VII. Thefe Things^ and fundry others^ which will

be apt upon fuch Occafions to offer themfelves^ if ap- ply'd well and warmly to my Confcience, will have a very great and happy force, in forming my Difpofiti- on, and regulating my Condud for the time to come. The Recolledion of God's abundant Mercies will in- flame my Breafl: with holy Gratitude and fervent Love i fuch as would keep me ever paffionately defirous, to pay the juft Tribute of my beft Service in return, and cheerfully to run the way of his Commandments. The Remembrance of his Judgments will poffefs me with an awful Fear of difpleafing him, and convince me, by my own Experience, that no Flefh can ftand be- pfalAxxvl fore him, when he is angry. My late Languifliings and feeble Condition will be a feafonable and lively Admonition what this frail mortal Nature is ,* Thefe will teach me to die daily to the World, as a perfon who hath here no continuing Hek xii. ^ity^ but ought to feek one to come. A
Perfon, who muft not, from even the molt confirmed Health, entertain any fuch fond Profped:s and vain Confidences of long Life,as may tempt me ta prefume Death and Judgment at a great diftance,and my felf fecure of any Surprize from them : Much ra- ther ought I to exped: them every Moment ; and^both from the daily Spedacles of Mortality in my Neigh- bours, and the fenfible Decays, or fudden Changes which happen to my felf, quicken my Preparation to , . meet that Lord, who hath comfared himfelf 43^, 44!^^^ ' ^0 ^ Thief in thi Nightyd,nd foretold us, that
he 71^ ill come in fuch an hour as we think not. Thus (hall I, by a true Chriftian Prudence,extra6lSpi- ritual Advantage out of Temporal Evils, difcern the Goodnefs and Wifdom of Providence^cveninthe mof!: afiiiding Difpenfations,convert the Pains and Difeafes of a vile periihing Body, into Inftrumentsof Strength and Health to my Immortal Soulj and have a happy
(0} ^tcft l&erfonjs. 33
occafion of acknowledging with DauU^ pfal.cxlx.7t that It is good for me to ha've been in Trouble fince by that / ba'Ve learnt more diligently to pradifeg more ftedfaftly to perfevere in thy Statutes, m
Hymn.
PRaife the Lord, O my Soul ,• and all that Pf- clii. f 4 is Tvithin me Praife his holy Name. Praife the Lord, O my Soul', and forget not 2.
all his Benefits,
Who can exprefs the noble A^softhe Lord ^ cvi. 2. orjheTV forth all his Praife ?
Which forgiueth all thy Sins ^ and heaiethaH ciii. 5. thine Infirmities,
Which fa'veth thy LifefromDefiruBion ; a7id 4-
croivneth thee with Mercy and Lo'ving-kindnefs,
Which fatisfieth thy Mouth with good things j 5 .
making thee young and lufty as an Eagle,
For his Arrows fiuck fafi in me ^ and his xxxviii. 2, Hand frejfed me fore.
There was no Health in my Flejhj becaufe of 3,
his Difpleafure ; neither was there any Reft in my BoneSy by reafon of my Sin,
My Soul abhorred all manner of Meat'y and cvii. jg, I was even hard at Death's Door :
Then cried I unto thee, OLord ,* and got me xxx. 8. to my Lord right humbly :
I faidy O my God, take me not away in the -;| mid ft of mine Age * as for thy Tears they en^ durethrou^hout all Generations.
But 7vhat profit is there in my Bloody when xxx, 9. I go down to the Pit ?
Hear my Prayer then, O Lordy and with xnxix. 12 . thi'ne Ears confider my Calling : Hold mt thy Peace at my Tears,
B b ;4 O foarf
34
^tUtatiom anD ^tant$
15-
CVll. I^.
10.
Ixxi. 18.
!. 14-
jf. xxxvllL 18.
19.
PfalAx.
ClX. 2p.
Ixvi. 14.
ixxviii.
i!r.
xxxiv
♦ 4-
riciv.
17-
if.
O fpare we a little^ that I may recover my Strength : before I go hencCy and he no more feen.
So when I cried unto the Lord in my T'rou-' hie ; he delivered me out of my Dlfirejs.
He fent his Wordy and healed me ^ and I 'ivas favedfrom my DefiruBion,
O .' what great Troubles and Adverjities haft thou jJjewed me , and yet didfi thou turn and ejuickenme : Teay and brought efi me from the deep of the Earth again.
Therefore will I praife thee and thy Faith- fulnefsy O God: I will offer unto my God Jhankjglzflng ^ and pay my Vows unto the mofi High eft.
For the Grave cannot praife thee , Death cannot celebrate thee ^ They that go down to the Tit cannot declare thy Truth,
But the Living y the Living he flmll pralfe theey as I do thisDay 'y theFather to the Children Jljall make known the Goodnefs of the Lord,
And they that know thy Namey will put their Turft in thee ^ for thoUy Lordy haft nc" ver failed them that feek thee.
As for me J will give great Thanks unto the Lord with my Mouth ^ and pralfe him among the Multitude,
0 come hither and hearken all ye that fear God : and I 7vlll tell you what he hath done
for my Soul,
1 was In mlferyy and like unto him that is at the point to die ; but he delivered me out cf all my fear.
If the Lord had not helped me : it had not fall* edy but my Soul had been put to filence.
But when I fald , My Foot hath ftipped ^ thy Mercy y 0 Lordy held me up,
ThoH
fo? ^icfi ^tvtonsi.
3>