was to be, and to do, and to suffer, for the salvation of poor sinners. No mind but thine could have contrived such a long train of mysterious truths, which were all to be fulfilled; no power but thine could have established and accomplished them all from age to age; no love but thine could have undertaken salvation at so costly an expense, as the sufferings and death of thy blessed Son. In this sacred volume, I further read the conduct of thy providence, in preserving the chosen remnant, and in punishing the ungodly and profane. The histories of men are composed by prejudice, and are full of falsehoods. What passeth in my own time is so differently represented by different men; nay, what I have seen myself hath been so variously seen and understood by others; that, were we alike minded to report the truth, our misapprehensions and errors are so many, that through them the same facts would scarcely appear to be the same things. But thy record is faithful and true, and spareth not the faults and evils of any man, neither of thy chosen people as a nation, nor of thy dearest children as individuals. Here I see thy constant love of holiness and hatred of sin. Here I read many great lessons of human infirmity, and many strong proofs of thy forbearance, thy justice, or thy mercy. O let me, while I read, remember and understand!

In this book of books, I am also instructed by large and various prophecies given forth in deep and mysterious words. By thy holy prophets thou hast indeed spoken "at sundry times, and in divers manners" or figures; but all their prophecies, whether

by symbol, type, vision, inspiration, or voice, declare but one final purpose, even the salvation of souls by Jesus Christ. His testimony was the very life and spirit of all their predictions.

By other parts of this blessed volume, I am edified and built up in my most holy faith. The final patience and self-renunciation wrought in Job, under thy visitation, instruct me in the way of thy righteousness. The proverbs or similitudes, full of mystic sense under moral ideas, teach me to look unto thee for all thy wisdom, grace, and strength. By one book, I am convinced of the vanity and vexation of all worldly things: and, by another, of the mysterious height and depth of the love of Christ. I am also taught what to sing, and how to sing, of thy wonderful praises, by words which thine own Spirit hath revealed, which millions of thy children have graciously communed with, and which infinitely exceed all the compositions of men. They are words, replete with prophecy and vigorous sense, and full of sober joy in the faithful foresight of the phecy fulfilled. The love of Christ is the substance, the form, yea, the very life and breath of all thy holy psalms.

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In thy gracious Gospels, dear Lord, I am taught the accomplishment of every mystery and of the great work of salvation, covenanted and foretold, in the person, life, death, resurrection, ascension, and intercession of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. O what a picture do they hold forth of the meekness, wisdom, grace, and compassion of that dear Redeemer! Lord, thou knowest how often " my

heart hath burned within me," when thou hast talked with me by these records, "and while thou hast opened to me the Scriptures." And yet thou knowest too, how often I have been one of the "fools and slow of heart to believe all that thy prophets have spoken." O give me an understanding that is true; and so shall I be taught thy word.

The life, deeds, and writings of thy holy apostles, are, in thy blessed hands, most glorious and lively demonstrations of thine everlasting truth. They show me how thy saints have walked; and they encourage me to be a "follower of them, who now, through faith and patience, inherit the promises." O my gracious Master, strengthen me, as thou wert pleased to strengthen them, with might by the Spirit in the inner man; and so shall I hold on and hold `out, till I receive, as they have received, the blessed end of my faith in the salvation of my soul! Thou hast also been pleased to close the prophecy, and to seal the vision, with an awful revelation, which reacheth onward to the very ends of time, and almost unveils the majesty of eternity itself. I read this mystic book with solemn awe, and often tremble as I read. Thy grace hath unfolded some little of its important mystery to my mind; O grant me more understanding, so far as may be proper for my welfare, or as my weakness in grace may be able to bear it. Keep me from reading with my own eyes, which are but carnal and cannot profit me, and let me be thy disciple, and thy humble disciple alone! The ideas of this awful book are all framed upon the figures and principles of the ancient part of thy

volume, and can only be apprehended according to the intimate analogy which runs through the whole of the record of salvation.

O Lord, I bless thee, I daily bless thee, for this wonderful revelation of life and peace, which, if all men could spiritually read, all men would confess, that it is, and could be, of no organization but thine. The impressions of divinity are so glorious and evident, that he that runs, if he hath but eyes, may read and own them. And yet in nothing is this record more true, and in nothing is human experience of it more strong and striking, than in this, that 66 no man can believe" or understand a word of it to the salvation of his soul, "unless it be given him from above," unless all his instruction be imparted by thee. Not that in thy book there is any defect indeed, but wholly in the gross, sensual, and sinful apprehension of fallen man.

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Open thou mine eyes, O Lord, and then shall I behold wondrous things from thy law!"

Things hidden to carnal sense, but clear and obvious to the view of that faith which thou givest to thy children. I wait upon thee for this end. While I read and while I write, while I praise and while I pray, I seek for thine instruction. I am a fool without thee; but, by thee, I am made wise for eternity. Speak then in thy holy word, for thy servant heareth; and enable me to lay up what I hear, like Mary, within my heart, that I may be a true "scribe indeed, instructed in the kingdom of heaven, bringing forth, out of the treasure of my heart, things new and old !"

CHAPTER XXI.

The recollection of the First Part in Prayer to God.

O THOU ever-blessed Jehovah, three Persons in one Godhead, full of grace and full of glory, have mercy upon me, a miserable sinner! I am not worthy so much as to look up to the throne of thy holiness, being polluted in my nature, wicked in my life, and covered entirely with innumerable transgressions. But O, whither, whither shall I go for help and succour, but unto thee, O Lord, who, for these my manifold abominations, art most justly displeased!

Wonderful goodness! Thou hast commanded me to come, and invited me to present myself before thee, with most astonishing testimonies of favour and acceptance. Thou hast found a way to make satisfaction to thine offended majesty and justice, not by my punishment and ruin so fully deserved, but by the sufferings and death of thy dear Son. By him thou hast magnified the law and made it honourable, through an infinite and perfect righteousness, which he hath completed for it. For these wonderful ends, by thine everlasting covenant, he took into his divinity our human flesh, and became our Emmanuel, or God with us. And so he became capable of suffering, doing, and substituting for his ple, whom thus he purchased, all that was given him from thee. Having completed this whole work of

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