REMNANTS of TIME: 465 the custom of christians in the most religous times, till inquity and profaneness called it cant and fanaticism. The evangelists and the apostles have justified the practice ; those latter inspired authors have often indulged it even where the prophet or first writer of the text had quite another subject in view ; and though an allusion to the words of scripture will by no means stand In the place of a proper exposition, yet it carries something divine and affecting in it, and by this means it may shine in a sermon or a familiar epistle, and make a pleasing similitude. Accept then a few hints of consolation from a part of scripture, which by an easy turn of thought may be applied to your case. Rev. xii. 1. "A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet. ver. 2. Being with child, travailed in birth. ver. 5. And she brought forth a man - child, and it was caught up to God and his throne. verse 6. And the woman had a place prepared of God in the wilderness. ver. 14. To be nourished for a time and times. ver. 9. But the great dragon that was cast out of heaven, the old serpent called the devil and satan. ver. 13. Persecuted the woman. ver. 15. And cast out of his mouth water as a flood. ver. 17. And went to make war with the remnant of her seed."-:--Thus far the words ofecripture. Now, madam, if you have put on Christ, and are clothed by faith with the Sun of righteousness, if you are drest in the shining graces of heaven, and have the pale and changing glories of this world under your feet, then you may be assured the child you-have brought forth is not lost, but is caught up to God, and his throne, by virtue of that extensive covenant that includes sincere christians and their offpringtogether. Mourn not there- fore for your son who is with God, but rather for yourself who are yet in the wilderness of this world, where the old serpent has so much power where he will persecute you with the flood of his temptations, if possible, to carry you away with them ; but I trust God has prepared a place for your safety, even his church, his gospel, his own everlasting arms. Yet shall the serpent make war with the remnant of your seed; your little daughter that remains in the wilderness must go through this war, and be exposed to these temptations. O turn your tears for your son into pity and prayer for yourself and your daughter, that ye may never be carried away by these floods : but when the times -are past which God has appointed for your abode and nourishment in the wilderness, you may re- joice to find yourself with all your offspring, in everlasting safety before the throne of Gud. Amen. So prays your qffrct ionate,'8,c. May 2; 1719. I. W.
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