Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God....1 John v. 1. Ir is too common for many of God's dear children to perplex and distress their minds, in seeking after marks and evidences of the new-birth; while they too often expect to find them outwardly in the flesh, instead of looking inwardly to the spirit. For the satisfaction and comfort of God's children, the Holy Ghost hath laid down this inward evidence, FAITH, as an incontestable mark of a new-born soul. When Peter made that glorious confession, "Thou art Christ the Son of the living God," Jesus replies, "Blessed art thou, Simon; flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven." All the powers and abilities of human nature and reason (so far from teaching) are at enmity against this soul-saving truth No man can teach it his brother, so as to cause his heart to receive and believe it. It is a knowledge only revealed by the Spirit; received and believed by heaven-born souls, that the man Jesus is the only Saviour....that he is the anointed of God, to the work of salvation of lost sinners. The very devils know and confess this, but without any hope of salvation hereby. But when any poor sinner is enabled to believe this in his heart, it is a blessed evidence of the love of the Father, and the power of the Holy Spirit. Then "he hath the witness in himself, that he is born of God." He hath the mark and evidence of a child of God within him. As the gift of Jesus is the fruit of God's everlasting love, so faith in Jesus is the fruit of his having "died for our sins, and rose again for our justification, ascended to the Father, and sent the Holy Ghost to testify of him. This belief, honors the God of truth: glorifies the God of grace, by receiving the testimony he hath given of his beloved son, JESUS. It is a holy faith; it dwells in holy hearts, and produceth holy fruits. Happy the heart, that hath received this power and privilege to become a son of God. The love of the holy trinity is upon such a soul. It is his privilege, like the happy eunuch, "to go on his way rejoicing." It is his happiness ever to be, "looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith....relying on Jesus who is our righteousness, 1 Cor. i. 30....trusting in Jesus, who is our HOPE, 1 Tim. i. 1.... rejoicing in Jesus, who is our PEACE, Eph. ii. 14....glorying in Jesus, who is our atonement, Rom. v. 11....and thus looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."....Jude, verse 21. The sov'reign will of God alone A new peculiar race. The Spirit, like some heav'nly wind, VOL. I. New models all the carnal mind, W Then said his wife unto him, dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God and die....Jab ii. 9. In seasons of distress and affliction how must it alleviate the mind, and soothe our sorrows, to have so near and dear a friend as the partner of our lives speak a good word in due season? but on the contrary, when such an one is used as an instrument, by the adversary, it heightens distress, and adds a double weight to the pressure of afflictions. Such was the case of patient Job. Flesh of his flesh, and bone of his bone, taunts at him for his integrity, and urges advice, which was as a dagger to his very heart. Verily, believer, thou also art "born to trouble as the sparks fly upwards." Thou hast therefore need of faith and patience as well as Job. These thou also art a partaker of, though not to so eminent a degree. Thoy also hast a peevish, fretful, repining partner for life; which will ever be urging upon thee reproaches, and giving thee such advice, which is at the peril of thy soul to hearken to. Here is the exercise of thy graces. Be then on thy guard against this dear partner, rather near enemy, even thy carnal sinful nature, the flesh, with its affections and lusts. Know assuredly, when it would reason with thee, it is to beguile thee....when it demands an audience, it is to instil the venom of poison. Its nature is enmity; its workings rebellion; its reasonings treason against thy God. If thou give place to the flesh it will wound thy soul. If thou suffer it to gain ascendency, it will darken thy mind, and bring distress upon thy conscience. "If thou livest after the flesh thou shalt die." If therefore at any time, through the pride and perverseness of the flesh, thou art tempted to entertain hard thoughts of thy God; to be impatient under his chastisements, and murmur against his allotments; to call in question the truths of his word, the stability of his covenant, the freeness of his promises, and the security of thy soul's salyation through the faith of Jesus; resist its suggestions in the faith of the word of grace; turn from its reasonings as from a bitter foe; and silence it with this humble, submissive language of faith; "Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" Job's wife was mortal: so is thy flesh. His sorest afflictions were soon at an end. The Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning. Lo, thus shall it be with thee. Here is our joy of faith. Our time is short. Our light afflictions are but for a moment: "they work for us a exceeding and eternal weight of glory."....2 Cor. iv. 17. J far Thro' seas and storms of deep distress Dear Father, if thy lifted rod We sail by faith, and not by sight; Thro' all the briers of the night. more Resolv'd to scourge us here below, Jesus said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: Even so Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight....Matt. xi. 25, 26. THE true ministers of Christ are greatly encouraged in their labours, knowing they serve that sovereign Lord, who hath declared, ❝ My word shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please: it shall prosper in the thing whereunto I sent it.".... Isa. Iv. 11. "To some the gospel is a savour of life unto life; unto others of death unto death." To some Jesus is revealed, to others the gospel is hid. Nevertheless, his ministers "are unto God, a sweet savour of Christ in them that are saved, and in them that perish.”. Cor. ii. 15. What shall we say to these things? shall we dare to cavil against the sovereign dispensations of God, or arraign him at the bar of our weak judgments? shall the pot-sherds of the earth contend with Jehovah, and say, What dost thou? Shall the pride of our carnal reason, and the rebellion of our corrupt nature, vent itself with, 'I will not allow it at all; I cannot believe it is just and righteous that the Lord should act with sovereignty, give or withhold his special grace as it seemeth good unto him!" St. Paul sharply reproves such daring speeches. "Nay, but O man, who art thou that repliest against God?"....It is plain that such walk not humbly; they have not the mind of Christ. The Father's will was his joy: Jehovah's purposes his delight: and with sovereign dispensations Jesus most cheerfully acquiesced; "Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight." Herein he hath left us an example. This is beyond all other reasons we can assign for God's dealings in grace and providence. Such sentiments shew, that we have been taught of God, are little in our own eyes, passive as babes in our own judgment, and are submissive children to our Father's will. A spiritual revelation of the hope of the gospel, is by the sove reign grace of the Holy Spirit, "who divideth to every man severally as he will." It ever begets humility of heart. Why me, Lord! ereates amazement of soul. What am I ever excites love and gra titude. Am I called to the faith of Jesus, and the hope of salvation, while others, of the wise and prudent of this world, are left in the darkness, pride and rebellion of their nature? O what shall I render unto the Lord? How fearful to offend, how studious to please, how joyful to glorify the Lord my God ought I to be from day to day? "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith." And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the con spirators with Absalom. And David said, O Lord, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness....2 Sam. xv. 31. CLOUDS gathered very fast and grew very black at this time over the head of king David. His own beloved son had drawn the sword of rebellion....his subjects flocked in great numbers; and to heighten the king's distress, his own counsellor joined the conspiracy. But under all this David shewed himself to be a man after God's own heart. His soul looks through every discouragement. He knew the throne of grace to be ever open and accessible, therefore the very tidings that brought sorrow to his heart, he instantly makes the subject of his prayer. Happy conduct! when before carnal reason is suffered to plead, the prayer of faith is presented. Too, too oft do disciples, upon hearing disagreeable tidings, consult flesh and blood before they apply to their ever-loving and faithful friend Jehovah. This ought not so to be. According to David's faith and prayer so the Lord answered him. The counsel which he had reason to dread from Ahithophel, was defeated by the Lord, and turned to his own destruction. Thus "the Lord only is our refuge and strength; a very present help in every time of trouble."....Psalm xlvi. 1. Knowest thou not, disciple, there is treason and rebellion found with thee against David's Lord, even Jesus, thy king? Not greater reason had David to fear, and to pray against Ahithophel's counsel, than thou hast daily. As his name signifies brother of ruin or folly, it reminds one of the flesh, a brother or partaker of the ruin of sin with the soul; and also that its wisdom is ever with us, is ever counselling and conspiring against the peace and safety, the love and holiness, the joy and happiness of the soul in Christ Jesus. It not only counsels against, but lusts contrary to the Spirit continually. May this be our daily prayer in the spirit and in faith, "O Lord, turn the counsel of the flesh into foolishness, confound its pride, destroy its lusts, subdue its passions, suffer us not to confer with flesh and blood, let us not sow to the flesh; but enable us to confer with thee by faith. May our conversation be in heaven! So strengthen us to put off the old man with his deeds, until we put off the body, to be "sown in dishonor, and to be raised in glory."....I Cor. xv. 43. Arise, my soul, my joyful pow'rs, Christ rais'd me from the deeps of sin, The gates of gaping hell, And fixt my standing more secure Take heed to yourselves; if thy brother trespass against * thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.... Luke xvii. 3, 4. MIND this loving word. "Do thyself no harm." The least degree of malice, hatred or revenge, is contrary to the genius of the gospel....inconsistent with the character of a disciple of the meek and lowly Jesus. But, our master knows what is in man: that his members are composed of flesh, as well as spirit; and therefore liable to offend, one against another, so as to hurt and injure each other, in the peace of their minds, and fellowship of their spirits. So also, they cause the way of truth to be evil spoken of, by the adversaries, who are glad at every advantage, to cry out, "O these are your saints! see how full of wrath thy are; how they bite and devour each other." Therefore, "take heed to yourselves," saith the head to his members. Watch against this evil. Offences will come. I teach you how to behave. Suppose thy brother trespass against thee, pity his weakness: pray for him by name, to thy Father, and his Father. Beware of angry resentment. If he aggravates his offence, by frequent repetition, thou shalt in no wise hate thy brother; but, as oft as he offends, if he as often "turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him." But, are we not to forgive him until, and unless, he do turn and say, I repent? In one sense we ought; perhaps, not in another. We must not, at our peril, entertain anger, or let the sun go down on our wrath; but in our hearts freely and fully forgive an offending brother. But, what if he remains stubborn, and persists in a spirit of bitterness? Even then, we are to forgive him in our hearts, and be desirous of embracing him, in love... But may we not justly suspend declaring our forgiveness to him, until he turn and say, I repent? Herein have we not God's word, and method, as our example? Though God loves his people in Christ, and for his sake pardons their sins; yet, until they actually turn to him, and repent, he doth not manifest his pardon, and love to them. But let us ever remember, as God's thoughts of love are towards us, before we turn to him: so our thoughts of love should be to our offending brethren, ere they turn to us. Doth the Lord Jesus require us to forgive every repeated offence, even until seventy times seven, four hundred and ninety? surely then, he will magnify his love, and display his mercy, in pardoning the innumerable offences, of all who turn to him. "Forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."....Eph. iv. 32. 'Great is God's love, and large his grace, Then let us to our brethren shew, |
