A

ND they (the Difciples going to Emaus) faid one to another, Did not our Heart burn within us while he talked with us by the Way, and while he opened to us the Scriptures? Luke xxiv. 32.

The Word of Jefus Chrift is a Fire which inflames him who feeds thereon, whereas the Converfation of the World ferves only to diftract and cool the Heart. --- Pious Difcourfes, the Truths of the Scripture, and the Explication of the Mysteries of our Salvation, when retained in the Memory, kindle the Love of God in our Heart, and feed and preferve it there. --- We do not always perceive immediately the good Effects produced in us by the Word of God, and by Sermons, but we find them afterwards. Let us but love to hear God fpoken off, and we fhall foon be fenfible that God himself speaks to us, warms us, and changes our Hearts, He came from Heav'n to kindle Fire Now, Lord, the Flame of Love inspire, In earthly Hearts, like mine: How fhall I thank Thee for the Grace On me and all Mankind beftow'd? O that my every Breath were Praife!

Which may for ever fhine.

O that my Heart were fill'd with God! MyHeart with Love would then o'erflow And all my Life thy Glory fhow,

IN

N him was Life, and the Life was the Light of Men, John i. 4.

The Holy Ghoft declares to us the Glory of the Word, with refpect to living, fpiritual, and intelligent Creatures. --- He is not only a living Being which has light; but he is both Life and Light itself by his eternal Generation, the Principle of all created Life, and the Fountain of all the Light. Happy and bleffed Life! and even Happiness and Bleffedness itself! Without Thee, there is nothing but Folly and Falfhood, Darkness and Sin, Death and Mifery. Open and inlighten my Understanding, penetrate and inflame my Heart, fince my whole Felicity confifts in knowing and loving Thee.

Fountain of Life to all that live,
Thyfelf, th' effential Life divine,
Thou didft to our first Parents give,
And in their finless Nature fhine.

The Light was Life and Happiness,

And Wisdom pure, with Thee beftow'd, In all thy Works they faw thy Face, While all thy Works were fill'd with God

HE fame was in the Beginning with God, John i. 2.

THE

The eternal Word, fole Offspring of the divine Understanding, and only Son of the Father, is from all Eternity in the Bofom of Him who produced Him by an eternal Generation; neither was the Father ever without the Son. O eternal Word! infeparable from the eternal Principle; adorable Son, who never leaveft thy Father's Bofom, let me be never feparated from Thee, and unite me in Thee to thy Father.

The WORD, the uncreated Son,
When finite Things began to be,
Exifting GOD, with GoD alone,
Thou waft from all Eternity!

There, in thy Father's Bofom laid,
Ineffably begot by Him,
Thou waft before the Worlds were made
GOD independant and fupream.

E'er the blue Heav'ns were ftretch'd abroad,
From everlasting was the WORD;
With GOD He was; the WORD was Gon;
And must divinely be ador'd,

TH

HAT was the true Light, which lighteth every Man that cometh into the World, John i. 9.

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Let us adore the Son of God as the true Light, and the fupream Original, and substantial Reason, which lighteth every Man that cometh into the World fince the Soul cannot either think, or argue, or difcern Truth from Falfhood, or Good from Evil, of itself, but only by that Light which is communicated to it from this eternal Reafon. How many other Ways, O true Light, doft Thou inlighten Man by being incarnate! What Darkness doft Thou not disperse by thy Coming into the World! Vouchfafe to fhine ftill more and more in my Soul, fo as to drive out thence all the Remains of falfe Light and real Darkness. Grant that I may follow and prefer Thee to every other Light.

True Light of the World appear,
Anfwer in us thy Character,

Thou uncreated Sun :
JESUS, thy Beams on all Men shed,
That all may by thy Beams be led
To that eternal Throne.

Light of my Soul, I follow Thee,
In humble Faith on Earth to fee

A glorious Day of Love,
And then, with all the Saints in Light,
To gain the Beatific Sight,

Which makes their Heav'n above.

WHICH were born, not of Blood, nor of the Will of the Flesh, nor of the Will of Man, but of God, John. i. 13.

The true Nobility, and that which alone ought to be esteemed and va lued by a Christian, confifts in being a Child of GOD. This Quality comprehends every Thing; but alas! few understand it, few preferve it, few live like Children of GOD. A Gentleman of the lowest Rank values himself upon his not degenerating from his Birth; and yet a Chriftian, by leading a carnal Life, degenerates from a Birth which is altogether fpiritual and divine. It is by the Choice of the Will of God, and by His Love, that we are made Partakers of His divine Nature, and appointed to enjoy His heavenly Inheritance. It is this Will therefore, and this Love, which we must take for the Rule of our Life, and not the Will of the Flesh nor the Will of Man.

I use the Power by Thee bestow'd,
T'accept Thee as the Lord my God,
The Privilege divine !
Affur'd Thou wilt on me bestow,
That, born of God,my Soul may know
Whate'er Thou art is mine.

Not differing from a Servant, now
I wait in humble Faith, 'till Thou
Art in my Heart reveal'd :
Then fhall I Abba Father cry,
An Heir of all in Earth and Sky,
An Heir of Glory feal'd.