FROM MEMOIRS OF INCREASE WOODWARD, 1742-1822.

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Blessed be the Lord; his mercy is over all his works. A glorious prospect is set open before me; one after which my desires are fervent, and my heart earnest to reach. Lord, lead on: though the way is through baptism and through death, thy arm is sufficient to sustain me. Thou canst sever the precious from the vile, and snatch me as a brand from the burning. Though evil beasts have been ready to devour me on the way, thou hast been merciful, and hast delivered; thine arm hath rescued from the lion's jaws. Oh! mayest thou continue thy saving grace, and let nothing ever pluck me out of thy hand.

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How can I be silent? This is a day of favour and exaltation; - a day of light and strength; - a day of peace and consolation. And yet, while I enjoy a heavenly communion of sprit, I feel a secret travail and watch to guard against the enemy who would fain intercept the glorious prospect opened before me. Oh! my God, in thee will I trust until thou bring forth judgment unto perfect victory.

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O Lord, thou art my God. I will exalt and praise thy name, for thou only art worthy of all praise. - Oh! uphold, strengthen and sustain me; be thou my rock, my fortress and my high tower; make me wholly free from all sin, that I may sin on Zion's mountain that thou art my Redeemer. Surely I will wait upon God, for from him cometh my salvation. Be thou exalted above all the earth, and let thy power be known amongst the children of men, causing them to acknowledge that thou art God alone.

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When God, in his infinite wisdom, goodness and mercy, awakens and calls mankind out of sin, and the bonds of darkness and iniquity, to an earnest pursuit after eternal felicity - then it is that the dragon exerts his strength and power to destroy the holy birth begotten of God in the soul, which, through grace, promises to be an heir of the kingdom. Of a truth I have known this declaration of the evangelist confirmed in myself, "There was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought, and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven."

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Oh! the mystery of the power of God, working out man's redemption from the fall. The scriptures are sealed as with seven seals, until the Lion of the tribe of Judah, Christ himself, clearly shows unto man, by his spirit and all-powerful word, the things that are written therein. Then is understood by deep experience, that "the holy city, new Jerusalem, hath no need of the sun, neither of the moon, for the glory of God enlightens it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. The redeemed soul is born anew, and made willing faithfully to follow the Lamb whithersoever he leads, being baptized with the one saving baptism, which is compared to fire, whose nature is to consume and purify. Thus the righteous are tired in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of adversity.