PETER faid, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto Thee on

the Water.

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And he faid, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the Ship, he walked on the Water to go to Jefus. Mat. xiv. 28, 29.

To walk on the Water to go to Jefus, is to follow him, and to do his Will, notwithstanding all Troubles and Loffes, Contradictions and Perfecutions of carnal Men. Lord, fay to my Soul, Come, and it will then go to Thee, and do whatever Thou wouldst have it, without the leaft Apprehenfion from the World.

Saviour, thou haft bid me come,

But bid me come, again, 'Till I reach my heavenly Home, My finking Soul fuftain:

Walking on at thy Command,

O'er Danger's moft tempeftuous Sea, Save me by thine out-ftretch'd Hand, And fave me up to Thee.

BUT

UT when he faw the Wind boiftrous, he was afraid: and beginning to fink, he cried, faying, Lord, fave me.

xiv. 30.

Mat.

Upon every new Danger and Temptation, there is new Want of Grace, and new Neceffity for Prayer. --- It is of great Advantage to a Chriftian, for God to make him fenfible, from Time to Time, of his natural Weakness and Inability, that he may ftill have recourfe to his Saviour. Temptation in the Children of

Not one Moment paffes,

God, ferves to awake their Faith.
but we have Occafion to fay, Lord, fave me.
O may I cry for Help to Thee,
The Moment I begin
To fink into the troubled Sea,

Or yield to my own Sin;
Tendereft Branch, alas! am I,
Wither without Thee, and die,
Week as helpless Infancy,
O confirm my Soul in Thee.

I know, in answer to my Prayer,
Thou would'ft extend thine Hand,
My Soul above the Billows bear
To the celeftial Land.

Unfuftain'd by Thee I fall,
Send the Strength for which I call,
Weaker than a bruifed Reed,
Help I every Moment need.

ΑΝ

ND immediately Jefus ftretched forth his Hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little Faith, wherefore didft thou doubt? Mat. xiv. 31.

Jefus holds Peter up in the midst of the Water, and knows the Bottom of his Heart. Let us take great Care that we do not, like Peter, confider more the Danger in which we are than the Power of Chrift; fuch a Piece of Infidelity would make us deferve to be left entirely to ourselves --- His Word is our Light; his Hand our Strength. He permits his Children to be exercised with Trials and Temptations, in order to humble them, and by delivering them out of them to increase their Faith and Patience.

Whether or no my Heart of Stone

Will yield to be renew'd, Sufficient is thy Grace I own, I justify my God.

This Record do I leave behind,

Whether I ftand or fall,
Sinners, ye all his Grace may find,
His Grace is free for all.

AND when they were come into the Ship, the Wind ceased.

Mat. xiv. 32.

Wherever Chrift is there is Reft--- The Ship represents the Church, which is the Houfe of Faith, of Peace, and of God himfelf, but continually fubject to be toffed to and fro in this World. Command the Winds which tofs it to ceafe, O my God; for Thou haft full and abfolute Power over them.

He does the raging Storm appease,
And makes the Billows calm and ftill,
With Joy they see their Fury cease,

And their intended Courfe fulfil.
O then that all the Earth, with me,
WouldGod for this his Goodness praife,

And for the mighty Works which He
Throughout the wond'ring World dif-
ToGod your grateful Voices raife[plays.
Who does your daily Patron prove,
And let your never-ceafing Praise
Attend on his eternal Love.

THIS People draweth nigh unto me with their Mouth, and honoureth me with their Lips: but their Heart is far from me. Mat. xv. 8.

Nothing is due to a Reputation unjustly acquired It is not evil speaking, but an Act of publick Charity, to expofe the Hypocrify of a Seducer. --- Outward Worship is nothing without the inward. It is in the Heart, and by the Religion thereof, that God is honoured. --- True Piety confifts in the Union of the Heart with God: This is what we must labour to accomplish.

If in these fatal Fetters bound,

A wretched Slave I lie,

To humble Penitence and Prayer
Be gentle Pity given,

Smite off myChains, and wake my Soul Speak ample Pardon to my Heart,

To Light and Liberty.

And feal its claim to Heav'n.