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Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.... Matt. v. 3.

IN the day, of the Spirit's power" the lofty looks of man are humbled, the haughtiness of man is bowed down, and the Lord alone is exalted in that day."....Isa. ii, 1. Then a man's own righteousness, wherein he trusted, is seen as filthy rags. His strength he boasted of, is found to be perfect weakness; his heart, in which he gloried as good, is found to be deceitful and desperately wicked. Then he becomes in his own eyes a POOR SINNER. He knows his poverty; he feels his wretchedness. Thus, when Jesus alone is exalted in his sight, he becomes little, vile, and mean in his own eyes; then he is poor in spirit, a mere BEGGAR, who must be wholly indebted to free-grace bounty and free-gift mercy. Though he sees his state to be guilty, wretched, and desperate, yet he is blessed: Why so? Merely because he sees and knows himself to be wretched, poor, miserable, blind, and naked? Alas! this knowledge, like Job's friends, would prove but as a miserable comforter to his soul. He can no more trust in his known poverty and rags to entitle him to the kingdom, than in his fancied robes and riches. But such are blessed or happy, because the grace of the kingdom is in their hearts Now," and theirs is the kingdom of heaven in glory." Most joyful consideration! They are chosen to it by the love of the father; they are blessed in Christ Jesus with all spiritual blessings; and, as an evidence of this, the Holy Spirit bestows on them "wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Jesus: he enlightens the eyes of their understanding; then they know what is the hope of their calling, and what is the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints."....Eph. i. 17, 18. How unspeakably bles sed! How immensely rich are the poor in spirit! "Having nothing in themselves, yet possessing all things in Christ Jesus."

Who is

He is

.It is usual, in worldly commerce, where a person's credit is not established, to value himself upon the credit of some rich person: so he gains credit and repute. Thus the poor sinner values himself upon the riches of Jesus Christ for all esteem and acceptance in the sight of God, and herein we have confidence for all things. Who is our wisdom? Jesus. Who is our righteousness? Jesus. our sanctification? Jesus. Who is our redemption? Jesus. our glory, our crown, our hope, and our daily rejoicing. Here, O soul, is thy precious inventory! Read it, and rejoice at thy riches. "All things are yours:" ministers, the world, life, death, things present, things to come, are all yours. Why? because you are faithful to grace, and have fulfilled terms and conditions to gain or secure the favor of God? No: infinitely higher cause; "Ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's."....1 Cor. iii. 23.

Likewise reckon ye yourselves to be dead indeed unto sing but alive unto God through Jesus Christ....Rom. vi. 11.

THERE is a death IN sin which we are all naturally under. There is a death FOR sin; this our dear Saviour (we can never think of it too much, nor mention it too often) suffered for on the tree. And there is a death UNTO sin, which every believing member of Jesus partakes of, by virtue of union to him. For when Jesus died: for sin on the cross, all his members were mystically considered in him, and dying in him, as their covenant head and representative, unto sin. And, by communion with Jesus, the same Spirit which raised up Jesus the head, dwells in the mortal bodies of his believing members, quickening them to newness of life. From hence the apostle would have such reckon, infer, or conclude themselves "to be dead indeed unto sin." And on the same account, and for the same reason, " alive unto God, through Jesus Christ."

Now, believer, how dost thou reckon, reason, and conclude of thy spiritual estate? because thou dost not find all sin dead in thee, but feelest the motions of sin stirring and raging for the mastery over thee, dost thou from hence judge of thy state, and conclude thou hast not the faith of God's elect? Alas! this will distress thy soul, weaken thy confidence of faith, administer life and vigour to thy sins and lusts, and bring death upon thy spiritual life of comfort, love, and holiness. The word of God is the only rule of our faith; by that we are to determine of our state. Though sin be alive in thee, yet thou art to reckon thyself dead to that, so as to have nothing to do with it. Though thou groanest under "a body of death," yet thou art to conclude thyself "alive unto God through Jesus Christ." Reckon thyself dead to that sin of sins, UNBELIEF. This is the life of all other sins. Be deaf to its reasonings, dead to its pleas. Both dishonor thy Lord, and rob thy soul of its comfort.

Here is the mystery of faith. This is to be held in a pure conscience. There is a freedom from sin; of access to God with boldness, Here is the victory of saints. Here is the triumph of truth against all our enemies, to the death of sin and the life of holiness. Hence, through the Spirit of truth springs our daily comfort, continued growth in grace, in the knowledge of Jesus, and in personal holiness of life and conversation.

Do we not know that solemn word,
That we are bury'd with the Lord,
Baptiz'd into his death, and then
Put off the body of our sin?
Our souls receive diviner breath,

So from the grave did Christ arise,
And lives to God above the skies.
No more let sin and satan reign
Over our mortal flesh again;
The various lusts we serv'd before,

Rais'd from corruption guilt and death; Shall have dominion now no more.

For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life....Rom. v. 10..

7

NEAR twenty years ago, upon hearing a certain preacher vehemently assert, "that souls might be justified by faith in Jesus, and yet afterwards burn in hell," my soul was brought into great darkness, perplexity, and distress. Glory to my dear Lord, by this very text he again restored light, peace, and joy to my soul, and clearly taught and comfortably established me in the scriptural doctrine of the certain perseverance of all God's saints to eternal glory. I record this to the praise of our dear Lord, and to the comfort of his people. "If when we were enemies:"....to whom? Our worst foe, satan ? No: but to our best friend, God: the God of our salvation; to Jesus our God and Saviour; to God the Spirit our sanctifier; to the gospel of his grace, and word of our salvation. O, what a precious word is this! "reconciled to God." "God in Christ was reconciled to us. O, what love and grace ever dwelt in his heart to us enemies, traitors, and rebels against him! this he manifested in reconciling us to himself. How? "By the death of his Son." O, my fellow sinners! at every step let higher wonder rise in your hearts and mine. The cross of Jesus, what hath it done FOR us! Jesus dying on the cross! O, what hath it effected IN us! Here we view, believe, and know the love God hath to us. This belief slays the enmity of our rebellious hearts; bows our stubborn wills, and attracts our alienated affections. We throw down our arms, embrace our reconciled God, desire for ever to cease all hostility against him. "Much more being reconciled" to God's purposes, providence, and grace; his way of salvation by his Son Jesus, submitting to his righteousness for justification, to his sceptre to be governed, to his Spirit to be led, and to his gospel to be saved and ruled. What then? Being thus reconciled, may we not be cast off at last, and burn in hell for ever? Yes, if Jesus can die, perish, and be annihilated; but not otherwise. For, "how much more shall we be saved by his life!" By faith we receive the atonement of his death. This is the life of our souls. By his life of intercession for us, we are as safe and as sure of glory, as though we were already seated in the heavenly mansions: unless Christ shed his blood in vain, God reconciles us to himself in vain; our faith is vain; the work of God's Spirit is in vain; and all the promises of God are in vain, and of no effect. But all this is utterly impossible. God's purpose according to election shall stand, not of works, but of him who calleth....Rom ix. 11.

Likewise reckon ye yourselves to be dead indeed unto sing but alive unto God through Jesus Christ....Rom. vi. 11.

THERE is a death IN sin which we are all naturally under. There is a death FOR sin; this our dear Saviour (we can never think of it too much, nor mention it too often) suffered for on the tree. And there is a death UNTO sin, which every believing member of Jesus partakes of, by virtue of union to him. For when Jesus died: for sin on the cross, all his members were mystically considered in him, and dying in him, as their covenant head and representative, unto sin. And, by communion with Jesus, the same Spirit which raised up Jesus the head, dwells in the mortal bodies of his believing members, quickening them to newness of life. From hence the apostle would have such reckon, infer, or conclude themselves "to be dead indeed unto sin." And on the same account, and for the same reason, 66 alive unto God, through Jesus Christ."

Now, believer, how dost thou reckon, reason, and conclude of thy spiritual estate? because thou dost not find all sin dead in thee, but feelest the motions of sin stirring and raging for the mastery over thee, dost thou from hence judge of thy state, and conclude thou hast not the faith of God's elect? Alas! this will distress thy soul, weaken thy confidence of faith, administer life and vigour to thy sins and lusts, and bring death upon thy spiritual life of comfort, love, and holiness. The word of God is the only rule of our faith; by that we are to determine of our state. Though sin be alive in thee, yet thou art to reckon thyself dead to that, so as to have nothing to do with it. Though thou groanest under "a body of death," yet thou art to conclude thyself "alive unto God through Jesus Christ." Reckon thyself dead to that sin of sins, UNBELIEF. This is the life of all other sins. Be deaf to its reasonings, dead to its pleas. Both dishonor thy Lord, and rob thy soul of its comfort.

Here is the mystery of faith. This is to be held in a pure conscience. There is a freedom from sin; of access to God with boldness, Here is the victory of saints. Here is the triumph of truth against all our enemies, to the death of sin and the life of holiness. Hence, through the Spirit of truth springs our daily comfort, continued growth in grace, in the knowledge of Jesus, and in personal holiness of life and conversation.

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For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life....Rom. v. 10.

7

NEAR twenty years ago, upon hearing a certain preacher vehemently assert, "that souls might be justified by faith in Jesus, and yet afterwards burn in hell," my soul was brought into great darkness, perplexity, and distress. Glory to my dear Lord, by this very text he again restored light, peace, and joy to my soul, and clearly taught and comfortably established me in the scriptural doctrine of the certain perseverance of all God's saints to eternal glory. I record this to the praise of our dear Lord, and to the comfort of his people. "If when we were enemies:"....to whom? Our worst foe, satan? No: but to our best friend, God: the God of our salvation; to Jesus our God and Saviour; to God the Spirit our sanctifier; to the gospel of his grace, and word of our salvation. O, what a precious word is this! "reconciled to God." God in Christ was reconciled to us. O, what love and grace ever dwelt in his heart to us enemies, traitors, and rebels against him! this he manifested in reconciling us to himself. How? "By the death of his Son." O, my fellow sinners! at every step let higher wonder rise in your hearts and mine. The cross of Jesus, what hath it done FOR us! Jesus dying on the cross! O, what hath it effected IN Us! Here we view, believe, and know the love God hath to us. This belief slays the enmity of our rebellious hearts; bows our stubborn wills, and attracts our alienated affections. We throw down our arms, embrace our reconciled God, desire for ever to cease all hostility against him. "Much more being reconciled" to God's purposes, providence, and grace; his way of salvation by his Son Jesus, submitting to his righteousness for justification, to his sceptre to be governed, to his Spirit to be led, and to his gospel to be saved and ruled. What then? Being thus reconciled, may we not be cast off at last, and burn in hell for ever? Yes, if Jesus can die, perish, and be annihilated; but not otherwise. For, "how much more shall we be saved by his life!" By faith we receive the atonement of his death. This is the life of our souls. By his life of intercession for us, we are as safe and as sure of glory, as though we were already seated in the heavenly mansions: unless Christ shed his blood in vain, God reconciles us to himself in vain; our faith is vain; the work of God's Spirit is in vain; and all the promises of God are in vain, and of no effect. But all this is utterly impossible. God's purpose according to election shall stand, not of works, but of him who calleth....Rom ix. 11.

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