The holy breathings of a devout soul, in meditations, contemplations, and prayers

In Bourdeaux, Anno 1660.

1. THE happiness of a Christian in this World or in this Life (he makes, as to me) to be strength against all sin, even a∣gainst all, both great and small, against the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life, that he may totally overcome and always all sinfull, worldly, fleshly lust∣ings and affections, so that he commit nor consent unto no evil at all, either great or small, but serve the Lord continually in sin∣cerity and godly simplicity, by all his thoughts, words and actions, doing all good always, that is possible to be done, at least, in his choice, will and desire.

2. The comfort of a Christian in this life is in purity and holiness of heart, mind, af∣fection and thoughts, endeavouring always with might and main, to his very utmost, that he be not carried away with vain, fool∣ish, fleshly thoughts, cogitations, inclinati∣ons, or affections. The more Spiritual, ho∣ly, heavenly and the more perfect he is, the more of the Divine Nature he hath, the more of Heavens beauty, glory and happi∣ness is in him; the more he hath of the glorious, beautifull and ever blessed impress of the Image of God in him, which shines forth unto his understanding, comprehension and reason, so irradiously and brightly, that he is comforted, delighted and refresh∣ed, with the very joys and bliss in glory, he is made partaker of those very joys (though but in a small measure) that the Angels and Saints enjoy in Heaven; for such a Soul pos∣sesseth God and his glory, and happiness as they do; the difference only is in the mea∣sure, or quantity, and not in the certainty or quality, the Saints Cup in Heaven is full to the brim, when given them, and they drink deep of those pleasures and joys which are at God's right hand. But we indeed here, have but a snip, a tast and away, they indeed enjoy these joys always, with∣out the least intermission. But alas our en∣joyment

of these joys, are short, but a very little moment, we cannot so comprehend as they do how they are comprehended, we see but darkly and know but in part; however it is the same that they see and know, and so are all things ours as well as theirs, both things present and things to come; for God being our God, we have as much as they have, he being our Portion, theirs is not, nor theirs cannot be greater.

3. Thus is a Saint on Earth perfectly, sub∣stantially and effectually in heaven, thou on Earth (at times) and sees and beholds things there, as they are; for a Saints heart which is his better part, and greatest part, is al∣ways in Heaven, though his body be on Earth; his affections are above and burn in the fire of Love, always, for the things that are above, are, purity, holiness and love, his meditations and desires are on his God, in his God, and for his God; and thus he dwelleth in God, and God dwelleth in him, which is the sole, entire and compleat com∣fort and joy of his life and soul, even as it is theirs that enjoy and possess God in Hea∣ven.

4. Put these two together, a Christians happiness and a Christians comfort; for they cannot be separated, yea there is such a oneness in them, as though they be two, yet

they seem to be but one; true one man may abound more in one of them, and the other in another. Now I am sure that there is not the Man alive, nor never will live, that knows the sweet, the worth, and the excel∣lency of them, but will confess and say, that such a man is the only happy man, the comfortable man, the peaceable man, the rich and the honourable man; Ah man, man, who ever then thou art that shalt be brought by Providence, I mean the Spiritual and most favourable Providence of God to peep here into; I pray thee, endeavour to pry and look into this perfect Law of Liberty more fully, more clearly, more plainly, than yet thou hast, and thou shalt find what I have exprest, thy self to be even in Hea∣ven, and Heaven to be in thee, though thou art on Earth, to be in God and God to be in thee, which is both men and Angels only good, bliss, happiness, comfort, joy and rest, which good Lord for thine only holy names sake in Jesus Christ I most humbly beseech thee cause me more and more to know, to feel, to love and long after, and that it may be my only imployment to find out this incomparable good, this wisdom of wisdom, those joys of all joys, the only true and satisfactory, and to be desired, esteem∣ed, and rejoyced in. Let me then, O God

my God, I beseech thee, be sequestred from all thing•• that tend to please, satisfie, re∣fresh, solace, content or delight the flesh; for I earnestly would, O God, if thou so wilt, that thou wouldst always be all mine all, (for thou alone thou knowest) O God my God, art only able to satisfie the ambi∣tious and exorbitant covetous desires of my mind, heart and soul; for it hankers and hangs on thee, as thou knowest continual∣ly; let me have thee, O God, let me so have thee, as I may find and feel, that I have nothing else, what ever else I may have. Let me be swallowed up and con∣sumed in thee, yea let me I most humbly be∣seech thee, be as it were dead and sensless, to all things out of thee, and besides thee, and give me grace, that I may so live to thee here, that I may ever live with thee hereafter, as there, so here, to bless, praise, magnifie, laud, honour and extol thy holy, ever holy, most blessed, most great, most gracious, and most glorious name. So be it, Lord, So be it, Amen, Amen.

5. A Christians life should be (me thinks) but a good thought, that is, always think∣ing of God for good, or at the most but as two thoughts, one of Gods Goodness, Love, Mercy and Kindness; and the other of our own desperate badness, unkindness, ingra∣titude

and misery. Thus even thus (me thinks) we should always be, all the day long, all our days, unto the very end of our lives.

6. According as is our Spiritual warfare (within us) so is our peace, if there be an universal war in all the faculties of the Soul, and members of the body, against all sin, then and only then do we enjoy peace, true peace, full peace, and perfect peace. Where∣fore make first a Covenant with thine eyes, that they gaze not abroad, nor look irre∣gularly, or wantonly. Secondly, with thine ears, that thou take no pleasure, but avoid to hear all vain, idle, foolish or sin∣ful talk. Thirdly, with thine hands, that they touch no unclean thing, that is, that they serve not as an instrument (at any time) to do any evil. Fourthly, with thy feet, that they carry thee not to do the thing at any time, that is not altogether right in Gods sight and esteem. Fifthly, with thy tongue, that thou speak not vainly, lightly, idly, foolishly, hurtfully, slanderously or sinfully. But that which shall honour thy God, edifie thee here, and comfort thine own soul, and give thee joy in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ. Sixthly, with thy mind, that thou mind only the things of God, and what are according to his mind. Seventhly,

with thy heart, that thou love not, seek not, choose not, prize not any other thing, than what is according to Gods heart. Eightly, with all thy affections, to love what God loveth, and to hate what God ha∣teth, and as he loveth and hateth them in sincerity and truth continually. Ninthly and lastly, but not the least, with thy thoughts, to suffer no evil, vain, idle, fool∣ish gadding worldly affection to settle it self there a moment, keep out all things thence, but thy God, and the serious thoughts of his goodness, and of thine own badness, of his mercy, and of thine own misery, of his Heaven, and of thine own Hell, of his glo∣ry, and of thine own shame, of his beauty, and of thine own deformity and ugliness, of his light, and of thine own darkness, of his fulness, and of thine own emptiness, of his fruitfulness, and of thine own barrenness, of his power, and of thine own weakness, of his Wisdom, and of thine own foolishness, of his Patience, and of thine own froward∣ness and peevishness; in a word of his riches, which is above all, over all, and more than all things much by much, either in Heaven above or Earth beneath, and of thine own despicable poverty and nothingness at all, only a sinful nothing, or nothing but sin.

7. If thus thou endeavourest to keep out all things (but God and his ways) out of all thy thoughts always, thou shalt I pro∣mise thee live such a peaceable, quiet, com∣fortable, sanctified, holy blessed life, as is unutterable, unexpressible; for as thy thoughts are, so will be thy comforts, or discomforts, thy joys and rejoycings, or thy reproaches and bewaylings. Do thou thus draw near to God, and thou shalt find him, and feel him, and perceive him, and see him to draw near unto thee, by his gra∣ces here, which will bring thee to possess himself, his Heaven and his Glory for ever hereafter.

8. God doth not give us such a measure of grace here to free us altogether from our Corruptions, infirmities and failings, for these two ends (as I conceive) first, that we be not lifted up above measure, as we should be, and think our selves to be some∣thing, and that we are cloathed and rich, and full; God knoweth that it is better for us to see our poverty, nakedness and empti∣ness, that we may be Inheritors with the Saints in life, of all the promises, both of things present and to come. And not to be shut out of them with the evil Angels, and have our Portion in the Lake of fire and Brimstone world without end. Again, se∣condly,

If thus we did live at our hearts ease, always without temptations, failings or falls; we should surely with Peter, fool∣ishly make Tabernacles here, and not care for any other Heaven; for indeed it would be a Heaven. But not, Ah not such a Hea∣ven as our God hath prepared and provided for us above, where we shall see him as he is to be seen, and know him as he is to be known. If we had here all that we would have, or could desire and crave, we should not with holy Heavenly enlightned Saint Paul, desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ, which as he said well, truely and divinely, was much better by much, yea best of all. And if we were not at times tempted, how should we manifest the gifts and graces of Gods spirit in us, as now through grace we do by our fightings, stri∣vings, struglings, wrestlings, contendings in the heat of Zeal, and fire of fervent love in truth, to keep our selves as valiant Com∣batant•• 〈…〉〈…〉 holy Lists of his Divine and blessed Laws and ways, not flinching at all, or drawing back in the least, or moving a foot. But standing it out to the very last breath against all our spiritual Enemies and Adversaries, within and without, of Devils Lusts, worlds Lusts, and fleshly Lusts and Corruptions. And here, by constant and

faithful engagements in this holy war, in this spiritual combate, in this Angelical fight, for the honour and glory of the Eternal God, the King of Kings, and Lord of lords, we are confirmed, assured, strengthned, and setled by the whispers and sweet voice of his holy spirit within us, to our Souls and Consciences, that we shall in due time be made through his strength and continual as∣sistance more than Conquerors; and shall at last sit down and rest in peace Triumphant∣ly, with the Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs and Saints, wearing for ever the Crown of Victory and Glory, in Glory, and be arrayed with the long white robes of Christs righteousness, worthiness, merits and obedience, and ever live with him and his bliss, enjoying for ever and ever his pre∣sence, his Heaven, yea himself, who is the bliss of all bliss, the Top and Crown of all joy; the Heaven of Heaven in Heaven, and the glory, beauty, splendor, and sublimit•• of Glory in Glory.

9. See then, and consid〈…〉〈…〉ess and muc•• better doth God deal with us, and carve to us, than we can or would for our selves, how much, Ah how much better is he to u•• and for us, then we would be to and for our selves, how much more over and above hath he prepared for us, and will surely

give us, than we are able to ask, than we are able to think; wherefere let us learn to let him alone, and pray him to deal with us, and do for us, as seemeth him good; and always say in all things, so Lord, so would I have it, seeing thou wilt have it so.

10. I also conceive that God suffers us to fall at times for this end, or the like, that by our fall, we may learn and be made to stand the faster, to rise the higher, and to stick the closer unto him, who only is able to hold us up, and to keep us from falling; me thinks if we did not sometimes fall, not that I desire to fall or stumble at all, neither to sin in the least, to have grace abound; but me thinks if we did not at times fall, we should not see his Fatherly love so clearly, so greatly, in taking care of us to preserve us, by protecting of us from greater evils and dangers; for when he hath lifted us up again, after we have fallen, Ah how do we cling to him, how do we hold him fast, how do we endeavour to have him always in our sight, and how do we cry after him, when we perceive any evil of affliction or tempta∣tion to be nigh us; and how do we cast our selves down before him at his feet, and be∣wail our infirmities and weaknesses, begging strength from him to support and keep us up; how do we wonder and are astonisht to

see the fire of his wrath kindled against the wicked, and against evildoers, and yet that such wicked evildoers (as we are) are not consumed; to see fire in the bush, and yet the bush not burnt.

11. Thus we may plainly see that God seeth all to be good for us, yea best of all, which he sendeth us, causing every thing to work together for our good. Ah, seeing then that his love, mercy, and goodness is such, and so great for us, let us always mightily prise him, and prize him at the ve∣ry highest price, and give up our spirits, souls and bodies to live to him, and for him, and unto, and for his praise, honour and glory, it being our glory and our honour, our happiness, and our bliss that he is such a God as he is; To him alone therefore be gi∣ven always, all honour, glory, and praise, for ever and for ever.

12. Laying out, is laying up; laying out of earthly treasure on earth, with a hea∣venly heart, is to lay up heavenly treasure in Heaven, according to Gods words, and his heart.

13. God giveth unto his Children, of his own strength to overcome as it were (him∣self) he delighteth to be (as it were) over∣come by them. And to make us more than Conquerours.

14. Ah the mercy, the mercy and boun∣ty of God and the misery of man, that God being such a God as he is, should notwith∣standing continue to do so much for man, and man nevertheless continue continually to do so much against his God, I say against his God, even then, when he knoweth God to be his God.

156. Ah Lord, how is it that thou should'st take pleasure to mind us so much as thou dost, although thou knowest well our evil minds, and how little we mind thee; and although thou tellest us by thine own spirit, how that we are near and dear unto thee, even always in thy mind and heart, to do us good for ever and for ever. Ah how great is our misery to have such de∣praved natures, and such Devil-like hearts, to pay thy merciful kindness with such high unkindness and ingratitude, to thee who art our only good.

16. How is it, O Lord, that thou takest such continual care and pains (as it were) and art at so much cost, to overcome us with thy loving kindness, and yet we re∣main so brutish and sensless, stupid and un∣kind, that we will not (but refuse) to he overcome.

17. Ah the misery, the misery of man, who is never weary, nor would never be

weary of doing evil, yea all manner of evil against his most kind and loving Lord and God, who is so good to him, as he is never weary nor repents of doing of him good, notwithstanding his continual doing of evil, or doing of all evil continually.

18. A good heart giveth unto the Lord freely, cheerfully, willingly and rejoycing∣ly, of all that he hath, and always ac∣knowledgeth, and saith, of thine own, O Lord, I will and do give thee.

19. When that the Lord giveth unto such a soul Grace, he giveth him Glory; when he giveth him outward things, he praiseth him, and enlargeth his bowels of compassion unto the Saints.

20. Such hearts desire mightily, large∣ness of heart, or large hearts, to give ac∣cording to what they receive, whether it be Spirituals or Temporals, nothing is so near or dear unto them, as the work of the Lord, which is to do his will in all things, from the very highest of Grace, to the very lowest of things in Nature.

21. Ah Lord God, let me always bear thee in mind, when ever I mind, that is, think on any thing.

22. Let me, O Lord, I most humbly and unfeignedly beseech thee, do every thing that I do, as knowing and remem∣bring,

that thou seest and knowest all the thoughts of my heart, and writest down all my words, and works on thy blessed book of remembrance.

23. Let me do all that I do before men, as before thee, O God my God, knowing that thou seest it and hearest it.

24. And all that I take in hand to do, O God, before thee, Let me do it all, as if all the men in the World did look on me and see it.

25. Notwithstanding the greatness and numberless number of my sins, thy good∣ness, O God, was so great towards me, as moved thee to have compassion on me, and to pour out thy endless and everlasting love and kindness in mercy upon me.

26. Also, O God, thou causedst my own sins to appear so great and filthy before me, that I was thereby ashamed of my self and confounded before thee.

27. So that seeing my self thus polluted, filthy, abominable, and unclean, yea abo∣minably unclean, I left my self willing∣ly, I hated, and do hate my self truly, and I embraced (through Grace) thy most gracious offers of Grace, Love and Mercy, heartily and unfeignedly, returning unto thee with my whole heart, desiring entirely and sincerely, an entire change from

all evil to all good, from my own evil ways, to thy most blessed ways that are so good, so sweet, so beautiful, so delightful, that since the knowledge of them, my soul hath been often delighted, refreshed, feasted and satisfied in them, and with them.

28. Ah mercy of mercies, that thou wouldest, O God, be pleased thus in mer∣cy to look on me, when I was fit and ripe for all thy Judgments; And when thou mightest justly have poured out the viols of thy wrath and fury upon me with the great∣est indignation, that then even then to kindle the flames of Love in my heart, from the continual burnings in thine, O God, in thine, to love, fear, seek, adore, and serve thee unfeignedly with my whole heart; Ah what mercy to this mercy.

29. Continue, O God, that art my God and only good; continue, Ah continue I most humbly beseech thee, to be thus mer∣ciful unto me, that I turn not thy Grace in∣to wantonness; but in some r••easure labour and strive to walk worthy of these thy rich and saving mercies, with which thou hast, and wilt for ever inrich my poor Soul with, and save it.

30. As a natural Father, a Father in the flesh, is, and must be still a Father, and a child, a child, so me thinks it is with God

our Heavenly and Spiritual Father; he ha∣ving once begotten us, and we are born a∣gain, and are become his children by the Grace of Adoption, Justification and Sanc∣tification, he must be still our Father, and we his children, unto Eternal Salvation. Though we do many times (as fleshly chil∣dren) not always do the will of their Fa∣thers in the flesh, nor please them always, not satisfie or delight them, nor give them content, yet notwithstanding they are still children, nor they cannot cease to be chil∣dren, nor their Father to be their Father; even so, though we do not always do what liketh God our Heavenly Father, but that at times which disliketh him, and displeas∣eth him, he as a good Father sometimes punisheth us, and sometimes passeth by our failings, without punishment, eyeing what is rest for us, and as a Father he never fail∣eth us, neither will he suffer us to fail of be∣ing his children. Once his children and e∣ver his, his for ever, and for ever.

31. Ah Lord God, that art so glorious here in Grace, how transcendently glorious art thou in Glory? If the Earth be so full of thy Glory, how full is Heaven, O Lord, thy dwelling place, where thou manifestest thy self unto the Saints, and they behold thy beauty and thy glory face to face.

32. If thy back parts be so beautiful, to our eyes here in the flesh, how beautiful, Ah how beautiful, O Lord, will thy glori∣ous countenance be unto us in glory? where we shall see thee and know thee as thou art to be known.

33. Thy presence even here, O Lord God, when we have Communion with thee, doth so delight and ravish us, that we had much rather by much be a door-keeper in thy house, be a servant to the meanest of all thy servants, than sit on Thrones and rule among the wicked that keep not thy Laws.

34. I have, O Lord, I confess, abused thy merc••es and do therefore acknowledge that thou mayest justly refuse me all mer∣cies.

35. I have walked contrary unto thee, O God, and still do, and therefore I confess that thou mayest justly walk contrary unto me, and give me up to do all the evil, that is in my heart, which is the very greatest of all thy Judgments in this life.

36. We are the work of thine hand, we are thine own, and thou mayest justly do with us, all that seemeth good unto thee to do; for what is right in thy sight, O Lord, is just and right, and good.

37. When the Lord is with us for good, then he hath accepted of us, he is in us, and we are in him, one with him, and he one with us, we as bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh, and he as bone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh; we are not two but one, yea there is such an oneness, as we are one (in some measure) in all things, and have the same affections for all things, loving what is to be loved, and hating what is to be hated; there is a like purity and no mix∣ture in our choice of good, and in our ha∣tred and abhorrency of evil, (as to the truth and sinceri••y of it) though much different in the degrees.

38. Thus even thus is man made (in some measure) as God, that is God like. Thus even thus doth he partake of the holy and Divine Nature of God. Thus even thus doth God himself give of himself unto man, to make man like himself. That man may be satisfied as God is satisfied; but diffe∣rently thus, God seeing all things in himself, from himself, and man seeing what is of God in him, is of his free gift, from his free Love.

39. That is, to have a heart according to Gods heart, to be always satisfied in all Gods dealings and doings.

40. All that God doth is to have his own will accomplisht and done, and if our will (as it should) be according to his will, then are we well content in and with all that is done; for nothing is done or can be done, but that, and only that which God will have to be done.

41. The honour of all the Saints, is Gods honour, and their glory is to bring him glo∣ry, or to glorifie him as the Saints and An∣gels do in glory.

42. Ah Lord God, let me as the Bee, make honey of the weeds as well as of the flowers, fetch good out of evil, as well as increase and multiply good from good, con∣demn sin where ever I see it, hate it most where I see it most, speak most against it, when I hear it most spoken for, and let the hearing and seeing of grace in others and from others, beget more grace in me, and let me lay it up as the Bee doth honey in the hive, for my self to feed on in the winter of temptation and affliction, and that as honey it may be sweet and comfort others also.

43. I am resolved, O Lord, not to be satisfied, until I find within me that thou art well and truly satisfied with me, and by my whole life and conversation.

44. I am, O Lord, resolved (through grace) not to be satisfied, until I find thy holy Laws so writ on my heart, that my heart be according to thy heart, and set and bent, and resolved entirely and conti∣nually, and universally in all things to keep thy Law.

45. Ah Lord, let me so find thee always within me, that I may always do the things, and only the things that are right in thy sight.

46. Let my Love be so true, O Lord, for thee, as I may only love thy truth, that truth only, in all things, may be only lovely unto me.

47. Let my goings out be comings in un∣to me, that is, Let all, O Lord, that I do, bring me good, yea even my falls make me rise and stand the faster, relying on thy strength, O God my God, who only art a∣ble to keep me both from stumbling and from falling.

48. Watch, O Lord, watch over my heart continually, that I depaat not from thee, but that I do the things always, that are in some measure according to thy heart.

49. The Lord gives his graces unto those that rightly ask them, as we would do wa∣ter at a Fountain unto all those should come for it in a due and right manner, give as

well a thousand, ten thousand, yea a hun∣dred times ten thousand draughts to any one that should need it, as one draught alone (so our God) such is his fulness, such is his goodness, that he gives as well and as wil∣lingly, all the desires of our hearts and souls as one desire alone, yea as the least desire o•• all, if we do but ask as we should ask, and for that end or those ends alone, that he hath appointed them, and us to have them; for to give much, or little, is to him all alike; he cannot (such a Fountain is he) be emp∣tied, no nor lessened at all by whatever he gives, he is still the same, full of all bles∣sedness, and goodness, always ready to di∣stribute and give unto the necessity of the Saints, never weary nor standing still, yest∣erday, to day and to morrow and for ever the same.

50. Therefore to have much, is to ask much, ask and ye shall have, that your joy may be full. God doth not say or mean that we may or can be too bold, that we may ask too much. And to take away this scru∣ple or doubt, he promiseth that what ever we shall ask (believingly) in the name of Jesus Christ, we shall receive if we open our mouths wide, then we have his promise that he will fill them, which implies that the way or means to have much, is to

ask much, this holy Coveting and Ambiti∣on he is well pleased with, and so good, bountiful and free our God is, that we cannot please him better, than after what ever we have asked, to believe that he will give us much more by much, than we are able to ask or think; whoever lacks Wisdom, if he ask it of God, he will give it liberally, for he upbraids no man, neither is he a respect∣er of persons, having given us Jesus Christ his only Son, the Son of his love and de∣light (how) shall he not with him give us all things?

51. Surely, surely, seeing he hath, and daily doth give us such things as these, Him∣self, his Son, and holy Spirit, we may be sure we shall (as Abraham did) be weary, or leave asking, or God will leave giving, for weary he cannot be: fit then thy self to be filled; and I promise and assure thee who ever thou art, thou shalt not be sent empty away, what ever thy hunger and thirst be, whatever thy coveting and ambition be, thou shalt have to fill thee, to satisfie thee, yea over and above what ever thou canst ask or think (believe) for all things are possible, yea easie for him to do.

52. The life which delighteth the Lord, and which he would have us to live, is to live unto all holiness and godliness every

day, even as we would do, if we knew it to be our last day, yea to live every mo∣ment of the day, all our days, as if it were our very last moment.

53. The death of the Righteous every one (seemingly) desires to dye, but truly I may say of the most that thus say, be they whoever they be, that they know not well what they say, because, that perhaps, not one of a thousand but denyes it in his deeds for the death of the Righteous, in which the Lord delighteth, as in their life, and which honours him most, even as a holy and god∣ly, that is God-like life doth; I say this death of the Righteous is (as I take it) to dye daily, yea every moment of the day, to all sin, even to all both great and small, in thought, in word and deed; to dye thus, is to honour, glorifie, and dignifie more the Lord, than to dye any temporal death, on the Rack, in the flames of fire, or to be bu∣ried alive, &c. 'Tis not with these, Ah not with these Sacrifices of our fleshly lives, but with those Sacrifices of our Lusts, Cor∣ruptions, and sinful affections, that God is well pleased, refreshed as it were, and de∣lighted. These Sacrifices send up sweet Odours in his Nostrils, these are pretious in his eyes; I, thus, thus doubtless it is, that the death of the Saints are pretious in the

eyes of the Lord, to put to death those cru∣el ones, those Enemies of our Eternal life, of our souls salvation, that put to death the Lord of life and glory himself, (in his man∣hood) this is to be valiant for the Lord, to do wonders, or wonderfully, to fight well his battels, and to help the Lord (as it were) against the mighty; Ah how is he delight∣ed, that we will avenge our selves thus on his Enemies, and spare none alive, but as Samuel did, hew Agag the King (himself) in pieces; this is to be jealous for the Lord with a godly jealousie, and to have our love for the Almighty to be as hot as fire; Ah thus, thus, if we pull out our right eyes, and cut off our right hands, we shall be sure to enter into life, but not maimed, but whole and entire. And he that is thus wil∣ling to lose his life, shall save it, and he that will spare or save his life, that is his life of sin, or fleshly life, to live in and commit sin, shall surely lose his life, both Spiritual, Tem∣poral and Eternal.

54. He that thus dyes all the day long, all his life long, dyes much more gloriously by much in the eyes of the Lord God, and in the eyes of all his enlightened Children; than if he did suffer in the flesh constantly all his dayes the cruellest death of any of all the Martyrs. Ah to suffer thus, is to suffer tru∣ly,

is to suffer rightly for the cause of Christ, and the honour of the Gospel; for 'tis not, Ah no, our outward sufferings in the flesh▪ that delighteth the Lord, for he is a God o•• joy, and would that we did always rejoyce and is there any other thing that we do, o•• can do, that gives us so much cause to re∣joyce, as to be delivered but of the hands of all our Enemies, and to see them lye slai•• before our eyes, as the Egyptians. Ah then, then may we serve him without fear, then and thereby do we serve the Lord in Righte∣ousness, and true Holiness, and he that is thus faithful unto the death, to put sin to death every moment of his life, shall be sure in the end of his dayes, to have the full end of all his desires, and to wear for ever the Crown of Eternal life; he that thus fights shall overcome, he that thus suffers no sin to raign in his mortal body, shall raign with Christ in bliss and glory, world without end, Amen, Amen.

55. Thus then to live, and thus do dye, is to be sure we shall live with Christ Eternal∣ly.

56. He that doth live thus, and thus puts sin to death, lives that life and dyes that death daily, as most of all honours God, and which brings him most glory, which is the thing only, or the only thing, (as I sup∣pose)

that all Gods Children most desire and long for in this life.

57. He that thus lives, shall ever live; and he that thus puts sin to death, is past from death to life, and shall never see death, that is the power of death to terrifie him, for death is swallowed up into Victory; death when it comes shall carry him in triumph, yea triumphantly into the blessed arms of his blessed Jesus, who hath thus redeemed him from Hell, from sin, and from death, to live ever with himself in bliss and glory, an Eter∣nal life.

58. When I shall find that sin is thus put to death in me, then will I say boldly, that the Lord hath sent his destroying Angel to do it, that he hath done it with the word of his power, with his own voice, who is that blessed Arch-Angel of the Covenant of peace and reconciliation.

59. When I shall find that sin is thus root∣ed up in me by the roots, then will I say, that the Lords hand hath done it, for I know that none but the Lord himself can do such wonders, and work wonderfully thus.

60. When I shall find that sin is destroy∣ed in me, then will I say that the Lord hath visited me graciously, that he hath spoken peace to my poor soul, and revived it, and refreshed it; then may I say he hath been

with me of a truth, and not regarded the low estate of his poor Servant.

61. When I shall find sin dead, then will I say, as the Lord liveth, and because he was put to death, and now liveth, I shall live also.

62. Sin being thus banisht and cast out, then shall I see my self free, and taken O Lord into Covenant with thee, then will I say, I am no longer under the Law, but un∣der Grace, which gracious favour, O Lord, do me, that I may henceforth and for ever live unto and for thine Eternal honour and glory.

63. Ah Lord God, that wert fastned to the Cross for my sins, and to save my poor Soul; fasten my sins there, and let them never get loose again, and Ah Lord, let my Soul live ever in thee and possess thee e∣ver.

64. Ah Lord that raignest over all Prin∣cipalities and Powers, raign I most humbly beseech thee over all these Princes and Pow∣ers, that have Dominion over me, that I may be brought into subjection unto thy most holy Laws and live obediently, keeping all thy Divine Commandments. That thou, O Lord God, who art God over all blessed for ever and for ever, mayest be my God ever, over all and bless me also for ever

and for ever, that I may ever live in thee, and thou in me. Amen, Amen.

65. If we be so willing to unstrip our selves of our cloathing at night, and lye down on our beds naked to uncloath our selves of all our glory and honour, pomp and beauty, and to unmind that we are what we are, to the end we may enjoy a few hours quiet and rest; Ah how willing shall we be to unstrip our selves of all that we possess, and of our lives too, when that last long night of death shall come and appear to fetch us up from hence, that we may be e∣ver with the Lord, who is our Eternal and everlasting Portion, our infinite and incom∣prehensible good, and blessed rest and peace, which shall be as it were, ever beginning, and never end nor cease.

66. Ah our God that art what thou art, and yet wilt be pleased to be ours, and to own us for thine own.

67. Ah Lord God, though others satisfie themselves to hear of thee, let me not be sa∣tisfied till mine eye see thee.

68. Though others, O Lord, be well contented to know thee as men teach, Let me I beseech thee be satisfied only with thine own teachings, to know thee as thou art to be known, that is, to see and find, and feel thee in me, dwelling, raigning, and ruling

there, being all in all, and bringing into sub∣jection all powers that lift up themselves in me against thee.

69. Ah Lord God, how much better is it thus to have thee, than to have all things out of thee? as the Corn, Wine, and Oyl of the World.

70. What, Ah what is Earth to Heaven, these things below, to the things that are a∣bove, but as pebbles to pearls, as dross to gold, or as a shadow to the most glorious and most sublime substance.

71. The one being life, the other death, the one fully satisfies, the other is vain, and brings nothing but vexation of Spirit with it.

72. We cannot know God till we altoge∣ther forget our selves, we cannot hear God till we are altogether deaf to our selves, and to all things out of God; we cannot see God, till we are stark blind to all things be∣sides him, and that is not of him; we can∣not find God as he is, untill we have lost our selves, and all things else that concerns him not (so do and prosper.)

73. As we know not our latter end, nor are not able to number our days, so are we not at all able to tell what God is, unless he tell us, nor to hear him unless he open our hearts, and give us understanding, nor com∣prehend

him until he hath made us one with himself, and given us his own Spirit to know him by.

74. Thus if we live to move after his call, and be obedient unto his voice, we shall so hear, that our Souls shall live and for ever rejoyce, that we live thus to obey him.

75. Ah Lord God Almighty, maker of Heaven and Earth, thou art the all of all those that know thee; they that know thee, O God, as thou art to be known, care to know nothing else, thou art altogether alsufficient to content and satisfie them, with all plea∣sures and delights, their joys are full when that they enjoy thee; And they then say with Jacob, that they have all, and with Da∣vid, desire nothing else either in Heaven above, or Earth beneath. Their wills are so swallow∣ed up into thine, that they are not theirs but thine, and thus to live to thee, and in thee, they count it only to live; and out of thee (to be) as if they were not, as if they had no being.

76. I am a Creature, but thy Creature, O Lord my God; I am a man, but created for thy self, for thy glory and my Everlasting good and happiness, and shall I know that I am thus, such a one, and not be satisfied? for is there any thing else that can satisfie me thus?

77. Ah Lord thou settest before me life and death, good and evil, light and dark∣ness, Heaven and Earth, the things above and the things below. Ah suffer me not I most humbly beseech thee in Jesus Christ, to prefer pebbles to pearls, dross to gold, darkness to light, death to life, evil to good, Earth to Heaven, these low things here be∣low, to those high and most transcendent glorious things above. But let me give my self to thee, O God, that hast provided and given such rich, rare, and pretious things to me, enjoying them; let me not care, seek for, or mind these, having thee, let me be fully satisfied, and rejoyce evermore with unspeakable joy.

78. Being thy favorite, O God, who art King of kings, and Lord of lords, living in thy fear and favour, shall I not rejoyce much more by much than they do, or can do, that are but favourites to men, and have but their favour: they shall all pass away, but thee and thy word of grace ingrafted in me, shall endure for ever and for ever.

79. Ah Lord God, pour out of thy self into me more and more, that I may be made to rejoyce always with unspeakable joy, yea that my joys may be full.

80. Let m••, O Lord, rejoyce much more in despising these things here below, than in

prizing of them, and to have a heart to trample them under my feet, than to set them up in my thoughts and affections. These being low as they are, let me, O God, keep them always under my feet, and trample on them as on dirt and dung, mind∣ing these high and holy things above, which thou givest only in love, and to those only whom thou lovest.

81. Ah Lord God, swallow me up into thy self, that I may be found there, naked and empty of all things out of thee and be∣sides thee, so that I may only possess thee my only good, bliss and blessedness.

82. Ah Lord God, set always before my eyes mine Eternal and Everlasting Portion of thy grace, and grant that I may be made thereby a worthy partaker of thine infinite and eternal glory in glory; so be it, Lord, so be it.

83. If any other condition were fitter for me than my present condition, I know that the Lord would give it me, and fit it for me, and fit me for it.

84. Ah Lord, give me then a contented and thankful heart always, and in all condi∣tions whatever, seeing thou hast caused me this day to know a fresh, and to be assured, that thou art always with me, takest care for me, and watchest heedfully over me,

and that thou wilt be ever unto me, as hi∣therto thou hast been, my support, strength, assistance and satisfaction.

85. If God be come down into our hearts then all powers that are not of God, are brought down, are brought under into sub∣jection unto his holy Laws, by obedience unto his Divine Commandments; for where he is present, all that is not of him, must ab∣sent it self; Two being not agreed, they can∣not live together, and the stronger will turn out the weaker.

86. Ah Lord, let me always eye thee ey∣ing of me, and let my eye be never off from thee; for I know that thine is not, nor can∣not be, off from me.

87. Ah Lord, let me seriously consider, that all things that are done by thee, are done for the good of all those that love thee.

88. Therefore whatever is done at any time, whether in Heaven or Earth, let me always say, so Lord would I have it, seeing thou that art Lord of all things and over all, even God blessed for ever and for ever, wilt have it so.

89. Ah Lord, suffer not my vile will, to controul at any time thy Divine Will; but let thine be always mine, and mine accord∣ing unto thine.

90. Ah Lord, suffer me never to go about to bring thy will to mine, but always and in all things labour with all the Powers of my Soul to bring mine to thine.

91. And after I have ask'd let me be con∣tent with what ever I have, knowing that thou, O Lord, seest and knowest my con∣dition.

92. Ah Lord, swallow me up into this blessed condition, that all conditions be a like unto me, and that I may esteem them blessings, and thee and me alike blessed, not in a like degree, but in truth. Thou God blessed over all, and I in thee, blessed by thee, through thy blessed goodness unto me.

93. Ah Lord be thou with me where ever I am (mine) and then I am sure I shall not want any thing, because, O God, thou that art all fulness wilt, I know, and am sure of, continually fill me.

94. Thou art, O God, my good, and there∣fore no evil can or shall come nigh me to hurt me; for I know that thou always watchest over me for good, and that thou never slumbrest nor sleepest.

95. Ah Lord, thy shadow is unto me safety, let me then always sit under the sha∣dow of thy wings (that thy, Word in me) may be always the food and the life of my Soul.

96. Ah Lord God, if thou hast made our life thus sweet unto us over all things, and above all things, it is because thy self, being thus the life of our life, we may be taught to spend it so for thee, as we may ever pre∣serve it for thee, to live unto thee for ever and for ever, to praise thee.

97. Ah Lord, I praise thee for that thou hast at this time made me so to touch thee feelingly, so as to feel vertue come out from thee into me, that mine eyes are opened so, as I see thee and know thee to be with me and in me.

98. Ah Lord, let this light of thine ne∣ver depart from me, but let me more and more be swallowed up into it, that by it I may be made more and more able to com∣prehend it and live in it.

99. Ah Lord God, let these thy dawnings draw me after thee, to follow thee the Lamb of Righteousness where ever thou goest, and let me never grow weary, nor faint in the way where ever thou shalt lead me, or what ever thou shalt bid me to do, though it be to spend and to be spent. But grant that I may be always thine, as I know and see through thy good grace in me, that thou art mine.

100. Ah what a most blessed thing is it to live in the Peace of the Lord, and to dye with his Peace.

101. Ah Lord, suffer me not to purchase the whole World (if it were to be had) with the committing of one sin against Conscience; for what shall it profit me to gain the whole World, if I lose my own Soul?

102. Ah Lord, how happy is the man that knoweth thee only, that is, is so swallowed up into thee, as he knoweth none, nor no∣thing but thee; thou art, O God, over all, and above all in him, and he is only thine, and none but thine.

103. Ah how low, how low is it, to know any thing but thee, O God? or in∣comparison of thee?

104. Ah Lord God, let me so know thee, as I may comprehend thee, that I may des∣pise all other knowledge, and rest satisfied in this one thing, only necessary.

105. To know thee the true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent, is the depth of Wisdom, and all things to it (in comparison of it) is meer foolishness.

106. The Angels know not more, and this knowledge of theirs is but in a degree, and, ah how low and inferiour to that know∣ledge that is in thee, that is, O God, in thee, in thee.

107. This knowledge is so sweet in its manifestation, that it drowns and consumes both men and Angels in its contemplation.

108. This knowledge is so deep and sweet, that all, both Men and Angels, do thee only greet.

109. Thus to know thee, O God, is to be in some measure like unto thee, filled with all wisdom and knowledge.

110. But this (alone) is given us all to know from thy self, who knowest all things, and givest unto none but what thou know∣est, is for thine own glory, O God, and their Everlasting good.

111. Fill, O Lord, fill all the hearts of those that unfeignedly seek thee, and this thy Wisdom, that they may become fools to themselves, and only wise in th••••, and for thee.

112. Ah Lord God, what is it to know all things from the Cedar to the Hyssop, if we have not our understanding enlightned, to comprehend that we are comprehended of thee.

113. Let me only have this honour, and I will despise all other honours and dishonours; yea let me be despised by all, so that I may be thus honoured, O God, by thee, by thee, O God, by thee.

114. All things, O God, compared to the knowledge of thee, is not, nor shall not, I trust, be ever at all regarded or esteem∣ed by me.

115. For if I can but once attain to know thee as thou art to be known; I am sure I shall have all that I can desire to know; to possess, or to have.

116. Having thee alone, O God, I shall have all that is, or can ever be attained, ei∣ther here, or hereafter.

117. I know that there is none in Heaven that have more, or that desire more; let me have what they have, and I shall then be as they be (satisfied) but till. I have as much (at least) as any, I cannot say that I have enough; for my desires are as large. And till I am thus filled as they are, that thus know thee, possess thee, and adore thee; I cannot but cry out with continual hungring and thirstings, Oh feed me, Oh fill me, for I am empty and want all things; if thou dost not, O God, thus fill me with thy bounty, and satisfie me with thy loving kindness, and cause me to see and know that thou art mine, and that I am only thine.

118. Ah Lord God, I know it is thee on∣ly, only thee, that canst cast out Devils; Ah cast out I most humbly beseech thee all the Devils that are in me; thou, O God, that raisest from death to life, and that for∣givest all our sins freely, even for thine own names sake only.

119. All that is done in me, is done by thee, O God, it is thine arm that bringeth me so great Salvation.

120. Ah Lord God, thou only art able to teach, and none but those that are immedi∣ately taught by the spirit, know thee, or thy teachings.

121. Ah Lord, teach me then but to know thee as thou art known by thine, and I will not care for any other knowledge, or any other thing; for he that hath this one thing given him, may truly say as Jacob did, that he hath all.

122. Thou art, O Lord God, that well of life, and water of life, that whoever drinketh of, that is, hath thee in himself, shall never more thirst again after any other thing: for thou wilt, O Christ, be ever in him a well of water, springing in him, even unto Eternal life.

123. Thou art, O Christ, thou art that bread of life that cometh down from Heaven (into our hearts) and feedest our souls in the assurance of faith, sight, and knowledge, un∣to Everlasting life.

124. Thou art ours, and we are thine, and this we are taught by thine own spirit dwelling in us, and not by any other teaching or science.

125. And being thus perswaded and as∣sured, our hearts do continually rejoyce, yea and shall rejoyce continually, even for ever and for ever.

126. Such is the Mighty Power of God, unto those that know him, and wait on him, that he maketh (as it were, at times) the very stones in the wall to look on us, and to speak good unto us.

127. Such is Gods goodness, that his pre∣sence brings with it all good, and makes it present to us, and dissipates all evil, so as we are in some measure changed from evil to good, and emptied of all evil, and filled with all good. But Ah, its duration for the most part, for the most of times, is little, and soon departs; such is our forwardness, and proneness to all evil, and our aversness and deadness to all that is good, which makes the Children of God (with Paul) to be weary, yea stark weary of themselves, as of a dead body, yea to esteem their bodies, their own natural affections, even as dead bodies; wherefore they desire to be dissolved, finding such a Law in their members as continually fighteth and warreth against the Law of God in their minds, and leads them so often Cap∣tive unto the Law of sin, that they complain in the very language of that blessed A∣postle; Ah wretched man, miserable worm

that I am, when shall I be delivered, when shall I be freed and set at liberty, when shall it be with me as my Soul desires it were, to live unto God as I should, as I would, and not thus live in death, or die all the day long whilst I am alive?

128. Ah most glorious and most Holy Lord God, it is thy glory that thou art what thou art, and it is our mighty shame that we are what we are, thy purity and thy power, O God, is only known unto thy self; we indeed see something of thee. But all that all the Angels and blessed in Heaven see, were all their sight and knowledge in one of them, would yet be much less by much than the least drop is to the whole Ocean; yea than one moment is or would be unto Eter∣nity. Thou art, O God, thou art incom∣prehensibly glorious, powerful and great; there is no end of thy goodness, for it shall continue for ever, and for ever, world with∣out end, so be it, O Lord, so be it, Amen, Amen.

129. Let me, O God, my God, be so swallowed up into thee, as I may ask after nothing but thee, as I may speak of nothing but the, nor hear nothing in me but thee, that I may desire nothing but thee, and may live unto nothing but thee, so that I may be all thine, and nothing but thine.

130. This knowledge, O God, of thee passeth all understanding, none can speak of it, unless thou speakest it in him, and that is according unto us, and not according to thee: for if thou should'st speak unto us according to thy self, Ah Lord, we could not hear thee so, as to comprehend it.

131. As we have thee, O God, so we speak of thee; as we know thee, so we de∣clare thee; as we feel thee, so we praise thee; and as we comprehend thee, so we prise thee; and according as thou art unto us, so we publish it unto others. But alas, alas, what is this to thee, to what thou art.

132. Let not him that hath the most, boast, for he hath nought but what is given him.

133. Let not him that hath the least, be discouraged, for he hath so much as will do him most good at the last.

134. Let not him that is fallen cast him∣self down over much, for God (if he seek him) will raise him up again.

135. Let every man wait, and in due time he shall have so much of that, which God seeth and knoweth is best for him.

136. The best of all, is that which God seeth to be best of all for us, and so much he will not fail to give thee (O man) who

ever thou art, if thou relye and depend on him.

137. And when we have received it, let us lay it up, that is, lay it out, that it may increase, for he that hath most, more shall be given him, he shall have most of all.

138. The blessing of the Almighty, shall, and will always go along with those that di∣ligently seek him, they shall be sure to see no evil all their days.

139. The Blessedness and the happiness of the Saints, is to see God, and to know him to be theirs.

140. He shall have him that would have him, he shall be with him that desireth him, he shall be taught by him that giveth himself up unto him, and he shall know him that followeth after him in his ways, and that delighteth in the keeping of all his Com∣mandments.

141. Delight thy self in the Lord, so shall no evil come upon thee, but all good shall follow thee every where.

142. Fear the Lord, and thy days shall be many.

143. Watch over all thy words, and let thy thoughts be as the light, without any darkness.

144. Have him always nigh thee, that thou mayst not do the thing that is not of him.

145. Comfort thy self, and shake off all fear, for the Lord will honour thee by do∣ing his will in the midst of all those where he shall carry thee.

146. Give thy self up to him more and more, that thou mayest be taught by him, and know him.

147. Let thy knowledge be of him to know his will, that thou mayest walk in his holy ways, and do all that he shall com∣mand thee, that thou mayest possess the good that he hath laid up for thee in himself.

148. Ah Lord, cause me to see every thing as it is in it self, then shall I esteem all things out of thee, as Paul did, as dirt, dung, and dross (compared to thee) then shall I also know well, how to want, and how to abound.

149. Ah Lord, cause me more and more to know thee, as thou art to be known, for then shall I be more and more weary of all things out of thee, and esteem them as Pebbles to Pearls, yea all, as nothing: for alas, alas, what is all, when well considered, when seen and known to be just as it is?

150. If we do not, O God, see thee in all things, what do we see, when our un∣derstandings are enlightned by thee; but Po∣verty in the greatest riches; but ignominy in the greatest honour and glory; but

foolishness in the greatest wisdom; weak∣ness in the greatest strength; deformity in the greatest beauty, and meer baseness in the very greatest splendor of earthly Ma∣jesty. All things put together, I am sure, are to such an eye, but a thing of nought, a poor, empty low thing, nay nothing.

151. Ah Lord, shall we be such fools as to esteem our selves wise, to get and lay up such things as can do us no good, as can stand us in no stead at all in the greatest need of all; shall we, Ah shall we spend our time, our most pretious time, for that which is so full of vanity, that makes us so vain, as to think our selves wise, and to lay it up even against that great and terrible day of the Lord, when the reward will be shame and grief, and anguish, and vexation of spirit.

152. Ah let them, O Lord God, that know thee, not trifle away their pretious time thus, but spend it to get thee sure, who only canst make us truly rich, wise, honour∣able, beautiful and blessed for ever and e∣ver.

153. All the Angels are but as a drop, compared, O God, to thee; they would be as a troubled Sea, or a Sea of trouble, if thou should'st go out of them.

154. None knoweth thee, O God, or can speak of thee as thou art, thou art glorious

in holiness, fearful in praises, doing won∣ders; the earth (man) is filled with thy Majesty and thy glory; the dust (man) doth praise thee.

155. Ah Lord, let me not mince thy words, cut or carve them, or put them into any other frame, than as thou shalt give them me, if they go forth rough, thou wilt make them smooth, and fit them for those, for whom thou hast appointed them.

156. He that hath chosen the Lord for his God, shall have him, yea hath him, and shall ever have him.

157. Ah Lord God, that soul that loveth thee, and knoweth how lovely thou art, can∣not at all be satisfied with any, nay not with all these high things here below, the riches, the honours, and the pleasures of the world.

158. It is only Heaven, and the things of Heaven that are in his eye; for all the things on earth he easily thinks them into nothing, and winks their beauty into blackness and deformity.

159. Ah Lord, open the doors of Hea∣ven, yea set wide open those Everlasting gates of thy goodness, that the scales of ig∣norance and worldliness being taken away from before the eyes of my understanding; I may through thy light, see light, even that light of thine, to see and contemplate those

most glorious things in glory, even those which thou hast laid up and prepared, and wilt give unto all those that wait upon thee, that desire thee, know thee, and love thee.

160. Such as have thee, O God, have, and are, sure they shall have always all and above by much what they can desire to have, ask or crave.

161. Thou, O our God, that fillest Hea∣ven and Earth, with thy bounty and thy goodness, wilt not fail to fill also, all the hearts of all those, that draw nigh unto thee, and that depend upon thee.

162. Such shall be sure to lack nothing that take care how to please thee.

163. They that make this one thing their only pleasure, shall never lack the thing that shall make them happy and blessed for ever.

164. Thou lovest us not, O God, be∣cause that we are what we are, but because thou art what thou art, thy Love is free from thy self, none constraineth thee, as none can give unto thee.

165. Ah Lord God, I know that thou lovest us, not because we love thee, but we it is that love thee, because that thou lovest us.

166. Thou art, O God, all things to all those that depend upon thee, food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, riches to the

poor, wisdom to the simple, liberty to them that are bound, comfort to the comfortless, even all things to all, in life, in death and after death.

167. Let the wicked the men of the World have their fill of the World, the Corn, Wine and Oyl thereof: but let me, O God my God, have my fill of thee; for thou art much better by much, than all things either in Heaven above, or on Earth below; do but shine upon me, O Lord, with the light of thy Countenance, that I may see thy light, and I shall rejoyce with unspeakable joy.

168. All things, O Lord God, compared to thee, are blackness and darkness and no∣thingness, thou only art and there is none besides thee, wherefore my Soul saith with David, whom have I in Heaven but thee? and what is there on all the Earth in comparison of thee? all other joys are false joys, and all other things are nothing, but meer toyes; for with thee, O God, and only with thee is all joy, unspeakable joy, and everlasting pleasures are at thy right hand.

169. Ah Lord our God, thou art all in all things; for without thy presence, the best and the greatest things are nothing, to that Soul that knoweth thee what thou art.

170. Thou art, O God, the sweet of all sweets, the light of the light, the glory and the bliss in glory. As in thy presence is all joy: So in thy absence is all sorrow, to all Souls that are acquainted with thee, and to whom thou hast manifested thy self. There∣fore the Angels, those glorious, knowing Creatures, endeavour to pry into all thy mysteries. Such an endless and bottom∣less delight there is in them all, from the greatest to the very least of all.

171. This indeed is such a high and glo∣rious Mount, from which we may justly de∣sire never to come down, but to have there our abiding place. A Tabernacle to dwell in for ever and for ever, not only to behold the glory of our Lord, but the Lord him∣self, of all our good and our glory.

172. Ah Lord God, that art the wisdom of the wise, the strength of the strong, the honour of the honourable, the power of the powerful, the might of the mighty, the rich∣es of the rich, the goodness of those that are good, the blessedness of the blessed, the beauty of the beautiful, the joy of those that rejoyce, the light of those that see thy light, the Crown and the glory of those that are in glory. Thou only art and there is none besides thee, our God, even God, blessed for ever and for ever.

173. Ah Lord, I know and am assured, that it cannot be better with me, than to be with thee.

174. And to be with thee here on Earth, whilst on Earth, thou knowest, O God, that I esteem it to be my only Heaven.

175. Let me thus have thee, I say, al∣ways have thee thus, and thou knowest, O Lord, that knowest all things, that I have all that I would have; for thou only art all mine all.

176. Ah that thou wouldst, O God, take all things from me, that hinder thy blessed approach to me, and that cause me to draw back from thee.

177. Ah Lord, thou knowest that there is nothing that I have, but I most willingly offer thee, and would cheerfully give thee to have thee.

178. My life is not dear to me at all to spend for thee, thou knowest, O God my God, that I account it a thing of nought. If thou wilt have it, O God, take it, for I con∣fess it's thine, and not mine.

179. Yea I trust that all mine is thine, that I am thine, all, both Spirit, Soul, and Body, and that thee, O God, and all thine is mine, both thy Kingdom, power, and glory, for ever, and for ever.

180. Ah blessed change, to be thus chang∣ed into all blessedness, even so, as to have the Lord God for our everlasting Portion.

181. Weary me, O Lord God, weary me more and more of my self, that I may be dissolved, and be with thee, which is best of all.

182. For out of thee, O God, my Heart is not satisfied, neither can any thing but thy self satisfie it, either that is in Heaven above, or on the Earth below.

183. What, O Lord, what shall I say un∣to thee, thou knowest all things, and of me and my Heart, more than I can tell thee, make me and it, O God, such as thou wilt have me to be, that thou maiest ever own me for thy own.

184. Ah Lord, Let me be always on the wing after thee, yea let me pursue hard after thee continually; let me run and not grow weary, and walk and not faint.

185. O God, that art my God, heat I be∣seech thee my affections, increase my desires, build me up that I may be a living stone in thy house, and ever speak loudly thy praises.

186. Ah Lord God, let me always have before me Heaven and Hell, let me see Heaven as it is prepared for the Just, and Hell as it is prepared for the unjust; Heaven for those that ever eyed it, and rejoyced in

it, and Hell for those that never feared it, nor believed it, but by their ungodly lives lived as if there had not been either a Hea∣ven to recompence the Godly, or a Hell to punish the ungodly.

187. Ah Lord, cause me always to eye those things that are invisible, that eye ne∣ver saw, that ear never heard, nor that ever entred at any time into the heart of any man to conceive; even those endless ever∣lasting joys, that thou hast, O God, pre∣pared in Jesus Christ, and laid up for all those that love thee.

188. Let me, Ah let me always harken to hear that sweet and blessed voice of thy Holy Spirit within me, saying, (of all the glory that is in glory) these are all thine, yea all that is mine is thine, and thou art mine.

189. Ah Lord, let me never forget that all these earthly things, must pass away us in a moment in the twinkling of an eye. But that our Souls are immortal, and shall live for ever and ever, in endless unexpressible joys, or endless, everlasting unexpressible Torments.

190. How low, Ah how low are the conceptions of any brain, yea the words of Men or Angels to express and shew forth the life to come, either of the one or of the

other, of those beloved of God, that shall ever live and abide in his Love, which is in himself, or for those that are so hated by him, as shall for ever be cast out of his bles∣sed presence, and enjoy the cursed wretched company of the Devils, and his Angels, in burning and unquenchable flames, where shall be yelling and roaring, weeping and wailing, curses and horrid blasphemies, a∣gainst that God and his goodness, which they know is holy, just and good: and this as fuel shall feed that fire, that cannot be quenched, and give life to that gnawing worm (an accusing condemning Conscience.) that shall never dye; and thus those poor Souls must and shall live everlastingly.

191. Ah Lord God, give me Faith to be∣lieve, and grace to repent, that I come not into this place of torment; but for ever en∣joy those eternal and everlasting joys that thou hast from all Eternity prepared, and wilt only give unto those for whom thou hast prepared it.

192. Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly, and fill me, and feed me, and satisfie me here with thy good things, that I may ever live to enjoy them and thee.

193. Thy appearances, O great God, are like thy self (yea they are thy self) but few (I fear) there are that thus see them,

and know them thus; thy power thou shew∣est most in weakness, in such as see, confess and acknowledge themselves to be weak; for thou makest the weak strong, and caus∣est (many times) the very meanest and sim∣plest, even those (according to the know∣ledge of men) that know least, to know most; for thou hidest thy self from those that seek that knowledge that puffeth up; but re∣vealest thy self, and shewest thine appear∣ance as the Sun at noon day, to those that deny themselves, and seek only that Wis∣dom to know thee, that they may give up themselves unto thee.

194. Thus, O God, thou feedest the hun∣gry, but the rich thou sendest empty away, thou confoundest the wisdom of the wise, but makest glad the hearts of thy holy ones, which are the humble ones.

195. Let me not, O God, be cast down, to doubt of thy Love, how low so ever thou shalt cast me, nor lifted up (above measure) how high so ever thou shalt raise me.

196. Ah Lord God, let my knowledge be, that thou livest in me, and I in thee, that thou art mine and that I am thine.

197. Ah Lord, destroy the adversaries and enemies of my Salvation (here) which is thy shining manifesting and appearing in me, unto me, my knowledge of thee to be

mine, and I to be thine; my dying to self, to flesh and World, to all that is not of thee, and my living only to thee, O God, the God of my Salvation, to thee, to thee.

198. My hereafter Salvation, I know that none nor nothing can hinder me from. I shall (I know) enjoy thee, O God, possess thee, behold thee, know thee and see thee, as thou art to be seen and known. I say, and am sure that nothing is able or shall hin∣der me from this blessedness which thou hast prepared for me.

199. Ah were it not for the enemies of our Salvation, which are our own fleshly lusts and vile affections, which fight and war continually against thee, O God, our Salvation (in us) we should see, know, find and feel the same Salvation (ever here) as hereafter, we should contemplate thy beau∣tiful beauty, and thy most glorious glory here, even as in glory hereafter.

200. Ah Lord God, fight then on my behalf, consume and destroy with an utter de∣struction all these my enemies which hinder (here,) this my so great Salvation, consume and make wast all their powers, and deliver my poor Soul, because I trust in thee, and in thy great name, which are thy faithful promises.

201. As a Fountain gives freely without intermission, or constraint (but the natural power, or fulness that forceth,) even so should we that live in God and possess him, and his fulness, be always giving and com∣municating of what we have. And as a fountain that is stopped a while, being hin∣dred of continuing its largess, doth as it were during that space, make or lay up pro∣vision, to be more larger in its bounty; e∣ven so me thinks should we be and do, if for some time, occasion or opportunity present not, but we are as it were stopped from giving, being unstopt, that is, occasion pre∣senting it self to our charity, we should shew forth by our gross streams of largeness, in giving, that the restraint (of not having oc∣casion,) was a constraint, and against the supernatural, now natural faculties of our Souls affections.

202. If thus we were always communi∣cating, and when we find not occasion so to do, had in us always a vehement earnest burning desire to give, Ah how like should we be unto our good God, and Heavenly Father, who gives continually, and is never weary nor repenteth.

GLORY TO GOD.