Page images
PDF
EPUB

they find it is that of mercy. That he speaks peace out of the abundance of a kind and loving heart.

In reply to the voice of God, the faint, in his converfe with him, giving credit to every thing he speaks, complies therewith. If his ftubborn heart rife up against any part, he will not condemn the part against which it rifes, but his heart for rifing up against it. He will view it as the fad effect of the plague in his heart, and as fuch will loathe himfelf in his own fight. It will be his concern to obey the voice of the rod, and not defpife the chaftening of the Lord; to follow the word, and not quench the motions of the Spirit; to make suitable returns for every difplay of the divine perfections. He will adore infinite wifdom, and commit himfelf to its guidance, not leaning on his own understanding. He will confide in infinite power, for his grand fupport and defence. He will bow to the divine fo vereignty with humble refignation, well knowing that he has no right to find fault, and that his Heavenly Father orders every thing for the best. He will speak to the Lord often, with boldness, but not with rudeness. He will confefs his fins unto him. He will plead with him in prayer, for promifed bleffings; and not omit to praife him for thofe which he has already received. He can and does unbofom himself to the Lord more than to the neareft and dearest friend he has in the world. He can tell him his fears, his foes, and all his defires. He knows he cannot afk too much, nor offend by afking too often, or with too much importunity. God attends to his fighs and groans, as much as to his fineft words and fentences; and when the fit time is come, he faith unto his pleading fervant," Be it unto thee, even as thou wilt."

In this communion, there is not only a mutual converfe, but also a giving and receiving. God gives to his faints, and they gratefully receive of him; again making dutiful returns to him, which he gracioufly accepts of. He gives himself to them, and they give themfelves to him. He fays, "I will be your God," and they fay, "We will be thy people." He gives them a fense of his love, fo that they feel it fhed abroad in their hearts. They enjoy it as what it truly is, love infinitely great, fovereign and free; without variablenefs or fhadow of turning; ancient, boundless and durable as eternity; the grand fpring of every bleffing they enjoy, or for which they hope, either in this world, or in that which is to come. He gives them his infinite wifdom, to guide their feet in the way of VOL. VI.

Ee

peace.

In a

peace. He bestows his mercy upon them according to their need. He lends them his powerful arm on which they lean; and with it he holds them up, fo that they are fafe. He renews their strength, yea, perfects his ftrength in their weakness. They can truly fay to him in the words of the pfalmift, "Thy right-hand hath holden us up and again, “Thou haft holden me by my right-hand." word, he offers them his all-fufficiency; fo, that their fufficiency is of him, and he is every thing to them. He fays to them, as he did to Mofes, "I am," whatever you need, that I am, and will be to you. Now, what fhall they render to the Lord for all his benefits? They yield themselves unto him. They give him their hearts: fet their affections upon him: yield their understandings to the guidance of his counfel, and their wills to be ruled by his in all things. They likewife prefent their bodies to him as living facrifices. With their feet they will not ftand in the way of finners; much lefs run after the multitude of evil doers; but they will cheerfully go to the house of God, and alfo vifit the houfe of mourning. With their tongues they will not utter lies and fcandal; but the words of truth and fobernefs, and what will be for the glory of God and the edification of man. Their hands will not be folded together in idleness, much less employed in doing mischief; but therewith they will work, that thereby they may have for themselves, and alfo to give to him that needeth. Not only in devotions, but alfo in bufinefs, and honest industry, the faints have fellowship with Deity. Whether they be hewing of wood, or drawing of water; navigating their fhips, or digging, fowing or reaping their grounds; minding their fheep, or their fhops; or whatever elfe their lawful calling may be, therein they shall enjoy the divine presence and approbation.

After what has been advanced, it may be added, that there is no communion fo fweet, fo fafe, fo durable, fo honorable or advantageous, as communion with God. There is that in it which exactly fuits, fully fatisfies, and infinitely delights the fublime and capacious powers of the immortal foul. Senfual delights are momentary, and rather furfeit than fatisfy, after leaving a fting behind; but in communion with God, the foul finds its centre and reft. Here, the river runs into the ocean. Here, the fpirit returns to God who gave it. Here, all the fcattered beauties in the wide creation are found collected together. Not the moft exquifite painting to the limner's eye, nor the softest strains

to

to the musician's ear, nor yet the sweetest fragrance to the fmell, or moft delicious food to the epicurean's palate, are worthy to be compared with the bleffednefs of communion with God. What can be more honourable than to visit and be vifited, to walk and talk, and have a joint intereft with the King of Kings? Herein we need fear no evil; neither lofs nor difgrace. We are fafe in the wilderness, and that not be lefs fo in the shadow of death. The beginning of this fellowthip is the beginning of heaven below, and the perfection of it, will be the perfection of heaven above. It is that communion, which no power, however great, which no place, however diftant, can for a moment interrupt. Death itself, which breaks up fo many connections and fellowships, does not destroy, but rather brings this to perfection. How bleffed is it to be walking with God! By fo doing we shall become like him, and ere long be with him for ever and ever.

Scarborough.

S. B.

A MEDITATION.

WRITTEN ON THE EVENING OF THE AUTHOR'S

BIRTH-DAY.

NCE more the glorious luminary of heaven has withdrawn his beams from our hemifphere, and is gone to enlighten other regions. The feathered fongfters of the grove, and the harmless tenants of the field are retired to their nightly coverts; and the fons of industry and toil have now concluded the labours of the day, and are preparing to close their weary eye-lids in the gentle arms of fleep.

At this ftill hour of folitude and contemplation, not a found is to be heard in this peaceful retirement fave the whisper of confcience-" the ftill fmall voice" of God. Come, O my foul! let me now take a retrospective view of the past twelve months, and vifit, in ferious meditation, the tomb of my departed hours. Another year of my short life is ended, and (awful confideration) has carried with it a regifter of all the follies, fins, and imperfections it has witnessed in my conduct, in order to give it up in evidence against me before a Judge of infinite purity, unblemished justice, and unlimited power. Solemn thought! melancholy catalogue ! thus does every day rife up and reproach me with vanity, and folly, with goodness abused, moments unimproved, and mercies difregarded! Engaged by the moft facred vows, by the most endearing ties of gratitude and love, in the ferEe 2

vice

[ocr errors]

vice of my Lord, how often, in this one year alone, have I
broken those engagements and forgot thofe ties! how often,
even during my moft folemn acts of devotion, have my af-
fections wandered from them, and entangled themselves in a
thousand trifling fcenes of bufinefs or amufement. How
then fhall I dare to ftand before him, or expect to escape
deferved punishment? Jefus, my Lord! my Saviour! I Ay
to thee, and caft my trembling foul into thy compaffionate
bofom. I have, it is true, broken the righteous law of God,
in ten thousand inftances; but thou haft died upon the cross,
and there haft made a full atonement for all my tranf-
greffions. O do thou plead my caufe! and when offended
juftice demands fatisfaction for my crimes, do thou ftretch
forth thy wounded hand, and declare what thou haft fuffer-
ed in my behalf; fo fhall the flaming fword be fheathed,
and I fhall obtain that pardon which thou haft purchased for
every penitent who trufts in thee: and, O my dearest
Lord! do thou thyfelf condefcend to come and take up thy
refidence in my heart, and make me the willing fubject of
thy glorious kingdom, so shall my future days be diftinguish-
ed by love to thy perfon, zeal for thy caufe, and diligence in
thy fervice; fo fhall I be enabled to glorify thy name, and
fhew forth thy praises on earth, and at laft, through thy free
unmerited grace, be admitted into thy glorious prefence,
where, free from folly, fin, and imperfections, I fhall cele-
lebrate thy love through eternal ages.
Sandwich.

I

E. TATLOCK.

ADDRESS TO A NEW MARRIED COUPLE.

Feel an impreffion upon my mind to drop on this paper a word of friendly advice, which I hope will be read in the fame spirit of candour and good-will as that in which it is written. I feel a concern for your welfare. You have now taken the most important ftep that can be taken in relation to the present life. You are united together in lasting bands. May every bleffing in nature, Providence, 'and grace, unite to render them happy to the end of your days!

With regard to your refpectability in the world, much depends upon your fubfequent conduct. Let fobriety, fteadinefs, and prudence mark all your steps. Induftry and prudence are generally respected in the world. Guard against a fupercilious deportment, and every thing that looks like it. Be condefcending, but not mean; affectionate, but not fond.

fond. Never, for a moment, think that outward glare, or a flashy appearance, will advance your confequence and refpectability. These things have little or no weight with perfons of difcernment and worth.

Never be deaf to good advice. Do not proudly disdain the good counsel of those who are more advanced in years than yourselves; if you do, there may come a time when you may want fuch counsel, and not be able to obtain it at any price. Guard well against a waste of time; it is too precious to be wafted. Never angrily thwart and oppose each other, but by the fincereft love ferve one another. Refpect your relations and friends, for that is the most certain way to be refpected. Do not affect independence when your property fhall be at your own difpofal; it may betray you into difficulties before you are aware. Never be hafty in taking any ftep, nor violent in purfuing any object. Let difcretion go firit, and mark out the line of conduct which is moft juft and eligible to be purfued, and then never decline because of difficulties or dangers in the way.

Let the religion of the Bible be your religion. May the grace of God infpire and implant it in your hearts. Be not afhamed to profefs Jefus Chrift and his truth. May that bleffed Lord befriend you, blefs you, and keep you for evermore. I intreat you confider that an all-feeing eye is upon you; may that eye never be a witnefs to extravagance and wafte, to Sabbath-breaking and vice. May you enjoy every felicity, and above all, a good hope through grace. MILES EMERITES.

EXA

ON EXAGGERATION.

XAGGERATION, and a difpofition to exaggerate, are great and growing evils, of which many profeffors of religion, as well as the men of the world in general, are guilty. This evil confifts in magnifying any circumstance, more or lefs, in a hyperbolical manner. Not to reprefent any matter as near its reality as we can, is certainly a deviation from truth; and a deviation from truth is furely a crime. This will be a growing evil in thofe in whom it is not checked; for, being lavish in our words, either in the praise or difpraise of perfons, or any other objects, we infenfibly acquire a habit of exalting or debafing them beyond the bounds of truth.

I am

« PreviousContinue »