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ham to our father; for of all people none are more severely punished than those that he has made approach nearest to him: "You only have I known of all the families of the earth, therefore will I punish you for all your sins." Capernaum, that was lift up to heaven, is threatened to be thrust down to hell, for abusing these singular blessings; and Jerusalem, the beloved city, whither resorted the chosen tribes,where stood the holy temple, and where God was served, and manifested his glorious presence, yet for her sins, oftener than once had it done to her as it had not been done under the whole heaven.

Woe, then, a triple woe, to the poor apostate, who has once tasted of the good word of God, and has been made partaker of the Holy Ghost, and tasted of the heavenly gift, and the powers of the world to come, when he falls from God, and falls into his hands as an offended, angry, and avenging judge! Oh! with what care should he that thinks he stands, look to his ways, that he may never fall!

This heavy rain reminds me of the deluge; the fire and thunder, of Sodom's overthrow. The first shews me how the old world perished, the last how this world shall be destroyed. The bellowing wind proclaims shipwreck to the sailor, and the sudden squall bids me be always ready for the worst event, and the whole scene summed up together, preaches to me the goodness, the power, and providence of God.

MEDITATION CXII.

EMULATION.

S. Latitude 16°. W. Longitude 26°. May 10, 1761,

The holy man took it

IT was a saying of Moses, the man of God, when one told him that two men prophesied in the camp, "Enviest thou for my sake? would to God all the Lord's people were prophets." not amiss that others had of the same spirit he had, to perform the same functions,and shine in the same character. What a shame is it, then, that the saints and sons of God should envy one another for the excellencies of their gifts and graces! If God be greatly glorified by any, should I be greatly displeased that it is not by me? shall I contend with God about his distribution of blessings, and begrudge his liberality to any more than myself? Does one minister darken another in preaching, or'one saint excel another in prayer? who of Christ's servants can be darkened iftheir Master shine? or who of his saints will not bless him for his goodness to others as well as to themselves?

It is as base to be peevish because of the excellenOur great, cies of others, as to be proud of our own. our universal struggle should be to set up God on high, and our great joy should be to see him set on high, whoever be the happy instrument. Ah, how base to listen to, or lust

bow the ear to vulgar applause, and

after, empty fame! In the natural body, is the one hand affronted that the other hand wears the signet or the ring? and among David's worthies, were the thirty chagrined that they did not attain to the first three? then why should saints and the servants of God, envy for one another's sake! Surely, it is rare to have sin

gular gifts and graces, and not know of it; and it is almost impossible to know it, and not be puffed up in a greater or less degree. O what a degree of humility should the spiritual worthy pray for, lest at any time he be puffed up! Should the servant of Jesus take it ill that hearers flock more after others than himself, seeing it is, at least should be, still Christ they are running after? can it vex him, if he speak in sincerity, because some are masters of more eloquence than he?

O for that noble disposition of minding the things of others as well as mine own, and blessing God with cheerfulness for the singular gifts of others whereby he is glorified, which should be my whole aim, as well as for mine own! Let others excel in setting thee upon high, though thou shouldst always refuse my service. Let the spiritual temple be built,though I should never lay one stone in the edifice. Give liberally, very liberally, to all thy saints and servants, and mine eye shall never be evil because thine is good. It is enough to be a cup in thy house, though others be bowls and flaggons. Surely the loyal subject will give his joyful acclamation at the coronation of his king, though not permitted to place the crown on his head, or perform any of the ceremonies. Is there any dissonance among the stars (nor should there be among the saints)because one star excelleth another in glory? Such and such gifts, or such and such degrees in these gifts, which I emulate for, might hurt me. Fire may be kept in a brasen vessel, which would burn a wooden one. Boiling water might crack a glass bottle, but not a stone bowl: so these qualifications which I think would make me all vigour and spirit, might hurt. my spirit in more spiritual things. Few, like Moses, could carry a command so vastly great, with a vastly greater meekness; or have the humility to cover his

face when it shines, and reflect the glory God-ward. Though I could pray like an apostle, and speak like an angel, yet, if the least pride spring from the per formance, it were better to speak like a babbler, and pray like a babe in grace. I should press after grace continually, and grace in the highest degree, without which the noblest gifts will be but sound and smoke, without heat; while the weakest gifts, with true grace, may edify both myself and others. I should rest satisfied in the all-wise disposal of Providence, who giveth to all as he pleaseth, since, though there be diversities of gifts, it is the same Spirit who knows best how to divide, and to whom; and if God be exalted, though I should exert myself, and would choose to excel, yet I should not take it amiss, that in that excellent work every one excels me, and out-does my utmost. Finally, though my capacity may be weak, and my faculties shallow, yet hereby may all my wants be made up, if I be rich in faith, to draw out of his fulness for my exigence; in humility and gratitude, to disclaim any thing in myself, and give him all the praise; and in love to God, to pour out my whole soul on him, while he kindly dwells in my heart, and replen ishes every power with his presence.

Bb 2

MEDITATION CXIII.

BIRTH-DAY.

S. Latitude 26°, May 30, 1761.

WHEN I dropped some thoughts last birth-day, I was uncertain that I should see another, but now may be quite certain that this day I shall never see again ; therefore I am another year nearer to the unseen world, were my years never so many. Surely my years, like figures in arithmetic, rise in their value as their numbers increase, and the last redoubles the whole. Why? so much experience of the vanity of all things, so many providences ever working for me, such fatherly chastisements, such rich displays of grace, such divine admonitions, so many tender mercies, and such sweet, sweet outlettings of love, leaves a heavy charge at my door, if I walk not answerably to them all.

Though I am still alive, and O that I could live to him in whom I live, yet several families both of my friends and acquaintance have wept and wrung their hands for their expiring friends, in the short period of a year; and O how soon must I feel the mortal dart fixed in my heart, and every sickening pulse proclaim the approach of my last moments!

Then only thus shall I be before-hand with my wasting years, and get my heart fenced against the terrors of death, by having my life hid with Christ in God, and my conversation in heaven; so should I antedate my future happiness, begin eternity in time, and, like Enoch, walking with God, would get my soul filled with such an ardent flame of heavenly love, that I would have a desire to be dissolved, and to be

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