glory, with which he shall crown us above. The same Light that shines upon our souls on earth, shall shine brighter for ever in heaven. But whereas we look upon it, at present, as it were through a black mist, with much imperfection; then we shall see it clearly without veil or darkness. The same holiness that adorns at present our souls, shall be their ornament and glory; then it shall appear without spot or blemish. That same peace of conscience that preserves our hearts and senses, shall be without the least disturbance. In short, the same Jesus that is conceived in our hearts, and that is formed and grown in us by degrees, shall then appear in a perfect stature that shall want no more increase.

As it is with the sea, it enters into the rivers before the rivers can run to the sea; in like manner, God comes to us before we go to him; and heaven enters into our souls before we can enter into heaven.

Aged Simeon waited patiently for Death; but as soon as he had seen the Saviour of the world, and embraced him, he ran to meet Death. He thought upon nothing but his latter end; therefore he prayed to God most earnestly to receive him into his glorious rest. O Christian soul, how shouldest thou dispose and prepare thyself to die, since thou beholdest with the eyes of faith this blessed Redeemer, not wrapped up in swaddling clothes, but crowned with an infinite glory and light! He is not in thine arms, but he lodges in thine heart; thou hast not received him, to return or part with him again, but to be united to him for ever, and to be incorporated into his mystical body. Since therefore Death brings thee the nearer to thy Redeemer, perfects this blessed union, and casts thee into the very fountain of life; instead of being frightened at it, and grieved when it comes to thee, thou shouldest then rejoice, and be transported above measure with gladness. We should meet this Death with a cheerful countenance: I

mean,

mean, that we should meet the Lord Jesus, this merciful Prince of life, who, having vouchsafed to thee the sight of his salvation, intends to receive thee into his rest and glorious peace, who reigns above in heaven.

A PRAYER and MEDITATION for a Christian Soul which arms itself against the Fears of Death, by meditating on our strict and inseparable Union with Jesus Christ, by his Holy Spirit, and the first-fruits in us of our blessed Immor tality.

MIGHTY and Merciful Lord, the Sun of Righteousness,

and Fountain of living water, drive away from me the dark shadow of Death, and quench all the fires that it kindles in my soul. Thou hast not only died for me, but thou art pleased to live in me, that I might one day live for ever with thee. Thou hast, of thy pure mercy, chosen me for thy child,and hast made me a member of thy mystical body, flesh of thy flesh, bone of thy bone, and caused me to be a par taker of thy holy Spirit. God has given thee the Spirit without measure, that of thy fulness we might receive grace for grace. By the means of this blessed and infinite Spirit that abides in my soul, I am united to thee in a more perfect manner than the tree is to the root that bears it, or the child to its mother that nourisheth it in her womb, or the members of the human body to the head that gives them life. Ties that unite me unto thee, O glorious Saviour, are more unchange-able than the heavens and the earth. As nothing can pluck, me out from thine hand, there is nothing can separate. me from thine heart. Whether I live or die, I am thine, my Lord and my God, any nothing can alter thine affection for me. Death can take me out of the world, and carry me out of the embraces of my dearest friends; but it can never separate me from thine holy Spirit, the Soul of my soul, and

the Light of my life, which cannot be put out by all the envious blasts and storms of the prince of darkness; but it will rather bring me nearer to behold thy face, to rest in thy bosom, and unite me to thee more perfectly for ever. To whom shall I go? Thou hast the words of eternal life, and art the inexhaustible fountain. Thou art my hope and my treasure, my glory, and mine only happiness. O faithful and unquestionable Witness! I should be worse than an infidel, if I questioned my future salvation and glory, since the Father hath not spared thee for me, though thou art his only beloved Son, the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person; since thou, O merciful Lord, hast willingly suffered the most shameful death of the cross, and spilt thy precious blood to wash away my sins, and satisfy for my crimes; and since thine holy Spirit is come into mine heart, to make me a partåker of that precious blood, and seal me for the day of redemption. O glorious Spirit of my Saviour, that rests upon me! when I shall be able to speak the language of angels, I shall not sufficiently express the wonderful operations that thou producest in my soul. Thou kindlest in me such heavenly flames as never go out, but are always alive, as the fire of thine altar. Thou formest in me a white stone, where a new name is written, which no man knows but he that receives it. Thou givest me to eat of that hidden manna, of that food of angels, that the world knoweth not. Thou witnessest with my spirit that I am a child and heir of God, and joint-heir with Jesus Christ, the King of kings. Thou dost not only seal me the pardon of all my sins, but dost also purify my conscience from all dead works, to serve the living God. Thou causest me to cry out, Abba, Father; and imprintest in my heart the glorious image of my heavenly Father. Thou art the seal of my adoption, the earnest of mine incorruptible inheritance, prepared for me in heaven. Thou hast given me the infallible assurances of a glorious and eternal life, and begun it already in my soul, granting me its first-fruits.

'9.

Xx

Thou

Thou causest me to behold the sun-shine of thy grace, and makest it to give light in mine understanding. Thou dost not only vouchsafe me the favour of beholding from this valley of tears thine heavenly Canaan, but causest me to taste of its fruits. I am not yet come to the fountains of waters that spring forth to eternal life; but I taste the streams and rivers that flow in me. I am not yet in thine holy paradise, but thou hast caused paradise to be in me; thou hast given to me an unspeakable and glorious joy, and hast bestowed upon me the grace of God that passeth all understanding. O living and quickening Spirit, unknown to the world! thou strengthenest me in such a manner, that Death shall never be able to fright me. Thou hast united me to thyself by an inseparable union, O Prince of life! and hast put me in a state of immortality, an infallible principle of glory, and a source of unspeakable happiness: Thou art in me to dwell with me for ever; therefore thou shalt fill up the measure of thy most signal favours. My faith, by thy divine assistance, hath spied out the kingdom prepared for me from the beginning of the world; and shortly I shall see with mine eyes the inexpressible beauty of that celestial country, that flows with the milk of the purest and sincerest joys, and with the honey of the sweetest and most ravishing comforts. Thou hast sent a foretaste of the fruits of the tree of life; but I shall come into thine heavenly paradise; I shall ever have my fill of those delicious fruits. Now, thou hast caused some drops of the dew of heaven to fall upon mine heart; but then thou wilt make me drink of the rivers of thy divine pleasures. At present, in my painful passage, in the midst of my groans and tears, I may gather some ears; but when I come to my heavenly country, I shall reap my hands full with songs of joy. Here upon earth I see God as in a glass, obscurely; but in heaven I shall behold him face to face, and I shall be satisfied with his likeness. My Lord and my God, who by the infinite merits of thy sufferings

hast

hast purchased for us this Spirit of life, and who hast given to my soul such an authentic seal of my salvation, and such a precious earnest of thine eternal bliss ; I feel in me the motions and endeavours of this new man, that strives to leave this body of darkness and deatly, to enter into the light of the living. Lord Jesus, since thou hast granted me the Spirit of thy grace, enlightened my soul with thy divine knowledge, and caused me to know the way of life; since thou hast given me to taste of the heavenly gift, of the powers of the life to come, and hast vouchsafed to me the first-fruits of thy glory, and that I already feel heaven in my soul; since I behold thee with the eyes of my faith, I embrace thee with all my affections, and that thou dwellest in my heart; perfect in me the work of thy grace, and bring me at last to thine eternal glory."Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation.” Amen.

CHAP. XX.

The eighth Consolation is, to consider that Death delivers us from all temporal Evils, that we daily suffer.

HERE are certain pictures with two faces; the one re

TH

presents most ugly features, and the other beautiful and pleasant things. This is the true emblem of Death; for it may be painted with a fearful countenance, a lean body, and iron hands, that ravish us from our goods, and our honours > and that divide our persons, dragging our bodies into a loathsome sepulchre. If we look upon Death in this manner, we cannot but tremble and fear. We may also look upon it as a powerful deliverer, that unlooseth all our fetters, breaks our chains to pieces, and raises our souls to the highest glory and happiness. If we consider thus, there is nothing more lovely than Death, and nothing more to be desired.