work upon the soul? Have not judgments befallen divers who have scorned and contemned it? Hath it not been preserved through all ages maugre all the heathen tyrants and all of the enemies who have opposed it? Is there any story but that which shows the beginnings of time, and how the world came to be as we see? Do we not know the prophecies in it fulfilled which could not have been so long foretold by any but God himself? When I have got over this block then have I another put in my way, that, admit this be the true God whom we worship, and that be his Word, yet why may not the popish religion be the right? They have the same God, the same Christ, the same Word; they only interpret it one way, we another. This hath sometimes stuck with me, and more it would but the vain fooleries that are in their religion, together with their lying miracles and cruel persecutions of the saints, which admit were they as they term them, yet not so to be dealt withal. The consideration of these things and many the like would soon turn me to my own religion again. But some new troubles I have had since the world has been filled with blasphemy and sectaries, and some who have been accounted sincere Christians have been carried away with them, that sometimes I have said, Is there faith upon the earth? and I have not known what to think. But then I have remem bered the words of Christ that so it must be, and that, if it were possible, the very elect should be deceived. "Behold," saith our Saviour, "I have told you before." That hath stayed my heart, and I can now say, "Return, O my soul, to thy rest. Upon this rock Christ Jesus will I build my faith; and if I perish, I perish.” But I know all the powers of hell shall never prevail against it. I know whom I have trusted, and whom I have believed, and that he is able to keep that I have committed to his charge. Now to the King immortal, eternal, and invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever! Amen. This was written in much sickness and weakness, and is very weakly and imperfectly done; but if you can pick any benefit out of it, it is the mark which I aimed at. HERE FOLLOW SEVERAL OCCASIONAL By night, when others soundly slept My waking eyes were open kept, I sought him whom my soul did love; My hungry soul he filled with good; My smarting wounds washed in his blood, What to my Saviour shall I give Who freely hath done this for me? FOR DELIVERANCE FROM A FEVER. When sorrows had begirt me round, And pains within and out, When in my flesh no part was found, My burning flesh in sweat did boil, Beclouded was my soul with fear Which oft I read before. "Hide not thy face from me," I cried; "From burnings keep my soul. Thou knowest my heart, and hast me tried; "Oh, heal my soul," thou knowest I said, Though flesh consume to naught. What though in dust it shall be laid? To glory it shall be brought." Thou heardest, thy rod thou didst remove, And spared my body frail; Thou showedst to me thy tender love, My heart no more might quail. Oh, praises to my mighty God! Who hath redeemed my soul from pit. FROM ANOTHER SORE FIT. In my distress I sought the Lord, When naught on earth could comfort give; And when my soul these things abhorred, Then, Lord, thou saidst unto me, Live. Thou knowest the sorrows that I felt, My plaints and groans were heard of thee, And how in sweat I seemed to melt; Thou helpedst and thou regardedst me. My wasted flesh thou didst restore, My feeble loins didst gird with strength; Yea, when I was most low and poor I said, "I shall praise thee at length." What shall I render to my God For all his bounty showed to me- My heart I wholly give to thee; To praise in thought, in deed, in word. Thou knowest no life I did require In drawing out these wretched days. Thy name and praise to celebrate, O Lord, for aye is my request. Oh, grant I do it in this state, And then with thee, which is the best. DELIVERANCE FROM A FIT OF FAINTING. Worthy art thou, O Lord of praise! But, ah! it's not in me; My sinking heart I pray thee raise, "My life as spider's web 's cut off!" "And living man no more shall see, |