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and religion prevailed? how has truth been defended, and error exposed? how have the oppressed been relieved, and the heritage of God watered? what sons and daughters have been born in Zion? and are the true worshippers of the Father increased?" These things, amidst all my other concerns, should go nearest my heart, and the interests of Christ's kingdom should be my first concern, wherever my habitation for a time may be, hoping he will bring me again, and shew me both himself and his habitation. "If I forget thee, O Jerusalem! let my right hand forget her cunning; if I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy."

MEDITATION LXXII.

THE PATIENCE OF GOD VERY GREAT.

Leghorn, April 6. 1759.

TRULY it astonishes me that God spares those abandoned wretches, who day by day grow more wicked, and set their blaspheming tongues against the very heavens, and multiply rebellion against God. Truly it surprises me, that that vengeance which they so often invoke, is not poured down on them; and that power which they so often dare, does not destroy them! but God will manifest himself to be God by his adorable patience, as well as by his terrible justice. Let me suppose that the subjects of a certain great King rise up in rebellion against him, but by his superior power are routN

ed, reduced, and all made prisoners; that royal clemency makes out a pardon for many, who are so sensible of the unmerited favour, that they throw away the weapons of their rebellion, and ever after live the most obedient, loyal, and affectionate subjects that can be; but that others are apprehended, tried, condemned, and cast into prison, till the day they are to be brought forth and broken on the wheel; that in the mean time the stubborn wretches keep railing and abusing the prince, and spewing out their malice to every one that passes by, till it reaches the royal ear; yet that it could not so incense the king as to cause him send and tear the rebels limb from limb an hour before the set time. Even so deals God with sinners; he exercises amazing forbearance, not willing that any should perish, but at last he will punish awfully, and suffer no sinner to escape.

Do I, then, envy them their few peaceful years? or would I, like the disciples of old, fetch down consuming flames from heaven to burn them up, before he come in flaming fire to take vengeance on his enemies? No; let mercy reign her time; for with respect to the wicked, mercy shall soon quit the throne to inexorable justice, and then their misery shall be past expression, and their overflowing anguish shall exceed the fountain of their tears.

MEDITATION LXXIII.

DELUSION.

Leghorn, April 9. 1759.

AMONG all the various kinds of delusion, that which concerns the soul, religion, and God, is most

melancholy, and has the most dismal effects. Some, because born in a religious family, account themselves Christians from their cradle, and give themselves no concern about the new birth. Others think all is well with them, because they are neither swearers nor liars, drunkards nor fornicators; they are just between man and man, have a form of godliness, and hence think themselves in a fair way for heaven, though ignorant of spiritual union to Him who is the life of the soul, and quite unacquainted with a life of faith on the Son of God. Again, there are others who have been very wicked in their younger days, have been in the army or navy, and then and there have committed all wickedness with greediness. Now, if these men are separated from their wicked companions, and live where sobriety is more in fashion, they drop their oaths, and go regularly to church; and if they have entered into the married state, and prove faith ful to the marriage-bed, then they count themselves converted, and bless their happy state, though they have never undergone, and know nothing of, a saving change. Though the most wicked are at all periods of life invited to return to God, yet what numbers perish through delusion, are averse to try themselves, and build for eternity on sand! Not to speak of the delusions of Popery, which makes a merchandise of souls, there are some who, because they have had some legal terrors, some awakenings, and some resolutions to amend, though ignorant of the new birth, think they are convert ed; and some, in the decline of life, feeling death fast approaching, begin to be startled at dissolution, and affrighted to plunge into eternity, condemn the grosser actions of their life, and their ill-spent time,

and so, to make amends for all, read much in the Bible, and other religious books; but still the sin of their nature lies out of sight; nor do they advert to this, that a man must be born again, else he shall never see the kingdom of heaven; and yet such men pass for converts among the men of

the world.

MEDITATION LXXIV.

ON SEEING SLAVES AT work.

Leghorn, April 10. 1759.

To what hard circumstances are some fellow. creatures reduced! These poor men are in bondage, without any expectation of freedom till death deliver them. Are not their heavy burdens and severe labour punishment enough, without dragging the iron chain, which, locked about their ankles, links them two and two, or couples them like dogs together! and yet, as if all this were not severity enough, see the armed soldiers attend them every where!

So, O sinners! and worse, deals Satan with you, and yet you will not leave his service, his slavery, and become Christ's free men.

Whence is it that the men of the world, the sons of vice, think the saints of God shackled and confined, and that themselves only are free; and assume the title of libertines and free-thinkers, when indeed they are fettered drudges, narrow souls, and bond-slaves? The saints, and they alone, walk at liberty, being ransomed from their cruel captivity by price, and delivered by power.

These slaves have hard labour, but a coarse and scanty diet; so, when sinners weary themselves in the fire, they are fed, but with wind, and their belly filled, but with the whirlwind.

They are under the check and controul of soldiers, who are commonly the dregs of the people; so the sinner is under the check of the meanest passions, under the influence of the most sordid. lusts, and sees not his misery.

Satan, like this Prince *, makes the men that run in his service drag along with them all the signs of slavery, and badges of bondage, which it is possible for them to be loaded with; and they even weary themselves for very vanity. Their pleasures pierce (what can slaves enjoy?) and give pain; their joys are acid, and their enjoyments full of torment. All that they can possess themselves of, has still a deficiency and yet they hunt after shadows, and pursue imaginary bliss. Moreover, Satan, like the sentries of these poor slaves, is still pushing sinners on to works of darkness, and the reward at last is more shame, more sorrow, and more tor

ment.

Though these men toil hard all the day, yet at night they have not a soft bed to rest thereon their weary limbs; so the sinners that weary themselves to commit wickedness all the day of life, at last lie down in sorrow amidst devouring flames.

Indeed these poor creatures have the night allowed for their repose; but sinners often pass the silent night in scenes of darkness, and their very dreams are filled with the rambles of the day.

Again, these are slaves through life, but death

* The Grand Duke of Tuscany, who was sovereign of Leghorn.

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