THE

WELCOME VISITANT.

ON

Na Winter Day, in a blinding Snow, whereby

the Foot-tracks and Wheeltracks are hidden,

or in a

driving Rain that swamps the Meadows and Commons, caufes Torrents to rush down the chalky Hills and gravelly Roads, forms Pools in clayey Places, and makes

makes the fandy Banks of hollow Lanes little less than Dikes to shut in brawling Rivers,it may be, that in many a lone House, one or two, at least, of the Inmates are debarred from going, as they gladly would, to the diftant Church. Although, it must be confidered, that when mere Inconvenience, and no Neceffity, as of Health, Obedience to Superiors, &c., doth let us, fuch Homekeeping partakes of the nature of Sin. There's many a poor Shepherd, who, on the most inclement Winter Night, leaves his warm Nook in the Chimney Corner, puts on his frozen

frozen Brogues, pulls his Cloak about him, fecures his Hat with a Kerchief, and goes forth, hardening his Neck against the Wind that fcores his Skin as with a Penknife, to look after his fhivering Flock by the Hillfide, the entire Lofs of which would be a far lefs grievous Thing than for a Soul to miss its Salvation. There is many an Engagement of Pleasure, kept by tender and delicate Women, let the Weather be what it will. Ezra x. The Jews in the Time of Ezra gathered themselves together in the Street of the House of God, and ftood there a long Time, waiting

9.

xv. 32.

waiting the LORD'S Pleasure, notwithstanding a great Rain. And when our Bleffed SAVIOUR preached to the People on the Mountain, they abode with Him Matt. three Days, to their great perfonal Inconvenience, without caring what they should eat, or what they fhould drink, or taking any Thought for the Morrow, so long as CHRIST divided unto them the Word of Life.

Alfo, in the Days of the early Chriftians, 'tis incredible what Dangers they would incur, what Obstacles they would overcome, that they might be to

gether

gether in breaking of Bread and in Prayer.

Likewife the Waldenfes may be cited, whom the Cruelties of the Duke of Savoy could not deter from affembling of themselves together.

Again, when the Scottish Covenanters were scattered like Sheep on the Mountains, they would meet in Caves and on Hillfides, and in Defert Places, in the Face of Bonds, Imprisonment, and Death.

Now, thefe Things are fet forth for our Enfamples, that we should not be too eafily hindered of keeping our Spiritual Engagements;