ઃઃ THE PRAYER. HOUGH I must follow after the things that are of good report, and be in care to keep up a fair reputation before the world; yet, keep thy fervant, O Lord, from being proud of a "name, or puffed up with the praife of men; that "I may not value myself ever the more, for any "kind or great things faid of me, which I myself may best know how to difprove. Or be they "never so true; yet not to any of my worth, but "to thy grace alone belongs all the praife. O let "thy glory ftill be my great aim; and no further "let me infift upon any credit of my own, than it be serviceable to thy truth, and tend to glo"rify thy name, through Jefus Chrift. Amen." may MEDITATION LXXV. [F without doing the will of my heavenly Father, I fhall not enter into the heavenly kingdom; as I would then inherit his glory, O how does it concern me, my foul, to fulfil his pleasure? and because the perfection of obedience (in my circumftances) is not poffible; but the fincerity is neceffary, and that will be acceptable; I muft therefore understand, and I muft alfo perform that fincere obedience, as ever I hope to find acceptance. For if Į do not know wherein it confifts; how can I be fatisfied, in difcerning when I have attained to it? and if I do not indeed fet myself to go through with it, it will do me more hurt than good, to have the knowledge of it. What What is this fincere obedience then, my foul, but an impartial refpect to all the commands of God; to fet them before me, as the way wherein I am to go; and the rule by which I am to act: and then honeftly to apply my best endeavours, to walk and do thereafter? It is not the fear of wanting uprightness, that will ftraight prove me to be deftitute of it. For fo might I conclude against fome tender and humble Chriftians, that are more apt to fufpect themselves, than many that have much greater reafon for it. Nor will fome failings and falls make me a hypocrite: for, according to that meafure, O which of the children of God upon earth would not be found guilty? when in fo many things we offend all and even the righteous man falls often every day which indeed fpeaks them frail; but will not give them up convicted for falfe. Yet as fome may condemn themfelves, whom God will acquit: fo may others be caft and rejected of the Lord, that pafs for good men and true, in the eye of the world. And it is not fo much what I, or any men think and conceive, as what he, who fearches the heart, does allow and approve. My great care then must be to approve my heart to him; and that I may do fo, I must not regard iniquity in this heart, nor harbour and countenance any fin there, which I refuse to part with; nor ferve Mammon, as my commander; nor fo love the world, as is inconfiftent with the love of God; nor carry on any defigns, contrary to his honour and pleafure; nor be offended at his Holy Word, but love it in my heart; and covet and ftrive ftill after more and better conformity to all that it requires, and to perfect holiness in the fear of God; that is, to attain to fuch a perfection, as is in this life attainable. For, For, O my foul, what a glorious Spectator is ever over me, and what a piercing eye upon me! and what though I could deceive all the world, while my Judge knows me to be falfe in his covenant, and that I have no heart right with God? he that knows my frame and allows for my frailty; yet will take nothing in good part from me, without uprightnefs and fincerity. As I myfelf would be pleased with the fmalleft offices of love, coming from one, that I am perfuaded has the true kindness for me; when I care not for all the pretenfions and tenders of friendship, from fuch as I know to be falfe, and nothing hearty to me. And may not I expect the fame measure then, from the God that requires truth in the inward parts, and hates diffimulation and cheat, more than I can? if I hold the truth in unrighteoufnefs, and do not give my heart to the Lord; if this world be my end, and carnal felf my centre, and the praise of men my great aim, and the glorifying and pleafing, and enjoying of God, none of the intention of my mind, nor the defire of my foul; I fhall then be "weighed in the i. 14. balance, and found wanting;" and being a hypocrite in heart, fhall "heap up wrath," Job xxvi. 13. Yea, come under the curfe of the deceiver, Mal. "That has in his flock a male, but vows and facrifices to the Lord a corrupt thing;" when I have a heart to give, yet will give no more than a lip or a knee. O how far is this from truth! and how far will it remove me from peace? how shifting and uncafy now is the hypocrite's life, full of fear and fhame, and gripes and remorfe of confcience! and hereafter, how dreadful the hypocrite's portion, where is weeping and wailing, and gnafhing of teeth! But not only the upright man's end is peace; but all the way to it is fweet. When in fimplicity and godly fincerity he has his converfation in the world; he he finds, by fuch fruits, that he is on good grounds, because in the living vine Christ Jefus; and fo, one to whom there is no condemnation. And this gives him the boldness of a lion; so that he is not ashamed nor afraid, when his heart is found in the ftatutes of his God. Yea, this gives him the teftimony of confcience, which is his rejoicing; that he walks before the Lord in truth, and with an upright heart. And though he has been often foiled and defeated; and knows many blemishes and mifcarriages, that he has to bewail in his life, yet he would never, fince his converfion, yield to the enemy; nor lie by it in any way of wickednefs; but ftill repent, and get up again, and ftrive for conqueft afresh; and was right in the general bent of his heart, and the whole tenor of his life. This is a cordial of comfort, at all times; but, O the unspeakable confolation that it will give, at the greatest need, in the hour of death, and the day of judgment, when a dram of fuch folid comfort, will out-weigh all the wealth of the world! when the righteous and merciful Lord, that loveth righteoufnefs and mercy, will not be extreme to exact what is wanting, nor to mark what is done amifs by his fervants; but looks to the willingness of their minds, and the good intention of their hearts, fhall, with his favourable countenance, behold the upright; and with his reviving words, welcome them into the joy of their Lord. O my foul, who would not do all heartily to fuch a Lord! or count any thing too much for a God fo infinitely good? walk before him in thy integrity, and beware of this leaven of hypocrify. Search as narrowly after it as the Jews did, to caft out all the crumbs of unleavened bread. Look to thy ftate, and commune with thy own heart; nor give thyfelf reft under any guile of thy fpirit. O be not fo much concerned to know what men think of of thee; as to order thy ways, fo that the Lord may accept thee. And not only affect thyfelf with his continual nearnefs to thee, and infpection of thee; but remember his love, as well as his prefence; and look upon him as thy dear friend and Father, and husband; that thou mayeft not only do his will, but delight to do it. For thou doft not ufe to play the hypocrite with those whom thou fo dearly loveft. Yea, feek to him, that can set thee right with him; and importune the Disposer of hearts, to join thine to himself; to give thee the thing that is fo pleafing in his fight, even a clean heart, and a right fpirit; that he may also give thee all grace and glory, and withhold no good thing from thee, walking uprightly. For nothing will he think too good for them, who think not their hearts too good for him; but after they have lived to him fincerely now; he will receive them to live with him bleffedly for ever. "HY Word has taught me, O God, that right believing is not enough, without well-doing; and that it will not avail me to do the "things that are good; if I do them not heartily, .. as to the Lord. O then, let me add to my faith "obedience; and as I truft in thy mercy, fo let me "ferve thee in fincerity, and walk before thee in "the way of my duty. O! thou Fashioner of all "hearts, make mine found in thy ftatutes; that, "not in guile and wicked hypocrify, but in fimpli"city and godly fincerity, I may have my conver"fation in the world; and fo, the teftimony of my "confcience may be my rejoicing; and I may have "confidence towards God, and joy in thee, through "our Lord Jefus Chrift. Amen." M E |