231 SIMPLICITY AND PURITY. Simplicity and purity are the two wings by which a man is lifted up above all earthly things. Simplicity is in the intention; purity in the affection simplicity tends to God; purity apprehends and tastes him. Vol. VII. of the Works, p. 351. A WORD TO A SABBATH BREAKER. On this day, above all, cry aloud, and spare not, to the God who heareth prayer. This is the day he hath set apart for the good of your soul, both in this world and that which is to come.- Never more disappoint the design of his love, either by worldly business or idle diversions. -Let not a little thing keep you from the house of God, either in the forenoon or afternoon; and spend as much as you can of the rest of the day, either in repeating what you have heard, or in reading the scriptures, or in private prayer, or talking of the things of God. Let his love be ever before your eyes. Let his praise be ever in your mouth. You have lived many years in folly and sin: now, live one day unto the Lord. Vol. IX. of the Works, p. 279. TO A SWEARER. What words were those thou spakest but now? Did not God hear? Why, thou didst pray to God to send thee to hell. Thou didst ask him to damn thy soul. How, art thou in love with damnation? Art thou in haste to dwell with everlasting burnings? To be day and night tormented in that flame, without a drop of water to cool thy tongue? Dost thou pray for this?I pray God it may never be either thy lot or mine! Alas, my brother! What if God take thee at thy word? What if he say, be it even as thou wilt? What, if he give thee thy wish, and let thee drop into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. Vol. IX. of the Works, p. 283. TO A DRUNKARD. Are you a man? God made you a man; but you make yourself a beast. Wherein does a man differ from a beast? Is it not chiefly in reason and understanding. But you throw away what reason you have. You strip yourself of your understanding. You do all you can to make yourself a mere beast: not a fool, not a madman only, but a swine, a poor filthy swine. Go and wallow with them in the mire! Go, drink on, till thy nakedness be uncovered, and shameful spewing be on thy glory! Vol. IX. of the Works, p. 285. TO AN UNHAPPY WOMAN. Are you not plunged into misery in this world as well as in the world to come? What have you brought upon yourself already! What infamy! What contempt! How could you now appear among those relations and friends, that were once so loved, and so loving to you? What pangs have you given them? How do some of them still weep for you in secret places? And will you not weep for yourself, when you see nothing before you but want, pain, diseases, death? O, spare yourself! Have pity upon your body, if not your soul. Stop, before you rot above ground and perish! Vol. IX. of the Works, p. 298. MILLENNIUM. Suppose now the fulness of time to be come, and the prophecies to be accomplished, what a prospect is this? All is peace, quietness, and assurance for ever. Here is no din of arms, no confused noise, no garments rolled in blood. Destructions are come to a perpetual end: wars are ceased from the earth. Neither are there any intestine jars remaining; no brother rising up against brother; no country or city divided against itself, and tearing out its own bowels. Civil discord is at an end for evermore, and none is left either to destroy or hurt his neighbour. Here is no oppression to make even the wise man mad; no extortion to grind the face of the poor; no robbery or wrong; no rapine or injustice; for all are content with such things as they possess. Thus righteousness and peace have kissed each other; they have taken root and filled the land; righteousness flourishing out of the earth, and peace looking down from heaven. And with righteousness or justice, mercy is also found. The earth is no longer "full of cruel habitations. The Lord hath destroyed both the blood-thirsty and malicious, the envious and revengeful man." ." Were there any provocation, there is none that now knoweth, to return evil for evil; but indeed there is none that doeth evil, no not one; for all are harmless as doves. And being filled with peace and joy in believing, and united in one body, by one spirit, they all love as brethren, they are all "of one heart and one soul. Neither saith any of them, that aught of the things which he posses seth is his own. that lacketh; for every man loveth his neighbour as himself. And all walk by one rule-" Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, even so do unto them. -There is none among them It follows, that no unkind word can ever be heard among them: no strife of tongues, no contention of any kind, no railing or evil speaking, but every one opens his mouth with wisdom, and in his tongue there is the law of kindness."Equally incapable are they of fraud or guile their love is without dissimulation; their words are always the just expression of their thoughts, opening a window into their breast, that whosoever desires may look into their hearts, and see that only love and God are there. Thus, where "the Lord Omnipotent taketh to himself his mighty power and reigneth, doth he subdue all things to himself;" cause every heart to overflow with love, and fill every mouth with praise. "Happy are the people that are in such a case; yea, blessed are the people who have the Lord for their God. Arise, shine, (saith the Lord) for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. Thou hast known that I am the Lord thy Saviour, and thy Redeemer, the mighty God of Jacob. I have made thy officers Peace, and thy exacters Righteousness. Violence shall no more be |