I Tell

you, in that Night there fhall be two Men in one Bed; the one fhall be taken, and the other fhall be left. Luke xvii. 34.

It is an Advantage to be united to Chriftians, either by Friendfhip or Relation; but if we defire to improve this Advantage as we ought, and to be faved with them, we must imitate their Example. --- God can easily difcern, in all Places, and distinguish those who are his. It is in the Night of Tribulation, Perfecution, extreme Calamity, and Death, that this Distinction is made. Let us prepare ourselves for it, while it is Day.

If Thou, my JESUS, ftill be nigh,
Chearful I live, and joyful die ;

I know Thee, Saviour, who Thou art,
JESUS, the feeble Sinner's Friend;
Nor wilt thou with the Night depart,
But ftay, and love me to the End;
Thy Mercy never shall remove,
Thy Nature, and thy Name is Love.

I

Secure when mortal Comforts flee,
To find Ten Thousand Worlds in Thee.
Lame as I am, I take the Prey,

Hell, Earth,and Sin withEafe o'ercome;
leap for Joy, purfue my Way,
And as a bounding Hart fly Home,
Thro' all Eternity to prove
Thy Nature and thy Name is Love.

TWO Women fhall be grinding, together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. - Two Men fhall be in the Field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Luke xvii. 35, 36.

God has his Children, and the Devil his Slaves, in all Places, and in all Conditions of Life; it is therefore neceffary in all, for Men to labour and watch, that they may be of the Number of those who belong to God, and that they may avoid the Snares of the Devil.

I would be ftript of all,
And calmly wait thy Stay;
Poor, at thy Feet, and helpless fall,
And weep my Life away.

I would be truly ftill,
Nor fet a Time to Thee,

But act according to thy Will,
And speak, and think, and be.
I would with Thee be one,
And, 'till the Grace is giv'n,
Inceffant pray, Thy Will be done
In Earth, as 'tis in Heav'n.

ND they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wherefoever the Body is, thither will the Eagles be gathered together. Luke xvii. 37.

The Children of God are fpiritual Eagles, who foar towards Heaven, to feek Jefus Chrift there; and not Ravens who feek only to gorge themselves with the Things on Earth. --- These Eagles and Ravens are here below mixed together in the Church, which is the Body of Chrift, diffufed throughout the World, and compofed of all Nations. But in Heaven none but Eagles will be gathered together, and reunited in this immortal Body of which Christ is the Head, the Strength, the Food, the Joy and the eternal Felicity..

Let Cares like a wild Deluge come,

And Storms of Sorrow fall, May I but fafely reach my Home,

My God, my Heav'n, my ALL.

There fhall I bathe my weary Soul

In Seas of Heav'nly Reft,
And not a Wave of Trouble roll
Acrofs my peaceful Breast.

AND he fpake a Parable unto them to this End, that Men ought always to pray, and not to faint. Luke xviii. 1.

Prayer is a Duty properly belonging to fuch as are Poor and Needy which must be continual in this Life, because we are continually filled with Wants. The Tempter is never weary in affaulting us, let us never grow weary in refifting him with the Arms of Prayer. To pray always, and to fpeak but little, is one of the Paradoxes of the Gofpel: This Duty requires little of the Tongue, much of the Heart. A Man may be juftly faid always to pray when he has God always prefent to his Mind, and always defires him, whether he do it ftanding or kneeling, in Reft or Labour, in Grief or Joy.

Surely if we ought, we may,
Every Moment watch and pray :
Simply I receive thy Word,
Merciful, Almighty LORD:

Thou, who gavest the Command,
Nothing can thy Will withftand;
And, if I believe in Thee,
Nothing is too hard for me.

AND the Apoftles faid unto the Lord, Increase our Faith.

Luke xvii. 5.

How neceffary is this Prayer continually throughout the whole Courfe of our Lives; and especially when we are to forgive Injuries, and to facrifice to Love the deceitful Sweetness of Revenge! Faith decays every Moment, unless it be fupported by Prayer Prayer owes its Birth to Faith; but Faith owes its Increase to Prayer and both are a Gift of God in every Degree --- Lord, Thou alone, canft infufe, preferve, and perfect thy Gifts in us, and make them helpful and fubfervient one to another.

Away my unbelieving Fear!
Fear fhall in me no more have Place;
My Saviour doth not yet appear,
He hides the Brightnefs of his Face:
But fhall I therefore let him go,
And bafely to the Tempter yield?
No, in the Strength of Jesus, No!
I never will give up my Shield.

Barren altho' my Soul remain,
And no one Bud of Grace appear,
No Fruit of all my Toil and Pain,
But Sin, and only Sin is here:
Altho' my Gifts and Comforts loft,
My blooming Hopes cut off I fee,
Yet will I in my Saviour truft,
And glory that he dy'd for me.