PER To the ERHAPS few Books, lately published, have been more ufeful, to ferious and pious Readers, than that intitled, The Golden Treafury. It will be eafily obferv❜d, that This is wrote on the fame Plan: Containing a short Exercise of Devotion, for every Day in the Year. The chief Difference between the one and the other, I apprehend, is this: The Reflections here are abundantly deeper: They not only contain the first Principles of Re ligion, [ ] ligion, Repentance towards GOD, and Faith in CHRIST, the Doctrine of Juftification, and the New Birth, but likewise the whole Work of GOD in the Soul of Man, till being rooted and grounded in Love, be is able to comprehend with all Saints, what is the Breadth, and Length, and Depth, and Height: And to know the Love of Chrift which palleth Knowledge, and to be filled with all the Fulnefs of GOD. 28 OC 62 Pembroke, July 30, 1764. John Wesley. AN ND when eight Days were accomplished for the circumcifing of the Child, his Name was called Jefus, which was fo named of the Angel, before he was conceived in the Womb, Luke ii. 21. Give me, Lord, the Grace, which thou haft hereby merited for me, to circumcife the Pride and Impurity of my Heart, and whatever remains in me of Adam's Corruption. By this firft Effufion of his Blood, he exercises the Office of a Saviour, at the fame Time that he takes the Name. How adorable are these first Fruits of his Pains! Let this holy Name be ever my Refuge and Confidence, my Strength and Support, my Peace and Confolation: And let it be truly to me a Name of Salvation. Exert upon my Heart, O JESUS! the Right and fovereign Power which it gives thee to fave me. Salvation from our Sins we found, Thro' JESUS' Grace forgiven; JESUS from (not in) our Sins, Doth ftill his People fave: Our Priest and King we have: A ND Jefus faith unto him, I will come and heal him, Mat. viii. 7. The Word and Promife of CHRIST is the great Confolation of a Sinner. There is no Person in the World but what has Need that JESUS CHRIST fhould come and heal him, either of his mortal Wounds, or of his Weakness and Infirmities. From the Time he has made us fenfible of our Diseases, and given us the Grace to lay them before him in Prayer, let us confidently believe, that he fays to us, I will come and heal you: And let us faithfully and humbly say to him, without ceafing, Come, Lord JESUS! Hear Jesus! hear my broken Heart, O how gracious is my Lord, My Lord! my Saviour! hear my Cry; O how ready to reply! |