is in the
evening: ordinarily they are impatient, and haste to an end in it: and
neglect it in the morning altogether. Oh, what a sad prigging is this.
Some prig with him about their relations. They will not quit these when
He calls them to suffer for His sake; but will tempt them, or will
insinuate upon them to comply, and deny His cause. Some prig with Him
about their possessions, and yielding to this or that iniquity, will
keep their houses and lands, they will not quit them. And some will prig
with Him about their lives; and if the swearing of a sinful oath, the
subscribing to an iniquitous bond, or denying of His cause, will save
their lives, they will not lose them. Oh, what sad prigging is this! Oh,
be ashamed of it. Will ye lay all at his feet, and count it your honour
and joy that He dispose of the same as He pleaseth? Give this testimony
of your love to Christ, rejoice in Him when present, and keep His room
empty when absent. I say rejoice in him when present. I need not press
you much to do this, for in his presence there is great joy: though the
enjoyment of Him here be imperfect, yet it brings exceeding gladness
with it. Therefore saith the Psalmist,--'Thou hast put gladness in my
heart, more than when corn and wine are increased.' But when He is
absent, see that ye keep His room empty for Him. When He sees it meet at
any time for your correction, trial, and instruction, to withdraw
Himself, or hide His face, then idols or other lovers will readily
present themselves, and seek to possess His room. But, be chaste and
true to your Beloved, as the spouse who, in His absence, could not be
contented, but used all means and diligence until she found Him."

In a sermon on Song v. 16,--"His mouth is most sweet, yea, He is
altogether lovely. This is my Beloved, and this is my friend, O ye
daughters of Jerusalem,"--the following affecting views are presented:
"The second property of Christ's love is, that it is a _strong_ love,
which appears from what He hath done for sinners. He has done great
things for sinners. He took upon Himself all the sinless infirmities of
human nature--not sinful nature. Yea, He endured a shameful and
lingering death, besides a flood of wrath that he waded through, such a
flood of wrath as would have drowned all the sons and daughters of Adam
to all eternity. Thus 'He who knew no sin became sin for us, that we
might be made the righteousness of God in Him.' Greater love hath no man
than thi