beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness? Isaiah, lxi. 3. O wash away my tears, anoint my head with the oil of gladness, and clothe me with the garments of salvation,' Isaiah, lxi. 10. "O that I knew where I might find thee! Job, xxiii. 3. O that I knew what it is that hath engaged thee to depart from me! I am searching and trying my ways:' (Lam. iii. 40.) O that thou wouldst 'search me, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts :" and if there be any wicked way in me,' discover it, and lead me in the way everlasting;' (Psalm cxxxix. 23, 24.) in that way in which I may find rest and peace for my soul,' (Jer. vi. 16.) and feel the discoveries of thy love in Christ!

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"O God! 'who didst command the light to shine out of darkness,' (2 Cor. iv. 6.) speak but the word, and light shall dart into my soul at once! Open thou my lips, and my mouth shall show forth thy praise,' (Psalm li. 15.) shall burst out into a cheerful song, which shall display before those whom my present dejections may have discouraged, the pleasures and supports of religion!

"Yet, Lord, on the whole, I submit to thy will. If it is thus that my faith must be exercised, by walking in darkness for days, and months, and years to come, how long soever they may seem, how long soever they may be, I submit. Still will I adore thee as the God of Israel,' and the Saviour, though thou art a God that hidest thyself,' Isaiah, xlv. 15. Still will I trust in the name of the Lord, and stay myself upon my God,' (Isaiah, 1. 10.) trusting in thee, though thou slay me,' (Job, xiii. 15.) and waiting for thee, more than they that watch for the morning, yea, more than they that watch for the morning.' Psalm cxxx. 6. Perad

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