what an almost infinite distance there is betwixt this point the earth, and that large circle the firmament; and, therewithal, think of the innumerable number and immense greatness of those heavenly luminaries; I cannot but apprehend how improbable it is that those stars should, at such a distance, distinguish betwixt one man and another, betwixt one limb of the same body and another, betwixt one spot of earth and another, and in so great a mixture and confusion of influences should give any distinct intimation of particular events in nature, and much more of mere contingencies of arbitrary affairs. As for the moon, by reason of her vicinity to the earth and sensible predominance over moisture, and for the sun, the great magazine of light and heat, I acknowledge their powerful but impartial operations upon this whole globe of earth and waters, and every part of it, not without just wonder and astonishment; the other stars may have their several virtues and effects, but their marvellous remoteness, and my undiscernible nothingness, may seem to forbid any certain intelligence of their distinct workings upon me.' But whether these glorious lights give or take any notice of such an imperceptible mite as I, sure I am there is great great reason I should take notice of them-of their beauteous lustre, of their wonderful magnitude, of their regular motion, and be transported with admiration of that omnipotent power, wisdom, providence, which created this goodly and mighty host of heaven, and guides them in their constant march without the least deviation from their first setting

The popularity of astrological studies in our author's time, accounts for these repeated allusions to the imaginary influence of the stars.-ED.

out to the last moment of their final conflagration. Oh! the narrowness of my wretched heart, that affords not room enough for wonder at that which I cannot but see.

XXIII.

It becomes not us to be niggardly where our Saviour intends bounty. How glad should we be rather to ampliate the benefit of the great work of our Redeemer. But surely I cannot see upon what warrant that favour is grounded, that enlargeth the fruit of Christ's redemption to the angels; the good needed it not, the evil were not capable of it; only mankind was captived and redeemable by that invaluable ransom. Doubtless those blessed spirits have their part in the joy and gratulation of the infinite mercy of our deliverance; for if they rejoice at the conversion of one sinner, what triumph do we think there is in heaven at the universal redemption of all believers! The propriety of this favour hath reason to engage us so much the more. Lord, thy mercy is free and boundless; thou wouldst pass by the lapsed angels, and leave them in their sin and their chains, and only rescue miserable men out of their hell. Oh! for a heart that might be in some measure answerable to so infinite mercy; and that might be no less captived to thy love than it is freed by thy redemption.

XXIV.

Men do commonly wrong themselves with a groundless expectation of good, fore-promising to themselves all fair terms in their proceedings, and all happy success in their issue, boding nothing to themselves but what they wish. Even the man

after God's owu heart could say, 'In my prosperity I said, tush, I shall never be removed:" wherein their misreckoning makes their disappointment so much the more grievous. Had not David made such account of the strength and stability of his mountain, it could not have so much troubled him to have it levelled with the plain. On the contrary, the evils which we look for, fall so much the less heavily, by how much we are fore-prepared for their entertainment. Whatever by-accidents I may meet withal besides, I have two fixed matches that I must inevitably encounter with, age and death: the one is attended with many inconveniences, the other with much horror. Let me not flatter myself with hopes of jollity and ease. My comforts for heaven shall, I trust, never fail me; but for the present world, it shall be well with me if I can, without too much difficulty, scramble out of the necessary miseries of life, and without too much sorrow, crawl to my grave.

XXV.

Heaven hath many tongues that talk of it, more eyes to behold it, but few hearts that rightly affect it. Ask any Christian especially, whom ye shall meet with, he will tell you, thither he shapes his course, there he hath pitched his hopes, and would think himself highly wronged by that man who should make doubt of either his interest or speed; but if we shall cast our eyes upon the lives of men, or they reflect their eyes upon their own bosoms, the hypocrisy will too palpably discover itself; for surely which way soever the faces look, the hands

1 Psalm xxx. 6.

If ma

and feet of the most men move hellward. lice, fraud, cruelty, oppression, injustice, excess, uncleanness, pride, contention, covetousness, lies, heresies, blasphemies, disobedience, be the way thither, woe is me, how many walk in that wide and open road to destruction! But even there, where the heart pretends to innocence, let a man strictly examine his own affections, he shall find them so deeply earthed, that he shall be forced to confess his claim to heaven is but fashionable.' Ask thyself but this one question (O man, whatsoever thou art, ask it seriously :) "Might I this very hour go to heaven, am I willing and desirous to make a present change of this life for a better?" and tell me sincerely, what answer thou receivest from thine own heart. Thy judgment cannot but tell thee that the place is a thousand times better; that the condition would be infinitely advantageous, to exchange baseness for glory, misery for blessedness, time for eternity, a living death for a life immortal. If thou do now fumble, and shuffle, and demur upon the resolution, be convinced of thine own worldliness and infidelity; and know, that if thy heart had as much of heaven as thy tongue, thou couldst not but say, with the chosen vessel, 'I desire to depart hence and to be with Christ, which is far better.'

XXVI.

There is no earthly pleasure whereof we shall not soon grow weary, and be as willing to intermit as ever we were to entertain it, and if the use of it continue, the very frequency makes it disregarded; so as that which at first we esteemed rare and pre

1 Counterfeit.-ED.

2 Phil. i. 23.

cious, is now looked upon as common and despicable; and if it be such as that our impetuous affection is too much transported with a present fruition, we are so much the more distempered with the loss. On the contrary, those painful yokes which at the first imposing seemed insupportable, grow tolerable by custom and long acquaintance: so as, I know not how it comes to pass, that time hath a contrary power both to aggravate and lighten evils. Those pleasures are only worthy to carry our hearts, which are measured by no less than eternity; and those pains most justly formidable, which know neither end nor remission.

XXVII.

The nearer our Saviour drew to his glory, the more humility he expressed. His followers were first his servants, and he their master; then his disciples, and he their teacher; soon after, they were his friends, and he theirs; straightways after his resurrection and entrance into his immortal condition, they were his brethren: Go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend to my Father and your Father;' lastly, they are incorporated into him, and made partakers of his glory, 'That they also may be one with us,' saith he; 'I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and the glory which thou gavest me, I have given them.' O Saviour, was this done for the depressing of thyself, or for the exaltation of us, or rather for both? How couldst thou more depress thyself, than thus to match thyself with us poor wretched creatures? How couldst thou more exalt

1 John, xiii. 16; xv. 8, 14; xx. 17; xvii. 21, 22, 23.