Chap. 1ß.] EXEBIPLIFIED. 267 thou that numberest the very hairs of my head, number all the days that my body lies in the dust ; and thou that writest all my members in thy book,' keep an account of my scattered bones ! O my Savior, hasten the time of thy return; send forth thy angels, and let that dreadful, joyful trumpet sound ! Delay not, lest the living give up their hopes; delay not, lest 'earth should grow like hell, and thy church, bydivision, be all crumbled to dust; delay not, lest thy enemies get advantage of thy flock, and lest pride, hypocrisy, sensuality, and unbelief, prevail against thy little remnant, and share among them thy whole inheritance, and when thou comest, thou find not faith on the earth ; delay not, lest the grave should boast of victory, and, having learned rebellion of its guest, should refuse to deliver thee up thydue ! O hasten that great resurrection -day, when thy command shall go forth, and none disobey : when ' the sea and the earth shall yield up their hostages, and all that sleep in the grave shall awake, and the dead in Christ shall rise first ;' when the seed which thou sowest corruptible, shall come forth incorruptible ; and graves that received . rottenness and dust, shall return thee glorious stars and suns 1 Therefore dare I lay down my body in the dust, intrusting it, not to a grave, but to thee ; and therefore my flesh shall rest in hope, till thou shalt raise it to the possession of ever- lasting rest. ' Return, OLord, how long? O let thykingdom come !' Thy desolate ' bride saith, Come !' for thy Spirit within her saith, Come ; and teacheth her thus to ' pray with groanings which cannot be uttered ; yea, the whole creation saith, Come, waiting to be delivered from the bon- dage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.' Thou thyself . hast said, ' Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, cotne, Lord Jesus !' "
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