Chap. 16.] E%EMPLxPIED 271 though far out of sight, when he went to God in his devo- tions ; so may the believing soul, in this captivity of the flesh, look towards " Jerusalemwhich is above." And as Paul was to the Colossians, so may the believer be with the glorified spirits, " though absent in the flesh, yet with them in the spirit, joying and beholding 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 ! 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 endeavors, and persuade those that read these lines 'o the practice of this delightful, heavenly work ! O suffer not the soul of thy most unworthy 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 contest, 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 open to their view, they might there read the same most deeply engraven 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 ap- pear 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 savor of life to both ! Amen." " Glory be to God in the highest; on earth peace, good- will toward men_"
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=