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moon, and starry heavens, are but the least part of thy possession, who has a right to the bright and morning star of eternity, to the Creator of the ends of the earth, to God Almighty, as thy shield and exceeding great reward.

How like the Possessor of heaven and earth art thou! for as this is his footstool, so the woman (the church in all her members) that is clothed with the sun, has the moon (the earth) under her feet! Why, then, anxious about a possession on that which is not only God's footstool, but should be thine? Wouldst thou appear in all thy state while in the desert, the land of thy pilgrimage; since the better country, where the King of glory has his royal pavilion and residence, lies before thee to be inherited? Thine eyes may climb to the stars, and say, These are mine.--But why terminate there? Faith may rise higher, and claim him who counts their numbers, and gives them all their names. O how at once thy possessions grow too vast to be described, and extend infinitely on every hand! God, in all his glorious perfections, reconciled in his Son, who is appointed heir of all things, is yours, and you are his! Why, then, be dis quieted about dust and ashes, wind and vanity, when the unseen realities of eternity are before you, and shall give the purest joy, and most refined pleasure in the eternal possession?

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MEDITATION XCV.

THE CASTING OF THE SCALES OR BALANCES.

Gibraltar Mole, May 26, 1759.

THERE is a real difference between the righteous

and the wicked, for the one is the heir of bliss, the other the child of the curse. But O how is the appearance misrepresented and inverted, in the eye of carnal men! The wicked are accounted happy, and the saints the most miserable of all men. But let us fight the worldlings with their own weapons. The wicked, as the world continues not (this they must all confess) are travelling through the evening twilight of declining grandeur to the darkness of eternal night. But the saints, as the world to come, for which they wait and hope, is permanent, are marching through the growing beams of morning light to the perpetual noon of glory. Truly, now-a-days, the wicked seem to have the right hand of the just, and their rod lies heavy on the back of the righteous; but they shall be found on the left hand in the day when distinctions most avail, and over them shall the upright have dominion in the morning. The one may go mourning, and pour out their complaint before God, while the others spend their days in mirth, and rejoice at the sound of the organ: but the sorrow of the one shall be turned into everlasting joy, while the songs of the other shall issue in eternal howlings.

Great men weigh valuable in the balance of the world, while the saints are accounted as the offscouring of all things; nevertheless, in the balance of the sanctuary, when both are weighed, the sinner shall be

found wanting, but "the precious sons of Zion shall be comparable to fine gold."

Now, dare I calculate with the world, and call them happy whom the world counts happy? Or, more daring still, dare I choose to be where happiness, sacred happiness, is not to be found? However beautiful the evening be, it is soon black night; but however cloudy the morning be, it is soon broad day. So it was with Dives, who, dragged from his luxurious table and flowing cups, is plunged into the lake, and lifts up his eyes amidst devouring flames, parched, and petitioning for one drop of water to cool his scorched tongue; while Lazarus, full of sores, and without attendance at the inhospitable gate, except the kindly dogs, is wafted by an heavenly band from all his sorrows, to the bosom of the friend of God, and set down to banquet richly at the table of eternal love. Surely, then, my choice shall be to live in their humble, die in their hopeful, and rise to their happy condition.

MEDITATION XCVI.

AFFLICTION THE COMMON LOT OF THE SAINTS.

WH

Gibraltar Mole, June 3, 1759.

HEN I consider the conduct of Providence towards all his saints, I should rather be astonished that I am permitted to pass through the world not more chastised, than take it amiss that I am chastened every morning. And surely, were I free from afflictions, whereof all are partakers, I might infer, that I were a bastard, not a son. Whatever be my affliction, the wisdom of him who sends it should

make me embrace and bear it without a grudge.— Though it springs not out of the dust, nor comes at random, yet man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward; and even some of his favourite ones have, for wise ends, had the severest afflictions. The wisdom of God, however, in afflicting his people, is folly to the world, who would compute love and hatred by common providences; and therefore they cry out, as the ignorant Jews of old, to the Captain of our salvation, who himself was made perfect through suffering, "Let him deliver them, if he delighteth in them."

Again, as the infinite goodness of God shines in sending afflictions, though the scales on mine eyes hinder me from seeing all their beauty, insomuch that I often wonder why it fares so and so with me, and would fain essay to swallow up all in submission and faith, believing the veracity of the promise, that all things shall work together for good to them that are the called and chosen of God: I say, as his goodness appears in sending them, so the divine wisdom is conspicuous in their variety. Abraham, the friend of God, had a trial which would have startled the whole world of believers. Isaac and Jacob, heirs of the same promise; Moses the man, and Aaron the saint, of God; Joshua and the Judges; Job, David, and his royal line; Samuel and the Prophets; yea, the Lamb and his Apostles, had afflictions of every kind, in substance and estate, in relations and con nexions, in name and character, in soul and body.Now, such has been the conduct of God these five thousand years with his church and people; and had not this government of his house been both for his own glory, and the good of his people, such a wise

Father, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, would by this time have changed the manner of his procedure towards his own. But who can doubt the wisdom and goodness of his conduct, who considers, that through his discipline many thousands are gone to glory, and are this day happy in their joyful harvest from their weeping seedtime?

How happy is it for me that the world often gives me the slip, that I may forsake the world, and look more out for the better country:-That men often prove false to me, that I may rely only on the God of truth :—That wants beset me on every side, that I by faith may set myself down at the gate of heaven, and, in the promise, and in his fulness, find a rich supply-That death now and then cuts off a relation, that I may more remember mine own end, the immortal world, and him who is the resurrection and the life. Affliction renders the creature tasteless, the world barren, and dispels the intoxicating juice of carnal pleasures and sensual delights. It breaks the sleep of security, and awakens and rouses up to duties. Even the saints themselves are more fre quent and fervent in their devotions under the rod of affliction; and many in trouble visit the throne of grace (dear throne! to which all have access) and pour out a prayer when his chastening hand is upon them, who before were utter strangers both to the place and the employment. I verily believe the whole church of the first-born are children of the cross, and have drunk of the cup of affliction, sweetened by Christ's drinking so largely of it. Now, would I go another way to heaven than the redeemed have trode in? Would I walk Zion-wards out of the

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