"Think on these things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, and the God of peace shall be with you.'

If thou desirest mercy, or the truth of God, to be for thy good, or the loving-kindness of the Lord to be for ever towards thee, and that God which brings peace with him to be with thee; then meditate on good things; and with such a meditation as may stir thee up to practice, and then all these promises shall surely be performed to thee. And because meditation is a hard duty, therefore encourage thyself to it by the benefit it brings; and being a way of God, he will give thee his Spirit to cause thee to walk in it.

In meditating, confering, and reading God's

word,

"Let not this book of the law depart out of thy mouth, but meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein; for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shall have good success."

In reading of the word, if thou understand

est not.

"I will pour out my Spirit unto you, I will make known my words to you.

a Phil. iv, 8, 9. b Josh. i, 8. c Prov. i, 23.

"It gives subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion." "The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes."b

If thou canst not confer.

tohen thou canst not speak in conference

to edification, but feelest thy heart shut up, apply, "He that believeth on me, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living waters.c "The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom.d

"A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth.

"The tongue of the stammerer shall be ready to speak plainly.f

"The dumb man's tongue shall sing." When thou art with the people of God, that thou mayest receive good from them, and do them good, apply, "He that walketh with wise men, shall be wise. His fruit shall be meat, and his leaves medicine."i

If thou findest thy soul stand in need of wisdom, keep company with the people of God, who are the only wise people, and then thou hast the only sure promises of the Lord, thou shalt be wise. If thou hungerest after good, resort to the righte

e

a Prov. i, 4. b Psalm xix, 8. d Prov. x, 31. Prov. xi, 14. g Isa. xxxv. 6. h Prov. xiii, 20. John vii, 33. Ezek. xlvii, 12.

John vii, 38. fIsa. xxxii, 4. Prov. xii, 14.

eus, and thou shalt be satisfied with good things.

If thou feel thyself dead, apply, "Out of him shall flow rivers of water of life," for thy quickening. If thy soul be faint or sick, apply, "His fruit shall be meat, and his leaves medicine." Let all this good which is gotten by their fellowship, cause thee to delight in them; and take heed of forsaking the fellowship of the saints.

When thou goest into company, apply these promises to thyself, that thou mayest be so to others; and hinder not thyself by unbelief.

When thou art to go to the assemblies, to participate in the ordinances.

"In places where I record my name, I will come to thee and bless thee. a" If thou wantest the Lord or his blessing, go to his house, and thou shalt find him. "They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thine house, and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures; for with thee is the fountain of life, and in thy light shall we see light. We shall be satished with the goodness of thy house, even of thine holy temple.c

"The Lord God is a sun and shield; the

a Exod. xx, 24. b Psalm xxxvi, 8, 9. Psalm lxv, 4.

Lord will give grace and glory, and no good thing will he withhold.a

"Those that he planted in the house of the Lord, shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall bring forth fruit in their old age; they shall be fat and flourishing.b

"The Lord shall bless thee out of Zion.c In this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. d'

Therefore when his ordinances are corrupted with men's inventions, then thou mayest press him with this promise; that he will give us wine refined and purified, even his purest ordinances, most comfortable to our hearts, as wine is.

And when there is little nourishment, because their gifts are weak, urge him with this, that he hath promised to make us a feast of fat things full of marrow; for I take this promise to be meant of the churches after Christ, ver. 7. "And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations."

Thy sins that are too strong for thee, -bring them to the Lord in his ordinan ces, and he will destroy them; though thou

Psalm lxxxiv, 11. b Psalm xcii, 13, 14. c Psa cxxviii, 5. d Isa. xxv, 6.

seem to be covered with them, and they spread as a vail upon thee, yet believe his promises, and all things shall be possible unto thee.

"I will make them joyful in mine house of prayer, their sacrifices shall be accepted at mine altar. a", God will both give to them, and accept from them their sacrifices, as pleasing to him. "Believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.b

"A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsel".c

Hear and receive my sayings, and the years of thy life shall be many; when thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. Unto you that hear, shall be more given.e

"Incline your ears and come unto me; hear, and your souls shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. My word shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I send it. Therefore ye shall go forth with joy, and be led forth with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and the trees of the field shall clap their hands; instead of the thorn, shall

a Isa. lvi, 7. b 2 Chron. xx, 20. c Prov. 1, 5. d Prov. iv, 10, 12. e Mark iv, 24.