preceding his crucifixion, could not reprefs unfeafonable flumbers. It is alfo very obfervable, that the mild reprehenfions of our Lord upon this occafion, fuggefted at the fame time a tender apology for their misbehaviour. Prayer and meditation have a direct tendency to keep open the communication between the Supreme Being and the foul of man. But the pubhic worship of God hath the positive promise of his more immediate prefence. What then shall we say to thofe, who use a thousand little pitiful fubterfuges to justify their absence from the house of prayer? I had lately an opportunity of introducing the fentiments and example of the royal Pfalmift. With my reader's permiffion, I will recommend to him another of David's compositions, where he will find this fubject remarkably illustrated. I mean the forty-fecond Pfalm; in the beginning whereof the author appears mightily folicitous to exprefs the vehemence of his defire to approach again the ordinances of the fanctuary. The allusion, there mentioned, is of stronger import than what, perhaps, is generally imagined. It may be neceffary to notice, that when a deer is closely pursued by the hunters, he takes foil, as it is called, that is, he speeds into the water. This is commonly his dernier refort; wherefore he makes the moft powerful effort to accomplish accomplish his purposes. During fuch resolution, the natural timidity of his temper yields to a fudden ferocity, which would very much endanger man or horse, that accidentally obftructed his courfe. In the next place, the Pfalmift pathetically denotes the severity of his forrows, while the Pagans upbraid him with the inutility of his faith and confidence in the true God. But, con fcious of the fuperiority of his religion, he inftances to himself that happinefs, which refulted from his attendance upon the public worship; and takes occafion, from those prior comforts, to hold up his foul under prefent fufferings; more particularly under his fore distress of banishment from the temple of God. He not only expoftulates with his own heart for its diffidence and fears; but he even reproaches his breaft for its inquietude and despondence; because at that very period he experienced the fenfe of God's favour He likewife calls to mind paft mercies, and the fignal deliverances which God had wrought for him, at a time when he had as little encouragement to expect the interpofition of the Deity, as amidst those troubles which induced him to pen this pfalm. Then he concludes with a striking repetition of a former foliloquy, and of his purpofed reliance upon God in all future difficulties that that might befal him. Thus the ftruggle terminates, and the religious monarch goes off triumphant. The paffages which relate to the contumelious invectives of the heathen, are omitted in the fubsequent verfion*, that the pfalm may be more extenfively applicable to every afflicted individual. * See it in vol. i. page 114, et feq. VOL. II. M EXTRACTS EXTRACT S FROM DR. COTTON'S LETTER S. I Notice no complainings in your letter. Hence I hope you have attained refolution to purfue your plan without fluctuating. This unstable difpofition is, perhaps, little inferior even to a state of real pain, mitigated one hour by falfe hopes, and exafperated another by falfe fears; but when a man is once determined, and invariably pursues the fcheme he has laid down, then follow, as in a chain, fatisfaction, tranquillity, and happiness. Adieu, my dear friend; and number me among those who most eftcem and love you. AFTER all, dear Doctor, this diffatisfaction is very wrong; the world is a drama, and we must not expect to be all heroes and kingsThere must be a fubordination of characters; and if you and I are appointed candle-fnuffers, we muft take care to execute our province as well as we can. can. I have faid candle-fnuffers, as bearing fome allufion to our profeffion; for you know we trim the wick of life. Indeed we fometimes fnuff the candle out, and, what is worse, cannot blow it in again when we have done it. "If I quench thee, thou flaming minifter, "I can again thy former light reftore, "Should I repent; but once put out the light of life, I know you have fome qualms after you think you have fnuffed too clofe; but there are some physicians who will laugh at the tenderness of your conscience; for they regard mankind in the grofs as farthing rush-lights all. BUT in every diftrefs, let prudence actuate us; particularly the prudence of holding our tongues; yes, and veiling our countenances too. pray God befriend us, and then we shall not stand in need of the friendship of men. I THE metropolis is a ftormy ocean-covered by a powerful and numerous enemy-No fmall craft can poffibly weather out the first, nor make head against the fecond. Convoys are often impotent, M 2 |