Sister from Glory would you or any of us have a Heart to invite her from so blissful a State Does not the Spirit of God by several Passages of Scripture seem to say to us as Judas said in another case What needs all this waste Tears are a good Ingredient for Prayer and Repentance let 's not be too prodigal of them in other cases Humanity does allow of some Sorrow but Divinity forbids much Dear Mother refuse not to be comforted receive the Comforts and refuse no longer the Creatures God affords you for the refreshing and supporting Nature Let David I pray be your Pattern in this case he pray'd for his Child while living he fasted he wept For says he who can tell whether God will be gracious to me and the Child may live this I doubt not but you did But when the Will of God was signified in the Death of his Child 2 Sam. 12. 22 23. Now he is dead says he wherefore should I fast can I bring him back again I shall go to him but he shall not return to me O that you could do likewise The Child being dead he wipes his Eyes falls to his Refreshments and submits to God Let not the want of one Mercy we all priz'd deprive us of the Comfort of the many Mercies we do enjoy 12. If we consider who we have lost methinks our Sorrow should be abated One who gave most excellent Demonstrations of a good Heart and a good Condition one I trust ripe for God and fitter for Heaven than Earth one panting for Glory long before she died and had set all in order for Eternity before she was sick she long'd to be dissolv'd that she might be with Christ Methinks I still hear her Ah says she how long O Lord how long when wilt thou come And to By-standers says she I 'm jealous you are conspiring to keep me longer out of Heaven And ah what a Sight did I see in my dear Sister when upon the very wing for Heaven and just ready to take her flight Ah! the heavenly Language she uttered while she did speak which was almost to the last and then when she could not speak the Movings of her Lips the Pantings of her Heart the Liftings of her Eyes and indeed every Motion of her Body spoke her to have strong Workings of Heart after God and to be upon the very Confines of Glory What cause of Mourning now it's our Loss but her Gain She had before a good Husband but now O now the Match between Christ and her Soul is compleated Me-thoughts she held my Father Disney's Hand so fast to the last as if she long'd to take him with her yet by degrees let go as if she had said God has more work for you here and I can freely let my Hold go of best Creature-Comforts as longing to be in my heavenly Father's Embraces I doubt not but to her to live was Christ and to die Gain therefore well might she leave that to be preach'd on at her Funeral and as her last Legacy to surviving Friends Weep not for me but weep for your selves and for your Children The greatest Reason for such Weeping present times seem to prognostick My dear Mother labour for a Christian Carriage under such a Cross God's Rod has a Voice as well as his Word and it 's our great Concernment to hear it and him that has appointed it Let us say Righteous O Lord art thou and in very Faithfulness thou hast afflicted us Let 's not entertain hard Thoughts of God but with Aaron hold our Peace for God has done it Dear Mother you know well that spiritual Comforts are the best Comforts Is not Christ better than ten Daughters than ten Sisters than ten Children Is not his Loving-Kindness better than Life Is there not more in a God than ever was or can be in a Creature We have no reason to sorrow as those without hope She whom we dearly lov'd is gone to her dearly Beloved she 's reaping the Fruits and Benefits of her Labours in the Lord and is blessed For blessed are the Dead that die in the Lord c. Like another Mary she chose the better Part which will never be taken from her She is it 's true taken away in the flower of her Age and when we most expected Satisfaction in such a Relation but God knew it the best time to gather such a Flower Mr. Baxter well observes Such have run long enough who have reach'd the Prize have sail'd long enough who are safely harbour'd and liv'd long enough who are ready to die We have more cause to rejoice that once we did enjoy such a Wife such a Child such a Sister such a Niece such a Friend to give up at God's Call than now to murmur that she is so suddenly remov'd she is I doubt not happy God has preferr'd her to Mansions of Glory before us let us prepare to follow God has call'd home another of your Children but you are not Childless O take heed by Repining Carriage of provoking God to farther Strokes but if God should write you Childless you are not yet bereft of Comfort while the God of all Comfort is yours If God will not let any part of your Happiness lie in Children then let it wholly lie in himself The Love and Delight we plac'd in such a Friend may now be placed to greater Advantage upon Jesus Christ That the Stream of our Affection to him may be so much the stronger as there are fewer Channels for it to divide into is the earnest Prayyer of Your Obedient Son G. D. A Letter to Sister W. upon her Husband's Death Dear Sister MY Wife being indispos'd by a Cold cannot write but you may be assured we are both hearty Sympathizers with you in your sad and solitary Condition The Breach the Lord has been pleas'd to make upon you indeed is great and such as none can express but those that experience it but God having made it who alone can make it up I hope you will endeavour to be satisfied and not to mourn as one without Hope If the Lord will not have any part of your Happiness to lie in a Husband then let it wholly and intirely lie in himself labour to bring your Heart and Mind to a sweet Submission to the Pleasure of your Father And though a Bosom-Friend be not yet God is who is the same yesterday to day and for ever Relations may and must die but God lives who is stiled The Father of the Fatherless and a Husband to the Widow I question not but you can suck much Sweetness from the many gracious Promises made for the Encouragement of such as you The poor Interest I have at the Throne of Grace was improv'd for him and shall be for you That 's best for us that God does and this being God's Doing you must kiss his Rod in Silence and give Glory to the Hand that rules it c. A Letter
stand At th' Bar of Prisoners holding up his Hand Methinks I see and doleful Sight it is Judas betraying Jesus with a Kiss I hear them mock and jear the glorious King Instead of Scepter they a Reed him bring They spit on 's Face and 's blessed Head adorns With nothing but a pricking Crown of Thorns The Souldiers wag their Heads and on him rail'd And forc'd him bear the Cross to which he 's nail'd They pierc'd his Sides with Spears and at him wink And gave him Vinegar and Gall to drink I see the Virgins following with their Cries With Countenances sad and bleared Eyes I see my Lord look towards them and say Weep not for me but for your selves I pray I hear them quickly making this Reply How can we chuse but weep when thou must die Our Hearts are full and must have some Relief They either now must burst or melt with Grief O wicked Tyrants cursed bloody Jews Knew you but who it is that you thus use You would weep too and could no longer grudg To shed some Tears for him who now you judg Meditations in Verse upon John 6. 36. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out GOod News indeed from Christ I hear That all the Father has given Vnto my Blessed Lord shall come And never miss of Heaven Then come O Soul and coming know Thou hast no cause to doubt For he that cannot lie hath said He will not cast thee out Object 1. Ah says the Soul I 'm cloy'd with Sin Can such an one as I Take any saving step to Christ No surely I must die By Adam's Fall I lost my Strength Ability and Power And how can I move after Christ Who'm sinning every Hour Answer Well yet take Courage thou mayst come The Master calls Arise They that but come he never will Cast off in any wise Object 2. Tell me says Soul but how I may Know when I come aright Resolve me this and then through Grace I 'le come with all my Might Answer Well Sinner see thy self then lost And wretchedly undone Till Heart and Mind be both inclin'd To rest on Christ alone Does now thy Heart work after Christ Is Sin thy burthen Soul Then come away for now thou mayst Vpon thy Saviour roul Object 3. Ah says the Sinner though I find A willingness to come To Jesus Christ as being lost Yet all my Work 's not done My End I fear cannot be good Self in this choice I cherish I take a Christ to give me Life As knowing else I perish Answer Well Sinner yet though this be all Thy present End and Aim In taking Christ thou welcome art For he has said the same The Argument that Christ does use Encouragement to give To Sinners to come in to him Is that they turn and live Yea he upbraids the Jews though they Were now with him at Strife Ye will not come to me says he That I may give you Life Come then for Life though that be all At present in thine Eye Thou dost believe that Christ can save And therefore to him fly Object 4. Ah! but I find says one poor Soul My Pace to Christ so slow That I can hardly sometimes tell Whether I come or no. Answer Well we 'll admit that this poor Soul Be verily thy Case Yet canst thou say Lord draw me on And I shall mend my Pace Thy Frame in Duties thou find'st sad Thy Pulse beats very slow Yet if but beating after Christ Take Courage Soul and go Come on to Christ bewail thy Sloth If he but see thee weeping For those faint Steps thou tak'st to him He 'll welcome thee though creeping Object 5. Ah! says another coming Soul Here 's this does sorely out I come so late to Mercy 's Gate I fear the Door is shut Answer Well coming Sinner come away Though thou but come at last To Christ thou' rt welcome if thou dost Come now more quick and fast He that came in at th' eleventh Hour Though idle all the Day Being sent to work with other Men At Night had equal pay The Thief that hung upon the Cross Did late for Mercy cry Shew Mercy Lord to me a Wretch And that before I die Welcome says Christ I 've heard thy Prayer And happy thou shalt be I 'm going up to Paradise And thou shalt be with me He stood it out to th' very last Yet Mercy did obtain O then delaying Souls to Christ You cannot come in vain Object 6. Well says another I am fall'n Since I began to come To Jesus Christ and therefore fear For such there is no room Answer Why truly Falls poor Soul are sad They wound the Conscience sore And cause the Enemies of God Reproachfully to roar Yet know O Soul thou arguest wrong For want of Scripture-Light Thus to conclude because of Falls Thy coming was not right If David and King Solomon And Peter that bright Star Had argued thus against themselves They'd mist the Matter far Thou' rt coming unto God poor Soul And may expect it well The Devil will do what he can To trip thee down to Hell The World the Flesh the Devil all Will now against thee roar Then wonder not at single Falls But that thou gets no more The Child i' th Gospel you shall find To Christ no sooner coming But th' Devil threw him down and tore For to prevent his running The Lord upholdeth his that fall So much he does them prize That though by sinful slips they fall Through Grace he 'll makethem rise Well falling Sinner haste to Christ Thou never needs to doubt But he that helps thee up when down Will never cast thee out Object 7. But I am dead the Sinner says What Comfort can you give Answer The Dead shall hear my Voice says God And they that hear shall live Object 8. But I 'm a Captive bound in Chains And fettered by Sin Answer Yet this Word Shall come unto Christ Will quickly fetch thee in Object 9. I 'm blind and cannot see my way Through th' Darkness of my Mind And how can such come unto Christ The way he cannot find Answer Thy Blindness Soul cannot obstruct If thou thy Blindness see I 'le lead says God in Paths untrod To bring such Souls to me I will make Darkness Light to them And crooked Things most streight And this benighted Souls shall find If they upon me wait Object 10. Ah but my Case is still far worse I have not sinn'd alone But others by Example I The way to Sin have shown They that turn many Souls I find To Righteousness shall shine As Stars above for ever more But this Case is not mine Answer Well here 's yet Comfort in those Days Says he that cannot lie Iniquity shall sought for be But none shall it espy Object 11. Well but methinks I hear a Soul Bemoaning thus and cry It 's Faith I
highest Round of all This Jacob's Ladder brings Is Glorificat'on and advance To God the King of Kings Christ's laying down his Life for Man And God's accepting it His saving any doom'd to die Who now in Heaven sit What can this be but special Grace Renounce we then all Merit And give we Praise to God always To Father Son and Spirit The Alphabet in Verse by G. D. for Copies August 29 1687. A. AFflictive Crosses may be well endur'd By pious Souls who have a Christ secur'd B. Boast not of time hereafter don't delay To get prepared for a dying Day C. Content's the Sweet of all where 's greatest Store If that be had with little what needs more D. Delight in good shun Vice redeem your time Serve God whilst you are young and in your prime E. Espouse the Cause of Christ and stand your ground Beware you be not an Apostate found F. Faint Wishes Heavenward can never shew A Love to Christ O Soul that 's fixt and true G. Give all that ask you something if you can But double Kindness to a poor good Man H. High Breeding sweet Deportment lovely Face Will ne're avail that Soul that 's void of Grace I. Intemperance in what we drink or eat Will prove the sowrest Sauce to sweetest Meat K. Kind Carriage wins on all hereby you may Reclaim a wandring Sinner gone astray L. Let Worldlings take the World do you with Paul Account a Single Christ as more than all M. Modest Behaviour with a Temper kind Does really express a gallant Mind N. Nothing we here possess will lasting prove The only solid Joys are those above O. Observe and learn what 's good in all you see But let the real Saint your Pattern be P. Pleasures that sinful are not long do last The Sting remains when all the Pleasure 's past Q. Quit now your selves like Christians stand your ground The Faithful unto Death are only crown'd R. Repining under Crosses we endure Will never lighten those but more procure S. Such who with Esau do their Birth-rights sell Will too late see the Folly on 't in Hell T. Time swiftly steals away and being gone Can never be recall'd by any one U. Vnruly Passions when they have their swing Instead of giving Ease more Sorrow bring W. Whatever haps be Patient and you 'd see It is thô bad in 't self yet good for thee X. Xerxes with Sorrow views his mighty Host As knowing they would soon be dead and lost Y. Young ones serve God whilst young you 'l make thereby Your Death-Bed very easy when you die Z. Zeal in a good Cause this must needs befriend But luke-warm Tempers have a doleful end A Hymn by G. D. on John 14. 27. the Text Mr. Perriot preach'd on August 87. Peace I leave with you my Peace I give unto you not as the World giveth give I unto you Let not your Heart be troubled neither let it be afraid IN love to you Disciples dear Whom I'm about to leave A Legacy of Peace I give My Peace I you bequeath Not as the World gives give I you It 's inward Peace I say The which the World can neither give Nor ever take away Let not your Heart be troubled then My Peace shall be your aid Set this against your Troubles here You need not be afraid An Hymn upon Mr. S's Text Doctrine and Reasons Coloss 3. 1. If ye be risen with Christ c. Octob. 19 1689. LET Earthly Men seek Earthly things And glut themselves like Swine Vpon the empty Husks below Of Riches Corn and Wine But Lord for me being taught of thee It 's better I must have The Things Above I chiefly love And those O Lord I crave Such Treasures they will lasting prove Can only satisfy When Earthly Things soon take their Wings Will wither fade and die These may be had and kept when got Which Worldlings cannot say For what they heap together here May soon be snatch'd away We have thy leave nay thy Command To fix our Heart and Love Not upon Trifles here Below But upon Things Above Those are the best worth seeking for Deserve our greatest pains Will here procure the sweetest Peace Hereafter lasting Gains Seeking aright we shall not miss Of finding but obtain And having found we need not fear Our losing them again Lord being risen then with Christ Help us to seek and love With all our Hearts our Soul and Strength The Things which are Above Another upon the same Text and two more Verses adjoining And 1 Cor. 15. 20 21 22. CHRIST now is risen from the Dead His Bands could him not keep And is to be acknowledged First-Fruits of them that sleep For as by one Man Death did reign In Adam all did die By Christ the Resurrection came And Immortality If risen then with Christ you be Seek ye the Things Above And do not though entic'd thereto The Worldlings Portion love For ye are dead to Worldliness With Christ your Saviour-dear Your Life is hid and you shall shine When once he doth appear An Hymn upon Mr. S's Text Isa 55. 7. Let the Wicked forsake his way c. O Let the Wicked leave his Lusts The way that Sinners take And let the Man unrighteous Vnrighteous Thoughts forsake Let him return unto the Lord And he will Mercy shew To God who will abundantly His pard'ning Grace renew Meditations upon Mr. S's Text Joh. 2. 6. He that saith he abideth in him c. HE that on Scripture-grounds can say In Christ he doth abide He also ought himself to walk As did this Blessed Guide For Scriptures they were given forth That to us they might â—e A Rule whereby our Sate to try And our Conditionsee Then true Religion iâ— its Power That Man has â—rely mist Who thinks in bâ—â— Profession It only does câ—nsist That crying out Lord Lord at last Will save his Soul from Hell Without the doing of God's Will And labouring to do well Then 't is not painted Guile will do Nor Shows that do appear But Truth in Heart and inward part Will render one sincere The true Believer then is safe And may on Scripture-ground Most certainly on Christ rely In Christ he being found Behold the Man in Christ therefore New Creature he is made All Things in such an one is new And old Things are decay'd Let Times be ne râ—so black and dark Let Things go aâ— they will The Man in Christ is truly safe And may take Comfort still Meditations on the 6th Doctrine about Justification 'T IS Faith in Christ that sastifies The Sinner in God's sign Labour to shew and let Men knoâ— By Works our Faith is right Lord grant we may who speak and say We know the Lord most High Endeavour by Religious Lives Our Words to justify Doct. 7. Of Conformity to the Example of Christ ALL those who this Profession make Obliged are hereby To walk as Christ did whilst on Earth In all Sobriety To follow his Example