AND they (Simon Peter and Andrew) straightway left their Nets, and followed him, Matt. iv. 20. How powerful is the Voice of Jefus Chrift? Let us remember to befeech him often, that he would be pleafed to fpeak to our Hearts, and make us obedient to him. --- Vices, and inveterate Habits, are a Sort of Nets, which Sinners are abundantly more unwilling to leave, than Peter and Andrew were to leave theirs; but every Thing is equally poffible to him who can do all Things. These poor Men leave indeed only Nets; but they certainly leave a great deal who referve nothing for themselves. Fishers of Men 'tis thine to make; To caft the Net on the right Side, NOW Peter fat without in the Palace: and a Damfel came unto him, faying, Thou alfo waft with Jefus of Galilee.--But he denied before them all, faying, I know not what Thou sayest, Matt. xxvi. 69. 70. A Man thinks himself able to fuffer Death for the Sake of God, who cannot withstand even a Servant's Voice. Every one carries that curfed Unbelief within himself, which tempts him to renounce CHRIST: It is abfolutely neceffary to keep that evil Disposition of the Heart always in Subjection as a Servant, to hinder it from becoming a Mafter: What Darkness otherwife will it not Cause in the Understanding? What Forgetfulness of Favours, Duties, and Promises in the Memory? What Weakness, Confufion, and Infidelity in the Will? Support us, Lord, with thy own Hand; for there is nothing on which we can depend, but thy Grace. Full of Truth and Grace Thou art, Falfe and foul as Hell my Heart, Thou waft given to redeem My Soul from all Iniquity, Friend of Sinners, fpotlefs Lamb, Thy Blood was fhed for me. HEAVEN and Earth fhall pass away; but my Words fhall not país away, Luke xxi. 33. The Stability and Truth of God in his Word, whether in relation to Good or Evil, is one of thofe Perfections of which he is moft jealous. It is the Sin of profeffing Chriftians, as well as of the Jews, not to give Credit to it. A King promifes or threatens, and all obey; but in refpect of God, Men live as if the Promises of eternal Happiness, and the Threatnings of the Miseries of Hell, were only the Predictions of an Almanack. Let us therefore take great Care to fix and fettle our Faith upon the Veracity of God, and the Immutability of his Word; to receive this Word,. to hear, and to read it as the Word of God, fuch as it really is, let the Perfon be what he will who delivers it. JESUS, thy perfe&t Love reveal My Alpha and Omega be, Nothing hath fail'd of all the Good, ΑΝ ND take heed to yourselves, left at any Time your Hearts be overcharged with Surfeiting and Drunkennefs, and Cares of this Life, and fo that Day come upon you unawares, Luke xxii. 34. Nothing more plainly fhews how little Faith Men have, as to the Threatnings of God, of which his Words is full, than that Security, and that Forgetfulnefs of Death, wherein the Generality of those who call themselves Chriftians live, altho' God every where declares that we fhall be furprised thereby. Almost all Perfons endeavour to fhut their Eyes against this Truth, fome by a Life openly loofe and diforderly, and by fenfual Pleasures; others by the Multiplicity of Affairs with which they are entirely taken up, . and as it were oppreffed. Chriftian Watchfulness is to be found only in an humble retired Life, or at least in a Life difengaged from Pleasures, Ambition, and the Defire of worldly Riches. God, who in various Methods told His Mind and Will to Saints of old, Sent his own Son with Truth andGrace To teach us in these latter Days. God's Thoughts are in hisWord expreft, FOR 'OR as a Snare fhall it come on all them that dwell on the Face of the whole Earth, Luke xxi. 35. True Chriftians, who seek the Things above, and not those on the Earth, may be compared to the Fowls of the Air, which, fo long as they keep at a Distance from the Earth, have no Occafion to fear the Fowler's Nets. Woe unto thofe, who as it were fettle here below; and whom, of Children and Citizens of Heaven as they were made by Faith in the Lord Jefus Chrift, the Care of worldly Affairs, the Defire of raifing a Fortune, and the Love of this préfent Life, and the Conveniencies thereof, render perfectly Men of the Earth. Let us with the Wings of Faith and Hope raife ourfelves up to Heaven, that we may not be caught in the Net here below. If Thou require my Soul this Night, Alas! I am not as thou art, I am not for thy Presence meet, |