Skip to main content

Full text of "Zion's pilgrim"

See other formats 


-  l  ^-J^^cr«-<^  ceo- <<S-    - 


SfclS 


JL1BRARY  OF  CONGRESS.} 

# 

t  UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA 


v 


., -c<r -"<rccc  <ar  <>= 
c<:  <oacc<r  >2 


-   cc^r  <- ■•-'&  c     -<^'^-.%^    < 

<3CL    c  <i£i_<z<  <■■<<.  c 
<r<T    «Xl<v    c<   c 
-<:    r  c  <c  «<  rcc  c        «: 

r<r   <  <xc  ■  <<<  <c«   c 
T  «G?<ccc  <r 
Z  <&<<rcc 

<kz  '■'<'<!<»' -(c<   c    «-« 
oc       <r  <S2C££    c     CI  K    <:<£<*;<    c<; 
/< "««cc    <   o    cC^C.cC 

<<C      C    C        C^gc,    C 
OGTCC    CC      C^^C< 


*»- — ■  ■*,  c    « 

«   c  esc: 

<j 

ascSi; 

3c 

c 

<C3cr^v 

§         C4CZ 

~<jC3CO '.-  -<-<'<-<Z 

c<cr<r 
C  c;<c;c 

v    --ccc: 

'<3 

c< 

c 

"   « '<Z  *'<2   <c^ « 

*  ..<c  •  °- 

::■<: 

■J 

< 

<<z  -c  cc^<3 

c  <artr<:cc   coCT      c 


cccc 

<C  dCCr 


ccc< 


CC  c  c< 

C  Cc, 
'    <    C< 
<   C   c  <.. 
XX  c  C    C  c 
<T     CCCcr 


CCC    < 

<S    c 

<t<    C<a^ 


<T  -vr- 

<7< 


^    <:  «3c    <i<«z^ 
c  cc<    ccc<     c   <*z 

ccf<  ex*    <r  ccc  <<:  <«r 

|  c  C  Ccc    c  «ZCs        <C 

c  «c  c  c  o 

cc   «£c  c     <c    c  i  «C«£tf<« 

;    ^  «E  CC  C  c  ^C* 

^Cc-cc  d  c-     n   *££Z-F£=^ 

-     (c«:cccccac«:^c « 

'C 


clC.<l 


C  «c 

t   X.CC    <     <   c      ccc; 
C3  <-  Cc  c-    <  cC^ 
<"   '  <    CC  Cc 
C  CC  Cc    < 


r  itC 


Z  I  O  N'S 


PILGRIM. 


/ 


i  •  X2B^  •  • 


BY  ROBERT  HAWKER,  D.  D 

VICAR    OF    CHARLES,     PLYMOUTH. 


i  •  ^mr  •  i 


They  shall  ask  the  way  to  Zion  with  their  faces  thitherward, 
inr,  Come,  let  us  join  ourselves  to  the  Lord  in  a  perpetual  cov- 
enant that  shall  not  be  forgotten.  Jeremiah  I.  5. 

And  confessed  that  they  were  strangers  and  pilgrims  on  the  earth. 

Hebrews  xi.  13. 


Zty  Jfuflt  American  from  tfje  JFourrf)  Ionium  (Efcition, 

TO    WHICH    ARE    ADDED, 

SELECT  PIECES  BY  DIFFERENT  AUTHORS 


TBotfton  : 

PRINTED   BY  LINCOLN  Cv  EDMANDS,    NO.  53.  CORNHILL, 

FOR  REV.  DANIEL  OLIVER. 

Sold  at  the  Bookstores   of  Caleb    Bingham,  No.  44,    and   Lin- 

coin  &  Edmunds,  No.  53,  Cornnill. 

4     . 


0* 


CONTENTS. 


Zion's  Pilgrim Pag£ 

The   Moral  Man     [  lx 

The  Moral  Preacher |g 

The  Family  at  Prayers 24 

The  Traveller 29 

The  Prayer  Meeting 33 

The  Poor  Man's  Experience 35 

The  Mournful  Believer 33 

The  Cries  of  Unbelief 42 

A  Believer  under  the  Hidings  of  God's  Countenance    47 

The  Sermon 53 

The  Remarks 53 

The  Dead  Child .  .  [  68 

The  Suicide 7q 

The  Ploughman 7^ 

The  Strayed  Sheep gj 

An  Inn gy 

The  Jew 89 

The  Diary 9g 

Market  Day 98 

The   Grace 100 

The  Paralytic 10I 

The  Stable  Boy 10g 

The  Disaster j09 

My  Relations \ j23 

The  Book 125 

The  Brothers 4  27 

The  House  of  the  Interpreter 132 

The  Picture  Room 141 

Monuments 143 

Mottos 146 

SELECT    PIECES    BY    DIFFERENT    AUTHORS. 

The  Harvest  Home 155 

Sixteen  Short  Sermons 163 

The  Swearer's  Prayer 192 

Ardent  Spirits .196 

Lord's  Day 199 

The  Fatal   Blunder    .  .  . ' ,  \  \  oqs 


ZION'S  PILGRIM. 


IT  was  not  until  that  I  had  passed  a  very  con- 
siderable portion  of  time  in  the  life  of  man, 
that  I  felt  the  full  conviction  of  my  being  but 
a  stranger  and  a  pilgrim  upon  the  earth.  And 
it  becomes  even  now,  one  of  the  most  astonish- 
ing circumstances,  in  the  new  view  of  things 
which  are  continually  opening  before  me,  that 
there  should  have  been  so  much  ignorance  in  my 
mind  by  nature,  on  a  subject  which,  in  itself,  ap- 
pears so  exceedingly  plain  and  evident.  Not  that 
I  was  altogether  void  of  apprehension,  that  the 
present  life  formed  a  bounded  prospect.  But  yet 
my  ideas  were  like  those  of  the  great  mass  of 
unawakened  characters,  who  believe  as  though 
they  believed  not  ;  and  who,  though  ready 
enough  to  confess  in  the  general,  that  man  is  but 
a  dying  creature,  yet  in  the  particular  instance, 
as  it  concerns  themselves,  live  as  though  they 
never  thought  to  die. 

I  pause in  the  moment  of  recollection,  to 

look  back  upon  the  whirlpool,  in  which  for  so 
many  years  I  was  hurried  on  by  the  unceasing 
current !  unconscious  of  the  perilous  situation  in 
which  I  then  moved,  and  unconcerned  at  what  I 
saw  of  thC  sudden  departure  of  those  around  me, 
swallowed  up  in  the  vortex  ! 

B 


6  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

Dread  Power  \  awful  even  in  thy  mercies  !  Do 
I  now  stand  secure  on  the  edge,  upheld  by  a 
strength  not  my  own,  no  longer  within  the  reach 
of  the  tide,  and  beholding  the  solemn  prospect  of 
thousands  still  ingulfed  ?  Can  I  call  to  mind  the 
past  danger  and  present  deliverance,  unmoved 
with  pity  over  the  unthinking  throng,  and  un- 
touched with  gratitude  to  thee  the  sole  Author  ©f 
every  mercy?  I  feel  (blessed  be  the  grace  that 
inspires  it)  the  rising  hymn  of  thankfulness  in  my 
heart,  while  the  tear  drops  from  my  eye  ;  Lord, 
how  is  it  that  thou  hast  manifested  thyself  unto  me, 
and  not  unto  the  %vorld  ? 

The  reader,  who  condescends  to  interest 

himself  in  the  history  of  a  poor  traveller  to  Zion, 
must  be  content  to  admit  of  these  occasional  in- 
terruptions by  the  way. 

You  may,  perhaps,  my  brother,  consider  every 
thing  of  this  kind,  but  as  the  unnecessary  paren- 
thesis of  the  tale.  But  they  are  not  so  to  the 
writer.  The  life  of  a  Pilgrim,  and  of  Zion's  Pil- 
grim particularly,  furnishes  but  a  comfortless 
view  in  the  retrospect.  It  is  like  treading  over 
large  tracts  of  waste,  thorny,  and  unimproved 
ground.  Every  little  spot,  therefore,  which  can  be 
looked  back  upon  with  delight,  is  like  the  sweet 
herbage,  and  the  refreshing  stream,  here  and 
there  only  to  be  found  on  the  barren  heath  ;  and 
which  are  beyond  all  calculation,  precious  to  the 
traveller. 

If  the  reader  cannot  enter  into  a  full  participa- 
tion with  the  writer,  in  these  enjoyments,  he  hopes 
he  will  at  least  suffer  them  to  remain,  as  so  many 
episodes  in  the  history.  It  is  possible,  from  an 
uuison  of  hearts,  some  fellow  traveller  on  the  road 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  7 

to  Zioa  may  find  in  them  an  harmony  of  sound 
corresponding  to  his  own  song  of  praise  :  and  to 
him  they  will  not  be  uninteresting. 

One  reflection,  I  think,  cannot  fail  to  strike 
the  gracious  mind  with  force,  in  the  review  of 
a  long  period  of  unawakened  nature,  when  once 
brought  out  of  it  ;  and  that  is,  the  distinguishing 
properties  of  preserving  grace.  I  never  knew, 
until  grace  taught  it  me,  how  much  I  owed,  and 
"was  continually  accumulating  the  debt,  during  the 
season  of  my  unregeneracy,  to  this  one  principle. 
But  now,  under  divine  teaching,  I  have  learnt 
somewhat  of  this  spiritual  arithmetic,  and  can  en- 
ter into  the  full  apprehension  of  what  the  apostle 
means,  when  he  says,  preserved  in  Jesus  Christ 
and  called.* 

Do  you  ask  what  that  is !  Every  man's  personal 
experience  becomes  the  truest  commentator.  But 
for  the  grace  of  preservation  in  Jesus  Christ,  there 
would  never  have  been  a  calling  to  Jesus  Christ. 
Calculate,  if  you  can,  how  long  a  space  you  lived, 
unconscious  of  your  state,  without  God  and  with- 
out Christ  in  the  world  And  had  you  been  cut 
off  in  the  awful  state  of  an  unawakened,  unregen- 
erated  mind  ;  where  would  have  been  your  por- 
tion? And  were  there  no  seasons  of  peculiar  peril, 
no  sickness,  no  intemperance,  no  hair-breadth 
escapes,  in  which  life  hung  as  by  a  thread  over  an 
hopeless  eternity?  Oh!  the  countless  instances 
of  preservation  in  Christ  Jesus,  before  the  re- 
deemed of  the  Lord  are  brought  to  the  apprehen- 
sion of  divine  things  which  are  of  Christ  Jesus  ! 
Have  you  never  seen  the  unconscious  babe  watch- 
ed over,  in  all  its  helpless,  defenceless  hours,  by 

*  Jude  i.  1. 


8  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

the  sedulous  tenderness  and  care  of  its  anxious 
parent?  Such,  and  infinitely  higher,  must  be 
his  preservation  of  his  people,  who  not  only 
watches  over  them  every  moment  lest  any  hurt 
them  /*  but,  what  peculiarly  endears  his  loving 
kindness  to  the  heart,  he  watches  over  them  for 
good,  in  those  moments  also,  in  the  days  of  their 
unregeneracy,  when  they  are  making  Him  to  serve 
with  their  sins,  and  wearying  him  with  their  in- 
iquities.^ Is  this  view  of  the  subject  wholly 
unprofitable  to  the  soul,  not  in  the  actual  posses- 
sion of  grace  ?  I  trust  not.  .  Is  not  every  one  a 
monument  of  sparing  mercy,  w7hile  continuing  on 
praying  ground  ?  And  if  preserved  in  Christ 
Jesus,  why  not  hope  there  may  be  yet  a  calling 
to  Christ  Jesus  ?  I  have  often  thought,  that  if  the 
most  senseless  mind  could  be  but  brought  to  stop 
in  the  mad  career  of  folly,  and  put  the  question  to 
the  heart ;~~"  For  what  purpose  am  I  preserved  to 
this  hour;  and  why  is  the  morning  light  again 
Vouchsafed  to  one  who  but  lives  to  abuse  it  ?" — 
Such  a  solemn  appeal  to  the  heart,  in  the  cool  mo- 
ment of  reflection,  might  be  blessed  by  divine 
grace;  and  induce  a  new  train  of  thought,  and 
new  principles  of  conduct  in  the  mind.  How 
doth  the  Lord  wait  that  he  may  he  gracious  unto 
you  ?  and  therefore  will  he  be  exalted,  that  he  may 
have  mercy  upon  you ;  for  the  Lord  is  a  God  of 
judgment :  blessed  are  all  they  that  wait  for  him.% 
I  hardly  know  at  what  period  to  commence 
my  history.  All  that  part  of  life  which  I  spent 
prior  to  my  conversion,  I  cannot  reckon  in  the 
estimate  of  really  living.     He  only  lives,  who  lives 

*  Isaiah  xxvii.  3.        f  Isamh  xliii.  24.        \  Isaiah  xxx.  1& 


ZION'S  PILGRIM,  9 

to  God's  glory.  All  else  is  but  a  blank  in  crea- 
tion. And  were  the  sum  total  of  my  days  to  be 
made  up  under  this  numeration,  it  could  only  cor- 
respond to  the  character  of  him,  who  being  regen- 
erated after  he  had  attained  the  age  of  three  score, 
ordered  for  the  inscription  of  his  tombstone ; 
"  Here  lieth  an  old  man  of  four  years  old." 

I  can  only  tell  the  reader,  that  if  from  my  first 
apprehension  of  divine  things  must  commence 
the  calculation  of  my  real  life,  I  have  but  a  little 
path  to  go  over.  But  from  this  era  would  I  de- 
sire to  date  my  history. 

What  were  the  secondary  means,  which  the  Lord 
in  his  providence  was  pleased  to  employ,  it  is  not 
so  interesting  to  the  reader  to  be  informed  of,  as  to 
behold  their  efficacy  under  grace.  It  will  be  suffi- 
cient for  him  to  know,  that  from  an  ardent  pursuit, 
like  that  of  the  generality  of  the  world,  of  theseveral 
objects  which  attract  attention  in  the  circle  of  life, 
I  found  my  mind  suddenly  arrested  by  matters  of 
an  higher  nature  ;  and  among  the  first  evidences 
of  the  renewed  life,  I  discovered  two  or  three 
leading  principles  manifesting  the  mighty  change. 
As  for  example  ;  from  being  occupied  in  an 
unremitting  regard  to  things  temporal,  I  now  found 
my  heart  earnest  to  pursue  the  things  which  are 
eternal :  and  if  at  any  lime,  the  necessary  and  un- 
avoidable claims  of  the  world  broke  in  upon  me, 
to  call  off  my  attention ;  my  heart,  like  the  needle 
under  magnetic  influence,  which  cannot  be  long 
diverted  from  the  object  of  its  attraction,  soon  was 
turned  again  to  its  favourite  pursuit.  In  like 
manner  the  troubles  of  life,  and  the  disappoint- 
ments necessary  to  the  present  preliminary  state, 
B  2 


10  ZION>S  PILGRIM. 

which  in  the  days  of  my  unregeneracy  operated 
with  all  their  severity,  now  lost  their  power,  or  at 
least  became  lessened,  in  the  greater  anxiety  of 
what  might  be  my  situation  in  the  world  to  come. 
This,  like  the  ocean,  whose  boundless  bosom  takes 
in  all  the  rivers  flowing  into  it,  swallowed  up  every 
lesser  stream  of  sorrow ;  and  an  awakened  con- 
cern for  the  one  thing  needful  made  me  forget 
every  other  consideration.  Add  to  these,  I  had 
been  exceedingly  prodigal  of  time,  while  I  knew 
not  its  value  ;  and  have  been  literally  sending  out 
into  the  streets  and  lanes  of  the  city  to  invite  pas- 
sengers to  take  it  off  my  hands.  But  when  it 
pleased  God  to  call  me  by  his  grace,  I  found  every 
part  of  it  to  be  so  precious,  that  like  the  fugitive 
man-slayer  hastening  to  the  gate  of  refuge,  I  dread- 
ed every  moment  lest  the  adversary  should  seize 
me  before  i  had  found  a  sanctuary  from  his  fury. 
As  well  as  I  recollect  (and  great  cause  have  I  to 
recollect  every  thing  connected  with  a  situation  so 
critical)  I  was  in  this  state  of  mind  when  my  de- 
sires were  first  awakened  to  an  inquiry  after  Zion  ; 
and  the  question  involuntarily  was  bursting  from 
the  fulness  of  my  heart,  Who  will  shew  me  any 
good?  Lord,  do  thou  lift  up  the  light  of  thy  coun- 
tenance upon  me  ;  audit  shall  put  more  gladness  in 
my  heart,  than  in  the  time  when  corn,  and  %vi?ie, 
and  oil  increase  ! 

Awakened  to  a  concern  which  I  had  never  before 
experienced,  and  called  upon  continually  by  a  voice 
from  within,  which  neither  the  engagements  of 
pleasure  nor  the  clamour  of  business  could  wholly 
stifle ;  I  found  myself,  insensibly,  as  it  were,  en- 
tered upon  the  road  to  Zion,  eagerly  disposed  to 
ask  every  one  by  the  way,   Who  mil  shew  me 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  11 

any  good?  though  unconscious  at  that  time,  what 
that  good  meant,  or  whether  there  were  any  means 
of  attaining  it. 

It  was  in  the  midst  of  one  of  those  highly  inter- 
esting  moments,  when  my  heart  seemed  to  be 
more  than  ordinarily  impressed  with  the  consider- 
ation of  the  importance  of  the  inquiry,  and  per- 
haps too  ready  to  receive  the  bias  of  any  direction 
which  might  first  offer,  that  it  occurred  to  my 
recollection,  there  was  a  person  who  lived  in  the 
neighbourhood,  who  might  help  me  in  my  pursuit 
of  happiness,  whom,  for  the  sake  of  distinction,  I 
would  call 

THE    MORAL     MAN. 

His  house  lay  on  the  left  hand  side  of  the  road  in 
the  way  to  Zion ;  and  therefore  it  would  not  be 
going- much  out  of  my  direct  path  to  call  upon 
him.  I  mention  this  for  the  better  information  of 
those  travellers  who  may  come  after  me  on  the 
same  errand,  concerning  both  his  situation  and 
character. 

I  had  long  known  him,  and  not  unfrequently 
been  witness  to  some  striking  instances  of  the  be- 
nevolence of  his  mind.  He  was  well  known  in- 
deed to  all  around  for  the  extensiveness  of  his 
charity.  The  poor  man  never  went  from  his  door 
with  his  tale  of  misery  unheard,  or  his  wants  un- 
relieved. And  it  was  said  of  him,  almost  to  a 
proverb,  by  the  pensioners  of  his  bounty,  that  if 
any  man  went  to  heaven  it  would  be  him.  I  con- 
sidered myself  particularly  fortunate  in  the  recol- 
lection of  such  a  character,  to  whom  I  might  un- 
bosom myself  on  the  subject  which  lay  so  near  my 


12  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

heart :  so  that  calling»upon  him,  with  that  kind  of 
freedom  which  necessity  begets,  and  which  a 
confidence  in  the  person  you  address  will  always 
excite,  I  communicated  to  him,  without  reserve, 
the  state  of  my  mind. 

He  heard  me  with  great  attention ;  now  and 
then  only,  as  I  stated  my  distress,  expressing 
much  pity  for  my  concern  on  a  subject  which  he 
considered  to  be  perfectly  unnecessary ;  wonder, 
ing,  as  he  said,  that  there  should  be  a  single  per- 
son upon  earth,  wreak  enough  to  interrupt  the  en- 
joyment of  his  own  happiness  with  an  anxiety  so 
ill  founded ;  and  which,  according  to  his  ideas, 
tended  to  reflect  so  greatly  upon  the  goodness  of 
the  Deity.  "  For  my  part,  (says  he)  I  have  too 
high  notions  of  God,  to  imagine  that  he  ever  made 
any  creature  to  be  miserable  ;  neither  can  I  fancy 
the  possibility  of  what  some  gloomy  minds  are 
so  much  alarmed  about — of  the  doctrine  of  future 
punishments.  It  appears  to  me  altogether  incon- 
sistent with  the  benevolence  of  the  divine  char- 
acter.*5— 

"  Hold,  Sir,  (I  interrupted  him)  and  pray 

satisfy  my  mind  on  this  point,  before  you  go  far- 
ther. I  readily  join  issue  with  you  in  the  highest 
acknowledgments  of  the  goodness  of  God ;  and 
am  most  fully  persuaded,  that  all  praise  must  fall 
infinitely  short  in  the  description  of  what  it  really 
is.  But  I  see  as  plainly  as  though  written  with 
a  sunbeam,  that  much  misery  may,  and  in  fact 
doth,  consist  with  the  divine  goodness,  in  the 
present  life.  And,  as  I  suppose,  no  one  will  ven- 
ture to  impeach  God's  goodness,  in  the  permission 
of  evil  here,  I  cannot  form  the  vestige  of  an  ar- 
gument, wrhy  that  goodness  may  not  be  as  consist* 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  13 

cnt  with  the  existence  of  evil  hereafter  ;  especially, 
when  revelation  comes  in  to  the  aid  of  my  feeble 
reason,  declaring  in  a  tone  of  the  most  determined 
and  unalterable  decision,  that  the  wicked  shall  be 
punished  with  everlasting  destruction  from  the 
'presence  of  the  Lord.*  Can  you  explain  to  me, 
how  I  am  to  reconcile  these  things  with  your 
opinion?  And  do  you  not  imagine  that  there  is 
great  danger  in  entertaining  such  unqualified  no- 
tions of  the  divine  character — of  complimenting 
God's  goodness  at  the  expense  of  God's  truth  ?" 
My  neighbour  waved  the  question,  taking 
shelter  under  the  general  covering  of  a  supposed 
inoffensiveness  of  conduct,  and  a  well  intentioned 
frame  of  mind.  "  I  do  not  (he  replied)  trouble 
myself  with  matters  of  this  nature.  Providence 
hath  blessed  me  with  ample  circumstances,  and  I 
do  all  the  good  I  can  in  my  little  sphere  of  useful- 
ness. While  therefore  I  enjoy  the  present,  I  am 
thankful  for  the  past,  and  fearless  for  the  future. 
My  opinion  is  formed  on  that  excellent  maxim  of 
the  poet, 

1  For  God  is  paid  when  man  receives ; 
*  T'  enjoy  is  to  obey.' 

These  are  my  sentiments,  (added  my  neighbour) 
and  in  the  discharge  of  moral  duties,  I  rest  satis- 
fied for  the  event." 

11  It  would  be  very  unbecoming  in  me  (I  replied) 
to  controvert  your  opinion,  having  called  upon  you 
for  instruction,  and  not  to  instruct.  But  forgive 
me  if  I  err  in  the  apprehension,  that  what  you 
have  advanced  in  the  eulogy  of  moral  virtues,  re- 

*  2  The#§.  i.  9. 


14  ZXON'S  PILGRIM, 

lates  more  to  earthly  concerns  than  heavenly — 
more  to  the  present  well  being  of  man  than  to  the 
future  enjoyment  of  God.  There  is  unquestion- 
ably a  loveliness  in  moral  virtue,  which  cannot 
fail  to  gain  the  esteem  of  every  beholder ;  and 
happy  would  it  be  for  the  circumstances  of  man- 
kind, if  its  influences  were  far  more  general  than 
they  are.  And  w7hile  a  proper  distinction  is  made 
between  the  duties  connected  wTith  the  pres- 
ent world,  and  the  preparations  suitable  for  anoth- 
er, too  much  cannot  be  said  in  praise  of  morality. 
But  if,  in  the  sight  of  God,  an  imperfect  obedi- 
ence to  a  moral  system  could  have  answered  the 
purposes  of  futurity,  (I  say  imperfect  obedience> 
because  no  one  upon  earth  will  venture,  I  imag- 
ine, to  think  higher  of  his  practical  attainments  in 
this  science,  than  that  they  come  short  of  perfec- 
tion ; )  the  religion  of  Christianity  wrould  have 
been  an  unnecessary  revelation.  What  nation 
ever  exceeded  in  point  of  morals  the  Roman  and 
the  Lacedemonian  commonwealths  ?  And  yet,  af- 
ter all,  we  can  only  place  them  in  the  class  of  unen- 
lightened heathens  in  respect  to  religion.  Is  there 
not  *  some  grand  deficiency  in  that  system  which 
totally  shuts  out,  or  at  least  throws  far  into  the 
back  ground  of  the  piejce,  the  acknowledgment  of 
Him,  who,  one  should  suppose,  would  forp  the 
first  and  principal  character  ? 

"  Permit  me  to  place  the  argument  in  a  point  of 
view,  which  may  in  some  measure  tend  to  decide 
it.  If  I  mistake  not,  you  have  a  large  family  of 
children,  all  branched  out  in  life  ;  and  you  have 
already  made  for  them  a  most  ample  provision : 
and  it  is  by  your  liberality  that  they  are  enabled  to 
move  in  a  sphere  suited  to  their  rank  and  cirqum- 


ZION'S   PILGRIM.  15 

stances.  Put  the  case  now,  that  these  children 
of  yours  live  in  the  greatest  love  and  harmony 
with  each  other  ;  and,  not  content  with  the  bare 
practice  of  moral  honesty  and  justice,  are  kind, 
affectionate,  friendly,  tender,  even  to  the  anticipa- 
tion of  what  one  conceives  may  promote  the  oth- 
er's happiness.  But  suppose,  that  in  the  midst  of 
all  this  attention  to  the  mutual  and  general  felicity 
of  each  other,  they  are  never  heard  to  express  an 
affection  towards  the  person  of  a  father,  from 
whom,  as  the  source,  they  have  derived  all  their 
enjoyments  ;  would  not  any  man  consider  them  as 
deficient  in  the  first  and  best  of  all  possible  obliga- 
tions? And  is  not  this  the  very  state  of  those 
who,  priding  themselves  in  the  discharge  of  mor- 
al duties  to  their  neighbour,  pass  by  the  reverence, 
the  love,  the  gratitude,  and  obedience  they  owe 
to  God? 

11  Bear  with  me,  I  beseech  you,  Sir,  and  cor- 
rect me  if  I  am  wrong:.  I  merelv  state  the  ob- 
jectionsto  what  you  have  advanced,  as  they  appear 
to  mc,  in  order  that  your  better  judgment  may 
remove  them.  But,  indeed,  it  hath  often  struck 
my  mind  very  forcibly,  that  there  must  be  some 
latent  principle  of  evil  lurking  under  a  fair  form ; 
when  I  have  beheld  characters  of  the  greatest  res- 
pectability, who  appear  to  be  every  thing  which 
is  amiable  to  their  fellow  creatures — generous, 
noble,  affectionate;  but  at  the  same  time  totally 
dead  to  devout  sentiments.  Often  it  hath  been 
my  lot,  in  times  pabt,  to  have  been  introduced  to 
their  tables  ;  where  the  plentiful  provision  of  all 
the  bounties  of  Gon's  providence  seemed  to  be 
continually  inviting  the  conversation  to  some  re- 
marks on  the  goodness  of  the  Great    Provider. 


16  ZION'S   PILGRIM. 

But  alas !  during  the  many  hours  which  I  have 
sometimes  spent  at  one  meal,  not  a  word  hath 
dropped  in  honour  of  the  Almighty  Master  of  the 
feast.  The  gifts  have  been  enjoyed,  but  the  Giver 
totally  forgotten.  It  hath  been  frequently  my  re- 
proach, I  assure  you,  Sir,  when  returning  from 
such  tables,  in  the  days  while  I  attended  them, 
(for  I  have  long  since  given  them  up)  that  there 
must  be  some  baleful  principle  in  the  human  mind 
to  produce  such  effects.  Will  you  help  me  to 
account  for  it?" 

My  neighbour  seemed  "a  little  hurt  at  the  close- 
ness of  the  question.  "  You  will  excuse  me,  Sir, 
(he  replied)  it  is  not  my  province  to  preach.  I 
would  recommend  you  rather  to  the  worthy  vicar 
of  our  parish,  who  is  allowed  by  all,  who  attend 
his  church,  to  be  one  of  the  most  elegant  preach- 
ers of  the  age.  Perhaps  he  may  be  able  to  satisfy 
your  inquiries  ;  and  I  shall  very  much  rejoice,  if 
your  mind  can  be  made  easy." 

Disappointed  as  I  found  myself  in  the  informa- 
tion proposed  from  my  visit,  I  could  not  but  be 
thankful  for  my  neighbour's  candour  ;  and  finding 
my  anxiety  increase  rather  than  diminish,  in  de- 
sires after  the  attainment  of  something,  which  I 
knew  not  by  what  term  to  distinguish,  I  thought 
it  might  be  right  to  follow  up  my  neighbour's  ad- 
vice ;  and  accordingly,  on  the  next  Sunday,  I 
went  to  hear 

THE    MORAL    PREACHER. 

He  took  his  text  from  the  prophecy  of  Mieah, 
chap.  vi.  verse  8.  He  hath  shewed  thee ■,-  0  man> 
mohat  is  good.     And  what  doth  the  Lord  require  of* 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  17 

thee,  but  to  do  justly ',  and  to  love  mercy,  and  to  walk 
humbly  with  thy  God.  I  felt  much  pleasure  in  the 
very  idea  of  the  subject  proposed  from  this  text  of 
scripture,  the  moment  it  was  mentioned;  and 
therefore  listened  with  the  more  attention,  in  order 
to  discover  some  leading  points,  which  might  be 
brought  forward  to  give  me  comfort.  The  sub- 
stance of  the  preacher's  sermon,  when  separated 
from  the  flowery  ornaments  of  it,  was  directed  to 
shew,  that  the  path  to  happiness  was  set  before 
every  one  ;  that  God  had  shewn  man  what  was 
good ;  and  that  it  was  man's  own  fault  if  he  did 
not  follow  it :  that  what  the  Lord  required  Mas 
nothing  harsh,  or  unreasonable,  or  difficult ;  but 
the  plain,  easy,  self- re  warding  virtues  of  moral 
obligation.  And  that,  if,  in  addition  to  the  line  of 
doing  justly,  the  circumstances  favoured  the  love 
of  mercy,  in  relieving  the  wants  of  the  wretched, 
where  ability  reached,  and  dropping  over  them  the 
tear  of  sympathy  where  it  did  not ;  and  instead 
of  studying  to  be  wise  above  what  is  written,  re- 
specting divine  things,  to  walk  humbly  with  God  ; 
these  made  up  the  sum  and  substance  of  all  moral 
and  religious  concerns. 

"  Well,  Sir,  (cried  my  neighbour,  who  had 
attended  also  the  church  that  morning,  and  was 
coming  out  of  the  porch  at  the  same  moment  with 
myself)  well,  Sir,  what  are  your  sentiments  now  ? 
I  hope  our  worthy  vicar  has  fully  satisfied  your 
mind."  And  this  he  said  loud  enough  to  be  heard 
by  those  around,  and  with  that  kind  of  triumph 
which  a  man  feels  when  he  fancies  he  has  fully 
established  an  opinion  long  disputed. 

"  It  is  my  mercy,  (replied  a  poor  man,  who 
overheard  mv  neighbour's  observation)  that  1 
C 


18  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

have  not  so  learned  Christ.  God  hath  indeed 
shewn  me  what  is  good  ;  and  could  I  look  up  and 
say  that  I  have  followed  it,  all  might  be  well. 
But  alas !  I  have  sinned  and  come  short  of  the  glory 
of  God.  I  know  not  what  others  feel :  but  I 
am  free  to  confess,  that  in  many  instances  which 
my  recollection  now  reproaches  me  with,  and 
others,  no  doubt,  which  my  treacherous  heart 
hath  long  since  forgotten,  I  have  neither  done 
justly,  loved  mercy,  nor  talked  humbly  with  my 
God. 

"  Though  I  have  reason  to  be  very  thankful,  that 
God's  preventing  and  restraining  grace  hath  kept 
me  from  the  more  open  and  flagrant  acts  of  injus- 
tice ;  yet  I  am  conscious  that  self  love  and  self 
interest  have  betrayed  me  into  the  doing  of  many 
things^  which  would  not  bear  to  be  ascertained  by 
the  strict  equilibrium  of  a  standard  of  justice, 
which  admits  no  partiality.  I  am  no  less  con- 
vinced also  that  in  speaking,  I  have  committed,  on 
numberless  occasions,  a  breach  of  that  golden  rule 
of  justice,  which  forbids  reporting  to  another's 
injury,  what,  in  similar  circumstances,  I  should 
have  thought  wrong  to  have  had  spoken  of  myself. 
And  from  the  imagination  of  man's  heart,  which 
scripture  declares  to  be  only  evil  continually,  I  am 
persuaded,  that,  in  thinking,  many  unkind  thoughts 
have  arisen  in  my  mind  against  my  neighbour, 
which  become  a  violation  of  that  law  of  charity 
which  thinketh  no  evil.  I  dare  not,  therefore, 
whatever  others  may  do — I  dare  not  risque  the 
final  decision  of  my  everlasting  welfare  on  the 
point  of  doing  justly. 

"  Neither  under  the  condition  of  loving  mercy 
<san  I  find  greater  confidence.     For  I  discover  in 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  19 

my  nature,  anger,  resentment,  pride,  and  the  like 
corrupt  passions ;  which  in  spite  of  all  my  endeav- 
ours to  suppress  them,  like  the  eruptions  of  a  vol- 
cano, which  plainly  bespeak  the  heat  within  from 
the  lava  thrown  without,  too  clearly  testify  that 
the  love  of  mercy  is  not  the  ruling  passion  !  and 
therefore  never  to  be  estimated  by  the  few  casual 
acts  of  alms-giving,  which,  if  the  heart  would  be 
faithful  to  acknowledge,  are  sometimes  more  the 
result  of  pride,  than  the  pure  effect  of  real  love 
and  charity. 

"  I  blush  at  the  bare  mention  of  walking  humbly 
with  Gody  in  the  recollection  how  often  my  rebel- 
lious heart  hath  risen,  and  is  continually  rising, 
in  opposition  to  his  government  and  authority. 
Fretful  and  impatient  under  the  slightest  afflic- 
tions ;  unthankful  for  the  greatest  mercies ;  and 
though  desiring  in  my  daily  prayer,  that  his  will 
may  be  done,  frequendy  wishing  it  may  not ;  and 
even  displeased  if  it  be,  when  it  thwarts  my  own  ! 
— Can  such  a  creature  be  said  to  walk  humbly 
with  his  God?" 

My  neighbour  listened  to  the  poor  man's  ob- 
servations, and  when  he  had  finished,  walked 
away  without  making  a  reply.  For  my  part, 
though  it  appeared  that  his  reasoning  was  conclu- 
sive, and  unanswerable,  yet  I  ventured  to  say,  "  If 
this  be  the  state  of  the  case,  what  becomes  of  the 
morality  of  the  Christian  religion  ;  and  in  what 
sense  are  we  to  accept  the  sermon  on  the  Mount, 
with  which  the  great  Author  of  it  opened  his  com- 
mission?" 

11  The  morality  of  the  Christian  religion  (repli- 
ed the  poor  man)  stands  where  it  ever  stood,  up- 
on its  own  fixed  and  immoveable  basis ;  and  soon* 


SO  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

er  shall  heaven  and  earth  pass,  than  one  jot  or  tit- 
tle of  the  law  shall  fail.  Go  d  doth  not  lose  his 
authority  to  command,  because  man  hath  lost  his 
power  to  obey.  The  creditor  foregoes  not  the 
right  to  his  just  due,  because  the  debtor  is  be- 
come insolvent.  By  the  law  is  the  knowledge  of 
sin.*  Hence  the  great  Author  of  the  Christian 
system  opened  his  commission  with  the  promul- 
gation of  this  law,  that  its  unalterable,  unaccom- 
modating terms  might  ever  stand  in  the  front  of 
his  gospel ;  and  the  man  that  doeth  them  shall  live 
in  them.-\  If,  therefore,  any  man  can  appeal  to 
this  standard  of  decision ;  can  look  up  with  an  un- 
covered, undaunted  front,  and  challenge  the 
strictest  scrutiny  over  every  thought,  and  word, 
and  action  ;  if  there  be  such  an  obedience  found 
as  can  give  life,  verily  righteousness  shall  be  by  the 
law.%  But  if  both  scripture  and  experience  have 
concluded  all  under  sin,  if  all  have  sinned  and  come 
short  of  the  glory  of  God ;  and  by  the  deeds  of  the 
law,  no  flesh  can  be  justified  in  his  sight ;  then  it 
will  be  found,  that  the  moral  sermon  of  the  great 
Author  of  Christianity  on  the  Mount,  as  well  as  the 
moral  system  of  the  great  Jewish  lawgiver  in  the 
wilderness,  were  both  designed  to  act  as  the 
schoolmaster  to  bring  unto  Christ  ;\  and,  that  he 
is  the  end  of  the  law  for  righteousness  to  every  one 
that  believeth.^ 

Pause  therefore  one  moment,  and  examine  how 
the  account  stands  between  God  and  your  con- 
science. In  the  present  season  of  lightness  and 
inattention,  a  multitude  of  occurrences  of  frailty, 
and  sometimes  what  deserves  a  harsher  name,  pass 

*  Rom.  iii.  20.  f  Gal.  iii.  12.  J  Gal.  iii.  21, 

§Gal.  in. 24,  U  Rom.x.4. 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  21 

away  in  the  stream  of  time,  noiseless  and  inaudi- 
ble, and  are  soon  swallowed  up  in  the  gulf  of 
oblivion.  But  in  that  hour,  when  the  Lord  will 
lay  judgment  to  the  line  and  righteousness  to  the 
plummet,  if  you  and  I  have  no  better  righteous- 
ness than  our  own  to  trust  in ;  no  Surety  to  stand 
in  our  stead ;  no  Advocate  to  plead  our  cause  ; 
an  effect  infinitely  more  awful  than  that  which 
loosed  the  loins  of  the  impious  monarch  we  read 
of  will  take  place,  when  weighed  in  the  balance  and 
found  %v  anting."* 

I  knew  not  what  to  reply,  and  therefore  remain- 
ed silent.  The  poor  man,  bidding  me  farewel, 
left  me  to  ruminate  on  the  solemn  inquiry  ;  How 
should  man  be  just  with  God?\ 

The  effect  wrought  in  my  mind  by  reason  of 
the  poor  man's  observations,  was  not  unsimilar  in 
permanency,  though  producing  very  opposite 
sensations  in  point  of  pleasure,  to  what  the  poet 
fcath  described  of  our  first  father's  feelings,  in  the 
garden  of  Eden,  on  the  close  of  the  angel's  rela- 
tion concerning  divine  things — 

The  angel  ended,  and  in  Adam's  ear 

So  charming-  left  his  voice,  that  lie  awhile 

Thought  him  still  speaking,  still  stood  fix'd  to  hear. 

MILTON. 

I  felt  the  same  force,  but  not  the  same  sweet- 
ness, from  what  he  said.  It  was  a  harsh  sound, 
and  the  vibration  long  dwelt  upon  my  ear,  Hoiv 
should  man  be  just  with  God?  It  followed  me  to 
what  Job  calls  the  visions  of  the  night  \%  and  even 

*  Dan.  v.  6.  t  J°b  ix.  2.  \  Job  ir. 

C  2 


22  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

then,  like  the  spectre  which  he  saw,  the  same  ex- 
postulating voice  seemed  to  cry,  How  should  man 
he  just  with  God? 

The  stern  demand  rang  through  all  the  cham- 
bers of  the  conscience,  as  if  a  thousand  voices  had 
concurred  to  proclaim  the  utter  impossibility  of 
answering  the  question,  in  the  very  moment  of 
proposing  it.  And  as  an  echo  reverberates  from 
broken  walls,  so  the  sound  of  conviction  returned 
from  my  broken  heart  ;  by  the  deeds  of  the  lav* 
no  flesh  can  be  justified  in  his  sight.* 

It  is  with  some  degree  of  grateful  recollection, 
that  I  look  back  upon  this  part  of  my  history, 
and  bless  God,  while  I  trace  his  divine  hand,  gra- 
ciously interposing  by  the  instrumentality  of  this 
poor  man,  to  rescue  me  from  the  dangerous  path 
of  delusion,  into  which  I  had  turned,  when  seek- 
ing justification  by  the  deeds  of  the  law.  I  can 
now  enter  into  a  participation  of  David^s  experi- 
ence upon  a  similar  occasion,  and  feel  somewhat  of 
that  spirit  which  he  felt  in  the  instance  of  the  wife  of 
the  Carmelite,  when  under  a  deep  conviction  of  that 
sin-preventing  providence,  he  cried  out,  Blessed 
he  the  Lord  God  of  Israel,  which  sent  thee  this  day 
to  meet  me  j  and  blessed  be  thy  advice,  and  blessed 
he  thou  A  In  like  manner  I  find  cause  to  bless 
God  in  the  review  of  this  instance  as  the  Author, 
the  poor  man  as  the  instrument,  and  his  advice  as 
t)ie  mean,  which  the  Lord  was  pleased  to  commis- 
sion, for  the  emancipation  of  my  mind  from  a  self- 
confidence  ;  which  if  cherished  must  have  ulti- 
mately ended  in  my  eternal  ruin. 

•  Bom.  Hi,  20>  %  1  Sam,  xxv.  33- 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  23 

— And  my  reader  will  I  hope  forgive  me  if  I 
interrupt  the  progress  of  the  history  for  a  mo- 
ment, only  to  remind  him,  that  unless  the  mind  be 
brought  under  similar  conclusions  respecting  the 
unalterable  and  unaccommodating  right  of  God's 
demands,  wo  unto  him  that  striveth  with  his  Ma- 
ker !  We  may  fancy  what  we  please,  and  frame  a 
standard  of  our  own,  for  God  to  go  by,  according 
to  our  notions  of  the  fitness  of  things  ;  as  if  an  ar- 
raigned culprit  at  the  bar  should  stand  up  and  pre- 
scribe laws  to  his  judge  !  but  it  would  be  wrell  to 
consider  before  it  be  too  late,  the  very  solemn 
tone  of  decision  in  which  scripture  hath  settled  the 
point,  which  leaves  the  subject  at  once  determined 
and  without  appeal.  Behold,  he  puttetli  no  trust 
in  his  saints  ;  even  his  angels  he  chargeth  with 
folly.  What  then  is  man,  that  he  should  be  clean? 
And  he  which  is  born  of  a  woman,  that  he  should  be 
righteous  ?* 

There  is  an  interpretation,  which  I  have  since 
learnt,  to  the  text  of  the  prophet,  Micah  vi.  and 
verse  8,  which  the  moral  preacher  discoursed 
upon,  very  different  from  his  ;  and  which  I  bless 
God  the  Spirit  for  teaching  me.  To  do  justice, 
and  love  mercy,  and  walk  humbly  with  God.  The 
prophet  himself,  in  the  very  words  as  they  stand, 
declares  that  these  separate  acts  are  with  God,  in 
their  performance.  And  without  all  possible  dis- 
pute, the  first  and  highest  instances  of  all  duties 
must  have  a  priority  of  reference  towards  him. 
Hence,  therefore,  I  do  justice  with  God,  when 
from  a  clear  conviction,  that  I  have  broken  his 
righteous  laws,  and  as  such,  stand  exposed  to  the 

•  Jobiv.  13.  xv.  14. 


24  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

penalty  due  to  the  breach  of  them,  I  confess,  that 
I  merit  nothing  from  his  almighty  hand,  but  im 
dignation  and  wrath,  tribulation  and  anguish.  I 
love  mercy,  in  the  fullest  and  truest  sense  of  lov- 
ing mercy,  when  I  acknowledge  upon  my  bended 
knees  and  in  the  most  heartfelt  rejoicing,  that  it  is 
of  the  Lord's  mercies  that  I  am  not  consumed,  be- 
cause his  compassions  fail  not.  And  I  defy  any 
one  to  walk  more  humbly  with  God,  than  the  be- 
liever, who,  while  daily  confessing  himself  to  de- 
serve nothing  but  punishment,  is  receiving  noth- 
ing but  mercy.  This  is  indeed  to  follow  up  the 
divine  precept,  and  becomes  the  best  comment 
upon  what,  it  may  well  be  supposed,  the  Lord  re- 
qaireth.  But  the  view  of  the  prophet's  words, 
according  to  this  interpretation  of  them,  is  what  I 
did  not  learn  in  the  early  part  of  my  pilgrimage* 
The  reader  will  forgive  the  introduction  of  it  here. 


THE    FAMILY     AT    PRAYERS. 

Forever  driven  from  the  asylum  of  moral  du- 
ties as  a  justifying  principle  before  God,  and  still 
restless  and  uneasy  from  the  suspense  of  an  awak- 
ened mind,  in  respect  to  the  solemn  events  of  fu- 
turity, I  found  myself  compelled  to  go  farther  in 
the  pursuit  of  the  wished-for  happiness  ;  though 
what  path  to  explore,  or  where  to  direct  my  in- 
quiry, I  knew  not. 

There  lived .  a  family  of  long  reputed  piety, 
whose  place  of  residence  lay  not  far  out  of  my  way ; 
from  whom  it  struck  me  that  some  information 
might  be  obtained.  I  instantly  directed  my  steps 
towards  the  house.     And  I  was  led  to  consider  it 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  25 

as  a  very  peculiar  coincidence  of  circumstances, 
and  not  unfavourable  to  my  purpose,  that  the 
household  were  engaged  at  their  morning  devo- 
tions, just  in  the  moment  that  I  entered  their 
dwelling. 

There  is  a  principle,  I  know  not  by  what  term 
to  call  it,  which  acts  with  singular  energy  on  the 
human  mind,  at  the  very  appearance  of  religious 
worship.  The  heart  is  instinctively  brought  with- 
in the  sphere  of  attraction,  and  is  secretly  inclined 
to  participate  in  what  it  beholds.  I  felt  this  influ- 
ence operating  the  moment  I  entered  the  room. 
I  considered  what  this  family  was  engaged  in,  as  a 
common  interest,  a  common  concern ;  so  that 
without  giving  any  interruption,  I  dropped  upon 
my  knees,  unbidden  and  uninvited,  in  the  midst 
of  the  circle. 

When  the  devotion  was  finished,  the  master  of 
the  house  desired  me  to  be  seated,  and  our  con- 
versation, naturally  taking  its  rise  out  of  the  inci- 
dent of  the  moment,  turned  on  religion. 

"  It  is  my  uniform  custom,  Sir,  (said  he)  to  be- 
gin and  end  the  day  in  prayer — I  consider  it  to  be 
my  duty.  I  know  it  exposes  me  to  the  sneer  of  the 
fashionable  world ;  but  I  cannot  help  that.  It  ap- 
pears to  me  to  be  the  obligation  of  every  master  of  a 
family,  to  set  up  the  form  of  religion  in  his  house ; 
and  for  example's  sake,  to  lead  his  household  to 
the  church  on  Sundavs.  For  the  same  reason  I 
make  it  a  point  that  all  the  elder  branches  of  my 
family,*  after  they  have  been  confirmed,  should 
attend  the  monthly  sacrament ;  and  it  is  my  wish, 

'  The  author  is  an  Episcopalian,  and  by  confirmation  means  the 
public  profession  of  the  Christian  religion  by  an  adult  person,  so. 
lemnly  performed  in  the  church  in  the  presence  of  the  bishop, 


26  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

that  my  wife  and  daughters  should  go  to  prayers 
on  the  week  days  and  festivals  :  And  I  believe 
they  are  pretty  constant  in  their  attendance.  And, 
Sir,  we  all  find  tjie  good  effects  of  it.  '  We  are 
prosperous  in  the  world.,  and  cheerful  and  happy 
as  you  see.  Religion  has  nothing  gloomy  with 
us.  No  family,  I  persuade  myself,  is  more  com- 
fortable than  ours." 

The  master  of  the  house  said  this  with  so  much 
complacency  and  satisfaction,  and  there  seemed  to 
be  so  much  cheerfulness  appearing  in  every  coun- 
tenance of  his  household,  that  I  began  to  hope 
the  object  of  my  visit  was  answered,  without  fur- 
ther inquiry.  I  concluded  w7ith  myself,  that  if 
the  observance  of  religious  duties  was  capable  of 
inducing  so  much  happiness  in  their  instance,  it 
would  have  the  same  tendency  in  mine.  I  only 
remained  therefore  long  enough  among  this  appar- 
ently happy  family,  to  present  my  congratulations 
on  what  I  had  seen  ;  and  then  took  my  leave,  to 
put  into  practice  the  lesson  which  I  had  learnt  from 
them. 

It  is  impossible  to  tell  my  reader,  what  a  round 
of  duties  I  laboured  through,  of  reading,  hearings 
fasting,  watching,  praying.  And  to  the  constant 
routine  of  this  kind,  when  the  monthly  sacraments 
came  about  in  their  periodical  returns,  I  added 
every  page  which  is  prescribed  in  the  weekly  prep- 
arations. I  could  not  have  ventured  in  those  days 
to  the  Lord's  table,  with  any  of  the  appointed 
forms  unfulfilled  for  the  world.  And  as  this  path 
in  the  trammels  of  devotion  opened  a  continual 
feast  to  feed  the  pride  of  my  heart  upon,  I  soon 
began  to  feel  the  sweet  effects  of  it  in  the  gratifi- 
cation it  afforded  me.      For  finding  greater  confi- 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  27 

dence  from  the  supposed  rectitude  of  my  life,  and 
dutiful  obedience  towards  God,  than   heretofore, 
I  "concluded  that  I  stood  on  much  safer  ground  for 
acceptance  with  him.     Not  that  I  then  thought 
that  my  goodness  alone,  and  without  the  merits  of 
Jesus  Christ,  would  be  sufficient  to   salvation  : 
(for  by  this  time  I  had  learnt  somewhat  of  the  na- 
ture of  the  Christian  religion)    but    I   took  it  for 
granted,  that  what  I  did  would  be  the  sure  method 
of  recommending  me  to  God  for  it.     So  that  upon 
the  whole,  I  was  well  pleased  with  myself.     There 
were  indeed  certain  seasons,  now  and  then,  when 
upon  the  omission  of  any  duty,  or  the  commis- 
sion of  any  sin,  my  mind  would  misgive  me,  and 
for  the  moment  induce  fear.     But  these  were  but 
transient  impressions,  which  I  endeavoured  to  ef- 
face as  fast  as  possible,  in  atoning  for  the  evil,  by 
|  increasing  diligence  in  the  path  of  what  I  thought 
good.  ^  And   thus,  by  carrying  on  a   commuta- 
tion with  God,  I  strove  to  make  up  what  was  re- 
miss  or  offensive  in  one  instance,   by  an  over  at- 
tention in  another. 

— How  long  I  should  have  gone  on  under  a 
delusion  so  fatal  I  know  not.  But  a  circumstance 
occurred,  which  at  once  threw  to  the  ground  the 
whole  edifice  I  had  been  building  up  for  myself 
with  so  much  labour,  and  levelled  all  my  fancied 
goodness  in  the  dust.  I  had  been  reading  a  chap- 
ter in  Paul's  Second  Epistle  to  Timothy,  when 
those  words  arrested  my  attention  so  forcibly,  that 
I  could  not  help  dwelling  upon  them  :  Having  a 
form  of  godliness,  but  denying  the  power  thereof: 
from  such  turn  away.*      What  if  this  should  be 

*  tTira.iii.  5. 


28  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

my  case,  I  thought  with  myself;  and  after  all,  I 
am  taking  up  with  the  form,  while  destitute  of  the 
paver  of  godliness  ?  The  very  idea  made  me  trem- 
ble ;  and  the  bare  possibility  of  the  thing  itself 
induced  me  to  bring  the  matter  to  an  instant  issue 
by  examination.  And  the  result  terminated  but 
to  my  confusion.  That  single  appeal  of  the  apos- 
tle, which  I  found  I  could  not  make,  convinced 
me  all  wras  wrong.  God  is  my  witness  (says  he) 
whom  I  serve  with  my  spirit  in  t/ie  gospel  of  his 
Son.*  "  Alas,9'  I  cried  out,  "I  am  no  spiritual 
worshipper.  I  have  the  form  indeed,  but  not  the 
power  of  godliness.  Mine  is 'the  shell,  the  car- 
case, the  shadow  only  of  piety." 

Under  this  renewed  conviction  and  distress  of 
mind,  I  sat  down  pensive  and  melancholy.  I  con- 
sidered now,  that  all  hopes  of  salvation  were  over, 
and  was  in  a  state  little  short  of  despair.  I  knew 
not  at  this  time,  that  these  were  the  blessed  effects 
of  divine  teaching;  and  that  God,  the  Holy 
Spirit,  was  thus,  one  by  one,  removing  all  the 
props  of  self  confidence,  and  emptying  the  soul, 
in  order  to  prepare  it  for  receiving  out  of  the  ful- 
ness of  the  Saviour.  Oh  !  it  is  a  gracious  process 
of  mercy.  We  must  become  poor,  in  order  to  be 
made  rich ;  and  the  apostle's  paradoxes  must  be 
literally  verified  ;  to  be  dying  that  we  may  live ; 
sorrowfuly  yet  always  rejoicing ;  having  nothings 
and  yet  possessing  all  things. \ 

Oh  !  ye  mourning  saints  !  be  not  astonished  at 
your  afflictions.  Be  they  ever  so  heavy  or  of  ever 
so  long  continuance,  there  is  a  needs  be  for  every 
one  of  them.     Your  God  is  faithful  in  sending  the 

*  Rom.  i.  9.  \  2  C»r.  vi.  9,  10. 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  29 

affliction  :  and  your  God  will  be  equally  faithful 
in  carrying  you  through  it.  Settle  this  in  your 
mind  as  an  everlasting  maxim ;  every  one  of  them 
shall  terminate  to  your  benefit.  The  Lord  ap- 
points it  for  the  exercise  of  your  faith.  And  if 
your  faith  gives  glory  to  God,  God  will  confirm 
and  honour  your  faith.  This  is  among  the  all 
things  which  must  work  together  for  good  to  them 
that  love  God. 


THE  TRAVELLER. 

In  the  frame  of  mind  just  described,  I  was  seated 
pensive  and  melancholy,  when  a  traveller  approach- 
ed me.  "  You  seem  dejected,  Sir,"  (he  cried,  as 
he  advanced  towards  me.)  "  Yes,  Sir,  I  am  in- 
deed, (I  replied)  I  have  discovered  sin  to  be  a 
heavy  burthen." 

"  Sir,  I  ought  to  congratulate  you  (the  man 
answered)  on  this  discovery.  The  knowledge  of 
our  misery  is  the  first  step  towards  a  cure. 
There  is  a  striking  analogy  between  the  diseases 
of  the  mind  and  those  of  the  body.  The  man  in 
supposed  health  Mill  reprobate  the  application  of 
medicine.  It  will  be  grateful  only  to  the  sick. 
And  our  Lord  says,  that  the  Ktjkok  need  not  a  phy- 
sician. It  is  one  of  the  sweetest  and  most  affec- 
tionate recommendations  of  his  character,  that  he 
came  not  to  heal  the  healthy,  but  to  cure  the  dis- 
eased. If  you  know  your  malady,  depend  upon 
it  you  are  not  far  from  obtaining  relief.  It  hath 
been  long  my  complaint,  that  in  me  ckve/leth  no 
good  thing.     And  though  I  have  been  some  years 


30  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

in  the  school  of  self-knowledge,  I  have  made  but 
small  proficiency  in  the  science.  A  science  in- 
deed so  general,  which  comprises  the  whole  of 
man,  is  not  easily  acquired.  The  deepest  in- 
vestigations do  not  reach  to  the  bottom.  For  we 
are  told  by  an  authority  not  to  be  questioned, 
that  the  heart  of  man  is  deceitful  above  all  things, 
and  desperately  wicked  ;  and  that  none  can  know  it, 
but  he  -who  trieth  the  heart  and  searcheth  the 
reins.*  For  it  is  not  this  or  that  particular  in- 
stance of  sin  only,  but  our  whole  nature  which  is 
virtually  all  sin ;  and  not  a  member  or  faculty  of 
the  body,  but  what  is  tainted  by  it.  Ask  the 
most  devout  saint  the  earth  ever  produced  ;  Can 
you  restrain  the  mind  from  wandering  in  seasons 
of  worship  ?  Even  if  you  close  your  eyes  from 
all  the  objects  around,  will  not  rude  and  imperti- 
nent thoughts  rush  into  the  mind,  like  unbidden 
and  unwelcome  visitors  ?  Do  you  ahvays  find 
freedom  for  the  affections  to  mount  on  the  wings 
of  faith  and  prayer,  when  you  draw  nigh  the  mer- 
cy seat  ?  Alas  !  there  is  not  a  single  sense  but 
what  is  in  confederacy  to  promote  sin  in  the  soul ! 
Our  eyes  are  continual  purveyors  of  evil,  and  our 
ears  inlets  to  bring  home  subjects  of  defilement. 
What  a  train  of  filthy  and  impure  ideas  will 
sometimes  pass  oy<;r  the  chastest  breast,  which 
no  education  can  restrain,  but  which  a  man  would 
blush  to  unbosom  to  his  nearest  friend  ! 

"And  what  makes  this  awful  view  of  man's 
total  depravity  still  more  awful  is,  that  there  is  no 
exemption  from  it,  but  it  is  universal.  Corrupt 
nature  is  the  same  in  all.     This  hand  of  mine  is 

*  Jerem,  xvii.  9,  10 


ZION'S   PILGRIM.  31 

as  capable  of  perpetrating  any  one  act  of  sin,  and 
the  heart,  which  gives  birth  to  the  action,  of  devis- 
ing it,  as  that  of  the  vilest  wretch  that  ever  lived. 
For  the  only  distinction  of  character  between 
man  and  man,  is  in  what  God's  grace  effects,  not 
what  man's  merit  deserves.  You  seem  to  be 
surprised  :  but  such  is  the  fact.  Look  here, 
(he  cried,  taking  a  handful  of  seeds  out  of  his 
pocket  )  here  are  a  number  of  seeds,  all  taken 
from  one  and  the  same  stock  :  if  I  were  to  put 
all  of  diem  into  the  earth  in  the  same  soil,  the 
same  situations,  under  the  same  aspect  of  sun,  and 
rain,  and  dew,  they  would  as  certainly  produce 
the  same  in  equal  fruitfiilness.  But  if  I  put  a 
part  only  into  the  earth,  and  reserve  the  remain- 
der in  my  pocket,  is  it  not  equally  as  certain,  that 
the  part  reserved  will  remain  inert  and  unproduc- 
tive, and  that  which  is  cast  into  the  ground  be 
alone  fruitful  ?  The  human  heart,  like  those  seeds, 
being  from  one  and  the  same  stock,  and  in  ics 
genius,  species,  and  kind  in  all  instances  the 
same,  must  invariably  in  all  cases  be  alike,  if  all 
other  circumstances  concur.  So  that  if  this  be 
not  induced,  it  arises  not  from  a  diversity  of  char- 
acter, but  from  other  causes.  It  is  grace  which 
prevents  the  sun,  and  rain,  and  dew,  ( if  I  may  be 
allowed  the  figure  )  of  temptation  and  opportuni- 
ty, from  exerting  their  influence  ;  and  then,  like 
the  seeds  in  the  pocket,  in  the  absence  of  those 
causes,  they  remain  barren  and  unfruitful." 

"  But  Sir,  (  I  replied  )  if  such  be  the  universal 
state  of  mankind,  what  a  deplorable  situation  is 
our  nature  in !  And  how  then  can  any  be  saved  ?VJ 

"  It  is  this  very  state  of  our  nature  (  the  travel- 
ler answered  )  which  made  way  for  salvation  by 


32  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

grace.  Because  man  is  fallen,  Christ  died. 
If  you  were  not  a  sinner,  what  necessity  would 
there  have  been  for  a  Saviour  ?" 

"  Tell  me,  (I  cried  with  great  earnestness)  is 
that  Saviour  for  me  ?" 

"I  shall  be  ready  (rejoined  the  traveller)  to 
answer  any  questions  you  think  proper  to  propose 
to  me  upon  the  interesting  subject,  as  far  as  I  am 
able  ;  from  whence  you  may  be  assisted  to  gath- 
er information  on  the  point." 

"  I  thank  you,  Sir,  (I  answered)  but  one 
circumstance  I  will  beg  you  previously  to  explain. 
In  calling  lately  upon  a  family,  whom  I  found  at 
their  devotions,  I  discovered  nothing  like  what  I 
have  since  felt  of  the  deadness  and  unprofitable- 
ness of  my  heart  ;  but  they  all  seemed  to  be  per- 
fectly cheerful  and  happy.  From  what  principles 
will  you  account  for  this  ??? 

"  The  thing  speaks  for  itself  (replied  the  trav- 
eller.) In  a  state  of  unawakened,  unregenerated 
nature,  the  carnal  security  and  blindness  of  the 
mind  induces  this  false  joy,  and  prevents  a  real 
concern  for  the  one  thing  needful.  False  reason- 
ings, presumptuous  hopes,  and  views  of  religion 
different  from  those  of  the  openly  profane  ;  these 
act  as  mighty  persuasives  on  the  imagination,  and 
speak  peace ',  peace,  ivfaere  there  is  no  peace.  Like 
children  amused  with  a  rattle,  such  persons  take 
up  with  the  carcase  and  shell  of  religion,  arid  are 
ignorant  of  the  vital  principle  within.  An  out- 
ward form  of  godliness  satisfies  for  the  inward 
power  of  it.  And  thus  resting  upon  the  means, 
and  unconscious  of  the  end,  their  forms  and  cere- 
monies of  devotion,  instead  of  leading  the  heart  tb 
God,  tend  to  carry  the  heart  from  God,  and  they 


ZION'S  PILGRIM-  33 

know  nothing  more  of  religion  than  the  name. 
And   herewith  their  conduct   uniformly    corres- 
ponds.    You  will  find  such  characters  as  well  at 
the  playhouse  as  at  the  church.     They  can   sit 
both  at  the  Lord's  table,  and  the  card  table,  and 
are  as  well  known  at  the  one  as  the  other.     Thus 
they  live  in  the  vanity  and  ignorance  of  the  mind  ; 
and  thus  not  unfrequently  they  die  ;  ignorant  of 
themselves,  ignorant  of  their   own   corruptions, 
strangers  to  all  the  principles  of  grace,   without 
God,  and  without  Christ.     The  portrait  of  these 
persons  is  accurately  drawn  by  the  pencil  of  God 
in   holy  scripture,  and  you  may  view  two  correct 
outlines  of  it  in  the  21st  chapter  of  the  book  of 
Job  ;  and  the  73d  Psalm  of  David.     Very  differ- 
ent is  that  which  the  Blessed  Spirit  hath  given  us 
in  sweet  miniatures  of  his  people,  throughout  his 
whole  word.     But,  come   Sir,  as  you  have  seen 
the   gaiety  of  the  formal  worshipper,  let  me  lead 
you  into  the  assembly  of  the  real.     I  am  just  go- 
ing to  a  prayer-meeting,  where  you  will  be  intro- 
duced,  if  you  think  proper,  among  that  poor  and 
afflicted  people,  which  the  Lord  said  he  would  leave 
in  Zion." 

— I  arose,  and  followed  my  guide  towards  the 
place,  with  strong  expectations  of  improvement. 


THE    PRAYER    MEETING. 

My  guide  led  me  into  a  room  upon  the  first 

floor  of  a  dwelling,  in  which  every  thing  around 
indicated  the  humble  circumstances  of  the  owner, 

D2 


34  ZIGN'S   PILGRIM. 

where  we  found  several  persons  assembled  for  the 
purpose  of  devotion.  They  had  just  began  their 
evening  service,  and  were  engaged  in  singing  an 
hymn,  as  we  entered.  The  words  of  the  hymn 
were  interesting  ;  and,  as  I  thought,  not  inappli- 
cable to  my  state  and  circumstances  : 

"Come,  ye  sinners,  poor  and  wretched, 
Weak  and  wounded,  sick  and  sore  j 
Jesus  ready   stands  to  save  you, 
Full  of  pity  join'd  with  pow'r,"  &c. 

— The  hymn  was  followed  up  by  prayer,  which 
issued  from  a  voice  that  I  thought  I  had  heard  be- 
fore. And  it  was  an  agreeable  surprise  to  me,  at 
the  close  of  it,  to  recognize  in  the  person  praying, 
the  countenance  of  the  Poor  Man,  whose  observa- 
tions at  the  church-porch  had  made  such  impres- 
sions upon  me.  He  noticed  me  also,  and  with 
that  kind  of  regard  which  seemed  to  say,  "  1  am 
glad  to  see  you  here."  But  the  purport  of  the 
meeting  so  occupied  his  whole  attention,  that  he 
appeared  to  have  no  leisure  for  other  objects.  By 
what  followed  I  was  led  to  conclude,  that  if  any 
place  of  pre-eminence  was  found  in  this  humble 
circle,  it  was  his  province.  For  as  soon  as  the 
prayer  was  ended,  and  the  company  seated,  he 
took  up  the  Bible,  which  lay  upon  the  table  before 
him,  and  read  from  the  part  where  it  happened  to 
open,  the  16th  Psalm.  I  could  not  be  mistaken 
us  to  the  number  of  the  Psalm,  by  what  followed 
in  his  observations  upon  it. 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  35 


THE    POOR    MAN'S    EXPERIENCE. 

"  In  relating  my  experience  (he  said)  of  the 
Lord's  gracious  dealings  with  my  soul,  I  desire 
to  acknowledge,  to  the  praise  of  the  glory  of  his 
%race,  wherein  he  hath  made  me  accepted  in  the  Be- 
loved, that  I  can,  with  all  humility  of  mind,  adopt 
this  language  of  the  Psalmist,  and  say  as  he  did, 
the  Lord  is  the  portion  of  mine  inheritance  and  of 
my  cup.  He  maintaineth  my  lot.  Since  that 
blessed  period,  when  it  pleased  God  to  call  me  by 
his  grace,  and  to  quicken  my  soul  which  was  be- 
fore dead  in  trespasses  and  sins,  through  along  se- 
ries of  five  and  twenty  years,  I  have  been  learning, 
by  little  and  little,  to  discover  more  and  more  of 
my  own  emptiness  and  poverty,  and  of  the  infi- 
nite fulness  and  suitability  which  is  in  the  un- 
searchable riches  of  Christ  Jesus  to  supply  all  my 
wants.  And  the  attainment  to  which  at  length, 
under  the  teaching  of  God  the  Holy  Ghost,  I  am 
arrived,  is  to  know,  that  Jesus  is  the  only  portion 
of  his  people,  for  there  is  salvation  in  no  other. 
The  inheritance  lost  in  the  first  Adam  can  only 
be  recovered  in  the  second.  Jesus  is  the  fountain 
of  all  blessings,  temporal,  spiritual,  and  eternal . 
"  Men  shall  be  blessed  in  Him."  And  out  of 
Him  there  is  not  a  single  favour  provided  for  any 
of  the  bankrupt  race  of  Adam's  children.  And 
it  is  my  peculiar  mercy,  and  a  lesson  which  I 
have  learnt  from  our  Great  Master  in  the  Lord's 
school,  that  while  the  Blessed  Spirit  declares  in  his 
church,  that  the  Lord's  portion  is  his  people,  Ja- 
cob is  the  lot  to  his  inheritance  :  my  heart  can 
make  reply  to  the  sweet  sound,  from  the  persua- 


36  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

sion  of  a  reciprocal  interest  in  the  Redeemer,  the 
Lord  is  the  portion  of  mine  inheritance,  and  of  my 
cup.     Thou  maintainest  my  lot.* 

"  It  hath  not  been,  however,  without  many  hard 
lessons  to  flesh  and  blood,  with  which  I  have  been 
exercised,  that  I  have  arrived  to  this  knowledge. 
It  was  a  long  time  before  1  could  rightly  under- 
stand, and  still  longer  before  I  could  rightly  rel- 
ish, when  understood,  the  humiliating  doctrine 
of  living  out  of  myself,  and  living  wholly  upon 
another.  The  pride  of  my  heart  continually  re- 
volted  at  the  idea  of  depending,  like  the  beggar 
at  the  gate,  for  my  daily  supply.  Though  the 
heavenly  manna  became  doubly  sweet  by  its  fresh- 
ness, yet  I  frequently  found  a  rising  desire  within 
me  to  have  a  little  stock,  which  I  might  call  my  own. 
And  even  now,  though  repeated  lessons  ought  to 
have  taught  me  better,  and  though  the  preciousness 
of  every  gift  is  enhanced  by  its  being  received  im- 
mediately out  of  the  hand  of  the  gracious  Giver  ; 
yet  such  is  the  remaining  power  of  the  unhum- 
bled  pride  of  my  heart,  that  I  discover  much  re- 
bellion at  times  rising  within.  And  I  am 
prompted  very  frequently  to  tell  my  heavenly  In- 
structor,  that  surely  now  I  might  without  danger 
be  rendered  somewhat  more  independent.  Bless- 
ed be  the  patience  of  him  with  whom  I  have  to  do, 
that  whenever  this  is  the  case  (so  very  gracious 
and  condescending  is  he)  a  renewal  of  my  old  les- 
sons soon  sets  all  to  rights  again,  and  makes  me 
bless  his  holy  name,  that  I  am  placed  under  a 
wiser  and  better  direction  than  my  own.  By  car- 
rying my  forgetful  heart  back  to  the  first  princi- 

*  Compare  Deut.  xxxii.  9,  with  Psalm  xvi.  5,  for  a  precious  $yi- 
dence  of  this  doctrine. 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  37 

pies  of  learning  in  the  divine  science,  and  by  call- 
ing to  mind  my  original  stock,  and  present  mea- 
sure of  indwelling  corruption,  I  learn  the  peculiar 
blessedness  of  having  all  my  fresh  springs  in  him. 
And  the  sweetness  of  this  life,  when  grace  is  in 
exercise,  is  inexpressible.  While  I  am  enabled 
to  see  that  Jesus  is  my  portion,  every  dispensation 
comes  in  a  way  of  mercy.  When  my  heart  is 
under  the  assurance  that  my  Lord  is  in  it,  it  mat- 
ters not  what  it  is.  His  presence  alone  hath  the 
wonderful  property  of  converting  crosses  and  pains 
into  enjoyments  and  pleasures.  Every  affliction 
which  comes  directed  by  his  hand,  hath  the  sure 
mark  of  affection  folded  up  within  the  cover. 
And  while  I  sit  down  with  tenfold  pleasure  to 
the  enjoyment  of  the  thousand  mercies  which  my 
God  is  continually  giving  me,  because  I  behold 
with  the  eye  of  faith  his  presence  at  the  table  smil- 
ing graciously  upon  all ;  I  no  less  am  enabled,  in 
hour  of  calamity,  to  wait  the  issue,  because  I 
can  and  do  hear  with  the  ear  of  faith  that  soul-sus- 
taining voic^,  What  I  do  thou  knowest  not  now, 
but  thou  shah  know  hereafter.  Oh  !  the  sweet- 
ness of  having  Jesus  for  our  portion  !  and  of  living 
a  life  of  faith  upon  the  Son  of  God,  who  hath  loved 
me  and  given  himself  for  me  /" 

1  was  musing   upon  the  happiness  of  a 

frame  of  mind  like  this,  as  the  Poor  Alan  ended 
his  relation,  and  reflecting  on  the  little  probability 
that  I  should  ever  arrive  at  such  a  state  of  bless- 
edness ;  when  a  deep  sigh,  accompanied  with  a 
voice  of  complaint  from  a  person  near  me,  roused 
me  from  my  meditation,  and  at  once  spoke  my 
feelings  and  his  own. 


58  ZION'S   PILGRIM. 


THE    MOURNFUL    BELIEVER. 

"  Oh  that  it  were  with  me  as  you  describe !"  said 
the  mourner,  "  but  my  case  is  far  different.  I 
fear  that  I  have  only  a  name  to  live,  while  I  am  dead 
before  God!  It  is  not  possible,  surely,  that  such 
a  state  as  mine  can  consist  with  a  life  of  grace  in 
the  soul.  If  the  love  of  Christ  was  shed  abroad 
in  my  heart,  could  I  live  as  I  do,  so  far  from 
him  ?  My  mind  is  at  times  as  lifeless  and  uncon- 
cerned towards  Christ,  as  theirs  can  be  who  nev- 
er loved  his  name.  It  is  true,  I  feel  at  certain 
seasons  great  desires  after  the  Lord.  And  I 
know,  that  a  change  hath  taken  place  in  my  mind. 
For  the  world  and  its  pursuits,  which  my  heart 
w7as  once  running  after  with  the  greatest  eager- 
ness, now  have  lost  their  influence.  And  the  so- 
ciety of  the  people  of  God,  who  were  once  my 
song  of  reproach,  I  now  above  all  things  value. 
Yet  still,  so  much  sin  is  mixed  with  all  I  do  ;  so 
little  do  I  live  to  Christ,  and  to  the  remembrance 
of  his  dear  name;  and  the  throne  of  grace  is  so 
often  neglected  by  me,  from  day  to  day,  that  I 
very  much  fear  my  hope  is  all  a  delusion." 

—Had  I  been  called  upon  to  relate  my  own  ex- 
perience, I  could  not  have  done  it  in  more  suitable 
words.  I  felt  irfy  heart  drawn  towards  the  speak- 
er, from  the  affinity  that  existed  between  us  ;  and 
waited  with  the  most  awakened  expectation  for 
some  kind  brother  in  this  humble  society  to  say  a 
word  of  consolation  to  a  case  so  much  my  own. 
It  was  not  long  before  the  Poor  Man,  to  whom  I 
owed  so  much  before,  took  up  the  subject,  to  an- 
swer the  doubts  and  remove   the  fears  of  the 


ZION'S   PILGRIM.  39 

mournful  believer  ;  and  in  doing  this,  he  added  to 
my  obligation  to  him  ten -fold. 

"  Your  case,  my  friend,"   cried  the  Poor 

Man,  addressing  himself  to  the  Mourner,  "  is  by 
no  means  singular.  It  is  the  uniform  complaint 
of  the  faithful  in  all  ages.  What  one  ancient  ser- 
vant of  the  Lord  groaned  under,  all  of  them  have 
found,  that  when  we  would  do  good,  evil  is  present 
with  us.  And  the  reason  is  obvious.  It  ariseth 
from  the  workings  within  of  the  different  princi- 
ples, grace  and  corruption.  There  are  in  every 
regenerated  person  two  principles,  a  body  of  sin, 
and  a  spirit  of  grace  :  the  flesh  lusting  against  the 
spirit,  and  the  spirit  against  the  flesh  ;  and  these 
are  contrary  the  one  to  the  other,  so  that  ye  canno  t 
do  the  things  which  ye  would.  There  is  not  a  part 
of  the  mind  but  what  feels  the  influence  of  both.  In 
the  renewed  nature,  the  understanding  is  enlight- 
ened, the  affections  spiritualized,  the  will  inclined 
to  God  ;  while  in  the  unrenewed  nature  still  re- 
maining, there  is  darkness  in  the  understanding  ; 
carnal  and  earthly  affections  still  continuing  in  the 
heart  ;  and  the  will  stubborn,  rebellious,  and  fre- 
quently inclining  to  disobedience.  In  short,  the 
mind  is  like  the  region  of  the  earth,  while  twilight 
is  upon  it.  It  is  neither  dark  nor  light,  but  a 
mixture  of  both  :  no  portion  of  tl  hemisphere 
being  so  light,  but  the  shades  of  darkness  are  blend- 
ed with  it;  and  none  so  dark,  but  the  tints  of  light 
are  beautifully  incorporated.  And  this  is  perfectly 
accountable.  A  state  of  grace  is  a  middle  state, 
between  that  of  nature  and  glory.  In  a  state  of  na- 
ture, unawakened,  unregenerated,  unrenewed,  sin 
reigns  with  unrivalled  sway.  In  a  state  of  glory, 
grace  reigns  uninterrupted,  and  without  any  op- 


40  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

position.  But  the  intermediate  state  is  a  state  of 
warfare.  Every  one  in  this  state  feels  and  expe- 
riences the  conflict.  And  as  it  is  said,  in  allusion 
to  this  very  circumstance,  in  the  allegory  of  the 
bondwoman's  son  and  the  heir  of  promise,  so  be- 
lievers find  it ;  as  then  he  that  was  born  after  the 
flesh  persecuted  him,  that  was  born  after  the  spirit  ; 
eve?!  so  it  is  now.* 

"  But  however  mortifying;  this  doctrine  be  to  our 
nature,  (and  abundantly  so  it  hath  ever  been  found 
to  the  best  of  men)  yet  as  it  tends,  under  divine 
grace,  to  make  the  believer  go. softly  all  his  days  ; 
as  it  makes  Jesus  more  dear,  and  as  it  affords  to 
the  believer  one  of  the  truest  evidences  of  the  re- 
newed life,  he  ought  rather  to  inquire,  howr  such 
a  state  may  be  over-ruled  to  God's  glory  and  his 
own  benefit ;  than,  by  a  false  estimate,  to  question 
the  tender  mercies  of  the  Lord  toward  him,  in  the 
very  moment  of  receiving  the  strongest  proofs  of 
them.     Let  me  desire  you  to  examine  your  own 
complaints  again  ;  and  to  see  whether  in  every  one 
of  them,  even  in  the  midst  of  your  groaning  under 
the  apprehension  that  there  is  no  grace  in  your 
heart,  whether  great  grace  is  not  then  in  exercise. 
You  say,  that  if  the  love  of  Christ  were  shed  a- 
broad  in  your  heart,  you  could  not  live  so  far  from 
him  as  you  do  ;    that  if  you  really  were  under 
grace,  you  could  not  stay  away  from  a  throne  of 
mercy  as  you  do.     But  say,  could  you  complain 
of  the  want  of  love  to  Christ,  if  you  had  never 
tasted  what  that  love  is  ?  And  if  you  visit  not  a 
mercy- seat  so  often  as  you  wish,   say,   are   not 
these  things  your  continual  burthen  ?  Do  you  not 

% 

*  Gal.  iv,  29. 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  41 

groan  under  such  marks  of  a  dead  and  lifeless 
heart  ?  And  are  not  these  sorrows  of  the  soul,  for 
the  unallowed  sins  of  the  body,  very  plain  evi- 
dences of  the  spiritual  warfare  ?  They  never  groan 
at  sin,  though  they  may  in  the  prospect  of  the 
punishment  of  it,  who  have  no  renewed  nature.  It 
is  the  believer  only  who  dreads  the  sin,  more 
than  the  penalty  due  to  it.  And  if  grace  be  thus 
in  exercise  to  endear  the  person  of  the  Lord  Jesus, 
still  more  in  proportion  as  we  see  our  daily  want 
of  him  ;  to  long  for  the  time  to  come  when  sin 
shall  be  rooted  out  ;  and  to  cause  a  sense  of  our 
weakness  to  prompt  the  soul  to  a  greater  depend- 
ence upon  divine  strength  ;  by  thus  overruling  all 
dispensations  to  his  glory,  and  his  people's  wel- 
fare, we  see  a  needs-be  in  every  dispensation,  and 
discover  the  beauty  and  tendency  of  that  scrip- 
ture, which  says,  after  that  ye  were  illuminated, 
(not  before,  but  after  J  ye  endured  a  great fight  of 
affliction*  In  a  word,  however  we  may  long  for 
an  exemption  from  all  sin,  and  would  purchase  it, 
were  it  possible,  with  the  price  of  a  thousand 
worlds  ;  however  we  may,  and  do,  groan  under 
this  body  of  sin  and  death,  which  we  carry 
about  with  us  ;  yet,  while  Jesus,  who  could,  if  he 
saw  it  right,  deliver  his  tried  ones,  whom  he  hath 
chosen  in  the  furnace  of  affliction,  with  a  word 
speaking,  sees  it  not  fit,  let  us  not  despond.  If 
your  sense  of  sin,  and  unallowed  infirmities,  lead 
you  to  a  more  firm  reliance  upon  him  ;  if  it  make 
his  promises  dearer,  his  faithfulness  more  evident, 
and  his  presence  more  desirable,  depend  upon  it, 
E 

•  Heb.  x.  32. 


42  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

by  and  by,  your  groans  will  be  changed  into  songs 
of  rejoicing,  and  your  language  will  be  like  that  of 
the  apostle,  Thanks  be  to  God,  who  gheth  us  the 
victory  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ* 


THE    CRIES    OF    UNBELIEF, 

There  sat  a  man  upon  my  right  hand  in  the 
prayer-meeting,  to  whom  the  leader  of  this  little 
circle  next  addressed  himself,  in  order  to  inquire 
into  the  Lord's  gracious  dealings  with  his  soul. 
"I  hope,"  said  the  poor  man,  calling  upon  him 
with  all  the  freedom  of  one  wrho  had  been  long  ac- 
quainted, "  I  hope,  (said  he)  that  you  will  now  be 
able  to  give  us  some  testimony  of  the  word  of 
his  grace.  I  long  methinks,  to  hear,  from  an 
old  disciple,  like  you,  some  evidence  of  the  faith- 
fulness of  our  covenant-making,  and  covenant- 
fulfilling  God." 

"Alas!"  replied  the  other,  "  my  language 
must  be  much  the  same  as  you  have  often  heard. 
I  still  groan  under  the  burthen  of  unbelief,  and 
know  not  when  I  shall  obtain  deliverance  from  it. 
It  will  be  a  long  time,  I  fear,  before  I  shall  be 
able  to  comfort  them  which  are  in  any  trouble,  by 
the  comfort  where%vith  I  myself  am  comforted  of 
God.  I  frequently  compare  myself  to  the  unwor- 
thy spies,  whom  Moses  sent  to  view  the  promised 
land  ;  and  fear  that,  like  them,  I  shall  never  at- 
tain the  possession  of  it,  through  the  same  beset- 
ting sin  of  unbelief.     If  I  attend  the  means  of 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  4S 

grace,  I  return,  for  the  most  part,  unbenefitted 
through  the  suggestions  of  this  evil  heart  of  unbe- 
lief. If  I  hear  the  word  of  a  preached  gospel, 
though  I  think  I  know  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus, 
and  love  to  sit  under  the  sound  of  it ;  yet  too  often, 
like  the  Israelites,  it  doth  not  profit  me,  not  being 
mixed  with  faith.  If  at  any  time  I  read  the 
Bible,  and  turn  to  those  exceeding  great  and  pre- 
cious promises,  which  belong  to  the  Lord's  people, 
their  sweetness  is  lost  in  me,  through  a  fear  that 
I  have  no  interest  in  them.  And  how  many  of 
the  providences  of  my  God,  which  I  well  know 
to  be  every  one  of  them  fraught  with  a  sure  bless- 
ing in  their  final  issue  to  his  people,  are  pervert- 
ed in  their  effects  on  me,  by  the  impatience  and 
distrust  of  my  unbelieving  heart !  And  can  such 
a  creature  say  any  thing  by  way  of  encourage- 
ment to  the  Lord's  exercised  family,  when  he 
himself  is  so  faithless  and  unbelieving  ?" 

" 1  confess,"  rejoined  the  Poor  Man,  "  that  such 
a  state  as  vou  describe  cannot  afford  much  assist- 
ance  to  the  cause  of  Christ.  But  blessed  be  our 
God,  this  is  the  Christian's  charter,  that,  if  vie 
believe  not,  yet  he  abideth  faithful,  he  cannot  deny 
himself  Your  want  of  faith  indeed  is  injurious 
to  your  peace,  but  not  to  his  cause.  Unbelief, 
like  a  worm  of  the  bud,  cankers  the  bloom  and 
fragrancy  of  the  sweetest  flowers  of  grace.  And 
had  our  fathers  of  the  church  in  the  wilderness 
been  in  this  frame  of  mind,  instead  of  surround- 
ing the  Christian  pilgrim  as  they  now  do,  with 
such  a  glorious  cloud  of  witnesses,  they  would 
have  stood  in  the  highway  only  as  so  many  pillars 
of  salt.  But  let  me  tell  you,  my  drooping  broth- 
er, that  I  am  too  well  acquainted  with  your  real 


44  ZION'S  PILGRIM, 

character,  as  well  from  an  insight  into  your  expe- 
rience, as  from  my  own,  (long  exercised  as  I  have 
been  by  unbelief,  both  in  times  past,    and  even 
now  too  frequently  feeling  its  remains)   not   to 
know,  that  the  very  sorrow  which  you  express, 
on  account  of  the  supposed  want  of  faith,  carries 
with  it  an  evidence  that   you   must  have   some 
faith  thus  to  complain.       That  your  faith  is  not 
equal  to  your  wishes,  I  will  readily  allow.      For, 
indeed,  whose  is  ?   But  that  you  differ  most  es- 
sentially from  those  that  are  shut  up  in  total  unbe- 
lief, is  most  evident.     In   proof  of  what  I   say, 
compare  your  situation  now,  with  what  it  was  in 
the  days  of  your  unregeneracyl     You  were  then, 
not  only  without  Christ  and  without  God  in  the 
worlds   but  absolutely  unconscious  of  the  want. 
Whereas  now  your  most  earnest  desires  are  that 
Christ  might  dwell  in  your  heart  by  faith,  and  be 
fully  formed  there  the  hope  of  glory.     If  there 
were  no  faith  in  your  heart,  whence  arise  these 
desires  for  more  ?    It  is  the  preciousness  of  the 
gift,  which  makes  you  long  for  greater  manifesta- 
tions of  the  Giver.     And  it  is  a  consciousness  of 
the  remains  of  unbelief,    that  makes  you  appre- 
hensive that  you  have  no 'faith    at  all.       While, 
therefore,  you  groan  under  those  remains,  every 
sigh  proves  that  the}'  are  but  remains  from  which 
the  merciful  goodness  of  our  God  will  in  his  own 
time  deliver  you.     Carry  your  complaints  to  him 
who  is  both  the   Author  and  Finisher    of  faith. 
Let  us  copy  the  apostles'  prayer,    Lord  increase 
our  faith!   And  depend  upon  it,   that  if  our  faith 
be  but  as  a  grain  of  mustard  seed,  however  small 
and  inconsiderable  it  may  be  ;  still  it  is  not  of  na- 
ture's growth,  nor  of  nature's  production.     That 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  45 

small  portion  which  you  possess  is  the  gift  of  the 
same  Almighty  power  who  created  the  faith  of 
Abraham.  Receive  it,  I  entreat  you,  as  the  ear- 
nest of  the  promised  inheritance,  to  the  praise  of  his 
glory. 

"And  while  I  say  this  much,  by  way  of  Convinc- 
ing you,  that  in  the  midst  of  all  your  complain- 
ings you  have  great  cause  of  thankfulness  before 
God,  let  me  remind  you  also,  that  what  you  com- 
plain of,  forms  a  part  oT  the  complaints  of  all  the 
Lord's  people.  Nay,  more  ;  the  greatest  in- 
stances of  faith  we  meet  with  in  scripture  afford 
at  the  same  time  the  greatest  examples  of  unbelief : 
As  if  the  dear  Lord  of  his  people  intended  to 
teach  all  this  important  lesson,  that  man  is  noth- 
ing in  himself,  but  that  all  his  sufficiency  is  of 
him.  Abraham,  who  is  handed  down  to  us  in  the 
church's  history,  as  the  great  pattern  of  faith,  and 
who  could  and  did  exercise  s;ich  unparalleled 
confidence  in  the  Lord,  in  the  instance  of  his  in- 
tended sacrifice  of  Isaac  ;  yet  even  this  man  could 
not,  upon  another  occasion,  trust  in  God's  faith- 
fulness to  extricate  Sarah  from  danger.*  Job, 
under  the  influence  cf  faith,  could  confidently  say 
of  the  Lord,  though  he  slay  me,  yet  will  I  trust  in 
him  ;  yet  so  much,  at  another  time,  was  he  borne 
down  under  the  pressure  of  trouble,  that  he  im- 
patiently cried  out,  Oh  that  I  might  haw  my  re- 
quest,  even  that  it  would  please  God  to  destroy  me.\ 
And  David's  whole  life,  as  it  may  be  gathered 
from  his  Book  of  Psalms,  was  made  up  of  conflicts 
between  believing  and  doubting.       I   need  not 

E  2 

v  Gen.  xx.  f  Jobyi.  8,  9. 


46  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

mention  Peter's  case,  as  an  additional  proof  of  the 
fluctuating  state  of  the  human  mind,  who,  in  the 
mount  of  transfiguration,  gave  so  glorious  a  testi- 
mony, and  in  the  hall  of  Pilate  uttered  so  shame- 
ful  a  denial  of  his  Lord's  character.*  All  these, 
and  ten  thousand  lesser  instances,  serve  to  shew 
what  man  is  in  himself,  and  what  the  same  man 
may  be  when  supported  by  the  grace  of  God.  Let 
me  beg  of  you,  then,  in  the  estimate  of  your  spir- 
itual state,  as  it  stands  before  God,  never  to  lose 
sight  of  these  things.  And  while  a  deep  sense 
of  the  unbelief  of  your  heart  makes  you  humble, 
and  is  continually  leading  you  to  a  mercy  seat  for 
an  increase  of  faith,  from  him  whose  gift  alone  it 
is,  do  not  overlook  that  portion  of  the  blessing 
which  the  bountiful  Lord  hath  already  bestowed 
upon  you.  Never  forget,  that  the  smallest  degree 
of  faith  is  faith ;  perfectly  distinct  from  all  the  ope- 
rations of  nature,  and  far  above  all  human  power 
to  produce.  Forget  not,  also,  that  it  is  not  the 
quantity,  but  the  quality,  which  constitutes  the 
principle.  By  him  (says  the  apostle)  all  that  be- 
lieve are  justified  from  all  things.  Observe  the 
expression,  All  that  believe.  He  doth  not  say, 
believers  of  such  a  description  and  character,  or 
that  come  up  to  such  a  standard,  but  all  that 
believe.  While  therefore  you  possess  the  smallest 
degree  of  faith,  bless  God  for  that.  The  smallest 
measure  indicates  from  whom  it  came;  and  de- 
clares whose  you  are,  and  to  whom  you  belong. 
It  is  the  one  uniform  family-feature  of  the  Lord's 
household  of  faith  ;  for  as  many  as  believe  are  or- 
dained to  eternal  life.     Large  portions  of  so  pre- 

*  Compare  Matt  in*  16.  with  xxvi  69, 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  47 

cious  a  grace,  are,  no  doubt,  highly  desirable. 
But  to  poor,  timid,  unbelievingbelievers,  (if  I  may 
be  allowed  the  expression)  it  is  a  refreshing 
thought,  that  the  Great  Shepherd  gathers  the 
lambs  with  his  arm,  and  carries  them  in  his  bosom  ; 
and  they  are  as  dear  and  precious  in  his  sight,  as 
the  strong  of  his  fold. 

"  Those  feeble  desires,  those  wishes  so  weak, 
'Tis  Jesus  inspires  and  bids  you  still  seek ; 
The  God  whom  thou  seekest  will  not  tarry  long1, 
And  by  him  the  weakest  are  safe  as  the  strong." 


A   BELIEVER  UNDER   THE   HIDINGS  OF   GOD'S 
COUNTENANCE. 

1 '  Your  observations,  my  dear  brother,"  said  a- 
nother,  who  sat  at  a  corner  of  the  room,  "  are  truly 
refreshing  to  my  soul.  I  have  been  long  exercis- 
ed under  the  hidings  of  the  divine  countenance, 
and  sometimes  tempted  to  cry  out,  with  the 
church  of  old,  My  hope  is  perished  from  the  Lord. 
But  I  perceive,  from  what  you  have  been  saying  to 
our  friend,  mourning  under  the  unbelief  of  his 
heart,  that  the  same  arguments,  by  a  parity  of 
reasonings,  are  applicable  to  my  case  also.  Spir- 
itual darkness,  and  spiritual  doubtings,  are  but 
too  nearly  allied,  and  proceed  frcm  the  corruption 
that  dwells  within.  It  may  be  said  of  both,  it  is 
your  iniquities  which  ha^e  separated  between  you 
andyour  God,  and  your  sins  have  hid  his  face  from 
you.  And  when  this  is  the  case,  when  as  in  Paul's 
voyage,  neither  sun  nor  stars  for  many  days  appear* 


4$  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

ed,  and  no  small  tempest  \s  added  to  the  darkness  of 
the  horizon,  faith  will  be  at  a  low  ebb,  and  all 
hope,  that  the  soul  is  then  in  a  state  of  safety,  will 
for  a  time  be  taken  away.  But,  blessed  be  God, 
when  I  can  find  no  comfort  in  myself,  I  know  that 
Christ  is  the  same.  I  still  see  a  loveliness  in  his 
person,  and  a  suitableness  and  all-sufficiency  in  his 
power  to  save,  when  I  cannot  say  that  I  see  my 
interest  in  him  to  be  clear.  IVhen  wilt  thou  come 
unto  me,  is  frequently  the  language  of  my  heart, 
though*  I  cannot  always  call  him  mine.  And  the 
recollection  of  past  experiences  is  sometimes  a  lift 
to  me  during  the  passing  cloud.  I  call  to  mind 
the  time  and  place,  and  the  gracious  manner  and 
means,  when,  where,  and  by  which  the  Lord  hath 
heretofore  comforted  and  refreshe'd  my  soul.  So 
that,  like  the  wife  of  Manoah,  I  am  led  to  con- 
clude, if  the  Lord  had  not  intended  mercy  he  would 
not  have  shewed  me  all  these  things.  And  I  always 
find  that  sweet  text  of  the  Prophet  to  be  consola- 
tory, during  the  heaviest  night  of  this  kind  of  trial ; 
Who  is  among  you  that  fear  eth  the  Lord,  that  obey - 
eth  the  voice  of  his  servant,  andwalketh  zndcirkness, 
and  hath  no  light  ?  Let  him  trust  in  the  name  of 
the  Lord,  and  stay  himself  upon  his  God." 

"I  rejoice  truly,  my  dear  brother,"  replied  the 
Poor  Man,  "in  the  testimony  you  bear  to  the 
faithfulness  of  your  God,  under  your  sufferings. 
It  is  an  easy  thing  to  speak  a  word  for  God's 
goodness,  when  the  Lord  is  surrounding  us  with 
the  sunshine  of  his  blessings.  But  it  must  be  a 
gracious  soul  indeed  to  rejoice  in  God,  when  he 
hath  nothing  but  his  word  to  trust  in.  And  when 
God  hides  his  face  from  his  people  ;  stands  at  a 
distance  from  their  prayers ;  seemingly  thwarts  all 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  49 

their  desires  ;  gives  no  answer  by  Urim  and 
Thummim  ;  then,  to  hold  fast  by  God,  and  to  lie 
passive  before  him  ;  this  is  what  the  prophet  felt, 
and  what  none  but  those  who  are  taught  of  God 
the  Holy  Ghost  can  say  with  him  ;  Although  the 
Jig -tree  shall  not  blossom,  neither  shall  fruit  be  in  the 
"vines,  the  labour  of  the  olive  shall  fail,  and  the  field 
shall  yield  no  meat ;  the  flocks  shall  be  cut  off  from 
the  fold,  and  there  shall  be  no  herd  in  the  stalls  ; 
yet  will  I  rejoice  in  the  Lord,  I  will  joy  in  the  God  of 
my  salvation." 

I  had  entered  with  so  much  earnestness  of  par- 
ticipation into  every  man's  case,  as  they  related 
their  several  experiences  one  after  another,  that  I 
was  unconscious  of  the  lapse  of  time,  and  felt  not  a 
little  distressed,  when  1  heard  one  of  the  company 
say,  "  our  hour  is  come,  it  is  past  eight  o'clock. " 
The  following  hymn  was  then  given  out  and  sung ; 
which  appeared  to  be  a  very  suitable  conclusion 
to  the  solemn  sen  ice  : 

No  more,  my  God,  I  boast  no  more 

Of  all  the  duties  I  have  done  ; 
I  quit  the  hopes  I  held  before, 

To  trust  the  merits  of  thy  Son. 

Now  for  the  love  I  bear  his  name, 
What  was  my  gain  I  count  my  loss  ; 

My  former  pride  I  call  my  shame, 
And  nail  my  glory  to  his  cross. 

Yes,  and  I  must,  and  will  esteem 

All  thing's  but  loss  for  Jesus'  sake  ; 
O  may  my  soul  be  found  in  him, 

And  of  his  righteousness  partake  ! 
The  best  obedience  of  my  hands 

Dares  not  appear  before  thy  throne  ; 
But  faith  can  answer  thy  demands, 

By  pleading  what  my  Lord  hath  done. 

But,  if  I  felt  myself  pleased  with  the  hymn,  my 
mind  was  more  abundantly  refreshed  and  delighted 


50  ZION'3  PILGRIM. 

with  the  concluding  prayer,  which  followed  it ; 
in  which  the  person  who  prayed,  did  not  confine 
himself  to  general  expressions ;  but,  more  or  less, 
included  therein  the  wants  and  desires  of  all  the 
Lord's  tried  family  ;  and  in  particular,  the  several 
cases  which  had  been  spoken  of  during  the  even* 
ing.  Neither  as  a  stranger  and  visitor  in  this  lit- 
tle society  did  the  leader  in  prayer  forget  to  men- 
tion me,  at  the  mercy-seat ;  that  the  Lord  would 
supply  all  my  wants,  whatever  they  might  be,  out 
of  the  abundant  riches  of  his  grace,  which  are  in 
Christ  Jesus. 

After  withdrawing  from  the  room,  and  taking 
leave  of  the  friend  who  had  conducted  me  thither, 
I  retired  to  my  closet  to  meditate  upon  what  I  had 
seen  and  heard.  And  the  conclusion  I  formed 
upon  the  whole  was  this  :  I  had  discovered  in  the 
scriptures  of  truth,  that  in  all  ages  of  the  church  f 
the  Lord  has  had  a  seed  which  served  him.  I  no 
less  discovered  also,  that  this  seed  were  distin- 
guished from  the  rest  of  mankind  by  certain  marks 
and  characters.  I  observed  very  clearly  in  the 
little  circle- to  which  I  had  now  been  introduced, 
that  its  members  were  widely  distinguished  from 
the  unawakened  world,  in  all  their  pursuits,  com- 
plaints and  desires.  I  remarked  yet  farther,  that 
although  their  complaints  and  desires  differed  in 
their  degree  of  earnestness,  yet,  like  a  family- 
feature,  there  was  a  sufficient  similarity  in  all,  to 
manifest  their  relationship  to  each  other.  But 
what  became  my  highest  gratification,  was  the 
discovery,  that,  however  unconscious  of  it  before, 
their  situation  was  my  own.  And  I  felt  that  union 
of  soul,  which  the  mind  feels  in  a  state  of  nature 
on  the  discovery  of  affinity,  so  as  to  be  drawn  to- 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  51 

wards  them  in  the  warmth  of  a  lasting  love  and 
affection «  I  resolved  therefore  to  cast  in  my  lot 
among  them,  and  to  have  the  same  portion.  The. 
sweet  language  of  Ruth  to  Naomi  exactly  speaks 
the  feelings  of  my  heart :  Intreat  me  not  to  lecroe 
thee,  or  to  return  from  following  after  thee  :  for 
whither  thou  goest  I  will  go,  and  where  thou  lodg- 
est  I  will  lodge  ;  thy  people  shall  be  my  people, 
and  thy  God,  my  God.  Where  thou  diest  will  I 
die,  and  there  ivill  I  be  buried.  The  Lord  do  so  to 
me  and  more  also,  if  ought  but  death  part  thee  and 
me. 

My    mind    had    been    much    exercised 

through  the  night  in  reflections  upon  what  I  had 
seen  and  heard  at  the  prayer- meeting.  And  the 
morning  had  but  just  opened  upon  the  earth, 
when  I  arose  to  prayer  and  meditation.  There 
is  somewhat  peculiarly  solemn  in  the  first  dawn  of 
day,  before  the  noisy  world  is  risen.  It  very 
powerfully  calls  the  soul  to  devotion. 

u  Sweet  is  the  breath  of  morn,  her  rising  sweet 
With  charms  of  earliest  birds. " 

MILTOX. 

I  felt  the  influence,  and  having  bowed  the  knee 
before  the  God  and  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  I  entered  upon  the  meditation  of  the  sub* 
ject,  which  had  engaged  my  attention  so  much 
the  preceding  evening.  The  more  I  considered 
it,  the  more  I  stood  convinced,  that  there  is  a  seed 
in  the  earth,  which  the  Lord  hath  distinguished 
from  the  world.  And  I  felt  no  less  conviction 
also,  that  it  is  divine  grace  alone,  which  makes  all 
the  difference  between  him  that  serveth  the  Lord, 
and  him  thatserveth  him  not.     But  Uiat  /should 


52  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

be  the  object  of  his  grace,  when  I  sought  it  not, 
nor  was  even  conscious  of  the  want  of  it — here  ap- 
peared the  greatest  mystery  ! 

I  found  my  eyes  overflowing  in  the  contempla- 
tion of  such  unmerited  goodness  of  my  God  to- 
wards me,  and  was  lost  in  the  thought,  when  a 
call  at  the  door  roused  me  from  my  meditation. 
It  was  the  Traveller^  whom  I  live  before  mention- 
ed,  who  had  kindly  introduced  me  to  the  prayer- 
meeting,  and  who  was  come  to  inquire  what  were 
my  sentiments  concerning  it,  and  to  offer  me 
that  assistance  which  I  had  requested  t)f  him  at 
our  first  interview. 

I  very  frankly  opened  my  whole  heart  to  him 
upon  the  subject,  and  hesitated  not  to  tell  him, 
how  much  I  felt  interested  in  what  I  had  heard ; 
and  particularly  in  the  case  of  one  who  had  spoken, 
from  the  similarity  of  his  experience  to  my  own. 
"  How,  or  when,  (I  said)  or  by  what  means  the 
Lord  hath  begun  the  work  of  grace  in  my  heart,  I 
know  not :  but  like  the  poor  man  we  read  of  in 
the  gospel,  I  trust  I  can  say,  that  %v  here  as  I  was 
blindj  now  I  see.  It  is,  indeed,  but  a  confused 
and  ill-formed  view  of  things,  which  I  have  at 
present,  in  looking  at  the  bright  objects  of  divine 
truth.  I  see  but  indistinctly,  men  as  trees  walking. 
Yet,  I  cannot  but  hope,  that  he  who  hath  gracious- 
ly touched  mine  eyes,  will  touch  them  again,  and 
make  me  see  clearly. " 

"  Doubt  not  (replied  the  Traveller)  the  divine 
faithfulness.  The  earnest  of  the  Spirit  becomes 
no  less  the  earnest  of  the  promised  inheritance.* 
And  an    apostle   says,    we    may    be  confident  of 

*  Compare  2  Cor,  v.  5.  with  Ephes.  i.  13f  14. 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  53 

this  very  thing,  that  he  which  hath  begun  a  good 
work  in  us,  will  perform  it  until  the  day  of  Jesus 
Christ.  As  nothing,  under  divine  grace,  will 
tend  to  open  your  apprehensions  more  clearly  to  the 
truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  than  the  possessing  right 
notions  of  the  covenant  of  grace,  on  which  the 
whole  system  of  the  gospel  is  founded,  I  have 
brought  with  me  a  sermon,  written  upon  the  sub- 
ject, and  which,  according  to  my  conception, 
places  the  doctrine  in  the  plainest  point  of  view 
possible.  If  it  be  agreeable,  (he  added)  I  will  read 
it  to  you." 

"  Nothing,"  I  answered,  "  can  be  more  desir- 
able to  me."  He  accordingly  took  it  from  his 
pocket,  and  read  as  follows  : 


THE  SERMON. 

Isaiah  lv.  3. 
"  THE    SURE    MERCIES    OF    DATID." 

It  was  a  very  sweet  note,  which  God  the  Holy 
Ghost  put  into  the  mouth  of  his  servant  the 
prophet,  when  commanding  him  to  proclaim  sal- 
vation in  the  mountain  of  Israel ;  when  he  called 
it  an  everlasting  covenant,  even  the  sure  mercies  of 
David.  In  nothing  did  the  Lord  more  consult 
the  wants  and  happiness  of  his  people,  than  in 
folding  the  gospel  up  under  such  a  cover,  and 
marking  it  by  such  distinguishing  characters. 

Tell  me,  my  brother,  do  you  not  feel  a  very  high 
gratification  in  the  consciousness  that  salvation  is 

F 


tk  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

not  a  work  of  yesterday,  but  founded  on  that  ev» 
erlasting  love  wherewith  the  Lord  hath  loved  his 
people  ? 

Besides ;  an  everlasting  covenant  naturally  con- 
nects with  itself  all  those  properties,  which  are 
necessary  to  its  comf5letion  and  design.  There 
must  be  included  in  it  everlasting  wisdom  to 
guide,  everlasting  counsel  to  direct,  everlasting 
strength  to  secure,  and  everlasting  faithfulness  to 
make  good  all  its  promises.  Every  attribute 
stands  engaged  in  its  establishment ;  and  it  is  the 
consolation  of  the  true  believer  in  Christ,  that  all 
the  perfections  of  Jehovah  are  pledged  for  the  ac- 
complishment of  that  purpose,  which  was  purposed 
in  Christ  Jesus  before  the  world  began.  The  sure 
mercies  of  David  imply  as  much  to  make  them  sure. 
Nothing  new  to  God  can  ever  arise  to  counteract 
the  divine  purposes  concerning  them.  Neither 
can  any  one  circumstance  occur,  for  which  provi- 
sion is  not  already  made.  In  the  everlasting  cove- 
nant, God  himself  is  the  only  contracting  party.  Je- 
hovah answers  both  for  himself,  and  for  his  people* 
/  will :  and  they  shall.     Such  is  the  language  of  it. 

Tell  me  once  more,  my  brother,  doth  not  this 
consideration  also  very  highly  gratify  you  ?  You 
see,  that  as  nothing  of  merit  on  your  part  could 
have  given  birth  to  a  covenant  which  is  from  ever- 
lasting to  everlasting  ;  so  nothing  now  of  demerit 
shall  arise  to  defeat  its  operation,  which  can  owe 
nothing  to  you. 

The  subject  opened  to  our  meditation  in  these 
words  of  the  Prophet  leads  to  the  most  delight- 
ful view,  with  which  the  human  mind  is  capable 
of  being  exercised,,  in  the  present  unripe  state  of 
t>ur  faculties*     The  text  indeed  contains  but  Jive 


ZION'S  PILGRIM,  5$ 

words,  but  it  would  furnish  a  sufficient  subject 
for  as  many  volumes.  It  is  a  text  in  which,  as 
we  say,  every  word  tells.  I  consider  it  a  perfectly 
unnecessary  service,  to  lose  time  by  way  of  point- 
ing to  his  person.,  who  is  here  called  David.  No 
one  for  a  moment  can  imagine,  that  it  means  Da- 
vid the  son  of  Jesse.  For,  as  an  apostle  hath  ob- 
served, this  David,  after  he  had  served  his  genera- 
tion by  the  will  of  God,  fell  on  sleeps  and  was  gather- 
ed to  his  fathers,  and  saw  corruption.  But  he  of 
whom  the  Prophet  speaks  in  the  text,  who  is  Da- 
vid's Lord,  saw  no  corruption  ;  but  when  God  the 
Father  raised  him  from  the  dead,  (as  if  in  confir- 
mation of  this  very  subject,  and  to  shew  its  per- 
sonal application  to  him)  he  expressed  himself  in 
these  very  words,  I  will  give  you  the  sure  mercies  of 
David.* 

In  the  farther  prosecution  of  this  subject,  the 
arrangement  I  propose  shall  be  as  follows  :  My 
text,  in  allusion  to  this  everlasting  covenant,  calls 
it  the  sure  mercies  of  David.  I  shall  first  there- 
fore follow  up  this  idea  in  shewing,  that  the  re- 
demption by  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  is  a  system  of 
grace  and  mercy  from  the  beginning  to  end.  I 
shall  then,  secondly,  go  on  to  prove  that  these 
mercies  are  the  sure  mercies  of  David ;  being 
founded  on  that  everlasting  covenant,  by  which 
grace  reigns  through  righteousness  unto  eternal  life 
by  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.  May  God  the  Holy 
Ghost,  who  first  commissioned  the  prophet  to 
proclaim,  now  enable  the  preacher  to  explain  those 
mercies  of  David  ;  that  our  gospel  may  come  not 
in  word  only,  but  in  power,  and  in  much  assurance 
of  faith  !  ' 

*  Acts  iiii.  33,  34. 


56  ZIQN'S  PILGRIM. 

My  first  intention  is  to  show,  that  the  redemp- 
tion by  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  is  a  system  of  grace 
and  mercy  from  beginning  to  end.  And  nothing 
can  more  decidedly  manifest  the  truth  of  the  obser- 
vation, than  the  character  in  which  the  prophet 
was  commissioned  to  promulgate  it.  For  when  it 
is  distinguished  by  the  property  of  an  everlasting 
covenant,  the  very  term  carries  with  it  a  most  pos- 
itive testimony,  that  it  must  be  all  founded  in 
grace,  unconnected  with  any  human  power,  not 
depending  upon  any  human  merit.  For  what 
first  originated  in  the  free  and  unmerited  mercy 
of  God,  confirmed  as  it  was  by  covenant  engage- 
ments between  the  Father  and  the  Son  before 
man  was  created,  and  is  promised  to  be  carried 
on  in  all  its  purposes  and  effects,  by  the  same  di- 
vine power,  independently  of  man's  agency  after 
his  being  brought  into  being,  can  come  under 
no  other  description  surely  than  that  of  grace. 
Whatever  God  hath  done,  or  is  doing,  in  the  ac- 
complishment of  his  designs  concerning  it,  must 
all  be  referred  back  into  the  eternal  counsel  of  his 
own  mind,  by  virtue  of  its  everlasting  nature.  To 
this  most  evidently  it  is,  that  believers  owe  their 
being  chosen,  called,  and  regenerated.  And  their 
establishment  in  grace,  their  dependence  upon  the 
promises,  and  their  hopes  of  eternal  glory  ;  all 
are  founded  on  that  everlasting  love,  wherewith 
God  hath  loved  his  people  before  the  foundations 
of  the  world  were  laid.  I  have  saidy  (is  the  lan- 
guage of  God)  mercy  shall  be  set  up  forever.  And 
the  reason  follows  :  /  have  made  a  covenant  with 
my  chosen. 

Look,  my  brother,  into  yourself,  and  into  your 
own  experience,  for  a  comirmation  of  this  doc- 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  57 

trine.     A  covenant  founded  in  grace  can  derive 
no  aid  from  works.     You  can  have  nothing  to 
give  but  what  you  have  first  received.     And  what 
you  have  first  received  is  not  in  fact  yours,  but  the 
great  Giver's.      And  what   he  hath  given  may, 
without  any  impeachment  of  his  justice,  be  again 
recalled.     Neither  can  you  have  any  thing  to  offer, 
but  what  God  hath  a  right,  as  his  own,  to  demand. 
Even  all  those  sweet  effusions  of  the  soul,  which 
appear  in  the  worship  of  the  faithful,  when  draw- 
ing near  the  mercy- seat ;   as  these  arc  wholly  the 
result  of  the  blessed  Spirit's  work,   who  brings 
them  forth  into  exercise,  as  the  sun  by  his  warm 
beams,  draws  forth  a  fragrant  smell  from  the  flow- 
er, and  have  their  origin  in  God's  grace  and  not 
in  man's  merit,  so  there  can  be  nothing  of  claim 
in  them  before  God.      The  language  of  such  a 
creature  as  man,  even  in  his  highest  attainment, 
and,  among  the  first  order  of  the  glorified  spirits 
ofy//.?/  men  made  perfect ,  must  still  be  the  same  : 
by  the  grace  of  God,  1  am  what  I  am.     Every  thing 
that  has  a  reference  to  salvation  centres  in  Christ 
Jesus  ;   and  may  be  clearly  traced  up  to  its  origin 
in  that  everlasting  covenant,  which  God  made  with 
him  before  this  world  had  being. 

Nay,  I  will  advance  yet  one  step  farther  in  the 
argument  ;  and,  in  ascribing  the  sure  mercies 
of  David  wholly  to  grace,  observe,  that  it  was 
most  unmerited  grace  which  admitted  the  Lord 
Jesus  to  be  man's  surety  and  sponsor,  to  fulfil  in 
our  stead  the  law  which  he  had  broken,  and  in 
his  sacred  person  to  endure  the  penalty  due  to  the 
breach  of  it.  There  could  have  been  no  impeach- 
ment of  the  divine  justice,  if  God  had  insisted  ou 

F  2 


,58  ZION'S  PILGRIM, 

the  sinner's  suffering  it  himself.  The  soul  that 
sinneth  shall  die.  And  was  it  not  then  an  act  of 
free,  spontaneous  mercy  and  grace  in  our  God,  to 
admit  the  substitute  ? 

In  speaking  therefore  of  our  subject  in  general 
terms,  as  applicable  to  the  church  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  at  large,  it  must  be  confessed  that  the  ever- 
lasting covenant  is  very  properly  called  the  sure 
mercies  of  David.  For  it  is  nothing  else  but  a  sys- 
tem of  grace  and  mercy  from  the  beginning  to 
end!  And  I  am  very  confident,  that  every  humble 
soul  in  particular,  who  is  the  happy  subject  of  such 
bounty,  by  a  personal  interest  therein,  will  be  rea- 
dy to  join  issue  with  the  apostle,  and  say,  But 
God  who  is  rich  in  mercy  for  his  great  love,  where- 
with he  hath  loved  me,  even  %v hen  I  was  dead  in 
sins,  hath  quickened  me  together  with  Christ ;  for 
by  grace  am  I  saved. 

And  as  the  original  cause  in  conversion  sprung 
from  grace,  so  the  preserving  and  carrying  on  the 
great  work  in  the  soul  since,  is  wholly  owing  to 
the  same  great  principle.  When  you  call  to  mind* 
my  brother,  the  coldness  and  deadness  of  your 
best  affections  ;  your  wanderings  and  backslidings 
from  God  ;  the  provocations  and  sins  wherewith 
your  life  hath  been  marked;  (Oh  to  grace  how 
great  a  debtor ! )  will  you  not,  with  the  utmost  hu- 
mility, exclaim  with  the  apostle,  Unto  him  who 
doth  exceeding  abundantly  above  all  that  we  ask  or 
think,  according  to  the  power  that  worketh  in  us: 
unto  him  be  glory  in  the  church  by  Christ  Jesus^ 
throughout  all  ages,  world  without  end! 

But  while  it  thus  becomes  delightful  to  the  soul 
'tinder  divine  teachings,  to  be  able  to  see  that  re- 
demption's work  from  the  beginning  to  end  is 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  59 

wholly  a  system  of  grace ;  it  becomes  doubly 
sweet  at  the  same  time,  to  have  a  clear  apprehen- 
sion, that  this  grace  worketh  and  reigneth  through 
righteousness  ;  that  these  mercies  of  David  become 
sure  mercies,  being  made  so  by  virtue  of  that 
everlasting  covenant  of  righteousness  in  Christ 
Jesus,  by  which  God  can  be  just,  and  the  Justifier 
cf  him  that  believeth  in  Jesus ;  and  the  sinner, 
though  in  himself  nothing  but  sin  and  iniquity, 
can  look  up  and  plead  the  righteousness  of  Christ 
as  the  foundation  of  his  acceptance  before  God  : 
because,  in  that  covenant,  God  made  /urn  to  be  sin  for 
us  who  knew  no  sin,  that  we  might  be  made  the 
righteousness  of  God  in  him. 

This  was  the  second  point  of  doctrine  I  pro- 
posed to  proVe,  and  which  I  now  proceed  to  il- 
lustrate and  explain,  under  a  few  leading  particu- 
lars. 

The  mercies  of  David  become  sure  mercies  to 
the  Lord's  people  by  virtue  of  that  t  ver/asting  cov- 
enant which  occupied  the  divine  counsel  in  the 
ages  of  eternity  before  the  creation  of  the  world, 
in  which  there  were  mutual  promises  made  by 
the  high  contracting  parties.  Jesus  on  his  part 
undertook  to  answer  all  the  demands  of  his  Fath- 
er's righteous  law,  for  the  objects  of  his  and  his 
Father's  eternal  love  ;  who,  it  was  foreseen,  would 
subject  themselves  to  everlasting  ruin  by  the  breach 
of  it.  And  God  the  Father  promised  on  his  part 
to  remit  that  punishment  to  the  person  of  the  sin- 
ner, by  inflicting  it  on  the  person  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
as  the  sinner's  surety  ;  and,  then  to  entitle  the  sin- 
ner, by  virtue  of  the  Redeemer's  righteousness, 
to  everlasting  life.  These  were  the  terms  by 
which  each  party  guaranteed  to  the  other  the  sure 


60  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

fulfilment  of  the  covenant.  Jesus  therefore  was  to 
assume  at  a  certain  period,  called  the  fulness  of 
time,  our  nature,  and  in  that  nature  to  repair  God's 
broken  law,  and  sustain  the  penalty  due  to  the 
breach  of  it.  Moved  with  unbounded  love  to  our 
fallen  race,  all  this  the  Lord  Jesus  actually  per- 
formed  ;  when  leaving  that  glory  which  he  had 
with  the  Father  before  all  worlds,  he  came  into 
this  World,  and  accomplished  all  those  great  events 
which  we  read  of  in  the  history  of  his  life.  And 
when,  by  doing 'and  dying,  he  had  wrought  out  and 
brought  in  an  everlasting  righteousness,  he  return- 
ed to  the  bosom  of  the  Father,  to  make  efficient 
the  whole  process  of  his  redemption,  by  sending 
down  his  Holy  Spirit,  to  apply  his  merits  to  his 
people's  necessities ;  while  he  himself  is  exercis- 
ed in  the  high  character  of  our  Intercessor,  to 
plead  the  efficacy  of  his  death,  and  continually  to 
appear  in  the  presence  of  God  for  us.  These  are 
the  great  outlines  of  the  everlasting  covenant,  as 
referring  to  the  engagement  of  God  the  Son.  And 
the  promises  on  the  part  of  God  the  Father  were, 
that  he  would  anoint  Christ  to  the  work,  and  ac- 
cept of  him  in  lieu  of  the  sinner.  And  that  when 
the  Redeemer  had  made  his  soul  an  offering  for 
sin,  He  should  see  his  seed,  he  should  fjrolonor  his 
days,  and  the  pleasure  of  the  Lord  should  prosper  in 
his  hand.  My  righteous  Servant  (said  God)  shall 
justify  many,  for  he  shall  hear  their  iniquities.  As 
for  me,  this  is  my  covenant  with  them,  saith  Jeho- 
vah, my  Spirit  that  is  upon  thee,  and  my  words 
which  I  have  put  in  thy  mouth,  shall  not  depart 
out  of  thy  mouth,  nor  out  of  the  mouth  of  thy  seed, 
nor  out  of  the  mouth  of  thy  seed's  seed,  saith  Jeho- 
vah}from  henceforth  and  forever.     Such  then  be- 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  61 

ing  the  stipulated  terms  between  the  high  con- 
tracting parties,  and  having  been  fulfilled  on  the 
part  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  the  mercies  promised  on 
the  part  of  God  become  sure  mercies  to  all  the 
Lord's  people.  Grace  reigneth  through  righteous- 
ness. And  the  positive  assurance  of  pardon  and 
salvation  is  brought  home  to  the  heart,  by  a  con- 
viction founded  in  the  veracity  of  that  God  which 
cannot  lie. 

Let  any  man  now  review  the  ground  we  have 
hastily  trodden  over,  in  quest  of  the  testimonies 
with  which  these  mercies  of  David  are  made  sure  : 
let  him  behold  an  everlasting  covenant,  founded 
in  grace,  accomplished  by  the  great  Representa- 
tive of  his  people  in  grace,  and  in  all  ages  accom- 
plishing in  his  people  by  grace :  let  him  observe 
howr  each  principle  harmonizes  to  secure  God's 
glory,  while  it  tenderly  secures  man's  welfare  : 
let  him  carefully  remark  how  grace  reigneth 
through  righteousness,  and  I  venture  to  hope,  if 
God  the  Holy  Ghost  be  the  teacher,  that  the  result 
will  be  the  most  absolute  conviction,  that  our  text 
very  properly  characterizes  this  great  salvation 
by  calling  it  the  sure  mercies  of  David. 

The  application  of  this  doctrine,  though  of  all 
other  considerations  the  most  interesting,  may  be 
brought  within  the  narrow  est  compass  :  the  whole 
terminating,  as  it  respects  every  individual,  in  this 
single  question  :  Am  I,  or  am  I  not,  the  highly 
favoured  object  of  these  sure  mercies  of  David? 

If  it  be  said,  how  shall  this  point  be  ascertained, 
and  by  what  marks  or  characters  is  it  to  be 
known  ?  the  answer  is  direct  :  God  hath  not 
left  himself  without  the  witness  of  his  Holy  Spirit 
in  the  hearts  and  minds  of  his  people.     Andal- 


62  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

though  it  is  with  the  children  of  God  in  grace,  as 
it  is  with  the  children  of  men  by  nature  ;  in  the 
infancy  of  life,  while  the  faculties  of  the  mind  re- 
main unopened,  the  child  is  unconscious  of  the  in- 
heritance  to  which  he  is  born  :  so  they  to  whom 
he  hath  given  power  to  become  sons  of  God  will 
frequently  remain  a  long  time  unassured  of  the 
incorruptible  inheritance,  to  which  they  are  begotten 
by  the  resurrection  of  Jesus  Christ  from  the  dead. 
But  as  the  spiritual  apprehension  is  unfolded  by 
the  Heavenly  Teacher,  the)^  are  brought  by  little 
and  little,  as  children  under  education,  to  see 
their  interest  in  the  sure  mercies  of  David,  from  the 
characters  in  which  they  find  themselves  distin- 
guished in  the  everlasting  covenant. 

See,  my  brother,  see  wrhether  you  do  not  pos- 
sess what  Jehovah  promised,  by  virtue  of  this 
covenant,  to  give  to  Jesus5  people.  Have  you  not 
the  new  heart  and  the  new  mind}  which  God,  by 
his  covenant,  is  engaged  to  bestow  ?  Do  you  not 
feel  those  covenant  impressions,  wThich  are  com- 
mon to  his  people  ?  Is  not  the  Messenger  of  this 
covenant,  whom  God  hath  chosen,  become  the  ob- 
ject of  your  choice  also  ?  If  God  the  Spirit  be 
promised  to  certify  your  interest  in  this  covenant, 
have  you  received  the  Holy  Ghost  sinceyou  believed? 
In  a  word,  if  thes$,  and  these  only  are  the  sure 
mercies  of  David,  are  you  seeking  salvation  in  no 
other  way  ;  and  do  you  say,  as  David  did,  this  is 
all  my  salvation^  and  all  my  desire?  These  are  pre-, 
cious  tokens  of  being  interested  in  the  sure  mer- 
cies of  David ;  when  pardon,  mercy,  grace,  right- 
eousness, sanctification,  and  strength  equal  to  our 
day,  are  sought  for  in  nothing  else  but  God's  ev- 
erlasting covenant. 


ZION'8  PILGRIM.  £3 

My  unawakened  brother  !  what  do  you  know 
of  these  sure  mercies  of  David  ?  I  cannot,  I  dare 
not  be  silent,  while  endeavouring  to  comfort  the 
people  of  God  with  a  view  of  their  privileges, 
without  calling  upon  you  to  examine  and  look 
diligently  lest  you  fail  of  this  grace.  O  that  the 
Lord  may  incline  your  heart,  that  you  may  come ! 

0  that  you  may  hear  the  joyful  sound  and  live  ! 
that  God  may  give  vou  also  these  sure  mercies  of 
David  ! 

How  shall  I  conclude  my  sermon  better,  than 
by  desiring  the  afflicted,  mournful,  exercised  be- 
liever, of  every  description  and  character,  to  fold 
up  the  sweet  text  of  the  Prophet  in  his  bosom,  a* 
a  motto  of  consolation  for  every  occasion  ?  And 
may  God  the  Holy  Ghost  write  upon  every  heart, 

1  will  make  an  everlasting  covenant  with  you ,  even 
the  sure  mercies  of  David. 


THE  REMARK*, 

When  my  friend  had  ended  this  discourse,  he 
waited,  as  I  perceived  by  his  look-,  ! 
vations  upon  it.  I  anticipated  his  inquiry  far  my 
opinion,  by  giving  it  unasked.  It  appeared  in- 
deed to  me  very  plain,  that  the  sermon  comprised 
the  leading  principles  of  the  covenant  of  grace  : 
which,  though  certainly  a  subject  of  all  others  the 
most  interesting,  is  perhaps  the  least  undersrood. 
For  my  part,  I  am  free  to  confess,  that,  previous 
to  this  explanation,  I  had  very  imperfect  concep- 
tions of  it.  My  first  object,  as  soon  as  he  had  fin- 
ished reading  the  manuscript,  was  to  thank  him 


64  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

for  his  labour  of  love,  in  bringing  me  acquainted  by 
this  means  with  a  doctrine  so  highly  important. 
How  sweet  and  consolatory  is  the  view,  that  re- 
demption-work originated  in  grace,  is  carried  on 
and  completed  in  grace  ;  and  yet,  as  if  to  remove 
all  fears  and  apprehensions  from  the  believer's 
mind,  it  is.  grace  reigning  through  righteousness 
unto  eternal  life,  by  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord:  so 
that,  though  founded  solely  in  mercy,  it  calls  in, 
to  its  assurance  to  fulfil,  the  covenant  engage- 
ments and  covenant-faithfulness  of  Jehovah. 
Well  might  one  of  old  in  the  contemplation  of  it 
say,  mercy  and  truth  have  met  together,  righteous- 
ness and  peace  have  kissed  each  other. 

One  branch  of  this  subject  particularly  arrested 
my  attention  ;  to  which,  on  account  of  my  im- 
perfect conceptions  of  it,  I  ventured  to  communi- 
cate to  my  friend  my  objection.  The  scriptures 
of  truth  (I  observed  to  him)  very  strikingly  dis- 
tinguished those  sure  mercies  of  David,  as  arising 
out  of  an  everlasting  covenant.  This  being  the 
case,  the  operation  of  those  mercies,  must  by  their 
very  nature  be  perpetual,  and  without  any  inter- 
ruption. There  can  be  no  period,  in  which  they 
cease  to  act,  for  what  was  promised  to  be  eternal, 
can  never  admit  the  smallest  alteration  in  time.  Is 
there  not,  however,  sometimes  a  suspension  of 
those  mercies,  when  afflictions  abound  in  the  tot 
of  the  Lord's  family  ? 

"  No,  never  (replied  my  friend)  is  there  the 
least  interruption  in  the  unchanging  mercies  of 
God  in  Christ  Jesus.  And  however  dark  and 
seemingly  mysterious,  at  times,  the  dispensation 
may  appear  to  us,  yet  there  is  but  one  and  the 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  65 

same  purpose  of  mercy,  invariably  pursued  by  a 
faithful  God  to  his  people.     And  the  difficulty  of 
apprehending  this  would  be  soon  removed,  by  only 
taking  into  ^  the  account  the  whole  process  of  the 
divine  administration  towards  believers,  and  not 
forming  a  judgment  upon  every  single  and  detach- 
ed  part  of  it.     As  men  regulate  their  opinion  of 
some  admirably  well  constructed  machine,  from  a 
contemplation  of  the  whole   when  complete,   and 
not  of  its  several  constituent  parts  in  a  state  of 
separation,    so  God's  divine  ordination,  respect- 
ing the  goverment  of  his  people,  must  be  viewed 
upon  the  whole — causes  with  effects  ;  and  then 
all   is    grace,    mercy  and  loving  kindness.     An 
earthly  parent  considers  it  as  no  diminution  of 
his  tenderness  to   a  beloved  child,  that  he  sends 
him  abroad  for  education,  or  that  he  himself  in- 
structs and  disciplines  him  at  home  ;   because  his 
future  prospects  in  life  are  best  promoted  by  this 
process.     And  why  should  our  heavenly   Father 
be  supposed  to  have  lost  sight  of  the  sure  merries 
of  David  to  his  children,  because  absence  and  dis- 
cipline are  made  use  of  by   him,  to  forward  his 
gracious    designs  of  greater  tenderness    towards 
them  ?  But  when  we  call  in  question  the  evidences 
of  divine  love,   we  forget  where  we  are,  and  the 
reasons  for  which  we  are  here.     And  hence,  it  is 
not  among  the  smallest  testimonies  of  those  very 
mercies  of  David,  that  the  Lord  makes  use  of  the 
ministry  of  affliction  to  proclaim,  that  this  is  not 
our  rest  because  it  is  polluted.     Had  Jesus  intended 
this  world   for  the  enjoyment  of  his  people,   in  a 
itate  of  worldly  prosperity,  very  different  would 
have  been  their  accommodations.     But  they  are 
G 


66  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

strangers  and  pilgrims  upon  earth,  and  are  going 
home  to  their  Father's  house.  And  what  does 
ever  make  home  more  desirable  to  the  traveller, 
than  the  ill  reception  he  frequently  meets  with  on 
the  road  ? 

"  Sir  !  look  at  the  subject  again,  and  see  wheth- 
er it  doth  not  challenge  your  highest  admiration 
and  praise,  when  you  discover  that  the  afflictions 
of  the  Lord's  people  are  among  his  tenderest  mer- 
cies ;  in  that  they  are  so  admirably  contrived,  that 
not  a  single  trouble  shall  ultimately  do  them  harms 
but,  on  the  contrary,  shall  as  positively  work  for 
■their  good?  Set  down  this  as  an  everlasting  max- 
im ;  and  compare  with  it  either  your  own  expe- 
rience, or  your  observation  of  others.  Let  us 
suppose  now,  for  example's  sake,  that  in  the  great 
mass  of  characters  in  the  Lord's  tried  family, 
some  are  labouring  under  heavy  afflictions  of  bo- 
dy, and  some  under  anguish  of  mind ;  some  im- 
poverished in  worldly  circumstances ;  some 
smarting  under  the  lash  of  false  tongues  ;  some 
groaning  under  the  pains  of  sickness  in  their  own 
persons  ;  some  bitterly  bewailing  the  effects  of  it 
in  others  :  yet,  be  the  trial  what  it  may,  (and  wise- 
ly ordered  it  is,  exactly  suited  to  every  one's  ne- 
cessities) look  only  forward  to  its  final  issue,  >and 
you  will  find,  that  not  a  single  individual  of  the 
Lord's  household  is  injured  by  it.  Each  afflic- 
tion becomes  to  them  a  messenger  of  sanctifica- 
tion  and  wisdom,  and  acts  medicinally  on  the 
mind,  as  much  as  physic  on  the  body.  And  can 
those  things  be  properly  called  evils  which  minis- 
ter good  ?  Will  any  man  blame  the  physician  of 
approved  judgment,  when  inducing  a  state  of  con- 
valescence,  because  the  medicine  he  administers 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  .  67 

is  found  somewhat  nauseous  to  the  taste,. and  op- 
erates roughly  ? 

"  But  it  is  not  enough  to  say  that  afflictions  do 
no  harm ;  they  must  also  do  good.  The  promise 
else  would  be  lost — all  things  work  together  for 
good  to  them  that  love  God.  So  that,  unless  in 
every  single  instance  good  is  wrought  to  the  lov- 
ers of  God,  the  truth  of  scripture  would  become 
questionable.  But  of  the  perpetual  occurrences 
which  are  going  on  through  life,  in  attestation  to 
this  precious  assurance,  a  volume  would  only  give 
the  mere  outlines.  And  who  is  competent  to  de- 
scribe them  ?  Generally  speaking,  all  afflictions, 
which  tend  to  bring  the  soul  to  God,  keep  up  a 
life  of  communion  with  the  Redeemer  :  make  us 
sensible  of  the  gracious  influence  of  the  Holy 
Spirit;  spiritualize  our  affections ;  wean  our  hearts 
from  a  world,  from  which  we  must  soon  part  ;  and 
promote  a  more  intimate  acquaintance  with  that 
in  which  we  are  shortly  forever  to  dwell  :  what- 
ever things  induce,  these  blessed  principles  are 
undeserving  the  name  of  afflictions  ;  they  are 
among  the  sweetest  mercies  of  David.  And  when 
God  removes  every  earthly  comfort,  in  order  to 
make  room  for  heavenly  ;  empties  the  soul  of  all 
creature-comforts,  that  he  may  fill  it  from  all  the 
fulness  of  Creator-mercies;  can  there  'remain  a 
question,  but  that  the  believer  is  a  gainer  by  the 
the  exchange?  Nay,  I  am  fully  persuaded,  that 
if  grace  were  in  full  exercise,  we  should  embrace 
our  afflictions,  as  affording  the  choicest  proofs  of 
divine  love.  And  how  refreshing  would  it  be  to 
a  by-stander  near  the  bed  of  some  suffering  saint, 
to  hear  him  say,  Praise  my  God  with  me,  for  the 
pains  I  now  endure  !  For  the  dearest  friend  which 


68  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

I  have  upon  earth,  if  his  affection  for  me  and  his 
wisdom  were  equal  to  those  of  my  heavenly  Fath- 
er, would  inflict  every  pain  and  trial,  which  I  now 
feel  from  his  gracious  appointment. " 


THE    DEAD    ClIILD. 

My  friend  was  going  on  in  his  discourse,  when 
a  shriek  from  a  window  in  the  street,  accompani- 
ed with  a  loud  voiee  of  distress,  interrupted  him. 
We  heard  the  lamentable  cry,  ".My  child  is 
dead!"  We  hastened  to  the  door  to  seek  the 
cause  of  this  sorrow.  Upon  inquiry,  we  found 
that  it  was  the  only  child  of  an  affectionate  moth- 
er, which  had  that  moment  breathed  its  last  in 
her  arms.  Alas !  thought  I,  Kachael's  case  is 
not  singular  :  the  same  voice  which  was  heard  in 
Ramah)  is  heard  throughout  the  world.  The  sor- 
rowful mother  refuseth  to  be  comforted,  because 
the  child  is  not. 

"  See  here,  my  brother,"  cried  my  companion, 
taking  me  by  the  arm,  and  leading  me,  as  he  said 
it,  involuntarily  down  the  street,  "  see  here  an  ex- 
emplification of  our  subject.  Let  us  only  sup- 
pose, that  this  afflicted  mother  is  a  gracious  wo- 
inan,  and  her  history,  I  will  venture  to  assert, 
shall  sooner  or  later  prove  the  truth  of  all  that  I 
have  been  saying.  In  the  first  paroxism  of  grief, 
she  is  perhaps  insensible  of  it  :  for  nature  is  na- 
ture, and  is  allowed  to  express,  if  without  mur- 
muring, her  sorrows.  But  suppose,  that  you  or  I 
were  permitted  to  call  in N  upon  her  at  some  future 


'    ZION'S  PILGRIM.  69 

period;  'how  different  should  we  find  her  senti- 
ments !  A  plain  proof  this,  that  it  is  the  state  of 
the  mind,  and  not  the  affliction  itself,  which  con- 
stitutes the  difference.  And  when  the  appoint- 
ment comes,  as  it  must  come  to  every  gracious 
soul,  in  a  covenant  way,  the  united  wisdom  of 
men  and  angels  could  not  have  ordered  any  event 
equally  suitable,  so  as  to  have  answered  the  pur- 
pose of  God  in  his  merciful  dispensations  towards 
her.  However  painful,  it  could  not  be  spared. 
Let  us  consider  it  for  a  few  moments,  as  it  con- 
cerns herself,  and  as  it  refers  to  the  child. 

u  As  it  concerns  herself.  It  is  more  than  pro- 
bable, that  this  beloved,  this  only  child,  stole  away 
her  heart  from  the  Lord.  Perhaps  her  visits  to 
the  throne  of  grace  were  less  frequent  than  here- 
tofore. Perhaps  her  anxiety  for  the  future  pro- 
vision of  tiiis  babe  made  her  omit  or  diminish  her 
charities  to  the  poor  :  made  her  question  the  prov- 
idences of  God  ;  made  her  affections  more  earth- 
ly;  her  conversation-more  savouring  of  the  things 
of  time  and  sense  ;  and,  in  short,  induced  a  train 
of  conduct,  all  tending  to  lead  the  heart  move  from 
God,  and  not  bringing  it  (as  ought  to  have  been 
the  case)  to  God.  And  was  it  not,  then,  think 
you,  among  the  choicest  mercies  of  David,  to  re- 
move the  cause  of  all  this  evil  ?  Was  it  not  time 
for  God  to  recal  his  gift,  When  that  gift  formed  a 
cloud  on  the  mind  to  hide  the  hand  of  the  Giver? 

"  And  as  it  refers  to  the  sweet  babe.  Suppos- 
ing the  most  favourable  thing  which  can  be  sup- 
posed, that  it  was  a  child  of  grace,  a  child  of 
many  prayers  ;  are  the  sure  mercies  of  David  al- 
tered in  their  propertv,  because  those  prayers  are 

G  2 


70  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

answered,  and  Jesus  hath  housed  a  Iamb  of  his 
fold  beyond  the  reach  of  the  prowling  lion,  or  the 
ranging  bear  ?  Say,  ye  long  tried,  long  exercised 
soldiers  in  the  Redeemer's  army,  are  the  sum- 
mer's heat  and  the  winter's  cold,  the  furious  as- 
saults of  the  enemy  without,  and  the  distressing 
fears  within,  so  very  desirable,  that  you  regret 
the  close  of  the  campaign  ?  Oh  !  how  much  the 
reverse  !  And  who  knows  but  that  the  gracious 
Lord,  reading  in  the  index,  the  whole  volume  of 
this  infant's  life,  in  mercy  shut  the  book,  to  stop 
at  once  the  parent's  anxiety  and  her  offspring's 
sufferings.  »  Thus,  then,  here  is  at  once  a  whole 
chapter  of  mercies  ;  mercies  to  the  old,  mercies 
to  the  young ;  and  nothing  but  mercy  to  all,  both 
in  time  and  eternity.  And  where  is  the  cruel  par- 
ent, that  would  retard  the  flight  of  his  child  un- 
der such  circumstances,  and  hinder  it  from  tak- 
ing wing,  to  meet  the  Lord  in  the  air  t  Surely, 
might  the  infant  say,  in  just  reproof  to  such  mis- 
taken fondness,  If  ye  loved  me,  ye  would  rejoice^ 
because  I  go  to  my  Father  ! 

"  And  what  if  we  reverse  the  circumstances; 
(for  grace  is  not  hereditary)  let  that  parent  deter- 
mine, for  none  else  can  determine,  what  it  must 
be  to  see  a  graceless  child  rising  up  in  life,  in 
spite  of  all  our  remonstrances,  ail  our  prayers,  at 
once  regardless  of  his  present  peace  and  future 
happiness.    Oh!  how  awful!" 


THE     SUICIDE. 


As  my  friend  uttered  these  words,  a  crowd  of 
persons  ran  across  the  street  in  which  we  were  walk- 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  71 

ing,  which  excited  our  curiosity  to  inquire  into  the 
cause.  The  information  was  a  sad  one  ;  a  youth, 
it  seemed,  unable  to  brook  the  various  disappoint- 
ments, which  a  long  pampered  habit  of  false  educa- 
tion had  induced,  dared  to  defy  Omnipotence,  by 
putting  a  period  to  his  earthly  existence.  The 
crowd  was  running  to  behold  the  unhappy  object. 
i  As  for  me  and  my  companion,  we  both  stood  mo- 
tionless, struck  with  horror.  At  length,  my  friend 
recovered  himself  and  broke  silence.  "Dread 
Lord!"  he  cried,  "  what  an  awful  world  is  this, 
through  which  thy  people  are  passing  !  How  close 
we  walk  on  the  confines  of  everlasting  misery, 
while  in  the  very  moment  we  are  the  monuments 
of  thy  saving  mercy  !  Blessed  God,  (he  ex- 
claimed) write,  I  beseech  thee,  that  solemn  truth 
upon  my  heart  ;  they  that  are  kept  are  kept  by  the 
power  of  God  through  faith  unto  salvation. 
Oh  !  what  a  lesson  is  here,  my  brother,  (he  cri- 
ed) for  the  sorrowful  mother  whom  we  just  now  no- 
ticed !  And  what  would  this  young  man's  parents 
give  (for  perhaps  he  may  have  both  to  survive  him) 
had  her  case  been  theirs  !" 

My  heart  was  too  full  to  reply.  I  felt  all  that 
kind  of  sensation  which  the  poet  entered  into,  to 
the  contemplation  of  a  subject  so  hopeless,  and  aw~ 
ful,  when  he  said, 


Then  if  it  be  an  awful  thing  to  die, 


How  horrid  yet  to  die  by  one's  own  hand  \ 
Self-murder  ! — name  it  not  (—-dreadful  attempt  \ 
Just  reeking  from  Self-slaughter,  in  a  rage, 
To  rush  into  the  presence  01  our  Judge  ; 
As  if  we  challenged  him  to  do  his  worst, 

And  valu'd  not  his  wrath  !■ 'Tis  mad  ! 

'Tis  worse  than  madness  ;  nought  can  describe 
A  phruuy  half  so  desperate,  as  this  ! 

blair's  cbayz. 


72  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

•It  was  some  time  before  I  prevailed  on  my 


self  to  remove  from  the  spot  of  this  awful  scene. 
But  at  length  I  caught  the  arm  of  my  companion, 
and  we  walked  away  together  towards  the  end  of 
the  street,  which  terminated  in  the  fields.  We 
had  gone  a  considerable  space,  without  any  con^ 
versation  ;  the  minds  of  both  being,  I  imagined, 
fully  absorbed  in  ruminating  on  a  subject,  that  was 
beyond  all  others  the  most  distressing !  For  my 
part,  the  circumstance  had  awakened  in  my  breast 
a  train  of  thoughts,  which  tended  to  dissipate  ail 
my  new-formed  hopes.  What  (I  said  to  myself) 
if  an  end  so  horrible  should  beat  length  the  termi- 
nation of  my  pilgrimage  ?  What  if  all  my  fond  de- 
sires of  grace  should  ultimately  prove  a  delusion  ? 
Are  the  people  of  God  exposed  to  such  overwhelm- 
ing temptations  of  the  enemy  ?  May  they  really  be 
awakened  to  the  life  of  God  in  the  soul,  and  yet 
finally  fall  away  ? 

I  found  these,  and  the  like  distrustful  questions, 
involuntarily  arising  in  my  mind,  and  inducing 
much  anxiety  ;  when  my  friend,  as  if  privy  to 
what  passed  within  me,  broke  silence.  "How 
gracious  (he  exclaimed)  is  our  God,  in  the  midst 
of  such  awful  judgments,  as  are  walking  by  our 
side  through  the  world,  to  keep  us  unhurt !  Do 
you  not  perceive  the  evidence  of  that  scripture  ; 
A  thousand  shall  fall  at  thy  side,  and  ten  thousand 
at  thy  right  hand,  but  it  shall  not  come  nigh  thee ; 
only  with  thine  eyes  shalt  thoii  behold  and  see  the  re- 
ward ef  the  wicked  ?*  Oh  !  it  is  a  blessed,  soul- 
reviving  thought,  amidst  all  the  melancholy  proofs 
around  us  that  we  are  passing  through  the  enemy's 

l  *  Psatoxci.  7 9  8. 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  73 

territories,  that  there  is  a  gracious  nevertheless  in 
the  covenant  which  screens  us  from  his  malice. 
Nevertheless  (says  the  apostle)  the  foundation  of 
God  standeth  sure,  having  this  seal  ;  the  Lord 
knoweth  them  that  are  his.*  Let  mine  outcasts 
dwell  within  thee,  Moab  ;  be  thou  a  covert  to  them 
from  the  face  of  the  spoiler. \  This  is  enough. 
Outcasts,  mid  somedmes  considered  as  the  off- 
scouring  of  all  things,  they  are.  But  still  they 
are  God's  outcasts.  Tempted  they  may  be,  and 
certainly  will  ;  but  conquered  they  shall  not. 
And  could  a  looker-on  but  see  objects  spiritually, 
he  would  discover,  as  the  impious  monarch  of  old 
did,  one  walking  with  his  people  in  the  hottest  fur- 
nace, that  even  the  smell  of  fire  may  not  pass  upon 
them."% 

"  You  very  much  rejoice  my  heart  (I  replied) 
by  what  you  say.  My  fears  were  all  alive  in  the 
view  of  this  awful  scene,  lest  an  event  so  truly 
hopeless  might  one  day  be  my  portion. 3> 

— "  That  (answered  my  companion  hastily)  is 
impossible  to  a  child  of  God.  The  promise  is 
absolute.  No  weapon  formed  against  thee  shall 
prosper. )  And  God  is  faithful,  who  will  not  suffer 
you  to  be  tempted  above  that  ye  are  able  ;  but  will 
with  the  temptation  also  make  a  way  to  escape,  that 
ye  may  be  able  to  bear  it." 

"  But  is  it  not  said,  (I  replied)  that  some  Mho 
were  once  enlightened,  and  have  tasted  of  the  heav- 
enly gijt,  and  been  made  partakers  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
have  fallen  away  ?" 

u  Yes,  (rejoined  my  companion)  but  none  of 
those  so  spoken  of  were  ever  children  of  God,  or 

*  2  Tim.  ii    19.  \  Isaiah  xvi.  4. 

\  Dan.  iii.  25,  2J.  $  Isaiah  liv.  17. 


74  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

born  again  of  that  incorruptible  seed  whichiheth  and 
abideth  forever.  Only  observe  the  vast  distinction 
of  character,  by  which  those  enlightened  persons 
whom  the  apostle  speaks  of  are  marked,  from  the 
scripture-features  of  the  truly  regenerate  ;  and  the 
contrast  will  immediately  appear.  They  are  said 
to  be  once  enlightened-,  that  is,  with  Adw/- knowl- 
edge ;  not  renewed  in  heart-'afftctions.  They  are 
described  as  those  who  have  tasted  of  the  heavenly 
gift ;  tasted  but  not  approved  :  like  persons  whose 
stomachs  nauseate  what  the  taste  rejects,  and  di- 
gest it  not.  They  are  said  to  have  been  made  par- 
takers  of  the  Holy  Ghost ;  that  is,  in  his  common 
operations  upon  the  understanding  ;  not  in  his 
quickening  and  regenerating  grace  in  the  soul.  In 
all  these,  and  the  like  instances,  there  is  not  a  sin- 
gle syllable  said  of  the  Spirit's  work,  in  the  great 
and  essential  points  of  faith  and  repentance,  and 
the  renewed  life.  But  the  whole  account  is  con- 
fined to  the  common  operations  of  nature,  as  dis- 
tinguished from  grace  ;  in  which  natural  men  fre- 
quently excel;  and  sometimes  indeed  to  such  a 
degree,  as  to  surpass  in  head-knowledge  children 
of  grace  :  And  God  the  Holy  Ghost  is  pleased  to 
work  by  their  instrumentality,  while  they  them- 
selves remain  unconscious  of  his  power.  He 
blesses  his  people  by  them  ;  but  they  feel  not  his 
power  in  them.  For  rather  than  his  household 
shall  want  supply,  he  will  feed  them  even  from  the 
table  of  their  enemies.  Thev  become  therefore 
like  channels  of  conveyance,  which  conduct  to 
others,  but  retain  nothing  themselves :  or  like  the 
direction-posts  on  the  road,  which  point  the  travel- 
ler to  the  right  path,  but  never  stir  themselves  a 
step  towards  it.     These  things  may  be  done,  and 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  75 

perhaps  very  often  are  done,  by  men  perfectly 
strangers  to  vital  godliness.  And  therefore  when 
they  cease  to  appear  in  their  assumed  character, 
they  are  said  by  the  world  to  have  fallen  away  from 
grace  ;  whereas  the  fact  is,  they  never  were  in 
grace.  Every  thing  in  such  persons  is  derived 
from  natural  causes,  is  supported  by  natural  means, 
and  adopted  for  natural  purposes  ;  and  thus  be- 
ginning in  nature,  they  end  in  the  same.  And  if 
a  proper  attention  was  paid  to  these  things,  to  dis- 
criminate between  nature  and  grace,  it  would,  un- 
der the  divine  blessing,  very  much  tend  to  dimin- 
ish the  apprehensions  of  the  humble  and  fearful  be- 
liever, respecting  the  danger  of  apostatising  from 
the  faith." 

"  But  is  there  not  a  difficulty  (I  said)  to  the  cor- 
dial reception  of  this  doctrine,  in  the  cases  of  those 
unhappy  persons  who  die  by  their  own  hands,  and, 
as  is  generally  supposed,  from  the  effects  of  relig- 
ious melancholy  "?" 

"  Not  the  least,  (replied  my  friend)  by  those  who 
consider  the  subject  in  a  proper  point  of  view.  It 
is  the  grossest  mistake  to  ascribe  such  instances  of 
suicide  to  a  religious  melancholy,  when  in  fact 
they  are  induced  altogether  from  the  total  want  of 
religion. 

"  Men,  from  the  awakenings  of  conscience,  and 
from  the  dread  of  divine  displeasure  in  the  recol- 
lection of  a  mis-spent  life,  may  be  driven  to  de- 
spair ;  and,  if  there  be  no  grace  given  to  them  of 
God,  to  make  application  of  the  sweet  promises  of 
the  gospel  in  the  hour  of  temptation,  but  left  to 
themselves,  may  be  prompted  to  do  \\\  act  at  which 
nature  shudders  !  But  who  would  presume,  but  a 


76  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

fool,  to  put  this  down  to  the  score  of  religion, 
when  every  circumstance  tends  but  to  prove  the 
very  reverse,  in  the  total  want  of  all  religion  ?  Let 
us  only  suppose  a  case  in  point,  which  is  enough 
at  once  to  answer  all  the  childish  observations 
which  the  world  hath  made  on  a  subject  of  this 
nature.  Let  us  suppose,  a  man,  under  the  im- 
mediate pressure  and  alarms  of  a  guilty  conscience, 
in  the  prospect  of  die  wrath  to  come,  feels  the  ris- 
ing temptation  to  make  away  with  himself.  Let 
us  suppose  further,  that  in  this  distressed  state  of 
mind,  some  precious  revelation  and  promise  of  the 
gospel  is,  through  divine  grace,  revealed  to  his 
heart ;  that  he  hears  and  believes  what  that  gos- 
pel graciously  proclaims,  that  though  his  sins  are 
as  the  scarlet,  they  shall  be  made  white  as  s?jow  ; 
though  red  as  the  crimson  they  shall  be  as  the  wool ; 
that  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  cleansethfrom  all  sin  : 
is  it  not  evident,  that  if  the  mind  of  such  a  man  is 
brought  to  believe  in  this  precious  promise,  there 
can  be  no  despair,  and  consequently  there  can  be 
no  self-murder?  And  will  prejudice  itself,  even 
the  grossest  prejudice,  venture  to  say,  or  even  be- 
lieve, that  a  single  instance  of  suicide  was  ever 

committed  under  such  circumstances  ? 

"  Hence,  therefore,  you  see,  my  brother,  (con- 
tinued my  friend)  that  it  is  not  faith,  but  the  want 
of  faith  ;  not  from  religion,  but  from  the  total 
absence  of  religion,  that  a  melancholy  pervades  the 
mind,  which  sometimes  terminates  so  fatally  as  in 
self-destruction. 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  77 


THE   PLOUGHMAN. 


I  was  about  to  reply,  when  the  voice  of  one 
singing  attracted  my  attention.  It  was  an  hus- 
bandman at  his  labour,  busily  engaged  in  plough- 
ing the  field,  and  at  the  same  time  exercising  his 
mind  in  strains  of  melody.  From  the  solemnity  of 
the  tune,  I  was  induced  to  believe  that  it  was  a 
psalm  or  hymn  that  he  was  singing.  How  merci- 
fully (I  thought  with  myself)  hath  the  Lord  provide 
ed  for  the  labouring  part  of  mankind  ;  that  while 
the  hands  are  engaged  day  by  day  on  things  of  the 
earth,  the  heart  is  unfettered,  and  able,  through 
grace,  to  soar  among  the  objects  of  heaven  !  As  we 
approached  nearer,  Ave  paused,  and  could  very 
plainly  distinguish  the  words  :  and  thus  he 
sung,— 

"  Arise,  my  soul,  my  joyful  pow'rs, 

And  triumph  in  my  God  : 
Awake,  my  voice,  and  loud  proclaim 

His  glorious  grace  abroad." 

My  friend  whispered  in  my  ear,  "Do  you  re- 
collect what  the  prophet  predicted  of  the  last  gos- 
pel days  :  /;/  that  day  shall  there  be  upon  the  belh 
of  the  horses,  Holiness  unto  the  Lord?*  Such 
shall  be  the  gracious  prelude  to  that  day,  when 
there  shall  be  no  more  the  Canaanlte  in  the  land, 
that  the  highway  and  die  way  of  holiness  shall 
be   so  plain,     that    the  wayfaring    men,  though 

H 


*  Zech.  xiT.  20,  21. 


78  ZION'S   PILGRIM. 

fools,   shall  not  err  therein."*      The  farmer  still 
sung ; 

"  He  rais'd  me  from  the  depths  of  sin, 

The  gates  of  gaping  hell  ; 
And  fix'd  my  standing  more  secure 

Than  'twas  before  I  fell." 

"  Is  not  this  strange  doctrine  ?"  I  cried  to  my 
friend.  "Ask  him  yourself,  (he  said)  for  if  he 
sings  with  the  spirit  and  with  the  understanding 
also,  he  can  explain. " 

"  Are  you  not  mistaken,  honest  man,  (I  said) 
in  what  you  are  singing  ?"  "  Oh,  no,  Sir ;  (he  im- 
mediately answered)  he  that  raised  me  from  sin, 
preserves  me  now  from  falling  ; 

(t  The  arms  of  everlasting  love 

Beneath  my  soul  he  plac'd  ; 
And  on  the  Rock  of  Ages  set 

My  slipping  footsteps  fast. 

The  city  of  my  bless'<d  abode 

Is  wall'd  about  with  grace  ; 
Salvation  for  a  bulwark  stands 

To  shield  the  sacred  place. 

Satan  may  vent  his  sharpest  spite^ 

And  all  his  legions  roar  ; 
Almighty  mercy  guards  my  life, 

And  bounds  his  raging  pow'r." 

"  Does  this  seem  strange  to  you,  Sir  ?  (con- 
tinued the  countryman.)  Surely,  you  ought  to 
know  better  than  I :  but,  for  my  part,  I  thank  God, 
I  know  enough  to  know,  that  they  are  safer  that 
are  kept  by  grace,  than  they  who  never  fell.  The 
angels,  who  kept  not  their  first  estate,  fell  from 
having  no  security  but  their  own  strength.  And 
our  unhappy  first  father,  who  had  more  strength 

*  Isaiah  xxxv.  8. 


ZION'S   PILGRIM.  79 

of  his  own  than  ever  any  since  of  his  fallen  race 
have  had,  soon  manifested  what  that  strength  was 
when  left  alone. 

<(  I  do  therefore  desire  to  bless  God,  that  my 
strength  is  in  another,  and  not  in  myself.  Oh  ! 
it  is  a  sweet  morsel  to  my  soul,  which  says,  0  Is- 
rael, thou  hast  destroyed  thyself,  but  in  me  is  thy 
help.*  Besides,  Sir,  had  Adam  continued  in  his 
original  state  of  uprightness,  and  all  his  children 
have  partaken  in  the  same  ;  this  would  have  been 
no  other,  after  all,  but  the  righteousness  of  the 
creature.  Whereas  now,  the  salvation  of  the  right- 
eous is  of  the  Lord.  He  is  the  Lord  our  right- 
eousness ;  and  therefore  he  is  himself  our  strength 
in  the  time  of  trouble^  And  while  the  soul,  whom 
divine  grace  hath  snatched,  as  the  Lord  hath  me, 
from  the  gates  of  destruction,  can  take  up  that 
scripture,  Surely  shall  one  say,  in  the  Lord  have  I 
righteousness  and  strength  ;  God  the  Holy  Ghost 
applies  that  other  precious  assurance  of  his  word, 
Israel  shall  be  saved  in  the  Lord  with  an  everlast- 
ing salvation  ;  ye  shall  not  be  ashamed  nor  con- 
founded  world  without  end."% 

The  countryman  waited  not  for  a  reply,  but 

resumed  his  labour  and  his  song  together  ; 

u  Arise,  my  soul,  awake,  my  voice, 

And  tunes  of  pleasure  sing  ; 
Loud  hallelujahs  shall  address 

My  Saviour  and  my  King." 

Happy  soul  !  (thought  I)  thou  hast  that  which 
empires  cannot  purchase  ;  God  for  thy  father,  Je- 
sus for  thy  portion,  and  the  Holy  Ghost  for  thy 
comforter  ! 

*  Hosea  xiii.  9.  f  Psalm  xxxvii.  39.  \  Isaiah  »iv.  21. 


80  ZION'S   PILGRIM. 

I  saw  the  countenance  of  my  companion  glow 
with  pleasure,  at  what  the  countryman  had  said, 
while  he  finished  the  observations  of  the  labourer, 
with  asking  and  making  answer  himself  to  some 
few  questions  of  his  own.  u  Why  (says  he)  is  it, 
that  the  divine  promise  of  perseverance  should  be 
so  difficult  to  be  received  by  our  unbelieving 
hearts,  but  because  we  think  we  must  have 
strength  enough  of  our  own  ?  Why  is  the  doctrine 
of  the  Redeemer's  righteousness,  as  the  sole  means 
of  justification  before  God,  so  hard  to  be  accepted 
by  us,  but  because  the  unhumbled  pride  of  our 
nature  cannot  brook  the  mortification  of  being 
saved  without  doing  something  towards  it  ?  And 
wherefore  is  it,  that  sinners  are  so  averse  to  be- 
lieve,  that  their  salvation  is  wholly  the  result  of 
being  chosen  in  Christ,  before  the  foundation  of  the 
world,  but  because  it  becomes  a  gratifying  com- 
pliment to  our  proud  nature,  to  have  it  thought, 
that  we  have  first  sought  Christ  ?  But  the  poor 

sinner  desires  that  it  should  be  always  kept  m 
view,  that  if%ve  love  him,  it  is  because  he  first  lov- 
ed us.  His  language  is,  Lord,  it  is  all  distinguish, 
ing  grace  from  -beginning  to  end.  I  know  I 
should  fall  every  hour,  but  for  the  promise  of  being 
upheld  by  him,  who,  having  loved  his  own,  loveth 
them  unto  the  end.  And*  as  I  am  fully  conscious, 
that  I  have  no  righteousness  of  my  own,  how  pre- 
cious becomes  that  assurance  to  my  soul,  wherein 
thou  hast  said,  My  salvation  shall  be  forever,  and 
my  righteousness  shall  not  be  abolished ',"# 


*  Isaiah  li.  8, 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  81 


THE    STRAYED   SHEEP. 

At  that  instant  a  sheep  leaped  over  the  hedge, 
just  where  my  companion  and  I  stood,  as  if  pursu- 
ed by  some  enemy.  The  poor  animal  seemed 
much  distressed  and  affrighted.  He  looked  at  us, 
but  appeared  disappointed.  As  he  stood  still,  I 
called  to  him  ;  but  he  knew  not  my  voice.  At 
length  a  man  appeared  at  the  fence,  over  which  the 
sheep  had  broken  ;  and  calling  in  a  particular  tone 
which  the  poor  animal  understood,  he  turned  and 
looked  upon  him.  The  shepherd  then  came  over 
the  hedge,  and  advancing  gently  towards  him,  still 
continuing  his  call  as  he  approached  him,  the 
sheep  came  to  meet  him,  and  seemed  rejoiced  at 
his  presence  ;  and  they  went  away  both  of  them 
together. 

44  Ah  !  (I  cried)  I  think  I  could  spiritualize  this 
occurrence."  4i  Do  so,  then,  (replied  my  friend) 
for  such  should  be  the  custom  of  Zion's  pilgrims, 
to  extract  improvement  from  every  thing  which 
they  see  or  hear."  "  I  would  suppose  (I  said) 
this  poor  strayed  sheep  to  be  the  emblem  of  the 
wandering  sinner  ;  and  the  man  pursuing  it  as  a 
friend,  which  the  silly  animal  fancied  an  enemy, 
to  personate  the  man  Christ  Jesus.  And  under 
those  images,  if  I  mistake  not,  several  very  sweet 
doctrines  of  the  gospel  may  be  discovered.  As 
for  example  :  that  the  Lord  Jesus  had  a  fold  be- 
fore the  foundation  of  the  world  is  evident ;  for 
in  the  close  of  his  ministry,  he  thanks  the  Father 
for  them  which  he  had  given  him,  and  of  which  he 
had  lost  none.     This  fold,  by  the  entrance  of  the 

H  2 


82        '  ZIQN'S  PILGRIM. 

prowling  wolf  into  Paradise,  wandered  and    was 
scattered  abroad  into  the  wide  wilderness  of  the 
world.     For  so  the  Lord  speaks  of  them  :   My 
sheep  wandered  through  all  the  mountains,  and  up- 
on every  high  hill;  yea,  my  flock  was  scattered  upon 
all  the  face  of  the  earth.*     But  though  wander- 
ing  and  scattered,  they  were  the  Lord's  sheep  still. 
That  little  foolish   wanderer,   we  just  now   saw, 
was  never  altered  in  his  nature,  though  wayward 
and  perverse  in  his  track.      Though  he  left  the 
sheepfold,  yet  he  was  still  the  sheep,  and  not  the 
goat.     In  like  manner,  Christ's  spiritual  sheep  did 
not  lose  their  relation  to  him,  when  they  left  his 
fold.     This   character  of    Jesus's  sheep    should 
never  be  forgotten  by  us  ;  for  it  is  plain,  that  Jesus 
himself  never  loseth  sight  of  it.     In  the  moment 
he  speaks  of  them  as  wandering  and  scattered,  as 
diseased  and  weak,  he  calls  them  still  my  sheep. 
And  hence,  in  the  recovery  of  every  one  of  them, 
the   same  idea  is  carefully  preserved  :    /  will  seek 
that  which  was  lost,    and  bring  again  that  which 
was  driven  away,  and  bind  up  that  which  was  brok- 
en,   and  will  strengthen  that   which  was    sick.-\ 
And  what  can  be  more  refreshing  and  encouraging 
to  a  poor  sinner,  than  the  consideration  that,  if  of 
the  fold  of  Jesus  originally  given  by  the  Father,, 
however  scattered  over  the  face  of  the  earth,  how- 
ever pent  up  in  the  den  of  beasts  by  the  accursed 
enemy  of  souls  ;  still  he  is  the  sheep  of  Jesus, 
concerning  whom  the  promise  is  made  and  passed, 
My  sheep  shall    never  perish,    neither  shall  any 
pluck  them  out  of  my   hand.%      The  eye  of  the 
Good  Shepherd  is  ever  over  them.     He  beholds 

*  Ezek.  xxxiv.  6,        \  Ezek.  xxxiy.  16.        \  John  x.  28, 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  8 


r> 


-them  as  his  sheep,  while  they  appear  among 
wolves  ;  and  when  the  hour  is  come,  according  to 
his  blessed  promise,  like  that  poor  animal  we  just 
now  beheld,  they  shall  hear  his  voice,  and  follow 
him,  though  they  flee  the  voice  of  strangers. 
How  expressive  to  this  purpose  are  the  words  of 
God  by  the  Prophet :  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God, 
Behold  I,  even  I,  will  both  search  my  sheep  and 
seek  them  out ;  as  a  shepherd  seeketh  out  his  flock 
in  the  day  that  he  is  among  his  sheep  that  are  scat- 
tered ;  so  will  I  seek  out  my  sheep,  and  will  deliver 
them  out  of  all  places  where  they  have  been  scatter- 
ed in  the  cloudy  and  dark  day.* 

"  And  if  this  doctrine  be  well-founded,  (I  con- 
tinued) what  a  volume  of  consolation  it  holds 
forth  to  the  sheepfold  of  Jesus,  under  their  own 
diseases,  weaknesses,  and  wanderings ;  and  the 
long  wanderings  and  wayward  obstinacies  and 
rebellions  of  their  unrecovered  relations  and 
friends,  for  which  they  mourn  so  frequently  at  the 
mercy  seat !  The  lion  and  the  bear  may  have 
taken  the  tender  lamb  from  the  fold  ;  but  our 
David  will  in  his  time,  and  not  ours,  and  the 
properest  time  too,  go  out  after  him,  and  deliver 
him  from  his  devouring  mouth.  My  sheep  (saith 
Jesus)  shall  never  perish.  That's  enough ! — Fear 
not,  then,  little  flock ;  his  your  Father's  good  pleas- 
ure to  give  you  the  kingdom.^  And  how  eternally 
secure  must  be  every  one  of  the  fold,  when  the 
final  presentation  of  them  before  the  throne  of 
glory  is  to  be  expressed  in  these  words  !  Behold, 
I  and  the  children  who?n  the  Lord  hath  given 
me!"\ 

*    Ezek.  xxxiv.  11,12.        \  Luke  xii.  32.    \  Isa.  viii.  18. 


84  ZION'S   PILGRIM. 

■When  I  had  finished  my  remarks,    my 


friend  thanked  me.  "  I  am  much  pleased,  (he 
said)  I  assure  you,  with  your  ideas  on  the  subject. 
You  have,  in  my  opinion,  very  sweetly  spiritual- 
ized the  incident  of  the  strayed  sheep  :  and  you 
certainly  have  ample  authority  from  scripture  for 
the  several  observations  you  have  made.  The 
frequent  allusion,  which  is  there  adapted  to  the  va- 
rious circumstances  of  a  sheepfold,  is  expressly 
done  with  this  intention,  to  describe  the  Lord's 
gracious  dealings  with  his  people. 

"  There  is  one  view  of  the  subject  which  hath 
often  struck  me,  but  which,  so' far  as  my  reading 
extends,  hath  not  been  sufficiently  noticed,  if  at 
all,  by  any  writer ;  I  mean,  where  Jesus  is  fol- 
lowing the  thousands  of  his  fold  ;  through  all  their 
wayward  paths,  amidst  the  lion's  den,  and  over 
the  mountains  of  darkness,  his  eye  is  still  over 
them  for  good,  and  his  arm  unremittingly  stretch- 
ed forth  to  keep  them  from  everlasting  ruin; 
though  they,  as  yet  in  their  unconscious  state, 
senseless  either  of  his  presence  or  his  favour,  are 
making  him  to  serve  with  their  sins,  and  continue 
to  nveary  him  with  their  iniquities!  There  is 
somewhat  in  this  view,  which  opens  to  them  a 
most  precious  and  endearing  trait  in  the  charac- 
ter of  the  Lord  Jesus  ;  when  once  the  film  which 
obstructed  vision  in  them  is  removed^  to  see  things 
as  they  are,  and  that  he  hath  brought  home  any  of 
his  wranderers  to  his  fold,  on  his  shoulders  rejoicing  ! 

"  If  you  and  I,  my  brother,"  he  added,  "  had 
the  faculty  of  discerning  objects  spiritually,  we 
should  discover  many  in  this  situation  now,  who 
appear,  to  every  eye  but  his  who  knows  his  own 
under  all  disguises,  as  goats,  from  their  behaviour ; 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  85 

but  yet  are  the  real  sheep  of  Jesus,  which,  by  and 
by,  he  will  gather  out,  and  say  to  them,  as  he  did 
to  the  church  of  old,  Come  with  me,  my  spouse, 
from  the  lions'  dens,  and  from  the  mountains  of  the 
leopards. 

"  Gracious  Power  !"  he  exclaimed  ;  "  while 
speaking  of  thy  long-suffering  to  thy  people, 
oh !  let  me  never  forget,  for  how  many  years  that 
long-suffering  was  extended  to  me!" 

"  And  to  me,"  I  cried. A  moment  of  si- 
lence followed,  when  my  friend  resumed  his  dis- 
course. 

"  I  cannot  help  remarking,  my  friend,"  he  said, 
"  how  wonderfully  the  Lord  hath  brought  you  on 
your  way  ;  and  particularly  in  the  knowledge  of  di- 
vine things.  Many  there  are,  who,  notwithstand- 
ing they  are  very  precious  plants  which  the  Lord's 
right  hand  hath  planted,  do  not  make  great  ad- 
vances. But  I  may  truly  say  of  you,  as  the  apos- 
tle did  of  the  church  of  the  yjicsSilIonians,  your 
faith  grow cth  exceedingly  !" 

"  Alas  !"  I  replied",  "  I  fear  I  do  not  grow  at 
all.  I  cannot  perceive  in  myself  any  progress." 
"•Do  not  say  so,"  he  answered,  "  for  this  borders 
on  unthankfulness.  In  our  desires  after  greater 
measures  of  knowledge  and  grace,  let  us  never 
overlook  the  less  ;  nor,  while  we  earnestly  beg 
the  Lord  to  bestow  more,  unthankfully  forget 
what  he  hath  already  given.  It  is  very  true,  as 
the  apostle  observes,  that  our  highest  attainments 
in  the  present  state  are  only  as  the  attainments  of 
children;  and  that  if  any  man  think  he  knoweth 
any  thing,  he  knoweth  nothing  yet  as  he  ought  to 
know.  Nevertheless,  an  apprehension  of  the  very 
first  principles  in  grace,  nay,  the  circumstance  of 


86  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

being  matriculated  in  the  school  of  Jesus,  is  an 
unspeakable  mercy,  which  a  whole  life  of  thank- 
fulness is  not  sufficient  to  acknowledge. 

"  Look  back,  my  brother,"  he  added,  "  from 
the  first  traces  you  can  discover  of  God's  mani- 
festations in  your  mind,  to  the  present  period,  and 
compare  your  situation  then  with  now,  and  you 
will  at  once  perceive  what  rapid  advances  you 
have  been  making  in  the  divine  life,  under  the 
teachings  of  God  the  Holy  Ghost.  And  this  is, 
in  fact,  the  only  method  whereby  to  form  a  true 
estimate  of  ourselves.  For  when  we  draw  con- 
clusions from  the  present  only,  or  calculate  our 
growth  merely  by  our  desires  of  being  finally  sav- 
ed, or  when  we  erect  as  a  standard,  whereby  to 
judge  ourselves,  the  excellency  of  others  more 
advanced ;  all  these  models,  being  ill-constructed 
and  ill-chosen,  must  invariably  induce  mortifying 
views  of  ourselves  by  the  comparison.  This  is 
not,  therefore,  the  right  plan,  by  which  we  are  to. 
ascertain  our  state.  But  if  we  so  judge  of  our 
progress  in  grace,  as  we  estimate  proficiency  in 
the  works  of  nature,  the  method  will  be  more  ac- 
curate. In  the  vegetable  kingdom,  for  instance, 
however  certain  an  advance  in  growth  may  be, 
yet  the  most  intense  eye  can  never  discern  any 
one  plant  actually  growing.  But  by  the  compar- 
ative observation  of  a  few  days,  every  one  is  ena- 
bled to  discover,  lhat  a  progression  has  taken 
place. 

"And  while  I  am  speaking  of  this  subject  of 
growth  in  grace,  I  would  desire  to  add  another 
observation,  which  is  intimately  connected  with  it. 
The  apostle  says,  grow  in  grace ',  and  in  the  knowl- 
edge of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,     Now, 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  87 

if  I  really  grow  in  grace,  (as  increasing  grace  hum- 
bles more  and  more  the  soul)  I  shall  grow  more 
sensible  of  my  own  worthlessness,  and  Christ's  all- 
sufficiency  ;  deeper  views  of  sin  in  my  fallen  na- 
ture will  induce  all  those  gracious  effects,  which 
tend  to  enhance  the  Savio  ur ;  a  conscious  sense  of 
want  will  awaken  as  conscious  a  desire  of  having 
those  wants  supplied  ;  and  every  day's  experience 
will  make  self  more  lowly,  and  Christ  more  ex- 
alted.    This  is  to  grow  in  grace  and  in  the  knowl- 
edge  of  our   Lord  together.     The  progress   of 
grace  therefore,  connected  with  the  progress  of  the 
knowledge  of  the  Lord,  must  ever  produce  those 
effects.     A  little  grace,  like  the  dawn  of  day,  when 
shining  in  the  heart,  enables  the  believer  to  dis- 
cover by  this  twilight  somewhat  of  the  darkness  a- 
round.  *  In  proportion  as  the  light  advances,  he 
sees  the  objects   clearer.     But  he  then  only  be- 
comes sensible  of  all  the  evils  lurking  within,  when 
the  meridian  brightness  is  completed.     Grace,  in 
like  manner,  shining  in  its  full  lustre,  discovers  to 
us  more  clearly  thccon  uptions  of  our  nature  ;  and 
while  it  accomplished  this  puqx>se,  it  answereth 
the  other  blessed  purpose  also,  which  the  apostle 
connects  with  it,    of  giving   us  the   light  of  the 
knowledge  of  the  glory  of  Go&  in  the  J  ace  of  Jesus 
Christ." 


AN    INN 


It  became  a  matter  of  much  satisfaction,  I  be- 
lieve, to  my  fellow-traveller,  as  well  as  to  myself, 
to  behold  the  appearance  of  an  inn  on  the  road  ; 


88         ;        ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

for  we  both  needed  rest  and  refreshment,  so  that 
without  any  deliberation  we  entered  the  door. 

"  Can  you  accommodate  us?"  (said  my  friend  to 
the  host,  who  happened  to  be  near  the  passage  as 
we  approached  the  hou se . )  "  Certainly,  (answer- 
ed the  man)  and  shewed  us  into  a  room." 

"You  do  not  forget,  my  brother,"  whispered 
my  fellow-traveller  to  me,  "  which  it  was  among' 
the  pilgrims  passing  through  this  world,  who 
could  not  find  this  accommodation ;  there  was 
no  room  for  him  in  the  inn.  How  sweetly  is  it 
arranged  in  all  the  various  circumstances  of  life, 
to  discover  somewhat  of  his  bright  example  going 
before  us  in  almost  every  situation  ;  not  by  way 
of  reproach,  but  of  pointing  out  to  us,  in  num- 
berless instances,  the  superiority  of  our  accom- 
modations to  his ! 

"  There  is  something  in  the  very  nature  of  an 
inn,  (continued  my  friend)  which  serves,  as  it  ap- 
pears to  me,  to  promote  the  sacred  purposes  of  a 
pilgrimage  like  ours,  more  effectually,  than  almost 
any  other  situation ;  and  had  I  my  choice  on  this 
point,  I  should  like  it,  of  all  others,  for  my  abode 
in  the  dying  hour ;  for  every  one  is  so  taken  up 
with  his  own  concerns,  that  there  is  neither  time 
nor  inclination  to  attend  to  the  affairs  of  others ; 
so  that  here  a  man  might  be  free  from  the  trou- 
blesome importunity  of  attendants,  which  some- 
times becomes  a  sad  interruption  to  the  soul,  id 
her  preparations  for  her  j  ourney  into  the  invisible 
world,  while  the  carriage  is  at  the  door." 

Our  refreshment,  consisting  of  a  little  tea  and 
bread,  was  soon  served  up ;  which,  my  friend 
having  first  implored  the  divine  blessing  to  sancti- 
fy the  use  of  it,  we  really  enjoyed.      "  Tea  is  a 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  89 

very  pleasant  beverage  (said  my  friend)  to  my 
taste ;  and  I  should  find  some  difficulty  to  get  any- 
thing as  a  substitute,  were  I  to  be  deprived  of  the 
Use  of  it.  I  have  heard  many  speak  of  it  as  per- 
nicious  ;  but  I  verily  believe,  that  one  great  rea- 
son why  it  proves  so  is,  because  it  is  a  graceless 
meal.  If  we  do  not  beg  God's  blessing  over  our 
food,  how  can  we  be  surprised,  if,  instead  of  be- 
ing wholesome,  it  proves  hurtful  ?" 

After  we  had  finished  our  repast,  and  like  well- 
fed  guests  had  arisen  from  the  table,  blessing  the 
kind  Master  of  the  feast  who  giveth  us  all  tilings 
richly  to  enjoy,  we  were  about  to  enter  upon  the 
perusal  of  the  "  word  of  God,"  by  way  of  profitably 
filling  up  the  measure  of  time  till  the  hour  of  rest ; 
when  a  circumstance  occurred,  which  at  once  ar- 
rested the  attention  of  us  both. 


THE    JEW. 

The  instant  we  arose  from  the  tabic,  as  before 
observed,  there  crossed  the  court-yard  of  the  inn, 
opposite  to  the  room  where  we  were  sitting,  a  Jew 
(as  he  appeared  to  be)  with  a  basket  of  pens.  My 
friend  seeing  him,  hastily  ran  to  the  door  to  in- 
quire of  him,  whether  he  knew  a  man  of  the  name 
of  Abraham  Levi,  one  of  their  people.  "  Yes, 
(he  said)  I  know  him  very  well ;  but  he  is  not  one 
of  my  people."  "  How  is  that,  (replied  my 
friend)  are  not  you  a  Jew?"  "  No,  (the  poor 
man  said)  I  thank  the  Lord  I  am  not.  I  was  once, 
indeed  ;  but,  I  trust,  I  am  now  a  lover  of  the  Lord 
I 


90  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

Jesus."  The  effect  wrought  upon  my  mind  by 
this  short  conversation  was  like  that  of  electricity. 
m  Pray,  my  friend,  do  us  the  favour  (continued 
my  companion)  to  walk  into  this  room.  We  are 
both  lovers  and  humble  followers,  like  yourself,  if 
you  are  so,  of  the  Lord  Jesus  ;  and  we  shall  much 
rejoice,  if  you  will  communicate  to  us  the  pleasing 
information  how  this  change  was  wrought." 
"  That  I  will  most  readily,  (replied  the  man,)  for 
if  it  will  afford  you  pleasure  to  hear,  much  more 
will  it  delight  me  to  relate,  a  change,  to  which  I 
owe  such  unspeakable  mercies. 

* '  Without  going  over  the  whole  of  my  history 
from  my  childhood,  (he  said)  which  hath  very 
little  interesting  in  it,  and  is  unconnected  with  the 
circumstances  of  my  conversion,  it  will  be  suffi- 
cient to  begin  it  at  that  part  wrhich  alone  is  worth 
your  hearing.  It  is  about  two  years  since,  that  I 
first  began  to  feel  my  mind  much  exercised  with 
considerations  on  the  deplorable  state  of  our  peo- 
ple. I  discovered,  from  reading  the  scriptures, 
the  ancient  love  of  God  to  our  nation.  In  our  his- 
tory, as  a  people,  I  saw  the  many  wonderful  and 
distinguishing  mercies  with  which,  from  age  to 
age,  the  Lord  had  blessed  us.  I  remarked  also, 
how,  for  the  disobedience  and  ingratitude  of  our 
people,  the  Lord  had  punished  us.  But  what 
struck  me  most  forcibly  was,  that  prophecy  of 
scripture,  "That  the  sceptre  should  not  depart  from 
Jadah,  nor  a  law-gfoer  from  between  his  feet,  un- 
til the  Shiloh  should  come.*  Whereas  I  saw  very 
plainly,  that  our  nation  was  without  a  sceptre, 
wit!  out  government,  without  temple.  I  remarked 

*  0en.  xlix.  1Q. 


ZiON'S  PILGRIM.  91 

moreover,  that  oar  people  were  a  light,  and  vain, 
and  worldly-minded  people,  who  took  it  not  to 
•heart.  And  if  the  Lord  had  punished  ou^fathers 
for  their  sins,  dhrs  deserved  his  displeasure  more. 
Added  to  all  these  considerations,  which  very 
powerfully  operated  upon  my  mind,  I  saw  a  great 
mass  of  people  living  around  me  who  professed 
themselves  to  be  followers  of  the  true  God  ;  and 
who  asserted,  in  confirmation  of  their  faith,  that 
the  Shiloh  was  come,  and  to  him  was  the  gather- 
ing of  the  people.  Distressed  and  perplexed  in 
my  mind,  by  reason  of  these  various  considera- 
tions, Iknew  not  what  to  do,  and  could  hardly 
find  power  or  inclination  to  prosecute  my  daily 
labour. 

"  It  happened  one  day,  while  walking  over  the 
bridge  of  the  city,  that,  my  mind  being  more 
than  usually  affected,  I  cold  not  refrain  from 
pouring  out  my  heart  in  prayer  to  God.  I  pans- 
ed,  as  I  stood  on  the  bridge,  and  lifting  up  my 
eyes  towards  heaven,  I  cried  out,  O  God  of  my 
fathers,  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Jacob,  who  hast 
declared  thyself  as  keeping  covenant-mercy  for  thous- 
ands ;  look  down  upon  me,  a  poor  Jew,  vouchsafe 
to  teach  me  what  I  must  do.  Thou  knowest  my 
desire  is  to  serve  thee,  if  I  knew  the  way.  Thou  art 
justly  displeased  with  our  nation  and  with  our  peo- 
ple ;  for  we  have  broken  thy  commandments.  But, 
oh  !  Lord,  direct  me. 

"  It  was  with  words  somewhat  like  these  (con- 
tinued the  poor  man)  that  I  prayed,  in  which  I 
wept  much..  At  length  I  walked  on,  and  passing 
by  a  place  of  worship,  where  I  saw  many  assem- 
bled, I  found  my  heart  inclined  to  go  in.  Who 
knows,    I  thought  with     myself,    but  the  Lord 


92  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

may  have  directed  me  hither  ?  I  went  in,  and 
near  the  door  finding  a  seat  unoccupied  I  entered 
into  it  and  sat  down.  The  minister  was  discours- 
ing on  the  mercies  of  God,  in  sending  his  Son  to 
be  the  Saviour  of  the  world.  If  this  Saviour  was 
my  Saviour,  I  thought,  how  happy  should  I  be !  I 
felt  myself  considerably  affected,  and  frequently 
turned  my  face  to  the  wall  and  wept.  And  many 
times,  during  the  continuance  of  the  service,  so 
much  was  my  heart  interested  by  what  I  heard, 
that  I  wept  aloud,  and  could  not  refrain. 

"  I  had  disturbed  some  of  the  congregation,  it 
appeared,  by  my  behaviour ;  so  that,  as  soon  as 
the  service  was  finished,  two  or  three  of  the  men 
came  towards  me  with  much  anger,  asking  me 
what  I  meant  by  coming  there  to  interrupt  their 
worship  with  my  drunkenness.  But  when  they 
discovered  the  real  state  of  the  case,  and  I  had 
told  them  the  whole  desires  of  my  mind,  they  al- 
most devoured  me  with  kindness.  This  served 
very  much  also,  under  God,  to  convince  me,  that 
their  religion  must  be  the  true  religion,  which  pro- 
duced such  effects. 

"  Not  to  fatigue  you  with  my  relation,  it  will 
be  sufficient  to  observe,  that  from  that  hour  my 
mind  began  to  discover  hope.  And  as  the  kind 
people,  into  whose  congregation  I  had  thus  en- 
tered, undertook  to  instruct  me  in  the  principles 
of  the  Christian  faith,  I  soon  learnt,  under  God, 
the  fulfilment  of  the  Jewish  scriptures  in  the  Chris- 
tian. And  now  I  find  cause,  every  day,  more 
and  more,  to  bless  the  Lord  for  what  he  hath  done 
for  my  soul. 

"  One  little  event  more  (he  added)  I  will,  if  you 
please,  relate,  which  happened  soon  after  my  go- 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  93 

ing  into  this  church.     My  business  of  selling  my 
pens  obliged   me  to  go    to  another  city,  about 
twelve  miles  distant  from  the  one  where  I  dwelt  ; 
and  calling  at  a  pastry  cook's  shop,  who  occasion- 
ally dealt  with  me,  a  circumstance  occurred  which 
became  highly  serviceable  to  me  in  my  new  path 
of  life.     There  sat  in  the  shop  a  venerable  gentle- 
man, dressed  in  black  ;  the  mistress  of  the  house 
stood  behind  the  counter,    and  I  was  just  within 
the  door.     A  poor  beggar,  looking  miserably  ill, 
came  in  for  a  tart.       "  Ah!  John,   (cried  the  old 
gentleman)  what,  you  have  left  the  infirmary  !   Is 
your  disorder  declared  to  be  incurable  ?"     "  Yes, 
Sir,  (replied  the  poor  man)  they  say  they  can  do  no- 
thing more  for  me."   tc  Well,  John,  (answered  the 
old  gentleman)  there  is  one  Physician  more  which 
I  would  have  you  try  :   and  he  never  fails  to  cure. 
And  he  doth  it  also   without    money  and  without 
price."     The  poor  man's  countenance  seemed  to 
brighten  at  this  ;     and  he   said,    "  Who  is  he?" 
"  It  is  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  (said  the  gentleman) 
pray  go  to  him  John,  and  if  lie  be  pleased  to  I. 
your  body  it  will  be   a  blessed  recovery   for   you 
indeed  ;  and  if  not,   he  can  and   will  heal  your 
soul."     The  poor  man  did  not  relish  the  advice  ; 
for  he  went  away  looking  angri  As  for  me,  I 

cried  out,  (for  I  could  not  refrain)  May  the  Lord 
bless  you,  Sir,  for  what  you  have  said  in  your 
recommendations  of  my  Master  and  Saviour  !  He 
is  indeed  all  you  have  described  him,  for  he  hath 
cured  both  mv  bodv  and  soul.  Astonished  at 
what  I  said,  the  gentleman  expressed  his  surprise 
in  observing,  "  I  thought  you  were  a  Jew  !"  "  I 
was,  Sir,  (I  answered)  once  ;    but  by  grace  I  am 

I  2 


94  ZION^S  PILGRIM. 

now  a  Christian. "  He  caught  me  by  the  hand,  and 
entreated  me  to  go  with  him  to  his  house,  where  J 
related  to  him,  as  I  have  to  you,  the  means  under 
God  of  my  conversion.  And  when  I  had  finished 
my  story,  at  his  request,  we  dropped  on  our  knees 
in  prayer.  And  oh !  Sirs,  the  fervour  and  earnest- 
ness with  which  he  prayed,  and  the  thanksgiv- 
ings which  he  expressed  for  the  Lord's  mercy  to 
my  soul,  never  shall  I  forget.  The  recollection, 
even  at  this  distance,  continues  to  warm  my 
heart." 

When  the  poor  man  had  finished  his  narrative, 
my  friend  and  I  looked  at  each  other,  then  at  him, 
and  then  upward.  One  sentiment,  I  am  persuad- 
ed, pervaded  both  hearts ;  and  this  was  the  lan- 
guage, Great  and  marvellous  are  thy  works,  Lord 
God  Almighty  !  Just  and  true  are  thy  ways,  thou 
King  of  saints  ! 

My  companion  offered  him  money,  at  which 
he  seemed  hurt.  "  I  am  sorry,  (he  said)  that 
you  should  think  so  unfavourable  of  me." 
"  Well,  but  (answered  by  friend)  we  have  de- 
tained you  from  your  employment,  and  it  is  but 
just ;  as  you  have  so  highly  contributed  to  our 
pleasure,  we  ought  not  to  make  it  detrimental  to 
your  interest."  "  I  should  be  very  sorry,  (replied 
the  poor  man)  if  my  diligence  would  not  make  up 
for  those  occasional  interruptions,  which  are  so 
sweet  and  refreshing  in  my  own  heart,  while  giv- 
ing satisfaction  to  others.  No,  Sir,  I  thank  you 
for  your  intentions ;  but  I  cannot  accept  your 
offer.  Besides,  I  need  it  not ;  I  have  enough  and 
to  spare.  God  supplies  all  my  wants,  and 
enables  me  sometimes  to  help  the  wants  of 
others." 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  $5 

The  poor  man  took  his  leave,  after  mutual 
wishes  and  prayers  for  our  spiritual  welfare.  And 
the  night  being  now  advanced,  after  reading  the 
scriptures  and  prayer,  we  departed  each  to  his 
chamber. 

The  town  clock  struck  five,  just   after  I 

awoke  from  a  state  of  sleep  much  refreshed.  I 
called  to  mind  that  sweet  promise  of  God  to  his 
people,  and  found  cause  to  bless  him,  in  that  it 
had  been  again  verified  to  my  experience  ;  When 
thou  liest  down  thou  shah  not  be  afraid ';  yea,  thou 
shah  lie  down  and  thy  sleep  shall  be  sweet.* 

I  recollected  also,  that  manv  of  the  Lord's  child- 
ren  were  at  that  moment  in  a  state  of  pain  and 
suffering,  and,  like  Job,  complaining  that  %veari- 
some  nights  were  appointed  unto  them.-\  I  felt  my 
heart  drawn  out,  under  the  fulness  of  the  impres- 
sion, to  adopt  the  language  of  the  sorrowful  sisters, 
and  to  tell  the  Lord,  many  whom  thou  lovest  are 
sick.% 

When  we  consider  the  defenceless  state  of  sleep, 
and  the  many  dangers  to  which  our  poor,  fallen  na- 
ture is  then  peculiarly  exposed  ;  not  merely  to  the 
ravages  of  enemies,  against  which  bolts  and  bars 
might  cast  up  some  little  security  ;  but  the  care- 
lessness o£ friends,  from  which  none  but  his  watch- 
ful eye,  who  never  slumbers  nor  sleeps,  can  guard 
us  ;  how  suitable  is  that  sentiment  of  the  church 
of  old,  to  form  the  first  impression  of  the  mind  at 
the  dawn  of  day  ;  It  is  of  the  Lord's  mercies  that 
we  are  not  consumed,  because  his  compassions  fail 
ngt ;  they  are  new  every  morning.  $ 

*  Prov.  iii.  24.  \  Johnxl.  3. 

f  Job  yii.3.  §Lam.  iii.  22. 


96  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

I  have  often  thought,  when  looking  upon  some 
dear  child  of  my  affection,  in  its  unconscious 
state  of  sleep,  what  creature  of  all  God's  works  is 
so  truly  helpless,  and  so  much  exposed  to  danger, 
as  man  in  that  season  !  But  I  have  not  unfrequent- 
ly  found  relief  therefrom,  in  the  assurance  that  this 
very  state,  in  the  necessity  of  it,  implies  the  exist- 
ence of  a  peculiar  superintendence.  And,  indeed, 
the  eventual  experience  of  thousands  is  continually 
bearing  testimony  to  the  truth  of  that  precious 
promise ;  My  people  shall  dwell  in  a  peaceable  habi- 
tation^ and  in  sure  dwellings,  and  in  quiet  resting 
places.* 


"  THE  DIARY. 

According  to  my  constant  custom,  since  the 
Lord  was  pleased  to  call  me  by  his  grace ,  I  open- 
ed my  diary  in  my  little  pocket  companion  to  inquire, 
What  is  the  'word  of  the  Lord  recommended  to  my 
serious  consideration  to  day  ?  For  it  is  a  favourite 
maxim  of  mine,  with  the  first  dawn  of  day,  to  seek 
a  morning  blessing  from  the  Lord  in  this  way,  in 
one  of  his  sweet  promises.  The  promises  of  God 
are  the  present  heritage  of  his  people.  They  are 
evidently  intended  to  be  their  support  and  stay  in 
the  house  of  their  pilgrimage.  In  a  little  book, 
which  I  always  keep  by  me  for  this  purpose,  to 
have  recourse  to  as  occasion  may  require,  and 
which  I  call  my  pocket  companion,  I  have  alsQ  a 
diary,  containing  some  refreshing  portion  of  scrip- 

*  Isaiah  xxxii.  18. 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  97 

ture  for  every  day  in  the  year.  And  though  it  can- 
not be  supposed  (neither  will  any  one  I  should 
hope  imagine)  that  by  a  selection  of  this  kind  a 
preference  is  given  to  one  gracious  promise  to  the 
exclusion  of  the  rest,  which  in  Christ  Jesus  are  all 
yea  and  amen  ;  yet,  as  the  mind  is  not  sufficiently 
capacious,  nor  sufficiently  alive,  to  exercise  itself 
in  the  meditation  of  them  all,  it  should  seem  to  be 
no  unpromising  plan  of  usefulness  to  have  recourse 
to  one  or  more  of  them  in  this  manner. 

I  shall  be  exempt,  I  trust,  from  the  charge  of 
presumption,  if  I  add,  that  I  have  found,  at  times, 
the  promise  in  my  diary  so  strikingly  suited  to 
my  then  circumstances,  as  if  a  voice  had  accom- 
panied it  like  that  of*  the  apostle  to  the  men  of 
Antioch,    To  you  is  the  word  of  this  sahation  sent. 

The  promise  for  this   day  I  found  to  hi  Psalm 
cxxi.    5.       The  Lord  is   thy  keeper.     Sweet  and 
precious  indeed  to  all  his  people  is  this  assurance  ! 
My  mind,  as  I  lay  upon  my  bed,  was  much  exer- 
cised in  the  contemplation  of  God  as  a  covenant 
God,  in  keeping  his  people.     It  is  he  which  keeps 
them  in  the  faith ;  keeps  them  in  the  hour  of  tempta- 
tion ;  keeps  them  from  the  power  of  the  enemy  ; 
from  a  thousand  unseen,  and  as  many  visible  evils  ; 
from  finally  falling,  and  from  eternal  death.      And 
though  he  hath  no  where  promised  to  keep  his  peo- 
ple from  tribulation,  or  persecution,  or  the  strife 
and  slander  of  tongues,  from  sickness,  or  sorrow, 
or  the  like  ;  yet  he  hath  promised,  that  no  weapon 
formed  against  t  lie  in  shall  prosper ;   no  temptation 
shall  take  them,  from  which  lie  will  not  make  a  way 
for  them  to  escape.       He  will  bruise   Satan  under 
their  feet  shortly.      Oh  !   the  blessed  privilege  of 
those  who  have  the  Lord  for  their  keeper  ! 


98  ZION'S  PILGRIM, 


MARKET-DAY. 

From  the  very  great  noise  which  I  heard  in  the 
street,  as  I  arose  from  my  bed,  occasioned  by  the 
passing  of  horses  and  the  tumult  of  the  people,  I 
concluded  that  somewhat  more  than  usual  occupi- 
ed the  public  attention.  In  looking  for  the  cause 
from  the  window  of  my  chamber,  which  opened 
into  the  street,  I  discovered  that  it  was  market-day. 
Though  the  hour  was  so  early,  and  the  sun  had 
not  far  advanced  in  climbing  the  heavens,  yet  the 
world  was  risen,  and  every  one  eagerly  engaged  in 
preparation  for  the  sale  of  tl\eir  different  commod- 
ities. 

Ah  I  thought  I,  how  just  is  that  aphorism  of 
our  blessed  Lord,  The  children  of  this  world  are  in 
their  generation  wiser  than  the  children  of  Fight*  If, 
in  the  market-days  for  the  soul,  (I  mean  the  pub- 
lic festivals  and  Sabbaths  of  the  church)  they, 
whose  office  it  is  to  bring  forth  out  of  God's  treas- 
ure things  new  and  old  to  the  people,  were  truly  as 
anxious  as  those  men  of  the  world,  what  gracious 
effects  might  we  not  hope  would  follow  under  the 
Spirit's  blessing ! 

The  apostle  to  the  Gentiles  desired  the  church 
of  Corinth  to  consider  him  and  his  faithful  compan- 
ions under  this  character.  Let  a  man  (saith  he) 
so  account  of  us,  as  of  the  ministers  of  Christ,  and 
stewards  of  the  mysteries  of  God.  A  steward  is  an 
upper  servant  in  a  family  ;  one  whose  office  (ac- 
cording to  our  Lord's  own  explanation  of  the 
Jewish  householder)  is  to  provide  for  the  family, 
&c.  whom  his  Lord  hath  made  rider  over  his  house- 
hold to  give  them  their  portion  of  meat  in  due  season. 


ZION'S  PILGRIM-  99 

And  were  that  also  properly  considered,  which 
the  apostle  adds,  that  it  is  required  in  stewards  that 
a  man  be  found  faithful,  the  solicitude  of  the 
earthly  market-man  would  fall  infinitely  short  of 
that,  which  he  feels  who  ministers  in  heavenly 
things,  in  proportion  as  the  object  and  the  end 
of  the  latter  transcend  in  importance  those  of  the 
former.  How  early  would  the  stewards  of  Christ's 
mysteries  arise,  in  order  to  prepare  the  feast  of 
fat  t  kings ,  of  wine  on  the dees ,  and  of  fat  tilings  full 
of  marrow,  for  the  mountain  of  the  Lord's  house  ! 
How  extremely  anxious  would  they  be,  that  no 
hungry  nor  thirsty  soul  of  God's  household  should 
be  overlooked  or  neglected  !  And  conscious,  af- 
ter all  their  best  and  most  earnest  preparations, 
that  there  can  be  no  actual  enjoyment,  no  real 
participation  on  the  people's  part,  but  from  the 
predisposing  grace  of  the  Lord ;  how  ought  every 
steward  to  bring  forth  what  he  has  prepared  with 
prayer  and  supplication,  that  the  Lord  himself 
would  direct  every  heart  and  influence  every 
mind ! 

Imagination  can  hardly  form  a  character  more 
truly  valuable,  than  the  man  who  ministers  in  ho- 
ly  things ;  who  spends  his  time,  his  talents,  his 
gifts,  in  short,  his  all,  to  this  one  purpose ;  who 
becomes  indeed  the  full  fid  and  wise  steward,  to 
feed  the  babes  of  Christ's  household  with  the  sin- 
cere milk  of  the  word,  that  they  may  grow  thereby; 
and  them  that  are  of  full  age,  with  strong  meat, 
when  by  reason  of  use  their  spiritual  senses  are  ex- 
ercised  to  discern  both  good  and  evil;  and  who,  to 
both,  can  humbly  recommend,  like  the  apostle, 
the  goodness  of  the  food,  as  being  what  he  him- 
self  hath  seen,  and  looked  upon,  arid  tasted  of  the 


100  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

word  of  life.  It  must  be  a  refreshing  consolation, 
I  can  well  conceive,  in  the  close  of  life,  to  every 
faithful  steward,  after  that  the  day's  fatigue  of  the 
market  for  spiritual  food  is  over,  to  be  able  to 
take  up  the  same  language  as  the  apostle  Paul : 
/  have  kept  back  nothing  that  was  prof  table  ;  1 
have  not  shunned  to  declare  the  whole  counsel  of 
God;  I  have  fed  the  church  of  God,  which  he  hath 
Purchased  with  his  own  blood;  and  now  I  commend 
you  to  God  and  to  the  word  of  his  grace  ! 

When  I  came  down  from  my  chamber,  I  found 
my  friend  waiting  breakfast  for-  me ;  for  the  hour 
was  by  this  time  past  eight:  and,  as  his  custom 
was,  he  proposed  inviting  as  many  of  the  family  as 
felt  disposed,  to  attend  our  morning  prayers. 
The  mistress  of  the  house,  with  one  servant  only, 
accepted  the  offer.  And  after  my  companion  had 
read  a  portion  of  God's  word,  he  followed  it  up 
with  prayer. 

When  the  mistress  and  the  servant  had  with- 
drawn, we  sat  down  to  breakfast;  my  friend 
having  first  implored  the  usual  blessing  on  our 
food. 


tHE    GRACE, 

"  Bountiful  Father  of  mercies,  tvho  art  sup* 
plying  "the  daily  wants  of  the  millions  which  are 
looking  up  to  thee  from  all  parts  of  the  universe ; 
we  desire  grace  to  praise  thee  for  this  seasonable 
and  suitable  portion  of  food,  which  thou  hast 
spread  before  us  for  the  support  of  our  perishing 
bodies.     And  we  entreat  thee  for  grace  from  thy 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  101 

Holy  Spirit  in  the  use  of  it,  that  we  may  receive 
this  and  every  other  blessing,  as  coming  from  our 
reconciled  Father  and  God  in  Christ  Jesus. 
Vouchsafe,  dearest  Saviour,  to  sit  at  the  table 
which  thou  hast  furnished ;  and  may  we  be  among 
those,  which  shall  sit  at  thy  table  in  thy  kingdom  ; 
and  while,  as  thy  children  going  home  to  thine 
house,  thou  art  refreshing  us  thus  by  the  wray, 
though  all  the  benefit  be  ours,  let  thine  be  all  the 
glory.     Amen." 


THE    PARALYTIC. 

We  had  scarcely  finished  our  repast,  when  the 
mistress  of  the  house  came  in  to  inform  us  of  the 
situation  of  a  poor  man  in  the  street,  who  had 
been  bed-ridden  for  fifteen  years.  "  He  is  a  very 
pious  creature,"  added  the  mistress,  "  and  a 
great  number  of  gentry  go  to  visit  him.  I  thought 
it  might  be  pleasant  to  you  to  hear  of  him." 
"That  it  is,  (replied  my  friend)  and  we  thank 
you  for  it.  We  will  go  to  see  him.  Where  is 
"his  dwelling  ?"  "  Five  doors  only  below  our 
house, ' \  she  answered,  c '  and  the  waiter  shall  shew 
you." 

When  we  came  into  the  poor  man's  room, 
though  every  thing  manifested  the  indigence  of 
his  circumstances,  yet  it  was  that  kind  of  poverty 
which  recommended  itself  by  its  cleanliness. 
There  stood  a  lady  at  the  foot  of  his  bed,  in  con- 
versation with  the  sick  man.  "How  do  you 
live  ?"  (I  heard  her  say  as  I  entered  the  chamber.) 

K 


102  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

"  Live,  madam  !55    replied  the  poor  man,   "  I  am 
in  very  good  circumstances,  I  am  not  only  rich  by 
reason  of  present  possessions  ;  but  I  am  heir  to  a 
large  estate. "     "Astonishing!55  said  she,    "  you 
were  pointed  out  to  me  as  a  very  poor  man,  and  I 
came  to  give  you  some  relief.55     "  That  you  may 
still  do,  madam,  if  you  please,    (answered  he)  for 
the  riches  I  possess,  and  the  inheritance  to  which  I 
am  born,  do  not  at  present  make  me  above  chari- 
ty.    I  am  only  rich  in  faith  and  an  heir  of  the 
kingdom."     "Oh  !55    replied  the  lady,    "  is  that 
all  ?  But  in  the  mean  time  how  do  you  manage 
for  this  world  ?55  "  My  God,55  cried  the  poor  man,  - 
"supplies  all  my  needy  according  to  his  riches  in 
glory  by  Christ  Jesus.     I  know  both  how  to  be  abas- 
ed, and  I  know  how  to  abound.     I  am  instructed 
both  to  be  full,  and  to  be  hungry  ;  both  to  abound, 
and  to  suffer  need.     When  my  worldly  stock  is 
reduced  low,  and  I  have  neither  scrip,  nor  bread, 
nor  money  in  the  purse,    I  make  use  of  bank-notes. " 
"  Bank-notes  !55  (exclaimed  the  lady.)  "  Yes,  mafl- 
am,55  he  answered,  "  here  is  a  book  full  of  them  ; 
(taking  up  a  Bible  which  lay  upon  the  bed,  and 
opening  it)  and  often  times   I   find  many  fold- 
ed up  together  in  the  same  place  to  which  I  open. 
Look  here,  madam, "  he  continued  ;   "  see,  here 
is  a  promise  suited  to   every   poor  man5s  case. 
When  the  poor  and  needy  seek  for  water,  and  there 
is  none,  and  their  tongue  faileth  for  thirst,  I  the 
Lord  will  hear  them.     I  the  God  of  Israel  will  not 
forsake  them.    I  will  open  rivers  in  high  places,  and 
fountains  in  the  midst  oj  rallies.*     And  the  high 
value  of  those  promises  is  that  they/  are  sure  and 

*  Isaiah  xiL  IT,  18. 


Z ION'S  PILGRIM.  103 

certain.     Faith  draws  upon  the  Almighty  Banker, 
and  his  is  all  prompt  payment."     While  the  poor 
sick  man  said  this,  he  opened  the  Bible  to  another 
part,  and  he  exclaimed  again,   "  See,  madam,  here 
is  another  promise  to  a  soul  under  doubts  and 
fears.      /  will  instruct  thee,  and  teach  thee  in  the 
way  wherein  thou  shah  go  ;  I  will  guide  thee  with 
mine  eye.*      And  thus  madam,  in  every  state  and 
every  circumstance  of  life,  in  this  blessed  book 
are  assurances  exactly  suited  to  the  wants  both  of 
my  body  and  soul.     Promises  of  provision  for  the 
way;   deliverances  under  danger ;  preservation  in 
seasons  of  affliction;  support  under  trouble  ;  di- 
rection in  times  of  difficulty  ;   and  the  Lord's   as- 
sured presence  in   every  time   of   need.       Fear 
thou  not  ;  for  I  am  with  thee ;  be  not  dismayed, 
for  I  am  thy  God.     I  will  strengthen  thee  ;  yea, 
I  will  help  thee  ;  yea,  I  will  uphold  thee  with  the 
right  hand  of  my  righteousness. \" 

The  lady,  without  adding  any  thing,  put  apiece 
of  money  into  the  poor  man's  hand,  and  withdrew. 
What  her  sentiments  were,  I  know  not.  But,  as 
soon  as  she  was  departed,  my  companion  address- 
ed the  sick  man.  "  I  am  much  delighted,"  he 
said,  "  to  see  you,  my  friend,  so  cheerful.  It  is  a 
pleasing  consideration,  that  your  sickness  is  sanc- 
tified. But  are  you  enabled  always  thus  to  rejoice 
in  the  promises  ?" 

"Oh!  dear  Sir,  (the  poor  man  answered)  no. 
Very  frequently,  through  unbelief,  I  am  tempted 
to  exclaim,  with  the  church  of  old,  my  hope  is  per- 
ished from  the  Lord.%  I  have  seasons  of  darkness, 
and  times  of  temptation  :     notwithstanding,  I  can 

#  Psalm  xxxii.  3.         f  Isaiah  xli.  10.  \  Lam.  iii.  18. 


104  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

and  do  say,  through  grace  strengthening  mc, 
sometimes  under  both,  Rejoice  not  against  me,  0 
mine  enemy ;  for  though  I  fall,  1  shall  arise  ; 
though  J  sit  in  darkness,  the  Lord  %vill  be  a  light 
unto  me.*  Yes,  in  my  haste,  I  cry  out,  all  are 
liars.  But,  blessed  be  the  Lord  under  all,  my 
God  is  faithful.  He  is  better  to  me  than  all  my 
fears." 

At  the  poor  man's  request,  my  friend  and  I  sat 
down,  and  we  had  a  most  refreshing  season.  I 
could  truly  say,   It  is  good  to  be  here ! 

We  parted  not  till  we  had  spent  a  few  minutes 
in  prayer.  And  in  the  conclusion,  the  paralytic 
broke  out  in  a  faint  and  trembling  voice, 

"  My  willing  soul  would  stay 

In  such  a  frame  as  this  $ 
And  sit,  and  sing  itself  away 

To  everlasting  bliss." 

Our  departure  from  the  sick-room  was  affecting. 
We  parted  as  those  who  were  to  meet  no  more  on 
this  side  the  grave. 

At  our  return  to  the  inn,  our  intention  was  to 
tarry  only  for  the  moment,  just  to  settle  with  the 
host,  and  be  gone.  But  an  event  took  place,  which 
not  only  retarded  that  intention,  but  finally  set  it 
aside.  How  short  sighted  is  man  !  What  a  peril- 
ous path  he  is  walking  ! 

We  were  returned  to  the  inn  :  and  while  my 
friend  left  me  to  discharge  the  expenses  which  we 
had  incurred  there,  he  visited,  as  his  manner  was, 
the  stables,  in  order  to  drop  a  word  on  the  test  things 
among  that  class  of  people  who  inhabit  those  places, 
and  who  are  not  in  the  way  of  hearing  it  elsewhere. 

*  Micah  vii.  8« 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  105 

He  used  to  say,  that,  in  his  opinion,  no  order  of 
beings  whatever,  stood  in  a  situation  more  pitiable. 
Formed,  as  their  society  is,  for  the  most  part,  of 
the  children  of  the  poor/ they  are  introduced  from 
their  earliest  days  into  this  path  of  life,  without 
the  smallest  education,  or  the  least  idea  of  its  use- 
fulness. And  as  they  advance  in  years,  though 
advancing  at  the  same  time  in  all  the  phraseology 
and  corrupted  manners  of  the  stable,  they  remain 
totally  destitute  of  any  apprehension  of  divine 
truths.  Perhaps  without  a  breach  of  charity  it 
may  be  said,  that  very  few  of  the  whole  body  of 
this  order,  whether  considered  as  postillions, 
chaise-drivers,  stage-coachmen,  or  ostlers,  have  any 
more  consciousness  of  the  things  which  accompany 
salvation,  than  the  cattle  with  whom  they  herd. 

What  a  vast  body  of  such  characters  (could  the 
imagination  form  the  group)  do  the  various  inns 
of  the  kingdom  contain  !  And  what  a  mass  of 
corrupt  communication  is  perpetually  produced  in 
their  daily  intercourse  with  one  another,  without 
a  single  sentiment  flowing  from  the  lips  of  any  to 
the  use  of  edifying,  so  as  to  minister  grace  unto 
the  hearers!  And  what  tends  to  make  the  evil 
greater,  as  if  the  contagion  of  the  stable,  in  the  cor- 
ruption of  manners,  had  not  sufficient  scope  for 
exercise  during  the  six  days  labour  of  the  week, 
there  is  no  remission  to  this  unhappy  class  of  be- 
ings on  the  Lord's  day.  The  warning  bell  of  the 
church,  which  kindly  calls  all  ranks  without  dis- 
crimination to  the  house  of  prayer,  calls  in  vain  to 
them.  •  Unaccustomed  to  any  means  of  grace,  and 
unacquainted  with  either  the  morning  prayer  or  the 
evening  worship,  they  who  among  them  find    no 

K  2 


106  ZION'S   PILGRIM. 

immediate  employment,  lounge  their  time  in  the 
stable  ;  while  by  far  the  greater  part  are  engaged 
as  drivers  of  stages,  and  diligencies,  and  chaise, 
to  conduct,  in  defiance  of  all  laws  human  and  di~ 
vine,  a  set  of  Sabbath-breakers  like  themselves, 
in  their  several  journies  of  business,  and  jour- 
nies  of  pleasure.  The  number  which  the  various 
inns  of  the  kingdom  pour  forth  upon  those  occa- 
sions every  Lord's  day  is  incalculable. 

How  frequently  hath  it  excited  my  commisera- 
tion, when  in  some  swTeet  morning  of  the  Sabbath, 
the  Diligence  hath  passed  the  street  under  my  win- 
dow. "Alas!  (I  have  said)  what  a  wrretchedway 
of  life  must  that  be,  which  loses  the  very  distinc- 
tion of  days  by  such  uninterrupted  labour  !  Surely  > 
except  in  form,  there  can  be  no  difference  of  char- 
acter between  the  driver  and  the  horses;  when 
both  are  trained  to  expect  the  going  over  the  same 
tract  of  ground  in  their  daily  labour. "  How  ir- 
resistibly hath  my  hearty  sometimes  when  pursuing 
the  reflection,  been  impelled  to  admire,  and  in  that 
admiration  to  adore,  the  distinguishing  grace  of 
God!  Who  maketh  thee  to  differ  from  another^ 
is  a  sweet  morsel  for  the  gracious  soul  to  feed  on, 
whenever  such  occasions  of  reflection  occur.  I 
have  felt  the  full  force  of  it  many  times  on  the 
Lord's  day  ;  particularly  when  in  the  same  mo- 
ment in  which  I  have  beholden  a  party  of  pleasure- 
loving  creatures,  driving  through  the  streets  on 
their  various  excursions,  in  order  to  consume  this 
blessed  day  in  idleness  and  dissipation,  I  have 
seen  some  gracious  souls  gladly  hastening  to  the 
house  of  God,  to  adore  his  goodness,  to  hear  his 


ZION'S  PILGRIM,  107 

word,  and  to  implore  the  effusion  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  on  his  churches,  both  ministers  and  people, 
on  this  sacred  day  of  rest ! 

— The  reader  will  pardon  this  digression,  I  hope, 
induced  by  the  impulse  of  the  moment. 

My  friend,  as  was  before  observed,  had  left  me 
in  the  inn,  in  order  to  visit  those  regions  of  igno- 
rance and  sin  which  the  stable  furnisheth.  And 
never  surely  was  a  mission  to  the  most  darkened 
nations  of  any  hemisphere  more  needed,  than  to 
such  British  heathens  of  our  own. 

My  friend  possessed  every  requisite  for  the  office. 
Added  to  a  natural  gentleness  of  manners  and  a 
suavity  of  deportment,  he  had  acquired  the  most 
winning  art  of  persuasion.  He  knew  how  to  adapt 
his  discourse  in  the  least  offensive  method,  so  as 
to  arrest  the  attention  of  his  hearers.  And  although 
few  perhaps  were  ever  better  formed  to  shine  in 
the  circle  of  the  great  and  the  learned  ;  yet  he  had 
imbibed  the  full  spirit  of  the  apostle's  lesson,  and 
knew  how  to  condescend  to  men  of  low  estate. 

His  first  endeavour  was  directed  to  find  out  some 
leading  trait  of  character  in  the  poor,  uninformed 
mind  of  the  person  he  addressed.  His  next  ob- 
ject was  to  suit  his  discourse  in  correspondence  to 
his  apprehension.  And  in  cases  where  but  little 
opportunity  offered  of  a  personal  conversation,  if 
providentially  any  of  the  fraternity  had  acquired 
any  knowledge  in  letters,  he  had  the  pleasing  art 
of  prevailing  upon  them  to  accept  of  one  or  more 
of  the  pious,  little  tracts,  which  are  now  so  gener- 
ally circulated,  and  which  he  always  carried  about 
with  him  in  his  pocket  for  this  purpose. 


108  ZION'S  PILGRIM, 


THE    STABLE    BOY. 


It  so  happened  that  a  poor  boy,  who  acted  as 
subordinate  to  the  ostler  in  the  stable,  and  indeed 
as  a  general  underling  to  all  the  menial  servants  of 
the  inn,  was  engaged  in  rubbing  dowu  one  of  the 
horses  in  the  stall,  when  mv  friend  entered  the 
stable.  The  gentleness  and  condescension  with 
which  my  friend  bid  him  "  good  morrow,"  so 
very  dissimilar  to  the  surly  language  which  he  in 
general  received  from  his  companions,  soon  called 
up  his  attention.  And  as  my  friend  entered  far- 
ther into  conversation  with  him,  first  on  subjects 
pertaining  to  his  office,  and  then  by  an  easy  transi- 
tion, and  by  a  manner  peculiarly  his  own,  on  mat- 
ters of  an  higher  nature,  the  poor  lad's,  heart,  like 
that  of  Lydia  mentioned  in  scripture,  was  opened 
to  attend  to  things  spoken. 

The  subject  (as  I  afterwards  learnt)  to  which 
my  friend  adverted,  was  the  happiness  of  that  rest 
'which  remaineth  for  the  people  of  God,  in  the  up- 
per and  brighter  world ;  contrasted  to  the  toilsome 
and  unsatisfying  nature  of  all  things  here  below. 
And  when  he  came  to  describe  the  love  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  in  purchasing  this  rest  for  his  people, 
and  his  affectionate  desires  that  the  poor  and  the 
weary,  and  the  heavy  laden  should  come  to  him, 
and  find  this  rest  unto  their  souls,  the  poor  youth, 
unable  to  contain  his  emotions,  melted  into  tears. 
He  did  not  in  so  many  words  say  what  he  felt,  but 
his  eyes  expressed  it.  My  friend,  who  possess- 
ed great  quickness  of  penetration,  perceiving  the 
effect,  without  seeming  to  notice  it,  then  made  his 
discourse  somewhat   more   personal;     and   held 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  109 

forth  the  pleasing  consideration  to  his  view,  that 
this  love  of  the  Lord  Jesus  was  intended  for  him. 
The  poor  boy  wiped  away  the  tear  which  had  fall- 
en on  his  cheek,  and  drew  nearer  to  my  friend,  as 
to  one  whose  kindness  had  begotten  confidence 
and  affection ;  and  manifested  that  kind  of  sympa- 
thy of  soul,  which  seemed  to  thank  him  for  what 
he  had  said,  and  to  request  him  to  say  more. 


THE    DISASTER. 

Interested  in  the  highest  degree  with  this 
awakened  concern  in  the  youth,  my  friend  had 
forgotten  the  situation  of  one  of  the  horses  in  the 
stall  near  him,  and  was  unconscious  of  any  danger 
until  he  felt  its  effect.  By  a  violent  kick,  which 
he  received  in  his  side,  just  beneath  the  ribs,  he 
was  thrown  on  the  pavement  in  the  stable,  and  re- 
mained in  a  state  of  insensibility  for  a  considerable 
time,  after  we  had  brought  him  into  the  house 
and  placed  him  on  the  bed.  The  alarm,  given  on 
the  first  rumour  of  this  disaster,  soon  reached  my 
ears ;  and  it  was  some  consolation  to  me,  in  the  very 
afflicting  circumstance,  that  I  was  present  to  see 
him  taken  up,  and  very  gently  carried  to  his  cham- 
ber. 

As  soon  as  he  had  recovered  from  his  fainting, 
I  ventured  to  approach  his  bed-side,  and,  taking 
him  by  the  hand,  expressed  my  great  concern  for 
what  had  happened.  "  How  unfortunate  (I  ex- 
claimed) is  it,  that  you  should  have  gone  to  the 
stable!  How  sad  a  thing  that  you  should  have 
stood  near  this  horse  !  If  one  could  but  have  fore- 


110  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

seen" "  Be  patient,  my  kind  friend,   I  beg  of 

you,  (he  interrupted  me  with  saying)  and  in  your 
affection  for  me,  do  not  forget  the  first  principles 
of  your  holy  faith.      You   are  looking  wholly  to 
second  causes,  to  the  mere  instrument ;  and  totally 
shutting  out  our  gracious  God  from  the  government 
of  his  own  world,  and  all  his  tender  concern  and 
gracious  watching  over  the  persons  and  interests 
of  his  people.     Alas  !  my  dear  brother,  (he  contin- 
ued) by  this  method  you  increase  every  trouble, 
and  rob  yourself  of  a  thousand  comforts.     Would 
you  have  me  to  be  angry  with  myself  for  going  in- 
to the  stable,  or  displeased  with  a  senseless  horse, 
for  acting  according  to  his  nature  as  an  horse  ?  As 
well  might  we  take  offence  at  the  winter's  cold,  or 
summer's  heat.      Mere  instruments  are  nothing, 
but  as  they  are  acted  upon :     and    what  folly  it 
would  be  to  ascribe  to  them  a  power  with  which 
they  have  no  connexion !  No,  no,  my  good  friend, 
(he  continued)  never  lose  sight  of  that  gracious 
and  Almighty  Being,  who  ordereth  all  things  ac- 
cording to  the  counsel  of  his  own  will9,    and  then 
you  will  discover  wisdom,   and  faithfulness,   and 
love  in  every  providence.     It  is  not  enough,  (said 
he)  in  my  apprehensions,   merely  to  acquiesce  in 
the  divine   will.     Every  true   believer  in  Jesus 
ought  to  do  more  ;  he  should  approve  of  it.     It  is 
one  thing  to  say,  the  Lord's  will  be  done,  and  anoth- 
er to  say,  good  is  the  will  of  the  Lord  concerning 
me.     And  this  is  no  more,  after  all,  than  what  is 
frequently  observed  in  the  common  circumstan- 
ces of  the  world.     If,  for  example,  I  see  an  artist 
of  esteemed  excellence  in  his  profession,  construct- 
ing his  machine  upon  various  principles  of  a  com- 
plicated nature  ;  though  the  whole  appears  to  my 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  Ill 

view  intricate  and  confused,  yet  I  take  it  for  grant- 
ed that  he  knows  how  the  several  parts   will  har- 
monise together,  and  I  yield  an  i  nplicit  obedience 
to  his  superior  judgmer«t.     And  shall  we  so  read- 
ily ascribe  such  sagacity  to  men,  and  yet  venture 
to  question  wisdom  in  the  arrangements  of  God  ? 
"  Do,   my  brother,  (he  rejoined)  do  settle  this 
in  your  mind  as  an  everlasting  maxim  :   our  God, 
our  gracious  covenanted  God  in  Christ,   is  un- 
remittingly pursuing,  in  every  minute  event  of  his 
government   over  his  church  and  people,    their 
real  welfare,   whether  it  be  through   the  path  of 
pain  or  pleasure.     If  they  are  exercised  with  suf- 
fering, or  even  deeply  drenched  in  affliction,  it  is 
because  there  is  a  needs  be  for  it.     Not  a  single 
pain  or  trouble  could  be  dispensed  with.     It  is 
not  sufficient  barely  to  say,  that  the  affliction  will 
ultimately  do  them  no  harm.        This  is  but   a 
negative  kind  of    approbation.       We   must  say 
more.     It  will  do  them,  sooner  or  later,   much 
good.     And  so   infinitely  interesting  is  the  most 
minute  circumstance  in  their  life,  that  to  prevent 
(were  it  possible)  one  trouble,  or  to  add  one  pros- 
perous event,   would  derange   the  whole  plan  of 
God's  government.     Oh !    depend  upon   it,   we 
are  under  a  wise  as  well  as  a  gracious  superintend- 
ence.    A  synod  of  angels  could  not  add,  or  dimin- 
ish, without  manifest  injury. 

"With  respect  to  the  present  providence,  (he 
added)  I  know  not  what  is  the  will  of  my  God 
concerning  me  :  but  one  thing  I  know,  that  all 
the  paths  of  the  Lord  are  mercy  and  truth  unto 
such  as  keep  his  covenant  and  his    testimonies.* 

#  Psalm  xxv.  10. 


112  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

And,  lifting  up  his  eyes,  he  cried  out,  It  is  my 
mercy,  thou  dearest  Lord  of  thy  people,  that  my 
times  are  in  thy  hands!  I  have  long  been  enabled, 
by  thy  blessed  Spirit's  grace,  to  commit  my  soul 
into  thy  keeping.  Well  may  I  then  leave  this 
body  of  sin  and  death  to  thy  care." 

My  companion  had  quite  exhausted  the  little 
strength  left  him,  when  he  had  finished  these 
words.  I  requested  him  to  spare  himself.  He 
moved  his  head,  as  if  consenting,  and  turned 
his  face  upon  the  pillow. 

To  every  one  present,  besides  my  friend,  it  ap* 
peared  to  be  a  matter  of  great  uncertainty,  for 
many  days  together,  whether  the  injury  he  had 
sustained  would  terminate  fatally.  The  surgeon, 
whom  I  had  desired  to  be  called  in  on  the  occa- 
sion, did  not  (for  indeed  he  could  not)  speedily  de- 
cide upon  the  question.  The  contusion  was  very 
great  from  the  violence  of  the  blow ;  and  the  extra- 
vasation extended  far  around  the  region  of  the  loins ; 
but  the  surgeon  only  ventured  to  speak  of  it  in  a 
general  way,  as  a  case  which  must  necessarily  be 
attended  with  great  danger.  But  however  others 
thought,  the  patient  himself  had  already  formed 
his  opinion ;  and  the  event  proved,  that  that  opin- 
ion was  too  justly  founded.  The  period  was 
arrived  for  his  going  down  to  the  house  appointed 
for  all  living. 

For  my  part,  my  concern  was  so  great,  that  I 
seldom,  unless  from  necessity,  left  his  chamber. 
He  had  been  as  a  father  to  me  ;  and  I  felt  all  that 
tender  affection  for  him  which  a  kind  father  might 
be  supposed  to  excite  in  the  mind  of  his  son. 
And,  indeed,  independent  of  all  personal  attach- 
ment,  my  small  services,  during  his  confinement 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  US 

were  abundantly  recompensed  by  the  spiritual 
good  that  I  had  gathered  from  the  many  precious 
observations  which  dropped  from  his  lips.  And 
although  I  had  so  highly  profitted  from  the  great 
lessons  on  religion,  which  he  had  endeavoured  to 
teach  me  while  thing  ;  yet  in  his  dying  hours  he 
favoured  me  with  the  sweetest  instructions  I  had 
ever  received.  He  had  been  as  a  kind  taper, 
burning  with  much  brightness,  to  lighten  me  on 
in  the  path  of  grace.  But,  like  a  taper,  the  most 
vivid  rays  were  those  which  were  emitted  while 
expiring  in  the  socket. 

The  reader  will  forgive  me  once  more,  if  I 
pause  to  remark,  how  exceedingly  mistaken,  in 
their  calculation  of  the  means  of  happiness,  are  the 
children  of  the  world,  who  seek  it  in  the  various 
haunts  of  what  is  called  pleasure,  notwithstanding 
the  constant  and  uniform  experience  of  thousands, 
in  every  age,  has  determined  that  it  is  not  there 
to  be  found.  If  my  reader  will  give  me  credit  for 
the  assertion,  (and  I  do  most  solemnly  assure  him 
of  the  fact)  never,  till  the  hour  of  my  friend's  con- 
finement when  living  in  his  chamber,  did  I  know 
what  that  pleasure  of  the  heart  is,  which  arises 
from  all  those  solemn  but  infinitely  interesting  re- 
flections which  engage  the  mind  under  sorrowful 
dispensations  :  such  (I  mean)  as  considerations 
of  the  awful  government  of  God  ;  the  rich  discov- 
eries of  the  importance  of  salvation  ;  the  littleness 
of  the  earthly  pursuits  ;  the  sweetness  of  the  sym- 
pathetic feelings  ;  and,  in  short,  all  that  train  of 
thought,  connected  with  those  ideas,  which  a  sick 
chamber  is  so  admirably  calculated  to  induce. 
Circumstances  of  this  kind,  no  doubt,  are  solemn : 

L 


114  ZXON'S  PILGRIM. 

but  if  solemn,  they  are  only  the  more  congenial  to 
the  soul's  purest  enjoyments.  The  countenance 
may  be  saddened ^  but  the  heart  is  made  better.* 

But  to  return  :  The  stable-boy  before  mention- 
ed, in  whose  spiritual  interests  my  friend  was  so 
warmly  engaged  at  the  time  when  this  providence 
visited  him,  soon  manifested  the  concern  in  which 
this  affliction  had  involved  him.  It  would  indeed 
exceed  all  description  to  say  what  were  his  feel- 
ings. Every  little  portion  of  time,  which  he 
could  spare  from  the  demands  of  the  stable,  was 
employed  in  running  up  to  the  chamber  door,  to 
inquire  after  my  friend.  One  trait  in  his  character 
of  this  kind  was  peculiarly  affectionate.  He  was 
always  found  with  the  first  dawn  of  the  morning, 
watching  at  the  door  of  the  room,  in  order  to 
gather  the  earliest  information  from  the  persons 
who  should  first  come  out,  how  my  friend  had 
passed  the  night. 

Neither  had  the  good  man,  amidst  all  his  pains, 
forgotten  him.  He  mentioned  to  me  several 
times,  with  much  pleasure,  the  hopes  which  he 
had  conceived  of  serious  impressions  forming  on 
the  youth's  mind,  from  the  conversation  which  he 
had  with  him.  And  upon  being  told  of  the  lad's 
frequent  and  earnest  inquiries  after  him,  it  served  to 
confirm  him  in  this  opinion  the  more  ;  and  he  very 
much  wished  to  see  him.  The  poor  boy  was 
soon  introduced,  and  the  interview  was  truly  af- 
fecting. After  frequent  visits,  the  youth  acquired 
some  little  confidence  ;  and  my  friend  found  ma- 
ny opportunities  of  instructing  him  in  that  wisdom, 
which,  under  God  the  Holy  Ghost,  maketh  wise 
unto  salvation. 

*  Eccles.  vii.  S. 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  115 

It  was  seemingly  a  long  season  of  uncertainty 
for  the  exercise  of  my  mind  in  waiting  the  Lord's 
will,  respecting  the  final  issue  of  my  friend's  state. 
Sometimes  my  hopes  were  high,  and  at  others  low, 
according  as  the  symptoms  appeared  to  vary. 
But,  having  acquired  a  little  portion  of  that  pre- 
cious lesson  in  the  school  of  grace,  that  the  Lord's 
mercies  are  nearest  unfolding,  when  our  expecta- 
tions of  them  are  nearest  closing,  I  felt,  I  thought, 
much  sweetness  in  that  scripture  ;  it  is  good  that 
a  man  should  both  hope  and  quietly  wait  for  the 
salvation  of  the  Lord. 

It  was  in  the  midst  of  these  exercises  the  sur- 
geon informed  me,  that  his  apprehensions  were, 
that  a  mortification  had  taken  place.  He  had,  as 
usual,  in  his  morning  visit,  examined  my  friend's 
bruised  body  ;  and  then,  for  the  first  time,  it  was 
that  he  discovered  the  advancing  gangrene.  Our 
hopes  now  were  all  over.  Whether  my  poor  suf- 
fering friend,  from  our  looks,  or  from  the  whis- 
pering of  the  surgeon,  was  led  to  suspect  the 
cause,  I  know  not  ;  but  so  it  was,  that  he  antici- 
pated the  question,  by  saying,  "I  believe,  Sir, 
that  you  find  a  mortification  hath  taken  place.  I 
have  been  free  from  pain  in  the  part  injured  for 
several  hour-/'  The  surgeon  expressed  his 
hopes,  that  it  might  not  be  so.  But  my  friend, 
with  a  look  of  complacency  which  I  shall  never 
forget,  replied,  "  Why  would  you  wish  so  ?  It  is 
not  the  smallest  reproach,  surely,  to  men  of  skill 
and  ability,  when  the  ordination  of  the  Lord  baffles 
all  the  efforts  of  art.  And  with  respect  to  my 
feelings,  allow  me  to  assure  you,  Sir,  that  it  is  an 
event  more  to  be  desired  than  dreaded.  I  have 
long  been  looking  forward  to  this  period,  as  to  the 


116  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

happiest  moment  upon  earth.  Although  I  have 
the  least  cause  of  all  men  to  be  dissatisfied  with 
the  pilgrimage  of  this  world,  (few  travellers  through 
it  having  been  more  highly  favoured)  yet  I  long 
to  be  at  home  in  my  Father's  house,  and  cannot 
but  rejoice  in  the  pleasing  prospect ;  knowing 
that  when  I  am  absent  from  the  body,  I  shall  be 
present  with  the  Lord." 

The  surgeon  expressed  much  satisfaction  in 
seeing  his  patient  so  composed  and  tranquil  ;  and 
soon  after  withdrew.  When  he  was  gone,  I  sat 
down  by  his  bedside.  Taking  me  by  the  hand, 
with  that  warmth  of  affection  which  distinguished 
his  character,  he  thus  spoke  :  "  My  kind  friend 
and  companion,  I  am  going  to  leave  you  ;  but  I 
would  say  to  you,  as  Joseph  did  to  his  brethren, 
God  will  surely  visit  y on.  I  have  nothing  to  be- 
stow upon  you,  but  my  prayers.  Had  I  indeed 
the  wealth  of  the  whole  earth,  it  would  not  be 
worth  your  consideration.  The  most  invaluable 
legacy  I  pray  the  Lord  to  give  you,  is,  what  the 
apostle  coveted  above  all  things  for  himself;  to 
know  Jems,  and  the  power  of  his  resurrection,  and 
the  fellowship  of  his  sufferings.  If  the  Lord  gives 
you  this,  possessing  it,  you  possess  all  things. 
And  the  God  of  all  grace,  who  hath  called  us  unto 
his  eternal  glory  by  Christ  Jesus,  after  that  you 
have  suffered  awhile,  will  make  you  perfect,  stab- 
lish,  strengthen,  and  settle  you. 

"With  respect  to  myself,  (he  continued)  and 
my  views  concerning  the  awful  state  about  to  open 
before  me,  blessed  be  God,  from  the  security  I 
possess  in  him,  who  is  the  resurrection  and  the  life, 
1  have  no  fears.  I  have  been  enabled  again,  and 
again,  during  my  confinement  on  this  bed  of  sick- 


ZION'S  PILGRIM-  117 

ness,  to  take  the  most  deliberate  reviews  of  the 
evidences  of  the  renewed  life.  And  the  result  of 
the  whole  enables  me  to  rejoice  in  the  finished  sal- 
vation of  my  God.  It  is  indeed  a  solemn  idea, 
that  in  a  few  hours  I  am  to  appear  before  God, 
the  Judge  of  all.  But  it  is  my  mercy,  that  I  am 
come  also  to  Jesus  the  Mediator  of  the  new  cove- 
naut.  While,  therefore,  I  look  at  him,  who  is 
Fellow  to  the  Lordofhosi^  I  find  holy  confidence. 
For  I  discover  in  him,  and  his  redemption,  a  full, 
complete,  and  all-sufficient  righteousness,  ade- 
quate to  every  want,  and  answerable  to  every  de- 
mand, to  satisfy  the  law  of  God. 

"  Under  the  influence  of  this  well-grounded 
persuasion,  which  God  the  eternal  Spirit,  I  trust, 
hath  graciously  wrought  in  my  soul,  I  have  more 
than  once,  since  this  illness,  been  refreshed  by 
the  same  comfortable  promise,  with  which  the 
Lord  favoured  the  patriarch  of  old,  to  encourage 
him  in  his  journey,  Fear  not  to  go  down  into  Egypt, 
I  will  go  down  with  thee.  So,  methjnks,  the  Lord 
encourageth  me.  And  I  know  indeed,  that  Jesus 
will  go  down  with  me  to  the  chambers  of  the  grave. 
He  hath  the  keys  of  hell  and  the  gn/\\\  lie  open- 
eth,  and  no  man  shuttcth.  He  s/iutteth,  and  no 
man  openeth.  Oh  !  it  is  a  rapturous  consideration 
to  my  soul,  that  in  all  places,  and  in  all  states,  my 
Redeemer  is  with  me.  The  covenant  holds  as 
firm  as  ever  in  the  grave.  And  death,  which  dis- 
solves all  other  bonds,  looseth  not  the  bonds  of 
the  everlasting  covenant.  Our  union,  my  broth- 
er, (he  proceeded)  with  our  great  mystical  Head, 
is  as  perfect  when  in  the  dust  of  the  grave,  as  when 
that  dust  is  animated  in  the  body.  When  Jesus 
from  the  bush  proclaimed  himself  the  God  of 
L2 


118  ZION  S  PILGRIM. 

Abraham^  and  the  God  of  Isaac,  and  t/ie  God  of 
Jacob,  this  blessed  distinction  of  character  was 
carefully  marked  and  preserved,  "  God  is  not  the 
God  of  the  dead,  but  of  the  living*  for  all live  unto 
him."  Those  patriarchs,  though  mouldered  at 
that  time  for  many  years  into  dust,  were  still  as 
much  living  to  God,  in  all  the  purposes  of  cove- 
nant connexions,  in  their  dust,  as  when  in  an  ani- 
mated body.  And  hence  the  apostle  observes, 
whether  we  live,  we  Ike  to  the  Lord ;  or  whether 
we  die,  we  die  to  the  Lord ;  whether  we  live  there- 
fore or  die,  we  are  the  Lord's.'-' 

My  friend  paused  a  moment  to  recover  strength, 
and  theo  proceeded — u  This  body  of  mine,  my 
dear  brother,  will  very  shortly  be  fit  only  for  worms 
and  corruption.  And  when  in  this  state,  the  ten- 
derest  hearted  friend,  the  fondest  lover  would  say 
of  such  a  carcase,  however  engaging  before  it 
might  have  been,  as  Abraham  did  of  Sarah  : 
Bury  my  dead  out  of  my  sight.  But  as  these  sen- 
sations are  not  his  with  whom  we  have  to  do  ;  as 
Jesus  never  set  his  affection  at  first  upon  his  peo- 
ple, for  the  comeliness  of  their  persons  ;  so  neither 
doth  that  affection  lessen,  when  their  comeliness  is 
turned  into  corruption.  Neither  is  their  union  with 
his  person,  even  for  a  moment  only,  interrupted  by 
death.  For  as  the  divine  and  human  nature  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  received  not  the  smallest  separation, 
when  he  died  upon  the  cross  ;  so  of  that  union  be- 
tween Jesus  and  the  members  of  his  mystical  body, 
there  is  no  dissolution,  when  their  bodies  are  gath- 
ered unto  their  fathers,  and  they  see  corruption. 
For  their  souls  are  received  into  his  bosom ;  and 
with  respect  to  their  bodies  also,  they  still  live  to 
him.     Because  I  lhe\    saith  Jesus,   ye  live  aha. 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  119 

Every  particle  of  their  dust  is  the  same  to  their 
great  spiritual  Head,  when  dust,  as  before  that 
change.  For  as  the  union  of  Jesus  with  their 
whole  persons,  that  is,  their  bodies  as  well  as  their 
souls,  is  indissoluble,  it  is  evident  that  the  same 
must  continue  with  the  dust  of  their  bodies.  And 
hence  when  Jesus  saith,  Fear  not  to  go  down  into 
the  grave,  I  will  go  with  thee,  it  explains  in  what 
a  tender  and  consoling  sense  we  are  to  understand 
this.  And  indeed  as  in  death,  so  in  the  resurrec- 
tion, the  certainty  of  this  glorious  event  ariseth 
from  the  same  consideration  ;  for  if,  saith  the  apos- 
tle, the  Spirit  of  him  that  raised  up  Jesus  from  the 
dead,  dwell  in  you,  he  that  raised  up  Christ  from 
the  dead,  shall  also  quicken  your  mortal  bodies  by  his 
Spirit  that  dwelleth  in  you.*  And  thus  the  res- 
urrection of  the  just  is  certified  to  them,  not  simply 
by  the  power  of  God,  but  from  the  indwelling  resi- 
dence of  the  same  Spirit  of  God,  by  which  they  are 
first  awakened  in  grace  to  a  new  and  spiritual  life, 
and  then  finally  quickened  to  eternal  glory,  by  vir- 
tue of  their  union  to  the  person  of  Jesus,  from  the 
operations  of  the  Holy  Ghost." 

My  friend  would  have  proceeded,  but  his 
strength  did  not  admit  of  it.  He  took  occasion,  how- 
ever, at  every  interval  possible,  to  say  somewhat 
suited  to  the  circumstances  of  a  dying  saint.  The 
poor  stable-boy  was  indulged  by  his  master  to 
spend  much  of  his  time  in  the  sick  chamber  j  and 
the  many  precious  sayings  which  fell  from  him  by 
way  of  caution,  encouragement,  advice  and  en- 
treaty, became  truly  edifying  and  refreshing  both 
to  him  and  to  every  attendant  around. 

*  Rom.  viii.  11. 


120  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

It  would  swell  the  history  of  my  pilgrimage  to 
a  large  volume  indeed,  were  the  whole  of  the  cir- 
cumstances which  attended  my  friend's  departure 
to  be  set  down  in  it.  The  reader  will  excuse  the 
omission,  I  hope,  and  rest  satisfied  without  any 
further  enumeration  of  particulars,  than  just  to  ob- 
serve, that  he  continued  to  the  latest  moment  in 
the  perfect  enjoyment  of  his  senses  and  the  divine 
consolation.  He  sunk  gradually  ;  and  as  he  fell 
lower  and  lower,  the  words  which  he  uttered  evi- 
dently proved  that  his  views  of  the  glory  about 
to  open  upon  him  were  fuller  and  brighter.  I  sat 
by  him,  with  his  hand  clasped  in  mine,  when  he 
died.  The  last  words  on  his  trembling  lips  were 
— «  Dear  Lord! » 

I  buried  him  without  pomp,  and  without  any 
mourners,  but  the  poor  stable-boy  and  myself,  in 
a  vacant  corner  of  the  parochial  church-yard. 

The  youth  returned  with  me  to  the  inn,  where 
we  took  an  affectionate  leave  of  each  other.  I 
could  only  say,  May  he  who  hath,  I  trust,  begun 
a  good  work  in  you,  perform  it  until  the  day  of  Jesus 
Christ ! 

On  the  morrow,  having  discharged  all  expenses 
incurred  at  the  inn,  I  left  it  without  regret.  The 
situation  of  our  first  parents,  so  tenderly  described 
by  the  poet,*  seemed  applicable  to  my  case  ;  and 
*  I  quoted  the  passage  to  my  mind  as  I  crossed  the 
court-yard. 

"  Some  natural  tears  they  dropp'd,  but  wip'd  them  soon. 
The  world  was  all  before  them,  where  to  choose 
Their  place  of  rest,  and  Providence  their  guide."     , 

*  Milton.} 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  121 

The  time  was  now  arrived,  when  a  reverse  of 
situation  was  to  take  place  in  the  circumstances  of 
my  pilgrimage.  Hitherto  I  had  met  with  little 
else  but  joy  and  peace  in  believing.  Some  few 
natural  fears  and  apprehensions,  arising  from  the 
remains  of  unbelief,  had  now  and  then,  it  is  true, 
arisen  ill  my  mind  ;  but  the  Lord  had  so  gracious- 
ly overruled  them,  that  they  generally  ended  in  my 
stronger  assurance, 

I  have  been  often  led  since  to  reflect,  with  pe- 
culiar pleasure,  on  the  wisdom  as  well  as  the  mer- 
cy of  that  process  of  grace,  through  which  the 
Lord  is  leading  his  people.  Like  Israel  of  old,  in 
their  emancipation  from  Egypt,  of  whom  it  is 
said,  that  God  led  them  not  through  the  land  of  the 
Philistines,  although  that  was  near,  lest,  when  they 
should  see  war,  their  minds  should  be  tempted  to  re- 
turn:  but  God  led  the  people  about  through  the  way 
of  the  wilderness.*  Similar  to  this  now,  is  the  first 
opening  of  the  spiritual  path ;  the  difficulties  and 
discouragements  arc  by  no  means  like  those  which 
believers  meet  in  the  alter  stages  of  their  pilgrim- 
age. Thousands  there  are,  who,  like  Israel,  have 
sung  the  song  of  triumph,  as  they  did  at  the  Red 
Sea,  when  a  forty  years  travelling  through  a  dreary 
wilderness  lay  still  between  them  and  Canaan. 
And  manyr,  no  doubt,  like  Israel  too,  afterwards, 
in  the  midst  of  some  heavy,  unlooked-for  trial, 
have  been  prompted  to  exclaim  in  the  bitterness 
of  their  soul,  Is  the  lard  among  us  or  no  ? 

The  reader  will  indulge  me  again  to  pause  over 
this  remark,  and  ask  him  if  his  experience  hath 
nothing  of  a  correspondence  with  it  ?  I  am  per- 

*  Exodus  xiii.  17. 


122  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

suaded  the  case  is  very  general.  The  gracious 
leader  of  his  little  flock,  who  feeds  them,  as  it  is 
said,  like  a  shepherd,  gathers  (we  are  told)  the 
lambs  with  his  arms,  and  carries  them  in  his  bosom, 
and  gently  leads  those  that  are  with  young.  He  al- 
ways suits  the  strength  to  the  day.  He  propor- 
tions the  burden  to  the  back.  Hence  the  earliest 
manifestations  of  divine  love  are  generally  the 
most  pleasing,  and,  according  to  our  conception  of 
things,  in  that  period,  the  most  powerful.  It  is 
in  grace,  as  it  is  in  nature  ;  first  impressions  are 
most  affecting.  When  the  eye  of  the  body  sud- 
denly emergeth  from  darkness  into  light,  the 
transition  is  most  strongly  felt.  And  in  like  man- 
ner, when  the  eye  of  the  soul  is  first  opened  to  see 
the  wondrous  things  of  God's  -law,  the  effect  is 
proportionabiy  greater  than  when  accustomed  to 
their  view. 

I  could  wish  the  reader  of  long  experience 
would  consider  this  more  than,  I  am  persuaded,  is 
generally  done  ;  and  mark  it  down  in  the  diary  of 
his  pilgrimage.  These  things  formed  many  hard 
problems  in  David's  life  ;  until  frequent  experi- 
ments, aided  by  frequent  visits  to  the  sanctuary, 
explained  them.  It  wras  not  in  the  first  trials  that 
he  adopted  that  sentiment,  I  know  that  thou  in 
faithfulness  hast  afflicted  me.*  It  becomes  a  very 
blessed  proof  of  advances  in  grace,  when  the  tried 
soul  can  use  such  language. 

But  to  return.  The  season  was  come  when 
my  exercises  were  to  be  given  me.  And  for  the 
better  opportunity  of  trial,  all  human  aid  ,was  to  be 
first  withdrawn  ;  that  like  the  pelican  in  the  wilder- 

*  Psalm  cxix,  75. 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  123 

ness,  being  solitary,  Jesus  might  be  my  sole  re- 
source. My  faithful  friend  and  companion,  the 
Lord  had  removed  out  of  my  sight.  He  had  sent 
the  worm  to  destroy  this  highly  prized  gourd. 
And  now  the  storm  began. 


MY     RELATIONS. 

I  have  not,  according  to  the  usual  mode  of  his- 
tories, brought  my  reader  in  the  former  part  of  my 
tale  acquainted  with  an  account  of  my  connexions 
in  the  world.  The  reason  hath  been,  that  objects 
of  an  higher  and  more  interesting  nature  claimed  a 
priority  of  attention.  It  would  not  even  now  be 
at  all  important  in  the  memoirs  of  a  Pilgrim  to 
Zion,  to  inquire  "  to  whom  related,  or  by  whom 
begotten."  But  if  he  wishes  to  know,  he  may  be 
told,  that  I  have  not  been  without  the  enjoyment 
of  those  sweet  charities  of  life.  Trie  Lord  hath 
given  me  many  who  are  very  near,  and  very  dear, 
to  my  affection  in  the  tics  of  nature.  Even  in  the 
very  moment  while  writing,  I  feel  all  the  tender  in- 
fluences of  the  claim  ;  and  pause  to  lift  an  eye  of 
humble  supplication  to  the  God  of  all  grace,  that 
he  may  give  to  every  one  of  them  grace  according 
to  the  measure  of  the  gift  of  Christ.  Grace  doth 
not  destroy,  it  only  heightens  and  refines  our  feel- 
ings. 

Among  the  number  there  was  one  more  inti- 
mately wrapped  about  my  heart,  whose  influence 
in  every  thing  but  religion,  I  have  ever  found  it  to 
be  both  my  interest  and  my  happiness  to  feel  :  for 
whom  there  needs  no  other  claim  than  nature's 


124  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

feelings  to  call  forth  every  energy  of  the  mind  in 
the  promotion  of  her  welfare  ;  and  ill  grace,  my 
earliest  and  latest  prayers  for  her  salvation  will 
cease  but  with  my  breath. 

Perhaps  some    reader,    circumstanced  in  the 
same  particularity  of  situation  and  of  sentiment, 
may  feel  his  mind  drawn  out  in  a  similar  affection. 
As  in  water  face  answer eth  to  face ',  so  the  heart  of 
man  to  man.* 

I  sustained  very  much  of  conflicts  and  persecu- 
tion from  the  whole  of  my  unawakened  relations. 
But  from  her,  in  the  sweet  and  almost  irresistible 
claims,  in  which  her  arguments  were  encircled 
ten-fold  more  than  all.  "  You  have  made  up  your 
mind,  I  suppose,  (said  one  of  them  to  me,  in  a 
very  pointed  and  half-angry  manner,  one  day  when 
the  conversation  had  been  serious)  to  forego  all 
your  future  prospects  in  this  world.  Neither  the 
profits  nor  pleasures  of  this  life  can  be  worth  yonr 
attention.  And  as  to  the  scorn  and  derision  of 
mankind,  no  doubt  you  move  in  an  atmosphere  too 
high  to  be  sensible  of  it."  "  I  do  very  earnestly 
wish  (said  another)  that  you  would  reflect,  before 
it  be  too  late,  of  the  folly  and  scandal  of  associat- 
ing yourself  with  such  low  and  ignorant  persons, 
as  you  have  lately  made  your  companions.  A  man 
of  your  education  and  ability  to  be  seen  with  such ! 
Have  you  no  pride,  no  regard  to  your  own  char- 
acter?" A  third  upbraided  me  with  blasting  all 
the  hopes  of  my  family  ;  and  that  I  should  cer- 
tainly bring  myself  to  beggary.  And  a  fourth 
very  jocularly  desired  me  first  to  be  assured  of  the 
reality  of  what  I  professed  to  be  looking  forward 

*  Proverbs  xxvii.  19. 


ZION'S  PILGRIM,  125 

to  another  world  for,  before  that  I  relinquished  all 
the  prospects  and  enjoyments  of  this. 

But  all  these  were  trifling,  compared  to  the  so- 
licitations,  the  remonstrances,  the  jealousies,  dis- 
pleasure, and  a  long  train  of  other  persuasions, 
with  which  that  very  near  and  tender  friend  before 
mentioned  armed  herself  to  prevail  upon  me  to 
relinquish  my  pursuit.  And  if  no  power  but  na- 
ture had  been  with  me  to  resist  her  claim,  very 
sure  am  I,  that  I  must  have  yielded  to  entreaties 
coming  from  an  advocate  so  endearing.  "  If, 
(said  she,  in  a  moment  of  peculiar  solemnity,  after 
speaking  of  a  dear  friend  to  both,  departed  into 
the  world  of  spirits)  if  those  new  sentiments  of 
yours  be  really  founded  in  truth,  what  is  become 
of  him  whom  we  followed  to  the  grave  ?  It  is  im- 
possible that  so  much  sweetness  and  amiableness 
can  be  lost?"  The  reader  who  knows  what  the 
conflicts  of  nature  and  grace  mean  ;  whose  heart 
at  times  is  like  that  of  the  Shulamite  in  the  con- 
tentions of  two  armies,    will  know   somewhat  of 

what   I    have    felt  in  those  seasons. Adored 

Redeemer  !  I  have  not  wanted,  thou  knowest,  that 
evidence  of  being  thy  follower  ;  in  plucking  out 
an  eye,  cutting  off  an  arm,  and  taking  up  a  cross  ! 
It  was  the  legacy  of  my  late  companion,  that  I 
might  know  the  fellowship  of  Christ's  sufferings. 
And  here  was  an  answer  to  his  prayer. 

It  was  much  about  the  same  period,  in  which 
my  mind  was  thus  deeply  exercised  with  the  un- 
ceasing importunity  and  persecutions  of  my  rela- 
tions, that  I  received  a  more  formidable  assault 
from  another  quarter.  While  I  was  seeking  con- 
solation from  retirement  and  reading,  in  die  inter- 

M 


126  JZION'S   PILGRIM. 

-vals  of  more  important  engagements,  a  circum- 
stance arose  in  consequence  of  the 'latter,  which 
very  much  affected  me. 


THE    BOOK. 

I  found  an  author,  whose  writings  were  partic- 
ularly directed  to  the  subject  of  divine  grace.  The 
title  first  attracted  my  notice,  and  invited  me  to  the 
perusal.  But  the  trial  it  afterwards  proved  to  me, 
will  be  (I  hope)  thus  far  useful,  to  caution  me 
against  curiosity  in  future.  It  is  a  good  thing 
(the  apostle  saith)  that  the  heart  be  established 
"with grace.*  But  it  is  dangerous  in  the  unexpe- 
rienced and  the  unestablished,  to  be  running  about 
in  quest  of  novelty.  The  leading  doctrines  of  this 
writer's  creed,  founded  on  what  hath  been  general- 
ly distinguished  by  the  five  poi?its  of  the  Dort 
Assembly,  from  being  originally  formed  there, 
were  to  this  purpose  :  That  grace  is  equally  free, 
and  equally  offered  to  all  ;  the  acceptance  or  refu- 
sal of  it  depended  upon  ourselves.  And  hence, 
that  the  improvement  or  mis-improvement  rests 
upon  the  will  of  man  :  That  the  regeneration  of 
the  Holy  Ghost  doth  not  so  operate  as  to  be  irrest- 
ibly  effectual,  but  that  a  man's  own  conduct  may 
frustrate  the  life-giving  power.  And,  lastly,  the 
final  perdition  of  the  people  of  God  is  very  possi- 
ble, notwithstanding  all  that  the  everlasting  love 
of  the  Father,  and  the  infinite  merits  of  the  Re- 
deemer, and  the  operation  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  hath 
wrought,  in  order  to  prevent  it. 

*  Heb.  xiii.  9. 


ZION'S   PILGRIM-  127 

The  reader  who  hath  accompanied  me  thus  far 
in  my  pilgrimage,  hath  seen  enough  of  my  weak- 
ness not  to  know,  that  such  a  train  of  doctrine  was 
sufficient  for  a  time  to  throw  a  damp  upon  all  my 
confidence.  I  am  like  the  sensitive  plant  in  these 
things ;  the  least  touch  makes  me  recoil.  To 
hear,  therefore,  of  the  bare  possibility  of  falling, 
from  grace,  in  the  close  of  life,  and  apostatizing 
from  him  whom  my  soul  loveth — (and  apostatize  I 
certainly  should,  if  the  perseverance  depended 
upon  myself)  what  a  distressing  apprehension  ! 

Neither  did  my  trials  end  here.  There  was  yet 
another  in  reserve  for  this  season  of  temptation. 
What  David  remarks  of  the  natural  world  is 
equally  applicable  to  the  spiritual :  Thou  makest 
darkness,  and  it  is  night  ;  wherein  all  the  beasts  of 
the  forest  do  creep  forth.  When  the  Lord  with- 
draws his  shining  on  the  soul,  the  enemy,  who" 
knows  the  time  of  darkness  to  be  the  most  favour- 
able for  his  work,  goeth  about  as  a  roaring  Hon, 
seeking  whom  he  may  devour.  And  never  till  the 
sun  ariseth  again,  will  he  lay  him  down  in  his 
den* 


THE     BROTHERS 


It  happened  of  an  evening,  while  my  mind  was 
reeking  under  all  these  united  attacks,  that  I 
walked  forth  into  the  way.  My  path  lay  through 
a  field,  in  which  there  were  two  men  ;  who,  from 
the  congeniality   of  their  sentiments,   more  than 


*  Psalm  civ.  20—22. 


128  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

from  the  tie  of  consanguinity,  I  considered  to  be 
brothers.  They  were  so  engaged  in  conversa- 
tion, as  they  walked  before  me,  that  I  escaped 
their  notice  ;  so  that  I  had  opportunity  of  hearing 
the  whole  of  their  discourse  unperceived. 

11  Can  you  reconcile  your  mind  to  the  doctrine 
of  redemption,  (said  the  one  to  the  other)  and  place 
the  least  confidence  in  the  merits  of  Christ  ?  For 
my  part  (continued  he)  I  am  quite  a  free  thinker. 
I  see  no  necessity  upon  which  it  is  founded.  The 
world,  take  it  altogether,  according  to  my  opinion, 
is  good  enough  ;  and  cannot  need  an  expiation. 
And,  indeed,  when  I  "consider  what  modern  dis- 
coveries have  been  made  respecting  the  immensity 
of  creation,  and  that  the  globe  which  we  inhabit  is 
but  as  a  speck  in  it,  the  idea  lessens  the  doctrine 
of  revelation  altogether  in  my  esteem." 

"  You  are  perfectly  right,  (answered  the  other)  I 
have  long  thought  as  you  do,  and  have  made  up 
my  mind  to  reject  it  altogether.  All  the  doctrines 
of  Christianity,  excepting  the  moral  part  of  it, 
(and  that  the  world  had  before)  are,  in  my  esteem, 
only  calculated  for  weak  and  vulgar  minds.  And 
indeed  their  authority  is  precarious  :  depending 
upon  writings  that,  for  ought  we  know,  may  or 
may  not  be  true." 

The  reader  will  at  once  conclude  that  these  ob- 
servations tended  not  to  dissipate  my  former 
gloom.  And  although,  low  as  my  spirits  then 
were,  I  thought  a  mere  child  in  grace  might  easily 
have  refuted  their  false  reasonings  ;  yet  my  mind 
was  too  sore  and  too  sorrowful  in  the  moment,  to 
enter  into  controversy.  Every  application  to  a 
wound,  if  put  m  with  roughness,  acts  like  a  cans* 
tic. 


ZION'S   PILGRIM.  129 

I  had  heard  enough  not  to  covet  more ;  and 
therefore  withdrew  from  the  brothers  as  unperceiv- 
ed  as  I  came.  The  words  of  Job  struck  my  mind 
with  great  force  as  I  left  them  :  Shall  he  that 
contendeth  ivith  the  Almighty  instruct  him  :  He 
that  repro^eth  Gody  let  him  answer  it.* 

It  was  a  considerable  time  before  I  was  enabled 
to  shake  off  the  ill  effects  induced  in  my  mind  by 
reason  of  the  conversation  which  I  had  overheard 
between  the  brothers.  Not  that  my  faith  (I  bless 
the  great  Author  and  Giver  of  it)  was  in  any  dan- 
ger of  being  overthrown  thereby.  For  a  faith  like 
mine,  founded  in  grace,  will  ultimately  triumph 
over  all  the  powers  of  nature.  He  that  is  born  of 
an  incorruptible  seed  liveth  and  abideth  forever  ; 
and  therefore  nothing  corruptible  can  destroy  it. 
It  may  apparently  be  choked  with  weeds,  and  may 
at  times  languish  and  seem  ready  to  die.  But 
die  it  cannot ;  for  the  seed  is  incorruptible.  And, 
by  the  way,  I  would  desire  my  reader  to  set  this 
down,  in  the  memoranda  of  his  mind,  as  an  ever- 
lasting maxim,  that  what  originates  in  God  cannot 
be  lost  by  man.  Divine  teachings  baffle  all  the 
malice  of  human  reasonings. 

But  my  disticss  induced  by  the  conversation 
which  I  had  heard  sprung  from  another  source. 
There  is  in  every  man's  heart,  even  when  in  a  re- 
newed state,  a  much  stronger  propensity  to  evil 
than  good.  Hence  nothing  is  more  easy,  than  the 
introduction  of  a  train  of  corrupt  thoughts  into 
the  mind,  which  the  greatest  exertions,  void  of 
divine  aid,  cannot  afterwards  expel ;  while  on  the 

M2 

*  Job  xl.  Z 


130  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

contrary,  the  chaste  and  pure  images  of  grace , 
tending  as  they  do,  in  every  instance,  to  mortify 
and  subdue  the  corrupt  desires  of  our  nature, 
nothing  but  an  higher  influence  than  what  is  hu- 
man can  gain  admission  for  them  at  the  first,  or 
cause  them  to  be  cherished  when  received.  And 
this  explains  why  it  is  that  false  impressions,  from 
being  more  congenial  to  our  nature,  are  more  easy 
of  access,  and  more  permanent  in  their  duration, 
than  the  true. 

I  know  not,  reader,  what  your  feelings  on  this 
point  are ;  but  with  me,  I  confess,  this  is  quite 
the  case.  It  is  a  work  of  much  difficulty  with 
me  to  keep  alive  in  my  mind  the  remembrance  of 
some  sweet  portion  of  scripture,  or  some  delight- 
ful verse  in  a  psalm  or  hymn,  to  help  me  on  to 
the  hour  of  meditation  and  prayer.  Whereas  the 
idle,  corrupt  jingle  of  some  unmeaning  song, 
which  was  lodged  in  the  memory  of  my  boyish 
days,  too  frequently  rises  to  my  recollection,  In 
spite  of  all  my  endeavours  to  suppress  it ;  and  I 
fear  that,  if  encouraged,  I  could  repeat  it  with 
the  greatest  exactness.  Pause,  to  observe  with 
me  what  a  decisive  proof  this  is  of  the  remains  of 
indwelling  corruption ! 

It  was  an  ill  effect  of  this  kind,  which  the  scep- 
tical conversation  of  the  brothers  left  upon  my 
mind.  By  the  ludicrous  turn  which  they  gave 
to  some  portions  of  scripture,  and  the  impious 
and  bold  reasonings  which  they  made  on  others, 
they  gave  birth  to  a  train  of  images  within  me, 
which,  like  a  spectre,  arose  continually  to  my 
view. 

I  stop  the  reader  one  moment,  again  to  remark, 
snd  what  I  (humbly  conceive)  if  closely  adopted, 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  131 

will  not  prove  an  unprofitable  remark ;  how  little 
they  consult  their  own  happiness  who  mix  indis- 
criminately with  the  world  ;  and  who  are  not  sen- 
sible of  the  dreadful  consequences  of  seeing  and 
hearing  the  corruptions  which  are  going  on  in  life. 
What  from  the  lightness  and  indifference  to  di- 
vine things,  with  which  some  treat  the  truths  of 
God,  and  what  from  the  open  contempt  poured 
upon  them  by  others,  it  is  really  like  running  in- 
to the  midst  of  pestilence,  to  come  within  the  cir- 
cle of  their  society.  Our  eyes  are  purveyors  of 
the  evil,  and  our  ears  inlets  of  the  corruption. 
And  never  was  that  aphorism  of  Solomon  more 
necessary  to  be  observed,  than  in  the  present 
moment  :  Enter  not  into  the  path  of  the  wicked, 
and  go  not  in  the  way  of  evil  men.  Avoid  it ;  pass 
not  by  it;  turn  from  it,  and  pass  away.*  For  mv 
own  part,  I  have  never  found  my  peace  of  mind 
so  unbroken,  as  since  I  have  totally  withdrawn 
myself  from  all  but  the  necessary  and  unavoidable 
intercourse  with  men  of  the  world.  By  ceasing 
from  their  communion,  we  live  out  of  the  reach 
of  the  contagion  of  their  principles  ;  and  we  live 
above  the  influence  of  their  good  or  bad  opinion. 
And  it  is  a  maxim  of  as  much  salutary  conse- 
quence to  the  mind,  as  it  is  to  the  body,  to  breathe 
a  pure  atmosphere.'  You  cannot  come  within 
the  region  of  any  thing  filthy  and  corrupt,  but  its 
poisonous  effluvia  will  attach  themselves  to  you. 

I  have  often  thought  what  a  peculiar  providence 
it  was,  that  while  my  mind  was  under  the  im- 
pression of  such  accumulated  trials,  God  should 
direct  my  steps  towards  the  means  of  relief.     But 

*  Prov.  iv.  i  i. 


132  ZION'S   PILGRIM, 

so  it  was,  that  in  prosecuting  the  path  of  my  pil- 
grimage, as  I  passed  the  road,  there  stood  an 
house  on  my  right  hand,  with  this  inscription  in 
the  front  of  it  > 


THE    HOUSE    OF    THE    INTERPRETER. 

I  considered  it  then,  as  experience  hath 
taught  me  to  regard  it  many  times  since,  as  among 
the  special  appointments  of  a  covenant  God,  that 
my  path  was  directed  this  way.  He  hath  prom- 
ised to  bring  the  blind  by  the  way  they  know  not ; 
and  in  this  instance  nothing  could  be  more  pointed. 
I  pity  the  man  from  my  heart,  who  passeth 
through  life  and  discovers  nothing  of  divine  wisdom 
arranging  and  ordering  all  the  events  of  it ;  and  par- 
ticularly  in  those  instances  where  the  Lord's  ene- 
mies are  promoting  and  forwarding  by  their  uncon- 
scious conduct  the  very  designs,  which  they  are 
seemingly  opposing.  There  is  something  very 
striking  in  proof  of  a  divine  superintendance,  when 
men  unintentionally  fulfil  that  will,  which  all  their 
designs  andaction^ire  directed  purposely  to  thwart. 
When  the  sons  of  Jacob  sold  their  brother  for  a 
slave,  little  did  they  dream  that  Joseph's  future 
dignity  and  Israel's  salvation  were  to  result  from 
this  crusty.  Nay,  (what  is  infinitely  more  impor- 
tant, and  an  higher  testimony  than  this)  when  the 
Jews  had  nailed  the  Lord  of  life  and  glory  to  the 
cross,  who  should  have  thought  that  from  that 
very  cross  all  the  everlasting  happiness  of  his  peo- 
ple was  to  spring  ?  And,  (to  compare  small  things 
with  great)  when  the  persecutions  of  my  relations  t 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  133 

the  false  reasonings  of  the  author  whose  book  I  had 
read,  and  the  conversation  of  the  infidel  brothers, 
which  all  conspired  to  give  me  such  distress,  be- 
came the  very  foundation  under  God  of  my  es- 
tablishment in  grace ;  who  will  but  conclude,  that 
such  a  peculiar  coincidence  of  circumstances  can- 
not be  the  result  of  any  thing  fortuitous,  but  com- 
£th  forth  (as  the  prophet  speaks)  from  the  Lord 
of  hosts,  who  is  wonderful  in  counsel  and  excellent 
in  working.* 

It  will  be,  no  doubt,  one  portion  of  the  felicity 
of  heaven,  to  look  back  and  trace  the  whole  of  our 
eventful  history  to  the  full.  liiit  ic  is  now,  in  my 
esteem,  walking  in  the  highway  of  communion 
with  God,  when  at  any  time  we  are  enabled  to 
trace  it  in  part  here  below. 

The  house  of  the  interpreter. — I  have  read  of 
such  an  house  and  of  such  a  character,  as  being 
in  the  pilgrim's  path,  when  in  my  days  of  child- 
hood. But  I  knew  not  at  that  time,  that  I  should 
myself  Live  to  behold  either  of  them  realized.  A 
thought,  however,  struck  me  as  I  read  the  inscrip- 
tion ;  "  Perhaps  I  may  find  here  some  help  to 
explain  to  me  the  difficulties  with  which  I  am  at 
present  exercised  !"  I  recollected  what  Job  had 
said,  that  if  there  be  a  messenger  with  him,  an  in- 
terpreter, one  among  a  thousand,  to  shew  unto  man 
his  uprightness ;  then  he  is  gracious  unto  him.f 
Encouraged  by  these  considerations,  I  drew  near 
to  the  house.  The  door  was  wide  open.  Jesus 
hath  said,  Behold,  I  have  set  before  thee  an  open 
door,  and  ?w  man  can  shut  it.%  I  found  that  it  open  - 

*  Isaiah  xxviii.  29.  |  Job  xxxiii.   23. 

%  Rev.  iii.  8. 


134  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

ed  into  a  spacious  vistibule  ;  in  one  of  the  com- 
partments of  which  there  was  written,  in  large 
characters,  as  follows  : 


0           THE  RULES  OF  THIS  FAMILY.  $ 

q      First.  It  is  expected  that  every  one  who  comes  (> 

0  under  this  roof,    fail  not  to  be  present   at  family  Q 

0  prayer,  and  the  reading  of  the  scriptures.  q 

q       Secondly.    It  is  hoped  that,  beside  these  things,  Q 

©  attention  be  given  to  the  private  engagements  of  0 

fi  the  closet.     They  who   begin   the  day  in   prayer,  q 

J)  will  probably  find  cause  to  end  it  in  praise.  3 

©       Thirdly.  The  apostle's  maxim   is  to  be  invaria-  0 

®  bly   followed,   under  the   divine  blessing  :    in  all  q 

J)  things  having  conversation  as  becometh  the  gospel  of  0 

©  Christ:  that  no  corrupt  communication  may  proceed  ^ 

J)  out  of  the  mouth,   but  that,  which  is  good   to  the  use  q 

0  of  edifying^    that    it    may  minister  grace    unto  the  (J 

©  hearers.     Ephes.  iv.  29.  0 

5       Lastly ,  Whatsoever  is  done  in  word  or  deed)  all  is  q 

q  to   be  done  in  the  name  of  the   Lord  Jesus,  giving  0 

©  thanks  to  God  and  the  Father  by  him.    Colos.  iii.  17.  yt 

©                                                                                            "     '  £ 

©                             77? ♦—  0 

^       To  every  one  who,  looking  up  for  grace  to  ren-  rj 

0  der  it  effectual,   sincerely  desires  to  act  in  con  for-  q 

©  mity  to  these  rules,   the  good  man  of  the   house  0 

V  saith,  "  Come  in,  thou  blessed  of  the  Lord,    where-  x 

0  fore  standest  thou  without  ?"     Gen.  xxiv.  31.  (j 


Thus  invited,  I  entered  the  door,  and  found  that 
it  led  into  a  large  room  like  an  hail.  There  were 
several  persons  seated  round  a  table,  at  the  head 
of  which  a  venerable  old  man  appeared  to  preside. 
Having  taken  my  place  at  the  bottom,  to  which  the 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  135 

kind  looks  of  the  master  at  the  top  seemed  to  invite 
me,  I  soon  discovered,  by  what  dropped  from  his 
lips  in  discourse,  that  the  characters  around  me 
were  Zion's  Pilgrims  like  myself,  and  that  the 
Lord  of  the  way  had  directed  them  in  his  provi- 
dence hither  for  refreshment  and  counsel. 

It  is  a  very  precious  thing,  when  little  societies 
meet  together  on  gracious  errands.  There  is  a 
restraint  upon  the  mind  in  the  assembly  that  is 
mingled.  Two  cannot  walk  together  except  they  be 
agreed.  I  venture  to  believe  that  more  or  less,  ev- 
ery follower  of  the  Redeemer  knows  somewhat  of 
this  in  his  own  experience.  And  it  should  seem 
that  the  dear  Lord  himself,  at  his  last  suppef,  re- 
strained those  sweet  and  incomparable  discourses, 
which  the  apostle  John  hath  recorded  in  the  four- 
teenth and  following  chapters  of  his  gospel,  until 
Judas  the  traitor  had  withdrawn.  For  as  soon  as 
he  was  gone  out,  Jesus  said,  Now  is  the  son  of  man 
glorified  ;  and  immediately  the  Lord  began  his 
fare  w  el  sermon. 

At  this  assembly  of  the  Interpreter's,  there  was 
somewhat  visible  in  every  countenance,  which 
indicated  that  they  were  all  of  one  heart  and  of  one 
soul.  They  were  come  together  to  lay  down  their 
several  burthens,  and  to  unbosom  their  minds  to 
each  other.  And  the  good  man  of  the  house 
seemed  to  be  deputed  to  speak  a  word  of  consola- 
tion to  every  case. 

I  found  my  mind  much  relieved  under  one  part 
of  my  burthen,  (I  mean  under  the  sorrows  induced 
from  the  persecutions  of  my  relations  J  by  what  the 
Interpreter  said  to  a  woman  in  the  company  under 
similar  circumstances.  "  My  best  advice  to  you 
(he  said)  will  be,  to  recommend  you  to  seek  grace 


136  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

in  order  to  adopt  the  prophet's  example.  For 
when  he  found  no  favour  from  man,  he  recollect- 
ed  that  he  had  the  favour  of  God.  So  that  how- 
ever wicked  the  times  were  in  which  he  lived,  yet 
the  righteousness  of  Jehovah  was  unchangeable. 
The  best  of  them  (he  said)  was  as  a  brier,  t/ie  most 
upright  is  sharper  than  a  thorn  hedge.  Who  there- 
fore could  venture  to  come  near  either  ? 

"  Your  case,  you  see,  is  not  singular,  in  the 
linkindness  you  sustain  from  your  relations  on 
account  of  your  religion.  In  all  ages  it  hath  been 
the  same.  And  hence  the  prophet  saith,  Trust  ye 
not  in  a  friend;  put  ye  not  confidence  in  a  guide  ; 
keep  the  doors  of  thy  mouth  from  her  thatlieth  in  thy 
bosom.  For  the  son  dishonoureth  the  father ',  the 
daughter  riseth  up  against  her  mother y  and  the 
daughter-in-law  against  her  mother-in-law  ;  a 
marts  enemies  are  the  men  of  his  own  house.  But 
what  was  the  prophet's  conduct  under  these  heavy 
troubles  ?  Therefore,  (saith  he)  /  will  look  unto 
the  Lord :  I  will  wait  for  the  God  of  my  salvation  : 
my  God  will  hear  me.*  The  more  the  world 
frowns,  the  sweeter  will  be  the  smiles  of  Jesus. 
And  the  greater  unkindness'  you  meet  with  from 
your  relations,  the  greater  will  be  your  esteem  of 
the  affection  of  the  Redeemer.  What,  though  all 
your  earthly  connexions  fail,  and  their  friendship 
is  continually  fluctuating  and  changeable  ;  yet  in 
Jesus  you  find  an  unchanging  friend  at  all  times  ; 
one  born  for  adversity,  and  who  sticketh  closer  than  a 
brother. 

"  And  it  should  very  evidently  seem,  that  God 
overrules  those  very  events  which  tend  to  loosen 

*  Micah  vii.  4,  5,  6. 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  137 

our  attachment  to  every  thing  here  below,  on  pur- 
pose to  raise  our  affections,  and  to  fasten  them  on 
the  great  objects  which  are  above.  By  tinging 
our  most  innocent  enjoyments  in  this  mortal  state 
with  vanity  and  disappointment,  what  is  it  but  in 
effect  saying,  Arise  ye  and  depart,  for  this  is  not  your 
rest,  because  it  is  polluted  ?  There  is  much  mean- 
ing in  that  word  of  the  prophet,  therefore  ;  when 
he  says,  Therefore  I  will  look  unto  the  Lord  ;  that 
is  as  much  as  to  say,  Because  all  things  else  are 
dissatisfying,  I  will  look  where  I  am  sure  not  to  be 
disappointed.  Though  all  creatures  leave  me, 
my  Creator  is  the  same  ;  and  though  every  earth- 
ly friend  foil  me,  my  heavenly  Friend  never  will. 
O,  depend  upon  it,  let  a  child  of  God  be  persecu- 
ted, forsaken,  slighted,  or  despised  ever  so  much 
by  man  ;  yet  while  he  hath  a  God  to  look  up  to, 
and  a  covenant-God  to  trust  in  ;  while  he  can  say 
My  Gody  he  may  at  the  same  time  with  full  assur- 
ance say,  He  will  hear  vie. 

"  And  I  believe  it  possible,  nay  more  than  pos- 
sible, even  frequently  induced  by  divine  grace, 
that  w  here  the  love  of  God  is  shed  abroad  in  the 
heart  in  its  fulness  and  strength,  it  drives  out  all 
lesser  considerations  ;  as  the  effulgent  brightnc 
of  the  sun  puts  out  the  fire  of  the  hearth.  And  it 
is  in  this  sense  we  must  accept  that  otherwise 
seemingly  harsh  doctrine  to  flesh  and  blood,  where 
the  Redeemer  saith,  If  any  man  come  to  me,  and 
hate  not  his  father \  and  mother%  and  wife,  and 
children,  and  brctlircn,  and  sisters,  yea,  and  his  life 
also,  he  cannot  be  my  le.     That  the  apostle 

Paul  felt  the  influence  of  this  hating  his  own  life, 
no  one    will  question,    who  attends  to  the  holy 

N 


138  ZION'S  pilgrim; 

saint's  groaning  under  the  body  of  sin  and  death, 
which  he  tells  us  he  carried  about  with  him. 
And  that  a  believer  in  the  present  hour,  who 
knows  what  it  is  at  times  to  loathe  and  even  hate 
his  own  flesh  from  the  corruptions  of  it,  may  with- 
out violence  to  the  purest  affections  be  well  sup- 
posed to  feel  something  of  obedience  to  the  Re- 
deemer's precept,  in  hating  every  tie  which  tends 
to  separate  the  soul  from  the  great  and  unrivalled 
object  of  its  love,  will  not  be  doubted.  Whom 
have  I  in  heaven  but  thee  ?  and  there  is  none  upon 
earth  that  I  desire  beside  thee,  is  an  appeal, 
which  many  besides  David  have  been  enabled  to 
make." 

When  the  Interpreter  had  finished  his  discourse 
to  the  woman,  he  addressed  himself  to  me ;  and 
concluding  from  my  appearance  among  the  circle, 
that  one  and  the  same  motive  as  brought  others  to 
his  house,  had  brought  me  also,  he  desired  to 
know  what  was  the  immediate  subject  of  my  pres- 
ent attention. 

I  simply  repeated  to  him  the  distress  with  which 
my  mind  had  been  exercised,  since  I  had  perused 
a  little  book  on  the  subject  of  grace,  and  had  over- 
heard the  conversation  between  the  brothers. 

He  prevented  my  adding  more,  by  saying,  "  I 
know  very  well  that  author's  writings,  and  can  ea- 
sily conceive  how  his  reasonings  may  have  opera- 
ted upon  your  mind.  But  a  moment's  reflection, 
under  God  the  Spirit's  teaching,  will  be  enough  to 
refute  doctrines  of  such  a  tendency. 

"To  suppose  that  the  gift  of  God's  grace  de- 
pends upon  man's  merit,  is  to  invert  the  very  order 
of  things,  and  make  the  creature  the  first  mover  in 
his  salvation  ;  which  is  in  direct  opposition  to  the 


ZION'S   PILGRIM.  139 

whole  tenor  of  scripture.     This,,  if  true,   would 
destroy  God's  foreknowledge. 

"  To  imagine  that  our  acceptance  or  refusal  of 
grace  is  the  result  of  our  own  pleasure,  is  to  rob 
God  of  another  of  his  glorious  perfections  of  char- 
acter :  for  it  is  in  effect  saying,  that  man  is  more 
powerful  than  his  Maker,  in  that  what  God  wills, 
man  may  defeat.  And  this  takes  from  God  his 
omnipotence. 

"To  fancy  that  our  improvement,  or  misim- 
provement  of  grace,  will  render  it  effectual,  or  the 
contrary,  is  committing  another  breach  on  the 
divine  attributes  ;  for  this  is  reducing  the  covenant 
of  grace  to  a  covenant  of  works.  And  hence,  af- 
ter all  God  hath  said  and  promised,  concerning  the 
freedom,  and  fulness,  and  sovereignty  of  his  salva- 
tion, in  this  case,  the  event  of  it  would  depend  on 
the  merit  of  the  creature.  And  this  is  taking 
from  God  both  his  wisdom  and  his  glory. 

11  And  to  believe,  after  what  God  the  Father 
hath  given,  and  God  the  Son  hath  accomplished 
for  the  salvation  of  his  people  in  a  covenant  way, 
that  souls  renewed  by  God  the  Holy  Ghost,  and 
called  with  an  holy  calling,  may  yet  "finally  perish  ; 
this  is  bringing  down  redemption  work  to  so  pre- 
carious and  uncertain  an  issue,  as  must  leave  it 
altogether  undetermined,  whether  a  single  believ- 
c  r  shall  be  saved,  or  not.  And  this  throws  to  the 
ground  the  distinguishing  character  of  God's  im- 
mutability. 

M"I  will  very  readily  grant  (continued  the   In- 
terpreter) that  grace  is  brought  forward  into  many 
sharp  and  trying  dispensations  in  the  lives  of  the 
faithful.     God  is  certainly  exercising  the  gifts  of 
his  Holy  Spirit  which  he  bestows  upon  them,    by 


HO  ZION  S  PILGRIM. 

temptations  and  troubles,  and  a  variety  of  provi- 
dences. And,  in  fact,  such  must  be  the  case. 
For  unexercised  grace  would  otherwise  find  no 
scope  to  manifest  itself.  But  for  any  one  to  im- 
agine from  hence,  that  our  acceptance  with  God 
depends  upon  the  event  of  those  exercises,  would 
be  to  make  the  present  life  a  life  of  probation  and 
trial,  as  some  injudicious  teachers  have  taught  their 
people,  and  to  render  the  Redeemer's  merits  and 
death  still  questionable,  whether  it  w7ould  be- 
come available  for  the  sinner's  justification  be- 
fore God. 

*'  Blessed  be  the  divine  benignity,  things  are 
not  so  !  It  is  our  mercy  that  the  finished  and  com- 
plete salvation  of  the  Lord  Jesus  doth  not  rest 
upon  so  uncertain  a  tenure.  An  everlasting  cov- 
enant ordered  in  all  things  and  sure  can  never 
leave  the  issue  of  it  doubtful.  What  Paul  saith, 
when  resting  the  whole  stress  of  the  sinner's  hope 
for  acceptance  before  God,  upon  the  justifying 
merits  of  Christ  Jesus,  may  be  equally  applied  to 
the  case  of  every  believer  ;  /  do  not  (says  he)  frus- 
trate the  grace  of  God  ;  for  if  righteousness  come  by 
the  law j  then  Christ  is  dead  in  vain." 

My  heart  rejoiced  in  the  consolation.  God  be 
adored,  (I  cried)  who  hath  brought  me  to  this 
place,  and  hath  given  you  (taking  the  Interpreter 
by  the  hand  as  I  said  it)  the  tongue  of  the  learned,  to 
kno%v  how  to  speak  a  word  in  season  to  him  that  is 
weary.*  I  see  now  the  fallacy  of  those  argu- 
ments, in  that  book,  by  which  my  mind  hath 
been  exercised  with  distress. 

<*  Isaiah  li.  8. 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  141 


THE     PICTURE    ROOM. 

After  this  conversation,  the  Interpreter  led 
me,  and  the  few  pilgrims  also  who  were  standing 
at  that  time  around  him,  into  the  Picture  Room, 
to  explain  to  us  a  beautiful  representation  of  the 
Jewish  passover. 

"  Perhaps  (said  the  good  man  of  the  house)  it 
may  never  have  struck  you,  that  so  infinitely  im- 
portant a  point  in  the  salvation  of  sinners  is  the  pre- 
cious  death  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  that  the  Holy  Ghost 
caused  it  to  be  shadowed  out,  by  various  repre- 
sentations in  his  church,  according  as  the  several 
objects  intended  to  be  accomplished  by  it  required. 

"  See  here  (said  he,  pointing  to  the  first  com- 
partment in  the  painting)  the  passing  over  the 
houses  of  the  Israelites,  by  the  destroying  angel. 
Here  are  no  bolts,  no  bars  to  their  windows.  But 
behold  that  blood  on  the  lintel,  and  on  the  two 
side  posts  ;  this  became  the  security.  Now  this 
represents  the  deliverance  of  the  sinner  from  divine 
visitation  for  sin.  Hence  the  Lord  Jesus  is  said 
to  have  delivered  us  from  the  wrath  to  come. 

"  But  it  is  not  enough  to  deliver  from  the  wrath 
to  come,  if  that  had  been  all  that  the  Lord  Jesus 
had  accomplished  by  redemption;  our  nature, 
though  rescued  from  merited  punishment,  would 
still  have  continued  polluted  and  defiled,  without 
an  expiation;  and,  consequent^,  incapable  of 
drawing  nigh  to  God.  See  here,  therefore,  (cried 
the  Interpreter,  pointing  to  the  second  compart- 
ment in  the  painting)  the  great  doctrine  of  atone- 
ment, represented  in  the  death  of  the  Lamb.  And 
N2 


I4S  ZION^S  PILGRIM. 

this  doctrine  is  again  more  fully  typified  by  the 
sin  offering  on  the  day  of  atonement.     Levit.  iv. 

"  Neither  is  that  all.     Our  deliverance  from 
wrath  and  the  expiation  of  our  souls  from  sin, 
though  exempting  from  merited  punishment,  and 
cleansing  away  the  guilt  of  our  nature,  yet  could 
not  qualify  for  the  enjoyment  of  happiness  with- 
out a  change  of  heart.      Hence,  therefore,  the 
regeneration  and  renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  as 
essential  to  prepare  the  mind  for  divine  commu- 
nications here,  and  glory  hereafter,  became  an  in- 
teresting point  in  the  doctrine  of  salvation.     And 
this  was  represented  in  the  Jewish  church  by  the 
typical  purifications  enjoined  under  the  law.     Here 
(cried  the  Interpreter,  pointing  to  a  third  division 
of  the  painting)  is  a  cluster  of  them  sketched  to- 
gether.    In  the  passover  the  leaven  was  put  away: 
implying,  the  regeneration  of  the  heart  maketh  all 
things  new.     And  the  cleansing  of  the  leper,  and 
the  living  bird  dipped  in  the  blood  of  the  slain  over 
running  water,  and  causing  it  to  fly  away  in  the 
Open  field  :  these  all  shadowed  it  out.     Levit.  xiv. 
"  And,  finally,  you  see,    (said  the  Interpreter) 
in  order  to  confirm  all  the  new  covenant  promi- 
ses,   Moses  is  here  described  as  sprinkling  the 
people  with  the  blood,  to  intimate,  that,  in  the 
conveyance  of  those  mercies  in  Christ  Jesus,  it  is 
not  enough  that  the  blood  of  Christ  is  shed,  but  it 
must  be  personally  applied.      This  office  of  the 
Holy  Ghost  is  therefore  here  represented  in  the 
fourth  compartment  of  the  picture,  to  testify  that 
Christ  is  made  God  unto  us,  wisdom,  and  righteous- 
ness, and  sanctification,  and  redemption  ;  that  ac- 
cording as  it  is  written,  he  that  glorieth,  let  him 
glory  in  the  Lord. 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  143 

"  I  hope  (said  the  Interpreter,  when  he  had  fin- 
ished his  remarks  on  the  picture)  that  God  hath 
given  you  grace  to  understand  all  these  things- 
Now  let  me  conduct  you  to  a  spot,  which,  if  I 
mistake  not,  will  do  more  under  his  blessed  teach- 
ing to  relieve  your  mind  from  the  distressing 
doubts  the  sophistry  of  the  infidel  brothers  hath 
occasioned,  than  all  the  volumes  of  human  learn- 
ing. What  a  man's  real  sentiments  are  will  best 
be  known  in  his  dying  moments.  In  that  hour 
the  mask  of  deception  fells  off;  and  you  may  be 
sure  then  to  see  his  real  features." 

Saying  this,  the  Interpreter  took  me  by  the 
hand,  and  led  me  into  an  outer  court ;  the  rest 
of  our  little  company  followed  us.  After  de- 
scending a  very  deep  flight  of  steps,  we  came  to 
a  cave.  He  opened  an  iron  gate,  and  upon  enter- 
ing it  I  found  myself  surrounded  with 

MONUMENTS. 

In  this  solemn  spot,  the  first  thing  that  caught 
my  attention  was  the  tomb  of  the  Author  of  the 
Leviathan.  Alas!  (said  I)  is  that  the  memento 
of  that  celebrated  infidel  of  the  last  age?  "  The 
very  same,  (answered  the  Interpreter)  that  is  the 
man  whose  writings  poisoned  the  mind  of  the 
Earl  of  Rochester,  as  that  nobleman  himself  de- 
clared, after  his  conversion.  The  author  of  the 
Leviathan  lived  to  be  an  old  sinner,  for  he  was 
upwards  of  ninety  when  he  died.  His  life  was 
rendered  remarkable  for  the  many  blasphemous 
expressions  he  uttered  against  God  and  his  holy 
word.  He  was  always  bold  in  impiety  when  in 
company,  but  very  timid  when  alone.      If   he 


144  ZION^S  PILGRIM. 

awoke  in  the  night,  and  found  his  candle  extin- 
guished, he  was  full  of  terrors.  His  last  words, 
as  related  of  him,  were,  "  I  shall  be  glad  to  find 
a  hole  to  creep  out  of  the  world  !" 

And  pray  whose  monument  is  that  (said  I  to  the 
Interpreter)  which  hath  a  bust  on  the  tablet  of  it, 
looking  so  pensive  ?  u  Read  the  inscription  it 
bears,  (replied  the  Interpreter)  and,  from  his  latest 
confessions,  which  are  there  recorded,  you  will 
recollect  whose  it  is."  I  looked  with  attention, 
and  read  as  follows  : 

"  I  have  run  the  silly  round  of  business,  and 
of  pleasure,  and  have  done  with  them  all.  I  have 
enjoyed  all  the  felicities  of  the  world,  and  conse- 
quently know  their  futility,  and  do  not  regret 
their  loss.  I  appraise  them  at  their  real  value, 
which  is,  in  truth,  very  low.  Shall  I  tell  you  that 
I  bear  this  melancholy  situation  with  that  merito- 
rious constancy  and  resignation  which  most  people 
boast  of?  No.  For  I  really  cannot  help  it.  I 
bear  it,  because  I  must  bear  it,  whether  I  will  or 
no.  I  think  of  nothing  now  but  killing  time  the 
bestwaylcan.  It  is  my  resolution  to  sleep  in  A 
the  carriage  during  the  remainder  of  my  journey." 

"  Well,  my  friend,  (cried  the  Interpreter,  when 
I  had  finished  reading  the  inscription)  what  are 
your  ideas  of  infidels  now  ?  Here  they  speak  plain- 
ly -what are  their  real  sentiments." 

I  think  (answered  I)  my  situation  is  like  that  of 
David's,  when  he  went  into  the  sanctuary  of  God : 
I  now  understand  the  end  of  these  men — How 
truly  awful ! 

Turning  myself  round,  by  way  of  passing  from 
the  contemplation  of  a  sight  so  very  distressing, 
I  beheld  in  one  niche  two  sculptured  figures  to- 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  145 

gether,  on  one  column.  Who  are  these  ?  (I 
cried.)  "  This  on  your  right  hand  (answered  the 
Interpreter)  is  the  great  Apostle  of  Infidelity,  (as 
he  affected  to  be  called)  of  a  neighbouring  nation. 
And  him  on  your  left  is  a  celebrated  historian  of 
our  own. 

"  The  former  in  great  agonies  of  mind  ex- 
claimed to  his  physician,  "  I  am  abandoned  both 
by  God  and  man.  Doctor,  (cried  he)  I'll  give 
you  half  I  am  worth,  if  you  can  give  me  life  six 
months  !"  And  upon  the  Doctor's  telling*  him  he 
feared  he  could  not  live  six  weeks  ;  "  Then  (he 
replied)  I  shall  go  to  hell  !"  and  expired  soon  af- 
ter. 

"  The  latter  spent  his  last  days  in  playing  at 
cards,  in  cracking  jokes,  and  in  reading  romances. 
He  is  said  to  have  acknowledged,  that  with  all 
his  bitter  invectives  against  the  Bible,  he  had  nev- 
er read  the  New  Testament  with  attention." 

My  mind  was  so  sickened  from  the  meditation 
on  those  few  characters,  that  I  begged  to  hasten 
from  the  place.  I  saw  a  group  of  other  tombs, 
some  with  inscriptions,  and  others  without,  whose 
memorials  were  perish  m  !  but  I  could 

be&r  no  more.  We  a  £C uded  the  same  steps  by 
which  we  had  conic  down,  and  on  leaving  the 
dreadful  place,  my  heart  exclaimed,  Oh  !  my  soul, 
come  not  thou  into  their  secret  ;  unto  their  assembly 
mine  honour  be  not  thou  united! 

What  impressions  the  rest  of  the  company  felt 
I  know  not  ;  but,  for  my  part,  never  shall  I  forget 
the  awfulness  of  the  scene.  Is  this  the  sure  ter- 
mination (I  said  to  myself)  of  infidelity  ?  Oh  ! 
for  that  warning  voice,  and  that  more  powerful 
grace  to  make  the  voice  effectual,  which  the  man 


146  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

of  God  uttered  in  the  holy  mountain,  to  be  sound- 
ed in  every  infidel's  ears  :  Be  ye  not  mockers,  lest 
your  bands  be  made  strong  ! 

My  mind  acquired  great  strength  and  greater 
knovvledge  in  divine  things  during  my  abode  in 
the  house  of  the  Interpreter.  I  was  with  him 
somewhat  more  than  three  months,  and  the  time 
seemed  to  me  but  a  few  days  ;  like  the  seven 
years  of  the  patriarchs  labour  in  the  service  of 
the  Syrian,  for  the  reward  in  expectation  which 
sweetened  the  whole.  At  length  it  became  nec- 
essary to  depart ;  and  the  morning  arrived  in 
which  I  was  to  bid  him  farewell. 

There  were  several  other  of  Zion's  Pilgrims  in 
the  house  besides  myself,  who  were  also  on  the 
eve  of  departure  ;  and  therefore  the  good  man  of 
the  house  called  us  together  into  the  hall,  in  order 
to  receive  his  parting  blessing. 


MOTTOS. 

"  It  is  my  uniform  custom,  (said  the  Interpreter) 
when  Christian  friends  are  about  to  leave  my  house, 
to  give  them,  by  way  of  token,  a  written  motto, 
consisting  of  some  particular  passage  of  God's 
word,  which,  by  wearing  it  in  their  bosoms,  may 
serve  at  once,  through  divine  grace,  to  bring  to 
their  remembrance  the  instructions  which  they 
have  received  from  me  ;  and  also  furnish  them 
with  somewhat  of  consolation  suited  to  the  pecu- 
liar frame  and  constitution  of  their  own  minds." 
In  saying  this,  he  presented  to  a  poor  man  who 
stood  near  me,  and  whose  app  earance  indicated 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  U7 

that  the  glass  of  his  life  was  nearly  run  out  to  the 
last  sand,  a  piece  of  paper,  on  which  was  written, 
Jeremiah  xlix.  11,  Leave  thy  fatherless  children, 
I  will  preserve  them  alive  ;  and  let  thy  widows  trust 
in  me.  And  within  this  paper  there  was  another 
folded  piece,  bearing  this  inscription,  Isaiah  liv.  5, 
For  thy  Maker  is  thine  husband,  the  Lord  of  Hosts 
is  his  name  ;  and  thy  Redeemer,  the  Holy  One  of 
Israel:  the  God  of  the  whole  earth  shall  he  be  call- 
ed. And  within  this  also  a  third,  with  this  motto, 
Psalm  xxvii.  10,  When  my  father  and  my  mother 
forsake  me,  then  the  Lord  will  take  me  up.  As  the 
Interpreter  presented  this  paper  to  the  poor  man, 
he  said,  "  You  have  heard  all  that  I  have  said  to 
you,  my  brother,  on  the  subject  of  your  own  ev- 
erlasting welfare  :  and  I  am  much  pleased  to  sec, 
from  the  evidences  which  appear  in  your  expe- 
rience of  the  renewed  life,  that  a  work  of  grace  is 
wrought  in  your  heart,  and  that  your  hopes  are 
well  founded.  But  as  I  know  that  the  several 
claims  of  nature  in  your  family  have  a  strong  hold 
upon  your  feelings,  I  beg  you  frequently  to  have 
recourse  to  these  sweet  covenant  promises.  The 
frst  is  for  yourself.  The  second  for  the  beloved 
partner  of  your  heart.  And  the  third  for  your 
children." 

To  another,  who  stood  also  near  me,  and  whose 
anxiety  had  been  greatly  exercised  respecting 
the  deceitfulness  of  his  heart,  and  who  feared 
lest,  after  all,  his  religion  should  be  found  to  be 
nothing  more  than  a  cloak  of  hypocrisy,  the  In- 
terpreter presented  a  paper  w  ith  this  motto  ;  Search 
me,  0  God,  and  know  my  heart ;  try  me,  and  know 
my  thoughts  :  And  see  if  there  be  any  wicked  way 
m  vie,  and  lead  me  in  the  way  iverlasting.     Psalm 


148  ZION'3  PILGRIM. 

cxxxix.  23,  24.  And,  as  he  presented  it,  he  said, 
"Take  this,  my  friend,  and  make  it  the  subject  of 
your  daily  inquiry  before  God.  See  whether  you 
can  pray  with  the  same  earnest  desire  as  David 
did  :  or  appeal  to  the  great  Searcher  of  hearts,  as 
Paul  did,  God  is  my  witness,  whom  I  serve  with 
my  spirit  in  the  gospel  of  his  Son,  Rom.  i.  9,  If 
the  approbation  of  God,  and  not  the  applause  of 
man,  be  the  desire  of  the  heart ;  if  the  mind  hates 
sin  as  sin,  and  not  for  its  consequences ;  if  you 
can  bless  a  taking  God,  as  well  as  a  giving  God ; 
if  you  feel  your  soul  humbled  with  a  sense  of  un- 
worthiness,  while  God  is  showering  down  upon 
you  the  abundance  of  his  grace ;  if  Jesus  be  loved 
for  his  own  sake,  more  than  for  his  gifts ;  these  are 
all  so  many  marks  and  touchstones  of  character, 
wThich  never  can  belong  to  hypocrisy,  and  there- 
fore may  be  considered  by  you  as  evidences  of  a 
well  founded  hope." 

"  Young  man,  (said  the  Interpreter,  to  a  very 
hopeful  and  promising  youth  that  was  in  the  circle) 
the  best  motto  I  can  present  you  with  is  the  de- 
claration which  the  Lord  commanded  the  prophet 
to  make  in  the  ears  of  Jerusalem ;  This  saith  the 
Lord,  I  remember  thee,  the  fu?idness.of  thy  ymith, 
the  love  of  thine  espousals ',  when  thou  wentest  after 
me  in  the  wilderness,  in  a  land  that  was  not  sown. 
Jeremiah  ii.  2.  Keep  this  precious  text  of  scrip- 
ture in  your  bosom,  as  an  infallible  antidote  against 
all  the  poisonous  influence  with  which  you  may  be 
surrounded  ia  the  long  pilgrimage  through  which 
you  have  yet  to  pass.  The  man  that  hath  many 
days  to  count,  hath  many  wintry  dispensations  to 
be  exercised  with.  Nothing  can  serve  more  ef- 
fectually,  through  divine  grace,  to  bear  up  the- 


ZION'S  PILGRIM.  149 

mind  under  all  its  pressures,  than  the  recollections 
of  early  notices  of  God  and  from  God ;  and  so 
sweet  a  promise  of  being  remembered  through 
all." 

"  And  as  for  you,  my  brother,  (the  good  man 
said,  addressing  himself  to  me)  there  is  no  passage 
of  scripture  more  suited  to  your  case  and  circum- 
stances, than  that  which  is  contained  in  the  prayer 
of  the  Lord  Jesus,  in  the  conclusion  of  his  minis- 
try upon  earth,  (John  xvii.  11.)  Holy  Father, 
<keep  through  thine  own  name  those  whom  thou  hast 
ghen  me.  Originally  gheny  as  all  the  faithful  are* 
by  the  Father  to  the  Lord  Jesus,  before  the  Re- 
deemer manifests  the  Father's  name  unto  them ; 
evidently  the  property  of  the  Father  at  the  time  of 
the  donation,  for  thine  they  were,  and  thou  gayest 
them  to  me;  fully  proved  to  be  redeemed  by  Jesus, 
by  having  the  Father's  name  manifested  unto  them, 
and  having  kept  his  word;  strongly  and  powerful- 
ly recommended  to  the  Father's  keeping,  by  one 
whom  the  Father  heareth  always,  and  whose  joint 
interest  in  the  believer  is  one  and  the  same  with 
the  Father's,  for  all  mine  are  thine,  and  thine  are 
mine  ;  how  is  it  possible  that  such  can  ever  perish, 
or  that  any  should  pluck  them  out  of  his  almighty  hand'? 
Keep  this  sweet  scripture  therefore  I  charge  you, 
always  in  your  bosom,  and  carry  it  about  with  you 
whithersoever  you  go  ;  that  its  influence  may  be 
perpetual,  and  that  the  will  of  the  Redeemer,  cor- 
responding with  the  gift  and  grace  of  tl  c  Father^ 
may  never  escape  your  recollection  ;  Father,  I 
will  that  they  also  whom  thou  hast  ghen  me  be 
with  me  where  1  am,  that  they  may  behold  the 
glory  which  thou  hast  ghen  me."  John  xvii.  24. 


ISO  '".ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

The  Interpreter  conducted  me  to  the  door,  aixt, 
as  I  stepped  over  the  threshold,  I  turned  about 
once  more  to  express  my  thankful  acknowledg- 
ment of  the  affectionate  manner  in  which  I  had 
been  entertained— 


■Since  we  part, 


Adieu,  kind  friend,  Interpreter  From  God, 
Sent  from  whose  sovereign  goodness  I  adore. 
Gentle  to  me,  and  affable,  hath  been 
Thy  condescension,  and  shall  be  ever  honour'd 
With  grateful  mem'ry. 

But  it  was  an  event  which  .the  coincidence  of 
circumstances  in  a  pilgrim's  life,  like  mine,  could 
only  produce,  that  soon  after  I  left  the  house  of 
the  Interpreter,  I  met  the  poor  man,  of  whom  such 
honourable  testimony  is  made  by  me  in  the  for- 
mer part  of  these  memoirs,  accompanied  with  my 
moral  neighbour,  at  whose  instance  I  attended  the 
elegant  preacher's  sermon,  who  is  also  mentioned 
in  the  first  days  of  my  inquiry  for  the  way  to  Ziom 
Struck  with  astonishment  at  what  I  saw,  that  such 
an  one  should  come  on  pilgrimage,  I  was  going  to 
express  my  surprise,  when  he  anticipated  all  my 
inquiries,  by  accounting  for  the  change.  "  To 
this  dear  friend  (he  cried,  taking  the  poor  man  by 
the  hand)  I  am  indebted,  under  God,  for  the 
gracious  conversion  of  my  mind  from  the  error 
of  its  ways.  I  felt  no  small  confusion  from  the 
strength  of  your  observations  respecting  the  inef- 
fectual tendency  of  morality  to  justify  before  God ; 
and  particularly  from  the  manner  in  which  you 
stated  it  in  your  conversation,  as  instanced  in  the 
conduct  of  brethren  towards  one  another,  while  de- 
ficient in  love  and  obedience  towards  their  Father, 


ZION'3   PILGRIM.  1SI 

But  the  remarks  of  this  poor  man  at  the  church 
porch,  after  the  sermon  we  had  heard,  were  such 
as  threw  to  the  ground,  through  God's  grace,  all 
the  building  of  self  confidence  which  I  had  been 
rearing  up  from  the  supposed  rectitude  of  my  life. 
And  since  that  time,  I  have  been  so  ifeoroughljr 
convinced,  from  the  frequent  instructions  of  this 
dear  friend,  whom  I  have  made  my  constant  com- 
panion, of  the  utter  impossibility  of  man's  being 
justified  by  any  thing  of  his  own  before  God,  that 
all  my  astonishment  now  is,  not  that  l  have  forever 
relinquished  the  vain  pretension,  but  that  I  ever 
should  have  imbibed  it.     I  am  no  t  fully  sat- 

isfied, I  bless  God,  that  so  far  is  the  highest  moral 
virtue  from  affording  any  ground  of  justification 
before  God,  that  unless  divine  grace  keep  tb 
soul  humble  under  all  its  attainments,  it  is  apt  to 
produce  pride  in  our  hearts,  and  thereby  to  sub- 
ject us  to  the  greater  condemnation.  It  may  very 
safely  be  granted,  that  all  moral  excellencies  will 
be  the  necessary  result  of  true  religion,  as  good 
fruit  will  be  the  natural  production  of  a  good  tree  ; 
and  that,  after  the  greatest  pretensions,  we  have  no 
authority  to  call  that  man  religious  who  is  immor- 
al. But  it  must  at  the  same  time  be  insisted  upon 
as  strenuously,  that  so  iar  detached  is  morality 
from  religion,  in  a  great  variety  of  instances,  that 
nothing  is  more  common  in  life,  than  to  see  per- 
sons  who  are  truly  irreproachable  in  their  conduct 
towards  man,  who  are  totally  remiss  and  even 
profane  as  to  their  demeanor  before  God.  Hence, 
therefore,  there  are  a  thousand  cases  to  which  the 
best  and  most  extensive  laws  ef  morality  cannot 
reach  ;  but  yet  they  are  all  cognizable  before  him 


152  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

who  trieth  the  heart.  I  discovered  these  truths? 
by  this  poor  man's  instruction,  through  divine 
grace,  and  immediately  found  the  fallacy  under 
which  I  had  been  living.  And,  blessed  be  God, 
I  have  now  learnt,  that,  without  repentance  towards 
God,  and  faith  in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christy  the  most 
punctual  and  diligent  discharge  of  the  moral  obli- 
gations I  owe  my  neighbour,  cannot  justify  me 
before  God." 

My  heart  rejoiced  at  what  I  heard,  and  secretly 
I  felt  within  me  the  full  force  of  that  question^ 
What  hath  God  wrought  ? 

I  detain  not  the  reader  with'  the  relation  of  what 
followed  tiiis  unexpected  meeting ;  neither  do  I 
think  it  necessary  to  extend  my  narrative  by  an 
account  of  a  great  variety  of  occurrences  with 
which  my  pilgrimage  hath  since  been  distinguish- 
ed. I  promised  him  at  the  commencement  of  my 
history,  that  it  should  be  a  short  one,  from  the  hour 
in  which  the  Lord  was  pleased  to  call  me  by  his 
grace,  to  the  period  in  which  I  sat  down  to  com* 
Biunicate  it ;  and  having  brought  the  subject  thus 
far,  I  shall  therefore  now  relieve  the  reader's  atten- 
tion altogether^ 

To  tell  him  of  my  present  feelings,  amidst  a 
mingled  state  of  many  precious  assurances,  tem- 
pered with  many  trying  dispensations,  would  be  to 
relate  the  uniform  history  of  every  pilgrim  to  Zion. 
These  are  the  spots  of  God's  children,  and  they  all 
prove  a  family  likeness.  I  am  frequently  exercis- 
ed with  deep  and  sharp  trials,  and  sometimes  feel 
a  heart  disposed  to  tell  my  heavenly  Teacher, 
that  I  think  I  might  be  spared  many  such  lessons. 
But  the  upshot  of  -the  instruction  generally  brings 


ZION'S   PILGRIM.  153 

me  to  this  conclusion  :  "  How  happy  k  is  for 
me,  that  I  am  placed  under  a  wiser  and  better  di- 
rection than  mv  own  !" 

lam  now  waiting  the  Master's  call,  rather,  I 
persuade  myself  (if  I  know  any  thing  of  my  own 
heart)  with  a  pleasing,  than  an  anxious  expecta- 
tion. My  desire  is  to  die  daily  to  the  world,  and  to 
crucify  the  flesh  with  its  affections  and  lusts.  I 
wish  to  sit  as  detached  as  possible  from  every 
thing  here  below,  that,  when  the  carriage  to  fetch 
me  stops  at  my  door,  I  may  rise  up  instantly,  and 
depart  to  meet  the  Lord  in  the  air.  Under  this 
view,  my  heart  is  weaning  more  and  more,  I  hope, 
from  all  things  beneath  the  sun.  Little  of  this 
world  can  I  speak,  for  I  know  but  little  of  its  em- 
ployments. 1  a ni  seeking  a  better  country,  that  is, 
an  heavenly.  And  what  is  it  to  the  man  under 
sentence  of  death  in  Newgate,  what  is  transacting 
on  the  Royal  Exchange  ? 

And  as  to  the  full  assurance  of  faith,  respecting 
the  possession  of  those  immortal  objects  which 
open  before  mc,  I  can  and  do  say,  with  the  hum- 
blest, but  at  the  same  time  with  the  best  grounded 
confidence,  I  know  in  w/iom  I have  believed  ;  being 
confident  of  this  very  tiling,  that  he  who  hath  begun 
a  good  work  in  me,  will  perform  it  until  the  day  of 
Jesus  Christ.  That  crown  of  righteousness,  which 
the  apostle  declared  was  not  only  laid  up  for  him, 
but  for  all  them  that  love  the  appearing  of  the  Lord, 
is  laid  up  for  me  also,  I  hue  examined  myself 
by  this  standard,  as  well  as  by  every  other  which 
I  know  of:  Do  I  love  the  Lord's  appearing? 
Yes  !  I  love  his  appearing  in  the  conversion  of 
every  poor  sinner   whom  God  the  Holy  Ghost 

02 


154  ZION'S  PILGRIM. 

makes  willing  in  the  day  of  his  power.  I  love  his 
appearing  in  the  gracious,  seasonable,  and  suita- 
ble relief  of  all  his  tried  family.  I  love  his  appear- 
ing in  the  defence  of  his  oppressed  ones  from  sin 
and  Satan,  in  the  ten  thousand  instances  with 
which  they  are  exercised  here  below^  And,  I 
trust,  I  am  of  that  happy  number  who  are  said  to 
be  looking  for ;  and  hasting  unto,  the  coming  of  that 
great  day  of  his  appearing,  when  he  s/iall  come  to  be 
glorified  in  his  saints,  and  to  be  admired  in  all  them 
that  believe. 

Reader,  farewell  !  May  our  experience,  when 
Jesus  comes,  correspond  with  the  declaration  of  the 
prophet  :  It  shall  be  said  in  that  day,  Lo  !  this  is 
our  God,  we  have  waited  for  him,  and  he  will  save 
us :  this  is  the  Lord,  we  have  waited  for  him;  we 
tyill  be  glad  and  rejoice  in  his  salvation.     Amen* 


END     OF    2tON?S    PILGRIM. 


THE 

HARVEST    HOME. 


WRITTEN      IN     ENGLAND,     AFTER     A     THREATENING 

DROUGHT. 

KOW  quickly  does  joy  often  succeed  to  sor- 
row ;  the  clay  of  cheerful  hope  to  that  of  gloomy 
fear  ;  and  the  season  of  plenty  and  abundance  to 
that  of  want  and  scarcity !  Not  long  since  the 
dearth  of  bread  in  this  land  was  such,  that  every 
countenance  seemed  to  gather  blackness  :  the  very 
heavens  also  appeared  to  frown  upon  us  ;  for  the 
weather,  during  a  long  time,  was  so  dismal  that 
it  threatened  to  blast  the  approaching  Harvest ;  we 
were  made  to  feel  that  we  were  in  the  hands  of 
God,  and  totally  dependent  on  his  mercy  ;  having 
enjoyed  many  years  of  plenty  without  interrup- 
tion, we  had  learnt  to  count  upon  the  continuance 
of  the  same  blessing  ;  and  because  God's  good- 
ness had  been  so  common,  we  were  so  much  the 

s  thankful  for  it.  How  calamitous  would  a 
general  blight  upon  our  corn  have  proved  at  this 
season  ?  every  mind  must  shudder  at  such  k 
thought;  such  a.  blight  was  threatened  indeed, 
but  suddenly,  and  at  the  very  point  of  time,  when 
it  was  most  needed,  the  weather  changed,  and  a 
on  unusually  favourable  for  "'ettin^  in  the  fruits 
of  the  earth  has  succeeded. 

Man,  it  may  be  remarked,  is  more  ready  to 
pray  to  God  to  help  him  out  of  his  distresses,  than 
to  thank  him  when  he  has  been  delivered  ;  for  we 


156  THE    HARDEST    HOME. 

are  often  merely  selfish  m  such  prayers ;  we  feel 
a  pressing  want  of  the  blessing,  and  we  therefore 
cry  to  God  for  it ;  but  when  it  is  obtained,  our 
whole  end  is  answered,  we  now  are  satisfied,  we 
grow  careless  about  the  matter,  and  forget  to  think 
of  our  Benefactor. 

But  let  us  here  endeavour  to  prevent  this  forget- 
fulness  of  our  present  mercies  from  taking  place 
in  the  minds  of  our  readers,  and  let  us  invite  them 
to  come  and  contemplate  with  us  that  greatness 
and  goodness  of  our  Creator,  which  are  so  observe 
able  at  the  time  of  Harvest- 
There  is  indeed  no  part  of  the  creation  to  which 
wre  can  turn  our  eyes  without  meeting  with  some- 
proofs  of  the  divine  power  and  mercy*  Shall  we 
lift  up  our  eyes  to  the  heavens?  There  shines  the 
brightness  of  the  sun,  which  God  has  placed  in 
the  firmament  to  give  light  and  heat  to  the  world. 
Shall  we  wait  till  the  sun  is  set  ?  Then  the  moon 
and  the  stars  take  up  the  same  language  of  praise, 
and  tell  of  their  Maker's  power  and  goodness. 

Shall  we  turn  our  eyes  to  the  earth  ?  See  how 
the  surface  of  it  is  spread  forth  like  a  carpet,  deck- 
ed with  every  thing  to  charm  the  eye,  to  delight 
the  sense,  and  to  supply  the  wants  of  man.  Shall 
we  look  upon  the  great  and  wide  ocean?  There 
go  the  ships;  and  behold  even  the  sea  is  filled 
with  food  for  the  use  of  man.  Hoxv  manifold  are 
thy  works )  0  Lord,  inwisdom hast  thou  made  them 

ml 

The  sight  of  these  common  objects  of  nature, 
used  oftei^i  to  carry  out  the  holy  men  of  old  m 
praise  and  adoration  to  God,  of  which  we  will 
mention  an  instance  in  the  65th  Psalm,  becraise  it 
is  applicable  to  the  present  time :  a  psalm  penned 


TXE    HARVEST    HOMS.  15? 

after  a  long  drought,  to  which  had  succeeded 
some  very  plentiful  and  refreshing  rains.  The 
psalmist^  while  he  walks  abroad,  and  delights 
iiimself  with  the  beautiful  appearance  of  the 
harvest,  and  with  the  prospect  of  plenty  which  is 
on  every  side,  breaks  out  in  the  following  thanks - 
giving  to  the  bountiful  Giver  of  all  things  :  Praise 
waiteth  for  theey  0  God !  in  Sim,  and  nnto  thee 
shall  the  vow  be  performed.  0  thou  that  didst  hear 
our  prayer,  unto  thee  shall  all  flesh  come.  Thou 
makest  the  out -goings  of  the  morning  and  evening  to 
rejoice.  Thou  visitest  tlic  earth  and  w  ate  rest  it. 
Thou  greatly  enrichest  it  with  the  river  of  Cod,  (for 
the  clouds  are  compared  to  a  river  in  the  air,  sus- 
tained by  the  hand  of  the  Almighty.)  Thou  pre- 
parcst  corn  when  thou  hast  so  provided  for  it :  Thou 
iv  a  teres  t  the  ridges  thereof  abundantly :  Thou  set- 
tlcst  the  furrows  thereof:  Thou  makest  it  soft  with 
showers :  Thou  blcssest  the  springing  thereof  Thou 
crownest  the  yectr  with  thy  goodness,  and  thy  paths 
drop  fatness ;  the  little  hills  rejoice  on  every  side. 
The  pastures  are  clothed  with  flocks  ;  the  rallies 
also  are  covered  over  with  com  ;  they  shout  for  joy; 
they  also  sing. 

To  every  one  who  is  of  the  same  mind  with  the 
psalmist,  the  bamc  kind  of  meditations  will  be  very 
apt  to  occur.  Let  us,  however,  here  assist  the 
reader,  by  naming  a  few  subjects  which  he  will 
do  veil  to  reflect  upon  while  he  takes  his  walk 
amidst  the  reapers,  and  admires  the  plenty  that  is 
in  the  fields, 

First,  then,  how  naturally  ought  the  season  of 
harvest  to  *cn(]  our  thoughts  to  the  great  Author  of 
it !  How  clearly  is  his  hand  at  this  time  seen  !  All 
the  power  and  ingenuity  of  the  whole  world  cannot 


158  THE    HARVEST    HOM, 

frame  so  much  as  a  single  ear  of  corn.  The  part 
which  man  has  in  procuring  the  corn  is  very  small 
indeed.  He  in  fact  does  nothing  himself  towards 
its  growth ;  he  only  places  the  seed  in  a  situation 
which  from  experience  he  has  found  to  be  favoura- 
ble to  it,  and  then  "  He  gaeth  envoys  and  it  spring- 
eth  up  he  knowetk  not  how."  The  seed  which  he 
plants  was  in  the  first  place -given  by  God;  when 
the  sower  lias  put  it  into  the  ground,  there  is  then 
a  work,  or  operation,.,  carried  on,  in  which  man  is 
not  only  unconcerned,  but  he  does  not  even  know 
how  it  is  accomplished.  The  grain  dies,  and  from 
that  death  a  resurrection  takes  place,  a  fresh  plant 
arises  out  of  the  ground,  and  this  plant  is  nourish- 
ed by  means  of  roots  hidden  within  the  earth, 
which  then  shoot  forth  without  the  aid  of  man : 
in  this  secret  manner  are  the  different  juices  col- 
lected and  sent  through  the  plant :  by  and  by  the 
flower  blooms ;  the  ear  forms  itself;  and  the  corn 
takes  the  proper  shape  and  substance ;  the  rain  in 
the  mean  time  waters  it ;  the  dews  descend,  and 
the  sun  shines  upon  it,  till  at  length  it  is  fit  for  the 
use  of  man.  In  all  this,  man  can  do  nothing.  It 
is  during  his  absence  even  that  this  work  is  going 
on.  If  the  grain  is  blighted,  man  cannot  help  it; 
if  it  grows  too  slowly,  he  is  not  able  to  quicken  it ; 
he  can  only  look  on- with  hope  and  fear,  and  watch 
k  in  its  different  stages :  he  must  ascribe  all  its 
growth  to  the  unassisted  power  of  the  great  Crea- 
tor of  all  things. 

Plain  as  the  hand  of  the  Creator  is  in  the  pro- 
duction of  the  corn,  yet  such  is  our  natural  stupidi- 
ty, that  while  we  gather  the  corn,  we  often  think 
no  more  of  God  in  it,  than  the-very  cattle  which 
draw  it  home-.     The  farmer  speaks  of  his  owa 


THE    HARVEST    HOME.  15f 

skill,  and  labour,  and  pains ;  and  when  the  grain  is 
ripe,  he  lays  it  up  in  bis  barn,  with  much  self-ap- 
plause, and  begins  to  count  his  gains,  not  consider- 
ing that  all  the  praise,  in  fact,  is  due  to  God,  and 
that  every  ear  which  is  laid  up  is  a  proof  of  man's 

obligation  to  his  Maker. 

p 

But  let  us  here  notice  also  the  largeness  of  the 
divine  bounty.  The  works  of  God  are  upon  a 
large  scale  ;  they  are  like  himself,  infinite.  The 
works  of  man  are  little  and  insignificant ;  it  is  but 
a  small  spot  which  his  strength  can  water,  but  the 
showers  of  heaven  water  a  whole  territory  at  once. 
It  is  but  a  few  acres  which  the  diligent  labours  of 
man  can  make  productive;  but  God  causes  his 
sun  to  shine,  and  his  dew  to  descend,  and  the 
whole  earth  is  rendered  fruitful.  Look  over  that 
beautiful  and  extensive  prospect :  See  as  far  as 
the  eye  can  reach  how  the  fields  arc  crowned  with 
plenty;  extend  the  scene  in  your  imagination, 
s*ill  the  same  rich  view  of  the  divine  bounty 
presents  itself.  Cross  the  wide  ocean,  and  survey 
the  different  countries  of  which  the  earth  consists. 
In  all  the  varied  productions  of  these  different  cli- 
mates, we  only  meet  with  more  and  more  signs 
of  the  divine  goodness.  How  are  we  then  called 
upon  to  admire  and  adore  that  glorious  Being,  who 
suffers  no  part  of  the  earth  to  escape  his  kind  and 
benignant  notice! 

With  the  extensiveness  of  this  bounty  let  the 
continuance  of  it  be  considered.  No  sooner  is 
the  harvest  got  in,  than  again  the  r^ccd  is  commit- 
ted to  the  ground,  and  again  the  same  scene  re- 
turns  upon  us.  Let  us  carry  back  our  thoughts 
to  the  years  that  have  been  of  old.  Hew  ujiweai  led 
has  been  our  great  Benefactor !    How  unceasing 


160  THE    HARVEST    HOME. 

the  exertions  of  his  goodness !  How  many  gen- 
erations have  been  fed  and  supported  by  it X 
Seasons  have  changed,  but  they  have  only  pre- 
sented different  views  of  the  Lord's  mercy ;  and 
the  cold  of  winter,  the  bloom  of  spring,  the  heat  of 
summer,  and  the  fruits  of  autumn,  have  each  in 
their  seasons  manifested  the  same  bounty  and  care 
of  our  Creator. 

Having  indulged  in  these  pleasing  reflections 
upon  the  divine  bounty,  it  seems  proper  in  the 
next  place  to  turn  our  attention  to  a  more  melan- 
choly subject ;  I  mean  our  unvoorthiness  of  it.  For 
whom  does  the  Lord  open  his  stores,  and  provide 
with  so  liberal  a  hand  ?  For  a  race  of  creatures  who 
are  touched  with  the  most  lively  sense  of  his  good- 
ness, and  love  and  honour  him  in  proportion  to 
these  great  obligations  ? 

Do  we  then  hear  the  reapers,  while  they  cut 
down  the  corn,  speaking  good  of  the  name  of  the 
Lord,  and  blessing  him  for  his  kindness  to  the 
children  of  men  ? — Hark  !  is  it  the  hymns  of  praise 
which  they  are  chanting  in  yonder  field  ?  Is  the 
song  they  sing  that  song  of  the  psalmist  which  has 
just  been  spoken  of?  Methinks  instead  of  it,  some 
song  full  of  profaneness  and  obscenity  is  sung 
aloud.  The  name  of  God,  indeed,  is  on  many 
lips,  but  it  is  onl)r  that  it  may  be  trifled  with  or 
blasphemed.  What  then,  are  these  men  gathering 
God's  bounty,  and  in  the  same  moment  profaning 
his  name  ?  But  follow  them  to  the  harvest  home  : 
Surely  now,  at  least,  they  meet  and  offer  up  their 
prayer  and  thanksgiving,  and  while  God  is  in  the 
act  of  crowning  the  year  with  his  bounty,  each 
tongue  is  loud  in  talking  of  his  mercy,  and  each 
grateful  heart  is  swelling  with  his  praise.     It  k 


THE    HARVEST    HOME.  161 

commonly  reported,  that  there  is  no  season  of  the 
year  in  w  hich  so  much  wickedness  and  drunken- 
ness  prevail  among  the  farmers,  as  in  that  of  bring- 
ing the  harvest  home.  Are  these  then  the  returns 
which  in  this  year  also  we  are  making  to  the  di- 
vine goodness?  Is  all  our  complaining  of  want, 
and  our  prayer  to  God  for  deliverance,  to  end  in  a 
drunken  abuse  of  the  mercies  he  so  wonderfully 
bestows  ? 

But  not  to  dwell  on  vices  which  are  so  great, 
that  we  would  willingly  hope  they  must  only  be 
the  vices  of  a  few,  let  us  a  little  consider  also  the 
general  unworthiness  of  mankind.  Who  are  they 
that  will  be  fed  by  this  abundant  harvest?  Will 
no  idle  persons  be  maintained  by  it?  Will  no  sin- 
ners have  their  strength  sustained,  so  as  to  con- 
tinue their  life  of  sin?  Will  there  be  none  Mho 
will  eat  with  unthankfulness?  None  who,  as  the 
reapers  have  reaped  it  without  thinking  of  the 
Author  of  the  harvest,  will,  in  like  manner,  feed 
upon  it  without  thinking  of  the  Author  of  their 
food!  Again,  will  no  discontented,  murmur- 
ing, repining  people  be  fed  by  this  goodness 
of  the  Lord  ?  Will  all  those,  in  short,  whose 
life  is  prolonged  by  the  bread  now  sent  them,  de- 
vote that  life  to  the  service  of  him  who  prolonged 
it  ?  Surely  if  we  could  remove  ourselves  to  a  dis- 
tance from  the  earth,  and  become  by  any  means 
impartial  judges  between  God  and  man,  we 
should  stand  astonished  at  the  present  rebellion  of 
the  creature.  He  who  made  man,  he  who  sup- 
ports him,  sending  him  the  very  bread  which  he 
eats,  has  a  right  to  his  services  ;  and  hath  made 
him  no  doubt  for  his  own  glory.     Methinks  if  any 

P 


162  «         THE    HARVEST    HOME. 

of  us  were  endowed  with  power  to  create  some  lit- 
tle rational  animal,  inferior  to  ourselves,  and  if, 
after  having  breathed  into  him  the  breath  of  life, 
we  also  daily  clothed  and  nourished  him,  we 
should  expect  his  obedience,  and  constant  service 
in  return ;  and  if,  after  all,  such  a  being  should 
presume  to  set  up  for  himself,  and  pretend  to  have 
a  will  of  his  own,  and  break  all  the  laws  we  had 
given  him,  we  should  be  ready  methinks,  to  stamp 
our  foot  upon  him,  and  to  crush  him  to  death  at 
once,  for  not  fulfilling  the  ends  of  his  creation. 
We  should  have  no  patience  with  such  a  little  in- 
solent and  rebellious  animal.  And  yet  God  has 
patience  with  us,  notwithstanding  all  our  forgetful- 
ness  of  the  ends  for  which  we  were  born,  and  our 
unthankfulness  for  the  daily  returns  of  his  bounty. 
Nay,  though  we  go  on  abusing  his  mercies,  he 
goes  on  clodiing  the  pastures  with  his  flocks. 
The  vallies  also  are  again  covered  over  with  corn  : 
again  they  shout  for  joy  ;  they  also  sing.  O  let  us 
be  ashamed  of  the  baseness  of  our  ingratitude,  and 
repent  in  the  name  of  Christ,  before  the  day  of 
his  vengeance  is  come  upon  us ! 

The  season  of  harvest  is  also  one  which  should 
lead  us  particularly  to  reflect  on  our  dependence  up- 
on God.  God  gave  us  life  at  first.  He  causes  our 
blood  to  flow,  our  heart  to  beat,  and  our  stomach 
to  distribute  the  nourishment.  He  too  supplies 
the  food  we  eat,  of  whatever  kind  it  be.  We  may 
x  combine  together  different  meats  ;  We  may  dress 
them  in  a  variety  of  ways,  but  we  can  create  noth- 
ing ;  God  is  the  only  giver  of  life  and  food,  and  all 
things  :  And  happy  is  that  man  who  lives  in  the 
lively  remembrance  of  this,  wrho  accepts  all  his 
.comforts  as  from  the  hand  of  the  great  God,  ha- 


THE    HARVEST    HOME.  163 

bitually  feeling  that  he  his  not  of  himself  power 
to  subsist  for  a  single  moment,  or  to  procure,  in- 
dependent of  God,   one  single  drop  of  water,  or 
grain  of  bread.       And  this  sense  of  our  depend- 
ence is  not  a  duty  only,  it  is  a  great  comfort  also  : 
for  how  does  it  tend  to  relieve  all  that  anxiety, 
which  is  so  natural  to  us,  about  our  subsistence  in 
the  time  to  come  !     The  more  we  remember  that 
Ave  are  the  creatures  of  God,  so  much  the  more 
shall  we  trust  to  him  to  provide  for  his  large  fam- 
ily, even  as  a  child  trusts  to  the  care  and  prudence 
of  his  parent.     Behold  the  fowls  of  the  air,   they 
soiv  not,  neither  do  they  reap,  nor  gather  into  barns, 
yet  your  heavenly  Father  feedeth  them. 
\  Next  to  this  sense  of  our  dependence,  gratitude 
to  God  may  be  mentioned  as  peculiarly  becoming. 
Methinks  at  this  time  not  only  the  heavens  above, 
but  the  earth  beneath,   calls  aloud  upon  us  to  be 
thankful.       Every  field,  every  ear  of  corn,  seems 
to  bid  us   speak  the  praises  of  God.       How  do 
these  glorify  him,   as  it  were,   by  an  expressive 
though  dumb  offering  of  praise  !      But  man  has 
a  tongue  with  which  he  can  speak  forth  the  praises 
of  his  Maker.     It  is  for  the  sake  of  man  also  that 
the  storehouse  of  divine  bounty  is    opened  ;   it  is 
for  man  that  the  pastures  are  clothed  with  flocks, 
and  the  vallies  covered  with  corn  ;   it  is  for  man 
that  the   sun   shines,   and   the   showers  descend. 
From  him  then  should  the  offering  of  praise  con- 
tinually rise  up. 

44  But  why  will  you  suppose  mankind  to  be  so 
unthankful  ?"  Methinks  I  hear  some  one  reply, 
11  Do  you  think  we  do  not  know  as  well  as  vou, 
that  we  ought  to  praise  God  for  a  good  harvest  ? 
There  will  always  indeed  be  a  few  wicked  people 


1C4  THE     HARVEST     HOME. 

in  the  land,  but  in  general  we  understand  well 
enough  that  it  is  God  who  sends  us  bread,  and 
all  our  mercies  :  nay,  when  any  of  us  speak  of 
having  got  a  good  crop,  thank  God  is  the  very 
phrase  that  is  quite  common  in  our  lips.  I  admit 
it  is  so,  and  I  hope  indeed  that  many  thousand 
hearts  have  already  offered  up  the  sincere  tribute 
of  thanksgiving  for  the  present  plentiful  season. 
But  we  cannot  help  adding  here,  that  there  is  a 
way  far  beyond  that  of  simple  praise,  by  which 
true  gratitude  will  manifest  itself.  It  will  break 
out,  not  in  words  only,  but  in  deeds — in  deeds  I 
mean  of  obedience  to  him  towards  whom  the 
gratitude  is  felt.  What  would  any  father  think 
of  the  gratitude,  of  a  child,  or  any  husband  of  the 
gratitude  of  a  wife,  which  never  shewed  itself  in 
any  thing  else  but  a  few  warm  expressions  of  ob- 
ligation. "No,  it  is  by  the  readiness  and  activity 
in  serving  the  person  praised,  and  by  the  desire 
in  all  respects  to  please  him,  that  the  disposition 
to  gratitude  must  be  judged  of.  A  man  may  say, 
"  Thank  God"  twenty  times  a  day,  and  yet  never 
truly  thank  him  in  his  heart.  Words  are  cheap. 
Many  men  think  to  pay  God  off,  as  it  were,  by 
this  sort  of  coin.  Let  it  be  remarked  also, 
that  there  is  a  satisfaction  and  self-complacency 
which  are  naturally  felt  on  receiving  abundance  of 
wealth  into  our  lap  :  we  are  put  into  good  hu- 
mour by  it,  and  when  we  are  reminded  that  God 
is  the  Author  of  Gur  prosperity,  the  truth  of  this 
is  so  plain  that  we  cannot  deny  it,  and  since  our 
understandings  agree  to  the  observation,  we  fancy 
that  our  hearts  agree  also ;  whereas,  in  fact,  we 
only  judge  that  God  ought  to  be  thanked,  but  we 
do  not  thank  him  ;  and  as  to  the  good  humour  we 


THE    HARVEST    HOME.  165 

are  in,  it  arises  merely  from  our  being  well  pleas- 
ed with  ourselves,  or  with  the  enjoyments  which 
God  has  given  us,  and  not  from  our  being  well 
pleased  with  God.  That  we  practise  some  such 
frauds  as  these  on  ourselves  is  but  too  plain  ;  for 
mark  now  what  follows.  When  the  same  person, 
who  has  been  thanking  God  so  often  for  his  mer- 
cies, is  by-and-by  called  to  do  something,  to  suf- 
fer something,  or  to  give  up  something  for  the 
sake  of  serving  this  gracious  Being  to  whom  he 
professed  such  prodigious  gratitude,  he  is  then 
either  too  idle,  or  too  selfish,  or  too  much  govern- 
ed by  the  opinion  of  his  fellow  creatures,  or  some 
way  or  other  too  full  of  excuses  to  do  what  is 
wanted  of  him  :  on  the  other  hand,  when  some 
temptation  comes  in  his  way,  he  yields  to  it,  and 
sins  against  the  same  God  as  freely  as  if  he  were 
under  no  obligation  to  him.  Let  us  then  beware 
of  this  hypocritical  sort  of  gratitude,  by  which  we 
cannot  deceive  God,  though  we  often  delude  our- 
selves by  it.  Let  us  shew  forth  his  praise,  not 
only  with  our  lips,  but  with  our  lives.  Let  us 
shew  our  sense  of  his  goodness  by  doing  his  will, 
by  reading  his  word,  by  attending  his  worship,  by 
readily  denying  ourselves  for  his  sake,  and  in 
short,  by  laying  out  our  lives  in  his  sen  ice,  and 
by  standing  forth  to  promote  his  cause  in  a  diso- 
bedient and  unthankful  world. 

Here  let  it  be  hinted  also,  that  this  may  be  a 
good  time  for  laying  down  our  plans  for  using  the 
plenty  which  is  flowing  in  to  us.  God  has  now 
given  us  provision  for  another  year  ;  but  for  what 
purpose  has  he  given  it?  In  order  that  we  may 
eat,  and  drink,  and  be  merry  ?  What  then,  have  we 

P2 


166  THE    HARVEST    HOMI. 

not  immortal  souls  ?  The  ereat  end  of  our  Crea- 
tor  is,  that  we  may  serve  him  in  this  world,  and 
may  be  prepared  to  dwell  with  him  forever  in 
heaven.  His  direction  is,  that  we  should  employ 
our  health  and  strength,  and  all  our  vigour  of  body 
and  mind,  in  fulfilling  his  will ;  that  we  should 
seek,  in  the  first  place,  to  know  God,  and  Jesus 
Christ,  whom  he  has  sent  into  the  world,  and  hav- 
ing learnt  to  know  him,  that  we  should  then  act 
in  our  several  stations  from  the  motive  of  love  to 
his  name,  imitating  also  his  bounty,  by  minister- 
ing  to  the  necessities  of  our  fellow  creatures. 
Are  these  then  our  ends  of  living  ?  Is  this  what 
we  propose  to  ourselves  ?  Are  these  the  views 
with  which  we  reap  t^ie  harvest  ?  Are  we  deter- 
mined  that  none  of  it,  as  far  as  in  us  lies,  shall  be 
wasted  in  riot,  or  in  luxury,  or  in  improvement 
consumption  ?  Do  we  look  forward  to  it  as  to  a 
treasure,  with  which  the  hungry  shall  be  fed,  and 
the  poor  be  satisfied  ?  Then  indeed  we  may  re- 
joice in  the  bounty  of  Heaven,  and  we  may  rea- 
sonably trust  that  ail  the  expressions  of  gratitude 
in  cur  lips  are  sincere. 

Again,  let  the  consideration  of  the  goodness  of 
God,  displayed  in  the  fruits  of  the  earth,  raise  our 
minds  to  the  contemplation  of  those  still  greater 
mercies  which  he  is  able  and  willing  to  give  us. 
It  is  with  him  a  small  matter  to  provide  the  earth 
with  food,  or  to  take  care  of  the  body.  See  what 
a  rich  provision  he  has  made,  for  our  souls  ;  for 
them  he  has  not  spared  his  only  begotten  Son, 
but  given  him  up  to  .be  the  propitiation  for  our 
sins !  For  the  sake  of  the  soul  he  has  sent  his 
Holy  Spirit  into  the  world,  to  guide  men  into  the 
knowledge  of  truth.     For  the  soul  he  has  prepar- 


THE    HARVEST    HOME.  167 

ed  an  eternal  harvest  of  blessings,  an  inheritance 
which  is  incorruptible,  undefded,  and  that  fadeth 
not  away,  reserved  in  heaven  for  us.  We  may 
learn  to  value  spiritual  mercies  from  what  we  see 
of  temporal  ones.  Temporal  ones  strike  the 
senses,  and  being  suited  to  our  present  fallen  na- 
ture, are  more  apt  to  fill  our  heaqfs  with  joy  and 
gratitude.  But  we  may  rest  assured  that  the  bles- 
sings, which  God  has  provided  for  the  soul,  are 
much  superior  to  those  provided  for  the  body,  as 
the  soul  is  to  the  body,  and  as  eternity  is  to  time. 
Let  us  then  turn  from  this  earthly  scene  of  abun* 
dance  to  still  nobler  and  larger  blessings.  Let 
the  fields  not  only  preach  to  us  the  immense 
goodness  of  our  Creator,  but  let  them  send  our 
thoughts  also  to  the  unsearchable  riches  that  are 
in  Christ.  Let  the  harvest  serve  to  impress  a 
thoughtless  world  with  wonder,  gratitude,  rev- 
erence, and  love  to  Him  who  is  the  Author,  not 
of  all  our  earthly  treasures  only,  but  of  all  the 
blessings  of  eternity  !  In  short,  let  the  goodness 
of  God  lead  us  all  to  repentance,  and  let  each  of 
us  take  care  that  the  mercies  of  his  Maker  Iv  not 
turned  into  a  curse,  by  rendering  our  hearts  only 
so  much  the  more  full  of  this  world,  and  more 
indiilerent  to  the  blessings  of  the  gospel. 


SIXTEEN  SHORT  SERMONS. 

BY     A 

CLERGYMAN   OF   THE   CHURCH   OF   ENGLAND. 


1.  What  is  a  man  profited,  if  he  shall  gain  the 
whole  world,  and  lose  his  own  soul?  Or  what 
shall  a  man  give  in  exchange  for  his  soul  ? 
Matt.  xvi.  26. 

HOW  little  attention  does  this  infinitely  im- 
portant subject  gain  in  the  world !  How  few  con- 
sider the  salvation  of  their  souls  as  the  great  busi- 
ness of  life  !  You,  who  are  reading  these  lines, 
did  you  ever  lay  it  to  heart,  and  are  you  acting 
accordingly  ?  If  this  is  your  case,  the  following 
language  will  express  your  heart-felt  convictions : 
"  I  have  a  soul  as  well  as  a  body.  My  soul  must 
live  forever,  in  happiness  or  in  misery.  It  is  ca- 
pable of  inconceivably  greater  pain  and  pleasure 
than  my  body  is.  It  is  a  matter  of  comparative- 
ly  little  importance,  whether  I  am  in  abject  pov- 
erty or  in  the  greatest  affluence,  during  the  few 
years  I  am  to  continue  in  the  present  world ! 
whether  I  am  respected,  or  despised  by  my  fellow- 
mortals  ;  whether  my  body  is  sickly  or  healthy, 
full  of  pain  or  at  ease.  These  are  matters  of  small 
consequence  ;  death  is  certain,  and  it  is  near. 
"  Ashes  to  ashes,  and  dust  to  dust,"  must  soon  be 
pronounced  over  my  lifeless  body.  In  a  dying 
moment,  if  I  could  call  the  whole  world  my  own, 
what  good  would  it  do  me  ?  what  comfort  could 
it  afford  me  ?  But  whether  my  soul  is  to  be  eter- 


SHORT     SERMONS.  169 

Bally  happy  or  miserable,  the  companion  of  angels 
and  saints  made  perfect  around  the  throne  of  God, 
or  doomed  to  weeping,  and  wailing,  and  gnashing 
of  teeth,  with  devils  and  damned  spirits  in  hell, 
where  the  worm  never  dieth,  and  where  the  fire 
never  will  be  quenched — this  Is  the  most  mo- 
mentous inquiry  I  ought  to  make.  To  escape 
from  the  wrath  to  come,  and  secure  an  inheritance 
among  the  saints  in  light,  ought  to  be  my  great 
concern.  Is  it  so  ?  Which  world  is  most  in  mv 
thoughts,  this  or  the  next?  Which  am  I  most 
anxious  about  ?  Am  I  not  often  inquiring, 
"  What  shall  I  eat,  what  shall  I  drink,  and  where- 
withal shall  I  be  clothed  ?"  But  when  did  I  se- 
riously inquire,  "  What  must  I  do  to  be  saved  ?" 
If  I  have  no  prevailing  concern  about  my  soul,  I 
may  be  certain  its  state  is  bad,  and  its  danger  ex- 
treme. 


II.     Sin  is  the  transgression  of  the  law,     1  John 

iii.  4. 

SINNER,  did  you  ever  inquire  what  sin  is? 
Did  you  ever  study  the  word  of  God,  that  you 
might  have  proper  views   of  this   gr<  of  all 

evils?  If  you  have  never  made  the  inquiry,  your 
state  is  bad,  dreadfully  bad.  Your  salvation  is 
at  stake.  Look  seriously  into  the  text.  Lift  up 
your  heart  to  God,  and  say,  "  Lord,  give  me 
proper  views  of  sin."  "  Sin  is  the  transgression 
of  the  law."  What  law?  The  law  of  the  most 
holv  God.  Where  is  this  law  to  be  found  ?  It  is 
contained  in  the  ten  commandments.  Did  I  ever 
read  them  with  a  trembling  heart  and  a  faltering 
voice,  asking,  have  I  transgressed  this  or  that  part 
of  God's  holy  law?     Did  I  ever  consider  that  the 


170  SHORT    SERMONS. 

law  may  be  broken  by  thought,  as  well  as  by  word 
or  deed  ?  Did  I  ever  reflect  that  the  law  is  spir- 
itual, reaching  to  the  thoughts,  purposes,  and  in- 
tentions of  the  heart;  that  every  irregular  thought 
is  a  transgression  of  the  law  ;  that  every  unholy 
desire  is  :sin  ;  that  for  c '  every  idle  word  that  men 
speak,  they  must  give  account  in  the  day  of  judg- 
ment,55 Matt*  xii.  36.  that  awful  day,  when  the 
heart- searching  God  shall  judge  the  secrets  of  our 
hearts  ?  Alas !  how  many  idle  thoughts  have  pass- 
ed through  my  mind,  without  the  proper  convic- 
tion, attending  each  of  them,  that  this  is  sin  !  See 
Gen.  vi.  5.  How  many  idle  words  have  I  every 
day  spoken  without  reflecting,  that  for  every  one 
of  these  I  must  give  account !  Matt.  xii.  36. 
When  did  the  evil  of  my  thoughts  and  words 
extort  an  anxious  cry  from  my  heart,  "God  be 
merciful  to  me  a  sinner  VJ  If  sin  be  the  trans- 
gression of  the  law,  that  is,  if  falling  short  of  the 
perfection,  which  the  law  requires  in  thought, 
word,  and  deed,  be  sin,  as  well  as  doing  that 
which  the  law  forbids  ;  how  much  have  I  to  an- 
swer for,  that  perhaps  I  never  before  thought  of! 
Yet  I  have  often  confessed,  "  We  have  done 
what  we  ought  not  to  have  done,  and  left  undone 
what  we  ought  to  have  done,  and  there  is  no 
health  in  us."  Alas  !  I  have  mocked  God,  bv 
confessing  with  my  lips  what  I  did  not  feel  in 
my  heart.  Let  my  conscience,  O  Lord,  now  be 
awakened  to  feel  what  sin  is  ! 


III.     All  have  sinned  and  come  short  of  the  glory 
of  God.     Rom.  iii.  23. 
ALL — and  therefore  you,  my  dear  reader,  and 
myself.     We  have  sinned  ;  that  is,  we  have  bro- 


SHORT    SERMONS*  171 

ken  God's  law,  for  "  there  is  none  righteous,  no 
not  one,"  Rom.  hi.  10.  There  is  none  that  hath 
kept  the  law  of  God.  We  have  transgressed  ev- 
ery precept  of  his  moral  law,  either  in  act,  word, 
or  evil  desire.  The  charge  is  heavy,  but  the 
verdict  is  true.  Let  us  consider  the  case,  ear- 
nestly entreating  God  to  enlighten  our  minds. 
Take  the  ten  commandments  into  your  hand,  and 
read.  We  have  broken  th&Jirst  commandment 
by  trusting  in,  and  loving  other  things  more  than 
God.  "  Thou  shalt  love  the  Lord  thy  God  with 
all  thy  heart."  Matt.  xxii.  37.  In  this  we  have 
come  short.  The  second  respects  the  manner  in 
which  God  is  to  be  worshipped,  not  with  outward 
form  and  ceremony  only,  but  in  spirit  and  in 
truth.  Alas  !  how  deficient  have  we  becji  in  that 
serious  attention,  that  inward  reverence,  and  that 
devout  affection  which  his  worship  required  ! 
God  is  a  jealous  God.  You  say  von  have  never 
been  guilty  of  profane  cursing  and  swearing,  and 
so  think  you  have  kept  the  third :  but  have  you 
never,  in  saying  your  prayers,  or  in  reading  the 
scripture,  suffered  the  holy  name  of  God  to  pass 
through  your  lips,  without  an  awful  sense  of  what 
you  v  e  v  doing,  or  even  without  thought?  "  God 
will  not  hold  him  guiltless  who  taketh  his  name 
in  rain."  Have  you  always  employed  the  whole 
Sabbath  in  those  religious  exercises  v.  Inch  the 
fourth    com*]  »ient    enjoins;     and    performed 

the  in  such  a  devout  manner,  that  the 

law  lias  nothing  to  cl  you   with,  in  thought, 

word,  or  deed  ?  Sinner,  lay  your  hand  upon  your 
mouth,  and  plead  guilty.     Need  I  go  through  the 

thou    "  love  thy  neighbour 
as  t  it  thou  done  unto  all  men  as  thou 


172  SHORT    SERMONS. 

wouldest  they  should  do  unto  thee  ?  Have  you 
never  been  guilty  of  disobedience  to  your  parents  ? 
Know  you  not,  that  every  rising  of  causeless  an- 
ger is  jnurder — Matt.  v.  22.  that  every  unchaste 
desire  is  adultery — Matt.  v.  28.  that  secret  fraud 
and  neglect  of  affording  that  succour  to  the  poor 
which  is  in  your  power,  are  theft ;  that  every 
uncharitable  thought  is  a  breach  of  the  ninth,  and 
every  covetous  wish  a  transgression  of  the  tenth 
commandment?  Surely  all  have  sinned  in  doing 
that  which  the  law  forbids,  and  in  not  doing  that 
which  the  law  commands.  What  have  I  then 
done,  or  what  have  I  not  done?  "  All  have  sin- 
ned." What  is  mv  state  ?  A  state  of  sinfulness 
and  misery.  Why  have  I  not  felt  it  till  now  ? 
Because  sin  hath  blinded  mine  eyes  against  the 
li2;ht  of   truth. 


IV.  Cursed  is  every  one  that  continueth  not  in  all 
things  that  are  written  in  th  e  book  of  the  law  to 
do  them.     Gal.  iii.  10. 

WHAT  means  that  awful  word  "cursed?" 
The  curse  of  God  is  the  declaration  of  his  just 
anger  and  wrath  against  sin  and  the  sinner.  "  Who 
can  stand  in  his  sight  if  he  be  angry  ?"  Ps.  lxxvi. 
7.  But  who  is  cursed  ?  Every  one,  whether 
young  or  old,  rich  or  poor,  learned  or  ignorant, 
that  continueth  not,  throughout  the  whole  period 
of  life,  without  any  intermission,  failure  or  defect 
whatever,  in  all  things,  in  thought,  word,  and 
deed,  doing  perfectly  what  the  law  requires,  and 
keeping  himself  absolutely  free  from  what  the  law 
condemns—46  In  all  things  that  are  written  in  the 
book  of  the  law  to  do  them,  (the  law  being  under- 


SHORT    SERMONS.  173 

stood  in  its  spiritual  and  most  exalted  sense  and 
interpretation  : )  and  remember  that  it  is  farther 
said,  James  ii.  10,  "  that  whosoever  shall  keep 
the  whole  lqw,  and  yet  offend  in  one  point,  he  is 
guilty  of  all."  Now  consider,  has  there  been  a 
day,  an  hour,  a  moment,  in  which  your  state  has 
been  such  as  the  law  requires  ?  The  curse  is  pro- 
nounced on  every  transgressor  for  every  transgres- 
sion :  not  only  for  profaneness,  murder,  adultery, 
and  such  like  gross  acts  of  sin,  but  for  every  sin- 
ful thought,  and  for  every  moment  in  which  you 
have  failed  to  "love  the  Lord  your  God  with  all 
your  heart,  and  with  all  your  soul. "  O  how  many 
curses  then  has  the  law  denounced  against  you 
and  me  !  It  has  been  revealing  the  wrath  of  God 
against  us  year  after  year ;  for,  year  after  year,  we 
have  been  sinning  against  God.  Are  these  things 
so  ?  Can  you  from  scripture  prove  them  to  be 
false  ?  What !  is  every  sinner  cursed  for  every 
sin,  and  have  I  been  perpetually  sinning  all  my  life  ? 
Is  it  true,  that  I  have  never,  from  a  sincere  regard 
to  God,  made  conscience  of  one  thought,  word  or 
action;  never  performed  one  duty,  or  abstained 
from  one  sin,  on  a  right  motive,  love  to  God? 
Has  my  whole  life  been  one  uninterrupted  course 
of  evil?  Is  my  state,  then,  a  state  of  condemna- 
tion ?  How  astonishing  it  is  !  What  a  proof  of  the 
darkness  of  my  mind,  and  hardness  of  my  heart, 
that  I  can  live  one  hour  at  ease  under  the  curse 
of  God !  that  I  can  lie  down  or  rise  up  without 
trembling,  since  the  curse  of  God  must  plunge  the 
sinner  into  lidl  ! 

Q 


174  SKOUT    SERMONS. 

V.  The  Wages  of  Sin  is  Death.    Rom.  vi.  23. 

"  SIN  is  the  transgression  of  the  law,"  1  John 
iii.  4.  that  eternal  rule  of  right  to  rational  beings, 
the  moral  law  of  God.  It  is  sin,  all  sin,  every  sin, 
that  is  here  spoken  of.  Death,  whatever  that  word 
means,  is  the  just  and  certain  reward  of  every  sin 
committed  in  thought,  word,  or  deed.  But  what 
is  death  ?  The  death  of  the  body  is  its  separation 
from  the  soul.  You  are  a  sinner ;  and  this  effect 
of  sin  you  have  begun  to  feel  in  all  those  pains  and 
sicknesses,  which  are  bringing  your  body  to  the 
grave.  You  are  now  a  dying. man.  The  death 
of  the  body,  or  its  separation  from  the  soul,  will 
occasion  its  return  to  the  dust,  from  whence  it  was 
taken.  But  death,  in  the  text,  means  something 
more  :  the  death  of  the  soaL  What  is  that  ?  It  is 
something  as  much  more  dreadful  than  that  of  the 
bodv,  as  the  soul  is  of  more  value  than  the  bodv. 
It  is  the  separation  of  the  soul  from  God,  as  its  life 
and  happiness  :  hence  it  becomes  a  state  of  un- 
avoidable sin,  and,  first  or  last,  a  state  of  self- 
tormenting  anguish,  arising  from  the  forfeiture  of 
the  friendship  of  God,  with  all  its  attendant  bles- 
sings. For  God  is  that  to  the  soul,  which  the 
soul  is  to  the  body.  Spiritual  death,  or  the  death 
of  the  soul,  consists  not  in  the  loss  of  conscious- 
ness or  feeling,  but  in  the  loss  of  the  image  and 
favour  of  God.  "  For  in  his  favour  is  life  ; "  Psalm 
xxx.  5,  and  in  his  frown  is  death.  If  you,  my 
dear  fellow-sinner,  are  not  made  alive  by  God's 
converting  grace,  this  is  your  state.  You^  "are 
dead  in  trespasses  and  sins:"  and  unless  you  are 
quickened  by  God's  Spirit  communicated  to  you, 
before  your  departure  hence,  in  this  unhappy  state 
you  must  forever  continue:  for  the  death  spoken 


SHORT    SERMONS.  175 

of  in  the  text  is  opposed  to  eternal  life  in  the  fol- 
lowing clause.     And  oh,  if  the  effect  of  this  spir- 
itual death  is  misery,  even  in  this  present  life,  (as 
the  experience  of  every  man  testifies,  if  he  will 
own  the  truth)  then  what  mast  it  be  in  the  world 
to  come?    All!    who  can  tell?    We  read  of  "a 
worm  that  never  dies,"  to  prey  on  the  tormenfed 
conscience;  of  "  fire  that  ivdvtr  can  be  quench- 
ed,  to  destroy  both  body  and  soul  in  hel^;"  of 
"  weeping,  and  wailing',  and  gnashing  of  teeth  ;" 
and  all  this  is  to  last  forever.     But  is  there  not  a 
disproportion  between  the  offence  and  the  punish- 
ment?   Let  God  be  true,  and  every  man  a   ! 
He  says,  '4  the  wages,"  the  just  reward,  "  of  sin  is 
death."  God's  truth  binds  him  to  fulfil  his  thi 
ings,  as  well  as  his  promises.     O  fly  from  the 
wrath  to  come,  for  "  who  among  us  can  dwell  with 
devouring  lire  ?    Who  among  us  can  dwell  with 
everlasting  burnings  ?" 


VI.   What  must  I  do  to  be  saved?  Acts  xvi.  30. 

THIS  is  the  anxious  inquiry  of  an  awakened 
sinner.  By  an  awakened  sinner  I  mean  the  man 
who  knows  what  sin  is,  and  who  painfully  feels 
that  he  is  a  sinner,  and  as  such,  under  the  curse  of 
God,  and  in  danger  of  hell-fire.  Are  you  an 
awakened  sinner?  Alas!  all  men  are  naturally 
asleep,  and  insensible  of  their  danger  ;  and  so  con- 
tinue, till  they  are  roused  up  out  of  their  carnal 
slumbers  by  the  word  and  Spirit  of  God.  Tliey 
cry  peace,  peace,  to  themselves,  when  there  is.no 
peace :  for  God  hath  positively  said,  Isa.  xl\  ittu 
22,  "  There  is  no  peace  to  the  wicked."  TheO 
live  on  day  after  day,  keeping  death,  judgment,  and 


176  SHORT     SERMONS. 

eternity,  out  of  their  thoughts;  never  reading  the 
Bible  with  a  sincere  desire  to  know  what  their  state 
is,   and  never  crying  to  God  from  the  bottom  o£ 
their  hearts,  "God  be  merciful  tome  a- sinner." 
If  you  live  without   earnest  prayer  to  God  for 
mercy,  habitually  neglecting  it,  you  give  as  full 
proof  that  you  are  "  alienated  from  the  life  of  God 
through  the  ignorance  that  is  in  you,"  as  if  you 
were  living  in  the  grossest  immoralities.      But 
when  it  pleases  God  to  fasten  conviction  on  the 
heart  of  a  man,  and  toaw7aken  his  conscience,  then 
he  starts  up  as  one  out  of  sleep.     He  sees,  wrhat 
he  never  discovered  before,  that  it  is  an  evil  and 
bitter  thing  to  sin  against  God.     He  reads  in  the 
word -of  truth,    "the  wicked  shall  be  turned  into 
hell,  and  all  the  people  that  forget  God  ;"  Psalm 
ix.  17-  and  trembles  as  he  reads.     He  acknowl- 
edges, "  I  have  forgotten  God,  and  sinned  against 
him  ;"  and  being  convinced  that  "  the  wrages  of  sin 
is  death,"  he  asks,  How  shall  I  escape  the  damna- 
tion of  hell?  Such  a  man  is  deeply  in  earnest, 
when  he  makes  the  inquiry,   "What  must  I  do  to 
be  saved?"    He  feels  that  his  all  for  eternity  is  at 
stake.     The  world,  writh  all  its  pleasures,  profits, 
and  honours,   becomes  tasteless  and    insipid ;    it 
cannot  give  ease  to  his  aching  heart,  nor  heal  his 
wounded  conscience.     He  now  begins  to  pray. 
His  prayer  is  now  the  real  language  of  his  heart, 
not  the  formal,  unmeaning  service  it  was  before. 
A  sense  of  his  danger  drives  him  to  the  throne  of 
grace.     The  word  of  God  he  now  reads  as  the  de- 
cision of  eternal  truth,  and  he  reads  it  as  having  an 
infcrestin  every  line.     O  sinner !  has^this  inquiry 
hee-n  yours,  "  What  must  I  do  to  be  saved?" 


SHORT     SERMONS.  177 

VII.   Repent  ye,  and  believe  the  Gospel.  Mark  i.  15. 

THESE  are  the  words  of  our  blessed  Saviour, 
addressed  to  poor,  guilty  sinners  like  you  and  me. 
But  what  is  repentance  ?  It  is  the  work  of  the  Spir- 
it of  Christ  upon  the  heart,  producing  such  an  in- 
ward sense  of  the  evil  and  guilt  of  sin,  as  makes  a 
man  wonder  that  he  is  out  of  hell ;  such  a  hatred 
of  sin  as  causes  a  man  to  forsake  it ;  and  such  an 
apprehension  of  the  consequences  of  sin,  as  makes 
a  man  willing  to  be  saved  wholly  and  solely 
through  what  Jesus  Christ  has  done  and  suffered 
for  lost  souls.  The  penitent  sinner  is  convinced 
that  sin  deserves  punishment ;  that  he  himself,  as 
a  sinner,  is  liable  to  the  wrath  of  God  ;  that  sin 
must  be  pardoned  or  punished  ;  that  he  can  make 
no  amends  for  the  least  of  his  transgressions,  and 
consequently  that  his  salvation  must  be  ail  of 
grace.  The 'man  thus  humbled  is  prepared  to 
welcome  the  news  of  a  Saviour,  "  who  came  to 
seek  and  to  save  that  which  was  lost."  Matt, 
xviii.  11.  Such  is  the  gospel.  It  is  glad  tidings 
to  a  lost,  guilty  world.  The  sum  and  substance 
of  it  is,  that  "  Christ  Jesus  came  into  the  world  to 
save  sinners."  1  Tim.  i.  15.  He  died  to  make 
satisfaction  for  their  sins  ;  and,  being  God  and  man 
in  one  Christ,  "  he  is  able  to  save  to  the  utter- 
most all  that  come  unto  God  by  him."  Heb.  vii. 
25.  His  blood  being  the  blood  of  God  incarnate, 
Acts  xx.  28,  was  infinitely  meritorious,  audit  was 
shed  for  this  very  purpose,  to  take  away  sin  :  so 
that  if  your  sins,  poor,  self-condemned  sinner,  are 
more  in  number  than  the  hairs  of  your  head,  or 
the  sand  on  the  sea  shore  ;  if  they  are  great  and 
aggravated,  and  red  like  scarlet ;  yet  there  is  hope  : 

Q  2 


178  SHORT    SERMONS. 

"the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  cleanseth  (hath  virtue 
to  cleanse)  from  all  sin."  2  John  i.  7.  "  But  how 
am  I  to  become  interested  in  this,  and  get  the 
comfort  of  it?"  Believe  the  gospel,  rely  on  what 
the  word  of  God  says  about  Jesus  Christ,  and  his 
willingness  and  power  to  save  sinners.  "But 
may  I  without  presumption  believe  that  Jesus 
Christ  came  to  save  such  a  wretch  as  I  am?" 
Yes,  "this  is  God's  commandment,  that  ye  be- 
lieve on  the  name  of  his  Son  Jesus  Christ."  1 
John  hi.  23.  There  can  be  no  presumption  in 
doing  what  God  has  commanded,  and  taking  God 
at  his  word. 


VIII.     This  is  a  faithful  saying  and  worthy  of  at! 

acceptation,  that  Jesus  Christ  came  into  theivorld 

to  save  sinners?  of  whom  I  am  the  chief     Tim. 

i.   15. 

THIS  is  the  sum  of  the  gospel.  Jesus  Christ 
is  God  :  "He  made  the  world,  and  all  that  there- 
in is  :  all  things  were  made  by  him  and  for  him  ;" 
See  John  i.  L — 3.  Col.  i.  19.  But  we  his  crea-' 
tures  broke  his  laws,  and  rebelled  against  him. 
He  might  justly  have  cast  us  into  "hell,  the  lake 
that  burneth  with  fire  and  brimstone*  But  O, 
wondrous  love  !  God  was  manifest  in  the  flesh ; 
was  born  into  the  world.  For  what  purpose  ?  To 
save  sinners.  How  did  he  save  them?  By  dy- 
ing for  them  upon  the  cross,*  bearing  their  sins  in 
his  own  body  upon  the  tree,  and  washing  them 
from  their  sins  in  his  own  blood.  Did  I  ever 
consider  this  wonderful  love  of  God  ?  I  am  a  sin- 
ner, born  in  sin,  and,  as  such,  liable  to  eternal 
punishment.     *  Jesus  Christ  came  into  the  world 


SHORT    SERMONS.  179 

to  save  sinners,"  even  such  as  I  am.  Have  I  ev- 
er earnestly  entreated  him  to  save'  me  ?  Do  I  be- 
Iieve  that  I  am  a  miserable  sinner  ?  Do  I  feel  it 
and  lament  it  ?  And  am  I  sensible  that  unless 
Christ  saves  me,  I  must  be  a  damned  soul  forever  ? 
Alas,  how  many  never  go  to  Jesus  Christ  to  save 
them  !  How  many  are  careless  and  unconcerned 
about  what  Jesus  Christ  has  done  for  sinners ! 
But  do  I  lay  it  to  heart  ?  Arc  all  my  hopes  built 
upon  this  faithful  saying,  "  that  Jesus  Christ  came 
into  the  world  to  save  sinners  ?"  O  what  a  com- 
fortable saying  it  is,  that  though  I  am  a  sinner, 
the  chief  of  sinners,  yet  I  may  be  saved  from  the 
sin  I  have  committed,  and  the  hell  I  have  deserv- 
ed, if,  under  a  penitential  sense  of  my  wickedness, 
I  look  to  Jesus  Christ  and  trust  in  him  !  O  may 
the  Holy  Spirit  enable  me  to  look  unto  Jesus  !  O 
what  should  I>  a  poor  wretched  helpless  sinner,  do, 
if  there  were  no  Jesus  to  save  me  !  How  eagerly 
should  I  welcome  such  glad  tidings  !  Surely  the 
message  is  "  worthy  of  all  acceptation,"  and  ought 
to  be  received  by  all,  since  all  have  sinned,  and 
stand  in  need  of  salvation ;  and  since  all,  who  feel 
their  lost  estate,  may  come  to  him  who  is  able  to 
save  them.  O  Lord,  the  Holy  Ghost,  enable  me 
to  believe  to  the  sfiving  of  my  soul ! 


IX.  Him  that  cometh  unto  me,  1  will  in  no  wise 
cast  out.  John  vi.  37. 
HOW  tenderly  compassionate  is  the  dear 
Friend  of  poor,  lost  sinners  !  How  anxious  does 
he  appear  to  remove  every  objection  out  of  the  way 
of  the  inquiring  soul,  that  is  nmde  willing  to  1>q 


180  SHORT    SERMONS. 

saved  on  gospel  terms,  "  by  grace  through  faith  !" 
Eph.  ii.  8.  Lest  such  should  be  discouraged, 
how  graciously  does  he  describe  their  character 
and  feelings,  inviting  them  with  all  the  eloquence  of 
god-like  pity  to  come  unto  him  !  Hear  his  words, 
Matt.  xi.  28,  "  Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that  labour 
and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest." 
Are  you  weary  of  the  slavery  of  sin,  and  the  bon- 
dage of  Satan  and  the  world?  Are  you  heavy 
laden  with  guilt  in  your  consciences,  and  fear  in 
your  hearts  ?  Behold !  the  loving  Saviour  stands 
with  open  arms  to  receive  you  ;  and  these  are  the 
gracious  words  which  proceed  out  of  his  mouth, 
4'  Come  unto  me,  and  I  will  give  you  rest." 
He  is  faithful  that  hath  promised,  Heb.  x.  23,  and 
cannot  deceive  you.  He  will  not  alter  the  thing 
that  hath  gone  out  of  his  lips.  Psa.  lxxxix.  31. 
Make  the  experiment,  come  to  him.  He  is  able 
and  willing  to  save  ;  wherefore  should  you  doubt  ? 
But  you  say,  "  I  am  a  sinner."  Be  it  known 
unto  you,  that  Jesus  Christ  is  an  almighty  Saviour, 
You  say  farther,  c<  I  have  continued  long  in  open 
rebellion  against  him.  I  have  been  many  years 
sinning  against  him  with  a  high  hand. "  Be  it  so ; 
you  are  not  out  of  the  reach  of  mercy,  nor  is  your 
case  too  desperate  for  the  skill  and  power  of  the  great 
physician.  Do  you  still  object,  "  I  am  a  sinner  of 
no  common  kind,  of  sinners  I  am  chief  ?"  Even 
unto  you  is  the  word  of  this  salvation  sent.  The 
blood  of  Jesus  is  the  blood  of  God,  Acts  xx.  28, 
and  therefore  "  cleanseth  from  all  sin."  1  John 
i.  7.  His  righteousness  is  the  righteousness  of 
God,  Rom.  iii.  23.  and  therefore  is  sufficient  to 
justify  the  most  ungodly.  Do  not  despair ;  for 
thus  saith  thy  Saviour,  the  lover  of  thy  poor  soul. 


SHORT    SERMONS.  181 

u  Him  that  comethunto  me,  I  will  in  no*wise  cast 
out."  He  makes  no  exceptions  ;  being  "  not  wil- 
ling that  any  should  perish,  but  that  all  should 
come  to  repentance."     2  Peter  iii.  9. 

But  you  say,  "  Must  I  not  mend  my  heart  and 
reform  my  life  before  I  venture  to  approach  him  ?" 
If  you  wait  till  you  have  effected  this  in  your  own 
strength,  you  will,  after  all,  die  in  your  sins. 
This  he  must  do  for  you  :  and  this  he  will  effect- 
ually do  for  you,  when  you  come  to  his  cross, 
confessing  your  sins,  and  trusting  in  his  blood  as 
your  atonement.  You  must  come  to  him  just  as 
you  are,  a  poor,  vile  sinner,  to  be  washed  in  his 
blood,  to  be  clothed  in  his  righteousness,  sanctifi- 
ed by  his  Spirit,  and  fitted  lor  his  glory.  Why 
do  you  object  to  receive  what  he  is  so  ready  to 
give,  and  that  freely,  "  without  money,  and  with- 
out price,"  Isa.  lv.  1,  even  pardon,  holiness  and 
heaven?  He  professedly  received)  sinners,  Luke 
xv.  3,  that  he  may  save  them,  and  has  solemnly 
declared,  him  that  cometh  unto  me,  be  the 
person  who,   or  what  he   may,    x    will    in   no 

WISE     CAST    OUT. 


X.     Being  justified  by  faith  %ve  have  peace  with 
God  through,  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.   Rom.  v.  1. 

"THERK  is  no  peace,  saith  my  God,  to  the 
wicked,"  Isaiah  xlviii.  23.  An  unpardoned  sin- 
ner can  have  no  peace  with  God.  While  his  con- 
science is  unawakened,  he  may  be  careless  and  se- 
cure ;  but  as  soon  as  his  eyes  are  opened,  and  his 
heart  is  made  to  feel,  he  must  be  miserable,  till 
God  speaks  peace  to  his  guilty  soul.  To  be  justi- 
fied is  to  be  pardoned  and  accepted  of  God.     Par- 


182  SHORT    SERMONS, 

don  and  acceptance  are  only  to  be  obtained  by 
faith  in  Jesus  Christ,  as  having  atoned  for  sin  by 
his  precious  blood*  When  it  is  given  me  to  be- 
lieve that  Jesus  Christ  hath  taken  away  my  sins, 
there  is  nothing  more  to  distress  my  conscience  ; 
then  I  have  "  peace  with  God."  The  distress  of 
an  awakened  soul  arises  from  a  guilty  conscience, 
and  a  sense  of  his  sins.  As  soon  therefore  as  the 
poor,  trembling  sinner  discovers,  that  Christ  died 
for  such  as  he  is  ;  that  Christ  being  God  is  able 
to  save  the  chief  of  sinners  ;  that  this  was  his  er- 
rand into  the  world  ;  and  that  he  has  said,  "  him 
that  cometh  unto  me  I  will  in  no  wise  cast  out" — 
John  vi.  37— As  soon  as  the  poor  sinner  believes 
this,  he  has  peace  with  God  :  he  can  call  God  his 
father;  he  can  trust  God  for  every  thing;  he  can 
think  of  death  with  comfort,  and  rejoice  in  hope 
of  the  glory  of  God.  Sinner,  is  this  your  state  ? 
Do  you  know  that  there  is  no  salvation  without  an 
interest  in  Christ;  that  there  is  no  peace  with 
God  but  through  Christ ;  that  unless  your  sins 
are  pardoned  your  life  must  be  unhappy,  and  your 
death  the  entrance  on  eternal  misery  ?  If  I  am 
looking  unto  Jesus  as  the  only  Saviour,  and  in 
self-despair  have  fled  unto  him  for  refuge,  then 
God  is  no  longer  angry  with  me;  my  sins,  which 
are  many,  are  forgiven,  my  person  is  accepted, 
and  if  I  die  to  night  I  shall  go  to  God.  O  happy 
state  to  have  nothing  to  fear  in  life  or  death!  to 
have  God  for  our  Friend,  Christ  for  our  Redeem- 
er, the  Holy  Ghost  for  our  Comforter,  death  our 
friend,  heaven  our  home,  and  an  eternity  be- 
fore us^  of  peace  and  joy  !  Sinner,  is  this  thy 
case  ?    . 


SHORT    SERMONS.  183 

XL  Unto  you  which  believe  lie  is  precious.  1  Pet.  ii.  7. 

THE  apostle  is  speaking  of  Jesus  Christ,  the 
dear  dying  friend  of  poor  lost  sinners,  who  pitied 
us,  when  we  had  no  pity  on  ourselves  ;  and  died 
for  us,  when  otherwise  we  must  have  been  cast  in- 
to  hell.  Now  if  you  believe  this,  that  your  sins 
would  have  damned  you,  if  Christ  had  not  taken 
them  on  himself;  and  that  you  must  have  been 
cursed  forever,  if  Christ  had  not  been  made  a 
curse  for  you;  if  you  feel  in  your  hearts  an  humble 
assurance  of  pardon  purchased  by  his  blood  ;  and 
if  you  can  consider  him  as  saying  to  you  in  the 
gospel,  what  he  said  to  the  poor,  sinful  woman, 
Luke  vii.  48 — 50,  ';  Go  in  peace,  thy  sins  are  for- 
given ;"  then  Christ  is  precious  to  you  ;  you  love 
him  above  all  things.  You  love  to  think  of  him  ; 
you  love  to  hear  of  him  ;  you  love  to  talk  of  him  ; 
whatever  lie  has  commanded,  you  desire  to  do ; 
and  whatever  he  has  forbidden,  you  would  not 
willingly  do,  to  gain  the  whole  world.  You  are 
now  become  a  new  creature.  You  cannot  live  as- 
you  once  lived.  You  arc  born  again.  Old  things 
are  passed  away,  and  all  things  are  become  new. 
2  Cor.  v.  17.  "The  things  which  you  once  hated, 
such  as  prayer,  praise,  hearing  and  reading  God's 
word,  you  "now  love  ;  and  the  things  which  you 
once  loved,  such  as  vain  conversation,  and  trifling 
amusements,  you  now  hate.  You  cannot  now  go 
to  bed  at  night  without  thanking  the  adorable 
Saviour  for  the  mercies  of  day  ;  nor  without  com- 
mitting  yourself  to  his  protection  for  the  night,  and 
trusting  your  soul  in  his  hands,  that  if  you  die  be- 
fore morning,  he  may  receive  you  unto  himself: 
and  when  you  rise  in  the  morning,  you  cannot  go 


184  SHORT    SERMONS. 

out  into  the  world  about  your  lawful  business, 
without  begging  him  to  keep  you  from  the  snares 
of  the  world  and  the  temptation  of  Satan.  Your 
one  object  is  to  please  your  beloved  Saviour,  and 
above  all  things,  you  fear  to  offend  him.  You  de- 
sire, "  whether  you  eat  or  drink,  to  do  all  to  the 
glory  of  God."  1  Cor.  v.  14. 


XII.    Folmv  holiness,  "without  which  no  man  shall 
see  the  Lord.      Heb.  xii.  14. 

GOD  is  a  holy  God  :   Christ  is  a  holy  Saviour : 
the  Spirit  of  God  is  a  holy  Spirit :  heaven  is  a 
holy  place :    the  angels  are  holy  angels  :  and  all 
God's  redeemed  people  are  a  holy  people.     Am  I 
a  holy  person  Z  If  I  am  not,  the  scriptures  assure 
me  that  I  shall  not  (cannot)  see  God.     It  is  not 
mere  decency  of  conduct ;  there  may  be  external 
morality  where  there  is  no  holiness,  though  there 
can  be  no  holiness  without  morality.*    If  you  are 
a  holy  person,  you  not  only  abstain  from  sin,  but 
you  really  hate  it.     You  hate  all  sin  :   whatever  is 
not  consistent  with  the  will  of  God  you  hate  and 
abhor.     Your  abhorrence  is  turned  against  your- 
self on  account  of  your  remaining  sinfulness.  You 
discover  sin  not  only  in  your  life,  but  in  your 
heart.     If  you  are  a  sanctified  person,  you  make 
conscience  not  only  of  your  actions  and  words, 
but  of  your  thoughts.     You  desire  not  only  to  ap- 
pear good  in  the  eye  of  the  world,  but  to  approve 
yourself  to  God,  who  searclreth  the  heart.     You 
seek  an   inward  conformity  to  the  mind  and  will 
of  God.     Is  this  the  case  ?    Remember  that  it  is 
written,  ' '  without  holiness  no  man  shall  see  the 
Lord."     Holiness  is,  in  short,  the  love  of  God 


SHORT    SERMONS.  l&S 

shed  abroad  in  the  heart  by  the  Holy  Ghost  given 
unto  us.  This  love  becomes  the  motive  to  all 
holy  obedience ;  the  word  of  God  then  becomes 
the  rule  of  the  whole  conduct ;  and  the  glory  of 
God  is  proposed  as  to  the  end  of  our  conversation. 
Now  no  man  can  enter  heaven  till  he  is  made 
holy.  Do  you  believe  it?  And  is  it  the  prayer 
of  your  heart,  "  Lord,  sanctify  me  wholly,  body, 
soul,  and  spirit?"  If  it  be,  the  Lord  hath  begun 
the  good  work  on  your  heart,  and  he  will  perfect 
it  unto  the  day  of  Jesus  Christ,  that  you  may  be 
presented  holy  and  unblameable  before  him  in 
love. 


XIII.  Looking  for  the  blessed  hope,  and  the  glorious 
appearing  of  the  great  God,  and  our  Saviour  Je- 
sus Christ.     Titus  ii.  13. 

THIS  is  the  happy  privilege  of  the  believer  in 
Christ,  to  be  looking  for  the  second  appearance  of 
his  Lord.  Jesus  has  promised  that  he  will  come 
again:  that  he  will  "  come  quickly."  Rev.  xxii. 
20.  He  has  declared  that  his  coming  will  be 
sudden,  like  that  of  the  thief  in  the  night.  Thess. 
v.  2.  The  believer  is  a  man  who  is  expecting  it, 
waiting  for  it,  and  preparing  to  welcome  it.  He 
knows,  that  though  "  the  Lord  Jesus  shall  be  re- 
vealed from  heaven  with  his  mighty  angels  in 
flaming  fire,  taking  vengeance  on  them  that  know 
not  God,  and  obey  not  the  gospel  of  our  Lord  Je- 
sus Christ,  who  shall  be  punished  with  everlasting 
destruction  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord,  and 
from  the  glory  of  his  power,"  yet,  that  another  end 
of  his  coming  is,  that  he  may  u  be  glorified  in  his 

R 


186  SHORT    SERMONS. 

saints,  and  admired  in  all  them  that  believe. "  2 
Thess.  i.  8,  10.  Therefore  "  he  looks  for  that 
blessed  hope.5'  He  has  "  peace  with  God  through 
Jesus  Christ."  Guilt,  the  cause  of  fear,  is  taken 
away.  He  believes  that  the  Judge  is  his  friend, 
therefore  he  looks  forward  with  a  comfortable  ex- 
pectation. He  feels  that  his  present  state  is  not 
his  rest ;  for  though  the  guilt  of-  sin  is  taken  out 
of  his  conscience,  and  the  love  and  power  of  it  out 
of  his  heart,  he  painfully  feels,  that  sin  yet  "  dwel- 
leth  in  him ;"  and  therefore  longs  for  the  coming 
of  Christ,  that  he  may  totally  destroy  it.  The 
hope  he  has  is  a  blessed  hope,  because  the  things 
hoped  for  are  inestimable  in  value,  eternal  in 
duration,  and  certain  to  the  man,  who  looks  for 
them  in  faith. and  hope.  "  We  that  are  in  this 
tabernacle  (of  flesh  and  blood)  do  groan,  being 
burdened,"  2  Cor.  v.  A.  with  sin,  affliction,  and 
temptation  :  but  at  the  glorious  appearing  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  "  God  shall  wipe  away  all  tears 
from  our  eyes ;  and  there  shall  be  no  more  death, 
neither  sorrow,  nor  crying ;  neither  shall  there  be 
any  more  pain;  for  the  former  things  are  passed 
away." 


XIV.  If  ye  then  being  evil,  know  how  to  give  good 
gifts  unto  your  children :  how  much  more  shall 
your  heavenly  Father  give  the  Holy  Spirit  to 
them  that  ask  him?  Luke  xi.  13. 

IN  these  words  our  gracious  Father,  who  is  in 
heaven,  permits  us  to  decide  an  important  point 
by  the  conviction  of  our  owrn  consciences.  He 
appeals  to  our  feelings  as  parents,  in  order  to  en- 
courage our  hope,  and  enliven  our  confidence, 
ver.  11,  u  If  a  son  ask  bread  of  any  of  you  that  is  a 


SHORT    SERMONS,  1§7 

lather,  will  he  give  him  a  stone?"  If  a  hungry- 
child  come  to  a  father,  saying,  "  Father,  I  am 
starving  for  want,  give  me.  bread  to  eat,"  will  the 
father  (unless  he  is  worse  than  a  brute)  give  his 
child  a  stone  to  mock  him?  "Or  if  he  ask  a  fish, 
will  he  give,  him  a  serpent  ?  Or  if  he  ask  an  egg, 
will  he  give  him  a  scorpion,"  to  destroy  him  ? 
Certainly  not.  "How  much  more  then  shall 
your  heavenly  Father,"  whose  affection  to  his 
poor,  sinful  children  is  infinitely  superior  to  yours 
for  the  offspring  of  your  bodies,  "  give  the  Holy 
Spirit  to  them  that  ask  him-?" 

I  am  a  poor,  ignorant  sinner.  I- want  to  know 
myself  as  a  sinner  before  God,  and  as  exposed  to 
his  just  indignation.  I  want  to  know  Jesus  Christ 
as  a  Saviour,  for,  to  know  "  Him,  is  life  eternal." 
But  this  saving  knowledge  I  can  derive  only  from 
divine  teaching.  God  has  promised  his  Holy 
Spirit,  to  lead  the  poor,  ignorant  sinner,  that  feels 
his  ignorance,  (for  that  is  the  point)  into  all  truth 
necessary  for  his  comfort  and  salvation.  "  O 
Lord,  let  thy  Holy  Spirit  teach  me  !" 

I  am  a  poor,  helpless  sinner :  I  find  I  have  "no 
power  to  believe  on  the  Son  of  God.  Yet  faith  in 
him  is  essential  to  salvation.  My  conscience  is 
distressed  on  account  of  my  sins.  I  want  to  know 
him,  and  the  power  of  his  resurrection.  But  I 
can  no  more  believe,  by  any  mere  exertion  of  my 
own  powers,  than  I  can  make  a  world.  God  has 
promised  his  Holy  Spirit  to  create  faith  in  the 
heart  of  every  humble  supplicant.  O  Lord,  help 
me  to  believe,  to  the  peace  of  my  conscience,  the 
salvation  of  my  soul,  and  the  eternal  glory  of  thy 
name. 


188  SHORT    SERMONS. 

God  giveth  his  Holy  Spirit  to  them  that  ask 
him.     We  can  do  nothing,  we  can  do  nothing 
but  sin,    and  so   destroy  ourselves,  without  his 
special   assistance.      Do  you  feel  you  want  it  ? 
And  do  want  and  absolute  necessity  drive  you  to  a 
throne  of  grace  for  his  comprehensive  blessing  ? 
Do  you  ask,  as  a  hungry  child  asks  his  father  for 
bread  ?  Are  you  sensible  of  your  ignorance,  so  as 
earnestly  to  seek  his  divine   teaching  ;    and  of 
your  helpless  state,    so  as  to  ask  help  of  God? 
"  Ask,  and  ye  shall  have  :  seek,  and  ye  shall  find : 
knock,  and  it  shall  be  opened  unto  you."     Con- 
sider, God  cannot  break  his  word.     If  you  have 
asked  without  receiving,  it  is  because  you  did  not 
ask  in  earnest.     You  do  not  feel  your  want.    Ask 
of  God  to  give  you  to  feel  your  wants,  and  then 
he  will  supply  them  :    ask  him  to  teach  you  to 
pray.     Come  to  him  as  a  poor,  ignorant,  helpless' 
child,  for  "  except  ye  be  converted,  and  become 
as  little  children,  ye  cannot  enter  into  the  kingdom 
of  heaven."     Matt,  xviii.  3.    Lord,  give  unto  us 
this  child-like  spirit  ! 


XV.     //  is  appointed  unto  men  once  to  die,  but  af- 
ter thiS)  the  judgment.     Hebrews  ix.  27. 

YOU  and  I  are  dying  creatures.  We  have  seen 
many  of  our  friends  and  relatives  laid  in  the  grave  : 
many  as  young  as  ourselves,  and  apparently  as 
likely  to  live.  Some  we  have  seen  carried  off  by 
long  and  lingering  diseases,  and  some  cut  down 
suddenly  without  warning.  God  only  knows 
w7hen  we  are  to  follow  them  into  the  eternal  world. 
We  know  not  the  day  of  our  death.  Our  times 
are  in  God's  hand.     It  may  be  to-night.     We  are 


SHORT    SERMONS.  189 

certain  the  moment  of  death  must  come  ;  we  are 
certain  it  can  be  at  no  great  distance  ;  but  we 
know  not  how  near.  Now  if  these  things  are  true, 
what  madness  it  is  to  put  off  the  necessary  work  of 
repentance  to  a  future  day  !  We  are  not  certain  of 
seeing  to-morrow  :  and  as  repentance  is  "  the 
gift  of  God,"  if  we  neglect  to  ask  for  it  to-day,  and 
refuse  to  hear  his  warning  voice,  he  may  say  to  us, 
as  in  Prov.  i.  24.  &x.  "  Because  I  have  called, 
and  ye  have  refused ;  I  have  stretched  out  my 
hand,  and  no  man  regarded  ;  but  ye  have  set  at 
nought  my  counsel,  and  would  none  of  my  re- 
proof;  I  will  also  laugh  at  your  calamity,  and 
mock  when  your  fear  cometh  :  when  your  fear 
cometh  as  desolation,  and  your  destruction  com- 
eth  as  a  whirlwind  ;  when  distress  and  anguish 
come  upon  you  :  Then  shall  they  call  upon  me, 
but  I  will  not  answer;  they  shall  seek  me  early, 
but  they  shall  not  find  me ;  for  that  they  hated 
knowledge,  and  did  not  choose  the  fear  of  the 
Lord." 

After  death  comes  the  judgment.  We  must  all 
stand  before  the  judgment-seat  of  Christ,  to  give 
an  account  of  the  things  done  in  the  body,  whether 
they  be  good  or  bad.  Who  must  appear  there? 
All,  young  and  old,  rich  and  poor,  without  dis- 
tinction or  exception.  You  and  I  must  meet 
there.  But  for  what  purpose  ?  To  give  account 
of  all  our  secret  thoughts,  and  of  all  our  secret 
actions,  to  the  Almighty  Judge.  He  keeps 
a  book  of  remembrance,  in  which  all  evil 
thoughts,  words,  and  works,  are  registered ; 
every  one  of  which  will  be  then  brought  forth 
to  our  eternal  confusion,  unless  they  are  washed 

R2 


190  SHORT    SERMONS* 

away  in  the  precious  blood  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ.  We  read,  Rev.  vi.  16,  that  some,  in 
that  day,  will  call  on  the  rocks  and  mountains, 
saying,  "  Fall  on  us,  and  hide  us  from  the  face  of 
him  that  sitteth  on  the  throne,  and  from  the  wrath 
of  the  Lamb."  God  grant  it  may  not  be  your 
case,  or  mine.  But  in  order  to  avoid  this  dread- 
ful state,  we  must  "seek  the  Lord  while  he  is 
near  ;  the  wicked  must  forsake  his  ways,  and  the 
unrighteous  man  his  thoughts,  and  return  unto 
the  Lord,  and  he  will  have  mercy  upon  him,  and 
to  our  God,  and  he  will  abundantly  pardon." 
This  is  the  day  of  grace.  But  it  will  be  too  late 
to  seek  for  mercy  when  the  day  of  judgment 
comes.  If  you  die  without  an  interest  in  Chris  t, 
it  had  been  good  for  you  if  you  had  never  been 
born ;  for  it  would  be  better  to  have  no  existence 
at  all,  than  to  have  a  miserable  existence  in  hell 
forever.  This  must  be  the  portion  of  every  un- 
pardoned, unconverted  sinner*  God  hath  said  it, 
who  cannot  lie. 


XVI.     How  shall  %ve  escape  if  we  neglect  so  great 
salvation?    Heb.  ii.  3. 

A  SALVATION  great  indeed,  beyond  de- 
scription or  conception,  contrived  by  the  wisdom 
and  love  of  God  for  my  poor,  lost  soul !  A  sal- 
vation procured  by  the  death  of  the  only-begot- 
ten Son  of  God  !  How  near  was  I  to  the  brink  of 
hell !  How  deeply  was  I  fallen  I  How  many  and 
great  my  sins,  to  make  such  a  salvation  necessary  { 
How  dangerous  must  it  be  to  neglect  it !  God 
has  no  other  Son  to  give  !  If  you  are  unconcern- 
ed about  it,  if  you  take  no  pains  to  secure  it,  if 


SHORT    SERMONS.  191 

you  are  unaffected  with  your  danger,  and  with  the 
salvation  that  is  proposed  to  you,  how  can  you 
escape  !  It  is  impossible.  You  reject  the  only 
Saviour,  and  thereby  commit  the  greatest  sin  : 
you  spurn  at  God's  mercy  in  Christ,  and  trample 
the  precious  blood  of  Christ  under  your  feet. 
Are  you  not  shocked  at  such  a  thought  ?  Be  as- 
sured that  every  careless,  prayerless  sinner,  is 
guilty  of  this.  There  is  no  relief  for  those  who 
reject  Christ.  There  remaineth  no  more  sacri- 
fice for  sin.  Their  ruin  is  certain,  is  near,  and 
will  be  eternal  and  intolerable.  Remember,  "  this 
is  the  accepted  time,  and  this  is  the  day  of  salva- 
tion." Cor.  vi.  2.  If  you  die  without  Christ, 
you  can  never  see  the  face  of  God  with  comfort. 
You  must  hear  the  Judge  pronounce  your  sen- 
tence, "  Depart,  ye  cursed,  into  everlasting  fire, 
prepared  for  the  devil  and  his  angels."  MatU 
xxv.  11.  God  forbid!  Once  more  I  entreat 
you,  my  fellow  sinner,  before  you  close  the  book, 
stop,  and  think.  Nay,  go  upon  your  knees,  and 
pray  to  God  to  awaken  your  conscience,  and  give 
you  the  knowledge  of  Christ.  My  prayers  are 
offered  up  for  your  salvation.  I  have  no  motive 
in  putting  this  into  your  hands,  but  your  eternal 
good.  O  God,  may  these  sermons  be  produc- 
tive of  good  to  the  reader's  soul  in  time  and  eter- 
nity. Follow  it  with  thy  blessing :  and  may  thy 
precious  truths,  therein  set  forth,  "  be  the  savour 
of  life  unto  life,  and  not  of  death  unto  death." 
Grant  it,  O  Lord,  for  Jesus  Christ's  sake  !  Amen. 
Amen. 


SWEARER'S  PRAYER; 

OR, 

HIS  OATH  EXPLAINED. 


WHAT,  a  swearer  pray !  Yes,  swearer, 
whether  thou  thinkest  so  or  not,  each  of  thy 
oaths  is  a  prayer— an  appeal  to  the  holy  and 
Almighty  God,  whose  name  thou  darest  so  impi- 
ously to  take  into  thy  lips. 

And  what  is  it,  thinkest  thou,  swearer,  that  thou 
dost  call  for,  when  the  awful  imprecations,  damn 
and  damnation  roll  so  frequently  from  thy  profane 
tongue?  Tremble,  swearer,  while  I  tell  thee ! 
Thy  prayer  containeth  two  parts.  Thou  prayest 
first,  that  thou  mayest  be  deprived  of  eternal  happi- 
ness !  Secondly,  that  thou  mayest  be  plunged 
into   eternal  misery ! 

When,  therefore,  thou  callest  for  damnation, 
dost  thou  not,  in  effect,  say  as  follows  ?  u  O  God  I 
thou  hast  power  to  punish  me  in  hell  forever: 
therefore  let  not  one  of  my  sins  be  forgiven !  Let 
every  oath  I  have  sworn,  every  lie  that  I  have 
told,  every  Sabbath  that  I  have  broken,  and  alt 
the  sins  that  I  have  committed,  either  in  thought, 
word  or  deed,  rise  up  in  judgment  against  me, 
and  eternally  condemn  me.  Let  me  never  par- 
take of  thy  salvation  !  May  my  soul  and  body  be 
deprived  of  all  happiness,  both  in  this  world  and 
that  which  is  to  come  !  Let  me  never  see  thy  face 
with  comfort,  never  enjoy  thy  favour  and  friend- 
ship; let  me  never  enter  into  the  kingdom  of 
heaven!" 

This  is  the  first  part  of  thy  prayer.  Let  us  hear 
the  second : 


THE    SWEARER^     PRAYER*  193 

"  O  God,  let  me  not  only  be  shut  out  of  heaven, 
but  also  shut  up  in  hell !  May  all  the  members 
of  my  body  be  tormented  with  inconceivable 
agony,  and  all  the  powers  of  my  soul  tormented 
with  horror  and  despair,  inexpressible  and 
eternal !  Let  my  dwelling  be  in  the  blackness  of 
darkness,  and  my  companions  accursed  men  and 
accursed  devils  !  Pour  down  thy  hottest  anger ; 
execute  all  thy  wrath  and  curse  upon  me ;  arm 
and  send  forth  all  thy  terrors  against  me  ;  and  let 
thy  fierce,  thy  fiery,  thy  fearful  indignation,  rest 
upon  me  !  Be  mine  eternal  enemy  ;  and  plague, 
and  punish,  and  torment  me,  in  hell,  forever  and 
ever,  and  ever !  ! !"  Swearer,  this  is  thy  prayer  !  !  ! 
O  dreadful  imprecation !  O  horrible,  horrible, 
most  horrible  !  Blaspheming  man  !  Dcst  thou 
like  thy  petition  ?  Look  at  it.  Art  thou  sincere 
in  thy  prayer,  or  art  thou  mocking  thy  Maker?  Dost 
thou  wish  for  damnation  ?  Art  thou  desirous  of 
eternal  torment  ?  If  so,  swear  on,  swear  hard. 
The  more  oaths,  the  more  misery;  and,  perhaps, 
the  sooner  thou  mayest  be  in  hell.  Art  thou 
shocked  at  this  language  ?  Does  it  harrow  up  thy 
soul  ?  Does  thy  Icod  run  cold  in  thy  veins  ? 

Art  thou  convinced  of  the  evil  of  profane  swear- 
ing  ?  How  many  times  hast  thou  blasphemed  the 
God  of  heaven  ?  How  many  times  hast  thou  ask- 
ed God  to  damn  thee  in  the  course  of  a  year,  a 
month,  a  day?  Nay,  how  many  times  in  a  single 
hour  hast  thou  called  for  damnation?  Art  thou 
not  vet  in  hell?  Wonder,  O  heavens,  and  be 
astonished,  O  earth,  at  the  goodness  and  long-suf- 
fering of  that  God,  whose  great  name,  swearing 
persons,  so  often  and  so  awfully  profane  !  Swear- 
er, be  thankful,  O  be  exceedingly  thankful,  that 
God  has  not  answered  thy  prayer,  thy  tremendous 


194  the  swearer's  prater. 

prayer ;  that  his  mercy  and  patience  have  with- 
holden  the  request  of  thy  polluted  lips  !  Never 
let  him  hear  another  oath  from  thy  unhallowed 
tongue,  lest  it  should  be  thy  last  expression  upon 
earth,  and  thy  swearing  prayer  should  be  answer- 
ed in  hell.  O,  let  thine  oaths  be  turned  into  sup- 
plications !  Repent,  and  turn  to  Jesus  who  died 
for  swearers,  as  well  as  for  his  murderers.  And 
then,  O  then,  (though  thou  mayest  have  sworn  as 
many  oaths  as  there  are  "  stars  in  the  heavens,  and 
sands  upon  the  sea- shore  innumerable,")  then  thou 
shalt  find,  to  thy  eternal  joy,  that  there  is  love 
enough  in  his  heart,  and  merit  sufficient  in  his 
blood,  to  pardon  thy  sins  and  save  thy  soul  for- 
ever  Swearer!  Canst  thou  ever  again  blas- 
pheme such  a  God  and  Saviour  as  this  ?  Does  not 
thy  conscience  cry — God  forbid!  Even  so,  Amen. 

THE  PRAYER  ANSWERED, 

In  the  following^  among  multitudes  of  other  instances. 

IN  November,  1786,  a  person  much  given  to 
swearing,  being  disappointed  by  one  of  his  compan- 
ions in  not  returning  to  the  public-house  as  soon 
as  he  expected, .swore  he  would  never  drink  with 
him  again,  and  that  if  he  did,  it  should  be  his  last. 
Accordingly,  that  day  was  his  last.  God  took 
him  at  his  word,  and  thus  called  him  into  eternity. 

In  Nov.  1787,  one  W — rs,  a  smith,  spending 
the  evening  at  a  public-house,  in  Leather-lane, 
quarrelled  with  one  of  his  companions,  mid.  swear- 
ing the  most  horrid  oaths,  God  struck  him  instan- 
taneously dead  with  an  oath  on  his  lips,  upon  the 
bench  where  he  was  sitting.  The  jury  who  sat 
upon  the  body,  after  hearing  all  the  circumstances 
of  the  case,  brought  in  tiieir  verdict,  that  "  W—rs 


THE    SWEARER'S    PRAYER.  195, 

was  struck  dead  as  a  judgment  from  God."     This 
narration  was  given  by  the  foreman  of  the  jury. 

Another  remarkable  judgment  overtook  a 
person  living  in  Brewer- street,  Soho,  who,  cursing 
and  swearing  in  a  most  dreadful  manner,  was 
struck  speechless,  and  died  the  same  afternoon. 

[Will*'  Register. 

T.  G.  who  lived  in  the  parish  of  Sedgley,  near 
Wolverhampton,  having  lost  a  considerable  sum 
at  cock-fighting,  to  which  practice  he  was  notori- 
ously addicted,  swore,  in  a  most  horrid  manner, 
that  he  would  never  fight  another  cock,  frequently 
calling  upon  God  to  damn  his  soul  to  all  eternity 
if  he  did ;  and,  with  dreadful  imprecations,  wish- 
ing the  devil  might  fetch  him,  if  ever  he  made 
another  bet. 

His  resolutions,  thus  impiously  formed,  were 
for  awhile  observed  ;  but  about  two  years  after- 
wards, Satan,  whose  willing  servant  he  continued 
to  be,  inspired  him  with  a  violent  desire  to  attend 
a  cocking  at  Wolverhampton,  and  he  complied 
with  the  temptation.  He  there  stood  up,  and 
cried,  "I  hold  four  to  three  on  such  a  cock." 
"Four  what?"  said  one  of  his  companions  in 
iniquity.  "Four  shillings,"  replied  he.  Upon 
Which  the  wager  was  confirmed,  and  he  putting 
his  hand  into  his  pocket  for  the  money  instantly 
fell  a  ghastly  corpse  to  t/ic  ground.        [ Evan.  Mag. 

Who  hath  hardened  himself  against  God  and  prospered  ? 
Job  ix.  4.  Thou  shalt  not  take  the  name  of  the  Lord  thy  God 
in  vairiy  for  the  Lord  will  not  hold  him  guiltless  that  taketh 
his  name  in  vain.  Exod.  xx.  7.  Because  of  swearing  the 
land  moumeth.  Jer.  xxiii.  10.  Every  one  that  swear eth 
shall  be  cut  off.     Zech.  v.  3. 

Dear  Reader,  art  thou  a  swearer  ?  O  take  this  friend- 
ly warning-  :  thy  next  oath  may  be  thy  last.  If  thf 
prayer  is  heard,  thy  soul  is  damned  forever  !   !   ! 


ARDENT  SPIRITS, 

Look  not  thou  on  the  liquor  when  it  sparkles,  ivheti 
it  giveth  its  colour  in  the  cup,  when  it  moveth  it- 
self aright  :  at  the  last  it  biteth  like  a  serpent,  and 
stingeth  like  an  adder.  Solomon. 

THERE  is  no  prevailing  evil  that  in  such  a 
degree  debauches  the  morals,  poisons  the  happi- 
ness, and  threatens  to  destroy  the  liberties  of  the 
people  of  this  country,  as  the  excessive  and  in- 
creasing use  of  ardent  spirits.  The  extreme  dan- 
ger to  the  public,  as  well  as  the  ruin  to  individu- 
als and  to  their  families  resulting  from  this  pesti- 
lent source,  ought  to  be  made  the  subject  of  fre- 
quent animadversion.  In  vain  have  the  sages  of 
this  country  formed  republican  institutions,  in  vain 
has  the  blood  of  its  patriots  and  heroes  been  shed, 
and  in  vain  may  we  boast  (indeed  not  long  can  we 
boast)  of  civil  freedom,  if  the  fatal  practice  of  using 
ardent  spirits  as  a  common  and  daily  beverage 
should  continue  and  increase.  The  duties  on 
spirits  and  on  wines  imported  to  this  country 
amount  to  more  than  six  millions  of  dollars  a  year  ; 
a  sum  more  than  sufficient  to  give  a  constant  sup- 
port to  good  schools  for  all  the  children  of  the 
country  between  the  asres  of  seven  and  fourteen. 
You  will  observe  that  merely  the  duties  on  liquors^ 
imported  to  the  United  States,  amount  yearly  to 
the  aforesaid  sum,  exceeding  six  millions  of  dol- 
lars ;  and  how  enormous  then  must  be  the  whole 
retail  cost  of  these  liquors  !  A  large  proportion  of 
them,  it  is  granted,  is  exported  from  hence  to 
other  countries  ;  but  mean  while  vast  quantities 
of  various  kinds  of  ardent  spirits  are  distilled  at 
home  ;    and  this  kind  of  manufacture  rapidly  in- 


ARDENT    SPIRITS.  197 

creases  every  year.  There  were  according  to  the 
returns  for  the  year  1800,  more  than  twenty 
thousand  stills  in  this  country,  and  their  number 
since  has  probably  increased  to  ten  thousand 
more.  Our  land,  exceeding  in  one  respect,  the 
goodly  land  of  old,  that  flowed  with  milk  and 
honey,  flows  with  all  the  necessaries  of  life,  but 
most  abundantly  with  rum,  gin,  brandy  and  whis- 
ky ;  and  those  streams  are  eagerly  absorbed  by 
its  infatuated  and  ever  tiiirsty  inhabitants,  who 
"  spend  their  money  for  that  which  is  not  bread, 
and  their  labour  for  that  which  satisfieth  not." 
The  sums  which  in  this  country  are  yearly  lavish- 
ed in  the  purchase  and  unnecessary  use  of  ardent 
spirits  are  of  astonishing  magnitude  :  they  prob- 
ably exceed  the  taxes  for  the  support  of  all  our 
governments,  added  to  a  sum  sufficient  to  support 
a  decent  school  in  every  considerable  village 
throughout  the  union. 

The  immense  waste  of  property  is,  however, 
the  least  part  of  the  evil  :  an  excessive  use  of  ar- 
dent spirits,  becoming  general,  is  an  inlet  to  almost 
rv  evil  that  can  infest  and  debase  society.  It 
weakens  and  poisons  the  body,  and  impairs  the 
intellect,  curdles  the  temper  and  corrupts  the 
whole  mind  ;  it  makes  churlish  as  well  as  silly 
husbands,  unnatural  fathers,  rebellious  sons,  idle 
and  seditious  citizens  :  it  degrades  man,  in  some 
respects,  below  the  beasts  that  perish,  but  >hich 
never  perish  in  the  ignominious  manner  that  ma- 
ny  human  creatures  do — by  intoxication. 

SPEAKING  of  ardent  spirits,  that  eminent 
physician,  Dr.  Rush,  says,  "  They  impair  the 
memory,  debilitate  the  understanding,  and  per- 

S 


198  AHJDENT    SPIRITS. 

vert  the  moral  faculties.  It  was  probably  from 
these  effects  of  intemperance  in  drinking,  upon 
the  mind,  that  a  law  was  formerly  passed  in  Spain, 
which  excluded  drunkards  from  being  witnesses 
in  a  court  of  justice.  But  the  demoralizing  ef- 
fects of  distilled  spirits  do  not  stop  here.  They 
produce  not  only  falsehood,  but  fraud,  theft,  un- 
cleanliness,  and  murder.  Like  the  demoniac 
mentioned  in  the  New  Testament,  their  name  is 
"  Legion,"  for  they  convey  into  the  soul  a  host  of 
vices  and  crimes.  A  more  affecting  spectacle  can- 
not be  exhibited,  than  a  person  into  whom  this 
infernal  spirit,  generated  by  habits  of  intemper- 
ance, has  entered.  It  is  more  or  less  affecting, 
according  to  the  station  the  person  fills  in  a  family 
or  in  society,  who  is  possessed  by  it.  Is  he  a 
husband  ?  How  deep  the  anguish  which  rends 
the  bosom  of  the  wife !  Is  she  a  wife  ?  Who 
can  measure  the  shame  and  aversion  she  excites  in 
her  husband !  Is  he  the  father,  or  is  she  the  mother 
of  a  family  of  children  ?  See  their  averted  looks 
from  their  parent,  and  their  blushing  looks  at 
each  other!  Is  he  a  magistrate,  or  has  he  been 
chosen  to  fill  a  high  and  respectable  station  in 
the  councils  of  his  country  I  What  humiliating 
fears  of  corruption  in  the  administration  of  the  laws, 
and  of  the  subversion  of  public  order  and  happi- 
ness, appear  in  the  countenances  of  all  who  see 
him  1  Is  he  a  minister  of  the  gospel  ?  Here  lan- 
guage fails  me.  If  angels  weep,  it  is  at  such  a 
sight."  As  to  the  next  life*>  the  drunkard  is  pre- 
paring for  eternal  torments.  For  inspiration  ex- 
pressly declares,  u  Nor  drunkards  shall  inherit  the 
kingdom  of  God." 


ON     THE 

LORD'S    DAY. 


PERMIT  a  friend,  who  wishes  well  to  all  man* 
kind,  respectfully  and  affectionately  to  remind  you 
of  a  divine  law,  too  much  forgotten  by  many,  per- 
haps by  you — remember   the   sabbath   day 

TO  KEEP   IT   HOLY. 

This  is  the  command  of  the  great  God,  the 
Maker  of  heaven  and  earth  ;  "the  God  in  whose 
hand  our  breath  is,  and  whose  are  all  our  ways;" 
the  God  who  gave  us  being;  the  God  who  gives 
us  all  our  time,  and  who  allows  us  six  days  out  of 
seven  for  worldly  concerns.  "Six  days  shalt 
thou  labour  and  do  all  thy  work  ;  but  the  seventh 
day  is  the  Sabbath  of  the  Lord  thy  God."  He 
claims  this  day  as  his  own.  And  can  you  refuse 
so  just  a  claim?  lie  has  hallowed  this  day  :  that 
is,  he  has  made  it  holy  ;  he  has  reserved  it  for  his 
own  service ;  he  has  ordained,  that  from  the  be- 
ginning of  the  world  to  the  end  of  it,  the  children 
of  men  should  employ  the  sacred  hours  in  holy 
acts  of  private  or  public  worship. 

Say  now,  is  it  not  right,  that  you  should  cheer- 
fully obey  the  heavenly  command?  Consider 
how  necessary  and  reasonable  the  appointment !  It 
is  necessary,  were  it  only  to  give  suitable  rest  to 
the  bodies  of  man  and  beast.  Without  this  mer- 
ciful institution,  how  many  would  have  allowed 
neither  themselves  nor  their  servants  proper  sea- 
sons of  repose  !  If  there  were  no  Sabbath  in  a 
nation,  there  would  soon  be  no  religion  ;  and  what 
then  would  become  of  the  interests  of  moralitv  ? 
The  merciful  God  appoints  a  Sabbath  for  your 


200  ON    THE    LORD'S    DAY.. 

good.  It  is  for  your  sake,  not  his  own,  that  he 
requires  it.  He  needeth  not  you,  nor  any  child 
of  man.  He  seeks  your  good,  your  everlasting 
good  ;  for  he  has  not  only  hallowed  this  day,  but 
he  has  also  blessed  it.  It  is  a  day  of  special  grace. 
The  King  of  heaven,  sitting  on  the  throne  of  mer- 
cy, gives  audience  on  this  best  of  days  to  the  as- 
sembled subject  of  his  gracious  empire.  Millions 
of  happy  spirits  now  in  heaven  will  bless  God  to 
all  eternity,  for  the  spiritual  blessings  of  Christ 
Jesus,  which,  when  on  earth,  they  received  on  this 
happy  day  ;  and  thousands  now  on  their  way  to 
glory,  find  it  good  for  them  to  draw  near  to  God, 
and  justly  esteem  "  a  day  in  his  courts  better  than 
a  thousand."  So  that  you  are  an  enemy  to  your- 
self, if  your  profane  this  day.  If  you  love  your 
own  soul,  why  will  you  lose  the  opportunity  of 
being  happy  ? 

If  you  studied  only  3^our  present  good,  you 
would  keep  the  Sabbath.  God  honours  them 
that  honour  him.  Many  have  found  that  a  Sab- 
bath well  spent  is  usually  followed  by  a  prosper- 
ous week  ;  for  it  is  "  the  blessing  of  the  Lord  that 
makethrich  ;"  and  how  can  you  expect  his  bless- 
ing if  you  disobey  him?  Lord  Chief  Justice 
Hale  made  the  following  observation  :  "I  have 
found,"  said  he,  "  that  a  due  observing  the  duty 
of  the  Lord's  day  hath  ever  joined  to  it  a  blessing 
upon  the  rest  of  my  time,  and  the  week,  that  hath 
been  so  begun,  hath  been  blessed  and  prosperous 
to  me  :  And  on  the  other  side,  when  I  have  been 
negligent  of  the  duties  of  this  day,  the  rest  of  the 
week  hath  been  unsuccessful,  and  unhappy  to  my 
secular  employments," 


ON    THE    LORD'S    DAY.  201 

And  has  not  God  frequently  manifested  his  an- 
ger  against  Sabbath-breakers  ?  How  many  have 
perished  in  the  midst  of  their  amusements,  and 
been  suddenly  called  to  the  bar  of  God,  while  en- 
gaged  in  actual  rebellion  against  him  !  How  many 
lovers  of  pleasure  have  been  known,  whose  dying 
agonies  have  been  awfully  increased  by  the  sad 
remembrance  of  the  manner  in  which  they  spent 
their  former  Sabbaths  !  And  how  many  unhappy 
criminals  have,  in  their  last  moments,  ascribed 
their  ruin  to  this  sin  !  Beware  then  of  a  vice  so 
dangerous  in  its  tendency,  so  fatal  in  its  conse- 
quences :  for  if  ycu  forsake  God,  he  may  justly 
forsake  you,   and  then  you  are  undone  forever. 

Do  you  hope  to  go  to  heaven  when  you  die  t 
I  know  you  do.  But  consider  how  the  saints  in 
glory  are  employed.  They  keep  perpetual  sab- 
bath, and  the  worship  of  God  is  their  constant  de- 
light. But  how  can  you  reasonably  hope  for 
heaven  unless  you  are  formed  by  grace  for  the 
business  and  pleasures  of  it ;  and  how  could  you 
enjoy  an  eternal  sabbath,  who  now  turn  your  back 
upon  God's  worship,  or  say  of  the  Sabbath,  u  what 
a  weariness  is  it !" 

For  God's  sake,  and  for  your  own  sake, 
<:  Consider  your  Mays."  Let  the  time  past  suf- 
fice to  have  rebelled  against  your  Maker.  Rebel 
no  longer.  Now  say  "  Lord,  it  is  enough.  I 
have  fought  agayist  thee  too  long.  Forgive  my 
iniquities  past,  and  give  me  grace  for  time  to 
come."  No  more  let  worldly  business,  nor  vain 
amusements,  engross  these  holy  hours.  You  must 
not  rob  God :  the  day  is  all  his  own.  Let  it  be  a 
whole  day — a  day  as  long  as  others.  Say  not, 
What  harm  is  there  in  taking  a  little  amusement 


202  ON    THE    LORD'S     DAY. 

after  divine  service  ?  Think  a  moment,  and  you 
will  perceive  the  harm.  Why  should  you  erase 
the  impressions  of  holy  things  as  soon  as  they  are 
piade  ?  Is  not  retirement  as  necessary  as  public 
worship.?  On  other  days,  much  of  your  time  is 
employed.  Improve  the  leisure  of  a  Sabbath. 
Retire  *and  read  your  Bible.  Converse  with  God 
in  prayer.  Converse  with  your  own  heart.  Con- 
verse with  good  books.  And  above  all,  be  con- 
cerned to  experience  the  blessings  of  the  gospel 
which  you  hear.  Have  you  been  to  church,  and 
heard  of  Christ  and  salvation  .by  him  ?  Let  it  be 
your  chief  concern  to  "  be  found  in  him;"  not 
trusting  to  your  own  works  of  righteousness,  but 
to  the  righteousness  he  has  brought  in,  and  which 
is  "  to  and  upon  all  that  believe. "  Have  you 
heard  of  the  natural  state  of  man  as  a  sinner  ?  Ajy 
ply  this  to  yourself,  and  be  humbled  in  the  dust 
of  humiliation.  Have  you  been  told  from  thq 
w^ord  of  God,  "  that,  except  a  man  be  born  again, 
he  cannot  see  the  kingdom  of  God?"  Inquire 
whether  you  have  ever  known  a  change  of  heart ; 
and  pray  for  the  Holy  Spirit  in  all  his  gracious  in- 
fluences, that  you  may  be  a  new  creature.  Has 
some  holy  temper,  or  moral  duty,  been  recom- 
mended to  you  from  the  pulpit  ?  Endeavour  to 
fix  the  necessity  and  beauty  of  it  in  your  mind, 
that  so  you  may  bring  it  into  practice.  This  is 
the  way  to  keep  a  Christian  Sabbath  ;  and  thus 
proceeding  in  the  fear  of  God,  you  may  humbly 
hope  for  God's  blessing  in  the  present  world,  and 
in  the  world  to  come. 

Blessed  is  the  man  that  keepeth  the  Sabbath  from 
polluting  it.     Isa.  lvi.  2. 


THE 

FATAL    BLUNDER. 


A  VISION. 


DURING  one  of  those  waking  dreams,  when 
in  the  laboratory  of  the  imagination,  a  thousand 
airy  scenes  are  formed,  in  which,  among  various 
images  of  no  consequence,  truth  sometimes  comes 
home  to  the  heart  with  irresistible  force,  the  fol- 
lowing object  was  presented  to  my  view. 

Methought  an  human  figure  stood  before  me, 
of  an  interesting  appearance.  On  his  brow  care 
was  depicted  in  deep  lines.  His  lengthened 
■countenance  seemed  to  say,  "  Wisdom  is  mine." 
In  his  whole  aspect  worldly  prudence  seemed 
strongly  pourtrayed.  Near  him  was  placed  a  pair  of 
scales  of  prodigious  dimensions,  the  lofty  beam  of 
which  was  suspended  from  the  arch  of  heaven  : 
and  in  one  of  them  lay  an  huge  mill-stone,  the 
weight  of  which  kept  it  immoveably  fixed  on  the 
ground  ;  while  the  other,  having  no  counteq^oisc, 
was  mounted  high  in  the  air.  The  sage  philoso- 
pher, who  stood  by  it,  held  in  his  hand  a  feather  ; 
which  the  gentle  zephyr  that  played  around  him, 
threatened  to  waft  away  on  its  wings.  This, 
with  an  air  of  the  utmost  gravity,  and  an  apparent 
expectation  of  seeing  the  beam  instantly  change 
its  position,  he  laid  in  the  empty  scale. 

I  could  not  forbear  laughing  at  the  ridiculous 
conduct  of  this  deluded  being  ;  and  was  turning 
away  from  the  scene  of  absurdity,  wondering  at 
the  strange  flights  of  my  own  imagination  ;    when 


204  THE    FATAL    BLUNDER. 

I  was  struck  with  a  conviction,  that  there  was 
more  of  truth  in  the  picture,  than  I  was  at  first 
aware  of. 

The  scales  of  unvarying  equity  are  suspended 
by  the  God  of  truth,  in  his  blessed  word.  On 
one  side  is  placed  the  world  to  come,  with  all  its 
awful  and  everlasting  realities ;  in  the  other,  that 
feathery  trifle,  lighter  than  the  thistle's  down,  this 
present  scene  of  vanity,  which  passeth  away  like  a 
shadow.  Man  is  placed  by  this  balance  to  look 
on  the  objects  that  are  presented  to  him,  and  to 
form  his  conduct  according  to  the  result  of  the 
observation  he  makes.  And  (strange  to  say  ! ) 
the  great  majority  of  the  human  race,  like  the 
sage  philosopher  in  my  vision,  are  employed  in 
trying  to  give  a  decided  preponderance  to  the 
feather  ;  and  gaze  on  the  experiment  with  an  ex- 
pectation of  seeing  the  mill-stone  kick  the  beam, 
and  then  form  their  conduct  on  this  absurd  expec- 
tation.- Thus  they  continue  to  deceive  them- 
selves, till  death  too  late  rectifies  their  judgment. 

Very  different  was  the  determination  of  a  true 
philosopher,  whose  wisdom  is  proposed  for  imita- 
tion in  the  inspired  page.  "By  faith  Moses, 
when  he  was  come  to  years,  refused  to  be  called 
the  son  of  Pharaoh* s  daughter;  choosing  rather 
to  suffer  affliction  with  the  people  of  God,  than  to 
enjoy  the  pleasures  of  sin  for  a  season  ;  esteeming 
the  reproach  of  Christ  greater  riches  than  the 
treasures  of  Egypt ;  for  he  had  respect  unto  the  re- 
compense of  the  reward."     Heb.  xi.  24 — 26. 

FINIS. 


a 


4r« 


mmm 


p~p! 


>^» 


;#s3j* 


ii 


n8 


°"  ^t^ 


>I>^ 

>:^>^ 


SSb* 


Deacidified  using  the  Bookkeeper  process. 
Neutralizing  agent:  Magnesium  Oxide 
Treatment  Date:  Oct.  2005 

PreservationTechnologies 

A  WORLD  LEADER  IN  PAPER  PRESERVATION 

1 1 1  Thomson  Park  Drive 
Cranberry  Township,  PA  16086 
(724)779-2111 


mm^>L 


>  > 

i   > 

>  > 

►    >  > 
>  > 


3       > 
>       -> 

>>        >    ? 

>>       >     > 
>  :> 

>:>  ^    > ~> 


HSR 


>    V 


!  > 

i 

>      '      - 

; 
- 


>  2^f^^% 

*^gti 

rj£j£~^m 

1^s>^>^^^ 

5p^ 

'.  JjBI 

5 

,  :iOI 

> 

_ 

> 

^y&^S* 

• 

>  ^>^£*^^ 

>  ' 

-J-3^5» 

>   TUs^^^ 

>  > 

■^Zm 

i 

,v   ^^fi* 

>  -> 
>>> 

'.*!£** 

t*3* 

*3>u 

>>Y> 

>     ^ 

i 

>     > 

,">   '"/   7 

7    ► 

3    » 

">    >J> 

>>>  ' 
V  » 


-^  "r5 


» 


^ 

-> 


•       !