word is,) this firm believing hath in it these two following on it, and flowing from it, serious contemplation and suitable action.

1. To observe these things, is, often to turn our eye to the view of these things, and to keep it on them, so as to have our hearts warmed with them, to be deeply taken with wonder and love. But alas! our souls are drowned in flesh, dragged down from things that become them and are worthy of them, to drudge and weary themselves in the mire and clay. How few are there who make it a great part of their daily business, to behold God in His works and ways with themselves and others! Some, in respect of others, are called great spirits; but Oh, what are they? What a poor greatness is it, to project for a great estate, or great places and titles, or to conceive great revenges of little wrongs! There is something even in nature, of greatness of spirit very far beyond the bastard, false character that most take of it, and that is above most things others imagine great, and despises them. But true greatness is this, to have a mind much taken up with the greatness of God, admiring and adoring Him, and exciting others to do so; grieved, and holily angry, that men regard Him so little, breathing forth such wishes as these of the Psalmist, both to express their own thoughts, and to awake sleeping, besotted men about them, O that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, &c. They could wish a voice that could reach many thousands; and if they had one audible to all the world, would use it no otherwise than to be precentors of the praises of God, to call up and begin the song, O that men would praise, &c.

Consider yourselves, my brethren, and trace yourselves into your own hearts, whether often in the day your thoughts run this way, finding the meditation of God sweet to you, or whether they do not run out much more to vain things, and are seldom here; either hurried and busied in a surcharge of affairs, or, if vacant, yet spinning themselves out in frothy, foolish fancies, that you would be ashamed to look back upon.

You might entertain Divine and heavenly thoughts, even while about your earthly employments and refreshments; but this is little known, and little sought after. Make it your business, to learn more of this wisdom. Call in your hearts, commune often with yourselves and with God; be less abroad, and more within, and more above. It is by far the sweetest life. Beg of God to wind up your hearts, when you find them heavy and dull, that they follow you slowly in this, and need much pulling and hauling from your hand: a touch from His hand will make them mount up easily and nimbly. Oh! seek His drawing: Draw me, I will run after Thee. And when you meet together, let this be your business, to speak of Him who alone is to be exalted, who doth and disposeth all as He pleases. Say to friends, and kindred, and neighbours, Oh, how great and how gracious a God have we! Oh, that we could bless Him!

2. To keep these things, is, to walk according to the firm belief and frequent thoughts of them; to fear Him, and to walk humbly and warily, because our follies draw on His rods, and to study to please Him, and no matter who be displeased; and when He corrects, to fall down humbly under His hand, who hath our sickness and health, our life and death, and all that concerns us, in His absolute power. If any thing advance or advantage us before others, endeavour to be the more lowly and serviceable to Him. If in a low condition, still bless and reverence Him; for His presence will turn the meanest cottage, yea, the darkest dungeon, into a palace.

The chief delight of the saints, is, to offer praises to God, to gather them in from all His works, to send up to Him. And His chief delight in all His works, is to receive these praises of them from their hands: they articulate them, make a reasonable sacrifice of them. Psal. cxlv. 10. All Thy works shall praise Thee, and Thy saints shall bless Thee. We are called to this high work, yet, lie behind, and most unworthily and foolishly debase ourselves in other things. But they that

are wise, if there be any, will mind this, will not let the Lord's marvellous and gracious doings pass without notice.

II. The privilege of this wisdom. It is a high proof of His love to us, that He loves to be seen work by us, and stoops to take our acclamations and approbation, hath such regard to them, and rewards them so richly, even thus; Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, they shall understand the loving-kindness of the Lord. Observe, They that are wise, and observe, shall understand further. To him that hath, shall be given; to him that usefully hath. That is to have, and so it is there meant ;-to him that improves it to His advantage who gave it. The greatest difficulty is to begin: as one said of his growing rich. "That he came hardly by a little riches, and easily by great riches." Having once got a stock, he grew rich apace. So, once taking, be it but the first lessons of this wisdom, learning these well, shall facilitate thy knowledge exceedingly. The wise increaseth learning. Prov. i. 5. Wouldst thou but receive and hearken to the easiest things represented by God, these would enlighten and enlarge thy soul to receive more; especially, walking by the light thou hast, be it ever so little, that invites and draws in more. Be diligent in the practice of what you know, if you would know more. Believe it, that is the way to grow. Whoso observes, keeps these things, acts according to the knowledge of them, (as John vii. 17.) he shall understand, shall understand it by finding it. They shall understand it in themselves; (the word is in the reciprocal mood, Hithpahel;) it shall be particularly and effectually shewn unto them; they shall experience it, and so understand it, and that is the only lively understanding of it. Men may hear, yea, deliver large discourses of it, and yet not understand the thing. Happy are they to whom this is given! Solus docet qui dat, et discit qui recipit: He alone teaches, who gives, and he learns, who receives.

Loving kindness. Heb. graciousness. All sorts of kindnesses, even outward and common mercies, in those shall he

understand His goodness: in recoveries and deliverances from dangers, and temporal blessings, be their portion in them less or more, though the things be common, yet they come to be his own by a particular stamp of love, which to others they have not. And the children of God know it, they can find it out, and can read it, though the world that looks on it cannot. And indeed, to them, the lowest things are disposed of, in order to the highest: their daily bread is given them by that same love that gives them Christ: all is given in Him. So the curse is taken away, and all is sweetened with a blessing. A little that a righteous man hath, is better than the abundance of the wicked.

But the things they chiefly prize and desire, as indeed they deserve so to be, are of another sort; in their very being and nature, are love-tokens, effects of that peculiar free-grace that chose them to life. And this is called the light of God's countenance. His everlasting love. Now they that are wise, and observe these things, they shall understand this lovingkindness. Not that they first are thus wise, before they partake of this loving-kindness; no; by it this wisdom was given them; but this promise is made to their improvement of that gift, and walking in those ways of wisdom. Not only are they loved of God, but they shall understand it. He will manifest Himself to them, and tell them He loves them. And the more they walk in these ways, the more clearly shall they perceive and powerfully find His love manifested to them.

This is the highest inducement that can be to such as have any interest in it. When this love hath but once touched them, though as yet they know it not certainly, yet it works that esteem and affection, that nothing can be admitted into comparison with it. While carnal men wallow in the puddle, these are the crystal streams a renewed soul desires to bathe in, even the love of God. O! let me find that; no matter what I have, or what I want. In poverty, or any distressed, forsaken condition, one good word or good look from Him, VOL. III.

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makes me up. I can sit down content and cheerful, and rejoice in that, though all the world frown on me, and all things look dark and comfortless about me, that is a piece of Heaven within the soul. Now, of this experimental, understanding knowledge of this love, there are different degrees; there is a great latitude in this. To some are afforded, at some times, little glimpses and inlets of it in a more immediate way; but these stay not: suavis hora, sed brevis mora. Others are upheld in the belief of it, and live on it by faith: though it shine not so clear, yet, a light they have to walk by. sun shines not bright out to them all their life, yet, they are led home, and understand so much love in their way, as shall bring them to the fulness of it in the end. Others, having passed most of the day, have a fair glimpse in the very evening or close of it. But, howsoever, they that walk in this way by this light, whatsoever measure they have of it, are led by it to the land of light. The connexion here made, you see, They that wisely observe these things, shall understand this loving-kind ness. A wise observing of God's ways, and ordering our own to His mind, is the certain way to attain much experienced knowledge of his love.

This love is most free, and, from the beginning to the end, works of itself; but, in the method of it, God hath thus linked things together, made one portion of grace, in the use of it, draw on another. And this His children should prudently consider. There is such a like speech, Psal. 1. 23. Whoso offereth praise, glorifieth Me; and to him that ordereth his conversation aright, will I shew the salvation of God.

The contemplation of God in His works, sets the soul open to receive the influences of this love: by looking towards Him, it draws His eye towards it, as one look of love draws on another. Certainly, many that have some desire of the light of God's countenance, and evidences of His love, yet, in not applying their souls to consider Him, do much injure them selves.

Heavenly thoughts do refine the soul, as fire works itself