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And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? Will ye save him?....Judg. vi. 31.

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WHEN the Lord Jesus appears and manifests himself to the soul, it is so struck with his glory and grace, that it cries out in holy ecstacy, "What have I to do any more with idols?"....Hos.xiv. 8....and an altar for spiritual worship is presently set up in the heart, and consecrated to Jehovah-Shalom, the Lord of peace. In this chapter is a sweet view of the zeal of Gideon for the true worship of Jehovah. He instantly obeyed the word of Jesus, the angel of the presence, the man, the PEACE who appeared to him, and at his command he threw down the altar of Baal. He expected opposition from his Father's household and from the men of the city, therefore he did it by night. A blessed instance of the obedience of faith joined to sanctified reaAs to the consequence after the work done, he "conferred not with flesh and blood;" he was "in nothing terrified by his adversa ries." They demanded his life; but Joash his father was raised up like the fire of zeal from the Lord to argue with them. "Will ye, ye men of Israel, ye professed people of Jehovah, will ye plead for Baal? will ye serve an idol ?** Be zealous, O disciple, for thy Lord; fear no consequences. The Lord is on thy side, what hast thou to fear from those who are against thee? Be not discouraged, though thou dost find great professors; children of the visible church, thy mother; yea the children of thy Father's grace also join in pleading by word or practice for Baal. This name signifies he that rules or subdues; a master, lord, or husband. This may most justly be applied to sin in general, and every idol lust in particular. So saith Paul, "His servants ye are to whom ye obey, whether of sin unto death, or obedience unto righteousness."....Rom. vi. 16. Thou free man, thou heaven born son of the Lord, know thy freedom, study thy liberty. Strive by the Spirit's aid to live up to thy privilege, (in spite of all that professing men or opposing devils plead against it) above the domineering power of lusts, the galling yoke of sin: thy Saviour has all power in heaven and earth! Plead with him; expect power from him; thou canst do all things through Christ strengthening thee. Faith surmounts every difficulty; it silences carnal reasonings and vain pleadings from every quarter. While Jesus is viewed, sin is abhorred and holiness loved, desired, and shall be increased in the soul.

Thou art my portion, O my God;

Make me to know thy way:
O cause my heart t' obey thy word,
And that without delay.

I choose the path of heav'nly truth,
And glory in my choice;

Not all the riches of the earth
Could make me so rejoice,
The testimonies of thy grace
I set before my eyes;
Thence I derive my daily strength,
And there my comfort lies.

Brethren ye have been called unto liberty only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh....Gal. v. 13.

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PETER was grieved because his Lord asked him the third time, "Lovest thou me?" Sure it ought to be matter of concern and grief to the loving, generous hearts of disciples, to think they yet need this caution of the Spirit. But, verily we all do. The most sanctified is yet in the flesh; and the flesh with its affections and lusts are alive: they are ever lusting and striving against the Spirit. The holy, happy soul, who is set at liberty from sin, satan, and the law, in his conscience, is hereby liable to be brought again under bondage to the law and thraldom to sin. Know thy danger; dread thine enemy; yea, rather fear and love thy best friend Jesus; cry to him, Lord keep me continually. "Thou hast delivered my once captive soul from the power of the enemy; thou hast brought me out of the horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings, and put a new song in my mouth of praise to thee my Jesus and my God."....Psalm xl. 2, 3. Keep, O keep me from the deceitful workings and carnal reasonings of my corrupt, sinful self, the flesh! What is this liberty we are called into? Not a perfect freedom from the being of sin, but a perfect deliverance from every curse of the law, from all the wrath of God denounced in the law, from the bondage of being under the law, to do any thing to gain God's love, recommend us to his favor, or entitle us to his kingdom. All this liberty we are called into by the faith of Jesus. He is the end or fulfiller of the law for righteousness to us who believe. O, what a glorious liberty are we called to! Even a freedom from all sin in the conscience; so to live upon Jesus, as to consider ourselves in him, as perfectly free from all sin, entirely dead to it, and our conscience so cleansed by his blood, as to be ever easy, serene, and comfortable, as though we were innocent and never had sinned. O, this is heavenly liberty to new-born souls! This creates a paradise upon earth. This is daily to be, prized and enjoyed through the Spirit. Now, how base and ungrateful ever to use, or rather abuse this liberty as an occasion to the flesh! But even the Lord's own freemen are in danger of this through the vileness of their natures, the deceitfulness of their hearts, and the subtle devices of satan, else, the apostle had not thus addressed the BRETHREN. The doctrines, of grace, the love of Jesus, and living on him by faith, lay the flesh under bondage and restraint. We cannot walk in the liberty of the Spirit, and yet fulfil the lusts, of the flesh. We cannot serve God and Mammon. Thou free-men of the Lord, canst thou barter peace with Jesus for the gratifications of thy lusts? O rather "stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made thee free."....Gal. v. 1.

I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him....Isa. lvii. 18.

WHAT a glorious declaration of free grace is this! Here is an absolute promise of mercy, not excited by the worthiness of the creature, but proceeding solely from the loving heart of a covenant God. Well might David say, " In thy word do I trust: I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil."....Psalm cxix. 162. The life of the soul is supported by the word of the Lord. This is the object of faith, the encourager of hope, and the exciter of love. Jesus is the essential word by whom Jehovah speaks. The scriptures are revealed truths by the Spirit of God's purposes, promises, and grace. Behold, be astonished and humbled, O soul, at thy apostacy, backslidings, and rebellion! Behold, admiré, adore, and love the infinitely gracious procedures of the Father of all mercies.

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Here is the criminal arraigned at the bar; iniquity charged upon him; God's displeasure at it repeatedly declared; his chastising hand smote him for it. This reclaims not. The Lord hides his loving face....withdraws the light of his countenance. What is the effect? A froward behaviour....still walking in his own ways, contrary to the Lord. Might one not expect the next words should thunder curses and damnation? Be astonished, O heavens! What readest thou, O man? Is it I have seen his ways, and will damn him? O, no. But, though I hate his ways, yet I love his soul. My super-abounding grace shall reign and triumph over all the aboundings of sin. I will heal his soul; I will pardon him. Thou poor doubting soul, with thy legal frames, go and learn what that meaneth, "I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy."....Exod. xxxiii. 19. "I will have mercy, and not sacrifice." The blood of my people shall not be sacrificed to my vengeance, saith the Lord. Here is the glory of grace. This the triumph of faith. Mercy proclaimed, shews the munificence of God; but the dejected heart may still be in suspense. Is it for me? Yes, if thou believest on the Son of God. As Jesus is thy salvation, his Spirit assures thee of thine interest in his love. Where the truth is received by faith, the comfort shall be enjoyed. dons in his heart, he leads the pardoned sinner to the knowledge and enjoyment of it, and restores lost comforts to the backsliding soul. A sense of pardon is the essence of gospel-grace and comfort; the result of Jesus' atonement, the gift of the gracious Spirit, and the privilege of believing souls. It is presumption to expect what God has not promised. It is injurious unbelief not to plead when the Lord bids us" ask and receive."....John xvi. 24.

O may thy pard'ning grace be nigh,
Lest we should faint, despair and die!

When God par

Thus shall our better thoughts approve
The methods of thy chast’ning love.

Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee: in whose heart are the ways of them....Psalm lxxxiv. 5.

WHEN hearts are united in love there is a mutual complacency and delight in each other. Presence increaseth pleasure, absence begets uneasiness, jealousy of displeasing and fear of offending ›mutually subsist in each party. In some sense this holds good between the beloved soul and the loving Lord. All love is from him; and as rivers from the sea return back to the great ocean, so the love which comes from God naturally flows back in complacency and affection of soul to him. To know God is to love him; both for what he is in himself, and what he is to us in Christ Jesus. The poor sinner who knows that he is in himself "without strength," rejoiceth at his very soul to know that the omnipotent Jesus is his strength; that all his might and power to strive against sin, to resist satan, to overcome the world, is from above; it is treasured up in Jesus, and out of his fulness he is strengthened by the power of the Spirit through faith.

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But is the converted heart a mere vacuum, like an empty vessel? No, truly; Jesus dwells there by faith. It is a fit habitation for the Spirit, and the love of the Father is shed abroad in it. "The ways of them," even. Father, Son, and Spirit dwell in the heart. Then the way of everlasting love and eternal election is delighted in the way of free grace and complete salvation by Jesus is gloried in the way of atonement by his precious blood, the way of justification and clothing of poor sinners by his perfect righteousness are wholly trusted to and rejoiced in. The gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit, as flowing from Jesus' finished work, in making the soul inwardly holy, and outwardly obedient to the Lord; in comforting and rejoicing the heart by the testimony of Jesus, are more and more sought after; and the hopes and views of glory in this sovereign, free, gracious way, are longed for and expected. Blessed, O man, art thou indeed! Blessed of thy God! Blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus! Blessed, not for days, months, and years; but loved from eternity, and blessed to eternity! Thy Lord hath blessed thee and he will not reverse it. Real godliness consists not merely in a system of notions in the head, but in the in-dwelling presence of Jehovah in the heart. Is this thy happiness, O sinner? What love hath the great God to vile man! He dwelt in flesh FOR US. He saith also, "I will dwell IN them, and walk in them."....2 Cor. vi. 16.

How well thy blessed truths agree!
How wise and holy thy commands!
Thy promises how firm they be!
How firm our hope and comfort stands!
VOL. I.

Should all the forms that men devise,
Assault my faith with treach'rous art,
I'd call them vanity and lies,
And bind the gospel to my heart.
Hh

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want....Psam xxiii. 1.

ALL comfort is derived to the soul from the knowledge of what Jehovah is to us. This we know by the word of truth, and enjoy in the sweet exercise of faith. "I am the good shepherd," saith Jesus....John x. 11. Thou art MY shepherd, says the believing soul. Thus, whatever office or character Jesus sustains, it is the glory of faith not only to view the Lord as such, but to draw sweet peace and comfort from it to one's own heart: that thou art to MEL David knew the duty of a shepherd by experience. How watchful to preserve from danger, and how careful to guide and feed the sheep committed to his trust! But herein is the peculiar love of the shepherd of our souls; he " gave his life for his sheep." And after such love manifested to them, shall they want either his power to protect, or his grace to supply their need? No; that is impossible.

But a sheep is a silly weak creature; it often bleats and makes a noise when it wants nothing; so do we. Though it knows its shep, herd, and hears his voice, still it is naturally prone to wander from rich and green pastures, to break out of the fold, and, if left to itself, would leap into the very jaws of its enemy: so foolish are we alsó, Hence arises. our distress; for when we look to what we are in ourselves, and lose sight of the love and care of our dear shepherd, we cast our eyes around us, and call in this distressing thought and the other distracting care. Hence we often send forth the bleatings of unbelief, and cry out, "We shall certainly perish for want of supply and assistance." But where is the Lord our shepherd? Alas! we forget his dying love, his covenant engagements, his watchful care; we listen not enough to the sweet voice of our shepherd, but to the enemy, who speaks terror; and our poor hearts are affrighted and tremble. But in opposition to all that sin, satan, and the law can say or do against us," The voice of the Lord is a mighty voice: the voice of the Lord hath the pre-eminence." And Jesus our shep herd saith, "I give unto my sheep....what? Grace, upon condition that they will continue to be my sheep, hear my voice, and follow me?" Infinitely more: security stronger than the mountains; com+ fort more unfathomable than the great deep. "I know my sheep;" my Father gave them unto me: I lay down my life for them. Shall the enemy rob me of one of my purchased ones, or my dear Father of one of the objects of his love? No: they shall never want my Spirit to keep, to quicken, to comfort, and enable them to persevere till they receive the end of their faith, the salvation of their souls, "I give unto them eternal life; and they shall NEVER perish, neither shall ANY pluck them out of my hand."....John x. 28.

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