would anticipate the judgment which belongs to God alone. But indwelling sin, though subdued, is not slain, and therefore breaks out in such a manner, even sometimes in eminent saints, as gives the enemy occasion to reproach, and also makes them doubt of their own state themselves, till God deal again with them after his loving-kindness and tender mercies. Now, in the eyes of the poor penitent, a compassionate, returning, and forgiving God, is dear, beloved, and amiable beyond expression, and divine things shine with an additional lustre. Thus, even indwelling sin, contrary to its own nature, advances the glory of God, and the good of the soul.

5. Indwelling sin, or the remains of corruption in the greatest saints, makes them sympathise with others. They are men, and not angels; so that they are to remember, not only them that suffer affliction, but them that are overtaken with a fault, as being yet in the body. Yea, what comfort would it be to poor sinners, if salvation were preached to them by any other than men of like natures, like infirmities, and like passions with themselves? How is our consolation heightened to hear them speak from experience, as Paul: "When I would do good, evil is present with me; so the good that I would, I do not; and the evil that I would not, that do I ;" in comparison of angelic harangues on the beauty and excellency of perfection and innocence!

6. Indwelling sin keeps us humble and watchful; makes us cleave more closely to Christ, and endea-. vour to make our calling and election sure;—excites us to work while the day lasts, before the night shall come, wherein no man can work.

7. It makes us go entirely out of ourselves inte Christ, and ascribe the whole of our salvation to free grace.

8. Thereby we learn the goodness of God in-making his grace sufficient for us, and his strength perfect in weakness. Also, we are filled with wonder at the riches of his grace, which is glorified to the highest in such patience towards offending sons, and his repeated pardons of their daily sins.

Lastly, It makes, at least should make, us long much for that day when sin shall cease, and imperfection be swallowed up of permanent likeness to the divine image when all our failings shall pass away, while we are lost in the overflowings of divine glory, and replenished with all the fulness of God, fixed in a state from which we cannot fall, and satiated with joys that cannot surfeit.

MEDITATION LXIII.

EVENTS OF PROVIDENCE.

Dec. 1759.

UNBELIEF is my worst enemy, and most dis

turbs my mental quiet; and no wonder it so harass me, when it attacks the very faithfulness of God, and concludes so harshly of his unerring providence. Now, my gratitude cannot be silent at this thy so surprising, surpassing kindness. A few months ago, matters wore a different aspect,* but I deserved worse; yet then hope would not give up its claim to thy care, faith would not quit with its interest in thy promise, in thy love, and both are satisfied with thy

* See Meditation XI.

goodness. Thou hast bestowed the very same mercy, though in another way than I sought it.

Then

I thought no way like mine, but now I find no way like thine; for as thy thoughts are higher than ours, so is thy way better than our way. This favour which I sought from thee with submission, let it come with thy blessing; not signifying thy displeasure, but sealing thy love; not only filling somewhat my cup, but fulfilling thy promise. And as it may moderately feed my condition, so let it feast my spiritual part; and not prove like Israel's flesh, that while they thought to satisfy their lust, suffocated them outright; nor like their granted request, which was attended with leanness sent into their soul.

In the common affairs of life, I cannot look into myself, or sacrifice to my own drag; I cannot look about, to praise princes, or the sons of men; but I must look up, and adore thee as only and alone in all. Dare I henceforth sin, who am so many ways hedged about from it? Shall not thy holiness dissuade me from sinning, thy power persuade, thy majesty deter, thy mercy overcome, thy love allure, and thy kindness bend me to obedience? How shall I praise thee, O thou hearer of prayers, and answerer of petitions! Let my lips praise thee; let my life praise thee; my meditations praise thee; yea, let all my actions praise thee.

But how shall I behave under thy kindness? It is harder to be the Christian in prosperity than in adversity. "When Ephraim spake trembling, in Israel, he exalted himself;" but when he was exalted in Israel, he offended in Baal; and when "he offended

* He obtained a place in the navy, after being disappointed of it in the merchant-service.

may

in Baal, he died." When God spares, it is that his long-suffering may lead us to repentance; and when he punishes, it is that we may return to him; for it is a heavy charge, when he has cause to complain against those to whom he has been a Father. In an afflicted state, humility best becomes us, because we are laid on the dust, and where but there should we be humble? In an exalted state we should still be humble, for heaven can dash us from the highest eminence to the lowest condition of life. And as an afflicted state is not confirmed on us, that we may have hope; so a prosperous condition is not confirmed, that we fear. "Before honour is humility, and an haughty spirit before a fall;" therefore we should always. follow the one, and fly the other. As humility lifts us out of the lowest condition, so it keeps us in the highest. Nor is there any state of life but is attended with so many humbling circumstances, that no discerning soul has reason to be proud, considering that it is more disgrace to fall from an high station into a low, than never to have risen, and consequently never fall. He that loses his prince's favour, smarts sorer than he that never had it: and those that fall from high preferments, or lose their honourary posts, may expect to have all eyes upon them, and every tongue to dwell on them and their misfortunes.

Such, then, is our condition below, that we are always in danger, from without and from within. Troubles may attack us without, or, if free from these, pride may swell within; and the last is worse than the first. Then, contentment with our present condition, resignation to God with respect to unseen contingencies, hope in his mercy, confidence in his faithfulness, and an eye fixed on the world to come, is our only wisdom in this world that passeth away.

MEDITATION LXIV.

MORE OF GOD SEEN IN CHRIST THAN IN ALL THE CREATION.

THERE

Under sail, Jan. 26, 1759.

HERE is a great noise among the wise men of our day, how God is to be seen and felt, as it were, in his handy-works. True, O Lord! thou art near in every thing around me, but nearer in thy Son. In thy heavens I behold thy wisdom; but in thine Anointed I see thy grace, and share thy love. Thou art near in thy sun, moon, and stars, to convince atheists, but nearer in thy word of grace, to convert sinners, and comfort saints. My reason tells me, that he that formed the eye, planted the ear, and put understanding into the heart, must see, hear, and understand all things; but thou art seen in more noble and exalted views, in those graces which are infused by thy Holy Spirit into my soul. Sense and reason harmonize in this, that God made and governs the world; but faith looks back to that period when time began, and sees that by him he made the world; and forward, when time shall be no more, and sees that by him he also shall judge the world.-Thou art near to me in the harmony of all my members, so that there is no chism in my natural body; but much nearer in the union of my soul to thee, which shall never suffer a separation. Thou art to be acknowledged in every breathing as the God of my life; but, in a more glorious manner, in every act of faith, and heavenly aspiration, as the life of my soul.

Human philosophy cries up nature as the best glass to see the glory of God in; and surely, therein he is