to enfnare us. It were happy for us if we were still watching against him, and could fay with the apostle, we are not ignorant of his devices. You are likewife to watch against all fin whatfoever, fins of omiffion as well as of commiffion. Grofs outbreakings make conscience to start at their appearance, but it is not fo alarmed with the neglect of duties. But if conscience be awakened, fins of omiffion will lie heavy as well as fins of commiffion. Some eminent Chriftians, who have lived the moft circumfpect lives, when they come to die and reflect upon the by-paft time, have been put to cry, Lord, in fpecial forgive my fans of omiffion. Venture not to live in any frame, courfe, or practice, that you would not adventure to die in, feeing you know not but your next ftep may be into the grave. Guard against all thefe fins and evils now in the time of your health, that may put thorns in your pillow when ficknefs and the harbingers of death approach, fuch as mif- fpending of precious time, neglect of prayer or reading of the fcriptures, formality and lukewarmnefs in religion, earthly mindednefs, unthankfulness for mercies, and mifcarrying after them, neglect of improving Chrift, quenching the Spirit, neglect of convictions, breaking of vows, falling from your first love, returning to old fins you had mourned over, finning against light and after affictions, &c. Direct. XXXVHI. Be heartily concerned for the coming and enlargement of Christ's kingdom in the world, Matth. vi. 10. Pfal. lxxii. 19. Bewail it that his flock is fo little, his fubjects fo few, when Satan's are fo numerous. Bewail the unfuccefsfulness of the gofpel, the reftraint of the Spirit, the divifion among Chriftians, and the many hindrances of the progrefs of Chriftianity. Lament the wrongs and difhonours done to God by others, cry and wrestle for the outpouring of the Spirit, both at home and abroad; pray for the revival of God's work in thefe lands, amidft thefe declining years; and in enquiring after public news, have a view to this, be concerned for the intereft and welfare of Chrift's kingdom through the world, for the accomplishment of God's promiles concerning the deftruction of Antichrift, Babylon's downfal, the inbringing of the Jews, and the fubduing of the nations. And when you hear any appearance of God's rifing to countenance his word, and conquer finners' hearts to himself, whether at home or abroad, rejoice at the news, reckon them good ti dings of great joy, and blefs the Lord for them with all your hearts. It is moft pleafing and acceptable to God, to fee his people heartily concerned for the profperity of Jerufalem. Direct. XXXIX. Be bufy laying up a flock for a fick bed or death bed, when all the comforts of life will be tasteless to you, I fim. xi. 19. Lay up a stock of faith and patience, a ftock of evidences of divine love, and of your intereft in Chrift; a ftock of divine promifes, and experiences of God's loving kindness, which may be fupporting to you in the day of fharp trials. When mari ners go to fea, they victual the fhip, and provide for a ftorm. And ought not we to forefee the ftorms of affliction, of ficknefs and death, and provide and lay up for them? It will be fad, if, when the bridegroom is come, we have our oil then to buy, when the market is over. Now is the time for providing oil; now is the market of grace; now is the acceptable time; now is the day of falvation. Direct. XL. Be looking and longing for the eternal fupper of the Lamb, Phil. i. 23 Rev. xix. 9. Hungry fouls who tafted the love of Jefus, long for the Lamb's fupper below, that they may enjoy communion with him here, and this makes them cry, When fhall the oppor tunity return? When fhall I come and appear before God? When fhall I again fee his power and glory in the fanctuary? When fhall I again tafte his love and goodness in the facrament? and yet these are but small foretaftes of the Lamb's fupper above. What is our drinking of the fruit of the vine here, to our drinking it new with Chrift in his Father's kingdom? Therefore look out and long for the time when the day thall break, and the fhadows flee away, and the marriage of the Lamb fhall be triumphantly folemnized, and completed with the church his efpoufed bride, whom he will then lead into the king's palace, where their tranfient glances fhall be changed into immediate vision, and their fhort taftes into everlafting feafting and fulness. O bleffed are they for ever who are called to the marriage fupper of the Lamb. These are the true fayings of God. I believe, Lord, help my unbelief. Amen. SCRIPTURE SONGS FOR ZION'S TRAVELLERS, IN THEIR WAY TO HEAVEN. Isa. xxxv. 10. The ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs. Psal. cxxxviii. 5. They shall sing in the ways of the Lord. SONG I. The PRIMITIVE COMMUNICANTS. I CHRIST's friends at first oft broke his bread, They drank the spirit of their head, As well's the sacred wine. 2 They shewed his death with heart and soul, His blood and wounds they did extol, 3 Lord, grant us part of that love flame, That made them witness for the Lamb, 4 Warm showers from heaven send down on us, And turn us from a wilderness Into a fruitful field. Thy people, Lord, lament for thee, And sore thy absence mourn; They long thy face again to see, 6 Come to thy table, with us sit, Unite our hearts, and make us fit 7 Cause streams of living waters flow And let the north and south wind blow 3 Thy Spirit's temple make our hearts, Make his convictions pierce like darts, 9 Thy hidings are a bitter cup, Like flow'rs we fade and mourn; 10 Lord, charge not on us former guilt, SONG II. The HOLY SPIRIT fits us for the HOLY TABLE. 1 O Father of our dying Lord, Hear thy Son's speaking blood. Fulfil to us his gracious word, Send down the heavenly food. 2 Thy Spirit grant, for which he pray'd, To glorify thy Son: His promised influences shed, That wonders may be done. 3 Glad we'll his death commemorate, Bless both the word and sacrament, 5 Give faith to feed and view his love, |