of God constrain him to avoid fin, and to bid defiance to all the works of darkness? he that before fcorn'd to hear the glad tidings of the Gospel 5 how doth he now submit to Chrift's eafie yoke? He that before thought fuch a duty unfit and improper for a perfon of his quality, how chearfully doth he now bow and yield to it? he that before had a thousand excufes, why he could not do what Chrift enjoyns him, how doth he now lay all those idle apologies by? he that before was churlish, becomes now affable and courteous; he that before was apt to be very angry at the leaft affront, now bears it more quietly; he that before put off the Eternal God with the meaneft of his endeavours, now is willing to give him the fat and strength of his affections; he that before could hear Minifters call to him, and call again without effect, now cries out Sirs, What must I do to be fav'd? He that before could not be perfwaded to walk in the ftrait way, now runs in the way of God's Commandments. Bleffed Fire, which like the hallow'd flames of Heaven, confumes not, but illuminates, never fuffers the heart to be hardned, but purifies it; doth not straiten the Soul, but elevates it; doth not clog, but refine it 3 doth not confound, but fublime it; destroys the drofs, but preferves the gold, and burns away all unclean and inordinate paffions, and all immoderate cares of this World, but raises the Soul above the World, and engages it to fly

above those things,which serve only to fill Mens hearts with anguish and vexation.

Lay afide this object for a little while, O my Soul, and look upon that Earth thou walkeft on; this is the place, our bodies must neceffarily rest in; but when thou seest that centre of all heavy Bodies, forget not to think who it is, that is thy proper Centre and Resting-place That's a groaning, bleeding, dying Saviour. Think, O my Soup, on the fenfual and luxurious Men of this World, what pains they take to find out reft for their Souls; like Spiders, they run from one Herb to another, and yet cannot purge their poifon, i. e. their difcontent away they give themselves to Wine, lay hold on folly, make them great Works, build them Houses, plant them Vineyards,make them Gardens and Orchards and plant Trees in them of all kind of Fruits; get them Servants and Maidens, procure ample poffeffions of great and fmall Cattel; gather Silver and Gold, get them Men fingers and Wonen-fingers, and all the delights of the Sons of Men; and whatfoever their eyes defire, they keep it not from them, Ecclef. 2. 3, 4. &c. But when with the Sybarites, they have roll'd on Beds of Violets, and toffed their fancies from one pleasure to another, and come to ftand on the brink of another World, they find to their forrow, when 'tis too late, that here is not their reft, and that their fouls can reft no where, but where infinite fatisfaction is to be had, even in God, bleffed

T

for

for evermore. God is thy reft indeed, O my Soul; and when thou can't hide thy felf in the wounds of thy Great Redeemer,then, then thou art fafe,and the Gates of Hell are not able to prevail against thee.

Canft thou fee how plentifully the Earth provides for Mankind, and forget what provihion God makes for thee, that thou may'ft not mifs of the Crown of Righteousness hereafter? and when thou seeft how all things, the Earth produces, praise their Creator in their way, and thew forth his glory; Can't thou be filent, or forbear to be prepetually extolling the goodnefs of that God, that hath given thee a tongue on purpose to speak thofe praises, whereof other Creatures make but a dumb fhew? Thou feeft how this Earth produces Gold and Silver; and how beautiful the Carpets are, on which it invites her Inhabitants to walk; and if this Earth be fo glorious, what will Heaven be? If the Houfe which God vouchfafes to his enemies be fo fplendid, what will his own Palace be, where none but himself and his fervants fhall dwell for ever? If the outward Court be fo magnificent, what muft the Prefence chamber of the King of kings be? If Gold and Silver, by their glittering, dazle the eyes of spectators here What will the beatifical Prefence of Almighty God do, which is beyond all the fhine and luftre that Gold, and precious Stones afford?

From the Earth, O my Soul, launch out in

to

to the Waters; How ufeful are the Leffons, fuggested to thee by this Element? Canft thou look upon Water, and not reflect on the Grace of God, which hath appear'd to all Men? how this walhes the Souls of Believers from all filthiness, both of Flesh and Spirit; how it quenches the fire of finful Lufts in Men; how it takes away Mens thirst, and greediness, after these fublunary comforts ; how it cools the Soul under the greateft heat of mifery; how it makes many of one mind, as the innumerable Atomes of Flower go together in Water, to make up one Loaf of Bread, and unites Millions of Men, under one Head, the Lord Jefus Chrift. Behold the Springs, and Fountains, which, like Pearls, adorn the curious Fabrick of the Earth; Canft thou call them Fountains, and, Doth not that name put thee in mind of the Fountain of Life, the Fountain of Wisdom, the Fountain of living Wa ters, and the Fountain open'd for the House of Juda and Jerufalem, for Sin and for Uncleannefs? do but think what riches flow from that everlasting Spring! Thy God is the very Fountain of all Beings; in him,and to him,and through him are all things; he depends on no Caufes, he hath need of no affiftance, nothing can hurt him, but all things depend upon him; he is the beginning of all things, without a beginning, the end without end; the great Caufe without a caufe; infinite, unlimited, immense, and incomprehenfible: Refresh thy felf, O my Soul, in this never-fading, and inexhaustible Fountain; adBb

mire

mire him, serve him, love him, defire him, defpife all other things in comparison of him, for he alone can supply all thy wants and neceffities,content thy affections here, and fill thee with everlafting comfort hereafter.

III. It wonderfully fupports Men under afflictions, for our impatience lies in our minds and where the disease begins, there its fit the cure fhould begin; but, Which way should the Mind be cur'd, but by Confideration ? it's this must answer all the objections that Flesh and Blood fuggeft to the Mind; it's this must &lence all the arguments; which feem to juftifie our murmurs against the difmal providence we meet withal; and the thoughts which cause our discontent, must be expell'd by thoughts of our demerits, and God's juftice; and without all peradventure, that Man fhall be able to bear his tribulation better, that thus reasons the cafe with himself, Why art thou caft down, O my Soul, and, Why art thou so difquieted within me? Hath thy God a hand in this affliction, or hath he not? if he hath not, Where is his Providence? if he hath, Why doft thou grumble? Doth not thy God know better, what is expe dient for thee, than thy felf? Is he all wife, and Doth not he know what Medicines are fitteft for thee? Thou art his Creature, and, May not he do with his own what he pleafes? thou haft finn'd against him, and Must not he correct thee? thou haft affronted him, and, Muft not he use his Rod? thou haft forfaken him, and

Muft