CHAP. II.

Containing the Marks and Characters of the Believer in Chrift; together with some farther privileges and grounds of comfort to the Saints.

SECT. I. Doubting Believers called to examine, by marks drawn from their love to him and his prefence, their view of his glory, and their being emptied of felf-righteousness,

c.

GOOD news! but, fays the drooping bride,

Ah! what's all this to me?

Thou doubt'ft thy right when shadows hide
Thy Husband's face from thee.

Through fin and guilt thy spirit faints,
And trembling fears thy fate;
But harbour not thy groundless plaints,
Thy Husband's advent wait.

Thou fob'ft, "O were I fure he's mine,
This would give glad'ning ease?"

And fay'ft, Though wants and woes combine,
Thy Husband would thee please.

But

up and down, and feldom clear,
Inclos'd with hellish routs ;

Yet yield thou not, nor fofter fear;
Thy Husband hates thy doubts.

Thy cries and tears may flighted feem,
And barr'd from prefent ease;
Yet blame thyfelf, but never dream
Thy Husband's ill to pleafe..

Thy jealous unbelieving heart

Still droops, and knows not why;
Then prove thyself to ease thy smart,
Thy Husband bids thee try.

The following questions puts to thee,

As fcripture marks may tell
And fhew, whate'er thy failings be,
Thy Husband loves thee well.

MARKS.

ART thou content when he's away?
Can earth allay thy pants?
If conscience witness, won't it say,
Thy Husband's all thou wants?

When he is near, (though in a crofs,)
And thee with comfort feeds;
Dolt thou not count the earth as drofs,
Thy Husband all thou needs?

In duties art thou pleas'd or pain'd,
When far he's out of view?
And finding him, think'st all regained,
Thy Husband always new.

Though once thou thought'ft, while Sinai mist
And darkness compafs'd thee,
Thou waft undone; and glorious Christ

Thy Husband ne'er would be;

Yet knowest thou not a fairer place,

Of which it may be told,

That there the glory of his grace

Thy Husband did unfold?

Where heav'nly beams inflam'd thy foul,

And love's feraphic art,

With hallelujahs did extol

Thy Husband in thy heart.

Couldft then have wifh'd all Adam's race
Had join'd with thee to gaze;
That viewing fond his comely face,
Thy Husband might get praise?

Art thou disjoin'd from other lords?
Divorc'd from fed'ral laws?
While with moft loving gospel cords
Thy Husband kindly draws?

An't thou enlighten'd now to fee
Thy righteousness is naught
But rags,*
* that cannot cover thee?
Thy Husband fo has taught.

Doft fee thy beft performances
Deferve but hell indeed?

And hence art led, renouncing thefe,
Thy Husband's blood to plead ?
When ftrengthen'd boldly to address
That gracious throne of his,
Doft find thy ftrength and righteousness,
Thy Husband only is?

Canft thou thy most exalted frame
Renounce, as with'ring grafs,
And firmly hold thine only claim
Thy Husband's worthiness.

Canft pray with utmost holy † pith,
And yet renounce thy good?
And wash, not with thy tears, but with

Thy Husband's precious blood?

SECT. II. Believers defcribed from their Faith acting by divine aid, and fleeing quite out of themfelves to Chrift.

CAN nothing lefs thy confcience eafe,
And please thy heart; no lefs
Than that which juftice fatisfies,

Thy Husband's righteousness?

Doft fee thy works fo ftain'd with fin,
That thou through grace art mov'd

To feek acceptance only in

Thy Husband, the belov’d.

Doft thou remind, that once a day
Free grace did strengthen thee,
To gift thy guilty foul away,
Thy Husband's bride to be?

* Ifa. lxiv. 6. † Vigour or ftrength.

Or doft thou mind the day of power,
Wherein he broke thy pride,

And gain'd thy heart? O happy hour
Thy Husband caught the bride!

He did thy enmity fubdue,

Thy bondage fad recal,

Made thee to choofe, and clofe pursue
Thy Husband as thy all.

What reft, and peace, and joy enfu'd
Upon this noble choice?

Thy heart, with flowers of pleasure strew'd,
Thy Husband made rejoice.

Doft know thou ne'er couldst him embrace,

Till he embraced thee? Nor ever see him, till his face

Thy Husband open'd free?

And findeft to this very hour,

That this is ftill the charm';

Thou canst do nothing, till with power
Thy Husband fhew his arm?

Canft thou do nought by nature, art,
Or any ftrength of thine,

Until thy wicked froward heart
Thy Husband shall incline?

But art thou, though without a wing

Of power aloft to flee,

Yet able to do every thing,

Thy Husband ftrength'ning thee?

Doft not alone at duties fork,*
But foreign aid enjoy?
And ftill in every piece of work
Thy Husband's strength employ?
Thy motion heavenly is indeed,
While thou by faith doft move,
And still in every time of need
Thy Husband's grace improve..
* Labour, wrestle, or toil,

No common natural faith can fhew
Its divine brood like this;
Whofe object, author, feeder too,
Thy Husband only is.

Doft thou by faith on him rely?
On him, not on thy faith?
If faith fhall with its object vie,
Thy Husband's fet beneath.
Their hands receiving faculty
Poor beggars never view;
But hold the royal gift in eye:
Thy Husband fo wilt thou.

Faith, like a gazing eye ne'er waits.
To boaft in feeing powers;
Its object views, itself forgets;
Thy Husband it adores.

It humbly ftill itself denies,

Nor brags its acts at all;
Deep plung'd into its object lies,
Thy Husband is its all.

No strength but his it has, and vaunts,
No ftore but his can fhow:
Hence nothing has, yet nothing wants,
Thy Husband trains it fo.

Faith, of its own, no might can fhew,
Elfe would itfelf deftroy.

But will, for all it has to do,
Thy Husband ftill employ.

Self-faviours none could ever be
By faith or grace of theirs ;
Their fruitless toil, fo high that flee,
Thy Husband's praise impairs.

The feemingly devouteft deed,
That would with fhameless brow
His faving trade take o'er his head,
Thy Husband won't allow.