BAXTER'S DYING THOUGHTS. 161 These, all these, and very many more than these, are my ex- periences of that wondrous mercy which bath measured my pilgrim- age, and filled up my days. Never did God break his promise with me; never did he fail me, nor forsake me. Had I not pro- voked him by rash and willful sinning, how little interruption of my peace and comforts had I ever been likelyto have had! And shall I now distrust him at the last? Shall I not trust, and quietly trust, that infinite wisdom, love, and power, whom I have so long trusted, and found so good? Nature teachethman to love best those animals that are tame and tractable ; that trust us and love us ; that will come to our hands, and love our company; that will be familiar with us, and follow us, be it horse or dog, beasts or birds; but those,that are wild, and live in woods, and fly from the face of man, are taken to be the game and prey of any one that can catch and kill them. And shall my foolish soul thus wildly fly from the face of God ? Shall his children be like the fearful hare, or like a guilty Cain, or like an unbelieving Sadducee, that either believeth not, or hopeth not for the forgiveness of sin, and the life everlasting? Both not the spirit of adoption incline us to love our Father's presence, and to be loath to be long from home? To distrust all creatures, even thyself, is not unreasonable ; but to distrust God bathno just ex- cuse. Fly from sin, from Satan, from temptations, from theworld, from sinful flesh and idol self; but fly not from him that is good- ness, love and joy itself. Fearthine enemy, but trust thy Father. If thy heart be reconciled to him and his service, by the Spirit, he is certainly reconciled to thee through Christ; and if he be for thee, and justify and love thee, who shall be against thee, or con- demn thee, or separate thee from his love ? If thy unreconciled will do make thee doubt of his reconciliation, it is time to abhor and lay by thy enmity. Consent, and be sure that he consenteth. Be willing to be leis, and in holiness to serve him, and to be united in joyful glory to him ; and then be sure that he is willing to ac- cept thee, and receive thee to that glory. O dark and sinful soul ! how little dost thou know thy friend, thyself, or God, if thou canst more easily and quietly trust thy life, thy soul, and hopes, to the will of thy friend, or of thyself, if thou hadst power, than to the will of God! Every dog would be at home and with his master; much more every ingenuous child with his father ; and though en- emies distrust us, wife and children will not do so, while they be- lieve us just. And hath God ever showed himself either unfaith- ful or unmerciful to me ? To thee, O Lord, as to a faithful Creator, I commit my soul ; 1 Pet. iv. 19. I know that thou art the faithful God, who keepest covenant and mercy with them that love thee and keep thy corn- VOL. n. 21
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