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
upon those glorious objects let Christ be all in all to thee that thou having nothing in thy self might see thy ALL in him and fetch thine ALL from him O blessed be that fountain in whom all fullness yea everlasting fulness dwells Meditations on the 11th Ch. of Matthew verse 28 29 30. See here O Soul the pretious invitations of a glorious Christ Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest c. WHo is it the Lord invites is it not poor distressed sinners O it is such he calls to tast his mercies loe every one that thirsteth come and come freely these tenders of my Love these are the tenders of Love the Soul satisfying comforts come unto me bring hither thy wearied soul though laden with iniquities I will give thee rest cast thy burthen upon me O merciful Redeemer that art thus pleased for the good of man to bear the burthen of our sins those loads of Iniquities which we should have sunk under in wrath to all Erernity But since the Lord hath in his wisdom in his goodness in the abundant riches of his Grace been pleased to be the sinners friend O let it be of great use unto my soul who am the greatest of sinners 't is thou who seest my wearyed tired Soul O blessed be thy holy Name for the riches of this grace thy unspeakable Love that wilt not despise the poorest nor unworthy soul that neeâ—s thy help although they cannot crave it nor dare not lift up their eyes unto the Throne of thy Grace yet wilt thou be gratious unto whom thou wilt be gratious and because thy tender compâ—ssions fail not therefore thou art pleased to have mercy upon me a poor wretched creature ah to thy name be glory and let my soul dear Lord for ever live thy praise for thou alone canst work that frame upon my heart that only pleaseth thee O 't is into thy gratious hands I would commit my soul work in it Lord thy will since I am thine through grace O let me live no longer to my self for thou art my strength by which work O Lord in me such a child like frame of spirit as becomes thine to yeild thee in true obedience with holy fear O let the Image of my Lord be formed in me that so in his light I may see light that I may be filled with joy and comfort and may have something to suâ—port me in an evil day a day of tryal and temptation My soul O meditate upon the unbounded love of God in Christ thy Lord and the Lord in the abundant riches of his Grace in abâ—e thee with a sincere heart and sound judgement to apply these sweet soul experienced comforts and relishes of Love wherewith thou hast through grace been comforted often and since prayer and Meditations is the way to make safe the soul when Satan with his subtle Engines seeks to batter Lord let him not prevail but let thy grace be now sufficient for me and now my soul tast here feed upon the sweetness of this call Come unto me it may be thou hast said thy sins are many and thou darest not come an but consider who it is that calls thee is it not Christ thy Lord yet he commands thee because thy sins are many and thou art troubled with the weight of them therefore come leave not thy sins behind thee for that thou canst not do but bring them to the feet of Christ thy Saviour he in his grace will ease the burthen wherewith thy soul was laden and give thee a blessed exchange even his own righteousness imputed to thee so hast thou found a righteousness in him made thine by which being cloathed thou hast access unto the Throne of Grace and shalt find favour with thy God yea the Lord will be thine everlasting Righteousness and though thou art polluted and defiled with sin and corruption yet in Righteousness were thou called and Christ will cloath thy naked Soul with his Righteousness a garment without spot or blemish O come and come daily at his call give no time to Satan to cast it in thy Teeth that thou shalt one day perish through the mulâ—itude of thine iniquities for Christ is mighty and of power to save unto the utmost and though thou canst see nothing in thy self but that which might bring eternal wrath upon thy head every moment yet here is thy comfort in that he hath accepted thee in the beloved for whose sake he can deny thee nothing and therefore O Lord to thee be Glory for ever who in thy love and tender compassion to my poor Soul hast delivered it from the pit of corruption For thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back O that my Soul made living by thy Grace might ever praise thee who is it calls me O my Soul behold the Lamb of God made Man to take away the sins of the World Christ Jesus the eternal Son of God dis-throned himself to be a Saviour of poor sinful Man lost and undone Man for whom there was no way of Redemption but by him and by him alone O here is love indeed Behold I come says he to do thy will O God he was willing to come from heaven to earth from Glory to be cloathed with flesh the garment of sinful man and all that thou mayest be cloathed with Glory immortality eternal life Behold O my Soul be filled with holy admiration with what manner of Love the father hath loved us that so we should we sinners be called the Children of the great and Holy God a God who inhabitest eternity whose dwelling is in the highest heavens who is the King of Glory and being come to call poor sinners co repentance through the eternal wisdom of the father perfected redemption by taking our natures upon him he who knew no sin became sin for us that we should be made in him partakers of the Righteousness which is by faith in his blood he hath paid thy debts and cancelled thy bonds he is become thy surety and has broken down that pertition wall which was between thee and thy fathers Glory hath made a way that new and living way through his own blood to approach the Throne of Grace and is there now making intercession for thee O blessed is that Soul whose iniquities thou hast covered and whose sin thou hast pardoned and blessed be that Soul to whom thou in grace shalâ— be pleased to impute no sin for how great O Lord are our dayly sinnings against thee the least of which were enough to separate this poor immortal Soul of mine for ever from thy gratious presence but 't is thy grace which makes thy unworthy creature hope and the unchangeableness of thy most glorious will O therefore it is such poor unworthy sinful creatures were not long ago consumed O blessed be God for thy grace and thy long suffering mercy whereby thou bearest and hast pitty on thy poor redeemed
outward appearance to frown upon his peopâ—e it seemed an hour of darkness to me my heart was troubled then was I earnest with the Lord further to â—irect me in the way that he shâ—uld choose and the Lord was pleased to shine in with some Gospel light and cause me to see a vast disproportion between a superstiâ—iouâ— way of worshipping of God and a spiâ—itual sincere way in wâ—ich spiritual Christians serve him then I said O that God would please to bring me into the Fellowship and Communion of his own peopâ—e and if he hath appointed them to suffer Oh that I might be one that he would count worthy to suffer for the name of Christ Oh how dâ—th my Soul desire to bear part in the affliction of Sion much rather then to injoy the mirth and pleasure of an earthâ—y Kingdom then did I cast my self upon the Lord and offer up my Soul to him who knows how to frame it according to his own blessed will then I said Lord hast not thou the â—earts of all creatures in thy hand and hast power to turn them into what frame soever thou pleasest bring mine into a conformity to thy blessed will O do it Lord for thy mercies sake then I made known my desires unto my friend by letter to joyn in society with that congregation whereof my friend was a member For about that time the Minister of the Parish intending to give the Sacrament preached a preparatory Sermon from 1 Cor. 11. 27 28 29. v. Shewing the sweet nature of that blessed ordinance the danger of unworthy râ—ceiveâ—s and how a Christian ought to be qualified before partaking thereof at the hearing of which I was awakened and the Lord was pleased to come in with sweet comfort and refreshments considering thâ— blessed provisiâ—n God had gratiously made for those that prepared to meeâ— him therein but I was troubled when I considered that very few or none of his Communicants were so quallified to appearance which was my great burden for I longed much to pertake of that ordinance but dared not to do it in that manner and with such persons None could I use freedom with in this matter but those who I feared would make my trouble greater but thou O God who art ever ready to help in time of neeed thou the wise counsellor wilt not be far from the Soul that truly seeks thee then I called upon the Lord who was gratiously pleased to grant an ear to my request and through the help of my friend to bâ—ing to remembrance 1 Cor. 10 16. 17. v. by which I was much establishâ—d but more when I saw the number of his Communicants whom he had examined and accepâ—ed such as was very bâ—ind igâ—orant formaâ— creatures then I came to a resolution through the bâ—essing of God to wait with patience till he should see good to open away wherein I mâ—ght injoy such ordinances in power and purity and so as I might expect Gods presence and blessing which at last he was gratiouslâ— pleased to do making that my friend an inâ—trument thereof Oh let my heart be more carried out to God with praises and put a new Song into my mouth make it my work to glory that thy great name since thou art thus pleased to own me in thy dear Son Of Recording her Experiences O My Soul thou hast found by sweet experiences how good a thing it is to wait upon the Lord let not the gratious tast of his love slip out of thy remembrance but whilst he hath given thee life improve these mercies and the talent he hath lent thee to his own glory and let the gratious workings of the Lord as he is pleased to honour thee with incomes of his love and the sweet breathings of his holy spirit recount them here in order as the Lord shall give thee leave that they may be upon record against an evil day a day of temptation for how many pretious evidences hast thou lost for want of remembring them but now O Lord help me to deal faithfully with my Soul in declaring thy power and the riches of thy Grace in the daily remembring of thy merciâ—s O cause me to see the growth of my Soul in Grace and in the knowledge of my gratious God that my â—oul may only aim at the Glory of my redâ—â—mer The Lord was thus pleased to carry on his gratious work with much pâ—wer in my poor Soul notwithstanding â—he Devils suggestions many â—earâ— c. As that my condition surely was not yet so good as I did hope it to be and to doubt whether my joy was not meer presumption but the Lord in his goodness was pleased in a little time to clear it more fully to me and cause me to seâ— by the workings of his holy Spiâ—it sweet evidences of his tender love and bâ—ought into my meditation many blessed premises which he was pleased to bless unto my Soâ—l aâ—d confirm unto me with much establishment The Lord being thus pleased by his wise Councel and his tender love thus to guide my unworthy Soul at length bâ— hiâ— gratious providence brought we to the place where the Church met though they were strangers to me yet was he pleased to cause me to find much love and tenderness and there I had that blessed opportunity to receive that sweet refreshing Ordinance which my Soul had so much longed after Blessed be his Holy name O thou my Soul since thou hast seen the gratious deâ—lings of the Lord towards thee be not thou unmindful of his praise Improve thy talent to thy Masters use lay out thy strength for God and let thy heart be carried out for ever to remember the tender and unspeakâ—ble love of thy dear Lord unless thou put thy hand to heâ—p my strength is nothing I am a poâ—r weak nothiâ—g not able to do any thing if thou shouldest once leave me never so little The Choice Discoveries of Christ to her Soul when joyned to a Church in the Lords Supper OH how was the Lord in mercy pleased to manifest his Glory and goodness to thee O my Son in this Ordinance in which he was gratiously pleased by faith to draw thee up to recive those outward elements the bread and wine as presenting the immediate body and blood of the Lord Jesus broken and shed for thy sins O thoâ— unworthy Soul how gratiously was the Lord pleased to come with power raising thee up to praise and admire the exceeding riches of his Grace in choosing thee to be partaker of so great a blessing how was he pleased to fill thee with spiritual joy at thy returning home and give thee leave to come into his presence to return him thanks with joy that he was pleased so gratiously to manifest himself unto thee poor unworthy Soul as a God hearing prayer and answering thy poor request with so much mercy which the Lord inable thee for ever to remember to his Glory thou knowest I desired to do so
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
But since O Lord it is thy Childrens priveledge not to sin sure t is our duty to be looking up to thee for new supply of strength to be kept daily in thy fear O how blessed is the Soul whom thou shalt keep and â—each out of thy law whom thou shalt feed with the pleasant fruits of Righteousness and cause to rest under thy shaddow with much delight sure here alone is pleasure and everlasting peace to feed with the flocks of Christ and to lye down in those pleasant pastures of eternal comfort where Christ the beloved of thy soul shall preserve thee unto all eternity Of Communion of Saints O my Soul what a mercy is it to go into the presence of the Lord in the Congregation of his people to injoy Communion with thy God in the assembly of his Saints YEt if it be his pleasure by a just cause to keep thee back yet hast thou cause to hless him for ever for Jesus Chrsst that rich mercy that unspeakable goodness for that word wherein he is received unto thee O my soul through the Spirit of that infinite grace here mayest thou sollace thy self in divine Loves and fill thy self with joy hast thou but faith then may thy joy be full in Meditating of his gratious Attributes he is the Lord God All Mighty but if not so to thee what availeth thee couldest not thou say through grace this it my Lord this great God is my Father how miserable would thy condition be to have this God to be thy enemy though thou wert full of what this world could give thee of highest injoyment yet shalt thou be for ever miserable but thy God is a merciful God O it is good for thee that he is so he is a God whose Glory is his Goodness and his goodness is his glory a God who is still the same and changeth not man may be said in all he doth or saith to be but vanity as a thing from himself he being but a finite Creature but who shall gain say the great and everlasting God whose power is in and from himself he is in deed a faithful God a God that keepeth Covenant with those whom he through grace hath taken into Covenant with him self Meditations of the unchangeable Love of God THen O my soul is the Lord unchangeable is he still the same and will be so O then reâ—oyce in the rich mercies of thy everlasting God here is comfort for thee in your assureance of his love unto the end â— have made an everlasting covenant with the house of Jacob and if thou beest of the seed of Jacob this promise sure belongs to thee Jesus Christ in Testates thee in this new covenant who hath once for all offered up himself a Sacrifice the everlasting satisfaction of divine justice for those whom by the Lords gratious determinate will should have an intrest in this rich redemption O rich indâ—ed being purchased not with corruptable things but with the pretions blood of Jesus Christ that lamb of God without spot or blemish t is want of faith poor soul makes thee doubâ—ful though thou manifest as to thy self condemn thy self as one unworthy to hope for the least mercy much less to believe such rich priviledges belong to thee yet considering my soul for to thee I write thou art commanded to believe and without faith it is impossible to please God and the Lord is thus wonderfully pleased in the great condescention of his gratious Love to take it as a glory done to him from a poor creature though the good of believeing is to us the glory of the act unto the Lord who gives the power to any poor creature to believe so to believe as to see so great a Salvation in so believeing how can the soul but stand in admirations and glorifie the riches of that grace which caused the great IEHOVAH to look upon so poor a worm with such a Love Behold with what manner of Love the Father hath loved us that we even we might become the children of God heirs with and in Christ Jesus of an eternal inheritance incorruptable and full of glory and that thou mayest be filled with joy in these thy sweetest contemplations has not the Lord then pleased sometimes to evidence his gratious love to thee in Christ Jesus and therein seek thee by his gratious word with that holy Spirit of promise to be thy God and Father O he is the same God still and if he loved thee it was with an everlasting Love if he hath taken thee into covenant with himself it was to be thy Gâ—d for ever hast thou hâ—d this saving grace made sure to thee fear not but that the Lord not onely can but will preserve his own he wiâ—l assâ—â—edly fuâ—fill and â—erefect that good work he hath begun in thee was one drop of Christs Blood â—â—â—d in vainâ— was it not of power sufficient to accomplish the end for which it was shed even the bringing many Sons to glory surely the Lord shall not come short of what he hath designed the Divil may strive to pluck thee from thy God but remember that gâ—atuus â—ord of thy redeemer unto his Sheep that hear his blessed voice and follow him I give unto the eternal life and they shall never perisâ— whom the Lord hath owned neither shall any man pluck them out of mâ— hands O what a gratious priviledge is here thus to be kept by an Almighty power the power of that great God out of whose hand no man nay Satan nor any of his Instruments can ever be able to pluck thee Christ hath purchased an everlasting redempâ—ion and to those who are in him there is no condemnation O blessed and for ever blessed be the Lord for this sweet truth and fâ—r the evidâ—ncing of it in some measure to my poor unworthy soul O how good a God is our God who hath not onely stored up such rich mercies for poor worthless ones but is also please to leave it on record and wills that his poor creatures should be made happy in the knowâ—edge of this their eternal happiness O then my soul take comfort in those bleeding wounds of thy sweet Saviour yet be thou humbled for it was thy sins that pierced his tender side he knew no sin yet for thy sake became sin to bear thy punishments thou wast his enemy yet he could dye for thee to reconcile thee to himself when thou wast in thy blood a loathsome creature then pitty moved him to shew compassion to thee that thou might live he loves thee first that thou shouldest then Love him t is not thy flesh makes thee accepted but thy Saviour thou art still a soathsome lump of filthyness but by that comliness which Christ hath put upon thee thou art accepted through an intrest in him thou shalt be beautiful in the sight of thy Lord and Father this is O soul thy priviledge renew thy intrest by thy daily approach and acting faith
only know but sollace my self in the fountain of this Eternal comfort did it not please the father out of infinite love and pitty to poor lost and undone wretcâ—es to find out a way for their Redemption not by the blood of Bulls and Goats whereby a yearly atonement was Typically made for the appeasing of his Wrath no but a full and satisfactory Redemption by the pretious blood of Jesus Christ as of a Lamb without blemish now what was this Lamb but a divine brance of Glory equal with the Father the dear son of his Love for whom it was his gratious pleasure to provide a body for a sacrifice that thereby poor man who had lost himself by disobedience in a sinful body of death might in the obedience of Jesus Christ in his body and blood and through his merrits find everlasting life such was the love and pitty of the great and holy God there being no other way for our restoration but to part with the dearly beloved of his soul and to bring him under his severest anger â—â— he paid to Justice the ulmost farthing and such was the gratious pleasure of our dear Redeemer who was content it shou'd be so Loâ—◠〈◊〉 to â—â— thy will O God O matchless goodnâ—ss methinks I sâ—e thâ— heart and affection of my dear Redeemer in this work putting the father in mind of his determinate will sacrifice and burnt offerings thou wouldest noâ— but a body hast thou prepared or fitted me then said I loe I come In the volumn of this look is is written of me to do thy will O God in sacrifices and burnt offerings for sin thou hadst no pleasure but Lord thou hast spoken of me and fitted me for the full and compleat satisfaction to â—hy Justice and here I am loe I come to do thy will O my God I am ready to give my self a ransome for the good of poor Souls Poor Soul see what matter here is then of comfort in the application of this great transcendent love unto thy self it was not thy desents but his great mercy made him own thee O this constraining love let it work more upon thy heart to draw thy will to his he came to do and was obedient to his fathers will for thee and wilt thou not be subject unto him that hath done so much for thee Now the work for which Jesus Christ came into the world was to save sinners such as by faith lay hold upon him for Eternal life God was pleased to make man in his first Creation in a perfect state of Innocency gave him power in his own hands either to stand or fall but poor man that would be wise yea wiser then God himself soon lost hiâ— happiness for one poor temptation So having broken the Law lies liable to the curse of it to all eternity it being my possible that a finite creature should ever be able to make restitution to an infinite God by keeping that Law that Righteous law that pure law which in one very thought is broken the Lord therefore seeing the sad condition of poor fallen man being under the curse of the Law and wholly unable to make the least satisfaction to Divine Justice was infinitely pleased in Grace and Meâ—cy to look with pitty on them and to find out this way the only way for their deliverance so he was pleased to lay help upon one that was mighty and infinitely able to save unto the utmost those that come unto him Christ then by his sufferings and obedience hath finished the work his Father gave him to do hâ— hath paid the uttermost farthing his Fathers Justice can demand he hath answered the Law in taking upon himself the curse of the law so that he was made not only sin for us but the curse also but Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law in being made a curse for us Gal. 3. 13. v. Thus hath the Lord Jesus Christ regained Eternal Life which man had lost and to him hath the Father given this eternal life Even unto the Son whom he hath made heir of all things and it is by having a propriety in Christ this life is to be had 't is he that hath the son hath life this life eternal and he that hath not the son hath not life 1 Joh. 5. 12. v. Of the excellency of the knowledge of the mistery of Christ O What wonderful sweetness is there in this knowledge what Divine excellency is in it what does this import to me unless I know him to be mine this is the knowledge of him which brings eternal life when I can through grace have the witness of this in my Soul and that the father hath been pleased in his infinite grace to give me unto Christ as one for whom he hath shed his blood and taken into Covenant with himself Poor Soul whaâ— a mercy is it to come to the knowledge of what the Lord Jesus is and what he hath done for poor sinful Man this little comforteth till thou knowest what he hath done for thee it is the particular application of it to thy self that makes thee happy since thou art one whom he is pleased in infinite grace and mercy to make choice of and thus to set his Soul upon thee Thou mightest have heard of Christ yet have perished to all eternity it would have been smal comfort for thee when in a storm ready to be beaten in pieces with the waves though thou didst see a ship afar off saiâ—ing from thee what good would the â—ight of that do thee but it is those whom the Lord is pleased to take shut into the Ark Christ Jesus that are secure that are preserved from the storms tempests even unto eternal life O live still in his favour by paying thy vows to thy dear Redeemer grieve not the holy spirit of his Grace by which he hath thee unto the day of Redemption O consider him not only given of the Lord as Priest but also as King Prophet the Lord give thee a heart to own him in his Kingly Office and help thee by meditation to apply thy Soul in faith unto his soveraign power and hath the Lord redeemed thee poor Soul look up and see thy happiness thy debt is paid and thou art set at liberty God injoyed in mercies HOw sweet and comfortable is it to sit at mercies Gate and be fed by the bountiful hand of Graces Charity those who are full of imployments bless themselves in abundant of what they possess forgetting the God of mercies from whence they slow but those who receive their mercies daily from the Lord they are truly sweet to that Soul that sees how its whole life depends on mercy and every thing it hath or can in joy comes all from mercy this is sweet to it and the soul thus sensible of mercy will be serious in praises Then Lord if mercies be so sweet let me beg mercies still Oh let the Channels of
patience that race which thou hast Lord appointed me to run with perseverance in true Godliness unto the end That when any Bâ—ridegroom comes I may be drest With him to go unto that Marriage Feast And being fitly trim'd may meet my Dear And gratious Lord where I shall never fear More to displease him but delighted be In fresh Communion to Eternity O blessed Lord how hast thou sweetned grace In making me to behold thy Heavenly face How beautiful dost thou appear to thine On whom thou makest thy glorious face to shine Inflame my heart Lord with more heavenly fire And fill my heart with love more to aspire Through grace dear Lord thou hast made love to me More sweet and pleasant then all Wines can be By sweetness blest and put in gratious store Given to those poor Souls which will implore Thy Heavenly blessings O let thy love then fill Mâ— Soul with Songs of praises to thee still If drops of love thus pleasant are to thee What will the Ocean in thy presence be But I have tasted the abundant goodness of my God therefore shall my Soul trust in thee and though my sins are many yet thy love is unchangeable O blessed be thou O Lord and blessed in thy everlasting love by which thou wert pleased to look upon so poor and base a creature and cloath her naked soul When new born by grace in Eternal Wisdom with that most glorious robe of Righteousness through which to afford it so glorious a priviledge as to come into thy presence even I a poor worm and to plead with the great and holy O infinite and transcendant love of the eternal glorious God to poor sinful Dust and Ashes And now what hath the Lord required in return of this his great and tender love by which he hath broken thy bands but love for love again canst thou not love the Lord with all thy heart that thus hath loved thee What love Lord was ever like that of thine to me and shall it be for gotten O shall my stupid heart forget what Christ hath done for me O let it be more deeply ingraven in my Soul But now my Soul should we examine how far thou hast gone in thy Masters work he hath committed to thee how far short doest thou come of doing what thou wert commanded yet through grace my Soul desires to be found faithful in the talent thou Lord hast in mercy committed to my trust and nothing more hath my soul desired then to be made conformable to thy blessed will in all things what is thy will O Lord let my will be wholly assenting thereto thou art he who knowest what is best for me O how sweet and how much pleasure should I find in afflictionâ— or in the greatest evils this life could inflict upon me could but I find my God in them O how sweet and glorious would be the darkest and obscurest corner of the earth might I but find there thy glorious presence far better then the Courts of Princes what are they Lord or all the pleasures of this vain world to one hours communion with thy blessed self O blessed be the holy name of my most gratious Lord who caused me to say with blessed David I had rather be a door-keeper in the House of my God then to injoy the greatest pleasures and preferments upon the earth Yea Lord so do I fear my frail Nature and my Deceitful Heart that I dare not ask thee any thing of that least I fall into temptation or be taken in a snare and so forget my God but this would I do dear â—ord wholly resign my self into thy gratious hands what Lord thou seest fitting for me let me be there with content My time O Lord which here I have is short and thy pleasure shall suffice since thou hast chose for me an Heritage Eternally in thy presence where is fulness of joy and rivâ—rs of plâ—asures for evermore but this Lord let me beg since tâ—s thy gratious pleasure thus to condescend to suffer such poor Worms to plead with thee O that thy grace may be sufficient for me to answer all my wants and subdue all my corruptions and every thing that stands in opposition to thy Glory that I may pass the time of my so journing here iâ— fear to offend my good and gratious God whom I have not found flack concerning his promise but infinitely beyond what I dare ask For Lord in thee are all my fresh springs and thou only knowest of what I stand in need this is my comfort that through grace I can say O let me ever remember it unto thy Glory that though thou feed me with the bread of affliction yet thou art my God and though I am a poor unworthy sinful creature yet art thou still a God that changeth not but thou hast made with me through thy free grace and mercy an everlasting Covenant which shall never be revoked Meditations on the power of God God being her Father FIx thou O Lord my Soul upon those heavenly Mansions those Celestial Glories where thy presence dwells then shall I say Lord make thou here my resting place my soul desires to be with thee and to behold thy Glory man in his best estate is altogether vanity and yet the infinite and holy God sees matter of pitty in him yea he pittyed them in their low estate because his mercies indure for ever it was mercy caused him to take such pitty of the poor Soul when in thy blood when poor and miserable wretchedly miserable and he is the same God still not only able but willing to continue merciful ye the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting unto them that fear him and as the heavens are in height above the earth my poor soul look up then and see O see what great things the Lord hath done for thee it is â—e the holy one of Israel who in habiteth eternity who dwelletlâ— in the â—ighest heavens in the infinite and in compreâ—ensiable God the King of glory the Lord of hosts omnipotent in power Majestyes and gâ—ory omnipotent in every place a God wâ—ose name is wonderfull and who gloryeth in his mercy because he delighteth to be gratious t is he whose own arm brought Salvation for thee and hath redeemed thy life from destruction and saved and called thee out of the cruel boâ—dage of him who sought thy finall destruction O therefore my soul forever bless the Lord and forget not all his benefits let them be written on the table of thy heart for an everlasting memoriall this great King of Heaven and earth that hath condescended so far as to stoop to the poor sinfull dust and ashes from whom thou deservest nothing but frowns and eternall wrath begs thy acceptance of him to be thy Saviour behold I stand at the door and knock O open those everlasting doors that the king of glory may come in Aâ—d take up his abode in the poor Soul so ever
thy people perish and come to nothing and as for me dear Lord fit and prepare me for thy will O let my soul and heart be filled with looking and longings after thee O let me still be ever in thy presence and it shall be well with me for ever My further meditations on Death DEath is a Jaylor who unlocks the prison doors of a gratious soul and ushers it into the presence of his heavenly father who is a gratious and a merciful God there to be imbraced in the arms of a loving Saviour and to injoy a fulness of eternal glory by hearing the voice Come ye blessed of mâ— faâ—her receive the Kingdom prepared for you But the wicked Death arests and brings bound before the Tribunall Seat of God where he shall behold alone the frowns of an angry God before whose anger who is able to stand there shall he see Divine Justice eternally satisfying on him and never satisfied Satan on one side and his own conscience on the other accusing of him and Jesus Christ who would have him his Saviour now his judge pronouncing the dreadful sentence of that eternal damnation Go ye cursed of my father into everlasting destruction prepared for thc Devil and his Angels Blessed and for ever blessed are they who have the Lord for their God for whom Christ will say O death I will be thy deaâ—h ye through the power of his might will I not be afraid Christ hath over come Death he hath taken away the sting then in Christ I shall be through grace more then a Conquerer then Death I will bid thee welcome blessed Messenger when thou art sent to break my chains and unlock my Fetters Locks and Bolts which keeps me from the presence of my Lord which is a burden to my soul and hinder me of the most blessed prospect of mine eternal happiness and when thou shalt bring me into the presence of my redeemer there to behold his face in glory then shall my soul be satisfied when I wake I shall behold thy face in Righteousness O my God Now O my soul thou dost pretend to fear the Lord but dost thou really so examine thy self canst thou approve thy heart to God in all sincerity he hath done great things O and wonderful for thee what hast thou done for him hast thou demonstrated a return of Love to him that has bestowed so much Love on thee surely it is a day in which the Lord doth threaten an end of all flesh before him and art thou exempt from his ever ruliâ—g power t is time to make up thy accounts for how knowest thou how soon the Lord may call to reckon with thee O it will be sad to have a name to live and yet be dead to have thy portion among Hypocrites it is thy duty to be found serving the Lord with all fervency of spirit out of a pure mind giving glory unto him to walk holy and humbly with thy God to take delight in thine approaches before him to lye low at his foot-stool in the sence of what thou art and what thou hast received to have respect unto all his commands and do his will to submit thy self unto him in all obedience to live in a continual dependance upon him to take up thy Cross daiâ—y and follow him wilt thou be a wise child then understand the will of thy heavenly father O how hast thou fallen short of thy duty to thy gratious Lord who never yet was wanting unto thee Lord thou art my helper and unto thee I fly for my soul have had experience even of the truth of grace to thâ—e be glory my hope is still in thee my God who knowest the frailty of thy poor creatures and pittyes them under their infirmities because they are but dust O Lord it is free grace that must inable me to do what thou requirest and blessed be God for that glorious grâ—ce by which thou hast in abled me to find the sweet experience of spiritual in livenings to all or any of these things in any measure though but small In thee my well springs are this I can say O Lord my soul desires to do thy will make me such a one as thou wouldest have me be Lord I am thine do with me what soever pleaseth thee I could desire to live if by my living I might glorifie thy name yet allo wish to be dissolved to be with Christ to be disrobed of sin and câ—oathed upon with his eternal Righteousness to be freed from imperfection to be compleat in Christ in all perfection so to injoy a free Communion with my Lord in Glory to all eternity Meditations of a day of tryal or preparation for sufferings THe Soul that truly fears the Lord is happy and he that exercise th faith shall ever find him faithfull let what will come he shall not be afraid of evill tidings c. O happy Soul that is in such a case yea happy is he that hath the Lord for his God An interest in Christ in a day of trouble is help and succour what can come amiss to me if the Lord be my God t is true I may be spoiled of all I have but they that take it from cannot rob me of my glory in being a believer then come what will seeing my Crown is safe through grace will I receive T is no great honour to be trading in the paths of Christianity when there is none forbids it and when a change comes cast of any Religion because it is out of fashion and credit O remember that any who have once set their hand to the Plow and look back are not fit for the Kingdom of Heaven for they that are such draw back unto perdition and the Lord will take no pleasure in them no it is he and only he that indures to the end shall be saved But what if our Estates our liberties nay our very lives lye at the stake you must either part with these or submit unto humane invensions this is indeed a great but poor Soul be not thou disturbed But remember any former arguments and be not afraid to trust God with thy condition be it what it will for therein thou mayest deny the Soveraignty power and faithfulness of the great and holy God double the portion of the fearfulâ— and unbelieving But O my Soul for to come nearer to thee suppose the Lord should suffer thee particularly to come under this tryal unto the utmost extent for O who knows how soon that may happen and thou art not prepared to encounter with it therefore how needfull is it to be mindful of thy Lords commands watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation it will be a sad reward thou wilt meet with by entering into a temptation to save thy self and thereby loose thy God and thy Souls comfort Is not Christ to be esteemed more then all things besides what is he not made exceeding pretious to thy Soul and wilt thou canst