"offend, fhew little concern to have my repentance "keep pace with my offences? O thou great Ma"ker and Commander of hearts! make mine fo "foft, as to fmite me for every evil whereof I have "been guilty, and to hold me back from all known " and wilful fins, as from the edge of the fword, and the violence of fire. That inftead of allow. "ing myself, in any way that is not good, I may "never be at eafe in my mind, till I am pleafing "to my God. Amen."

MEDITATION LXXVIII.

Of the meek temper and carriage.

WHA

THAT is meeknefs, my foul, but the mode rating of our paffionate refentments, and reftraining of finful anger, under injuries and fuf ferings? we may be angry, and not fin; yea, in fome cafes, it is finful, not to be angry; but to feem well enough pleased with God's difhonour, and the ruin of fouls. Indeed, zeal for the glory of our Lord, carries in it a mixture of anger; as the edge, to make it enter. And fuch anger at of fenders, is very confiftent with charity to our neighbours. Yea, love makes me angry with them, for admitting the things that threaten to deftroy them. Our meek Saviour himself, as whom never any was fo much abused, though never any fo well deferved; he that bore all evil, though he never did the leaft; yet could not he contain, at the difhonour done to his Father. And the expreffing of our anger at bold impiety, is so far from being any breach of charity, that the contrary tameness would indeed betray our falfhood and treachery. Though we must not

mingle our own pets and quarrels with the vindication of God's glory; as if our wrath would work his righteousness; nor reek our fpleen upon an adverfary, under pretence of zeal for the Lord of Hofts; yet a vehement concern, and burning heat in God's caufe, is no more than becomes and behoves us. And then only does anger run into fin, when it is without caufe, or for a wrong caufe; or above the deferts of the cause.

But, O my foul, how very cold have I been in the caufe of my Lord! and how exceeding hot in my own? how apt to take fire at every provocation? and grow all in a flame, even at the report of an affront; yea, but the fancy of an injury? how often has my bearing fpirit been out of the way, when I had work for it? and I have been readier to arm and fight, than to quench the paffion, and pacify debate. O what is this, but the reverse to my bleffed Saviour's manfuetude; who had nothing offenfive in him; and yet when his words were wrested, his actions misinterpreted, and his perfon vilified and confronted; could pafs it away, and not be moved, unless with pity, at the mistakes and mifcarriages of his rude and filly foes? in fuch command of my paffions, and fuch a fpirit of forbearance, and fuch an even, fedate frame of mind (however I am used and tried) O may I fhew myself his faithful follower; and fhew my care, to copy out the meekness and gentleness of Chrift Jefus, who was known, wherever he came, by his good deeds, and not by his great noife. And when he has commanded me to learn of him, let me take heed, left in ftruggling with my neighbour, I alfo ftrive for mastery with my Redeemer; whether his gofpel, or my fury, fhall take place. O may I not be cross and bitter in my fpirit; four and frantic in my houfe, rugged and litigious with my neighbours; nor count it my difgrace, but my honour, to turn

the

the other cheek, and let go alfo the cloak, to bear contempts, and fit down by loffes; and give courteous anfwers, and fhew all mildness of carriage, and sweetness of manners. My foul! are occafions of offence offered? and it is fit they fhould be: elfe would it be no virtue or thanks for me, to be quiet. My business then is not to get clear of all trials; but 'to get ftrength to furmount, and rife above them. If I think, that any has given me reafon, fo to be out of patience: let me remember, that my Lord (for certain) has given me greater reafon to obey his command. Have I a choleric temper? but what fignifies grace, unless to keep under unruly nature? and if I have well learned Chrift; I fhall not ask, who can endure it? nay, if I do but obferve the fin and fhame, and mischief of a froward humour, and fiery rage, into what drunkennefs it throws the foul; what diftorted looks, and loud clamour, and foul language, and frantic poftures it produces; and in what a combuftion and flame, it fets not only a houfe, but whole towns and neighbourhoods; fure then, I cannot be in love with fuch an ugly picture, when fo fair a one is fet over against it; even that meek and quiet fpirit, which, not only in the fight of God, is of great price, but in the judgment of men, there is nothing fo taking and recommending, to make one dear and delightful to all about him.

O then, my foul, when I am tried, and fore put to it, let me ftop, and throw fome water of confideration upon this fire, that the fparks may not rise up all into a flame. Let me hold, not only my hand, but my tongue; and keep in words, till I am fitter to use them, and fo ftifle the paffion for want of vent. Let me not lie ftirring in the hor net's neft; nor engage in pugnacious disputes, nor draw the faw of contention; but behold the Lamb

of

of God, and be afhamed, to fhew nothing of his mild fpirit. When any injure and abuse me, let me not think, what advantage I have against them; but what an opportunity is now before me, to fhew my deference to my Lord, and to transcribe his bleffed copy, in making light of that, whereof another would make a mighty matter. Let me decline the pitiful, fquabbling office; and turn away from the wrangles, to my prayers; fo to mount myself up into those heavenly regions, where none of these blustering storms have any place; but all is calm, and sweet, and harmonious, without the leaft dif turbance for ever,

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THE PRAYER.

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LORD GOD, long-fuffering, and flow to anger; who beareft wonderfully with them that provoke thee every day; teach me, who have much more reafon for it, meekly to “take abuses and injuries; and to imitate the for"bearance and gentleness of my Lord, in not rendering evil for evil, but overcoming the evil with good. O help me to curb my angry refent"ments; and to give place to other's wrath, without giving vent to my own. That I may pre"ferve the ferenity of my mind, and sweeten the "fpirits of my neighbours, and be a true follower "of my meek and lovely Saviour. Amen."

M E.

MEDITATION LXXIX.

Of hungering and thirsting after Righteoufnefs.

NE of the loweft figns of grace, is the defire of more grace. And fuch fouls it argues to have tafted that the Lord is gracious, who do long ftill further to experience the heavenly gift. Thus even new born babes can defire suitable food; and yet e ven to fuch defires bleffedness is affured, Mat. v. 6. "Blessed are they that hunger and thirft after righ. "teoufnefs." Now all creatures in the world are full of defires: because no creature has a fufficiency in itself, like the bleffed God, to be fatisfied at home, without feeking any further, But yet, amidst the multitude of defires, O how rare be the defires that are right and good, fublime, and worthy? the thick crowd of covetous and ambitious, luftful, and revengeful defires, even choak up and ftifle all the defires that are holy and heavenly. But, O my oul, may thy defire be to the things that are truly worth the defiring; and whereof thou fhalt never have done with the enjoying; fuch as the God infinitely good, and his kingdom and righteoufnefs: which are therefore the best of all fruitions, because spiritu al and celeftial, fatisfying and everlasting. O may thy defire be to his name, who is the defire of all nations; to drink of the water of Bethlehem, and his cup of falvation, who there was born; to be found in Christ Jefus, having that righteousness which is by the faith of him to fhare in all the righteousness, which he has fulfilled for us, that he may be the Lord, thy righteoufnefs; and thou be made the righteoufnefs of God in him, and that the Sun of Righteoufnefs

may