and have turned thy grace into a lie; I have renounced the ways of righteousness, and have harboured much iniquity within me, which hath turned thy wrath against me. I have transgressed against the checks of my own conscience, and bave vaunted of my transgression. Which way soever I turn mine eye, I see no object but shame and confusion. Lord, when I look upon myself, I find nothing there but fuel for thy wrath, and matter for thine indignation, and my condemnation. And when I cast mine eyes to heaven, I there behold an angry God, and a severe Revenger: but, Lord, at thy right hand I see a Saviour, and a sweet Redeemer. I see thy wounded Son clothed in my flesh, and bearing mine infirmities, and interceding for my numerous transgressions; for which my soul doth magnify thee, O God, and my spirit rejoiceth in him, my Saviour. O Lord, when thou lookest upon the vast upon score of my offences, turn thine eyes the infinite merits of his satisfaction. Oh, when thy justice calls to mind my sins, let not thy mercy forget his sufferings. Wash me, oh wash me in his blood, and thou shalt see me clothed in his righteousness. Let him that is all in all to me, be all in all for me. Make him to me sanctification, justification, and redemption. Inspire my heart with the spirit of thy truth, and preserve me from the deceitfulness of a double tongue. Give me an inward confidence to rely upon thy fatherly providence, that neither fear may deter me, nor any advantage may turn me from the ways of thy truth. Let not the specious goodness of the end encourage me to the unlawfulness of the means; but let thy word be the warrant to all my actions. Guide my footsteps, that I may walk uprightly; and quicken my conscience, that it may reprove my failings. Cause me to feel the burden of this my habitual sin, that, coming to thee by a true and serious repentance, my sins may obtain a full and a gracious forgiveness. Give me a heart to make a covenant with my lips, that both my heart and tongue, being sanctified by thy Spirit, may be both united in truth by thy mercy, and magnify thy name for ever and for ever. THE REVENGEFUL MAN. His Rage. Он, what a julap to my scorching soul is the delicious blood of my offender! and how it cools the burning fever of my boiling veins! It is the quintessence of pleasures, the height of satisfaction, and the very marrow of all delight, to bathe L and paddle in the blood of such, whose bold affronts have turned my wounded patience into fury! How full of sweetness was his death *, who dying was revenged upon three thousand enemies! How sweetly did the younger brother's blood allay the soul-consuming flames of the elder, who took more pleasure in his last breath than Heaven did in his first sacrifice! Yet had not Heaven condemned his action, nature had found an advocate for his passion. What sturdy spirit hath the power to rule his suffering thoughts, or curb the headstrong fury of his irascible affections? Or who but fools (that cannot taste an injury) can moderate their high-bred spirits, and stop their passion in her full career? Let heavy cynics, they, whose leaden souls are taught by stupid reason to stand bent at every wrong, that can digest an injury more easily than a com↑ Cain, * Sampson. pliment, that can protest against the laws of nature, and cry all natural affection down, let them be handirons for the injurious world to work a heat upon; let them find shoulders to receive the painful stripes of peevish mortals, and to bear the wrongs of daring insolence; let them be drawn like calves prepared for slaughter, and bow their servile necks to sharp destruction; let them submit their slavish bosoms to be trod and trampled under foot for every plea sure. My eagle spirit flies a higher pitch-and, like ambitious Phaeton, climbs into the fiery chariot; and drawn with fury, scorn, revenge, and honour, rambles through all the spheres, and brings with it confusion and combustion. My reeking sword shall vindicate my reputation, and rectify the injuries of my honourable name, and quench itself in plenteous streams of blood. Come, tell not me of charity, conscience, or transgression: my charity reflects upon L 2 |