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That I may know him....Phil. iii. 10.

"THERE are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four.... the fire which saith not, it is enough."....Prov. xxx. 15, 16. So true is this of the fire of love when kindled in believing hearts. It burns with insatiable desire towards Jesus. Amazing! Had Paul so long known, loved, and preached a crucified, risen Jesus, and yet now desires to know him! Yes. Such is the nature of faith, that like riches to a miser, the more they increase, the more the desires of his heart increase after them. His wants are greater than his possessions. So the living members of precious Jesus see such inexhaustible treasures in him their living head, and such numerous wants in themselves, that their hearts are ever crying after, looking to, and longing for more of his presence, blessings and comforts in knowledge and experience. And, like a chaste virgin espoused to an affectionate lover, her desires will never be completely satisfied till she is brought into the nearest relation and closest embraces, when she takes up her abode, and enjoys the presence of the object of her love. Lovers of Jesus can never be satisfied with any other but him, nor will they be fully satisfied nor perfectly happy, till they are for ever present with their ever-loving Lord.

But the knowledge of him, even now, creates a paradise of peace, a heaven of love and holiness in the soul. Hence there is a godly jealousy in espoused souls, lest other objects should steal upon their affections. If at any time their eyes have been turned from their Lord, there is a holy shame; they blush at their folly, and cry, O that I may know him who rests for ever alike in his constant love to me a poor sinner. In this consists the life and joy of the heart, to know that Jesus hath made peace for us by the blood of his cross; that he hath wrought out a robe of righteousness by the obedience of his life to adorn us; that he ever lives to pray for us. Yea daily, constantly to know him, as dwelling in my heart by faith, ever present with me to the joy of my mind, and to the peace of my conscience. And truly, beloved, if thou art not thus kept knowing Jesus, looking to Jesus, feeding upon him continually in thy heart by faith, thou wilt know and feel other things, which will creep in and sadly distress thy mind. The voice of the law will be heard in thy conscience, backed by satan's injections, and thou wilt find anguish of spirit and bitterness of soul. But by sweetly abiding in the knowledge of Jesus, by faith, thou shalt manfully stand thy ground, and courageously conquer and triumph. "So shall grace and peace be multiplied through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord....

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Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that which he allorveth....Rom. xiv. 22.

THERE are many things of a civil, moral and religious nature, which are in themselves indifferent. Yet, as to compliance or noncompliance with them, they are far from being matters of indifference to the mind of a believer. As he has an inward consciousness of his outward behaviour, so he finds within himself a sentence of condemnation when he acts contrary to the dictates of his own knowledge and conscience. It may be the disciple of Jesus often finds some things of a doubtful nature, wherein he doth not see the word of God to be express and clear in determining. The upright soul, the tender conscience knows not how to act; is afraid of doing wrong: he asks advice of ministers and christian brethren, but they cannot fully satisfy his scruples and set his mind at liberty, how he ought to demean himself.

Here the apostles give a full and peremptory answer. The heart of every believer is purified from an evil conscience by the blood of Jesus, and instructed in the knowledge of the truth by his word and Spirit. Hence there is an inward perception of what tends to wound and condemn it. Happy art thou, disciple, if thou dost not wilfully. allow thyself in any thing for which thy conscience condemns thee. Never allow thyself in any outward practice, which is attended with inward condemnation. Is it of a trifling and indifferent nature in itself? pretend not to plead for it. Canst thou be content to make thy conscience thine enemy, to incur its censure, and to impair thy peace, for a TRIFLE? Whatever thou takest in hand remember the end, and thou shalt not do amiss. This advice is excellent; it is thy wisdom to follow it; it is thy privilege to plead for power at a throne of grace. Consider daily thy calling; it is to live in sweet fellowship with Jesus, to enjoy peace in thy conscience, and holiness and happiness in life. Whatever is contrary to this, will mako thee unhappy. As a son of the most high God, and a servant of the precious Jesus, thou art called not to please thy flesh, not to do thy own will, not to gratify thy own lusts, yea not to destroy thy own peace, but to glorify thy God and Saviour, in doing his will. It is most plain and evident from the apostles' exhortations, that if believers! walk and practice are not consistent with the truth, they may most certainly deprive themselves of the sweet sense and comfortable en: joyment of the peace and love of God. Consider deeply, weigh attentively the force and meaning of these words, "KEEP your, selves in the love of God."....Jude xxi. "Let the peace of God rule in your hearts."....Col. iii. 15.

God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth....2 Thess. ii. 13.

We live in a day when pride reigns, the creature is exalted, the Holy Ghost resisted, and truth is trampled under foot. The doctrine of God's distinguishing grace and electing love in Christ Jesus, is now, as it ever was, to men of corrupt minds, destitute of the truth, a bone of contention. They have railing accusations, great swelling words to utter against it; their mouths are not stopped, "because they see not themselves guilty before God....Rom. iii. 19. Saith Paul of such, "They are under a strong delusion, they have pleasure in unrighteousness." They are left to sport themselves with their own vain proud delusions. Then he adds, "but we are bound to give thanks for God's election of you brethren, beloved of the Lord." - True ministers of Jesus join with blessed apostles, in giving praise to God the Father for his love to poor sinners in Christ Jesus. They know God's love existed before time began.

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The doctrine of election is not a mere speculation, nor can it tend to licentiousness; but it is of the essence of vital godliness, and is attended with the most holy and blessed effects, where received into the heart in the love of it. For the same Lord, who purposed to bring many sons to glory, hath also ordained the means, sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth." How could Paul know these professors were beloved and elected? Truly the effects proved the cause. They saw the fruits of electing love spring forth under the energy of the blessed Spirit. They were brought to believe in, love and cleave to the sanctifying influence it had upon their hearts and lives.

“Behold mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth," said the Father of all consolations to his church, concerning Jesus....Isa. xlii. 1. He is the blessed object in whom we are chosen, who has finished our salvation, and to whom we are to look by faith. Yet, O believer, trace the streams of thy mercy to the fountain head; see thy obligations equally to the Father's love, the Son's redemption, and the Spirit's operations. Thus all salvation is of God; thou hast nothing whereof to glory; all cause for deepest humility; the greatest reason for rejoicing day by day. What heights of love art thou called to! What inflamed affections should possess thy heart! "Only let thy conversation be as becometh the gospel of Christ."....Phil. i. 27.

Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.... Phil. ii. 12.

THE salvation of lost sinners, from first to last, is all of grace, not of works....Rom. xi. 16. It was planned in the covenant of grace; by the grace of Jesus it is FINISHED. The moment we believe on Jesus, salvation is ours; it is OUR OWN SALVATION. Mind that. Why are we called to work it out? Consider, salvation implies deliverance from dangers and enemies. Are we not surrounded with these, without as well as within? The legality of our spirits, the pride of our natures, the lusts of the flesh, the carnal reasonings of our minds, unbelief of the offspring of them, the rebellion of our wills, the self-righteousness of our hearts, the worldly mindedness of our desires, the carnality of our affections, the turbu lency of our passions, &c. say, are not these like a legion of enemies to our salvation? Is not satan, our grand adversary, ever working by means of these enemies to bring us into dangers and distress, if by any means he may prevent our peaceably possessing, and eternally enjoying salvation?

Judge then, O believer, is not deliverance from danger through these enemies needful? Is there not a necessity for thy working out thy deliverance from their force and fraud? Is there not need for faith to work by love, striving against sin, resisting satan, mortifying the flesh, perfecting holiness, fruitful in good works? The commands of thy God make the work of faith, the labour of love, and the patience of hope necessary. The gospel requires, love con⇒ strains to be much in prayer and meditation, searching the scrip tures, and in all holy ordinances; and to encourage to this, ever remember, it is "God who worketh in us both to will and to do.” "Be strong, for I am with you," saith the Lord of hosts....Hag. ii. 4. Does all thy happiness consist in the comfortable enjoyment of the full assurance of this salvation? Then "work it out with fear and trembling." FEAR to think of establishing thy works and duties as thine own righteousness, or to procure the favor of thy God. TREM BLE to entertain any hope of salvation, but by the atoning blood of Jesus, and the perfect righteousness of Jesus; any way of access to God, but through his mediation. Fear and tremble, above all, after thou hast done all, to think I am PERFECT. Know, thou art still "an unprofitable servant." TREMBLE to entertain the least notion that thy might, thy power, thy faithfulness, hath wrought any thing as terms and conditions to procure salvation. FEAR ever to ascribe any glory to thyself. "Whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.".... James i. 25.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven....Matt. v. 16...

CAN a lump of animated clay, a worm of the earth, a creature of a day, glorify the infinitely great and eternally glorious Jehovah? Yes: such honor, such exalted honor have all his saints. For his pleasure they were created at first; for his glory they are born again of his Spirit. Jesus commands his members to it as their duty; the Spirit enables to it as their greatest privilege. "The Father accepts, and is well pleased with, and declares himself gloria fied by the practice of his children."....Psalm 1. 23. Did Samuel consent to Saul's request, "Honor me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people?"....1 Sam. xv. 30. And canst thou, O son of the Most High, ever need a motive, or want an argument to glorify thy Father before men? It is to be the chief work of thy life. In this work, as Moses said to Pharaoh, so thy deliverer saith to thee," "not an hoof is to be left behind." With all that thou hast and art, thou art to glorify thy Lord.

Thou hast but one thing only but what thou hast received from thy Lord; this is sin: by this thou dishonorest thy God; by every thing contrary to this, God is glorified. Happy souls, who study God's word as the rule of their conduct, consider the enjoyment of God in Christ as their greatest felicity, and direct all their views to his glory. Thus the light of Jesus, when it shines into the heart, beams forth its evidence and glory in the outward life and conversation. When the light of truth is accompanied by the warmth of love and obedience of faith, men will see that we have been with Jesus; that we not only have light in our heads, but love and zeal for God's glory in our hearts. The former may acquire honor to ourselves of being good TALKERS for God, but the latter only can prove that we are upright wALKERS, as his obedient children; that we are his "peculiar people, by being zealous of good works."....That we are really concerned for his glory, that we have it at heart, that we love, not only in word, but also in deed and in truth. It is the genuine language of a converted soul, with Paul, "Lord what wouldest thou have me to do? It is the burden of a faithful, loving heart, that it doth so little for the glory of God, and ever longs to glorify him more. While the light of truth is our glory, and the love of truth is our happiness, we shall study to "adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things." '.... Titus ii. 10.

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