ing to the humble followers of the Lamb. Are they in trouble? Jesus appoints it for their good. Are they joyful? The joy of the Lord is their strength.

Well may the believer triumphantly exclaim: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" "We are more than conquerors through him that loved us."

Jesus is the universal Lord: to him every knee shall bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth. Jesus will be the Almighty Judge; all nations shall be assembled before his throne; he will render unto every man according to his works.

When through faith the sinner is admitted into the family of God, and changes both his state and nature, through the blood and Spirit of Jesus, then his desire is, to maintain the peace which he has happily obtained through believing.

This he learns to do from the prophet Isaiah: "thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee."

A wandering, backsliding, double heart, can never enjoy peace. To possess the blessing of peace, the mind must be stayed upon God.

This is the same as "abiding in Christ:" being "steadfast in the faith," "rooted and grounded in love."

It implies stability, constancy, perseverance.

The mind must be stayed upon the covenant of grace as an unchangeable, everlasting covenant; ordered in all things and sure. In this covenant every thing is treasured up, which can furnish the believe with grace here and glory hereafter. Staying his mind, therefore, upon this covenant of life and peace, he finds rest unto his soul.

The mind must bow with humble reverence to the authority of God. Pride and rebellion destroy

peace. Humility and submission promote it. The believer must wait the Lord's time for deliverance; "O! tarry thou the Lord's leisure; be strong and he shall comfort thine heart," is the affectionate advice of David, the sweet Psalmist of Israel.

This childlike reliance on the divine goodness tranquillizes the mind in seasons of darkness, perplexity, trial, and temptation. That soul is the most happy, which can the most cheerfully acquiesce in the appointments of infinite wisdom. Murmuring and repining grieve the Holy Spirit. Resignation and contentment produce serenity and sweetness of mind.

Whilst cultivating these important duties, which are brought into daily exercise by the very nature of Christian experience, the mind is kept in peace, holiness is promoted, and God, the author of all good, is equal glorified.

Who then dare say, that the doctrine of grace abounding to the chief of sinners, through a crucified Redeemer, is a doctrine which tendeth to licentiousness? As a vitiated stomach may corrupt the most wholesome food; so a wicked heart can turn the grace of God into lasciviousness, and, under a most dreadful delusion of Satan, sin that grace may abound. But let not this evil be charged upon the holy Gospel of Jesus, any more than the disordered frame upon the wholesome food. The natural and spiritual consequences in both cases are similar. The one, arising from a bad stomach-the other, from a bad heart.

Blessed Jesus! bestow upon me, thy unworthy servant, that realizing faith, that tranquillizing hope, that operative love, which will enable me to know and serve thee more and more, till my soul shall be made meet for that happy world, where all sin and sorrow shall flee away; and where perpetual peace

WHAT a dreadful change sin hath made in man! His heart, once the abode of peace and every heavenly disposition, is now the cage of every unclean and hateful bird; a den of wild beasts; a nest of vipers; a loathsome sepulchre.

How is the gold become dim-how is the fine gold changed! In this deplorable condition grace finds us, and from this state of wretchedness grace

redeems us!

The glorious design of the Gospel is to throw a

lustre around the Godhead, by affording a display to all intelligent beings of those infinite perfections, which harmonize at the cross of Christ; and by this sacred union of mercy and truth, righteousness and peace, to restore fallen man to the favour and image of his Creator.

Holiness is the glory and happiness of man. When he lost his holiness, he lost his happiness. Through the atoning blood of Jesus, we obtain the removal of our guilt; and by the power of the divine Spirit, the renewal of our nature. Being thus made holy, we become once more happy.

A great spiritual change is effected; no less than a new creation; for if any man be in Christ Jesus he is a new creature.

This then is the will of God, even our sanctification. Hence we find that the Gospel is designed to reveal to us, yea, to put us in possession of the richest blessings, pardon of sin, justification of our persons by faith in Jesus, the renovation of our souls, adoption into the family of God, peace with God, access to God, union with Christ, communion with the Father and the Holy Ghost through him, victory over sin, Satan, and the world, consolation in trouble, light in darkness, life in death, assurance of future glory, and fruition of bliss in the world to come.

How little is the genuine nature and design of Christianity considered by the generality of professing Christians! How inadequately is its power felt and its sweetness enjoyed, even by those who sustain the character of believers in Jesus. We live lamentably below our privileges. O! that a spirit of revival may be felt among us! Lord, revive thy work in the midst of the days. Revive it in my heart! Christ is the salvation of all his dear, believing people; they look to no other; they love no other;

or if they love others, it is Christ in them who is the chief object of their affection.

It is, therefore, evident, that the great design of God in the Gospel, is to form a people unto himself, who shall show forth his praise; a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Here I behold a way of access opened to poor perishing sinners, through faith in the atonement of Jesus. Lord give me faith in thy dear Son. Enable me to cast my soul without reserve upon thy covenanted mercies in Christ Jesus.

In him alone is eternal life. In him alone are treasured up grace, mercy, and peace. He that hath the Son hath life; for this is eternal life, to know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.

O for a heart to believe unto righteousness! Blessed Lord, this heart thou only canst bestow. Thou knowest my wickedness and wretchedness; my frailties and follies; my helplessness and total alienation of heart from thee. Thou knowest from what height of happiness I am fallen through original sin, and into what depth of misery I am plunged through wilful transgression. But, O sovereign love! O matchless grace! thou hast pitied me; thou hast sent thy Son, thy only Son to save me. Thou hast assured me, that all who believe in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. Yet in the midst of all this profusion of mercy, examine thyself, O my soul, whether thou be in the faith.

Have I ever yet believed unto life? Have I that faith which is given to all the children of God; called by the apostle "the faith of God's elect". a faith "according to godliness"-a faith which "worketh by love"-which "purifieth the heart" -which "overcometh the world"-which "substantiates and evidences things not seen "?