Bucholcer, in his last sermon before his death, did so sweetly descant upon those comfortable words, "Whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life," (John iii. 16,) that he raised and ravished the hearts of his otherwise sad hearers; so may the meditating believer do, through the Spirit's assistance, by his own heart. And as the pretty lark doth sing most sweetly, and never ceaseth her pleasant ditty while she hovereth aloft, as if she were there gazing into the glory of the sun, but is suddenly silenced when she falleth to the earth; so is the frame of the soul most delectable and divine while it keepeth in the views of God by contemplation: but, alas! we make there too short a stay, but down again we fall, 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 spiritualised and refined, and second these thy servant's weak endeavours, and persuade those that read these lines to the practice of this delightful, heavenly work. And, O suffer not the soul of thy most unworthy servant to be a stranger to those joys which he un-, foldeth to thy people, or to be seldom in that way which he hath lined out here to others; but O keep me while I tarry on this earth, in daily serious breathings after thee, and in a believing, affectionate walking with thee: and when thou comest, O let me be found so doing, not hiding my talent, nor serving my flesh, nor yet asleep with my lamp unfurnished, but waiting and longing for my Lord's return: that those who shall read these heavenly directions, may not reap only the fruit of my studies, and the product of my fancy, but the breathings 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, where the words of life appear 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 savour of life to both. Amen. Glory be to God in the highest ; On earth peace: Good-will towards men. BROUGHTON IN THE CONCLUSION OF HIS CONSENT OF SCRIPTURE,' Concerning the New Jerusalem, and the Everlasting Sabbatism, meant in my Text, as begun here, and perfected in Heaven. → THE Company of faithful souls called to the blessed marriage of the Lamb, are a Jerusalem from heaven. (Apoc. iii. and xxi., Heb. xii.) Though such glorious things are spoken concerning this city of God, the perfection whereof cannot be seen in this vale of tears; yet here God wipeth all tears from our eyes, and each blessing is here begun. The name of this city much helpeth Jew and Gentile to see the state of peace, for this is called Jerusalem, and that in Canaan hath Christ destroyed: this name should clearly have taught both the Hebrews not to look and pray daily for to return to Canaan, and pseudoCatholics, not to fight for special holiness there. We live in this by faith, and not by eye-sight, and by hope we behold the perfection; of this city, salvation is a wall, goodly as jasper, clear as crystal: the foundations are in number twelve, of twelve precious stones, such as Aaron wore on his breast, all the work of the Lamb's twelve apostles: the gates are twelve, each of pearl, upon which are the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, of whose faith all must be which enter in; twelve angels are conductors from east, west, north, and south, even the stars of the churches: the city is square: of burgesses settled for all turns. Here God sitteth upon a stone like jasper and ruby, comfortable and just: the Lamb is the temple, that a third temple should not be looked for to be built. Thrones twice twelve are for all the Christians born of Israel's twelve, or taught by the apostles, who for dignity are seniors, for infinity are termed but four-and-twenty, in regard of so many tribes and apostles. Here the majesty is honourable, as at the delivery of the law, from whose throne, thunder, voices, and lightnings, do proceed: here oil of grace is never wanting, but burning with seven lamps, the Spirits of Messias," of wit and wisdom, of counsel and courage, of knowledge and understanding, and of the fear due to the Eternal: here the valiant, patient, witty, and speedy, with sharp sight, are winged as those seraphims that waited on Christ, when ten calamities and utter destruction was told for the low Jerusalem: they of this city are not as Israel after the flesh, which would not see, for all the wonders that our Lord did; but these redeemed with his precious blood are full of eyes lightened by lamps, the glory of Jehovah, and behold Christ through all the prophets, a Performer of our faith, sealed of God, Sealer of all visions, Opener of the seals or the stories of the church. (John vi.; Dan. ix. 24; Apoc.vi.) Here is the true light, where the saved walk; (Isa. lx. ;) hither kingdoms bring their glory; hither the blessed nations carry their jewels. (Apoc. xxi.) This is a kingdom uncorrupted, which shall not be given to a strange and unclean people: they must be written in the book of the Lamb, and chosen of eternity, sanctified of God, which here are citizens: (Ephes. i. 4; ii. 19 :) through this there gusheth a stream better than the four in Eden, a stream of lively waters by belief in Christ, as those waters flowing from Lebanon: (Cant. iv. 15:) here is that Tree of Life in the midst of the paradise of God, with leaves to heal the nations that will be cured, while it is said to-day, with twelve fruits to give food continually to such as feed also upon the hidden manna, who after death receive the crown of justice and life, the morning star, white clothing, and the white stone, wherein a name is written equal to all the law. (Deut. xxvii. 2.) The first seat of the first Adam in the first paradise was glorious; this is better; and as Moses began with the terrestrial, so the holy word ends in the celestial; that to wheels full of eyes may the writ of truth be compared: the full consent and melody of prophets and apostles, how their harps are tuned on Mount Sion, (Apoc. xiv.) it will fully appear in the full sight of peace, when our bodies are made conformable to Christ's glorious body (Phil. iii. 21) in the world to come, and our eyes shall see the Lord in that Sion. For that coming, "O thou whom my soul 'Talmud. in Sanhedrim. Cha. Chelec. p. 73. b. loveth, be like to the roes upon the mountains." (Cant. i. 7; ii. 17.) Amen. Even so come, Lord Jesus. Then shall we in perfect holiness worship thee, to whom the angels always give holy worship, saying, "Praise, and glory, and wisdom, and thanks, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for evermore." Amen. A POEM OF MASTER G. HERBERT, IN HIS TEMPLE.' HOME. COME, Lord, my head doth burn, my heart is sick, Thy long deferrings wound me to the quick; My spirit gaspeth night and day. O show thyself to me, Or take me up to thee. How canst thou stay, considering the pace The blood did make which thou didst waste; O show thyself to me, Or take me up to thee. When man was lost, thy pity look'd about, The help did in thy bosom lie. O show thyself to me, Or take me up to thee. There lay thy Son; and must he leave that nest, Thraldom from those, who would not at a feast O show thyself to me, Or take me up to thee. |