Ecclesia Monilia. The peculiar treasure of the Almighty King opened; and the jewels that…

I. IT may be of considerable Use, especially unto our Young People, and most of all unto those of the Female Sex; to Read what she wrote of, Reflections on the State of her Soul, when she was but Thirteen Years of Age.

IT has pleased GOD by the Striving of his SPIRIT on my Heart (which I a long ⟨p. 30⟩time neglected) to put me upon serious Consideration, of the Certainty of Death, the Uncertainty of Life, the Instability and Insufficiency of any of these Creature Enjoyments, the Excellency of the New Birth, and of CHRIST JESUS who so freely offered Himself a Sacrifice for Sin, the Unavoidableness of appearing before the Just Judge of the whole World at the Great and Last Day; The Endless Joy of such who in this Life do make sure to themselves an Interest in CHRIST; the Everlasting Duration of the Wicked in that Torment which is ineffable and intolerable. THESE Considerations put me on an Enquiry, (with the Jailer) What shall I do to be Saved? Where I found an Answer ready; Believe on the Lord JESUS CHRIST, and thou shalt be Saved. But I found an impotency in in my self to believe, to repent, to pray, to do any good Thing after a right manner. Sometimes when I was Ruminating on such things as these, I thought it my Duty to ask, If I ever intended to receive; for to such is given a Promise, Matth. 7.7. Ask and it shall be given to you, seek and ye shall find. I was convinced that it was my Duty to pray. But I knew not how to perform this Duty; and was many times discouraged therein, by thinking on such like Texts of Scripture as these. The Prayer of the Wicked is an Abomination ⟨p. 31⟩to the Lord —. And, What hast thou to do to take my Covenant into thy Mouth? I I do verily think and fear, my present Condition is such, that I am as yet alienated and estranged from GOD and His Ways. I take no Delight in doing his Will, and yet go on to Omit known Duties and commit manifest Sins. When I pray, it is but in a cold formal Manner; and though I am thoroughly convinced of the Indispensable Necessity of Regeneration and an Interest in CHRIST, and the Pardon of Sin; and also the readiness of GOD to grant it to them that desire it; Yet such is the backwardness of my Heart, that I am not willing to forsake Sin, though by foregoing the same I obtain everlasting Salvation, and by retaining it I incur Eternal Damnation. Much Comfort I have received from many Places of Scripture of late; In particular these;