gaudio ullo incalescere potest. Qui cum seculo ambulat, quàm miseras sibi affingit vanæ consolationis rationes! Plaudit hic sibi domi, dicitque apud se; "Attamen robustum mihi corpus est, firma valetudo:"alter; " Illæsa mihi fama est, et non vulgaris inter meos existimatio:" alius; "Est mihi magnus quidam in aulâ amicus ac patronus:" alius, denique; "Sat mihi domi nummorum est.' At, at, ubi atra calamitatis dies advenerit, quid tandem fit hisce omnibus? Miserrimi consolatores estis vos omnes, inquiet prægravata dolore anima; cogeturque demum, serò fortè nimis, fateri, nullum verum quidem solatium, nisi à Miserationum omnium Patre Consolationisque omnis Deo, posse unquam sperari: quîcum ubi ambulare didicerimus, hilares canemus, cum regio pastore Israelis; Dominus mihi Pastor: nullius rei indigebo. In florentibus pascuis accubare me faciet, perque aquas quietas ducet ; Ps. xxiii. 1, 2.

3. Neque plus honoris solatiique ambulationi huic inest, quàm CERTI etiam TUTAMINIS.

Quanta quàmque secura est ejusmodi comitis protectio! Quisque in secreto Altissimi habitaverit, sub umbrá Omnipotentis commorabitur; Ps. xci. 1. Quicunque es, qui cum Deo ambulas, dicisque Domino, Spes mea, mea munitio; liberabit ille te à laqueo venatoris, à peste contritionum. Alis suis obumbrabit te, et sub pennis ejus sperabis: veritas ejus scutum tibi erit et clypeus; ib. vv.

How many wretched grounds of vain consolation does he devise to himself, who walks with the world! One secretly applauds himself, and says; "I enjoy a robust body, and strong health:" another; "My reputation is unsullied, and I am in great esteem amongst my neighbours:" another; "I have a great friend and patron at court:" another; "I have heaps of money in store." Alas! alas! when the dreadful day of calamity approaches, what will become of all these things? Miserable comforters are ye all, shall the soul oppressed with sorrow say; and shall at length, though perhaps too late, be forced to confess, that no true satisfaction can ever be expected, but from the Father of all Mercies and the God of all Comfort: with whom when we have learned to walk, we shall joyfully sing, with the royal shepherd of Israel; The Lord is my Shepherd: therefore can I lack nothing. He shall feed me in green pastures; and lead me forth beside the waters of comfort; Ps. xxiii. 1, 2.

3. Neither is there more honour and comfort in this walking, than there is also SECURITY.

How great and secure must be the protection of such a companion! Whoso dwelleth under the defence of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty; Ps. xci. 1. Whosoever thou art, that walkest with God, and sayest unto the Lord, Thou art my hope, and my strong hold; He shall deliver thee from the snare of the hunter, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall defend thee under his wings, and thou shalt be safe under his feathers:

2, 3, 4.

Haud immunis est à periculo, quisquis solus proficiscitur: ubi in foveam ceciderit, jacet impotens; ubi inciderit in latronem, vulneratus spoliatur: comitem nactus, è puteo eripitur; à prædone liberatur. Non possumus certè non cadere, sicubi non ambulamus cum Deo; neque quisquam est qui jacentes erigere possit: non possumus ab inferno illo grassatore non spoliari sauciarique, sicubi cum Deo parùm ambulamus; nec quis est qui nos possit tutos conservare. Quòd si cum Deo ambulaverimus, aut non cademus quidem, aut non jacebimus: eriget ille nos è peccati foveâ, è pulvere mortis: Si verò Deus nobiscum, quis contra nos? Ringantur tyranni, fremat mundus, frendat Orcus, rugiat Diabolus; nos, sub tali comite, in tuto sumus: cumque illo, qui ursum, leonem, Goliam straverat, cantabimus, Non timebo à decem millibus, qui circumquaque ambierunt me; Ps. iii. 6.

4. Neque plus denique tutelæ istine oboritur, quàm UTILI

TATIS.

Ecquod enim boni poterit benignissimus ille Deus, quicum ambulamus, nobis denegare? Nunquid cupis divitias? Domini est terra, et plenitudo ejus. Repones aurum ut pulverem, aurum Ophir instar petræ torrentium; Job xxii. 24. Honorem mavis? Honorantes me honorabo, inquit Deus. Vis utrunque? Divitiis et honore

He can

his truth shall be thy shield and buckler; ib. vv. 2, 3, 4. not be secure from danger, that travels on alone: if he fall into a pit, he lies helpless; if he fall among thieves, he is stript and wounded: but if he have a companion, he is snatched from the pit; he is rescued from the robbers. robbers. It is absolutely impossible to avoid falling, if at any time we do not walk with God; nor is there any one able to raise us up again we cannot possibly escape from being stript and wounded by that infernal robber, whenever we cease to walk with God; nor can any one keep us secure from danger. But if we walk with God, either we shall not fall at all, or we shall not lie bereft of assistance: he will raise us up from the pit of sin, and from the dust of death: but If God be with us, who can be against us? Let tyrants rage, let the world roar, let Hell groan, and the Devil bellow; we, under the protection of such a companion, shall be secure and we shall sing with him, who slew the lion, the bear, and Goliah; I will not be afraid of ten thousands of the people, that have set themselves against me round about;

Ps. iii. 6.

4. Nor does there more security and protection arise from hence, than ADVANTAGE.

For what good thing can the most merciful God, with whom we walk, withhold from us? Dost thou covet riches? The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. Thou shalt lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks; Job xxii. 24. Dost thou desire honour? Them that honour me, I will honour, saith God. Wouldst thou have both riches and honour? I will give

saturabo te. Quicquid lubet vis, denique? Voluntatem timentium se faciet; Psalm cxlv. 19. Quid verò deesse potest illi, cui suppetit possessor omnium Deus? Ego sum merces tua magna valdè, inquit Deus Abrahæ. Ecce, qui avrapung est ipse suis merces; aliam tamen à se mercedem adhuc pollicetur: Longitudine dicrum saturabo eum, et ostendam ei salutem meam; Psalm xci. 16. En modò fœlicissima desideriorum omnium periodus. Quanti foret longitudo dierum in hâc valle lachrymarum, absque salute deinceps secuturâ? Scilicet, ambulemus cum Deo in terris, non possumus ab ipso in cœlis separari: ambulemus cum illo istic per justitiæ innocentiæque semitas, ambulabimus cum ipso olim v λeuxos supercœlestis gloria. Cogita jam seriò, quisquis ista legis, quàm et tutum, et jucundum, et utile demum animæ tuæ fuerit, ubi decubueris jam modò moriturus, nescius an proximum quemque spiritum ultimò exhalaturus sis, vitam respicere præteritam, idque tibi conscire, ambulâsse te pridem cum Deo illo, qui te nunc proximiore quodam modo secum versaturum ad se vocat. Non mirum profectò est, si alieni quique ac peregrini de receptione suâ haud parùm dubitent : tua verò familiaritas prior confidere te nunc jubet; nihilque expectare aliud, nisi gratiæ perfectionem, æternitatem gloriæ.

thee riches, and wealth, and honour. Wouldst thou have the full accomplishment of whatsoever thou desirest? He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him; Psalm cxlv. 19. But what can be wanting to him, whom God the possessor of all things supplieth? I am thy exceeding great reward, says God to Abraham. Behold, he, who is all-sufficiency itself, becomes a reward to his servants; and yet promises that another reward shall still proceed from him: With long life will I satisfy him, and shere him my salvation; Psalm xci. 16. Behold in this promise the most happy accomplishment of all our desires. Of what value would length of days be in this vale of tears, if we are not sure of hereafter obtaining eternal salvation? Let us then but walk with God on earth, we cannot be separated from him in heaven: let us walk with him here in the paths of righteousness and innocence, we shall be sure to walk with him in the bright robes of celestial glory hereafter. Think now seriously with thyself, whosoever thou art that readest these lines, how safe, pleasant, and advantageous it will be hereafter to thy soul, when thou shalt lie just about to launch forth into eternity, ignorant whether every breath thou fetchest may not be thy last, to review thy past life, with a consciousness, that thou hast long walked with that God, who now calls thee to himself, to hold converse with him in a more intimate manner! It is no wonder indeed, if aliens and strangers have strong fears concerning their reception: but thy former familiarity authorizes thee now to be confident; and to expect nothing less, than the perfection of grace, and an eternity of glory,

Recolligamus ista modò summatim. Sanè, illectamenta hæc, etiam singula, valere apud nos plurimùm solent. Certè ea, quibus aliquid honoris indipisci speramus, quanquam nihil quicquam solatii, tutaminis, beneficii polliceantur interim, audaciore animo aggredimur. Quot se indies bello parùm justo, illicitisque prorsus monomachiis, falso honoris pretextu, ingerunt periculosissimè; vixque, cum sanguinis membrorumque dispendio, abscedunt denique! Rursus, quæ voluptatem nobis delectationemque afferre posse putamus, quantovis interim cum dedecore, periculo, damno conjuncta, quàm avidè audacterque suscipimus! Quot ubique sunt, qui libidinis suæ pœnas miserrimè luerunt! Sunt et alii, qui tutas incedere vias mavelint; etiam ubi nihil honoris, jucunditatis, beneficii senserint speraverintve. Plures, tamen, utilia quæque prosequuntur, quantumlibet dedecorosa, injucunda, intuta. Jam verò, ubi omnia hæc unanimiter conspirârint, ambulantem cum Deo summè æternumque beatura; qualem nobis vim inferre debent universa, ut, à bestiis hominibusque tandem abrepti, cum Deo vivo ambulare incipiamus! Ita nobis ergo maximus, qui in hominem cadere potest, obtingat honor: ita, summa, cujus anima capax est, delectatio. Ut ita à malis omnibus immunes, bonorum omnium præsentium futurorumque participes, esse velimus, demus

Let us now recollect briefly what has been said. In truth, each of these motives, even singly, is commonly found to have great influence on us. Certain it is, that we pursue those measures, by which we hope to arrive at any degree of honour, though no comfort, security, or advantage is likely immediately to accrue to us thereby, with a more than ordinary resolution. How many are there, who, out of a false sense of honour, every day thrust themselves into the greatest dangers, in an unjust war, and in duels absolutely unlawful; and from which they but rarely escape, without the loss of life or limbs! Again, how eagerly and resolutely do we pursue those things, which we apprehend will procure us pleasure and delight, though the greatest infamy, danger, and ruin be the unavoidable consequence! How many are there every where, who are miserably enduring the punishment of their passions! There are others indeed who choose rather to walk in safe paths; even though they can have no enjoyment nor hopes of honour, pleasure, or profit thereby. The greater part, however, of mankind pursue those things that seem for their interest, though scandalous, unpleasant, and ruinous. But now, since all these things unanimously conspire, to render him that walks with God completely and eternally happy; how much ought they all of them together to prevail with us, that, elevated above beasts and carnal men, we should begin to walk with the living God! Thus therefore we shall attain the greatest honour, of which man is capable: thus also, the most exalted delight which the soul can enjoy. As we desire to be delivered from all evil, and to be made partakers of all present

operam sedulò, ut cum Deo ambulemus: sicque instituamus ani. mum, ut et ritè ipsum apprehendamus, et perpetuò agnoscamus præsentem; non sine sancto tremore, solicitoque divinæ approbationis studio. Ipsum nobis verâ fide appropriemus: cum ipso colloquamur assiduè: ipsum in dubiis quibusque consulamus; in necessariis, exoremus: in ipsius providentiam securi recumbamus: beneficia ipsius, grato recolamus animo: in bonis omnibus, ipso fruamur uno. Exerceamus piam quandam sanctæ obedientiæ praxin cùm in sacris quibusque, cultum ejus immediatè spectantibus, officiis; tum in vocationis nostræ muniis obeundis: quicquid ei displicere quovismodo possit, studiosè declinantes; festinaque resipiscentiâ, subinde recuperantes, quem peccando merueramus perdidisse. Ad ipsius gloriam, nos nostrasque actiones sincerè referamus. Dedamus nos ipsi nostraque omnia; sive censura ergo, sive dispositionis liberrimæ. Pleniorem ipsius fruitionem expetissere nunquam desinamus: sed, et cum ipso ambulemus solo; mundi consortium rejicientes fastidiosiùs. Progrediamur cum ipso, pede recto, rectâ viâ: alacriter denique, constanter, perseveranterque cum Salutis nostræ Deo ambulemus. Ita motus iste Henochi fœliciter nos aliquando perducet ad Henochi requiem, gloriam nempe sempiternam. Amen.

and future good, let us diligently strive, to walk with God: and let our souls be so influenced and trained, that we may both rightly apprehend him, and always acknowledge his presence; not without holy fear, and an earnest desire of the divine approbation. Let us appropriate him to ourselves by a lively faith: let us hold converse with him daily let us consult him in all our difficulties; and make earnest application to him, in all our necessities: let us securely rely on his providence: let us gratefully recollect all his mercies: let us enjoy him alone, in all good things. Let us exercise ourselves in the pious practice of a holy obedience: as well with respect to those sacred solemnities, which have a more immediate relation to his worship; as with respect to the duties incumbent on us in our particular callings: carefully avoiding whatsoever may, in any measure, displease him; and immediately endeavouring, by a speedy repentance, to recover his favour, which by our manifold sins we had worthily deserved to lose. Let us sincerely refer ourselves and all our actions to his glory. Let us surrender up ourselves and all we have to him; whether out of fear of his displeasure, or out of an enlarged heart. Let us never cease from earnestly seeking a more full enjoyment of him yea, and let us walk with him alone; rejecting with scorn and disdain the fellowship of the world. Let us move on with him, not loitering, nor wandering out of the way: and, lastly, let us walk with the God of our Salvation cheerfully, constantly, and with perseverance. And then Enoch's motion will at length assuredly happily conduct us to Enoch's rest, even to eternal glory. Amen.