right hand, haft given us new matter of wonder and praife, and confecrated a better reft and holy-day of rejoicing; wherein I should behold the glories of another world, and have before my eyes the happiness thou intendeft for me there, together with all the excellent means which lead unto it. Thou giveft me occafion not only to reflect upon all the good things, thou haft provided for my body, which I can never acknowledge enough (the very health and ease of one day deferving the thankfulness of many) but I must also remember, that I am thy redeemed one, and that thou haft done great things for my foul in thy Son Jefus, who is entred into the heavens for me, and gone to prepare a refting place for all those that follow him. This exceeding riches of thy grace infinitely furpaffes all my acknowledgment; fince all the praises I am able to render thee, are lefs than is due for thy temporal bleffings. To this love I owe the knowledge of thee, the true and only God; my freedom from idolatry, and a vain converfation; the true principles of holy living; the benefit of repentance; the promise of a pardon; the affistance of Ccc 4

thy

thy holy Spirit; the miniftry of thy angels; the hope of immortal life, and the pledges, our Lord hath left me of his endless love.

What is man that thou art mindful of him? what are the fons of men that thou doft at all confider them? Thou haft crowned us with glory and honour here below, and raised us to a dominion over the works of thy hands. Thou haft indued us with understanding to know thee, and with will to love thee; whose most excellent wisdom, almighty power, and furpaffing goodness, I discover in all thy works of wonder. But what is finful man, that thou fhouldest fo much regard him, as to fend after him, to feek and fave him, when he was loft? Lord! what grace was this, that thou fhouldeft vouchfafe to fpeak with me, and communicate any thing of thy mind to fuch a forgetful and ungrateful wretch as I am? But that thou shouldft fpeak to me by thy Son, and declare thy mind in fuch words of grace and favour, and publish fuch kind intentions towards me, and recover me, with fo much coft, and purchase me to thy felf with the precious blood of thy Son Jefus, and fend thy holy Spirit to purify

me; that I might have thy image renewed in me, and be made fit fociety for thy felf again, and restored to immortal life: Lord! how much doth it exceed all belief, hadft thou not given me, in tender mercy, fuch abundant affurance of it? I have those reasons to bless thee, which the angels have not. I must admire thee, not only as the great Creator and Preferver of all things (which I heartily do) and give thee the glory of all thy marvelous works; but also as the Redeemer of mankind out of a forlorn condition, by the manifeftation of thy felf in the flesh, by the blood of thy Son, the conftant breathings of the Holy Ghoft, the light of thy gof pel, and an unwearied patience, which hath waited on me, and propounded to me no less happiness than to fit together in heavenly places in Chrift Jefus, who is advanced far above all principalities and powers, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but in that alfo which is to come.

I praise thee, O God, I magnify thy most holy name; I confefs my felf bound to thee, above all other creatures, that I have any knowledge of; for I

am

am twice thy creature, and thou haft a double title to all I have. O ftir up all that is within me to bless thee, and love thee, and offer up the facrifice of thanksgiving to thee. Fill my heart with joy and gladness, that I have another opportunity, wherein to recount thy mercies to me; to be further inftructed in thy mind and will declared by my Saviour; and to be under the comfortable influences of heaven; to cherish those holy thoughts, affections, and refolutions which are begun in me, and to promote my growth and increase in all wisdom, goodness and virtue.

So that every day may become an holy reft to the Lord, by ceafing to do evil, and conftantly doing well; and I may glorify thee throughout my whole life; in all my 1 Pet. ii. actions fhewing forth thy praises, who haft called me out of darkness into thy marvelous light, according to thy abundant mercy in Jefus Chrift, Amen,

9.

A

A Meditation for Sunday Evening.

T

HIS is the day which the Lord hath made, I will rejoice and be glad in it: O let me worship and fall down, and end the day as I have happily begun it: Nay, rather let me end it with more zeal and devotion, with greater perfection and alacrity of holy obedience. Let me come before God's prefence with thankf giving, and offer up my evening facrifice of prayer and praise. Blefs the Lord, O my foul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my foul, and forget not any of his benefits: Who forgiveth all thy fins, and healeth all thine infirmities: Who hath redeemed, on this day, thy life from destruction, and crowneth thee with mercy and loving-kindness : Who fatisfieth thy mouth with good things, and thine heart with hidden confolations: Who maketh thee glad with the light of his countenance, and filleth thee with the nourishing dainties of his houfe, as with marrow and fatnefs: Who caufed thee to rife this day from death and condemnation to a lively hope of eternal glory; may thou