A Soliloquy, Representing the Believer's Triumph in God's Covenant
The Sold taketh hold oh Gods covenarU*
YEA, hath God said, “I will be a God unto thee?” Is it true indeed? Will the Lord be mine? Will he lay aside the controversy and conclude a peace? Will he receive the rebel to mercy and open his doors to his prodigal? 1 will surely go unto my Father: I will take unto me words, and bow myself before his foot stool; and say, *’0 Lord, I have heard thy words, and do here lay hold on thy covenant;* I accept the kindness of God, ahd will adventure myself upon thy fidelity, and trust my whole happiness, here and hereafter, upoH these thy promises.”
Farewell, deceitful world! Get thee under my feet. Too long have I feared thy vain threats; too long have I been deluded with thy flattering promises. Canst thou promise me or deny me such things as God nath covenanted to give me? I know thou canst not; and therefore I renounce thee for ev€r from being the object of my faith
•I«u lvi, 4.
«r fear. No longer will I lean to this rot ten reed, no longer mil I trust to this broken idol. Avoid,* satan with thy tempting baits* In vain dost thou dress the harlot in her paint and bravery, nd tell me, ♦*AI1 this will I give thee.”* Canst thou shew me such a crown, such a kingdom* as God hath promised to settled upon me? or that which will balance the loss of an infinite God who here gives himself unto meP Away, deceitful lusts and pleasures get you hence! 1 have enough m Christ and his y)romises, to give my soul fill I con«- tent: these have I lodged in my heart, and there is no longer room for such guests asp you* Never shall jou have quiet enters tainment more within these doors*
Thou God of truth, I here take thee at thy word; thou requirest but my acceptance and consent, and here thou hast it. Good is the word of the Lord which he kath spoken; and, as my Lord hath said». BC^ will thy servant do: My soul catchetk bold of thy promises; these have I take a aa my heritage for even Let others carry the preferments and possessions of this world; it shall be enough for me, to be an heir of thy promises.
She mdkefh her boast m God..
0 happy aou)^ bow rich art thou! What
Hat iv. 8, 9.
* An old acceptation of tb» word sijpfyiBgretwe* a booty have I gotten! It is all mine own; I have the pomises of this life, and of that which is to come.^ Oh, what can I wish more? How full a character is here! Now my doubting soul may boldly and believingly say, with Thomas, “My Lord and my God!” What need we any further witnesses? We have heard his words; he hath worn by his holiness, that his decree may, not be cnanged; and hath signed it with his own signet.
Rejoice, ye heavens; strike up, ye celestial choirs; help, heaven and eariji. Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his! Bless the Lord, O my soul! Oh, had I the tongue of men and angels, all were too little for my single turn. Had I as many tonnes as hairs, the whole choir were not sufficient to utter my Creator’s praises.
My beloved is mine, and I am hisAThe grant is clear, and my claim is firm. Who durst deny it, when 6od himself doth own it? Is it a hard adventure to speak after Christ himself? Why, this is the message that he has sent me, “I ascend to my lather, and your Father; my God, and your God ° He hath put words into my mouth, and bid me to say, “Our Father.”
I believe; Lord, help mine unbelief. 0 my God and my Father, I accept thee with all humble thankfulness, and am bold to
»lTim»iv, 8. b Cant. iiy 16. cjohnxx.ir.
take hold of thee* O my King and my God, I subject my soul, and all its powers, to thee. O my glory, in thee will I boast all the day. O my rock, on thee vrill I build all my confidence and my hopes. O staft* of my life and strength of inj heart, the life of my joys and joy of my life, I will sit and sing under thy shadow, and glory in thy holy nauie.^
O my soul, arise, and take possession: inherit thy blessedness, and cast up thy riches: thine is the kingdom, thine is the glorjr, and thine is the victory. The whole Trinity is thine: all the persons in the Godhead, all the attributes in the Godhead, are thine. And behold here is the evi* dence, and these are the writings, by which all is made sure to thee for ever.
She quelleth discontent, and reasoneth dotvn unbelief i in the foUomng.
And now return to thy rest O my soul, for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. Say, if thy lines be not fallen to thee in a pleasant place, and if this be not a goodly heritage.*^ Oh blasphemous discontent! how idsurd and unreasonable an evil art thou, whom all the fulness of the Godhead cannot satisfy, because thou art denied in a petty comfort, orcrost iji thy vain expectations from the worldi
0 mogt unthankful soul! shall not a Trinity content thee? Shall not all sufficiency suffice thee? Silence your murmuring thoughts forever: I have enough; I abound, and am full.. Infiniteness and eternity ia mine, and what more can I ask?
SECTION It.
TTie assaults of xmbdief It questions 1. the truth of the promise.
But methinks I feel some secret damps upon my joy; and when I would soar aloft, and triumph in the riches of my portion, a secret dimdence plucks me back, as the string doth the bird; and unbelief whispers in mine ear, <^Sure this is too good to be true.”
The triumph of faith in the certainty of
Go(Ps truth.
But who art thou that disputest against God? The Lord hath spoken it, ana shall not I believe him? Will he be angry, if I give my assent, and speak it confidently upon the credit of his woi*d?
Oh my Lord, suffer me to spread the writing before thee. Hast not tnou said, **Thy Maker is thy httsband,^ I will betroth thee unto me;^ thou shalt call me, Ahf Fa ther?^ ‘’ I pray thee, 0 Lord, was not thi»
«lBa.nv,5. >>Iiivl9* <Jer. ujr iV.
thj Mying, “I am God, even thy God; I will be a father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters?^ Why then should I doubtr Is not uie truth of the lining God sure footing for my faith?
Silence then, O quarrelling unbelief! I know in whom I have believed: — not in friends, though numerous and potent; for they are men,and not God :^ — not in riches; for they make themselves wings: — not in princes; for their breath is in their nostrils* but let God be true, and every man a liar* Itf God have I put my trust, in his word do I hope. O sure word! Heaven and earth shall pass away, but not one jot or tittle of this. I have not built upon the sand of mortality: let the rain descend and the floods come, and the winds blow, nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure.« His everlasting counsel, and everlasting covenant, are my stay. I am built upon his promises; and let hell and earth do their worst to blow up this foundation.
Now shall my faith triumph, and my heart be glad, and my glory rejoice. 1 win shout with the exulting multitude, “The Lord — he is the God! “f And he is not ashamed to be called my God.’ He is not ashamed of my rags nor poverty, of my parentage or
■2 Cor. vi, 18. ^lasu xiid, 3. oprov. zxiii, 5. d Psalm cxlvi, 3, 4. Mttt. vii 25. 2 Tim. ii, 19. ^1 Kings xviii, 39. CHeb.xi,16.
pedigree; and since his infinite condescen* sion will own me, will he take it ill if I own him? Though I have nothing of my own to glorj in,* (unless I should glorj in mj shame.) yet I will glory in the Lord, and bless myself in him.
For who is like unto the God of Jeshu* run?^ Bring forth your gods, O ye nations: lift up your eyes and behold: who hath created all these things? Can any do for their favourites, as the Lord can? Or» if he be angry, who is that God that shall deliver out of his hands? Will you set Dagon before the ark? Or shall Mammon contend with the holy One! O ambitious Haman, where is now thine idol honour? O rich glutton, that madest a god of pleasure, where is now the God whom thou hast served? O sensual worldling, that knowest not where nor how to bestow thy goods,-* do riches profit thee? Could Mammon save thee? Deceived souls! Go now to the gods that you have chosen. Alas! they cannot for ever adLminister a drop of water to cool your tongues.
But the portion of Jacob is not like them* From everlasting to everlasting he is Qod.^ His power is my confidence, his goodness is my maintenance his truth is my shield and my buckler.^
•ICor. i,29,31. bDeut ZiJEiii» 36. eJcf
•»
SECTION ni«
M tonfmndi the soul S. vnth the amazing greatness and difficulty, of the things.
But my clamorous unbelief hath many wiles, and afresh assaults me with the difficulty of the things promised; and labours to nonplus and confound me with their amazing greatness.
The triumph of faith %n Gods omnipotence.
andveracity
But why should I stagger at the promise throuffh unbelief), robbing at once my. Master of his gloryp and ray soul of her comfort? It is my great sm to doubt and dis-^ pute; and yet shall I be afraid to believe? O my souU it is the highest honour ihou canst put upon thy Lord,, to. believe against di^GUities; and tOi. look tor,, and reckon upon great things and wonderful, passing: ’ all created power and human £iith.
Let not the- ^eatness, nor the strangeness of the benefits bequeathed unto thee, put thee to a stand.. It is with a Qod thou; hast to do,^ and therefore thou must not look foe little things that were tOv darken the glory o£ his munificence,^ and the infi-Biteuess of his poec and ^odness.. Knowest thou not„ that it ia. his design to makep his name glorious,. and to make thee know ke i& able t& do for thee a bare all that thom eanat ask or tiunk£* Surelthej cannntbfe any small or ordinary things that shall be done for thee, when the Lord shall shew m thee what a God can do, and shall carry thee in triumph before the world, and make
Erojlamation before thee, — -“Thus shall it e done to the man “whom the Lord delighteth to honouri” What wonder, if thou canst not comprehend these things, if they exceed ail thy apprehensions and conceptions? This is a good argument for thy faith: for this is that which the Lord hath said — “that it hath not entered into the heart of man, to conceive what thin he hath prepared for them that love him.” Now, if thou couldest conceive and comprehend them, how should this word be made good? It is enough for thee, that the Lord hath spoken it. Is not the word nigU theer Hath God said, “I will receive you; you shall be kings and priests unto God« and inherit all things; and shall sit on thrones, and judge angels, and be ever with the Lord?” And sh,all I dare to say him nay? Unreasonable unbelief! What! never satisfied? Still contradicting and blaspheming? False whisperer, no more of thy tales! I believe in God, that it shall be as he hath told me.’
And now thanks be to Gt)d, who always causeth us to triumph in Christ;^ therefore my lips shall praise thee, antl my soul
Acts xxvii, 25. 2 Cor.. ii» 14.
which thou hast redeemed. For thou hast made me glad through thy word, and I will triumph in the works of tby hands .^ I will praise the Lord whilst I live, I will sing praises to my God whilst I have any being.<^
O my S0UI9 if thou couldest wear out thy fingers upon the harp, and wear thy tongue to the roots, thou eouldest yet never sufiGiciently praise thy Redeemer.
O mine enemies, where is now your con*, fidence, and where is your armour, wherein you trusted? I will set Christ alone against all your multitudes, and all the powers, and malice, and policy, wherewith they are armed. The field is already won, and the captain of our salvation returned with the spoils of his enemies; having made a shew of them openly triumphing over them in his cross. And thanks be to God, who hath given us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ.*^
Of whom then shall I he afraid? Behold he is near that justifieth me; who shall plead with me?
O ye powers of hell, you are but chaiaed captives; and we have a sure word, that the gates of hell shall not prevail against us.^ 1 hough the world be in arms against us, and the devil in the head of them, as their champion; yet who is this uncircumcised Philisa Psalm lxxi, 23. Psalm xcii, 4. c Psalm civ, 33. d Col. ii, 15. e 1 Cor. xv, 57* f Mat xvi,. 18.
ifine, that he should defy the armies of the HviDg God? Behold I come out to thee, a» the stripling against Goliah not with sword and witn spear, but in the name of the Lord of hosts,. in whose strength I am more than a conqueror.^
O grave, where i« now thy victory? Christ Is risen, and hath broken up thy pnson, and rolled away the stonej so that all thy prisoners have made an escape. Rejmee not against me, O mine enemy f though I fall, I shall rise again; though I lie in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unta mep Enlarge not thy desires, O Tophet, but shut up thy flaming mouth; for there is now no condemnation to them that are ia Christ Jesus.<^
O deceitful world, thoir art already overcome,<^ and the conouered enemy is- become my servant;* and I am fed with; honey taken out of the carcase of the slainlion.. I fear not thy threats, nor the enchantmeats of thy syren songs; being kept by the power of God, through a victorious fiuth, unto* salvatba.^
O my sittSi you. are alneady huriedy. never* j to hav.» any resurrection; and the remembrance of you shall be no more.s 1 see my, sins nailed ta the ccoss and theic dominions
t Sam. T^4£^4S^4r.. Mic;. vu».&:. BXunJ yak t.> Joha x.vi^3Xr n Cociiite22i.t ItBelU^M Muiir4,4». c: Heb«.viii;3k2;. is taken aw*ay.” Awake, therefore, O my glory; awake, psaltery and harp, and meet the Deliverer with triumph; for his right hand, and his holy arm, have gotten us the victory;^ and all the ends of tle earth have seen the salvation of our God.
J i SECTION IV.
// upbraids the trembling soul 3. with its
urmofthiness.
Yet, methinks my unworthiness flies in my face, and I hear a cavilling unbelief thus upbraiding me, and cring out, **0 proud presumption! That thou, who art conscious to thyself of thy great unworthiness shnuldest pretend a claim to God and glory! Shgill darmg dust think to share witn the Almighty, and say of his endless perfections. They are my righty Bold sinner, stand off, and tremble at thy presumptuous arrogance!”
Faith subscribes the charge and triumphs in
Godsfree gruce
O my God, I lay my hand upon my mouth; Iiconfess the charge of /mine unworthiness. My guilt and tslmme are such a»^ I cannot cover; but thou canst and dost. Thou hast cast a mantle upon my nakedneiss; nd hast promised,^ my v transgressions’ shall not be mentioned,^ and- tnat thoa will multiply pardons - And shall! take up what thou hast biprled»’rand affright myself with the ghosts
Psalm xGviii, 1,’2« that infidelity hath raised? Is it presumption, to take the pardon that thou dost offer, or to receive and claim thee as mine, when it is but what thou hast promised? I durst not have pretended a title, but upon thy grant. I should have thought it diabolical pride, to have pleaded an interest in thee, and claimed kindred to thee, but that thou hast shewed me the way.
And thou, my soul, art thou ignorant of God’s great design? Knowest thou not, that it is his purpose to glorify free grace? And how should grace appear to be grace indeed, were there any worthiness in the subject? Thine unworthiness is but a foil, to set off* the beauty and riches of free grace and mercy.
SECTION V.
It questions the believera title 4. to God’s gruce and interest in the promise.
But I pannot shake off these doubts? Alas! what a cavilling sophister is unbelief; and will never be answered! Now it is ready to tell me, What! if the promise should be a sure foundation? yet thou mayest not build upon another man’s ground. What! though the grace and mercies of God are infinite? yet dogs may not catch at the children’s bread; thou hast no right nor title to theromise, therefore cease thy pretended claim.”
97ie triumph of faith in the clearness of the believers evidences.
But, O my soul; wherefore shouldest thou doubt? Whose image and superscription is this? Dost thou not bear upon thee the marks of the Lord Jesus? I have given up my name to him, and taken hold of his covenant;’^ and therefore may claim an interest.
I have accepted the matter, and closed with the Meaiator, and subscribed to the conditions of the covenant; and therefore cannot question but it is mine.
The Lord hath offered to be my God, and I have taken hold of his offer; I Have taken him as God, and given him the supremacy. 0 my soul, look round about thee, in heaven and earth; is there any thou dost esteem or value in companson of God?*> Is there any thou dost love like him; or take that content or felicity in, that thf)u dost in him? Are not thy chief desires and designs to glorify and enjoy him? Thou canst not deny but it is truly thus. I am sure, nothing but God will content me. I am never so well in all the world, as in his xoinpany. My soul seeketh him above all, and rests in him alone, as my satisfactory portion. He offereth to take me as one of his people; and I, have resigned myself accordingly to him, as his; and have put both my inward and out-
Isa. Iri. 4. b Psalm Ixziii, 25, 26. ward man under his government, and hare given up all to his disposal, and am resolved to be content with him, as my all-sufficient happiness.*^
Besides, I have taken him in his own way through Christ, whom he hath tendered to me as my head and husband; and I have accordingly, solemnly and deliberately, takeahim. O my soul, dost thou not know thjr often debatesPb Hast thou not put Christ, and all the world, into the balance? Hast thou not cast up the cost, and reckoned upon the cross; and willingly put thy neck under Christ’s yoke,^ and ventured thy salvation upon Christ alone;<> and trusted him with all thy happiness and all thy hopes? * Ist thou not, over and over, resolved to take him with what comes; and that he shall be enough though iti the loss of all things?’’ Thou canst but know, that these have been the transactions between Christ and thee; and therefore He is thine, and all the promisea YEA AND AMEN, to thee through him.
And for the terms of the covenant, I love and like them; my soul embraceth thera: neither do I desire to be saved in any other
•Phil, iii, 8. Pha. i, 26. Psahn lxxxvi. «, lxxxiv, 1, 2f 3. Paalm xxvii, 4, cxix, 5T, Psalm cxxiv» 8. 2 Cor. v. Acts xxivp 16. with Rom. Ti» 19. Luke xivy 33. Psalm xvip 5, 6. John i, 12. Luke xiv, 26 to the end. Mat. xi, 29. (^PiuL iii, 9^ 02 Tim. ip 12. fPhiL3,& lol
way, than by repentance towards God, and
faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ,* and
sincere obedience to his gospel.^
t I am willing to go out of my flesh, and
I do look unto Jesus for righteousness and
’ strength, and trust my salvation wholly on
this bottom. I am content to deal upon
. trust; and venture all in hopes of what is to
I come J and to tarry till the next world for
my preferment; t am willing to wait till
the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and
have laid up my happiness on the other side
the grave.
And though my sins be many, yet I should belie my own knowledge if I should say they were not my constant trouble and burthen, and the enemies against which [ daily watch, and with whom my soul hath no peace. Mine own heart knoweth that I hate them, and desire and endeavour their utter destruction; and do resolve against them all, and am willing to use all God’s n!ieans (that
1 know) to mortify them. It is too true, that I often fall, and fail; yet my conscience beareth me witness, that I confess and bewail it, and do not ordinarily and deliberately allow myself in any sin whatsoever aeaiBBt my knowledge. And though my wedience be miserably lame; yet O Lord,
Acts XX, 21. bRpm. ii, 7. «PhU. iii, 3 to 10.
2 Cor. V, 7. 2 Cor. iv, 18. 1 Tbes. 1, 9, 10. Tit. ii, 13«Heb. x»34,andxi«35. thou knawest,that I have respect unto all thjr commandments, and do strive to corae up-to what thou requirest. The Holy Ghost i» witness, and my conscience also, that I first seek the kingdom of God, and the righteousness thereof ;» and that is my chief care to please God, and keep from sin. Speak,
0 my soul, is not holiness thy design? Dost thou not thirst for it, and follow after itB Dost thou not, in thy settled choice, prefer the holy ways of God before all the pleasures and delights of sin? Thou knowest it is thus, and therefore no disputing! Thou hast sincerely taken hold of God’s covenant; and without controversy, it must bethine>
O my God, I see thou hast been at work with my soul I find the prints, I see the footsteps. Surely this is the finger of God*
1 am thy servant, 0 Lord j truly, I am thy servant: and my soul had said unto thee Lord, “Thou art my Lord.<* ‘^ It must be so. Wouldst thou ever set thy mark upoa another’s goods? Or simll God disown his own workmanship? My name is written in heaven. Thou hast written thy name upon; my heart; and therefore I cannot question: but thou hast my name on thine lart. I I
&ave chosen thee, O Lord, asr my happineasr and heritage; and therefore I am sure thou hast chosen me; for I could not have loved thee, except thou hadst loved me first. O my Lord, discern, I pray thee, whose are these — the signet, the bracelets, and the staff? I know thou wilt acknowledge them. And how blessed be God, and the Father f our Lord Jesus Christ, who, of his abundant mercy, hath begotten me again to a* lively hope..
SECTION VI.
Faith makes tia claim to ail the benefits of the covenent and stirs up the soul to joy and tJiankfulnesa, in thefolhuHng.
And thou, my soul, believe and wait, took through the window, and cry through the lattice, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, The vision is for an appointed time, wait for it. It will come m the end, and will not tarry .^ Behold the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruits of the earth be thou also patient. He hath long patience, and wilt not ih6vL have a little patience? He for the fruits of the earth, but thou for the joys of heaven: he upon mere probabilities, but thou upon infallible certainties: He for a crop of corn, but thou
•1 John iv, 19. *>Hab. ii, 3. «James v, 7* 1, for a cfown of glorj, *’ Were he but surt that every corn would bear a crown, how plentifully would he sow, how joyfully would he wait! Why, such is thy harvest: As sure as the summer’s delights do follow the winter’s severities; assure as the wished-for harvest doth follow the toilsome and costly seeds time, so sure shall thy Lord return, and bring thy reward with him, Therefore, my soul, love and long for the approaching jubilee; and wait all the days of my appointed time, until my change shall come.
O blessed state that my Lord hath translaed me into! 0 happy change that he hath made! I was a stranger, ana he took me in, and made me an heir; and preferred me from the dunghill to the throne; and from a hewer of wood, and drawer of water, to attend his court, and know his councils, and do his pleasure. Happy am I that ever I was lH>rn to partake of this endless dignity. O my Lord, it is no little thing thou hast given me in hand. I am already come to mount Zion, and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to the innumerable company of angels, to the general Sissembly and church of the firstborn, and to God the Judge of all, and unto the spirits of just men made perfect, and unto Jesus di% Mediator of the new covenant, and
unto the blood of sprinkling.* My heart reviveth, as Jacob’s, when I behoW the tokens which thott hast sent me; the Spirit of adoption,^ the pardon of my sins ^mj patent for heaven, the chain of thy graces, the Son of thy bosom, and the new testament, in his blood, and the letters of his love. My Lord hath said, that he will love me, and manifest himself unto me; and that the father will love me, and both will come unto me, and make their abode in me. But is it true indeed? Will the Lord dwell on earth? Or, if he Will, shall so foul a stable, 80 unclean a stye as my heart hath been, — * shall this be the place that the Lord of life will take up his lodging, and keep his court in? Will he indeed come with all his train of graces, and live .and walk in me? How can these things be? But he hath said it; and I do, and I will believe it.<i
Yet all this is but the earnest of what is to come. O how great is thy goodness, laid up for them that fear thee!^ Yet a little while and my warfare shall be accomplished, and the heavens must receive me, till the time of the restitution of all things. It is but for a short term that I shall dwell in this dirty flesh, in an earthen tabernacle.^ My Lord hath shewed me, that wher he is, there
aHeb. xii, 22, 23, 24. bGal. iv, 6. cLuke y, 20. d 1 Cor. xi, 25. Luke, xji, 32. Cant, i, 10. John iU, 16. John xiv, 21, 23. epsalm va 19. Pet. 1. 14. 10 shall his servant be.^ Now the living i» tied to the dead; and my soul is a stage oF strife, and a field of war. But it is but a little moment, and that which is perfect shall come;^ perfect holiness, and perfect peace;: eternal serenity, and a serene eternity,^
0 my sinSy I am going where you cannot come; where no unclean thing shall enter, <^. or any thing that defileth. Methinks I see all my afflictions and temptations, all mine infirmities and corruptions falling off me,. as Elijah’s mantle at his translation.
0 my soul, dost thou not see the chariots, of fire, and the horses of fire, come to take thee up? Be thou as poor as Lazarus, yet God will not disdain to send a party of an-Sels to conduct thee home. How canst thou oubt of ready reception, who hapt such a friend in couirt, who will lead thee with boldness into his Father’s presenceE If there were joy in Pharoah’s court, when it wa& said Joseph’s brethren are come;^” sure* ]y it will be welcome news in heaven, whea it is told ‘Jesus his brethren are come.’^. My soul, fear not to enter, though the Lord be clothed with terror and majesty: for thy Redeemer will procure thee favour, and plead thy right. 1 am sure of welcome, for the Father himself lovetb me, 1 have tasted and tried his love; and when 1 had played
•John xii, 26. bl Cor. xiii, 10. cRev. xxl 4. t iMkt xvi»22. eQen. xlvp 16. Johnxvi, 27.
the wicked prodigal* yet he despised not my rags, but fell on vaj ndck, and kissed me; and heaven itself made -merry over me. Much more will he receive me gladly, and let out his love upon me, when presented to him tpy his Son, in his perfect likeness, as a fit object for his everlasting delight Fear not, i) my soul, as if thou wert going to a strange place. Why, heaven is thy country, and thy home. Wilt thou doubt of leave, or fear of welcpme, when it is thine own home? Why, my soul, thou wast born from above, and theie is thy kindred, and thy Father’s house; and therefore thou shalt purely be admitted. And then I shall see the glorious prepaitions of eternal love, and the blissfal mansions of the heavenly inhabitants.
Doubtless it shall be thus. These are not sick men’s dreams, or children’s hopes. The living God cannot deceive me. lnd may not 1 certainly promise myself what the Lord hath promised me? I will sooner think that all my senses are deluded, and what I «ee, and feel, and taste, is but a fancy; than thinkithat the living God will deceive me, or that his unchangeable covenant will fail. Now I am a son of Gpd, but it doth not yet appear what I shall be: but this I know, I shall be like him, and see him as he is
I know it shall be thus. Why, what selOS
curity should I ask of God? He hath given me all the assurance in the world* And though the word of God be enough; yet he, willing to show more abundantly, to the heirs of promise, the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath; that by two immutable things, in which it was iinpossibie for God to lie, I might have strong consolation.* O unreasonable unbelief! ‘What! shall not the oath of a God put an end to thy strife!
O my God, I am satisfied; it is enough! Now I may be bold without presumption, and boast without pride; and will no more call my duty “arrogance,” nor my faith “a fancy.”
O my soul, there is but a short life betwixt thee and glory; where holy angels, and glorified saints, shall be mine associates; and love and praise mine only employment. Methinks I hear already how the morning-stars sing together, and all the sons of God shout for joy*^ O that I could come in for one! But it wajs said unto me, I should rest yet for a little season, but 1 shall stand in the lot at the end of the days.
It is well. Lord — thy word is enough; thy bond is as good as ready payment. Ibe Holy Ghost tells me, that life and glory abide me; that look what day I loose from the body, the sam.e day I sbll be landed in
* Reb. vi, 17, 10. bJob. 3uczviii» Y*. «Dsm aEiJ,13.
paradise. AracnJa It is as I would have if. But this is not all: when my body hath slept a short time in the dust, Christ will call toit» — “Come up hither.” Ah true yoke-fellow! it will be hard parting, but welcome meeting. I could not leave thee, but to live with Christ. But he will raise thee to a glorious temple; and when he shall appear, will bring me with himself in glory, and then 1 shall re-enter thee as a royal mansion, wherein I shall abide with e Lord for ever. For as we have served our Redeemer together, so we must be glorified together with him. And when the Lord hath married us both together again, then will he marry us both unto himself.. For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the last day upon the earth: and though, after my skin, worms destroy this hody, yet in my flesh I shall see God; whom I see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another, though my reins be consumed within me,*’ My Lord haih already told me, how it shall be; he hath set down the time, and shewed me the robes of immortality, and the crown of life, that I must put on: and the throne of glory, and the seat of judgment, that 1 must set in. He hath told me the manner in which I shall be presented t him, and espoused by him: be nath told me where he will set me, and
Luke zxiii, 43. bCoL iii, 4. «Job. six, 35.
what he will say to me 5 and how he will ^ckno.wledge my mean services, and re* member what I have forgotten:* How he will praise the works tnat I have been ashamed of, and reward me openly, for what 1 have buried in secrecy;** and not forget the poorest alms that I have given for his name. Then will he confess me before his Father, and before the angels of God. Thus saith the true and faithful witness; and we know that his testimony is true.
Ah, my soul, see that thou make not God a liar.«
O, my God, I have believed thy report; and do look for all these things, according to thy promise. I know thou intendest me but a very little while in this lower region. This world is but the house my pilgrimage, and ray soul now is but like a bird in the shell; but when the shell is cracked, then shall she ta:ke wings like a dove, and soar aloft to thee, and nee away, and be at rest.
Yet I doubt not thy care for my despicable dust. I know that nothing will be lost. I know not where they will Jay me, but thy wakeful eye observeth, and will not be to seek at what door to knock; nor at what grave to call for me,^ 1 believe, and am sure, that I shall come a glorious piece out of thy hands; fair as the moon, clear as
Mat. XXV, 35, 2Z* Mat. vi, 4. «John v, 10- <>iohnvi,39. the sun, crowned with honour and glorj. And when my absolution is read, and sentence passed upoiv the world, then must I be taken up to dwell with thee.
Jjet not roy Lord be angry, that thy dust and ashes speaketh thus unto thee. Thou,. Lord, hast raised my expectations; and hast made me to look for all these great thing a from thee. In vain hast thou written all these great things unto me, if I should not believe them; and a distrustful diffidence would put a high dishonour upon thy truth.
O Lord, it repenteth me, it repenteth me of my jealousies and m doubtful thoughts about thee. I know thou lovett a humble confidence, and delightest in nathing more than to see thy children trust thee. 1 know the building of my hopes lies not a hair’s breadth over the foundation of thy promises; yea, it is sure, my expectations are infinitely short of what I shall find.
O my God, my heart trusteth safely in thee; and I here set to my seat, that thou art true.* Christ is my vessel in which I venture,’^ and the corner atone on which I build y’* and therefore my freight* is insured, and my building shall challenge the winds and noods«
And now, Q Lord,, what wait I forp My
John Hi, 33. Eph. ii, 2a c Mat. vii, 25. *A ««rg’o or ladvn^ hope is in thee.^ O my blessedness, let me enjoy thee: 0 my life, let me possess thee: O desire of mine eyes, let me see thy face and hear thy voice; for thy voice is sweet, and thy countenance is comely.** I ask but what thou hast promised: for thou hast told. the, that I shall see God, and thou wilt speak to me mouth to mouth|« even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude ofGodshalllbeliold.
So shall my knowledge be perfected; and I shall see the inaccessible light, and my tender eye shall not water, nor my sight dazzle: but I shall, with open face, look steadfastly on the Sun of righteousness, and behold his glory. Then shall faith be turned into fruition, and hope into possession, and love shall arise like the full moon in her brightness, and never wax nor wane more.
O thou God of my hopes, T do look for a new body and a new soul, for new heavens and for a new earth, according to thy promise: when my whole soul shall be wholly taken up with thee, and all my affections strainetf to the highest pitch; and all the wheels of my raised powers set in most vigorous and perpetual motion towards thee; still letting m, and still laying out; and thus there shall be an everlasting communication
Psalm xxxix, 7”. t>Cftnt ii, 14. cjiat,, v, 8. * 1 Cor. xiii, 9, 10.
of joy and glory from thee, and of love and praise rom me.
O my soul, thou art rich indeed, and increased in goods. Thou hast no reason to envy the glory, nor grandeur, of the mightiest on earth; for their glory shall not descend after them: like sheep shall they be laid m their graves,^ and death shall feed upon them, and there is an eternal end of all their pomp and excellency. But my kingdom is an everlasting kingdom: my robes shall never wear, my crown shall never totter, my throne shall never be vacant, my bread shall ntver muuld, my garland shall never wither, my house shall never moulder, ipv wine shall never sour; but everlasting joy shall be upon my bead, and sorrow and sighing shall fly away.
O my God, how happy hast thou made me! It is better than I could have wished; thoa hast done all things well: thou hast settled them for ever. The whole earth cannot shew any such heritage or tenure. The world can stake out her possessions but for years; nor can she make a good title for that, neithsr: but mine inheritance is for ever, and none can put me out of possession. The thing is established in heaven, and in the volume of the book it is written of me. My evidence cannot be lost; it is recorded in the court above, and enrolled in the sacred
PMbn xliz, 14.
leaves of the word, and entered upon the book of my conscience; and herein i do and will rejoice.
Now, my soul, wipe up thine eyes; and eo away, with Hannah, ana be no more sad. what! though mine house be not so with God, so happy, so prosperous, as I could wish? What! though they be increased that trouble me, and my temptations and afflictions be like the roaring billows, riding on one another’s backs for haste? Yet shallmy soul be as a rock unmoved, and sit down satisfied in the security and amplitude of my portion: for God hath made with me an* everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure; and herein is ail my salvation, and all my desire.
And now what remaineth, O Lord, but that I should spend the remainder of mj days in loving, praising, and admiring thee? But wherewith shall I come before the Lord, or bow myself to the most high God? What shall I give thee to express my thankfulness, tm)ugh not to requite thy bounty? Alas my poor little soul! Alas, that thou art so little! How narrow are thy capacities! How disproportionate are thy powers! Alas, that my voice can reach to no highei a notel But shall I do nothing, because 1 cannot do all?
Lord, I resign to thee. With the poor widow, I cast my two mites (my soul and body) 4nto thy treasury. All my powers shall love and serve thee: all my members shall be weapons of righteousness for thee. Here is my good wilU Behold, my sub* stance is thy stock; mine interest is for thy service: I lay all at thy feet. There thou hast them they are thine. My children I enter as thy servants; my possessions I resign as thy right. I will call nothing mine but thee. All mine are thine. I can say “My Lord, and my God,” and that is enough; I thankfully quit my claim to all things else* I will no more say, * My house is mine,” or ‘*My estate mine;” I myself am not mine own: Yet it is infinitely better for me to be thine, than if I were mine own. This is my happiness, that I can say, “My own God, my own Father.” And 0 what a blessed exchange hast thou made with me! — to give me myself, who art an infinite sum, for myself, who am but an insignificant cypher!
And now. Lord, do thou accept and own my claim. 1 am not worthy of any thing of thine, much less of thee. But since I have a deed to shew, i bring thy word in my hand, and am bold to take possession. Dost thou not know this faandt Wilt thou not own this name? Wilt thou not confirm thine own grant? It were infidelity to doubt it. I will not disparage the faithfulness of my Lord, nor be afiVaid to aver, and stand to
what he hath said and sworn. Hast thou said, thou art my God; and shall I fear thou art mine enemy? Hast thou told me, thou art ray Father; and shall I stand aloof, as if I were a stranger? 1 will believe. liOrd, silence my fears; and as thou hast given me the claim and title of a child, so give me the confidence of a child. Let my heart be daily kept alive by thy promises, and with this Stan let me pass over Jordan. May these be my undivided companions and comforters; when I go, let them lead me; when i sleep, let them keep me; when awake, let them talk with me. And do thou keep these things for ever upon the imaginations of the thoughts of the hearts of tny people, ;and prepare their hearts unto thee. And let the heart of thy servant be the ark pf thy testament; wherein the sacred records of what hath passed between thee and my -soul, may forever be preserved. Amen.