St. James Ap. NOW about that Time Herod the King ftretched forth his

Hands to vex certain of the Church. And he killed James the Brother of John with the Sword, Acts xii. 1, 2.

It is a very great Misfortune for a Man to employ that Power against God, which he has received from Him. Human Greatnefs and Power do not much difpofe Men to embrace a Religion founded upon the voluntary Infirmity and Humility of a GOD. - St. James was the firft Martyr among the Apostles. Men accustom themselves to the greatest Crimes when once they are embarked in Wickedness: An ambitious Perfon fpares nothing; he makes even a Sport and Diverfion of the Death of the best Perfons: That of St. James is the Price of the People's Flattery towards this impious King, and the Fruit of his bafe Complaifance and Indulgence towards his People.The Lord give us Grace fufficient for every Trial, that we may hold fast our Confidence firm unto the End.

Omnipotent King,
Who reigneft on high,
Thy Mercy we fing,
Thy Haters defy,

We give Thee thy Glory,
Tho' Satan oppose,
And gladly adore Thee
In Sight of thy Foes.

AND he faid unto them, It is not for you to know the Times or the Seasons which the Father hath put in his own Power, Actsi.7.

It is not for Man to know the Times or the Seasons of God, but to prepare himself for them by his Grace, and patiently to wait for them. His Duty is to be always ready, for every Thing which may happen, without lofing his Time in curious Enquiries into the Defigns of God, to leave God to act according to His good Pleasure, and to refign himself up to his Almighty Power, performing carefully whatever he knows to be His Will. The more fincere and exact Men are in performing this, the more doth God discover himself to them.

When fhall the Imperial Standard spread

Its Crimson thro' the Skies?

To meet their great triumphant Head
When fhall the Members rife ?

Gazing thy Church, and lift'ning stands,
We long to fee Thee crown'd,

Now, Lord, fend forth thine Angel Bands,
And bid the Trumpet found.

PHILIP findeth Nathaniel, and faith unto him, We have found him of whom Mofes in the Law and the Prophets did write, Jefus of Nazareth the Son of Jofeph, John i. 45.

Philip's Knowledge in the Law and the Prophets is a Proof of his earnest Application to the Bufinefs of his Salvation, and to the discovering the Meffias; and this Application, which was no other than a Gift of God, was perhaps the very Thing which drew down upon him that of his Vocation. ---- The Joy of these two Difciples at having found the true Meffiah in the Perfon of Jefus, fhews plainly that they defired him, sought after him, and had their Hearts intirely taken up with Him. Let us imitate them, if we really defire to find Jesus Christ, to preserve Him in our Hearts, and to receive new Grace.

BUT UT after thy Hardness and impenitent Heart, treasureft up unto thyfelf Wrath against the Day of Wrath, and Revelation of the righteous Judgement of God, Rom. ii. 5.

There is nothing fo certain, fevere, and inevitable, as the Judgement of God; and yet Men live, as if it were a Thing of little Confequence, and as if they could efcape it. --- He who fhuts his Ears against the Voice of Mercy, during his Life, will be expofed, at the Time of his Death, to the Refentments both of defpifed Mercy and of incenfed Juftice. Suffer me not, O Lord, ever to change the Riches of thy Goodness into a Treasure of Wrath; but do thou rather change this hard and rebellious Heart of mine into an humble, penitent, and believing Heart,

Stony Heart, which nought can move, All alike it feems to Thee,

Thou canst neither fear nor love,
Threats and Promifes are vain,
Give thee neither Joy nor Pain:

Perfect Blifs or Mifery,

Joys or Woes unspeakable,

Life or Death, and Heaven or Hell.

HOP

[OPE maketh not afhamed, because the Love of God is fhed abroad in our Hearts, by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us, Rom. v. 5.

It is then certainly true, O my God, that thou didst fo love us Men, that thou haft given us thy Holy Spirit; and that this Spirit is the Source of our Love for Thee; and this Love, the Foundation of our Hope, ceafe not, Lord, we beseech Thee, to impart to us this Gift, fince the first Moment we are deprived of it must prove fatal to us. The Love of the World makes us expect every Thing from the World; and who is there whom this Hope hath not deceived? The Love of God caufes us to hope for every Thing from God, upon the Truth of his Word; and who can fay, that this Hope, when truly fuch, was ever vain and deceitful.

Defcend immortal Dove,

Spread thy kind Wings abroad, And, wrapt in Flames of holy Love, Bear all my Soul to God.

JESUS, my Lord, reveal,

In Charms of Grace divine,
And be thyself the facred Seal,
That makes me ever thine.