therefore know thy duty in it but rejoice in as much as ye are partakers of Christs sufferings that when his glory shall be revealed ye mâ—â— be glad also with exceeding joy And in another place if you suffer with him you shall also Reign with him and let none of you suffeâ— aâ— an evill doer at a Mâ—â—derer thiefe or as a busie body in other mens matters yet if any man suffer as a Christian cleaâ—ly on that account let him not be a shamed â—ut let him glorifie God on this behalf for the time is coming that judgâ—ment must begin at the house of God and if it first begin at us what shall the end bâ— of them thaâ— obey not the Gospell of God and if the righteous scaâ—cely be saved where shall the ungodly and siners apear Wherefore let them â—hat suffer accordiâ—g to the will of God commit the keeping of their Souls to him in well doing as unâ—o a faithful Creator through grace I desire to pitch my Soul â—n everlasting faithfullnâ—ss by which I trust I shall be kept in even walking in his own paths be they never so rugged yet if I meet my Lord I shall do well his gratious presence makes every condition sweet and though this poor piâ—gramage represents nothing but thorns aâ—d bryers it will be recompensed with an eternity of glory A place where no sorrow shall be known but fulness of joy add pleasure and the compâ—eat injoyment of thy Lord for ever therefore O Lord into thy gratious care I do commit my self my Soul and spirit Lord fit me for thy will and let me only fear thy righteous judgements and be sound trembling at thy word so shall I be kept faithfull unto the end Sparks of Divine Love Love is a heavenly fire fetcht from above Irradiant beams shot from the God of Love Unâ—er those blessed shines my Soul abide Let all thy paces there be multiply'd In firength and beauty there to rest secure Through Love divine which ever shall indure Hast thou dear Lord such great things done for me And shall I not give up my heart to thee â—oo poor a thing yet Lord since 't is my All O take it Lord though it be poor and small O take it Lord by purchase it is thine Let me not any longer call it mine Nor set it on poor fond things here below Which vainly are but actors of a show Or feigâ—'d objects painted ore delights Appear a little and pass from our sights Vain shadows of a poor short Sunny day While â—e peruse them quickly fly away A praising Soul Lord shall a heaven born Soul forget to sing Eternal praises to her Lord and King Shall she be one that seemeth not to know The hand from which her mercies still do flow O quicken Lord thy servant O that she May have her life all praises unto thee O t is a life of praises thou wouldst have Thy poor redeemed ones return to thee Give Lord what thou art pleased from them to crave Of thy own store what thou acceptest must be Then my dear Lord I shall not cease to sing The Song of Canaan unto Israels King Though in a Land so far and strange I be As destitute of what I would injoy Let me by faith my Native Country see And not forsake my treasure for a toy O blessed be thy name which still doth keep My droâ—sie soul which else would ever sleep And loose its glorious comforts sweet delights Which in the presence of its Lord is found Those Heavenly Glories and transcendant sights In which to empty souls Grace doth aboundi O glorious Grace let my soul still admire And warm it self at this blest Heavenly fire O shall I grieve that glorious spirit which Is pleased to bow and condescend so low Thus to a poor unworthy sinful wretch How is it Lord that I thy Grace should know And that thou shouldest be pleased to look on me So as redeem me from such misery A hymne of free grace What shall I do my soul shall I then speak Or shall I let my heart through silence break Should I be dumb then sure stones would cry Me shame and magnifie the Lord on high Who doth his riches wonderful bestow On such pâ—oâ— wormâ— as crawleth here below But now to praise him would I fain begin Who is my God my Lord and eke my King Who in his goodness hath done more for me Then can with admiration spoken be O though I would I want both power and art For to express what lâ—es within my heart But since it is the heart Lord thou wouldest have Acceptance is the thing I only crave Receive it Lord O that I could aspire Into thy aâ—ms which is my Souls desire On wings of faith and Soaring acts of Love Oh in the Clefts behold me as thy Dove My sweetest Lord help me to sing thy praâ—se And tell the world the wonders of thy grace Shall I be dumb and live henceforth as one To whom such favor never had been shown Then were I sure unworthy ere to live But Lord what 's wanting thou canst quickâ—y give Both tongue and heart that daily I may bring Of sweetest Odour my poor offering Let my soul bless the Lord with all delight Of thy glory have a daily sight Goodness and mercy that do so excel O in its fillings my Soul still dwell The ocean of his love so sweet and pure Which shall to all eternity indure What greater good unto my soul can bring Then singing praises to my Lord and King Lord take and keep me there why shall we part T is thy own hand must hold my feeble heart A short dialogue between flesh and spirit Flesh Fond foul what â—ileth thee thus low to deem Our pleasure and our comforts here below And that thou dost so highly them estâ—em As if thou didst not care such things to know Is it not better mirth for to injoy Which maketh fat the bones and glads the heart Then in thy musings thus thy self annoy At last perswaded he with them to part Spirit Fond fleshly part this all thou hast to say Cease now with all spetious flattering speech And never think by all thy pleas to sway A soul that now is got above thy reach All thy suggestions I cannot approve Seeing in earth thy comforts all do lye But I much live in flames of heavenly love With heavenly comforts which will never dye What are your pleasures that you count so great But very froths and bubbles in the wind What can they do for you at mercies seat Or can you true contentment in them find Indeed your fleshly eâ—es cannot behold These Jewels of most rich and glorious worth That pearl of price that City of pure Gold And therefore think to set yeur pleasures forth Poor Soul alass why dost thou cavil so My comforts come from a far greater spring Then are the puffs of mirth which you would know Whilst I desire the love of Christ my
bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God and if sons then Heirs of God and Co-heirs with Christ in Eternal Glory O blessed change from enemies to friends from friends to Sons and so heirs with the Lord Jesus of an eternal inheritance O the gratious effect of this transcendant love Now are we Sons of God but yet it doth not appear what we shall be why can greater testimony of love be shown then this to be taken into the number of Gods Children to be counted Sons and Daughters of the Great and Glorious God the Lord of Hosts the High and Mighty King of Kings Oh yes it doth not yet appear what we shall be now we see but darkly as in a Glass but here is mercy this is tender love that when he shall appear who hath so loved us even our dear Redeemer in his Glory we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is our dear Saviour who was content not only to lay down his life for us that we might be partakers with him of his Son-ship and also of the Gâ—ory Oh the transcendant and unspeakable love of God to poor Souls whom the Lord Jesus is pleased out of the rich treasury of his diviâ—e Love to reconcile unto God by the blood of the Cross and what hath the Lord required again of us poor Worms for all his benefits but that we shâ—uld return him love again and this is the love he requires that we should keep his Commandements oh blâ—ssed Lord and thy commandements are not grievous but delightful to the Soul that loves thee and what is thy Commandement dear Lord this is my Commandement and it is a â—ew Commandement that you should love one another my Commandements are not grievous it is only love that is required and that you should manifest it in obedience to my commands one of which is that you love one another but how dear Lord shall we manifest our love to thee in loving one another how hast thou required that we should love one another have not I set you an example Did not I first love you and therefore give you this new Commandement that as I have loved you so you would love one another with a sincere pure unbounded love such a love as seeks not your own things but the good of others such a love as is inward and not in outward show only but in deed and in truth in the sincerity of your hearts such a love as seeks the good and spiritual advantage of one anothers Souls to love one another as I have loved you or to love thy friend as thou lovest thy self most willing to do that which may be for thy friends good although it be to some prejudice to thy self this is love and by this you shall know that you are my Disciples if thus you love one another and by this men shaâ—l know that you are mine such as I have loved from the beginning Oh dear Lord how art thou pleased thus to plead with pooe clods of clâ—y what sweet argument of thine own matchless goodness Art thou pleased to lay down thy life to draw poor sinful Souls to thy self O Lord whom didst thou ever bless with a clear sight of the least glimps of thy most gratious goodness that yet could not love the Lord are not our hearts harder then stone How many is there do profess to love thee but in works deny thee even in this great matter of love even in loving one another Do we not rather back-bite and discover one another where is that tender bearing one anothers burthens Where is that sweet convincing spirit to reprove as should be in Christians how few are to be found but such as fear both to reprove and to be reproved to exhort or to be exhorted in that sâ—nce where is that love which hides a multitude of faults that love that works noâ— thinks ne ill to his neighbour where is that spirit of mourning over one anothers infirmities that spirit of supplication in one anothers behalf Lord where is this Spirit to be found in the measure it ought Sure but in few that do make profession of thy name Lord is there not secret pride lieâ— hidden through Hippocricy in our base deceitful hearts whoever saw the Lord that could not love who Lord hast thou ever brought under the power of thy constraining love that are not willing there to rest but Lord unless thou teachest by thy holy spirit ond give us daily supply from thine own self we can do nothing O Lord we are not able to de one good action without thy especial grace but here lies our fault still we have not power no strength Lord we have not because we aâ—k not Our dear Lord hath said Ask and you shall receive O how largely is he pleased to make promise unto poor worms Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name I will do it and again repeats it And if ye shall ask any thing in my name I will do it is not there a gratious promise from the mouth of him in whose power it is to make it good Is it not from the Lord himself who is the only giver of all good whose word the least tittle of which shall not fall to the Ground O then why are we not more at the throne of Grace since he is pleased in mercy to afford unto us so glorious a priviledgâ— O that my soul may abide seeking of thee that my heart may still more and more be carried out with this sincere love unto thee and thine O suffer me dear Lord once more to say with boldness through thy Grace I will not let thee go until thou herein will bless me This before her Marriage La libre de mon Consalationes la meditationes de mon Coeure Sarah Roane December 1660. My Meditations from that blessed experience the Lord hath been pleased in much mercy through the infinite Riches of his Grace to give my poor unworthy Soul of his unspeakable love in Jesus Christ by the preaching of the word and reading of the Scriptures Meditations of Wisdom in embracing the offer of Jesus Christ VVISDOM is accompanied with a most glorious train of Heavenly beautieâ— exactâ—y formed into a scene which doth present the souls eternal happiness and being united with the soul make it pertaker of her graces she carries ever with her and those that finâ— her shall find with her in esteemable values and things of great price happy therefore is the man that sits knocking at her gates for in her are all the paths of pleasure and the wayes of peace and what can be defired more Pleasure is that the world is most eager after but it is such a pleasure as ends in sorrows these pleasures cannot bring peace to the soul they may satisfie them selves with vain hope and say peace we shall do well but surely sudden destruction shall come upon them there is no peace for such
but that we might have a Santified use with comfort of them that we might use them to his glory who is the giver of all good things these hath he given to us for to be our Servants to supply our necessity and if we set a higher price upon them he can take them from us he has required that we should set our affectiones on things more noble on things that will never fade away but are of an induring substance which if we do in the seeking the Kingdom of Heaven he has promised that all things shall be added to us O could we but do so how sweet and comfortable might our lives be when being invested in the Robe of our redeemers righteousness we may through him injoy Communion with the Father and live in the assureance of his love who hath said I will never laave thee or forsake thee O Blessed promise which if we could but by faith lay hold upon we need not be dismayed nor fear nor be in care for any thing but may with blessed David say the Lord is on my side I will not fear what Man can do unto me Meditations upon hearing the Voice of Christ MY Sheep hear my Voice the Sheep of Christ aâ—e few a little flock and to be one of these Oh how great a blessing is it the world is large and full and that the great JEHâ—VAH should please to pick out for himself one of a Tribe and one of a Family a smal remnanâ— a peculiar people and thee ONE O how great and gratious is thy wonder working God It could not be from any thing of thy desert but from his tender pitty his bowels of compassion to thy poor sin-sick soul O what canst thou render unto the Lord for all his benefits what recompence is there for so much mercy when all is mercy thou art made pâ—rtaker of yâ—a thy whole life it is made up of mercy thou art through Grace O Lord my gratious God my tender hearted Father in thy Son And if thou please to water this barren gâ—ound barren by nature it shall be made a fruitful garden yea thou canst make it bring forth fruit yea much fruit yea such fruit in which thou takest delight in which thou maist have glory is thine own Grace And give comfort to this poor unworthy Soul of mine unworthy in it self but thou dear Lord hast been pleased to favour it with so great evidence of thy Love O let me Lord for ever â—â—nd these sweet refreshing showers O how sweet a thing it is to sit at Wisdoms Gate at the footsteps of the beautiful gate of the Temple of Sions King there to behold his glory As a sheep of Christ to graise upon those Mountains of spices on which the Son of Righteousness shineth O how glorious art thou in the beauty of holiness here indeed is rest and here is comfort true satisfaction and everlasting felicity The Lord Jesus Christ the King of glory is pleased to stoop so low to poor unworthy creatures and in the condescention of his gratious Love to take upon himself the stile of a poor shepherd to his people yet is he such a one who through his grace will teach his sheep to know his voice and follow him O who can learn this Lesson Lord but such whom thou shalt teach therefore says David blessed is the man whom thou teacheth and instructest out of thy Law A shepherd leadeth his poor silly sheep creatures who of all others have least to defend themselves into the green pastures there to feed securely whilst his watchful eye is over them least Wolf or Bear should rob him of any one his care is also for the young and tender Lambs in cherishing and preserving them from cold and hunger which they cannot bear Such is the care of him who is thy Shepherd O my soul if thou art one that hears his voice if thou art one whom he hath known whom he hath looked upon in grace and mercy and so known as to make thee follow him art not thou one of his Sheep O then with comfort be assured thou shalt be fed thou art inriched by this with greater treasure and more honour then if thou wert the only child unto a King yea then if thou hadst in thy possession the greateâ—t treasure in the world know he that is thy shepherd is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings who doth not only know what thou standest in need of and what is fittest for thee but is willing yea ready to give out of his fullness to supply thy wants and help thy necessities then will I go unto my Rock since he hath brought me to behold his Glory and to taste through Grace the powerful influences of Love My earhly parents were they Kings or Princes could do no more but give me life and place to breath in but Eternal Life and endless Glory hath thy great Kingly shepherd purchased for thee 't is no less then a Kingdom hath it been the fathers good pleasure to take his little flock whilst here into his gratious Custody that none no not Satan himself that enemy of Souls shall ever be able to pluck them out of his hands Oh let thine eyes be upon him by whom thou livest that rock and fortress of thy souls salvation O what comfort is in his smiles And 't is he can keep thee in his favour and continuance of his Love therefore make glad my Soul O Lord with the bright beams of thy most glorious countenance that so my Soul may live O there is bitterness in thy frowns when thou hidest thy face I am as those that go down into the pit of utter darkness O 't is thy presence makes things pleasant to the soul and only gives it comfort in this world O 't is thy presence fits us for thy will and keeps humble and sincere before thee life is a death unto the soul without thee O that I might no more offend that Grace by which I live O Lord take thou my soul though weak into thy everlasting Arms that so I may no more be drawn aside from thy Commandments nor do the things that may displease thee Of heart examination O How good a thing it is my soul to be often taken up in this blessed work of self examination how it doth stand between thee and thy Lord the Lord will give thee his assistance to help in so great and good a work if thou wilt make thy addresses to him with blessed David commune with thy own heart and be still surely thine is not without evil when the wise man sayes the hearts of the Sons of men are full of evil yea the Lord himself hath declared Gen. 6. 5. v. and every imagination of the thoughts of Mans heart to be only evil and that continually the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked and who can know it sayes the Prophet Jer. 17 9. v. none but God he searcheth the