7. "Hear me, O Lord," watering my thirsty soul with the celestial dew of Thy Divine grace; "and that soon;" delay not to satisfy the thirst of my soul, which is great; "for my spirit waxeth faint:" hath lost its wonted fervour of devotion, being oppressed with the burden of her sins, and destitute of the sweet refreshments and influences of Thy Holy Spirit: "hide not Thy face from me," as one turns away his face from his enemy, or one with whom he is justly offended, "lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit." If thou look not in mercy upon me, I shall be in the same condition with them that are involved in the pit both of sin and of death.

8. "O let me hear," be made sensible of "Thy loving-kindness betimes in the morning:" early and betimes in this life; and after the night of this life is end

ed, in the morning of that day which never shall have end; "for in Thee is my trust" not in myself, nor in any help of man, for it is but vain; and so will prove my trust in Thee also, except I obey Thy will, and walk in Thy ways: the which that I may do, I humbly beg "shew Thou me the way" of Thy laws, and the paths of Thy commandments, "wherein I should walk:" as leading to my native home of Heaven, where my immortal soul was first framed by the hands of the Almighty; "for unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul," which being made after Thine image, aspires to become perfect in the beatifical vision and fruition of Thy sacred Majesty. In which way being sore let and hindered, it implores Thy assistance, saying,

9. "Deliver me from mine enemies, O God:" both visible and invisible, ghostly and bodily adversaries: "for I flee unto Thee," when assaulted by them, “to hide me" under the covert of Thy protection, from all the storms of temptations which daily arise in the tumultuous sea of this life.

10. "Teach me," who am naturally blind and careless

of my duty, "to do the thing that pleaseth Thee;" not only to know, but to do Thy will; not to follow mine own pleasure, but what is pleasing and acceptable unto Thee: "for Thou art my God;" Who hast created and redeemed me: and that I may be thoroughly sanctified, "let Thy loving Spirit," the Spirit of love and verity, "lead me forth" in the straight direct way that leads "into the land of righteousness." That is the promised land, the celestial Canaan, where alone is perfect, everlasting righteousness, in the blissful Presence of the God of Righteousness.

11. Quicken me, O Lord," who am dull and dead-hearted, and faint in the way towards the land of the living; "for Thy Name's sake," which I invoke and adore: "and for Thy righteousness' sake," not for mine, which is little, and good for little, "bring my soul out

of trouble," delivering me from whatever disturbs the peace of my soul, and hinders her progress in the way to Heaven.

12. "And of Thy goodness slay mine enemies," mortify in me all unruly lusts and passions that rebel against reason and religion, "and destroy all them that vex my soul;" by exciting and fomenting the flesh against the spirit, the sensual against her rational faculties, that the whole may be obedient unto Thee; "for I am Thy servant." Created, redeemed, not to serve my own lusts, and exorbitant passions, but to be sanctified or wholly to serve Thee, in holiness and righteousness before Thee, all the days of my life. And so shall my soul praise Thee with joyful lips, and say,

devoted

Glory be to the Father, &c. As it was in the beginning, &c.

This present life is to the religious, heavenly-minded Christian, a "valley of

"a

with godly sorrow, is " well from whence the pools are filled with water" or their eyes run over with tears.

Great are the consolations of these spiritual mourners, both in this life "they go from strength to strength":" but more especially in the life to come;" For unto the God of gods shall every one appear in Sion."

There are two kinds of such saving tears; or two springs from whence these healing waters flow: the one from above, the other from beneath.

1. The first are such tears as issue from the heart that is wounded with the love of Christ; and inflamed with ardent desires of a more near and immediate union and communion with God, Who is Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, in the Heaven of Heavens wishing with strong cryings and tears, and saying,

My soul is athirst for God, even for the living God when shall I come and appear before the Presence of Gode?" When shall I be so happy as to see my God, "not as now in

• Psalm 1xxxiv. 6.

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beauty of the Lords," to the ravishing of my soul with His transcendent perfections?

2. The second kind of tears, are such as flow from the heart that is pierced with godly sorrow for sin. So it follows; "My tears have been my meat day and night: while they daily say unto me, Where is now thy God?"

What else but sorrow and sadness can seize and possess the religious soul, from whom God is estranged for sin whilst the devil and his angels triumphing, insult over her being thus forsaken, saying, "Where is now thy God?"

Both these sorts of tears St. Augustine begged of God, under the notions of "the upper and the nether springs," which Achsah begged of her father Caleb.

And this is also my humble suit unto the Lord my God, and my Father; That it may please Him, Who turneth the hearts of the sons of men as the rivers of waters, to turn the stream of my corrupt affections, from the pomps and vanities 1

e Psalm xlii. 2. i Joshua xv. 19.

of this wicked world, and from all the sinful lusts of the flesh that I may be greatly enamoured with the joys of Heaven, and the ravishing beauties of the Divine Presence there: and withal, to be deeply sensible of my sins, which render me unfit and incapable of admission into the presence of the most holy God: but withal, not distrusting but that, through such mystical waters, the ship of my soul shall be wafted to that haven of peace and felicity, where tears shall be wiped from all eyes, and all heads crowned with the joy of the Lord.

THE SECOND MEDITATION.

We read, that in the days of Noah, "both the windows of Heaven were opened, and the fountains of the great deep below were broken up," whence issued that universal deluge which washed away the sinful pollutions of the old world.

Thus, by those devout tears which are extorted through the ardent love of God, and earnest desires of Heaven above, together with the tears of godly sorrow for sin upon earth below; the old man is washed from k Gen. vii. 11. 1 2 Pet. iii. 13.

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his impurities, and becomes a mystical new Heaven and a new earth, in which dwelleth righteousness!."

My blessed Redeemer, to fulfil all righteousness, was Himself redeemed with a pair of turtle doves: and that I may obtain eternal redemption by Him, amongst other Christian performances, it is but meet I return back this offering unto my Lord, in the twofold compunction of my heart, and of my spirit; mourning like a dove, 1. for my daily backslidings, and the incessant temptations I suffer in the house of my pilgrimage here upon earth. 2. "Groaning earnestly to be clothed upon with our house which is from Heaven"."

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They that sow in tears, shall reap in joy."

"He that now goeth on his way of this life weeping, and beareth good seed", watered with his tears of godly sorrow, from whence the worthy fruits of true repentance grow; "shall doubtless come again with joy," in the life to come, "and bring his sheaves with him;" the fruits of his good works being treasured up in the granary of Heaven.

And we are commanded m 2 Cor. v. 2. n Psalm cxxvi. 6.

hast no true bowels of mercy, to weep for that death which is no other but the separation of the soul from the body, and not to weep much more for that death which separates God from the soul: For as the soul.is the life of the body, so God is the life of the soul; Whose departure from the soul for sin, deserves to be lamented with a flood of tears.

And did we but rightly consider the heinousness of every sin we commit, as it is an offence of the infinite Majesty of the most just and holy God; we would

• Matt. vi. 20.

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But woe and alas! my heart is hard and stony, and easily yields to such overflowing of tears: but I humbly beg that it may please the Lord to smite this rock, my hardened heart, with the rod of His fatherly correction, that it may be within me a well of water springing up unto everlasting life."

THE FOURTH MEDITATION

"Hear my prayer, O Lord, and with Thine ears consider my calling; hold not Thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with Thee"," &c.

Hence there is great cause for tears to flow, in that my soul being stamped after the image of my God, and having therefore no true consolation but in the Lord, is yet absent in the body, and estranged from Him. through the pressures of this corruptible flesh.

O that the serious cousideration of this sad condition of my soul, might