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trust in him in every time of need; and, when they are pressed beyond measure, insomuch that they despair even of life, they have the sentence of death in themselves, that they should not trust in themselves, but in God who raiseth the dead. Such souls cast their burdens on the Lord, and pour out their soul before him, who gives power to the faint, and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Thus, when two walk together, if one fall, the other will lift up his fellow; but wo to him that is alone when he falleth, for he hath not another to lift him up.

Furthermore, the soul that is in union with the Saviour is often alarmed, warned, and previously cautioned, of approaching dangers, while the judgments of God are far above out of the sight of the wicked. A wise man discerns both time and judgment, he foresees the evil, and hides himself; when the wicked pass on, and are punished. "When he, the Comforter, is come, he will guide you into all truth, and he shall shew you things to come;" but the wicked cry, Peace and safety, when sudden destruction cometh.

Souls in union with Christ daily correspond with each other. They talk to him in confession, in prayer, in praises, in meditation, and in thanksgiving; and he talks to them in his word upon their hearts, in providences, by the cross, by internal changes of heart, or by some evident token for good. But the bond child and the hypocrite have no familiarity with Christ, no access

to him, nor intercourse with him. All their talk is not to God, but to be heard of men; to seek honour from them, and to set themselves up in the affections of the simple, as rivals to God; which is a prelude to their ruin; for they that exalt themselves shall be abased, but those that humble themselves shall be exalted.

The soul that is in union and friendship with Christ cannot bear any distance, coldness, frown, shyness, or controversy, with him. This is worse to them than death itself, esteeming his favour better than life, and the words of his mouth more than their necessary food; hence the following complaints; "Why hidest thou thy face from me?" "Shew me the reason wherefore thou contendest with me." "The Lord hath forsaken me, and my God hath forgotten me." The Comforter, that should relieve my soul, is far from me. O Lord, why shouldest thou be as a man astonished, why shouldest thou be as a wayfaring man that turneth aside and tarrieth but for a night; O when wilt thou come and comfort me? Jer. xiv. 8, 9.

But the mystical courtship and love visits that pass between Christ and his spouse; the little fits of jealousy, and provocations to it; the trial of each other's affections, and the sifting of each other's sincere intentions to the bottom; the restlessness, while one doubt or suspicion remains; and the racking anxiety, till every thing be settled upon a sure, honourable, and lasting foundation, to the satisfaction of each party; is all a riddle to

the formalist and to the hypocrite. The whole work of such lies in their head; thinking passes for believing, presumption for the assurance of faith, an external reformation is called conversion to God, legal bondage goes for the workings of the old man, the checks of an honest conscience is called the temptations of Satan, and being buffeted for their faults is being persecuted for righteousness sake; the preacher, who preaches to sap such a sandy foundation, is one that makes the hearts of the righteous sad; while he that heals them slightly, and prophesies smooth things, is a builder up; and he that cries, Peace, peace, where God has not spoken peace, is a man of candour, a man of a sweet and excellent spirit. This is the rest and security of an hypocrite, and hard work he has to keep things together; scripture, conscience, and every experimental and discerning child of God, are against him, and are continually making breaches in this supposed rest and refuge. The soul and Christ, who are in sweet union together, have a tender feeling for each other, and a tender regard for each other's honour. The sufferings of Christ often fill such a soul with cutting grief and contrition; and all that touch such a believer, saith the Lord, shall offend. Such souls cannot endure to see or hear the Lord slightly or evil spoken of. of. "I hate them that hate thee," saith the Psalmist; and they that hate Zion shall be desolate, saith the Saviour. They care not how lightly themselves are esteemed, so as their

Lord is glorified; and the Lord is as much concerned for the honour of them. 66 They that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed."

But not so the hypocrite; he pays no regard to the honour of God, so as he can but exalt himself in the eyes of men. They that cleave to him, admire him, and listen with astonishment to the uncertain sound of his trumpet, however evil in life and empty in heart, are his best friends; but all that are enlightened to see his deception are the worst enemies he has; nor will he go to the wise, nor to him that reproves him; he hates the light, and that is his condemnation.

Furthermore, Christ and his church are not only united in the bond of the covenant, and in mutual affections, but they are of one judgment. What he reveals, they consent to; what he says, they credit; what he applies, they embrace; what he speaks to them, the Spirit seals on them; and they set their hand, and bear their testimony, to his seal that God is true. The seal is a confirming assurance, and their setting to their seal is their honest confession of what they feel and enjoy. This faith gives glory to the Lord; and thus to believe is the saint's glory and wisdom. To be wise above what is written is devilish or infernal wisdom; to disbelieve or contradict truth, is to make God a liar, and charge infinite wisdom with ignorance, and to debase him to a level with Satan, than which nothing can be more vile and damna

ble. From this perilous path the fear of God keeps the saints. What they have seen in the Lord's light they testify; what they have heard from him they proclaim upon the house top; what they have felt they declare; and what is undiscovered they pray and wait for; but what is not revealed they dare not enter into; and what is not discovered to them they will not decide upon, lest Satan should get an advantage of them, and their dear Lord be dishonoured. All that an heretic draws out of the mouth of a child of God is sure to be pondered over in secret, and his lips are kissed when a right answer has been given.

O happy soul that is thus united to, and humbly walks with, his Saviour! The Lord guides him by his blessed Spirit, his eye, and his unerring counsel; while faith observes his motions and directions, and treads in his steps.

He plants his fear in his heart; and the believer walks, as in his immediate presence, before him in love; and considers himself under the eye of his everlasting friend, who ponders all his goings.

He feels a bar of equity erected in his own heart; to which, upon every recollection of misdoing, he cites himself; and will hold himself guilty, and culpable, till acquitted by the Spirit of God and his own conscience, and enlarged by a manifestation of pardoning love and the soulhumbling smile of his Saviour and his Judge.

The Lord daily proclaims his name to him, and

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