King's Cliffe, his
executors found among his most secret papers a prayer he had composed for
his own alone use on a certain communion day when he was self-debarred
from the Lord's table. I do not know for certain just what fruit the
young non-juror had stolen out of Beelzebub's orchard before that
communion season; but I can see that he was in poor Matthew's exact
experience that communion night,--literally torn to pieces with agonies
of conscience while all his fellow-worshippers were at the table of the
Lord. While the psalms and hymns are being sung at the supper-table, lay
your ear to Law's closet door. "Whilst all Thy faithful servants are on
this day offering to Thee the comfortable sacrifice of the body and the
blood of Christ, and feasting at that holy table which Thou hast ordained
for the refreshment, joy, and comfort of their souls, I, unhappy wretch,
full of guilt, am justly denied any share of these comforts that are
common to the Christian world. O my God, I am an unclean worm, a dead
dog, a stinking carcass, justly removed from that society of saints who
this day kneel about Thine altar. But, oh! suffer me to look toward Thy
holy Sanctuary; suffer my soul again to be in the place where Thine
honour dwelleth. Reject not the sacrifice of a broken heart, and do Thou
be with me in secret, though I am not fit to appear in Thy public
worship. Lord, if Thou wilt Thou canst make me clean. Lord, speak but
the word, and Thy servant shall be healed." It is the fruit of
Beelzebub's orchard. Many have died thereof.

6. "Pray, sir, make me up twelve boxes of them; for if I can get these,
I will never take other physic." "These same pills," he replied, "are
good also to prevent diseases as well as to cure when one is sick. But,
good woman, thou must take these pills no other way but as I have
prescribed; for if you do, they will do no good." I have taken one
illustration from William Law's life; I shall take another from that
world of such illustrations and so close. "O God, let me never see such
another day as this. Let the dreadful punishment of this day never be
out of my mind." And it never was. For, after that day in hell, Law
never laid down his head on his pillow that he did not seem to remember
that dreadful day. William Law would have satisfied Dr. Skill for a
convalescent. For he never felt that he had any right to touch the body
and blood of Christ, either at communion times, or a thousand