URGED UPON THE READER. 317 holding their heavenly order. And as the lark sweetly sings, while she soars on high, but is suddenly silenced when she falls to the earth ; so is the frame of the soul most delightful and divine, while it keeps in the views of God by contemplation. Alas, we make there too short a stay ; fall down again, and lay by our music ! # 31. But, " O thou, the merciful Father of spirits, the attractive of love, and ocean of delights, draw up these drossy hearts unto thyself, and keep them there till they are spiritualized and refined; and second thy servant's weak endeavours, and persuade those that read these lines to the practice of this delightful, hea- venly work ! O suffer not the soul of thy most unwor- thy servant to be a stranger to those joys, which he describes to others; but keep me, while I remain on earth, in daily breathings after thee ; and in a believing affectionate walking with thee ! And when thou com- est let me be found so doing; not serving my flesh, nor asleep with my lamp unfurnished ; but waiting and longing for my Lord's return ! Let those who shall read these heavenly Directions, not merely read the fruit of my studies, but the breathing of my active hope and love : that if my heart were opening to their view, they might there read the same most deeply en- graven with a beam from the face of the Son of God ; and not find vanity, or lust, or pride within, when the words of life appear without ; that so these lines may not witness against me ; but, proceeding from the heart of the writer, may be effectual, through thy grace, upon the heart of the reader, and so be the sa- vour of life to both ! Amen." Glory be to God in the highest; on earth peace; good.will towards men. FINIS.
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