same all the days of my life." And this I also undertake; it shall be my daily and constant study and endeavour; I resolve to obey to the utmost of my power: and I also promise further to manifest my love by free-will-offerings, as GOD shall enable me.

But first my love is to appear by doing what is commanded; "This is the love of GoD, that we keep His commandments," (saith S. John, 1 John v., 3); and, "He that hath My commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me," (saith our blessed SAVIOUR, S. John xiv., 21). There can be no love without obedience; this is its first and chiefest trial: "If a man love Me, he will keep My words," (verse 23). Now then, should my beloved LORD ask me, as once He did once S. Peter, N. N., dost thou love Me? would not my heart answer, with His Apostle, "Yes, LORD; Thou knowest all things; Thou knowest that I love Thee," "I will lay down my life for Thy sake. S. John xiii., 37. Now, to this he replies again, "If ye love Me, keep My commandments." S. John xiv., 15. Every time we tell Him, "LORD, I love Thee; Thou knowest that

I love Thee,"

He doth answer again, "If thou lovest Me, keep My commandments:" so that without we observe this we can no ways pretend to love Him.

I am therefore to take notice of, and to amend sins of omission, which too many among Christians mind little or not at all. In the matter of sobriety I am commanded, whether I eat or drink, to do it, as all things else, to the glory of GOD; and to be contented, whatsoever state I am in; for chastity I am commanded to know how to keep my vessel in sanctification and honour; for acts of corporal and spiritual mercy I am commanded to be merciful, as my Heavenly Father is merciful, and to forgive injuries, as I desire myself to be forgiven; for reverence to my betters I am commanded to honour and obey my superiors, Ecclesiastical and Civil; in what concerns Divine Worship, I am bound to read and pray, and meditate, to instruct myself and family, to receive the Blessed Sacrament; to have a veneration and respect for all things that belong or relate to GOD, and Him to love and fear, and trust and adore All these, with the particulars

evermore.

included in them, and all other duties, and the special precepts of the New Testament, is the task I cheerfully undertake, and in the performance whereof I will approve myself a sincere lover of JESUS.

CHAPTER II.

How great a Happiness in Eternity follows our Love and Obedience.

H'

IS "yoke is easy" and "His burden light,” "His Commandments are not grievous," and yet in keeping of them there is great reward:" a temporal happiness, than which none is greater in this world; and an eternal happiness, infinitely greater than any this world can afford. Do not I see what pains most men are at to get a subsistence for this world? how they run and sweat and spend themselves to provide for this perishing life; which yet is miserable, short, and uncertain? and shall I not labour "for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life?" shall I be at no pains to secure that life which hath no end, and knows no misery? O that I could duly understand the difference betwixt this life and the life to come! how would I slight the one, and desire the other!

Are

or rather how cheerfully would I employ this present, to obtain that which is to come! not there servants that work hard day by day, a whole year together for small wages; who are almost perpetually employed about their master's business; and yet have sometimes no thanks, and often but a sorry reward? and am not I one of those labourers whom my LORD hath hired to work in His vineyard? S. Matt. xxi., 33. Am not I one of those servants whom He hath entrusted with His goods, to whom He hath entrusted talents to improve for Him? and do not I desire he should tell me one day, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant?" S. Matt. XXV., 21. Is not my salary great, greater than any prince on earth could make it, greater than I could wish, greater than I could comprehend? eternal rest, eternal joys, eternal happiness, eternal glories; eternity itself, He Himself, will be my reward. Eternity! Eternity! Eternity! blessed Eternity! Eternity never enough to be considered, Eternity never enough to be valued, shall I obtain thee by what I do here for my LORD? shall I obtain thee by that imperfect service I pay to my gracious Master? "O GOD,