this new coin, hot out of the mint of God's bounty, ancient mercies will come crowding in upon thee, and call for a ])lace in thy thoughts, and tell thee what God liath done for thee, months and years ago ; and, indeed, old debts should not be paid last; give them. Christian, all a hearing one time or another, and tliou shalt see how they work upon tliy ingenuous spirit. It is with the Christian in this case, as with some mercliant's servant that keeps his master's cash; he tells his master he hath a great sum of his by him, and desires he would discharge him of it, and see how his accounts stand; but he can never find him at leisure. There is a great treasure of mercy always in the Christian's hands, and conscience is oft calling the Christian to take the account, and see what God has done for him ; but seldom it is he can find time to tell his mercies over ; and is it any wonder that such should go behind-hand in their spiritual estate, who take no more notice what the gracious dealings of God are with them? How can he be thankful that seldom thinks of what he receives? or patient when God afflicts, that wants one of the most powerful arguments to pacify a mutinous spirit in trouble, and that is taken from the abundant good ■we receive at the hands' of the Lord, as well as a little evil? How can such a soul's love flame to God that is kept at such a distance from the mercies of God, which are fuel to.it? And the like may be said of all the other graces. Secondly, Reflect upon thyself, and bestow a few serious thoughts upon thine own behaviour, what it hath been towards God and man all along the day. Ask thy soul, as Elisha his servant, Whence comest thou, O my soul ? Where hast thou been ? What hast thou done for God this day ; and how ? And when thou goest about this, look that thou neither art taken off from a thorough search, as Jacob was by Rachel's specious excuse ; nor to be found to excuse thyself, as Eli his sons, when thou shalt upon inquiry take thy heart tardy in any point of duty ; take heed what thou doest, for thou judgest for God, who receives the wi"ong by thy sin, and therefore will do himself justice, if thou will not.
Thirdly, From meditation go to prayer: indeed, a soul in meditation is on his way to prayer ; that duty leads the Christian to this, and this brings help to that ; when the Christian has done his utmost by meditation to excite his graces and chase his spirit into some divine heat, he knows all this is but to lay the wood in order. The fire must come from above to kindle, and this must be fetched by prayer. They sa)^ stars have greatest influences when they are in conjunction with the sun : then sure the graces of a saint should never work more powerfully than in prayer, for then he is in the nearest conjunction and comnumion with God. That ordinance, which hath such power with God, must needs have a mighty influence on ourselves. It will not let God rest, but raiseth him up to his jieople's succour ; and is it any wonder if it be a means to rouse up and excite the Christian's gi'ace ? How oft do we see a dark cloud upon David's spirit at the beginning of his prayer, Avhich by that time he is a little warm in his work begins to clear up, and, before he ends, breaks forth into high actings of faith, and acclamations of praise ! Only here. Christian, take heed of formal praying, this is as baneful to grace as not praying. A plaster, though proper, and of sovereign virtue, yet if it be laid on cold, may do more hurt than good.
Fourthly, To all the former, join fellowship and comnumion with the saints thou livest amongst. No wonder to hear a house is robbed that stands far from neighbours. He that walks in communion of saints, he travels in company, he dwells in a city where one house keeps up another, to which Jerusalem is com- pared. It is observable, concerning tlie house in whose ruins Job's children were entombed, that a wind came from the wilderness and smote the four corners of it ; it seems it stood alone. The devil knows what he does in hindering this great ordinance of comnumion of saints; in doing this, he hinders the progress of grace, yea, brings that which Christians have into a declining, wasting state. The apostle couples those two duties close together ; ' to hold fast our profession, and consider one another, and provoke unto love and to good works,' Heb. x. 2;5, 2t. Indeed, it is a dangerous step to apostasy to forsake the communion of saints; hence it is said of Demas, 'he hath left us, and embraced the present world.' O what mischief has Satan done us in thcfee few late years in this one particular ! What is liccome of this communion
172 THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO STAND