Time of Sickness.

Let me have constant proof that indeed I am thine, by having thy life manifest in my mortal body, controuling and subduing it in all things to thy righteous will. So shall even the world acknowledge, that I have been with Jesus; and if it hate me, upon that account, as it hated him, O welcome be it, and let me account it as one of my brightest evidences and greatest honours.

In all the circumstances and conditions of my outward life, O help me to look for thy special blessing, without which nothing can succeed in itself, without which every thing may lead me astray. Help me to bear losses and crosses as thy dispensations, intended only for my good; and give me wisdom and grace to see thine intention, and to get the good thou meanest by them. If one of thine hands be laid hard upon me, let the other support and bear me up with the more firmness and stability. Restrain all the murmuring and rebellion of my carnal nature against thy holy will, and lead my spirit, by all visitations, to nearer fellowship and sweeter communion with thee. So shall my earthly sorrows be turned into spiritual joys, and all the calamities, which can befal me here, shall become urging and successful remembrancers to prepare me for that decaying mansion, where the wicked cease from troubling, and where the weary are at rest.

And when sickness and death shall come, as come they must in a very little while at the longest O stand by me, my dear and only Lord, in my drooping and needful moments. Make all any bed in my sickness, and overcome the sorrows of nature by the lively joys of thy grace. Receive my spirit, which I commit unto thee, as thine only for truly I am thine entirely, thine by pur

Time of Death.

chase, thine by grace, thine by promise, thine by the immutable and consecrating oath of all thine holy attributes. Carry, O carry me to the regions of peace, to the church and general assembly of the first-born, to the blissful city of God, and to thine own habitation, O Jesus, my Lord, my Life, my only Redeemer! Whom have I in heaven itself but thee; and what can I desire, throughout all the universe of thy works, in comparison of thee? My heart and my flesh may fail, yea, they shall and must fail; but thou, even thou, art the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

THE

1

CHRISTIAN

REMEMBRANCER.

PART III.

CHAP. I.

THE REAL CHRISTIAN LOVES HIS COUNTRY, AND IS THEREFORE THE BEST OF PATRIOTS.

POLITICAL hypocrisy hath made the laudable name of patriotism almost suspicious. But he, that is sincere in the best things, and walks as in the sight of God, will, of all men, be faithful in lower matters, and carry a sterling integrity from religion into every duty of social life. On the other hand, he, that regards not God, nor yet other men but as they are convenient to himself, may very justly be suspected respecting his fidelity to his country. Profit and vain glory, indeed, will carry some men very far, as they have done; but strip a worldly man of these, and where are his motives for promoting the national welfare?

The Christian is not a mere showy patriot, for lucre or for fame; but he is, what none but a Christian can be, a patriot in spirit and in truth, pouring out his secret and earnest prayers before God for the true prosperity of the land. The world, indeed, hath a low opinion of this artil

Christian Patriotism.

lery of heaven; but He, who is wiser than the world, hath told us, that the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. And if one

such person, like an Elias, can be instrumental in drawing down public blessing; what may not be hoped for from the prayers of legions of Christians throughout the nation? We may read what the prayers of such men have obtained, in Heb. xi. 33, 34.

The Christian patriot will rejoice in the good done to his country; though other hands, rather than his, have been employed in the doing it. That man deserves not the name of a patriot, to whom the peace, honour, and prosperity of his country are valuable, only as they may contribute to his own.

As the Christian's patriotism is founded upon the pure principles of religion, he is more desirous of his country's prosperity in true worth and virtue, than in mere power and riches, which are often the dangerous fuel of luxury and pride both to states and individuals. He is no enemy to commerce, for a thousand reasons; but an utter enemy to commercial vices, for reasons infinite and eternal.

In wishing for his country all kinds of temporal blessings, he cannot forget to ask before God for a greater abundance of spiritual mercies. His heart's desire is, that the gospel and religion of Jesus Christ, happily countenanced and established by the laws, may for ever flourish through the land in its most genuine and effectual power and purity. Though he is not, and cannot be, an enemy to any man, yet he is a well-principled adversary to all wicked and blasphemous errors and

Christian Safety.

opinions, and to all profligacies of heart and life, which flow from them, and which have over-run the country with guilt and shame.

The Christian carries religion into his patriotism, but not his patriotism into religion. The things of God are too holy and sacred with him either to be mixed with or truckle to the little low politics of men. He is the citizen of a better country, and a pilgrim in all others; though a peculiar and public spirited friend to that, in which he was born.

As he can say with Samuel, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord, in ceasing to pray for his nation; so he would act upon all occasions, as Samuel did, and endeavour to promote the welfare of his country by being a good countryman. He will contribute fairly and cheerfully to her burdens, live in all godly quietness and honesty among his people, and pray faithfully and earnestly for the whole public weal as a Christian. Were all the subjects such patriots, the country would have but small reason to be afraid of the most mighty and numerous enemies; for who could penetrate the wall of fire, with which God, in such a case, would surround it?