YEA, doubtlefs, and I count all Things but Lofs, for the Excellency of the Knowledge of Christ Jefus my Lord: For whom I have fuffered the Lofs of all Things, and do count them but Dung that I may win Chrift, Phil. iii. 8.

Ah! how little and contemptible does every Thing feem to him, who has once throughly known and tafted Chrift. One must part with all Things to win Him, but all Things are nothing. We advance in real Religion in Proportion as we love the Relifh of the good Things of this World, and wean our Affections from them. Grant us, we befeech Thee, O Jefus, the fame Difpofitions, with refpect to the World and its Lufts, which Thou waft pleased to give to thy Apostle.

I do, I muft, I will efteem

All Things but Lofs for Jefus' fake, O may my Soul be found in him,

And of his Righteousness partake.

The best Obedience of my Hands,

Dares not appear before thy Throne,
But Faith can anfwer thy Demands,
By pleading what my Lord has done.

BE not overcome of Evil, but overcome Evil with Good, Rom.

xii. 21.

For a

Love is Proof against all the Malice of the moft implacable Enemies, and defires to triumph over them by nothing but Benefits, knowing herein that it imitates God, and is the Daughter of him who is Love itself. Man to overcome Evil with Evil, is to fuffer himself to be overcome by his own perverfe Inclination and Paffion: To overcome Evil with Good, is to overcome himself by Love, and to triumph over his Enemy by gaining his Heart. Lord, whom all the Malice of thy bittereft Enemies could not only Thou can fhed abroad in my Heart the Meeknefs of Love. Thy Victory is mine: Vouchfafe, I befeech Thee, to apply to me the Vir

tue of it.

Come, holy Spirit, heav'nly Dove,
With all thy quick ning Pow'rs,
Kindle a Flame of facred Love

In these cold Hearts of ours.

Come, holy Spirit, heav'nly Dove,

With all thy quick'ning Pow'rs, Come, fhed abroad a Saviour's Love, And that fhall kindle ours.

AND have put on the new Man, which is renewed in Knowledge, after the Image of Him that created him, Col. iii. 10.

Man, disfigur'd by Sin, is no longer to be known, unless Grace form again in him, by a new Birth, the Lineaments of a Child of God, according to Jefus Chrift, who is the Original thereof, as being the prime Image of the invifible God; just as Chrift, disfigured by the Refemblance of finful Flesh, was renewed by his Refurrection, and put into a Condition of being acknowledged for the only Son of God, having received, by this third Birth, a Glory which is worthy of Him. It belongs to Thee, O divine Pattern, to form thy Image in me, and to render me like thy felf, therefore do it, O Lord, for thy Mercy's Sake.

Such Honour all thy Saints receive,
Who Thee fincerely love,
Difpenfers of thy Gifts we live,
And general Bleffings prove:

And when our useful Course is run,

Enjoy the Kingdom given,
Bright as the uncreated Sun

In the eternal Heaven.

Ontinue in Prayer, and watch in the fame with Thankf giving, Col. iv. 2.

Let us remember that we are no other than Beggars, when we address ourfelves to God in Prayer. Prayer ought to have thefe following Qua. lities: ft. Affiduity, Importunity, Continuance, Earneftnefs, Perfeverance. 2d. Diligence, Application, Attention, Reverence, Prefence of God, Watchfulness. 3. Humility, Senfe of our own Unworthinefs, religious Fear, Abasement of Heart, Gratitude. Let us perfevere, becaufe God would have us importune him. Let us watch becaufe God is always ready to beftow Light, Grace, and Mercy. Let us be full of Gratitude and Thankfulness, because this opens the Hand of Mercy to give, and the Heart of the Poor to receive.

Pafs we thus our Days of Mourning,
While we for his Coming stay,
Languish for our Lord returning,
Let us ftill believe and pray.

More and more in Grace increafing,
Swifter toward our Center move,
Wrestle on in Prayer unceasing,
Only live to pray and love.

L

ET us not fleep as do others; but let us watch and be fober,
I Thef. v. 6.

1

Keep me, Lord, I befeech Thee, from that lethargic Sleep fo univerfal, which is nothing but the Forgetfulness of God and of Salvation; and from that Drunkenness of Sinners, that love of Pleasures and of worldly Lufts, which ftupifies Men, deprives them of their Reafon, and damns them before they are aware. Give me that Watchfulness which is the Fruit of Faith, the Prefervative of Grace, and the Security of Salvation.

We will not close our wakeful Eyes,
We will not let our Eye-lids fleep;
But humbly lift them to the Skies,

And all a folemn Vigil keep;
So many Nights on Sin bestow'd,
Can we not watch one Hour for God.

We can, dear JESUS, for thy fake

Devote our every Hour to Thee, Speak but the Word,our Souls fhall wake

And fing with chearfulMelody, [ploy Thy Praise fhall our glad Tongues emAnd every Heart fhall dance for Joy.