CHRISTIAN REMEMBRANCER. Wonderful revelation. 55 which runs through the whole of the record of salvation. O Lord, I bless thee, I daily bless thee, for this wonderful revelation of life and peace, which, if men could spiritually read, all men would confess, that it is, and could be, of no origination but thine. The impressions of divinity are so glorious and evident, that he that runs, if he hath but eyes, may read and own them. And yet, in nothing is this record more true, and in nothing is human experience of it more strong and striking, than in this, that no man can believe or understand a word of it, to the salvation of his soul, unless it be given him from above, unless all his instruction be imparted by thee. Not that in thy book there is any defect indeed; but the incapacity rests wholly in the gross, sensual, and sinful apprehension of fallen man. Open thou mine eyes, O Lord, and then shall I behold wondrous things from thy law! Things hidden to carnal sense, but clear and obvious to the view of that faith, which thou givest to thy children. I wait upon thee to this end. While I read, and while I write, while I praise, and while I pray, I seek for thine instructions. I am a fool without thee; but by thee I am made wise for eternity. Speak then in thy holy word, for thy servant heareth; and enable me to lay up what I hear, like Mary, within my heart, that I may be a true scribe indeed, instructed in the kingdom of heaven, bringing forth, out of the treasure of my heart, things new and old. Devout prayer. CHAP. XXI. THE RECOLLECTION OF THIS FIRST PART IN PRAYER TO GOD. O THOU ever-blessed Jehovah, three Persons in one Godhead, full of grace and full of glory, have mercy upon me a miserable sinner! I am not worthy of so much as to look up to the throne of thy holiness, being polluted in my nature, I wicked in my life, and covered entirely with innumerable transgressions. But, O, whither shall I go for help and succour, but unto thee, O Lord, who, for these my manifold abominations, art most justly displeased! Wonderful goodness! Thou hast commanded me to come, and invited me to present myself before thee, with most astonishing testimonies of favour and acceptance. Thou hast found a way to make satisfaction to thine offended majesty and justice, not by my punishment and ruin, so fully deserved, but by the sufferings and death of thy dear Son. By him thou hast magnified thy law, and made it honourable, through an infinite and perfect righteousness, which he hath completed for it. For these wonderful ends, by thine everlasting covenant, he took into his divinity our human flesh, and became our Immanuel, or God with us: And so he became capable of suffering, doing, and substituting for his people, whom thus he purchased, all that was given him from thee. Having completed this whole work of salvation, he is now ascended up on high, pleading and interceding for poor sinners, that they might be partakers of his glory. O how great was his love; stronger indeed Devout prayer. than death; mightier than sin and Satan; yea, almighty to redeem ! Holy Father, how great also was thy love in sparing thine own Son from heaven for guilty worms, and yet, in not sparing him upon earth, when bearing their nature and transgressions! I am overwhelmed with a sense of thine unutterable benignity and compassion, joined as it is with everlasting justice, and purity, and truth. And thou, blessed Spirit, what do I owe unto thee, for all thy gracious work in my heart, enslaved as it was by sin and by nature, departed as it is from all righteousness! Thou hast taken of the things of Jesus, and explained, and enforced, and enlivened, them into my soul. By thee alone, I have heard, and believed, all the mysteries of redemption needful for me to know. By thee I have experienced some of them; and by thine aid I hope to experience more. Be with me throughout my pilgrimage, and in these days of rebuke and blasphemy against thy person, O grant me the evidence of thy presence, by enabling me to abound in every good word and work for thy glory. O thou blessed Trinity! Thou Three-One Jehovah God in covenant for redeemed sinners! God in truth over all the world! hear and regard my prayer. Accept and sanctify my praise. I adore thee for all thine abundant mercy. I glo rify thee, O Father, Son, and Spirit, equal in nature, love, and majesty, with earnest, though poor returns of gratitude and praise. Receive me, and whatever I am and have, graciously, for Jesus' sake, who is my Master, my Saviour, my Priest, my Prophet, my King, my Lord, and my All, and Devout prayer. also thine only Son, in whom thou art well-pleased for ever. Lord, I am frail and full of wants. I am a poor, weak, desipsed, and despicable man; and yet thine own adopted child notwithstanding. Give, O give me the bread of life; and lighten my dim eyes with the light of life; supply all my need, great and various as it truly is, according to thy riches in glory by Christ Jesus! I bring a thousand and a thousand wants, imperfections, and cares, before thee; and, Lord, I can bring no other. These, and such as these, are all I have, both in body and in soul. O then take me as I am, and make me what thou wouldest have me to be. I know not of myself what is right, or good, or wise; but thou knowest: Therefore I beseech thee, my blessed God, undertake even for me! I have no refuge, but in thy power; I have no hope, but in thy promises; and I desire nothing in this world, no, nor in the world to come, but the sweetness, the testimony, the possession, the glory, of thy great salvation. O let the evidence of this salvation be made more and more clear to my mind, and the experience of it more and more firm and solid to my soul, through thy word and by thy Spirit. May I read, and understand; may I understand, and grow; till I come to the stature and measure appointed for me. Keep me from leaning on myself, lest I fall into error. Help me to depend upon thee, that I may be led into all the truth. So shall I praise thee with joyful lips, and through my gracious Saviour bless and adore thee, O God, my God, for ever and ever! THE CHRISTIAN REMEMBRANCER. PART II. CHAP. I. UPON UNBELIEF. THE corruption of our nature renders the life and exercise of faith the most difficult affair in the world. It is indeed far beyond ourselves. The apostle, therefore, ascribes our believing to the exceeding greatness of God's power, even to the effectual working of his mighty power. Many talk of this believing, and yet but few have attained it. A speculative assent to a chain of principles is easy; but the grounding of the heart in these principles upon Christ, and especially in the time of trial; the giving up a man's self, as nothing; the patient waiting of the soul upon the truth and promise of God; the cool and deliberate parting with the things of sense for the things of the Spirit; the discovery and suppression of carnal and corrupt motives in the heart; all these are matters, which are neither in the compass, nor taste, nor inclination, of flesh and: blood. Hence it is, that, when men are made serious by affliction, sickness, or the approach of death, they find themselves so much at a loss for the use of that faith, which perhaps, from a long profes |