bonds of his covenant. May I ever retain it upon the imagination of the thoughts of my heart. I mentioned at the collection, the case of the Heathen Emperor, that is, of Titus, who accounted the day lost in which he had done no good! May I never more see that lost day! but either in spirituals or temporals, or rather, if it be the good will of my God, in both, may I be doing good every day. This was the birthday of my dear eldest daughter Betsey, whose name continues written perhaps too deeply on my heart. But blessed be God that gave her, and that hath taken her away. I adore his love, as well as his justice, in the loss I so much lamented, and rejoice in the cheerful hope that I have of meeting her in a world of eternal glory. Amen, Even so come Lord Jesus.

Sunday, October 7, 1739.

A DEVOUT MEDITATION IN WHICH MY SOUL WAS

BREATHING AFTER GOD.

O, MY God, thou art my hope, and my help; my glory, and the lifter up of my head. My heart rejoices in thy salvation. When I set myself to converse with thee under the influence of thine Holy Spirit, a thousand delightful thoughts spring up at once; a thousand sources of pleasure are unsealed, and flow in upon my soul with such refreshment and joy, that they seem to crowd into every moment, the happiness of hours, of days, and of weeks. I praise thee, O Lord, for this soul of mine which thou hast created, and which thou hast taught to say, and I hope to purpose, Where is God my maker? I bless thee for the knowledge with which thou hast adorned it. I bless thee for that grace with which I may, with humble wonder, say thou hast sanctified it; although, alas! the celestial plant be fixed in too barren a soil, and does not flourish to the degree I could wish. I praise thee, my God, for that body which thou hast given me, and which thou preservest as

yet in its strength and vigour, capable not merely of relishing those entertainments which thou grantest to each of its senses, but what is, I hope, to me far more valuable, capable of acting with some vigour in thy service. I bless thee for the ease and freedom with which these limbs of mine move themselves, and obey the dictates of my spirit, I hope, as guided by thine. I bless thee that the keepers of the house do not yet tremble, nor the strong men bow themselves; that those who look out at the windows are not darkened, nor the daughters of music or the instruments of speech brought low. I bless thee, O Lord, my God, that the silver cords are not loosened, nor the golden bowl broken; for it is thine hand that braces all my nerves, and thine infinite skill which prepareth those spirits that flow in so freely, and when exhausted are recruited so soon and so plentifully. I praise thee for that royal munificence with which thou providest for my daily support; for that various table which thou spreadest before me, and for the overflowing cup which thou puttest into my hands. And I praise thee that these bounties of thy providence do not serve, as it were, to upbraid a disabled appetite, and are not like messes of meat set before the dead. That no relaxation of the nerves weakens my strength, so as to render it incapable of digesting my food, nor cankers torture my mouth, so as to render it incapable of receiving it. I bless thee that I eat not my morsel alone, but share it with so many agreeable friends; that my affectionate wife and my lovely children, and my hopeful and grateful pupils are with me like olive plants set around my table. And I thank thee for so many friends who are capable of serving me, and so many whom I am capable of serving; and by conversing with whom, through the liberality of the former, I know how much more blessed it is to give than to receive. I thank thee for a heart that can feel the sorrows of the necessitous, and a mind that can, as in this day, make it

my earliest care and morning refreshment to contrive for their relief. For this also cometh forth from the Lord of Hosts. Thou awakenest my spirit to seek the way; thou graciously pointest it out, and I humbly hope that thou wilt crown it with success.

And now, Oh, my God, what shall I say? what, but that I love thee above all in the power of language to express. While I feel thy sacred spirit breathing upon my heart, and exciting these fervours of love to thee, I cannot doubt of its influence any more than I can doubt of the truth of this animal life while I exert the acts of it. Surely, if ever I knew the appetite of hunger, my soul hungers after righteousness, and longs for a greater conformity to thy blessed nature and will. If ever my palate felt thirst,—my soul thirsts for God, even the living God! and for a more abundant communication of his favour. If ever my weary body knew what it was to wish for the refreshment of my bed, and longed for rest,-even so my soul, with sweet acquiescence, rests upon thy gracious bosom, O my heavenly Father, and returns to its repose in the embraces of its God, who has dealt so bountifully with it. And if ever I saw the face of a beloved friend or child with complaisancy and joy,—so I rejoice in beholding thy mercy, O Lord, and in calling thee my Father in Christ. Such thou art, and such thou wilt be for time, and for eternity. What have I more to do but to commit myself to thee for both, and leave thee to choose my inheritance, and order my affairs for me, while all my business is to serve thee, and all my delight to praise thee. My soul follows hard after my God, because his right hand supports me. Let it still bear me up, and I shall still press forward. Amen.

Friday, November 2, 1739.

SOME HINTS OF MEDITATIONS ON THE HUNDRED AND SEVENTEENTH SACRAMENT.

THIS has been a most delightful day. I had hardly ever more sensible pleasure than in hearing my dear pupil, friend, and fellow labourer, Mr. Orton, from these words, "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ." He spoke indeed like a person of that character, and his words penetrated my very heart.

In the afternoon I preached from those words of David: "Remember thy word unto thy servant, in which thou hast caused me to hope." And I bless God, I found my heart in a very powerful manner impressed with a relish and savour of divine things; and that I was enabled to speak as one that had tasted that the Lord is gracious; and as feeding upon the promises in my own soul, while I was recommending them to the faith of others.

At the table of the Lord I had, also, especially towards the ending of the ordinance, much of his gracious presence. I began with those words, which were most sweetly brought not merely to my memory, but to my heart this morning: "I have waited for thy salvation." There is salvation brought to poor sinners. We were miserable; we needed salvation, and it comes; and comes in an extraordinary way a great salvation is already begun to us, and much is done to lay a foundation for it; but it is not yet completed; salvation is nearer than when we first believed; but even this intimates that it is still future. Your redemption however draweth nigh. Great things are already enjoyed which may incline us to say, it is good to be here. Yet as if these things were nothing, salvation is spoken of as at a distance. We must hope and long for it, and breathe after it, though in these tabernacles being burthened. And we are also to be willing to wait for it, for God knows best when to bestow it. Afterwards I mentioned those words:

"My salvation is near, and my righteousness to be revealed." Yet a little while, and it will come, not only to the aged saint, but to the youngest among us. So come, Lord

Jesus!

When breaking the bread, I discoursed of the dying love of Christ, and of his agony. I could not see you; you could not see me suffer such things without the deepest remorse ;-yet all this did the Son of God endure for us.

November 4.

MEDITATIONS ON THE HUNDRED AND TWENTIETH

SACRAMENT.

NEVER have I been so frequently at the table of the Lord within so short a period. I have now been four times there within five sabbaths; having administered the ordinance at Newport, and Welford, since the last time at Northampton; and I bless God, at both places with some pleasure, and I hope with some improvement.

This day I heard dear Mr. Orton preach one of the best sermons that ever was preached, of the service of Christ, with unutterable pleasure. Blessed be God, who has given him such gifts and graces! My sermon was a very poor thing in comparison to it. But I speak in the sincerity of my heart, and in the sincerity of my heart have praised the God of all grace, that the disciple was so much above his master. May the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit be multiplied ten thousand fold upon him, and may thousands yet unborn have reason to call him blessed!

I introduced the ordinance with some meditations on those words: "Who being the brightness of his Father's glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding, &c. when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high." I had been preaching of Christ giving himself for us, to redeem us from all iniquity, and to sanctify to himself a peculiar people, zealous

VOL. V.

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