BASKET OF FRAGMENTS,

FOR GOD'S FAMILY.

BY JAMES MIDDLETON.

"Gather up the Fragments that remain, that
nothing be lost-John vi. 12."

LONDON:

WHITTAKER AND CO., AVE-MARIA-LANE; AND

K. CLAPPERTON, SALISBury.

K. CLAPPERTON, PRINTER, SARUM.

ART thou a pilgrim, then methinks thou'lt find
Some fragment, suited to thy craving mind;
To Jesus look, his spirit's aid implore,

To bless and feed thee, with celestial store.
Look not for truth in grandeur's form array'd,
Here's nought but fragments, in a basket laid;
Fragments, 'gainst which rich pharisees may rage,
And breathe reproach on every following page :
Yet still methinks the Saviour's needy poor
Will not disdain what pharisees abhor.

These fragments, first, were lodg'd within my heart,
Nor was I willing they should thence depart;
Yet being fearful, from its treach'ry known,
I fill'd some leisure hours, and penn'd them down,
This being done, I did not love to see

What might to others of some service be
Lie hid in darkness, wherefore thus I thought
Let come what may I'll dare to send them out.
For all success I look to God alone,

If all be lost his sov'reign will be done.
Reader, weigh every line, examine well

What saith thy conscience for 'twill always tell
Where goes thy heart, and where it loves to dwell.
What here thou seest, receive it as mine own,
From other works my pen has borrow'd none,
Such scheme for conscience sake I don't pursue,
I've wrought from knowledge and experience too.
If God should bless this little book to thee,
To him ascribe all praise, and none to me.

JAMES MIDDLETON.

A SMALL

BASKET OF FRAGMENTS,

FOR THE FAMILY OF GOD.

1. I CANNOT be persuaded but that all the Lord's family are desirous of being fruitful in their day, both in heart and life, in every good word, and every good work. Yet let them remember what accompanies fruitfulness. The dear Redeemer saith, And every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring fourth more fruit. JOHN XV. 2. So then, the more furnace work, the more fruit, and the more fruit, the more glory redounds to the sovereign Creator of it. Herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much fruit, so shall ye be my disciples. Verse 8.

2. Holiness of life while in this world, is one grand end of our calling. 1. THES. iv. 7. The practical part of the Gospel is by many deemed legal and set aside as useless. I have observed that such are in general, zealous contenders for doctrines, yet still methinks they are licentious livers, and if weighed in the ballance would be found wanting. Hath the eternal Jehovah strewed all those cautious, reproofs, examples, exhortations, and instructions up and down in the Bible for no other purpose, save only, to look upon and