Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity, and quicken thou me in thy way. Ps. cxix. 37. IF you were to see a man endeavouring all his life to satisfy his thirst, by holding up one and the same empty cup to his mouth, you would certainly despise his ignorance; but if you should see others ridiculing the dull satisfaction of one cup, and thinking to satisfy their own thirst by a variety of gilt and golden empty cups, would you think that these were the wiser, or ever the happier, or better employed, for their finer parts? Now this is all the difference that you can see in the happiness of this life. The dull and heavy soul may be content with one empty appearance of happiness, and be continually trying to hold one and the same empty cup to his mouth all his life. But then let the talented men of the world lay all their heads together, and they can only show you more, and various empty appearances of happiness; give them all the world into their hands, they can only make a great variety of empty cups; for search as deep as you will, there is nothing to be found here nobler or greater than eating and drinking, rich dress and applause, unless you look for it in the wisdom and laws of religion. Reader, reflect upon the vanity of all orders of life who live without godliness, and see how all the ways of the world are only so many different ways of error and blindness, that you may be earnest at a throne of grace to be turned from the creature, and seek for happiness in the Creator. No peace or lasting rest Earth's flatt'ring joys impart : Will not content my heart. The GOD of spirits only can Fill up the vast desires of man. David's Prayer.-Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not thyself from my supplication. Ps. lv. 1. Christ's Answer.-Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. JOHN xvi. 23. For the Father himself loveth you. Ver. 27. He has promised: Before they call I will answer; and whilst they are speaking I will hear. Isa. lxv. 24. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. MARK Xi. 24. HE that converses much with God in prayer, and has some child-like confidence in his word, shall certainly be heard; and these answers of prayer are undeniable evidences of the truth, faithfulness, and love of GOD, and greatly strengthen his faith; and at last bring him to be intimately acquainted with GOD. The more we receive, the more we are enlightened to see how much there is still wanting. This stirs up to more frequent prayer, and to more fervent desires; and the more we desire and believe that we shall receive it, the more shall be granted. Unbelief receives nothing (Matt. xiii. 58); but faith opens all the treasures of GOD, and never goes away empty. Because on me they set their love, I'll save them, saith the LORD; I'll bear their joyful souls above Destruction and the sword. In me they every grace shall find My grace shall answer when they call; In trouble I'll be nigh; My power shall help them when they fall, If I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. GAL. i. 10. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. ROM. XV. 2. Fear or love of men, and hypocrisy, very often are nearly allied: A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet. PROV. xxix. 5. But he that rebuketh a man, afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with his tongue. Chap. xxviii. 23. WE E are ever inclined to extremes, even then when God has begun his work in our soul. At one time we are apt to run into a false activity for the conversion of others, trusting too much to our own sufficiency and strength; at other times, perhaps, we fall into too much remissness and inactivity for the salvation of others. May the LORD therefore always guide me to steer the middle course, so as to walk in all singleness and humility of heart, as well as in true fervency of spirit, faith, and love, that it may be said, "I believe, therefore do I speak." Grant, O my dear Saviour, that I may shine as a light, and be useful to all about me; never seeking my own, but only the salvation and good of others, with unfeigned love! O that thy love may constrain me in all things! Amen. My own glory still I seek, Still I covet human praise; Still, in all I do or speak, Thee I wrong, and rob thy grace. And must that which is so good, Poison shall I draw from food, Sin from grace, and pride from thee? O forbid it, humble love! Hide me, O my Father, hide! Far away this snare remove; Save me from the sin of pride! Hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 1 JOHN iii. 19. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. JOHN Xviii. 37. THE evidence of our assurance of eternal happiness is that which every soul, that makes any serious reflections on matters of religion, pants after: it is therefore necessary to know upon what foundation this blessed evidence is built, and from what principles it arises; and those, I think, are chiefly faith, love and obedience; since no man can have this assurance who does not feel in himself the principle of obedience; nor can he have obedience without the principle of love, nor love without the principle of faith; for it is a notorious contradiction to imagine that any one can be assured of God Almighty's pardon, without obeying him; of his favour, without loving him; or of the eternal enjoyment of him, without a firm and steadfast belief in him. But here many mistake the nature of these things: true belief in God represents him to the mind as infinite in glory, and power, and wisdom, and goodness, and in all perfections; with such charms, such beauty, such loveliness, as to captivate and ravish the affections of the soul, and smite it with a divine love: true love reigns triumphant in the soul, engrosses all its affections, strips other objects of their charms; nay, makes them appear vile and contemptible, in comparison with the supreme good; true obedience strives to please GOD, to resemble him, to render itself acceptable to him, and ardently desires the enjoyment of him. Faith only gives me peace with GOD; But if my faith be true, It surely shows itself by love, And kind obedience too. He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. MATT. xxiv. 13. Behold, I come quickly: hold that which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. REV. iii. 11. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall. 1 COR. x. 12. HE that stands in faith, and by nature is of a self cheerful temper, must not magnify the measure of his own faith, nor undervalue that of weaker souls, for such conduct would declare that he is even now fallen into pride, and a contempt of his brother; therefore, however fast we may seem to stand, let us be wary and watchful. We are never so near a fall as when we grow confident. He who knows the nature and power of temptations, will not discourage the weak, nor insist too much upon particular enjoyments and sensible assurances, which are not the constant witness and marks of faith. The Holy Spirit himself is the earnest and seal of adoption; who is to be known, not only by this joy, but by all his other fruits and operations. To trust too much upon feeling, disturbs our peace as soon as it is gone; but to rely on the word of God, preserves a settled assurance. JESUS, shall I never be Firmly grounded upon thee? Plant, and root, and fix in me, Grant that every moment I |