But our able vouchers for their being sent of God. Redeemer's works had a farther excellency, and answered a diviner end: They held forth and presented, even to the senses, a most striking pattern of those spiritual blessings which sinners may enjoy through their Saviour. Thus, when he cured the man born blind, what did this signify but his healing the blindness of our understandings, and pouring the day of his glorious gospel upon our internal sight? When he made the poor paralytic strong and vigorous, that was not able to turn himself on his bed, or to use his limbs, what a lively emblem was here, both of our disease, and of his sovereign help? Of our disease, whereby we are utterly impotent to do a good work, or think a good thought; of his sovereign help, whereby we are enabled to do all things through Christ strengthening us; enabled to believe through his grace, and to mortify our corruptions through his Spirit. Was not the filthy leper a true picture of our loathsomeness, through original defilement, and actual transgressions? And when our Redeemer disdained not to touch this noisome creature, and make him perfectly clean, how appositely did this image point out the condescension of his goodness in undertaking our redemption, and the efficacy of his blood in accomplishing our purification? I might go through the whole series of our Lord's miracles, and discover in them a most significant and complete portraiture of all manner of spiritual blessings; but the foregoing instances shall suffice. From these hints, we may discern an adorable depth of design; un→ searchable treasures of contrivance, as well as beneficence, in those operations of his mighty power. Which noble peculiarity gives them a vast pre-eminence above all the miracles in Egypt, and the wonders in the field of Zoan; renders them so many fine representations of the deliverances and privileges enjoyable through our ever-blessed Immanuel; in a word, renders them a kind of gospel that addresses itself even to our eyes; and so most wisely calculated, both to direct our hopes, and strengthen our faith in the incarnate God. I am, &c. LETTER XVIII. Bath, 1743. DEAR MADAM, AT Bath I have tarried thus long, but purpose to set forward for my father's house, if I live till next week; and if I have as good a journey thither, as I had to this place, I shall have cause to be very thankful to that gracious Providence, which blesses our going out and our coming in; which protects us from wrong and robbery, from evil accidents and dangers, as with a shield. I hope you, madam, and Mr, are well, and should rejoice to hear of you both being partakers of that which I wish you to enjoy; and none can be said truly to enjoy health, but those who improve it to the purpose: all others waste health, embezzle it, squander it away; all but those who use it as a precious opportunity of making their calling and election sure. We have had most delicate weather for the harvest; a blessing which I do not doubt has been vouchsafed to you as well as to us: an universal blessing and such as will prove very extensive. We shall feel the good effects of it all the year round, when winter freezes the air, and turns the earth into iron, or buries it under heaps of snow. We shall be refreshed even then with the productions of the fruitful season. O that our hearts may be filled with gratitude, as our barns are with plenty! The harvest puts me in mind of the end of the world: then our bodies shall arise out of the dust of the earth; having lain a while under the clods, and seen corruption, they will then spring up incorruptible and immortal, an amazing multitude, like the blades of grass, or the ears of corn, innumerable. The husbandman, in harvest, receives a reward for all his toil. The labours of the preceding year are amply recompensed by the rich fruits of increase. And the consummation of all things will be the great retribution-day: then the Christian receives the end of his faith, even the salvation of his soul; then the riches he has coveted will be bestowed in the favour of seeing him who is immortal, invisible; whose loving-kindness is better than life. He will see the desire of his soul, and the fruits of his Saviour's suf-, ferings, and sit down everlastingly satisfied. The husbandman rejoices in harvest; this is his time of festivity and delight. They joy before thee, saith the Scriptures, according to the joy of the righteous; they will look up, and rejoice to behold their Redeemer coming in the clouds of heaven, and all the holy angels with him: then will they look down, and rejoice to see the wicked world burning, in which they were tempted; rejoice to see all their enemies put under their feet; and when the doors of heaven are left open, then shall they enter triumphantly into the city of the living God, and everlasting joy will be upon their heads, and reign with Christ for evermore. Into this exceeding great and eternal bliss, I wish you, madam, and your husband, an abundant entrance; and remain his and your, &c. LETTER XIX. -I PROMISED Weston-Fazell, 1744. DEAR mainder of her letter in a few lines to you. Either she may transcribe from you, or you from her, in order to complete the little essay. I left off, I think, somewhere hereabouts, " But spiritual interests are infinitely more valuable.” For those, therefore, Christ will provide more abundantly: If they want knowledge, he will not only give them his divine word, but his enlightening Spirit, to lead them into all truth. If they are poor, he will give them the fine gold of his obedience; he will say to them as the father said in the parable, Son, all that I have is thine. Are they wounded? he will give them the healing balm of his precious blood; this will cure the wound which sin has made in the soul, and make the bones which have been broken to rejoice. Are they naked? he will clothe them with the robe of his own righteousness; they shall appear before the God of gods in the garments of this their elder brother. Are they weak? his strength shall be made perfect in their weakness; he will work in them both to will and to do of his good pleasure. When they die, he has provided a flight of angels to attend their departing souls, and conduct them to his own compassionate arms: he has provided mansions of glory, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens, for their future reception: he has provided a fulness of joy, and pleasures for evermore, for their final portion and inheritance. O what ample provision is here! this is indeed good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over. What can needy creatures want which Jesus does not supply? Justly was it once said by an eminent believer, Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord will provide. Let this be the language of our hearts in all our needs. The hen comforts her tender brood; she screens them from the inclemencies of the weather. She spreads out her wings, and forms a canopy over them; this affords them a house to lodge in, and a bed to sleep on. No velvet is softer, no blankets are warmer. Here they are cherished and refreshed; here they find heat when they shiver with cold, are dried when they come dripping with wet. Jesus also comforts his poor people: he is called the consolation of Israel. Come unto me, says the merciful Redeemer, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest; all ye that are weary, and I will refresh you. He is afflicted in all their afflictions, and is as ready to succour them as a man is to allay the anguish of his own smarting flesh. He is the good, the inconceivably good Shepherd, whose bowels yearn with the tenderest com passion when his lambs are fatigued or distressed: he even lays them in his bosom. Every thing but Jesus speaks terror, and creates dismay to his little flock. But this compassionate Shepherd leads them forth beside the waters of comfort. The world lays many a snare for their feet; the world persecutes and hates them. In the world they must have tribulation; but Christ says, Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world, and will make you partakers of my victory; because I have conquered, ye shall conquer also. The law lays dreadful things to their charge; the law is the ministration of condemnation; the law thunders out threatenings. They are rebels, says that righteous law; they have transgressed my precepts; they deserve to suffer all the curses denounced against the disobedient and ungodly. But Christ gently whispers, Be of good courage, my people; take sanctuary in your Mediator; I have answered all the demands of the law: If it requires punishment, I sustained torments unutterable; if it insists on blood, I satisfied it with divine blood; with every drop of my heart's blood; so that there is no condemnation to them that are interested in me. If it called for righteousness, I submitted to its authority; I performed every jot and tittle of its commands, and thereby brought in a perfect and everlasting righteousness. Lay hold on my obedience, receive this from my free grace, and the law has nothing more to charge against you; for the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in them that believe, though the devil tempts and distresses the children of Jesus. He not only tempts, but accuses them, aggravating and calling aloud for vengeance; cries, Down with them, down with them, even to the dust. But Jesus graciously steps in, baffles the accusation, arrests the. judgment, and says, I have died to save them from going into the pit, for I have found a ransom: if they have sinned, I have taken them upon myself; if they have multiplied transgressions as the stars of heaven, my Father hath laid on me the iniquities |