££S% Of? t A^»Wt/ t"- t £A/liU<4-f ^\:\ Gospel A fyOS.I'ul'li/kcL OS ///r.L-/ directs rt/ (r Ts;-n/. S-, TXJtr;; ■ .Ztvu/,v? . ■- GOSPEL SONNETS; O R, SPIRITUAL SONGS. IN SIX PARTS. I. The Believer's Espousals. II. The Believer's Jointure. III. The Believer's Riddle. IV. The Believer's Lodging. V. The Believer's Soliloquy. VI.- The Believer's Principles, CONCI8SI N G, Creation and Redemption — Law and Goipel, JuAificatipn and Sariclificalion, Faith and Senfe — Heaven and Earth. THE TWENTY-FOURTH EDITION: IN WHICH THE SCRIPTURES ARE MORE FULLY EXTENDED. By the late Reverend RALPH ERSKINE, MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL AT DUNFERMLINE. ^- TO WHICH IS PREFIXED, SOME ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR'S LIFE AND WRITINGS. Mira eanam, fed vera canam. Buch. Pf, kxviii. LONDON: PRINTED FOR G. TERRY, NO. 54, PATER-KOSTER-ROvr. <£mt ret) at Stationers $all, 1793- ABSTRACT OF THE PREFACE TO THE READER. Whatever apologies this book has former- ly been prefaced with (as to the manner in which many lines in it are written), (hall be here altogether forborn. I now difmifs it as it is, under the conduct of divine Providence, to take its hazard in the world 5 fince it has already ferved its appren- ticefhip, under feveral impreiiions, and gone both through kind and hard ufage, - through good report and bad report. It never promifed much to them that feek nothing but pieafure and fatisfacJion to their fancy; but I have heard that it has done fome fer- vice (and, I hope, through the blading of Heaven, it may yet do more) to them that feek profit and edification to their fouls. The late edition of this book at London, being more full and complete than any that was formerly, emitted, it is fit here to acquaint the Reader, that this is printed exactly off the belt copy, without any material addition or alteration, except in the third pari of the book, that comes under the name of Riddles, or myfterie.5 3, and- Part ftxth, chap/ii. feci:. 1. indued, T £he Believers Principles, concerning the mxfieries of the law and go/pel^ Both of which I thought fit to confirm by fcripture-texts. cited at the bottom of the page, for the benefit of thole ' a 2 iv THE PREFACE. that are weak in knowledge, and unacquainted with the Scripture*. I have directed them by a letter of the alphabet, at every branch ol the fentence that is either feeniirigly or really oppofite to the other, unto fome fcriptural text, one or more ; for evin- cing the truth thereof: By which mean.-, the weakeft that is willing, may come to underftand the mod difficult p . or myftery, mentioned in this work; at leaft fo far as to fee that every part of it is founded on the word of God, either directly, or by plain and neceilary confeqaence. So that yen may eafily go over all the paradoxes, riddles, or inyfteries, contained in this book, and find them evidently confirmed by the Scriptures of truth, the word of God. This might be no unpro- fitable exercife, but tend to lead you in to the true knowledge of the gofpel, to which mylteries are fo efiential, that it is dedgned by them, and called the nvifdom of God in a mvflery, I Cor. ii. 7. and the know- ledge of which is fo efiential to Chriltianity, and fo absolutely neceiTary to falvation, that the fame apoftle declares, that if cur gofpel be hid, it is hid to them that ere loft ; in whom the god of this ivorld hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lefl the light of the glorious gofpel of Chrifi, who is the image of God y fiould fjine unto them. 2 Cor. vi. 3. But, if you fearch the fcriptures for yourfelves, you will fee many more proofs for every point than I have adduced, and perhaps many much more ap- pofite •, for thefe only are fet down at the bottom of the page that firft occurred to me : Yet, I fuppofe, though fometimes but one, and fometimes more fcriptures are pointed out, they are fuch as fuffici- ently confirm the pofitions they relate to. That other fcriptures might have been adduced in plenty, I fhall give one inflance in the paradox following, * The Scriptures in thTs Edition are extended at full length. _ TRE PREFACE. ? viz. That every believer, while in this world, is both a devil and a faint. The -latter claufe is what none will deny, namely,"" That every true believer is a faint *, for further proof of which, you might fee Acts, xv. 9. and xxvi. 18, &c. But becaufe the lirft claufe may feeirrmore harfh, it may by fcripture be aifo further evinced two ways : ij?->ln refpeCb of the daily commiffion of fin he has to challenge him- felf with ; for the fcripture fays, Eccl. vii. 20. There is not a jufl man upon earth that doeth good and firineth not. And with this compare 1 John, iii. 8. He thai commiiteth fin, is of the devil. Hence it is plain, there is not a juflman upon earth, but may, in re- fpecl of the commiffion of (in, be called a devil, idly, In refpeel of prevalent temptations, by which he may be hurried into thcie things that favour not of God, but of men ; on which account Chriit lays to Peter, Matt. xvi. 23. Get thee behind me, Satan. And if Chrifl calls Peter a devil, whom he had defcribed as a faint of the firft magnitude, ver. 17. one diviner ly bieffed and enlightened; what occanon may every believer have to call himfelf a devil! Yea, it is a part of his faith and fancTity, to fee and acknow- ledge, with fhame before the Lord, his own devil- ifh and defperately wicked heart and nature ; which a blind, lesi-conceited world are ignorant of, being neither acquainted with themfeives, nor with God and his word. However, fo it is, that the more any mall fearch the fcripture, the more, I hope, will they difcern, not only by the texts I have quo- ted, but from many others alio, the truth and evi- dence of every part of this book, however myfte- rious fome pafTages of it may feem to many. Though fome of thele lines may want the po- litenefs that can pleafe the curious age, yet, while they Hand firm upon a fcriptural foundation, none of them want authority, and that of the higher! nature, except in the account of mockers, and thole a 3 vi THE PREFACE. (of whom there are too many in our day) that are either Deifts, who undervalue the fcripture ; or Atheifts, who deride it : And it is fadly to be re- gretted, that thofe people are hardened in their wicked principles and practices, by fame that, per- haps, have a higher profefTion. For, I have ieen two prints, one called the Groan, and another the Laugh, wherein fome lines, picked out among others, have been expofed to ridicule : But how- ever fuch gentlemen may laugh at their own fpert, and wickedly divert themfelves with ferious matters for a time, I fear their laughing will iiTue in weep- ing for ever; if God, by giving them repentance, do not make them groan to purpofe, for the evi- dence they thus give of either their grievous igno- rance of the fcripture, or their grofs profanity, and of their readinefs to yield themfelves inuruments of the devil, to promote the Atheiftical fpirit of the age, which is bent enough (without any fuch pro- vocations) to laugh at every thing ferious, facred, and fcriptural. This is fo palpable, without my obiervation upon it, and fo felf-cvidcnt to all that fear God, and have had the patience to read fuch prints, that I would not have thought them worth my noticing fo far, as to rr^ke this bare mention of them, had not Providence put the pen in my hand to preface this edition, wherein fcriptural proofs are added to that part of the book. Reader, it gives me fatisfaclion enough to un- derltand, that this book has already been ufeful and edifying to feme, however it is entertained by others. The gofpel itfelf is to fome the favour of life., to others the favour of death ,- to fome ivifdom, to others foolijhnefs ; to fome matter of faith, love, and com- fort, to others matter ef mockery and fecrn. I mall be far from thinking it any difcredit or difparagement to this book, if it meet with the like entertainment. *— May the Lord of heaven and earth, who over-rule? THE PREFACE. xn all things, accompany it in its journies abroad or at home, with his ble fling to many fouls; and to his care I commend it, in the words of a famous Scots poet, upon Pfaim xxxv. i. Rerum fah&e Opifex, ades, Et patrocinio protege me tuo. "Which may be adapted to the matter in hand thus : The truth which hell may critieife 9 Great God be near to patronize- SOME ACCOUNT OF THE REVEREND MR. RALPH ERSKINE. it-he Rev. Mr. RALPH ERSKINE was ho- nourably defcended j his iatrier, the Rev. Mr. Henry Erskine, being one of the thirty- three children of Ralph Erskine of Shielfieldj a family of confiderable repute and long (landing in the county of Merfe originally defcended from the ancient houfe of Mar. Our Author, and his brother, the Reverend Mr. Ebenezer Erskine, late minifter of the goipel at Stirling-, were two children of the faid Reverend Mr. Henry Erskine, who was fome- time minifter of the gofpel at Cornwal, afterwards at Chirnfide ; a man eminent in his day, and juftly diitinguifhed for his piety and firm attachment to Prefbyterian principles : For his ftedfaft adherence to which, he was fubjetted to many confiderable hardfhips in the latter part of the lad century, du- ring; the perfecuting period of Charles II. and James VII. See Calamy's Life of Baxter. Our Author was born at Monilaws, in the county of Northumberland the 15th of March 16855 an ^ baptized at Chirnfide, on the 5th ot April laid year, by the Rev. Mr. William Violand. He gave pretty early proofs of a great genius, and feverai inftances of a pious difpofition, and foiid way of reflecting or, r latters. On this ac- count he was, by hfs parents, early deflined for LIFE OF THE AUTHOR. & the mrtfiftry ; accordingly they gave him a regular and liberal education, in order to qualify him for that important work. When he had acquired a competent degree of grammatical learning, and other introductory parts of education, he went to the Univerfity of Edin- burgh, to complete his ftudies; where he went through the ordinary courfes of erudition, making a considerable progrefs in all the different branches of literature : For he foon became a fine Grecian, an excellent logician, and an accomplished fcholar. Having acquired a competent meafure of knowledge, in thefe various branches of erudition, he gave himfeif up to the fliudy of Divinity, his now darling and beloved theme ; in which he made great pro- grefs, as this prefent production doth abundantly- evidence. The ordinary courfe of ftudies being gone through, at the College of Edinburgh, with fuc- cefs *, he was, in the Providence of God, called forth to appear in a public cb.arac~f.er ; and being well reported of, by all who knew him, for a con- verfation becoming the goipel, he was accordingly called, upon trial, by the prelbytery of Dunfermline ; and having paiTed through the ufual pieces, to the entire fatisfaction of the Prefbytery, he was by them licenfed to preach, as a probationer, on the 8th of June 1709. In which capacity he exercifed the talents which the Lord had graciouily conferred on him, both in vacancies and fettled congregations, to the great fatisfacliion of both minifters and people. After this, Providence foon opened another door for him; and he got an unanimous call from the pa- riihioners of Dunfermline, on the til of May 171 1, to exercife his miniilerial talents and abilities amongft them; Being approved by the Preibytery. they let him apart to the office of the holy miniftry, in the collegiate charge of Dunfermline, on Aug. 7, 171 r. x LIFE OF THE AUTHOR. Under the public character of a minister of the go- fpel, having now a paftoral relation to a particular flock, in the church univerfal, hefejemed / not to hnoiu any thing fave "fefus Chrljl and him crucified: He was injlant in pa/on and out of fcafon. in all parts of his ministerial labours, and gave himfeif wholly thereunto ; exhorting the people under his truft, from houfe to houfe, in the Way of family vihta- tion ; examining them more publicly upon the prin- ciples of the gofpel j v.f.cing the lick, when called; and preaching the everlafting gofpel, in which he had a very pleafantand edifying gift, labouring, by turns, with his colleague, every Sabbath and Thurf- day, through the year ; and afterwards, when he had no afliflant for feveral years before his death, he officiated alone, punctually, both on Sabbath and week-days. He was blefTed with a rich and fertile gift, as ap- pears in the agreeable and entertaining diverfity, wherewith his heads of doctrine are every-where adorned. The poetical genius, with which he was happily endowed, contributed not a little to the em- bellifhment of his difcourfes, with a variety of per- tinent epithets and finking metaphors. His gift of preaching was both inftructing and fearehing- Few outihone him in the nervous and convincing manner, whereby he confirmed the truth of the doctrines he infiPied on ; and fewer ftiil in the warm addrefs, in which he enforced the prac- tice and power of them. He peculiarly excelled in the ample and free man- ner of exalting Chrift , teaching them to reft on him alone for their falvation, as freely and fully exhibit- ed unto them in the gofpel. On all which accounts he was juftly efteemed, and much followed, as one of the molt popular and powerful preachers of his day. — During his time, facramental folemnities, at .Dunfermline, were very much crowded; numbers LIVE OF THE AUTHOR. x ; of people, from fevera! parts of tlie kingdom, re- forting unto them ; the Lord being pleafed to coun- tenance thefe communions, with fignal evidences of his gracious prefence and influence, to the fweet refrefhment of many drooping fouls. It will eafily appear to the judicious and experien- eed reader, in perufing this book, that he had a Angu- lar faculcy in describing the plague of the heart, and the diversified circum (lances of tempted and ex- ercifed fouls ; it feemed as if they had communica- ted their fevera! doubts and cafes unto him ; while, in the mean time, he was only unfolding the in- ward experience of his own foul, it being no more than what he himfelf felt of the workings of cor- ruption and unbelief, againft the powerful influence of the Holy Spirit, in oppofition thereunto ; which cannot but agree with the fame experience in others; for, as in ivater, face anfwereth face, fa doth the heart cf man to man. This eminent fervant of Chrift, being early ex- ercifed in godlinefs even from his youth, became, by grace, a fcribe well infrutled unto the kingdom of hea- ven> whom our Lord compares to an houfeholder y ivh'ich bringeih forth out cf his treafure$ things ?ie c 7u and old : Old truths, newly experienced, and old experiences,, newly confirmed in him, fo that it may be faid, that there are few perplexities or tempt- tations which the faints are exercifed with, that were not in fome meafure or other folved and eluci- dated by him. At the importunity of many of his acquaintance, minifcers and people, he publifhed a number of his fermons, on the mod interefting fubje&s, which were well relifhed by truly godly fouls. They, with feveral others, were collected together, after his death, and publifhed along with his poems, in two volumes folio in the years 1764 and 1765 ; and, fmce that time, reprinted in ten volumes octavo. 3 *Ii LIFE OF THE AUTHOR. But the Bonnets have by far exceeded all his other works, as is evident by the number of editions they have gone through, and this being the twenty-fourth. The words of the late juflly celebrated and pious Mr. Hervey are truly expreflive of the high elteem he had for Mr. Erfkine's works: "Was I to read " with a fingle view to the edification of my heart, " in true faith, folid comfort, and evangelical ho- c< linefs j I would have recourfe to Mr. Erfkine, cc for my guide, my companion, and my own fami- " liar friend." Dr. Bradbury fpeaks of his works thus : "Thefe," faith he, "have no need of my recommendation; the " reader will find in them a faithful adherence to " the d< ' r ;;;n of the gofpel, a clear defence of thofe " dochines that are the pillar and ground of truth, " a large compafs of thought, a flrorig force of w argument, and a happy flow of words, which are " both judicious and familiar; and they have been " greatly bleffed to the edification of many, efpe- " ciall) the poor of the flock. 5 '' To proceed : He was not only efteemed a judicious Divine, but alfo confidered as a good P^et. His talent was employed chiefly on divine fubjecls, hav- ing no relifh and telle for any others. In his younger years, at his leifure hours, he compofed the Gofpel Sonnets, The ufefulnefs of this poetical compendium of the gofpel, for promoting the life of faith in the foul, holinefs and happinefs in the heart, will be experienced by many of the faints of God, tc ihe lateft pofterity. About jfche year 1738, he fent into the world his poetical paraphr i the whole book of the Song of Solomon: Which indeed is an evangelical j drain adapted to the New-Tef- tament difpenfatipn> upon that allegorical or figura- tive part or : >ly vt ril — That performance has been acceptable, and undergone fome editions. LIFE OF THE AUTHOR. xiii By the above poetical effays and fome fmaller per- formances, our Author's abilities as a poet came to be known ; and induced the Reverend Synod, of which he was a member, to importune him to em- ploy his vacant hours, in turning the poetical paf- fages of facred writ into common metre, of the fame kind with the Pfalms of David- Thefe re- quisitions he in part complied with, and his pro- ductions made their appearance, under the title of Scripture Songs, felected from feveral paffages in the Old and New Teftament, which have undergone fome editions, but are not efteemed equal with the Sonnets. Our Author, befides his fermons and poems, publifhed feveral tracts, on fome points of contro- verfy, in which he difplayed his abilities as a writer, particularly an elaborate treatife, intitled, Faith no Fancy •, or, A Treatife of Mental Images : a book h" re- gularly valuable, for the clear and perfpicuous man- ner in which he hath handled and eltablifhed that important point, every way worthy of our Author. It reflected great honour on him, by giving a difplay of his abilities, as a divine and phiiofo- pher, and fnewed how capable he was of handling any point, when he fet himfelf to it, even in a moil abftracl: way of reafoning : This book effectually filenced all his opponents ; and Hands to this day unanfwered. As a faithful fervant of J efus Chrift, he laboured fuccefsfuliy in the work of the miniftry, and conti- nued publicly ufeful in his Mailer's work, till with- in a few days of his departure.-, for he preached jn his own pulpit on Sabbath the 2i)th of October 1 752, and was afterwards feized, at the end of the fame month, viz. October 1752, with a nervous fever (wherein, never thelefs, he enjoyed the exercife of his judgment and fenfes) ; it laded only for a few davs, and was then the haity meflenger to A ,iv LIFE OF THE AUTHOR. free him from the incumbrances of a mortal body, and leading him to the regions of eternal felicity ; for, on the eighth day of the fever, he fell afleep in the Lord, being Monday November 6, 1752, in the 68th year of his age, after having la- boured unweariedly and fuccefsfully in the work of the miniftry, among his flock in Dunfermline, for the fpace of forty-two years. Mr.Erfkine, as an author and a divine, affords room for large commendations, were we difpofed to give them; and his complete character is truly great, and his difpofition exceedingly amiable. — If he is confidcred as to his natural endowments, he poffelTed many excellent qualities; having a good temper, a clear head, a rich invention, a lively imagination, and a great memory. If he is viewed as to his ac- quired abilities ; he was well acquainted with all the ufeful branches of literature, necefTary to adorn the fcholar and the minifter. If he is confidered as to his oihee, he was a great and judicious divine, a pious evangelical preacher, and an able cafuift. In fhort, he was not only a learned man, an able di- vine, an afTe£t.ionate familar friend, and a focial companion, but, that which exceeds it all, he was made rich in the grace of Chrift. By his death, the Church loft a great light, a he- roic champion for the truth, and a bold contender for the faith ; — the congregation he laboured among loft an able faithful minifter ; — his family and relatives, a true friend ; — and his acquaintance and intimates, a fympathifing companion. Mr. Erfkine was twice married ; firft to Margaret Dewar, a daughter of the Laird of LalTodie ; which commenced the 15th of July 17 14. She lived with him about fixteen years, during which time (lie bore ten children, five fons and five daughters : Three of thefe fons were Minifters in the aflbciation, viz. the Rev, Meflrs. Henry, John, and James \ the firft LTFE OF THE AUTHOR. xv ordained Minifter at Falkirk, trie fecond at Lefslie, and the third at Stirling. All of them died in the prime cf life, even after they had given the world juft ground to conceive high expectations of their ufefulnefs in the church. — His fecond marriage was with Margaret Simibn, a daughter of Mr. Simfon writer to the Signet at Edinburgh, which took place February 24, 1732; ihe bore him four fons, and iurvived him fome few years. It appears, from what our Author has publifhed, that he was an able, cloie, and clear reafoner ; and could handle a fubjett in a mafterly manner. His ftyle was of a medium, between the lofty and fimple, being natural, unarrested, manly, and fcriptural j and free from meannefs and lownefs *, though in- deed he ftudied much to adapt himfelf to the capa- city of his auditory. There centered in him gravity, without dulnefs ; and fmartnefs, without frothinefs ; not chufing to come to his hearers, with the inticing words of man's wifdom ; but to preach the truths of the everlafting gofpel in their genuine purity and naked fimplicity. He was pofTefled of excellent ta- lents for the pulpit ; having a pleafant voice, free of any difagreeable tone or falfe pathos : and every unprejudiced perfon will readily grant, who has 3 relifh for fubftantial matter, and for that doctrine ivhich is according to godlinefs, delivered in an un- affected manner, that he was an agreeable, as well as a faithful, judicious, evangelical preacher. As to his miniftrations in general, it will be rea- dily acknowledged, that he was an able minifter of the New Teftament. He made choice of the moil interesting fubjects to preach upon •, and it was his peculiar delight to preach Chrifl crucified^ and to exalt the doctrine of free grace, through his im- puted righteoufnefs : Rightly dividing the word of truth ; and Skilfully parcelling out to every one their portion in due feafon. He was not a flat, A 2 Wi LIFE OF THE AUTHOR. dull, lazy, infipid preacher; but delivered his fer- mons with pathetic zeal, fervor, and affection. He was a Ton of thunder, when he made known the ter- rors of the Lord to hypocrites, falfe and carnal pr)- feffors: and had-the tongue of the learned to fpeak a word of confolation to thofe who were weary and heavy laden ; inviting them to truft in the name of the Lord Jefus Chrift, and to ftay themfelves on him as the God of their falvation. His miniftry was very trying and fearching; he had a peculiar way of addreiTmghimfelf to the con- fcience; could eafily delineate the foul, and repre- fent the (inner in his native colours. Being a clofe and hard Undent to hk old age •, he took a great deal of pains in the compolition of his fcrmons, and di- gefted them well. When he preached occasionally in other places, abroad from his fixed charge, his tniniftratrons were very acceptable, and often left a deep impreilion on the minds of the hearers. He was a wife, prudent, learned, and accomplished Kninifter ; well underflcod, conftantly inculcated, and ftrenuoufly defended the truth as it is in Jefus. In fhort, he had the teftimony of thofe who had a true relilh for the glorious gofpel of the ever bleffed Re- deemer. His converfation was fimple, favory, and refresh- ing, yet warm and edifying. Every one, who had opportunity to mark his actions, could atteft, that he lived up to the truths he preached. He defired and affected to be of that party only who were for advancing the glory of his exalted Lord; pleading for the fufficiency of divine grace; and for debafmg the creature . To which Lord and Saviour be glory for ever. Anwi* TABLE O F T H E GOSPEL SONNETS. PART I. The Believer s Efpoufals. Preface^ ^ a g s l pHAP.I. A general account of man's fall in A- . dam, and the remedy provided in Chrifl; and a particular account of man's being naturally- wedded to the law as a covenant of works, 2 Seft. i. The fall of Adam, . . 2 Sect, 2. Redemption through Chri/i, . 3 Seel:. 3. Man's legal difpoiition, . 6 Sect. 4. Man's ftrict attachment to legal terms, or to the law as a condition of life, . 7 Sect. 5. Men's vain attempt to feek life by Chrifl's righteoufnefs, joined with their own ; and legal hopes natural to all, . . 9 Chap. II. The manner of a Tinner's divorce from the law hi a work of humiliation, and of his marriage to the Lord J ejus Chrifl ; or, The way how a fmner comes to be a believer, 13 Seel;. 1. Of a law-work, and the workings of legal pride under it, . . . 13 Sect. 2. Conviction of fin and wrath carried on more deeply and effectually on the heart, 16 Sect. 3. The deeply humbled foul relieved, with fome faving difcoveries of Chrifl the Redeemer, 19 Sect. 4. The workings of the Spirit of faith, in feparating the heart from all felf-righteoufnefs, and drawing out its confent to, and defire after Chrifl alone and wholly, . . 31 A 3 sviii THE TABLE. Soft. 5. Faith's view of the freedom of grace, cordial renunciation of all its own ragged righteouf- nefs, and formal acceptance of and cloiing with the perfon of glorious Chrljiy . . 24 Chap. III. The fruits of the believer's mar- riage with Chrifly particularly gofpel-holi- nefs, and obedience to the law as a rule, 27 Sect. 1. The fweet folemnity of the marriage now over, and the fad effects of the remains of a legal fpirit, . . . 27 Seel. 2. Faith's difcoveries over fin and Satan, through new and further difcoveries of Chrijl> making believers more fruitful in holinefs, than all other pretenders to works, . . 29 Sect. 3. True faving faith magnifying the law, both as a covenant and rule. Falfe faith unfruit- ful and ruining, . . 31 Seel. 4. The believer only, being married to Chrill, is jutliiled and fanctified; and the more gof- pel-freedom from the law as a covenant, the more holy conformity to it as a rule, . 34. Sell 5. Gofpel-grace giving no liberty to fin, but to holy fervice and pure obedience, 57 Chap. IV. A caution to all againfl a legal fpirit, especially to thofe that have a profeflion without power, and learning without grace, 58 Chap. V. Arguments and encouragements to gofpel-minifters to avoid a legal drain of doctrine, and endeavour the Tinner's match with Chrift by gofpel-means, . 41 Seel;. 1. A legal fpirit the root of damnable errors, 41 Se&i 2. A legal llrain of doctrine discovered and difcarded, . .43 Sect. 3. The hurtfulnefs of not preaching Chriit, and diftinguifhlng duly between law and gofpel, 44 Sect. 4. Damnable pride and felt-righteoufnefs, fo natural to all men, has little need to be encou- raged by legal preaching, , ._ 46 6 THE TABLE. ri* Sect. £. The gofpel of divine grace the only means of converting finners; and therefore fhould be preached moil clearly, fully, and freely, 49 Chap. VI. An exhortation to all that are out of Chrift, in order to their clofing the match with him ; containing alfo motives and directions, 53 Seel:. 1. Conviction offered to iinners, efpecially fuch as are wedded ftrictly to the law, or felf- righteous ; that they may fee their need of Chrift's righteoufnefs, . . . 53 Sect. 2. Direction given with reference to the right ufe of the means, that we reft not on thefe inftead of Chrift the glorious Hufband, in whom alone our help lies, . . . 56 Sect. 3. A call to believe in Jefus Chrift, with fome hints at the act and object of faith, - 6a Sect. 4. An advice to finners to apply to the fovereign mercy of God, as it is difcovered through Chrift, to the higher! honour of juftice and other divine attributes, in order to further their faith in him unto falvation, . . ' 6z Sect. 5. The terrible doom of unbelievers that reject the gofpel-match, the offered Saviour and falvation, . 66 PART II. The Believer V Jointure. 70 Chap. I. Containing the Privileges of the Be- • liever that is efpoufed to Chrift, by faith of divine operation, ... 72. Sect. 1. The believer's perfect beauty, free ac- ceptance, and full fecurity, through the imputation of Chrift 's perfect righteoufnefs, though imparted grace be imperfect, . . . 72 Sect. 2. Chrift the believer's friend, prophet, prieft, king, defence, guide, guard, help, and healer, 74 Sect. 3. Chrift the believer's wonderful phyfician, and wealthy friend, . . . 76 Sect. 4. The believer's fafety under the covert of Chrift's atoning blood, and powerful intercede np. 78 *t THE TABLE. Sect. 5". The believer's faith and hope encouraged even in the darkeit nights of defertion and diitrefs, 8 1 Seel. 6. Benefits accruing- to believers, from the offices, names, natures, and fuflferings of Chriil, S$ Sect. 7. Chrift's fufferings fmther improved, and believers called to live by faith, both when they have and want fenfible influences, . . 85 SeCt. 8. Chriil the believer's enriching treafure, 87 Sect. 9. Chriil the believer's adorning garment, 88 Sect. 10. Chriil the believer's fvveet nourifhment, 89 Chap. I. Containing marks and characters of believers in Chriil; together with fome farther privileges and grounds of comfort to faints, 90 Sect. 1. Doubting believers called to examine themfelves by marks drawn from their love to him and his prefence, their view of his glory, and their being emptied of felf-righteoufnefs, &c. . 90 Sect. 2. Believers described from their faith ail- ing by divine aid, and fleeing quite out of them- felves to Jefus Chriil, " " 93 Sect. 3. Believers characterized by the objects and purity of their deiire, delight, joy, hatred, and love, difcovering they have the Spirit of Chriil, 95 Sect. 4. Believers in Chriil affect his counfel, word, ordinances, appearance, full enjoyment in heaven^ and fweet prefence here, - 97 Sect. 5. The truebeliever'shumility, dependence, zeal, growth, admiration of free graee, and know- ledge of Chrift's voice, . . 99 Sect. 6. True believers are willing to be tried and examined. Alfo comforts arifing to them from Chrift's ready fupply, real fympathy, and relieving names Crating their need, . . 101 Sect. 7. The believer's experience of Chrift's comfortable prefence, or of former comforts, to be improved for his encouragement and fupport under hidings, . . . 104 Sect. 8. Comfort to believers from the (labi- lity of the promife, not withftanding heavy chaftife- merits for fin, , . . . 107 THE TABLE. xx* Sect. 9. Comfort to believers from Chrift's re- lations, his dying love, his glory in heaven, to which he will lead them through death, and fupply them with all neceffaries by the way, . icp Seel:. 10. Comfort to believers from the text, Thy Maker is thy Hujband^ inverted thus, Thy Huf- band is thy Maker; and the conclufion of this fubjecl, . . . , 112 PART III. The Believer s Riddle \ or> The Myfiery of Faith. The Preface, (hewing the ufe and defign of the Riddle, and how all fatal errors proceed from ignorance of fuch myfteries, - 114 Sect. 1. The n^ftery of the faints pedigree, and efpeciallyoftheirrelation to Chrift's wonderful perfon, 118 Sect. 2. The myftery of the faints life, Hate, and frame, . . . 126 Seel. 3. Myfteries about the faints work and warfare, fins, forrows, and joys, . 134 Seel. 4. Myfteries in faith's extractions, way and walk, prayers and anfwers, heights and depths, fear and love, . . . 140 Sect. 5. Myfteries about flefh and fpirit, liberty and bondage, life and death, . 151 Seel. 6. The myftery of free j uftification through Chrift's obedience and fatisfaclion, - 155 Seel. 7. The myftery of God thejuftifier; and faith juftifying him, both in his juftifying and con- demning; or,foul-juftiiicationandfe]f-condemnation, 162 Seel. 8. The myftery of fanclifi cation, imperfeel in this life; or, The believer doing all, and doing nothing, . . . 169 Seel. 9. The myftery of various names given to faints; or, The flefh and fpirit defcribed from inani- mate things, vegetables, and fenfitives, . 17^ Seel. 10. The myftery of the faints old and new man further defcribed, and the means of their fpintual life . , , 181 fcsii the table. Soft. ir. The myllery of Chrift, his names, na- tures, and offices, . . j 89 Seel. 12. The myflery of the believer's mixed Hate further enlarged, and his getting good out of evil, . . . 196 Seel:. 13. The my Hery of the faints adverfaries and adveriities, . . 20 1 Sect. 14. The myflery of the believer's pardon and fecurity from revenging wrath, notwithstand- ing his fin's defert, . . 206 Seel. 15. The my fiery of faith and fight, 213 Seel. 16. The myllery of faith and works, 216 Of rewards of grace and debt, . 221 The conclufion, . . . 224 PART IV. The Believer's Lodging, . , . 226 A paraphrafe upon Pfalm lxxxiv. . 226 A fourfold exercife for the believer in his lodg- ing, by the Holy law ; or, The ten commandments, 233 2. The unholy heart the reverfe of God's law, 233 3. The glorious gofpel of Chrift the remedy, 234 4. The prayer of faith exemplified, • 234 PART V. "The Believer's Soliloquy ; efpecially in times of defertion, temptation, affliction, &c. . 236 Seel. 1. The deferted believer longing for per- fect freedom from fin, . . 236 Seel;. 2. The deferted believer's prayer under complaints of unbelief, darknefs, deadnefs, and hardnefs, . . . 238 Seel. 3. The believer wading through depths of 4efertion and corruption, «, . 241 Seel:. 4. The believer's complaint of fin, forrow, and want of love, . . 243 Seel:. 5. The deferted foul's prayer for the Lord's gracious and fm-fubduing prefence, . 245 Seel. 6. The fong of heaven deiired b} r faints jen earth, •■« . e . 247 THE TABLE. sxiii PART VI. The Believer's Principles ', . «* 250 Chap. I. Concerning Creation and Redemp- tion ; or, Some of the iirft principles of the oracles of God, . . . 250 Sect. 1. Of creation. The firft chapter of Ge- nefis compenclized, The fum of creation, 250 Sect. 2. Of redemption. The myftery of the Redeemer's incarnation ; or, God manifested in the flefh. The fum of redemption, . 252 Seel:. 3. The Redeemer's works ; or, Chrift all in all, and our complete redemption. A gofpel catechifm for young Chriftians, . 253 Seel:. 4. Faith and works both excluded from the matter of juftification before God, that redemption may appear to be only in Chrift, , 258 Chap. II. Concerning the Law and the Gojpel, 261 Seel:. 1. The myftery of law and gofpel, . 261 Seel. 2. The difference between the. law and the gofpel, . . . 275 Seel. 3. The harmony between the law and the gofpel, . ". 279 Seel:. 4. The proper place and ftation of the law and the gofpel, in four paragraphs, . 282 Paragraph 1. The place and ftation of law and gofpel in general, . . . 282 . Parag. 2. The place and ftation of law and gofpel in particular, . . 283 Parag. 3. The gofpel no new law ; but a joyful found of grace and mercy, . . 288 Parag. 4. The gofpel further defcribed, as a bundle of good news and gracious promifes, 290 Chap. III. Concerning Jiiftification and SanBi- jicaiion^ their difference and harmony, 293 Seel:. 1. The difference between juftification and fanclification, or righteoufnefs imputed and grace imparted, in upwards of thirty particulars, 293 *xiv THE TABLE. Seel:. 2. The harmony between juftincation and fancYification, . . . 298 Chap. IV. Concerning Faith and Senfe, . 300 Seel. 1. Faith and fenfe natural compared and diitinguifhed, . . . 300 St£t. 2. Faith and fenfe fpiritual compared and diitinguifhed, . . . 303 ■ Sect. 3. The harmony and difcord between faith and fenfe, .... 305 Seel:. 4. The valour and victories of faith, 306 Seel. 5. The heights and depths of fenfe, 308 Se£L 6. Faith and frames compared, or faith building upon fenfe difcovered, . 310 Chap.V. Concerning Heaven and Earthy . 313 Se£l. 1. The work and contention of heaven, 313 Se£t. 2 Earth defpicable, heaven defirable, 316 Meditation on fmoaking, . . 318 Ditto, Part 2. . , \ . 319 END OF THE CONTENTS. N. B. The Editor cf this Edition has it in contempla- tion to pub/i/h, as an accompaniment to it, a poetical piece on Solomon's Song, by R. Fleming, Author of the Apo- calyptical Key ; cr, A Difcourfe on the Rife and Fall of Papacy. GOSPEL SONNETS. PART I. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. « THY MAKER IS THY HUSBAND," Ha. liv. 3. PREFACE. TJark, dying mortal,' if the Sonnet prove A fong of living and immortal love, 'Tis then thy grand concern the theme to know, If life and immortality be fo. Are eyes to read, or ears to hear, a trull ? Shall both in death be cramm'd anon with dull ? Then trifle not to pleaie thine ear and eye, But read thou, hear thou, for eternity, Puriue not {hadows wing'd, but be thy chafe, The God of glory on the held of grace : The mighty hunter's name is loft and vain, That runs not this fubftantial prize to gain. Thefe humble lines aifume no high pretence, To pleafe thy fancy? or allure thy feme : But aim, if everlafting life 's thy chafe, To clear thy mind, and warm thy heart through grace. A marriage fo myftericus I proclaim, Betwixt two parties of fuch dirt 'rent fame, That human tongues may blufh their names to tell, To wit, the Prince of Heaven, the heir of hell ! But, on fo vafl a fubjecT:, who can find Words fuiting the conceptions of his mind ? Or, if our language with our thought could vie, "What mortal thought can raife itfelf fo high ? When words and thoughts "both fail, may faith and P ra ?' r Afcend by climbing up the fcripture-ftair : From facred writ thefe ftrange efpoufals may Be explicated in the following way. * COSPEL SONNETS. Part I. CHAP. I. A general account of Marf s fall in Adam, and the remedy provided in Christ j and a par- ticular account of Mans being naturally ivedded to the law> as a covenant of works. SECT. I. The Fall of Adam. ald Adam once a heav'n of pleafure found, While he with perfect innocence was crown'd*, His wing'd affections to his God could move In raptures of defire, and {trains of love. Man {landing fpotlefs, pure, and innocent, Could well the law of works with works content ; Though then (nor fmce) it could demand no lefs Than perfonal and perfect righteoufnefs : Thefe unto finlefs man were eafy terms, Though now beyond the reach of wither'd arms. The legal cov'nant then upon the field, Perfection fought, man could perfection yield : Rich had he, and his progeny, remain'd, Had he primeval innocence maintain'd : His life had been a reft without annoy, A fcene of blifs, a paradife of joy. But fubtil Satan, in the ferpent hid, Propofing fair the fruit that God forbid, Man foon fedue'd by hell's alluring art, Did, difobedient, from the rule depart, Devour'd the bait, and by his bold offence Fell from his blifsful ftate of innocence *. Proftrate, he loft his God, his life, his crown, From all his glory tumbled headlong down ; Plung'd in a deep abyfs of fin and woe, Where, void of heart to will, or hand to do, * Gen. iii. j — C, Chap. I. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 3 For's own relief he can't command a thought, The total fum of what he can is naught. He's able only now t' increafe his thrall; He can deftroy himfeif, and this is all. But can the helliih brat Heav'n's law fulfil, Whofe precepts high furrnounthis ftrength and fkilll Can filthy drofs produce a golden beam ? Or poifon'd fprings a falutifrous ftream ? Can carnal minds, tierce enmity's wide maw, Be duly fubjecl: to the divine law? Nay, now its direful threat'nings muft take place On all the difobedient human race, Who do by guilt Omnipotence provoke, Obnoxious Hand to his uplifted flroke. They muft ingulf themfelves in endlefs woes, Who to the living God are deadly foes ; Who natively his holy will gainfay, Muft to his awful juftice fall a prey. In vain do mankind now expect, in vain By legal deeds immortal life to gain: Nay, death is threaten'd, threats muft have their due, Or fouls that fin muft die # , as God is true. SECT. II. Redemption through Christ. f-n he fecond Adam, fov'reign Lord of all, Did, by his Father's authorizing call, From bofom of eternal love defcend, To fave the guilty race that him offend ; To treat an everlafting peace with thofe, Who were and ever would have been his ices. His errand, never ending life to give To them, whofe malice would not let him lives To make a match with rebels, and efpoufe The brat which at his love her fpite avows. Himfeif he humbled to deprefs her pride, And make his mortal foe his loving bride. * Ezek. xviii. 4., B 2 4 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part I. But, ere the marriage can be folemniz'd, All lets mail be remov'd, all parties pleas'd ; Law-rightebufnels requir'd, muft be procur'd ; Law-vengence threaten'd, muft be full endur'd *, Stern juilice muft have credit by the match ; Sweet mercy by the heart the bride muft catch. : or bankrupt ! all her debt muft fir ft be paid $ Hi r former hufband in the grave be laid : Her prefent lover muft be at the coft To fave and ranfom to the uttermoil; If all thefe things this fuitor kind can do, Then he may win her, and her Welling too. Hard terms indeed ! while death'; the firft demand : But 1 ive i ; ftrong as death *, and will not ftand To carry on the fujt and make it good, Though at the deareffc rare of wounds and blood i The burden's heavy, but the back is broad, glorious lover is the mighty Godf. ■! i yearning in th' eternal Son, He left his Father's court, his heav'nly throne, : he threw his molt divine array, And wrapt his Godhead in a veil of clay ; Angelic armies, who in glory crown'd, joyful harps his awful throne unround, Down to the cryftal frontier of the flc , To fee the Saviour born, did eager fiyj And ever fmce behold with wonder frefh Their Sov'reign and our Saviour wrapt in fiefh : Who in this garb did mighty love difplay, Reftoring what he never took away |j, To God his glory, to the law its due, To heav'n its honour, to the earth its hue ; To man a righteoufnefs divine, complete, A royal robe to fuit the nuptial rite : He in her favours, whom he lov'd fo well, At once did purchafe heav'n and vanquifh hell. * Song, viii. 6. f Ifa. ix. 6. I Luke, ii. 9 — 14. y Pfalm Ixix. 4. Chap. I, THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. Oh! unexampled love ! fo vaft, fo ftrong, So great, fo high, fo deep, fo broad, fo long ! Can finite thought this ocean huge explore, XJnconfcious of a bottom or a fhore ? His love admits no parallel, for why ? At one great draught of love he drank hell dry. No drop of wrathful gall he left behind ; No dreg to witnefs that he was unkind. The fword of awful juilice pierc'd his fide, That mercy thence might gufh upon the bride. The meritorious labours of his life, And glorious conqueits of his dying ftrife ; Her debt of doing, fuiPriiig, both cancell'd, And broke the bars his lawful captive held. Down to the ground the hellifh hofts he threw, Then mounting high the trump of triumph blew, Attended with a bright feraphic band, Sat down enthron'd fublime on God's right hand ; Where glorious choirs their various harps employ, To found his praifes with confed'rate joy. There he, the bride's ftrong Intercefibr, fits, And thence the bleiTings of his blood tranfmits, Sprinkling all o'er the flaming throne of God, Pleads for her pardon his atoning blood ; Sends down his holy co-eternal Dove, To fhew the wonders of incarnate love, To woo and win the bride's reluctant heart, And pierce it with his kindly-killing dart j By gofpel light to manifeft that now She has no further with the law to do ; That her new Lord has loos'd the fed'ral tie That once hard bound her, or to do or die ; That precepts, threats, no fingle mite can crave : Thus for her former fpoufe he digg'd a grave \ The law fail to his crofs did nail and pin, "J Then bury'd the defunct his tomb" within, C That he the lonely widow to himfeif might win. S B 3 6 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part T. SECT. III. Math LEGAL difpofition. "D ut, after all, the bride's fo malecontent, No argument, fave pow'r, is prevalent > To dow her will, and gain her heart's confent. j The glorious Prince's fait flic difapproves, The law, her old primordial hufband, loves; Hopeful in its embraces life to have, Though dead, and bury'd in her fuitor's grave ; Unable to give life, as once before ; Uniit ro be a hufcand any more. Yet proudly fhe the new addrefs difdains, And all the bleit. Redeemer s love and pains ; Though now his head, that cruel thorns did wound, Is with immortal glory circled round ; • Archangels at his awful footflool bow, And drawing love fits fmiiing on his brow. Though down he fends, in gofpel-tidings good, Epillles of his love, fign'd with his blood : Yet lordly fhe the royal fuit rejects, Eternal life by legal works affects •, In vain the living fecks among the dead *, Sues quick'ning comforts in a killing head. Her dead and bury'd hufband has her heart, Which cannot death remove, nor life impart. Thus all revolting Adam's blinded race In their firfb fpoufe their hope and comfort place. They natively expect, if guilt them prefs, Salvation by a home-bred righteoufnefs : They look for favour in Jehovah's eyes, By careful doing all that in them lies. 'Tis ftill their primary attempt to draw Their life and comfort from the vet'ran law; They flee not to the hope the gofpel gives ; ~) To truft a promife bare, their minds aggrieves, > Which judge the man that does, the man that lives. ) * Luke, xxvi, 5. Chap. I. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 7 As native as they draw their vital breath, Their fond recourfe is to the legal path. * Why,' fays old nature, in law-wedded man, * Won't Heav'n be pleas'd, if I do all I can ? ' If I conform my walk to nature's light, * And drive, intent to praclife what is right ? c Thus won't I by the God of heav'n be blefs'd, ' And win his favour, if I do my bed; ? [thrall, * Good God ! (he cries) when prefsM with debt and c Have patience with me, and I'll pay thee all *.' Upon their all, their belt, they're fondly mad, Though yet their all is naught, their beft is bad. Proud man his can-do's mightily exalts, , Yet are his brighter! works but fplendid faults. A iinner may have fhews of good, but (till The belt he can, ev'n at his bed, is ill. Can heav'ii or divine favour e'er be win By thofe that are a mafs of hell and (in ? The righteous law does num'rous woes denounce Againft the wretched foul that fails but once : What heaps of curfes on their heads it rears, That have amafs'd the guilt of num'rous years ! SECT. IV. Man's Jlrici attachment to legal terms, or to the law as a condition of life. - cay, on what terms then Heav'n appeas'd will be? Why, fure perfection is the lead degree. Yea, more, full fatisfaction muil be giv'n For trefpafs done againft the laws of Heav'n. Thefe are the terms ; What mortal back fo broad, But mull for ever fink beneath the load ? A ranfom mull be found, or die they muil, Sure, ev'n as juilice infinite is juft. But, fays the legal, proud, felf-righteous heart, Which cannot with her ancient confort part, » Matth, xviii. 26, S GOSPEL SONNETS. Part I. 1 What ! won't the goodnefs of the God of heav'n * Admit of fmalls, when greater can't be giv'n ? * He knows our fall diminifh'd all our funds, 4 Won't he accept of pennies now for pounds? 4 Sincere endeavours for perfection take, c Or terms more poflible for mankind make ?' Ah ! poor divinity and jargon loofe ; Such hay and ftraw will never build the houfe. Miftake not here, proud mortal, don't miltake, God changes not, nor other terms will make. Will divine faithfulnefs itfelf deny, Which fwore folcmnly Man fhall do, or die ? Will God mod true extend to us, forfooth, His goodnefs, to the damage of his truth ? Will fpotlefs hollnefs be baffled thus ? Or awful juftice be unjuft for us ? Shall faithfulnefs be faithlefs for our {a} Invented night to flifle fcripture day? J The nat'raliit's fincerity is naught, That of the gracious is divinely taught; "Which teaching keeps their graces, if fmcere, Within the limits of the gofpel-fphere, Where vaunting, none created graces fing, Nor bo^fl of ftreaaiSj but of the Lord the fpring. Sincerity's the foul of ev'ry grace, The qualit^'of all the ranfom'd race : Of promis d favour 'tis a fruit, a claufe ; But no procuring term, no moving caufe. How imadvis'd the legal mind confounds The marks of divine favour with the grounds, And qualities of covenanted friends With' the condition of the cov'nant blends? Thus holding gofpel truths with legal arms, Miftakes new-cov'nant fruits for fed'ral terms. The joyful found no change of terms allows, But change of perfons, or another fpoufe. The nature fame that finn'd mall do and die; No milder terms in gofpel-oflers lie. For grace no other law-abatement mews, But how law-debtors may renore its dues ; Rellore, yea, through a furety in their place, With double int'reit and a better grace. Here we of no new terms of life are told, But of a hufband to fulfil the old ; With him alone by faith we're call'd to wed. And let no rival bruik the marriage-bed. SECT. v. Men's vain attempt to feel life by Christ's righte- oufnefsy joined with their , own s and legal hopes na- ' tural to all. T>UT.ftill the bride reluctant difaliows The junior fuit, and hugs the fenior fpoufe. " io GOSPEL SONNETS. Fart I. Such the old felfifh folly of her mind, So bent to lick the duft, and grafp the wind, Alleging works and duties of her own May for her criminal offence atone •, She will her antic dirty robe provide, Which vain fhe hopes will all pollutions hide. The filthy rags that faints away have flung, She holding, wraps and rolls herfelf in dung. Thus maugre all the light the gofpel gives, Unto her nat'ral confort fondly cleaves. Though mercy £et the royal match in view, She's loth to bid her ancient mate adieu. When light of fcripture, reafon, common fenfe, Can hardly mortify her vain pretence To legal righteoufnefs ; yet if at laft Her confeience rous'd begins to ftand aghaft, Prefs'd with the dread of hell, fhe'll rafhly patch, And halve a bargain with the proffer'd match \ In hopes his help, together with her own, Will turn to peaceful (miles the wrathful frown. Though grace the rifing Sun delightful fmgs, With full falvation in his golden wings, And righteoufnefs complete •, the faithlefs foul, Receiving half the light, rejects the whole ; Revolves the facred page, but reads purblind The gofpel-meffage with a legal mind. Men dream their (late, ah ! too, too flightly view'd, Needs only be amended, not renew'd j Scorn to be wholly debtors unto grace, Hopeful their works may meliorate their cafe. They fancy prefent prayers and future pains Will for their former failings make amends : To legal yokes they bow their fervile necks, ^ And, left foul-flips their falfe repofe perplex, > Think Jefus' merits make up all defects. j They patch his glorious robe with filthy rags, And burn but incenfe to their proper drags * : * Hab. i. 1 6. Chap. I. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. n "Difdain to ufe his righteoufnefs alone, "J But as an aiding ilirr'p to mount their own ; C Thus in Chrifl's room his rival felf enthrone, j And vainly would, drefs'd up in legal trim, Divide falvation 'tween themfelves and him. But know, vain man, that to his fhare mufl fall The glory of the whole, or none at all. In him all wifdom's hidden treafures lie •*, And all the fulncfs of the Deity f . This ftore alone, immenfe, and never fpent, Might poor infolvent debtors well content ; But to hell-prifon juflly Heav'n will doom Proud fools that on their petty flock prefume. The foftefl couch that gilded nature knows, Can give the waken'd confcience no repofe. When God arraigns, what mortal pow'r can fland Beneath the terror of his lifted hand ? Our fafety lies beyond the nat'ral line, Beneath a purple covert all divine. Yet how is precious Chrifl^ the way, defpis'd, And high the way of life by doing priz'd ! But can its vot'ries all its levy fhow ? They prize it moil, who lead its burden know : Who by the law in part would fave his foul, Becomes a debtor to fulfil the whole J. Its pris'ner he remains, and without bail Till ev'ry mite be paid j and if he fail, (As fure he mull, fince, by our linful breach. Perfection far furmounts all mortal reach,) Then curs'd for ever mull his foul remain, And all the folk of God mull fay, Amen §. Why, feeking that the law fhould help afford, In honouring the law, he flights its Lord, Who gives his law-fulfilling righteoufnefs To be the naked finner's perfect drefs, In which he might with fpotlefs beauty fhine Before the face of majefly divine : * Col. ii. 3. f Col. ii. 9. I Gal. v. 3. § Deut. xxyli. z6. ,« GOSPEL SONNETS. Part I. Yet, lo ! the finner works with mighty pains A garment of his own to hide his {tains*, iteful ! overlooks the gifts of God, The robe wrought by his hand, dy'd in his blood ! In Vain the Son of God this web did weave, I I cur vile rags fufficient fhelter give : In vain he ev'ry thread of it did draw, Could Tinners be o'ermantled by the law. Can men's falvation on their works he built, "Whofe faired actions nothing are but guilt? Or can the law fupprefs th' avenging flame, When new its only office is to damn ? Did life come by the law in part or whole, . ] efus dy'd in vain to fave a fcul. Thofe then who life by legal means expect, To them is Chrift become of no effect * ; Becaufe their legal mixtures do in facr Wifdom's grand project plainly counteract. How clofe proud carnal rcafonings combine, To fruftrate fov'reign grace's great defign ? Man's heart by nature weds the law alone, Nor will another paramour enthrone. True, many'feem by courfe of life profane, No favour for the law to entertain • But break the bands, and caft the cords away, That would their raging lulls and pafuons ftay. Yet ev'n this reigning madnefs may declare, How ftriclly wedded to the law they are ; For now (however rich they feem'd before) "^ Hopelefs to pay law-debt, they give it o'er, [more. > Like del'p'i ate debtors mad, ftiil run themfdves in ) Defpair of fuecefs {hews their ftrong defires, Till legal hopes are parch'd in luftful fires. c Let's give,' fay they, l our lawfcfs will free fcope, 1 And live at random, for there is no hopef.' The law, that can't them help, they flab with hate, Yet fcorn to beg, or court another mate. * Gal. ii. 21. v. 2, 4. . f Jer. xviii. 12. gfhap. II. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 13 Here lufts moil oppofite their hearts divide, Their beaftly paflion, and their bankrupt pride. In paflion they their native mate deface, In pride difdain to be oblig'd to grace. Hence plainly, as a rule 'gainft law they live, Yet clofely to it as a covenant cleave. Thus legal pride lies hid beneath the patch, And ftrong averfion to the gofpel-match. CHAP. II. The manner of a /inner* s divorce from the law in a work of humiliation, and of his mar- riage to the Lord Jesus Christ; or, the way how a /inner comes to he a believer, SECT. I. Of a LAW- WORK, and the workings of legal prick under it, CO proud' s the bride, fo backwardly difpos'd ; How then fhall e'er the happy match be clos'd ? Kind grace the tumults of her heart mud quell, And draw her heav'nward by the gates of hell. The bridegroom's Father makes, by's holy Sp'rit, His ftern command with her ftiff confcience meet; To dam her pride, and (hew her utmofl need, Purfues for double debt with awful dread. He makes her former hufband's frightful ghoil Appear and damn her, as a bankrupt loft ; "With curfes, threats, and Sinai thunder-claps, Her lofty tow'r of legal boafting faps. Thefe humbling florms, in high or low degrees, Heav'n's Majefty will meafure as he pleafe \ But flill he makes the fiery law at leafi Pronounce its awful fentence in her breafl, C T4 GOSPEL SONNETS. Tart I. Till through the law * convict of being loft, She hopelefs to the law gives up the gholl : Which now in rigour comes full debt to crave, And in clofe prifon call ; but not to fave. For now 'tis weak, and can't (through our default) Its greateft votaries to life exalt. But well it can command with fire and flame, And to the loweft pit o* ruin damn. Thus doth it, by commiifion from above, Deal with the bride, when Heav'n would court her Lo ! now fhe ftartles at the Sinai trump, [love. Which throws her foul into a difmal dump ; Confcious another hufband fhe muft have, Elfe die for ever in deftruclion's grave. While in conviction's jail (lie's thus inclos'd, Glad news are heard, the royal Mate's propos'd. And now the fcornful bride's inverted ftir Is racking fear, he fcorn to match with her. She dreads his fury, and defpairs that he Will ever wed fo vile a wretch as fhe. And here the legal humour ftirs again To her prodigious lofs, and grievous pain : For when the Prince prefents himfelf to be Her hufband, then fhe deems ; Ah ! is not he Too fair a match for fuch a filthy bride ? Unconfcious that the thought bewrays her pride, Ev'n pride of merit, pride of righteoufnefs, Expecting Heav'n fhould love her for her drefa ; Unmindful how the fall her face did ftain, And made her but a black unlovely fwain -, Her whole primeval beauty quite defae'd, And to the rank of fiends her form debas'd ', Without disfigur'd, and defil'd within, Uncapable of any thing but fin. Heav'n courts not any for their comely face, ~) But for the glorious praife of fov'reign grace, > Elfe ne'er had courted one of Adam's race, j f Gal. ii. 19, Chap. II. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. % Which all as children of corruption be Heirs rightful of immortal mifery. Yet here the bride employs her foolifh wit, For this bright match her ugly form to fit ; To daub her features o'er with legal paint, That with a grace fhe may herfelf prefent : Hopeful the Prince with credit might her wed, If once fome comely qualities fne had. In humble pride, her naughty fpirit flags \ She cannot think of coming all in rags. Were fhe a humble, faithful penitent, She dreams he'd then contracl: with full content: Bafe varlet ! thinks fhe'd be a match for him. Did me but deck herfelf in handfome trim. Ah ! foolifh thoughts ! in legal deeps that plod ; Ah f forry notions of a fov'reign God ! Will God expofe his great, his glorious Son, For our vile baggage to be fold and won ? Should finful modefty the match decline, Until its garb be brifk and fuperfine *, Alas ! when mould we fee the marriage-day ? The happy bargain mult flee up for ay. Prefumptuous fouls, in furly modefty, Half-faviours of themfelves would fondly be. Then hopeful rh' other half their due will fall, Difdain to be in Jefus' debt for all. Vainly they firft would wafh themfelves, and then Addrefs the Fountain to be wafh'd more clean - y Firft heal themfelves, and then expecl: the balm : Ah ! many flightly cure their fudden qualm. They heal their confcience with* a tear or pray'r ; And feek no other Chrift, but perifh there. O finner ! fe'arch the houfe, and fee the thief That fpoils thy Saviour's crown, -thy foul's relief, The hid, but heinous fin of unbelief. Who can poffefs a quality that's good, Till firft he come to Jefus' cleanfing blood I C % } 16 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part I. The pow'r that draws the bride, will alfo ftiew Unto her by the way her hellim hue, As void of ev'ry virtue to commend, And full of ev'ry vice that will offend. Till fov'reign grace the fullen bride fhall catch, She'll never fit heifelf for fuch a match. Molt quaiify'd they are in heav'n to dwell, Who fee themfelves moll quaiify'd for hell ; And, ere the bride can drink falvation's cup, Kind Heav'n muft reach to hell and lift her up : For no decorum e'er about her found, Is (he belov'd •, but on a nobler ground. Jehovah's love is, like his nature, free, Nor mull his creature challenge his decree ; But low at fov'reign grace's footftool creep, Whofe ways are fearchlefs, and his judgments deep. Yet grace's fuit meets with refiftance rude From haughty fouls *, for lack of innate good To recommend them. Thus the backward bride Affronts her Alitor with her modefl pride ; Black hatred for his offer'd'Iove repays, Pride under maik of modelly difplays : In part would fave herfelf ; hence, faucy foul ! Rejects the matchiefs Mate would fave in whole. SECT. II. Convltlion of sin and wrath, carried on mere cfeeply and effectually in the heart. Co proudly forward is the bride, and now Stern Heav'n begins to flare with cloudier brow \ Law-curfes come with more condemning pow'r. To fcorch her confeience with a fiery mow'r. And more refulgent flames darted in ; For by the law the knowledge is cf fin *. Black Sinai thund'ring louder than before, Does awful in her lofty bofom roar. Heav'n's furious florins now rife from ev'ry airttf, In ways more terrible to (hake the earth f, * Rom. iii. 20. f Wind or Quarter. % Ifa. ii. 17. 19. Chap. II. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS, 2,7 Till haughtinefs of men be funic thereby , That Chrift alone may be exalted high. Now ftable earth feems from her centre toft,. And lofty mountains in the ocean loft. Hard rocks of flint, and haughty hills of pride. Are torn in pieces by the roaring tide. Each flafh of new conviction's lucid rays, Heart-errors, undifcern'd till now) difplays ; Wrath's maffy cloud upon the confcience breaks, And thus menacing Heav'n in thunder fpeaks : * Black wretch, thou madly under foot haft trodc * Th' authority of a commanding God; * Thou, like thy kindred that in Adam fell, "> c Art but a law-renverfing lump of hell, v 1 And there by law and juftice doom'd to dwell/ 3 Now, now, the daunted bride her ftate bewails, And downward furls her felf-exalting fails ; With pungent fear, and piercing terror, brought To mortify her lofty legal thought. Why ? the commandment comes, fin is reviv'd*, That lay fo hid, while to the law fhe liv'd ;, Infinite majefty in God is feen, And infinite malignity in fin; That to its expiation muft amount A facrifice of infinite account. Juftice its dire feverity difplays, The law its vaft dimenfions open lays. " She fees for this broad ftandard nothinp* meet, Save an obedience finlefs and complete. Her cobweb righteoufnefs, once in renown, Is with a happy vengeance now fwept down. She who of daily faults could once but prate, Sees now her finful, miferable ftate : Her heart, where once fhe thought fome good to The devil's cab'net fill'd with train of hell, [dwell, Her boafted features now unmafeed bare, Her vaunted hopes are plung'd in deep defpair. * E-om. vii. 9, c 3 li GOSPEL SONNETS. Part F. Her haunted fhelter-houfe in by-paft years, Comes tumbling clown about her frighted ears. Iltr former rotten faith, love, penitence, She fees a bowing wail, a tott'ring fence: Excellencies of thought, of word, and deed, All fwimming, drowning in a fea of dread. Her beauty now deformity fhe deems, Her heart much blacker than the devil feems, Willi ready lips me can herfelf declare The vilefl ever breath'd in vital air. Her former hopes, as refuges of lies, Are fwept away, and all her boafling dies. She once imagin'd Heav'n would be unjuft To damn fo many lumps of human dufl Form'd by himfelf •, but now (he owns it true, Damnation furely is the Tinner's due : Yea, now applauds the law's juft doom fo well, That juflly Hie condemns herfelf to hell; Does herein divine equity acquit, Herfelf adjudging to the ioweft pit. Her language, l Oh ! if God condemn, I mufl * From bottom of my foul declare him juft. 1 But if his great falvation me embrace, c I low loudly will I fing furprifing grace ! < If from the pit he to the throne me raife, 6 I'll rival angels in his endlefs praife. ' If hell-deferving me to heav'n he bring, c No heart fo glad, no tongue fo loud fhall fing. * If wifdom has not laid the faviug plan, * I nothing have to claim, I nothing can. ' My works but fin, my merit death I fee ; ' Oh ! mercy, mercy, mercy ! pity me.' Thus ail felf-juftifying pleas are dropp'd, Moil guilty flie becomes, her mouth is ftopp'd. Pungent remorfe does her paft conduct blame. And flufh her confeious cheek with fpreading mamCi J Ter felf-conceited heart is felf-convict,, With barbed arrows of compunction prick'd : I Chap. II. ~ THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. Wonders how juflice fpares her vital breath, How patient Heav'n adjourns the day of wrath: How pliant earth does not with open jaws Devour her, Koran-like, for equal caufe ; How yawning hell, that gapes for fuch a prey, Is fruitrate with a further hour's delay. She that could once her mighty works exalt, And boaft devotion fram'd without a fault, Extol her nat'ral pow'rs, is now brought down, Her former madnefs, not her pow'rs, to own. Her prefent beggar'd date, moil void of grace, Unable e'en to wail her woful cafe, Quite pow'rlefs to believe, repent, or pray; Thus pride ef duties flies and dies away. She, like a harden'd wretch, a ftupid (tone, Lies in the dud, and cries, Undone, Undone.. SECT. III. The deeply humbled foul relieved with feme faving dif cover ies of Christ the Redeemer. when thus the wounded bride perceives full well Herfelf the vileft {inner out of hell, The blackefi: monfter in the univerfe ; Fenfive if clouds of woe fliall e'er difperfe : When in her breaft Heav'n's wrath to fiercely glows j 'Twixt fear and guilt her bones have no repofe. When flowing billows of amazing dread Swell to a deluge o'er her finking head ; When nothing in her heart is found to dwell,. But horrid Atheifm, enmity, and hell ; When endlefs death and ruin feems at hand, And yet fhe cannot for her foul command A figh to eafe it, or a gracious thought, Though heav'n could at this petty rate be bought ;. When darknefs and confufion overcloud, And unto black defpair temptations crowd , 2-? GOSPEL SONNETS. Part I, When wholly without (trength to move or ftir, And not a liar by night appears to her ; But Ihe, while to the brim her troubles flow, Stands, trembling on the utmoft brink of woe. Ah ! weary cafe ! But, lo ! in this fad plight The fun arifes with furprifing light. The darken: midnight is his ufual time Of lifmg and appearing in his prime. To fhew the hills from whence falvation fprings, And chafe the gloomy (hades with golden wings, The glorious hufband now unveils his face, And (hews his glory full of truth and grace * *, Prefents unto the bride, in that dark hour, Himfelf a Saviour, both by price and pow'r : A mighty helper to redeem the loft, Relieve and ranfom to the uttermoftf ; To feek the vagrant fheep to deferts driv'n, And fave from lowed hell to highefl heav'n. Her doleful cafe he fees, his bowels move, And make her time of need his time of love J. He fhews, to prove himfelf her mighty fhield, His name is JESUS, by his father feal'd !| : A name with attributes engrav'd within, To fave from ev'ry attribute of fin. "With wifdom, fin's great folly to expofe ; And righteoufnefs, its chain of guilt to loofe ', Sanc~lincation, to fubdue its fway ; Redemption, all its woful brood to flay §. Each golden letter of his glorious name Bears full deliv'rance, both from fin and fhame. Yea, net privation bare from fin and woe, But thence all pofitive falvations flow, To make her wife, juft, holy, happy too. He now appears a match exactly meet To make her ev'ry way in him complete, * John, i. 14.. f Heb. vii. 25. % Ezek. xvi, 6. 8, ii Matth. i. 2i. § 1 Cor. i. 30. } Chap. II. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. SI In whom the fulnefs of the Godhead dwells # , That fhe may boaft in him and nothing elfe. In gofpel-lines me now perceives the dawn Of Jefus' love with bloody pencil drawn ; How God in him is infinitely pleas'd, And Heav'n's avenging fury whole appeased : Law-precepts magnify'd by her belov'd, And ev'ry let to flop the match remov'd. Now, in her view, the prifon-gates break ope, Wide to the walls flies up the door of hope ; And now fhe fees, with pleafure unexprefs'd, For fhatter'd barks, a happy ihore of reft. SECT. IV. The working of the Spirit of Faith, in feparating the heart from all felf-righteoufnefs^ and drawing out its confent to y and defire after Christ alone and wholly* '"The bride at Sinai little underflood, [good,l How thefe law-humblings were delign'd for L T' enhance the value of her hufband's blood. The tow'r of tott'ring pride thus batter'd down, Makes way for Chriif. alone to wear the crown. Conviction's arrows pierc'd her heart, that fo The blood from his pierc'd heart, to her's might flow. The law's (harp plough tears up the fallow ground, Where not a grain of grace was to be found, Till (Iraight, perhaps, behind the plough isfown The hidden feed of faith, as yet unknown. Hence now the once reluctant bride's inclin'd To give the gofpel an alTenting mind, Difpos'd to take, would grace die pow'r impart, Keav'n's offer with a free contenting heart. His Spirit in the gofpel-chariot rides, i And fticws his loving heart to draw the bride's; I Tho' oft in clouds his drawing pow'r he hides. * Col. u. 9, io, %% GOSPEL SONNETS. Tart 1. His love in gracious offers to her bears, In kindly anfwers to her doubts and fears, Refolving all objections more or lefs, From former fins, or prefent worthleflhefs. Perfuades her mind of's conjugal confent, And then impovv'rs her heart to fay, Content. Content to be divorced from the law, No more the yoke of legal terms to draw : Content that he diflblve the former match, And to himfelf alone her heart attach : Content to join with Chrift at any rate> And wed him as her everlafting mate : Content that he mould ever wear the bays, And of her whole falvation have the praife : Content that he fhould rife, though fhe mould fall, And to be nothing, that he may be all : Content that he, bccaufe fheViought can do, Do for her all her work, and in her too. Here me a peremptory mind difplays, That he do all the work, get all the praife. And now fhe is, which ne'er till now took place, Content entirely to be fav'd by grace. She owns that her damnation juft would be, And therefore her falvation muft be free ; That nothing being hers but fin and thrall, She muft be debtor unto grace for all. Hence comes (he to him in her naked cafe, To be invefled with his righteoufnefs. She comes, as guilty, to a pardon free; As vile and filthy, to a cleanfing fea : As poor and empty, to the richeft flock ; As weak and feeble, to the flroneeft rock : As perifhing, unto a fhield from thrall ; As worfe than nothing, to an all in all. She, as a blinded mole, an ign'rant fool, Comes for inftrucHon to the Prophet's fchool. She, with a hell-deferving eonfcious breafl, Flees for atonement to the worthy Prieft. Chap. II. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. *$ She, as a flave to fin and Satan, wings Her flight for help unto the King of kings* She all her maladies and plagues brings forth To this Phyfician of eternal worth. She fpreads before his throne her filthy fore ; And lays her broken bones down at his door. - No mite fhe has to buy a crumb of blifs, And therefore comes -impov'rifli'd, as {he is. By fin and Satan of all good bereft, Comes e'en as bare as they her foul have left. To fenfe, as free of holinefs within, As Chrift, the fpotlefs Lamb, was free of fin. She comes by faith, true ; but it mews her want, And brings her as a finner, not a faint ; A wretched finner flying for her good To juflifying, fan&ifying blood. Strong faith no ftrength, nor pow'r of acling, vaunts, But a£rs in fenfe of weaknefs and of wants. Drain'd now of ev'ry thing that men may call Terms and conditions of relief from thrall ; Except this one, that Jefus be her all. When to the bride he gives efpoufing faith, It finds her under fin, and guilt, and wrath, And makes her as a plagued wretch to fall At Jefus' footftool for the cure of all. Her whole falvation now in him fhe feeks, And mufing thus perhaps in fecret fpeaks : , c Lo ! all my burdens may in him be eas'd ; ' The jultice I offended he has pleas'd; * The blifs that I have forfeit he procur'd ; * The curfe that I deferved he endur'd ; * The law that I have broken he obey'd ; 4 The debt that I contracted he has paid : 1 And though a match unfit for him I be, c 1 find him ev'ry way molt fit for me. c S weetLord, I think, wouldft thou thyfelf impart, f I'd welcome thee with open hand and heart. 'But thou that fav'ft by price, muft fave by pow'r $ * O fend thy Spirit in a fiery fhow'r, } i4 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part I. € This cold and frozen heart of mine to thaw, That nought, fave cords of burning love, can draw. draw me, Lord, then will I run to thee, And glad into thy glowing bofom flee. 1 own myfelf a mafs of fin and hell, A brat that can do nothing but rebel :' But, didfl thou not as facred pages {hew *, (When riling up to fpoil the helliih crew, That had by thoufands, fmners captive made, And hadft in conqu'ring chains them captive led) Get donatives, not for thy proper gain, But royal bounties for rebellious men, Gifts, graces, and the Spirit without bounds, For God's new houfe with man on firmer grounds. O then let me a rebel now come fpeed, Thy holy Spirit is the gift I need. His precious graces too, the glorious grant, Thou kindly promis'd, and I greatly want. Thou art exalted to the highelt place, To give repentance faith, and ev'ry grace f . O Giver of i'piritual life and breath, The author and the finifher of faith | ; Thou hufband-like muft ev'ry thing provide, If e'er the like of me become thy bride/ SECT. V. Faith's view of the freedom of grace, cordial renun- ciation of all its own ragged righteoufnefs^ and for- mal acceptance of and clofing with the perfen of glo- rious Christ. npHE bride with open eyes, that once were dim, Sees now her whole falvation lies in him ; The prince, who is not in difpenfing nice, But freely gives without her pains or price ; This magnifies the wonder in her eye, Who not a farthing has wherewith to buy ; * Pi'al. lxviii. iS. f Aas ; v. 31. J Heb. xii. 2. Chap. II. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. *5 For now her humbled mind can difavow Her boafled beauty and afluming brow ; With confcious eye difcern her emptinefs, With candid lips her poverty confefs. c O glory to the Lord, that grace is free, ( Elfe never would it light on guilty me, * I nothing have with me to be its price, 1 But hellifh blacknefs, enmity, and vice.' In former times fhe durft, pre fuming, corn- To grace's market, with a petty fum Of duties, prayers, tears, a boailed let, Expecting Heav'n would thus be in her debt. Thefe were the price, at leaft ihe did fuppofe She'd be the welcomer becaufe of thofe : But now (he fees the vilenefs of her vogue, The. dung that clofe doth ev'ry duty clog ; The fin that doth her hoKnefs reprove. The enmity that clofe attends her love -, The great heart hardnefs of her penitences The itupid dulnefs of her vaunted fenfe i The unbelief of former blazed faith, The utter nothingnefs of all fnc hath. The blacknefs of her beauty (lie can fee, The pompous pride of ftrain'd humility, The naughtinefs of all her tears and pray'rs, And now renounces aH\as worthless wares ; And finding nothing to commend herfelf, But what might damn her, her embezzled pelf; At fov' reign grace's feet does proftrate fall, -Content to be in Jefus' debt for all. Her noifed virtues vanifh out of light, ! As Harry tapers at meridian light; While fweetly, humbly, (he beholds at length Chrift, as her only righteoufnefs and ftrength. ; He with the view throws down his loving dart, Impreft with power into her tender heart. The deeper that the law's fierce dart was thrown, The deeper now the dart of love goes down : D a& GOSPEL SONNETS. Part L Hence, fweetly pain'd, her cries to heav'n do fiee ; ' O none but Jefus, none but Chrift, for me : c O glorious Chrifl, O beauty, beauty rare, c Ten thoufand thoufand heav'ns are not io fair. * In him at once all beauties meet and ftiine, * The white and ruddy, human and divine. * As in his low, he's in his high abode, ' The brighten: image of the unfeen God. * Flow juftly do the harpers fing above, c His doing, dying, rifing, reigning love! * How juftly does he, when his work is done, * Poflefs the centre of his Father's throne ? * How juftly do his awful throne before ' Seraphic armies proflrate him adore; * That's both by nature and donation crown'd, ' With all the grandeur of the Godhead round ? ' But wilt thou, Lord, in very deed come dwell c With me, that was a burning brand of hell ? c With me fo juftly reckon'd worfe and lefs « Than infecl:, mite, or acorn can exprefs ? 1 Wilt thou debaie thy high imperial form, 4 To match with fuch a mortal, crawling worm ? * Yea, fure thine errand to our earthly coaft, * Was in deep love to feck and fave the loft * ; c And fmce thou deign'lt the like of me to wed, * O ccme and make my heart thy marriage-bed. c Fair Jefus, wilt thou marry filthy me ? e Amen, Amen, Amen; fo let it be,' • Luke, xix. io., Chap. III. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS, s? CHAP. III. The Fruits of the Believer's Marriage iaith Christ, particularly gofpel-hol'mefs and obe- dience to the law as a rule, SECT. I. Theftveet folemnity of the marriage noio over\ and the fad effects of the remains of a legal fpirit. The match is made, with little din 'tis done, But with great pow'r, unequal prizes won. The Lamb has fairly won his worthlefs bride \ She her great Lord, and all his {lore befide. He made the poorefl bargain, though moil wife 5 And me, the fool, has won the worthy prize. Deep floods of everlafting love and grace, That under ground ran an eternal fpace, Now rife aloft 'bove banks of {in and hell, And o'er the tops of maffy mountains fwell. In flreams of blood are tow'rs of guilt o'erflown, Down with the rapid purple current thrown. The bride now as her all can jefus own, And proflrate at his footftool call her crown, Difclaiming all her former groundlefs hope, While in the dark her foul did weary grope. Down tumble all. the hills of felf-conceit, In him alone {he fees herfelf complete ; Does his fair perfon with fond arms embrace, And all her hopes on his full merit place ; Difcard her former mate, and henceforth draw No hope, no expectation from the law. Though thus her new-created nature foars,. And lives aloft on Jefus' heav'nly (lores ; Yet, apt to dray, her old adult'rous heart Oft takes her old renounced hufband's part : A legal cov'nant is fo deep ingrain'd, Upon the human nature. laps' d and ftain'd, D 2 *8 GOSPEL SONNETS. Pan I. That, till her fpirit mount the pureft clime, She's never totally divorc'd in time. Hid in her corrupt part's proud bofom, lurks •Some hope of life (till, by the law of works. Hence flow the following evils more or lefs "} Preferring oft her partial holy drefs, > Before her bufband's perfect righteoufnefs. } Hence joying more in grace already giv'n Than in her head and flock that's all in heav'n. Hence grieving more the want of frames and grace, Than of himfelf, the fpring of all folace. Hence guilt her foul imprifons, lufts prevail, ^ "While to the law her rents infolvent fail, > Andyctherfaithlefsheartrejeclsherhufband'sbail. j Hence foul diforders rife, and racking fears, "While doubtful of his clearing palt arrears; Vain dreaming, fmce her own obedience fails, His likewife little for her help avails. Hence duties are. a talk, while all in view Is heavy yokes of laws, or old or new : Whereas, were once her legal bias broke, •She'd find her Lord's commands an eafy yoke, No galling precepts on her neck he lays, Nor any debt demands, fave what he pays By promis'd aid ; but, lo ! the grievous law, Demanding brick, won't aid her with a ftraw. Hence alfo fretful, grudging, difcontent *, ^ Crav'd by the lav/, finding her treasure fpent, > And doubting if her Lord will pay the rent. j Hence pride of duties too, does often fwell, Prefuming fhe perform'd fo very well. Hence pride of graces, and inherent worth, Springs from her corrupt legal bias forth ; And boafling more a prefent with'ring frame, Than her exalted Lord's unfading name. Hence many falls and plunges in the mire, As many new converfions do require : * Rom. vii. 8. Chap. III. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 29 Becaufe her faithlefs heart fad follies breed, Much lewd departure from her living Head, Who, to reprove her aggravated crimes, Leaves her abandon'd to herfelf at times -, That, falling into frightful deeps, flie may From fad experience learn more ftrefs to lay, Not on her native efforts, but at length On Chrift alone, her righteoufnefs -and ftrength: Confcious, while in her works ihe feeks repoie, Her legal fpirit breeds her many wees. SECT. 11. Faith 9 j viBories over fin and Satan, through new and farther dlfcoverks of Christ, making believers mors fruitful in kolinefs than all ether pretenders io works. 'the gofpel-path leads heav'nward; hence the fray, Hell pow'rs ftili pufh the bride the legal way. So hot the war, her life's a troubled flood, A field of battle, and a fcene of blood. But he that once commenced the work in her, Whole working fingers drop the iweeteit myrrh, Will flill advance it by alluring force, And, from her ancient mate, more clean divorce : Since 'tis her antiquated fpoufe the law, The ftrength of fm and hell did on her draw. Piece -meal Ihe finds hell's mighty force abate, By new recruits from her almighty Mate. Frefh armour fent from grace's magazine, Makes her proclaim eternal war with fin. The fliield of faith, dyed in the Surety's blood, Drowns fiery darts, as in a crimfon flood. The Captain's ruddy banner, lifted high, Makes hell retire, and all the furies fly- pea, of his glory ev'ry recent glance Makes fin decay, and holinefs advance. In kindnefs therefore does her heav'nly Lord: Renew'd difcov'ries of his love afford, D 3 3» COSrEL SONNETS, Part I That her enamour'd foul may with the view Be cad into his holy mould anew : For when he manifefts his glorious grace, The charming favour of his fmiling face, Into his image fair transforms her foul *, And wafts her upward to the heav'nly pole, From glory unto glory by degrees, Till vifion and fruition mail fulfice. And thus in holy beauty Jems' bride Shines far beyond the painted fons of pride, Vain merit-vouchers, and their fubtle apes, In all their vaft refin'd, delufive fhapes. No lawful child is ere the marriage born ; Though therefore virtues feign'd their life adorn. The fruit they bear is but a ipurious brood, Before this happy marriage be made good. And 'tis not ftrange ; for, from a corrupt tree No fruit divinely good produe'd can bef. But, lo ! the bride, graft in the living Root, Brings forth mofh precious aromatic fruit. "When her new heart and her new Hufband meet, Her iruitful womb is like a heap of wheat, Befct with fragrant lilies round about J, "j All divine graces, in a comely rout, y Burning within, and mining bright without. J And thus the bride, as facred fcripture faith, When dead unto the law through Jefus' death ||, And match'd with him, bears to her God and Lord Accepted fruit with incenfe pure decor'd. Freed from law-debt, and blefs'd with gofpel eafe, Pier work is now her deareft Lord to pleafc, By living on him as her ample flock, And leaning to him as her potent rock. The fruit that each law-wedded mortal brings Tafelf accrefces, as from felf it fprings ; So bale a rife muft have a bafe recourfe, The dream can mount no higher than its fource. * 2 Cor. iii. jS. f Mat. vii. 17, iS. % Cant. vii. z. II Rom. vn. 4.. Chap. III. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 3C But Jefus can his bride's fweet fruit commend, As brought from him the root, to him the end. She does by fuch an offspring him avow To be her Alpha and Omega too. The work and warfare he begins, he crowns. Though maugre various' conflicts, ups and downs. Thus through the darkfome vail fhe makes her way Until the morning-dawn of glory's day. SECT. III. 'True favlng faith magnifying the laau^ both as a cove- nant, and a rule. Falfe faith unfruitful and ruin- ing. Droud nature may reject this gofpel-theme. And curfe it as an Antinomian fcheme. Let flander bark, let envy grin and right. The curie that is fo caufelefs fhall not light*. If they that fain would make by holy force Twixt finners and the law a clean divorce, And court the Lamb a virgin chafte to wife, Be charg'd as foes to holinefs of life, Well may they fuffer gladly on this fcore ; Apoftles great were fo malign'd before. Do we make void the law through faith f ? nay why 5 We do it more fulfil and magnify Than fiery feraphs can with holieft flafh ; Avant, vain legalifts, unworthy trafh ! When as a cov'nant (tern the law commands, Faith puts her Lamb's obedience in its hands s And when its threats guih out a fiery flood, Faith flops the current with her victim's blood. The law can crave no more, yet craves no lefs, Than active, paffive, perfect righteoufnefs. Yet here is all, yea, more than its demand, All render'd to it by a divine hand. Mankind is bound law-fervice flill to pay, Tea,.angel-kind is alfo bound t' obey. * Prov. xx vi. 2. f Rom. iii. 21. 3 % GOSPEL SONNETS. Tart I, It may by human and angelic blaze Have honour, but in finite partial ways. Thefe natures have its lullre once defac'd, 'Twill be by part of both for ay difgrac'd. Yet, had they all obfequious flood and true, They'd giv'n the law no more than homage due ; But faith gives't honour yet more great, more odd, The high the humble fervice of its God. Again to view the holy law's command,. As lodged in a Mediator's hand ; Faith gives it honour, as a rule of life, And makes the bride the Lamb's obedient wife-. Due homage to the law thofe never did, To whom th' obedienge pure of faith is hid. Faith works by love *, and purifies the heart jy And truth-advances in the inward part ; On carnal hearts imprefles divine {lamps, And fuily'd lives inverts to Alining lamps. From Abram's feed that are moil ftrong in faith, The law moll honour, God mod glory hath. But clue refpec"l to neither can be found, T Where unbelief ne'er got a mortal wound, > To Hill the virtue-vaunter's empty found. j Good works he boafts, a path he never trode, Who is not yet the workmanship of G In Jefus thereunto created n< Nois'd works that fpring not hence are but a {hew.. True faith, that's of a noble divine rac ;, Is flill a holy fan&ifying grac j And greater honour to the law 1 oeo fhare, Than boailers all that breathe Ev'n Heathen morals vaflly may out: The works that flow not fro th divi v.e. Pretentions high to faith a number hkve, But, ah ! it is a faith that cam favc: Wc trull, fay they, in Chrifl, pe in God : Nor blufh to blaze their rot . . abroad. * Eph. ii. ic, f GaL v, $, . %. Epli. ii. 9, Chap. III. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. $$ Nor try the truft of which they make a {hew, If of a faying or a damning hue. They own their fins are ill j true, but 'tis fact, They never thought their faith and hope were bad. How evident 's their home-bred nat'ral blaze, Who dream they have believ'd well all their days i Yet never felt their unbelief, nor knew The need of pow'r their nature to renew ? Blind fouls, that boail of faith yet live in fin, May hence conclude their faith is to begin ', Or know they {hall, by fuch an airy faith, Believe themfelves to everlafting-wrath. Faith that nor leads to good, nor keeps from ill, Will never lead to heav'n, nor keep from hell. The body, without breath, is dead * ; no lefs Is faith without the works of holinefsf. How rare is faving faith, when earth is cramm'd With fuch as will believe, and yet be damn'd ; Believe the gofpel, yet with dread and awe Have never truly firft believ'd the law ? That matters (hall be well, they hope too foon, Who never yet have feen they were undone. Can of falvation their belief be true, Who never yet believ'd damnation due ? Can thefe of endlefs life have folid faith, Who never fear'd law-threats of endlefs death ? Nay, failM they han't yet to the healing more. Who never felt their fmful, woful fore. Imaginary faith is but a blind, That bears no fruit but of a deadly kind : Nor can, from fuch a wild unwholefome root, The leaft production rife of living fruit. But faving faith can fuch an offspring breed, Her native product is a holy feed. The faireft iliues of the vital breath, Spring from the fertile womb of heav'n-born faith ; * James, ii. 26'. f James, ii. 17. za. £4 GOSPEL SONNETS. Tart I. Yet boafts (lie nothing of her own, but brings Auxiliaries from the King of kings, Who graves his royal law in rocky hearts, And gracious aid in foft'ning fhow'ro imparts : This gives prolific virtue to the faith, Infpir'd at fir ft by his almighty breath. Hence, fetching all her fuccours from abroad, She ftill employs this mighty pow'r of God : Drain'd clean of native pow'rs and legal aims, No ftrength but in and from Jehovah's claims: And thus her iervice to the law o'ertops The tow'ring zeal of Pharifaic fops. SECT. IV. The believer only, being married to Christ, is jufti-< fled and fan£tified: And the more go/pel freedom from the Iaiu as a covenant^ the more holy confor- mity to it as a rule. Thus doth the Hulband, by his Father's will, Both for and in his bride the law fulfil ; For her, as 'tis a covenant ; and then In her, as 'tis a rule of life to men. Firft, all law-debt he molt completely pays, Then, of law-duties, all the charge defrays ; Does firft aiTume her guilt, and loofe her chains ; And then, with living water, wafh her ftains \ Her fund reftore, and then her form repair, And make his filthy bride a beauty fair ; His perfect, righteoufnefs mod freely grant, And then his holy image deep implant *, Into her heart his precious feed indrop, Which in his time will yield a glorious crop. But, by alternate turns, his plants he brings Through robbing winters and repairing fprings. Hence, pining oft, they luffer fad decays, By dint of fhady nights and ftormy days^ But bleft with lap, and influence from above, They live and grow anew in faith and love \ Chap. III. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 35 Until transplanted to the higher foil Where furies tread no more, nor foxes fpoil. While Chriit the living root remains on high, The noble plant of grace can never die ; Nature decays, and fo will all the fruit That merely rifes on a mortal root. Their works, however fplendid, are but dead, That from a living fountain don't proceed 5 Their fairefl fruit is but a garniih'd fhrine, That are not grafted in the glorious Vine* Devouteft hypocrites are rank'd in rolls Of painted puppets, not of living fouls. No offspring but of Chrift's fair bride is good : This happy marriage has a holy brood. Let miners learn this myftery to read, "J We bear to glorious Chrift no precious feed, C Till through the law, we to the law be dead *-. j No true obedience to the law, but forc'd, Can any yield, till from the law divorc'd. Nor to it, as a rule, is homage giv'n, Till from it, as a cov'nant, men be driv'n. Yea more, till once they this divorce attain, Divorce from fin they but attempt in vain j The curfed yoke of fin they bafely draw, Till once unyoked from the curling law. Sin's full dominion keeps its native place, While men are under law, not under grace f . For mighty hills of enmity won't move, Till touch'd by conqu'ring grace and mighty love. Were but the gofpel-fecret underftood, How God can pardon where he fees no good ; How grace and mercy free, that can't be bought, Reign through a righteoufnefs alreadv wrought : Were woful reigning unbelief depos'd, Myfterious grace to blinded minds difclos'd 5 * Gal. ii. 15, f Rom. vi. 14. I 5 4 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part f. Did Heav'n with gofpel-news its pow'r convey, J And finners hear a faithful God but fay, > c No more law-debt remains for you to pay ; j * Lo, by the loving Surety all's difcharg'd,' Their hearts behov'd with love to be enlarg'd. Love, the fuccincl: fulfilling of the law *, Were then the eafy yoke they'd fweetly draw ; Love would conftrain and to his fervice move, "Who left them nothing elfe to do but love. Slight now his loving precepts if they can ; No, no ; his conqu'ring kindnefs leads the van. When everlafling love exerts the fway, They judge themfeives more kindly bound t' obey, Bound by redeeming grace, in ftri&er fenfe Than ever Adam was in innocence. Why now, they are not bound, as formerly, To do and live, nor yet to do or die / Both life and death are put in Jefu^' hands, Who urges neither in his kind commands, Not fervile work, their life and heav'n to win, Nor flavifh labour, death and hell to flvUa. Their aims are purer, fmce they underftood, [blood. Their heav'n wasbought, their hell wasquench'd with The oars of gofpel-fervice now they fleer, Without or legal hope or flavifh fear. The bride in fvveet fecurity can dwell, Nor bound to purchafe heav'n, nor vanquiih hell : But bound for him the race of love to run, Whofe love to her left none of thefe undone ; She's bound to be the Lamb's obedient wife, And in his ftrength to ferve him during life j To glorify his loving name for ay, Who left her not aTmgle mite to pay Of legal debt, but wrote for her at large In characters of blood, a full difcharge. Henceforth no fervile talk her labours prove, But grateful fruits of reverential love. * Rom. xiii. 10. Chap. III. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 37 SECT. V. Gofpel-grace giving no liberty nor freedom to fin, but to holy fervice and pure obedience. n~ he glorious Hufband's love can't lead the wife To whoredom, or licentioufnefs of life : Nay, nay; (he finds his warmeft love within, The hotteft fire to melt her heart for fin. His kind embrace is ftill the ftrongeft cord To bind her to the fervice of her Lord. The more her faith infures this love of his, The more his law her delectation is. Some dream, they might, who this aflurance win, Take latitude and liberty to fin. Ah ! fuch bewray their ignorance, and prove "1 They want the lively fenfe of drawing love, > And how^its fweet conftraining force can move, j The ark of grace came never in to dwell, But Dagon-lufts before it headlong fell. Men bafely can unto lafcivioufnefs Abufe the doclrine, not the work of grace. Huggers of divine love in vice's path, Have but the fancy of it, not the faith. They never foar'd aloft on grace's wing, That knew not grace to be a holy thing : "When regnant me the pow'rs of hell appals, And fin's dominion in the ruin falls. Curs'd is the crew whofe Antinomian drefs Makes grace a cover to their idlenefs. The bride of Chrift will fure be very loth To make his love a pillow for her fioch. Why, mayn't fhe fin the more that grace abounds ? Oh, God forbid ! the very thought confounds. When dead unto the law, fhe's dead to fin; How can (lie any longer live therein * ? To neither of them is fhe now a Have, But ihares the conquefl of the great, the brave, * Rom. vi. 1, 2. E 3S GOSPEL SONNETS. Part The mighty Gen'ral, her victorious Head, Who broke the double chain to free the bride. Hence, prompted now with gratitude and love, Her cheerful feet in fwift obedience move. More ftrong the cords of love to duty draw, Than hell, and all the curfes of the law. When with feraphic love the breaft's infpir'd, By that are all the other "graces lir'd ; Thefe kindling round, the burning heart and frame In life and walk, fend forth a holy flame. ■ CHAP. IV. A Caution to all againjl a legal f pi r it ; efpccially to thofe that have a profejjion without power , and learning without grace. *\T7HY, fays the haughty heart of legalifts, Bound to the law of works by nat'ral twifls, 1 Why fuch ado about a law-divorce ? ' Men's lives are bad, and would you have 'em worfe? 1 Such Antinomian fluff with labour'd toil * Would human beauty's native luftre fpoil. * What wickednefs beneath the cov'ring lurks, 4 That lewdly would divorce us all from works ? * Why fuch a ftir about the law and grace ? 1 We know that merit cannot now take place. * And what needs more ?' Well, to let flander drop, Be merit for a little here the fcope. Ah ! many learn to lifp in gofpel-terms, Who yet embrace the law with legal arms. By wholeiome education fome are taught To own that human merit now is naught; Who faintly but renounce proud merit's name, A^nd cleave refin'dly to the Popifh fcheme ; For graceful works expecting divine blifs, And, when they fail, tvuft Chrift for what's amifs : Chap. IV. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS, 39 Thus to his righteoufnefs profefs to flee, Yet by it ilill would their own faviours be. They Teem, to works of merit bloody foes, Yet feek falvation as it were * by thole. Blind Gentiles found, who did not feek nor know y But Ifra'l loft it whole, who fought it fo. Let all that love to we?.r the legal drefs, Know that as fin, fo baftard righteoufnefs Has flain its thoufands, who in tew'ring pride The righteoufnefs of Jefus Chrift deride ; A robe divinely wrought, divinely won ; Yet caft by men, for rags that are their own. But fome to legal works feem whole deny'd, Yet would by gofpel-works be juftify'd, By faith, repentance, love, and other fuch : i Thefe dreamers being righteous overmuch, I Like Uzza, give the ark a wrongful touch. J By legal deeds, however gofpeliz'd, Can e'er tremendous juftice be appeas'd? Or fmners Juftify'd before that God, Whofe law is perfect, and exceeding broad ? Nay, faith itfeif, that leading gofpei-grace, Holds as a work no juftifying place : Juft Heav'n to man for righteoufnefs imputes Not faith itfeif, or in its acls or fruits, But Jefus' meritorious life and death, Faith's proper object, all the honour hath. From this doth faith derive its glorious fame, Its great renown and juftifying name ; Receiving all things, but deferving nought ; By faith all's begg'd and taken, nothing bought. Its higheft name is from the wedding vote, So inftrumental in the marriage-knot. Jehovah lends the bride, in that bleft hour, Th* exceeding greatnefs of his mighty pow'r f ; Which fweetly does her heart-confent command. To reach the wealthy Prince her naked hand. * Rom. iat. 3 2 - t Eph. vii. x6. E 2 male, " I k difdain. j 4« GOSPEL SONNETS. Part I. For clofe to his embrace fhe'd never flir, If firft liis loving arms embrac'd not her : But this he does by kindly gradual chafe, Of roufmg, raifmg, teaching, drawing grace. He ihews her in his fweeteit love addrefs, His glory, as the Sun of righteoufnefs ; At which all dying glories earth adorn, .Shrink like the fick moon at the wholelbme morn. This glorious Sun arifing with a grace, Dark (hade of creature-righteoufnefs to chafe, Faith now disclaims itfelf, and all the train Of virtues formerly accounted gain; And counts them dung*, with holy, meek For now appears the height, the depth immenfe Of divine bounty and benevolence; Amazing mercy ! ignorant of bounds ! Which molt enlarged faculties confounds. How vain, how void now feem the vulgar charms, The monarch's pomp of courts, and pride of arms ? The boated beauties of the human kind, The pow'rs of body, and the gifts of mind ? Lo ! in the grandeur of Immanuers train, All's fwallowM up, as rivers in the main. He's feen, when gofpel-light and fight is giv'n, Fncompafs'd round with all the pomp of heav'n. The foul, now taught of God, fees human fchoolg Make Chriitlefs rabbi's only lit'rate fools; And that, till divine teaching pow'rful draw, No learning will divorce them from the law. Mere argument may clear the head, and force A verbal, not a cordial clean divorce; Hence many, taught the wholefome terms of art, Have gofpel-heads, but flill a legal heart. Till fov'reign grace and pow'r the firmer catch, He takes not Jefus for his only match. TNTay, works complete ! ah ! true, however odd, Dead works are rivals with the living God, * Phil.iii. 7 , 8. Chap. V. TOE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 43 Till Heaven's preventing mercy clear the fight, Confound the pride with fupernat'ral light \ No haughty foul of human kind is brought To mortify her felf-exalting thought. Yet holieft creatures in clay-tents that ledge, Be their lives fcanned by the dreadful Judge \ How fhall they e'er his awful fearch endure, Before whofe pureft eyes heav'n is not pure ? Hgw muft their black indictment be enlarg'd, When by him angels are with folly charg'd ? What human worth fhall (land, when he fhall fcan F O may his glory (lain the pride of man ! How wondrous are the tracks of divine grace! How fearchlefs are his ways, how vaft th ? abyfs I Let haughty reafon ftoop, "and fear to leap i Angelic plummets cannot found the deep. With fcorn he turns his eyes from haughty kings, With pleafure looks on low and worthlefs things ; Deep are his judgments, fov'reign is his will, Let ev'ry mortal worm be dumb, be$ill. In vain proud reafon fwells beyond its bound God and his counfels are a gulf profound, An ocean, wherein all our thoughts are dr< und; 1 K c trown'd. j CHAP. V. Arguments and Encouragements to Gafpel MU nifiers to avoid a legal fir am of doclrine^ and endeavour the firmer s match with Christ by gofyel-means* SECT. I. A legal Spirit the root of 'damnable Errors.. *'. Y& heralds great, that blow in name of God, The filyer trump of gofpel-grace abroad $ E 3. serry pluck ; hat is laid, } rriage-bed, > inchafte towed. ) 4* GOSPEL SONNETS. Part I, And found, by warrant from the great I AM, The nuptial treaty with the worthy Lamb : Might ye but (loop th' unpolifh'd mufe to brook, And from a fhrub an wholefome berry pluck j Ye'd take encouragement from wl By gofpei-means to make the marriage- And to your glorious Lord a virgii The more proud nature bears a legal fway, The more fhould preachers bend the gofpel-way : Oft in the church arife deftruclive fchifms From anti-evangelic aphorifms ; A legal fpirit may be juftly nam'd The fertile womb of ev'ry error damn'd. Hence Pop'ry, fo connat'ral fince the fall, Makes legal works, like faviours, merit all ; Yea, more than merit on their fhoulder loads, To fupererogate like demi-gods. Hence proud Socinians feat their reafon high, 'Bove ev'ry precious gofpel-myilery, Its divine Author ftab, and without fear, The purple covert of his chariot tear. With thefe run Arian monfters in a line, All gofpel-truth at once to undermine ! To darken and delete, like hellifh foes, The brightell colour of the Sharon Rofe. At beft its human red they but decry, That blot the divine white, the native dye. Hence dare Arminians too, with brazen face, Give man's free-will the throne of God's free grace j. Whcfe felf-exalting tenets clearly fhew Great ignorance of lav/ and gofpel too. Hence Neonomians fpring, as fundry call The new law-makers to redrefs our fall. The law of works into repentance, faith, Is changed, as their Baxterian-bibJe faith. Shaping the gofpel to an eafy law. They build their tott'ring houfe with hay and ftraw ; Yet hide, like Rachel's idols in the fluff, Their Jegal hands within a gofpel muff. Chap. V. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 4| Yea, hence fprings Antinomian vile refufe, Whofe grofs abettors gofpel grace abufe : UnfkiU'd how grace's filken latchet binds Her captives to the law, with willing minds* SECT. IL> A legal Strain of doctrine dif covered and dif carded*. >jo wonder Paul the legal fpirit curfe, Of fatal errors fuch a feeding nurfe. He, in Jehovah's great tremendous name, Condemns perverters of the gofpel- feheme. He damn'd the fophift rude, the babbling prieffc Would venture to corrupt it in the leaft; Yea, curs'd the heav'nly angel down to hell, That daring would another gofpel tell *. Which crime is charg'd on thefe that dare difpenfe The felf-fame gofpel in another fenfe. Chrift is not preachM rn truth, but in difguife. If his bright glory half abfconded lies ; When gofpel foldiers that divide the word x Scarce brandifh any but the legal fword. While Chrift the author of the law they prefs,. More than the end of it for righteoufnefs > Chrift as a feeler of our fervice trace, More than a giver of enabling grace. The King commanding holinefs they {how, More than the Prince exalted to beflow; Yea, more on Chrift the fin-revenger dwell, Than Chrift Redeemer both from fin and helL With legal fpade the gofpel-field he delves. Who thus drives finners in unto themfelves - y Halving the truth that mould be all reveal'd. The fweeteft part of Chrift is oft conceal'd. We bid men turn from fin, but feldom fay* Behold the Lamb that takes all fin away f ! fe Gal, i. 7, S. f J°h n > *• 2 9» 2 } ^4 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part I. Chriftjby the gofpel rightly underftood, Not only treats a peace, but makes it good. Thofe fuitors, therefore, of the bride, who hope, By force, to drag her with the legal rope *, Nor ufe the drawing cord of conqu'ring grace, Purfue with flaming zeal a fruitlefs chafe; In vain lame doings urge, with folemn awe, To bribe the fury of the fiery law : "With equal fuccefs to the fool that aims, By paper walls to bound devouring flames. The law's but mock'd by their moft graceful deed, That wed not fir ft the law-fulfilling Head; It values neither how they wrought nor wept, That flight the ark wherein alone 'tis kept. Yet legalifts, DO, DO, with ardour prefs, And with prepoit'rous zeal and warm addrefs, Would fecm the greatefl friends.to holinefs : But vainly (could fuch oppofites accord) Refpect the law, and yet rejedr. the Lord. They mew not Jefus as the way to blifs, But, Judas-like, betray him with a kits Of boafted works, or mere profeflion puft, Lavv-boafters, proving but law-breakers oft. SECT. IIU The hurtfulness of not preaching Christ, and diflinguiJJjing duly between law arid go/pel. TTELL cares not how crude holinefs be preach'd, If tinners match with Chrift be never reach'd ; Knowing their holinefs is but a fham, Who ne'er are married to the holy Lamb. Let words have never fuch a pious mew, And blaze aloft in rude profefTor's view, With facred aromatics richly fpie'd, If they but drown in filence glorious Chrift y Chap. V. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 4$ Or, if he may fome vacant room fupply, Make him a fubjecl: only by the bye ; They mar true holinefs with tickling chat, To breed a baftard Pharifaic brat. They wofully the gofpel meffage broke, Make fearful havoc of the Mailer's flock ; Yet pleafe themfelves, and the blind multitude, By whom the gofpel's little underftood. Rude fouls, perhaps, imagine little odds Between the legal and the gofpel roads : But vainly men attempt to blend the two ; They differ more than Chrift and Mofes do. Mofes, evangelizing in a made, By types the news of light approaching fpread: But from the law of works, by him proclaim'd, No ray of gofpel-grace or mercy gleam'd. By nature's light, the law, to all is known, But lightfome news of gofpel-grace to none. The doing cov'nant now, in part or whole, Is ftrong to damn, but weak to fave a foul. It hurts, and cannot help, but as it tends Through mercy, to fubferve fome gofpel-ends. Law-thunder roughly to the gofpel tames, The gofpel mildly to the law reclaims. The fiery law, as 'tis a covenant, Schools men to fee the gofpe!~aid they want y Then gofpel-aid does fweetly them incline, Back to the law, as 'tis a rule divine. Heav'n's healing work isoftcommenc'dwith wounds^ Terror begins what loving-kindnefs crowns. Preachers may therefore prefs the fiery law, To ftrike the Chriftlefs man with dreadful awe ; Law threats which for his fins to hell deprefs, Yea, damn him for his rotten righteoufnefs; That while he views the law exceeding broad> He fain may wed the righteoufnefs of God. But, ah ! to prefs law-works as terms of life. Was ne'er the way to court the Lamb a wife* 4$ GOSPEL SONNETS. Part I, To urge conditions in the legal frame, Is to renew the vain old cov'nant game. The law is good, when lawfully 'tis us'd*, But mod dedruclive when it is abus'd. They fet no duties in their proper iphere. Who duly law and gofpel don't fever •, But under marly chains let finners lie, As tributaries, or to DO or DIE. Nor make the law a fquaring rule of life, But in the gofpel-throat a bloody knife. SECT. IV. Damnable pride and felf-righteoufnefs,yo natural to all meti) has little need to be encouraged by legal preachh.g. The legal path proud nature loves fo well, (Though yet 'tis but the cleaned road to hell) That lo ! e'en thefe that take the fouled ways, Whofe lewdnefs no controlling bridle days, If but their drowfy conference raife its voice, 'Twill fpeak the law of works, their native choice, And echo to the roufing found ; ' Ah, true ! c I cannot hope to live unlefs I DO.' No confeious bread of mortal kind can trace The myd'ry deep of being fav'd by grace. Of this, nor is the nat'ral confeience fkili'd, Nor will admit it when it is reveal'd % But pulhes at the gofpel like a ram, As proxy for the law, againd the Lamb. The proud felf-righteous Pharifaic drain Is, 'Bled be God, I'm not like other men ; * I read and pray, give alms, 1 mourn and fad f ; * And therefore hope I'll get to heav'n at lad : * For, though from ev'ry (in I be not free, c Great multitudes of men are worfe than me. * I'm none of thole that fwear, cheat, drink, and whore.' Thus on the law he builds his Babel tow'r. * J Tim, i, a. f Luke, xviii. n, iz. 1 Chap. V. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 4? Yea, ev'n the vileft curfed debauchee "1 "Will make the law of works his very plea ; > * Why, (lays the rake), what take you me to be ? J * A Turk or infidel*, (you lie), I can't * 13e term'd fo bafe, but by a fycophant ; * Only I hate to acr. the whining faint. i I am a Chriftian true •, and therefore bode, ' It mall be well with me, I hope in God. * An't I an-honeft man ? yea, I defy * The tongue that dare aliert black to mine eye.' Perhaps, when the reprover turns his back, He'll vend the viler wares o' 's open'd pack, And with his fellows, in a drain more big, c Bid damn the bafe, uncharitable whig. * Thefe fcoundrel hypocrites (he'll proudly fay) ( Think none fhall ever merit heav'n but they, * And yet we may compete with them ; for iee, 45 The bed have blemilhes as well as we. * We have as good a heart (we truft) as thefe, c Tho' not their vain fuperfluous fhew and blaze. c Bigotted zealots, whole foul crimes are hid, 1 Would damn us all to hell ; but God forbid. c Whatever fuch a whining feci; profefs, c 'Tis but a nice, morofe, affected drefs. * And though we don't pretend fo much as they, c We hope to compafs heav'n a morter way ; < We feek God's mercy, and are all along ** Molt free of malice, and do no man wrong. c But whims fantaftic (han't our heads annoy, c That would our focial liberties deftroy. c Sure, right religion never was defign'd ' To mar the native mirth of human kind. ' How weak are thofe that would bethought nonfuch! c How mad, that would be righteous o'ermu;;* ! 1 We have fufhcient, though we be not cramm'd; * We'll therefore hope the bell, let them be damn'd.' Ah, horrid talk ! yet fo the legal ftrain Lards e'en the language of the moil profane. 4 S GOSPEL SONNETS. Parti. Thus dev'lifh pride o'erlooks a thoufand faults, And on a legal ground itielf exalts. This DO and LIVE, though doing pow'r be loft, In ev'ry mortal is proud nature's boaft. How does a vain conceit of goodnefs.fwell, And feed falfe hope, am id ft the {hades of hell ? Shall we, who fhould by gofpel-methods draw, Send finners to their nat'ral fpoufe the law ; And harp upon the doing ftring to fuch, Who ignorantly dream they do lb much ? Why, thus, inftead of courting Chrift a bride, We harden rebels in their native pride. Much rather ought we in God's name to place His great artill'ry ftraight againft their face ; And throw hot Sinai thunder-bolts around, To burn their tow'ring hopes down to the ground; To make the pillars of their pride to (hake, And damn their doings to the burning lake ; To curfe the doers unto endlefs thrall, That never did continue to do all * ; To fecrch their conference with the flaming air, And fink their haughty hopes in deep defpair: Denouncing Ebal's black revenging doom, To blaft their expectation in the bloom ; Till once vain hope of life by works give place Unto a folid hope of life by grace. The vig'rous ufe of means is fafely urg'd, When premng cells from legal dregs are purg'd; But moft un fafely in a fed'ral drefs, Conf >und ng terms of life with means of grace. Oh! drmg'rous is tli attempt proud flefh to pleafe, Or fend a finner to the law for eafe ; Who rather needs to feei its piercing dart, Till dreadfui pangs invade his trembling heart; And thither fhoulri be only fent for flames Of fire to burn his rotten hopes and claims; That thus diianri'd, he glaoly may embrace, And grafp with eagernefs the news of grace. * Gal. iii. io. Chap. V. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 49 SECT. V. The go/pel of divine grace, the only means of convert- ing /timers; and Jhsuld be preached therefore mojl clearly, fully > and freely. *-pHEY ought, who royal grace's heralds be, To trumpet loud falvation, full and free 5. Nor fafely can, to humour mortal pride, In filence evangelic myft'ries hide. What Heav'n is pleas'd to give, dare we refufe ? Or under ground conceal, left men abufe ? Supprefs the gofpel-flow'r, upon pretence That fome vile fpiders may fuck poifon thence? Chrift is a ftumbling-block *, (hall we neglect. To preach him, left the blind fliould break their neck? That high he's for the fall of many fet, As well as for the rife f , muft prove no let. No grain of precious truth muft be fuppreft, Though reprobates mould to their ruin wreft. Shall Heav'n's corufcant lamp be dimm'd, that pays Its daily tribute down in golden rays, Becaufe fome blinded with the blazing gleams, Share not the pleafure of the light'ning beams ? Let thofe be hard'ned, petrify'd, and harm'd, The reft are mollify'd and kindly warm'd. A various favour f flowers in grace's field, Of life to fome, of death to others yield. Muft then the rofe be veil'd, the lily hid, Their fragrant favour ftifled ? God forbid ! The revelation of the gofpel-flower Is ftill the organ fam'd, of faving pow'r ; Molt juftly then are legal minds condemn'd, That of the glorious gofpel are afham'd : For this the divine arm, and only this, The pow'r of God unto falvation is. * 1 Cor. i. 43. f Luke, ii. 34.. % % Cor. ii. i5. SO GOSPEL SONNETS. Part I. For therein is reveal'd, to fcreen from wrath, The righteoufnefs of God from faith to faith *. The happy change in guilty finners cafe, They owe to free di (plays of fov'reign grace ; "Whole joyful tidings of amazing love, The miniftracioi: of the Spirit prove. The glorious, vent the gofpel-news exprefs, Of God's free grace, thro* ChrifVs full righteoufnefs, Is Heav'n's gay chariot where the Spirit bides, And in his conqu'ring pow'r triumphant rides. The gofpel-field is (till the Spirit's foil, The golden pipe that bears the holy oil ; The orb where he outft.ines the radiant fun, The filver channel where his graces run. Within the gofpcl-banks, his flowing tide Of lightening, quick'ning motions, fvveetly glide. Received ye the Spirit, fcripture faith. f, By legal works, or by the word of faith? If by the gofpel only, then let none Dare to be wifer than the wifeffc One. We mult, who freely get, as freely give The \ital word that makes the dead to live. For ev n to finners dead within our reach, We, in his living name, may moil: fuccefsful preach. The Spirit and the fcripture both agree Jointly, (lavs Chriir.) to tcilify of rne±. The preacher then will from his text decline, That fcorrts to harmonize with this defign. !\-efs moral duties to the laft degree*, y not? but mind, left we fuccefsful be, No ligh'", no hope, no Ibrength for duties fpring, Where Jefus is not Prophet, Pried, and King. No light to fee the way, unlets he teach, No joyful hope, fave in his blood, we reach* No itrengtb, unlefs his royal arm he ftretch. Then, from our leading fcope, how grofs we fall, H, like his name, in ev'ry gofpel-call, We make not him the Firft, the Laft, the Ail ! * Rom. i. 265 27. f G^l. iii. 2. J John. xv. 26. v . 39 Chap. V. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 51 Our office is to bear the radiant torch Of gofpel-light into the dark'ned porch Of human underftandings, and difplay The joyful dawn of everlafting day ; To draw the golden chariot of free grace, The dark'ned (hades with mining rays to chafe, Till Heav'n'sbrightlamp on circling wheelsbehurl'dj With fp ark ling grandeur round the dufky world ; And thus to bring, in dying mortals fight, New life and immortality to light*. We're charg'd to preach the gofpel, unconfin'd, To ev'ry creature f of the human kind ; To call, with tenders of falvation free, All corners of the earth, to come and fee | : And ev'ry finner mult excufelefs make, By urging rich and poor to come and take §. Ho, ev'ry one that thirds [j, is grace's call Direct, to needy finners, great and fmall ; Not meaning thofe alone, whofe holy thirft Denominates their fouls already bleft. If only thofe were call'd, then none but faints; Nor would the gofpel fuit the finner's wants. But here the call does fignally import, Sinners, and thirfty fouls of ev'ry fort ; And mainly to their door the mefPage brings, Who yet are thirfting after empty things ; Who ipend their means no living bread to buy, And pains for that which cannot fatisfy. Such thirfty finners here invited are, Who vainly fpend their money, thought, and care, On parting (hades, vile lulls, and train fo bafe, As yield immortal fouls no true folace: The call directs them, as they would be bleft, To choofe a purer object of their thirft. * 2 Tim. i. 10. f Mark, xvL 15. £ Ifa x!v. 22. John, i. 39. 46. § Rev. xxii. 17. || Ifa. iy. i, 2 . F 2 52 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part I. All are invited by the joyful found, To drink who need, as does the parched ground, Whofe wide-mouth'd clefts fpeak to the brazen fky Its paflive thirft, without an active cry. The gofpel -preacher then, with holy fkill, Muft offer Chrift, to whofoever will ; To finners of all forts that can be nam'd ; The blind, the lame, the poor, the halt, the maim'd*. Not daring to reftricl: th' extenfive call, .But op'ning wide the net to catch 'em all. No foul muft be excluded that will come, Nor right of accefs be conmi'd to fome. Though none will come till confcious of their want, Yet right to come they have by fov'reign grant j Such right to Chrift, his promife, and his grace, That all are damn'd who hear and don't embrace. .So freely is th' unbounded call difpens'd, „ We therein find ev'n finners unconvinc'd, "Who know not they are naked, blind, and poorf, Counfell'd to buy or beg at Jefus' door, [(lore. And take the glorious robe, eve-falve, and golden- This prize they are oblig'd by faith to win, Elfe unbelief would never be their (in. Yea, gofpel offers but a {ham we make, If each defcription has not right to take. Be gofpel-heralds fortify'd from this, To trumpet grace, howe'er the ferpent hifc. Did hell's malicious mouth in dreadful fhapc 'Gainft innocence itfelf malignant gape ? Then facred truth's devoted vouchers may For dire reproach their meafures conftant lay. With cruel calumny of old commenc'd, This feci: will ev'ry where be fpoke againft f 5 While to and fro he runs the earth acrofs, Whofe name is Adelphon kategoros §. In fpite of hell be then our conftant ftrife To win the glorious Lamb a virgin-wife. * Luke, xiv. &x. f Rev. iii. 17, 18. % Acts, xxviii. zz. § Or, The acculer of the brethren. a Chap. VI. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 5 $ CHAP. VI. An Exhort ail oyi to all that are out of Christ ; in order to their clofing the match with him : containing alfo motives and directions. p eader, into thine hands thefe lines are giv'n, v But not without the providence of Hearn; Or to advance thy blifs, if thou art wife, Gr aggravate thy woe, if thou defpife. For theej for thee, perhaps, th' omnifcient ken Has fonn'd the counfel here, and led the peW The writer then does thy attention plead, In his great name that gave thee eyes to read. SECT. I. Conviction offered to Sinners , ef penally fitch as are wedded fr icily to the latv\ or felf-righieoui\ that they may fee the need of Christ's rightcoufnefs. if never yet thou didft fair Jefus wed, Nor yield thy heart to be his marriage-bed, But hitherto art wedded to the law, Which never could thy chain'd affections, draw From brutiih lulls, and fordid lover's charms 3 Lo ! thou art yet in Satan's folded arms. Hell's pow'r invifible, thy foul retains His captive Have, lock'd up in marly chains.. . O ! (inner then, as thou -regard' ft thy life, Seek, feek with ardent care and earned itriie 5 To be the glorious Lamb's betrothed wife. For bafe co-rivals never let him lofe Thy heart, his bed of conjugal repofe. Wed Chrift alone, and with fevere remorfe, ^ From other mates, purfue a clean divorce ; J. Tor they thy ruin feek bv fraud or force, \ F3 ! 54 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part I. As lurking ferpents in the fhady bow'rs Conceal their malice under fpreading flow'rs *, So thy deceitful lufts, with cruel fpite, Hide ghaflly danger under gay delight. Art thou a legal zealot, foft or rude, Renounce thy nat'ral and acquired good. As bafe deceitful lufts may work thy fmart, So may deceitful frames upon thy heart : Seeming good motions may in fome be found, Much joy in hearing, like the ftony ground * ; Much forrow too in praying, as appears In Efau's careful fuit with rueful tears f. Touching the law, they blamelefs may appear:]:, From fpurious views mofl fpecious virtues bear: Nor merely be devout in men's efteem, But prove to be fincerely, what they feem ; Friends to the holy law in heart and life, Suers of heav'n with utmoft legal ftrife ; Yet ftill, v/ith innate pride fo rankly fpic'd, Converted but to duties, not to Chrift ; That publicans and harlots heav'n obtain § Before a crew fo righteous and fo vain. Sooner will thofe (hake off their vicious drefs, Than thefe blind zealots will their righteoufnefs, Who judge they have (which fortifies their pride) The law of God itfelf upon their fide. Old nature, new brufh'd up with legal pains, Such Uriel: attachment to the law retains ; No means, no motives can to Jefus draw Vain fouls io doubly wedded to the law. But wouldft the glorious Prince in marriage have ? Know that thy nat'ral hufband cannot fave. Thy beft elTays to pay the legal rent, Can never in the leaft the law content. Didft thou in pray'rs employ the morning-light, In tears and groans the watches of the night, * Luke, viil. i3- t Heb. xii. 17. % Phil- "»• 9« § Matth. xxi. 31. Chap. VI. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. < S Pafs thy whole life in clofe devotion o'er ? 'Tis nothing to the law ftill craving more. There 's no proportion 'twixt its high commands,") And puny works from thy polluted hands ; £ Perfection is the lean: that it demands. j Wouldft enter into life, then keep the law* ; But keep it perfectly without a flaw. It won't have lefs, nor will abate at laft A drop of vengeance for the fin that's pafb. Tell, finful mortal, is thy flock fo large, As duly can defray this double charge ? ' Why thefe are mere impombles,' (fay 'ft thou.) Yea, truly fo they are ; and therefore now, That down thy legal confidence may fall, The law's black doom home to thy bofom call. * Lo ! I (the divine lav/) demand no lefs c Than perfect everlafting righteoufnefs ; ( But thou haft fail'd, and loft thy ftrength to DO : * Therefore I doom thee to eternal woe ; 4 In prifon clofe to be {hut up for ay, c Ere I be baffled with thy partial pay. * Thou always didft and dofl my precepts break, * I therefore curfe thee to the burning lake. c In God, the great Lawgiver's glorious name, ' I judge thy foul to everlafting fhame.' No flefii can by the law be juftified f ; Yet dareft thou thy legal duties plead ? As Paul appeal'd to Casfar, wilt thou fo, -J Unto the law ? then to it fhalt thou go, C And find it doom thee to eternal woe. \ What ! would ye have us plung'd in deep defpair ? Amen •, yea, God himfelf would have you there. His will it is that you defpair of life, And fafety by the law, or legal ft rife ; That cleanly thence divorc'd at any rate, His faireft Son may have a faithful mate. * Matth. xxi. 17. f Rom. iiJ. ao. 56 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part ft Till this law-fen ten ce pafs within your Inroad, You'll never wed the law-dif charging Prieft. You'll prize not heav'n till he through hell you draw ; Nor love the gofpel till you know the law. - Know then, the divine law moil perfect, cares For none of thy imperfect legal wares ; Dooms thee to vengeance for thy fmful ftatc, As well as finful actions-, fmall or great. If any fin can be accounted final], To hell it dooms thy foul for one and all. For fins of nature, practice, heart, and way, Damnation-rent it furwmons thee to pay. Yea, not for fm alone, which is thy Ihame, But for thy boafted fetvice too, fo lame, The law adjudges thee and hell to meet, Becaufe thy righteoufnefs is incomplete. As tow'ring flames burn up the wither'd flags, So will the fiery law thy filthy rags. SECT. If. Dire&ion given, ivith reference to the right uje of the means , that lue rejl not on thefe injleadof Christ, the glorious Hii/band, in tuhom our help lies. A n a m , where art thou* ? Soul, where art thou now ? Oh ! art thou faying, Sir, what fhall I dof ? I dare not ufe that proud fclf-railing {train ; Go help yourfelf, and God will help you then. Nay, rather know, O Ifr'el, that thou haft Deltroy'd thyfelf, and can ft not in the lead From fin nor wrath thyfelf the captive free * r Thy help (fays Jefus) only lies in me}. Heav'n's oracles direct to him alone i Full help is laid upon this mighty One. In him, in him complete falvation dwells ; He's God the helper, and there is none elfe §.. * Gen. ill. 9. f Mark, x. 17. % Hof. xiii. 9. ^ Iia. xlv. 22. Chap. VI. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 57 Fig-leaves won't hide thee from the fiery fhow'r, 'Tis he alone that faves by price and pow'r. Mull we do nothing then (will mockers fay) But red in floth till Heav'n the help convey I Pray, flop a little, fmner, don't abufe God's awful word, that charges thee to ufe Means, ordinances, which he 's pleas'd to place, As precious channels of his pow'rful grace. Reitlefs improve all thefe, until from Heav'n The whole falvation needful thus be given. Wait in this path, according to his call, On him whofe pow'r alone affe£teth all. Wculdft thou him wed, in duties wait, I fay ; But marry not thy duties by the way. Thou 'It wofully come fhort of laving grace, If duties only be thy refting place. Nay, go a little further * through them all. To him whofe office is to fave from thrall. Thus in a gofpel-manner hopeful wait* Striving to enter by the narrow gate f : So ftrait and narrow, that it won't admit The bunch upon thy back to enter it. Not only bulky lufts may ceafe to prefs, But ev'n the bunch of boafted righteoufnefe. Many, as in the facred page we fee, Shail drive to enter, but unable be X ♦ Becaufe, miftaking this new way of life, They pufh a legal, not a gofpel-ftrife : As if their duties did Jehovah bind, Becaufe 't is written, Seek and ye fhall find §. Perverted fcripture does their error fence, They read the letter, but neglect the fenfe. While to the word no gofpel-glofs they give, Their feek and find's the fame with do and live. Hence would they a connection native place Between their moral pains and faving grace : * Song, iii. 1,4. f Matth. vii. 13, 14. J Luke, xiii. 24- § Matth. vii. 7. 58 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part I. Their nat'ral poor eflays they judge, won't mifs In juftice, to infer eternal hlifs. Thus commentaries on the word they make, "Which to their ruin are a grand miftake : For, through the legal bias in their breaft, They fcripture to their ov/n deftrucYion wrcft. Why, if we feek we get, they gather hence : Which is not truth, fave in the fcripture -fenfe. There, Jefus deals with friends, and elfewhere faith, Thofe feekers only fpeed that afk in faith*. The prayer of the wicked is abhorr'd, As an abomination to the Lord f . Their fuits are fins, but their neglecVs no lefs, Which can't their guilt diminifh, but increafe. They ought, like beggars, lie in grace's way; Hence, Peter taught the forcerer to pray:}; : For though mere nat'ral men's addrefs or pray'rs Can no acceptance gain, as works of theirs, Nor have, as their performance, any fway, Yet as a divine ordinance they may. But fpotlefs truth has bound itfelf to grant The luit of none but the believing faint. In Jefus perfons once accepted, do Acceptance find, in him, for duties too. For he, whofe Son they do in marriage take, Is bound to hear them for their Hufband's fake. But let no Chriftlefs foul at pray'r appear, Ai if Jehovah were obiig'd to hear: But ufe the means, becaufe a fov'reign God May come with aims, in this his wonted road. He wills thee to frequent kind wifdom's gate, To read, hear, meditate, to pray and wait ; Thy fpirit then be on thefe duties bent, As gofpel means, but not as legal rent. From thefe don't thy falvation hope nor claim, But from Jehovah in the ufe of them. * Jame?, i. 6. f Prov. xv. 5. xxviii. 9. J A&s, riii. 22. Chap, VI. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. & The beggar's fpirit never was fo dull, While waiting at the gate call'd Beautiful, To hope for fuccour from the temple-gate, At which he daily did fo careful wait; But from the rich and charitable fort, Who to the temple daily made refort. Means, ordinances, are the comely gate, At which kind Heav'n has bid us conftant wait t Not that from thefe we have our alms, but from The lib'ral God, who there is wont to come. If either we thefe means fhall dare neglect, Or yet from thefe th' enriching blifs expect, We from the glory of the King defalk, Who in the galleries is wont to walkj We move not regular in duties road, But bafe, invert them to an idol-god. Seek then, if gofpel means you would efTay, Through grace to ufe them in a gofpel-way : Not deeming that your duties are the price Of divine favour, or of paradife ; Nor that your belt eitorts employed in thefe Are fit exploits your awful Judge to pleafe. Why, thus you bafely idolize your train, And make it with the blood of' Jefus clafh. You'd buy the blefiing with your vile refufe, And fo his precious righteoufnefs abufe. What ! buy his gifts with filthy lumber ? nay ; Whoever offers this muft hear him fay, i Thy money perifh with thy foul for ay *.' Duties are means, which to the marriage-bed Should chaftely lead us like a chamber-maid ; But if with her inftead of Chrifl we match, We not our fafety but our ruin hatch. To Csefar, what is Caefar's fhou'd be giv'n ; But Caefar muft net have what's due to Heav'n; So duties lliould have duty's room, 'tis true, But nothing of the glorious Hufband's due. * Aas, viii. 20, 1 60 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part I. While means the debt of clofe attendance crave, Our whole dcpendance God alone muft have. If duties, tears, our confcience pacify, They with the blood of Chrift prefume to vie. Means are his vafials ; fhall we without grudge Difcard the mailer, and efpoufe the drudge? The hypocrite, the legalilt does fin, To live on duties, not on Chrift therein. He only feeds on empty difhes, plates, Who dotes on means, but at the manna frets. Let never means content thv foul at all, Without the Hufband, who is All in All*. Cry daily for the happy marriage-hour; To thee belongs the mean, to him the pow'r. SECT. III. A Call to believe in Jesus Christ, iviihfome hints at the act and object of faith. pRiF.ND, is the queftion on thy heart engrav'd, What mall I do to be for ever fav'd -j- ? Lo! here's a living rock to build upon; Believe in Jefus %\ and on him alone For righteoufnds and ftrength, thine anchor drop, Renouncing all thy former legal hope. c Believe! (fay you) I can no more believe, 4 Than keep the law of works, the DO and LIVE/ True ; and it were thy mercy, didft thou fee Thine utter want of all ability. New cov'nant graces he alone can grant, Whom God has giv'n to be the covenant |j; Ev'n Jefus, whom the facred letters call Faith's object, x author, finifher, and all: In him alone, not in thy a& of faith, Thy foul believing full falvation hath. In this new cov'nant judge not faith to hold The room of perfect doing in the old. * Col. iii. 3. f A&s, xvi. 30. JVer. 31. |J Ifa. xlii. 6. Chap. VI. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 6£ Faith is not giv'n to be the fed'ral price- Of other bleflings, or of paradife : But Heav'n by giving this, ftrikes out a door At which is carried in flill more and more. No finner muft upon his faith lay ftrefs, As if it were a perfect righteoufnefs. God ne'er afhgn'd unto it fuch a place ; 5 Tis but at bed a bankrupt begging grace* Its object makes its fame to fly abroad, So clofe it grips the righteoufnefs of God 5 Which righteoufnefs receiv'd, is (without flrife) The true condition of eternal life. But {till, fay you, pow'r to believe I mifs. You may ; but know you what believiug is ? Faith lies not in your building up a tow'r Of fome great action, by your proper pow'r; For Heav'n well knows, that by the killing fall, No pow'r, no will remains in man at all For acts divinely good; till fov'reign grace By pow'rful drawing virtue, turn the chafe. Hence none believe in Jefus as they ought, ^ 'Till once they firft believe they can do nought, > Nor are fumcient e'en to form a thought*. J They're confcious, in the right believing hour. Of human weaknefs, and of divine pow'r. Faith acts not in the fenfe of ftrength, and might, But in the fenfe of weaknefs acts outright. It is (no boafting arm of pow'r, or length) But weaknefs acting on almighty ftrength f . It is the pow'rlefs, helplefs fmner's flight Into the open arms of laving might: 5 Tis an employing Jefus, to do all That can within falvation's compafs fall j To be the agent kind in ev'ry thing Belonging to a prophet, prieft, and king; To teach, to pardon, fanctify, and fave, And nothing to the creature's pow'r to leave. * 1 Cor. iii. 5. fa Cor, xii, 9. G 6% GOSPEL SONNETS. Part I. Faith makes us joyfully content, that he Our Head, our Hufband, and our All fhould be ; Our righteoufnefs and flrength, our (lock and ftore, Our fund for food, and raiment, grace and glore. It makes the creature down to nothing fall, Content that Chrilt alone be all in all. The plan of grace is faith's delightful view With which it clofes, both as good and true ; Unto the truth, the mind's afTent is full, Unto the good, a free confenting will. The Holy Spirit here the agent chief, Creates this faith, and dallies unbelief. That very God who calls us to believe, The very faith he feeks, mult alfo give. Why calls he then ? fay you. Pray, man, be wife ; Why did he call dead Lazarus to rife ? Becaufe the orders in their bofom bear Almighty pow'r, to make the carcafe hear. But Heav'n may not this mighty pow'r difplay. Moll true : Yet Hill thou art obliged t' obey. But God is not at all oblig'd to ftretch His faving arm to fuch a finful wretch. All who within falvation-rolls have place, Are fav'd by a prerogative of grace ; But vefTels all that lhall with wrath be cramm'd, Are by an acl of holy juilice damn'd. Take then, dear foul, as from a friendly heart, The counfel which the following lines impart. SECT. IV, An Advice tofnners, to apply to the fever eign mercy of God, as it is dif covered through Christ, to the higheji henour ofjufice, and other divine attributes^ in order to further their faith in him unto falvation* f>o y friend, and at Jehovah's footftool bow; Thou know'ft not what a fov'reign God may do. Confefs, if he commiferate thy cafe, 'Twill be aa act of pow'rful fov'reign grace. Chap, VI. THE' BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS, 63 Sequeftrate carefully fome folemn hours, To fhew thy grand concern in fecret pow'rs. Then in th' enfuing {train to God impart, And pour into his bofom all thy heart. ' O glorious, gracious, pow'rful, fov'reign Lord, c Thy help unto a fmful worm afford ; c Who from my wretched birth to this fad hour * Have ftill been deftitute of will and pow'r ' To clofe with glorious Chrift; yea,fill'd withfpite"^ ' At thy fair darling, and thy faints delight, > c Refilling all his grace wjth all my might. j * Come, Lord, and fap my enmity's ftrong tow'r ; 1 O hafte the marriage- day, the day of pow'r : c That fweetly, by refiftlefs grace inclin'd, ' My once reluctant, be a willing mind. * Thou fpak'ft to being ev'ry thing we fee, * When thy almighty word faid, Let it be. * Nothings to beings in a moment pafs : c Let there be light, thou faidft ; and fo it was*. * A pow'rful word like this, a mighty call, 1 Mult fay, Let there be faith, and then it Ihail. * Thou feek'ft my faith and night from fin and guilt ; ' Give what thou feek'ft, Lord; then feek what thou c What good can ifTue from a root fo ill ! [wilt. * This heart of mine's a wicked lump of hell ; ■ Twill all thy common motions ftill renft, * Unlefs with fpecial drawing virtue bleft. ' Thou caH'ft, but with the call thy pow'r convey; ^ c Command me to believe, and I'll obey, > * Nor any more thy gracious call gainfay. 3 * Command, O Lord, effectually command, ^ c And grant I be not able to withftand ; > C -Then, pow'rlefs I will ftretch the. wither* d hand. 3 ( I to thy favour can pretend no claim, c But what is borrow'd from thy glorious name *, c Which though moft juftly thou mayft glorify, 6 In damning fuch a guilty wretch- as I, * Gen. i. 3. G2 1 44 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part 1 * -A- f a gR ot > fitted for the burning fire 4 Of thine incenfed everlafting ire : 4 Yet, Lord, fince now I hear thy glorious Son, ' In favour of a race that was undone, * Did in thy name, by thy authority, * Once to the full ftern jufticefatisfy ; * And paid more glorious tribute thereunto * Than hell and all its torments e'er can do. * Since my falvation through his blood can raife * A revenue to juftice' higheft praife, * Higher than rents, which hell for ever pays : * Thefe to tremendous juflice never bring * A fatisfac~lion, equal and condign. * But Jefus, our once dying God, performs * What never could by ever dying worms : 4 Since thus thy threat'ning law ishonour'd more 4 Than e'er my fins affronted it before : * Since juflice ftern may greater glory win, * By juftifying in thy darling Son, * Than by condemning ev'n the rebel me ; 4 To this device of wifdom, lo ! I flee. * Let juflice, Lord, according to thy will, * Be glorify'd with glory great and full ; 4 Not now in hell where juflice' petty pay * Is but extorted parcels mine'd for ay : * But glorify'd in Chrift, who down has told * The total fum at once in liquid gold. * In lowefl hell low praife is only won, * But juftice has the higheft in thy Son ; 4 The Sun of righteoufnefs that fet in red, * To fhew the glorious morning would fucceed. * In him then fave thou me from fin and fhame, 4 And to the higheft glorify thy name. 4 Since this bright fcene thy glories all exprefs, * And grace as emprefs reigns, through righteoufnefs 5 * Since mercy fair runs in a crimfon flood, * And vents through juftice-fatisfying blood : 4 Not only then for mercy's fake I fue, * But for the glory of thy juftice too. Chap. VI. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. d 5 c And fince each letter of thy name divine T c Has in fair Jems' face the brighter!: mine, > 4 This glorious Hufband be for ever mine. J * On this ftrong argument, fo fweet, fo bleft, * With thy allowance, Lord, I muft infill. 4 Great God, fince thou allow'fl unworthy me 4 To make thy glorious name my humble plea ; 4 No glory worthy of it wilt thou gain, 4 By calling me into the burning main. 4 My feeble back can never fuit the load, * That fpeaks thy name — a fin-avenging God : 4 Scarce would that name feem a confuming fire c Upon a worm unworthy of thine ire, 4 But fee the worthy Lamb, thy chofen Prieft, - 4 With juflice' burning-glafs againft his breaft, * Contracting all the beams of 'venging wrath, * As in their centre, till he burn to death. 4 Vengeance can never be fo much proelaim'd, * By fcatter'd beams, among the millions darnn'd, 4 Then, Lord, in him me to the utrnofl fave, 4 And thou {halt glory to the higher! have : * Glory to wifdom, that contriv'd fo well ! 4 Glory to pow'r, that bore and bury'd hell ! * Glory to holinefs, which fin defac'd 4 With finlefs fervice, now divinely grac'd ! 4 Glory tojuftice' fword, that flaming Hood, 4 Now drunk to pleafure with atoning blood ! 4 Glory to truth, that now in fcarlet clad, 4 Has feaPd both threats and promifes with red ! 4 Glory to mercy, now inpurple ftreams, -^ 4 So fweetly gliding through the divine flames L 4 Of other once ofFended, now exalted names ! J 4 Each attribute confpires, with joint embrace, ~) 4 To mew its fparkling rays in Jefus' face -, S» 4 And thus to deck the crown of matchlefs grace, j 4 But to thy name in hell ne'er can accrue * The thoufandth part of this, great revenue ! G 3 66 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part U 1 O ravifhing contrivance ! light that blinds € Cherubic gazers, and feraphic minds. * They pry into the deep, and love to learn * What yet Ihould vaftly more be my concern. ' Lord, once my hope moft reafonlefs could dream * Of heav'n, without regard to thy great name ; * But here is laid my lafting hope to found, * A highly rational, a divine ground. * 'Tis reasonable, I expecl thou'lt take * The way that moft will for thine honour make. * Is this the plan ? Lord, let me build my claim * To life, on this high glory of thy name. * Nor let my faithlefs heart or think, or fay, * That all this glory fhall be thrown away * In my perdition ; which will never raife * To thy great name fo vaft a rent of praife. * O then a rebel into favour take : * Lord, fhield and fave me for thy glory's fake. * My endlefs ruin is not worth the cod, . * That fo much glory be for ever loft. « I'll of the greateft finner bear the fhame, * To bring the greateft honour to thy name. « Small Iofs, though I fhould perifh endlefs days, < But thoufand pities grace mould lofe the praife. « O hear, Jehovah, get the glory then, « And to my ^application fay, Amen.' SECT. V. The terrible Doom of unbelievers, and rejeSlers of Christ, or defpifers of the gofpeL Thus, finner, into Jefus' bofom flee, Then there is hope in Ifra'l fure for thee. Slight not the call, as running by in rhime, Left thou repent for ay, if not in time. 'Tis moft unlawful to contemn and fhun All wholefome counfels that in metre run j Chap. VI. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 67 Since the prime fountains of the facred writ Much heav'nly truth in holy rhimes tranfmit. If this don't pleafe, yet hence it is no crime To verify the word, and preach in rhime. But in whatever mould the doctrine lies, •* Some erring minds will gofpel-truth defpife L Without remede, till Heav'n anoint their eyes. J Thefe lines pretend no conqu'ring art nor lkill 3 But fhew, in weak attempts, a ftrong good-will To mortify all native legal pride, And court the Lamb of God a virgin bride. If he thy conjunct match be never giv'n, Thou'rt doom'd to hell, as fure as God's in heav'n* If gof pel-grace and goodnefs don't thee draw, Thou art condemn' d already by the law. Yea, hence damnation deep will doubly brace* If {till thy heart contemn redeeming grace. No argument from fear or hope will move, Or draw thy heart, if not the bond of love :. Nor flowing joys, nor naming terrors chafe To Chrift the hav'n, without the gales of grace* O (lighter then of grace's joyful found, Thou'rt over to the wrathful ocean bound Anon, thou'lt fink into the gulf of woes, Whene'er thy wafting hours are at a clofe: Thy falfe old legal hope will then be loft, And with thy wretched foul give up the ghoft. Then fare well God and Chrift, and grace and glore 5 Undone thou art, undone for evermore - % For ever finking underneath the load And pre fi ure of a fin-revenging God. The facred awful text afferts, To fall Into his living hands is fearful thrall; When no more facrifice for fin remains % But ever-living wrath, and lafting chains; Heav'n ftill upholding life in dreadful death, • Still throwing down hot thunderbolts of wral!% * Heb. x, 29. 31, s 6S GOSPEL SONNETS. Part I. Then, then we may fuppofe the wretch to cry, Oh ! if this damning God would let me die, As full of terror, and, as manifold As finite veflels of his wrath can hold And not torment me to eternity! J c Why from the filent womb of ftupid earth, * Did Heav'n awake, and pufh me into birth? ' Curs'd be the day that ever gave me life; * Curs'd be the cruel parents, man and wife, * Means of my being, inftruments of woe; ' For now I'm damn'd, I'm damn'd, and always fo f * Curs'd be the day that ever made me hear 4 The gofpcl-call, which brought falvation near. c The endlefs found of flighted mercy's bell ' Has, in mine ears the moil tormenting knell * Of offer'd grace, I vain repent the lofs, 4 The joyful found with horror recognofce. * The hollow vault reverberates the found; c This killing echo ftrikes the deepefl wound, * And with too late remorfe does now confound. 4 Into the dungeon of defpair I'm lock'd, 1 Th' once open door of hope for ever block'd: * Hopelefs, I fink into the dark abyfs, * Banifh'd for ever from eternal blifs. 4 In boiling waves of vengeance mult I lie ? * O could I curfe this dreadful God, and die f * Infinite years in torment fhall I fpend, 4 And never, never, never at an end! 4 Ah f mult I live in torturing defpair * As many years as atoms in the air ? c When thefe are fpent, as many thoufands more 4 As grains of fand that crowd the ebbing fhore? * When thefe are done, as many yet behind 4 As leaves of foreft fhaken with the wind? * When thefe are gone, as many to enfue * As Items of grafs on hills and dales that grew ? 4 When thefe run out, as many on the march 4 As ftarry lamps that gild the fpangled arch? } €hap. VI. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. €$ * When thefe expire, as many millions more c As moments in the millions pad before ? * When all thefe doleful years are fpent in pain, * And multiply'd by myriads again, * Till numbers drown the thought ', could I fuppofe c That then my wretched years were at a clofe, ' This would afford fome eafe : But, ah ! I Ihiver * To think upon the dreadful found, for ever J 1 The burning gulf, where I blaipheming lie, * Is time no more, but vaft eternity. * The growing torment I endure for fin, * Through ages all, is always to begin. ' How did I but a grain of pleafure fow, * To reap an harvefl of immortal woe ? * Bound to the bottom of the burning main, * Gnawing my chains, I wifh for death in vain. * Juft doom ! iince I that bear th' eternal load, * Contemn'd the death of an eternal God. * Oh ! if the God that curs'd me to the lain, * Would blefs me back to nothing with a dafh ! * But hopelefs I the juft avenger hate, * Blafphemethe wrathful God, and curfe my fate.* To thefe this word of terror I direct, Who now the great falvation dare neglect * : To all the Chrift-defpifing multitude, That trample on the great Redeemer's blood; That fee no beauty in his glorious face, But flight his offers, and refufe his grace. A meffenger of wrath to none I am, But thofe that hate to wed the worthy Lamb. For though the fmalleil fins, if fmall can be, Will plunge the Chriftlefs foul in mifery, Yet, lo ! the greatefl that to mortals cleave, Shan't damn the fouls in Jefus, that believe ; Becaufe, they on the very method fall That well can make amends to God for all. Whereas proud fouls, through unbelief, won't let The glorious God a reparation get * Heb. ii, 3. 7* GOSPEL SONNETS. PaxtT. Of all his honour, in his darling Son, For all the great difhonours they have done. A faithlefs foul the glorious God bereaves Of all the fatisfa&ion that he craves ; Hence under divine hotted fury lies, And with a double vengeance juftly dies. The blacked part of Tophet is their place, Who flight the tenders of redeeming grace. That facrilegious monfter, Unbelief, So hard'ned 'gainft remorfe and pious grief, Robs God of all- the glory of his names, And ev'ry divine attribute defames. It loudly calls the truth of God a lie ; The God of truth a liar*: Horrid cry! Doubts and denies his precious words of grace. Spits venom in the royal Suitor's face. This monfter cannot ceafe all fin to hatch, Becaufe it proudly mars the happy match. As each law-wedded foul is join'd to fin, And deftitute of holinefs within ; So all that wed the law, muft wed the curfe, Which rent they fcorn to pay with Chrift's full purfe- They clear may read their dreadful doom in brief, Whofe fefter'd fore is final unbelief: Though to the law their life exactly fram'd, For zealous a&s and paflions too were fam J Yet, lo ! He that believes not, (hall be dami '' d ,\ f maf. y But now 'tis proper, on the other fide, With words of Comfort to addrefs the bride. She in her glorious Hufband does poflefs Adorning grace, acquitting righteoufnefs : And hence to her pertain the golden mines Of comfort, open'd in the following lines. * John, v. 10. f John, iii. 18. GOSPEL SONNETS. PART II. THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE. « THY MAKER IS THY HUSBAND," Ifa. liv. 5. N.B. The following lines being primarily intended for the life and edification of pioufly-exercifed fouls, and efpecially thofe of a more common and ordinary capacity, the author thought fit, through the whole of this fecond part of the book, to continue, as in the former editions, to repeat that part of the text, Thy Hujband> in the laft line of every verfe : Becaufe, however it tended to limit him, and reftricl: his liberty of words in the compofition, yet having ground to judge, 'that this appropriating compellation, ft ill refumed, has rendered thefe lines formerly, the more favoury to fome exercifed Chriftians, to whom the name of Christ (particularly as their Head and Huf- band) is as ointment poured forth : he therefore chofe rather to fubjecl: himfelf to that reftriclion, than to with-hold what may tend to the fatisfa£tion and comfort of thofe to whom Christ is all in all; and to whom his name, as their Hufband, fo many various ways applied, will be no naufeous repe- tition. 7 S GOSPEL SONNETS. Part II. CHAP. I. Containing the Privileges of the Believer that is efpoufed to Christ by faith of divine operation. SECT. I. The Believer'/ p erf eel beauty, free acceptance, and full fecurity, through the imputation cf Christ'/ perfecl righteoufnefs, though imparted grace be iflh\ perftcl. r\ happy foul, Jehovah's bride, The Lamb's beloved fpoufe ; Strong confolation's flowing tide, Thy Hufhand thee allows. In thee, though like thy father's race, By nature black as hell ; Yet now fo beautify'd by grace, Thy Hufband loves to dwell. Fair as the moon thy robes appear, While graces are in drefs : Clear as the fun*, while found to wear Thy Hufband's righteoufnefs. Thy moon-like graces, changing much, Have here and there a fpot; Thy fun -like glory is not fuch, Thy Hufband changes not. Thy white and ruddy veflure fair Outvies tKe rofy leaf ; For 'mong ten thoufand beauties rare Thy Hufband is the chief. * Song, vi. 3. Chap. I. THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE, ?$' Cloth'd with the fun, thy robes of light The morning rays outfhine-; The lamps of heav'n aie not fo bright, Thy Hufband decks thee fine. Though hellifh fmoke thy duties (lain, And fin deforms thee quite; Thy Surety's merit makes thee clean , Thy Hufband's beauty white. Thy pray'rs and tears, nor pure, nor good, But vile and loathfome feem; Yet, gain by dipping in his blood, Thy Hufband's high efteem. No fear thou ftarve, though wants be great, In him thou art complete: Thy hungry foul may hopeful wait, Thy Hufband gives thee meat. Thy money, merit, pow'r, and pelf, Were fquander'd by thy fall ; Yet, having nothing in thyfelf, Thy Hufband is thy all. Law-precepts, threats, may both befet To crave of -thee their due; But juftice, for thy double debt, Thy Hufband did purfue. Though juftice ftern as much belong, As mercy, to a God ; Yet juftice furTer'd here no wrong, Thy Hufband's back was broad. He bore' the load of wrath alone, That mercy might take vent; Heav'n's pointed arrows all upon Thy Hufband's heart were fpent. No partial pay could juftice ftill, No farthing was retrench'd; Vengeance exacted all, until . Thy Hufband all advane'd, H- 74 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part II. He paid in liquid golden red Each mite the law requir'd, Till with a loud 'TtsfinUbed *, Thy Hufband's breath expir'd. No procefs more the law can tent ; Thou -ftand'ft within its verge, And mayft at pleafure now prefent Thy Hufband's full difcharge. Though new contracted guilt beget New fears of divine ire; Yet fear thou not, though drown'd in debt, Thy Hufband is the payer. God might in rigour thee indite Of highefl crimes and Haws; But on thy head no curfe can light, Thy Huiband is the caule. SECT. IE, Christ the believer s friend, prophet ', prieji, king, defence, guide, guard, help, and healer. ■p\EAR foul, when all the human race Lay welt'ring in their gore, Vaft numbers, in that difmal cafe, Thy Hufband palled o'er. But, pray, why did he thoufands pafs, And fet his heart on theer The deep, the fearchlefs reafon was, Thy Hufband's love is free. The forms of favour, names of grace, And offices of love, He bears for thee, with open face, Thy Hufband's kindnels prove. 'Gain ft darknefs black, and error blind, Thou haft a Sun and Shield f : And, to reveal the Father's mind, Thy Hufband's Prophet feal'd. * John,xix, 30, f Pialm Jxxxiv. m Chap. I. THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE, f% He like wife to procure thy peace, And fave from fin's arreft, Refign'd himfelf a facrifice ; Thy Hufband is thy Prieft, And that lie might thy will fubject, And fweetly captive bring; Thy fins fubdue, his throne erect* Thy Hufband is thy King, Though num'rous and aiTaulting foes Thy joyful peace may mar ; And thou a thoufand battles lofe, Thy Hufband wins the wan Hell's forces, which thy mind appal* His arm can foon drfpatch ; How ftrong foe'er, yet for them all, Thy Hufband's more than match. Though fecret lufls, with hid contefT, By heavy groans reveal'd, And devils rage; yet, do their beft Thy Hufband keeps the field. When in defertion's ev'ning dark, Thy fteps are apt to Aide, His conduct feek, his counfel mark j Thy Hufband is thy guide. In doubts, renouncing felf-conceit, His word and Spirit prize : He never counfell'd wrong as yet, Thy Husband is fo wife. When weak, thy refuge feed at hand. Yet cannot run the length : *Tis prefe?it pvw'r to underfland * Thy Hufband is thy ilrength.. When making ftorms annoy thy heart, His word commands a calm : When bleeding wounds, to eafe thy fmart^ Thy Hufband's blood is balm* fr GOSPEL SONNETS. Pirt.IR Trull creatures not, to help thy thrall Nor to affuage thy grief: Ufe means, but look beyond them all, Thy Huiband's thy relief. If Heay'n prefcribe a bitter drug. Fret not with froward will : This carriage may thy cure prorogue ? Thy Hulband wants not fkill. He fees the fore, he knows the cure Will moll adapted be ; ? Tis then moil reafonable, fure, Thy Hufband choofe for thee. Friendship Thy Hufband Avail prevail. Still hope for favour at his hand, Though favour don't appear -> When help feems moft aloof to (land, Thy Hulband's then moft near. In cafes hopelefs-like, faint hopes May fail, and fears annoy ; But moft when ftript of earthly props, Thy Hufband thou'lt enjoy. If providence thepromife thwart, And yet thy humbled mind 'Gainfl hope believes in hope f, thou art Thy Hufband's deareft friend. Art thou a weakling, poor and faint, In jeopardy each hour ? Let not thy weaknefs move thy plaint, Thy Hufband has the pow'r. Dread not the foes that foil'd thee long, Will ruin thee at length : When thou art weak, then art thou ftrong ; Thy Hufband is thy ftrength. When foes are mighty, many too, Don't fear, nor quit the field; Ti* not with thee they have to do, Thy Hufband is thy fhield. 'Tis hard to fight againfl an hoft, Or ftrive againft the ftream; But, lo ! when all feems to be loft, Thy Hufband will redeem. f Rom. vi. 18. Chap. U THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE. g SECT. vr. Benefits accruing to Believers from, the offices f names ^ natures , and bufferings of Chriji. aKT thou by tufts a captive led, •"• Which breeds thy deepeft grief? To ranfom captives is his trade, Thy Hufband's thy relief. His precious name is JESUS, why? Becaufe he faves from fin * ; Redemption-right he won't deny, Thy Hufband's near of kin. His wounds have fav'd thee once from woes, His blood from vengeance fcreen'd ; When heav'n, and earth, and hell were foes, Thy Hufband was a friend : And will thy Captain now look on, And fee thee trampled down? When lo \ thy Champion has the throne. Thy Hufband wears the crown. Yield not, though cunning Satan bribe, Or like a lion roar ; The Lion ftrong of Judah's tribe, Thy Hufband goes before. And that he never will forfake f , His credit fair he pawn'd ; In hotted broils, then, courage take. Thy Hufband's at thy hand. No ftorm needs drive thee to a flrait, Who doft his aid invoke: Fierce winds may blow, proud waves may beat Thy Hufband is a rock. Renounce thine own ability, Lean to his promised might; The ftrength of Ifrel cannot lie, Thy Hufband's pow r is plight. *Matt. i, 21, fHtb. xlli, 5. 84 GOSPIX SONNETS. Part J I. •An awful truth does here prefent, Whoever, think it odd ; In him thou art omnipotent, Thy Hufband is a God. Jehovah's ftrength is in thy Head, Which faith may boldly fcan; God in thy nature does refide, Thy Hufband is a man. Thy ilefli is his, his Spirit thine; And that you both are one, One body, fpirit, temple, vine, Thy Hufband deign s to own. Kind he aflum'd thy flefh and blood, This union to purfue; And without lhame his brotherhood Thy Hulband does avow. He bore the crofs, thy crown to win. His blood he freely fpilt; The holy one, ailuming fin, Thy Hulband bore the guilt. Lo ! what a blefs'd exchange is this ! What wifdom fhines therein ! » That thou might'il be made righteoufnefs Thy Hulband was made fm *. The God of joy a man of grief, Thy forrows to difcufs ; Pure innocence hang'd as a thief: Thy Hufband lov'd thee thus. Bright beauty had his vifage marr'd, His comely form abus'd : True reft was from all reft debarred, Thy Huf band's heel was bruis'd. The God of blefiings was a cur:e, The Lord of lords a drudge, The heir of all things poor in purfe: Thy -Hufband did not grudge. • z Cor, v. 2 j. Chap. I. THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE. £f The Judge of all condemned was, The God immortal flain : No favour, in thy woful caufe, Thy Hufband did obtain. SECT. VII. Christ' j Sufferings further improved ; and Be- lievers called to live by faiths both tuhen they have, and ivant fenjible influences. T oud praifes fmg, without furceafe, To him that frankly came, And gave his foul a facrifice \ Thy Hufband was the Lamb. What waken'd vengeance could denounce, All round him did befet •, And never left his foul, till once Thy Hufband paid the debt. And though new debt thou ftill contract, And run in deep arrears ; Yet all thy burdens on his back Thy Hufband always bears. Thy Judge will ne'er demand of thee Two payments for one debt ; Thee with one victim wholly free Thy Hufband kindly fet. That no grim vengeance might thee meet, Thy Hufband met with all ; And, that thy foul might drink the fweet, Thy Huiband drank the gall. Full breafts of joy he loves t' extend, Like to a kindly nuffe; And, that thy blifs might full be gain'd, Thy Hufband was a curfe. Thy fins he glu'd unto the tree, His blood this virtue hath ; For, that thv heart to fin might die, Thy Huib^id fuffer'd death. $0 GOSPEL SONNETS. Pa:i To purchafe fully all thy good, Ail evil him befel ; To win thy heav'n with ftreams of blood, Thy Hufband quenched hell. That this kind Days-man in one band Might God and man betroth, He on both parties lays his hand, Thy Hufband pleafes both. The blood that could item juftice plcafc, And law-demands fulfil, Can alio guilty confcience eafe ; Thy Hufband clears the biil. Thy higheft glory is obtain'd By his abafement deep ; And, that thy tears might all be drain 'd, Thy Hufband chofe to weep. His bondage all thy freedom bought, He ftoop'd fo lowly down : His grappling all thy grandeur brought, Thy Hufband's crofs, thy crown. 'Tis by his fhock thy fceptre fways, His warfare ends thy itrife ; His poverty thy wealth conveys. Thy Hufband's death's thy life. Do mortal damps invade thy heart, And deadnefs feize thee fore ? Rejoice in this, that life t' impart Thy Hufband has in ftore. And when new life imparted feems Eftablifh'd as a rock, Boaft in the Fountain, not the flreams ; Thy Hufband is thy flock. The ftreams may take a various turn, The Fountain never moves : Ceafe then, o'er failing ftreams to mourn, Thy Hufband thus thee provd| 2 Chap. I. TrlE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE. If That glad thou may'ft, when drops are gone, Joy in the fpacious fea : When incomes fail, then ft ill upon Thy Hufband keep thine eye. But can't thou look, nor moan thy (trait, So dark's the difmal hour ? Yet, as thou'rt able, cry, and wait Thy Hufband's day of pow'r. Tell him, though fin prolong the term, Yet love can fcarce delay : Thy want, his promife, all affirm, Thy Hufband muft not flay. SECT. VIII. Christ the Believer's enriching Trea/ure. f/" ind Jefus lives, thy life to be Who mak'ft him thy refuge ; And, when he comes, thou'It joy to fee, Thy Hufband fhall be judge. Should palling troubles thee annoy, Without, within, or both ? Since endlefs life thou'It then enjoy, Thy Hufband pledg'd his truth. What ! won't he ev'n in time impart That's for thy real good ? He gave his love, he gave his heart, Thy Hufband gave his blood. He gives himfelf, and what fhould more ? What can he then refufe ? If this won't pleafe thee, ah ! how fore Thy. Hufband doft abufe ! Earth's fruit, heav'n's dew he won't deny, Whofe eyes thy need behold : Nought under or above the fky Thy Hufband will withhold* I 2 M GOSPEL SONNETS. Part If- Deft IofTes grieve? Since all is thine, What lofs can thee befall ? All things for good to thee combine *, 1 hy Hufband orders all. Thou'rt not put oft with barren leaves, Or dung of earthly pelf j More wealth than heav'n and earth he gives, Thy Hufband's thine himfelf. Thou haft enough to ftay thy plaint, Elfe thou complain'ft of eafe ; For, having all, don't fpeak of want, Thy Hufband may fulTice. From this thy ftore, believing, take Wealth to the utinoft pitch : The gold of Ophir cannot make, Thy Hufband makes thee rich. Some, flying gains acquire by pains, And, lbnte by plund'ring toil ; Such trcafure fades, but thine remains, Thy Huiband's cannot fpoih SECT. IX. Christ the Believer 9 s adorning Garment, "VEA, thou excell'ft in rich attire The lamp that lights the globe : Thy fparkling garment heav'ns admire, Thy Hufband is thy robe. This raiment never waxes old, 'Tis always new and clean : From fummer-heat, and winter-cold, Thy Hufband can thee fcreen. All who the name of worthies bore, Since Adam was undreft, No worth acquir'd, but as they wore Thy Huiband's purple veft. *Rom. viii.aS,, Chap. I. THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE. Z$ This linen fine can beautify The foul with fin begirt ; O blefs his name , that e'er on thee Thy Hufband fpread his fkirt. Are dung-hills deck'd with flow'ry glore, Which Solomon's outvie ? Sure thine is infinitely more, Thy Hufband decks the iky. Thy hands could never work the drefs, By grace alone thou'rt gay ; Grace vents and reigns through righteoufhefs F • Thy Hufband's bright array. To fpin thy robe no more doft need Than lilies toil for theirs ; Out of his bowels ev'ry thread Thy Hufband thine prepares. SECT. X. Christ the Believer's fweet Nourijhmeni. ^Thy food, conform to thine array, Is heav'nly and divine j On paftures green, where angels play, Thy Hufband feeds thee fine. Angelic food may make thee fair, And look with cheerful face ; The bread of life, the double fhare, Thy Hufband's love and grace. What can he give or thou defire, More than his flefh and blood? Let angels wonder, faints admire, Thy Hufband is thy food. His flefh the incarnation bears, From whence thy feeding flows ; His blood the fatisfa&ion clears; Thy Hufband both beftows. 13 90 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part II, Th' incarnate God a facrifice To turn the wrathful tide, Is food for faith ; that may fuflke Thy Hufband's guilty bride. This ftrength'ning food /nay fit and fence For work and war to come *, Till through the crowd, fome moments hence, Thy Hufband bring thee home: Where plenteous feafting will fucceed To fcanty feeding here : And joyful at the table-head Thy Hufband fair appear. The crumbs to banquets will give place, And drops to rivers new : While heart and eye will, face to face, Thy Hufband ever view. CHAP. I. Containing /^ Marks and Characters of the Believer in Christ ; together with fome farther privileges and grounds of comfort to the faints. SECT. I. Dcuhtlng Believers called to examine, by marls drawn from their love to him and his prefence, their view of his glory, and their being emptied of felf -right e- €u f" c J s i t^V* /"jooD news ! but, fays the drooping bride, Ah ! what's all this to me ? Thou doubt'ft thy right, when fnadows hide Thy Hufband's face from thee. Through fin and guilt thy fpirit faints, And trembling fears thy fate ; But harbour not thy groundlefs plaints, Thy Hufband's advent wait. Chap. I. THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE. 91 Thou fobb'ft, " O were I fure he's mine, This would give glad'ning eafe ," And fay'ft, Though wants and woes combine, Thy Hufband would thee pleafe. But up and down, artd feldom clear, Inclos'd withnellifh routs; Yet yield thou not, nor fofter fear: Thy Hufband hates thy doubts. Thy cries and tears may flighted feem,, And barr'd from prefent eafe > . Yet blame thyfelf, but never dream Thy Hufband's ill to pleafe. % Thy jealous unbelieving heart Still droops, and knows not why ;. Then prove thyfelf to eafe thy fmart> Thy Hufband bids thee try. The following questions put to thee, As fcripture-marks, may tell And mew, what'er thy failings be, Thy Hufband loves thee well. MARK S. A RT thou content when he's away ? Can earth allay thy pants ? If confcience witnefs, won't it fay, Thy Hufband's all thou wants ? When he is near, ( though in a crofs) And thee with comfort feeds ; Doft thou not count the earth as drofs. Thy Hufband all thou needs ? In duties art thou pleas'd or pain'd, When far he's out of view ? And finding him, think'ft all regain'd, Thy Hufband always new ? Though once thou thought'ft, while Sinai mirl And darknefs compafsM thee, Thou waft undone ; and glorious Chrifl Thy Hufband ne'er would be, . yt GOSPEL SONNETS. p art \] t Yet know'ft thou not a fairer place. Of which it may be told, That there the glory of his grace Thy Hufband did unfold ? Where heav'nly beams inflam'd thy foulj And love's feraphic art, With hallelujahs, did extol Thy Huiband in thy heart. Couldfi: then have wifh'd all Adam's race Had join'd with thee to gaze ; That viewing fond his comely face, Thy Hufband might get praife ? Art thou disjoin'd from other lords? Divorc'd from fed'ral laws ? While, with mod loving gofpel cords> Thy Hufband kindly draws ? AVt thou enlighten'd now to fee Thy righteoufnefs is naught But rags*, that cannot cover thee ? Thy Hufband fo has taught. Dofl fee thy befl performances Deferve but hell indeed ? And hence art led, renouncing thefe, Thy Hufband's blood to plead ? When flrengthen'd boldly to addrefs That gracious throne of his, Dofl find, thy flrength and righteoufnefs Thy Hufband only is ? Canfl thou thy moft exalted frame Renounce, as with'ring grafs, And firmly hold thine only claim, Thy Hufband's worthinefs ? Canfl pray with utmofl holy pithf, And yet renounce thy good ? And wafli, not with thy tears, but with Thy Hufband's precious blood ? * Ifa, lxir, 6, f Vigour or flrength. Chap. I. THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE. ft SECT. II. Believers defcribed^from their Faith ailing by divine aid) and fleeing quite cut of them/elves to Christ, (2 an nothing lefs thy confcience eafe, And pleafe thy heart ; no lefs Than that which juftice fatisfies, Thy Hufband's rightecufnefs ? Doft fee thy works fo ftain'd with fin, That thou through grace art mov'd To feek acceptance only in Thy Hufband, the Belcv'd ? Doft thou remind, that once a-day Free grace did ftrengthen th.ee> To gift thy guilty foul away, Thy Hufband's bride to be ? Or doft thou mind the day of pow'r, Wherein he broke thy pride, And gain'd thy heart ? O happy hour ! Thy Hufband caught the bride ! He did thy enmity fubdue, Thy bondage fad recal, Made thee to choofe, and clofe purfue Thy Hufband as thy all. What reft, and peace, and joy enfu'd Upon this noble choice ? • Thy heart, with flow'rs of pleafure ftrew'd, Thy Hufband made rejoice. Doft know thou ne'er couldft him embrace, Till he embraced thee ? Nor ever fee him, till his face Thy Hufband open'dfree ? And fin deft to this very hour, That this is ftill the charm ; Thou canft do nothing, till with pow'r Thy Hufband fhew his arm ? 11 GOSPEL SONNETS. Tart H. Canft thou do nought by nature, art, Or any ftrength of thine, Until thy wicked froward heart Thy Hufband ihall incline ? But art thou, though without a wing Of pow'r aloft to flee, Yet able to do ev'ry thing, Thy Hufband ftrength'ning thee ? Doft not alone at duties fork*, But foreign aid enjoy ? And (till in ev'ry piece of work Thy Hufband's ftrength employ ? Thy motion heav'nly is indeed, While thou by faith doft move, And ftill in ev'ry time of need Thy Hufband's grace improve. No common nat'ral faith can fiiew Its divine brood, like this ; Whofe object, author, feeder too, Thy Hufband only is. Doft thou by faith on him rely ? On him, not on thy faith ? If faith fhall with its object vie, Thy Hufband's fet beneath. Their hands receiving faculty Poor beggars never view ; But hold the royal gift in eye : Thy Hufband fo wilt thou. Faith, like a gazing eye, ne'er waits To boaft its feeing pow'rs ; Its object views, itfelf forgets, Thy Hufband it adores. It humbly ftill itfelf denies, Nor brags its a&s at all ; Deep plung'd into its objecl lies, Thy Hufband is its all. * Labour, wreftle, or toil. Chap. I. THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE, 9? No ftrengthbut his it has, and vaunts, No (lore but his can {how : Hence nothing has, yet nothing wants, Thy Hufband trains it fo. Faith, cf its ov/n, no might can {hew, Elfe would itfelf deftroy ; But will for all it has to do, Thy Hufband (till employ. Self-faviours none could ever be By faith, or grace of theirs ; Their fruitlefs toil, fo high that flee. Thy Hufband's praife impairs. The feemingly devoutefl deed, That would with mamelefs brow His faving trade take o'er his head, Thy Hufband won't allow. Dofl therefore thou to him alone Commit thy finful foul ? Knowing of thy falvation Thy Hufband is the whole ? SECT. Ill, Believers characlerifed h the oljeBs and purity of . their defire, delight., joy, hatred, and love^ dis- covering they have the Spirit of Christ. 7~\ost thou his Spirit's conduct wait? And, when compar'd to this, AH worldly wifdom under-rate ? Thy Hufband waits to blefs. Tak'fl thou his Spirit for thy guide Through Baca's valley dry, Whofe ftreams of influences glide Thy Huiband's garden by? In digging wells here by his pow'r Doft find it not in vain, While here a drop, and there a fhow'r Thy Hufband makes to rain ? 9 6 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part IP Hence doft thou through each weary cafe From ftrength to ftrength go on, From faith to faith, while grace for grace Thy Hufband gives anon ? The good, the gracious work begun, And Furthered by his ftrength, Shall profp'rous, though with wreftling, win Thy Hufband's crown at length. Sin's pow'r and prefence, canft thou own, Is thy mo ft grievous fmart, That makes thee fob, and weep alone ? Thy Hufband knows thy heart. Does love to him make thee diftafle Thy lufts, with all their charms ? And moft them loath'ft, when moll thou haft Thy Hufband in thine arms ? Are cords of love the fwectcft ties To bind thee duty-ways ? And beft thou ferv'ft when moft thou fpics Thy Hufband's beauteous rays ? Didft ever thou thy pardon read In tears of untold joy ? When mercy made thy heart to bleed, Thy Hufband was not coy. Do pardons fvveetly melt thy heart, And moft imbitter fin ? And make thee long with drofs to part, Thy Hufband's throne to win ? When he arifes lufts to kill, Corruptions to deftroy, Does gladnefs then thy fpirit fill ? Thy Husband is thy joy. Doft thou his perfon fair embrace Beyond his blellings all ? Sure, then, thou boldly mayft, through grace, Thy Husband Jesus call. Chap. II. THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE. 9T What company doll thou prefer ? What friends, above the reft ? Of all relations every where, Thy Husband is the belt. Whom in the earth or heav'n dofl thou Moft ardently defire ? Is love's afcending fpark unto Thy Husband fet on fire ? Haft thou a hatred to his foes, And doft their courfe decline ? Lov'ft thou his faints, and dar'ft fuppofc Thy Husband's friends are thine ? Doft thou their talk and walk efteem, When moft divinely grave ? And favour'ft beft when moft they feem Thy Husband's Sp'rit to have? SECT. IV. Believers in Christ affetlhis counfel^ wordy ordi- nances , appear ance^ full enjoyment in heaven , and fiveet prejence here, "^/•here go'ft thou firft, when in a ft rait, Or when with grief oppreft ? Fleeft thou to him ? O happy gate ! Thy Husband is thy reft. His counfel feek'ft thou ftill prepar'd, Nor canft without him live ? Wifdom to guide, and ftrength to guard, Thy Husband hath to give. Canft thou produce no pleafant pawn, Or token of his love ? . Won't fignets, bracelets, from his hand, Thy Husband's kindnefs prove ? Mind'ft when he fent his healing word, Which darting from on high, Did light, and life, and joy afford.? Thy Husband then was nigh. ?8 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part If. Can ft thou the promife fweet forget, He dropt into thy heart ? Such glad'ning pow'r, and love with it, Thy Husband did impart. Doft thou afFe£r. his dwelling-place, And mak'ft it thy repair ; Becaufe thine eyes have Teen, through grace, Thy Husband's glory there ? Doft love his great appearing day, And thereon mufe with joy ; When duilcy (hades will fly away, Thy Hufband death deftroys ? Doft long to fee his glorious face Within the higher orb, Where humid forrows lofmg place, Thy Hufband's rays abforb ? Long'ft to be free of ev'ry fault, To bid all fin adieu ? And mount the hill, where glad thou {halt Thy Hufband's glory view ? Life where it lives, love where it loves, Will moft defire to be : Such love-fick longing plainly proves Thy Hufband's love to thee. What is it beft can eafe thy plaint, Spread morning o'er thine ev'n ? Is his approach thy heart's content, Thy Hufband's prefence heav'n ? And when deny'd this fweet relief, Canft thou ailerc full well, His hiding is thy greateft grief, Thy Hufband's abfence hell ? Let thy experience be difclos'd ; If confcience anfwer Yea To all the queries here propos'd, Thy Hufband's thine for ay. Chap. II. THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE. 99 Pertain thefe characters to thee ? Then, foul, begin and praife His glorious worthy name, for he Thy Hufband is always. SECT. V. The true Believer's humflity, dependence^ zeal^ growth, admiration of free grace-, and knowledge ^Christ's voice. Perhaps a faint may figh and fay, "I fear F«i yet to learn " Thefe marks of marriage love." Yet flay, Thy Hufband's bowels yearn. Though darknefs may thy light obfcure, And ftorms furmount thy calms, Day yield to night, and thou be poor, Thy Hufband yet has alms. Doft fee thyfelf an empty brat, A poor unworthy thing, With heart upon the duft laid flat ? Thy Hufband there does reign. Art in thine own efteem a beaft, And doft thyfelf abhor ? The more thou haft of felf-diftafte, Thy Hufband loves the more. Can hell breed no fuch wicked elf, As thou, in thine own fight ? Thou'ft got, to fee thy filthy felf, Thy Hufband's pure ft light. Canft find no names fo black, fo vile, "With which thou wouldft compare, But caH'ft thyfelf. a lump of hell ? Thy Hufband calls thee fair. When his kind vifits make thee fee He's precious, thou art vile ; Then mark the hand of God with thee, Thy Hufband gives a fmile. K2 oo GOSPEL SONNETS. I art It. He knows what vifits fuit thy ftate, And though mofl rare they be, It fets thee well on him to wait, Thy Huiband waits on thee. Doll fee thou art both poor and weak, And he both full and ftrong ? O don't his kind delays miitake, Thy Ilufband comes ere long. Though during Sinai's, ftormy day, Thou dread'ft the difmal blaft, And fear'ft thou art a caft-away, Thy "Hufband comes at laft. The glorious Sun will rife apace, And fpread his healing wings, In fparkling pomp of fov'reign grace, Thy Hufband gladnefs brings. Canfh thou, whate'er fhould come of thee, Yet wifh his Zion well, And joy in her profperity ? Thy Huiband loves thy zeal. Doft thou admire his love to fome, Though thou fhouldfl never mare ? Mercy to thee will alfo come, Thy Hufband hath to fpare. Poor foul ! doft grieve for want of grace, And weep for want of love, And Jefus feek'ft ! O.hopeful cafe ! Thy Hufband lives above. Regretting much thy falling fhort, Doft after more afpire ? There's hope in Ifrael for thy fort, Thy Hufband' s thy defire. Art thou well pleas'd that fov'reign grace, Through Chrift, exalted be ? This frame denotes no hopelefs cafe, Thy Hufband's pleas'd with thee. Chap, N. THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE. 101 Couldft love to be the footftool low, On which his throne might rife, Its pompous grace around to mow ? Thy Hufband does thee prize. If but a glance of his fair face Can cheer thee more than wine ; Thou in his loving heart hail place, Thy Hufband place in thine. Doft make his blood thy daily bath ? His word and oath thy flay ? His law of love thy lightfome path ? Thy Hufband is thy way. All things within earth's fpacious womb Doft count but lofs and dung, For one fweet word in feafon from Thy Hufband's learned tongue ? Skill to difcern and know his voice, From words of wit and art, "Will clearly prove thou art his choice, Thy Hufband thine in heart. The pompous words that fops admire, May vagrant fancy feaft ; But with feraphic harmlefs fire Thy Hufband's burn the bread. SECT. VI. True Believers are willing to be tried and examined. Comforts arifing to them from Christ's ready fupply^ real fympathy-) and relieving names ^ jutting their needs, J^ost thou upon thy trait'rous heart Still keep a jealous eye ? Moft willing that thine inward part Thy Hufband ftriftly try ? The thieving crowd will hate the light. Left ftoPn effecls be fhown ; But truth defires what's wrong or right Thy Hufband would make known. K3 I GOSPEL SONNETS. Pan II. Doft then his trying word await, His fearching doctrine love ? Fond, left thou err through felf-deceit, Thy Hufband would thee prove ? Does oft thy mind with inward fmart Bewail thy unbelief? And confcious ftie, from plagues of heart, Thy Hufband for relief? Why doubt'ft his love ? and yet, behold, With him thou wouldft not part For thoufand thoufand earths of gold j Thy Hufband has thy heart. Though darknefs, deadnefs, unbelief, May all thy foul attend ; Light, life, and faith's mature relief, Thy Hufband has to fend. Of wants annoying, why complain ? Supply arifes hence ; What gifts he has receiv'd for men f, Thy Hufband will difpenfe. He got them in's exalted ftate For rebels, fuch as thou ; All then that's needful, goo,d, or great, Thy Hufbav.d will aliow. Thy wants he fees, thy cries he hears ' y And, marking all thy moans, H* in his bottle keeps thy tears, Thy Hufband notes thy groans. All thine infirmities him touch, They ftrike his feeling hearty His kindly fympathy is fuch, Thy Hufband finds the fmart. Whatever touches thee, affects The apple of his eye ; Whatever harms he therefore- checks, Thy Huiband's aid is nigh. f Pfal. Ixviii. 18. Chap, II. THE BELIEVER'S JOINTORB. 103 If foes are fpar'd, thy need is fuch, He flays them but in part : He can do all, and will do much, Thy Husband acts by art. • He often for the faddeft hour .Referves the fweeteft aid : See how fuch banners heretofore Thy Husband has difplay'd. Mind where he vouched his good-will, Sometimes at Hermon * mount. In Jordan land, at Mizar-hill ; Thy Husband keeps the count. At fundry times, and divers wayg, To fuit thy various frames, Haft feen like riling golden rays, Thy Husband's various names ? "When guilty confcience ghaftly ftar'd, Jehovah-tsidkenu j-, The Lord thy righteoufnefs appeared, Thy Husband in thy view. When in thy ftraits, or wants extreme, Help fail'd on ev'ry fide, Jehoyah-jireh if was his name,. Thy Husband did provide. When thy long abfent Lord didft moan, And to his courts repair; Then was Jehovah-sham m ah |( known Thy Husband, prefent there. When thy afPaulting foes appear'd, In robes of terror clad, Jehovah-nissi J then was rear'd, Thy Husband's banner fpread. When furies arm'd with fright'ning guilt, Dunn'd war without furceafe ; * Pfal.xlii. 6. f Jer. xxiii. 6. % Gen. xxii. 14,, II Ezek. xlviii. 35. § Exod. xvii. 15. 104 GOSPEL SONNETS Part II. Jehovah-shalom * then was built, Thy Husband fent thee peace. When thy difeafes death proclaimed, And creature-balfams fail'd, Jehovah-rophi f then was built; Thy Husband kindly heal'd. Thus, as thy various needs require, In various modes like thefe, The help that fuits thy heart's defire, Thy Husband's name conveys. To th' little flock, as cafes vary, The great Jehovah lTiews Himfelf a little fancluary^:, Thy Husband gives thee views. SECT. VII. The Believer's experience of Christ's comfortable pre- fence, or of former comforts to be improved for his en- couragement andfupport under darhiefs and hidings. T~\ost mind the place, the fpot of land, Where Jefus did thee meet? And how he got thy heart and hand ? Thy Husband then was fweet. Doll mind the garden, chamber, bank, A vale of vifion feem'cl ? Thy joy was full, thy heart was frank, Thy Husband much efteem'd. Let thy experience fweet declare, If able to remind ; A Bochim here, a Bethel there, Thy Husband made thee find. Was fuch a corner, fuch a place, A paradife to thee, A Peniel, where face to face Thy Husband fair didii fee ? * Jndg. vi. 24. f Exod. xv. 2.6. X E^k. xi. j6. Chap. II. THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE, 105 There did he clear thy cloudy caufe, Thy doubts and fears deitroy ; And on thy fpirit feai'd he was, Thy Husband, with great joy. Could'ft thou have faid it boldly then, And feal'd it with thy blood? Yea, welcome death with pleafure, when Thy Husband by thee ftood ? That earth again mould thee infnare, O how thy heart was pain'd! For all its fading glory there Thy Husband's beauty ftain'd. The thoughts of living more in fin Were then like hell to thee j The life of heav'n did thus begin, Thy Husband fet thee free. Whate'er thou found'il him at thy bed, He's at thy word the fame, And in his love will ever reft, Thy Husband holds his claim. Let faith thefe vifits keep in ftore, Though fenfe the pleafure mifs y The God of Bethel, as before, Thy Husband always is. In meas'ring his approaches kind, And timing his defcents; In free and fov'reign ways thou'lt find Thy Husband thee prevents. Prefcribe not to him in thy heart, He's infinitely wife. How oft he throws his loving dart, Thy Husband does furprife. Perhaps a fudden gale thee bleft, While walking in thy road ; Or on a journey, e'er thou will, Thy Husband look'd thee broad. io6 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part II, Thus was the Eunuch fam'd (his ftage A riding on the way, As he revolv'd the facred page *) Thy Hufband's happy prey. In hearing, reading, finging, pray'r, When darknefs compafs'd thee, Thou found'ft or ere thou waft aware, Thy Hufband's light'ning free. Of heavn'ly gales don't meanly think: For, though thy foul complains, They're but a fhort and palling blink ; Thy Hufband's love remains. Think not, though breezes hafte away, Thou doft his favour lofe; But learn to know his fov'reign way, Thy Hufband comes and goes. Don't fay he's gone for ever, though His vifits he adjourn ; For yet a little while, and lo, Thy Hufband will return. In worfhip focial or retir'd, Doft thou his abfence wail? Wait at his fhore, and be not fear'd, Thy Hufband's fhip's a-fail. Yea, though in duties fenfe may mifs Thy foul's beloved One; Yet do not faint, for never is Thy Hufband wholly gone. Though Satan, fin, earth, hell, at once Would thee of joy bereave: Mind what he faid, he won't renounce, Thy Hufband will not leave. Though foes afTail, and friendfhip fail, Thou haft a friend at court: The gates of hell fhall ne'er prevail, Thy Huiband is thy fort. * Afts, viii. 27—39. Chap. II. THE BELIEVERS JOINTURE. 107 SECT. VIII. Comfort to Believers from the jl ability of the promife y notivithjlanding heavy chajlifements for Jin, HPAKE well howe'er kind Wifdom may Difpofe thy preterit lot; Though heav'n and earth mould pafs away, Thy Hufband's love will not. All needful help he will afford, Thou hail his vow and oath; And once to violate his word Thy Hufband will be loth. To fire and floods with thee he'll down, His promife this infures, Whofe credit cannot burn nor drown ; Thy Hufband's truth endures. Doft thou no more his word believe, As mortal man's, forfooth ? O do not thus his Spirit grieve, Thy Hufband is the Truth. Though thou both wicked art and weak, His word he'll never rue; Though heav'n and earth mould bend and break, Thy Hufband will be true. I'll never leave thee *, is his vow; If Truth has faid the word. While Truth is truth, this word is true, Thy Hufband is the Lord. Thy covenant of duties may Prove daily moft unfure : His covenant of grace for ay Thy Hufband does fecure. Doft thou to him thy promife break, And fear he'll break to thee ? Nay, not thy thoufand crimes can make Thy Hufband once to lie. * Heb. xiii. 5. iC8 GOSPEL SONNETS. p art H. He vifit will thy fins with ftrokes, And lift his heavy hand ; But never once his word revokes, Thy Hufband's truth will fland. Then dream not he is chang'd in love, "When thou art chang'd in frame ; Thou mayft by turns unnumber'd move, Thy Hufband's ay the fame. He for thy follies may thee bind With cords of great diftrefs -, To make thee moan thy fins, and mind Thy Hufband's holinefs. By wounds, he makes thee feek his cure; By frowns, his favour prize ; By falls affrighting, (land more furej Thy Hufband is fo wife. Proud Peter in the dirt of vice Fell down exceeding low ; Hi?> tow'ring pride, by tumbling thrice, Thy Hufband cured fo. Before he futTer pride that fwells, He'll drag thee through the mire Of fins, temptations, little hells 5 Thy Hufband faves by fire. He in affliction's mortar may Squeeze out old Adam's juice, Till thou return to him, and fay, Thy Hufband is thy choice. Fierce billows may thy vefTel tofs, And crofles curfes feem; But that the curfe has fled the crofs, Thy Hufband bids thte deem. Conclude not he in wrath difowns, When crouble thee furrounds ; Thefe are his favourable frowns, Thy Hufband's healing wounds. 5 Chap. II. THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE. 10$ Yea, when he gives the deepeft lafh, Love leads the wounding hand : His ftroke, when fin has got a dafh, Thy Hufband will remand. SECT. IX. Comfort to believers , in Christ's relations, in his dy- ing love, his glory in heaven, to which he ivill lead them through death, and fupply with all necejjaries by the way. •oehold the patrimony broad That falls to thee by line •, In him thou art an heir of God, Thy Hufband's Father's thine. He is of relatives a (tore, Thy Friend, will help in thrall : Thy Brother much, thy Father more, Thy Hufband moil of all. All thefe he does amafs and fhare, In ways that mod excel : 'Mong all the hufbands ever were, Thy Hufband bears the bell. Whence run the ftrearns of all thy good, But from his pierced fide ? With liquid gold of precious blood Thy Hufband bought his bride. His blood abundant value bore, To make his purchafe broad, 'Twas fair divinity in gore, Thy Hufband is thy God. Who purchas'd at the higheft price. Be crown'd with higheft praife ; For in the higheft paradife Thy Hufband wears the bays. L »I* GOSPEL SONNETS. Part II. He is of Heav'n the comely rofe. His beauty makes it fair ; Heav'n were but hell, couldll thou fuppofe Thy Hufband were not there. He thither did in pomp afcend, His fpoufe along to bring: That Hallelujahs without end Thy Hufband's bride may fing. Ev'n there with him for ever fix'd, His glory (halt thou fee; And nought but death is now betwixt Thy Hufband's throne and thee. He'll order death, that porter rude, To ope the gates of brafs ; For, lo ! with characters of blood Thy Hufband wrote thypafs. At Jordan deep then be not fcar'd, Though difmal-like and broad ; Thy fun will guide, thy fhield will guard, Thy Hufband pav'd the road. He'll lead thee fafe, and bring thee home, And (till let bleffings fall Of grace while here, till glory come : Thy Hufband's bound for all. His ftore can anfwer ev'ry bill, Thy food and raiment's bought ; Be at his will, thou'lt have thy fill, Thy Hufband wants for nought. What can thy foul conceive it lacks ? His ftore, his pow'r is thine : His iib'ral heart to lib'ral acts . Thy Hufband does incline. Though on thy hand, that has no might, He fliould thy talk enlarge ; Nor work nor warfare needs thee fright, Thy Hufband bears the charge. 5 Chap. II. THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE. m Thou wouldft (if left) thyfelf undo, So apt to fall and ftray; But he uplifts and leads thee too ; Thy Hufband knows the way. SECT. X. Comfort to believers from the text, Thy Maker is thy Hufband, inverted tbus^Thy Hufband is thy Maker; and the conclvfion of this fubjeEt. f\v light and life, of grace and glore, In Chrift thou art partaker. Rejoice in him for evermore, Thy Hufband is thy Maker. He made thee, yea, made thee his bride, Nor heeds thine ugly patch ; To what he made he'll {till abide, . Thy Hufband made the match. He made all ; yea, he made all thine, All to thee fhall be giv'n. Who can thy kingdom undermine ? Thy Hufband made the heav'n. What earthly thing can thee annoy ? He made the earth to be ; The waters cannot thee deflroy, Thy Hufband made the fea. Don't fear the flaming element Thee hurt with burning ire; Or that the fcorching heart torment: Thy Hufband made the fire. Infectious ftreams fhall ne'er deflroy, While he is pleas'd to fpare ; Thou (halt thy vital breath enjoy, Thy Hufband made the air. The fun that guides the golden day, The moon that rules the night, The flarry frame, the milky way, Thy Hufband made for light. La *i* GOSPEL SONNETS. Fart II. The bird that wings its airy path, The fiih that cuts the flood, The creeping crowd that fwarms beneath, Thy Hufband made for good. The gazing herd, the hearts of prey, The creatures great and fmall For thy behoof their tribute pay, Thy Hufband made them all. Thine's Paul, Apollos, life, and death. Things prefent, things to be *, And every thing that being hath, Thy Hufband made for thee. In Tophet of the damn'd's refort Thy foul fhall never dwell, Nor needs from thence imagine hurt| Thy Hufband formed hell. Satan with inflruments of his, May rage, yet dread no evil : So far as he a creature is, Thy Hufband made the devil. His black temptations may afflict, His fiery darts annoy ; But all his works, and hellifh trick, Thy Hufband will deflroy. Let armies ftrong of earthly gods Combine with hellifh ghofts, They live, or languifh, at his nods ; Thy Hufband's Lord of hofts. What can thee hurt ? whom dofl thou fear ? All things are at his call. Thy Maker is thy Hufband dear, Thy Hufband all in all. What doit thou feek ? what doft thou want : He'll thy defires fulfil ; He r^ave himfelf, what won't he grant ? Thy Hufband's at thy will. Chap: II. THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE. IX The more thou doft of him defire, The more he loves to give : High let thy mounting arms afpire, Thy Hufband gives thee leave. The lefs thou feek'ft, the lefs thou doft His bounty fet on high ; But higheft feekers here do mo ft Thy Hufband glorify. Would'ft thou have grace ? Well j but 'tis meet He mould more glory gain. Would'ft thou have Father, Son, and Sp'rit? Thy Hufband fays, Amen. He'll kindly a£t the lib'ral God, Deviling lib'ral things ; With royal gifts his fubjeclis loa.l ; Thy Hufband's King of kings. No earthly monarchs have fuch ftore As thou haft ev'n in hand ; But, O how infinitely more Thy Hufband gives en band ! Thou haft indeed the better part, The part will fail thee never : Thy Hufband's hand, thy Hufband's heart, Thy Hufband's all for ever. End of the Poem upon Isaiah, liv. 5. GOSPEL SONNETS. PART III. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE : O K THE MYSTERY OF FAITH. PREFACE, Shewing the ufe and defign of the Riddle. T^eader, the following enigmatic fong Does not to wifeft nat'ralilts belong : Their wifdom is but folly on this head ; They here may ruminate, but cannot read. For though they glance the words, the meaning chokes, They read the lines, but not the paradox. The fubjecl will, however the phrafe be blunt, Their mod acute intelligence furmount, If with the nat'ral and acquired fight They fhare not divine evangelic light. Great wits may roufe their fancies, racktheirbrains, And after all their labour iofe their pains ; Their wifeft comments weie but witlefs chat, Unapt to frame an explication pat. No unregen'rate mortal's befl engines Can right unriddle thefe few rugged lines ; Nor any proper notions thereof reach, Though fublimated to the higheft ftretch. Mailers of reafon, plodding men of fenfe, "Who fcorn to mortify their vain pretence, In this myfterious deep might plod their fill j It overtops the top of all their (kill. The more they vainly huff, and fcorn to read, The more it does their foolifn wit exceed. Let a man so account of us , as of the ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God . lCor:Ch:4Ver:l . Part III. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. iij Thofe Tinners that are fan£Hfy'd in part, May read this riddle truly in their heart. Yea, weakeft faints may feel its trueft fenfe, Both in their fad and fweet experience. Don't overlook it with a rambling view, And ralh fuppofe it neither good nor true. Let Heaven's pure oracles the truth decide ; Renounce it, if it can't that teft abide. Noble Bereans foon the fenfe may hit, Who found the divine depth of facred writ, Not by what airy carnal reafon faith, But by the golden line of heaven-fpun faith. Let not the naughty phrafe make you difprove The weighty matter which deferves your love. High ftrains would fpoil the riddle's grand intent, To teach the weakeft, molt illit'rate faint, That Mahanaim is his proper name ; In whom two ftruggling hods make bloody game. That fuch may know, whofe knowledge is but rude> How good confifts with ill, and ill with good. That faints be neither at their word nor bed, Too much exalted^ or too much depreft. This paradox is fitted to difclofe The fkill of Zion's friends above her foes; To difference by light that Heaven tranfmits, Some happy fools from miferable wits, And thus (if blefs'd) it may in fome degreer Make fools their wit, and wits their folly fee. Slight not the riddle then like jargon vile, Becaufe not garnifh'd with a pompous ftyle. Could th' author a£r. the lofty poet's part Who make their forme ts foar on wings of art,* He on this theme had blufh'd to ufe his fkill, And either dipt his wings, or broke his quilh Why, this enigma climbs fuch divine heights As fcorntobe adorn'd with human flights. Thefe gaudy ftrains would lovely truth difgrace^ As purefl paint deforms a comely face. li6 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III. Heav'n's myfteries are 'bove art's ornament, Immenfely brighter than its brighteft paint. No tow'ring lit'rator could e'er outwit The plaineft di&ion fetch'd from facred writ ; By which mere blazing rhet'ric is outdone,' As twinkling ftars are by the radiant fun. The foaring orators, who canwitheafe Strain the quinteflence of hyperboles, And clothe the bared theme with pureft drefs, Might here expatiate much, yet fay the lefs, Ifwi' th' majeilical fimplicity Of fcripture orat'ry they difagree. Thefe lines pretend not to aflec~r, the fky, Content among inglorious fhades to lie, Provided facred truth be fitly clad, Or glorious fhine ev'n through the dufky (hade. Mark then, though you mould mifsthe gilded ftram, If they a (tore of golden truth contain : Nor under-rate a jewel rare and prime, Though wrapt up in the rags of homely rhime. Though haughty Deifts hardly (loop to fry, That nature's night has need of fcripture day : Yet gofpel-light alone will clearly {hew How ev'ry fentence here is juft and true, Expel the (hades that may the mind involve, And foon the feeming contradiction folve. All fatal errors in the world proceed From want of {kill, fuch myfteries to read. Vain men the double branch of truth divide. Hold by the one, and (light the other fide. Hence proud Arminians cannot reconcile Freedom of grace with freedom of the will. The blinded Papift won't difcern nor fee How works are good unlefs they juftify. Thus Legalifts diftinguifh not the odds Between their home-bred righteoufnefs and Gjd's. Antinomifts the faints perfection piead> Nor duly fever 'tween them and their H^ad. Part III. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. . 1 1 7 Socinians won't thefe feeining odds agree, How heav'n is bought, and yet falvation free. Bold Arians bate to reconcile orfcan, How Chrift is truly God and truly man : Holding the one part of ImmanueFs name, The other part outrageoufly blafpheme. The found in faith no part of truth controul: Heretics own the half, but not the whole. Keep then the facred myft'ry Hill entire j To both the fides of truth do favour bear, Not quitting one to hold the other branch ; But palling judgment on an equal bench ; The Riddle has two feet, and were but one Cut off, truth falling to the ground were gone*. 'Tis all a contradiction, yet all true, And happy truth, if verify'd in you. Go forward then to read the lines, but {lay To read the riddle alfo by the way. * Pfovt i. 1 to 7. THE RIDDLE, SECT. I. The myftery of the Saints pedigree, and ef pec tally of their relation to Christ'/ wonderful perfon. 1V/fY life's a maze of feeming traps a, A fcene of mercies and mifhaps b ; A heap of jarring to and froes r, A field of joys, a flood of woes d. I'm in mine own and others eyes> A labyrinth of myfteries e. a Jofh. xxii. 13. And Jofhua faid, Know for a certainty, that the Lord your God will no more drive out any of thefe na- tions from before you ; but they fhall be fnares and traps unto 5011, and fcourges in your fides, and thorns in your eyes, &c» Pfalm exxiv. 7. Our foul is efcaped as a bird out of the fnare of the fowlers ; the fnare is broken, and we are efcaped. b Or miferies, Lam. iii. 19. Remembering mine affli&ion and my mifery, the wormwood and the gall. nd fins. Rev. iii. 17. Becaufe thou fayed, I am rich, and increaled in goods, and have need of nothing; and knowefr. not that thou art wretched, and miferable, and poor, and blind, and naked. Ifa. xxxv. 6. Then fhall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb fing ; for in the wildernefs fhall waters, break out, and ftreams in the defert. i Rom. vii. 14. For we know that the law is fpiritual : But I Em carnal, fold under fin. t v. 24. O wretched man that lam, who fhall deliver me from the body of this death ? k Rom. vii. 17. Now then, it is no more I that do it, but fin that dwelkth in me. He is my Father, he alone Who is my Father's only Son y. I am his mother's fon z, yet more, A fon his mother a never bore, is natural mother according to theflejh* M 3 23 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part II J. But born of him b-> and yet aver His Father's fon my mother's were c, I am divorc'd, yet marry'd (till d % With full confent, again ft my will e. My husband prefent is/j yet gone g t We differ much, yet ftill are one h. He is the firft, the laft, the all /, Yet number'd up with iniedh fmall k. The firft of all things /, yet alone The fecond of the great Three-one m. A creature ? never could he be ! Yet is a creature ftrange I fee // ; b John, i. 13. Which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flefh, nor of the will of man, but of God. c Gal. iv. 26. But Jerufalem which is above, is free, which is the mother of us all. d Rom. vii. 4. therefore, my brethren, ye alfo are be- come dead to the law by the body of Chrill j and that ye Ihould be married to another, even to him who is railed from the dead. e Ffal. ex. 3. Thy people lhall be willing in the day of thy power. f Matth. xxviii. 20. Lo, I am with you alway, even ifnto the end or' the world. g John, xiv. 2. I go to prepare a place for you. h John,xvii. 21. That they ail may be one, as thou, Father, ait in me, and I in thee ; that they alio may be one in us. 1* Kev. i. xx- I am Alpha and Omegaj the rirft and the laft. Col. iii. 11. Chriil is all, and in all. k Pfal. xxii. 6. But I am a worm, and no man. / Col. i. 15, 16. Who is the image of the invilible God, the firft-born of every creature : For by him were all things created that are in heaven, and that are in earth, vifible and invifible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or princi- palities, or powers: All things were created by him, and for him. in 1 John, v. 7. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghoft : And thefe three are one. Matth. xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and or the Holy Ghoft. n John, i. 2, 3. In the beginning was the Word, and the Sect. I. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. n% And own this uncreated one, The fon of man, yet no man's fon cl He's omniprefent, all may know/, Yet never could be wholly fo ^* His manhood is not here and there r, Yet he is God-man ev'ry where-/! He comes and goes, none can him trace j, Yet never could he change his place t. Word was with God, and the Word was God. Tbe fame was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him 5 and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4> 5- I f at down under his fhadow with great delight, and his fruit was fweet to my tafte. He brought me to the banquetting-houfe, and his banner over me was love. Stay me with flaggons, comfort me with apples ; for I am fick of Jove. u Job, iv. 19. How much lefs them that dwell in houfes of clay, whole foundation is in the dull, which are crufhed be- fore the moth ? Pfalm xc. 1 . Lord, thou haft been our dwelling- place in all generations. And xxi. 1. He that dwelleth in the fecret place of the Moll High, mall abide under the fhadow of the Almighty. 1 John, iv. 16. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him. , yet I have no fin q; All fpotted o'er r, yet wholly clean/. Black nefs and beauty both I (hare, A helkfh black, a heav'nly fair s. They're of the dev'l, who fin amain t t But I'm of God, yet fin retain u ! This traitor vile the throne afTumes % Prevails, yet never overcomes w. with goods, and have need of nothing; and knoweit not that thou art wretched, and miferable, and poor, and blind, and naked. n Rom. viii. 28. And we know that, all things work toge- ther for good to them that love God, and to them who are the called according to his purpofe. 2 Cor. vi. 10. — as having nothing, and yet poffelTing all things. p Rom. vii. 14. For we know that the law is fpiritual; but I am carnal, fold under fin. . 15. Behold thou art fair, my love; behold thou art fair,, thou haft dove^ eyes. t 1 John, iii. 8. He that committeth fin is of the devil ; for the devil finneth from the beginning. u 1 John, i. 8. If we fay that we have no fin, we deceive ourfelves, and the truth is not in us. art Iir. I'm without guile, an Ifra'lite x 9 Yet like a guileful hypocrite y\ Maintaining truth in th' inward part z, v With falfehood ftirring in my heart a. Two mafters, fure, I cannot ferve b 9 But mull from one regardlefs fwerve; Yet felf is for my mailer known c % And Jefus is my Lord alone d. I feek myfelf inceflantly e Yet daily do myfelf denyy. fin (hall not have dominion over you ; for ye are not under the law, but under grace. x John, i. 47. Jefus faw Nathanael coming to him, and faith of him, Behold an Ifraelite indeed in whom is no guile. Pfalm xxxii. 2. Blefled is the man unto whom the Lord im- puteth not iniquity, and in whofe fpirit there is no guile. y Pfalm xix. 12. Who can underftand hi-s errors ? cleanfe thou me from fecret faults. z Pfalm li. 6.* Behold thou defireft truth in the inward parts; and in the hidden part thou flialt make me to know wifdom. a Matth. xv. 19. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, falfe-witnefs, blaf- phemies. b Matth. vi. 24. No man can ferv.e two mafters : For either he will hate the one and love the other ; or elie he will hold to the one and defpife the other. Ye cannot ferve God and mam- mon. c Hof. x. i. Ifrael is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himfelf : According to the multitude of his fruit, he hath increafed the altars; according to the goodnefs of his land, they have made goodly images. Matth, xvi. 24. Then faid Jefus unto his difciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himfelf, and take up his crofs, and follow me. d Ifa. xxvi. 13. O Lord our God, other lords befides thee have had dominion over us : But by thee only will we make mention of thy name. John, xx. 28. And Thomas an- fv/ered and faid unto him, My Lord and my God. e Jam. iv. 2. Ye afk, and receive not, becaufeyeaA: amifs, that ye may confume it upon your lufts. Jer. xlv. 2, 5. Thus iaith the Lord, the God of Ifrael unto thee; O Baruch, And ieekeftthou great things for thyfelf? Seek them not; for be- hold, I will bring evil upon all flefh, faith the Lord ; But thy 5 SgA. II THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. *&j To me 'tis lawful, evermore, Myfelf to love and to abhor g. In this vain world I live, yet fee I'm dead to it, and it to me L My joy is endlefs i, yet at beft Does hardly for a moment lail k. life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goeft. / Matth. xvi. 24. See letter c. g Lev. xix. 18. Thou malt not avenge, nor bear airy grudge again ft the children of thy people, but thou fhalt love thy neighbour as thyfelf : I am the Lord. Eph. v. 29. For no man ever yet hated his own flefh 5 but nourifheth and enc- rifheth it, even as the Lord the church. John, xii. 25. He that loveth his life, fhall lofe it : And he that lofeth his life in this world-, fhall keep it unto life eternal. Job, xKi. 6, Wherefore I abhor myfelf, and repent in duft and afhes. h Col. iii. 3. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Chrift in God. Gal. vi. 14. But God forbid that I mould glory fave in the crofs of our Lord Jefus Chrift, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. / John, xvi. 22. And ye now therefore have forrow : But" ,2. will fee you again, and your heart fhall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. 2 ThefT. ii. 16. Now our Lord jefus Chrift himfelf, and God the Father, which hath loved us and hath given us everlafting confolation, and good hope through grace, &c. k Pi aim xxx. 7. Lord, by thy favour thou haft made my mountain to ftand ftrong : Thou didft hide thy face, and I was troubled. Ifa. xlix. 13, 14. Sing, O heavens, and be joyful, O earth j and break forth into finging, O mountains-; For the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicled. But Zion faid, The Lord hath foiikke* ,ae, and my Lord hath forgotten me. N J 34 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III SECT. III. J\ I ^/levies about the faints work and warfare; their Jt W, for rows , and joys. Hp he work is great, I'm call'd unto a, Yet nothing's left for me to do b\ Hence for my work Heav'n has prepar'd No wages r, yet a great reward d. To works, but not to working dead e\ From fm, but not from finning freedy^ a Phil. ii. 12. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my prefence only, but now much more in my abfence \ work out your own ialvation with fear and trem- blin £- b Phil. ii. 13. For it is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do of his good pleafure. Lev. xx. 7, 8. Sanc- tify yourfelves therefore, and be ye holy : For I am the Lord y»ur God. And ye mall keep my ftatutes, and do them: I am the Lord which fan&ify you. c Rom. vi. 23. For the wages of fin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Chap, xi. 6. And if by grace, then is it no more of works ; other- wile grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace : Otherwife work is no more work. d Pialm xix. 11. Moreover, by them [the judgments of the Lord] is thy l'ervant warned : And in keeping of them there is great reward. Pfalm iviii. 11. Verily there is a re- ward for the righteous j verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth. e Rom. vii. 4. Wherefore, my brethren, ye alfo are become dead to the law by the body of Chrift ; that ye mould be mar- ried to another, even to him who is railed from the dead, that we mould bring forth fruit unto Got!. Gal. ii. 19. For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. f t John, i. 8. If we fay that we have no f:n, we deceive ourfelves, and the truth is not in us. Chap. iii. 9. Who- loever is born of God, doth not commit fin; for his feed re- maineth in him ; And he cannot fin, becauie he is bom of God. §e5l. HI. THE BELIEVER'S RI0DLE. 135 I clear myfelf from no offence g, Yet warn mine hands in innocence h. My Father's anger burns like fire 2, Without a fpark of furious ire k : Though Hill my fins difpleafmg be /, Yet Itill I know he's pleas'd with me.ro. Triumphing is my conftant trade n y Who yet am oft a captive led o. My bloody war does never ceafe/>, Yet I maintain a (table peace q. g Rom. vii. 18. For I know, that in me (that is, in my fleih) dwelieth no good thing ; for to will is prefent with me 5 but how to perform that which is good, T find not. h Pfalm xxvi. 6. I will warn mine hands in innocency $ Co will I compafs thine altars, O Lord. i 1 Kings, xi. 9. And the Lord was angry with Solomon, becaufe his heart was turned from the Lord God of Ifrael, which had appeared unto him twice. k Ifa. xxvii. 4. Fury is not in me. Chap. liv. 9, 10. For this is as the waters of Noah unto me : For as I have fworii that the waters of Noah mould no more go over the earth ; fo have I fworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. For the mountains mall depart, and the hills be re- moved, but my kindnefs fhall not depart from thee, neither fhall the covenant of my peace be removed, faith the Lord, that hath mercy on thee. / Hab. i. 13. Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canft not look on iniquity. Jer. xliv. 4. Howbeit I fent unto ycu all my fervants the prophets, riling early and fend- ing them, faying, Oh do not this abominable thing that I hate. m Matth. iii. 17. And lo, a voice from heaven, faying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleafed. Roin. v. 10. When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son. n z Cor. ii. 14. Now thanks be unto God which always caufeth us to triumph in Chrift. Rom. vii. 23. But I fee another law in my members, war- ring againfl the law of my mind, and bringing me into capti- vity to the law of fin, which is in my members. p See letter 0. 1 Tim. vi. 12. Fight the good fight of faith., &c. Gal. v. 17. For the flefh lufteth againil the "Spirit, and N 2 *S6 UOSPEL SONNETS. Tart W. My foes a/faulting conquer me, Yet ne'er obtain the victory r - y For all my battles, loft or won, Were gain'd before they were begun f. I'm dill at eafe, and (till oppreft ; Have cpnftant trouble, conftant reft /; Both clear and cloudy /, free and bound u ', Both dead aiid living t«, loft and found iv. the Spirit againft the flefh : And thefe are contrary the one to» the other ; fo that ye cannot do the things that ye would. q Rom. v. i. Therefore being juftified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jefus Chrift. Ifa. liv. 10. See letter k. r Rom. vii. 23. See letter 0. Chap. viii. 37. Nay, in all thefe things we are more than conquerors, through him that loved us. f i Cor. xv. 57. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jefus Chrift. s 2 Cor. iv. 8. We are troubled on every fide, yet not dif- trefledj we are perplexed, but not in defpair. John, xvi. 33, Thefe things have I fpoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye fhall have tribulation j but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. Heb. iv. 3. For we which have believed do enter into reft. / Zech. xiv. 6, 7. And it fhall come to pafs in that day, that the light mall not be clear, nor dark. But it fhall be one day, which fhall be known to the Lord, not day nor night: But it mail come to pafs, that at evening-time it fhall be light. Mic. vii. 8. Rejoice not againft me, O mine enemy $ when I fall, I fhall arifej when I lit in darknefs, the Lord fhall be a light unto me. u John, viii. 36. If the Son therefore fhall make you free, ye fhall be free indeed. Acts, xx. 23. The Holy Ghoft wit- neffeth in every city, faying, that bonds and afflictions abide me. *v 2 Cor. vi. 9. — as dying, and behold we "live. Col. iii. 3. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Chrift in God. e w Matth. xviii. 11. For the Son of man is come to fave that which was loft. Pi'alm cxix. 176. I have gone aftray like a loft fheep, feek thy fervant. Phil. iii. 9. And be found in him, not having mine own righteoufnefs, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Chrift, the righte- oufnefs which is of God by faith. Sea, III. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 137 Sin for my good does work and win x 5 Yet 'tis not good for me to fin y. My pleafure ifTues from rny pain z ; My loffes (till increafe my gain a. I'm heal'd, ev'n when my plagues abound £, Cover'd with duft, ev'n when Pm crown'd c : As low as death, when living high d, Nor {hall I live, yet cannot die e. x Rom. viii. 28. And we know that all things work toge- ther for good, to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpofe. Chap. xi. n. I fay then, Have they (tumbled that they mould fall ? God forbid ; but rather through their fall falvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealoufy. y Pi'alm lxxxix. 31, 32. If they break myftatutes, and keep not my commandments, then will I viiit their tranfgreilion. with the rod, and their iniquity with ftripes. z Pfalm cxix. 67. Before I was afflicted, I- went aftray : But new have I kept thy word. . Pardons difpel my griefs and fears q, And yet diflblve my heart in tears r. m Ezra, ix. 13, 14. And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trefpafs, feeing that thou our God hall punifhed us lefs than our iniquities deferve, and halt given us fuch deliverance as this, mould we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of thefe abominations ? wouldft not thou be angry with us till thou hadft confumed us, fo that there mould be no remnant nor efcaping ? Pfalm xxxviii. 1. O Lord, rebuke me not in. thy wrath ; neither chaften me in thy hot difpleafure. n Pfalm xxv. 11. Tor thy name's fake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity ; for it is great. Jer. xiv. 7. O Lord, though our iniquities teitify againft us, do thou it for thy name's fake : For our backflidings are many, we have finned againft thee. Rom. iv. 18. Who [Abraham] againfthope believed in hope. 2 Cor. i. S, 9. For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Afia, that we were preffed out of meafure, above fbength, infomuch that we de- fpaired even of life v But we had the fentence of death in our- felves, that we fhould not truft in ourfelves, but in God which raifeth the dead. p Phil. ii. 12. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always, obeyed, not as in my prefence only, but now much more in my abfence ; work out your own falvation with fear and trembling.. Luke, i. 74. That he would grant unto us, that we being de- livered out of the hands of our enemies, might ferve him with- out fear. q Matth. ix. 2. Jefus faid unto the nek of the palfy, Son,. be of good cheer, thy fins be forgiven thee. r Ezek. xxxvi. 25, 26.. Then will I fprinkle clean water upon you, and ye fhall be clean : From all your filthinefs, and from all your idols will I cleanfe you. A new heart alfo will I give you, and a new fpuit will I put within you, and I will take away the ftony heart out of your fie ill, and I will give you an heart of flefh. ^.31. Then mail ye remember your own evil ways., and your doings that were not good, and mall loath' 140 GOSPEL SONNETS rm III. SECT. IV. Myfleries in FaithV extractions, way and ivalk, prayers and anfwersy heights and depths, fear and love, ■yyiTH wafps and bees my bufy bill Sucks ill from good, and good from ill a : Humil'ty makes my pride to grow, And pride aipiring lays me low b. My ftanding does my fall procure c, My falling makes me Hand more fure d. yourfelves in your own fight for your iniquities, and for your abominations. Chap. xvi. 63. That thou mayeft remember and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more be- caufe of thy fhame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou haft done, faith the Lord God. a Rom. ii. 4. Or defpifeft thou the riches of his goodnefs and forbearance, and long-fuffering ; not knowing that the gocdnefs of God leadeththee to repentance ? Chap. vi. 1, 2. What mail we fay then ? fhall wc continue in fin, that grace may abound ? God forbid : How /ball we that are dead to hn live any longer therein ? ver. 15. What then, fhall we fin, be- caufe we are not under the law, but under grace ? God forbid. Chap. viii. 28. And we know that all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpofe. Phil. i. 12. But I would ye mould unduftand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out unto the furtherance of the gofpel. Pialm cxix. 71. It is good for me that 1 have been afflicted ; that I might learn thy ftatutes. b z Cor. xii. 7. And left I mould be exalted above mea- sure, through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flefh, the meffenger of Satan, to buffet me, left I mould be exalted above mealure. Prov. xxix. 23. A man's pride ihall bring him low ; but honour (hail uphold the humble in fpirit. 2 Chron. xxxii. 26. Hezekiah humbled himfelf for the pride of his heart (both he and the inhabitants of Jerufalem), fo that the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah. c Pfalm xxx. 6, 7. And in my profperity I faid, I fhall never be moved. Lord, by thy favour thou haft made my mountain to ftand ftrong : Thou didit hide thy face, and I was troubled. d Prov. xxiYt 16. For a juft man falleth feven times, and ScS.lV. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 14* My poifon does my phyfic prove e > My enmity provokes my love f. My poverty infers my wealthy, My ficknefs ifTues in my health h : My hardnefs tends to make me foft i\ And killing things do cure me oft k. While high attainments cad me down, My deep abafements raife me foon /: rifeth up again. Pfalm xxxvii. 24.. Though he fall, he fhall not be utterly caft down j for the Lord upholdethhim with hi* hand. e 2 Cor. xii. 7, 8. And left I fhouldbe exalted above mea- Aire through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flefh, the mefTenger of Satan to buffet me, left I ihould be exalted above meafure. For this thing I be- fought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. Ifa. xxvii. 8, 9. In meafure when it fhooteth forth, thou wiltdebate with it ; he ftayeth his rough wind in the day of his eaft-windo By this therefore mail the iniquity of Jacob be purged, and this is all the fruit, to take away his fin, /Gal. v. 27. The flefh lufteth againft the Spirit, and the Spirit againft the flefh. ; And heard when I no anfwer get q I blood Abel, i ThefT. iv. 17. Then we which are 2liveand i-emai f {hall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to mee the Lord in the air : And fo fhall we ever be with the Lord. 1 Song, i. 3. Tell me, O thou whom my foul Ioveth, where thou feedeft, where thou makeft thy flock to reft at noon ? For why mould I be as one that turneth afide by the flocks of thy companions ? k Song, vii. ii, 12. Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field, let us lodge in the villages. Let us get up early to the vineyards, let us fee if the vine flourifh ; whether the tender grape appear, and the pomgranates bud forth : For there will I give thee my loves. / Pfalm xx. 6. Now know I, that the Lord faveth his an- ointed*. He will hear him from his holy heaven, with the lav- ing ftrengthof his right-hand. m 1 Sam. i. 13, 14, 15. Now Hannah, me ("pake in her heart, only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard : There- fore, Eli thought me had been drunken. And Eli faid unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken ? put- away thy wine from thee. And Hannah an Kvered and faid, No, my Lord, I am a woman of a forrowful ipirit ! I have drunk neither wine nor ftrong drink, but have poured out my foul before the Lord. n 1 Theff. v. 17. Pray without ceafmg. Hof. vi. 4. O Ephraim, what mall I do unto thee ? O Judah, what fnall I do unto thee ? for your goodnefs is as a morning-cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away. p Ifa. xlix. 8. Thus faith the Lord, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of falvation have I helped thee. q Matth. xxvi. 39. . And Jefus went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, faying, O my Father, if it be o 146 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III. Yea, kindly anfwer'd when refus'd r, And friendly treat when hardily us'd/. My fervent pray'rs ne'er did prevail s, Nor e'er of prevaleney fail t, I wreftle till my ftrength be fpent u r Yet yield when itrong recruits are fent v. pofTible, let this cup pafs from me : Neverthelefs, not as I will, but as the vi wilt. r Pfalm xxii. 1,2, 3. My God, my God, why haft thou forfaken me ? why art thou lb far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring ? O my God, I cry in the day-time, but thou heareft not ; and in the night feafon, and am not lilent. But thou art holy, O thou that inhabited the praifes of Ifrael. /Heb. xii. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. And ye have forgotten the exhortation which fpeaketh unto you as children, My fon, de- Ipife not thou the chaftening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him. For whom the Lord loveth he chafteneth, and fcourgeth every fon whom he receiveth : If ye endure chaf- tening, God dtaleth.with you as with fons; for what fon is he whom the father chafteneth not ? But if ye be without chaftife- ment, whereof all are partakers, then are ye baftards, and not ions. Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flefli, which corrected us, and we gave them reverence : Shall we not, much rather, be in fubjeclion to the Father of fpirhs, and live ? For they verily for a few days chaftened us, after their own plealui e; 1sut he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holi- nefs. s Dan. Jx. 8, 19. O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our defolations, and the city which is called by thy name ; for we do notprefent our fuppiications before thee for our righteoufnefs, but for thy great mercies. O lord, hear ; O Lord, forgive ; O Lord, hearken and do ; defer not, for thine own fake ; O my God : For thy city, and thy people, are called by thy name. / James, v. 16. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous kian availeth much u Gen. xxxii. 24, 25. And Jacob was left alone : And there wreftled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he faw that he prevailed not againft him, he touched the hollow of his thigh, And the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint as he wreftled with him. 1/ Pfalm exxxviii. 3. In the day when I cried, thou anfwer- edft me ; And ftrengthenedft me with ftrength in my foui. Se&IV, THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. i.tf I hnguim for my Hufbarid's charms Yet moil I fear when moil I love/>. All things are lawful unto me ^, Yet many things unlawful be r \ To fome I perfecl: hatred beary^ Yet keep the law of love entire s. I'm bound to love my friends /, but yet I fin unlcfs I do them hate u : o i John, iv. 1 8. There is no fear in love ; but perfect love eafteth out fear, becaufe fear hath torment : He that feareth is not made perfect in love. p Jer. xxxiii. 9. And it lhall be to me a name and joy, a praife and an honour, before all the nations of the earth, which vjhall hear all the good that I do unto them 5 and they fhaJl fear and tremble for all the goodnefs, and for all the prpfperity that I procure unto it. Hot", iii. 5. Afterwards mall the children of Ifracl return, and leek the Lord their God, and David their Icing, and (hall fear the Lord, and his goodnefs in the latter days. q 1 Cor. vi. 12. All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. r Exod. xx. 1, 2, 3, &e. And God fpake all thefe words, faying, I r.m the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the houfe of bondage. Thou /halt have no other gods before mc, &c. /Pfalm exxxix. 21, 22. Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee * and am not I grieved with thofe that rile up r.gainft tlite ? I hate them with perfect hatred : I count them mine enemies. s 2 Chron. xix. 2. And Jehu th^ fon of Hanani the fl-er,. went out to meet him, and laid to king Jthomaphat, Shouldft thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord ?. therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord. / Lev. xix. 18. Thou malt no*: avenge, nor bear any grudge,, again ft the children of thy people, but thou xhalt love thy neighbour as thyfelf : I am the Lord. u Luke, xiv. 26. If any man come to me, and hafe not his* father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethtrn, and fitters, yea, and his own life alfo, he cannot be my dif- ciple. m As they are the foes of GoJ. Judg. v. 31. So let all thine enemies periih, O Lovd| but let thtm that Love him, be as the jStft.IV. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 15* I am oblig'd to hate my foes v, Yet bound to love, and pray for thofe iv, Heart-love to men I'm calPd t' impart, Yet God Itill calls for all my heart x. I do him and his fervice both By nature love v, by nature lothe z. SECT. V. M'jjlcries about fejjj and fpirit, liberty and bondage^ life and death. Much like my heart, both falfe and true a y I have a name, bath old and new b. fun when he goeth forth in his might. Pfalm xvii. 13, 14* Arife, O Lord, difappoint him. caft him down : Deliver my foul from the wicked, which is thy fword ; from men which are thy hand ; O Lord, from men of the world, which have their por- tion in this. life, and whofe belly thou filleit with thy hid trea- sure : They are full of children, and leave the reft of their fub- itance to their babes. iv Matth. v. 44. But I fay unto yoti, Love your enemies, blefs them that curfe you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which defpitefully ufe you, and perfecute you. x Matth. xix. 19. Jefus faid unto him, Thou fhaltlove thy neighbour as ihyfelf. Chap. xxii. 37. Thou fhalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy foul, and with all thy mind. y 1 John, v. 2, By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his commandments. £ Rom. viii. 7. The carnal mind is enmity againft God : For it is not fubject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Col. i. 21. And you that were fometimes alienated, and ene- mies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he recon- ciled. a Jer. xvii. 9. The heart is deceitful above all things, and deiperately wicked; who can know it? Keb. x. 22. Let us draw near with a true heart, in full affurance of faith, having cur hearts fprinkled from an evil conference, and our bodies warned with pure water. b Rom. ix. 25, 26. As he faith alfo in Ofee. I will call them, my people, which were not my people : And her beloved, which was not my beloved. And it fhal! come to pafs, that in the place where it was faid unto them, Ye are not m^ Ija GOSPEL SONNETS. Part MI. No new thing is beneath the fun c ; Yet all is new, and old things gone d. Though in my fiefh dwells no good thing e. Yet Chrifl in me I joyful fingy*. Sin I confcfs, and I deny: For though I fin, it is not I g. people} there (h all they be called, The children of the living God. Rev. ii. 17. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit faith unto the churches. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna ; and will give him a white (tone, and in the ftone a new name written, which no manknoweth, Having he that receiveth it. Chap. iii. 12. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he (hall go no more out : And I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerulalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God, and I will write upon him my new name. c Eccl. i. 9. The thing that hath been, it is that which mail be: And that which is done, is that which mail be done; And there is no new thing under the fun. d 2 Cor. v. 17. Tf any man be in Chrift he is a new crea- ture : Old things are part away, behold all things arc become new. Rev. xxi. 5. And he that fat upon the throne, laid, Behold, I make all things new. e Rom. vii. 18. For I know, that in me (that is, in my fltfh) dwelleth no good thing : For tu will is prefent with me, but how to perform that which is good, I rind not. f Col. i. 27. To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this myftery, among the Gentiles, which is, Chrifl in you the hope of glory. g Rom. vii. 14 — 20. For we know that the law is Spiritual; but I am carnal, fold under fin. For that which I do, I allow not: For what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I confent unto the law that it is good. Now then, it is no more I that do it, but fin, that dwelleth in me. For I know, that in me (that is, in my flefh) dwelleth no good thing : For to will is prefent with me, but how to perform that which is good, I find not. For the good that I would, I do not : But the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but fin, that dwelleth in me. 1 John, iii. 9. Whofoever is born of God, doth not commit fin ; for his {ttd remaineth in him : And he cannot fin, becaufe he is born of God. Scfl. V. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE, ^3 I (in againft, and with my will h ', I'm innocent, yet guilty ftill u Though fain I'd be the greatefl faint l y To be the lead I'd be content /. My lownefs may my height evince m % I'm both a beggar and a prince n. With meaneft fubjects I appear 0, With kings a royal fceptre bear/*. h Rom. vii. 21 — 25. I find then a law, that when I would do good evil is prefent with me. For I delight in the law of God, after the inward man. But I fee another law in my members, warring againff the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of fin, which is in my members. wretched man that I am ! who fhali deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. So then, with the mind I myfelf ferve the law of God, but v/ith the fie/h the Jaw of fin. i Pfalm xix. 13, Keep back thy fervant alfofrom prefump- tuous iins, let them not have dominion over me; then fhall 1 be upright, and I fhall be innocent from the great tranf- greffion. And cxx. 3. If thou, Lord, Ihouldll mark iniqui- ties ; O Lord, who mall fland ? k Pfalm xxvii. 4. One thing have I defired of the Lord, that will I feek after, that I may dwell in the hqufe of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple. / Pfalm lxxxlv. 10. For a day in thy courts is better than a thoufand : I had rather be a door-keeper in the houfe of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickednefs. m Job, v. 11. To fet up on high thofe that be low; that thofe which mourn may be exalted to fafety. n Sam. ii. 8. The Lord raifeth up the pooroutof the dufr, and lifteth up the beggar from the dung- hill, to fet them among princes, and to make rhrm inherit the throne of glory: For the pillars of the e3ith are the Lord's, and he hath fet the world upon them. Gen. xxxii. 28. And the Angel faid K Thy name (hall be called no more Jacob, but Ifrael; for as a prince then hail power with God and with men, and haft prevailed. Rev. i. 5, 6. Unto him that loved us, and warned us fiomour iins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priefts unto God and his father ; to him be glory and dominion, for ever and ever. Amen. 9 Phil. ii. 10. That at the name of Jefus every knee fhouid i$4 GOSPEL SONNETS, Part 111* I'm both unfetter'd and involv'd q. By law condemn'd, by law abfolv'd r. My guilt condignly punilh'd fee, Yet I the guilty wretch go free s. My gain did by my lofs begin t; My righteoufnefs commene'd by fin u\ My perfect peace by bloody ftrife v\ Life is my death, and death my life w. bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and thing* undenthe earth. Heb. i. 6. And again when he bringeth m the fir ft -begotten into the world, hcYaith, And let all the an- gels of Godworfhip him. p Rev. ii. 26, 27. And he that overcometh and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations : (And he fhall rule them as with a rod of iron : As the veffelf of a potter fhall they be broken to fhivcrs) even as I received •f my Father. q Pfalm cxvi. 16. Oh Lord, truly I am thy fervant, I am thy fervant, and the fon of thy handmaid : Thou halt loofed my bonds. Rom. vii. 23. But I fee another law in my mem- bers, warring againft the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of fin, which is in my members. r 1 John, iii. 2-0. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Rom. viii. 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Chrift Jefus, who walk not after the flefh, but after the Spirit. wu - 33> 34* Who fhall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect ? It is God that juftifieth : Who is he that condemneth ? It is Chrift that died, yea, rather that is rifen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who aifo maketh intercefllon for us. s Gal. iii. 13. Chrift hath' redeemed us from the curfe of the law, being made a curfe for us : For it is written, Curfed is every one that hangethon a tree. t Rom. iii. 23, 24. For all have finned and come fhort of the glory of God : Being juftihed freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Jefus Chrift. u Rom. iii. 5. But if our un righteoufnefs commend the righteoufnefs of God, what fhall we fay? Chap. v. 20, 21. But where fin abounded, grace did much more abound : That as fin hath reigned unto death, even fo might grace reign through righteoufnefs, unto eternal life, by jefus Chrift our Lord. . Law-breakers ne'er its curfe have mifs'd; But I ne'er kept it, yet am blefs'd q. I can't be juftify'd by it r, And yet it can't but me acquityi I'm not oblig'd to keep it more s. Yet more oblig'd than e'er before t. f Pfalm lxxxv. 10. Mercy and truth are met together ; right- eoufnefs and peace have kiifed each other. q Gal. iii. 10. As many as are of the works of the law are under the curfe : For it is written, Curfed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. v. i 3, 14. Chrift hath redeemed us from the curfe of the law, being made a curfe for us : For it is writ- ten, Curfed is every one that hangeth on a tree : That the blefl- ing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles, through Jefus Chriftj that we might receive the promife of the Spirit, through faith. r Rom. iii. 20. Therefore by the deeds of the law, there fhall no flefh be juftified in his fight : For by the law is the know- ledge of fin. Gal. ii. 16. Knowing that a man is not jufti- fied by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jefus Chrift, even we have belie, ed in Jefus Chrift ; that we might be jufti- fied by the faith of Chrift, and not by the works of the law : For, by the work; of the law fhall no flefh be juftified. Chap, iii. 11. But that no man is juftified by the law in the fight of God, it is evident ; for, the juft mall live by faith. yRom. viii. 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which arc in Chrift Jefus. v. 3,4. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the ficfh, God fending his own Son, in the lllrenefs of finful flefh, and for fin condemned iin in the fle/li ; that the righteoufnefs of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flefh, but after the Spirit. 2 Cor. v. 21. For he hath made him to be fin for us, who knew no fin; that we might be made the righteouf- nefs of God, in him. Rom. iii. 26. To declare, I fay, at this time his righteoufnefs; that he might be juft, and thejuftifier of him which believeth in Jefus. s Rom. vi. 14. Sin fhall not have dominion over you : For ye are not under the law, but under grace. Gal. v. 1—4. Stand iaft therefore, in the liberty wherewith Chrift hath made us free ; and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul fay unto you, that if ye be ckcumcifed, Chrift fhall profit Seel. VL THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. j.5 By perfect doing life I find u, Yet ^ and live no more me bind v, Thefe terms no change can undergo, Yet fweetly chang'd they are iv: For lo, My doing caus'd my life .v, but now My lifts the caufe that makes me do y. you nothing. For I teftify again, to every man that is circum- JEifed, that; he is a debtor to do the whole law. Chrift is become of no effect unto you, whomever of you are juftified by the law j ye are fallen from grace. / Rom. vi. i, 2. What (hall I fay then ? mall we continue in hn, that grace may abound ? God forbid : How mail we that are dead to iin, live any longer therein r who walk notafrei the flefh, but after the Spirit. / Ifa. xlii. 21. The Lord is well pleafed for his righteouf- nefs fake ; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable. Rom. v. 18 — 21. Therefore as by the offence of one, judge- ment came upon all men to condemnation: Even io y by the righteoufnefs of one, the free gift came" upon all men unto judi- cation of life. For, as by one man's difobedience many were made finners: So, by the obedience of one, fhall many be made righteous. Moreover, the law entered, that the offence might abound ; but where fin abounded, grace did much more abound : That as fin hath reigned unto death, even fo, might grace reign, through righteoufnefs, unto eternal life, by Jefus Chrift our Lord. u Rom. viii. i. There is therefore now, no condemnation to them which are in Chrift Jefus. i>. 3, 4. See letters, When he in heav'n dooms me to dwell, Then I adjudge myfelf to hell c ; from my fin. For I acknowledge my tranfgreffions : And my fin is ever before me. x Rom. via. i, 33. See letter u. Job, ix. 10. If I juftify myfelf, mine own mouth fhall condemn me 5 if I fay I am per- fect, it fhall alfo prove me perverfe. y z Cor. vii. 11. For behold, this felf-fame thing, that ye forrowed after a godly fort; what carefulnefs it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourfelves, vea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement deiire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge ? % Ifa. xxxviii. 1 5. What mail I fay ? he hath both fpoken unto me, and himfelf hath done it : I fhall go foftly all my years in the bitternefs of my foul. a Ezek. xvi. 63. That thou mayefr remember and be con- founded, and never open thy mouth any more, becaufe of thy fhame, when I am pacified toward thee, for all that thou hail done, faith the Lord God. b Luke, xviL 13, 14. And the publican ftanding afar off would not lift up fo much as his eyes unto heaven, but fmote upon hisbreaft, faying, God be merciful tome a fmner. I tell you, this man went down to his houfe juftified, rather than the other: For every one that exaltethhimftlf, fhall be abafed ; and he that humbleth himfelf, fhall be exalted. Ezek. xxxvi. 31, 32, Then fhall ye remember your own evil ways, and your do- ings, that were]not good, and (hall loath yourfelves in your own fight, for your iniquities, and for your abominations. Not for your fakes do I this, faith the Lord God, be it known unto you j be afhamed and confounded for your own ways, O houfe of If- rael. Jer. xxxi. 19. Surely after that I was turned, I repented ; and after that I was inftructed, I fmote upon my thigh : I was afhamed, yea, even confounded, becaufe i did bear the reproach -fif my youth. j 68 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III. Yet dill I to his judgment 'gree, And clear him for abfolving me d. Thus he clears me, and I him clear, I juftify my Juftifler e, Let him condemn or juftify, From all injufticc I am free/. c Mattru xxv. 34—39. Then mail the King fay unto them on his right hand, Come, ye bletted of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you, from the foundation of the world. For I was an hur.gred, and ye gave me meat ; I was third 1 -, and ye gave me drink. : I was a irranger, and ye took me in : Naked, and ye clothed me : I was fick, and ye vifited me : I was in priibn, and ye came unto me. Then mail the righte- ous anfwer him, laving, Lord, when faw we thee an hungred, and fed thte? or thirlty, and gave thte drink? When faw we thee a ftranger, and took thee in ? or naked, and clothed thee ? Or when faw we thee fick, or in prifon, and came unto thee ? 1 Cor. xi. 31. If we would judge ourfelves, we mould not be judged. Luke, xv. 20, i\. And he [the prodigal fon] arofe -and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his fathtr faw him, and had companion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kitted him. And the fon laid unto him, Father, I have finned againft heaven, and in thy fight, and am no more worthy to be called thy fon. Gen. xxxii. 9, 10. And Jacob faid, O God of my fathtr Abraham, and God of my father Ifaac, the Lord which faidft unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee ; I am not vorthy of the lead of all the mercies, and of all the truth which thou haft fhewn unto thy fervant; for with my ftaff I patted over this Jordan, and now I am become two bands. d Pfaim li. 4. Againft thee, thee -only have I linnecf, and done this evil in thy light : That thcu mighteft be juftified when thcu fpeakeft, and be clear when thou judged. And xi. 7. The righteous Lord loveth righteoufnefs, his countenance doth behold the upright. And cxlv. 16, 17. Thou opened thine hand, and fatisfieft the defire of every li. ing thing. The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. Revr xv. 3. And they fing thefong of Mofes the fervant of God, and the fong of the Lamb, faying — Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty 5 jufl and true are thy ways, thou King of faints. e Rom. iii, 26. To declare, I fay, at this time his righ- 5 Sect. VIII. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE, i6j SECT. VIII. The myftery of fanffif cation imperfecl in this life ; or the believer doing all^ and doing nothing. X/Iixe arms embrace my God a, yet I Had never arms to reach fo high b ; teoufnefs : That he might be juft, and the juflifier of him which believeth in Jefus. Iia. xlv. 21. There is no God elfe beilde me, a juil God and a Saviour. c v. 24. Surely, mall one fay, In the Lord have I righteoufnefi and itrength. Chap. Ixiii. 1. Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bo?rah? This that i< glorious in his apparel', travelling in the greatnefs of his Itrength? I that fpeak in righteoufnefs, mighty to lave. Zech. ix. 9. Rejoice greatly, O daughter or" Zion ; ftiout, O daughter of jerufalem : Behold thy King cometh unto thee ; he is juft, and having falvation, &c. /Job, xxv. 4, 5, 6. How then, can man be juftified with God ? or, how can he be clean that is born of a woman? Be- hold even to the moon, and it ihineth not ; yea, the ftars are not pure in his fight. How much lefs man that is a wqrm'j and the ion of man which is a worm ? Pfalm lxxxix. 14. Juftice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne : Mercy and truth (hall go before thy face. And xcvii. 2. Clouds and •darkncfs are around about him : Righteoufnefs and judgment are the habitation o: his throne. Rom. iii. 19, 20. Kow wt know that what things foever the law faith, it faith to them who are under the law : That every mouth may be flopped, and ail the world may become guilty before God. Therefore, by the deeds of the law there mall no flefh be juftified in his fight: For by the law is the knowledge of fin. and mine is his / \ Yet fo was never that nor this m. I know him and his name, yet own He and his name can ne'er be known n. His gracious coming makes me do ; I know he comes, yet know not how o. I have no good but what he gave^>, Yet he commends the good I have q* k 2 Pet. i. 4. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promiics 5 that by thefe ye might be partakers of the divine nature. / Hub. ii. 14. Forafmuch then as the children are partakers of rlefti and blood, he alfohimfelf likewife took part of the fame. *v. 16. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels j but he took on him the feed of Abraham . m Ifa. xl. 17. All nations before him are as nothing, and they are counted to him lefs than nothing, and vanity. To whom then will ye liken God ? or what likenefs will ye com- pare unto him ? n Pfal. ix. 10. They that know thy name will pu*: their truft in thee. Prov. xxx. 3, 4. I [Agur] neither learned wifdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy. Who hath afcended up into heaven, or defc ended ? who hath gathered the wind in his fills ? who hath bound the waters in a garment ? who hath efta- blifhed all the ends of the earth ? what is his name, and what is his Son's name, if thou canft tell ? Song, iv. 16. Awake, O north-wind; and come, thou fouthj blow upon my garden, that the fpices thereof may flow out : Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his plea- fant fruits. John, iii. 8. The wind bioweth where it lifteth, and thou heareft the found thereof, but canft not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth : So is every one that is born of the Spirit. ' p 1 Chron. xxix. 14. And David faid,-— But who am I, and what is my people, that we mould be able to offer fo willinglv after this fort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have v.e given thee. 2 Cor. iii. 5. Not that we are fufficient of ourfelves to think any thing,, as of ourfelves : But our fufEci- ency is of God. q 2 Cor. x. 18. For not he that commendeth himfelf is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth. Rom. xii. 1,2. I befeech you therefore, brethren, by the merc.es of God, that ye prefent your bodies a living facrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reafonable fervice. And be not con- x- GOSPEL SONNETS. Part 1H, | And though my good to him afecnds r, My goodnefs to him ne'er extends f, I take hold of his cov'riant free /, But find it mult take hold of me t. I'm bound to keep it «, yet 'tis bail, And bound to keep me without fail v. The bond on my part cannot laft w, Yet on both fides Hands firm and faft *. formed to this world : But be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and ac- ceptable, a*hd perfect will or Gcd. r Pfal. xxv. i. Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift my foul— and cxli. 2. Let my prayer be let forth before thee as incenfe ; and the lifting up of my hands, as the evening facrifice. Eph. ii'. 12. In whom [Chrift Jefus] we have boldnefs and accefs with confidence by the faith of him. Heb. x. 19. Having there- fore, brethren, boldnefs to enter into the holieft by the blood cf Jefus, See. f Pfalm xvi. 2. O my foul, thou haft faid unto the Lord, ThoU art my Lord: My gcodnefs extendeth not to thee. s Ifa. lvi. 4. Thus faith the Lord unto the eunuchs that— J take hold of my covenant, Sec. *v. 6. /.lfo the fons cf the ftran- ger, that join themfelves to the Lord, to ferve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his fervants, eveiy one that— taketh hold of my covenant, &c. t Zech. i. 6. But my words and my ftatutes, which I com- manded my fervants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers ? and they returned and faid, Like as the Lord of holts thought a noifome weed iv \ A rotting *, yet immortal feed v. p Prov. xi. 28. The righteous (hall flourish as a branch.. Pialm xcii. 12, 13. The righteous mall flourifh like the palm- tree-: He mall grow like the cedar in Lebanon. Thole that be planted in the houfe of the Lord, fnall flourifh in the courts of our God. q Ifa. xxx. 22. Ye mall defile alfo the covering of thy gra- ven images of filver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold i Thou fhalt caft them away as a menftruous cloth j malt fay unto it, Get thee hence. Chap. Ixiv. 6. But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteoufneffes are as filthy rags. r Ifa. Ixii. 3. Thou fhalt alfo be a crown of glory In the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. / Song, iv. 12. A garden inclofed is my fifter, my fpoufe. j Matth. xiii. 24, 25. Another parable put he forth unto them, faying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which fowed good feed in his field : But while men flept, his enemy came and fowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. t Song, iv. 5. [My filler is] a fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and ftreams from Lebanon. u Song, iv. 12. A fpring fhut up, a fountain fealed is my fitter, my fpoufe. . With fenfitives I may compare, While I their various natures fhare : Their diftinft names may juftly fuit A itrange, a reafonable brute q. The facred page my ftate defcribes From volatile and reptile tribes -, From ugly vipers r, beauteous birds/; From foaring holts /, and fwinifh herds t. can ye, except ye abide in me. I am his s. me ? hope thou in God, for I will yet praife him, who is the health of iny countenance, and my God. p Col. iii. i, c. If ye then be rifen with (Thrift, feek thofe tli ngs which are above, where Chrift fitteth on the right hand of God. Set your afle&ion on things above, not on things en the earth. Pialiii xliv. 25. Our loul is bowed down to the duft j our bell} cleaveth unto t*he earth. q Hof. xiv. 5. I will be as the dew unto Ifrael: He fhall grow as the Lilly, and caft forth his roots as Lebanon, v. 7. They that dwell under his fhadow fhall return, they fhall re- vive as the com, and grow as the vine: The fcent thereof fhall be as the wine of Lebanon. Phil. iii. 12, 13, 14. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect : But I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which alfo I am apprehended of Chrift Jefus. Brethren, I count not my- felf to have apprehended : But this one thing I do, forgetting thefe things which are behind, and reaching forth unto thofe things which are before, I prefs toward the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Chrift Jefus. Rom. vii. 23, 24, But I fee another law in my members, warring againft the law of rny mind, and bringing me into capti ity to the law of fin, which is in my members. O wretched man that I am ! who fhall deliver me from the body of this death ? r John, xvi. 2, 3. In my Father's houfeare many rrranfions ; if it were not fo, I would have told you : I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myfelf, that where I am, there ye may be alfo. 2 Pet. i. 10. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election fure. Heb. iv. 1 Let us therefore fear, left a prom fe being left us of entering into his reft, any of you fhouid leem to come fhort of it. /Pfal. iii. 3- But thou, O Lord, art a fhield for* me ; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. Ifa. lx. 19. The fun fhall be no more thy light by day, neither for brightnefs fhall the moon give light unto thee, but the Lord fhall be unto th?e an evcrlafting light and thy God thy glory. Sea. X. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. i8j My life's expos'd to open view t 9 Yet clofely hid and known to few u. Some know my place, and whence I came, Yet neither whence, nor where I am v., I live in earth, which is not odd ; But lo, I alfo live in God w : A Spirit without flefh and blood. Yet with them both to yield me food p. I leave what others live upon. Yet live I not on bread alone ; But food adapted to my mind, Bare words, yet not on empty wind v. s Ifa. xlvi. 13. I will place falvation in Zion for Ifrael my glory. 2 Cor. ^iii. 23. Whether any do inquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellow-helper concerning you : Or our brethren be inquired of, they are the meffengers of the churches, and the glory of Chrift. t Pfai. xliv. 23. Thou makeft us a reproach to our neigh- bours, a fcorn ami a deriiionto them that are around about us. u Col. iii. 3. Your life is hid with Chr.ft in Go^. *v John, iii . 9, 10. Nicodemus anfwered and faid unto him,. How can thefe things be? Jefus anfwered and faid unto him. Art thou a matter of Ifrael, and knoweft not thefe things ? Prov. xiv. 10. The heart knoweth his own bitre nefsj- and a ganger doth not intermeddle with his joy. 1 John, iv. 16. nd we have known and believed the love that God ha h to us. Gcd is love ; and he that dwelleth in lore, dwellelh in God, and Gcd in him. man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.. Whoio eateth my flcih, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life, and I will raife him up. at the laft day. For my flefh is meat indeed, and my biood is drink indeed. y Mat. iv.4. But Jefus anfwered and faid [unto the tempter], It is written, Man fnall not live by breaJ alone, but by R3 " ' iS6 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III. I'm no Anthropophagite rude, Though fed with human ftefh and blood j Bait live fuperlatively fine, My food's ail fpirit, all divine z. I feaft on fulnefs night and day a, Yet pinch'd for want I pine away £, My leannefs, leannefs, ah ! I cry'c; Yet fat and full of fap am I d. As all amphibious creatures do, I live in land and water too e : every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Jer. xv. 1 6. Thy words were found, and I did eat them ; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart, for I am call- ed by thy name, O Lord God of Hofts. z John, vi. 57, 58. As theliving Father hath fentme,and 1 live by the Father : So he that eateth me, even he mail live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven : Not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead : He that eat- eih of this bread fhall live for ever. Yet when my nature he affum'd, He nor on him (to drink the brock) i My perfon nor corruption took. f Matth. xxii. 41—45. While the Pharifces were gathered together, Jefus afked them, faying, What think ye of Chiift? whofe fen is he ? They fay unto him, the fon of David. He faith unto them, How then cloth David in fpirit call him Lord, faying, The Lord faid unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footftool ? If David then call him Lord, how is he his fon ? &c. g Matth. xxi. 5. Tell ye the daughter of Zion, behold,, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and fitting upon an afs. 1/. 8. 9. And a very great multi'ude fpread their garments in the way : Others cut down branches from the trees, and ftrawed them in the way. And the multitude that went before, and that followed, cried, faying, Hofanna to the Son of David : Blefl'ed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord, Hofanna in the higheft. The iecond man is the Lord from heaven. ifc-XI. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 19$ With equal brightnefs in his face ? Shines divine juftice, divine grace v ; The jarring glories kindly meet, Stern vengeance and companion fvveet %u* God is Spirit, feems it odd To fing alou-d the blood of God x ? Yea, hence my peace and joy refuit, And here my lading hope is built j. t) 2 Cor. iv. 6. For God who commanded the light to (hine out of darknefs, hath flfined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of Gcd, in the face of Jefus Chrift. Rom. iii. 24, 25, 26. Being juilified freely by fits grace, through the redemption that is in Jefus Chrift: Whom. God hath let forth to be a propitiation, throgh faith in his blood, to declare his righteoufnefs for the remifficn of fins that are part, through the forbearance of God ; to declare, I fay, at this time his righteoufnefs : That he might be juft, and the jufti- fier of him which beliereth in Jefus. Epb.i. 6, 7. To the praife of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us ac- cepted in the beloved : In whom we have redemption thiough his blood, the forgivenefs of fins according to the riches of his grace. ; Yea, all my pride gives up the ghoft, When once I but begin to boaft q. My chymiftry is moft exact, Hcav'n out of hell I do extract r : n Luke, ix. 23, 24.. And Jefus faidto them all, If any mar. will ccme after me, let him deny himfelf, and take up his crofs daily and follow me. For whofoever will fave his life, fhall lof'e it j but whofcever will lofe his life for my fake, the fame fhall fave it. Rom. viii. 13. If ye live after the flefh, ye mail die ; but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye fhall live. 2 Cor. xii. 10. See letter i. o 2 Cor. xii. 9. Moft gladly therefore will I rather glory ia my infirmities, that the power of Chrift may reft upon me. * p Pfalm Ixxiii. 1 5, 16. If I lay, I will (peak thus ; behold, I (hog Id offend againft the generation of thy children. Whea I thought to know this, it was too painful for me. Pfalm lxxvii. 8, 9, 10. Is his meicy clean gone for ever? doth his promife fail for evermore ? hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger Hint up his tender meicies? Selah. And I faid, This is my infirmity : But I will remember the years of the right hand of the Moft High. q Ifa. x!v. 24, 25. Surely, fhall one fay, In the Lord have I righteouliiefs and ftrcngth : Evert to him fliall men come, and all that are incenfed againft him, fhall be afhamed. In the Lord fhall ail the feed of Ifrael be juftjfied, and fhall glory. • Pfalm xliv. 6. I will not truft in my bow, neither fhall my lword fave me. ,.XF. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. *9f This art to me a tribute brings Of uleful out of hurtful things/, I learn to draw well out of woe, And thus to difappoint the foe s $ The thorns that in my rleOi abide,. Do prick the tympany of pride t. By wounding foils the field I win, And fin itfelf deftroys my fin u : My lufts break one another's pate, And each corruption kills its mate v. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. Pialm xlii. 6, 7, 8. O my God, my foul is cart down within me : Therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar. Deep calleth unto deep, at the noife of the water- fpouts : Ait thy waves and thy. billows are gone over me. Yet the Lord will command his loving-kindnefs in the day-time, and in the night his fong mail be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. f Rom. v. 3, 4, 5. See letter i. s Mic. vii. 8. Rejoice not againft me, O mine enemy:. When I fall, I mail arife ; when I fit in darkneis, the Lord mail be a light unto me. i 2 Cor. xii. 7. Left I fhould be exalted "above meafurej through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the fle/h, the melTenger of Satan to buffet me, left I mould be" exalted above meafure. K.Rom, viii. 35. 37. Who mall leparate us from the love of Chrift ? Shall tribulation, or diflrefs, or perfecution, or famine, or nakedn-efs, or peril, or iword ? Nay, in all thefe things, we are more than conquerors, through him that loved us. Pfalrft lxv. 3. Iniquities prevail againft me ; as for our tranfgreflions, thou (halt purge them away. 2 Chron. xxxii. 24, 25, 26. In thofe days Hezekiah was lick to death, and praytd unto the Lord : And he fpake unto him, and he gave Mm a fign. But Hezekiah rendered not again, according to the benefit done unto him : For his heart was lifted up : Therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jeriiialem. Notwith- standing, Hezekiah humbled himfelf for the pride of his heart (both he and the inhabitants of Jerufalem), fo that the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah. unto God, Depart from us : For we defire not the knowledge of thy ways. What is the Almighty, that we mould ferve him ? and what profit mould we have if we pray tinto him ? Eph. iv. 20, 21, 22. But ye have not fo learned Chrift j if fa be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jefus : That ye put off concerning the former converfation, the- oJd man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lufts. Chap. v. 6, 7, %. Let no man deceive you. with vain words : For becauie of thei'e things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of difobedience. Be not ye there- fore partakers with them. For ye were fometimes darknefs, but now are ye light in the Lord : Walk as children of the light. Pfalm xix. 9, 10. The Lord alio will be a refuge for the opprefled, -a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name, will put their truft in thee.