Lord, we are in the dark, and know not what thou art a-doing with us: thou hast lately let us see what thou canst do in a minute thou hast shaken the earth, and it trembled; and it was of thy infinite mercy that we were not all destroyed, and sent quick to the lowest hell. Thou art God, and not man, therefore is it that we are not consumed. It is of the Lord's mercy that we are yet spared. Help us, O Lord, to make a good use of this reprieve, for we are as brands plucked out of the burning. What jeopardy were we in when the earth of late trembled under us, and our houses seemed to be tumbling about our ears; our hearts failing us, no place left to run to for shelter: how dejected and astonished did people look one upon another? What fears possessed the breasts of many, all in expectation of sorer calamities than yet felt but God hath hitherto spared us; we are yet in the land of the living, on this side the grave and everlasting burnings? God hath of late shook the earth, O that we poor mortals could get

a title to those unshaken regions above, which are not obnoxious to those vicissitudes and changes that here in this lower world we are liable to.

We ought to make a good use of the late earthquake; it should awaken every one in particular to see in what posture of readiness we are in to meet our God. What if he should repeat this amazing judgment, and not only threaten, but actually destroy us? It were but just with God to deal with us, as lately with Jamaica. How insensible have we been of their judgments and calamities! how unreformed are we, though we see how God deals with others of our fellow-creatures! We, in probability, are as great offenders as they; we spared, they consumed; God gives us space to repent; O that he would not deny the grace of true repentance! We may look upon this late warning, like Jonah's message, that within a little while this city and inhabitants shall be utterly destroyed.

Without dispute our sins have reached beaven; the cry of them is very great; and

should God deal with us as we have deserved, we might long since have been consumed, our bodies been sent to the grave, and our souls to hell. But we have a God whose compassions fail not, therefore is it that we are not utterly forsaken. He is God, and not man, wherefore it is that we are not monuments of his justice: but his mercies are still extended to us, a sinful rebellious nation. O that they may lead us to repentance, and that the effects of his goodness may be showed in our thankful lives, for this, and all other mercies which the bounty of his providence still vouchsafeth us.

PAPER IX.

DEATH Seemeth to make its near approach to me; and I am of all persons most inexcusable, who have frequent warnings of my departure hence, if I do not in some measure

bethink myself, and consider my latter end. Lord, I have reason to conclude, that few sands remain in my glass to run: with what astonishment, anguish, and trouble, may I review my life past; not one thought, word or action, but needs a pardon: I blush to see how vile I have been; and if I cannot bear the scrutiny of my own conscience, how shall I abide thy severe trial, who hath kept an exact account of all my sins and offences? A numberless number of sins may be charged upon me, which I confess I have been guilty of. To whom shall I betake myself for relief and mercy but to thee, O my gracious God? for that I have heard that the God of Israel is a merciful God; that he is slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy; that he doth abundantly pardon and forgive the sins, offences, and provocations of his poor creatures; and therefore as I would not presume, so I dare not despair.

Lord, I fly from the throne of thy justice to the throne of thy mercy, and humbly implore pity, pardon, and compassion, for thy

Son's sake. Magnify thy grace in pardoning me: though my sins have abounded, let thy free grace superabound. Blot out all my sins out of the book of thy remembrance, and let my name be written in the book of life: let me be meet for the inheritance of the saints in light, when this earthly cottage shall crumble to dust. Let me be admitted to that building, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Let not me, though unworthy, be excluded from thy presence.

Look on me in and through thy wellbeloved Son, in whom only thou art well pleased, and for his sake be reconciled to me a vile wretch: by his stripes let me be healed. I have nothing to plead for myself, only the satisfaction of my blessed Saviour, on whom alone I rely for pardon and life. Give me some undeniable evidence that I do belong to the election of grace; and that within a little while I shall be released from this body of sin and death, and shall be made perfectly blessed in a full enjoyment of thee to all