c<_ 
 
 
 <c< 
 
 St ««---' 
 
 o'CC 
 
 :c<s * 
 
 C C c; 
 
 
 5^' V k^s 
 
 HIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 
 
 | ^^ ll&5 
 
 # 
 
 f UNITED STATES OP AMERICA. 
 
 
 
 fee* 
 i 
 
 
«c c «r 
 
 
 ".5 * <■ < <j^.mCJ = -^ 
 
 CC rcCC < cr 
 ' cc cc<r C <r- 
 
 cicc 
 
 1 CCC k OCX 
 
 CT CCCrcCr 
 
 : coo a 
 
 <r<C^c<3crc<ct 
 
 ' * ,c car 
 
 
 x< c 
 
 c«oc 
 
 cc 
 
 2 < c«Z 
 
 4TC<3C 
 
 «T<3£C mcMCTfZr «tr <r <~ 
 
 mi c<c<c> 
 
 %S^*^ oejcx ;^ccc 
 
 ;c;<r <«C4cyc£ c 
 t caster c 
 
 castacz^ 
 
 c: < <c <c" <sc<3^ s «tlc <^ ^ 7 
 
 COC <£ C«K<L ^ CCC < CC <|^ 
 ^ < r^ CC <£> 
 
 <r <Mr~cr c«? <r<sc C 
 
S E R I 6 U S 
 
 REFLECTIONS 
 
 OX 
 
 T I M E 
 
 ai:d 
 
 ETERNITY, 
 
 This world & the next. 
 
 Br JOHN SHOWiiil. 
 
 From art English Edition. 
 
 LEOMINSTER, (Mafs.J 
 -Printed by SALMON WILDER, 
 — Oftofor, 1812.-*! 
 
.S4-5- 
 
SERIOUS 
 
 REFLECTIONS 
 
 ON 
 
 Time and Eternity, 
 
 This world and the next. 
 
 Sect. I. 
 Of the changeable state, and short duration 
 gf earthly things s especially of man ; how 
 little it is considered and believed ; hoiv 
 necessary it should be. 
 3^iS:#i HEN I consider that yesterday 
 & w ® was the conclusion of the last 
 '3 1 *J& yta*\ and that I am now entered 
 ©3?®® on another ; it is seasonable to 
 reflect on the mutable condition and short. 
 duratiou of all things in this world, which 
 are measured by time. That as they have 
 their beginning, so they have their end : and 
 that the distance, to space of time between 
 the one and the other is very little. Let me 
 not then my soul ! rejoice and please my 
 fcelftoo much in new enjoyments, remem- 
 bering a change may be at hand, and the 
 end is certain. 
 
4 Serious Retlectioi;3 
 
 Many who were rich and flourishing the 
 last year, may be reduced to poverty and 
 deep distress, before the end of this : who 
 are now in a capacity to relieve others, 
 within a few months, or a shorter space, may 
 be objects of other men's charity. The 
 thing which hath been, is that which may be : 
 and that which hath been seen in one year, 
 jTviv happen in another ; so easily, so quick- 
 ly may a change be VC.2 f le ! Riches may un- 
 expectedly change their owners, and bor- 
 row wings of a thousand accidents, where- 
 with to fly to heaven for a new disposal. 
 They* therefore who possess, should be as if 
 they possessed not ; for the fashion of this 
 ^orld passeth away. Innumerable casual- 
 ties may effect that change, which no hvi- 
 mafl art o* skill can possibly foresee, or 
 hinder. Afflictive unexpected evils attend 
 us every where : we cannot promise our- 
 selves tranquility for a day, much less one 
 year to came. They lay in wait for us on 
 every side, enter at every ^crevice, and com- 
 monly overtake us, when we are least ap- 
 prehensive of their approach. Man\ that is 
 born of a woman is of few days, and full 
 of trouble : he cometh up as a flower, and 
 is cut down ; fleeth as a shadow and con- 
 tinued! not. What then are riches, beauty, 
 strength and honor, the accidents of this 
 substance, which is itself but a shadow ! 
 
 How false is the hope of man, an^ how 
 frail is ail his glory ! one day can make an 
 
 * 1 Cor. vii, 29. f Job ix. 25. 
 
0/s Time and Eternity. 5 
 
 end of all his riches and honors : and yet 
 what solicitude, care, and labor, to gft what 
 we desire ot these things, (mo often we do 
 not need them ; and to keep what we have 
 gotten, and then to increase it, and then to 
 defend it, and at last to enjoy it, and in a mo- 
 ment it is snatched from us, or we from it. 
 His life is but a vapor, on which they all 
 depend; then how much less are they? 
 To how speedy an alteration are they sub- 
 ject ! what numberless instances of this doth 
 one year's experience furnish ; what sadden- 
 ing disappointments, and* unexpected ca- 
 lamities have befallen many since this day 
 twelve-month! and multitudes who are now 
 at ease,& think their mountains too strong to 
 be removed, shall meet with sharper trials 
 before the end of this year. Alas ! how few 
 consider or believe it, until they find it so ? 
 All men JshMM count upon trouble and dis- 
 tV suffering and sorrow in this 
 war! and he that hath the least share, is 
 reckoned "he most prosperous man ; and 
 yet he knows not how soon his portion may 
 be doubled. We reckon our joys by the 
 absence of some degrees of sorrow and ca- 
 lamity that others meet with: and before 
 the end of this year, our condition may be 
 as disconsolate as theirs. my soul ! tho 5 
 J know this to be true ; tho' I cannot, I 
 dare not deny it ; yet how difficult is it to 
 conquer the love of this world, and of this 
 body, to thift degree I ought ! to under- 
 value the interest of a short, a mutable, un- 
 certain troublesome life, in comparison of 
 
 A 
 
8 Serious HtzvLZcncxs 
 
 the permanent possession of an everlasting 
 good ! tho' I know that what is earthly and 
 temporal must needs be thus changeable 
 and fading ? and that it is as true of man 
 himself, as of any thing under the sun ; yet 
 how do I forget what man is ! not only mu- 
 table in this state, his body, and his life, but 
 in his mind too, so as to love and hate, to 
 chuse and neglect, to delight in, and abhor, 
 such things at one time, as he did not be- 
 fore. He doth not pass the same judgment, 
 nor retain the same affections at one time as 
 at another. How do I live, as if all this were 
 as certainly false, as it is unquestionably 
 true ? Admire, love, fear, trust in man t as 
 if he were the direct contrary to what he 
 is, and seek for immortcduy upon earth, and 
 act as if I were assured of it, and were 
 not liable to any change ; tho 1 I acknou 1- 
 edge and know the contrary. Tho' the last 
 yearns experience, and the observation of 
 every day, doth convince me of it ; tho' all 
 history, and all the records of the grave at- 
 test it"; tho' all mankind, in every age have 
 found it so ; tho' it be a manifest notorious 
 truth, legible in the various changes and ca- 
 lamities, but especially in the dust and ashes 
 of all who have lived before us, (our graves 
 being often made of our predecessor's dust y 
 and the earth we bury in having once been 
 living) yet how little is it believed, how sel- 
 dom considered ! the confirmation of it, 
 which ont year gives us, hath little influence 
 on our hearts or lives, with respect to the 
 next. We ought therefore, to accustom 
 
on Tiuz tf/z<f Eterkity. 7 
 
 ourselves to these thoughts, before such 
 changes happen, to which our final change , 
 shall ere long succeed. They will be less 
 efficacious, if never admitted 'till our minds 
 arc opprest and feebled by the weight of af- 
 fliction. Wc shall then want that vigour of 
 reason, which should co-operate with the 
 remedy ; and which if used beforehand, 
 would help to support and stay our mind.s f 
 under all subsequent revolutions. For those 
 considerations may be able to fix and stay 
 our minds, under changes, that may not be 
 sufficient to recover, and raise our spirits 
 after they are dejected and fallen. 
 
 Sect. IT. 
 Of the change in men's inclinations,opinions 
 and actions, vohich one year sheivs ; how 
 observable it is in others : how much more 
 discernable in ourselves. Honor and rep- 
 utation, &c. ho'D uncertainly preserved, 
 and hovo easily blasted. 
 
 WHAT a discovery doth one year 
 make of the mutability of man, not 
 only of his outward condition, but of the 
 man himself; his temper, his practice, his 
 inclinations, his aversions, &c. He abideth 
 not at one day ; every breath of wind turns 
 him to another shape. We despise to day, \\r<\t 
 which we admired yesterday ; and to-mor- 
 row hate the object of our present love. 
 We begin friendships, and cancel them on 
 slight occasions ; and a mortal enmity often 
 
8 Serious Reflections 
 
 succeeds to a tender affection : the very 
 persons, who are in one year our darling 
 friends, and possibly deserved to be so, may 
 yet be open enemies the next, and seek our 
 ruin. Lord, what is man J How deceitful 
 and mutable the heart of man ! we know 
 not what other men are, or will prove to be, 
 'till a trial ; and we are equally ignorant 
 concerning ourselves, 'till an hour of temp- 
 tation. How patiently do we think we could 
 bear afflictions 'till we feel them ! how par- 
 tial and mistaken a judgment do we make 
 of our wisdom and strength, in reference to 
 the future ! w r e counsel others to submis- 
 sion and resignation in the most difficult tri- 
 als, and wonder they complain so loud; 
 when we ourselves despond, and sink un- 
 der half their burthen ; and send up our 
 more impatient murmurs to heaven, when 
 God thinks fit to prove us by a lighter 
 stroke. We censure and condemn others, 
 who are in a higher station, and are call'd 
 to more difficult work than we ; when by a 
 little advancement, and the like temptations, 
 we discover that we are as bad as they. 
 They who w r ere reputed humble, temperate 
 and religious ; w T hen they have been exalted 
 higher, become proud, sensual, and ungod- 
 ly. Had some been told a twelve month 
 since, what now they are, and speak, and 
 act, they would have made HazaeVs an- 
 swer, Am I a dog, that I should do this ? A 
 change in the public affairs of the state, and 
 by that means of particular interests, or 
 some alteration of our own private circum- 
 
on 
 
 Time <3m/Eternity. 
 
 stances (calling us to new duties, and expos- 
 ing us to new temptations) discovers us 
 more to ourselves, & toother men, than was 
 expected, and proves us to be very different 
 from what we appeared to be. 
 
 Such a change, for instance, as from/wtf- 
 erty to riches, from sickness to health, from 
 obscurity to honor, from privacy to a public 
 charge, &c. or on the contrary. Men can- 
 not bear the weight of temporal happiness, 
 
 l^^iL :; v iivo *«»j^.i tii^»iv^«^» »*»mk%v uo «-v^ u\s *>»««••■»* 
 
 men, than before we seemed to be. How 
 weak a thing is man ! that cannot carry his 
 own wishes, without falling under them : 
 that cannot prosper in his designs, without 
 being changed in the temper of his mind, 
 upon every success. So true is it, that Man 
 in honor is like the beast that pertsheth ; and 
 changed ordinarily for the worse, as to se- 
 rious religion. May we not fear, that some, 
 who a year since dared not live a day in the 
 neglect of closet and family devotion, do 
 now omit it, for many days and UteeMs to- 
 gether ? and that some, who once were 
 careful to improve the whole sabbath to re- 
 ligious purposes, now place the whole of 
 their religion in attending the public wor- 
 ship, and think it enough, not for that day 
 only, but for the whole week. Under the 
 afflicting hand of God, or some apprehen- 
 sions of an approaching change, or sense of 
 guilt upon great transgressions, the con- 
 victions of sin are lively, conscience is sensi- 
 ble and awake, affections warm, resolutions 
 strong, he. But alas f how soon doth the 
 
10 Serious Reflections 
 
 case alter ! our spirits coo), our zeal abates, 
 our good purposes untwist and die, and 
 come to nothing. By degrees we return 
 to folly, and boldly venture on that sin> we 
 lately trembled at. Through the want of 
 continued smart afflictions, or of a serious 
 awakening ministry, and friendly admonition; 
 or through the temptations of vain company, 
 End the remaining power of fleshly lusts : 
 So that we falsify our most sacred promises 
 and resolutions > violate our holy vows, can- 
 cel the bonds of God upon us, suffer the 
 devil to re-enter, and prevail again, to take 
 possession of our hearts, and yield our- 
 selves an easy prey to his temptations, till 
 our latter end be worse than our beginning. 
 Oh what a change doth one year let us 
 see, in persons as well as things ! in our* 
 selves as well as other men ! And as it is 
 with man himself, so with every thing thai 
 he values himself upon, or for which he is 
 esteemed by others ; and even hi3 esteem 
 and reputation is also changeable and uncer- 
 tain. A Not to instance in riches, but in what 
 is nobler, learning, and the improvements 
 of the mind by study ; how soon may the 
 violence of a disease disturb or stupify the 
 brain to that degree, as shall reduce the 
 greatest scholar to the pitied condition of a 
 fool or bedlamite ? and where is his reputa- 
 tion and renown, in such a case ? But 
 much less than that will blast the fairest 
 reputation, with the far greatest part of the 
 world : it may be lost by unwary mistakes, 
 by false reports, by cftvf and malice, by the 
 
on Time and Eternity. 
 
 subtle hatred of enemies, or by the weak- 
 ness and credulity of friends y (who will 
 listen to every backbiter's story) or by one 
 or two indiscretions of the man himself; and 
 no man can be certain to secure his reputa- 
 tion whilst he lives, much less after he is 
 dead. Who can content all men, however 
 he lives ? And who is well spoken of by all 
 when he is dead ? who is so esteemed, that 
 some do not despise him ? The wisest con- 
 duct cannot hinder but some will judge 
 hardly and amiss. 
 
 How vain and faulty is an ambition to be 
 talked of after we are dead, which will be 
 but by very/m, and that very differently \ 
 and but for a little while.. There is no re- 
 mcmbrance of former things, neither shall 
 there be of things to ccme> 'with those that 
 jshall come after, Eccles. i. 1 1. For how 
 Httle a while do the proudest monuments 
 last, that are set over the rotten flesh and 
 bones of many, to preserve their memory ? 
 God hath promised, it is true, that iher 
 righteous shall be had in everlasting remem- 
 brance ; but it must be understood so far 
 only as the frame and state of this world, 
 and the revolutions and vicissitudes of time 
 will permit. But what good can it do us, 
 farther than the interest of God's glory, and 
 the good of others is concerned in it ? The 
 blessed will not need it, and the damned 
 have no advantage by it. And no endeav- 
 ours can be certain of success : for people 
 will talk of us as they please ; and their 
 opinions very often change from one ex- 
 
12 Serious Reflections 
 
 treme to the other. But he who hath th* 
 loudest fame, shall only be talked of a little 
 -longer than his neighbors ; and that by a 
 few dying men, that must themselves be ere 
 long forgotten. And how small a part of 
 the inhabited world, is acquainted so much 
 as with thename of the greatest of men in 
 Europe ? And how different and contrary 
 are men's opinions aud discourses of them 
 where they are known, and talked of? And 
 how many holy excellent persons are buried 
 in oblivion, or mis-represented as unworthy 
 to live on earth, whose names will be found 
 in the book of life ? Our life is yet as mu- 
 table, and uncertain as any of theirs. The 
 time is hastening when we shall be too old 
 to live, but at that time we are eld encugh to 
 die. Our breath is in our nostrils; and 
 tho f there be room enough for it to go out, 
 we have no assurance that we shall have 
 power to draw it in again. 
 
on Time and Eternity. 13 
 
 • CQCCOQeQ'gg-QgeQ S gQgeOQ 
 
 Sect. III. 
 
 Cj the uncertainty of lining to the period of 
 another year. The vanity of this life : 
 the swiftness of time, and how to be im- 
 proved* 
 
 I Now begin another year : but what as- 
 surance have I to out-live it ? I cannot 
 say, how soon my sovereign Judge may 
 call me hence, and summon me to appear 
 before his righteous bar. O let me not de- 
 fer my necessary preparation for death, 
 which may be nearer than I imagine ! let 
 me mind the great things j£h$/, which are of 
 absolute necessity to be done, some time or 
 other before I die. This perishing body 
 which I have pampered and indulged, af 
 the expence of so much cost and time, rriay 
 be putrifying in a silent grave, before half 
 this year be passed. Lord ! bless this tho't, 
 to awaken my diligent endeavors to sec t: re 
 the blessedness of eternity f to mortify the 
 desire of great things for myself, in Ja'urc 
 years, by the considered possibility cf dy- 
 ing before the end of this f let me look into 
 the graves of others, and consider that this 
 may quickly happen to me, and must ere 
 long be my own case : let me think v 
 this body will shortly be, when it hath I. 
 six or eight davs separated from mt soul ; 
 B 
 
14 Serious Reflections 
 
 how vile ? how loathsome ? that I may des- 
 pise the beauty, and be dead to the pleas- 
 tires of the body, which so easily, so sud- 
 denly, so strangely may be changed. For 
 no glass is more brittle, no bubble more van- 
 ishing, no ice more dissolving, no flower 
 more fading, no shachv) less substantial, no 
 sleep or dream more deceiving, no sound 
 more transient, nothing more vain and more 
 uncertain than life, on which all other things 
 in this world depend. My days are as noth- 
 ings saith Job, tho' they lasted above two 
 ages, 
 
 There is hardly any thing very frail and 
 feeble, mutable and uncertain, but the spirit 
 of God in scripture sets forth the vanity of 
 life by ; as if he would teach us by it, from 
 the sight of every perishing object, which 
 our eyes behold, to reflect on our own mor- 
 tality. We sleep every night in the outer 
 chambers of death, and in some diseases 
 sleep, which is the image and picture of 
 deaths is taken away, to give place to the 
 original^ and make way for death. And 
 every year, every week, every day are we 
 hastening to our final change ; which may 
 overtake us ere we are aware. Every day 
 Ave lose some part of our lives ; in our very 
 growth from infancy to manhood, our life 
 decreases, and grows less. Every pulse 
 and breath doth tell us we are hastening to 
 the end of time, & calls upon us to dispatch 
 our work. 
 
 If we consider | time to be the measure 
 
 f Dr. Doito'* Devotions. 
 
on Time j/;i Eternity 15 
 
 of motion, however it may seem to have 
 three stations ; past, present and future ; the 
 first and last of these are wcA : (one is not 
 now, and the other is not yet.) That which 
 you call present, is not now the same it was, 
 before you began to call it so in this line ; 
 when you sound that word present, or the 
 monosyllable wu>, the present, and the novj 
 is past. If we consider eternity, into that 
 time never entered ; eternity is not an ever- 
 lasting flux of time ; but time is a short 
 parenthesis in a long period : and eternity 
 had been the same, as it is, though time 
 had never been. If we consider not eter- 
 nity, but perpetuity, which shall outlive 
 time, and be when time shall be no more. 
 What a minute is the life of man to that '? 
 How soon must it end ? 
 
 Every word we speak, is formed of thrrt 
 breath whereby we live ? and we may not 
 live to pronounce another sentence, but the 
 lamp of life may be extinguished and blown 
 out by a sudden blast. Every thing we do, 
 carries away some sands of our little glass 
 of time ; and how few many remain ? or 
 how soon may the glass be broken ? Our 
 souls are in our bodies, as a little air inclos- 
 ed in a thin bubble] how easily is that broken, 
 and where are we ! How many who are 
 now alive, in health and vigor, who delib- 
 erate on their meat and drink, and are curi- 
 ous of air and exercise, to maintain them- 
 selves in health, and please themselves with 
 the dream of yesrs to come, shall never sec 
 another new-years day ? It may be not a- 
 
16 Serious Reflections- 
 
 mother month, or week, or morrow ? Many- 
 have promised themselves great things on 
 the morrow, but died before night : let me 
 net say, I shall not .die this night, when I 
 may this hour ;■ and it is bat once for all, 
 there is no amending an ill death by another 
 trial. " When I lie down to sleep, I hope 
 to rise stronger and fresher, and fitter for 
 work ; but I know withal, I may rise no 
 more. And may not my name be on the 
 roll of those who shall next be called, at 
 least sometime this year? Let me not neg- 
 lect or foolishly delay my principal business, 
 to provide against a change, which is inevi- 
 table, but the time of it altogether doubtful. 
 Ought not my first and chiefest care be em- 
 ployed, to make my peace with God, (he 
 alone can be my happiness ; to his final 
 judgment I am hastening : His favor alone 
 can give me support and joy in a dyings 
 hour : to his mercy I must trust, when I 
 .leave this world, and can have no advan- 
 tage more by any thing in it : that he may 
 mercifully receive my soul at death, and be 
 my everlasting portion ? Do I know my 
 life is thus vain and transient, and shall I not 
 seriously improve it to such a purpose ? 
 Shall these thoughts leave no impression up- 
 on me ? Do I breathe continually in this 
 element of vanity, and yet forget where I 
 am, and remain insensible of so near a 
 change ? Shall these thoughts pass awaj' 
 as a vanishing cloud, and distill no softening 
 drops of my soul ? Shall the image of 
 death, which meets me every where, be on- 
 
§n Tim and -Eteisit.y. 17 
 
 ly like an appearing ghost or phantasm, that 
 startles and scares a lutle, but is presently 
 gone and no mure considered ? Oh ! let 
 me now remember to make God my friend, 
 and secure an interest in his eternal mercy, 
 while the day lastt ; yea, v\ hiie my reason 
 and understanding are free, and not dis- 
 turbed and clouded by fear and pain, and 
 the disorders of the body, as commonly 
 they are in sickness, if God should vouchsafe 
 me that warning ; which yet I may not 
 promise of myself to have, for I may be cut 
 off by a sudden stroke before the end of this 
 year I now begin." 
 
 And how great and necessary work have 
 I to do in a short and so uncertain a por- 
 tion of time? Endless joy or misery will 
 be the consequence of spending this present 
 time. M/ ignorant soul must be instruct- 
 ed,my carnal heart renewed, many false opin- 
 ions must be unlearned, and sinful customs 
 changed, and powerful lusts mortified, and 
 strong temptations overcome, and many 
 graces to be obtained, exercised, srength- 
 ened and preserved, to please, and serve, 
 and glorify an holy, omnipresent God, my 
 sovereign ; and express the thankfulness of 
 my heart and life to Christ my Saviour ; 
 and is all this nothing ? Is not all my little 
 hasty time too little for sVch a work ? to pre- 
 pare for a safe and comfortable death, in or- 
 der to a blessed eternity ? 
 
 B 
 
18 Serious Reflections 
 
 Sect. IV; 
 
 Of the seeming difference between so many 
 years past, and the same number of years 
 to come. 
 
 WHEN I look back to the preceeding 
 years of my life, how easily can f 
 grasp them all at once ? they are even as 
 yesterday when it is past. But so many 
 years to come hath something great aad 
 vast, which fills my thoughts, and affects 
 my mind, after another manner. Such is 
 the difference between past enjoyments, 
 and the expectation of future. Let me 
 suppose the same term and duration of years, 
 and yet how different are my apprehensions 
 of what is pass, and what is yet to come ! 
 Things past by remembrance "of some re- 
 markable passages, when they happened, 
 seem to be present with me/ but not know- 
 ing what may happen in the same number 
 of years to come, I have nothing whereon 
 to fix my thoughts. Or the reason of this 
 difference may rather be, that men in this 
 degenerate and necessitous state (with un- 
 satisfied desires reaching after happiness, 
 and sensible nothing present cm afford it, 
 and knowing by experience that nothing 
 past could have done if) are eagerly desir- 
 ous of felicity ; and because we know not 
 but what is to come may procure it> we 
 hope it will; which makes the time seem 
 
onTiMZ. anJErzixsiTY' 19 
 
 long, by reason of our expectation and de- 
 sire of good. Whereas the foresight of ivz/ 
 and the expectation of that, some years 
 hence, makes the time rather seem short, 
 and 'near at hand : so many years to come, 
 in the expectation and desire of good, are 
 long and tedious : such hope deferred makes 
 the heart sick ; even though it is of that sort, 
 as must needs fail our expectations. 
 
 Prepare me, Lord! for what, thine un- 
 erring counsel shall please to order, as to 
 the remainder of my time on earth ; and 
 suffer me not to count up^n a great number 
 of years to come, since this, for ought I 
 know, may be my last : neither let me ex- 
 pect rest and happiness in this world, which 
 nothing temporal can afford. This is not 
 the state or season, wherein, by any prom- 
 ise of G >d, I ana encouraged to hope it. 
 And \f fifty or threescore years to come, be 
 tho't so great a matter, and really is so, as 
 to our stay on earth : Oh what apprehen- 
 sions ought i to admit concerning an end- 
 less everlasting state I especially being as 
 certain of the latter, after death, as I am un- 
 certain about the former ; whether so miwxy 
 years be yet to come before my death. Let 
 me not hereafter be so preposterous in my 
 solicitude, enres and fears, as to be anxious 
 for tomorrow, and yet be thoughtless of eter- 
 nity. 
 
20 Serious Reflections 
 
 Sect. V. 
 
 The little portion of our time on earth consid- 
 ered, by a computation of the lift of man t 
 from the number oj years and hours. 
 
 THINK, my soul ! how short is that 
 life at longest, made up of years, and 
 months, and days ; such little parts and yet 
 in number few. Well therefore may it be 
 expressed, as I find in Holy Writ, by years 
 of number ; that is, such as may soon be 
 numbered. When a few years are come 
 saith Job *, ( or the years of 'number, as in 
 the original) I shall go the way, whence I 
 shall not return. By the years of an hire- 
 ling, which are not above three, Isa. xvi.14. 
 we usually compute threescore and ten years, 
 to the life of man : let me suppose fourscore. 
 The bed a hh most employs one half; and 
 hardly one in thirty doth reach the age of 
 seventy years. Aiid f they who live to such 
 an age, do yet complain how soon it is gone. 
 Ignorant childhood and heedless youth, and 
 infirm old age, may be supposed to take up 
 a third part of that time. In either of them 
 very little of the great ends of life are an* 
 s we red. We ordinarily begin to reckon 
 our lives from our birth ; whereas for a 
 
 *Jol xvi. 11. Emei. xii. l6. I/a. X. 19. 
 t Winter Evening Confirm*. Conf. 1. 
 
on Time and ErEnxixr. 51 
 
 good while after, we know not whether wc 
 are alive or no, but are beholden to others 
 to make the account for us. When we first 
 come to the steady use of reason, or what 
 we call the years of discretion ; how few 
 are there, but from the prejudices of edu- 
 cation, from the corruption of human na- 
 ture, from the want of experience, from the 
 infection of bad company, how few I say, 
 but spend their younger years in those things 
 which afterwards they are ashamed of, when 
 experience hath taught them the wusdom of 
 men ? How great a part of our remaining 
 time is taken up m the necessitiesof nature, 
 about food and raiment, and in lawful cares, 
 to support the body ? And how much more 
 than needs, in pampering, dressing and a- 
 doming it ? Out of the small remainder^ 
 how much is employed in the concerns of a 
 family, and near relations, in particular 
 callings, in necessary civil business, and in 
 getting, keeping, or improving an estate ? 
 besides all the time that is spent in recrea- 
 tions, visits, unprofitable discourse, imper- 
 tinent thoughts, journeys, sickness, and in- 
 numerable other occasions, some allowable, 
 some unavoidable, and many needless ? ; 
 After this, how little time remains wherein 
 to cultivate and improve our minds, by 
 languages, arts and sciences, or the knowl- 
 edge of a trade, &c. How little then after 
 all, may we say, is left For the matters of 
 religion ? for devotion to God, and serious 
 preparation for another world ? 
 
 Alas ! how small a number of veara make 
 
22 Serious Refiectio^s 
 
 up the life of man ! and hovf small a portion 
 of that, is employed about the principal bu- 
 siness, for which we were born, and for 
 which we live ? We divide time into past, 
 present and future : but the past is not now 
 ours : the future is notyet, and the present 
 now is past, ere the sound is pronounced. 
 And yet this is all the time allotted us 
 wherein to secure the blessedness of eterni- 
 ty. How many hours more cf our little 
 time might be improved than commonly 
 are by the best ? In every year there are 
 8766 hours : If we allow the greatest half 
 for sleep, and necessary attendance on the 
 body, and take but 4000 hours for our 
 W( ;k and business of consequence: how 
 poor an account can most men give of. 
 all these 4000 hours in every year ? 
 Not one hour in seven, not one in ten, 
 is ordinarily devoted to God, and the pur- 
 poses of religion. Should it not affect us, 
 seriously to consider this ? especially, if we 
 remember, at what an uncertainty we are, 
 how small a number of davs and hours do 
 yet remain. This year, this month, this 
 week, this day or hour may be my last. 
 What an unsuspected accident, or a sud- 
 den disease may do, I know not : but this 
 1 know, that there is scarce any thing that 
 hath not killed some body ; an hair, a fea- 
 ther, a vapour, a breath hath done it ; and 
 when the apostle James asks the question, 
 What is your life? He answers, It is even 
 a vapor, that appeareth a little < ^hile > and 
 then vanishes away. 
 
en Time and Eternity. 23 
 
 Sect. VI. 
 
 Of the redemption of time, /wv; preeioits and 
 valuable a treasure it is % and "will be tho't 
 to be y ivhen it it too late. 
 
 IS the life of man so short and fleeting, 
 our days on earth so few, and so uncer- 
 tain ! How careful should I be to manage 
 every hour, endeavoring to match the swift- 
 ness of time By my celerity, and diligence 
 to improve it ? I can have no business of 
 greater or of equal moment to mind, than 
 to secure the happiness of my soul in ano- 
 ther world. And shall I lavish my time, 
 and lose my pains about things unnecessa- 
 ry ? What will all other business signify in 
 the end, if this be neglected ? Is there any 
 interest more iveighty, that calleth me from 
 such work ? Is there any thing else that 
 so well deserves my time ? That may be 
 put into the scales, or weighed in a balance 
 against this ? Shall eternity, which compre- 
 hends all time, have the least share of my 
 time allotted for its concernment ? How 
 little a part of my time hath been hitherto 
 employed in such work ! How reasonable, 
 how neoessary it is to redeem the little inch 
 of time that yet remains, but hastens to a 
 period ? For as there is no covenant to be 
 made with death, so no agreement for the 
 
 i 
 
24 Serious Rkr lections 
 
 urrest and stay of time ; it keeps its pace, 
 whether I redeem, and use it well or not. 
 
 The greatest part of cur lite is designed- 
 ly employed to avoid death ; we eat, and 
 drink, and sleep, and labor, and rest, that 
 we may not die ; and yet even by these 
 we hasten to death. Every breath, every 
 pulse, every word leaves one less of the 
 number, which Gcd hath appointed me, 
 and carries away some sands of the glass of 
 time ; and yet how little care is taken to 
 employ it well ? We seldom value it, till 
 we can no longer use it to any advantage ; 
 and though we know it can neither be re- 
 tarded in its motion, or recalled when past, 
 yet of nothing are we mere prcdigal. Yea, 
 how many complain cf it as a burthen, and 
 know not what to do with their time, are 
 ■exceedingly at a loss wherein to employ it, 
 what to do to be rid of it ? But alas ! how 
 near is that change, when they shall think 
 nothing too dear to purchase seme few 
 grains of that sand, which now seem too 
 many, while they are passing through their 
 hour-glass ? How sad will be the review 
 of our lost and ill-spent time ? How dif- 
 ferent an opinion of its value we shall have 
 on a sick bed, cr when our time and hepe 
 is gone ? How many weeks, and days.and 
 hours, ny ''soul ! have I trifled away in 
 sloth and idleness, in foolish mirth, and 
 hurtful company, in vain thoughts and im- 
 pertinent discourse, in excess of sleep, and 
 needless pastimes, feastings, inordinate care 
 to adorn the body, or gratify the sensual ap- 
 
vn Time end Eternity. 25 
 
 petite ? All that which is past rs irrecov- 
 erable ; and the little remainder flies a pace. 
 How quickly will it be gone ; how soon, 
 how suddenly, may an unexpected stroke 
 of death conclude it ? And yet this is all 
 the opportunity I shall ever have, to make 
 my peace with God, and prepare for the 
 everlasting World* 
 
 Did we consider as we ought, we should 
 •not foolishly throw away so much of it in 
 trifles, and tilings impertinent, ot \i hat is 
 worse. How much more might we redeem 
 than- commonly we do ? to how much bet- 
 ter purpose might we husband it ? How 
 much more work might we -do, were we 
 never idle, or did not loiter ? We might 
 walk far, did we not often stand still, or go 
 out of our way. We see it plainly by the 
 great and excellent effects of some few 
 men's industry in every age. Art hath 
 found means to set spies and watches as it 
 were on the stm, that he cannot look out, 
 but they take hold of his shadow, and force 
 it to tell how far he is gone that day : And 
 yet while we are curious in making time 
 give a just account of itself to us, how lit- 
 tle do we consider the account of our time, 
 which we must shortly give to God ? Oh t 
 that such a thought might effectually per- 
 suade me to redeem it ? that I may not tarry 
 till the end of time to know the worth of it ! 
 p t me not undervalue it, while it is given 
 
 \ to be used, that I may not eternally re- 
 * c my folly, when time shall be no mere, 
 d calls me to diligence and labor ; the 
 C 
 
26 Serious Reflections 
 
 ivori he calls me to is excellent, and the re* 
 ward glorious; to know, and love, and 
 serve, and obey him, in order to eternal life; 
 and shall 1 yet be idle ? Is this the use and 
 end of all my time ? And do I know it, and 
 believe it ? Do I indeed believe it, and yet 
 delay and loiter, and waste my preeious 
 hours in vanity ? Am I going into cnternity, 
 and entering into another world, and know 
 that I must be in heaven or kcU forever ; and 
 have I time to throw away ? Am I fit to 
 die, and to appear before my Judge, or am 
 I not ? Am I made meet for heaven, by 
 pardoning mercy and sanctifying grace ? 
 Have I the earnest of the spirit to witness 
 and assure me of it ? Is my interest in the 
 promise of eternal life as firm, and my evi- 
 dence of it as clear, as it may be made ? 
 Am I not conscious to myself, that much 
 of this necessary work is yet to be done f 
 And shall such an unprepared soul- as mine, 
 be careless and indifferent how I spend my 
 time,' 
 
 %r% 
 
on Time and Et einitt, 2T 
 
 Sect. VII. 
 
 Of the ordinances of heaven, day and night, 
 summer and winter, seed-time and harvest, 
 their order and succesion established by God % 
 is the effect of infinite wisdo??i and good* 
 ness. IVhat they teach us. 
 
 W 7 HEN I consider the beginning of 
 V V another year, I can hardly avoid re- 
 fleeting on its several parts, summer and 
 Winter, spring and fall, day and wight, and 
 the alternate turns- This calls me to ob* 
 serve, and admire his eternal power and 
 godhead, wisdom and truth, who is the 
 great Author of this admirable variety ; 
 who hath fixed th€ earth with his foot, and 
 hanged it on nothing, and settled the In- 
 mioarks of heaven far excellent ends : The 
 sun to rule by day, and the moon by night ; 
 thereby to distinguish times and seasons, to 
 separate day and night, winter and summer, 
 and consult the convenience of man and 
 beast, by their due succession. The day is 
 thine, the night also' is thine, thou makes* 
 summer and winter. How wonderful is their 
 order, beauty, and constant course ; that 
 when the sun withdraws, and the shadows 
 of the evening cover the earth with dark- 
 ness, to conclude the day ; the moon and 
 stars supply the place of the absent sun, 
 during the nighi ; And that though they 
 
23. Serious Re p l l c t io n 5 
 
 differ in length, yet gradually lessen, tilt 
 they are both equal- at the year's end, and 
 have made the same circuit ? How excel- 
 lent a work of God is that quick succes- 
 sion to one another ? The supposition of a 
 perpetual night, is a dismal gloomy thought. 
 O- what will the everlasting darkness of the 
 infernal prison be ! The sun by day enlight- 
 ens the earth, directs our motions, guides 
 our way, governs our travail, assists con- 
 versation, awakens industry, warms the 
 earth, and air, gives life, and vigor, and 
 fruitfulness .taall things under the sun, ancl 
 makes the whole inferior creation to rejoice. 
 An emblem of God^s universal goodness, 
 who is kind to all his creatures. How ad- 
 mirable is its lustre ! how glorious is its 
 light ! how loudly doth it proclaim his 
 power and wisdom t who made this, and 
 the other lights of heaven, by his powerful 
 word, and preserves them hitherto by his 
 daily providence. 
 
 If God be now so glorious, contemplated 
 in his works, considered m the lustre 
 of the created sun, viewed only through 
 the windows of sense ; how much more 
 glorious will he appear hereafter, when we 
 shall see him face to face, and nothing in- 
 terpose betwixt us. and his incomparable 
 light ! If mine eyes dazzle to look upon the 
 meridian sun t , in what inaccessible light 
 must he dwell, who is the Father af lights? 
 If this lower world, the common receptacle 
 of his friends and enemies have so much of 
 his, glory vouchsafed them, by the heavenly 
 
0'ri Tizi t ant E r MW1 r y • 2d 
 
 bodies ; O what a place will heaven be, 
 where shall be no sun cr /woew. nor need of 
 any but the glory of God shall lighten it, and 
 the Lamb- be the light thereof. 
 
 While I tiius ■ consider the sun and the 
 day, 1 must not think the night is useless, 
 which- discovers another part of the heavens; 
 not discernabie by day, viz. the stars, and 
 planets refreshing the earth, cooling the air, 
 giving necessary rest to the creatures, &X* 
 Their order, motions, aspect.% oppositions, 
 influences, are all useful and instructive* 
 The agreeable mixture of light and dark- 
 ness, the regu-Iar succession of day and 
 night within a few hours, are exceeding 
 wonderful, and advantageous. In other 
 paits of the world, where the sun-beams 
 are more direct, and its heat excessive, God 
 hath made amends by the length of the 
 Htght i (under the equinoctial line it is al- 
 ways twelve hours ) and in the more north- 
 ern parts, where the influence of the sun is 
 weaker, the days are proportionably longer. 
 So good is God to all his creatures, in all 
 parts of the world ! As the morning and 
 evening answer to the day of twenty four 
 hours ; so doth spring and autumn to the 
 twelve months of the year, that we may not 
 pass immediately from one extreme to anoth- 
 er, but gradually be disposed for so great a 
 change, as is bet weer* summer and winter, 
 and winter and summer, So merciful and 
 gracious, and infinitely wise is God, in all 
 his works ! so that we cannot say, one part 
 of the year is more necessary than the otL- 
 
 € 
 
SO Serious Rf. f l Ec r r o fi s 
 
 er. The winter is as useful' for the good 
 of the universe, as the summer : In this we 
 are supplied with what is necessary to main- 
 tain us in that. And the admirable situa- 
 tion cf the sun (most probably) in the cen- 
 tre of the world, seems much to contribute 
 to it. If it had been at a farther distance 
 from us, our earth would nave been in a 
 manner desolate ;. because the influence o£ 
 the sun could not have beeiv considerable : 
 And if it had been nearear, the stars above 
 would have wanted light, and this earth un- 
 der been burnt up.. The excellent order 
 which it hath now obeyed for almost six 
 thousand years-, is also wonderful. The 
 sun never stood still but once,, and that by 
 a miracle ; though much inferior to that of 
 its progress.. What a subject is here 10. 
 admire the power, goodness, wisdom, and 
 faithfulness ef God ? Lord I What is man ! 
 for whom thou dost all this ? And because I 
 find every year that the day dies into night, 
 the summer into winter, and herbs and 
 plants lose their beauty and verdure, and 
 shed their blossoms ; may I net hence learn 
 to consider, and prepare for my own ap- 
 proaching change ? In prosperity, health, 
 and ease, and life, to expect, and make pro- 
 vision far trouble, sickness, pain and death ? 
 as every wise man in summer 'would do for 
 winter ; and work with all my might, while 
 it is cailcd to. day, while the light continues, 
 because the night of darkness is at hand, 
 when nquQ can work. 
 
on 
 
 Time and Eternity. . 31 
 
 Sect. VIIL 
 
 Ofc\\ls to be expected in this year ; tht wis- 
 dom and mercy of God, in coneealing//'0#r 
 us the knowledge ^future events. 
 
 NOT only few, and uncertain, but evil 
 likewise are the days, of the years, of 
 my life, may every one say, with the patri- 
 arch Jacob, A sufficient portion of evil 
 for every year may well be expected, when 
 our Lord tells us> there is a certain meas- 
 ure allotted for every day. Sufficient to the 
 day is the evil of it. Not only is our life 
 short, but troublesome, full of vexatious 
 mixtures. We cannot sing a requiem ta 
 our sou-Is*, when one great calamity is past - 
 for we know not in this region of changes., 
 but another, a greater may be at hand. One 
 messenger of ill- news may succeed and 
 out- do another, as it was with Job. We 
 come weeping into the world in a most, 
 helpless, forlorn state ; and if we escape the 
 dangers of infamy, and . the casualties of 
 childhood - r and. after that outlive the snares 
 and follies of youth, we are tost upon the 
 pikes oitime and chance % mid sadden And 
 disquiet ourselves with a thousand griefs 
 and sorrows, by inevitable and unexpected 
 occasions ; though we increase the number 
 of needless cares and fears, and discontents ; 
 till at leng'h, a sudden stroke arrests us , we 
 fetch a groan and die* 
 
32 Senous Re pl ecti o a* 
 
 We can give a catalogue of the afflictions 
 and calamities, perplexities and disappoint- 
 meats, incumbrances, crosses, and evii ac- 
 cidents of human life ? By means whereof 
 millions are disconsolate and sad, moura 
 and complain, weep and sigh, and from day 
 to day are fed wit h the bread of affliction % 
 and the water of adversity. Not to men- 
 tion mens fluctuating restless thoughts of 
 heart, importunate desires, baffled projects, 
 defeated purposes, which suppose or brmg 
 vexation. A good share of these is not to 
 be avoided ; and yet very few can be par- 
 ticularly foreseen^ Who could prognosti- 
 cate a year ago the mercies, or the evils, 
 which have happened since ? public and 
 private, personal and relative, to the coun- 
 tries, cities, families and persons we are 
 concerned for I A>nd who can certainly fore- 
 tel the events of this- ensuing year ? God 
 hath intermix* good and evil in the life of 
 man : He hath set prosperity against adver- 
 sity, saith Solomon, to the end, that man 
 shoidd find nothing after him, Eceles. vii. 14. 
 that he may not know what shall come next, 
 whether a prosperous or a calamitous event. 
 
 What & change may be made in a year 
 by the mere casualty of human events ; by 
 the treachery of friends, or the malice of en- 
 emies, or the more immediate hand of God! 
 We know not what shall be on the morrow, 
 much less what a twelve-month may pro- 
 duce. Because whatever may be disposed 
 to happen, from natural causes, or civil 
 councils, may be altered by a particular cte- 
 
on Time cT/^/Eternitt. S3 
 
 cree of providence. Prepare me, Loud I 
 and every one of those in whose felicity I 
 more especially take part, for all the calam- 
 ities and sorrows, thine infinite wisdom shall 
 think fit to exercise us with, this following' 
 year : and by thy merciful providence, and 
 gracious conduct, cause them to work for 
 good : Furnishing us with suitable strength 
 and wisdom, to acquiesce in thy good 
 pleasure, and obey thy will. Let me fol- 
 low thee, as the Father of the faithfi.il, tho* 
 I know not whither thou wilt lead me. 
 Knowing the wisdom and faithfulness of my 
 pilot, let me therein be satisfied, though I 
 know not particularly what course lie will 
 steer. 
 
 I thank thee, Heavenly Father ! that 
 thou hast reserved the knowledge of future 
 times and seasons to thyself, and hid events 
 from men ; lest by considering them certain; 
 we should presume in case they are good ; 
 or should despairingly afflict ourselves, by 
 foreseeing the evil we know to be inevita- 
 ble. Did we certainly foreknow the good 
 that would befall us, we should not trust 
 in thee to bring it to pass, or heartily im- 
 plore thy care and conduct. Did we fore- 
 see the mlk we should suffer, before they 
 overtake us, we should be overwhelmed 
 with diffidence and despair. Many a moth- 
 er who rejoiceth at the birth of a son, would 
 mourn to foresee what a man, what a son 
 he will prove. Such an increase of knowl- 
 edge would increase our sorrow ; such a 
 prescience would transport and discompose- 
 
54 Serious Reflections 
 
 us, by unseasonable joys and sorrows, born 
 out of time ; make us remiss in our duty 
 to thee, and weaken our dependence on 
 thine own unerring wisdom, truth and pow- 
 er. 
 
 Sect. IX, 
 
 The supposition of (tying this year, should be 
 improved; the consequence of redeeming 
 time, and providing for eternity farther 
 pressed. The folly of elder persons is con- 
 demned and checked from the example of 
 children. 9 Tis adviseable to familiarize 
 the thoughts of death, and to imagine be- 
 forehand^ what apprehensions of things ive 
 shall then have. 
 
 THE longest life is but a day multipli- 
 ed ; and who can certify, or assure 
 roe. which will be my fast ? He only, who* 
 was God as well as man, could say, Mine 
 hour is not yet come. Is all my life given 
 me to resolve this question, whether I shall 
 be in heaven or hell forever ? And have I 
 any time to lose, and squander away* as 
 superfluous ? have I any more than 
 need? 'Tia no impossible or unrea- 
 sonable supposition to make, that I may die 
 this year. Let me admit that thought, and 
 imagine myself on a bed of sickness:, wea- 
 ried with pain, and ready to leave this 
 world ; the physicians gone, despairing of 
 my recovery ; ^my friends about me weep- 
 
en Time and Eternity. 35 
 
 ing ; and all thing* in a doleful melancholy 
 posture, suited to such a state ; feeling 
 within myself the presages of death, expect- 
 ing the final stroke, in an hour or two 
 more ; what is then the value of sensual 
 pleasure ? Can I then relish or favor them/ 
 What then is honor to me, who shall never 
 go abroad more to receive it, 'till carried to 
 my grave ? Will it then comfort me to have 
 lived in reputation and applause, if my heart 
 was not humble under it, and the honor of 
 God promoted by it ? Can riches and a 
 great estate support me, when I am just 
 packing up for a removal to the other world? 
 In that hour will it be any satisfaction, to 
 have made a stir and noise for a few years 
 upon earth, to be talked of for a w hile lon- 
 ger than other men f Are these the things 
 my dying thoughts will be most concerned 
 to reflect on ? 
 
 These dignities, pleasures, and posses- 
 sions offered to a dying man, would rather 
 upbraid than tempt him ; they come too 
 late, as a prince's pardon to a man whose 
 head is off. Die 1 must, and appear before 
 JBU judge, to answer for all that I have re- 
 ceived, & done in the bedy. FoolxhzX I was, 
 (shall I then too justly say to myself,) not 
 to have considered this much sooner ! not 
 to have provided for it at a better rate ! my 
 sins stare me in the face, my conscience 
 tells me I am not ready for such a trial : I 
 have lived a stranger to such thoughts as 
 now I cannot refuse, and which should have 
 xren admitted sooner. But if to such a state 
 
33 Serious Reflections 
 
 any hope of mercy may be granted, (though 
 it be unspeakably little ) yet 1 cannot prom- 
 ise myself any such warning by sickness. 
 The sleeping Virgins were called at mid- 
 night, and so may I. Where can I pitch 
 my tents on earth, to be secure against a 
 sudden remove ? 
 
 Lord ! make these thoughts effectual to 
 prevent my loss of precious time, which at 
 .such a season will be esteemed precious, 
 tho' now it be not. O how sivift how short 
 is my time of trial, in order to eternity ! how 
 difficult, how important a work is it to pre- 
 pare for an everlasting state ! What is all 
 this world, how little, how meer a nothing, 
 to a departing soul ? And shall I, after such 
 reflections, continue to pursue shadows and 
 pkase myself with empty dreams ? when 
 being so near my final judgment, the 
 common wisdom of a man requires me to 
 mind it in gcod earnest ; and be mere so- 
 licitous about it than for any thing tempor- 
 al ? O in what manner will death open my 
 eyes, by shutting the windows of sense ! 
 How shall I then see the nothingness of 
 what is but temporal, and the reality of what 
 is eternal ! 
 
 We sometimes laugh to see the vanity of 
 little children, who are greatly pleased \\ ith 
 painted toys, and busily employed about 
 trifles. It extorts a smile to see them eager, 
 and industrious, and mightily concerned in 
 their childish sports ; to see them sigh or 
 weep for little things which we despise ; to 
 observe with what solicitude and care the* 
 
on Time d7w/ETERifiT*p« 57 
 
 ~u ill raise a little fabrick, which three mo- 
 ments after they themselves pui' down, or 
 would otherwise tumble of its o\\ accord. 
 We laugh at these, but should weep over 
 ourselves, as the greater and older fools : 
 who are every whit as silly, yea, infinitely 
 more ; that considering we know the frail- 
 ty of our present life, -and can look beyond 
 the grave to another world, should yet mis- 
 spend our precious time on things which 
 cannot profit ; and please ourselves with 
 what is so unsuitable to our age and state ; 
 -and suffer our passions to work "with vio- 
 lence, for a thing of nought ; and cur great- 
 •est diligence, care, and zeal, to be exercised 
 ed on things impertinent ar>d vain ; that are 
 perishing in themselves, and can contribute 
 nothing to our eternal welfare ? And is it 
 not thus, with reference to all that men toil 
 and labor for with the neglect of an immor- 
 tal state ? 
 
 The voluptuous Sadducee will not refuse 
 the present gratification of his sensual 3t>/ 
 petite, because he is uncertain of another 
 day. Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow 
 ive dU. Should not the same motive quick- 
 en my diligence in a better work ? and be- 
 cause my Lord may come suddenly as a thief 
 in the night, immediately prepare to meet 
 him ? Let me now therefore, O my soul \ 
 look forward to the end of life and time ? 
 and so let me esteem, and seek, and choose f 
 and do every thing in the first place, which 
 then I shall wish I had ! Let me do noth- 
 ing now which I verily believe I shall then 
 D 
 
38 Serious Reflections 
 
 be ashamed, or sorry to reflect en ; that by 
 thinking what a condition 1 shall then \ ish 
 to have rny soul in, 1 may now provide my- 
 self much better than I have done hitherto. 
 That while I am in the greatest probability 
 of living, I may suppose my change to be 
 near,& so not dare to do- any thing, but what 
 I would or might do, if t were in the present 
 expectation of death. To this end. let me go 
 down to the potter's- house, descend to the 
 consideration of my mortality, and dwell a- 
 mong the tombs : remembering the Egyp- 
 tians built themselves better tombs than 
 houses, because thev were to dwell longer 
 m them. Let every night's repose, serve 
 me as a memorial of my last sleep ! and let 
 my bed stand for the model of my coffin ! 
 This is the only way to be dead to this 
 world ; be able to judge of things how, as 
 we shall do after death, according to im- 
 mutable eternal truth. 
 
 Sect. X. 
 
 The brevity of life considered as the fruit of 
 sin. There an but three ways of leaving 
 this ivorld> as Abel. Adam or Enoch. 
 A diligent improvement of time Jarther 
 pressed and the neglect oj it bewailed. 
 
 THE shortening of our days is the fruit 
 of sin. All the funerals that have 
 *ver been in the world, have been eaus- 
 
on Tixb and Eternity. 39 
 
 ed by sin. We die because we have sin- 
 ned, and yet we should not sin as now, if 
 this were" not forgot, that we must die. 
 From the first transgression of Adam we 
 derive our death ; ^nd therefore some of 
 his posterity lived longer than he. Which 
 proves that the lengthening of our days is 
 the peculiar gift of God ; and yet it is such 
 a gift as was more desired formerly, than 
 since the appearance of Christ : For we 
 read of none in the New-Testament, since 
 life and immortality is brought to light by 
 the gospel, who desired a long continuance 
 here on earth. 
 
 Were we delivered from sin, the sting of 
 death, by having made our peace with God 
 in the blood of Jesus, death would not be 
 frightful, or put on such a ghastly vizor, as 
 to most it doth. But we are uncertain of 
 our justification, we waver between hopes 
 and fears, as to our final sentence ; and are 
 conscious to ourselves, that we are not ready 
 for our great account. This makes death 
 so terrible. Considering withal that it is 
 inevitable ; the way of all the living. For 
 tho' the curse be rem >ved, and the sting he 
 taken out by our blessed Saviour ; so that 
 the souls of believers are safe and shall not 
 be touched by the second death ; yet God 
 hath not taken away the stroke of it from 
 the body. Though a Christian is assured 
 of deliverance from hell, he is not exempt- 
 ed from the grave, as his passage to heaven* 
 
 Prepare me, Lord, by the free remis- 
 sion of all my sins, and make me meet for 
 
40 Serious Reflections 
 
 the blessed inheritance, by thy sanctifying' 
 grace : and then thy time is best ; Thy holy- 
 will be done. No matter then, whether my 
 death be violent, or that we call natural. It 
 will be one of the two, for I can't expect to 
 he translated, by a miraculous change, as 
 holy Enoch was.; and as they shall be, 
 found aiive in the world, when our glorious 
 Judore shall come a^rain. There are but 
 
 o o 
 
 those three -ways of leaving earth ; and the 
 three fit si men, of whose departure we read 
 in scripture, are instances of all three. 
 Abel of a violent deaths Ad am- of a natur- 
 al one, and Enoch of a translation. The 
 variety and order of their departure, as one 
 observes, is very admirable, and deserves 
 to be considered. For all mankind must 
 follow one or other of those three examples, 
 Every man or woman, that is born into the 
 world, must leare it by one of those three 
 ways ; either be cut off by a violent death r 
 as Abel the first man who died ; or die a 
 natural dedthy as A bam did, who was the 
 second ; or be translated, as Enoch, who 
 was the third we read of. 
 
 But though I know, that within a few- 
 years at farthest, I must leave this world 
 hy one or other of these ways; tho' I have 
 been dying ever since I began to live ; & am 
 dead to the last year, & to all the proceeding- 
 portions of my time ; and know vvidial, that 
 what remains will quickly pass and be gone 
 after the same manner ; yet how have I 
 over-loved this body, as if I never should 
 live out of it : and. set my heart and affcc* 
 
on 
 
 Time ^^Eternity. 41 
 
 lions on this world, as if I should never re- 
 move to another! and trifled away my pre- 
 cioua time and life, as if a change would 
 never come ? 
 
 That few do so seriously admit such 
 thoughts is too evident, by the general 
 course and practice of their lives, For to 
 what hazards do men expose themselves ? 
 What pains will they take ? What incon- 
 veniences will they bear ? With what un- 
 wearied industry will they toil and labor, to 
 get a little money, or honor in this world, 
 though they know not but they may be 
 called out of it, before the end of this year ? 
 And yet the same persons are remiss and 
 slothful about a future life ; negligent and 
 unconcerned about an eternal state ; care- 
 less and indifferent, yea sottishly stupid, 
 about the welfare of their immortal souls. 
 Henceforward, O my soul ! Whatever oth- 
 ers do, let me resolve to live in the expec- 
 tation of a change i which I know is ^prtain, 
 ftbd may be very near. 
 
 « 
 
42 Serious R fc f l e g i i o x & 
 
 OQOaQQ SGQQQQSQQOQgQQSf " 
 
 Sect. XL 
 
 Of the expectation of another, life. The 
 vanity and misery a/* man in his best es- 
 tate, if there be none. The satisfactory 
 removal of that supposition, by the thoughts 
 of God, and 0/ eternal felicity, in his blea- 
 ted presence. 
 
 LET me retire a little, my soul ! and 
 bethink myself, what a world this is ; 
 what men design and seek, and do and suf- 
 fer ; with what false and feigned joys they 
 are pleased, being only happy by compari- 
 son 1 and with what real sorrows they are 
 afflicted; what innumerable disappoint- 
 ments* sicknesses, (and as troublesome 
 remedies,) dangers, labors, pains, and ca- 
 lamities of all sorts, multitudes groan un* 
 der, and loudly complain of? And. what 
 little unworthy ends are pursued by all that 
 do not seriously seek eternal rest ? And. 
 how often frutrated ? And withaE consid- 
 er the cares that disquiet us, the errors that 
 deceive us, the many temptations that as- 
 sault and overcome us ;* how busy we are 
 about vanities ; how often dejected and 
 melancholy for the breaking of a bubble ; 
 how eager and industrious to pursue a shad- 
 ow , active and m earnest to destroy our^ 
 solves, and one another ; and then reflect on 
 the malice and cruelty , jglthiuess and imple* 
 
<wTim"e and Ert unity. 43 
 
 ty, and great corruption, which abounds 
 every where whereby God is dishonored 
 and provoked to anger ! After this, what a 
 theatre of tragedies must this world appear ! 
 What an hospital of sick and diseased, or 
 rather distracted persons ! How should I be 
 tempted to say, Lord ! why hast thou made 
 all men in vain ? In vain indeed, if I could 
 not look from this sea of troubles, to the 
 haven of rest ; from this dark prison to the 
 region of light ; from this deceitful, trou- 
 blesome, and defiling earth, to a bles- 
 sed, everlasting heaven ; for verily, if there 
 be no world but this, every man in his best 
 estate, in this>world, is altogether vanity , Se- 
 lah- Psal. xxxix. 5\- ' Tis a certain un- 
 doubted truth, the prefixed verily tells us 
 so ; and that it deserves to be well consid- 
 ered, we learn from the concluding Selak' r 
 every man is vanity. Not the inferior parts 
 of the creation only : but man the lord of 
 all : and every man, every Adam from him- 
 self, to the last man that shall by ordinary 
 generation-, descend from hwrh Not the ig- 
 norant, poor, or wicked only, but all the 
 individuals of this species. Young or old, 
 strong or weak, beautiful or deformed, rich 
 or poor, high or low, good or bad> (in res- 
 pect of the body, and this present life) ev- 
 ery one h vanity ; and this is true, suppose 
 him in his best estate, not only in helpless 
 infancy and childhood, or in decripit old 
 age, not only in pain and poverty, and dis- 
 grace ; but in his most settled, most flour- 
 ishing, most envied and admired condition 
 
44 Serious Reflections 
 
 upon earth ; in the midst of strength and 
 wit, and honor ; when at best, as to body, 
 and mind, and outward circumstances : 
 when he looks fairest ; when he shines 
 brightest ; in the height of all his glory, 
 with the greatest likelihood of a continu- 
 ance ; yet then he is but vanity. In his 
 frame, in his temper, constitution, inclina- 
 tions, actions' and employments ; he is a 
 mere shadow, an empty, mutable, inconsid- 
 erable thing, and not to be accounted of. 
 His heart, his head, his imagination, reason- 
 ings, desires, purposes, projects, hopes, and 
 fears, are all vanity, and altogether vanity, 
 in all the parts, and kinds, and particulars 
 of it. He not only may be, but he is so, in 
 his best estate ; if *his world be his best, if 
 this be our all, and nothing more to be ex* 
 pected after death. 
 
 And how should such a reflection strike 
 me to the heart, to suppose that after a few 
 years are ended, I must return to my first 
 nothing, and my very being be (*) swal- 
 lowed up of eternal death ! What satisfac- 
 tion can I then take in any present enjoy- 
 ments, if an eternal annihilation be at hand, 
 when I must bid adieu for ever to all that I 
 now possess ? What delight can I have in 
 the ordinary comfort of life, with this be- 
 lief, that within a year or two, it may be 
 to-morrow, I shall sink into the dust, and 
 exist no more? What pleasure in any thing 
 with this dismal expectation ? The more 
 
 (*} Vid. Mr. How's Vanity of Man as Mortal* 
 
on T kM E and Eternity- 45- 
 
 flourishing my condition is in this world,, 
 the more I shall dread to lose it, if nothing, 
 better, nothing at all, can be enjoyed after 
 death. Some philosophers have ignorant- 
 \y urged such a consideration as an antidote 
 against the fear of death ; but the admis- 
 sion of it may rather deprive a man of all 
 the comfort of life. What then is the ad- 
 vantage of a wise man above a fool ? The 
 exercise and improvement of our noblest 
 faculties, would render us more miserable 
 than others, if nothing be expected, and. 
 certain, when this life is over. Not only 
 sensual bat intellectual pleasures would be 
 disturbed and destroyed by such thoughts; 
 that very shortly, the next year, or day, I 
 must disappear ; and all my enjoyments, 
 and hopes be utterly and for ever lost, with 
 my very being. 
 
 Were the cuse thus, (which. such conse- 
 quences evinces it is not,} it were better 
 for most men they had never been born : 
 whether their condition here be prosperous 
 or afflicted. For what comfort or quiet can 
 any man have- in plenty and prosper ity,\\'\\ti\, 
 this frightful apprehension of an approach- 
 ing end is ever present ?. And what conso- 
 lation can it yield a man, who is afflicted 
 and calamitous* and yet loves his life above. 
 all tilings ; to think that he shall not cease 
 to be miserable, but by ceasing to be ? And 
 what is become of all religion, if such & 
 thought be entertained. ? All devotion to 
 God is thereby extinguished, all the res- 
 traints of vice removed, the floodgates of 
 
46 - Serious Reflections 
 
 impiety opened, the encouragements of vir- 
 tue, the rewards of holiness, the foundation 
 of tribulation, and suffering for righteous- 
 ness sake, all at once taken away. Lord ! 
 confirm my belief of the invisible future 
 state of rewards and punishments ! and let 
 not sadducism and infidelity damp my zeal 
 in thy service, or rob me of the comforts of 
 this life, which, if I have any solid ones 
 must suppose the hopes of a better. 
 
 Let others therefore, O my soul ! who 
 expect not an everlasting heaven beyond 
 the grave, place their affections on earthly 
 things, and mind this world, as if there 
 were no better, no other. Let them who 
 doubt or disbelieve the promised rewards 
 of eternity, take up with what they must 
 shortly leave, and labor for the bread that 
 perisheth. But since I profess to believe 
 and seek the life everlasting ; let me daily 
 entertain myself with the hopes of it, and 
 let all the flattering dreams of what is desira- 
 ble upon earth, give place to uobler and 
 better thoughts. Let me derive my princi- 
 pal joy from the promise and expectation 
 of that future felicity, and endervor nothing 
 more than a meetness to partake of it, 
 my God, my God ! thou art my life, and/Vy, 
 and portion ; in t-iee, and in thy love, all 
 my desires and Lopes are answered, and all 
 my wants supplied^ However evil this 
 world is made by sin, yet thou art the in- 
 finite and supreme good: How mutable, 
 how uncertain, how perishing soever are all 
 jsuikliuwy things ; yet thou art the rock of 
 
cnTiuz and Eternity. 47 
 
 ages, the fountain of everlasting' life, and 
 hast appointed another world, and anoth- 
 er life when this is ended, wherein thou 
 wilt be better known Moved, served,honor- 
 ed & communicate th) self more abundantly 
 than now, to those, the desire of whose 
 souls is towards thee, that believe and love 
 thee, that partake of thine image, and arc 
 devoted to thy fear. The assurance of this f 
 and nothing else, will answer the objection 
 of tiie present vanity and misery we are used 
 to. 
 
 Sect. XII. 
 
 it 
 
 7ie consideration of the death of others, e? 
 pectally ^relations, friends, and acquaint- 
 ance, how t§ be improved. What instruc- 
 tions we may learn by the sight of a dead 
 carcase, or a death's head, and the usual 
 Motto on it : And what by the death of 
 holy persons \ to quicken our desires to be as 
 they. 
 
 HATH Divine patience added one 
 year more to the number of ray days, 
 when so many others were removed by 
 death the last year ? Others, whom a few 
 months since I knew in vigorous health ? 
 wiser, stronger, more likely to live, and t© 
 answer the ends of life, than me ; some of 
 them my near relations, and useful friends; 
 in whose conversation I took delight, and 
 
4S Serious Reflections 
 
 promised myself advantage by their com- 
 pany, and examples ; but thry are taken, 
 and I am left. Thy holy will. O Lord ! is 
 done : And they who are prepared, are in- 
 finite gainers by this my loss. Quicken 
 my preparations, by following their piety, 
 to meet them in thy heavenly kingdom. Let 
 thy long suffering lead me to repentance ; 
 and suffer me not to slight thy warning, by 
 the death of ethers, to expect my oivn. Lord! 
 cure my earthly-mindedness, h practical un- 
 belief ; and by all such admonitions of thy 
 providence, to teach me to possess, and use 
 this world, as knowing I must shortly leave 
 it ; and let not the thoughts of my mortali- 
 ty wear off, as soon as the funeral of mjr 
 ifriends is over. 
 
 Every year seme of other of our acqainu 
 once drop into the grave, we attend them 
 thither, and lament, it may be for a few- 
 days, their departure and removal ; but con- 
 sider not, that others will ere it be Icrg do 
 the same for us ; it may be before this year 
 is ended. Oh ! how soon do we forget 
 our deceased friends, and ourselves, who «re 
 likewise dying ! and ccunt upon a long 
 life, which we cannot reasonably expect ; 
 and hug the enjoyments of this transitory 
 world, as if our present state would hist 
 forever ! Will nothing but our own disso^ 
 lution, effectually convince us of our mis- 
 take, and folly in this particular ? 
 
 Tho* the arrows of death fly continually 
 round about us ; sometimes over our heads, 
 when superiors are taken away ; sometimes 
 
on Time and Eternit*. 49 
 
 fall at our feet, when children and servants, 
 and inferiors die ; sometimes on our left 
 hand> when an enemy is cut off; and while 
 I am pleased with that, in that very hour, it 
 may be, another arrow on our right hand 
 strikes the friend of our bosom and delight* 
 And can wc see all this, that great and 
 small, high and low, friends and foes, are ail 
 vanity, and drop down dead round about 
 us ; and shall we not consider, that vie arc 
 a-s vain as they, and must shortly follow ? 
 Shall we not by a christian chymistry, ex- 
 tract spirits out of these dead botes ? and 
 by these examples learn the end of all men, 
 and lay it to heart ? 
 
 Whenever I see the funeral of another, 
 let me think thus with myself; why might 
 not I have been that man or woman, that is 
 now carried to the grave ? if we had been 
 compared a few days since, it is proba- 
 ble I should have been thought as likely to 
 have been his monitor, by dying first, as 
 he mine. By such an improvement of 
 these warnings, the request of the rich man 
 to Abraham was in great measure grant- 
 ed ; for it is a call from the dead that speaks 
 loudly to us, to consider ourselves, and pre- 
 pare in time for so great a change : and say t 
 as the prophet to Hlzeki ah, Set thine house 
 in order, for thou shall die. 
 
 Can we look upon a death's head and not 
 remember what we shall shortly be ? May 
 not much be learned from its common mot- 
 to ? Sum quod eris, fueramquc quod es. I 
 am that which thou shah shortly be, and 
 E 
 
50 Serious Reflections 
 
 have been that which thou art now : That 
 is, 1 have been as gay and jocund, as brisk 
 and merry, as proud ^id vain, as rich and 
 great, as careless and secure, as honorable 
 and as much esteemed, as beautiful and as 
 well beloved, as witty and as learned, as 
 thou art or canst be now. I valued myself 
 as much upon my estate, and trade, and 
 'health, and beauty, upon my education, 
 profession , employments, parts, friends, 
 family, &c. as thou hast ever done, or 
 canst do : I lived in ease and pleasure, in 
 mirth and jollity ; I mbided the world as 
 much, and indulged myself as much in sen- 
 suality, and was as careful of my body, 
 pampered and pleased my flesh, as much 
 as thou ; and thought as little of a sudden 
 death, and prepared as little for such a 
 change, as thou dost ; But now my dry 
 bones are looked upon with contempt and 
 scorn, but thou shalt shortly return to debt, 
 and be as vile as I am. 
 
 It cannot but affect us, did we consider 
 it, to see divers snatched away in their youth, 
 and outward prosperity ; and in the midst 
 of their sin and jolly % without any visible 
 signs of true repentance : Or in tenible an- 
 guish and horror for their past crimes : 
 And yet how few do take the warnings care- 
 fully to prevent the like unhappinecs ? 
 JLord, preserve those strong convictions, 
 those serious thoughts, those holy resolutions, 
 those lively apprehensions of the life to 
 come, of the evil of sin, and the terrors of 
 thy wrath, which the sight of dying per- 
 
on Time ^//^/Eternitt. 51 
 
 sons hath at any time awakened in my soul ! 
 O the eloquence of a dying sinner, to per- 
 suade to repentance ! Even when he hath 
 lost his speech^ and lies gasping, and trem- 
 ling, on a bed of sickness ; breathing out 
 his last faint breath, and passing into the 
 other world, to answer for the crimes and 
 follies of a wicked life ! Lord ! revive those 
 thoughts upon my soul, and let me feel the 
 potver and influence of them, in the hour of 
 temptation, and in every time of need ; and 
 let the consideration of ihe death of believers, 
 the blessedness they are thereby entered into, 
 and the holiness they are possessed of,quick- 
 en my desires and diligence to prepare to 
 follow. When I think where they are, and 
 what they are doing, what is their work awl 
 what their state, what their continual em- 
 ployment, and what their enjo) ments, and 
 bow different from ours ; I cannot but wish 
 to be with them ; to be as they are, and do 
 as they do ; to know, and love, and praise 
 God as they. They are not hindered by 
 such a clog as this body is to us : or tempt- 
 ed by their senses appetite and fancy, to 
 sin against him ; They complain not of a 
 seducing flesh, unruly passions, low and 
 disordered thoughts; of temporal afflictions, 
 spiritual desertions, the snares of the world, 
 and the malice and subtility of the devil s 
 He, who are pilgrims and travellers, arc ex, 
 posed to these difficulties and storms which 
 they are freed from. They are now rejoic- 
 ing in the light of God's countenance, and 
 shall ne\ er question his love more, while we 
 
t 
 
 52 Serious Reflections 
 
 are in teara and sorrows, groaning to be de- 
 livered. 
 
 But think, my soul! That They were 
 lately such as We are now. They were 
 members of the militant church, before they 
 entered into joy and triumph- They had 
 their conflicts and difficulties, their hour of 
 temptations, and time of trial, as we have 
 curs. They were slandered, and persecut- 
 ed, and saddened, and disappointed, as their 
 followers are. They went to heaven the 
 same way, and got the victory after the 
 same manner, by repentance and faith, and 
 humble persevering obedience. They were 
 once imperfect as we are now ; and com- 
 plained of the body of sin and death, and 
 smugglings of unmortified lust, as we do : 
 And were sometimes in the dark about 
 their interest in the promise, and walked 
 heavily by the hiding of God's face, and 
 endured temptation, even as we. And as 
 we have nothing to do, or suffer, but what 
 they met with ; we have the same encour- 
 agement that administered to their support ; 
 the same God and Saviour, the same way 
 and rule, the same" assistance, by the aids 
 of his holy Spirit, offered to us ; the same 
 promises, and the same rewards proposed 
 which they enjoyed, first in faith and hope, 
 p. id afterwards m fruition. Yea, they passed 
 thro 5 the dark valley, & so must we : Their 
 earthly tabernacle was dissolved, and so 
 must ours be. We must expect to go the 
 same way to rest and glory, and wait God's 
 time for our admission. We must finish 
 
$n Time and Eternity. 53 
 
 first the work which God hath for us to do 
 and suffer, and then all tears shall be wiped 
 from our eyes ; we shall grieve no more, we 
 shall sin no more, but be as the angels, in 
 heaven, or as the spirits of the just made 
 perfect. 
 
 Sect. XIII. 
 
 JVh at influence the consideration of 'eternity 
 would have upon our hearts and lives, if 
 soundly believed and considered. Especial- 
 ly ■, if the supposition of "dying this year -be 
 annexed to it. , 
 
 WITH what humility, mortification, 
 and self-denial ; with what serious- 
 ness, watchfulness, and resolved constancy, 
 would every christian live on earth, did he 
 act always under the influence and power of 
 a confirmed faith, concerning the life to 
 come ? We should not then grudge at a 
 little labor, or boggle at a few difficulties in 
 our way. What though I meet with inju- 
 ries and affronts hardships and inconvenien- 
 ces, being now in a foreign country, and ev- 
 ery day 1 live, one day's journey nearer my 
 eternal home ! Shall I not patiently bear 
 momentary sorrows, while I believe I am 
 hastening to eternal joys ? Did I look more 
 to the everlasting world, should not I make 
 the pleasing of God, in order to my eternal 
 welfare, the great business of my life ? 
 Should I not serve the Lord with more fer- 
 vency of spirit. & hi better fortified against 
 
54 Serious Reflections 
 
 the fears of man, who can but hurt and 
 kill the body, nor that neither, without the 
 permission of God ? Should I not order all 
 my affairs, answer all temptations, mortify 
 inward lusts, live in the exercise of grace, 
 and in circumspect persevering* obedience, 
 in order to it ? Should I not watch more 
 over my heart, and lips, and ways, be more 
 diligent, to trim my lamp, more crucified 
 to thfi world, more careful to call myself 
 frequently to an account, and renew my re- 
 pentance ? Would not my conversation 
 be mope useful and edifying, my discourses 
 more savory and full of religion, my pray- 
 ers to God more humble .and earnest, my 
 charity to men more unfeigned and exten- 
 sive, and my preparations every way more 
 suitable to such a faith, and to such appre- 
 hensions of an ever lasting state? Could 
 we carry the thoughts of eternity about with 
 us every day, and often admit them in our 
 civil and secular affairs ; did we repeat it 
 frequently to ourselves, at least every morn- 
 ing, as soon as we are awake, that we are 
 near eternity ; this grain of incense would 
 perfume the whole temple, and be an ar.ti- 
 do e against inward lust, and impure tho'ts, 
 against the infection and defilement of bad 
 comp Tiy, and the snares of worldly busi- 
 ness, and do much to prevent vain and sen- 
 sual action^, and to cure vain affections. 
 
 Did \v$ bdicve it, and believe it near, 
 should we not take as much pains to secure 
 eternal life, as we see men do to get riches ? 
 Should we not use the same diligence, care, 
 
onTiMtand Eterhit*. 55 
 
 an • .Pie prudent fore- 
 
 o 
 
 do to. istpovc 
 
 Pk i ear* ? S] we 
 
 wrtrej ice as much in the pron 
 
 of it, ts others do in 
 
 e >- « of som< 
 
 Lord.' [confess and bewail the weakness 
 
 ofmyialti). How oftei? have I c d, 
 
 and said, ; .,. . lCe Q f 
 
 " >li - is too 
 
 much affected with js ! how 
 
 the certainty } t0 m ; nd 
 
 c as 
 I have done ! an heart is 
 
 hauRerih . . O crucify iriyaf- 
 
 tet the be- 
 . render me 
 victorious 01 rations of i 
 
 heart, bv great- 
 er measures of a de- 
 ■>' ^ strc I urgent ; and 
 
 ni the way 
 -undent to'th^^ 
 
 eternity , hope for no 
 si.srn and into 
 but eternity 
 
 comparison 
 
 looked u : 1? 
 
56 Serious Reflections 
 
 with reference to eternity ! we should then 
 endeavor to do nothing unbecoming such 
 an expectation. Considering this world as 
 our passage, and the invisible future world 
 as our abiding country, where we are to 
 dwell farzver; whatever we meet with here, 
 whether sweet or bitter, easv or trouble*- 
 some, pleasing or ungrateful, we should not 
 much matter, but as it relates to hereafter. 
 And were I certain I should have no lon- 
 ger time of trial in order to this eternal state, 
 than this one year, which is now begun : If 
 a messenger from God should convincingly 
 assure me of it : what would I not do to 
 prepare for death, and secure the interest of 
 eternity. With what remorse and deep re- 
 pentance should I reflect on the follies of 
 my past life £ With what importunate cries 
 should I beg forgiveness ? How patiently 
 should I bear calamity •, for so short a time * 
 How little should I value the favors or 
 frowns of men ? How circumspect to im- 
 prove every season of doing and receiving 
 good t How careful to avoid temptation* 
 and how resolute in resisting it ? Did I 
 verily believe I had no longer time to live 
 on earth, than this one year at most ! how 
 jpnsipid would be the offer of carnal mirth, 
 vain pastime, sensual diversions, idle com- 
 pany ? &c. How should I value every hour, 
 every inch of my little time, under the ap- 
 prehension that eternity is at hand ? O my 
 soul ! shall I make no provision against the 
 possibility of such a case ? Is not my 
 change as certain, as if it were this year, as. 
 
0/jTime and Ef erxitt. 57 
 
 if it were to-morrow ? tho' I am not certain 
 it is so near, nor certain but it may be. Let 
 me then seek first the kingdom of God and 
 his righteousness : Let me fix it well, and 
 make it clear, that I have secured my great 
 concern^ and am ready for a sudden sum- 
 mons. 
 
 Sect. XIV. 
 
 JIoiv a good man may improve and encour- 
 age himself, under the supposition of dy« 
 ing this year, even in the most uneasy , and 
 undesirable circumstances. 
 
 Iv die this year ; then ail my care and 
 fears, if I am rich, all my sorrows and 
 aides (as to this world) if I am poor, 
 I may die this year ; then I 
 3 more enemies, no more siek- 
 - eh is infinitely better, I shall sin 
 -* more. I must shortly die, it may be, 
 Wms year ; but there is no other way to 
 ptme to a blessed life, but by dying ; and 
 
 for me, and he that 
 % never see death. He 
 
 Lfces who was once dead, yea he lives for 
 werm >re ; he lv« mised, that I shall be 
 
 With him to behold his glory. He hath the 
 th and hell : He is the rcsur- 
 ifcttion : life ; he hath removed the 
 
 I need not fear a cen- 
 tered enemy. 1J I die this year , 1 mu^t 
 
58 Serious Reflection's 
 
 quit the company of all my dearest friends 
 on earth, but I shall go to better company 
 above ; and if they are the friends of Christ, 
 we shall shortly meet again, and love one 
 another in a better manner than now, and 
 never more be parted. 
 
 I may die this year, my friends and ene- 
 mies may die too. Let me enjoy the one 
 as mortal dying persons, that must ere long 
 leave me, or 1 them : and not fear the other, 
 who may soon perish, and quickly be inca- 
 pable of doing me or others mischief. 
 
 / may die this year ; . Let me not then 
 think much of temporal sufferings , or of any 
 evils which may soon be over. Oh ! what 
 would condemned sinners in the other 
 world give, to be able to believe and say so 
 of their sufferings ? 
 
 I may die this year ; and can I won- 
 der that I am sometimes sick and in pain, 
 and that my body is out of order ? Am I not 
 mortal, and dwell in a house of clay, which 
 must shortly moulder into dust ; and is if~ 
 any thing strange, that such a crazy buildim 
 doth sometimes shake, and need repair, an#£ 
 threaten a dissolution ? It is a greater won* 
 der 1 am any time well : That such a body 
 compounded of so many little parts, and s# 
 easily disordered by innumerable accident^ 
 should be in health, is hardly less to be a* 
 mired, than that an instrument of a thousand 
 strings should be kept in tune. 
 
 I thank thee, heavenly Father ! for \hi 
 many advantages of sickness, to weaken t } M 
 po,ver of sin, uHwnjble my pride, and cui*C 
 
$n Time and Eternity. 59 
 
 my worldliness and sensuality, to rcduce'me 
 from wandering, to empty me of self-con- 
 ceit, to awaken the consideration of death 
 and judgment, to impress the thoughts of 
 the vanity of this world, and the eternity of 
 the next ; to assist me to mortify the flesh, 
 to rule my passions, to exercise patience, 
 and quicken me in prayer, and try my faith 
 and love, and excite my diligence to re- 
 deem time, and convince me of the worth 
 and uncertainty of it ; and thereby promote 
 my preparations for my final change. The 
 great apostle by dying daily, had as many 
 victories over this world as he lived days. 
 Oh ! that I might so far walk by the same 
 rule, as every day to think of providing for 
 my last ! and in health to do that which in 
 sickness I shall wish I had done ! 
 
 I may die this year ; it may be, by some 
 tedious painful sickness, some troublesome 
 and loathsome disease. But God huth 
 promised his grace shall be sufficient ; he 
 will make my bed in my sickness and put 
 under his everlasting arms for my support, 
 and not suffer me to be tempted above what 
 I am able ; he will increase my patience, 
 and carry me through the pangs of death, 
 and the dark valley, and when my heart and 
 flesh fail be the strength of my heart, and 
 my portion forever. 
 
 I may die this year; What if it should be 
 by an hand of violence ; if for righteousness 
 sake, in defence of the truth, for a good 
 cause, and a good conscience, and my 
 peace be made \i ith God, and I am accus- 
 
$0 Serious Reflections 
 
 ed for doing well, or innocent of the evil 
 which is laid to my charge ; there is ground 
 enough for encouragement and support. 
 Thousands of my betters have met with the 
 like, whose names are precious and renown- 
 ed. Innumerable christians have died by 
 the sentence of a judge, with more cheer- 
 fulness and joy than others, or, it may be, 
 than they themselves would have done, by 
 the sentence of the physician. The torture 
 of many diseases is unspeakably more for- 
 midable, as to the mere pain ; and for all 
 else, the righteous Lord, who loveth right- 
 eousness, will clear my integrity, if it may 
 best subserve his own great and holy ends : 
 At least, he will stand by and help me,when 
 all forsake me ; and if he spe:k peace, and 
 give inward ccnsclation % \\hc can speak trou- 
 He f And his final juginent, which is near 
 st hand, will distribute rewards and pun- 
 ishments to all, according to their works* 
 Suppose farther, that I should ucnt a sep- 
 ulchre after death. There is nothing I cculd 
 better be without. If God recehe my soul , 
 and will raise my body at the last day, whe- 
 ther it putrify and consume under ground, 
 ^r above it is no great matter. They who 
 are alive will be more concerned in that, 
 than I shall be : Graves are for the sake of 
 the living rather than the dead. The sun, 
 the rain, the air, birds, beasts, and worms, 
 will all contribute to give me burial, if men 
 deny it. The only difference is, that it will 
 be a little longer ere I am buried. If my soul 
 rest in the bosom of my Saviour, and by 
 
on Tim e and Etir^i tt. 6 1 
 
 persevering in the love and practice of the 
 truth, I have secured my reputation with 
 wise and good men, I need not be solici- 
 tous what becomes of my body. My Al- 
 mighty Judge will raise me % glorious body y 
 like his own, and reunite it to my soul, as 
 easily, and as certainly, as any of those, 
 whose bodies were preserved in caves and 
 Taults, in proud sepulchres,- and under state- 
 ly monuments. 
 
 / may die this year ; and shall not then 
 have the satisfaction to see my children or 
 nearest kindred educated and provided for, 
 settled and disposed of. But is not the 
 ever living God the same ? Cannot he as 
 iv ell take care of them when I am gone, as 
 now ? answer all my prayers after thy de- 
 cease ? and exercise that fatherly care, 
 wisdom and love, which shall dispose of 
 their conditions ? save them from tempta- 
 tions, and supply all their wants, and exceed 
 -all my desires, in reference to them ? and 
 fulfil his covenant promise from generation 
 to generation, to the childrens children of 
 them that fear him t O how ^^ is my 
 faith, that cannot trust God in so cemmoa 
 and plain a case ! 
 
 Lastly, I may die this year ; mrl not Xwz 
 to see the ruin of the anttchristian kingdom* 
 a*d interest, and the accomplishment of 
 many excellent promises, which concert 
 the rest, and peace, find porily, and glery 
 of the churches of Christ on earth, in the. 
 latter days. But have I not deserved, 
 my provoking unbelief, ingratitude, 
 
62 Serious Reflxctioks 
 
 disobedience, to die in the wilderness, and 
 not behold the promised land, or see the 
 peace of Jerusalem ? And will not the 
 stragglings of Satan to support Babylon, in- 
 fer a dismal night of darkruess and distress 
 before the expected morning of deliverance? 
 So that it may now, if ever, be truly said, 
 Henceforth, blessed are the dead ivho die in 
 the Lord. And if God will take me to 
 himself in the other world, I cannot possi- 
 bly be a loser ; tho' I should not see the 
 beginnings of a ne%v heaven, and a new 
 earth, in this. However, I rejoice in hope, 
 and pray incessantly for the resurrection of 
 the witnesses, and the rebuilding of Sion y 
 and the more plentiful effusion of the Holy 
 Spirit (the great comprehensive pronfise of 
 the latter times) to effect a glorious king- 
 dom for Christ on earth : And my faith as- 
 sures me, I shall hereafter see the Son of 
 God revealed from heaven, cloathed with 
 majesty, sitting on a cloud, leading the 
 heavenly host, raising the dead by his pow- 
 erful voice, summoning all the world to ap- 
 pear to judgment, gathering his elect, and 
 finally destroying death, and him that hath 
 the power of it, the devil, condemning the 
 wicked to everlasting destruction, but ac- 
 quitting, honoring and rewarding his poor 
 members with infinite and eternal blessed- 
 nes.s. 
 
*fiTiME and Eternity. 63 
 
 Sect. XV. 
 
 Of dying in a foreign country, and of dying 
 young. Consideration* proper to reconcile 
 tlie mind to both. 
 
 I MAY not live to the end of this year : 
 God in his providence having tailed me 
 abroad, I may never see my native country 
 more. Let me still remember, O my soul ! 
 that wherever I am, I am travelling towards 
 the grave, and passing to another world : 
 that I may live in all places as a pilgrim and 
 stranger here on earth ; with affections suit- 
 ed to my condition, becoming one who is 
 travelling in a strange land. Let me bear 
 the iheonveniencies I may meet with m this 
 world, as strangers in their travels are wont 
 to do. Let me not repine at the ill accom- 
 modations of an inn, where I am to lodge 
 but a night or two, but encourage myself 
 with the assurance of better entertainment 
 at home, when my pilgrimage is ended, and 
 my journey over. 
 
 One of my dearest holy friends, andjel/ow 
 travellers, (whose memory will be ever pre- 
 cious (*) with those who knew him) quick- 
 ly arrived to his journey's end, and is enter- 
 ed into rest betimes. Which of his com- 
 panions shall next follow, we know not, or 
 
 (*) Mr. Thomas Bent, who dud at Geneva, 
 ' :y IO. 1683. 
 
64 Serious Reflections 
 
 how soon. Lord ! make me apprehend 
 the nearness of my change in every place ; 
 and if I am prepared for dying, no matter 
 iv Acre it be, Ihers is no one country far- 
 ther from the presence of God than another. 
 The whole world may be considered as one 
 great house, and the several kingdoms and 
 countries of it, but as different apartments 
 in the same house ; and they who tarry at 
 home, are no more exempt from death than 
 they who travel abroad. 
 
 The cart A is the Lord's, and the fulness 
 thereof \ I can go no where to be out of 
 his territories, I shall still tread upon my 
 father's ground. I had rather be fta Israel- 
 ite in a wilderness in the presence of God, 
 than a courtier in idolatous Egypt. Abra- 
 ham, the father of the faithful, and the 
 friend of God 5 was banished from his own 
 country ; and should I never set foot again 
 on my native soil, there is no reason of 
 murmuring against my God, who hath 
 dealt thus with many of his favorites. And 
 v/hile I have been rn a strange land, he hath 
 »ot suffered me to feel the wants and nec- 
 essities, and heart of a stranger. Amongst 
 a people of a strange language he can, and 
 doth provide for me all things richly to en- 
 joy. I may set up my Ehenezer, hitherto 
 iiath God supplied all my wants. 
 
 The presence of my gracious Father is 
 every where the same ; in some measure, 
 blessed be my God, I have hitherto found it 
 so. And may I not rejoice in God in a 
 depart, though ail the world should forsake 
 
artTiUZ and Eternity. 65 
 
 mc : though all the world should b£ against 
 me ? Should I have no other friend or 
 helper ; is not God, an infinite God enough? 
 and without his favor and presence, what 
 can all this world do for me ? If I am sick, 
 and in danger of death, among my relations 
 and friends, Mthe comforts of the Almighty 
 do not refresh and delight my soul, they 
 cannot ^ And if I want not these in my last 
 agonies, no matter in what part or corner of 
 the earth I breathe my fast. If the word 
 and promise of God be my foundation, an 
 holy hope my anchor, Christ my pilot, 
 and heaven my country, I shall not fail of 
 being landed there at last. Suffer me not 
 to forsake thee, Heavenly Father ! while 
 I live ; and do not^hou forsake me in my 
 last hour ; and let it come when and where 
 thou wilt. If my blessed Saviour will re- 
 ceive my departing soul at death, I am not 
 solicitous in what country or part of the 
 earth it be. 
 
 And that I may not be unwilling in the 
 flower of my age and time, in youth and 
 strength, to leave this world ; let me think 
 often, that no one age or part of life is more 
 privileged against the stroke of death than 
 another. If I have done my work betimes, 
 as my deceased fe-How traveller had, is it not 
 better to receive the blessed recompence, 
 than to tarry longer in a world of sin and 
 suffering, absent from the Lord ? Shall I 
 not thereby escape a multitude of tempta- 
 tions, sins and sorrows, which others by 
 livirg long are exposed to ? If my peace be 
 i 
 
6o Serious Reflections 
 
 made with God, what should make me 
 willing to live at this distance from him f 
 What should render this world so desira- 
 ble, where God is so dishonored, where I 
 am so often tempted to displease him, and 
 so often yield to such temptations ? 
 And may I not fear lest I should fall into 
 such scandalous and grievous sins, that may 
 bring a public reproach on the gospel of 
 Christ, and saci4en the hearts of all my ac- 
 quaintance who love the Lord Jesus in sin- 
 cerity ? Ry dying early I shall contract 
 less guilt, and commit less sin, and see and 
 feel less sorrow than others who live longer. 
 And tho' I should maintain my integrity, 
 yet in this world my highest love and obe- 
 dience to God, aqd my sweetest commun- 
 ion with him,, is but imperfect. How many 
 impediments and diversions do I daily meet 
 with, that deaden my heart to heavenly con- 
 templations and affections? what disap- 
 pointments and sorrowful disasters, to con- 
 vince me that this is not the place of rest 
 and happiness ? What smart afflictions may 
 some of my relations prove I What dan- 
 gerous snares may attend me in the remain- 
 ing portion of my time ? What opposition 
 and hatred from men may the stedfast pro- 
 fessing of the truth, and fidelity to God ex- 
 pose me to ? What public national calami- 
 ties may I have my share of, he. 
 
 But if I consider old age itself, which we do 
 desire to reach ? what and how many are 
 the infirmities and griefs, and troublesome 
 circumstances whzch^attend that state, .which 
 
on Time and ErrcNiTY. 67 
 
 dying young will prevent ? arc not most 
 
 men, who reach a very great age, helpless 
 objects of pity ? A burthen to themselves, 
 and to all about them ? And (which com- 
 monly happens) may I not then be as un- 
 willing to die, as at* present ? As loth then 
 to leave the world as new, tho' in a manner 
 it will have left me ? For how many old 
 men, past the relish of sensual pleasures, are 
 yet inordinately fond of longer life I 
 
 Have I not been told by heathens, as well 
 as christians, that >tis not the length of time r 
 but its improvement, that doth really make 
 a long life ? If I have answered the ends for 
 which I was born, 'tis not too soon to die. 
 No man ever miscarried as to his everlast- 
 ing interest, because his life ^ras short, but 
 evil. He that is prepared for death, he that 
 dies in the Lord, hath lived long enough, 
 awd should thank God for a speedy call to 
 the possession of that felicity, which the ho- 
 liest saints on earth desire and breath after. 
 Gideon lost nothing by returning from 
 victory, iv/ule the sun was yet high. He 
 hath fought long enough who hat!) gained 
 the victory. If I have wrought but a few 
 hours in a vineyard, and done but a little 
 service for my Lord and Master ; and yet 
 am dismissed, and rewarded, before the rest 
 of my fellow-laborers ; shall I repine, and 
 think my Lord doth not befriend me ? If 
 he hath any farther seivice for me, he will 
 prolong my days and make me diligent, I 
 hope, and contented. Otherwise I pray he 
 would make me ready to die, and make mc 
 
68 Serious Reflection's 
 
 willing and desirous to depart this life. For 
 to be only content to die, that I may be per- 
 fectly holy, and fully blessed, is methinks 
 too low for a christian, who acts like him- 
 self ; believing the certainty of his avowed 
 principles and hopes, and knowing, that 
 While we are present in the body, we are ab- 
 sent from the Lord. 
 
 Sect. XVL 
 
 The contemplation of our approaching change 
 may assist us to morti/y the lusts of the 
 flesh, the lusts of the eyes, and the pride 
 of life ; to cure ambition, and promote 
 contentment* 
 
 ALL that is in the world, saith the A-- 
 JTjl postle, is the lusts of the fiesh, the lusts 
 of the eyes, and the pride of life. The dust 
 and ashes of our own mortality duly consid- 
 ered and applied, will help to deaden and 
 extinguish each of these. By the pride of life, 
 we lift up ourselves against heaven, and des- 
 pise our Maker : By the lusts ofthefesh, we 
 over-love and indulge the body, and study 
 to gratify the sensual appetite: By the lust of 
 the eyes, our desires are immoderate after 
 temporal and external goods. The thought 
 of our approaching end hath a tendency to 
 oppose and mortify these lusts ; to humble 
 us before God ; to take us oif from the in- 
 ordinate love of the body ; and- to moderate 
 
07*. Time ^/^Eternity. 69* 
 
 our passions to earthly things. It may help 
 us against pride y by shewing us the infinite 
 distance between the eternal self-sufficient- 
 God, and such poor dust as we ; who are 
 but of yesterday ; and, if he Uphold us not 
 and maintain our souls in life, shall be 
 laid in the dust to-morrow : It will mind; 
 us of his justice against sin, the parent of 
 death, and of all the miseries of our mortal 
 state ; and convince us of our weakness to^ 
 resist his will, to avoid his wrath. As to our 
 fond affection to the body, it may instruct 
 us, that it deserves not to be so much ac- 
 counted of; it will open our eyes to discern 
 the preference of our immortal souls, and: 
 what concerns them, to the interest of a. 
 perishing bodj\ It may convince us, that 
 we are cruel and unkind to our very bodies, 
 by over loving them, because we thereby 
 contribute to their eternal sufferings ; and 
 so teach us to love and use our bodies, as^ 
 servants to our souls in this world ; and ex- 
 pected to share in glory with them, after the 
 rusurrection. It may also help to msderate 
 o*ur desires after earthly goods, and so cure 
 the lust of the eyes, by letting us see the 
 vanity, uncertainty, and short duration of 
 these things, and their insufficiency to make 
 us happy, and give us true content.. 
 
 The thoughts of an approaching change- 
 may, if any thing will do it, damp the mirtlv 
 of the luxurious epicure^ and strike him in- 
 to a fit of trembling, as the hand-writing on. 
 the wall did BelshazzaH. It may dis- 
 cover the detraction of living in pleasure,. 
 
70 • Serious Reflections 
 
 and of care to please the senses, and the 
 fleshly appetite, when the end is so near. It 
 may likewise check the folly of ambitious 
 designs ; that men should make so much 
 ado to get into slippery places, and whence 
 they ipay so easily fall. Where, being puf- 
 fed up with vain applause, they forget 
 themselves, and their latter end, till their 
 life and glory expire together. Where are 
 now the great, and mighty, and honorable, 
 who have made such a noise in the world ? 
 What is now the difference between the; 
 dust of an Alexander or Caesar, and 
 that of the meanest slaves or captives ? 
 Could their dignities and earthly glory pre- 
 serve any of them from the stroke of death, 
 -or the judgment of God, or, without repent-, 
 ance, from his condemning sentence ? 
 
 Think, my soul t how little it will^ 
 shortly signify, whether I have been known 
 and honored among men or no ; any farther 
 than God may be glorified by it. How 
 should it suppress vain-glory * to think of 
 being one day esteemed, and worshipped, 
 reverenced, and applauded by dying men, 
 and laid in the grave the next ? Let me 
 rather seek that glory and honor to which 
 immortality is annexed ; and labor to be ac- 
 cepted with God, at whose bar I must be 
 judged, endeavoring to keep the testimony 
 of a good conscience ; and then it is no 
 matter when I pass thro' good report or 
 evil report : no contempt, or frowns or 
 threatenings of men need then discourage 
 me. Tho' I should be trampled on by the 
 
0ti Time and Eternity. * 71 
 
 foot of pride, while others are happily in a 
 dream for a little while ; and it may be have 
 31 prosperous passage to damnation ; I'll 
 rather thank God ior delivering mc from 
 their temptations, and giving me the oppor- 
 tunity and call to hasten my preparations for 
 a better world. 
 
 Let God dispose of my condition here, 
 and reputation too, as best shall please his 
 sovereign will ; only be pleased to keep me 
 upright, and to preserve me from everlast- 
 ing shame and confusion of face, after the 
 general resurrection, and final judgment. 
 Vouchsafe me a portion now in thy approv- 
 ing love, and own me for thine at last, in 
 the great and terrible day of reckoning ; that 
 then I may hear the blessed Euge % and en- 
 ter into my Lord's joy. 
 
 Sect. XVIL 
 
 The same argument considered farther, sts 
 
 dissuasive from worldliness and earthly - 
 
 niindedness ; and as proper to confute the 
 
 canity of long projects, and great designs 
 
 fir this world. 
 
 A' 
 
 RE the years of my life but few, and 
 they hastening to a period ? and may 
 this be my last ? Let me not then greedily 
 covet riches and abundance, and waste my 
 little time to scrape together large provis- 
 ions for many years to come ; when I hav* 
 
72 Serious Ret lections 
 
 no assurance to see the end of this. Is k 
 becoming such a belief, to toil from day t© 
 day, that I may lay up that which I must 
 so soon leave/ As if 1 were to spend an 
 eternity litre on earth, and in the mean white 
 neglect the one thing necessary. Am I not 
 upon the shore of eternity ? May not the 
 next tide carry me off? And shall I spend 
 any whole life in diversions from the main 
 business of it ? Have I nothing else to do, 
 but to gather shells, (if they were pearls* 
 the absurdity were still the s: me) and pile 
 them upon heaps, till I r\m snatched arwaj, 
 past all recovery ? Shall Ibe regardless of 
 an eternal state, and run the hazard of being 
 undone forever, by solicitous care about 
 pretended necessaries for a long abode en 
 ^earth ? (much less for superfluities ;) when 
 1 am not certain of the possession, this one 
 year ? Shall 1 mrgnify and sc'mne what is 
 so soon to be parted with ? Value myself 
 upon these things, so as to despke these 
 that have less* and envy such as have v:orc? 
 and suffer my mind to be distempered, and 
 my passions immoderate on every change 
 of these things ? 
 
 Though I know besides my own mortal- 
 ity, that to enforce the argument, there is a 
 principle of corruption in all these things ; 
 that our very manna here, in a little while 
 will stink ; and bread which is the staff of 
 life, moulder ; our richest garments wax 
 old, and rot ; silver and gold rust, &nd the 
 greatest beauty wither, and every thing that 
 is earthly decay a^-d perish. And shall iw>t 
 
en 
 
 Time and Eternity. 73 
 
 this tc^ch me to sit loose from all such 
 things? Can I imagine, that in my last 
 hour it will be easier to part with much, than 
 little ? Or better in the day of judgment, 
 to have a great estate to answer for, than a 
 lesser one ? 
 
 We read concerning the patriarch Abra- 
 ham, (who rightly understood the transito- 
 ry nature of riches, and his own mutable 
 condition,) that the only purchase he made 
 with his riches was a grave ; chusing to 
 take possession of the land promised him, 
 rather by a mark of his parting with it, than 
 of his possessing it. Did 1 think oftener 
 and more seriously. O my soul ! of tarrying 
 here but a little ivftilc ; I shotrld more 
 ef.sily be persuaded, that a hitle of this 
 world were sufficient to carry me through 
 it. I should consider more that my heav<n- 
 born soul is made and designed lor another, 
 an endless world : And therefore should 
 not so far forget hit o^cn people, and fathers 
 house; as eagerly to pursue and seek 
 what is suited only to the body, for a little 
 while ; and whereof a little with content- 
 ment will be sufficient. 
 
 The same reflection may be netful to con- 
 tract our thoughts to present dv.fy ; that we 
 may not perplex our minds with fttqg designs 
 and projects, which, if we die this year, will 
 come to nothing. Our great business m 
 this world is adapted to the little porticn of 
 tirr.e which is allowed us. Not that good 
 designs for the public benefit may not be 
 begun by one. and finished bv others ; or 
 G 
 
74 Serious Reflections 
 
 that we are not obliged prudently *o pro* 
 vide for those who shall come after n \is, by 
 attempting many things of probable advan- 
 tage to posterity* But considering the short- 
 ness and uncertainty of life, not only should 
 the most necessary things be first minded, 
 and not puff off by persecuting such designs, 
 as may signify somewhat to others, when 
 we- are dead : but we should not now .omit 
 that which we may hope to compass our- 
 selves ; to begin such things, whose ac- 
 complishment must depend on the pleasure 
 of our successors*. Consideration and faith- 
 ful counsel would in this case have prevent- 
 ed the fruitless cxpence of many mens time 
 and money,, which if otherwise employed, 
 might have turned to good account to them- 
 selves and others. 
 
 And this heightens our folly, that while 
 wc pursue great projects in reference to this 
 world, and die without effecting them, cur 
 preparations for eternity are neglected ; and 
 so we are suddenly cut off in the midst of 
 our folly, and all our thoughts perish. How 
 easily, how soon may they do so J The dif- 
 ference and distance between death and life, 
 being no more than that of a lighted candle^ 
 from its being bieivn out ; and if it is ex* 
 posed to all winds, how quickly may that 
 happen ? 
 
en Time andfktkKvrrJt* 7j 
 
 Sect. XVIII. 
 
 The consideration of the certain near ap- 
 proach of an everlasting s~ate amplified 
 and pressed, to enforce an holy life. 
 
 IN this world we begin a year, and quick- 
 ly come to the end of it ; and ere long 
 the little number of our years and days will 
 be expired. But when death conveys us 
 into the world of spirits, the day of eternity 
 shall never be closed with an evening. Of 
 how fearful consequence is that death, by 
 which* an eternity must be decicted ! What 
 attention, what seriousness, what diligence, 
 what care, do the decision of so important 
 a matter call for? ETERNAL! What 
 will be the next word, my soul! How 
 much am I concerned to know it ! Will it 
 be blessedness or misery ? will it be life or 
 death ? Tins one word is the joy of angels, 
 and the horror of devils ; the unspeakable 
 delight of blessed saints, and the confusion 
 and despair of condemned sinners. 
 
 At the creation of the world, time got the 
 start of us, and was Jive days older than we : 
 but our immortal souls shall endure beyond 
 the utmost limits of time, and last as long 
 as the everlasting Father of spirits, of whose 
 duration there is no trxl. Shall I then 
 exist and live, though my body perish 
 and see corruption ? Shall my soul, myself 
 
76 Serious Reflections 
 
 exist beyond the grave, in felicity or mis- 
 ery ; and that forever, and according to my 
 present actions ? What am I then most 
 concerned to mind ? What am I to chuse ? 
 What am I most to fear, to wish, to do ? 
 What is a shadow of honor and reputation 
 among dying men ? What are drops of 
 fleshly pleasure, for a moment, to eternal 
 rivers of pleasure at God's right hand ? 
 What are the sufferings of an hour or two, 
 to the pains and anguish of eternity ? What 
 can the world, flesh or devil, give me com- 
 parable to eternal life .' What can I suffer 
 in the way of holiness, that may be set in 
 the balance against an everlasting hell? And 
 yet how often, my soul ! How boldly, 
 how unconcernedly, how foolishly do I haz- 
 ard the one, and forfeit the other, for the 
 sins and vanities of this world ! Whereas 
 one prospect of eternity, should make every 
 thing that is temporal^ appear little in my 
 eyes ; the highest elevations of earthly great- 
 ness, abundance of riches, the great affairs, 
 business, and employments of the world, 
 pomp and splendor, reputation, and all that 
 now flatter the senses and the vanity of 
 mankind. 
 
 Oh ! that I could but live, as believing 
 and expecting an eternal state ! As having 
 it in my eye, managing all my affairs with 
 a visible reference to it : discovering to all 
 the world, by my behavior and deportment, 
 that I do in earnest believe it certain ; for 
 be it never so certain, if I do not apprehend 
 and consider it as such, it will no more af- 
 
on Tim e and Etc unit v . 77 
 
 feet me than a fable. Neither is it enoti 
 to consider it as certain^ but as n*jr : For 
 the most weight, the most terrible thi 
 apprehended as at a great distance, will little 
 move. Thinking of the long interval be- 
 tween, the advantage of being exempted 
 from such evils for so long a time, will 
 please me more than such distant calamities 
 will affright. 
 
 Let me therefore endeavor to impress the 
 Consideration of eternity, as at hand, more 
 deeply on my heart, that I may walk and 
 live, discourse and pray, and demean my- 
 self in every thing, as near an unchangeable 
 state. Am I not convinced that this is cer- 
 tain,, from the nature and operations of my 
 soul, from the reflections of conscience, from 
 the righteousness of God in his government 
 of the world, from the present unequal dis- 
 tributions of g J evil by his provi- 
 dence, and from the plain and equal assert 
 sions of his revealed will ? I have 
 to object, nothing to reply; but I fii 
 necessity of inculcating and urgi . xn- 
 sjderation of it in order to its influence- I 
 fi ;d it needful to reflect often, h >w m ir I 
 am* tc an endless stare; ink 
 
 iy death, I enter upon it : A 
 t/iis instait may be as near me. as my mxt 
 thought. • That the holy scripture descri 
 
 contrary c mditions after deal 
 
 y mm and w > nan in the world shall 
 
 share in one of them) as both everl isting : 
 
 The one. by eternal life, eternal glory . \ 
 
 incorruptible crr;y.i, t \ a-i 
 
 G 
 
73 Serious Reflections 
 
 incorruptible inheritance, an house eternal in 
 the heavens, &c. the other, by uuqueancha- 
 ble fire, a prison where none escape, eternal 
 damnation, everlasting burning everlasting 
 punishment, everlasting destruction^ a worm 
 that never dies, wrath that ts ever to come % 
 blackness of darkness for ever and ever, Sec. 
 
 Think, my soul ! that in one of these two 
 contrary states, I must abide for ever ; in 
 endless joy, or sorrow : blessed in the pres- 
 ence of God, or for ever banished from it. 
 And whoever thou art that readest this, ap- 
 ply it seriously to thyself, it is thine own 
 case. Yea, I tell t&ee from God, that holi- 
 ness of heart and life is absolutely necessary 
 to the former, and that without it thou shaft 
 never see his face, but be punished with ev- 
 erlasting destruction from the presence of 
 his glory. 
 
 Is this an unquestionable truth ? O let 
 me consider it, till I feel the power and effi- 
 cacy of so important a principle ! Let the 
 impression be deep and lasting ! Let it 
 pierce and enter into my s©ul ! to cool the 
 heats of lust, to quench sensual and earthly 
 desires, and to mortify all inordinate affec* 
 tions to this world ; and fix my resolutions 
 to .mind, and seek eternal life with all my 
 heart ! 
 
 These are not difficult and perplexed nice- 
 ities, which wise and holy men differ and 
 disagree about. They are not metaphysi- 
 cal subtleties, which few can understand ; 
 but the express word of God, and the dai- 
 ly dictates of my own reason and conscience, 
 
 „ 
 
on Time and Eternity, 79 
 
 which all christians, and almost all men in 
 their i an hour of great temp- 
 
 tat ton) conicss and own; or whether they 
 \,, o no, are forced \o expect and fear, if 
 not in a condition to consider them 
 I] a joyful hope. 
 
 Lord ! cure the unbelieving doubts con- 
 cerning the:se great things, which notwith- 
 standing the plainest evidence, the devil may 
 at any time suggest ! Let a confinnedy^VA, 
 be the reality of what is thus future \ that 
 my soul may be influenced by them, as it 
 is wont to be by things present ! Let it be 
 the substance of things hoped for, and the 
 evidence of things unseen, and as yet at a 
 distance; as if the day of judgment were 
 already come, and there were no interme- 
 diate time to pass between this and that. 
 
 eternity ! eternity ! the more I consider 
 it, the more unfathomable still I find it. Un- 
 changeable blessedness, or remediless, endless 
 torments ! an eternal blissful day, or ever- 
 lasting horror, darkne&s and despair ! life or 
 death, glory or destruction, to last as long 
 as the immutable, living God ! None of the 
 patriarchs who lived longest, arrived to the 
 period of a thousand years, which in com- 
 parison of God's everlastingness is set forth 
 but as one day. But strictly considered, mil- 
 lions of years and ages have no proportion 
 with it ; because no multiplication of them 
 will amount to eternity. Whereas one hour 
 hath some proportion to an hundred thou- 
 sand years, because a certain number of 
 hours will amount to so many years. But 
 
80 Serious Keflecttok's 
 
 no number of years or ages, never so often 
 multiplied, will make up eternity : as no 
 substruction of millions of years will lessen 
 it : an entire eternity will be still to come, 
 and will ever be to come. When innum- 
 erable myriads of years are past, eternity 
 shall then seem but to begin, because when 
 as many more are over, it shall be as far 
 from an end. 
 
 O ! that the thoughts of eternity may be 
 powerful, and prevailing above all others ! 
 that I may judge of every thing by its rela- 
 tion to it, by its inftuenc upon ii ! Chuse 
 now, my soul ! whether everlasting joys, or 
 miseries shall be thy portion : bat consider 
 well that thine eternity is concerned in thy 
 present choice ; and that this choice must 
 be pursued with stedfastness and constancy, 
 as long as I live : and what are a few years 
 to prepare for an eternal state ? Were we 
 obliged to spend several hundred years in 
 serious, humble preparation for it, with the 
 greatest strictness and severity of life, dur- 
 ing ail th it time ; it were infinitely less, 
 than to spend an hour or two, in preparing 
 for the greatest dignity and employ on earth, 
 which can be enpyed but far a few years at 
 longest. For to these an hour hath some 
 proportion ; but an hundred or thousand 
 years have none with an everlasting duration. 
 Therefore to sonsider, how many years of 
 toil, and pains, and diligence, many bestow 
 on the probable prospect of some temporal 
 good, should reprove and shame my negli- 
 gence and remissness, in providing for eter- 
 nity. 
 
in Time and Eternitt. 81 
 
 Sect. XIX, 
 
 The punishments of the damned considered 
 as intolerable and everlasting, and as un- 
 questionably certain. What the reflection 
 upon bell-torments may, and ought to teach 
 us. 
 
 THE fear of the Lord is the beginning 
 0/ wisdom, the entrance into the way 
 of life, as it is ordinarily one cf the first 
 means to awaken the soul to a serious con- 
 cern for eternity : Let me therefore first 
 consider the endless punishment of the wick- 
 ed in the other world, before I enter upon 
 the ravishing prospect of the blessedness of 
 heaven, promised to the righteous. And 
 with what serious trembling should I think 
 of the terrors of an everlasting destruction, 
 which our Lord shall be revealed from heav- 
 en to render, to all who know not God, and 
 obey not the gospel. When the wicked shall 
 go away into everlasting punishment ; as the 
 righteous into life eternal. The dreadful- 
 ness of that punishment, the endless duration 
 of it, joined to the consideration of its un- 
 questionable certainty, deserves the most at- 
 tentive thoughts of every man who loves his 
 soul, and would manifest he doth so ; by se- 
 curing his greatest interest. 
 
 The description of that misery, under 
 insupportable and eternal torments, demands 
 
82 Serious Reflections 
 
 more than a transient view ; because nti>* 
 words can sufficiently express the horror of 
 that state. What is it, my soul ! to be 
 banished from the blessed sight and pres- 
 ence of God for ever, and all the impres- 
 sions of his holy image and likeness ? and 
 to know that this is the fruit of my own 
 choice ; that I lost it by my own fault and 
 folly ; that I deserved to lose it ; that the 
 sentence is as just, as it is irrevokabk ? 
 Who can fully imagine the dismal despair 
 of a condemned sinner, under this anguish 
 of a guilty , self- accusing mind? while under 
 the stroke of God's almighty revenging jus- 
 tice, with a dfstincter view and knowledge 
 than now, of God and his excellencies ; of 
 himself and his own vileness and malignity; 
 which must greatly increase his rage and 
 torment. Add to this, his being enraged 
 by the accusations and cries of wicked ac- 
 quaintance and relations ; and his being 
 mocked, and insulted over, and tortured, by 
 malitious damned spirits ; with a clear un- 
 derstanding of that glorious felicity he des- 
 pised, refused, and forfeited; wi h a deep 
 sense of his former madness, in preferingthe 
 sinful pleasures and advantages of this 
 world ; and this after many warnings, and 
 invitations, and calls from God, to have pre- 
 vented it ;. and never to be diverted one 
 moment from the consideration, sense and 
 feeling of his misery, and the duration of it r 
 to have all his passions let loose with the 
 greatest violence, and nothing to satisfy 
 them ; and continually to preserve an hell 
 

 cwTime ^WEtirvitt. 83 
 
 *>f wickedness and horror in himself ; and 
 to endure the reproaches, convictions, re* 
 grets, snd stinging reflections of conscience, 
 the gnawing worm, which shall ttc$A die. 
 Who can conceive the unspeakable misery 
 of such an accursed state ? So great a ca- 
 lamity, and yet everlasting ! 
 
 How long .doth one day or night now 
 seem to a man under some violent racking 
 pain % in any one part of his body though he 
 be under the means for cure, and have his 
 friends about him to pity him, comfort and 
 assist him, with the hopes of ease in a little 
 while, and the certain knowledge that it 
 cannot last long ? Oh ! what then will be 
 the dismal state of tormented (*) sinners in 
 hell ! how infinitely must it exceed the 
 most terrible idea we can now frame of it ! 
 to languish out a long eternity, in thatgulph 
 of darkness and despair, under unpitied, in- 
 tolerable torments, without intermission, or 
 hope of end ! miseries without measure I 
 judgment without mercy ! pains and sor- 
 rows intense, and yet endless ! without the 
 least succor or relief, relaxation or remedy, 
 diminution or change ! without a drop of 
 .comfort, without a moment's rest, without 
 the smallest beam of light, or the least glim- 
 mering of hope ! perpetually dying, and 
 never dead ! under wisufferable wrath, 
 which yet will be for ever wrath to come 1 
 seeking death, and never able to find it, b*t 
 eternally to endure all that calamity, which 
 
 {*)M** Mr. Baxter's Saint's rrjl,fart tJ, chjf. 9. 
 
$4 Serious Reflections 
 
 
 the conjunction of death and life together 
 can render dreadful ! 
 
 What groans and cries will these tho'ts, 
 and these sufferings wring from their fcearts! 
 but no refuge will then be found, no excus- 
 es admitted, no prayer, no entreaties will 
 then prevail, no tears move pity. He that 
 made them, will show than no mercy ^ and he 
 that formed them, will shew them no favor, 
 *Tis tuiter, never, that is the killing word, 
 that breaks the heart of those hcyeless pris- 
 oners, in the place of torment. When once 
 delivered over to that prison of Gcd's 
 vi rath, they shall no longer be prisoners of 
 hope. Judgment shall be brought forth un- 
 to final victory ; and the redemption of the 
 soul shall cease forever. 
 
 The vain hepes of sinners shall then he 
 ended in eternal desperation ; hell Mill be 
 full of those who did once hope they should 
 never come there, and full of those who des- 
 pair of deliverance from thence ; but shalt 
 suffer exquisite pains that cannot be num- 
 bered, or measured, or endured : but that 
 every minute of an hour will seem a whole 
 year, and yet must eternally be endured tjf 
 miserable sinners, who will not be wise in 
 time, to prevent such an intolerable portion. 
 Let me therefore, my soul, descend into 
 hell by meditation whilst I live, that I may 
 cot descend thither when I die ; and be 
 fchut up forever in that prison, the place cf 
 endless torment. 
 
 Might we but suppose, thst one of those 
 miserable souls did let fall hwione tear % in an 
 
on T i m 5 and Eti b m i i v • S J 
 
 hundred thousand \ cars : and if after lie had 
 by this means wept so muth as that Ufa 
 tears would equal the drops of water in the 
 whole sea, his misery should have an end ; 
 this were hope, this were comfort. But alas J 
 after that period, his misery will be as fir 
 from an end, as when he frst began to feci 
 it. It will then be but the beginning nfsor- 
 VQyvs % which will never, never* ncix&r end. 
 
 Think, my stul ' that this is the por- 
 tion of the sinner's cyp ; this is the wages 
 of 8/7, and the certain doom of£nal impen- 
 itence and unbelief. 'Tis no politic cheat, 
 or melancholy dream, but the express re- 
 peated word of God, and Christ, tl e holy- 
 prophets and apostles, and the voice of rea- 
 son too. Supposing but the immortality of 
 the soul, and the power of self reflection, the 
 punishment of sinners must needs he ever* 
 lasting, as carrying continually an hell with- 
 in them ; unless God work a miracle to pre- 
 vent it, w hich there is no ground to imag- 
 ine he will, or -shadow of reason why he 
 should. Cod hath pawned his truth, and 
 his (*) eternity, to execute this sentence of 
 his threatened wrath. Be is a God of ir- 
 ilnite mercy, 'tis true ; but he hath told us 
 how far his mercy shall extend. He will 
 not exercise one attribute to the dishonor 
 .and the disparagement ef the rest. That 
 obstinate & impenitent sinners shall thus per- 
 ish, is not because the goodness and mercy 
 of God are not infinite % but because his oth- 
 er perfections are so; viz. Iii3 holiness, 
 (•) Dcut.'ixxii. 4©. 41. 
 H 
 
80 Serious Rjei lections 
 
 justice,, truth, sovereignty and wisdom. 
 Was it wisdom and goodness to annex such 
 ■a penalty to the violation of his law ; and 
 can it be inconsistent with them to inflict his 
 threatened wrath ? 
 
 Shall we suppose Gcd to uphold his do- 
 minion and government by a falsehood ? to 
 keep the world in awe by the menaces ef 
 such punishments, as shall no where, never t 
 be executed ? Is it unlikely, that God 
 should exercise so much severity ? And is 
 it not as improbable, that his repeated word 
 and oath should prove false ? Is it not a 
 righteous thing with Gcd, as the governor 
 of the world, thus to punish the obstinate 
 despisers of his grace ? Who slighted his 
 authority, disobeyed his law, affronted his 
 sovereignty, derided his power, denied his 
 truth, contradicted his holiness, and joined 
 issue with the devil, to pull him from his 
 throne ; who abused his patience and long 
 suffering, and scorned all his threatening* ; 
 who thrust away their own happiness, and 
 would not take warning ; who burst all bis 
 bands asunder, and broke through all ob- 
 structions ; and would not be stopped in 
 their course of vanity and folly, or so much 
 as consider their danger ; who rejected his 
 call to repentance, and refused his merer, 
 when it was offered ; and preferred a lust 
 before his favor, and the pleasures and prof- 
 its of this world before the heavenly glory ; 
 and notwithstanding all the methods of his 
 grace, and the checks of his providence, 
 and of their own conscience, they will go 
 on. they will die P 
 
6MTiue ^/Eternity. 87 
 
 Let me, my soul ! adore the sovereign 
 
 justice of God in all his judgments, and 
 
 tremble at the threatening* of that eternal 
 
 vtrath % which so few eonsidcr or believe, 
 
 'till 'tis too late. Let the foresight and the 
 
 fear of such an intolerable, endless punish- 
 
 ment, be a means to save me from it ! Let 
 
 me herein read the evil of sin, and learn to 
 
 abhor and avoid it. liet me pity, and warn, 
 
 and counsel, and pray for those of my re- 
 
 huions or acquaintance who live in sin, and 
 
 run the hazard of this eternal ruin. Let me 
 
 not envy the foolish mirth, and momentary 
 
 prosperity of the wicked, whose present 
 
 joy must ere long empire, and an everlast- 
 
 i )g destruction succeed in irs room. (* )Ko-y 
 
 joy of the hypocrite ! and the tri* 
 
 t xzlckcd is but f f )r a moment* 
 
 Let me fear and dread every thing that leads 
 
 to this dismal issue, and improve every thing 
 
 that may help me to escape it. And by con- 
 
 icnce, let me less value all the good and 
 
 evil of this present life ; juitge of all things 
 
 by this Sight ; be patient under temporal 
 
 eSj and thank God that this is not 
 
 ink him more, that present suf- 
 
 :gs do help to save me from eternal 
 
 one?,. 
 
 atever I can &u2er in this world, let 
 
 condition be never so dark, and sad, and 
 
 !, it is not, it cannot be such, but 
 
 F the dunned would think it 
 
 an infinite happiness to exchange with me, 
 
 <;s I am. Let me think of those cx- 
 
 (*j Job xxv. 5. 
 
S3- Serious Refuections 
 
 quisite and eternal flames, to cure my impa- 
 tience under the sharpest trials and a (Mic- 
 tions I may now suffer. 
 
 Did 1 bdieviiTgly consider an everlasting 
 Hell* I should not think much ©f any thing 
 that is required to prevent it. The severest 
 exercises of religion, the strictest temper- 
 smce, the nicest chastity, the largest charity, 
 the greatest self-denial, Till the hardships of 
 repentance and mortification, and continu- 
 ance therein to the death, though for many 
 years more than I am like to live, would be 
 reckoned easy as well as just, if set in the 
 balance against the eternal miseries of the 
 damned. 
 
 What will not men do and suffer, to { 
 vent a temporal death ? They will endure 
 a painful course of physic; tear out their 
 very bowels by purges and vomits ; and are 
 content to be cut and sacrificed, and to suf- 
 fer any thing almost to save their lives : 
 But how little will they do to be saved from 
 the wrath to come ! One would think, they 
 should have no rest, or peace, or be able to 
 live a quiet hour, till they had made some 
 provision against the hazard of this eternal 
 destruction ; and look upon all men as their 
 friends, ; or enemies, according to the help, 
 or hindrances, they received from them, \\\ 
 reference to it. But the direct contrary is 
 every where apparent. Men are careless 
 and secure, jovial and merry in the way that 
 leads to hell ; and esteem, and love, and 
 
 *Qjii non experg'tfeitur gJ^ac tvnitruiyjam n<m dsrmity 
 Jed mzrtuus *jt . &. A ugu dine. 
 
, .i help to L: 
 
 them 10 this : .: \ea. such is 
 
 tlwir stuj and su CSS, 
 
 4 suffer to be ft 
 
 i them, in it by Midi a 
 
 I k se so 
 
 much money, or their lives will be in dan- 
 
 reckon i\ 
 it k: jr, M 
 they ions 
 
 . the he 
 per: not rjgcei 
 
 despise the nv and scorn and 
 
 tpleasxrd and an* 
 
 if less the Led, my sou:! :,r ray 
 
 F escaping this 
 
 /:ir /fo/y name* I 
 >up- 
 portable wr 
 
 Jer, iiy ; 
 
 it Tq 
 be d 
 
 in miser] 
 
 :r to be I 
 I have so often deserve 
 
 HOW g a'd 
 
 se D tmes ind placed 
 
 in tr 
 
 a life r ;fd;cn:c 
 
 would he lead ? A looc 
 
 ^v forme ? Am I no; wort i to 
 
90 S&ribus Reflections- 
 
 his goodness ? He hath kept me out of 'hcff, 
 
 and offers me the heavenly glory upon rea- 
 sonable, honorable, and easy term*. Bles- 
 sed be God, I may yet escape the vvraih to 
 come. 
 
 Let me heartily compassionate the delu- 
 sion of those multitudes oi : deceived, perish- 
 ing souls> whose eyes are blinded by the 
 God of this world ; who will not believe it, 
 till they are convinced by the light of that 
 fire, which shall never be extinguished. 
 Yea, when I read, or hear of tea or twenty 
 thousand men shin in war, (whether of Irk* 
 Jidels or Christians J let me think of it, with 
 other apprehensions, than formerly I was 
 wont to dp* Considering that many, it may 
 be the most of these: shall never have awy 
 comfort or mercy more ; fearing lest the 
 same sword or bullet that gave them a 
 mortal wound, hath fixed them under God's, 
 everlasting ivrath ; and that by dying, they 
 are undone forever. 
 
 In very many other cases, the faith of thi& 
 article would rectify my opinion, and direct 
 my actions, if seriously considered and im- 
 proved. This would make me think of death 
 under another notion than ~*tts commonly 
 considered. For without the consideration 
 cf .'-//annexed to it, it is not so very for- 
 midable, bat that heathens have been able 
 10 despise it. The most contrary sects 
 among; them, on different grounds, have 
 been rote to do it ; but consider death as a 
 passage to eternal misery, as the gates cf 
 bell", as tht end of all comfort to a wicked 
 
m Timi :-. ; ErrRrrTT. H 
 
 man, and the beginning of an en Jless ca- 
 
 Can be imagined more 
 
 lifty unholy soul. Some of 
 
 m\ f, It may be, who died this 
 
 :>\v among those hopeless, 
 
 jftes, who expect die final 
 
 judgment of God, to consummate their in- 
 
 rap| If they were permit-- 
 
 ):ne and tell us what they suffer, and 
 
 : they know ; what a terrible consuming 
 
 Jhrt God is r what vanity, lust, and foHy> 
 
 : them to this place of torment ; what 
 
 jence they would advise us to, while in 
 
 ate of hope, to prevent the like ; if we 
 
 have any love and kindness for ourselves* 
 
 bowels of compassion to our own souls; 
 
 ige do we think it would work 
 
 i us ? But if we will not hear Mo*ES 
 
 and tlu prophets, Christ, and his apostles r 
 
 neither ve believe tho' one came 
 
 torn the dead. 
 
 Sect. XX, 
 
 The eternal blessedness of HEAVEISP con- 
 sidered, as the perfection of holiness, to 
 icken our derrres and endeavors after 
 ireetness to posses: it. 
 ^|OfH one r sjiother hasten me 
 
 ' to the time ? And doth the 
 
 -ednesscfe fid on the com- 
 
 municuions I noty receive from God ? On 
 stations I now nfefce 3 arid the tM&C* 
 
 D 
 
92 Serious Reflections 
 
 ness I can now attain for eteraal felicity in 
 the presence of my God and Savior ? O, 
 with what intenseness of mind should I now 
 prosecute that glorious objjet ? with what 
 unwearied diligence shoud I run the race 
 that is set before me, lest I fall short of the 
 incorruptible crown of life ! How should 
 every thing be undervalued and rejected, 
 that would divert, retard or hinder me from 
 pursuing this end ! Lord, be not a stranger 
 to my soul, in this distant wilderness state ! 
 let me see more of thy light ! be tranform- 
 cd more into thine image ! experience more 
 of thy love ! feel more of thy vital pres- 
 ence, and quickaing spirit ? let the divine 
 life in my soul be more powerful and the 
 characters of thy likeness be more legibly 
 stamped upon it ! by the daily exercise of 
 faith, and hope, and holy affections, carry 
 me thro' this world, till my pilgrim state 
 be over and thou hast brought me to per- 
 fect everlasting holiness I And let the believ- 
 ing fore-thoughts of it. fill all the powers of 
 my soul with joy and wonder, desire & love! 
 Give me, herd ! to think aright of the 
 heavenly glory ; as a confirmed state of 
 positive perfect holiness ; of heavenly light, 
 k)ve, liberty and joy, with the satisfying 
 vision of God, in the face of Christ, and his 
 impressed likeness; duelling forever in the di- 
 rect & steady view of his transforming glory \ 
 with com pleat conformity of the soul toeternal 
 goodness, truth and love, as its perfection ; 
 esteeming nothing,desiring nothing, but that 
 God & Christ may be glorified, with an cntif e 
 
on 
 
 Trui and Eterxitt. 9® 
 
 subjection to his will, adherence to him ; 
 rest and confidence in him, swallowed up in 
 in the love, admiration, and praise of God 
 and our Lord Jesus, living in joyful repeat- 
 ed acts of subjection, adoration, and ac- 
 knowledged dependarce ; ravished to be- 
 hold the glory of God, in the face of Christ, 
 to see his blessed image perfect in every 
 one of the saints, &.c. When all the present 
 blindness of our minds, the errors of our 
 judgment, the perverseness of our will, the 
 disorder and rebellion of our passions, the 
 remaining aversation from God, and disaf- 
 fection to him, which in this world we com- 
 plain of, sivall all be done away : The flesh 
 shall no more lust against the spirit ; or the 
 law in our members against the law of our 
 minds ; but an everlasting tranquility and 
 holy peace take place ; a peace which pas- 
 scili all understanding, without any outward 
 molestation, or inward cause of disquiet* 
 
 Our corrupted nature shall no more cast 
 forth mire and dirt as now ; we shall have^ 
 no more vain, or wicked thoughts ; no more 
 sinful fears, or foolish hopes ;. unbecoming 
 heats, unruly desires, sensual inclinations, 
 earthly affections, feeble, slothful, spiritless 
 duties, dead aftd heartless prayers, coTdf 
 thanksgivings r Sec. But as we shall then 
 know God without errors, arid see our Lord 
 Jesus face to face, so we shall love hin& 
 without reserve, more than now we can- 
 think ; and ^erve him without dulness and. 
 distraction, and praise him without weari- 
 ness ; the spiritual actings of our souls shall 
 
94 Serhus Reflections 
 
 have no allay or dross. And thus shall we 
 be with him, and admire and enjoy him 
 without end. 
 
 Thus when dtath is swallowed ftp in vic- 
 tory, and what was imperfect is done away, 
 and what was corruptible and mortal hath 
 put on immortality ? God and Christ shall be 
 all in ail ; and when it is truly and perfect- 
 \y so, then it is heaven. The blessedness 
 whereof is inconceivable* A blessed person 
 is not expressed in the singular number by 
 the Hebrews, but in the abstract, and in the 
 plural. BeatitudeSy instead of blessed, be- 
 cause the blessings are as many and great, 
 as they have powers and capacities to par- 
 take of blessedness. So will it be in heaven. 
 A word, tho> commonly used, as little un- 
 derstood as holiness ; which is one of the 
 greatest mysteries in the world ; but will 
 hereafter be fully & delightfully understood 
 by the blessed saints ; as the malignity and 
 intrinsic evil of sin shall be by the damned 
 spirits. 
 
 Oh, that I might now feci more of this 
 heavenly life, begun and carried on in my 
 soul, by a farther participation of his holy 
 image, and conformity to his will ! by more 
 * ital effects of his indwelling spirit in my 
 soul, forming it to be a temple to himself, 
 for his own delightful residence ! that for- 
 getting that which I have received, I may 
 still be covetous, and desirous of mere ; 
 forgetting what I have attained. I may pros > 
 on with an holy eagerness and fervency tow- 
 ards the mark ! 
 
cnTixz and Etexnity. 95 
 
 When I seriously examine my orvn heart, 
 had I nothing else to prove the weakness of 
 my grace, and the sinful umainders of un- 
 belief, but the low desires, and the few 
 comfortable thoughts, the seldom joyful 
 prospect of this blessed state ; how sad an 
 evidence were it of my low attainments, that 
 I breathe with more impatience after that 
 blessed holy rest, in the enjoyment of God 
 and Christ : and labor no more in preparing 
 for it ? When we profess to believe that all 
 the desires of our souls should be fixed on 
 hin: y and filled with lum, as our infinite and 
 supreme good \ and all the expectations of 
 faith and hope swallowed up in endless ad- 
 miration, gratitude, and joy; being fully 
 satisfied, anel at rest, in the presence and 
 vision cf God ; without the least inclination 
 or desire of change. And by consequence, 
 
 There will be no need of novelty, as now, 
 to give a relish to our happiness. All hap- 
 piness in this world is by comparing a man's 
 present condition with his past, or with that 
 of some inferiors. But the intrinsic good, 
 felicity, and joy of heaven will need no such 
 foiiio $,zt it off; no such eomparisoa to 
 make it prized. The blessed spirits will 
 never lose the lively sense of that low snd 
 miserable condition, from which they were 
 raked to so great a glory ; and so will ever 
 equally rejoice in the happiness of their 
 translation and wonderful change. And what 
 was kt first delightful, will forever be so ; 
 and not be disdained, or lessened by a con- 
 tinuance ; as it happens in this world, from 
 
£6 Serious R 1. 1 l k c t i c N s 
 
 the emptiness, shallowness, and vanity of 
 the creature. An affection of vanity, and de- 
 sire of change, proceeding always from a 
 sense of want* But holy souls shall never 
 fee weary of seeing, loving, and enjoying 
 God ; his blessed presence will afford us 
 undecaying and endless satisfaction ; pleas- 
 ure, never to be interrupted, or abated, Bad 
 rrever to ceaee. The blessed ebjett is abso- 
 lutely infinite, and so will be always new to 
 a finite understanding, and continual fresh 
 communications from his infinite fulness, 
 must needs make our subjective happiness 
 to be always new, 2nd eternally such. 
 
 Let me by such thoughts quicken and 
 excite my diligent endeavors, after a greater 
 mectness to enjoy so great a bliss. And to 
 that end, consider whether any of these hap- 
 py souls, who have finished their course, & 
 obtained their prize, do now regret their 
 in a^ost diligence, patience and perseverance, 
 <Iuring their short abode here, to secure the 
 blessedness of an endless life : Nc y no, they 
 •are far from repenting the time they spent, 
 the trouble they were at, the c;ve they used, 
 the difficulties they met with, the sufferings 
 they endured, to conflict with the world and 
 the fiesh, to resist temptation, to watch over 
 their hearts, and words, and ways, to work 
 out their salvation, to please God, and be 
 faithful to him, &c. They find to their un- 
 speakable comfort, and everlasting joy, that 
 heaven makes amends for mil that they could 
 do or suffer, in order to their coming thither. 
 Yea, they find that the}' were not diligent, 
 
en Time and Etiukity. 97 
 
 and humble, and patient, and circumspect 
 enough. That they did not love God, und 
 seek his glory, redtem their time, and im- 
 prove all their talents and opportunities of 
 doing &. receiving good, and give up them- 
 selves entirely to pitpaic for heaven, to that 
 degree they should have done. They find, 
 by the transcendency of the blessed recom- 
 pence, that it deserved infinitely more than 
 the most active, zealous christian upon 
 earth did ever do in order to it. 
 
 Lord ! Quicken my resolutions and en- 
 deavors, by such thoughts as these. Inspire 
 toy sluggish carnal heart, with hoiv light, 
 and life, and zeal, and fervor ? tha* looking 
 to the things "which are not seen, uhuh are 
 eternal; 1 may (*)/cy up a foundation against 
 the time to come, and so lay hold of eternal If el 
 
 But alas ! How much have I neglected 
 the great duty of holy meditation ! How little 
 skill and experience have I in it ! How tame- 
 less arc 1 , insipid oftentimes are my tho'is of 
 God ! how confused and unsteady ! how lit- 
 tle plensure or advantage have I, by con- 
 templating hit highest excellencies! Yet, 
 methinks, conld I but retain the same awak- 
 ened, lively thoughts of heaven, and eternal 
 life, which sometimes I have had ; might I 
 continually feel the sweet and sacied influ- 
 ence, as for a little season I have sometimes 
 felt it ; how little, how very a nothing would 
 all this world be to me ! Mow- compel utively 
 £, its strongest and most alluring snares 
 to draw n.e off r rom God ! with what an un- 
 ( # ) i Tim.i. 19. 
 
93 Serious Reflictisns 
 
 shaken mind could I refuse and resist them* 
 v/ith what an unconcerned indifference >cou\d 
 I look upon all its most charming glory ! 
 
 Cculd I maintain such a frame of spirit, 
 as I have sometimes had for t little while, 
 in the serious contemplation of divine mys- 
 teries, in fervent prayers, and other solemn 
 .duties of religion ; when the acts of faith 
 were strong and lively, my heart set on fire 
 with love to God, and h-©ly breathings after 
 him ; admiring his matchless grace to fallen 
 sinners, (and to my soul in particular) when 
 he brought me to the very suberbs of heav- 
 en, tho' alas / how seldom ! ) by the delight. 
 ful thought of what the blessed spirits above 
 enjoy, in being where Christ is, and behold- 
 ing his glory ; when I was ready to ssy 
 within myself, 'Tis good lo be here ; this is 
 fio other than the gate of heaven ; Oh ! when 
 shall mortality be swallowed up oj life ! But 
 when I thought at any time to fix and settle 
 in such sweet contemplations, how quickly 
 did my lazy, backward heart fly off? how 
 soon did the flame decay and die away ! how 
 soon did I find myself fallen down to earth 
 again ! sunk down from the bosom of my 
 Lord, presently forgot myself and heaven, 
 to dwell among the pots, and embrace a 
 dunghill ! 5 Twas not on my own wings, 
 Lord ! that I soared so h ; gh ; but I hope 
 by the breathings pf that holy Spirit of light 
 and }cve. who blowtth when, and where, 
 and how long he fisteth ; who gave me at 
 any time, any such first fruits of the spirit ; 
 jrho convinced me of the ccriawty of the 
 
onTiiiE. and Eterni i 99 
 
 heavenly vice, by a lively Relieving 
 
 foresight of it ; who made me earnestly de- 
 sire tlic wings of a dove to be gone, and 
 pear before God in Sion ; made me pant 
 and groan to be delivered, and to be with 
 God and Christ, with inexpressible desire 
 and joy, unconceivably mixed with sighs 
 and groans. my God! let not this expe- 
 rience be only such a / v.'<? of the powers of 
 the world to come, as is consistent with fin- 
 al Apostasy ! only the seeming zeal of the 
 stony ground ! the rapturous joy of an hyp- 
 ocrite ! from the power of imagination, and 
 a heated fancy ; from the working of n 
 natural self-love; upon mistaken apprehen- 
 sions ©f God, and a false opinion of heaven ; 
 but by the holy effects, let me be assured 
 of the cause and principle ; that it wad cf 
 Cod. 
 
 Teach me from the sweetness of a spirit- 
 ual communion with God novo, in any of hia- 
 >inted ordinances ; to argue to myselJ 
 what that most ravishing satisfaction will be, 
 that the enjoyment of God in heaven will 
 afford the soul. Our holiness is now im- 
 perfect to.what it shall be ; and therefore our 
 consolation, pence, and joy, is but in part ; 
 and incpr ss than we are fissured 
 
 it will be, when wc shall be admitted to be- 
 hold the glory of the Lcrd. ? Tis now at 
 most, but as the break of day to the lustre 
 of the meridian sun. But if in this low im- 
 perfect state, we can sometimes obtain so 
 a view of his glory, and feel such sweet 
 communications of his grace : how much 
 
100 Serious Reflections 
 
 more of this consolation and joy is reserved 
 to heaven ? If in this pilgrim state the gifts 
 and graces, and comforts of the holy spirit 
 are so refreshing : O ! what hath God pre- 
 pared beyond the grave, for those who love 
 him ! If now he sometimes sheds abroad 
 his love in our hearts, after such a manner ; 
 how much better shall I love him, and feel 
 the influence and evidence of his love to me, 
 when I shall be with him, and see him face 
 to face ? If the apprehensions of this future 
 blessedness do now encourage, raise, and 
 animate my drooping soul ; O ! what shall 
 1 know and see, and how shall I rejoice, 
 when the veil is removed ? If a sacramental 
 communion with God and Jesus Christ, 
 be sometimes so sweet and so affecting ; 
 what will the blessed communion with God 
 and all his saints above amount to ! when I 
 shall sit down with all the children of God, 
 in the presence of the bridegroom, at the 
 last great supper of the Lamb in glory ! If 
 the earnest of our inheritance be so reviving, 
 what will be the full possession of it ? If the 
 hopes of that glorious day, by holy medita- 
 tion, be so transporting ? what will be the 
 end of our faith and hope ? If a grape or two 
 in the wilderness be such a cordial t what will 
 be the whole vintage in the land of promise? 
 Shall I after all this, forget my own ex- 
 perience, and run from God and heaven, to 
 embrace or seek a perishing toy ? Shall I 
 hide myself with Saut among the stuff and 
 lumber of this world ; when God is calling 
 me to a glorious frown ? Art thou, my 
 
en Time and Euummr. 101 
 
 soul ! a king's son, an heir of heaven. ?n 
 expectant of such great ft and yet 
 
 stoop so low ? Hope for heaven, and vet 
 grasp this earth ; and hug the vain appear- 
 ances of eaithly good ? Hope to be like to 
 Gad, (and Oh how glorious an hope is that!) 
 to partake of his image, and live eternally 
 with him ; and yet be solicitous, anxious, 
 and disquieted about honor, and money, 
 and temporal interest ! And mightily con- 
 cerned about the momentary gratifications 
 of the flesh, and the enjoyments of this 
 world I Art thou a pilgrim and stranger 
 here, and travelling home to the heavenly 
 country, and yet eager and passionate about 
 earthly things I Should an heart that is set 
 upon heaven, (or may be so, and ought to 
 be so) should it burn with such kitc/icn,such 
 common fire I and neglect the unconceivable 
 riches and 7 pleasures, and immortal honors 
 of the other fife, and the dawnings of that 
 glory upon my soul by the foretastes of it 
 in this ! How great is the disproportion be- 
 tween the heavens and the earth ? How vast 
 the circumference of die one, and how small 
 a point the other I How many thousand 
 miles doth the sun travel in the heai 
 while it passeth but one inch upon a di.il ? 
 Oh that my affections were carried to hecrc- 
 tnly things with a swiftness somewhat an- 
 swerable to the glorious object. And let. 
 their motion tor art hi s be rather slow 
 
 and insensible, like that of the sun on a die;!. 
 Since I profess to believe, and wait for the 
 heavenly glory ; should I not live as seek?- 
 i 
 
102 Serious Ri flection % 
 
 ing such things, as expecting such a glory ? 
 And are careles and indifferent thoughts, 
 sleepy, heartless prayers, faint and weak en. 
 deavors, becoming in such a case ? Shall I 
 not mend my pace, and double my diligence 
 in my preparatory work, when I can be- 
 lievingly foresee the blessed recompence ? 
 waiting for that everlasting light of the sun 
 of righteousness, which no eclipse shall ever 
 darken or obscure ; for that eternal glorious 
 day, which shall never be closed with an 
 evening. When I shall see the face of God 
 in Christ, and be like him, participate more 
 of his image, rest in his love, and dwell for- 
 ever in the light of his countenance, a^cord- 
 ir'g to the prayer and promise of my blessed 
 Saviour. 
 
 And ought not such a prospect to sweet- 
 en the bitterness of all our intermediate suf- 
 ferings ? We are now oftentimes in heavi- 
 ness and sorrow ; but, eternity will be 
 enough for an uninterrupted joy. When 
 we shall exchange all our troubles for ever- 
 lasting rest, our prisons for perfect liberty, 
 our poverty for the riches of God ; dark- 
 less for light ; discord for love ; deformity 
 for beauty ; our weaknesses and present 
 languishing^ for strength and vigor ; fol- 
 ly for wisdom ; disgrace for glory ; sick- 
 ness and pain for eternal ease and health ; 
 the animal for the angelical life ; imperfec- 
 tion and pollution for consummate holiness; 
 our sighs, and tears, and sorrows, and com- 
 plaints, for triumphant everlasting praise ; 
 our losses, affronts, disappointments, per. 
 
wTxme and Eternity. 103 
 
 plexities, fears, groans & death, for crowns, 
 sceptres, hymns and hallelujahs, light and 
 life, and buss unutterable ; and such great 
 things are fit for us to hope, but too great to 
 be now particularly understood, and talked 
 of ; while u* know but in part, and see thro* 
 a glass darkly. Yea, it seems as if it were 
 not lawful to utter them, 2 Cor. xii. 4. and 
 now they cannot be expressed, or fully 
 known ; For eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, 
 nor can it enter into the heart of man to con- 
 nive that prepared glory. 
 
 Sect. XXL 
 
 A devout meditation upon Psal. lxxiii. 1$. 
 Whom have I in heaven but thee ? And 
 there is none upon earth that I desire be- 
 sides thee. 
 
 WHAT is there in heaven or in earth, 
 Lord ! but thy presence to be 
 valued, loved, desired, chosen, sought, or t 
 delighted in? There is nothing in either 
 world desirable- without thee, nothing cer- 
 tainly above tttee, nothing in comparison 
 with thee. In thee alone I trust ; on thee 
 I depend , in thee I repose my confidence 
 and hope ; from thee I expect all my felici. 
 Xy and salvation. Whatever I can lose, yet 
 with the continuance of thy favor, which is 
 my life, I have still enough. With that I 
 am rich, without it I am poor and miserable. 
 And if I want the love of God, ail that heav- 
 
10 £ Serious Reflections 
 
 en and earth can give besides, will not make 
 me happy. In thee therefore, I would ter- 
 minate ail my affections, all my devotions L 
 there is nothing of heaven to be had on earthy 
 but in thy favor, image, and love, and the 
 reviving sense of it. And all the heaven I 
 expect hereafter, 'tis in the more full and 
 immediate communications of these, in thy 
 blessed presence. I can desire nothing up- 
 on earth ; I can enjoy nothing in heaven but 
 thee ! both here and there thou art y and 
 shall ever ^all-sufiicient, satisfactory por- 
 tion, my everlasting all! none else can be 
 the portion of my soul. Nothing else can fill 
 up all its wants, answer all its cravings, be 
 suited to all its capacities, appease and* 
 charm all iter restless motions, and give 
 complacence to allits desirea, and be the 
 proper object of all its affections. 
 
 What is there else can justly claim my 
 love, or pretend to my supreme affection iiv 
 comparison with God ? Thou art alone the 
 proper centre of it. Thine infinite and in- 
 comparable excellencies, (who art love Uself) 
 deserves my choicest love ; and thy num- 
 berless mercies and benefits challenge it as a 
 just debt ; as a piece of homage due from 
 all, and of special gratitude also from me. 
 Oh, that I could love thee above all things t 
 who alone art worthy of all my love ! O that 
 divine love might be the ruling principle 
 within me! to inspire all my thoughts, to 
 regulate all my desires, to set all the pow- 
 ers cf my soul on work ! O that it might 
 "take the full possession of my heart, and *o 
 
on Time and Etirkity. 105 
 
 animate and order all my actions to please 
 him, whom my soul lovcth ! If as yet I can- 
 not say with thine apostle; Lord! thou 
 knowtst all things, thou know est that I love 
 thee : yet I can say, Lord ! thou knowest 
 that I -would love thee ! Thou hast provid- 
 ed for our happiness, by the first and great 
 command of loving thee with all our hearts, 
 and souls, and strength* But alas ! how 
 backward is my sluggish,carnal heart, to this 
 delightful exercise ? fho' I have so oft 
 been told, that God is love, and that he that 
 dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in 
 him. O shed abroad thy love into my soul ! 
 that I may feci ihe vital power and influence 
 of it, and live continually in the loveof God, 
 and that nothing may ever be able to separ- 
 ate me from it. 
 
 Whom have I in heaven or earth to hope 
 in but thee ? I expect more from creatures, 
 than they can, or will perform ; but God 
 can do for me more abundantly than I can 
 ask or think ; exceed my largest thoughts* 
 out-strip my highest expectations. And no 
 man was ever disappointed, who made thee 
 his hope . When I meet with crosses and 
 wrongs, unfaithfulness, contempt, hatred and 
 persecution from men, I need not wonder \ 
 I was never told by God it would be other- 
 wise here. Did I look for less from 
 creatures, and expect more from God ; 
 Did I reckon this world to be a state 
 of trial, and not a place of rest and sat- 
 isfaction ; my faith and my desires would 
 be stronger, with respect to God and heav- 
 
1 06 Serious Rje r l e cTf o n $ 
 
 en ; and temporal calamities and disappoint- 
 ments less afflictive and vexatious. 
 
 And what is there, Lord ! in heaven, 
 or in earth, my soul can desire besides thee? 
 Is there any thing desirable but as it is thine,- 
 of thee, and from thee ? And bears some 
 impression of thine excellence, or briags* 
 some intimation of thy love ? And what 
 can I reasonably desire ; what that is worth 
 desiring, or having, l>ut thou art able to ke r 
 to do, and give ? 
 
 In whom, or what shall I rejoice, but k* 
 thee, O Lord ! shall I solace myself in tran- 
 sitory goods, that slip between my fingers* 
 and perish in the using ? or relish carnal 
 joys, which pollute and debase the soul ? 
 When I may and ought to reioice in thee at 
 all times, as the only source of perfect ever- 
 lasing jay. Let me: then stir up my droop- 
 ing, desponding, unbelieving heart to re^ 
 joice in God ; who takes pleasure in the 
 ehearful service St obedience of his children; 
 who delightcth In those who delight in him* 
 Is not * delighting in God a. most essential, 
 vital part of religion ? Should it not be my 
 constant frame ? Kath not God sufficiently 
 provided:, that it may be so ? Can I say and 
 believe, that God is the portion of my soul r 
 that he is my Gedy and I hope to live with. 
 Mm forever and not rejoice ? Or can I con- 
 sider the grace of the new covenant, the 
 matchless love of Christ, and the precious 
 promises of the gospel ; and not see reason 
 to rejoice ? Yea, doth my soul love God, 
 and endeavor to please him ; and is not the 
 *Vid. Mr, How , of 'delighting in God, 
 
in Time and Eternity. 107 
 
 very act and exercise of holy love> mixt with 
 •unspeakable sweetness ? 
 
 Whom is there in heaven y or in earth, or 
 hell, that I ought to fear but thee ? Who 
 jhast a negative voice in all the designs of 
 men and devils ; an hook in their nostrils ; 
 a bridle in their mouths ; to make them 
 fulfill thy pleasure, and in every thing ac- 
 complish thy sovereign decree. 
 
 Is there any other, in whom I may repose 
 my trust, but in thee, O Lord ? the rock of 
 ages ? The might of thy power, the un- 
 searchableness of thy wisdom, the righteous- 
 ness of thy nature, the stability of thy truth, 
 the riches of thy grace, and the immutabili- 
 ty of thy promises, are a sure foundation 
 for my soul to trust to, and rely upon. Thy 
 word stands firm forever, and the truth of 
 ihine ability, and readiness to help in every 
 time of fieed, endures the same throughout all 
 generations. At all times, and in all places, 
 my soul may trust in thee, aied find relief. 
 And they who know thy name will do so ; 
 for in the L*rd Jehovah is everlasting kind- 
 ness, and strength : to answer all my 
 doubts, to supply all my wants, and fulfil 
 all my desires. May not God take it unv 
 kindly, that I trust him no more ? And is 
 it not a criminal unkindness, that I give 
 him not the glory of all these excellent at- 
 tributes, which are the grounds of truth ; 
 by a constant, steady, entire dependence oa 
 him for all that I need ? 
 
 I have none in heaven but thee, O Lord ! 
 as the object of my invocation and worship. 
 
108 Serious 'R&frLrr.T-io.»f 
 
 Let other Christians have recourse to//^ 
 mediators, and CcVll i:pcn other Gcds ; I will 
 make mention oi //7y ft^/wr. and of thy right- 
 eousness only. And ask of tl.ee whatever T 
 need, for the sake of thy Christ my only 
 adorable Mediator. Him thcu hearest al- 
 ways ; with him thou art always well pleas- 
 ed. I honor the holy angels as glorious at- 
 tendants about thy throne ; and bless thee 
 for themes ministring spirits for the good of 
 thy servants ; but I dare not invoke or 
 worship them, because they are fellow ser- 
 vants. On the same account, I honor the 
 memory of depa rted saints, but neither in- 
 voke them, or pay thtm religious worship* 
 That glory, thcu wilt not give unto another. 
 I have wo precept in holy scripture to direct, 
 no promise to encourage, no example to au- 
 thorize the invocation of any other, but thee, 
 in x:hcm I believe and trust, Rom. x. 14. 
 
 Having such a God in heaven, what can I 
 need on earth ? His eyes behold me, his 
 wing is over me, his hand can supply me, 
 his grace provide for me. I can want noth- 
 ing that is good ; unless I should need 
 Scmenhat which God, the infinitely blessed 
 and all-sufficient God, cannot bestow. If 
 thou art the portion of my soul, all mine en- 
 emies cannot make me miserable ; unless 
 they can void heaven of the presence of 
 G<d, hinder his care, bind up his hand, or 
 obstruct his love. But tho' my enemies 
 cannot, I fear my sins may. They alone can 
 separate betvecn CoV and nrn tcul. -And 
 considering the multitude & aggravations of 
 
 •I 
 
in Tim i and Eti: 109 
 
 rss and 
 air, if I 
 
 :rcs me, that I have a mediator there ; 
 
 :ihful and a cr 
 
 :S Chru : ; r i r\ \ I 
 
 fcd to be a prince and a saviour^ 
 
 till he hath broi 
 
 t glory , O Lord ! ihou 
 f r hear en \ rid we 
 
 .eve, and here to trio? it Whom /^?£ 
 I in heaven ! Tliat is the pi von. 
 
 What can I r<ir/A ? This irorld 
 
 is the phee rther of 
 
 : that nhicl 
 i life, co^ ; »f 
 Besi-e. or fi if is in ^ked 
 
 : . 1 * . T 
 
 a::d the g: c '.perance 
 
 :reate And inc s ; and t/n 
 
 of another kind, are the ^ r .;i 
 
 Oh ! that : of 
 
 : impor- 
 tunate desires ! rw me /<? 
 
 fall k 
 of heaven, 25 such 2 place cr i 
 
 ymertt ! Spc 
 
 j let j 
 
 K 
 
110 Serious Reflection* 
 
 Christ, who is the desire of all nations, (thro* 
 whom all divine communications are made 
 to fallen sinners) be the great object of my 
 present desire zn&ioDe! Let me desire noth- 
 ing but as in him, and for him ; that be- 
 lieving his word, obeying his law, adoring 
 his person, imitating his example, trusting 
 his promise, constrained by his love partak- 
 ing of his image, filled with his grace, and 
 comforted by his spirit ; my meditations of 
 him may be sweeter, and my love stronger; 
 and I may have nothisg more left to desire 
 for myself, but that God who hath raised 
 and exalted hm would keep alive my faith 
 and hope, and holy desires, till he hath 
 made me meet to be with him ; and after 
 having guided me by his grace, and spirit, 
 and counsels, here on earth, would receive 
 me to his most blessed and glorious pres- 
 ence in heaven. Amen, Amen. 
 
 Sect. XXII. 
 
 The glorious appearance ^Christ to Judg- 
 ment considered as certain : The terror 
 and astonishment, confusion and despair 
 *f wicked Jews and Christians, to behold 
 their Judge, and hear his condemning sen- 
 tenee to everlasting destruction. 
 
 \/| 7 HEN our blessed Saviour shall ap- 
 V pear to judge the world, I read that 
 it shall be, in his own glory, the glory of his 
 Father, and of the holy angels. If by tht 
 
on Tiuz and Etx*xity. Ill 
 
 gUry ef his Father be meant that of the di~ 
 rinit}', as the Original and Author of all 
 tilings in nature ; as the Almighty Creator 
 of the world ; and by the glory of his holy 
 angels, be understood that of the legal ad- 
 ministration, the law being given by the 
 disposition of angels ; and by his cvjn glory y 
 that of the gospel, as he is the Messiah, that 
 in the glory of all these he shall come to 
 judgment ; we have a summary account of 
 the three different revelations which God 
 hath made of himself to mankind ; by the 
 light of nature, that of the law, and the mere 
 manifest one of the gospel. According to 
 which every man is to be judged at the last 
 day. 
 
 Tho' we cannot directly tell what, or how 
 great our Lord's glory will then be ; we may 
 hit retain r :: T: - ^suitable to the dignity 
 of his royal person, suitable to the grandeur 
 of his Father's majesty ; xvnn tnr ^jtcmmr 
 of a triumphant prince \ who is heir of all 
 things ; and hath all power in heaven and 
 in earth committed to him ; the great Lord 
 of both worlds, head of angels and men ; 
 and suitable to his glorious office, as Me- 
 diator, and the appointed Judge of quick 
 and dead. 
 
 If at> his transfiguration his face shone, and 
 his raiment was white and glittering ; How 
 much more splendid will his last appear- 
 ance be ? When the bodies of his saints 
 shall be seven times brighter than the lustre 
 of the Sun ? And if his members shall then 
 be so glorious, how transcendently mere so 
 
1 
 
 112 Serigus Ra * l z € t i o n s 
 
 will their kead, their Lord appear ? If the 
 delivery and promulgation of the law on 
 mount Sinai, was accompanied with suck 
 circumstances of terrible majesty, how much 
 more may >ve suppose the great assize will' 
 be attended with ; when he comes to judge 
 for the violation of the law-, and the ton- 
 tempt of the gespel ? And if even Moses did 
 then exceedingly quake and fear, what will 
 be the consternation and trembling of the 
 wicked world at the coming of Christ ? 
 Whin he shall be reteakd from heaven in 
 flaming fire, with a glorious retinue of his 
 mighty angels, as so many bright stars about 
 the more glorious sun of righteousness. 
 The lights of heaven shall be eclipsed ; the 
 visible sun shall veil' its blushing head, as 
 infinitely outshone ; the present glory of 
 the creation be all benighted, by reason of 
 his transcendent brightness. Yea, the heav- 
 ens shall be wrapt up as a scroll; the ele- 
 ments melt away with a mighty noise, the 
 earth and all its works be burned upland the 
 whole universe as one great bonfire, to adorn 
 the triumph of our Lord's appearance. And 
 this ushered in by the voice of an archangel^ 
 proclaiming his approach; and the voice of 
 God, supplying the use of a trumpet, to raise 
 the dead, and possess mankind with an aw- 
 ful reverence of their Judge. 
 
 Thus in triumph, as a conqueror, and a 
 judge^ shall he come again, who once ap- 
 peared in the form of a servant, to be judg- 
 ed and condemned by man. Then he was 
 called king m scorn : new he will appear as. 
 
mTimi and Etirnity. 113 
 
 mi: Kly and hum 
 
 ab once he - our sa:. 
 
 it. TJicn the contempt of nations, and no 
 
 way ci . desirabl en he c 
 
 from the womb virgin mother, tjo~j 
 
 the terror o. rid, when he comes again 
 
 ^ht hand of his father. No more 
 to be subj ct to a state of meanness, but to 
 render vengeance to not God, 
 
 ana 
 
 He has pi s of his 
 
 himself of no reputation, and ac- 
 
 to live : but when he 
 
 il put on a garment of 
 
 ice, to repay fury to the enemies of 
 
 his cross, and make wicked despisers rise 
 
 again to shame and everlasting corner 
 
 thee knee to him in 
 
 I their heads at hhn in 
 
 den: for* 
 
 ... as Lo 
 * i I him as his prisoner, s 
 
 »ppc re him as his right jc ; and 
 
 know that he iras another j and 
 
 mon The 
 
 false witnesu f W tt- 
 
 one ano*. 
 , bel re his 
 bar, with the other ^ara w ^o o*ice dragged 
 hinn e confound- 
 
 ed to stand before his uittscafa Hit 
 
 c lap. c. e 
 
114 Serious Reflections 
 
 cructfiers shall behold him on a throne af 
 glory, whom they naikd to an infamous 
 cross. They shall be astonished to be- 
 hold him sitting at the right hand of 
 Ged, whose hands they bound, whose body 
 they scourged, whose side they pierced. 
 They who crowned him with thorns shall 
 (.with all the world) behold him with a 
 erown of glory. They that spit on him, and 
 kmote him on the face with the fist of wick- 
 edness, shall have their own faces covered 
 with confusion. They that approved his 
 condemnation te death, as a criminal, shall 
 be senteneecLfrorn his roouth,as their Judge, 
 to everlasting destruction. They that scourge 
 ed him as a malefactor, shall be beaten with 
 many stripes. They that made him stagger 
 under the weight of the cross r shall sink un* 
 der the guilt and punishment of despising 
 it. They that nailed him to the accursed 
 t\ec t between thieves and robbers, shall be 
 sentenced to endless punishment, in much 
 w or^e company. They who gave him gall 
 and vinegar to drink, shall not be able to get 
 a drop of water to cool their own tongues. 
 Where then shall the wicked and ungodly 
 of \\\? christian vjor/d appear ; who crucify 
 the Son of God afresh, since he hath declar- 
 td himself to be so. by his resurrection, ar.d 
 the mission of the Holy Ghost, and fulfill- 
 ing his threatened vengeance on the nation 
 of the ye-ivS) he. 
 
 if the J civs shall have a sorer condem- 
 nation than ignorant Heat/iens, who never 
 heard of Christ, never saw his miracles, or 
 
ojiTime and Eternity. 115 
 
 were informed of his doctrine ; how shall 
 we escape ? for he will come agate as a con- 
 queror and a Judge, and not as a sufferer 
 and a surety, as he came at first , and tho* 
 he was numbered with transgressors, and 
 made his grave with the wicked* at his first 
 appearance ; he shall hereafter be attended 
 with the shouts of angels, who excel in 
 strength, and the joyful exclamations of his 
 saints, glittering as the light, and paying 
 homage to him as the Judge of quick and 
 dead. He, whom we kave despised, shall 
 then be encompassed with a dazzling glory 
 that will confound us. &e 9 whom we have 
 affronted, shall be cloathed with a majesty 
 that shall astonish ua. He, whom we have 
 offended, shall be armed with power and 
 with wrath to punish us ; and all that con- 
 tinue to lift up their heel against him, shait 
 then be made his footstool ; all that refuse 
 to kiss the sceptre of his grace, &hail bt 
 broken in pieces by his iron rod. 
 
 The holy scripture doth frequently and 
 expressly assure us, that he will thus come 
 again, and for these ends. He is exalted, 
 and gone to heaven, as the head of his church 
 and the king of glory ; and when he fore- 
 told his ascension, he gave a promise of his 
 return. The heavens are to contain him, 
 till the restitution of all things. By his 
 providence, and by the holy Spirit he now 
 curies on tke designs of his death ; & when 
 th^se are accomplished, he will appear 
 to the joy of the blessed. He is entered 
 as our *for*runner 9 \v\thm the veil,to prepare 
 *Hcb. ti. 19, 20, and x. 29. 
 
115 Scrimis Reflections 
 
 mansions, and to take possession for us, and 
 will not always leave us in this dark and de- 
 filing world. He knoweth our sorrows, 
 and heareth our prayers, and bottles our 
 tears, take notice of our groans, and in all 
 our afflictionshe is afflicted. Being rccvncil- 
 cd by his death, at his first coming, we shall 
 be saved by his life, since he lives to make 
 good his word of coming again. 
 f How comfortable is the news of it ? How 
 joyful will be the meeting, to such as expect 
 and prepare to see him ? when the sea and 
 the graves shall yield up their dead, and all 
 the prisoners of hope lift up their heads,arise, 
 go up and meet the Lord in the air, and as- 
 eend with him to the heavenly glory. But 
 who can express how dismal a sight this 
 will be to the secure and the impenitent, to 
 all who die in ther sins ? to behold their 
 Judge (who formerly offered to be their 
 Saviour) upon a glorious throne, and all the 
 children of Adam summoned before his tri- 
 bunal ! to have nothing to answer against 
 his charge, and no way to escape his con- 
 demning sentence ! They despised him as 
 a Lamb, offered in sacrifice to lake away 
 the sins of the world ; but shall no longer 
 do so, when he comes as the lion of the tribe 
 of ' Jtidah, to devour and destroy the ene- 
 mies of his cross. Novo they will not own 
 him for their Lord, but shall find he is so, 
 by the vengeance he will execute. 
 
 As a Jesus, as a Saviour they rejected 
 him, making light of his salvation, despising 
 his mercy, refusing his grace ; but the neg* 
 
en 
 
 Tim i ^Eternitt. I IT 
 
 lected gospel will then be a more killing let- 
 ter than the £ffft He, who by his ambas- 
 sadors, doth now intrcat sinners to be re- 
 conciled, will then be as deaf to their in treat- 
 ies, as ihey have been to his. Because they 
 would not turn at his reproof, hearken to 
 the call of his word, and obey his voice, 
 they must hear the sentence of condemna- 
 tion, and feel the execution of it, whether 
 they will or no ; yea, the blood of his ct*ssr 
 will upbraid, accuse, and plead against 
 them. And whatsoever foolish evasions 
 they now make to continue in security, they 
 shall then- be speechless and self- condemned. 
 Nothing will be able to hide them from the 
 amazing presence of their Judge, or frenv 
 the wrath of the Lamb. He then will in- 
 fiict an intolerable and righteous vengeance, 
 an everlasting destruction^ upon all the ignor- 
 ant and ungodly world : The greatest, the 
 stoutest, the boldest of them shall them Le 
 humbled, and stand before Christ's tribunal, 
 upon an equal level with meanest ; seized 
 with horror, filled with guilt, anguish and 
 despair , and find to their eternal confu- 
 sion, that the judge is no respecter of per- 
 sons, but every man shall receive according 
 to his works : the mighty shall not be spar- 
 ed for his greatness, nor the mean man for 
 his poverty. 
 
 fool ! wretch that I am f shall many 
 then say, who now brave it out in pride and 
 vanity, unconcerned about a future judg- 
 ment ! not to be persuaded by the terror* 
 of the Lord, which i was so often warned 
 
118 Serious Reflections 
 
 and foretold of ! What refuge of hope can 
 I now fly to ? What can I say for myself ? 
 What can I do to escape, to die, to exist no 
 longer ? I would have no compassion on my 
 own soul , I would not so much as consider 
 its danger : I shall now find none from 
 Christ, I can expect none ! his mercy is 
 gone, and gone forever ! I am lost, undone, 
 tormented, and must eternally be so ! O 
 the amazement^ horror and despair of self- 
 condemned sinners in that day of vengeance! 
 O my soul ! what is there of greater con- 
 sequence, or of greater certainty from the 
 word of God, than that I must appear to 
 judgment, when Christ shall come again ? 
 Lord, teach me to believe it firmly, to con- 
 sider it often, to lay it seriously to heart, to 
 act under the influence and power of it, as 
 Ion** «Q I K^r*» • tit at o* *k~ *»*"»xi/ 4»««»« «<»*>* -~ : --~ 
 
 ► • -._ «^.vi X. ilVw • iU«-i^ M.*. Cti^. aT < CC*»- i vJ^' / c tut/'* 
 
 from the dead* I may lift up my head with 
 
 a joyful hope, and find the judge to be my 
 friend; my advocate, my Jesus* and not my 
 enemy and destroyer. 
 
 Sect. XXIII. 
 
 Meditations of the glory of Christ in his glo- 
 rified saints, and of the thankful admira- 
 tion of believers, when he shall come a- 
 gun from heaven, which shall be continued 
 to all eternity. 
 
 THE terror of our Lord's appearance to 
 judgment, cannot be greater to the 
 
§n Time and Eternity. 119 
 
 wicked, than the comfort and joy of it will 
 be to the saints. When they shall see him 
 whom their souls love, ascend with him to 
 heaven, and be welcomed, according to hii 
 promise, with those endearing words*, Come 
 ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom 
 prepared for you from before the foundation 
 of the ivor Id. u It was for your sakes I as- 
 sumed flesh, lived on earth, and died on the 
 cross, to purchase this glorious kingdom for 
 you, which I now come to give you the 
 possession of : it was for this I prayed and 
 suffered on earth, for this I interceded ever 
 since in heaven : I was heard in that prayer, 
 accepted in those sufferings, and my inter- 
 cession granted, that where I am, you may 
 be a!so % to behold my glory. Come therefore 
 good and faithful servants, enter into your 
 Lord's joy." O what ravishing words will 
 these be ! what an extasy of love and kind- 
 ness is implied in them ; what matter of 
 rejoicing may it now give me, to admit the 
 hope that my blessed Saviour will say such 
 words as these to me, and bid me stand on 
 his right hand, among his sheep ! O what 
 an exulting frame of soul will such expres- 
 sions raise ! How shall all my doubts and 
 fears and sorrows be scattered in a moment, 
 and cease forever ! O glorious day, when 
 my blessed Lord shall thus publicity ac- 
 knowledge me for his own, and plead my 
 cause against all the accusations of Satan, 
 and the malicious calumnies of all hii in- 
 struments ! when I shall be able to say of ail 
 my sins and sufferings, as my Lord upon' 
 • Mat. xxv. 34. 
 
120 Serious Ri flections 
 
 the cross, It is finished, it is finished ! My 
 warfare being accomplished, fceii g more 
 than conqueror ever all, through him who 
 loved me, and died forme, and now is come 
 to wpt aivay all tears Jrem mine eyes> as it 
 were with the napkin that was bound about 
 his head when laid in the grave; all being the 
 fruit of his meritorious death. Then shall I 
 have nothing more to fear, or wish or beg. 
 I shall offend, provoke and dishonor him no 
 mere ; nor by my folly and scandal, discred- 
 it his holy name and gospel ; but by con- 
 summate holiness be fitted to rejoice in his 
 presence and love, and celebrate his praise 
 forever* I shall never more lament his ab- 
 sence, or complain of his anger ; never see 
 a cloud on his face, or a frown in his look 
 any more. No*& I most wait and pray, 
 struggle and strive, labor and suffer, desire 
 and expect* believe and hope, &c. but then^ 
 perfect rest and holiness, love and joy, vis- 
 ion and fruition, bliss and glory unutterable 
 and everlasting, shall take place. 
 
 All the attributes of God, all the wonder- 
 ful perfections of Christ, will then be glorified 
 in believers, and admired by them. His 
 invariable truth will then be honored, which 
 they trusted to, and waited for ; for now 
 they shall know and find they did not wait 
 in vain, they hoped in his word, and ventur- 
 ed their salvation upon it ; and now they 
 shall reeeive the end of their faith and hope, 
 infinitely beyond what they ever expected or 
 believed. 
 
 The glory of divine wisdom will then ap- 
 
on 
 
 Time aw/Eternity. 121 
 
 pear, when the constitution, administration, 
 and design of the mediator's kingdom shall 
 be fully known in the admirable order and 
 beauty of every part of it, with the eiact 
 tendency of all the particulars to one glori- 
 ous end, and the whole undertaking crown- 
 ed with so blessed an issue. What is now 
 a mystery even to believers themselves, and 
 hath a veil upon it, shall then no longer be 
 so ; all the riddles of God's grace and prov- 
 idence shall be plainly understooel. O how 
 transporting a view must it needs be, when 
 the glory of all the divine attributes which 
 God intended to accomplish in and by 
 Christ, shall be manifest to his redeemed 
 saints! the whole method of our salvation 
 will then appear to be the fruit of unsearch- 
 able iviidom y Yi\\tn we shall all see the reality 
 and substance, and entire scheme of all that 
 God designed in, and by him ; all that was 
 typified of him, and foretold concerning 
 him in the old Testament. How will it all 
 appear to be the manifold wisdom of God ! 
 Eph. iih 10. 
 
 As in uniting heaven and earth together 
 in the person of our mediator, fulfilling 1 the 
 truth of a terrible threatning in his death, 
 and by the same way accomplishing *many 
 gracious promises ; satisfying justice, and 
 at the same time she< ercy ; faanifest- 
 
 ing infinite grace and Iding 
 
 •f blood ; conquering death by dying, and 
 disarming the law by obedience to it, &c. 
 
 id. Mr. Carnock, on th: Jivinc attribute wifdom. 
 L 
 
122 Serious Re flections 
 
 How wonderfully will a clear view of these 
 things discover, and glorify the wisdom 
 of God ! 
 
 But the love and grace of Christ ; the in* 
 finite goodness and compassion of God, will 
 then be magnified in an especial manner. 
 What but sovereign lo-oe in the whole con- 
 trivance and counsel of God about our re- 
 demption ! What admirable love and grace 
 in the whole management of that design ! 
 What unparalleled kindness in the accom- 
 plishment of it, by the sacrifice of the Son 
 of God! And how glorious will this love 
 appear, when he shall come again to give 
 us the full harvest of all his purchase ! With 
 what admiring thankfulness shall believers 
 then contemplate the unsearchable riches of 
 his grace ! In all the parts and instances of 
 his humiliation, from his conception to his 
 crucifixion and burial ; in all the evidences 
 and discoveries made of it, from the first 
 promise to its completion, yea, from before 
 the foundation of the world, in the covenant 
 of peace between the Father and the Son. 
 until his second coming, to judge the world 
 and deliver up the kingdom to his Father. 
 
 How shall we then admire and adore his 
 povocr ful gr act. which snatched us firebrands 
 out of everlasting burnings; that effectu- 
 ally shined into our minds by heavenly 
 light ; col quered the opposition of our 
 stubborn wills ; sanctified our carnal hearts, 
 rescued us from the tyranny of Satan, and 
 the dominion of lust : giving cherishing 
 and preserving the holy seed g? grace, and 
 
*rt Time and Eternity. I2> 
 
 making it spring up to eternal life ; defeat- 
 ing the malicious and subtle endeavors of 
 the devil to destroy it ; enabling ns to en- 
 dure tribulation, and persevere to the end ; 
 giving us victory over death ; conducting 
 us through the dark valley ; raising our 
 bodies, reviving and re uniting them to 
 souls, and rendering then glorious like his 
 own body , and at length rewarding our 
 imperfect services with eternal life. Yea, 
 though our best services were mixt with 
 sin, our holiest duties spotted, our mosl 
 courageous sufferings mixed with unbelief, 
 Jret rewarded with a blessedness that hah 
 no allay of evil, but all the ingredients of a 
 perfect felicity, and nothing to lessen 
 and interrupt it. How shall we then ad- 
 mire the bounty of our gracious Lord, the 
 freeness, tenderness, riches, and the exceed- 
 ing greatness and glory of his infinite good- 
 Hess and grace to poor believers f 
 
 With what extaeies pf joy and gratitude 
 may we iniog'me that our Lord will be then 
 admired by all his redeemed ones ? 
 
 Saying iliis is He, who n^de our peace 
 \ God, and revered the sentence of 
 damnation, which we were under : who 
 bought us with the price of his most pre- 
 cious blood, bore the wrath of his. Father, 
 and submitted to an infamous and accursed 
 death for us. He assumed our natu?*e, that 
 we might partake of his ; became the son 
 of man, that we might be made the children 
 of God ; for our sakes became [cor, that -we 
 through his poverty might become rich: he 
 
124 Serious Reflections 
 
 stooped to bear the greatest ignominy and 
 reproach, to confer honor on us ; he was 
 for a time forsaken of his Father, that we 
 might not be so eternally : he felt the stroke 
 of his anger against sin, that we might not 
 perish under it. He was a man of sorrows, 
 and acquainted with griefs, that we might 
 rejoice : his agonies and bloody sweat were 
 Cor our refreshment, and by his stripes we 
 are healed : he bowed his head on the cross, 
 that we might lift up ours in triumph ; and 
 because we had eaten of the forbidden 
 fruit, he hung on the accursed tree. It was 
 for us that he suffered the frowns of heaven, 
 the enmity of hell, the rage of devils, the 
 hatred and persecution of the world ; he was 
 judged, that we mieht not come into con- 
 damnation : he was crucified, that we 
 might be glorified ; and he is now come a- 
 gain, finally and fully to effect it. 
 
 O die height, and depth, and length, and 
 breadth of the love h Ch\ht, which passeth 
 knowledge, but eails for admiration and ev- 
 erlasting gratitude ! This is the blessed day % 
 we longed and waited and prayed for ! This 
 is our gracious, our glorious Lord, whose 
 love melted our hearts, whose promise was 
 our support, whose word was our rule, 
 whose spirit was our comforter, whose cross 
 was our crown, and the hope of his appear- 
 ance our ch»ef consolation. 
 
 Lord ! What am /, what -%vas L that the 
 ever blessed Son of God should do and suf- 
 fer and purchase all \h\sfor me ? I can re- 
 member when 1 was ignorant of God, a 
 
0/jTime and Eternit /. 125 
 
 sttanger to him, at enmity with him, under 
 the power of darkness, and the devil, 
 
 ing divers lusts and pleasures, hasl 
 hell, and lial rath. But he c 
 
 me out of the world, stamped his image up- 
 on me, pardoned my sins and embraced 
 ni^ in the ar changeable love. 
 
 nary change ' md yet how little did I 
 prize hi e his love* exp 
 my own, or , ana h 
 hira in the eyes of others ! How did I dis- 
 honor my p oly culling, as his 
 disciple, b) agg y ? But he 
 recovered me by repentance, and healed my 
 backslid I received me graciously, be- 
 cause he loved me freely. admit 
 grace ! to pardon, and save, and bring to 
 glory such an unthankful wretch, as I have 
 been ! to make such a difference between 
 me and oiicrs, whom I knew on earth ! That 
 the same power, which makes them misera- 
 ble, now makes me blessed! That when I 
 arc banished from his presence into ( 
 lasting destruction, [am admitted to be 
 
 his gl wy and shall dwell with him : 
 
 O how much more do I now see and find, 
 thm ever I believed, of the love of Ch 
 and his promised salvation ! How much 
 more glorious is the person oi my Redeem- 
 er ! How much more excellent is the heav- 
 enly st;tfe, than ever I thought or expect 
 
 1 could, not ha v< the thousandth 
 
 ich I now see and 
 feel. I cannot . id spend an eter* 
 
 mty in admi iog the incom* 
 
 L 
 
125 Serious Reflections 
 
 parable grace and glory of my blessed Re« 
 dcemer. 
 
 Such holy admiration will certainly pro- 
 duce the most thankful adoration of our 
 Lord Jesus. Saving one to another, bless 
 the Lord of fove and glory ! who humbled 
 himself so low as our Mediator, and hath 
 exalted us so high, as the blessed fruit of it ! 
 How can wc ever enough adore and praise 
 him, who condescended so far, and hath 
 done and suffered so much for us ? Sec 
 how the holy angels worship this King of 
 glory ! And have not every one of us more 
 reason to do so ? O let all the choir of heav- 
 en celebrate his glorious love ! and let us 
 his redeemed his glorified ones gay contin- 
 ually, Let the Level be magnified ; who hath 
 loved us, and vjashtd us from our sins in his 
 oivn bhod, and made us kings and priests 
 ttnto God his Father, and through him ours. 
 
 O merciful Saviour! O glorious change! 
 O happy society ! with whom wc shall eter- 
 nal Iv adore our common Lord. We can 
 some of us remember, when we lived to- 
 gether on eah-fi, how we wept and prayed, 
 and fasted and mourned together, how wc 
 Suffered, and complained, and sinned to- 
 gether. O the marvellous change our re- 
 deemer hath now wrought for us, and in us ! 
 these bodies, these souls, this life, this place, 
 this company, these enjoyments, are not 
 like those in yonder world. But alas ! who 
 can describe what believers shall then think, 
 and say to extol their Saviour ! How small 
 a portion is it we understand of that world ? 
 
on 
 
 Time and Eternity. 127 
 
 How little can I conceive, and how much 
 less express ? Blessed be God we know 
 so much, as the matter of our joyful hopes ; 
 ;.* d forever blessed he God, who hath prom- 
 ised and provided such a glory for us, as 
 cannot now be fuliy known. 
 
 What inexpressible sweetness might be* 
 lievers taste, by rejoicing in hope, did a more 
 lively faith realize ail this to their souls! 
 We might listen, as it were, to the shouts 
 and acclamations of the saints above, and 
 say Amen to their thanksgivings. We 
 might behold them about the throrae of 
 God, and of the Lamb, with palms o£ victo- 
 ry in their hands, a crown of glory on their 
 heads, and songs of triumph in their mouths, 
 saying Hallelujah : * Worthy art thou, O 
 Lord, to receive glory, and honor, and pow- 
 er ; for thou hast created all things, and for 
 thy pleasure they are. and were created. And 
 Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to re- 
 ceive power, and riches, and wisdom, and 
 strength and honor, and glory and blessing. 
 And again, Blessing, honor glory and power, 
 be unto Jam who sits upon the throne^ and to 
 the Lamb, forever and ever. 
 
 Whence is it, my soul ! if indeed I be- 
 lieve and expect all this, that I can hear, and 
 read, and think, and speak of these great 
 things, with no more ardent affection, suita- 
 ble preparations, importunate prayers, and 
 vigorous desires ? How should the believ- 
 ing thoughts of that day promote my heavJ 
 enly-mindedness, self denial, contempt of 
 *ilcv. iv. 1 1 — v. 12. 13' 
 
128 Serious Reflections 
 
 the world, patience and perseverance ! 
 Quicken my zeal* secure my stedfestnesa, 
 and give life and spiru to my prayers for 'he 
 hastening of it ? How should my soul r#ke 
 toward A&wen, by holy love and desire ? 
 Ascend and meet him. get as near him as I 
 can breathe after more of his presence, and 
 beg him to prepossess my heart, to antici- 
 pate his second coming by clearer discov- 
 eries of Ins love and fuller communications 
 of his grace? Even so, come Lord Jesus* 
 
 0Qe9OB3OQ0Q0<?QQ TKS^C QO@ 
 
 Ssct. XXiV. 
 Concerning the examination oj a marts heart 
 and hie : The reasonableness, advantages 
 and necessity or it* Some directions and ad- 
 vice concerning* the time and manner. 
 That we may know in what preparedness 
 We are for eteriwy. 
 
 I Am hastening every year, every day, to 
 the period of this life: I must shortly 
 appear before my glorious Judge ; and ex- 
 perience those terrors or comforts, this 
 blessedness or misery, which 1 have novr 
 read of Shall I m>t therefore enquire, which 
 of the two belongs to me ! Is it not worth 
 considering, whither I must go, and how 
 shall I fare, when I quit this body ? What 
 is like to be my next habitation ? To 
 which of the two unchangeable states I 
 shall be adjudged f Shall an enquiry of so 
 much consequence be put off, to an indef- 
 inite hereafter ? Do I not desire to know 
 
vi Time and Eterxity. 129 
 
 the worst, while a remedy may be found ? 
 Oram I content to die, through an unwil- 
 lingness to discover that I am sick ? The 
 question to be resolved is of infinite weight. 
 Shall 1 not spend a few hours to know what 
 will become of me forever ? An error is 
 more than possible, 'tis easy to mistake ; 
 and the hazard of doing so is unspeakably 
 great. How many thousands perish eter- 
 nally, even under the light of the gospel, 
 who never suspected their danger ? How 
 ordinary, how common a thiHg is it for 
 men to b^ thus deceived ! how successful 
 is the devil in this stratagem against the 
 souls of men !* 
 
 Is it not then a most criminal stupidity 
 to be contentedly ignorant and unresolved, 
 whether I am reconciled to God or no ; 
 whether I ar$ led by the flesh or by the spir- 
 it ; whether I am in the broad or narrow 
 way, which lead to such contrary ends ; 
 that is, whether, if I die in this condition, I 
 shall be saved or perish ? Can such an in* 
 quiry be frivolous or indifferent I Is the %ub~ 
 ject of it so contemptible, or my concern in it 
 so small, that it merits not to be attentively 
 considered ? Shall I never ask my soul, till 
 I am leaving this world, (the unfitted time 
 of all to begin so important an affair) What 
 am I ! To \vhom do I belong ? Whose im- 
 age do I bear ? Eo\\) have I lived and what 
 do I do ? What do 1 love most ? What do I 
 most constantly desire, and c/iuse, ami seek ? 
 Hoy* do:h the pulse of my soul beat ? Is it 
 quickest towards God, or towards the world? 
 
139 Serious Reflection's 
 
 fp hither am I going ? What will be the fin- 
 al upshot and issue of my present course ! h 
 it heaven or hell / must be translated to by 
 dying ? What security have I got for eternal 
 life ? IP hat provision have I made ! What 
 foundation have I laid ? 
 
 How strangely infatuated are most men, 
 who talk of an everlasting life, as an article 
 of their creed, and say they count upon it, 
 that they must dwell in happiness or misery 
 forever ; and seldom or never bethink them- 
 selves in good earnest, and for any time, 
 with a settled composed exercise oftho't, 
 which of these two is like to be their lot f 
 Or, if they begin to search and try them- 
 selves, they come to no conclusion, or con- 
 clude too hastily ; they pluck off the plais- 
 ter as soon as it begins to smart ; they are 
 cither frighted with the horrid prospect of 
 pa*? crimes, or, having escaped the grosser 
 pollutions of the world, judge too favorably 
 ©f their own case. They commonly do the 
 work but by halves, and so go from the 
 glass, and forget what manner of persons, 
 they were. 
 
 Let me therefore, my soul ! sequester 
 myself from the world, to commune with 
 my own heart, to reflect upon my past life, 
 and look into my present state, to recollect 
 and review the most considerable passages 
 of my course and time hitherto. O how 
 neglected and disused a practice is this, 
 which doth challenge and require our princi- 
 pal and most serious concerns about it \ 
 And how many begin it> and or* discour- 
 
en 
 
 Time <w/ Eternity. 131 
 
 aged, ?.nd leave off, without reaching the 
 trnil of such an i nquiry ? 
 
 How much wiser in this respect arc the 
 chili. 'his world in their generation, than 
 
 the children of light ? Who is so exact in 
 his accounts between God and his ewn soul, 
 as tradesmen in thtrii dealings with one a- 
 nqther ? Who is at the pains to write 
 down his $i/w and his mercies ? the grounds 
 of his ^tfr, and the encouragements of his 
 Atf/r ? Or keeps 2 journal and tf/#ry of his 
 spiritual state ? Who doth, at set times, 
 once a month, or once a quarter, or even 
 once a year, take a just view of himself, his 
 heart and his life, and state, as a christian ; 
 that he may see what he hath received and 
 done, what he owes, and what he may ex- 
 pect ; that he may know whether he thrive 
 or decay; whether he increase or decrease ; 
 whether be go backward or forward; wheth- 
 er he be richer or poorer this year than the 
 last ? And is it not a symptom that you are 
 declining, when \im love not to examine 
 your accounts? Is there not ground of jeal- 
 ousy and suspicion that you are behind-hand, 
 because you are loth to enquire whether 
 you are or no ; and unwilling to knew the 
 worst of your condition ? Nevertheless, 
 without such enquiries, and bringing the 
 matter to a determination, at what uncertain- 
 tics must we live ? And how inconceivable 
 an hazard do all hypocrites and unrenewed 
 sinners run ? And how reasonable, how 
 necessary is it that we should know, and, 
 in order to it, prove ourselves ? We must 
 
232 .Serieus Reflection's 
 
 therefore bestow time arid serious diligence 
 about it. that we may examine matters to 
 the bottom, and come to some result ; so 
 that we may form a right judgment con- 
 cerning our own esse, 
 
 He that would do it to good purpose, 
 must endeavor to understand clearly the 
 terms of the covenant on G eel's part, and on 
 ours : and take care not to judge of him- 
 self by mistaken rules ; by a false standard 
 that God will not justify ; or by any such 
 characters as will not conclude. But most 
 men are unwilling to bring themselves to a 
 trial, or to Jet conscience deal plainly and 
 faithfully with them. They are stupidly se- 
 cure, and seek not the necessity of this du- 
 ty : or do not suspect themselves. They 
 .presume they need net be at that trouble : 
 or are so taken up with the world, that they 
 cannot find time and leisure for it. And 
 many men dare not bring their hearts and 
 ways to a trial. There is commonly some 
 secret last indulged, which they are loth to 
 let go. But most go on in sfa, and perish 
 eternally, because they think there is no 
 danger of perishing ; and never repent, and 
 make their peace with God, because they 
 fancy and presume 'tis done already. 
 
 Therefore let me beg of thee, whoever 
 thou art, who readrst this, to put tke case to 
 thyself, seriously to admit the doubt, wheth- 
 er you are not mistaken ; make the svppo- 
 siiien, *hat you have not hitherto sufficiently 
 considered the state of your soul. You are 
 confident that all <&di \ and thereupon 
 
# IIME tfw/ETERNITV. 133 
 
 arc unwilling to examine farther : But for 
 that very reason you ought to question, 
 whether it be so or not ? Do but ask your- 
 self seriously, what is the ground of your 
 good opinion concerning yourself ? For 
 what reason can you thus conclude ? Did 
 you ever seriously lay to heart the characters 
 and description which the scriptures give of 
 those whom Christ will own at the last day ; 
 and of such whom he will reject and rep- 
 robate ? With unfeigned application to 
 your own case, have you therewith proved 
 yourselves ? And come to a settled judg- 
 ment, after a deliberate enquiry ? And was 
 the conclusion to your comfort and joy ? If 
 so, what influence hath it since had upon 
 your heart & life ? Hath it promoted purity, 
 thankfulness, heavenly mindedness, con. 
 tempt of this world, and stronger desires af- 
 ter the image, love, and presence of God, 
 and the glory of Christ ? Moreover con- 
 sider, 
 
 Is not this a good while ago ? How have 
 you behaved yourself ever since ? Have 
 you not reason to look back with shame ? 
 If you but slightly examined yourself for- 
 merly, resolve to do it more effectually 
 now : review the sins you have been since 
 guilty of; and if you have not done any 
 thing considerable of this kind, you ought 
 now to begin. It is seasonable to begin the 
 year by such ati exercise ; and it will be 
 found of great use in all the following parts 
 of it : especially when you come to exam- 
 ine yourself afresh, in order to the LordH 
 M 
 
134 Serious Reflections 
 
 Supper. For we ought frequently to re- 
 new the sad remembrance of our former 
 sins ; that from time to time we may renew 
 our repentance ', which is the work of our 
 life, and not of one day. And he that Com- 
 eth to the sacrament, and will lock no far- 
 ther back than to the last communion, may 
 possibly presume too much, that all was 
 then as it should be, and not be humble 
 enough. 
 
 If any one therefore resolve in good ear- 
 nest upon an holy life, and seriously design 
 to prepare for eternity^ as it is necessary to 
 make a general review of his life, so 1 de- 
 sire to afford him the best counsel I can, in 
 order to it. 
 
 It may be adviseable, (*) if you have not 
 formerly begun this work, to employ one 
 hour at least in a day, for several days fol- 
 lowing, in writing down the most consider- 
 able passages of your life you can remember,, 
 desiring God's assistance therein ; and 
 keeping your eye upon your end, in the 
 whole ; that is, thinking seriously that His 
 in order to eternity, that you now examine 
 Tourself. Choose a place of retirement, and 
 the most convenient time, that you may not 
 be interrupted, and when your heart is most 
 serious. Every man may divide his life 
 into several parts, as from infancy till he 
 left off going to school or was bound ap- 
 prentice, or settled in any way of education. 
 From thence, till fixed in some employ- 
 
 "t*)V*d. Mr, Baiter's Saints reft. p. 3. ch. 7,8,9. 
 
on 
 
 Time and Eternity*. 135 
 
 ment ; if a married person, till entered into 
 that condition. And from thence to anoth- 
 er remarkable period, or to the present 
 time. It may better assist some persons 
 memory, to consider the several places of 
 their abode, and compute according to them. 
 In each portion of time, recollect what sins 
 you were most addicted to : in what in- 
 stances, with what frequency, and with what 
 other various aggravations you committed 
 them : And what have been the effects and 
 consequences of those sins, to yourselves, 
 and others, in order to repentance and god* 
 \y sorrow. Which must not be judged of 
 by tears, but grief, and inward hatred of sin. 
 Remembering that no man is the better 
 merely for being examined, if there follows 
 nothing after it. 5 Tis in order to a judg- 
 ment to be passed upon ourselves. ' lis to 
 search out our own iniquity, our beloved sin, 
 in order to the mortification of it. That 
 Gpliah must first be slain, if ever the other 
 Philistines art conquered. In some it is 
 pride, in others worldliness, in some un- 
 cleanness, in others drunkenness, gluttony, 
 &x. That you may discover it, observe, 
 what sin 'tis you are most unwilling to part 
 with ; which you could even wish were not 
 forbidden. 
 
 Which you have formerly been most apt 
 to plead for, to extenuate, or excuse and 
 hide. 
 
 The thoughts whereof do most frequent- 
 ly occur ; especially when alone : first in 
 the morning, and last at night : and ar$ 
 
136 Serious Reflections 
 
 most distracting in prayer and worship. 
 
 Which an awakened conscience hatli 
 most plainly told you of; under a sermon, 
 or at a sacrament, or under some heavy af- 
 fliction, or on a sick bed, &;c. 
 
 Which you can least bear to be reprov- 
 ed for. 
 
 Which the temperature of your body 
 doth most incline to. 
 
 Which your calling, employment, com^ 
 pany, and converse, administer the greatest 
 temptations for. 
 
 That especially which hath the throne of 
 the heart, and sets all the faculties at work, 
 to contrive fuel and opportunities for its 
 gratification. 
 
 Observe likewise what passion was most 
 predominant in each period of time, or is yet 
 so ; and what ill effects it hath produced* 
 Consider farther what dangerous temptations 
 you have met with > how you have fallen by 
 them, or been enabled to resist. Consider 
 withall the time, and the means, whereby 
 God hath at any time formerly awakened, 
 convinced, and humbled you ; what purpos- 
 es of amendment, and promises of reforma- 
 tion, you have ever made ; and how far you 
 have, or have not performed them. Recol- 
 lect likewise all the special viercies you have 
 received from God in every state and peri- 
 od of your life, in order to thankfulness* 
 The last section of these papers may give 
 you some assistance therein, and consider 
 what returns you have made to God, for all 
 his kindness. 
 
oft Time and Eternity, 137 
 
 You may do well to consider yourself al- 
 
 so, in the relations you have stood to oth- 
 ers ; as inferior^ equal, or superior ; in fami- 
 ly, church, or state ; in your calling, pro- 
 fession, employment, &c. And examine in 
 what more notorious instances you have been 
 faulty in your relative duties. How you did 
 ordinarily carry it in your place and station ; 
 for that is the best, the truest picture of a 
 man, which is like him in his ordinary, ev- 
 ery d.iy's habit. Particularly reflect upon 
 the sins you have committed in company 
 with others. By whose example you have 
 been drawn to sin ; who may probably have 
 been tempted by yours, and bewail it ; and 
 # the persons are living, admonish them to 
 repent : and if you have injured and wrong- 
 ed any, acknowledge your fault, and to the 
 utmost of your power, make speedy resti- 
 tution. If any of your companions in sin 
 are dead, and you fear died without repent- 
 ance ; humble yourself particularly before 
 God, tor having contributed to their dam- 
 nation. 1 know of some who have made 
 such a catalogue of their sins, with the most 
 observable aggravations of them ; which 
 they constantly preserved, and frequently 
 reviewed, to keep then* humble, penitent, 
 watchful and thankful ; and on some occa- 
 sions of secret humiliation, have spread 
 them before the Lord, (as Hczckiah did the 
 writing of his enemy) covering themselves 
 with shame and confusion of face, by con- 
 sidering what they have been, and thence 
 admiring the riches of free grace, in the 
 
 M 
 
138 Serious Reflections 
 
 forgiveness of such crimes, thro* the blood 
 of Christ. 
 
 Examine me, Lord, and prove me z try 
 my reins and my heart ; jor thy loving kind- 
 ness is before mine eyes, and 1 will walk in 
 thy truth. Thou hast searched me, Lord § 
 and known me ; thou know est my thoughts 
 afar off ; all my secret sins are in the light 
 of thy countenance ; and thou art acquainted 
 with all my ways. Set my sins in order be- 
 fore me, that 1 may repent, and forsake them* 
 Shew me mine infirmities and wickedness, 
 that I may watch against them. And teach 
 me to judge and condemn myself \ that 1 may 
 not be judged of the Lord y or condemned witl\ 
 the world. 
 
 O 
 
 Sect. XXV. 
 How christians ought to examine their decays 
 of grace and piety. The greatness of their 
 sin, and of their loss, under such a declen- 
 sion : Gvd % % displeasure, and departure 
 from them considered, to awaken endeavors' 
 oj a recovery. In what manner the faith 
 ^adherence may be acted by out who hath 
 no assurance. 
 
 T cannot but be of use to believers also* 
 at stated times to examine themselves, 
 concerning thtir languishings and decays 
 in grace, falling from their first love to a 
 spirit of indiflferency and lukewarmness, 
 disorderly walking or unfruitfulness ; 
 whether grey hairs are not here and there up* 
 
on Time and Eternity. 159 
 
 r: them, and they know it not. For God 
 may withdraw by degrees, so that his de- 
 
 puture may not presently be perceived. 
 And some kind of activity in duty may be 
 continued upon false principles, and from 
 common assistance, while a christian, as to 
 his spiritual state, may be under a danger. 
 ous consumption. 'Tis not difficult for 
 others to observe it sometimes, and would 
 be visible enough to themselves, would they 
 spare a few hours to examine the matter. 
 The punishment of such backslidings, the 
 lo^s of the q g and comforting pres- 
 
 ence of the holy spirit, deserves likewise to 
 be e: . into, in order to a speedy rem- 
 
 edy, and should enforce the counsel. 
 
 I mean not barely the ebbing of ajfectitm* 
 in the duties of religion, or the want of life, 
 and qnicki. m sensible consolation^ 
 
 which new converts (especially such as have 
 been red i a course of notorious 
 
 impiety) have more of at first than after- 
 
 ds. This doubting christians should 
 particularly take notice of, by the instance 
 of the prodigal, who was extraordinarily 
 
 >ted at his first return, but was doubt- 
 leas contented after.- ards with the ordi:. 
 provisions ol iher's house. Neither 
 
 doth God dispense the same measure to all 
 alike, nor to any alike at all times: some 
 who are i r services and suflfer- 
 
 Bicts be- 
 fore con vers: r share 
 rest of their brethren. Neither v ill 
 the same degree of grace imparted to &m* 
 
140 Serious Rift actions 
 
 persons, so discemably move and comfort, 
 as it will do some others of a different tern- 
 pen 'lis not therefore so much to be the 
 matter of our enquiry (if at all it need to be 
 so) whether we have more or less of sensi- 
 ble joy, in the performance of duty. But, 
 whether we are not fallen and declined, as 
 to the mzvard vital acts of grace, and in the 
 outward fruits of holiness. Whether we 
 have such clear convincing apprehensions 
 of divine and spiritual truths, and the mys- 
 teries of the gospel, as formerly ; whether 
 our minds are not become more vain and 
 heeedless ; whether our knowledge of God, 
 and of the revelations of his will, be as pow- 
 erful and eSieacious upon our hearts and 
 lives,as heretofore; whether there be not less 
 frequency, less consistency, less inward 
 satisfaction in holy serious thoughts than 
 formerly. You were wont to pray and en- 
 deavor, that God might befrst and last in 
 your thoughts every day, and, by frequent 
 ejaculations in civil affairs, to maintain a 
 daily converse with God ; but now you 
 mind not whether it be so or not; yea. you 
 cannot but know, that it is not thus with you 
 still. It was once your burden to be pes- 
 tered with foolish filthy, worldly, vain tho'ts, 
 especially on the Lord's day, or in the wor- 
 ship of God; you rejected and disowned 
 them, you lamented and prayed against 
 them ; do so much as examine, whether it 
 be thus still. 
 
 Consider all your affections, end their 
 several objects ; # and see whether a criminal 
 
€?i Time jW Eternitt. 141 
 
 lukewarmness hath not dffused itself into 
 every one of them. Examine every grace ; 
 and see whether your faith, hope, love, holy 
 desires, and delight in God, be not misera- 
 ble abated ; as to the strength and vigor, 
 the efficacy and frequent exercise of every 
 one of them ; so that your thoughts of God 
 are few, cold, and lifeless, without desiie, 
 delight, and love. 
 
 Consider the opportunities of public wor- 
 ship, and solemn occasions of approaching 
 the divine presence. Are they as much the 
 desire of your souls, and the rejoicing of 
 your hearts, as once they were ? Are you 
 not more easily diverted from them, less 
 satisfied and refreshed by them ? Are not, 
 all gospel-ordinances less powerful and 
 quickning, your profit and advantage there- 
 by unspeakably less than formerly ? Do you 
 hunger and thirst, and pant as the hart after 
 the water-brooks, to draw nigh to God, and 
 come into his courts ? Do you make con- 
 science a preparing beforehand ? Do you 
 come with a real desire and design, and ex- 
 pectation of profiting, and bettering your 
 spirits? Do you join in every part of divine 
 worship with that attention, seriousnesss, 
 and composure of mind, and taste the sweet-* 
 ness and benefit of such solemnities, a.s for- 
 merly ? Are such services performed with 
 that awe of God, with that humility, fer- 
 vency, and intenseness of spirit, as some- 
 times they were ? Are you not more neg- 
 ligent and unconcerned before and after, 
 whether you find any thing of this or no ; 
 
142 Serious Reflections 
 
 Though your desires are weak, your heart 
 flat, your thoughts wandering, your spirits 
 trifling, so the work be done, and the duty 
 be over, (in how formed, customary, and 
 careless a manner soever it be) you consid- 
 er it not, you lay it not to heart, you reflect 
 not upon it, you bewail it not, or at least are 
 better contented, and sooner quieted, and 
 take less notice of the frame of your heart 
 in such duties, than formerly. 
 
 Examine farther, how His with you as to 
 the great distinguishing duties of an upright 
 christian, (if performed as they ought to be) 
 I mean secret prayer and meditation ; Are 
 you as strict and careful, constant and con- 
 cientious, frequent and abundant in these, 
 as formerly ? May not our closets and pla- 
 ces of retirement witness against us ? How 
 seldom are we there ? How quickly are we 
 gone ! How easily diverted ? How soon tired ? 
 How do we triflle in that work, and shuffle 
 it over, and take up with the shadow and 
 image of prayer ? Our former humble and 
 importunate prayers, joyful thanksgivings, 
 and sw r eet contemplation of the mysteries 
 of religion, compared with our present daily 
 practice, will testify that we are declined 
 and fallen. 
 
 Moreover consider the evil of sin, and how 
 3 r our heart stands affected to it. Is not your 
 hatred of sin, and zeal against it, much de- 
 cayed ; especially with respqet to inward 
 spiritual sins, such as the secret workings 
 of unbelief, and distrust, pride, envy, un- 
 charitableness, &c ? Do vou bewail it,strive 
 
*/zTime and Eternity. 143 
 
 against it, ?r,d shun the occasions, and fear 
 the temptations that may lead you into sin, 
 as once you did ? Have you not lost much 
 of that tenderness, and holy jealousy over 
 your heart and ways you formerly had ! 
 Do you not now make more bold with temp- 
 tation ? Are you not oftencr conquered ? 
 And with less reluctance ? And by smaller 
 temptations, &c. 
 
 Are you not more unserviceable ? Root 
 and fruit in a withering condition ? God Jess 
 honored, and others less profited and edfied 
 by your example and life ? Do you not ad- 
 here more to the world ? Conform to it, 
 and comply with it in many things, which 
 formerly you durst not have done ? And 
 are every day .waxing worse ? Make a 
 pause awhile, and bethink yourself what this 
 frill come to at last, when even the little 
 good that remains, is ready to die. 
 
 May I not ask such christians, or desire 
 them to ask themselves : What is already 
 the effect and consequence of this declen- 
 sion ? Is not God's spirit removed, and the 
 light of his countenance eclipsed ? Yea, as 
 to many of them, are they not under sad 
 apprehensions of God's displeasure ? Do 
 they not feel the terrors of the Lord ? Do 
 they not walk heavily from day to day ? 
 They that could once converse with God 
 on all occasions as a friend, and a father, do 
 now think of God, and are troubled : thick 
 darkness doth encompass them roundabout: 
 they have lost the sense of his love, the 
 comforts of his presence, and their song in 
 
144 Serious Reflections 
 
 the night, and see no relief. This is a more 
 hopeful case however than theirs, who are 
 under great back- sliding and desertion > and 
 hardly sensible of it. To awaken and assist 
 both ; consider, I beseech you, whence you 
 ere fallen, and what you have lost, and what 
 will be the issue of this, if sickness, or 
 some smart affliction overtake you, or if you 
 should die in this condition. And enquire 
 seriously & presently into the cause of all this 
 evil : for a few transient thoughts will not 
 affect the heart, and persuade to actios. And 
 do it presently ; because by every delay 
 your work will be the harder, your danger 
 the greater, and your recovery the more 
 difficult. Reflect upon the sinfubiess, as well 
 as affliction of this case. Know that you have 
 displeased God, and run from him, neg* 
 lected his presence, and grieved his spirit, 
 and in what instances you have done so,that 
 hath made him weary of his dwelling ; what 
 ordinances you have slighted ; what duties 
 you have omitted ; what sins you have giv- 
 en away to , in order to repentance and 
 deep humiliation. 
 
 Can you contentedly sit still with this dis- 
 mal state of things ? While God hath sonic- 
 xvhat (yea a great deal) against you for hav- 
 ing left your first love ? Will you not en- 
 deavor to remove that which hath made 
 such a separation between God and you, 
 and brought you thus low ? What com- 
 munion with God, what communication of 
 his grace, what influences of his spirit and 
 evidence of his favor have } ou lost \ And 
 
on Time and Eternity. 145 
 
 will you not acknowledge your iniquity, 
 and abase yourselves in the dust, and re- 
 turn to the Lord, and do your first works ? 
 That he may heal your back-slklings, and 
 receive you graciously ; that you may again 
 take hold of his covenant $ and be at peace 
 with him. 
 
 But to be at peace with God, is not the 
 whole of your concern ; you need not only 
 a pardon, but a physician to heal you ; as 
 doth a malefactor, that is not only liable to 
 •the law, but desperately sick. Your state is 
 sinful, and dangerous, -as well as trouble- 
 some. From performing duties in such a 
 manner as you now do, you may quickly 
 be tempted to let them altogether alone. 
 God may be so far provoked to suffer satan 
 to make attempts upon you of that kind : 
 (and he is forward enough to make use of 
 such an opportunity, to try all his snares 
 tmd stratagems against you) till he prevail 
 with you to think hardly of God and him- 
 self, * Qnthaakfully to overlook ail his form- 
 er kindnesses, to put the worst interpreta- 
 tion that can be upon all his providences, 
 to distrust and quarrel with him, as ii'liis 
 faithfulness had failed, and his mercy were 
 clean gone forever, and there were no hope 
 left for one in your ease ; and so run into 
 desperation, and, thro' the subtilty and vio 
 lence of Satan's temptations, try the most - 
 foolish and unlawful means for ease and 
 cure ; either open licentiousness, or it may 
 be self murder. 
 
 *ViJ. Mr. Gilpin, o( Tempts ton t part 2. chap. 6. 
 
 N 
 
146 Serious Reflections 
 
 r I herefore speedy, present repentance is 
 necessary to find out, and mortify every cor- 
 ruption ; and that especially which con- 
 science tells you, you have most indulged ; 
 from whence your distress doth principally 
 arise ; confessing your sin freely, fully, and 
 without reserve, and waiting on God 
 in the diligent use of all means, for the re- 
 covery of that which you have lost ; and 
 justifying God in his righteousness, truth, 
 wisdom, holiness, in all his rebukes. That 
 you may regain a spirit of prayer and taste 
 the sweetness, virtue and eifikacy of every 
 duty, and of every ordinance ; and God 
 may give you the garments of praise for the 
 spirit of heaviness, and the joy of the Lord 
 may be your strength, for future service and 
 suffering. 
 
 In the mean time, do not cast away your 
 hope, but tho' you have (too justly) depriv- 
 ed yourself of the faith oj assurance, yet 
 endeavor to maintain and exercise the faith 
 of adherence (*) ; say unto God, that be- 
 cause there is forgiveness with him, there- 
 fore he is to be Jeared. My sin is not too 
 great to be forgiven. 'Tis not the unpar- 
 donable sin : for I desire to repent, and am 
 resolved to return, I will still cleave to the 
 Lord, and wait upon him, and follow hard 
 after him, and take no other course for de- 
 liverance and comfort. Mine is not a sin- 
 gle case : I am not the only soul that hath 
 been so distressed, and yet found relief by 
 
 * Vid* Dr» Owen's on Pfahn exxx. 2. 
 
#tzTihe aw/ Eternity. 147 
 
 seeking unto God. 'Tis therefore good for 
 me to hope, and wait quietly for the salvation 
 of God()* I will draw near to God ; I will 
 He at his foot ; and continue in all ways of 
 -worship and duty, wherein I may hope to 
 meet with the quickning and comfort of his 
 spirit : I will seek relief from no other I will 
 keep as near him as I can ; whither else 
 shall I go ? He alone hath the words of eter- 
 nal life ; he atone can create (what is the 
 fruit of his own Xv^^) peace. 
 
 f I will encourage myself in the consid- 
 eration of his general grace, and the proba- 
 bilities of his special love : I will recollect 
 my former experiences, when some good 
 hope through grace concerning my adoption, 
 1 will remember the years of the right hand 
 of the most high. If God will give me so 
 much grace as to continue waiting, I will 
 hope still : and though 1 walk in darkness, 
 and see little or no light* I will stay myself 
 on the Lord. And if, by the want of sensible 
 consolation, he will make me more humble, 
 and keep nae in a greater submission to his 
 Willi I will bless his holy name, and derive 
 more comfortable hope from thence, than 
 from the most sweet and sensible consola- 
 tions I ever had ; and look upon humility, 
 self-denial, dependence on God, resigna- 
 tion to him, and hatred of sin, as a better 
 sign of his lovs, than the highest fei vors of 
 affection in his service can be. 
 
 (* ) Lam. Hi. 26. 
 
 +Vid. Mr. Jaxter's mtthtd } for peace of confeience. 
 
148 Serious Reflections 
 
 Oh that I had formerly done as much for 
 holiness, as I ever have for comfort ! by the 
 enjoyment of the one, I should have had 
 more of the other :. the exercise of grace 
 would have discovered the truth of it. Let 
 me therefore accuse and condemn myself ; 
 but still trust, and love God, and wait upon 
 him. Let me resolve never to chase a new 
 lord or master ; or take up with any por- 
 tion beneath God himself ; or any way of 
 hope or salvation but by Jesus Christ, my 
 only Saviour ; neither let me forsake the 
 way of faith and holiness, for all the hopes 
 syid happiness of this world, if put to my 
 
 >ice : but be always able to say/ (bles- 
 sed be God I now can) that Iwiff return t& 
 myfar?ner husband, for then it ivas better 
 ivhh me than now. I had peace and refresh- 
 ment in my former ways, I will return to 
 them* Lord, forsake me not utterly ! keep 
 not thine anger forever ; cast me not away 
 from thy presence, and take not thy holy spir- 
 it from me : restore unto me the joy of thy 
 salvation, that my heart may be enlaged to 
 praise thy name, and to run the way ef thy 
 commandments. 
 
 ## 
 
on Time and Eternity. 149 
 
 Sect. XXVI. 
 
 Confession of sin, humiliation, and repent- 
 ance must follow upon self-examination. 
 Advice concerning repentance of some par- 
 ticular back- sliding. The great perplexity 
 & distress of a penitent sinner represent- 
 cdj as a caution against returning to folly* 
 
 THAT we may turn unto the Lord y is 
 the end of searching and trying our 
 ways. Lcrd ! I have been searching my 
 heart, and considering my ways, but can 
 find littie, or no good; neither can I discov- 
 er all that is evil in both. But I find enough 
 to make my own heart condemn me, and 
 thou (who art greater than my hearty and 
 knowest all things, J may est much more con- 
 demn me. I am altogether unclean, pol- 
 luted and abominable. 
 
 If I go about to enumerate the sins of my 
 thoughts, words, and actions, in all the pe- 
 riods qf my life hitherto ; if I consider my 
 omissions of duty, and daily crimes by ac- 
 tual commission ; if I reflect upon my sins 
 according to their respective objects, as eith- 
 er against thce y O God, and against my 
 neighbor^ and against my envn soul or body ; 
 and compare toy heart and life with thy 
 strict and holy /<3U\ and think in how many 
 instances I have transgressed eveiy of thy 
 righteous commandments : I find they 
 aore than the hairs of my head, they <a 
 
150 Serious Reflections 
 
 not be numbered* 11 ho can tell how oft he' 
 hath offended? Many of my sins make lit- 
 tle impression on my memory, (I observe 
 them not, 1 remember them not .•) but this 
 hinders not but they may make deep im- 
 pression on my conscience, which will one 
 day be awake, and set them in order before 
 me ; and they are all written in thy book of 
 remembrance, in order to my final judg- 
 ment* All my sins, are before thee / but thou 
 requirest my humble confession of them, 
 in order to repentance ; and as a part there-' 
 of, that I freely acknowledge their heinous 
 aggravations to shame and humble myself 
 the more before thee, whom I have offended 
 and provoked. 
 
 How 7 long did I serve divers lusts and 
 pleasures with the neglect and forgetfulness 
 of God ? How sad a prospect may I take of 
 the far greatest part of my life past ? espe- 
 cially of my younger years, which have been 
 trifled away in vanity and fully ? And since 
 I have known the way of truth, how sham- 
 fully have I prevaricated with God ? 1 am 
 confounded to consider how often I have 
 despised the commandment, and rebelled 
 against the light ; against the principles of 
 education, and the checks of conscience, 
 frequent warnings from God, and reproofs 
 from others ; contrary to my profession and 
 experience, contrary to the obligation of 
 peculiar mereies, solemn promises, resolu- 
 tions, and engagements, and a nearer, re- 
 lation to God than many others; which sins 
 have more dishonored my Lord, discredited 
 
otTime and Eternity. 151 
 
 his holy gospel, gratified the devil, scandal- 
 ized the world, and strengthened the hands 
 of the ungodly, than the sins of others. And 
 alas ! How much of my precious time is 
 thus gone, which, if duly improved, would 
 novo afford me comfort to review ? 
 
 How much guilt have I contracted every 
 year, particularly in this last? I now begin 
 another, which will soon be gone, as that 
 which was concluded yesterday. And shall 
 I only advance in age r to increase the num- 
 ber of my sins, and heighten my account a- 
 gainst the day of reckoning ? In temporal 
 and civil affairs, Day unto day uttereth 
 knowledge, and night unto night teacheth wis- 
 dom. We are taught by experience many 
 useful lessons, which we should not else 
 have learn'd ; to reform many errors and 
 mistakes, to correct many rash and foolish 
 actions, and speeches, &c. And shall I net 
 learn wisdom by the experience of another 
 year, in what concerns my greatest, mjr 
 eternal enterest ? Shall not* the reflection on 
 my past sins, prevent my commission of the 
 like ? Especially considering how my sins 
 aie aggravated by every mercy I have receiv- 
 ed ; by every affliction I have undergone ; 
 eveiy awakening sermon I have heard ; 
 every motion of God's spirit, and every 
 check of my own conscience that I have re- 
 sisted ; every offer of \mgrace ; every warn- 
 ing of his providence- ; every invitation and 
 call of bis word, every purpose to repent, and 
 every resolution I have made to forsake sin ; 
 the greater knowledge I have had of my dan- 
 
132 Serious Reflections 
 
 ger, the longer time I have deliberated about 
 it ; the oft£ner I have confessed my sin, and 
 been sorry for it ; every reproof I have had 
 from others, and every promise I have made 
 myself, doth aggravate, & increase my g 1 
 
 How many years hath God vouchsafed 
 me to work out my salvation ? But how lit- 
 tle have I done towards it ? Had 1 died this 
 last year, how unprepar'd must I have made 
 my appearance before his trebunai ? What 
 opportunities of doing, and receiving good 
 have I let slip ?, Have I not made it more 
 my business to seem religious, than really to 
 be so ? How much of the patience of God 
 have I abus'd ? Refusing his calls to repent- 
 ance, resisting the strivings of his spirit, 
 smothering my convictions, and turning the 
 grace of God into wantonness ? Instead of 
 returning gratitude for all his love, I have 
 repeated my transgressions after forgivness ; 
 and gone in a circle of repenting and sin- 
 ning, even to this day. Lord, I am asham'd, 
 and lay myself in the dust before thee. To 
 me belongs nothing but shame and eon- 
 fusion of face. If God should condemn and 
 punish me as a rebel and a traytorand give 
 me the portion of hypocrites, I cannot but 
 own b\s justice ; even in hell I must do it # 
 with my flaming tongue and breath. 
 
 O spare me for thy mercy's sake ! Enter 
 mt into judgment with thy servant, Jar in 
 thy sight shall ntfiesh living be justified; if 
 thou lay judgment to the line, and equity to 
 the plummet. Give me repentance uni9 life, 
 never i0 be repented of never to be retracted 
 
on Yi u b and E r erni t y . 1 5^ 
 
 ni. Bring me to the blood of Jesus, which 
 clcanscth from ail sin. Behold the sighing 
 of a contrite spirit : For / acknowledge my 
 transgressions unto thee, against whom I 
 have sinned: Lord, fargivenhr iniquity of 
 my sin. I am unworthy to lift up my hands 
 and eyes towards heaven, unworthy to *be 
 called thy son, or thy servant : I am vile 
 in mine own eyes, because I have made 
 myself vile in thine. For this I am troubled, 
 and mourn, and my soul is grieved within 
 me. 
 
 O thou heavenly physician of souls ! frotn 
 thy pity alone I expect my cure. I am mis- 
 erable and undone without thy compassion ; 
 and expect no relief but from the treasure of 
 thy grace. I must perish and sink under the 
 burden of sin, if thy merciful hand do not 
 save me, and lift me up. I am entangled and 
 ensnar'd by the devil and my lusts,, and 
 without thy succour can never hope to get 
 free. Lord, forgive my sins, and lical my 
 sou! : deliver and save me for thy mercies sake. 
 
 May I not yet hope in thy mercy ? Thou 
 hast mercifully born with me hitherto ; thou 
 callest me to repent ; thou commandest me 
 to return, and promises! to forgive those sins 
 which are confessed and forsaken : O do- not- 
 cast me out of thy sight and presence, now 
 I desire, from the bottom of my heart, to 
 return to thee ! / abher myself in dust and 
 ashes, for my past iniquities. But alas! 
 such is the hardness of my impenitent heart, 
 that I am even asham'd of my humblest r 
 pentauce : How much more may God des- 
 
154 Serious Reflections 
 
 pise and reject it ! But hast thou not given 
 thy blessed Son to die for sinners ? and ex* 
 alted him to this very end, to be a prince 
 and a saviour, to give repentance and remis- 
 sion of sins ? And by the word of thy grace, 
 thou beseechest ail ( even the greatest sin- 
 ners ) to accept of mercy ; and art mwfe wil- 
 ling to pardon, than we ©an be to repent* 
 >Tis thy delight and glory, agreeable to thy 
 nature, aad declared name, as a God, gra- 
 cious and merciful* slow to anger, and of great 
 kindness, forgiving iniquity, transgression, 
 and sin. O pardon mine iniquity, for it is 
 great; and receive an humble penitent, who 
 implores thy grace, according to the tenor 
 of thy new covenant, flying to the arms of 
 thy mercy, through the merits of Jesus 
 Christ, who is able to save t$ the uttermost \ 
 all that come unto God by him. 
 
 Lord, hear ray prayer, and let not the 
 mixture of my 'weaknesses and unworthi- 
 ness turn it into sin : but graciously vouch- 
 safe to look upon a returning pndigal ; and 
 cause me to hear the voice of joy and glad- 
 hess, that my sorrowful heart may be com- 
 forted, and my life directed * to thy praise. 
 Lead me into the path of life, that I may no 
 longer err from the way of thy command- 
 ments : teach me to do thy will, O God, 
 and write thy law upon my heart, that I 
 m iv never more return to folly. I am con- 
 vinced of the evil of sin, of thy right to go- 
 vern me, of the equity and justice of thy 
 law, of the sweetness & rewards of keeping 
 thy precepts, O sanctify my heart, and make 
 

 Time ar 
 
 :ound in thy star : I may hate 
 
 If thei or wicked- 
 
 rich thre pta- 
 
 and die deccitfuiness oi ave 
 
 n into, that hath Hrasl 
 robb rf your peace, 
 
 God to write buttr t gainst you ; be 
 
 sure to h in 
 
 coni 
 
 ■; whether it iras 
 manifestation of God's k ome 
 
 under or 
 from G 
 
 pre- 
 
 and 
 
 serious clo— 
 company, ventui 
 
 vHgth, 'c 
 
 Ujt, by some 
 
1 56 Serious Re r l e c t i o x s 
 
 than himself, and so your hitter end be worse 
 than your beginning. For if the sin be not 
 truly hated, but only covered over with 
 pcnitental ashes, it will quickfy flame out 
 again, when it meets with combustible 
 matter, and a strong blast of temptation. 
 
 But if you are grieved to the very heart, 
 and abhor the sin, and resolve to quit it. you 
 Jieed not doubt of God's readiness to re- 
 ceive you to mercy. His spirit is yet striv- 
 ing with you, if you are willing to repent 
 and return to God. He sought you, and 
 called you to return, when you were wan- 
 dering as a logt sheep in the broad way : and 
 can you think he will not be found of you, 
 if you seek him with your whole heart ? 
 Therefore renew your repentance, and beg 
 more earnestly a spirit of humility, holy fear 
 and watchfulness : and every morning im- 
 plore divine succors against that sin, and all 
 temptations to it, {iv/iich as much as possible 
 you must avoid.; Constant and fervent prcpf- 
 ^rafter repentance, must be your refuge, 
 and your remedy. If you let fall your hands, 
 this Ameleck will prevail again. As soon and 
 as far as you fail in the constancy and fer- 
 vency of that duty, your sin will get strength 
 and successfully attempt you another time. 
 But by this practice, God may turn evil to 
 work for good, make you gain by your loss, 
 stand the faster by your fails, and become 
 stronger by the discovery of your weakness, 
 and so be better established for the future. 
 
 But take heed that you pervert not the 
 grace of God, and encourage yourself to sin 
 
en Time and Eternity. 157 
 
 again, by the supposition, that if you should 
 fall, 'tis but to repent, and r Dur reso- 
 
 lutions, and 2^1 will be well. This is a subtle 
 artifice of satan, but such, methinks, as 
 should take with none, who have ever known 
 by experience , what it is to repent. V 
 have felt the burden of sin to be heavier 
 than a * Millstone ; than the weight of a 
 mountain. Who have tasted, how evil arid 
 bitter a thing it is to depart from God. Who 
 have loathed and abhorr'd themselves with 
 deep remorse, and sorrow, and anguish of 
 spirit ; wishing with all their hearts, that 
 they had not sinned ; and if it were in their 
 power, would^give all the world to retrieve 
 it; and would rather die, than commie that 
 folly; rpain, they then repented of. Let those 
 who have not their own experience to con- 
 firm this, read over ( and consider the ca*e 
 of David, when he wrote) the penitential 
 psalms. How many, like him, have roared, 
 and cried out, under the sense of sin. of 
 stings aid furies in their conscience, of the 
 poison'd arrows in their souls, and his ter- 
 ' rors surrounding chern wherever they went ; 
 from the sense oi his sins malignity, the ap- 
 prehensions of God's anger; and the conse- 
 quent fears of his wrath ? Serious repentance 
 after great transgressions, is r thing 
 
 than most imagine it. Whenthei tvat- 
 
 ed sins shall beset them behind a 
 be placed in order before their eyes, and set 
 in array against them. 'Tis always a wcrk 
 cf difficulty, as well as importance, to croci- 
 * Lukt jjiii. 30. ur.d xvli. a. 
 
 o 
 
158 Serious Reflections 
 
 (y corrupt affections, to tear a beloved; lust 
 from the heart, with self- indignation to ab- 
 hor and cast away what before you lov'd 
 and delighted fn. How did Ddvsid y s ski stare 
 him in the face? // is continually with me, 
 it is ever before me, said he. h haunted him 
 like a spectre, or like £els/iazzar J s hand- 
 writing on the wall, it still appeared before 
 him in some horrid shape. 
 
 However sin may smile in its first address, 
 and bespeak us in flattering language, and 
 promise pleasure, arid profit, and great ad- 
 vantages, and satisfaction ; these are but fair 
 appearances, this is but the cutsidc of the 
 cup, and the colour of the -liquor ; it will 
 prove gall and wormwood, and a mixture 
 of deadly poison, if ever God set it home up- 
 on the conscience, and awaken us to a true 
 sense of it. And the continuance of .daily 
 repentance for sin, which all christians are 
 called to, is no such easy, matter neither. 
 Constant self-abasement, and humiliation be- 
 fore God, from a sense of his majesty and 
 holiness, and of our many sins and pollution 
 thereby : the imperfection of our best duties 
 continually to be bewailed ; inordinate af- 
 fections to be still mortified ; always resist- 
 ing and opposing sin, in its root and branch- 
 es ; conflicting against the whole interest of 
 the fiesh, the world and the devil ; seeking 
 after more holiness, to be derived unto -us 
 by the grace of Christ, to be wrought in us 
 by his spirit, and maintained by his power ; 
 and making daily applications to the foun- 
 tain of ail grace, for spiritual strength, to 
 
otTxme and Eternity. 159 
 
 eontinue our warfare against sin, in all in- 
 stances of outward duty, and ! actings 
 of grace, even as long as we live ; all this is 
 ided in it. Due apprehensions concern- 
 ing repent(Uicc % ( as so comprehensive and 
 difficult a duty, ) would teach us to beware 
 of sin. 
 
 Sect. XXVII. 
 
 *£he necessity of "christian resolutions upright* 
 
 rseverittg obedience ; Atwfull and ex::n- 
 
 si ve it ought to be, and yet humble ; by 
 
 hat means w may be assisted to perionn 
 
 tt which we resolve. 
 
 HAVING acknowledged my trans- 
 gressions unto God, and beeped for* 
 giveness,and experimentally learned the evil 
 of sin, by the bitterness of repentance, / re- 
 solve for the future, to watch against it mere 
 narrowly, and against every thing that leacis 
 to it ; endeavoring to please and honor my 
 God and Saviour, by an upright, obedient 
 heart and life. And for the remission of 
 my former contracted guilt, I trust to Je- 
 sus Christ, according to the revelation made 
 in the gospel, of what he is, hath done, and 
 suffered, and continues to do in heaven, for 
 the salvation of repenting sinners, who de- 
 sire to come unto God by him. 
 
 But how often, my Sou// have I mock- 
 ed God, and deceived myself, with formal 
 and faint purposes of amendment ? My 
 
160 Serious Reflection s 
 
 good resolutions have been all of them as the 
 morning cloud, or the early dew, w hick quickly 
 passed away. One fresh assault of temptation 
 hath swept away all my good purposes as 
 a spider's wed. I have falsified so many, 
 and broke my word so often, that I dare not 
 trust to any thing I now resolve, or rely 
 on any promises I should farther make. 
 Succor me therefore, Lord, by thy pow. 
 erful grace, that what was defective in my 
 former fruitless resolutions, may be now 
 rectified. Let me be more humble in the 
 s»Mise of my weakness, more dependent on 
 thy grace, and qpore heartily seek it from 
 time to time. Strengthen me with strength 
 in r>iy soul, with might and power in my m- 
 ward man, that I may so resolve and purpose 
 as ur perform ; lhat I may not be one day 
 hot, nrid the next cold ; zealous in the be- 
 ginning, but faint and lukewarm in the prog* 
 rcss , fervent and serious only in res&lving, 
 but weak and impotent in the execution. 
 
 Having changed my master, my end, and 
 my hopes, by returning unto God, from 
 whom I had gone astray. I firmly resolve, 
 through the assisance of his grace, to change 
 my course of life ; that old things being 
 done away, all things may become new ; 
 that *bein% made Jree from sin, by pardon- 
 ing merey, and become the servant of Christ, 
 I may have my fruit unto holiness, that my 
 end may be eternal life. In the interim, 
 whether I Ihe or die, let it be unto the Lord $ 
 resolving both in life and death to be abso- 
 lutely his. And to that purpose, my soldi 
 * Rom. vi. 22. 
 
•h Time flw/ETXRNiTY. i§! 
 
 let me seek for continual supplies of grace 
 from Christ my head, to enable me to yield 
 ready obedience in the most difficult, haz- 
 ardous, painful and humbling duties. In vain 
 do I resolve it, without the assistance of his 
 mighty power, to strengthen my heart and 
 hund», whenever I am called to such a trial 
 of my sincerity. Without it 1 shall never 
 recover my liberty, or break asunder thoiC 
 bands and cords wherewith I have former- 
 ly been held captive, as the servant of sift 
 and Satan. Such is the weakness and trea- 
 chery of my own heart, the influence of ill 
 examples, and thr subtilty and cunning of 
 the tempter, that otherwise I shall .quickly 
 change my mind, and return to folly, as the 
 dig to hisvemit. The spirit is so weak, and 
 the flesh so frail ; the snares of the world so 
 many, the power of remaining corruption 
 so strong ? and of myself I ana se unsettled 
 and wavering, fickle and unsteady, and 
 prone to backsliding, that all my strongest 
 purposes will not be sufficient, without dai- 
 ly strength from above. My senses are so 
 deceitful : my passions so ungovernable : 
 the rule and law 1 am to walk by, so it let, 
 and spiritual,and extensive ; criminal omis- 
 sions may be so frequent, and 10 easily ov- 
 erlooked ; so many several and difficult du- 
 ties are to be performed ; and by every 
 change of my condition, or of God's provi- 
 dence, so many hew dangers and new du- 
 ties may arise, that I fear the issue of my 
 firmest resolutions. So strict a watch must 
 always be kept ; such humility and caution 
 o 
 
164 Serious Reflections 
 
 is every where to be practised ; such speef- 
 dy repentance required after every fall ; with 
 thankfulness and contentment in everv state, 
 under all calamities, (be they never so many, 
 or never so pinching;) and perseverance 
 herein absolutely necessary, though never 
 so many stratagems be used to discourage 
 me from proceeding, or to entice me to go 
 back, or tin n aside to some other path ; in- 
 somuch that if God had not promised mc 
 his continued presence, and that his gract 
 shall be sufficient for me, h that I shall not be 
 tempted abnc what I am able to bear ; I 
 should utterly despair of making g—i what 
 I now resolve. 
 
 But besides these promises to encourage 
 my resolved obedience, he hath left upon 
 record in his word, many glorious examples 
 of his assisting and rewarding the courage 
 and resolution of his servants to continue 
 faithful ; as in the case of J$seph> Daniel 
 and his three friends, &c. If Christ stand 
 by, and strengthen me, I know I shall be 
 able to do all things ; I shall not then be flat- 
 lercd,nr affrighted out cf the way of my du- 
 ty ; no wind that can blow, shall then turn 
 me to another point ; nothing shall then be 
 able to prevail for my consent to a wilful 6c 
 deliberate forsaking of God ; no argument, 
 no temptation, though privacy, opportunity, 
 impunity from men, with rewards of world- 
 ly gain and honor, should all concur to en- 
 force a temptation. But, by that heavenly 
 assistance, I shall be preserved humble,tem- 
 jperate, chaste, patient, thankful, self-deny- 
 
on Timx tffl^/ Eternii y. 163 
 
 irig, crucified to the w< rid, and hohlfast my 
 
 integrity tilt I die ; still holiness 
 
 in the fear of God, growing in h in the 
 
 knoivLuge of my Lord and Saviour Jesus 
 Christ, waxing stronger from day to day, 
 be seldomer surprized, offend less, and re- 
 pent more quickly, and watch more nar- 
 rowly afterwards, till at last I receive the 
 crown. 
 
 Especially, let noe watch against my con- 
 stitutional sins, such as I am most inclined 
 to, and where a temptation doth most easi- 
 ly enter ; where the devil can take the fast- 
 est hold, and be least suspected ; where he 
 hdth formerly sprung a mine, and made a 
 breach. I have known some humble watch- 
 ful christians, after being recovered from 
 their back-slidings, who abhorred every 
 temptation to that sin, by which they had 
 been defiled and wounded : they can hardly 
 put up a prayer, but they mention it ; hard- 
 ly have their hearts affected in any ordin* 
 ance, but they are inwardly ashamed of it ; 
 hardly hear of any one guilty of the like,but 
 they are ready fco burst out into tears. 
 
 Fix therefore, I beseech thee, most gra- 
 cious God ! my unfeigned resolutions of 
 cleaving to thee, with full purpose of heart 
 artd shew thy strength in- my weakess, by 
 enabling me to do what I now resolve. To 
 that end, teach me to watch over my hearty 
 to keep it with ail diligence, to be more 
 conversant with my own thoughts, examine 
 the mol.ons that arise in my heart, whence 
 they come, and whither they go, and what 
 
164 Serious Reflections 
 
 they tend to, that I may suppress the be- 
 ginnings q{ s\\\. The unsearchable deceitful- 
 ncss of the heart, the rovings, straglings, and 
 wandrings of the thoughts y the ungoverna- 
 ble motions and stirrings o f t he passions : and 
 affections, with the corrupt inclinations that 
 are ready to comply with temptation, make 
 such a constant watchfulness necessary. Let 
 me live no longer as a stranger to myself, 
 but by self-reftection dwell more at home, 
 reckoning my principal work to be within- 
 doors, to keep my own vineyard. Teach 
 me to watch over my senses % to guard the 
 door of my lips, to govern my passions ; 
 to be wary in the choice of my company, 
 and in the right use of it ; to be circum- 
 spect in every step of my daily walk, to call 
 myself frequently to a reckoning, to cast up 
 my accounts at the foot of every page, (by 
 every day's review of my actions) to live al- 
 ways »« in God's presence, and be awed 
 every where by the thought of his holy eye, 
 to shun the occasions and appearances of 
 evil, &c. 
 
 By the neglect of this, spiritual distem- 
 pers will insensibly creep upon us. There 
 is such a venom and malignity in sin, to 
 wound and weaken the soul, to put us off 
 the hinges, to disorder and unfit us for any 
 spiritual service, to make our hearts vain, 
 frothy, lazy and listless, that we shall easily 
 let slip our opportunities, lose our seasons, 
 and languish and pine away notwithstand- 
 ing all the means of thriving and growth. 
 And he^ce it is that so many professors 
 
#/zTime and Eternity. 165 
 
 mourn and complain, lick the dust, and lie 
 among the clods, are dead under the most 
 awakening ministry, and barren under the 
 most fruitful means. Hence it is they do 
 little good, as well as taste little comfort ; 
 some duties are neglected, and others per- 
 formed slightly ; and in none of them do 
 they meet with that sweetness and satisfac- 
 tion, that refreshment and advantage, fruit 
 and benefit as formerly. And all from the 
 neglect of watchfulness, making bold with 
 temptation, & not standing upon their guard 
 in the use of the christian armor. 
 
 And because no place, no condition, no 
 employment is exempted from temptations , 
 let me fortify myself every morning against 
 all^assaults for that day, by serious prayer,a» 
 holy David was wont to do : My iwV<?,(saith 
 he) shah thou hear in the morning, Lord; 
 in the morning will I direct my prayer unto 
 thee, and will lookup. Psal. v. 3, 4. Let the 
 law of God be my daily and delightful study; 
 that I may be able presently to bring my 
 words and actions to the touchstone ; 
 and know how to manage the sword of the 
 spirit on all occasions, against the fiery darts 
 of the devil; that knowing the rule, I may not 
 be doubtful, or at a loss ; whenever I anm 
 tempted, I may not make a stand to parley, 
 but immediately summon all my forces to 
 resist, and reject the snare ; being assured 
 from God, that the continuance of this war-, 
 fare shall end in a most glorious victory. He 
 will shortly tread down satan under my feet. 
 Thanks be n God, ihro J Jesus Chiist>my 
 Lord. 
 
16$ Serious Reflect ioirs 
 
 Sect. XXVIIL 
 
 The import fc? obligation of our baptismal cov- 
 enant. The rene ival of it by a solemn dedica- 
 tion of ourselves to God the Father, Son 
 €^Holy Spirit, exemplified &? recommcnekd. 
 
 ALL this, G my sou! ! which I have now 
 resolved on, is no more than what I 
 am obliged to by my vow in baptism ; to 
 renounce the devil and his works, the flesh 
 and the lusts thereof, the world, and con- 
 formity to it, that 1 may love and serve the 
 Lord : agreeable to the undoubted right 
 which God hath in me by creation, redemp- 
 tion, and his innumerable other benefits* 
 But the outward washing of baptism, and a 
 visible profession of obedience, will not savt 
 me, without the answer of a good conscience 
 towards God, I Pet. chap, ill. verse 21. 
 M-ay I not, by the consideration of my bap- 
 tismal covenant, suppose God speaking to 
 my conscience to this effect ? " Will you 
 " take me for your whole portion and felie- 
 11 ity ? And my law for the constant rule of 
 M your obedience ? And fight against the 
 §l world, the flesh, and the devil, to your life's 
 14 end? Will you believe in Jesus Christ, 
 * f and receive him as a prince and saviour ? 
 M And adhere to the faith and obedience of 
 M the gospel, ho\r hazardous and difficult 
 14 soever the profession and practice of it may 
 11 be ? Will you receive the blessed spirit as 
 
oti 
 
 Time WEiSENify, 167 
 
 " your teacher, sanctificr, and com forte** ? 
 " and cherish all his motions, to * .a]? 1 h, 
 " purify, confirm, comfort, and assist ; uu ?" 
 'Til my hearty consent to these terms, and 
 resolved compliance with them, which b; p- 
 tism obligeth to ; and this is the answer of a 
 good conscience towards God. 
 
 I have often renewed this covenant on 
 several occasions ; but did I ever duly con- 
 sider the tenor and obligations of it ? How 
 have I lyed unto the God of truth ? Delt 
 deceitfully with him ? And been false and 
 fickle, treacherous and unfaithful to what I 
 promised ? O let me now again repeat it, 
 aad give up myself once more to be the 
 Lord's^ more unfeignedly, more firmly than 
 erer I have hitherto done ! that the bonds of 
 God upon me may be strengthened, and my 
 soul more thoroughly engaged to be the 
 Lord's. O help me to do it with the great- 
 est seriousness, as the most important aftair 
 of my whole life ! By thine cud and grace 
 alone i shall I be sincere and cordial in this 
 surrender and dedication of my self. O 
 breathe upon my soul, most holy spirit, 
 ( the power ef the highest J that there may 
 be no hypocrisy or reservation, in this so 
 weighty and solemn transaction between 
 God and me ! 
 
 O most blessed and glorious TRINITY! 
 Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thy favour is 
 my life, and thy loving kindness is better 
 than life : thy will should have been my rule, 
 thy word my law, thy glory my end, to 
 please thee my principle business, and to 
 
168 Serious Rzilzctioxs 
 
 enjoy thy love and presence my ultimate fe- 
 licity. But I am one of thy revolted creatures, 
 who have lost thine image, and rebelPd st- 
 gainst thy law, slighted thy authority, and 
 rejected thy grace, and deserve to be cast 
 out of thy sight and banish'd from thy pres- 
 ence forever. Nevertheless, most merciful 
 God and Father, upon thy gracious invita- 
 tion and call, I now return to thee my right- 
 ful Lord ; acknowledging thee, as my al- 
 mighty, wise, and bountiful Creator, my 
 absolute owper, my righteous governor, my 
 end, my happiness, and chief good. I now 
 accept thine ofier'd mercy ; I kgw submit to 
 the sept re of thy grace ; and give up myself 
 to thee, as my King, and my God ; to rule 
 and sanctify me now, and be my ever- 
 lasting portion. I desire to be no longer my 
 own, but thine, to .whom of right I beloifg, 
 and ought to be devoted. I yield myself to 
 thee, my Lord ! Accept and possess that 
 which is thine own. I lay myself at thy foot, 
 at all times, and in all conditions to be at 
 thy disposal, and in every thing to acquiesce 
 in thy good pleasure. Deliberately resolving, 
 with unfeigned and free consent of my will, 
 to walk before thee in holiness and righteous- 
 ness all the days of my life. Hereby I con- 
 secrate and devote myself to be thy perpetu- 
 al, avowed servant ; Lord, 1 am thy servant, 
 I am thy servant, the son of thine handmaid. 
 Though other lords have had dominion over 
 me, I will now make mention of thy name, 
 and of thy righteousnes only, by Jesus 
 Christ. 
 
on Time ^/Eternity. 169 
 
 blessed Jesus, my all-sufficient Saviour! 
 thy dying love, infinite condescension, and 
 matchless grace, hath at last overcome me^ 
 and constrained me to resolve to be wholly 
 thine, who hast redeemed and bought mc 
 with thy most precious blood. I now ac- 
 knowledge and own thee, as my Lord, and 
 my Jesus, my prophet, priest, and king.; my 
 sacrifice, surety, and ransom, to satisfy for 
 my sins, and reconcile me unto God ; to in- 
 struct me in his will, and teach me the mvs- 
 teries of his kingdom, and the way to the 
 Father. How often hast thou opened thine 
 arms, and called me, yea beseeched me to 
 come unto thee, and accept of life ? But I 
 refused to come. I adore thy merciful con- 
 descension, that yet thou wilt receive mc 
 on such easy terms* 
 
 O thou Lord of life and .glory, now ac- 
 cept of an unworthy helpless sinner, who 
 flies to thee as his only refuge and hope ! 
 %vho is convinced that none but Christ, none 
 but Christ can make "his peace with God, 
 and save from wrath to come. I acknowl- 
 edge thy title to me, and my obedience, and 
 to all I have, by dying for me. I desire to 
 take thy yoke upon me, for it is easy ; and 
 thy burthen, which is light. I desire to be 
 entirely, and forever thine, in an everlasting 
 covenant never -to bt broken : to take up the 
 cross and follow thee, whithersoever thou 
 shalt lead me ; through the srait gate, and 
 the narrow 'way. I will reserve no lust, re- 
 fuse no labour, grudge at no sufferings, stick 
 *J no difficult*, so I may please and honour 
 
170 Serious Rejlections 
 
 thee, and continue in thy love, O shed a- 
 broad more of thy love hi my heart, to make 
 all things easy for his sake, who hath loted 
 me, and washed trie from my sins in his own 
 blood. 
 
 God ' the Holy Ghost! I acknowledge thee, 
 &s my great teacher and sanctificr, and give 
 tip myself to thee, as the author of all say- 
 ing knowledge and holiness : by thee I have 
 been convinced of my sin against the law of 
 God, and the gospel of Christ, and of my 
 necessity of his merit, satisfaction, and 
 righteousness, to justify my guilty soul, by 
 procuring the forgiveness of sin, and my 
 acceptance with God ; and of the freeriess 
 ©f his love, the riches and all- sufficiency of 
 his grace, towards all who come unto God 
 by him. I adore thee, most blessed spirit ! 
 as proceeding, and sent frotn the Father and 
 the Son, to renew all the powers of my soul, 
 and restore the divine image there ; to en- 
 lighten my mind, to know and receive the 
 truth, as it is in Jesus, and purify my heart ; 
 and to sanotify all the members of my body, 
 and make them instruments of righteousness 
 unto holiness, which before were servants 
 unto sin ; and gradually to deliver me from 
 the power, the defilement, and abode of sin; 
 as from the guilt and punishment by the 
 blood of Jesus ; and as the witness of God 
 to the truth of the holy scriptures : and as 
 the greatest paraclete, to comfort and estab- 
 lish the hearts of believers, scaling them up 
 to the day of redetnptioftf and giving them 
 the earnest of the heavenlv inheritance. 
 
en 
 
 Time and Eternity. 171 
 
 blessed- spirit, be thou my witness > that tho* 
 1 have violated the law of God, and defaced, 
 his image, and formerly undervalued the 
 love of Christ, and the grace of the gospel, 
 yet, by thine aid, I now accept what I have, 
 so long neglected, and thankfully devote, 
 myself henceforward to be the Lord's in a 
 covenant relation. 
 
 But fearing and distrusting myself, I give 
 up myself entirely to the conduct of thy 
 grace, depending upon it for my establish- 
 ment and perseverance. O form my heart 
 into an obediential frame ! that in every 
 thing I may endeavor to answer the ends 
 and ebligatiens of this devoted state. 
 
 To this one God I have once again dedi- 
 cated and resigned myself; to serve, and 
 please, and. honor thee, in thought, word, 
 and act, to the last moment of my life : i& 
 the performance of all dutm, even those 
 which I have been most averse from ; in the 
 mortification of every lust, and the forsaking 
 every sm,even chose which I was once most 
 addicted to : resolving deliberately to allow 
 myself in nothing, great or little, secret or 
 open, which I shall know or believe to be 
 contrary to thy holy will ; making it my bu- 
 siness to be fruitful in good works, to the 
 praise of my Redeemer ; waiting in the use 
 of all his appointed means, for higher meas- 
 ures of grace and holiness, to be more vie- 
 toriou* over inward lusts, and outward tefnp- 
 tations, st\\\ pressing towards the mark for the 
 prize oj my high and holy calling, even eter- 
 nal life, 
 
172 Serious Reflections 
 
 I call heaven and earth, O Lord, to wit- 
 fless this day that I owiv and avow this to 
 be my mind, and the settled prevailing pur- 
 pose of my soul. This I again ratify and con- 
 firm, without and clauses or exceptions. So 
 help me, my God. Glory be to God the 
 Faiher,God the Son, & God the Holy Spirit. 
 
 6QgQOQ^QQeQ 8 QQQQOgQQ9! 
 
 Sect. XXIX. 
 Practical and consolatory re flections on the 
 precceding self-dedication^?* covenant with 
 GocL 
 
 I Have this day solemnly avouched the 
 Lord to be my God, to walk in his ways ; 
 thereby to fortify my resolutions, that I and 
 my *IIvuse : (and all that 1 can persuade to 
 be of my mind) will serve the Lord. I in. 
 tend, desire, and hope never wilfully to vi- 
 olate the faith which I have now plighted 
 in the presence of God ; but to continue 
 steJfast, immoveable, alivays abounding ir) 
 the work of the Lord, See. 
 
 Should I undertake any new employment, 
 or enter into any new condition, or change 
 the place of my abode, where I might see 
 more of God's dishonor, and meet with more 
 and stronger temptations to sin, and be call- 
 ed to the performance of more difficult du- 
 ties greater watchfulness, and self-denial &c. 
 I Would hope thereby to engage the pres- 
 ence of God with me, and his blessing oil 
 allhiy affairs, (on which depends the success 
 of all that I undertake ;) and would hope the 
 better to preserve my integrity, not only 
 
on Tiue and ETBXtfiTr. 178 
 
 this year, but in all the remaining portion 
 oi my time, by the abiding sense of my 
 covenant with God, thus seriously renewed* 
 This is the method I have been often ad- 
 vised to for peace of conscience^ under 
 doubts and scruple* concerning my spiritu- 
 al state ; to put the matter out of doubt, by 
 again accepting the offered mercy and grace 
 of the gospel ; and heartily consenting to the 
 new covenant : giving up myself to God in 
 Christ, to be ruled and saved by him. Bles- 
 sed be God I have now done io. Lord, say 
 Ainen to thy part of the covenant, that thou 
 art and wilt be my God ; as I desire unfeign- 
 edly to do to mine, that I will be thy servant. 
 But because articles are sooner consented 
 to, than made good, tho' I seriously intend 
 never to disown tkis my solemn act anil 
 deed, but firmly to adhere to it, as long as I 
 live ; that hewing sworn, I will endeavor to 
 perform it, that this shall be my everlasting 
 choice, never to be recanted or altered ; yet 
 considering the sad instances of my former 
 weakness, & the vigilance & subtle malice of 
 my great adversary, I again implore the suc- 
 cor ui divine grace, to keep it forever in the 
 purpose of my heart, that it may be as the 
 laws of the Meiks and Persians, never to be 
 reversed. I have given up my name to be 
 thine ; put thy fear into my heart, that I 
 may never depart from thee! Imprint thy 
 laws upon my heart, that my obedience may 
 be uniform and universal, unwavering and 
 p.erperiial; suitable to so honorable and neac 
 a relation to thee ! I anvcnilbl? 1 warttBMfe 
 
174 . Serious Reflections 
 
 dom and strength to that purpose, but thou 
 hast bid me ask it of thee, whogivest liberal- 
 ly to all, without desert, and uphraidest not, 
 with present uri worthiness, or former faults. 
 O lead me not into temptation , but deliver me 
 from evil. Stand by and strengthen me in 
 the hour o£ trial, lest I forget my vows, and 
 deny thee. O that my sou! may never draw 
 back, lest thine have no pleasure in me, I 
 can serve no better master ; O let mine ears 
 be bored to the door of thine house, as the 
 token and assurance of my being thy servant 
 unto death. I know His my duty, I am sen- 
 sible His my priviledge and honor ; I am 
 convinced, that 'tis my interest and felicity ; 
 my coul, my life* my present and everlasting 
 welfare, & all depends upon it, that thou 
 shouldest be my God forever ; O conduct 
 me by thy holy spirit of grace, that I may 
 walk, and act, as having heartily consented 
 he should be so ; and direct my heart into 
 thy love, and the faithful keeping oj thy com- 
 mandments : but when so many professors 
 make shipwreck of faith and a good con- 
 science, and discredit the religion of my 
 Lord, by their shameful falls, thou may'st 
 make me to stand, and improve the warn- 
 ing of their examples to walk humbly; and 
 Tfrhite I stand, to take heed lest I J all. 
 
 Having thus surrendered myself to God, 
 what is there, my soul ! that is ever like 
 to prevail with me to go back, and revolt 
 from him ? Is the gratification, of a h/st.tho 
 securing of an estate, compliance with a 
 frit/id, the pleasing of a superior, living in 
 
0/jTime and Eternity. 17S 
 
 ease, and honor, and outward prosperity for a 
 little while, the saving my body from suf- 
 fering, or my life from violence, or whatso- 
 ever else be the motive of my unfaithfulness 
 to God. and uposiacy from him ; is any, is 
 #// of these any way considerable, compar- 
 ed with the blessedness of having God to be 
 my God ? For thereby 1 have the forgive- 
 ness of all my sins ; and the assurance of 
 his favor ; the certainty of present protec- 
 tion, and provision ; all creatures leconcil- 
 cd to me, and to be employed for iny good, 
 as the friend of God ; ail things to work 
 together for my advantage ; and by the ev- 
 idence of my adoption, a well-grounded 
 hope of eternal life. God, as my sun and 
 shield, will give grace and glory, and with- 
 hold no good thing. So unspeakably com- 
 prehensive are the privileges of so near are* 
 lation to God in Christ. happy are the 
 people 'who are in such a case ! Blessed are 
 the persons whose God is the Lord ! 
 
 Do I resohe to abide by my choice, and 
 trust in Christ for persevering grace ? And 
 shall I not, ought I not to take comfort in it ? 
 Shall 1 not give God the glory of his infn- 
 ile goodness, by adhering to him, and rejoic- 
 ing in him, notwithstanding all temptations 
 to the contrary ? Casting all my care upon 
 him, and quieting myself in the all-sufficien- 
 cy of rnv heavenly Father ; having a God in 
 covenant, who will supply all my wants and 
 take care of me, as his own! Shall I not 
 give him the glory of his truth and power, 
 by trusting him in every condition ? By 
 
i7fi Serkus Reflections 
 
 confidence in his promise, dependence on 
 his word, faithfulness to his interest, and 
 constancy in his service to the end ? Is it 
 not a most encouraging thought, that God 
 doth nevzr abandon any who do not first for- 
 sake him ? And after such strict engage- 
 ments, as I have laid upon myself, shall I 
 ever strike the fatal stroke with mine own 
 hand ? Shall I be off and on, say and unsay, 
 promise and retract ? And after I have pro* 
 ceeded thus fatr,shall 1 forsake the fountain of 
 living waters, & turn again to broken cisterns? 
 After I have examined myself, consider- 
 ed my ways, confessed my sins, and upon 
 serious deliberation am come to a rtsolve y 
 and in pursuance of it, have devoted myself 
 with such solemnity to be the Lord's ; shall 
 I ever, after lh\% forsake him & my $vjn mer- 
 cies y and lightly esteem the rock of my salva- 
 tion ? Now I have learned, in some meas- 
 ure what sin is, by the sorrows and anguish 
 of an hearty repentance ; now I have discov- 
 ered so much of the snares and devices of 
 satan, whereby I. have formerly been be- 
 trayed ; now I am sensible of the danger-, 
 ous and powerful influence and infection of 
 bad cempany ; the treachery of fleshly lusts ; 
 the bewitching temptations of the world ; 
 and have tasted a little, by my own expert 
 ence, of the pleasantness of wisdom's paths, 
 the peace and satisfaction of devotedness to 
 God, by the present rewards of a ealm con- 
 science, the communications of divine grace* 
 apd the encouragement of an holy hope,&c» 
 and am persuaded of the stability of his 
 
jn 
 
 1 T 
 
 :he certai 
 who continue in well-doing : Shall I. after 
 aUthi:, ever break with God Shall I 
 
 :icel this engagement ; this 
 
 my vow ? and falsify so many repeated 
 promises and res ns ? 
 
 Oh : may re^t upon me \ 
 
 and his grace work in me, and 
 
 to do ! thai this Ged may he my G*d forever % 
 a f :d my guide unto death. Let me never re- 
 assume this gift rrender of myself, or 
 defraud God of 
 
 I am, and him 1 will serve : liv holly 
 
 to him ; using all I a; being wil- 
 
 ling he si his own 9 
 
 and ose of me, and oi 
 
 ! 15 to me. as thai 
 good in his eyes. I am thine, O Lord, save 
 me. Con me ray work, appoint me 
 
 my (■ ler my con- 
 
 :yed 
 in the m< 
 ions self- 
 
 / or a d\ 
 
 ied; yet i 
 
 By this m len I come 
 
 . more years to niira- 
 
 be* 
 
 nihtr, Lor a. 
 e thee in 
 the ; ieaih and 
 
IjrS; . Stritut Reflections 
 
 of another world, and the near prospect of 
 eternity. I may be able to rejoice in hope, 
 and say, Lord Je$us receive ?ny spirit. Thou 
 art my Saviour, and I have waited for thy 
 salvation. I have sought thee with my whole 
 heart ; I have chosen thy favour, rather than 
 worldly grandeur and prosperity ; I have 
 prized thy love, and endeavoured to obey 
 thee, ( as the best expression of my own ) 
 though with many imperfections, which I 
 bewail ; I have delighted more in thy service 
 and presence, than in the pleasures of sin 
 and vanity ; thy testimonies have been the 
 joy of my heart ; 1 took no delight in the 
 company of the ungodly, after I was devoted 
 to thee ; O let me not have my portion with 
 them in the other world ! fortify me now a- 
 gainst the king of terrors, strengthen me in 
 this my last conflict, enable me to triumph 
 ever death, by the cross of Christ ( my vie- 
 torious redeemer, J and carry me through 
 the dark valley, at the divorce of soul and 
 body* and grant aie an abundant entrance, 
 into thine heavenly kingdom ; let me be 
 numbered among thy chosen, and my body 
 wait ia hope,tili the general resurrection, that 
 I may then see thy glory, and dwell with 
 thee for ever. 
 
 I gave up myself to thee, and do not re- 
 pent my choice ; aeknowledge me now for 
 thine % and do not lose that which is thy own. 
 Lord Jesus ! thou hast paid my ransom, to 
 deliver me fromsatan, 5c- from eternal wrath ; 
 Oh do not now reject me, and cast me off. 
 la it, not thine oHice and covenant, to sav§ 
 
fttTlME £n*/ETE*XITY. 179 
 
 those that trust in thee ? Oh remember thy 
 \rovd unto thy servant, wherein thou hast 
 caused me to hope, wh^n I ventured my 
 salvation on thy promise, and trusted to thy 
 gracious word for eternal life. Thy love hath 
 already overcome the greatest impedimenta 
 of my salvation. It is as easy now to receive 
 me, as to love me. Thou hast prepared 
 glory for thy redeemed ones ; and hast bid 
 me believingly to follow thee, and wait for 
 thy salvation. Thou hast begotten me to a 
 lively hope, by the incorruptible seed of the 
 word ; let me not now be deprived of the 
 inheritance. Can that love that pitied me in 
 my blood, and fetched me from the gates of 
 hell, now suffer me to fall into it ? O crown 
 thy grace, and perfect thy preparatory mer- 
 cy, with everlasting mercy. 
 
 By voluntary consent and choice, thou 
 art my God; and thy presence in heaven, 
 my ultimate felicity ; I have trusted to thy 
 gracious promise, to prepare me for it, ar.d 
 bring me to it ; fulfill thy word wito thy 
 servant, njherin theu hast caused vie to hepe ; 
 and mercifully receive my departing soul, 
 that seeks thee, that loves thee, that breathes 
 after thee, and desires nothing but to know 
 thee batter, and love thee more, and be 
 more entirely conformed to thine image, 
 live always in thy blessed presence. 
 Thou hast called me out of the world, plnc- 
 .ine image upon me, enabled me to 
 
 :e it my business, though with many 
 mrperfectioM, to serre, and please, and hon- 
 
 bce ; O receive me to the fulness of thy 
 
1 $0 Serious R e r l e c t 10 ft s 
 
 love and grace, and present me faultless be- 
 fore the presence of thy glory, with exceed- 
 ing joy. Amen. Holy Father , be it unto 
 me according to thy vsord ; through the mer- 
 its and intercession of my all-sufficient saviour, 
 Jesus Christ, the faithful and true witness^ 
 in iv htm all thy promises are yea and amen. 
 
 Sect. XXX. 
 Thansgiving to God for his innumerable ben- 
 efits and mercies, particularly in the year 
 past : with some direction and advice 
 concerning it. 
 
 HOW precious and delightful are the 
 thoughts of thy benefits ! Lord how 
 great is the sum oj them ! Should I count 
 them, they are more in number thai* the stars. 
 Shall I not observe and consider them / 
 Maintain a grateful sense of them, and pub- 
 lickly acknowledge them bn all occasions ? 
 that I may bless the Lord a\ all times, and 
 his praise be continually in my mouth. More 
 especially should I conclude and begin this 
 year, with solemn praises to my great bene- 
 factor and preserver. I ought to begin and 
 close every day with it, thereby to make the 
 out -goings of the morning and the evening to 
 rejoice in God. Every year, everyday, every 
 hour, every moment offers rae an occasion 
 to praise hhri ; because lie is every minute 
 gracious, and hath been so ever since he 
 gave me my being. 
 
 Almost one half of my timt hath been 
 
onTiuz and Etehkity. 131 
 
 spent in sleep, when I remember not God, 
 ncr myself; yet doth he, who never slum,. 
 bcrs or sleeps, remember me in mercy* and 
 watch over me for good. Yea, though in 
 the other half, by day, I have forgottm him 
 in a Morse sense, by casting 1 off his : fear, and 
 not remembering that his holy eye is v-pon 
 me, yet hath he not forgotten to be gracious. 
 Therefore • I will praise the name of God 
 with a song, end will magnify him with 
 thanksgiving, and never forget his benefit. 
 With which sacrifice he is better pleased, 
 than with an ex #r bullock^ that hath horns 
 and hoofs. ' 
 
 He hath prolonged my life this larr v:.:r, 
 when so many others of his more useful ser- 
 vants have been removed by death; end 
 given me farther time and space to repent, 
 when multitudes have been surprized in 
 their impenitence. V <.?s he who form- 
 
 ed me in the- womb. a:. J brought me safely 
 into tb? world-, by whose providence I have 
 hitherto been supported: In him I lim % 
 and mo-j£ % unci continually exist : To I his un- 
 deserved goodness I ? •- beholden for all the 
 good of any kmd, which I ever enjoyed : 
 To his bounty I am indebted for all that I 
 now have ; and must depend upon i:, for 
 whatever I can here.; ct. 
 
 Through infancy and childhood he wan 
 pleased to preserve me ; favoring me with 
 many advantages in my birth and educate 
 proving for me a competent livelihood ; c 
 posing the circumstances of my condition, 
 relations, places of abode, 8cc. more ad van* 
 Q •WO, Uix. SQft%4 
 
182 Serious Reflections 
 
 tageously than he hath done for thousands ; 
 affording me many* helps for the improve- 
 ment of my mind, and the increase of knowl- 
 edge ; and preventing my necessities, and 
 even my desires, with numberless blessings, 
 which I never so much as asked for. He 
 hath caused several of my relations to yield 
 me comfort, when they might have been sore 
 afflictions. He hath raised up strangers to 
 befriend me, and shew me kindness. How 
 many favors have I received from God, by 
 the instrumentality of other men ; to \\ horn 
 God gave the will, and the power, the oppor- 
 tunity and the inclination ? 
 
 How often hath he delivsred my soul /rem 
 death, mine eyes from tears, and 'my feet from 
 falling, by seasonable preservation*? so that 
 I do yet walk before him in the land of the 
 living. He hath rescued me from the brink 
 of many a precipice, which, through ignor- 
 ance or inadvertency, I did not apprehend 
 or fear. When I knew not which way to 
 turn, he hath made my path plain. Under 
 sinking disappointments he hath command- 
 ed succor ; and been a present help in the 
 time of trouble. In great perplexities, his eye 
 hath been my guide, and his arm h?.th bro't 
 salvation : it may be by the ministry of his 
 holy angels, obeying his order, and giving 
 unusual intimations oi very great, and oth- 
 erwise unsuspected dangers ; or sending 
 relief and deliverance, by such small, unlike- 
 ]y and unexpected means, as carried the 
 name of Cod visibly engraven on them. In- 
 numerable calamities he saves mc from, 
 
on Time and Eternity. 133 
 
 which others groan under ; and as many 
 blessings am I favored with, whereof they 
 arc destitute. He spreads my table, and 
 fills my cup, and gives me all things richly 
 to enjoy, when many excellent persons, of 
 •whom the world is not worthy, are fed with 
 the bread of affliction, and the water ef afflic- 
 tion. Others have only necessaries, qt but 
 few conveniences, in comparison with the 
 plentiful provisions God hath made for my 
 ehearful obedience to him. And shall 1 not 
 praise him for * the precious things of heav- 
 en, the blessings of the earth, the dew and 
 tht depth ? and more especially for the 
 goodness of him v)ho dwelt in the bush, to 
 sanctify and sweeten all ? whereby common 
 mercies become the pledge and fore-runner 
 of better things : as the fruit of his special 
 kindness, the witness of his truth, and the 
 seed of peace, and joy, and righteousness, 
 and praise ; by reason of his blessing on 
 ail that I possess, which otherwise would 
 prove a snare, and a temptation, and be in- 
 termixed with a curse. 
 
 And besides the ordinary and continued 
 bounty of every day, in the midst of how- 
 many difficulties and dangers have I felt the 
 dear obligations of his preserving mercy ? 
 abroad and at home ; in foreign countries, 
 ::s well as my own ; in the midst of ene- 
 mies, and among friends ; in all places, and 
 at all times. 
 
 He hath prolonged my health, or made my 
 bed in sickness. He hath often granted the 
 desires of my heart, whenever it was for his 
 *Deut. xxxiii. 13, 14. 
 
184 Serious IXltlzctioxz 
 
 glory ; and contradicted my ivishef, ant? 
 disappointed my endeavors, in other instanc- 
 es, when it was more to my advantage. From 
 bow many mischiefs hath he saved me. by 
 such things as I deprecated, and would have 
 hindered ? How many evils hath he turned 
 for good ? He hath heard my cry in the day 
 cf adversity, and set my feet in a large place. 
 He hath chastened me for my profit : hit rod 
 and his staff ha^e comforted me : he hath 
 spoken comfortably to me in the wilderness, 
 Jffiict ion hath been useful & necessary phys- 
 ic ; made an instrument of virtue, and so a 
 token of his love. Therefore *i will sing of 
 the mercy of the Loud forever, and with th$ 
 ^oice of thanksgiving i^ill I make known his 
 fait/ifulhess. 
 
 He hath all along conducted me by his 
 wisdom, guided me by his providence, and 
 the angel of his presence hath directed my 
 path, and ordered all my goings. He hath 
 been a cloud to me by day, and a pillar of/fn? 
 by night : he hath helped me in my straits, 
 and supplied my wants, and comforted me in 
 all my sadnesses: his powerful and gracious 
 presence hath been my constant guard ; & his 
 sovereign never-failing goodness hath com- 
 passed me about with mercy on every side. 
 For \ihich O most merciful Fatherly soul& 
 ell that is within me, desires to speak thy praise. 
 
 The advantageous circumstances of many 
 divine favors do raise their value, & deserve 
 to be particularly observed & acknowledged. 
 How suitably, how seasonably, how Wisely 
 hath he conferred his benefits ? With wh«t 
 ♦Pfal. kviii. i. 
 
mTimc and Eternity. 185 
 
 tenderness and kindness ? With what free- 
 dom and readiness ? Of his own bounty 8c 
 good will, without any necessity, or obliga- 
 tion on his part ; without any desert, and 
 sometimes without so much as t prayer on 
 mine. And what is more, notwithstanding 
 my ingratitude zndforgetfulness of him,and 
 great provocations, heightened by the abuse 
 of so much mercy ; demanding nothing,after 
 all, in requital of so much kindness, but my 
 acceptance of his love and grateful sense of 
 his goodness, and the sweetest and most rea- 
 sonable expressions of it, by thankful obedi- 
 ence. 
 
 More especially would I bless the Lord, 
 for enlightening my raiad in the great mys- 
 teries of rehgim ; disposing in wonderful 
 wisdom the several means and methods, 
 whereby he brought me to the knowledge of 
 the truth, by parents, ministers, friends, ac- 
 quaintance, books, afflictions, &c. beginning 
 with me in childhood, awakening and culti- 
 vating the inbred notions of God, and nat- 
 ural religion, of good and evil, rewards and 
 punishments ; by the careful instructions of 
 parents, or others concerned in my educa- 
 tion ; giving me the advantage of good ex- 
 amples, counsels and encouragements, to 
 know and do well ; with more assistance, 
 and less hindrances and diversions, than to 
 many others. Particularly, for the excellent 
 privilege, and inestimable blessing of his 
 holy word and sacraments ; the liberty of 
 the christian religion in the purity of it, in 
 the most of those places, where God has 
 
186 Serious Reflections 
 
 been pleased to cast my lot. Causing me to 
 lay icnvn in green pastures, and leading me 
 beside the still waters : instructing me in the 
 revelation of his v\ ill and grace by Jesus 
 Christ : acquainting me with the sublime 
 principles and articles, precepts and rules, 
 promises and hopes of the gospel, in order 
 to eternal life. 
 
 I bless thee, Lord, and shall forever da 
 so, that with any or all these advantages and 
 helps, thy holy spirit hath taught me to know 
 the truth as it is in Jesus, heartily to believe 
 and obey it. That by thy grace I have been 
 convinced of sin, and brought to repentance; 
 shewing ine the necessity of a Saviour to 
 make my peace with thee, the all- sufficiency 
 of his grace, the fulness of his, merit, the free- 
 ness of his love, and his readiness to receive 
 me to mercy, inviting and calling me to it, 
 and enabling me to accept his gracious invi- 
 tation, and obey his compassionate call ; 
 making me willing, by a powerful and vic- 
 torious grace, drawing me with cords of love, 
 and so effectually persuading me to consent 
 to thy covenant, and comply with thy mes- 
 sage, on the gracious terms of the gospel. 
 B essed be the God and Father of our Lord 
 Jesus Christ, who through liis abundant mer- 
 cy, hath begotten me again to a lively hope ; 
 haying humbled my proud heart, and con- 
 quered the perverseness of my stubborn will, 
 and brought my soul to an entire subjection 
 to himself ; who took pity on me, when he 
 saw me in my blood, spread his skirt over 
 me, cast a mantle upon my nakedness, wash- 
 
tn Tiu r . arid E,T£*N r i7Y. 1C7 
 
 ed me from my sins, and put his own come- 
 liness upon me by sanctiiication ; who op- 
 ened my I was leaping b 
 in:o the pit of df >n ; who healed my 
 soul, when I was sick unto death; whores- 
 cued and recovered me from the slavery of 
 the hen I was led captive by him at 
 his will. Shall not a ransomed, redeemed 
 slave be thankful to his deliverer ? Shall 
 not a miserable undone sinner, who is re- 
 ceived to mercy, be thankful for a pardon ? 
 Awake, my scull and utter a song of 
 ^e to him, *who for give 'th all ihint ini- 
 quities* and healeth all thy diseases : vthe re- 
 deemed tky life (ihy soul) from destruction y 
 and crcrxneth thee^ith loving kindness, and 
 Under m 
 
 Hath he made thee partaker of his own 
 renewed image and likeness ? given thee 
 his Son ? hh grace ? h ; s spirit ? and taken 
 such a wretched creature into so near a re- 
 lation to himse'f ; and promised to be thy 
 God and gn; and thine inher- 
 
 itance, thy friend and thy physician, thy sun 
 and thy shield, and thine exceeding grer.t 
 reward ? And shall not my soul speak aloud 
 his praise ? Hath he been \merciful tarry 
 unrighteousness > and blotted ns ? 
 
 Hath he gathered me vohh his arm. and ear- 
 ned me in his boson? Hath he been my 
 Saviour and Redeemer, adopted me into 
 family, and premised to muke me b!e 
 in his g: angels ? The 
 
 curse being removed, and the h. :mg 
 
 against me d, the price p:*id, the 
 
 *Pul. ciii. p \lfy. xliii. 14- 
 
1 38 Serious Reflections 
 
 breach made up, the mouth of justice stop- 
 ped, and the condemning sentence of the 
 law exchanged for a gracious pardon, thro' 
 the sacrifice of my. blessed Lord Jesus ? And 
 shall I not praise his incomprehensible love 
 and grace ? 
 
 I likewise thank thee,- most holy Father, 
 for saving me from guilt and ruin, when 
 assaulted by powerful and dangerous temp- 
 tations ; that by preventing mercy, or restrain* 
 ing grace ^ thou hast kept me from many scan- 
 dalous and presumptuous crimes. I thank 
 thee for making the sins of others a warning 
 and a caution to me } an argument to humil- 
 ity, and a motive to watchfulness ; for pre- 
 serving my judgment from many errors and 
 delusions, by which others are seduced ; 
 for enabling me to improve any opportuni- 
 ties of doing good, and make me in any thing 
 useful to others : yea, I thank thee for all 
 thy mercies to at he: Christians, for all tht 
 gifts and graces, and usefulness of any of 
 thy servants, wherein, as a member of the 
 same body, I desire to rejoice ; for any sup- 
 port and comfort to me, or any of them un- 
 der honorable sufferings for thy name sake* 
 
 I desire unfeignedly to bless thee for any 
 succor, relief, and victory ; with repect to 
 the snares and buifctings of sat an, and the 
 vilest of his temptations* When he hath 
 tempted me to apostacy, and infidelity, in 
 speculation or practice ; to question the 
 truth of the holy scriptures, and the life to 
 come ; to doubt of the foundations of the 
 christian faith, or to despair of the mercy of 
 
mTiuz andHrztLvrrr. 18* 
 
 God, and give up the reins to sensual lust ; 
 or to draw" me frcm God, by the love of 
 the world, and the praise of men by evil com- 
 pany, intemperance, secret wickedness, Sec. 
 
 I' bless thee with my whole soul for call, 
 ing cm back from any of my wanderings, and 
 by infinite goodness recovering me after 
 greztfalls, enabling me to return when I had 
 gone astray, and seek thy forfeited favor, 
 that thou may's* heal my back didings ; giv- 
 ing me, in order to it, a deep sense of mj 
 own sin, and of thy sovereign grace ; leading 
 me to a saviour whose blood cleanseth from 
 all sin, when my guilty, defiled soul so much 
 needeth its pardoning and cleansing virtue \ 
 awakening me to make holy vows, and call- 
 ing upon me by thy word, and spirit, and 
 providence, to perform them. 
 
 I bless thee who hast guided my feet into 
 the way of peace, when by the terrors of an 
 accusing conscience, and the sense of unpar- 
 doned sin, and the apprehensions of thy de- 
 served wrath, I was ready to despair : that tho* 
 thou didst most justly hide thy face at any 
 time, it was but lor a little while ; but didst 
 seasonably, and in mercy return, to wipe off 
 my tears, restore the joy of thy salvation, and 
 chase away the clouds and darkness on my 
 spirit, by the reviving presence of thy own* 
 Thou who art the author, wilt be the f rasher 
 
 vy faith, and therefore tho' thou hast vis- 
 ited mine iniquities with a fatherly rod, yet 
 thy loving kindness thou has: net taken from 
 me, or suffered thy fahkfulnesi to fail, or thy 
 eace i& be removed ; but lust re- 
 
1 £0 Serious R e fl ect i o tf % 
 
 freshed me with hidden manna, after great 
 perplexities, saying unto my soul, I am God, 
 even thy God. Thou hast made me to hear 
 thy voice, which was sweet ; and to taste thy 
 live, which is better than wine , enabling mc 
 to say with thine apostle Thomas, my Lord, 
 And my God ; and to have any comunion with 
 thee since, in publick or private duties. 
 
 For all these innumerable mercies I desirfc 
 to praise thee, which yet are but in order to 
 greater, everlasting kindness in heaven. These 
 are but the taste and earnest of what thou 
 wilt bestow hereafter. Oh hew great is his 
 goodness that he hath laid up for thofe that fear 
 him/ And mw, Lord, what wait I for ? 
 My hope is even in thee. I thank thee, who 
 hast thus put it into my heart, to render thee 
 solemn praise, and once more to renew my 
 covenant with thee. 
 
 / will magnify the L*rd r anl myfpirit {hall 
 rejoice in God my Saviour. Return unto thy 
 reft, my foul, for the Lord hath dealt boun- 
 i hfully with vie. £ If kite I live, I will praise 
 thte\ andfmg praifes unto my God, while I 
 have a being. O come, and behold the works 
 of the Lord, what he hath done for my foul I 
 The Lord liveth ; f blefjed be my rock, and let 
 the God gf my falvation be exalted. Let my 
 hear be glad, and my glory rejoice, for the 
 Lo. ^ is not afhamed to be called my God. 
 Thaiiks be to God, who hath caufed me to tri- 
 umph in Chrijl Jefus. Sing unto the Lord, O 
 ye his faints, and give thanks at the remem- 
 brance of his holinef ! \ I cried unto thee 
 and thou hafl healed and faved me : I will give 
 
 *Kki. cir, 33 fPfal. x^iii. 46, JPfal. xxx* 
 
 ; 
 
 
#* Timi and Eternity,. 191 
 
 thanks to thee forever. %I will fkexo forth thy 
 hving-kindnef in the morning, and thy fait h- 
 futnefs every night. For the Lord is good, 
 his mercy is roerlafting, and his truth endures 
 throughout all generations. enter into his gates 
 with thankfgivmg, and his courts -with praift:. 
 be thankful unto him, and blefs his name. 
 Blfs the Lord, all yc his works, in all places 
 ef his dominion Chiefs tht Lord, my foul. 
 
 Let mc add, for a conclusion, that the par- 
 ticular deliverances, supports and consola- 
 tions, which at any time God hath given in 
 cases of great exigence, or in answer to im- 
 portunate prayer, ought never to be forgot- 
 ten. Many experiene'd christians have been 
 wont to write down such remarkable appear- 
 ances of God for them, with the particular 
 circumstances that did recommend and en- 
 hance the mercy, ( whether spiritual or tem- 
 poral ) as an encouragement to trust in Gcd 
 in future difficulties ; and. have afterwards 
 found the comfort and advantage of being 
 able to have recourse to such papers. This 
 practice I recommend as what has been use- 
 ful and consolatory to divers christians lor 
 many years afterwards ; and to some others 
 of their more intimate friends, to whom they 
 might, without vanity, be imparted. What 
 experiences might be recorded, of signal re- 
 turns to prayer, and seasonable manifesta- 
 tions of the truth, and goodness, and wis- 
 dom of God, if all the instances thereof were 
 duly recollected and prcserv'd ! And ho\r 
 sweet and pleasant would the work cf prayed 
 und praise then be ! With what njoicirrg 
 JFfa!. cxix.62. 
 
192 Serious Hi flections 
 
 and delight should* we set about it, and live 
 in it, if the constraining goodness and love 
 of God, and a thankful sense of his unspeak- 
 able mercies did bring us to him, and indite 
 and animate every word ! What support and 
 comfort, and probable hopes, ( at least } of 
 the special love of God might we derive from 
 the various passages of his compassion and 
 kindness ! And hereby we rqpy be able more 
 heartily to give him thanks, for pardon, sane- 
 iification, and adoption* which wc commonly 
 mention with too much doubt and fear. 
 
 It rriav likewise be adviseable to examine 
 and' record the workings of your own spirit, 
 under such dispensations: what thoughts 
 you then had of God ? What acts of kith, 
 love and thankfulness, you did then manifest ? 
 What evidences of God's favour, and what 
 discovery of your own sincerity, you have 
 had at such times ? When, and how, and by 
 what means you were cur'd of your uncom- 
 fortable unbelief, and rais'd from yocr des- 
 pondency ? What promises you had recourse 
 to, for relief? What considerations were 
 most helpful to you ? What frame of spirit 
 you kept up in prayer, before and after ? 
 \Vhat resolutions and engagements you made 
 to God, to love, and trust, and praise and 
 serve him, and give up all to his disposal, 
 for the future ? And what consequent obli- 
 gation may be inferred from thence, to ac- 
 quiesce in the will of God, and resign our- 
 seLves entirely to him; saying, this God is our 
 
 ' God forever and ever, and he will h our 
 
 K guide unto death. 
 
 nxiSt 
 

-«jp< «^Kfe 
 
 ^sec c<< 
 
 
 en/ . ' 
 Co C * 
 
 
 
 re «_<£-. 
 
 ^ ccc< 
 
 rfeec 
 
 
 :Me 
 
 
 
 ^ «3E 
 
 
 
 r < *GB 
 
 r*se«« 
 
 «2l& 5^" 
 
 c: car: S < 
 
 ice s>> <r r«r:<3 Cj 
 
 C re <L ^c^ 
 <3 c <"" *^dRt<T< c 
 
 Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process. 
 Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide 
 Treatment Date: Nov. 2005 
 
 PreservationTechnologies 
 
 A WORLD LEADER IN PAPER PRESERVATION 
 
 111 Thomson Park Drive 
 Cranberry Township, PA 16066 
 (724)779-2111 
 

 «r< c^ 
 
 CCcc 
 <^«r cc 
 <LCC cc 
 
 CC <£ c 
 
 r., C 
 C<t<X 
 
 < 
 
 «:: <r c® « 
 
 .. C <r< <cc 
 
 3P£<< jr. crxrd «c 
 
 c <: c 
 
 Crc^^2#^.c cp ^T 
 
 _c c <r~ 
 
 SO 
 
 CC <^H^Cc 
 
 < C C! 
 
 
 <Eo d «c;< 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 017 053 768 3