Book III. of J fi S u $ C H R 1 s T. 177

ftretch themfelves far beyond all prefent Enjoyments_> and can be filled, and reft contented, with nothing lefs than Thee.
O my beloved Lord, King of the Univerfe, knit, me to thee with the Bands of an entire and holy Af- fection. Set me at liberty from this Clog of Earth, and give me Wings of ardent Zeal, and pure Devo- tion, that I may foar aloft, and take my flight higher than Heaven it felf ; and find my Reft in thee. Oh f when will that happy Time come, when I fliall be let at liberty from Sin and Corruption, from the Body and the World, and without Interruption , withoue Allay, tafte and feaft upon the fweetnefs of m.y God ? When will the neceffary Cares of this Life ceafe to diftradt me, and leave me Power and Leifure to indulge thofe Longings and Pleafures, which refi- ned and unbodied Spirits feel ; when fwallowed up in the Contemplation of thy Divine Excellencies, and even raifed above themfelves, they know and love, and retire wholly into Thee ? At prefent I v.: a op- prefled with a Load of Infirmities and Corruptions, and often groan under the Serife of my heavy Bur- then. The inward Joys, with which thy Grace fup- ports me, are mingled and embafed with Pains and Tears ; which cloudy and c irken, and dejed my Mind ; diftrad my Thoughts, obftrud my-eagerelt Wifhes and Endeavours, and faftenme down to Earth and Mifery, when I would fly to thy Embraces. I cannot in this Vale of Sorrow, enjoy my Lord, my Love ; but wait with Hope, and long fore for that happy Change, which fliall tranflate me to the Spi- rits of Juft Men made perfed, and render me parta- ker of their Blifs. But let not. Lord, my Sufferings, and i ears be loft ,• Remember and compaffionate my pre/ent wretchednefs, and grant my Sighs an eafy and effedual Accefs into thy bleffed Prefence*
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lyS ^f ^]h? imitation Book iiL
Thou Lord, art the Brightnefs of thy Father's Glo- ry^ dart thy reviving Beams into my Soul ; enlighten its drj'k P'flces^ ?Aid fcatcer its Difcomforts, To thee ^ the very Thou,^^rt3 and ir.molt Defires of every Heart are known j By Thee the moft fecret and filent Wifli- es are tlr oughiy unde! ^ocd. O hear me, when I fpeak in this Language, and pour out my Supplicati- ons in Sighs and Griefs, which Words cannot utter. Even when my Tongue lies ftill, my Thoughts arc in motion ; ani my Heart wichin my Breaft burns with Inarticulate Ejaculations. '^ How long (fay I to my ^^ felf) how long will my Lord^ my Bridegroom de- ^^ lay his coming : Oh ! that he would vouchfafe to ^* enter under the Roof of his unworthy and affiled '^ Servant! O that he would itretch forth hisAlmigh- ^^ ty Hand, and deliver this Wretch, jull ready to fmk, " out of all the Mifery and Trouble, which furround, ^^ opprefs, and are ready to devour him I Come, Lord *^^Jefus, come quickly. For without Thee, no Day, " no Hour is eafy or comfortable , for thou art my ''^ Hope, my Joy, and all my Worldly Plenty • but " v>/ithout thee is the very Extremity of Poverty and " Want.
See how I lie in this Prifon of the Flefli, Fettered and Bound up with the Chain of my Sin, till the Piti- fulnefs of thy great Mercy loofe me, and the light of thy Countenance breaking into this darkfome Dun- geon, afTure me of thy Favour and Friendfhip. ^' Let ^' others covet and fet their Affedions upon fuch ^' Wretched Objeds, as deluded Senfe thinks valuable ^ " but, as for Me, I will love and long for Nothing, ^^ but Thee, my God, alone ^ for Thou, my God, " alone, art my Hope and Happinefs ; the only Stay ^^ of my prefent, and the only Blifs of my future " and Eternal State. '* Such is, and fuch fliall ever be my Addrefs and fervent Prayer. Nor will I let thee go^ until thou blefs me 3 till thou infpirg new Life
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