A Goodly Heritage

Those who have tasted the goodness of God can never speak good enough of God. Reason teaches that those should bless most who are most blessed. What are carnal men to Christian men? The power of God appears in the formation of one ; but the stupendous grace of God shines illustriously in the transformation of the other. In creation, God has given the productions of the earth for our bodies : but in redemption he has given himself for our souls. Thus it appears to be a greater favor to be converted than to be created ; yea, it were better for us to have no being, than not to have a new being.

It is strange that should be a pollution which was instituted before corruption ; or that impurity:- which was ordained in the state of innocency ; or that they should make that to be a sin, which they make to be a sacrament ; strange stupidity ! But ,a bastard may be laid at the door of chastity, and a leaden crown set upon a golden head. Bel- larmine (that mighty atlas of the Papal power) blows his stinking breath upon it: * Better were it for a priest to defile himself with many harlots, than to be married to one wife.' —These children of the purple whore prefer monasteries before mar- riages, a concubine before a companion.— They use too many women for their lusts, to choose any for their love. — -Their tables are so largely spread that they cannot feed upon one dish. As for their ex- alting of a virgin state, it is like him that com- manded fastings when he had filled his belly. Who knows not that virginity is a pearl of a sparkling lustre ? but the one ca...

I have read of a painter, who being warmly re- prehended by a cardinal for putting too much red in the faces of St. Paul and St. Peter, answered, ' It is to shew how much they blush at the conduct of many, who style themselves their successors.*— Were Abraham, the father of the faithful, now on earth, how would he disclaim all relation to many who call themselves his offspring ! Though there was less grace discovered to the saints of old ; yet there was more grace discovered by them. They knew little, and did much^ we know much, and do little.

Temporary professors are like hedge-hogs, which have two holes -, one to the north, and another to the south : when the south wind fans them, they turn to the north j and when the north wind chills them, they turn to the south. Thus they lose their activity, to preserve their security. — That was a beggarly saying, which fell from a prince's lips, — ' I will sail no farther in the cause of Christ, than while I can preserve my retreat with safety to land.' Man is a short-sighted creature ; he is afraid to follow too far upon the heels of truth, lest it should lead him into danger. Weak grace may do for God, but it must be strong grace that will die for God. A true Christian will lay down his lusts at the command of Christ j and his life, for the cause of Christ. The more a tree of righteousness is sha- ken by the wind, the more it is rooted in the groun(l. What, art thou a member of Christ, and afraid to be a martyr for Christ? If those be blessed who die...

That was a Christian expression of one of the martyrs to his persecutors : " You take a life from me that I cannot keep, and bestow a life upon me that I cannot lose which is, as if you should rob me of counters, and furnish me with gold." He that is assured of a life that has no end, need not care how soon this life shall end.

Though the name of the author of Psal. cxxxvii. be not recorded yet his generous disposition should ever be admired. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth ; if I do not prefer Jerusalem above my chief joy. Good old Eli mourned more for the loss of religion, than for the loss of his relations. His heart was bro- ken before his neck. If the church be lost. Chris- tians cannot be saved if the church be saved. Christians cannot be lost.

If the mountains overflow with moisture, the valleys are the richer : but if the head be full of ill humours, the whole body is the worse. Happy are those persons, whom God will use as besoms, to sweep out the dust from his temple ; or who shall tug at an oar, in the boat where Christ and his church are embarked.

Sin in the soul, is like Jonah in the ship it turns the smoothest water into a troubled ocean. We must mourn for sin on earth, or burn for sin in hell. It is the coldness of our hearts, which kindles the fire of God's anger. They shall look upon him whom they have pierced, and mourn for him, as one that mourneth for his only son; and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bit- terness for his first born. — Christians! the nails that pierced his hands, should now pierce your hearts : you should now be deeply wounded with godly sorrow, for having so deeply wounded him with your deadly sins. It should grieve your spirits, to remember how much you have grieved his Spirit.