from thence a glorious and triumphant conqueror; taking up that blessed body of thine, which for our sins had lain dead in the grave, and restoring it to life the third day, according to the Scriptures, that thou mightest enthrone it at the right hand of the Father. Then didst thou lead that captivity captive, which the enemy of mankind had taken prisoner; and thus, thou the very Son of God, with our substance, that is, the human soul and body, hast ascended up on high, far above all heavens ; angels, principalities and powers being made subject to thee; where now thou sittest at the right hand of God, in endless overflowing life, in light inaccessible, in that peace which passeth all understanding.

There we believe and worship Jesus Christ, very God and very man; confessing that God, who hath so exalted thee, is thy Father of a truth; and waiting for thy coming in the end of the world to judge the quick and dead, and render to every man according, to his works; to the good, reward and rest; to the evil, grief and punishment eternal. For at that day shall all men hear thy voice, and shall come forth with their own bodies, that each may receive at thy hand according to that he hath done in his body, whether it be good or bad. Thou art our life, thou art our resurrection, and in thee we look for a Saviour, Jesus Christ the Lord, who shall change our vile body, and fashion it like unto his glorious body, according to his mighty working, whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself.

I know and acknowledge thee, the one true God, Holy Spirit, proceeding from the Father and the Son; of the same substance and eternity with the Father and the Son, our advocate and comforter;

who didst descend like a dove upon the same our Lord Jesus Christ, and appear in fiery tongues upon the blessed Apostles. Who hast from the beginning of the world shed abroad the gifts of thy grace upon all the saints and chosen of God, and opened the mouths of the Prophets, that they might reveal the wonders of his kingdom; who with the Father and the Son together art worshipped and glorified in all churches of the saints. Among whom I also, thy meanest servant, beg leave to publish thy praises, for the saving light communicated to my poor soul. For thou art the true light, the holy fire of God, to whom all saints are subject; the Spirit of truth, who by thy unction teachest us all truth; without whose grace it is impossible to please God; for thou art God of God, and light proceeding after a mysterious and ineffable manner from the Father of lights, and from his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. With these thou art co-equal, and coeternally united in the same essence, and with them reignest, and art glorified by a singular and a most stupendous union.

Thus do I know the one true God, three in persons, and one in essence; thus do I confess and adore with my whole heart the maker and governor of all things that are in heaven and earth, and under the earth. I know thee by that faith which thou hast inspired into me: for thou art the light of my eyes, the hope of all the ends of the earth, the joy of my youth, and the support of my old age. All my bones shall be joyful in thee, and say, Lord who is like unto thee? Yea, who among the gods is like unto thee, O Lord, who art not made as they were, by men's hands, but who thyself didst make the hands of men? The images of the heathen are sil

ver and gold, and all their gods are devils. But it is the Lord that made the heavens. The Lord he

is the God. The Lord he is the God. Confounded be all the vain gods, and let them find no place in heaven and earth, who made neither heaven nor earth; but let heaven and earth, and all that therein is, for ever glorify and praise thy name; for thou hast made heaven and earth, and all that therein is.

MEDITATION LIII.

Man's Vileness and God's Excellence.

WHO is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods, who is like unto thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? Too late, alas! it is, that I am brought to a due sense and knowledge of thee. A thick and gloomy cloud hung too long before my blinded eyes, through which I was not able to discern the Sun of Righteousness and Light of truth. I was muffled up in darkness, a child of darkness, and did not only endure, but love my darkness; because as yet in ignorance of the truth. I was blind, and fond of defect and misery, and every day bewildered more and more, in darkness that might even be felt. And what kind friend was he that took me by the hand to draw me out of this shadow of death? Who so compassionate a guide to this blind wretch, to seek me when I sought not him, to call me when I never cried for help, never complained, nay, never felt my calamitous and lost condition? This can be none but thee, my God, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort. No bowels less enlarged than thine could show such tender pity and affection. Blessed, therefore, be thy name; for ever blessed be thy name; for ever blessed be thy love, which was found of a miserable creature, who sought thee not, and asked thee not, for him that inquired not after thee.

In this spiritual, as heretofore in the natural creation, thy powerful voice said, let there be light,

and there was light. The gross night which swam before my eyes dissolved in an instant. I felt it scatter, and descried the dawning day, and heard the powerful command, and full of thankful wonder cried out, Thou verily art my God, which hast brought me out of darkness and the shadow of death into thy marvellous light. Thou spakest the word, and behold I see. Then did I first discover the horror of my former darkness, the dismal abyss in which I lay; and trembled at the reflection. O wretched state! O most uncomfortable blindness, which all the light of heaven did not penetrate! O deplorable ignorance! which knew not him who made me, preserves me, is always present with me, always inseparably in me. Thanks to my God, for bringing me to a sight of that, which I must needs have seen before, had not my corruption been so opposite to thy purity; but then, alas! we are in direct contrariety; thou light, I darkness; and discern thee I could not, till thou dartest thyself into my soul; for there is no light besides, none without thee.

Such is my meanness and misery, considered in itself, but I am yet much more vile and despicable in my own sight, when from such reflections I raise my soul to contemplate thy unchangeable majesty, O Lord God most holy, God of gods, and Lord of lords, at whose presence the hosts of angels tremble, dominions and thrones fall down and adore, of whose power and wisdom there is no end, no measure; who hast laid the foundations of the world upon nothing, and gathered the waters of the sea together as an heap; the most mighty God of the spirits of all flesh, at whose word and presence the heavens and the earth quake, and to whose beck