C. But no man can keep the Law.

J. His commandments are not burdensome (to them that are in Christ, and are freed from the curse of the Law, which makes the Law grievous; and are guided also by his holy Spirit.)

(And this is evident,) For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world, (Satan, with all corruptions and works of darkness.)

C. By what means?

J. And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith, (which is the instrument and hand whereby we lay hold on Christ, that he in us, and so we by him might overcome the world.)

Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

C. How may we be persuaded that Jesus of Nazareth the son of Mary, was the Son of God, and the Messias? he came but basely into the world.

J. This is he that came by water (sanctification, signified by the legal washings,) and blood, (imputation of Christ's righteousness, or the sprinkling of his blood;) even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood, (because Christ worketh both sanctification and justification together. And it is the Spirit (having inwardly purified a man's own conscience) that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth; [i. e. the testimony of the spirit of adoption, certifying to us that we are the sons of God, is true.)

For (that I may speak yet more plainly) there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, (the Son,) and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one, [i. e. in testimony.]

And there are three that bear witness in earth, the

Spirit, and the water, and the blood; and these three agree in one.

C. How do you shew that these witnesses are authentical, and to be believed?

J. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God, (that was said to come from heaven,) which he hath testified (in man's conscience) of his Son.

(Again,) He that believeth in the Son of God, hath the witness in himself, (the peace of conscience which he may feel in himself: And farther,) he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

C. What is the effect of that which these witnesses testify? J. And this is the record, (to wit,) that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

(And to conclude,) These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe [i. e. increase in faith] on the name of the Son of God. C. How can we have eternal life now, while we are so miserable, and so full of wants?

J. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us. C. How muy we know that God granteth our prayers, made according to his will?

J. If we know that he hear us, [i. e. give an ear to our prayers,] whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him; (though the things which we asked, are not given us in measure, and manner, and time, as we asked them.)

C. Let us hear an example of those things which God will grant when we pray.

J. If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, [i. e. which may be pardoned,] he shall ask (pardon in his behalf,) and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death, (after which necessarily damnation followeth, as the sin against the Holy Ghost:) I do not say that he shall pray for it.

C. But is not every sin a sin unto death?

J. All unrighteousness is sin, (and therefore deserveth death:) but there is a sin not unto death, [i. e. that which is pardoned in Christ.]

C. We fear lest we have committed this sin which is unto death.

J. We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God, keepeth himself, and that wicked one [Satan] toucheth him not, [i. e. doth him no violence, or, he cannot give him a deadly wound.]

And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness: [i. e. in servitude under Satan and sin.]

C. How do you shew that you are of God?

J. We know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us in understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the very God, and eternal life.

C. How may we keep ourselves in God, and never commit the sin unto death?

J. Little children, keep yourselves from idols, [i. e. idolize not the gifts and graces, nor any of the blessings God has bestowed upon you, neither serve graven images, but worship God in meekness and love.] Amen.

THE

SPIRITUAL WRESTLER,

OR,

ZION'S CHILDREN IN THE WILDERNESS.

"Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you." ISAIAH XXXV, 3, 4.

"Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted." MATTHEW v, 4.

No. 6.

JUNE, 1847.

THE WRESTLER.

One Penny.

"And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day." GENESIS XXXii, 24.

(Continued from page 56.)

The principal thing presenting itself while desiring to follow Jacob in obtaining that blessing, which like Christian, he discovers is all that will ever enable him to get rest from his burden, agreeable with the concluding proposition in this subject in the last month's number, is, the seeming impossibility, like a bud fast opening into full flower, that more and more manifested itself to oppose his having it. If, as has been previously noticed, that on considering his father's mind respecting the transaction between himself and brother, he had acute exercises that brought him down to a low place where there was no standing, how much more severe must his feelings be now he sees the things he had fearful apprehensions of upon the very verge of fulfilment! He feared the mess of pottage would be of no avail at that time he desired it to stand to most account, and now his fears are breaking

forth into realities; for, "Isaac having become old, his eyes being dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My Son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I. And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death: Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the fields, and take me some venison; and make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die." Genesis xxvii, 1-4.

Jacob's mother heard this command, and rehearsed it to him, at the same time bidding him what to do in order yet to gain his desire; but, it seemed too late for him to act, the blessing in his estimation appeared already gone to his brother, and even, if he should yet make another struggle, the proposition of his mother seemed to be impracticable, he might perhaps bring a curse upon his head instead of a blessing; still, the thought might arise in his mind to comfort him, and to cause him again to press forward in hope, that, as the blessing was not verbally and actually gone, there remained a "Who can tell which of the two shall have it ?" And therefore, between hope and fear, he obeys his mother, and sallies forth for the last and most important struggle; he fears the curse, he hopes for the blessing, he falters and would the scene were already past that he knew his lot, he almost wishes he had never attempted, or that he had never been born, and then he never would have been in so miserable a state as to require that that he had not to make him happy, but, alas, it is now too late to give up the pursuit, perpetual misery awaits him if he turns back, and with thoughts that it can be no worse to go forward, he ventures before his father, saying in his heart, "If I fall, I fall!" O, what