Divine contemplations, and spiritual breathings of Mr. Henry Dorney

1661. To D. H. N^o 52.

I Perceive my Aunt hath had her Weakness re∣turned upon her; such is the Constitution of this Clayey Lump: But what a wonder is it, that a Treasure of Grace and eternal Life should ever dwell through all the days of our Sin, Trouble, and Va∣nity, in such a Tabernacle; and that the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of Grace, Holiness, and Glory should never cease striving, in the midst of all that Opposition and course Entertainment on our part; and never give over, till our Sins be utterly and for ever extinguished, and Mortality swallowed up of Life: and so these vile Bodies and polluted Souls made conformable to our Redeemer, and the eternal Com∣panions of his Bosom. Let us fix our eye there, and we shall be always projecting for him; and never discontented with our Travel, though we rid but little Ground. Let us prize him, and love him, and all his Rules and Orders; himself in the first place, and all the rest for his sake only: And that makes our work our delight, not our toil and vexation; for there is no want of help, either for Strength or Pardon, or both. He takes Sinners to himself, that he may spend Intimacy of Good Will upon them; and never lets them go quite out of his hands any more. Oh, how little do we know him! How little do we remember that every Conviction we have had, every Groan, every desire of Soul after him, was born first in his heart, and given to us as

the new Creatures Food, to ripen it for Glory. We breath towards him in the strength of his own Breath. We may be yet much more winnowed, but cannot be lost, nor our Faith quite fail; because he prays for us as never meer Man did. His Prayers cannot but speed; for the Will of the Father, Son, and Spirit is one Will, for they are one God; and that Will is nothing but good Will to us, who hope in him, and catch hold of his free Covenant∣good-Will to Men. I have now lately News out of the North, that my dear Brother D. is departed out of this World. How should these things make us love to be trading for that Country, where all our best Friends go, and not think it much that this World yields so many sorrowful bits; because God never appointed it for our abiding place; but only that we may hear his Voice, and be contracted to him while we are below, in order to the consum∣mating the Marriage above. The Lord make us chearfully serious in the business of our day, while it lasteth, to prepare to lanch forth when our Lord shall call. Blessed are they who watch, &c.