gressions, he will purge them away. What though he afflicts, he is still our God; afflictions cannot break his covenant—nay, they come in the covenant. After solemnly devoting myself to God, I received the cup myself, and appointed next Tuesday for a day of public fasting and prayer.

Sunday, January 6, 1743.

MEDITATIONS ON THE FORTY-EIGHTH SACRAMENT,

MAY 5, 1734.

As I had preached from those words, Isaiah, i. 18, "Though your sins be as scarlet," &c. I opened the ordinance with some meditations on these, "Who is like unto the Lord, who pardons iniquity, and passes by the transgressions of the remnant of thine heritage, because thou delightest in mercy." Great discoveries of divine grace are made in these few words. God is described here by an illustrious title, yet he pardons iniquity, agreeably to the proclamation that he made of his name to Moses; to which perhaps here may be some reference. It is added, "the transgression of the remnant of thine heritage;" perhaps referring to a desolation formerly brought upon the Jews, which had reduced them to a remnant, and so rendered their transgressions so much the more aggravated. Yet these were forgiven, because God delighted in mercy; for it is to his free mercy and grace that we are to trust. If we ask, why God forgives sin? we may indeed answer, because Christ made an atonement for it. But if we go on to ask, why he was appointed to such a work? I answer plainly, for God has mercy, because he will have mercy. It could not be in hope of an equivalent. It is worth millions of us, if we shrink into nothing; when we compare ourselves, and all our most valuable services with the rich blessings of the everlasting gospel; then how much more when we compare them with the Lord Jesus Christ: yet grace gave Christ for a ransom. For ever blessed

people: as if we were some

be the name of God that it did. And now he calls us his heritage. What a glorious title! it is amazing, that we may say, the Lord is my portion. How much more that God should say, his portion is his valuable treasure; therefore called his jewels, and a diadem of glory in his hand. Just reason is there to say, who is like unto thee. Surely, there is no such goodness among the children of men, nor among the benevolent spirits of the upper world. Lord, the glory is entirely thine own; and thou art as much the best as thou art the greatest; as much the most merciful as the most powerful of beings. This was cheerfully acknowledged in the prayer before breaking the bread, with a large address to Christ and the Spirit, And in breaking the bread, mention was made of the sufferings of Christ; what he suffered in the flesh from the inhumanity of his enemies, and much more in the spirit from God. And why, blessed Jesus, wast thou arrayed in that purple robe, but that by the sacred tincture of thy blood thou mightest take out the stains of our souls; and that by the redness of thine apparel thou mightest prepare white raiment for us. Before taking the cup, in prayer I considered the Lord's supper as a covenant renewed, a solemn dedication to Christ; henceforth to receive such a cup, addressed myself to Christ as taking it from his hand, resolved to yield myself to him, and expressed my readiness to die for him, to live where he pleases to appoint; all this was done with a peculiar reference to the circumstances into which I am now brought with regard to the proposal from Walthamstow, yet in suspense. I have this day solemnly left the matter with God. I have cast that burden upon the Lord, and I hope and trust that he will graciously sustain it. My spirits were very low, but I hope I was sincere in the ordinance, especially in self-dedication, and leaving my affair with God. But I had very little melting of soul, though I said many very lively things. I observed some vacation of thought

and distraction arising from some passages in Burnet's History that I had read, accidentally taking up the book between the services of the day.

Sunday Evening, May 5, 1734.

MEDITATIONS ON THE FIFTY-SECOND SACRAMENT.

WITH what sufficient expressions of gratitude shall I record it, that this was one of the most comfortable days of my life? I had such views of Jesus Christ at his table as even transported my soul. Perhaps some uncommon trial is coming upon me; if it be so, may God prepare me for it. The introduction was from these words, "If any man love me he will keep my words." It is to be hoped that at this table we all love Christ, else doubly should be deserve the anathema maran-atha that was pronounced on those that did not love him. But how should we show it? Let him keep my words. Therefore I charge it upon you, Christians, make the word of Christ familiar, keep it in your hearts, keep it in your discourse, especially in your lives, and then the Father will love you. Yes, the Father will love you too : the love of God is a delightful thing. Lord, if all my pious friends were to die, and the whole world were to rise up in enmity against me, if thou lovest me, my soul would still rejoice; I were safe and honourable and happy. We will come unto him in secret, and in family prayer in the services of the house and the table of the Lord; and not make transient visits, as a wayfaring man, but make our abode-make our body the temple of the Holy Ghost; and thereby secure its resurrection and glory, 'I am the resurrection and the life,' saith the Lord! In breaking the bread, I remarked, Isaiah the prophet says, “He was wounded for our transgressions," could an evangelist have spoken more plainly? our friends die, we eat this bread in remembrance of a better friend. What were the resurrection of all our friends

at once, compared with that of Christ. Now we and they are risen with him; and we and they are made to sit in heavenly places. In filling the cup I said, you see it is the blood of Christ. Were a friend to shed his blood to save us from danger, with what grateful regard and pious sorrow should we have seen it. I concluded, after short hints of drinking into one spirit, and of the expectation of drinking new wine with Christ above.

Oct. 6, 1734.

MEDITATIONS ON THE FIFTY-THIRD SACRAMENT.

HAVING preached from those words, "For their sake I sanctify myself," I introduced the ordinance from those, "He that sanctifies, and they who are sanctified are all of one," that is, belong to one family, are related to one father, wherefore Christ is not ashamed to call them his brethren. On this occasion I observed, what reason we had to enjoy the comfort, and to give God the glory. What an honour, what an advantage to be the brethren of Christ! In token of it to be brought to his table. Behold Christ the guardian of the family. He supports, he advises, he delivers, his Father and our Father, his God and our God. Admire the condescension of Christ, that in token of this we are sanctified. Admire the goodness of God, why we rather than others. Attend to the instructions of it. Let it teach us zeal for Christ, love to God, and to each other. I recollect no remarkable meditations in breaking the bread; except that Christ, when he gave himself for us, knew all the instances in which we should forsake him. Nor in pouring out the wine, but that I adored God's goodness in this extraordinary sign. Had we seen an appearance as Abraham did, God passing between the passover and the sacrifice, what joy and wonder would have been produced. God is as really dwelling with us.

Taking the cup I said, Welcome the promises of the

covenant, welcome the tokens of God's love, and signs of my devotedness to him, welcome every duty, welcome every affliction in life, with the pleasing hope of drinking it new with Christ in his Father's kingdom! Two resolutions I solemnly recorded before God in the silence of the ordinance. (1.) That I would endeavour to visit twenty heads of families this next month: (2.) to talk with each of my pupils about inward religion, before next sacrament day.

REFLECTIONS FOR NEW YEAR'S DAY, 1735.

THE disorder of the last night hindered my rising so soon as I could have wished, and prevented some sweet exercises of devotion; and I sometimes fear lest the composing the hymn, just when I did it, was a snare rather than an advantage. Yet, through grace, I can say I have had some sweet communion with God this day, both in that sermon in which I commemorated his crowning the year with his goodness, and in conversation, and prayer for all my friends, and by reflecting in my own mind on the divine goodness when I came into my house. How much delightful enjoyment of God have I lost by neglecting occasional meditation. I have renewed my engagements to be the Lord's; and the chief things I would in the divine strength attend to are early rising, evening prayer, visits, religious conversation, and habitual meditation. As a scholar, chiefly philosophy and Greek, besides stated lectures. But the main scheme, I refer to another memorandum, and conclude this with renewed engagements to endeavour to walk more carefully with God than I have done in former years.

MEDITATIONS ON THE FIFTY-FIFTH SACRAMENT.

As I was this day employed in meditations on Christ's compassion to tempted souls, I introduced this sacrament with some contemplations on those words, "He has spoiled principalities and powers, and made a show of them openly."

VOL. V.

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