This glorious love extends to every point, to every quarter. In the rugged path of life, it supports me; amidst the sorrows of life, it comforts me; in the hour of death, it is my sun and shield; and at the day of judgment, shall spread an heaven before me. This love, in its depth, answers my necessities; in its height, crowns my highest expectations; in its breadth, replenishes my soul with goodness; and in its length, satiates my most enlarged desires of mind, and suits the eternity of my existence. In the depth of this love, the Son of God became man; and in its height, men are made the sons of God. It locks the gates of hell, so that I shall never fall into perdition; it opens the gates of heaven, so that I shall enter in, to swim in an ocean of love, whose height and depth, breadth and length, shall be the subject and the song of the church triumphant round the throne, through everlasting day.

MEDITATION XVIII.

SLANDER.

March 17, 1767.

WHAT a wicked world do we live in! If happy,

we are envied; if miserable, we are contemned; and in every condition slandered. With the psalmist of old, I may say, "The mouth of the slanderer is opened against me." With him I may add, "They have O that, with him, I could also say, "But I gave myself to prayer?"

spoken against me without a cause."

I am not the first that have suffered innocently.The man after God's own heart, in the darkest day of his distress (for slander has no pity) and in the midst of his life-guards, is attacked by a subject, and has the most virulent speeches thrown out against him, accompanied with dust; and the most bitter reproaches, sent home with vollies of stones! David, thou wast never more like a king, nor more like the King of heaven, than now, who makes his sun to shine on the good and the evil, and sendeth rain on the just and unjust. I read, I admire, and would imitate: "Let him alone, let him curse, for the Lord hath bidden him." Such patience under such ill usage at any other time, would not have been prudent; but now it is like a king, like a saint, like an angel, like God.

From David, I cast mine eye to David's Lord, the God of angels, who, by his own creatures, and to his very face, is called a devil. He whose miracles set his divinity above doubt, is accused as a deceiver, condemned as an imposter, and executed as a malefactor? yet hear his prayer; “ Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." tience of the type, and the prayer of the antitype, let me study to imitate.

The pa

How cautious should we be in believing detracting stories, since nothing can be more like truth, yet nothing more untrue than the slander I complain of.But O how sweet is the testimony of a good conscience! It is an impenetrable shield against all the poisoned arrows of reproach. When the soul can call in the heart-searching God to witness its innocency, well may it triumph, knowing that "the curse, causeless, shall not come." But how difficult is it to be of a meek and forgiving spirit, when despitefully

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used! To love an enemy, and forgive an evil-speaker, is an higher attainment than is commonly believed. Christianity in theory, and Christianity in practice, are very different things. It is easy to talk of Christian forbearance among neighbours, but to practice it ourselves, proves us to be Christians indeed. The surmises of a few credulous persons need not trouble that man, who knows his cause is soon to be tried in court, and he openly acquitted. So the evil language of evil times need not greatly disturb me, since in the day of judgment "my judgment shall be brought forth as the noon-day." While I pray for pardon to my slanderers, I also plead, that their evil speeches may not be established in the earth.

The circumstances of David change, but not his heavenly temper. Hence the abandoned Benjamite neither finds him the desperado when driven from Jerusalem, nor the tyrant when returning in triumph. I have sinned,' says the prostrate rebel; 'I pardon,' says the prosperous king. What! my Lord,' cries Abishai, shall not Shimei be slain, that cursed the Lord's anointed?' No; shall my restoration be laid in blood? May not I pardon, for am not I king this day in Israel?' Thus David will not avenge his personal injury; but as Shimei's malediction was a breach of the law of heaven, commits the matter to Solomon, and his wickedness at last found him out.

My passion runs in a wrong channel; for my grief should be greater that the malicious slanderer sins against God, against his own soul, and against the truth, in his elaborate lies, than for all the mischief his bitter reproaches can do to me.

Every time the military man enters the field of battle, he must either stand his ground, or come off

with disgrace; so under every trial, my graces either must reap advantage, or suffer loss. Therefore, my present duty is not to slander my slanderers, not to meditate revenge, or rejoice when evil finds them: But, first, to justify God in all things; then, to forgive, pray for, and love mine enemies; thirdly, to study what I may be reproved in, chastised for, or instructed about; and, lastly, that every grace (faith in God, patience under the rod, humility of mind, and meekness towards all) may improve under the present providences.

MEDITATION XIX.

FEAR, AND OTHER PASSIONS.

FOUR things I should fear; God, myself, temp

tation, and sin. I should fear God, for his greatness; self, for its infirmity; temptation, for its danger; and sin, for its defilement. I should fear God with love; myself with caution; sin with hatred; and temptation with resolution. The fear of God will take away the fear of man; the fear of self will moderate the love of self; the fear of sin will make watchful against sin; and the fear of temptation will be an antidote against temptation. My fear of God should be constant with cheerfulness; of self, constant with trembling; of sin, constant with watchfulness; and of temptation, constant with vigilance. The first is my attainment; the second is my duty; the third is my wisdom; and the fourth is my prudence. The fear of sin shall fly away when I am made perfect in holiness, and pass into glory; the

with a body of sin and but there is no torment in

fear of self shall cease, when self is put off, and God is all in all; the fear of temptation, when satan is trodden under my feet: but the fear of God shall endure for ever; only the panic is removed, when love is made perfect, and casteth out fear; for the fear of saints, struggling death, hath torment in it; the fear of seraphic hosts, who, with the profoundest awe and reverence before the throne cover their faces with their wings. I see, then, that love, accompanied with fear that has cast out the torment of terror, shall dwell in every glorified breast.

Several things should be the objects of my most ardent desire; as, the lessening of satan's kingdom; the downfall of the Roman Antichrist, and Mahometan delusion; the conversion of the Jews; the spreading of the gospel and knowledge of God through the world; the growth of practical religion in every breast; and the hastening of the glory of the latter days.

Several things I should admire and wonder at; as, the being and perfections of God; the unity in Trinity, and Trinity in unity; the love of God; the incarnation of the Son; the passion of Christ; the purchase of his sufferings; the names of Immanuel; the offices of the Redeemer; the relations of the God-man; the Holy Ghost's indwelling in the soul; the union of saints to their Head; the communion of creatures with God; the justification of the guilty; the sanctification of the unclean; the glorification of man that is but a worm; the great and precious promises; the excellency of grace; the efficacy of faith; the nature and immortality of the soul; and the glories of the world to come.