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Even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ....Gał. ii. 16.

"WE therefore do make this definition of a christian, that he is not one who is without sin, but one to whom God imputeth not his sin through faith in Christ. Here we must be nothing at all, but only receive the treasure, which is Christ, and apprehend him in our hearts by faith, though we feel ourselves to be never so full of sin. Thus God will glorify his Son, and be glorified in us through him." Thus speaketh Luther. Having the same spirit of faith, we thus speak, make the same confession, rejoice in the same hope, are justified by the same Jesus, comforted by the same truth, sanctified by the same Spirit, are heirs of the same promises, and entitled to to the same kingdom. And ever remember, all is of free grace. Here the most dignified apostle, as well as the most obscure sinner are upon a level. There is no difference. Both have the same evils to be delivered from, the same object to be saved by, both believe in one Jesus to the same blessed end, to enjoy peace and pardon from God the Father. In the knowledge of this consists all our comfort; and for this, as poor needy sinners, we are constantly to cleave to Jesus from hour to hour. Have we believed many years since, that we might be justified? True, once justified, and ever so; never after condemned, as viewed in Jesus in the sight of God. "For who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth, who is he that condemneth?"....Rom. viii. 33, 34. But how is it now in our consciences? Faith is a rooted grace; it cannotbe lost. Love is its inseparable companion; sweet peace its blessed fruit. But "Do ye Now believe?" said Jesus. Have you the love of God Now in you? Doth the sense of peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, now abide in the heart? If not, intervening clouds, from the world, sin, Satan, or the law, intercept the light of God's countenance, and the sunshine of his love. What then? must we live and die without hope? No: blessed be God, he rests in his love: it is ever the same. Jesus ever lives and prays: gospel-grace is still proclaimed to the wretched. Come, as at the beginning, to Jesus, owning sin, grieving for folly, and believe in him that we may be justified in our consciences, and have a fresh sense of pardon and peace. "They that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee."....Psalmix, 10.

Good reason for my faith I have,
Drawn from the law of love:
My Father gave his Son to save,

This gift doth faith approve.

The faith of Christ does justify

The ways of God to man:
And God in Christ does justify
All who this truth can scan. M.

Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass....Psalm xxxvii. 5.

WE are too apt to forget where we are, what we are called to, and whither we are going. When we take a survey of the present state of men and things; judge according to appearances in nature and sense, and see one event happen alike to all, we are ready to ask, What advantage then hath the christian? or what profit is there to new-born, believing souls? Much every way. For unto them, chiefly, are committed the lively oracles of God. The bible is an epistle of love. The tender affections of our loving Father, the living and dying compassions of our elder brother Jesus, breathe in every page. Here we see the various conflicts and trials our former brethren in the flesh were exercised with; how they were supported under, and carried through all, safe to glory; and this, by the very same grace and power which is still our happy portion. They being dead, yet speak to us; to animate and encourage our hearts to be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. We see in them the inexplicable mysteries of providence unveiled, how out of the weakness of nature they were made strong in grace.

It is the glory and excellency of believers to take their views, and form their judgment from God's truths; to oppose nature, sense, and feeling; to stand still and wait to see the salvation of God; to omit no appointed means, but to be diligent in the ways of God's institutions; quietly and patiently submitting every issue to his wisdom and goodness. This is the obedience of faith, and is attended with the patience of hope, and the issue is always determined in love: it is impossible it should be otherwise, for it is the immutable decree of heaven: "all things work together for good to them who love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."....Rom. viii. 28.

Committing our way to God unburdens the mind; trusting our all to him, makes the heart quite easy; relying on him, to bring our concerns to pass, makes the spirit joyful. But when carnal reason is suffered to make its report, then with Jacob we cry, "All these things are against us." Hence fainting and drooping come from fear, fear from doubting, doubting from unbelief, and unbelief chiefly prevails through ignorance and inattention to God's word of grace, his covenant love, precious promises, and solemn oath in Christ Jesus. Ever needful is this prayer of faith, "Lord, increase our faith."....Luke xvii. 5.

How easy I live,
How joyful I sing,
When I to my Lord
My ways do commit!

I'm safe like a bird,
Soar'd high on the wing:
My Lord brings to pass
All things he sees fit.

M

Thou standest by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear...) Rom. xi. 20.

So we are called upon by the spirit of prophesy, "Behold, (give) the most earnest attention, let this truth sink deep in your hearts) his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him."....Habak. ii. 4. Standing by faith, and living by faith, are ever opposed to pride, vain confidence, and an high conceit of our own attainments. True faith in Jesus sinks the soul in humility, works by real love to God, is accompanied with a child-like fear of offending him, and excites to a godly jealousy over our own souls, lest we fall....fall into. sin, fall away from the hope of the gospel, fall from the precious privileges of Jesus, and the comforting sense of his love. Without this, what is profession, but an empty name, talking ever so highly, but. a sound of words, pretension to the greatest things, but a vain shadow, while the substance is not enjoyed?

It is the glorying of believers in Jesus that they are "delivered out of the hands of their enemies, that they might serve God in holiness and righteousness all the days of their life,"....Luke i. 74, 75....and it is added, "without fear." But are we to cast off all kind of fear of God? No verily: no more than faith in him, love to him, and hope of enjoying him. One would dread such a state most of all, the Lord himself being judge. "Know therefore, and see that it is an evil and bitter thing, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, and that MY FEAR is not in thee, saith the Lord God of Hosts."....Jer. ii. 19.

Glory to Jesus, by his grace the bands of legal bondage are broken asunder; the cords of slavish fear, of wrath and hell, we cast from us: yet faith and fear go hand in hand. And this is the blessedness of everlasting love and new covenant grace, “I, saith Jehovah, will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me. So shall they fear me for ever for their good."....Jer. xxxii. 40. This is the precious fear the apostle exhorts to, which is ever to be cherished in the heart, and attended to in one's daily walk. A fear of departing from the Lord Jesus tends to keep the soul close to him. Fear of offending causes watchfulness. Hope in a sin-pardoning God produceth fear; a sense of pardon increaseth it. "There is forgiveness with thee; that thou mayest be feared."....Psalm cxxx. 4. "Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief."....Prov. xxviii., 14.,

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Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope....Psalm cxix. 49.

It is not natural to us to hope in God's word. This the power of God causeth us to do. Where there is true knowledge of Jesus, the essential word, there will be a real esteem for the scriptures, the written word of Jehovah. The Spirit that dwelt in Jesus dictated the truths concerning him; and the same Spirit testifies of Jesus in the hearts of his children. By the word we are favored with clear ideas, just conceptions, and encouraging views of the truths of grace and salvation: hence we have the firmest foundation, the strongest confidence, and fullest assurance to build our faith and hope upon: hence also we are emboldened to draw nigh to a throne of grace, to plead our case, present our distress, and claim, with humble boldness, a supply of all our need.

When there is a death upon all comfortable sense and joyful feelings, when all things around us wear a gloomy aspect, when conscience within writes bitter things against us, the law works wrath, and its terrors make us afraid, and an insulting foe, to heighten distress and increase our sorrows, stands over us, with "there, there, so would I have it," in such a season, O it is life from the dead to remember the infinitely transcendent love, victorious toils, triumphant conquests of Jesus over all things for us! How joyful to read that all the promises center in him, and that they are infallibly sure and certain to all the seed....yea and Amen, to the glory of God the Father! How establishing to hear such gracious words from the mouth of Jehovah, "I, even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins!".... Isa. xliii. 25. How powerfully alluring, how sweetly attracting to the affections when love calls, "Put me in remembrance;" plead with me; thou shalt not call in vain; I will hear; I will answer thee! Thus love, thus grace descends to the heart; thus it speaks by the word: hence desires are kindled in the soul, blown into a flame, and ascend in fervent, earnest prayer and pleading to a faithful, promisefulfilling God. Surely we can never enough prize God's word, never sufficiently adore the Holy Spirit for the knowledge of Jesus by the word: and if the word of the Lord is our hope, we have eternal truth, everlasting love, infinite power, and unchangeable faithfulness engaged for us. 66 "Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him."....Prov. xxx. 5.

While others boast of nature's frames,

And ecstacies of joy,
May I still hope in God's try'd word,
And thence my comforts draw.

Remember, Lord, thy word of grace,
On which my soul doth trust:
Fulfil thy promise freely made,
I plead it....thou art just.

M.

Jesus said unto them, take heed what ye hear....Markiv. 24.

It is our unspeakable mercy, it calls for our daily tribute of praise, and daily study to improve it, that a free use of the lively oracles of truth is permitted us; others are denied this rich privilege. Happy those to whom the word of God is the rule of their faith, a light to direct their paths, and a standard whereby they try and prove the doctrines they hear, whether they are of God or man. The WHOLE TRUTH, as it is in Jesus, is precious to every believer. "Faith comes by hearing the word of God." As the ear is the inlet to the soul, we should ever take heed what kind of doctrines we hear. It was through the ear Satan gained access to the heart of Eve, and beguiled her. Paul alludes to this....2 Cor. xi. 5. "I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." What is this simplicity? Even this plain simple truth, that salvation is wholly and solely by Jesus Christ, according to the everlasting purpose and love of God the Father, revealed in the word of truth, and applied to the soul by the Holy Spirit. Lost and perishing sinners are the happy subjects of its They have no hand in procuring or making it effectual; but they are wholly saved by election of grace through faith. Whatever doctrines are contrary to either of these points, oppose revealed truths, are subversive of the plan of salvation, tend to rob God of the glory of his grace, and his dear children of their comfort and joy of faith. ́ ́. Therefore, disciples of the Lamb, take heed; beware of what you hear. These doctrines are not merely speculative, or non-essential, but are the important, fundamental, essential truths of the gospel. To oppose the doctrine of election is to deny the first cause of salvation, the everlasting love of God the Father; it is to gainsay the prophets, apostles, and even our Lord himself, who spake most clearly and plainly of it. It is to set one's self against the testimony of the Spirit of truth. This ariseth from human pride, which ever imagines it can do something to procure God's love. So of the imputed righteousness of Christ, the saints perseverance in faith and holiness: if these scrip-. ture-truths are maligned and opposed, it is from the supposed selfsufficiency and self-righteousness of the creature, in order to establish its own righteousness and faithfulness; hence salvation becomes precarious, justification impossible. This strikes at the root of true holiness, and tends both to presumption and licentiousness; for whatever truths are revealed in the word by the Spirit of wisdom and truth (and all these are as though wrote with a sun-beam) it is that they should be the food of our faith, the matter of our study, the cause of humility, the confidence of hope, the rejoicing of love, and excitements to holiness; "approving yourselves by the word of truth."....2 Cor. vi. 7.

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