or at least keeps them from sinning at all, any longer; so doth Love; it certainly mortifies all, even the most reigning sins; it will not suffer them to sin that love GOD. We can tame wild beasts by industry; overcome the barrenness of the earth by labour; resist the angry elements by art and physics. No evil but hath a remedy; only death hath none; there is no striving against it: so that nothing can better express the irresistible power of love, than to say that it is as strong as death.

The last property of Love I shall now mention is, that Love sweetens bitter things, makes our labours pleasant, and even our sufferings delightful. How heavy is that yoke which is imposed by an ungrateful hand! The soldier pressed to the service can hardly bear his arms; and he that is enrolled by love thinks them light, and bears them with pleasure: the slave that works in the mines counts his very life a burden; the niggard that works much harder likes well his drudgery, because the love of riches is his taskmaster he that serves his master out of fear, works faintly and with a heavy heart: he that serves him out of love, doth it diligently and

yet with cheerfulness. The Christian pilgrim who is driven heavenward with fears and terrors, goeth on with much reluctancy, and a sorrowful heart: he that is drawn with the cords of love, follows with joyfulness; minds not the ruggedness of his way, and even rejoiceth in his weariness, because it brings him nearer and nearer to his beloved. He that could say, "The love of CHRIST constraineth us," could say also, "We rejoice in tribulations." "Twas the love of JESUS made primitive Christians work hard and suffer much, with comfort and unspeakable joy; and 'tis for want of that sweet and Divine love that Christians now find sorrow and great difficulty in that little they do or suffer for JESUS. The labours of love are ever pleasant; nothing is hard that love binds upon

us.

CHAPTER XXII.

A Farewell to all Sinful Desires.

HIS great power of love is now to be drawn

THIS

into acts, and these considerations to be

reduced into practice.

Now, therefore, enter more seriously than ever this cloister of love; engage thyself further into the society of the true lovers of JESUS; enter now actually and affectionately upon the work and labour of love.

re

Remember now thy Baptismal vows; member them, I say, now that the love of CHRIST Constrains, binds thee to fulfil them.

Things are best preserved by that which first. gave them being. And now thy making good. that stipulation, thy part of that gracious covenant whereby thou art related to CHRIST; that (according to the design of that sign of the cross, which was drawn upon thee as the badge of thy profession) thou wouldst "not be ashamed to

profess the faith of CHRIST crucified, and manfully to fight under His banner, against sin, the world, and the devil; and to continue CHRIST'S faithful soldier and servant unto thy life's end;" so now thou shouldst accomplish this promise by faith working by love.

Now then, retire a while and enter thy closet, sequester thy thoughts from the world, and confer with thy soul about thy duty and thy great interest. Call to mind the obligations the love of JESUS hath laid upon thee, and how thou hast promised to requite it, by renouncing all things that are contrary to thy love and duty to Him. By "renouncing the Devil and all his works; the vain pomps and vanities of the world, and the covetous desires of the same;" as als "the sinful lusts of thy flesh." Now thou art to approve thyself a true lover and servant of JESUS, by departing from these by repentance and amendment. Leave them, therefore, and forsake them, these enemies of thy SAVIOUR, of thy love, and of thy happiness. Let thy soul, full of the love of JESUS, thus meditate, and resolve, and express thy devout affections to Him that died for thee.

The love of JESUS hath prevailed; I find my heart wounded; I can no longer resist the charms of His love. He hath wooed me so long, and with so much kindness, that now my heart is His. I will love Him, because He first loved me. Now it repenteth me that ever I rejected His suit; that ever I was unkind to Him. It grieveth me that ever I countenanced and preferred His rivals; the lusts of sensuality, covetousness, and pride, which I renounced in my Baptism. I will now exclude them wholly. This is the first mark JESUS shall receive of my sincere affection to Him, that I will entertain nor caress no longer those His enemies, with whom I have had an unhappy intelligence for too long a time. Henceforth, if they come near me, I will endeavour to drive them away; if they come after me, I will flee; if they persevere in their attempts, they shall get nothing else but shame and denials. Away from me, then, ye wicked spirits, with all your tempting allurements, worldly vanities, deceitful riches, sensual pleasures. I remember that I renounced you all, when first I gave up my name to JESUS. When He first began to shew and seal His love