Silas, if God be with thee thou wilt sing his praises. Art thou at the stake with blessed martyrs; as the rays of the sun put out the fire, so the beams of God's countenance will put out the flames, and turn thy troubles into comforts; so that it is only closing thy eyes, and thou art in heaven. Therefore the man who enjoys the Lord, though he may not have the sun to shine in creature comforts, or worldly delights to solace him, yet he needs them not, for the glory of God enlightens his soul, and the Lamb is the light thereof. God irradiates it with the brightness of his beauty, and Christ fills it with joy unspeakable, and full of glory. Thus God brings heaven with him, and the man who enjoys God, carries heaven about him: you may cast him into a dungeon, place him in a furnace, or where you please, yet he is still in heaven. Therefore, Lord, give me thyself, and then do what thou pleasest with me.

87. Miserable End of Wicked Men.

MARK the wicked man; though his entrance into the world may be comical, yet his exit is always tragical. Belshazzar in his fierce scene is revelling out his time in sin and pleasure, feasting and carousing with his concubines in the vessels of the Lord; but

view him in the catastrophe, and you will see the hand-writing, and him trembling; Darius rending away his kingdom, and death snatching away his life. Look at the entrance of a wicked man! his gates are riches, his seats honour, his paths pleasures: he goes delicately, fares deliciously every day, and has more than heart can wish: but wait his departure, and you will see a sad conclusion; in a moment he goes down to hell. The man is cast out from God as an everlasting curse: destruction closes her mouth upon him, and his place beholds him no more; his body is laid in the dust, his soul buried in the flames, and his name covered with darkness. But now behold the perfect man! you may see a few tragical scenes; the world hating, mocking, and persecuting him; but the end of that man is peace. Though he may come forth weeping, yet he goes off rejoicing; though he came forth combating, yet he goes out triumphing, so that the saints and angels clap their hands for joy. Therefore, when I judge of a happy man, I will wait for his end, 1 care not for his entrance.

88. Deceitful Riches.

EARTHLY riches, were they valuable, yet they are not ours; or were they ours, yet they

are not true, because they are unprofitable to the soul. Nay, for the most part, our golden heaps are but the miserable spoils of precious souls. And they are not ours, because we cannot carry them with us when we leave the world: Thou fool, this night shall thy soul be taken from thee, &c., and then thou shalt quickly know whose thy soul shall be, which thou hast by those things so sinfully abused; but thou shalt never know whose those things shall be, which thou hast so miserably provided. When we awake at the last day, we shall find nothing of all those things in our hands. Those things that are of the world (saith St. Ambrose) we shall leave behind in the world, only virtue is the companion of the dead. Worldly things will fail us, but our good works will follow us, and abide with us for ever. Wouldst thou be truly rich? be so in doing good; raise virtues out of vanity; so shalt thou lay up treasure in heaven.

How fading are the joys we doat upon,
Like apparitions seen and gone:
But those which soonest take their flight,
Are the most exquisite and strong,
Like angels' visits short and bright;
Mortality's too weak to bear them long.

89. Competency better than abundance.

I AM not far from my home; therefore I need not make much provision for the way; food and raiment will be sufficient for my journey; superfluity will only prove a burden. While Jacob had only his staff, he journeyed pleasantly; but when he had his flocks and herds he went but slowly. We see daily, that rich men either lose their paths, or ride but little ground; while poor men run the ways of God's commandments. I am happy enough if I have but sufficient to carry me to heaven. I will therefore desire no more than that which will mend my pace, and serve me during my journey.

Thou, O God, my portion art,

Lord, thou know'st my simple heart;
Other comforts I despise,

Love be all my paradise.

Nothing else can I require,
Love fills up my whole desire :
Should thy other gifts remove;
Still thou giv'st me all in love.

90. Serve God in the Use of Means.

WE must not presume upon the means without God, nor upon God without the means: not upon the means without God,

because the pipe cannot convey except the spring communicates; not upon God without the means, because the goings forth of Providence are always in the paths of diligence. Therefore in the assault of Amalek, while Moses prayed, Joshua went to fight: so the operation of a Christian's faith should always be upon the mount, and industry in the valley while the heart is lifted up, the hand should be stretched out. He is sure to rest in God, who is restless in the means. He who can devote himself to God, may exercise his faith in God's providence. I must sow my seed, and wait upon the clouds; do my work, and leave the event to God. I must neither be idle in the means, nor make an idol of the means. I will therefore lay my hands to the means, as if they were all in all; and yet look above the means, as if they were nothing at all.

91. Excellency of a Christian.

CICERO spake at random, when he said, We are born to liberty and honour. It is thou, O regenerate soul, who art born a child of love and heir of glory; thou art clothed with the sun, and crowned with the stars, and reckoned among the angels of God. O think

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