26. More pleasure (I heard thee pronounce) dost thou find in meditating on the word of the Lord one hour, than in all the days of thy former life, than in all the riches of thy father's house.

27. Thou art daily more and more enamoured of the sacred book; daily dost thou pant after that fountain of living waters. I praise the Lord for thee! daily dost thou advance in grace, and in the knowledge of the giver of all good gifts: Read and apply, through the spirit; so shall thou ascend as the young eagle.

having that,

28. Yet lackest thou one thing rest assured that thy spirit is of God, that thou art indeed born again, and created anew in the image of christ.

29. Yet lackest thou one thing, and that the greatest of all; if possessed thereof, persevere, gladly go on thy way rejoicing, for it leadeth to the new Jerusalem.

30. Already thou hast prevented me-with what a voice of heavenly melody do I hear thy enraptured soul sing forth-"Tis love divine and all-consummate love.

31. Love is the end and aim of all things: 'tis the fulfilling of the law, 'tis the completion of every commandment.

32. Oh how amiable is the soul filled with divine love! meek, long suffering, kind, gentle, humble, patient?

33. Unwearied in works of kindness and benevolence, tender and pitiful, slow to condemn, and

glad to approve; quick-sighted in the merits of others, blind to its own.

34. Oh what peace and tranquility smooth the bosom where love, divine love, maketh its abode; where God reigneth in the heart, possessing all the will, guiding every thought and affection.

35. But, alas, how shall we come up to such a standard of perfection! faint not in thy mind; the grace of thy God is sufficient for thee: and already I heard thee, with earnest fervour, and uplifted hands, declare to the God of thy hope, "Lord thou knowest that I love thee !"

36. God is love. Form then, thy soul to that divine exemplar: abase thyself, annihilate each worldly principle; so shalt thou find the love of God shed abroad in thy heart.

37. Imitate thy dear redeemer's pattern; live to God, and, as far as thou art able, diffuse the blessings given to thee: go about doing good:

38. Continue diligent in all the means of grace, fervent in prayer, regular in thy attendance on the supper of the Lord, daily meditating on his infallible word; warmed by the sense of his love, and thy unworthiness, persevere in the performance of every good work:

39. So shall thy soul find rest indeed; so shall that peace which passeth all understanding, fill thy heart; so shalt thou be strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man ;

40. So shall Christ dwell in thy heart by faith; that being rooted and grounded in love, thou may

est be able to comprehend with all saints, what is the length, and breadth, and depth and height:

41. And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that thou mayst be filled with all the fulness of God.

Ee

CHAPTER X,

TEMPTATION AND PERSECUTION.

1. My beloved is mine, and I am his.--Behold, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, he is fair-yea, he is altogether lovely!

2. Thus ravished is thy heart: happy art thou, yea, O son of God! thou art greatly to be blessed!

3. But be not discouraged, nor fear these thy holy ardours will sometimes decay: Satan will strongly assault thee-be aware, therefore, and stand on thy guard.

4. Oh think not that thou art safe and secure ; think not that thou art landed on a shore where no dangers await thee: need hast thou of the whole divine panoply; armed therewith, stand on the watch, and keep thyself dilligently.

5. In the gloomy hour of temptation, when thy soul is overclouded, when thy beloved hath for a while forsaken thee-then, oh then, more earnestly seek after him: in that dark night wander through the streets, and enquire of all thou meetest, whether they can direct thee to him whom thy soal loveth.

6. Seek him till thou hast found him; be not content to lie down without him, lest danger assault thee in that darkness; for except he keep thy house, all other watchmen wake up but in

vain.

7. Yet think not thyself utterly cast off; burn with a holy jealousy, and be thereby more inclined to search for him. Seek him amidst his suffering members; seek him in every ordinance: so shall comfort revisit thy soul, and the hour of his absence render his return more sweet and refreshing unto thee.

8. Expect not, O Christian! that inward troubles only shall try and perplex thee; be assured, like gold, thou must be proved in the fire; be assured the devil and the world will not cease to assail and persecute hee.

9. But herein hast thou cause of great joy-this is the sure mark of thy discipleship and calling --it is enough for the servant that he be as his master.

10. If thou wert of the world, the world would love its own: rejoice that thou art not of the world, therefore it hateth thee.

11. Whence come these bitter persecutions? Why are we called even unto blood ?*

12. O blessed master, how can thy followers sufficiently glory herein In the world ye shall have tribulation; "If they have persecuted me,

* This alludes to the time, probably, when this might have been written.