saints, but now we know that we have been the fools. " Behold, how they are numbered among the children of God, and their lot is among the saints." (Wisd. v. 5.) Behold, they are now collected into the happy number of the children of God, and they have made their lot with the saints, which will be an eternal one, which will make them blessed for ever, and we shall be placed amongst the slaves of the devil, condemned to burn in a pit of torment for all eternity. The lost will continue their lamentation, " We have erred from the way of truth, and the light of justice hath not shined unto us." (Wisd. v. 6.) Therefore, we have been deceived by having chosen to close our eyes to the Divine light; and that which will make us the more unhappy is, that for our error there is not, and there will not be, any remedy while God shall be God.
What folly, then, for a worthless gain, for a little vapour, for a brief delight, to lose the favour of God! What does not a subject do, to obtain the favour of his prince? O God, for one miserable gratification to lose the Highest Good, which is God! to lose heaven, to lose even peace in this life by granting an entrance of sin into the soul, by which its remorse will ever torment it, and condemn it voluntarily to eternal misery.
Would you catch at that forbidden pleasure if, by touching it, you were afterwards to have your hand burnt, or to be enclosed within a sepulchre for a year? Would you commit that sin if it cost you the loss of a large sum of money? And after you know and believe, that by sinning you forfeit heaven and God, and will be for ever condemned to the fire will you still sin?
Affections and Prayers.
O God of my soul, what should I have been at this moment if Thou had not shown to me so many mercies? I should have been in hell, in the place of fools; as I have been. I thank Thee, O Lord, and I pray Thee, not to abandon me in my blindness; I deserve to be deprived of Thy light, but I see that Thy favour has not forsaken me. I feel that it calls me with tenderness, wishing me to ask for pardon of Thee, and to hope for great things from Thee, notwithstanding the great offences that I have committed against Thee. Yes, my Saviour, I hope
