Miscellanea sacra

Miscellanea Sacra .

CONTAINING Scriptural Meditations , Divine Breathings , Occasional Reflections , and Sacred Poems .

Non paranda solum nobis ea , sed fruenda etiam est sapientia .

Cic .

LONDON : Printed for John Lawrence , at the Angel in the Poultrey ; And Joseph Wats , at the Angel in St. Paul's Church-yard . 1692.

The PREFACE .

ONE of the Ancients giving an Account of the Life of Man , said it was ( or at least ought to be ) {αβγδ} , a MEDITATION of DEATH : He should rather have said , a Meditation of another Life , tho' I suppose he meant it not of Death in it self , but as it transmits us to a Better Life beyond it . But alas ! how few are there that exercise their Thoughts upon such a Subject ! since the generality of Men do live tanquam semper victuri , as though they were to live here always , or rather as if they thought their Souls and Bodies should perish together without the hopes of a Resurrection . And tho' Life and Immortality be brought to light by the Gospel , yet even the Professors of it do too little exercise their minds in such Contemplations . Sometimes perhaps the Crosses and Troubles they meet with here below , may force their thoughts upwards , and induce them to think on that uninterrupted Peace and Felicity they expect hereafter ; but this is usually but Momentanea Philosophia , Calvin . and they presently return to their former course of minding earthly things . And which is the strangest of all , those that have some good Assurance of an Interest in a future Life of Blessedness , and have experienced the Comfortable Beginnings of it here , yet as they too seldom employ their thoughts about it , so they are too often unwilling to depart hence , that they may enter in and possess it . I know if one should come to any of them , and ask them , If they be willing to go to Heaven ? they would presently answer , Yes , with all their hearts ! but if Death look them in the Face in a fit of Sickness or some other eminent Danger , then they recoil , and entertain the thoughts of it with great reluctancy ; then Heaven is besieged with earnest and repeated Prayers for their Deliverance , and if their Requests be granted , and their Lives continued , notwithstanding the proneness of Men to Ingratitude and forgetfulness of God's Mercies , yet usually upon this Occasion they are very free and hearty in their acknowledgments .

This is a thing I have sometimes wondred at in Serious Christians , who have profess●d themselves to be Strangers and Pilgrims here , and to seek a better Country , and yet could look upon the continuance of their Exile in a World full of Sin and Sorrow , as so great a Mercy . As if they should say , Lord , we bless and praise thy Name that thou hast not yet made us perfectly happy ; we admire thy Goodness and Mercy towards us in lengthning out our Exile and Bondage , and continuing us a little longer absent from thy Self . Thou mightest ere this have brought us to a full enjoyment of thy Self in unspeakable Bliss and Glory . Thou mightest ere this have brought us into a state of perfect Purity and Holiness , where we should no more have disobey'd thy Righteous Laws , no more have grieved thy HOLY SPIRIT , no more have abused thy Grace , but have been equally capable of Serving and Enjoying Thee to perfection . But thou hast been graciously pleased to continue us a little longer in this Vale of Sin and Misery , where we shall still be expos'd to the Temptations of Satan , and frequently be overcome by them ; where we shall still be over-born by our own Corruptions , & by our Sins often provoke thee to Anger against us ; where we shall still feel the effects of our Sins and of thy Displeasure for them in those many troubles and afflictions we shall meet with as long as we continue here , and out of which thou hast given us hopes that thou wilt not yet deliver us , &c. But how unsuitable is this to the Profession that is generally made of desiring to depart , and to be with Christ , which is far better ! And tho' some may think this too uncharitable an Interpretation of such Addresses , which are usually worded in such terms as renders them much more plausible both to themselves and others ; yet if Christians did but seriously consider the deceitfulness of their own Hearts , and how much of the Love of Life and of Earthly things remains unmortified in the best of Men , it would make them ready to suspect the most plausible excuses for their desires of Long Life . Among which there is none of more seeming weight than their unpreparedness for Death : to which I Answer , that the Persons I am speaking to are suppos'd to be already ( at least in some good measure ) prepared for it ; or else it would indeed be rashness & presumption to desire to leave this World when they are not qualified for being happy in another . But those that have experienc'd a real work of Grace upon their hearts , that have found in their own Souls those Primitiae Regni , the Sanctifying Operations of the holy Spirit , 't is impossible for them to miscarry . Such souls have a natural Tendency & Inclination towards Heaven , both in Life and at Death , and cannot miss of it . But if they say , they desire time to be further prepared for so great a Change , I grant that we cannot indeed be too well prepared for that state wherein we are to be for ever ; and therefore it does highly concern every one to improve the time of Life allotted to them to the best advantage , and to make themselves as ready as they can ; yet I would desire them to consider that such is the bewitching Nature of this World , that the longer we live in it , the more unwilling we are to leave it ; and that length of time will not only increase our Graces , but also discover our Corruptions , so that whatever we are in reality , we shall always be unready in our apprehensions , and perhaps more hereafter than at present .

To perswade therefore my self and others to be content to leave a sinful and miserable World , and willing to be perfectly holy and eternally happy , was the design of composing the ensuing Miscellanies , which were written at several times , and are now selected out of many others on different Subjects : and if they may be any ways serviceable to this end , I shall not altogether repent of their Publication .

THE CONTENTS . Scriptural Meditations . Matth . 6. 21. For where your Treasure is , there will your hearts be also . Pag . 3. Philip 1. 23. For I am in a strait between two , having a desire to depart , and to be with Christ , which is far better . 7 John 14. 22. Lord ! how is it that thou wilt manifest thy self unto us , and not unto the World ? 11 Micah 2. 10. Arise ye , and depart , for this is not your Rest . 17 Divine Breathings . Immortality . 27 The Life of Faith . 29 Slothfulness . 33 True Riches . 34 Spiritual Manna . 36 The Best Portion . 39 Occasional Reflections . At my first waking in the Morning . 49 On the Enjoyment of a Friend's Company . 52 Upon winding up a Watch . 56 A Continuation . 59 Upon my Indisposedness to write to a Friend . 62 Upon the Singing of Larks . 65 Sacred Poems . The Love-Sick Spouse . 71 The Pilgrimage . 75 Emptiness in the Creature , Fulness in God . 77 The Unprofitable Servant . 79 The Invitation . 83 The Welcome . 87 The Glympse . 89 Praise . 94

SCRIPTURAL Meditations .

O quàm contemptares est Homo , nisi supra humana se erexerit ! Sen.

— Tentanda via est , quâ me quoque possim Tollere humo . —

LONDON : Printed for John Lawrence , at the Angel in the Poultrey ; And Joseph Wats , at the Angel in St. Paul's Church-yard . 1691.

SCRIPTURAL MEDITATIONS .

MATTH . VI . 21. For where your Treasure is , there will your Hearts be also .

BLUSH and be ashamed , O my Soul , that thou art such a Stranger to a Heavenly Life : That thou should'st be so careful and sollicitous about the things of this World , and so regardless of the affairs of Heaven , and the concerns of Eternity . Dost thou believe thou hast a Treasure in Heaven , why then is not thy Heart there also ? How is it that thou dost so seldom think on it ? but thy mind is continually running upon Earthly Vanities . Dost thou pretend to be a Stranger and a Pilgrim on Earth , and yet art thou for building Tabernacles , and wilt thou say ( or at least think ) It is good to be here ? Dost thou pretend to be travelling to a better Country , and wilt thou never think whither thou art going , nor spend a thought on thy Journey's end ? Dost thou believe that Christ is gone before to prepare a Mansion for thee , and would it not do well by a Holy Contemplation to go and see whether thou shalt like thy Dwelling ? Surely it would be worth the while to ascend the Mount and take a view of the Heavenly Canaan . How would it make thee long to be there , and be willing to do or suffer any thing so thou maist have a part in the Inheritance of those that are sanctified ? How would it make thee despise the World , and all the Honours , Profits , and Pleasures of it ? How little would they then appear in thine eyes ! How light would all Afflictions seem when thou knowest that they will work out for thee such an exceeding weight of Glory ? How patiently would'st thou bear them , and be fully satisfied with this , That Heaven will make amends for all .

LORD bring me out of this worse than Egyptian Slavery and Bondage ; this bondage to Sin and Satan ; this Sodom , out of which I am so loath to depart ; and let me escape to the Mountains . Let me no more long after the Flesh-pots of Egypt , but let me tast the sweetness of Spiritual Manna . Oh that I could sometimes go ( with the Spies ) to search the Promised Land , and cut down a Cluster of Grapes at the Brook Eshcol , which would make me long for the full Vintage . Lord help me to set my affections on things above , and not on things on earth . Alas ! what is there here that deserves a heart ? And what heart does not owe all its Love to thee ? Lord grant that I may say from my very heart , Whom have I in heaven but thee , and there is none upon earth I desire in comparison of thee . Be thou my Portion , and the Lot of my Inheritance , and I may well say , The lines are fallen to me in pleasant places , and I have a goodly heritage . And grant that now at length I may lay up for my self a Treasure in Heaven , and then my Heart will be there also .

PHILIP . I. 23. For I am in a strait betwixt two , having a desire to depart , and to be with Christ , which is far better .

WHAT is there in this World that should make us so loath to leave it ? Is Vanity and Vexation of Spirit so Desirable ? And there is nothing else to be found here . Nothing but cares and troubles , wants and losses , crosses and disappointments to be met with in this Life . That which we call Contentment , how often do we seek and hunt after it in vain ? And no wonder , since we seek for it where it is not to be found . We are apt to think 't is in such or such an Enjoyment , and all our endeavours are bent to gain that , and we fondly think , Oh if we had but such a thing , then we should be happy ! Whereas if God be pleased to grant our desires , we often find those very Enjoyments which appeared so Charming , to be empty of that Comfort we expected in them , or else so many Crosses do attend them , as imbitters all the sweetness that is in them . And after all this , we must part with them , and the Grief and Sorrow which attends the Loss of them is usually greater and longer than the pleasure we enjoyed in them .

WHO then would set their hearts upon the Comforts , the empty , fading , perishing Comforts and Enjoyments of this Life , and not rather desire to depart , and to be with Christ , which is far better ? The Joys of Heaven are real and substantial , full and satisfactory , pure and unmixed , constant and immortal . There all tears shall be wip'd away from our eyes , and sorrow and sighing shall flee away and be heard of no more for ever . There we shall be free from all pains and sicknesses of body , and all trouble and perplexity of mind . There we shall be free from all the temptations of the World , the Flesh , and the Devil . There we shall be free from all Sin , and the fears of God's displeasure for it . There we shall meet with all our Friends and Relations that are gone before us ; there we shall meet and never part again . But above all , there we shall be with Christ , which is far better than all , and in him enjoy unspeakable , unconceivable Bliss and Happiness to all Eternity .

LORD grant that as I do , or at least ought to desire to depart , so I may be also ready , that whensoever thou comest , thou maist find me watching , and say unto me , Well done ! Enter into thy Master's Joy .

JOHN XIV . 22. Lord ! how is it that thou wilt manifest thy self unto us , and not unto the World ?

WELL might the Disciples wonder at this condescending and distinguishing Love of their Lord and Master . And yet his Promise immediately before ( as also his Prayer afterwards ) was not design'd to respect them only , but all that shall believe in him through their word . He that hath my Commandments , ( saith he ) and keepeth them , ( whosoever he be to the World's end ) he it is that loveth me ; and he that loveth me , shall be loved of my Father , and I will love him , and will manifest my self unto him . I will shew him my Glory now in some measure , and I will pray the Father that he may be with me and see my Glory hereafter . I will not only Love him , but I will manifest that Love to him , and let him see and feel it , and the happy effects of it . And is this the manner of Men to deal so familiarly with their Servants ? And is it not much more wonderful that the Lord of Life and Glory should so far condescend as to reveal himself to poor despicable Worms ! Have we not reason to cry out with the Psalmist , Lord , what is man , that thou art mindful of him ? and the son of man , that thou visitest him ?

But this is not all ; for this is a peculiar favour to his Chosen . He is pleas'd to manifest himself to them , and not unto the World . Unto them he turns the bright side of the Cloud , while others , like the Egyptians , are in darkness . To you ( says he ) it is given to know the Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven , but to others it is not given . Oh , how may we admire this distinguishing Love of our Divine Redeemer ! and how may we ( how can we but ) rejoyce in it ! As he once said to his Disciples , I have meat to eat which ye know not of ; So may we say to the World , We have Spiritual Comforts to feed and feast our Souls with , which you know not of . No , our Joys are such as Strangers do not intermeddle with . 't is not only Propriety , but Peculiarity which adds sweetness to all our Enjoyments , and both are here . We are thine , thou never barest rule over them , they were not called by thy Name , Isa . 63. 19. He hath not dealt so with any Nation , and as for his Judgments they have not known them , Psal . 147. 20.

And why then are we not satisfied with our Portion , but are ready to envy the enjoyments of the wicked ? If we have Joys which they do not intermeddle with , why should we desire to intermeddle with theirs ? Are not ours better , or would we change with them ? Surely no : why then are we not abundantly contented with our Lot and Portion ? If the Lord be our Portion , then surely we cannot but say , The lines are fallen to us in pleasant places , and we have a goodly heritage . And how can we be sad or troubled ? Does the Sun of Righteousness shine upon us , and can we hang down our Heads ? Does our dear Redeemer smile upon us , and can we be sorrowful in any condition ? May he not say to us , as Elkanah did to Hannah , Why is thy countenance sad ? Am not I better to thee than ten Sons , than ten Friends ? Could Micah say of his Idols , Ye have taken away my gods , and what have I more ? And do ye ask what aileth me ? And may not we better say , Ye cannot take away our God , but we have his comfortable presence with us , and what can we have more , or how can we ail any thing ? Could Diogenes , being ask'd by Alexander , ( who it seems stood betwixt him and the Sun ) what he would request of him , and he should have it , could he answer , Nunc quidem paululum à Sole absis . At present only stand out of my Sunshine ? Cicero . And can we desire any thing more than the warming comfortable beams of the Sun of Righteousness ? And would it not better become us than it did him to refuse and contemn all those vain Pleasures , Profits , and Honours , which would obscure the light of God's Countenance , and hide his Face from us ?

Oh Lord ! Lift but thou up the Light of thy Countenance upon me , and it will put joy and gladness into my Heart more than when Corn and Wine ( and all other Comforts ) increased .

MICAH II . 10. Arise ye , and depart , for this is not your rest .

't is an amazing thing to consider the perverseness of men , that nothing can beat them off from expecting Rest and Happiness in this World , nor perswade them to seek it in a better . Tho' they have been told over and over of the Experiences of all men , in all states and conditions , and in all Ages , how they have been cross'd in all their pursuits after Happiness , and disappointed of all their hopes of finding Rest and Satisfaction in any thing here below ; yet such is the incredulity of men , that they will not believe the Attestations of those that have gone before them , but they must needs try themselves before they will be convinced of a Truth so universally owned and acknowledged . And it were well if even that would satisfie them , but alas it will not ; for tho' they have made the Experiment themselves again and again in vain , and have met with nothing but crosses and disappointments all their days hitherto , yet will they not say , There is no hope , but will lay the fault on the malice of Enemies , or unfaithfulness of Friends , or their own Imprudence , or any thing but the Vanity of the things themselves , which one would think so much dear-bought Experience might sufficiently convince them are uncapable of affording them that Comfort and Satisfaction they expected from them . And this were still more excusable if they had never heard of a place where this Rest is certainly to be found , nor had ever been shewn the way to obtain it . But even those that know this , and pretend to believe that Heaven is a place of perfect Rest and Happiness , and seem to make it their business to walk in the way to it , and to endeavour to qualifie themselves for the obtaining and enjoyment of it , yet even those are unwilling to arise and depart , unwilling to be where they are sure to be perfectly and eternally Happy .

BUT why ( O my Soul ) dost thou thus accuse others , as if thou wert clear in this matter , when alas ! thou art equally involved in the same guilt with other men ? Notwithstanding thou hast met with so large a Portion of Afflictions , which might have weaned thee from this World , and make thee desirous of a better . But alas , how little of those Effects have they produced in thee ? How little hast thou chang'd thy Opinion of those earthly things ? Sometimes indeed thou makest sad Complaints of the emptiness of Earthly Comforts , and of the vanity and vexation that attends all worldly enjoyments , but this is only in a pet , upon some great Cross and Disappointment , when the afflictive sense of it is worn off a little , thou presently returnest to thy old course , and renewest thy vain pursuits after that which has always deluded thy expectations .

— {αβγδ} ; Theocr .

Why dost thou still follow that which always flies from thee ? Nay , which is not in Nature .

Credule , quid frustrâ simulachra fugacia captas ? Quod petis , est nusquam . Ovid . Met . 3.

Why then dost thou not arise by a Contemplation of Peace , and Rest , and Happiness , which if rightly sought will never deceive thee , will never frustrate thy expectations , but abundantly satisfie them and exceed them ? Thou pretendest to seek a better Country , even an Heavenly , but how is it then that thou art so little concern'd and sollicitous about it ? that it has so little room in thy heart , so small a share in thy thoughts and desires ? And why then art thou for building Tabernacles here ? Is a strange Land so desirable to thee ? Are there such Charms in a Foreign Savage Country , in a barren Wilderness affording nothing but Briars and Thorns , Serpents and Scorpions , as to make thee careless and undesirous of the Heavenly Canaan , a Land flowing with better than Milk and Honey ? A place of uninterrupted Peace and Rest . Here thou hast no continuing City , and while thou art here thou meetest with nothing but labour , and toil , and trouble , but

Is locus urbis erit , requies ea certa laborum . Virg .

Here thou art always perplexing thy self with vain hopes and fears , and canst not quietly enjoy those little Comforts thou might sometimes have , for thinking of what may come hereafter , but there

No cares o' th' future their free thoughts employ , The business of the place is to enjoy . Tate .

Here thou art perpetually tost on a restless Sea of trouble and disquiet , but

Illis parta quies : nullum maris aequor arandum ; Arva neque Ausoniae , semper credentia retro Quaerenda . Virg .

Thou pretendest to be Heir to a Kingdom , but how forgetful art thou of thine Inheritance ? And what need hast thou to be awakened with an

— Heu regni rerumque oblite tuarum ! Virg .

Awake then , O my Soul , lie not groveling in the Dust , but arise and flie away , at least in thy thoughts and desires , to thy Inheritance , thy Kingdom , thy Country , thy Resting place . For as God never rested till he had made Man , so Man will never find true Rest till he come to enjoy God .

LORD , raise up my thoughts above this tempestuous and tumultuous World , and grant that all those Crosses , and Disappointments , and Troubles , and Afflictions I meet with here , may at length sufficiently wean me from this world , and make me weary of it , so that I may heartily desire , Oh that I had the wings of a Dove , then would I flie away and be at rest .

FINIS .

DIVINE Breathings .

Ut jugulent homines surgunt de nocte latrones , Ut teipsum serves , non expergisceris ? Hor. — Isque licet Coeli regione remotus , Mente Diis adiit : & quae natura negabat Visibus humanis , oculis ea pectoris hansit . Ovid . Met . lib . 15.

LONDON : Printed for John Lawrence , at the Angel in the Poultrey ; And Joseph Wats , at the Angel in St. Paul's Church-yard . 1691.

DIVINE Breathings .

Immortality .

I Find that an Immortal Soul cannot be satisfied with less than an Eternal Happiness . Tho' some degenerate Souls that are drowned in Pleasure and Sensuality can be contented to have their Portion in this Life , yet a serious and spiritually-minded Christian has other thoughts and desires , and cannot but be sollicitous to secure a Future Happiness that shall have a longer date . Suppose Satan should come to him , as once to his Lord and Master , and shew him all the Kingdoms of the World , and the Glory of them , and should tell him , All this will I give thee to enjoy as long as thou livest ; he would answer , But what shall I have when this Life is ended ? Tho' there were no Hell , yet could not I be satisfied if there were no Heaven neither . 't is not worth the while to live in this World if there were not an Eternal Life beyond it . I can take little pleasure in the enjoyments of this Life if it were not for the hopes of a better hereafter .

Lord ! as thou hast made me Immortal like thy self , so make me Holy like thy self , and then thou wilt not only be my God and Guide unto Death , but my Portion for ever .

The Life of Faith .

WHat kind of Life is it , O my Soul , that thou livest ? A Life of Faith , or a Life of Sense ? Are the Comforts and Enjoyments of this Life pleasing and delightful to thee in themselves , and for their own sakes , or rather as they are Tokens of the love of thy God , and Earnests of greater and diviner Blessings hereafter ? Canst thou rest in these as thy Happiness and Portion ? Then expect nothing hereafter but a Memento recipisti , Remember thou hast already received thy good things : Or rather does not the greatest pleasure and satisfaction in these enjoyments result from the Comparing them with those Joys reserv'd in Heaven for thee ? When thou sittest down at thy Table , is thy Meat only grateful to thy Tast ? Or rather art not thou filled with a sense of God's Love and Bounty to thee , who has not only provided so plentifully for thy Body here , but will more sweetly feast Thee hereafter , when thou shalt be called to the Marriage-Supper of the Lamb , and eat bread in the Kingdom of God ? When thou lyest down in a soft and warm Bed , is it pleasing to thee only because it feels so to thy flesh ? Or rather because thou thinkest the same Love which has given thee these Mercies , will ere long bring thee where thou shalt stand in no need of such Refreshments , where thou shalt not rest day nor night from singing Praises unto thy God ? And is not the fore-thought of this sweeter than thy present Enjoyments ? When thou goest to visit a Friend , is it their Conversation and Society that is the most aceptable to thee ? Or rather the conversing with God by them , and enjoying his presence in them ? Is their Love and Kindness in it self grateful to thee ? Or rather as it is an Earnest and Pledge of the Love of God to thee ? This is the way to improve all outward Blessings , and make them a thousand times sweeter to a true Christian , than the very same Enjoyments are to others . Suppose two Young Virgins , one of them the Prince intends to Marry , the other not : To the one he gives several thousands of pounds , but only as a bare Gift , to be her Portion ; to the other he gives only a Ring or Jewel , but says , Take this as a Pledge of my Love , and rest assured that all that I have and am is thine . Thus does God deal with the Men of the World , and with his own Children : Or rather as Abraham with Isaac , and his other Sons by Keturah ; to the latter he only gave Gifts , and sent them away , but to Isaac he gave all that he had .

Lord let me have a portion of the good things of this Life , but let me not have my Portion in this Life .

Slothfulness .

WHY , O my Soul , art thou so careless , slothful , and negligent ? Why is there such a disproportion between thy Labour and the Reward thou expectest ? Dost thou hope to win Heaven by sleeping ? Or to get Glory and Honour , Immortality and Eternal Life by doing nothing ? Tho' the best of thy Services cannot deserve Heaven , yet surely Heaven will deserve the best of thy Services , the utmost of thy pains and diligence to obtain it . Tho' the most thou canst do can merit nothing from God , yet surely he deserves more from thee than he receives . O why wilt thou be negligent in the Service of such a Master ? Thou shalt not serve him for nought : No , he will give Grace and Glory , and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly , from them that serve him diligently . O therefore sit not here all the day idle , but fall to work in earnest , labour diligently , and doubt not of thy Reward .

Lord , quicken me according to thy word , and do thou work in me both to will and to do of thy good pleasure .

True Riches .

THE Diligent hand makes rich , says Solomon ; and it is as true in Spirituals as in Temporals . How rich in Grace mightest thou be , O my Soul , if thou would'st but labour for it ? What a Stock mightest thou have lying by thee , to use and employ upon all occasions ? How rich mightest thou be in Comfort ! What a Noble Table mightest thou keep , and daily Feast thy self with plenty and variety of Spiritual Dainties ! Oh what rich Mines and Treasures mighest thou find and possess if thou would'st but be at the pains to dig for them ! Some Riches indeed are to be found in the very Surface of Religion , but what greater store , and how much more precious are there within ? Oh lose nothing for want of Diligence . Thou canst never be rob'd of this Treasure . This Coin will be Currant in another World , and thou mayest carry it with thee into Eternity .

Lord , make me poor in Spirit , but rich in Grace here , and in Glory hereafter .

Spiritual Manna .

WHY wilt thou be almost famished ( O my Soul ) for want of Spiritual Food , when there is so much precious Manna lies scattered round about thy Tent , of which thou mayst have thy fill , if thou wilt but be at the pains to gather it . Seest thou not Others gathering it apace , and returning with their Omers full of it , and feeding heartily upon it to their unspeakable Joy and Comfort ? Oh how does it nourish and strengthen them ! How does it make them thrive and be fat and well-liking ! One may see it in their very Countenances . This is not such light Food as the World imagines . It makes them hearty and strong for the Service of God . It makes them run and not be weary , and walk and not be faint . No wonder thou art so faint and feeble , no wonder thou art so dull and listless , and hast no mind to thy Work ; no wonder thou hast so little strength to fight the Lord's Battles when thou hast been so long Fasting . How much greater a Slaughter mightest thou have made of thy Spiritual Enemies , if thou hadst eaten freely of this Honey ? What a greater Progress mightest thou have made in thy way to Heaven , and with how much chearfulness mightest thou have run the Race that is set before thee , if thou hadst fed heartily of this Angels Food ! Arise and eat , again and again , or else the Journey will be too great for thee . How canst thou work if thou dost not eat ? Or how canst thou expect to eat if thou dost not work ? Tho' this Bread be rained from Heaven , yet it will not drop into thy mouth of its own accord . In the sweat of thy brows must thou earn ( even this ) thy Bread ; but trust in the Lord , in the use of means , and verily thou shalt be fed .

Lord make me to hunger and thirst after Righteousness , ( and that will put me upon endeavours after it ) and then I shall be filled .

The Best Portion .

O My Soul ! would'st thou be a real Christian , and happy here as well as hereafter ? Then chuse God for thy only Portion in the Land of the living . Seek thy Felicity in him only , and let nothing in the World stand in competition with him . And don't deceive thy self with thinking thou dost so ( in the general ) whilest earth and things below have so much of thy secret Love and Affection ; but be sure thou beest in earnest , that when thou comest to be tryed ( in any particular ) it may evidently appear both to thy self and others . There is no dallying in the case , nor hanging in suspence between Heaven and Earth : No , that will never do ; but as Elijah said to the People of Israel , How long halt ye between two Opinions ? If the Lord be God , follow him ; but if Baal be God , then follow him : So , if God , and Heaven , and Eternal Glory be the chief Goods , seek them ; but if thou thinkest the World , and the Flesh , and its short Pleasures better , then seek them , and let the other go ; but never flatter thy self with the hopes of enjoying both , for assuredly thou wilt be mistaken , and ( if thou goest on ) thy Error will be fatal and remediless . Therefore make a final determinate Resolution , and let nothing draw thee from it .

And is it hard to determine in the case ? When Life and Death , God and the World , Heaven and Earth are set before thee , is it hard to make thy Choice ? Is Earth so lovely , and the Flesh so charming , and their Delights and Pleasures so sweet and grateful , so sure and lasting as to render them more eligible than Heavenly Glories ? No , no , my Soul , thou knowest they are not . No alas ! they are vain and empty , fading and uncertain , transient and perishing , foolish and ridiculous , and all ( and more than all ) that thou canst think of vile and contemptible . But now turn thine Eye to God , and thou wilt find him a rich and satisfying Portion ; nothing canst thou wish or desire but thou wilt find it in him , nay , infinitely more than thou canst desire or conceive . He will be thy joy and rejoycing in Prosperity , thy support and comfort in Adversity . He will fill thee with Joy and Comfort even in the midst of all outward Troubles and Afflictions . He will be a sure help in time of need , and stand by thee when all the World forsakes thee . He will be a suitable supply to all thy wants and necessities here , and an Everlasting Portion to thee hereafter .

And this thou canst not doubt of , since thou hast experienced much of it already . Nothwithstanding thou hast loved him so little , and served him so poorly , and provoked him so highly , with thy distrust of his Goodness , repining at his Dealings , and ingratitude for his Mercies : Notwithstanding thou hast so oft forsaken him the Fountain of Living Water , and hast digged to thy self Cisterns , which have proved broken Cisterns that would hold no Water : ( For thou hast experienc'd enough of Earth too , to let thee see its vanity , and feel its vexations , and to convince thee that all things here below , even the best of earthly Comsorts are flitting and uncertain , and not only unsatisfying but tormenting and then surely very unfit to be chosen and rested in as thy Felicity : ) Notwithstanding ( I say ) thou hast so often run away from God , and sought Rest , and Happiness , and Contentment in the Creature , he has only let thee alone a while to take thy choice , that thou mightest smart a little for thy folly ; and then as soon as thou hast returned to him , he has received thee , and sweetned all thy Troubles , and given thee strength to bear them , and given thee deliverance out of them .

And now canst thou think that when thou forsakest the World ( in thy heart and affections ) and chusest him only for thy Portion , that he will deceive thee ? No , no ; such a thought would be unworthy of him . He will rather , with the Father of the Prodigal , run to meet thee , and not suffer thee to speak thy desires before he will satisfie them . And doubt not but whatever thou leavest or losest for him , thou wilt find it abundantly supplyed in and by him . And one thing more take along with thee for thy Comfort , He is a Portion that can never be lost or taken from thee . Friends may take themselves away from thee , and become Strangers if not Enemies ; and Enemies may take away most of thy outward Comforts ; ( tho' neither of these without his permission ) but neither Friends nor Enemies , neither Men nor Devils can take away thy God . Nay , even Death it self , which will deprive thee of all other things , cannot rob thee of this Treasure , but on the contrary will bring thee to a full possession and enjoyment of it .

Lord ! be thou my Portion in the Land of the Living , and let me not only chuse thee , but make it appear ( it will thereby appear ) that thou hast chosen me . I am too apt to expect more Happiness and Contentment from Creatures than they are ever able to afford me ; but from thee I can never expect the thousandth part of what I shall be sure to find . I am too apt to fancy and imagine greater Excellencies in the Creatures than are really in them , but thy Excellencies and Perfections are far beyond my highest Conceptions , and such as I shall never be able fully to comprehend . Yet be thou pleased to manifest thy self to me as thou usest to do to those that love thee , and I shall soon comprehend so much of thee ( and the richness of my Portion in thee ) as to make me sing with the Psalmist , The lines are fallen to me in pleasant places , and I have a goodly Heritage .

FINIS .

OCCASIONAL Reflections .

{αβγδ} .

Pythag . Memento te Immortalem esse .

LONDON : Printed for John Lawrence , at the Angel in the Poultrey ; And Joseph Wats , at the Angel in St. Paul's Chruch-yard . 1691.

OCCASIONAL Reflections .

At my first Waking in the Morning .

NOW , O my Soul , mount up like the generous Lark , and sing Praises unto thy God . It is but fit that he should have the First-fruits of thy Thoughts ( this day and every day ) from whom thou hast the power to think . Oh let not Sin or Vanity deflower and ravish thy Virgin-thoughts ; dost thou think the polluted remainders will be acceptable to thy injur'd Lord and Husband ? And is it not as easie to cast the first glance of thy waking thoughts upon God as upon the World ? One would think thou should'st grudge so long a sleeping-time , which has kept thee so long from thy Beloved ; and as soon as ever thou awakest thou should'st seek him whom thy Soul loveth . And yet how often has he stood at the Door knocking , till his head was filled with the dew , and his locks with the drops of the night , Cant . 5. 2. and thou hast refused to rise and open to him ; nay , worse than so , when thou hast risen and opened , thou hast let in Sin , and shut out thy Saviour ! Thou hast let in thy Enemy and shut out thy Friend ! Is this thy kindness to thy Friend ? Is this Love ? Is this the return thou makest for all which he has done and suffered for thee ? For all his Patience and Long-suffering towards thee ? Has he only deserved this at thy hands ? Oh! blush and be ashamed of thy Ingratitude and Folly ! that thou shouldest be so foolish and unwise , as thus to requite thy Lord ! And let his goodness and long-suffering lead thee to Repentance . O beg of him that he would put his hand in by the hole of the door , that thy bowels might be moved for him : and that thou mayst arise and open to him before he ( being grieved with thy unkindness ) has withdrawn himself , Cant . 5. 4. And O long after such a frame of Spirit as that of David , when he said , How precious are thy thoughts unto me , O God! When I awake I am still with thee , Psal . 139. 17 , 18.

Upon the Enjoyment of the Company of a Friend , for two or three hours , which was too pleasing and delightful to me .

BLUSH and be ashamed , O my Soul , that thou should'st be so much pleased and delighted with any thing here below , tho' never so sweet and grateful . Has God sent thee such a Friend to be a Companion for thee , and to help , and direct , and comfort thee in thy passage to the Heavenly Canaan , and wilt thou bestow that Love and Complacency upon him , which thou owest only to thy God ? Canst thou be so much pleased with thy Inn , and with the Entertainments thou meetest with in the way , as almost to forget the Home thou art Travelling to ? We use to say , Home's home , tho' it be never so homely : What thinkest thou then will that Home be ? That house not made with hands , eternal in the Heavens ! that Mansion prepared for thee ! that Immortal Inheritance ! that Kingdom of Glory ! And wilt thou prize and value any thing here below before and above the hopes ( which thou pretendest to have ) of such a Kingdom ? O consider whether thy Practice agrees with thy Pretences or not , whilest thy Heart is so taken up with these Earthly Enjoyments . Is this to act like one whose Conversation is in Heaven ? Is this a sign thy Affections are set on things above ? Is this carriage becoming one whose fellowship is ( or ought to be ) with the Father , and with his Son Jesus Christ ? Surely no . O then be ashamed of this thy Folly ; and whenever thou art again tempted to over-value Earthly Enjoyments , say , Arise and depart , for this is not thy Rest , Micah 2. 10. Tho' this place be pleasant , yet still this is not Heaven : tho' these Enjoyments be sweet , yet still they come far short of an exceeding weight of Glory : tho' the Society of such a Friend be very delightful , yet still to be with Christ is far better .

BUT Ah Lord ! how little has my carriage and behaviour towards thee , how little has it been like One that does really believe all this ! How often when I have come into thy Presence ( in Prayer or Meditation ) how often have I been tir'd and weary of thy Company in half the time which I have spent in the Company of this Friend with so much delight and satisfaction ? Oh do thou raise my Affections from this Earth , and bring me into a nearer Communion with Thee , and then surely I should not delight so much in the Creature . Tho' my Heart and Affections be naturally bent upon these inferiour Objects , yet Oh shew forth thy Almighty Power in raising them . As he said , Lord , if thou wilt , thou canst make me clean . Matth . 8. 2. So I may say , Lord , if thou wilt , thou canst make me Heavenly . Oh let me find and feel by Experience the truth of this upon my Soul ! And do thou enable me for the future to walk as becomes the Gospel of Jesus Christ , so that tho' for a while my dwelling and abode be upon Earth , yet my Conversation may be in Heaven .

Upon Winding up a Watch .

I HAVE observed , that tho' I am forgetful enough of other things , yet I never ( or very seldom ) forget to wind up my Watch . And I have oft wonder'd at it , that tho' I be never so intent upon other things , yet as sure as I rise in the Morning , and go to bed at Night , so sure . I am to remember this .

BUT alas , how negligent am I in the mean time of my Spiritual Watch ! How little careful am I to keep it going continually ? How often do I let it fall and stand still , and when it does go , how faint and slow are its Motions ? When I am alone in my Study , or awake in my Bed , I can hear my Watch go apace , but alas , in the mean time how faint and languid are the motions of my Soul Heaven ward ? Surely if I was but as careful every Morning to wind up my Affections Heaven-ward , by the earnest and lively Exercise of Faith and Love , Desire and Hope , Joy and Thankfulness : O how vigorously would the Pulse of my Soul beat all the day after ! What Heavenly Breathings , and pious Ejaculations would continually be breaking forth ? And tho' when I am amongst the croud and noise of the World , and the vain Concernments of it , I cannot so well perceive whether this my Spiritual Watch go or not ; yet no sooner am I out of that hurry , and retir'd alone , but then I might easily discern it again . O that my Soul were always in such a frame ! Oh that the continual bent of my Soul was towards God and Heaven , and that it was pain and grief to me to think of any thing else ! But alas ! what a great deal of pains must I be at to wind up this dull and earthly Heart of mine , and then how quickly is it down again !

O LORD ! do thou set the Wheels of my Soul a going , and make me like the Chariots of Aminadib . Put Life into me , that I may move more constantly and vigorously towards thee , and strike off the Wheels when I am running to Sin and Vanity .

A Continuation .

HOW many more Instructions might this Watch afford me ? When I wind it up in the Morning I may think , My Watch has kept going all this Night ( as I see by the Motion of the Hand ) but I have been in a sottish , senseless sleep , and wholly unserviceable either to God or Man . And therefore what reason have I to spend this day ( and every day ) to the utmost of my power for the Glory of God , and the good of my own and others Souls ? When I look at it again at Night , may it not suggest to me such thoughts as these ? Here are now so many hours past away since I look'd at it last , which can never be recalled ; but what have I done for God or my Soul all this time ? These hours were not given me to please my Flesh in , or to serve my Self in , but to serve God in ; and how little of his Work have I done ? I must be accountable for every moment of this time , neither must I think to escape with the bare losing my Reward , but shall be also punished for my Idleness . But if my Conscience acquit me that I have made it my business to spend this day to God's Glory , then may I with Joy and Comfort think , Here is one day more of my weary Pilgrimage past over , which will never come again , and I am got so much nearer my Journey's end .

LORD teach me so to number my days , that I may apply my heart to true Wisdom . Oh make me so wise , as to Live to day , so as I may with comfort Die to morrow ; and help me to wait all the days of my appointed time , till my Change come .

Upon my Indisposedness to write to a Friend .

HOW seldom is it that I can get into a Humour of Writing ; and if not , how dull and lifelesly do I perform it ? And what a sad thing it is , that the Service of God , and the Improvement of my own and my Friends Graces must depend and wait upon my Humour ! Is the Love of God , the Joys of Heaven , the Vanity of the World , the worth of Souls , the preciousness of Grace , the sinfulness of Sin , the Sufferings of Christ , the Priviledges of the Saints , ( with many more ) are all these such dry and barren Subjects , that I can find nothing to say of them ? Is it not rather a sign that I am too little conversant with them ?

CAN I be sensible of the Love of God in Christ to me , and not break forth into passionate returns of Love and Praise to him ? Can I think of the Joys of Heaven , and by Faith look on them as reserved for me , and can I be silent ? Can I see and experienc● the Vanity of the World , and not perswade every one I converse with to make sure for a better ? Can I seriously think of the worth of Souls , and yet take no more pains to save them from eternal Ruin ? Can I see and know the preciousness of Grace , and yet not strive to cherish and increase it where I find it , and do my utmost to perswade others to get it ? Can I see the sinfulness of Sin , and not declaim against it ? Can I be affected with the Sufferings of my dear Redeemer , and yet not let one passionate Exclamation drop from my Lips or Pen ? And yet not forsake those Sins that Crucifie him afresh ? Can I know and understand the Priviledges of the Saints , and believe that they belong to me , and not rejoyce in them , and sh●w them unto others ? Would not my silence rather perswade others that I am a Stranger to most of these things ? O how far do I come short of living up to the Profession I make ! How little force has the Love of Christ upon me to constrain me ? Surely if I did but consider and muse upon these things , the fire would burn , and I could not but speak the things which I have seen , and heard , and experienced .

LORD ! take away this dulness and indisposition of Spirit , and let me feel the Motions of thy Holy Spirit exciting me to diligence in the work of the Lord , and help me to hearken to them and obey them ; that I may make it my business to promote thy Glory , and the good of my own and others Souls ; that I may be always abounding in the work of the Lord , knowing that my Labour shall not be in vain .

Upon the singing of Larks .

THIS Morning I took a walk into the Fields , and amongst other delightful Objects , I was very much pleased with the singing of the Birds , and especially the Larks , which I observ'd to mount and ascend towards Heaven , and unweariedly and chearfully to sing the Praises of their great Creator .

IT presently came into my thoughts , that this was a very fit Emblem of a Christian's Life , whose Conversation is in Heaven , and whose Affections are set on things above , and whose daily Business it is to shew forth the Praises of him who has called him out of darkness into his marvellous light . Tho' others , like the Beasts of the Field , have their eyes and thoughts always poring upon Earth and earthly things , and are constantly either feeding upon present sensual enjoyments , or ruminating on the past , ( or fore-casting for the future , and making provision for the Flesh to fulfil the Lusts thereof ; ) yet a Christian is of a far more noble and generous temper : he is daily ascending upwards in his thoughts and affections , and lives like one that is an Inhabitant of a purer Region ; from thence he can look down with a pious scorn and contempt upon the sordid and feculent Pleasures of the degenerate World ; there he approaches nigh unto his God , and can humbly converse with his Maker ; his Work and Employment is praising of God , and maintaining Communion with him , and it is not more necessary than delightful . His very Business is his greatest Happiness , and when he is exercised in that , he is in his Element .

LORD help me always to walk like those who are redeemed from a vain conversation , and assist me in the performance of that blessed Work which I hope to be employed in to all Eternity , and hasten the time when I shall do nothing else .

FINIS .

SACRED POEMS .

Videnti Deum omnis Creatura est Angusta .

LONDON : Printed for John Lawrence , at the Angel in the Poultrey ; And Joseph Wats , at the Angel in St. Paul's Church-yard . 1691.

SACRED POEMS .

The Love-sick Spouse . COME , dear Lord , and do not stay : Fetch thy Longing Spouse away . I. Think on what I suffer here , Whilst thy Absence I must bear . How I languish , how I faint ! Whilst I do thy Presence want . O at length return and come , And in pity fetch me home . Come , dear Lord ! and do not stay ; Oh I cannot brook delay . II . Oh how sweet thy Visits are ! Nothing may with them compare : But how quickly art thou gone ? Leaving me in tears alone , In a darksome tedious Night , Longing for the Morning-light . Come , dear Lord ! and do not stay ; Bring me to Eternal Day . III . Oh be pleas'd to set me free From my oft offending thee . Bring me where I shall resign Perfectly my will to thine : That I cannot now , does grieve me , O in mercy , Lord , relieve me . Come , dear Lord ! and do not stay ; Bring me where I shall obey . IV . Free me from this Flesh , which here I about me alway● bear ; Which in absence would perswade me To forget the God that made me : Which does tempt me unto ill , And is oft prevailing still . Come , dear Lord ! and do not stay ; Dost thou Love me , and delay ? V. Yes , I 'm sure , I 'm sure thou dost , Thou hast shewn it to thy cost ; I have tasted of it too , More than many others do , Oh increase my Love to thee , Who so tender art to me . Come , dear Lord ! and do not stay ; My Beloved , ●… me away . VI . Come Lord ! for my treach'rous heart Whilst so long thou absent art , Does to thee disloyal prove , And lets others have its Love . Let that happy time hast on , When I shall be Thine alone . Come , dear Lord ! and do not stay ; Fetch thy longing Spouse away .

The Pilgrimage . I. IN vain we seek for Rest below , Where 't is not to be found : Rest is a Plant that will not grow In any earthly ground . II . We 're here engaged in a Race , A Race that must be run ; Then look not for a Resting-place , Until our Race be done . III . Some short refreshing baits we may Expect to find below ; Such as may help us on our way More chearfully to go . IV . Such are the Glympses of his Face , And those indearing Smiles , Which oft do quicken our dull pace , And sweeten all our toils . V. But our Eternal Rest's above , Beyond the starry Sky , In th' Arms of our dear Saviour's Love , And Everlasting Joy .

Emptiness in the Creature , Fulness in God . COME now my Soul , retire unto thy God . There thou maist find the sweetest best abode : The hungry Soul may go to him and find Full satisfaction for his craving mind . Whil'st all the Vanities and Follies here , To such a Soul tastless and empty are . There 's nothing in them that can ever fill A Christian's Soul , but leaves it craving still . He knows not how to relish such like Food , Which oft does hurt , but never can do good . But being wearied with those Vanities , Straitway in secret to his God he flies : And when he 's fill'd with sweet refreshing chear , He cries , 't is good that I continue here . 't is good indeed ! O did the World but know The Comforts which into his mind do flow At such a time , they quickly would despise Their vain delights , and long for Heav'nly Joys .

The Unprofitable Servant . 't was on the day which God does call his own , When I retir'd to meditate alone : A Book I read , by which my thoughts were driven To serious views of the great Joys of Heaven . But ah ! so great my vileness did appear , As told me I deserv'd not to come there . The Holiest Saints are so imperfect here , And sinful too , thereby desert may fear Instead of Bliss , to meet approaching doom ; And Oh how short ( far short ) of them I come ! How many Sins have spread their guilt on me ! How few my Graces ! and how weak they be ! How cold my Duties ! and how poorly done ! How much of Sin polluteth ev'ry one ! And can I think to such there will be giv'n , Such sinful Service , a Reward in Heav'n ? Pardon a sinner , and reward him too ! Yet Oh what cannot Love and Mercy do ? Oh what indeed ! for as I cast mine eye Upon my Book again , I there did spie This undeserv'd , this gracious Elogie . Well done ! thou good and faithful Servant , come Enter into thy Master's Joy , to whom Thy faithfulness in little has been such , That I will make thee Ruler over much . But Oh! the' indulgent Bounty that did shine Into my Soul thro' ev'ry gracious Line ! Especially when I believ'd that He Will one day speak those blessed words to me . Ah Lord ! said I , ( and sighing out the rest , Love , Joy , and Shame , and Wonder fill'd my breast . ) Ah Lord ! said I , can ought that 's done by me E're be accepted and approv'd by Thee ? 't is clear , thy Bounty from thy Love begins , In passing by such multitudes of sins . Those Services which I my self do know Are weak and sinful , Thou 'lt not call them so . When to my utmost I my work fulfil , I 'm an Unprofitable Servant still . And even that if it performed be Better than other , yet no thanks to me . 't is not by me done , but that Grace of thine Which in me dwells ; yet the Reward is mine . Therefore be pleas'd my drousie Soul to raise , Mine be the Work , and Thine be all the Praise .

The Invitation . I. LORD , let thy Holy Spirit come , And lodge within my breast , I find there is a little room Would be by Thee possest . Come in , and turn but out of door The Sin that dwells there , and there will be more . II . But ah ! my sin-polluted Breast Is surely far unfit For such a pure and holy Guest To come and lodge in it . Yet therefore come , that it may be Cleansed from Sin , and sanctified to Thee . III . Like the Augaean Stable now Is my defiled heart , Oh let a Stream of Blood run through And cleanse't in ev'ry part . That Blood will make the sins that show As red as it , become as white as Snow . IV . My Breast's thy Temple , come and dwell , O Gracious God , therein ; Thy Presence quickly ●… ll expel And drive out ev'ry sin . Do so ; for it my Spirit grieves To see thy House thus made a Den of Thieves : V. Come Lord , I 'll open wide the door , That Thou may'st enter in ; Which against thee was shut before By Vanity and Sin . And they , when Thou approach'dst the Lock , Made such a noise I could not hear Thee knock . VI . Though Thou hast often come in vain , Yet do not now forbear , But com●… t least this once again , When I thy Voice will bear . Cam'st Thou so oft unask'd before , And now I woo Thee wilt Thou come no more ? VII . Yes , come , and be not so unkind , But come and Sup with me ; Yet Entertainment Thou wilt find None but what comes with Thee . Thou must not only be the Guest , But to my Soul Thy Self supply the Feast .

The Welcome . I. WElcome , Dear Lord Thou know'st thou art As welcome unto me , As to a Longing Virgin's heart Her coming Spouse can be ; When like to be allur'd or forc'd From him from whom she 'd dye e're be divorc'd . II . Go , get ye hence ! ye Sins that have So oft debarr'd my Love , Him I with open Arms receive , And now will constant prove . Ye oft excluded him before , But ( by his Grace ) ye ne'r shall do it more . III . Dear Lord ! How quickly didst thou come When I lift up my voice ; Welcome , thrice welcome , thou in whom My Soul shall still rejoyce . My crying makes it now appear Before I call'd , Thou ( tho' unseen ) wast near . IV . Come , now be pleas'd to Sup with me , Sit down , dear Guest ! and eat ; Thou need'st not fear but welcome be To what 's thine own : but yet Improperly I call Thee Guest , Since I am so , and Thou my only Feast .

The Glympse . HOW transient , Lord , thy Glorious Visits be To those on this side of Eternity ! They are but Glymses , do not long remain , But while we say , What 's this ? are gone again . When Moses pray'd thy Glory thou would'st shew , Thou but thy Back-parts didst expose to view . Thou mad'st him in the clift o' th' Rock to stand , And hid him with the hollow of thy hand : Thou put a Skreen before his longing eye , Till thy approaching Glory passed by . He only saw thee going , saw thee fled , Soon as his Eyes were well uncovered . So transiently thou dost to us appear , Till thou art gone we know not thou wast here . Thy glorious Presence we not long retain , Thou only com'st to bid Farewel again . Yet these short Visits make us hope that we Shall in thy sight live to Eternity . This glorious Sun to its Meridian gets , Clouded to us , unseen till when it sets . Yet , tho' its Light be quickly gone , we find Its Heat and Influence still remains behind . As when some glorious Vision of the Night Silently glides before the closed Sight Of one 'twixt sleep and waking , scarce his eyes Begin to open , when the Vision flies . So thou unseen dost to our Souls draw nigh , Which are asleep while thou art passing by ; But when this glorious Light begins to shake Our Slumbers off , e're we are well awake , The Vision's fled , and we with Jacob cry Sure , tho' we knew it not , the Lord was nigh . And then with speed , like him , a Pillar raise , And Offer up a Sacrifice of Praise . Yet , tho' these Glympses be but short , we know We must expect no fuller Views below . Could Moses , thy familiar Friend , not see Thy blessed Face , then how alas should we ? While w' are in flesh , our frailty cannot bear A steady view of Heav'nly splendour near . Should'st thou display thy Glory , we should find , Like Paul , that Lustre would but strike us blind . Come then but often , tho' thou soon depart'st , 't will be sufficient to enflame our hearts ; For we the truth o' th' Observation prove , That not fixt Views , but Glances kindle Love . Yet thou in Heaven fully wilt impart Thy Self , and we shall see thee as thou art . In Heaven all thy Glory will be shown , And we shall know thee , even as we are known : But what this Knowledge , what this Sight should be , We can't know here , but fai● would go to see .

Praise . I. THY daily gracious dealings , Lord , Do ev'n astonish me , Each hour fresh Wonders does afford Of thy Benignity . No sooner Troubles do arise , But thou dost them controul ; And with Divine and Heav'nly Joys Sweetly refresh my Soul . II . I see it is not all my sin , Tho' ne'r so great it be , That can with-hold this Love of thine From poor unworthy me . O may my Life shew forth thy Praise , And thy Commands fulfil ; And may thy Goodness all my days Wait and attend me still .

FINIS .