he has made for his friends; nevertheless, he who

has received the friendship, ought not to forget it, nor be dismayed when he sees his benefactor. C The cheeks of an honest man, will never be stained with the blushes of recantation; nor will his tongue falter, with the secret glosses of a double or reserved sense:-his fair conditions are without dissembling; actions he prefers to words; falsehood he hates; he is a faithful client to truth, and no one's enemy.

When a man recollects the afflictions and virtues of King Charles 1st; and remembers, that in his virtues he excelled the most happy Princes; in his afflictions he equalled the most unfortunate of men; though it should not incline us to murmur at Divine Providence, whose judgments are above our knowledge, and ought not to come under our censure; yet, certainly, it must causė us to abhor the shocking effects of furious zeal; it cannot but raise in us a detestation and hatred of faction, under pretence of liberty; of ambition, when it counterfeits Religion.

T

PRAYER.

Father of mercies, and God of all consolation! Let thy Holy Spirit dwell and rule in my heart, Keep me from all sins and uncleanness. Cleanse my mind from evil thoughts, and incline me to do the thing that good is. Suffer me not to grieve, weary, or provoke thy Holy Spirit; but make me obedient unto it; that it may dwell with me richly, and teach me to call thee Abba, Father; that I may, from a pure and perfect heart, always pray unto thee. Let me ever acknowledge thee in my ways; continually do that which is lawful and right, and well-pleasing in thy sight; yea, let it be my director and comforter in this life, and let it guide and bring me at last to thine everlasting kingdom; let it seal my soul unto the day of redemption:-and this I beg of thee, for thine infinite mercies and compassion, and for the sake and through the merits of thy dear Son, Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Amen. Amen.

CHAPTER II.

THE generality of mankind, seem inclined to live so dissolutely, and the world is so full of examples, either ridiculous or hurtful, that I cannot but in some measure be of opinion, that retirement, nay, singularity, kept within proper bounds, nearly approaches to reason, and would be a commendable conduct.

There is no provision so large, there is no retirement so secure, there is no search so

happy, as to find out that place, where cares or misfortunes may not make their way.

CANDLEMAS.

Almighty and everlasting God! I beseech thee, that, as thy only-begotten Son was this day presented in the Temple, in substance of our flesh; so, I may be presented unto thee, with a pure and clean heart, by the same, thy Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

D

MEDITATION ON INFANT BAPTISM.

I cannot but be of opinion, it is as much the duty of Christians to baptize their children now, as it was the duty of the Israelites, to circumcise theirs. St. Peter's question, then, "can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, who have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?"* may be applied in this case: can any person forbid water, that children should not be baptized, who are in covenant with the most High God, as well as we ? I would ask, what is it the right of baptism depends upon? Not upon performing the conditions of the covenant; for then, none should be baptized, but such who are true believers in themselves, known to be so by us, and consequently, none at all: it being God's prerogative alone, to search their hearts, to know the truth of that grace, which himself has bestowed upon them. But, children's right to baptism, is grounded upon the outward profession of their believing parents: that, as a King may be crowned whilst an infant; not because he is able to wield the *Act, chap. x. 47.

sceptre, or manage the affairs of his kingdom; but by reason, he is heir to his father. So, children are baptized, not because they are able, to perform the conditions of the covenant which is sealed to them; but because, they are children of believing parents. This, too, seems evident, from the nature of seals, which are annexed to any covenant; not because the conditions are performed, but that they may be performed: so children are baptized, not because they are already true christians, but that they may be so hereafter. As for a command for infant baptism, I think the same law that enjoined circumcision to the Jewish children, enjoins baptism to the children of Christians. The reason why Jewish children were to be circumcised, was, because they were Jewish children; born of such as professed the worship of the true God, and in covenant with him: there is the same reason, why Christian children are to be baptized, because they are Christian children; born of those who profess the true worship of the same God, and are allies in the same covenant with the Jews