that long and terrible chapter, the 28th of Deuterono my, that is full of curfes and threatened judgments, ver. 47. where the caufe of all is given, Because thou fervedft not the Lord thy God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, Since the facrament is called the Eucharift or Thanks giving, let me go to it with a joyful and thankful heart, bleffing God for Chrift. O thanks be to God for his unSpeakable gift. Amen.

MEDITATION XXII.

From JOHN xvi. 7. It is expedient for you that I go away,

No wonder that forrow filled the difciples' hearts at the intimation of Chrift's departure from them: They had enjoyed a sweet time with him at the communion table; his prefence with them was their heaven, and they cannot think of parting with him: They are greatly troubled, that he will neither stay ftill with them, nor take them away with him: Nevertheless, faith he, it is expedient for you that I go away.-Lord, faith the foul, how is it expedient for me to be left behind thee in a fate of corruption, with indwelling fin that darkens my mind, deadens my heart, diforders my affections, and indifpofes me for fpiritual work? How fhall I ftay behind thee, amidft Satan's temptations and fiery darts, flying thick about me? Muft I abide in that place where that enemy hath his circuit, and ftill rangeth about, devouring many thoufands? Could I win away with Chrift, I would be quite out of the reach of his thot. Lord either stay with me or take me up with thee. Oh, muft I ftay behind thee amidst the infectious defilements and enfnaring examples of an ungodly world! When I open mine eyes here, what will meet them but multitudes wallowing in pride, fenfuality, covetoufnefs, injuftice, malice, envy, drunkennefs, gluttony, uncleanness, contempt of God and religion? Muft I ftay to fee this horrible fight, the whole world

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lying in wickedness! Muft I ftay to hear God daily dishonoured by the tongues of the ungodly? Muft I ftay to fee Chrift flighted, wounded, and crucified afresh by wicked men? O what danger will I be in of being infected by their examples! But, Lord, if I could win away with thee, I would be quite out of hazard, and out of fight of the wickednefs of the world. How fhall ftay behind thee in fuch an earthly tabernacle, to be burdened with bodily diftreffes, fickness, pains, and manifold complaints, and amidst innumerable loffes, croffes, and difappointments from the creature! How fhail I ftay to fee fuch melancholy divi fions, contentions, debates, feparations, as fall out among the people of God in Chrift's abfence? Muft Iftay behind thee to fuffer injuries, reproaches, cruel mockings, bad ufage, and perfecutions, both from the tongues and hands of men? and fometimes to be torn as with the teeth of wild beasts? Hence this world is called a den of lions and mountain of leopards, Cant. iv. 8. Oh, could I win away to heaven with Chrift, I would fee по lion nor leopard there. There is none to hurt or deftroy in all God's holy mountain above.

Have I feen the King in his beauty, and muft I be left behind him? Hath the communion table been like Mount Tabor, where he was transfigured before my eyes, with his countenance fhining, and his raiment white as light? And must I go down from the Mount again to a land of darkness, of drought, and of perplexing doubts and fears, where I fhall fometimes go mourning without the fun; yea, neither fun nor ftars appearing to me for many days? Muft I be put to walk without the light of God's countenance, and without the food of my foul, commnunion with my God? After I have been lifted up, muft I lay my account with being caft down again, perhaps into depths like thofe of Afaph, Pfal. lxxvii. or like thofe of Heman, Pfal. lxxxviii. with fears of finking in them, and of falling fhort of heaven for ever? Could I win away with Chrift, I would be at once delivered from all thefe fears.

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Here my knowledge of God is finall, and oft obfcured with darkness; my faith is weak, and oft in hazard of being overcome with unbelief; here my love is cold, and oft like to be chilled with froft winds from Satan and the world; my prayers oft are formal and wander ing, my praifes low and flat; here my best wishes are attended with many fhort comings and defects: But, O! if I could win to heaven with Chrift, where grace and holinefs are in perfection, I would praife him with out wandering, and ferve him without fin for ever! Here fin ftill cleaves to my nature, mixes itself with my fervices, and defiles my beft duties. Here I ftill carry about with me a deceitful and treacherous heart, whereby I am in hazard of backfliding from God, and mifcarrying forever, fhould I be left to it: But O! were I with Chrift, I would be free from all thefe anxious. thoughts and fears. Lord, ftay here with me, or take me up to thee.

But thou fayeft, It is expedient for me to ftay behind for a time. Why, Lord? Muft I ftay that my trav elling graces, my faith, hope, and patience, may be tried and exercifed here below, and thereby gradually ftrengthened and ripened for the perfect ftate? Muft I ftay that I may be conformed to my head both in ferving and fuffering; and that thy wifdom, power, and mercy, may be glorified in conducting and preferv ing me through all the difficulties and dangers of this wildernefs? Thy will, Lord, be done, only leave me not alone; but for thy name's fake lead me and guide me. is it thy pleasure to fufpend my heaven for a while, that I may promote thy glory on earth, be useful to the fouls of others, and recommend my dear Redeemer to those who know him not, which is a work I cannot do in heaven? O fit me for it by thy grace, and fill me with zeal for thy glory. O let thy kingdom come upon earth, that the kingdom of glory may be haftened.

Or,

Thou fayeft, it is expedient for thee to go away. Why Lord? must thou thyself be thy people's forerunner to carry tidings to heaven of their complete re

demption, and of their coming after thee in their feveral generations? Muft thou go to open the paffage and pave the way for accefs to their perfons and duties, and prepare rooms and lodgings for them against the time they come home? Muft thou go away to be a public agent and interceffor for thy people under all their trials and toffings here below; and likewife to provide and furnish a rich and glorious communion table for them in thy Father's houfe above? Lord, fend thy Hole Spirit to fit and prepare me and many others for that bleffed entertainment. Lord, when thou faidft, It is expedient for you that I go away, thou didft add, for if I go not away, the comforter will not come unto you! Why? it was fo agreed in the council of the Trinity, that the fending of the Spirit in his plentiful effufion, which was to be the purchase of Chrift's death, fhould be given in answer to his interceffion, when he entered within the vail, John xiv. 16. And the Spirit was to make use of it as an argument for convincing the world of the perfection and acceptableness of Chrift's facrifice, that Chrift was now received and welcomed into heavLikewife the Spirit was to be given only upon Chrift's ascenfion to fupply the want of his bodily prefence to the church, as being far better for them, feeing Chrift's bodily prefence could be in one place only at once, but the Spirit is in every place to animate and put life in ordinances. May the church have this fruit of Chrift's afcenfion ftill more and more.

en.

Lord, though thou haft gone away for neceffary ends, yet thy marriage contract with thy people, and the lovetokens thou giveft them in the facrament, are a fure pledge of thy returning to pay them a comfortable vifit at laft, according to that fweet word, John xiv. 3. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to myself, that where I am, there you may be alfo. O that I may be one of thofe to whom Chrift's vifit at his fecond coming will be joyful and comfortable. me examine myself before the facrament, if I have the marks of fuch. Am I efpoufed to Chrift? Have I a

high esteem of the bridegroom? Have I fubfcribed the marriage contract and gone into Chrift's terms? Do I heartily approve the whole contrivance of redemp tion, through the furetyfhip and righteoufnefs of Chrift?, Have I renounced my own righteoufnefs, my beloved fins, and all Chrift's enemies? Do I mourn for the injuries done to Chrift by myself and others, and rejoice when his intereft and kingdom profper in the world? Do I mourn for Chrift's departure and the withdrawing of his Spirit from ordinances, or from my own foul? Do I thirst for more holiness in heart and life, and for greater conformity and likeness to the glorious bride groom? Then I may expect his vifit and return will be comfortable to me, and I may rejoice in the view and expectation of it, and anfwer Chrift when he faith, Rev. xxii. 20. Surely I come quickly. Amen, even fo, come Lord Jefus. Is my forerunner now gone away? Let me follow him as closely and speedily as I can; let me follow him in the way of faith, in the way of obedi ence, in the way of fuffering, in the way of patience, prayer, refignation, deniednefs to the world, heavenly mindednefs, &c.

MEDITATION XXIII.

From Hos. ii. 19. I will betroth thee unto me for ever.

ABIGAIL thought herself highly honoured, by David's propofing to inatch with her : But much more honoured are we, apoftate finners of Adam's family, by the eternal Son of God his propofing to match with us, and courting us fo earneftly; when he neglected angels, that feemed to be a fitter match for him in re fpect of the fuperior dignity of their nature. Yet all thefe he would pafs by and match with worms! O how amazing is this step, that the heavenly Bridegroom, whofe kingdom is mighty, his riches infinite, and his beauty furpaffing; that he fhould chufe a bride natur