DISCOUIISE II. 511 ward blush at the recollection of thy past follies ? Are thy sins thy heaviest burden, and the most uneasy load ? Has thy sincere and unfeigned repentance been manifested by all the proper pas -, sions that attend a penitent, by self-abasement and inward confu- sion, bymourningin secret, and a holy displicency and resentment against thyselfand thy folly ? And is it a grief and pain to thee, to see and hear others transgress against thy God, and affront his law and his love ? "Seek yet further : Hast thou a watchful jealousy over thyself, lest thou wander from God ? A constant solicitude of mind, lest thou offend and displease him whom thou lowest su- premely. ? Dost thon stand afar off from every temptation, as one afraid to be defiled with sin, and dishonour thy God ? Art thou cautious of that company, of that business, ofthat diversion, or de -. light which has before ensnared thee, and broke thy holy inter- course with God ? " Ask again, O my heart, hast thou subdued thy uneasy passions of anger, frowardness and resentment, against God and against man, by the overcoming influence of divine love? Hast thou a submissive and humble carriage under hard providences and sore disappointments from the hand of God ? Dost thou love him so well, as not to murmur at his holy conduct, nor quarrel with hisgovernment ? And hast thou acquired the sacred power and skill of suppressing thy wrath and revenge against men, by the constraininginfluence of the love of God ? Dost thou forbear and forgive those who offend thee, from a sweet sense of the for- bearing and forgiving.love of God towards thee ? If thy love to Podhas yet done little of this service, ifit ,has not begun to make thee meek and mild, and dispassionate under afflictions from the hand of God, or the affronts of men, it has not acquired any great prevalence in thee, and there is too much reason to suspect the sincerity (AR. "Come yet further, O my soul, take. a step forward, and look towards death and eternity. Art thou willing to cross the dark valley, in order to dwell with thy beloved ? I grant nature has its frailties and fears ; I grant also, that the want of assurance of salvation damps the wings of the soul,, whichwould be stretch, ed forward to the enjoyment of God in the heavenly country : I would put the question therefore, in agentle and favourable man- ner. Hast thou any- desire to leave this sinful world, to quit all thy dearest hopes and interests here, for the sake of dwelling with God on high ? Suppose, thou hadst a steady hope of hislove, and the pains of death were mitigated, hast thou an inward breathing and tendency towards the happiness that arises from thepresence of God ? O blessed souls, whose love is risen to so transcendent a degree, that they are not afraid even of the sharpest pangs, and the terrors of death ! They can venture
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