29. That which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. Rom. 1: 19; see also John 1:9.

There are some things declared and enjoined in the gospel which have their foundation in the law and light of nature; such are all the moral duties which are taught therein; these, the remaining light of nature, though obscurely, yet does teach and confirm: the apostle, speaking of mankind in general, says, 66 That which may be known of God is manifest in them;" the essential properties of God rendering our moral duty to him necessary, are known by the light of nature; and by the same light are men able to form a judgment of their actions, whether they be good or evil. Rom. 2:14, 15. The same law and light which discover these things, do also enjoin their observance. Thus it is with all men before the preaching of the gospel to them. The gospel adds two things to the minds of men. First, it directs us to a right performance of these things, from a right principle, by a right rule, and to a right end; that so they, and we in them, may obtain acceptance with God: hereby it gives them a new nature, and turns moral duties into evangelical obedience. Second, by a communication of that Spirit which is joined to its dispensation,

it supplies us with strength for their performance in the manner it directs.

30. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors, through him that loved us. Rom. 8:35, 37.

Stars shine brightest in the darkest night; torches are better for beating; grapes come not to the proof, till they come to the press; spices smell best when bruised; young trees root the faster for shaking; gold looks brighter for scouring; juniper smells sweetest in the fire; the palm-tree proves the better for pressing; camomile, the more you tread it, the more you spread it. Such is the condition of all God's children: they are then most triumphant, when most tempted; most glorious, when most afflicted; most in the favor of God, when least in man's, and least in their own; as their conflicts, so their conquests; as their tribulations, so their triumphs; true salamanders, that live best in the furnace of persecution; so that heavy afflictions are the best benefactors to heavenly affections; and where afflictions hang heaviest, corruptions hang loosest; and grace, that is hid in nature as sweet water in rose

leaves, is then the most fragrant when the fire of affliction is put under to distil it out.

My life, and all its comforts too,
From God's abundant bounty flow;
And when he calleth back his own,
Contented I would lay it down.

Then, if men scorn, and Satan roar,
Yet, strengthened by the God of power,
His faithful witness I shall be;

Though weak, I can do all through thee.

31. Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. Sol. Song, 2: 10-13.

O Lord, how often has it been winter with me, but thou hast always quickened me again. Grant that by these experiences I may be so used to thy ways, as always to expect the best from thee in every thing, and to have only this one care, namely, how I may please thee as thy bride and dove, and be accepted through thee with thy Father. Let my faith be so strengthened by all thy various dealings with me, that at last I may have boldness, and find complete rest in thy wounds, my crucified Saviour, where there is room for the greatest of sinners, even for me.

The voice of my Beloved sounds
Over the rocks and rising grounds;
O'er hills of guilt and seas of grief
He leaps, he flies to my relief.

Gently he draws my heart along,
Both with his beauties and his tongue:
Rise, says my Lord, make haste, away;
No mortal joys are worth thy stay.

The Jewish wintry state is gone,
The mists are fled, the spring comes on;
The sacred turtledove we hear

And when we hear our Jesus say,
"Rise up, my love, make haste, away,"
Our hearts would fain outfly the wind,
And leave all earthly loves behind.

SEPTEMBER.

1. Be not conformed to this world. Rom. 12:2. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof; but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 1 John, 2: 15, 17.

READER, whose will dost thou do? Examine thyself. Perhaps thou thinkest, that to love the world, and to do its will, cannot be a great sin, because many reputed honest men and good Christians do the same. Nay, but for thy soul's sake consider what the Scripture says If thou "lovest the world, the love of the Father is not in thee;" and without this love of the Father, thou hast no faith; and being destitute of faith, thou hast no Christ, and consequently no life and salvation. Consider, further, whether thou dost not love the world above either God or thy own soul. Hast thou not more than a hundred thoughts about the world for one of God or thy own soul? And dost thou not talk a hundred times more about the world than about God or thy soul? And is not thy pursuit continually after the world, to the neglect of God and thy soul? Why. then, the world is thine idol; thou lovest not