are made meet for an inheritance with the saints in light; not meet in ourselves, but made meet. This is not, cannot be, a work done by us, but it is done in us. To say that one single day, one single hour, of perfect conformity to the pure and holy will of God, is necessary for this meetness, is to drive us to despair; for if we deviate in the smallest matter we forfeit all our claim. But although we can never attain to it, while in the flesh, we must continually aim at and strive after perfection; for all the children of God love God, and long for a perfect conformity to all his righteous will; not that they may be saved through that conformity, but because they know they are already saved, through the perfect conformity of their Saviour.

As they journey through the wilderness they have an unerring guide. All are instructed ; all are guarded and provided for. Of all the Israel of God it may be said, "The Lord's portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye; as an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: so the Lord alone did lead him." Deut. xxxii. 9-12.

Many a tried servant of God, at the close of life, can vouch for the truth of Joshua's declaration, "I am going the way of all the earth; and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof." Joshua xxiii. 14.

On a retrospective view of his days on earth, each child of God may trace the mercy and love which followed him all his life long. He can discover the training hand of a Father in every dispensation: all has been ordered and sure from the beginning to the end; from childhood to manhood; when first sought out, and found in the wilderness, erring and straying like a lost sheep, when light first dawned upon his mind; his state may be compared to that of infancy. In his weakness he is carried and gently led on-his nourishment is administered as he is able to bear it. Our compassionate Shepherd carries the lambs in his bosom, and feeds them with milk while they are babes. 1 Cor. iii. 1, 2. Those who cannot walk are carried, the weak are strengthened, the naked are clothed, and as they grow they receive supplies proportioned to their circumstances. They are disciplined, governed, taught, restrained; not permitted to pursue their own wild will. They are turned from the way of folly into "the ways of wisdom, which are ways of pleasantness and all her paths peace." As Noah and all with him were preserved in the ark when safely shut in by the hand of God himself, in like manner the whole family of God are preserved in Christ, the spiritual ark. God himself having chosen them and given them to Christ, they cannot be lost: we have his own assurance for that, "Those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition." John xvii. 12. The power of God is beyond all other power, and therefore he says, "They shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." John x. 28, 29. As the Israelites were guided through the wilderness by the pillar and the cloud, so are all his elect SEPTEMBER, 1839.

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people guided, upheld, and led on during their earthly pilgrimage. When mourning by reason of many sins and infirmities, they are comforted; when faint and weary, refreshment is provided: “He shall drink of the brook in the way; therefore shall he lift up his head." Psalm cx. 7.

Believing in the stricken Rock," they find peace and everlasting security; they lean on a Rock against which "the gates of hell shall not prevail." They are the children of a Father who is always watching over them to do them good. He gives us all things richly to enjoy; the body is sustained, the soul is fed, the understanding is enlightened: "The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding to the simple." Psalm cxix. 130.

The children of God are the simple; they receive instruction in simplicity and truth. "As new-born babes they desire the sincere milk of the word, that they may grow thereby." 1 Peter ii. 2. The fear of God is instilled, and becomes an abiding stedfast principle, and love also. Filial fear and love are rooted and grounded together. We love God because he first loved us. An infant is taught by the love of the parent to return that love: it was not born in the breast of the child, neither is the love of God found in our nature. Until the heart is changed, it is at enmity with God: the word of God in us brings about this change. Thus He educates, or brings us up in his steadfast fear and love. The fear here expressed is not the slavish fear of punishment, such as criminals under condemnation experience; it is the child-like fear of one who loves his Father, and would not grieve him: “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the

day of redemption." Eph. iv. 30. Love is the spring and motive of this fear; love produces it. We know we are of God; we know that we are his adopted children, sealed, sanctified, just as we are assured that we are the children of our natural parents, to whom, in our helpless years, we looked for the supply of all our wants, and knew we should receive from their kindness what was good for us. To fear that their love and care over us would fail, and that they would leave us to perish, is an unholy abject fear, the very reverse of that fear of the Lord which is wisdom, that fear mingled with love, such as is described in Malachi iii." Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his son that serveth him."

In this fear of the Lord there is no distrust, but quite the reverse. "In he fear of the Lord is strong confidence; and his children shall have a place of refuge." Again, "The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death." Prov. xiv. 26, 27. This is a fear to be encouraged as a safeguard; but there is a fear which is not to be harboured, not being linked with love, with which a soul-enslaving fear cannot exist. "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." 1 John iv. 18.

We are exhorted to draw near to God, and "to come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may ob

tain mercy, and find grace to help in every time of need." Heb. iv. 16.

Faith in Jesus gives a holy courage in approaching the footstool of mercy. We may claim the pardon and grace which he has purchased for us. "According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: in whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named," &c. Eph. iii. 11-21. The children in the family of God have every thing nothing to fear that brings torment. brings torment; that must be cast out. secution, of losses, of trouble, brings torment; that Fear of death brings torment; By reason of this fear many

must be cast out.

to hope for, Fear of man

Fear of per

that must be cast out. are "all their life-time subject to bondage." Heb. ii. 14, 15. But " as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba, Father." Rom. viii. 14, 15.

"Let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear." There is no contradiction in being free from one kind of fear, and yet harbouring another. "We may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." Heb. xiii. 5, 6.

We have his promise, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee."