Thou hast given me to Christ; and wilt thou let any whom thou hast given to him, finally perish? Thou hast drawn my heart to love thee; and wilt thou not admit me where all love thee? and wilt thou not let me delight myself in thee for ever? and is not my love to thee a proof that thou lovest me, and wilt therefore make me happy with thee in heaven? I know, from thy goodness, that it must be so, and thy word confirms my expectation. All things work together for good to them that love God. The Lord hath promised a crown of life to them that love him. Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him*.

* Rom. viii. 28; James i. 1; 2 Tim. iv. 8; 1 Cor. ii. 9.

This love which I feel to thee, is the earnest of heaven. I shall love thee for ever; thou wilt never let me be alienated again; and thou wilt never cease to bless those who love thee. Blessing, and honour, and glory, be to Thee for ever.

On Love to God.

Happy the heart where graces reign, Where love inspires the breast! Love is the brightest of the train, And strengthens all the rest.

Knowledge, alas! 'tis all in vain ;
And all in vain our fear :

Our stubborn sins will fight and reign,
If love be absent there.

'Tis love that makes our cheerful feet In swift obedience move;

The devils know, and tremble too,
But Satan cannot love.

This is the grace that lives and sings
When faith and hope shall cease;
"Tis this shall strike our joyful strings
In the sweet realms of bliss.

VIII.

OBEDIENCE A PROOF OF ADOPTION.

My religious affections, and my whole conduct, are so imperfect as to fill me with shame. Every day condemns me. I have never known thee, O God, as I ought to have done. I have never loved thee with half the admiration, gratitude, and delight, which I owed thee. And all my services have been proportionably mean and defective. At this moment Christ is my only hope. I can only make mention of his righteousness. Apart from him I deserve still, not

only for past sins, but for my present defects, thine eternal displeasure. Still hast thou wrought in me a vast change; which is a proof that in thy Divine mercy thou hast made me one of thy children, and received thy prodigal back again to thy paternal favour. The carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be*. But thy grace has made me subject to it. I love thy law. All its commands seem to me holy, just, and good. I do not wish to be excused from exact obedience to it all, but, on the contrary, to have grace that I may obey it. I do not know of any sinful habit which I indulge; and I wish thee to discover to me any thing in my temper or

*Rom. viii. 7.