interceed for them, when they have dealt fo fhamefully 1697. with him, and grieved him, and from Time to Time difobey'd his Voice? Now fuppofe a Man ftood condemn'd before a Judge, and that at the Judge's right Hand there fat one who had Power in his Hand, and this poor condemn'd Perfon, hopes he will interceed for him; and yet this poor Wretch has done to him as before mentioned. What Grounds can he have, to hope for Interceffion, Clemency or Lenity, while he believes he can do no otherwife than sin against him all his Days? For my part, I think his Faith, Hope and Belief, is but vain; without any Reafon or Ground. But he that loveth Chrift Jefus, the Lord of Life and Glory, fo as to keep his Commandments, the Lord will love him, and interceed for him, and make himself known unto him; 'according to his Words, which he fpake, He that hath my Commandments, and keeps them, be it is that loveth me, and be that loveth me, fhall be loved of my Father; and I will love him, and manifeft myself unto him, John

xiv. 21.

Sixthly, Covetoufnefs, which is Idolatry, is also another great Snare of the Enemy, and many are caught therein. It is in vain for the Covetous to fay, he hath a Share in the Love of God; for he hath neither Love to the Lord, nor to his Neighbour. A poor naked Man might afk him long enough for Relief, or for his Coat, before he would give him his Hand to help, or Coat either; or any manner of Relief: Altho' Chrift exprefly commanded it, Give to him that afketh, and from him that would borrow, turn not thou away. Matt. v. 42. How can any be fo hard-hearted, to fee his Brother's or his Neighbour's Poverty, and not administer of his Ability to the Needful's Neceffity? But fays the covetous or miferable Man, I have Children, or a Family to take care. of But too often Covetoufnefs brings a Curse, and not a Blessing, upon Family and Children also.

B 2

Perhaps

1697. Pehaps one that is coveteous may fay, that Charity begins at Home. But let him remember, that if it doth begin there, the Confequence moft commonly is very bad, when it ends there. Every Christian hath need to have Charity (in his Breaft) in a two-fold Senfe, or else there is no proper Pretence to Chriftianity; in fhort, Covetoufnefs is out of the Love either to God or Man: All those (with Abundance more, that I fhall forbear to mention) are eminent Snares of the Devil; and Satan layeth them according to the Propenfity of Man and Woman, and fuits them with their Nature. Oh! I'll warrant thee he will colour them finely, and put a pleasant Glofs upon them, to betray thy Soul, and keep it in Bondage for ever.

Seventhly, It is he that tells the Murderer, that it is better to live a merry Life and fhort, than to take Pains and Care all his Life-time; and the Thief likewife with the Robber.

Eightbly, It is he also that tells the Whoremongers and Drunkards, that fo many People are in these Practices, because it is natural for People to be fo overcome: But he don't tell them that by Nature all are Children of Wrath, and that without this luftful Nature be overcome, there's no Salvation, Eph. ii. 3.

Ninthly, It is he that tells the Swearers, they are fo used to it, that it is impoffible for them to leave it off. He never bids them repent and forfake, that they might find Mercy with God and Chrift that died for them; but died not that they fhould live in Sin.

Tenthly, It is he that tells the Coveteous, 'tis good to be faving, and not to spend all his Subftance in Gluttony and Pride; no, he'll bid him hate Pride, and that he should not give much Alms, though rich in this World; for the Devil will tell him, that it is : proud People does it only in Ambition, and to be feen of Men; but he will not tell him, it is a Sin to

be

be covetous: He alfo tells the Proud, that they are 1697. counted happy, and that Pride is counted good for the promoting the Commonwealth, and that it is as good to be out of the World, as out of the Fashion; he tells them, that Pride is Neatness, and how many pretty Excufes he has, to keep People in Pride, is admirable; he don't tell 'em, that Chrift the Lord was meek and lowly, and that they fhould take him for an Example. He, the Lord, did not come in Splendour, and Glory, outwardly; but plain in Speech, and alfo in Apparel, wearing a Coat without a Seam, being cloathed and adorned with the Robes of Righteoufnefs and Love. This is my Beloved! may he be thine alfo, gentle Reader. Oh! how lovely is he? He is the chiefeft of Tens of Thoufands. I intreat you, Oh ye Children of Men, both Sons and Daughters! don't you offend Chrift, by difobeying of him, the Bridegroom of the Righteous; but, I beyou, in his sweet and tender Love, if you have offended him, by finning against him, Oh! for the Lord's Sake, and your own Souls Sake, do so no more; but unfeignedly repent; and then, in his due Time (when he hath tried you, and found you faithful) he will embrace you with the fweet Embraces of his Love, which is better than Wine, and far excels the Love of Women.

feech

Now if the poor Creature did but love the Lord its Maker, above all, and its Fellow-creature as itself, the Enemy of Mankind would be overcome, and we made more than Conquerors, through him that hath loved us, even Chrift Jefus our Lord; and Man and Woman would fee all thefe (abovefaid) evil Things to be abominable, and perhaps many more which I nave not mentioned, infomuch that Self would be abhorr'd as in Duft and Afhes, and the Lord would be loved, and glorified, above all, for which End he created Mankind: But, certain it is, that this End can't be anfwered, nor the Lord fo loved, without Sin be for

B 3

faken,

1697. faken, and hated; for the Devil is the Author of Sin, and Chrift of Righteousness.

I, fays Chrift, am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, John xiv. 6. And again, John viii. 12. I am the Light of the World. Oh! faith my Soul, in Abundance of Love and Good-will, unto the Sons and Daughters of Men, that they would but walk in the Way of Truth, and the true Light of the World; then they would fee clearly the Snares of Satan; which that every One, even Male and Female (especially thofe that profefs Chriftianity) might do, and escape the fame, is the very Defire of my Soul: Even fo prayeth him, that through the Spirit of Jefus Chrift, and Ability of his Grace, labours for the Salvation of Mankind.

1

T. C.

FRUITS

O F

DIVINE MEDITATION

At SE A, in the Year 1699.

Blessed is the Man that walketh not in the Counsel of the Ungodly, nor ftandeth in the Way of Sinners, nor fitteth in the Seat of the Scornful; but his Delight is in the Law of the Lord, and in his Law doth be meditate Day and Night, Plalm i.

3.

Lay up for yourfelves Treafure in Heaven, Mat. vi. 20.

I

T is good for Man, whofe Breath is in his 1699.
Noftrils, to think upon his Maker, as much as
in him lieth, both Night and Day;

2. Who is the Fountain of all Mens Happiness, and the Ocean of their Blifs; not only in this World, but in that which is to come; even to all Eternity.

3. How fweet is that Meditation, that is on the Sovereign Lord of Heaven, and on the Prince of everlafting Glory?