1 13 R R Y OF THE Theological Seminary, PRINCETON, N. J. 1 BX 5037 .B5 1855 v. 9 ^ \ Bickersteth, Edward, 1786- 1850. I The works of the Rev, Edward Bickersteth I THE WORKS THE REV. EDWARD 'BICKERSTETH, RECTOR OF WATTOX, HERTS. VOL. IX. CHRISTIAN TRUTH. NEW YORK: ROBKRT CARTER & BROTHERS, 285 BROADWAY. 1855. CONTEXTS. CHAP. I. THE HOLY SCRIPTURES . . . . 1 n. THE GREAT GOD . . . . 21 III. CREATION . . . . . . 42 IV. PROVIDENCE . . . . . . 62 V. REDEMPTION BY CHRIST . . . .82 VI. INTERCESSIO.V OF CHRIST .... 103 VII. THE HOLY SPIRIT . . . . .124 VIII. THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT . . . 144 IX. CHRIST OUR LIFE . . . . .165 X. CHRISTIAN PRIVILEGES . . . .187 XI. CHRISTIAN GRACES ..... 208 XII. REPENTANCE AND FAITH .... 229 XIII. CHRISTIAN HOLINESS .... 250 XIV. AFFLICTIONS . . . . .271 XV. THE CHRISTIAN CONFLICT .... 286 XVI. SPIRITUAL JOY ..... 296 XVII. PRAYER . . . . .315 XVIII. PRAISE ...... 333 XIX. THE CREED, THE TE.V COMMANDMENTS, AND lord's PRAYER ..... 342 XX. THE BOOK OF PRAYERS .... 378 XXI. HINTS FOR PRaYEU . . . . .441 Digitized by the Internet Arcliive in 2014 https://archive.org/details/worksofrevedward09bick TO HIS DEAR PARISHIONERS, AT WATTON, AMONG WHOM HE UAS MINTSTERED FOR EIGHT TEARS, WITH A GRATEFUL SENSE OF THEIR GENERAL KINDNESS TO HIMSELF, AND WITH A GROWING HOPE THAT HIS MINISTERIAL LABOURS AMONG THEM MAY BE INCREASINGLY BLESSED TO THEIR SPIRITUAL AND EVERLASTING GOOD, THIS WORK WRITTEN ORIGINALLY FOE THEIR USE, AND CIRCULATED AMONG THEM, AS IT WAS PUBLISHED FROM TIME TO TIME, IS NOW AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED BV THEIR FAITHFUL AND ATTACHED PASTOR, THE AUTHOR. October 15, 1838. PREFACE. The ignorance among many in this parish of the first principles of divine truth, and the importance of bringing that truth before them in a simple, easy, and devotional form, led the author to endeavour to prepare a series of tracts adapted to their situation. He had been in the habit of publishing a yearly address to his parishioners, referring to tiie past year, and, as he hoped, not without benefit. But it appeared to him that he might, by bring- ing before them the leading truths of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, in occasional addresses, on a regular plan, more eff'ectually promote their spiritual good. His " Christian Psalmody" affbrded him an outline of those leading truths : and it was his design, from time to time, as God enabled him, in short, practical tracts, to endeavour to illustrate and apply, witli as much plainness as he could use, the great truths of the gospel, in the order brought forward in that work. His immediate object was, that none under his charge should be without a plain and clear statement of those great principles of divine revelation which God has made known in his word for our salvation ; and he hoped that it might please God to prosper this eflbrt, not only for this immediate object, but for more extensive usefulness. This work was commenced about four years since, and was originally published in separate numbers, and do- VIU PREFACE. signed for the author's poorer parishioners. It was entitled " The Cottagers' Guide to Christian Trath," but the author was induced to change that title on finding that a similar title had at the same time unconsciously been adopted by a beloved brother minister, the Rev. A. R. Dallas, for a very useful work on the New Testament. He was led to the present title, " Christian Truth, a Family Guide to the Chief Truths of the Gospel," as more adapted to the nature of the work as it grew under his vv'riting it from year to year. Should it please God to give him an opportunity, he pur- poses at some future time to add, as a second series, " The Christian Church, a Family Guide to the Church of Christ," in pursuance of his original plan, to follow the order of subjects laid out in his Christian Psalmody. The author would venture to recommend the reading of a portion of a chapter by the Cottage or District Visitor to the poor once a week, or oftener, as a help to conver- sation with them : and possibly parents might find some assistance in conveying religious principles to their chil- dren in the same way. Questions might advantageously be proposed, on the portion read. May it please the Father of mercies to bless the work, as a help to each reader's knowledge of divine truth, and an assistance in the most blessed and enriching of all duties and privileges, that of communion with himself. Edward Bickersteth. Watton Rectory, Herts, Oct. 15, 1838. CHKISTIAN TEUTH. CHAPTER I. THE HOLV SCRIPTURES. 1. The Bible is the word of God— 2. What it contains~3. The Bible shows US what is to take place — 4. How the Bible is to be read— 5. Family Reading and Conversation — 6. Prayers before and after reading— 7. Useful Tables. 1. THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD. There are many books in the world, but there is one of an entirely different character from every other, professing to be not the word of an erring human being, but the ex- press and infallible word of the great God who made us. It is called The Bible, which comes from a Greek word, meaning the Book. It has a peculiar title to this name, as the one book of supreme importance and value : which, if duly regarded, brings the greatest advantage to us, and which cannot be neglected without the greatest danger and the most serious injury to our best interests. It is also called Scripture, which means the writings, on account of its superiority to every other writing. When it was first given to man, printing was not known, and to dis- tinguish these writings from all others, they were called The Writings. This book has the first of all possible claims on our attention, because by it God speaks to us. It is the CHKISTIAN TRUTH word of God: "Thus saith the Lord," may be inscribed on the Bible. How may a poor man kno'.v that the Bible is the word of God ? Let us look around : who are those that profess to believe this, and who really endeavour to act according to the directions of the Bible ? Are they not persons of good character and integrity ? and the more they seek to live according to the Bible, are they not the more remark- able for uprightness, benevolence, and diligence in doing good toothers'? Look next at those who disbelieve the Bible as the word of God, and we shall find that the more they reject the Bible, and speak against it, the more they are vain-glorious, disreputable, and selfish, and generally immoral in some part or other of their conduct. Then open the Bible : see how, throughout, it condemns sin and falsehood, and all that our conscience tells us is ■wrong ; and how it declares that all " liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone." It everywhere insists upon truth, righteousness, and all that our conscience tells us is right. It thus bears the mark and stamp of truth in every part. Bad men could not have written a book everywhere condemning all wick- edness : it must have been written by good men. Then think what the Bible says of itself. It expressly declares, " All scripture is given by inspiration of God." 2 Tim. iii. 16. " Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." 2 Peter i. 29. Good men would not, durst not, have imposed so monstrous a lie ■upon us as to call their own words the word of the living God, and to require all men to believe this, or be for ever ruined. The glorj' of the Bible is, tliat it reveals, throughout, a Saviour. It shows to us sinful creatures a way of free and complete deliverance from our sins, planned and exe- cuted by the great God himself, and to be proclaimed to every human being. The whole of this great salvation is so peculiar, so adapted to our wants, so above all the natural ideas of man, and so contrary to all his preju- THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. 3 dices, as to furnish a strong evidence that the Bible is from God. Look then at the different classes of men in the world. You see a singular people called the Jews, everywhere dispersed over the earth, claiming to be descended from their forefather Abraham. They have in their keeping one part of the Bible, called the Old Testament. They profess to have received it from the beginning as written by inspired prophets of their own nation. Their whole national history is bound up with the miracles, and history and truth of the Bible. They are our witnesses for the purit}' of the books which they believe. Especially it is clear that they would not have invented those pai'ts which occur so frequently about their national crimes and sinful- ness, and those prophecies which so clearly foretel the history, sufferings, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, whom they have rejected. We may be certain, therefore, that it is a true record of historical facts, and that all these prophecies were written hundreds of years before our Lord came. God only could foresee and foretel future events. God has manifestly done so in the Old Testament, respecting Christ Jesus : here is one proof that it is the word of God. Look again at another class of men in the world. You see millions of human beings professing to be Christians. Christianity spreads over the most civilized and intelligent jiart of our globe. Whence did this arise ! The gospels and the Acts of the Apostles show you. Tliey tell you of mighty miracles, worthy of the glorious God, obvious to all, done in the broad day, before many thousands of wit- nesses, and such as their very senses made evident ; and of Christianity being founded on these wonderful facts. These miracles prove that the Bible is the word of God, and the very existence of Christianity proves the miracles. Look at a still larger class of men, the unconverted NATIONS of the earth ; and see how the want of the Bible is attended with innumerable evils. Among the heathen, where no ray of revealed light shines, the most debasing B 2 4 CHRISTIAN TRUTH idolatry, licentiousness, cruelty, and wickedness prevail. Among the Mahomedans, or followers of the false prophet Mahomet, but feeble remnants of revealed truth are left, and there despotism, oppression, and many abominable vices, mark their condition. In those lands where the mild and kind and purifying principles of the Bible are un- known, there invariably are, the greatest darkness as to the future state of man, the deepest degradation of women, and the most entire neglect of the poor. The system of other religions is a system of vice ; — all manner of iniquity is sanctioned by them. " If the light that is in them be darkness, how great must that darkness be ! " But the Bible denounces the most awful threatenings against all wickedness ; and if Christians sin, they sin not according to their religion, but in spite of it. Just in pro- portion as the Bible is received and followed, just so much are the fruits of righteousness yielded by men to the glory of God and the good of their fellow-men. These things, with much more that might be said, unite with one voice to testify that the Bible conies from God. You may, however, each for yourselves, put the import- ant fact, that the Bible is the word of God, to this very plain and simple test or trial. Read it daily, with much prayer to God, to teach you and sanctify you by it, and see if you do not become quite another man, born again through the word, and sanctified by the truth. God thus gives men experimental conviction of its power. Again, the Bible is full of gracious promises, to be fulfilled even in this life, to those who use the appointed means. Try the truth of those promises. God says, " Ask, and you shall have ; seek, and you shall find. — He will give his Holy Spirit to them that ask." Perseveringly pray for the Holy Spirit, and you shall receive that Spirit, obtain the gift of saving faith, and have inward witness that the Bible is the word of God. Should you be tempted, on opening the Bible, to imagine that God would speak to you in some other way, or tell you some other thing than he has told you, look at the THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. 5 visible creation ; look at what you see with your eyes and hear witli your ears, and witness all around you — are there not difficulties in natural things and in the daily course of the world, similar to those which you find in revealed things ? Do you not frequently meet witii things for which you cannot account, and yet must believe ? Have you not often to acquire your knowledge in ways that you think at first difficult, and which are contrary to your preconceived ideas ? Shall the little child set up its own notions against the experienced parent 1 Trust God, till you have, with deep reverence and in prayer, and according to his directions, diligently searched his word. You will, after doing this, obtain complete conviction that there are no real difficulties to hinder your believing the all-import- ant fact that the Bible is the word of God ; that there is the fullest satisfaction of mind in receiving it as such, and in forming all your principles and regulating all your con- duct by this blessed and holy volume. Meditation, 0 wonderful Book 1 the Book of books ! does God, the great Creator and Loi'd of all, condescend to speak to me ! Is this his own word which he sends to shew me Himself, the work which he would have me to do, and the way to attain his favour ! With what diligence, with what rever- ence, should I read its .sacred pages ! How thankful ought I to be for so rich a blessing ! What an unspeakable ad- vantage to have such a means of knowing my God, such an infallible test of all human sentiments, and such a sure discovery to me of every thing that is most important for me to know ! All glory, all ])raise be to my heavenly Father, for this lamp to my feet, and this light to my path ! 2. WHAT THE BIBLE CONTAINS. It is divided into two parts ; the Old and the New Tes- tament (2 Cor. iii. 6 — 14). They are called Old and New, f) CHRISTIAN TRUTH for the purpose of distinguishinp; the time when those parts were written ; the Old being written before the coming of Clirist, and the New since his death. Testament means a will ; and viewed as a will, the Bible is full of gifts and blessings confirmed to believers by the death of the Testator. There are thirty-nine books in the Old Testament, and twenty-seven in the New. They were written at different times, by different inspired writers. Both Testaments be- gin with historical books, and then follow doctrinal and practical books, and both conclude with prophecies. The first five books were chiefly written by Moses. They are the most ancient books in the woi'ld, being written above three thousand years since. The names of the writers of some of the historical books of the Old Testa- ment are not certainly known. Most of the other books were written by the persons whose names they bear, or to whom they are usually ascribed, and the whole sacred volume was completed about one thousand seven hundred years since. The Old Testament was written in Hebrew, the language of the Jews, and the New Testament in Greek, the most generally known language when it was written. There have been from a very early age transla- tions of the Bible into other languages, and this has greatly helped to preserve the whole sacred volume in its purity to this day. Our present English Bible was translated out of the Hebrew and Greek languages in the reign of our king James the First, and was published in 1611. The Bible, in all or in part, has been translated into nearly one hundred and sixty different languages, the chief known languages of the earth. The Bible contains the history of man, from bis creation to the end of the world, either by relating what is past, or by foretelling what is to come. It begins with the creation of our first parents in the likeness of God, holy and happy — their fall from that happy state — the promise of the Redeemer — the sinfulness of the human race— their destruction by the deluge — the THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. 7 preservation of Noah, and the new world's again falling away— the confusion of their tongues, and their being scattered abroad over the earth. It then shews the call of Abraham, and the separation of a peculiar race as the depositories of the true religion, and the people from whom the Redeemer was to come. The history of this people takes up the largest part of the history of the Old Testament ; and in their experience we have a full developeiiient of what man is, and what God is — what our duties are, and what our hopes are — what God will do for those who seek him, and how he will punish tliose who disobey him. But chiefly there is set before us continually the great truths of our redemption, and full accounts of the person, life, character, sufferings, and glory of the divine Re- deemer. The New Testament continues this glorious theme ; containing four histories of the life of our Saviour, in the four gospels, — an account of the outpouring of the divine Spirit, and the commencement of the Christian church, in the Acts of the Apostles. Various epistles, or letters, written by them to the churches newly formed, or to private Christians, follow ; and it closes with the pro- phetic history of the church, in the book of Revelation, to the end of the world. Tliere is in the Bible the greatest variety, in the narrow- est possible compass. In one volume we have the history of all ages, the most interesting lives of the best of men ; the most beautiful strains of poetry and imagination ; the most touching letters ; the clearest display of our duties to the one living and true God, and to all our fellow- creatures ; and the full discovery of the way of redemp- tion from all our present sorrows, and of the path to end- less life and glory. The veil that hangs over futurity is rent by his hand, who has all futurity in his direction ; and, we read in plain and simple language all those events which are to happen that it most concerns us to know. What a book is the Bible ! Study it incessantly. 8 CHRISTIAN TRUTH : Meditation. Almighty Father ! how can I enough admire thy loving- kindness and condescension in thyself providing such a book for me ! Oh what darkness would have covered the earth, and would have covered my soul, but for this book ! Without it I should not have known how I came here, or where I was going, or who thou art, or how I can please thee, and escape misery, or be happy for ever. But all this is made plain to me now. And how can I praise thee enough for the precious volume ! Oh give me a sacred thirst after its blessed truths ! May they be very sweet to my taste, and the very joy of my heart ! 3. THE BIBLE SHEWS US WHAT IS TO TAKE PLACE. Does the Bible shew us things to come ? It does in- deed ; and God has given us the greatest proof that all he has foretold, as yet to come, will take place, by having already brought to pass very many things which he also foretold. Such are — the state of all the world in the ac- count of the three sons of Noah, the fall of the city of Babylon, the destruction of Jerusalem, the dispersion of the Jews over the world, the rise of four great monarchies, or universal empires. These things have been fulfilled in the sight of all men long since they were predicted ; and we are thus assured that all that God has foretold respect- ing things to come will also be fulfilled. What has he, then, foretold as yet to take place 1 To us INDIVIDUALLY there is much that is most important. See what he says respecting death : — " The dust shall return to the earth as it was, and the spirit to God who gave it." Eccles. xii. 7. The body put in the grave is not the end of man; it is the beginning of another state of existence ; it is our going alone by ourselves before the great God who made us. Have you thought of this ? are you prepared for it ? THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, 9 Then judgment is to take place. It is thus foretold : — " God shall bring every work into judgment, with every seci^t thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil : every one of us shall give account of himself to God." Has this been much in your mind ? Has your great aim been this, that you may be accepted of the Lord in that day, and have confidence and " boldness in the day of judgment ! " 1 John iv. 17. Then comes HELL for the wicked. " The wicked shall be turned into liell, and all the nations that forget God. There the worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched." Have you ever thought duly of the horrors of God's wrath, and everlasting punishment, and dwelling for ever with the wicked ? Are you flying from the wrath to come ? There is also the heavenly Jerusalem, in all its boundless bliss and unutterable glories, for the righteous ; there nothing that defiles, or works abomination, or makes a lie, shall ever enter ; are you thirsting after these glories, and seeking them first of all 1 To the WHOLE WORLD there is much also of vast im- portance. The FALLING AWAY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH, and the punishment of those who have fallen away (to take place at the coming of Christ), are clearly foretold, 2 Thess. i. ii., the Epistle of Jude, and the 2nd Epistle of Peter, and Revelations xvii. xviii. xix. The CONVERSION and restoration of the Jews to their own land, and the blessed effect of this on the whole earth, are foretold in very many passages of God's word. See for instance Jer. xxxii. and xxxiii., Ezek. xxxvi. and xxxvii., and Romans xi. The COMING AGAIN OF Christ, in power and great glory, is also plainly foretold. Acts i. 11. Matt. xxv. 1 Thess. iv. 16, 17. 2 Peter iii. 3 — 14 ; and many other places. No one can tell how soon this may take place ; but there is great danger in saying, and acting on the idea, " My Lord delayeth his coming," (Matt. xxiv. 48. 2 Peter iii. 3,) and a very great duty and blessedness to be wait- 10 CHRISTIAN TRUTH I ing, watching, and ready for his return (see Matt. xxiv. and XXV. Luke xvii. and xxi.) ; for his coming will take the world quite by surprise, as when a thief comes at night. Persons who are living together in the same occu- pation and the same house, and even sleeping in the same bed, shall then be separated as wide as the outer darkness and the everlasting glory. Oh, be ye ready, " for, in such an hour as you think not, the Son of Man cometh." The RESURRECTION of the dead saints, and the change of the living saints, at the coming of Christ, are again and again foretold ; see 1 Cor. xv. 1 Thess. iv. 16, 17. Luke xiv. 14. Phil. iii. n. Our Lord Christ will also establish his glorious king- dom, and Satan shall be bound for a thousand years. Rev. XX, For the coming of this kingdom we daily pray, " Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth, as it is in hea- ven." This has yet also to take place ; and oh how blessed for our world that day, when " the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ." Rev. xi, 16. See Dan. ii. 44 ; vii. 13, 14. In this king- dom his saints shall reign with him. Dan. vii. 18, 27. Rev. v. 10, and xx. Luke xix, 11—27. 2 Tim. ii. 12. The future loosing of Satan, and the final and general judgment of all the dead, with the everlasting punishment of the wicked in the lake of fire, and the everlasting glory of the blessed in the new heavens and the new earth, closes the wonderful accounts of what God has foretold as still to be done in our world. Meditation. O ray soul, what great things has God foreshewn me as yet to take place, — things in which I have the deepest per- sonal interest, and which call for my direct and immediate attention ! These are things which should controul every thought I think, every word I speak, and every act I do. Am I to pass through all these scenes, and can I now escape God's wrath and attain his glory ! Oh, may his Spirit shew me things to come, that my soul may be THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. 11 strengthened to resist the temptations of the world, the flesh, and tlie devil, and to press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God, " if by any means I may attain to the resurrection of the dead." 4. HOW THE BIBLE IS TO BE READ. The Bible is a large book, and consists of many parts. You may ask, where should I begin, and how should I carry it on 1 It is not necessary to read the whole Bible in a limited time. There are some people on the earth that have not got the whole Bible. Some have only got the New Testa- ment, some only one of the gospels, and some only one or two of the other books of Scripture ; but a very small part of God's word may be blessed to our everlasting good. Through God's mercy the whole Bible is printed in our language. It is read in every parish church in our country every Sunday in the year, and a great deal of scriptural knowledge has been diffused over our coun- try, so that very few need be altogether ignorant of the Bible. But we will suppose that you have never read it in pri- vate before, and I will explain what may be the best way of beginning. There are some books so very profitable and instructive, and so full of the great truths which we ■want to know, that it may be very useful to begin with them — such as the following : — In the Old Testament, Genesis and Exodus, Deuteronomy, Psalms, and Isaiah ; and in the New Testament, Matthew, John, the Acts of the Apostles, and the Epistles to the Romans and the Ephesians. You may begin a first easy course by going carefully through these books, reading a chapter morning and evening. When you have gone through these books once, then begin again with the whole Bible, reading one chapter from one Testament in the morning, and another from the other Testament in the evening. 12 CHRISTIAN TRUTH : But the mere reading of the Bible, as we would any other book, for amusement or information, or to get a knowledge of its contents, is far short of the design for which the Scriptures were given. The chief design of the Bible is to " make us wise unto salvation, through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ ; and all Scripture is given by in- spiration of the Holy Ghost, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." Now in order to the obtaining of this end, the Bible must be read in a different way to other books ; and I will give you here two or three plain rules. 1. Read it with constant prayer to God. See in the 119th Psalm how much David prayed : " Lord, teach me thy statutes. Give me understanding, that I may know thy word." God has promised to teach us, and we must obtain this promised instruction through fervent prayer — prayer before we begin, prayer while reading, and prayer when it is over. The Holy Spirit is the only effec- tual teacher. 2. Read it with much meditation, — thinking very patiently and deliberately over each verse ; What does this teach me 1 How can I attain this promise ? escape this threatening ? fulfil this duty? be warned by this sad history ? or be animated by this blessed example ? 3. Search the Scriptures to discover their tes- timony TO Christ Jesus. The Bible is the word of Christ ; its leading design is to show us plainly and fully that gracious Redeemer, who having redeemed us from sin and ruin, invites us to receive his great salvation, and by whom, through the Spirit, we sinners can corae with free- dom to God, our most holy, merciful, and compassionate Father, who gave his Son to die for us. 4. Read the Bible to be made holy by it. — Our Saviour prays for his disciples, " Sanctify them through thy truth : thy word is truth." It is God's great instru- ment or means for making us holy, or separate from the THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. 13 world, aud devoted to God. Holy desires and feelings, and holy practice, are given to us in the humble, diligent, and devout study of the Bible. Since without holiness we shall never see God, or dwell with him, let us diligently read the Bible, to attain to holiness. Meditation, What an important work have I daily to fulfil in read- ing and meditating upon God's word, and how profitable is it ! God has testified of the truly happy man, " His delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night : and he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth fruit in his season. His leaf also shall not wither ; and whatsoever he doeth, it shall prosper." Oh that this may be my character and my blessedness ! I shall find many things to hinder me in this work, but let me resolutely, firmly, and steadily set aside everything that would interfere with the daily, pa- tient reading of God's blessed word. 5. FAMILY READING, AND CONVERSATION ABOUT THE BIBLE. Parents and heads of families have a great duty to fulfil with reference to the Bible. The name * Family Bible ' is a pleasing sound, and a very appropriate title for this holy book. It teaches us that the Bible is to be the great guide of the family, and the supreme rule of every Christian's house. The directions of the Bible are very clear and full on this duty : " Hear, therefore, 0 Israel ! the Lord our God is one Lord, and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart ; and thou shalt teach them dili- gently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And CHRISTIAN TRUTH : thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes." Take up, then, Christian parents, Joshua's resolution — " As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." En- deavour to fulfil these directions every day, by reading a part of God's word to your family, and in prayer with them, seeking his grace and blessing. It is the only way to have your children dutiful and obedient, and such as will give you comfort when they are grownup. No wonder so many parents' hearts are broken by the continued mis- conduct of their children, when they so grievously neglect God's directions in their education. 3feditatio7i. Blessed, 0 my soul ! is that family of which God is the head and Father, and which is governed according to the rules of the gospel of Glirist. Surely it is a protected and well-cultivated seed-plot, or nursery, where plants are train- ing for a more beautiful garden, and to which they shall soon be transplanted, to flourish for ever in the paradise above. God make my family thus blessed, and let not one be wanting in the day when he counts up his children I God help me to live before them so as may lead to this blessed end, and let family reading, family prayer, and fa- mily singing, every morning and every evening, and the daily course of our conversation, mark my home as one of the dwellings of the righteous ! ' 6. PRAYERS. 1. Prayer before reading. — 0 Lord, help me to read thine own word with reverence, deep humility, and an earnest desire to do thy will. Remove all darkness from my understanding, and all perverseness from my will, and enable me to receive thy truth with the simpli- city and teachableness of a child. Send thy blessed Spirit to guide me into all truth, to show to me the things of Christ, and to sanctify me by his truth. Give me grace THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. 1.5 now and ever patiently to search, truly to believe, deeply to meditate upon, heartily to love, and unreservedly to obey thy word, that I ma}' be made wise unto salvation, through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 2. Prayer after reading. — Almighty Father, my God and my Saviour, I thank thee for the light of divine truth ; may it shine more and more in my heart unto the perfect day. Grant unto me an assured faith in my Re- deemer, and write thy laws in my heart. Let no subtilty nor malice of the devil ; let not the world, nor any inward vain imaginations, proud reasonings, or corrupt affections, prevail to turn«me from thy ways ; but let the power of the Holy Ghost make me to triumph over all temptation. Strengthen me heartily to embrace thy truth, stedfastly to hold fast the word of life, and faithfully to do thy will. 0 Lojd ! direct my heart into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. Hear me, through Jesus Christ our Lord. A Prayer to he formed and moulded according to God's Holy Word. Almighty Father ! my Maker, my Redeemer, my Sanc- tiher ! thy word is truth, and it will stand for ever ; and thou hast given that word that I may know and do thy will : but my mind is dark, and my heart is evil : give me, then, I beseech thee, thy all-sufficient help, to en- lighten my understanding, purify my heart, and mould and fashion my whole inward man to be conformed to thy will. 0 grant unto me such grace that thy threatenings may make me willing and ol)edient, and give with every exam- ple, whether of warning or imitation, its right and holy influence on my daily conduct. And more especially grant me the Spirit of the Lord, that beholding in tliy word, as in a glass, the glory of thy Son Jesus Christ, 1 may be changed into the same image, from glory to glory. Thus may I be wholly delivered and moulded into the 16 CHRISTIAN TRUTH : form of doctrine which thou hast revealed for my salva- tion, and my whole life be formed and governed, not by the opinions of man, whose breath is in his nostrils, but by thy woi-d. 0 my God, who liveth and abideth for ever ! Hear me, for the sake of Jesus Christ, my only Saviour. 7. USEFUL TABLES. The following tables are added to assist you in finding places in the Bible which you may wish to read : — 1. Tabic of PsaXins. 1. Prayers.— ¥or pardon of sin— 6, 25, 38, 51, 130 Penitential— 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143 When prevented attending public worship — 42, 43, 63, 84 When dejected under afflictions — 13, 22, 69, 77, 88, 143 , Asking lielp of God— 7, 17, 26, 35 ' Expressing trust in God in afflictions— 3, 16, 27, 31, 54, 56, 57, 61, 62, 71, 86 Under affliction or persecution— 44, 60, 74, 79, 80, 83, 89, 94, 102, 129, 137 In trouble— 4, 5, 11, 28, 41, 55, 59, 64, 79, 109, 120, 140, 141, 142 Intercession— 20, 67, 122, 132, 134 2. Thavksdivings for Mercies.— To particular persons— 9, 18, 22, 30, 34, 40, 75, 103, 108,' 116, 118, 138, 144 To the Israelites— 4C, 48, 65, 66, 68, 76, 81, 85, 98, 105, 124, 126, 129, 135, 136, 149 3. Pmliiis of Praise and Adoration displayiwj God's Attrihuies. — His good- ness and mercy, and care of good men— 23, 34, 36, 91, 100, 103, 107, 117, 121, 145, 147 His power, majesty, glory, and other attributes— 8, 19, 24, 29, 33, 47, 50, 65, 66, 76, 77, 93, 96, 97, 99, 103, 111, 113. 114, 115, 134. 139, 147, 148, 150 4. Irtstrv/rtive Psabns. — The characters of good and bad men, their happi- ness and misery— 1, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 17, 24, 25, 32, 34, 36, 37, 50, 52, 53, 58, 73. 75, 82, 84, 91, 92. 94, 101, 112, 119, 121, 125, 127, 128, 131, 133 The excellency of God's law— 19, 119 Vanity of human life— 39, 49, 90 5. Prophetical Psabm.—2, 16, 22, 40, 45, 68, 72, 87, 110, 118 6. Historical Psalnts.—7S, 105, 106, 135, 136. THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. 17 2. OUK SAVIOUR'S PARABLES. Candle under a bushel Single and evil eye On serving two masters Importunate friend <;oiid and corrupt tree Blind leading the blind Two builders Children in the market-place Two debtors House divided against itself Strong man overcome The relapsing demoniac Rii h man laying up treasures Sei vants waiting for their Lord Tlie barren fig-tree The sower Tares and wheat Casting seed into the ground The mustard seed The leaven The hidden treasure Pearl of great price Not gathering of every kind Good householder . New cloth and old garment New wine and old bottles . Old wine better than new Unmerciful servant and debtor The shepherd and sheep Vine and branches Good Samaritan Guest choosing the highest seat The great supper Proposal for building a tower Of a king about to make war Salt and its savour Lost sheep Lost piece of silver Prodigal son Unjust Steward Rich man and Lazarus Master and servant Judge and widow Pharisee and publican Labourers in the vineyard The ten pounds Two sons commanded to work Wicked husbandmen The Wedding garment Fig-tree putting forth leaves Watching for the tliief Man tkking a far journey . Faithful and unfaithful servant The ten virgins The talents The sheep and goats Matt. Mark. - LUK6. Jonii. C. V. C. V. C. V. C V. 5 15 4 21 11 33 * 6 22 11 34 6 24 10 13 11 5 7 16 6 43 15 14 6 39 7 24 6 47 11 16 7 31 7 Al / 41 12 25 3 25 11 17 12 29 3 27 11 21 12 43 11 24 12 16 12 35 13 6 13 3 4 3 8 5 13 24 4 26 13 31 4 30 lo 1(5 13 33 13 20 13 44 13 45 13 47 13 52 9 16 2 21 5 36 9 17 2 22 5 37 5 39 18 23 in 1 iu -I 1 1 10 30 14 7 — — — 14 16 — 14 28 — 14 31 — 5 13 9 49 14 34 18 12 15 4 15 8 15 11 16 1 16 19 17 7 18 1 18 9 20 1 19 12 21 2o 21 33 12~ 1 20 9 22 2 24 32 13'~28 21 29 24 43 12 39 13~34 24 45 12 42 25 1 25 14 25 31 18 CHRISTIAN TRUTH : 3. OUR SAVIOUR'S MIRACLES. Matt. Mark. Luk John. c. v. C. V. c. V. C. V. Water turned into wine — — 2 1 •Miracles done at tlie Passover — 2 23 Nobleman's son restored . — 4 46 Jesus preserves his life — 4 28 — Miraculous draught of fishes — 5 1 21 6 An unclean spirit cast out 1 23 4 33 — Peter s wife's mother raised 8 14 1 29 4 38 — Many devils cast out, and sick healed 8 16 1 32 4 40 — Diseases healed, and devils cast out 4 23 1 39 — A leper cleansed .... 8 2 1 40 5 12 — Multitudes come to be healed — ■ 5 15 — The power of the Lord healing _ — 5 17 — A paralytic healed 9 2 2 3 2 18 — An infirm man healed at Bethesda — 5 2 Withered hand restored 12 9 3 I 6 6 — Numbers healed, who follow Jesus 12 15 3 10 — Unclean spirits confess him 3 11 — A multitude healed of diseases — 6 17 — Virtue goes out of Jesus — 6 19 — Centurion's servant healed 8 5 — 7 2 — Widow's son raised from the dead — 7 11 — Many cured of infirmities, &c. — 7 21 — Every sickness and disease healed 9 35 — — Mary Magdalene healed — 8 1 — A demoniac healed 12 22 — 11 14 — Tempest stilled at sea 8 23 4 36 8 22 — The legion cast out into swine 8 2S 5 1 8 26 — Jairus' daughter raised 9 18 5 22 8 41 — Issue of blood healed 9 2U 5 25 8 43 — Two blind men healed 9 27 — — A dumb spirit cast out 9 32 — A few sick nealed 6 5 — The sick healed .... 14 14 — 9 n 6 2 Five thousand fed .... 14 15 6 35 9 12 6 5 Jesus walks on the sea 14 22 6 45 6 16 Peter enabled to walk on water . 14 28 — — Wind ceases on Jesus' word 14 32 6 51 — Ship brought to laud 15 21 — 6 21 The sick healed by touching 6 54 — Daughter healed .... 14 35 7 24 — A deaf and dumb man restored 7 32 ■ — Great multitudes healed . 15 30 — — Four thousand fed .... 15 32 8 1 — A blind man restored S 22 — Lunatic child healed 17 1 1 9 17 9 38 — Tribute money .... 17 24 — — Jesus preserves his lire — 8 59 Blind beggar healed by washing . - — 9 1 A woman cured of an infirmity . 13 11 A man cured of dropsy . . . 14 2 Ten lepers cleansed 17 12 Lazai us rai>ed from the dead 11 I Great multitu les healed 19 2 Blind Bartimeus restored . 20 30 10 46 18 35 The blind aud lame healed 21 14 Fig-tree withers away 21 18 11 12 High-priest's servant healed 22 50 THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. 19 4. REFERENCE TO PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE ON VARIOUS PRAC- TICAL SUBJECTS. Adoption, John i. 13. Gal. iii. 26 ; iv. 5, 6- 1 John iii. 1—3 Afflictions, Job. Rom. v. Heb. xii Alms, Psalm .\li. Matt. xxv. 31, &c. 2 Cor. ix Angels, Heb. i. Rev. v. Luke xv. Luke 1 Atonement, Isaiah Uii. 2 Cor. v. Heb. ix Baptism, Matt, xxviii. Rom. vi Calling, 1 Thess. ii. 12. 2 Tim. i. 9 Charity (or love), 1 Cor. xiii Chastity, 1 Tliess. iv. 3. Gen. xxxix Children, Deut. vi. Epii. vi. Col. iii Christ -all the Bible full of him, Luke xxiv. 44 Church, Acts ii. 47. Rom. xii. 5 Coming again of Christ, Acts i. 11. Heb. ix. 28. Titus ii. 13. Luke xvii. 21 CommandmcDts, Ten, E.Kod. xx. Deut. V , Two, Mark xii Consolation, Isaiah Ixi. 2 Cor. i. 2 Thess. ii. 16, 17 Conversion, Luke xv. Ezekiel xviii. Mati. xviii Covenant, Jer. xxxi. 32. Heb. viii Creation, Gen. i. 2. John i. Heb. i. Psalm xix Heath, Gen. iii. IS. Rom. v. I2. 1 Cor. xv Delude, Gen. vi. to viii Devil, Gen. iii. Matt. iv. Epb. i Drunkenness, Prov. xxviii. 29—35. Isaiah V. 1 1 . I Cor. vi. 10 Election, Deut. vii. Rom. ix. Eph, i Enemies. Matt. v. Rotn. xii Kaith, Heb. xi. Roni. iv Fall of Man, Gen. iii. Ps. li Fasting, Matt. vi. Joel ii Fear of God, Ps. cxii. 3, 4 Forgiveness, Psalm xxxii. cxxx. Isaiah iv. Rom. iii God, Exod. xxxiv. Isaiah xi. Psalm ciii. civ. cxlv. cxxxix Gospel, Luke ii. Rom. i. 16. &c. Eph. ii Grace, Titus ii. Eph. i. ii. Gal. v Heart, Jer. xvii. 9. Matt. xv. Psalm li Heaven, 1 Peter i. 4. Rev. xxi. xxii Hell, Mark ix. Judc Holy Ghost, John xiv. Gal. v Hope, Rom. XV. Heb. vi. James iv C Humility, Phil ii. Psalm cxxxi Husband, Prov. v. Eph. v. Col. iii Intercession of Christ, Rom. viii. Heb. vii Judgment, Eccles. xii, John v. Matt, xxv. Rev. xx Justification, Romans iii. iv. v. Gal. ii. iii, James ii Kingdom of God, Daniel ii. vii. Gospels generally Knowledge. Prov, iv. 8, 9 Law, E.xod. xx. Romans vii. 8 Life eternal, John iii, 16; xvii, 3 Lord's Prayer, Matt, vi. 10 Lord's Supper, Luke xxii, 1 Cor, x, xi Love of God, John iii, Romans v Love to God, Deut vi. Matt, xxii Love of Christ, John xv, Eph. iii, Romans viii Love to Christ, 1 Peter i Love to mei!— Epistles of John Lying, Eph. iv. Col, iii Marriage, Gen, xxiv. Eph. v Master, Gen. xviii. 19. Lev. xxv. 35 Ministers, 1 Cor, iv. 2 Cor. v Original Sin, Rom. v. Eph, li. 1 Cor, XV. 21 Paradise, Gen, ii. 2 Cor. xii Parents, Deut. vi. Epli, vi Patience, Job. James i, 3 Perseverance, Heb, iii. .\ Poor, Psalm .xlvi. Ixxii. James ii Praise, Psalm xcvi. ciii. cxlv. &c. Prayer, 1 Tim, ii. Psalms. Dan. ix Predestination, Romans viii. ix. Eph. i Pride, Isaiah ii. Luke xviii Prosperity, James v. Psalm xxx Providence, Psalm Ixv. cvi. Matt, vi Reconciliation, Romans v. 2 Cor. v. Matt, v Redemption, Eph, i. Col. i. Rev, v Regeneration, John i. iii, Titus iii, 2 Cor. V Repentance, Psalm li. Ezekiel xxxvi . Isaiah Iv Resignation, Job i. Matt, xxvi Resurrection, 1 Cor, xv. 1 Thess. iv. Rev. XX Riches, James v. Luke xii. 16 Sabbath Nehemiah x, Isaiah Iviii. Mark ii Sacrifice, Hebrews ix. x Sanctification, 1 Thess. v. 23 2 20 CHRISTIAN TRUTH : Scriptures, Psalms xix. cxix Self denial, Matt. xvi. Luke ix Sickness, John xi. Isaiah xxxviii Sin, Romans i. ii. iii. 1 John i Singing. Psalm xcv. Ephes. v. Temptation, Matt. iv. 1 Cor. x Trinity, John xiv. xvi. Matt, xxviii. 19. 2 Cor. xiii. 14 Watchfulness, Lukexxi. Matt. xxiv. XXV. 1 Thess. v Wisrtom, Proverbs viii. 9. James iii. Col. iii Submission, Psalm xxxi.x. James iv. Col. ii Wives, Proverbs xxxi. Ephes. v. 1 Peter v Temperance, Prov. xxiii. 1 Thess. v. 1 Peter iii World, 1 John ii. 5. Romans xiii In this Table the verses are, generally, purposely omitted, that the Reader may search the whole chapter for the subject he wishes to find. Let the Reader, by all means, if possible, get a Bible with marginal references. These shew you other parts of the Bible, which either explain, or are similar to the part you are reading, and they form of themselves a most useful commentary. It would be profitable for the children in a family to employ some time in the winter evening in finding out these references, and reading them to each other, or to their parents. Thus, on the first verse in the first chapter of Genesis, you will find a reference to the first, second, and third verses of the first chapter of John's Gospel, and to the first chapter and tenth verse of the Epistle to the Hebrews : these references shew you that God made all things by our Lord Jesus Christ. There are also other translations of the Hebrew some- times put in the margin of the Bible, and this will help you in under- standing what God has revealed for our use. BIBLE WITH REFERENCES. THE GREAT GOD. 21 CHAPTER II. ON THE GREAT GOD. 1. General Remarks— 2. Where the knowledge of God may be gained— 3. What God is not — 4. What God is— 3. The names of Gud— 6. The display of God's perfections in Christ Jesus — 7. The harmony of God's perfections in Christ — 8. God our salvation — 9. The way of access unto God — 10. Commu- nion with God — 11. Passages of Scripture on the Attributes. 1. GENERAL REMARKS. The most important discovery of the Bible is to show to us God, our Maker. With this the sacred volume opens. " In the beginning God created the heaven and the eartli. — And God said, Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness. — So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he man, male and female created he them." Our Creator must have a nearer interest in his creatures and we in liim, than any of our fellow created beings can possibly have in us, or we can have in them. To know him, therefore, to gain his favour, and to be blessed by him, is tlie greatest glory, interest, and hai)piness for time and for eternity, of each human being. " This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent." God only can describe himself. In considering every thing relating to the great God, our principal light must be derived from the discoveries which he has made of him- 22 CHRISTIAN TRUTH : self in his word. This chapter of the Family Guide will, therefore, necessarily, chiefly be gathered from the holy Scriptures. The object now before us, then, is to give you some knowledge of the great God who made you ; but as our Lord has told us " no man knoweth the Son but the Father, neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him," let us all look up to our divine Redeemer to teach us. Prayer. 0 Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, who art in the bosom of tlie Father, that glorious Being, whom no man hath seen at any time, nor can see, we earnestly beseech thee to reveal to us thy divine Father ; manifest his name to us and shew us his gloi'y. Let the liglit of the knowledge of the glory of God shine in our hearts, in thy face, 0 Jesus ! to whom, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, now and for ever. Amen. 2. WHERE THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOU MAY BE GAINED. The creation around us declares God in his works. Every thing within us, and about us, speaks of him. Though men are by nature alienated from him, and " none saith, Where is God, my Maker 1 " yet is the whole world full of Him. The very frame of each man, every member of his body, every sense and faculty, every power of his mind and every feeling of his heart, plainly declares to man, " I am fear- fully and wonderfully made " by the great God. The in- numerable creatures that people the air and the earth, the sea and the waters, declare that the Lord is : " that he is good to all, and that his tender mercies are over all his works." All the beauties of the natural world, the ten thousand productions of the earth, the light which we enjoy, the air which we breathe, the earth beneath, as well as the hea- THE GREAT GOD. vens above, " declare the glory of the Lord, and the firma- ment sheweth his handy -work. That which may be known of God is manifest in them, for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead." While " coarseness and clumsiness mar all the works of man," the least of God's works are full of wonder, and manifest infinite wisdom, power, and benevolence. The Providence of God tells also continually of his being and goodness. He gives all their meat in due season. " He sends forth his Spirit, and they are created ; he takes away their breath, they die and return to the earth. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him ; he also will hear their cry, and save them." The same providence is seen in the punishing of the wicked. " The Lord is known by the judgment which he executeth. The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands." These things leave men " without "excuse " who live as " without God in the world." But such is our blindness and cor- ruption through sin, that this is our universal natural character. God has therefore, in the riches of his love, given another discovery of himself in his inspired word, or the Bible written by men under the teaching of the Holy Ghost. A peculiar nation was set apart to be the keepers of that word. " He shewed his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel." Their great privilege was, that " unto them were committed the oracles of God." The language of creation and providence, though continu- ally manifested and intelligible to all, is still only a silent shewing forth of knowledge. There is no speech, there are no words ; their voice is not heard. But " the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul ; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple." Here we have 24 CHRISTIAN TRUTH : a clearer, fuller, and more glorious sight of Goil in the dis- play of his loving-kindness and truth, and all his glory ; he has " magnified his word." In his INCARNATE WORD, that is, in the Lord Jesus Christ, " the Word of God, made flesh," and dwelling among us, we have the brightest of all displays of God to man. " His glory is the glory of the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth ; " a Son is tlie representa- tive of his Father. Jesus Christ is " the brightness of his " Father's " glory, the express image of his person." In answer to the request, " Lord, shew us the Father," he re- plies, " He that hath seen me hath seen the Father." He is " the image of the invisible God." And by him light shines upon us out of tlie darkness with which the being and glory of God are otherwise shrouded. For " God who commanded the light to sliine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." The Holy Ghost again, is the great Teacher who makes all these clear to us. " The natural man discerneth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him ;" but the Holy Ghost, who is one with the Father and the Son, reveals these things to us. " The things of God knowetli no man but the Spirit of God ; now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God." It is his inward teaching that guides us into all truth. He gives " the riches of the full assurance of understanding to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ, wherein are hid all the treasures of wisdom and know- ledge." Our Lord says of the Holy Ghost, " He shall glorify me, for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you." Ask for this Spirit, and you shall receive it. O let us seek to walk in this glorious light and liberty of the children of God ; " where the Spirit of the Lord is, tliere is liberty ; and we all with open face beholding, as in a glass, the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same THE GREAT GOD. 2o image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." Meditation. My God and my Father ! in how many ways hast thou revealed thyself unto me I but O how dark has been my mind, that though in thee I live and move and have my being, and thou walkest upon the wings of the wind, and hast thy path in the sea, and the heavens declare thy glory, and all thy creatures speak of thee, I have yet disregarded this all-surrounding and universal testimony to thy pre- sence, and have too much lived as if there were no God in the world. But what thanks do I owe thee for giving to me thy blessed word, and for that wonderful love which led thee to give thine only-begotten Son, and to promise thy Holy Spirit, that I might attain that knowledge of thyself which is infinitely necessary to me ! O that I may gratefully receive and believingly use these inestimable advantages, and so become wise unto salvation ! 0 that I may see thee in every thing, and daily be increasing in the know- ledge of thee, my God ! 3. WUAT GOD is NOT. God is wholly uncreated by any other. His descriit- tion is, " I am tlie Lord that maketh all things." Isaiah xliv. 24. He is not made nor created, but the original Creator of all. God is invisible. He is a Spiritual Being, " dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto, whom no man hath seen, nor can see :— to whom be honour and power everlasting, world without end." God never CHANGES. Man is feeble and uncertain, but God " is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. God is not a man that he should lie, nor the son of man that he should re- pent. Hath he said, and shall he not do it ? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good ? " Num. xxiii. 1!). 0 blessed truth ; the happiness of all creation depends 26 CHRISTIAN TRUTH uijon it. " Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." James i. 17. God is also unsearchable. The highest archangel must have an imperfect knowledge of the great God. " Canst thou by searching find out God 1 canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection ?" Job xi. 7. " Touch- ing the Almighty, we cannot find him out." Job xxxviii. 9. He dwells " in the thick darkness," too deep to be penetrated, as well as " in the light," too bright to be en- dured. God is NOT BOUNDED, Or to be comprehended ; he is in- finite and incomprehensible. " Great is the Lord, his greatness is unsearchable." Psalm cxlv. 3. As it is impos- sible for any creature to escape his presence, so the world cannot contain him, nor the understanding of the creature fully conceive him. " Behold the heavens and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee." 1 Kings viii. 27. " He filleth all in all." Eph. i. 23. It is as high as heaven, what canst thou do ? deeper than hell, what canst thou know ? The measui-e thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea." Job xi. 9. He has no equal. " Who in the heavens can be compared unto the Lord ? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto our God ?. " Psalm Isxxix. 6. " To whom will ye liken God 1 or what likeness will ye compare unto him ? " Isa. xl. 18. He never can be resisted. " He doth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth, and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou ? " Dan. iv. 85. " Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, and in the seas and all deep places." Psalm cxxxv. 6. Meditation. How glorious a God is our God ! if we take away every defect that belongs to the creature, and add every conceiv- able perfection, we still fall infinitely short of comprehend- THE GREAT GOD. 27 ing God. " 0 the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God ! how unsearchable are his judg- ments, and his ways past finding out ! For who hath known the mind of the Lord, or who hath been his coun- sellor ? or who hath first given to him, and it sliall be re- compensed unto him again ? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things ; to whom be glory for ever." May self-abasement, reverence, admiration, de- light, and holy love, ever fill my soul in contemplating the great God ! Amen. 4. WHAT GOD is. The Bible, and that alone, tells us ; and let us notice some plain declarations. " The Lord our God is one Lord." " God is a Spirit," and we are to " worship him in spirit and in truth." " God is light, and in him is no darkness at all," and we are to " walk in the light as he is in the light." " God is love, and he tliat dwelleth in love dwc'lleth in God, and God in him." " The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and he knoweth them that trust in him." Kahum i. 7. God is true, a God of truth, and without iniquity, just and right is he." Deut. xxxii. 4, " The truth of the Lord endureth for ever. Praise ye the Lord." Psalm cxvii. He is altogether holy. " The Lord our God is holy." Psalm xcix. 9. " Be ye holy, for I am holy." 1 Pet. i. 16. The Lord is righ- teous in ALL his ways. Psalm cxlv. 17. "The Lord thy God is a merciful God." Deut. iv. 31. He is the blessed, or happy one. Mark xiv. 61. There are perfections peculiar and incommunciable to the creature. God is eternal. " From everlasting to everlasting thou art God." Ps. xc. 2. " Thou, O Lord, art our Father, our Redeemer ; thy name is from everlast- ing." Isa. Ixiii. 16. "I am Alpha and Omega (which are the first and last letters of the Greek al[)iiabet) the begin- ning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come." Rev. i. 8. "The high and 28 CHRISTIAN TRUTH lofty One that inliabiteth eternity." God is everywhere PRESENT ; " Do not I fill heaven and eai-th ? saith the Lord." Jer. xxiii. 24. God has all power : " With God nothing shall be impossible." Luke i. 37. " Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh ; is there any thing too hard for me ? " Jer. xxxii. 27. He is the greatest of all ; " Thou, Lord, art most high for evermore.'' Ps. xcii. 8. He KNOWS ALL THINGS ; " Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering." Job xxvi. 6. " The darkness and the light to him are both alike." Ps. cxxxix. 12. " His understanding is infinite." Ps. cxlvLi. 5. He FORESEES ALL THINGS ; " I am God, and there is none else. I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure." Isa. xlvi. 9, 10. He discerns EVERY THOUGHT, WORD, and WORK ; " The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man." Psalm xciv. 11. "I the Lord search the heart and try the reins, to give every man ac- cording to his ways, and according to the fruit of his do- ings." Jer. xvii. 10. If you cannot bear all this glory, look at God in Jesus, and his reflected beams shall fill you with delight. Prayer of St. Pavl. " 0 Thou, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father • of glory, give unto me the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him, that the ej'es of m3- understand- ing being enlightened, I may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints — and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe." Amen and Amen. 5. THE NAMES OF GOD. Various names are given in the Scriptures to the great I God. Some of the Hebrew words describing his name are thought to mean as follows : — Jehovah, the eternal, self- THE GREAT GOD. 20 existing God ; he which is, and which was, and which is to come. Shaddai, the supplier of all sufficiency. Eloimn, the author of eternal life, as set forth in the everlasting- covenant. Sahaoth, the mighty champion, the Redeemer of his people, and the conqueror of all his foes. Adonai, one having lordsliip or dominion over all creatures. A full revelation of the name of God was given, when, in answer to the request of Moses, " Shew me thy glory," God said, " I will proclaim the name of Jehovah hefore thee." And we read afterwards, " The Lord passed by be- fore him, and proclaimed, the Lord, the Lord God, merciful » and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, and transgression, and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty ; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation." Other names were given to Moses. When he asked what the name of God was, " God said unto Moses, I AM that I AM ; and he said unto me, Thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." This sets before us an eternal, incomprehensible, unchangeable Being ; the self-existent God. " I am Jehovah, I change not." Mai. iii. G. To this is added the follovving title : God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou sa^' unto the children of Israel : The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you ; this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations." All these names belong to our Lord Jesus Christ, who gives to us the realizing view of God, and is the memorial of the Lord, the manifestation of the invisible God. God has graciously engaged to be the God of Abraham and all his seed ; and, for ever adored be his grace to us sinners of the Gentiles, this includes all true Christians, who, though not sprung from Abraham after the flesh, arc counted through Clirist, as the seed of Abraham. Lastly, in the form of Christian baptism we have a yet 30 CHRISTIAN TRUTH : more distinct revelation of the name of God, " Baptising tliem in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Here is the one God, in three persons, distinctly set before us as the object of worship and ser- vice, and engaged to bless us. 0 glorious truth ! Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, one name, one God, our God for ever and ever ! Meditation. Shew me also thy glory, O God, my Father ! in every name by which thou hast revealed thyself, and give me to know that thou art my God, and early to seek thee, and to thirst after thee, and never to be content while at a dis- tance from thee. Surely thou art the chief and only good of thy creatures ; 0 give me then the unspeakable bliss of having the One Good One (Luke xviii. 19) for my portion and happiness for ever ! 6. THE DISPLAY OF GOD's PERFECTIONS IN CHRIST JESUS. We have seen that our Lord Jesus Christ is " the brightness of his Father's glory ; " let us endeavour then to discover something of that glory " in the face of Jesus Christ." All the perfections of God are indeed thus displayed ; but we will select some. Christ is the wisdoji of God. Wisdom is the know- ledge and right comprehension of things, distinguishing truth from error, rejecting evil and choosing good. God alone is infinite, perfect, and infallible wisdom. But Christ is the " only wise God our Saviour." Jude 25. Our Lord Christ displayed this wisdom in creation (John i. .3. Prov. iii. 19), and in providence (Col. i. IG) ; but it is in the union of the two natures, God and man, and in the whole work of his mediation for sinners, that we have the richest display of divine wisdom ; "Great is the mystery of god- liness — God was manifest in the flesh. O the treasures of wisdom and knowledge " which this has already dis- THE GREAT GOD. 3] covered, and will discover through eternity ! for they are all hid in him, in vvhom " dvvelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." Hence " the principalities and powers in heavenly places know by the church the manifold v\ is- dom of God." Ephes. iii. 10. That such a plan should have been devised when our salvation seemed hopeless ; that it should have been manifested towards such rebellious crea- tures ; that it should so provide for, illustrate, and secure all God's glories ; that through eternity we shall contem- plate it with ceaseless and growing interest, and never- ending joy and gratitude : 0 the depths of the wisdom of God, in our salvation by Christ Jesus ! This is a bound- less subject. Christ is also the power or God, and hence he is often called the " arm of the Lord," and " his right hand," Psalm cxviii. 1.5, IG. Isaiah xl. 53. This again was manifested in creation and providence, Col. i. 16, 17. Hebrews i. But it is especially in his greatest weakness, his death on the ci'oss, that Christ is seen to be the power of God. His sufferings are ever, therefore, connected with his glory. (Read Isaiah liii. Psalm xxii. Ilev. v.) He effected that which all created beings could never have effected, " the reconciliation " of the fallen world to the holy God; he, in his utmost weakness on the cross, " spoiled principalities and powers, and made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." This power is displayed in the salvation of each believer, but it will have its fullest manifestation when " the kingdoms of the world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Chi-ist, and he shall reign for ever and ever." Then shall it be said, " Thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned." Tremendous will be the power exerted in the destruction of his enemies (Isaiah Ixiii. Rev. vi. and xix.) ; " and 0 the glory of his power, when he shall come to be glorified in his saints ! " This display of his power is rapidly hastening on, and is even now at hand. " Be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh." 32 CHRISTIAN TRUTH : Clivist discovers to us the love of Gou. Never, never can fallen man discover in any other way so distinctly, so powerfully, the love of God. When this love is revealed by the Holy Ghost to the heart, it shuts out fear and doubts. The scriptures always speak of it with admira- tion. " God so loved the world that he gave his only- begotten Son. God commendeth his love to us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us ; hereby per- ceive we the love of God. In this was manifested the love of God towards us. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitia- tion for our sins." 0 the amazing- love displayed in the whole progress of a sinner's salvation, from its first be- ginning to its consummation ! Reader, desire for thyself above all things to know, and partake of, and enjoy this love, now and through all eternity. Christ discovers to us the righteousness of God. His very name is, " the Lord our Righteousness ; the Sun of Righteousness." He not only exhibited the only perfect pattern of righteousness that this world ever beheld ; but he displays the divine righteousness, the glory that unites all the divine perfections, by his incarnation, obedience, sufferings, death, and intercession. How awfully strict must be the divine justice, when " it pleased the Lord," before one sinner could be pardoned, " to bruise his Son ! he hath put him to grief, to make his soul an offering for sin." Meditation. Well might St. Paul say, " Christ is all in all." Well might he count " all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus his Lord." As no other light is wanted when the sun shines in its strength, so when Christ, my sun of righteousness, shines on me, I have the fullest light to discern the glorious God that this world can afford. 0 Jesus, shine more and more into my soul ! THE GREAT GOD. 33 (. THE HARMONY OF GOD's PERFECTIONS IN CHRIST. In the display of God's perfections (as set before us, for instance, in Exod. xxxiv. G, 7.) there seems an irrecon- cilable contradiction. If God " visit the iniquity of the fathers upon the children," how can he " keep mercy for thousands " of generations ? " If he will by no means clear the guilty," how can he be a God " forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sins ? " These questions can only be answered by contemplating Jesus and his glorious gospel. " Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him, that glory may dwell in our land. Mercy and truth are met together ; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." The mercy of his promises, and the truth of his threatenings, are all realized in Jesus. He, by his obe- dience, has for us sinners obtained all the promises, and by his sufferings for us, endured the penalties of the divine wrath, which God had justly threatened, and we had truly incurred. The righteousness of God is exhibited in the most distinct and powerful light by the obedience unto death of the Son of God, and thereby a title is gained for our pardon, peace, and everlasting salvation. Now we are " justified freely tiirough the redemption that is in Jesus Christ, whom God hatii set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbear- ance of God ; to declare, I say, at this time, his righteous- ness, that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." The rainbow, showing you the light in varied but united, in reflected but yet distinct rays of glory, surrounds tiie throne of God. In tliis harmony of divine perfections " grace " trium- phantly "reigns," Rom. v. 21. 0 amazing, astounding grace ! God's co-equal Son becomes man, and dies, the just for the unjust ! The infinite dignity and excellence of the divine nature is united with the human in our Imma- nuel. The word which " was with God, and was God, was 34 CHRISTIAN TRUTH made flesh and dwelt among us," and suffered and died for our sins, and thus infinite honour is put upon the law of God, and infinite satisfaction made to the divine justice, and all " to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved." Every attri- bute of God is harmonized, displayed, and glorified in the salvation of him that believes in Jesus. But, 0 fearful and awful thought ! the same attributes are harmonized, displayed, and glorified in the destruction of all who re- ject this salvation, and rebel against God. That v^'hichis mercy to his people, is destruction to his enemies ; " he overthrew Pharaoli and his host in the Red sea, for his mercy endureth for ever ; he smote great kings, for his mercy endureth for ever." Fly, fly, from his coming wrath, to Jesus, the only ark of refuge for sinful man. Meditation. " A just God and a Saviour ! " that is, the God that meets all my fears and all my wants. I know that " the Judge of all the earth must do right ;" but I know that if he does so, witliout a Saviour I am lost and undone for ever. But, O joyful thought ! this just God is become my Saviour, and vvlien " I confess" my sins, " he is just and faithful (as well as merciful and gracious) to forgive my sins, and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness." Lord, I believe ; help thou my unbelief. 8. GOD OUR SALVATION. How wonderful is it, but not less true than wonderful, that a poor sinner may say to the great God, " Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust, and not be afraid ! " Isaiah xii. 2. And how great is that salvation which he has provided for his own people, in all its parts ! From eternity he thought of it, purposed and planned it : Jesus was ap- pointed to be their Head, Mediator, and complete Saviour, without any reference to the merits and obedience of man THE GREAT GOD. 35 as to the cause of it. " God hath saved us and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given iu Christ Jesus before the world began." And that this salvation might be sure to all the heirs of promise, they are " given " by the Father to Christ " out of the world," to be kept and saved by him, (see John, chapters vi. x. and xvii.) and a covenant oath is made for their security. Heb. vi. This salvation is entirely of God, wholly free. " By grace ye are saved through faith, and that not of your- selves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast." But does not this tend to licentiousness ; or is it not our after-obedience by our own power that maintains it ? No, neither ; " The grace of God, which bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." This salvation is indeed only begun now ; we are waiting for its completion. It will not be realized fully, and com- pleted, till the day of the resurrection. But we are now " kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time," and we are directed to " gird up the loins of our mind, to be sober, and hope to the end, for the grace that is to be brought unto us at the revelation of Jesus Christ." 0 tlie glories of that com- pleted salvation ! " When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall we also appear with him in glory. We shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is : we shall ever be with the Lord." Till that full day of glory arrives, may our hearts be refreshed by much meditation upon it ! Some of the last thoughts of Henry Martyn when sinking under a distressing disease, were thus expressed in his journal : — ' I sat in the orchard, and thought with sweet comfort and peace of my God ; in solitude — my com- D 2 36 CHRISTIAN TRUTH panion, my friend, and comforter. 0 when shall time give place to eternity ! When shall appear that new heaven and earth wherein dwelleth righteousness ! There — there shall in no wise enter any thing that defileth : none of that wickedness that has made men worse than wild beasts — none of those corruptions that add still more to the miseries of mortality, shall be seen or heard any more.' Meditation. Surprising indeed it is ! full of joy and full of comfort is the thought, that God, who is the just terror of the sin- ner, may now be viewed by the sinner, believing in Jesus, as his salvation ! " 0 visit me with thy salvation, satisfy me with tliy mercy earlj^, that I may see the good of thy chosen ! " Salvation just suits all my miseries, all my sin- fulness, and all my necessities ; God, my salvation, is full rest, complete satisfaction, and boundless joy for my troubled, anxious, disquieted heart. Let me, then, realize and enjoy it day by day. 9. THE WAY OF ACCESS UNTO GOD. How may a sinful creature come near to God ? It is one of the most important of questions, and the answer in the Bible is very clear. Look at One who wears our form ; he is in the bosom of the eternal Father, his elect in whom his soul delighteth. He is our Mediator : " K any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and he is the propitiation for our sins, and not for oui-s only, but also for the sins of the whole world." He is " the Head of the church," and we are " members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones." United by faith to him, we have freedom of access to the Holy God : yes, " boldness (0 astonishing word !) to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus." This is the " new and living way which he hath consecrated for us through the veil, that is to say, his flesh." Come, then, by Jesus, by him only. Come in any other THE GREAT GOD. 87 way, and you are rejected with rigliteous wrath. Come in this way, and you are welcomed witli fatlierly love. It is his own word. " No man cometh unto tlie Father but by jue." The fierce displeasure of God, and his fiery indigna- tion, is revealed against every soul of man that doeth evil. But now, for a season, there is a mercy-seat, there is a High-Priest for us, there is " a throne of grace " to which we may " come boldly," now in an accepted time and in a day of salvation, " to obtain mercy and to find grace to help in time of need." And if you come to Christ, you have in that very com- ing sweet tokens for good. " Every man that hath heard and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me : " it shews divine teaching. " All that the Father giveth me shall come unto me ; " it shews that you are among those given to Christ. " And him that cometli unto me I will in no wise cast out : " it shews that you will certainly be received, and be preserved to the end. John x. 27, 28. But do you say, I have no power of myself to come to God by Christ, and even use the words of Christ against yourself^ — " No man can come to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him 1 " It is true, most true. Experience confirms the divine statement. But, do you j make the objection as a cloak for sin, and an excuse for I indolence ! It is your guilt and condemnation to be un- I willing to come to Christ. Do you make the objection in distress and anxiety of mind ? " Help is laid on one that is mighty." Jesus is " mighty to save." He has for sin- ners abundant grace. " Likewise also the Holy Spirit helpethour infirmities." Your Father which is in heaven will give his Holy Spirit to them that ask. Cry mightily, earnestly, constantly ; wait on the Lord, and see if he will not have mercy on you. See if he will break his word. Heaven and earth shall sooner pass away. O give not place to the devil hy any cavils of this kind ; the root of which almost invariably is the ruling love of the world, unbelief of the reality of spiritual and eternal good, and slothful indifference to your everlasting welfare. 38 CHRISTIAN TRUTH : See now clearly the way of access. " Through Christ we have access by one Spirit to the Father." The gate is open ; the way is clear ; sinner, escape for thy life. Now be delivered from hell and everlasting damnation. Now, now come to Jesus, and gain everlasting glory. Meditation. When the apostle asked, " How can we know the way ?" how full and blessed was the answer of our Lord to his inquiry ! " I am the way, the truth, and the life ! " 0 may I every day walk in Christ as the way, know Christ as the truth, and live in him as the life of my soul ! " To me to live is Christ ;" let this be my life and my joy con- tinually, and then if I die, to die will be gain ; or if he shall appear before I die, abiding in him, I shall " have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming." And how wonderful is it that the way of access is not for the righteous, but for sinners ! Yes, only for sinners, so that it is not the righteous, but the sinner that comes to the Father through Jesus, and by one Spirit. May I con- stantly avail myself of this amazing privilege, obtained for me, a sinner, by my divine and righteous Lord ! 10. COMMUNION WITH GOD. This is the end of the knowledge of God — the daily and constant enjoyment of his presence ; and this only is the creature's happiness. " In thy presence is fulness of joy." This the Christian in a measure attains here. " Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ : and these things write we unto you that your joy may be full." This will be the Christian's joy through eternity. There " the Lord God giveth them light, and they shall reign for ever and ever." How then may we daily walk with God, as Enoch did, as Abraham did, and as David did ? There is communion with the Father. " Truly our fellowship is with the Father." This is eminently in THE GREAT GOD. 30 love ; God is love, and his love was manifested in sending his only-begotten Son into the world ; and tlie " love of God " is that which the apostle specially desires might be with the Corinthians. 2 Cor. xiii. 14. " The Father himself loveth you." John xvi, 27. And when " the love of God is shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost," (Rom. V. 5,) when we see how eternal, free, unchange- able, and distinguishing it is, it excites corresponding re- turns of love, and we " love him because he first loved us." 1 Jolin iv. 19. And in the flowing in of God's love to our souls, through the word of Christ and by his Spirit, and the going out of our affections to him, consists much of that sweet communion, commerce, and intercourse which subsists between a soul born of God and the God and Fa- ther of our Lord Jesus Christ. How blessed, how infi- nitely blessed, this fellowship is, what tongue can tell ! There is communion with the Son. " Truly our fel- lowship is with his Son Jesus Christ ;" — a communion so entire and intimate, as to be compared to that of the mem- bers and the body, the husband and the wife. This com- munion is peculiarly " in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Cor. xiii. ]4. He is full of grace and truth, and of his fulness have all we received ;— full of grace in his person as God and man, in his life and death for us, in his work, in his kingdom, and glory ; full of grace in the gifts of his Spirit, received for us sinners who believe in him. And when this is discovered to us by the Holy Ghost (John xvi. 14, 1.5), then our hearts are drawn out to him. Christ dwells in our hearts by faith, his love con- strains us, and we live not to ourselves, but to him who died for us. He sympathizes with us ; in all our afflictions he is afflicted ; he bestows his gifts daily upon us, and we desire in all things to look up to him, trust in him, love him, and obey him ; and where we do not, grieve and mourn for our guilt and foil}'. 0 blessed communion ! No communion with any on earth is so perfect and so sweet as this communion between Christ and his people. There is communion wjth the Holy Ghost. This is 40 CHRISTIAN TRUTH : what the apostle closes with in his desire for the Corin- thians, " The communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all ! " He is the present administrator of the kingdom of Christ, the Comforter who supplies our wants in the ab- sence of the Saviour. " It is expedient for you that I go away ; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you, but if I depart, I will send him unto you." Many and gracious are the offices which he undertakes for us. He is our Quickener, Guide, Teacher, Sanctifier, Comforter, and Upholder. The temple in which he de- lights to dwell is the body of the believer, 1 Cor. vi. 19 ; where he comes also, he " abides for ever." John xiv. 16. O the unspeakable advantage of this Almighty Spirit, who, with multiplied and diversified gifts, distributes as he will to the people of Christ for the good of the whole body ! He glorifies Christ, witnesses with our spirits that we are the children of God, seals us to the day of redemption, gives the earnest of our heavenly inheritance ; he becomes in us a spirit of supplication and of adoption, of fruitfulness and of holy joy. May we never, then, resist or grieve him, and never quench his motions in us ? May we worship and love him, and desire his in-dwelling, and walk in the Spirit day by day ! This is our communion with the Divine Spirit. Communion with God is maintained by loving him and delighting in him all the day. " Delight thyself in the Lord." 0 gracious direction ! may we know it in Jesus, and by the Holy Ghost, constantly and experimentally ! It is also maintained by prayer to him : our life, a life given to prayer ; constant rising of the heart's affections to our ever-present God, in holy thirstings, desires, and requests to him. It is, lastly, maintained by praise, a duty never out of season to the Christian ; " in every thing give thanks." David's Psalms are full of this thankful- ness, and no small part of our communion with God con- sists in the grateful emotions of a full heart, overflowing with praise and thanksgiving. THE GREAT GOD. 41 Prayer for communion with God. 0 my God ! draw me, and I will run after thee. It is thine own covenant engagement to all that believe in thy Son ; " I will be their God, and tliey shall be my people." It is thine own promise to him of a " contrite and a humble spirit," that thou wilt dwell with him, to "revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." Do thou, I beseech thee, dwell with me and be in me. O give me the humble and contrite spirit, that I may, through Jesus, have the blessed in-dwelling of God himself, and my body may be the very temple of the Holy Ghost, and my whole life a walking with thee in faith and hope, in joy and love, till I come to see thee as thou art, and to know as I am known. 11. PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE ON THE ATTRIBUTES OF THE GREAT GOD. GreatiKSs, Pmner, and Omn'tscience — Genesis xviii. 14. Exod. xv. 6, 13. Numbers xi. 23. 1 Sam. ii 2. 1 Cliron. .\xix. 11, 12. Job ix. 32. Psalm xliv. 21 ; Ixxvii. 19 ; civ. 24 ; cvii. 29 ; Ixxxix. 1, 2, 7, 8. Proverbs v 21. Jer, V. 22. Daniel ii. 20— 22 : iv. 3. Joel ii. 11. Matt. xix. 26. Luke i. 37, 38 Justice and Higliteowoten— Gen. xviii. 25. Exod. xxxiv. 7. Numb, xxiii. 19. 1 Sam. XV. 29. Deut. xxxii. 4. Psalm xi. 7 ; xix. 8; xxiii. 4; xxxvi. 6; xlv. 7; xlviii. 10: Ixxi. 19; Ixxxix. 14, 34; xcii. 15; xcvii. 2. Isaiah xi. 4. Hosea xiv. 9. Romans xi. 11. Rev, xv. 3. Goodn&.i, Mtnii, and londencmsMn — Exodus xv. 13 ; xxxiv. 6, 7. Deut. i. 31. Judges X. 16. 2 Kings xiii. 23. 2 Chron. vi. 18. Neliemiah ix. 17, 31 . Job xi. 6. Psalm xxxiii. 5; xxxv. 10; xxxvi. 5; Ivii. 10; xx.wi. 7; Ixii. 12; Ixxviii. 38; Ixxxvi. 15; Ixxxix. 14; xcviii. 3 ; ciii. 3, 4, 9—13; cvi. 4, 5 ; cxiii. 5, C; cxvi. 5 ; cxxx. 7 ; cxlv. 8, fl. Isaiali xxx. 18. Jer. xii. 15 ; iii. 12. Lam. iii. 21. Hosea xi. 4. Micali vii. 18. Matt xviii. 14. Luke i. 50. Eph. ii. 14. 1 Peter i. 3. Romans xv. 9. 2 Cor. i. 3. James i. 17: ii. 13 ; V. 1 1 Hit nreat love to Jlfan— John xvi. 17. Romans viii. 32. Eph. ii. 4, 7. IJohn iii. 16; iv. 7—11, 19 He w our Portion mul Hefwje — 2 Sam. xxii. I9, 31. Job xvi. 20. Psaira ix. 9 ; xvi. 5 ; xxvii. 7, 8 ; xxxi. 3 ; xxxvii. 39 ; xlvi. 1 ; liv. 4 ; lix. 9, 16, 17 ; Ixi. 3; Ixii. 7: Ixxiii. 26; Ixxxiv. lis xc. 1; cxix. 57; cxxi. 2; cxUi. 5. Proverbs xviii. 10. Isaiah xxv. 4. Lam. iii. 24. Hosea xiii. 9. Joel iii. 16. Nahum i. 7 Saltation ix from Cod— Job xiii. 16. Psalm iii. R; cxviii. 14; cxliv. 10. Isaiahxliii.il. Jeremiah iii. 23. Hosea xiii. 4. Eph. ii. 8 Iitcitations to come to God — Isaiah Iv. 1 — 3. James iv. 8 God ej'jmtulates leitk us — Deut. v. 29. Isaiah i. 5 — 18: v. 4 ; 1. 2 ; Iv. 2. Lam. iii. 39. Ezckiel xviii. 23, 29, 32 ; xxxiii. 14. John v. 40, 42 CURISTIAX TRUTH : CHAPTER III. ON CKEATION. 1. God the Creator of all— 2. The vastness of the visible creation — 3. The creation of man — 4. All things made to glorify God — 5. The fall and recovery of man — 6. Creation bears constant witness to redemption — 7. The New Creation — 8. The voice of creation praising God — 9. Prayers. ]. GOD THE CREATOR OF ALL. We find ourselves placed in the midst of a world full of the wonderful works of God ; every thing we see, and hear, and have intercourse with, tells us of the great God, as the one Maker and Creator : who hade all to be, and called it into existence where it existed not before. At the beginning of the Bible we have a full account of the way in which it pleased God to proceed in creation. All was done in order and in succession. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. In six days he formed the present state of our world. On the first day he commanded the light to be, and there was light, and he divided it from the darkness. On the second day he made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the fir- mament. On the third day lie separated the land from the seas, and made the earth to bring forth gi-ass and herb and fruit trees. On the fourth he made the sun to rule the day, and also the moon, which, with the stars, was to rule the night. On the fifth day, the fishes in the water and the fowls in the air ; and on the sixth the cattle, beasts, and creeping things were created. ON CREATION. 4.3 After having thus made a beautiful residence adapted for the use of man, he last of all, at the close of the sixth day, made man, holy and happy, placed him in it, and gave him dominion over all. Thus man was surrounded on every side with the works of the great God, and you may see in all of them plain proofs of his wisdom, love, and power. His works are the looking-glass in which you may contemplate continually the perfections of your Creator, and by which you may rise to a constant communion with him. Now, in order to this, the first requisite is Faith, or be- lief that God is the Creator of all. Hence St. Paul says, " Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." This faith is founded on God's word : for though " tlie invisible things of God from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead, yet men, not liking to retain God in their knowledge, shut their eyes to the mirror of creation presenting God always before them, and require a yet plainer teacher. Tlie word of God, therefore, most distinctly sets before us God the Creator of all things, and calls us to faith in him. We learn also from that word that Father, Son, and Holy Ghost were all concerned and combined in the work of creation. Thus of our Lord Jesus Christ it is said, " All things were made by him, and without him was not any thing made that was made ; " and of the Holy Ghost it is said, " The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the wa- ters." Gen. i. 2. " Thou sendest forth thy Spirit, they are created." Ps. civ. 30, Look then upon the magnificent works of creation. Observe first the beautiful light which removes the veil from the face of created things, and makes every thing visible ; giving us the means of the sight and enjoyment of the glories of the heavens and the glories of the earth. See the expanded fikmament above ; the heavens which 44 CHRISTIAN TRUTH : declare the glory of the Lord, and the firmament which sheweth his handywork, and soar through its immensity ; rise from the first heavens in the clouds, to the second hea- vens in the starry regions, and the third heavens beyond all, where is the more directly manifested presence of God. Contemplate next the boundless and unfathomable ocean : he measures the whole " in the hollow of his hands ; " he raises the tumultuous waves when they swell and roar ; at his bidding all is again stillness and peace ; and he makes even the sand its barrier. Or again, view the variegated EARTH, its hills and its vallies, its woods and its fields ; its springs and its rivers ; its infinitely diversified productions of herbs and flowers ; its hidden riches in its mines, and its outward fruitfulness. View the dazzling glorj- of the srN by day, enlightening, warming, enlivening, and fruc- tifying every thing, rejoicing as a giant to run his course, and that full of blessing. View the milder, peaceful beams of the MOON, which cheer the solitary traveller by night, but disturb not the quiet and repose of the millions of the weary. Rise then above these to the glittering stars, those worlds upon worlds, those crevices in the heavens, by which we get a glimpse of the grandeur of God. Then go from inanimate nature to the living world ; to the fishes that people the ocean, from the gigantic whale that takes his pastime in the sea, to the almost invisible inha- bitants that people a drop of water ; from the vast elephant to the least insect that creeps on the earth ; all, all is full of God. His power, his wisdom, his love, shine forth in the greatest and the smallest ; nothing is made or subsists without him ; nothing is above his control ; nothing is beneath his care. And into this world he introduced man as head and Lord ; bidding him " have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the eai-th." He made for him the garden of Eden, with every thing adapted for his happi- ness ; gave him a companion, and bid him " be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth." ON CREATION. 45 1 would close this part in the words of a late writer, the Rev. Mr. Kirby, who has deeply studied the living works of God. He says, speaking of the minute animals of crea- ation ; the innumerable insects which fill our world : — " Nothing is more striking than the infinitely diversified forms into which creative power has moulded the little frail animals that are destined to inhabit, and numbers of them to illuminate the wide expanse of waters occupying so large a portion of the globe which we inhabit. When we survey with curious and delighted eyes the varied tribes tliat cover the soils of every aspect and elevation of that part of the globe that rises out from the fluctuating surface of the great deep, and which, instead of deriving their nourishment and means of life and breath from the waters, salt or fresh, live, and breathe, and are fed by principles and elements communicated either mediatelj' or immedi- ately from the AIR, an atmospheric ocean — an expanse that envelopes \_ox clothes] uninterruptedly the whole of our globe, and which itself is fed and renewed by the con- stant effluxes [Rowings] of the great centre of irradiation [of that which gives light] ; which also in its turn, as well as all the other orbs that burn and are radiant, and those that revolve around them and reflect their light, receive their all from Him, that great and ineffable Being who gives to all and receives from none, I lose myself in infinite amazement ; I shrink into very nothingness ; I I am lost in the depths of the unfathomable deity. Life, a life attended in most cases, if not all, with some enjoyment, swarms every where, in the air, in the earth, under the earth, in the waters — there is no place in which the will of an Almighty Creator is not executed by some being that has animal life. What power is manifested in the organi- , zation and structure of those infinite hosts of existence ' > what wisdom in their adaptation to their several functions! ' and what goodness and stupendous love in that universal I action upon all these different and often discordant crea- tures, compelling them, while they are gratifying their own appetites and passions, and following the lead of their CHRISTIAN TRUTH several instincts, to promote the good of the whole system, combining into harmony almost universal discord, and out of death and destruction bringing forth life and health, and universal joy ! He who, as Hennas, an ancient writer, speaks, ' contains all things,' can alone thus act upon all things, and direct them, in all tlieir ways, to acknowledge him, by the accomplishment of each wise and beneficent purpose of his will. Philo Judeeus, in his book upon agri- culture, speaking of those words of the Psalmist, " The Lord is my shepherd, therefore can I lack nothing," has the following sublime idea illustrative of this subject : — " God, like a shepherd and king, leads, according to right and law, the earth, and the water, and the air, and the fire, and whatever plants or animals are therein ; things mortal and things divine ; the physical structure also of the hea- vens, and of the sun and moon ; the revolutions and har- monious choirs of the other stars, placing over them his right word, the first-born Son, who has inherited the care of this holy flock as the Viceroy of our mighty King." Meditation. Can you, Christian reader, contemplate these things, can you "stand still and consider the wondrous works of God" (Jobxxxvii.l4,)without joininginthe expressions of David? " When 1 consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained, what is man, that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man, that thou visitest him ? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour." Psalm viii. 3 — 5. " 0 Lord, how manifold are thy works ! in wisdom hast thou made them all ; the earth is full of thy riches, so is the great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts ! " Psalm cxix. 24, 2.5. 0 may I learn to fear, and love, and trust in, and serve thee, my Creator and my God, now and evermore ! 2. THE VASTNESS OF THE VISIBLE CREATION. Man, confined to a cottage in a little village, is ready to ON CREATION. 47 think his own hamlet, or his neighbouring market-towns, comprehend the chief part of the world. Men who have never been out of their own country, and have read little of others, have but a feeble idea of the vastness of the habit- able globe, with its thickly inhabited cities, its trackless regions, its almost boundless ocean, and its eight hundred millions of inhabitants. Men, before the discovery of as- tronomy, had little idea of the worlds upon worlds in the midst of which our earth moves, and of which it forms a part. The Bible leads us, however, to other worlds and other inhabitants of those worlds, and shows the interest which they take both in our creation and in the wonders of redemption, which things the angels desire to look into. But lift up your eyes and survey the vast hemisphere above. See by day the sun in its splendour and glory. It is calculated to be nearly one hundred millions of miles distant from us, and nearly nine hundrsd thousand miles in diameter, being above one million times as large as our earth. Besides our eai'tli, ten planets, some appearing like splendid stars, and several of them vastly larger than the earth, revolve around the sun. One of the more distant of those planets, Saturn, five hundred times larger than our earth, is calculated to be above nine hundred millions of miles distant from the sun.* 0 how vast the Maker * LIST OF THE PRINCIPAL PLANETS. Name* of PUnets. Dia- meter of tiich. Circum- fereme of eacli. Distatire from the Sua. Orliit. or Circle Revolii. tion on its Axil. Hrs. Min. Revolution about the Sun Daya.Hrb, Min. Velocity in a Minticc SI. N 796,000 3,501,964 MERCURY 2,460 7,724 32,000,000 201,024.009 Uncertain 67 21 IB 1515 VENUS 7,906 24.825 59.000.000 370,036,000 S3 21 224 16 49 1124 EARTH 7,9l>4 j 25,020 95,000,000 508.933.000 24 365 5 48 968 MARS 4,440 13.960 130,000.000 773,686,000 24 40 686 23 27 782 JUPITER 81.105 251.908 424,000,000 2,662,280,000 9 55 4,332 2 20 362 SATURN 67,870 213,112 777 000.000 48,81,891.000 10 16 10.759 6 36 326 HERSCHELL 35,112 111.912 l.SOO.OOO.OOO Uncertain Uncertain 30,295 dajs. Unceri. The adme.isurement is by English miles: there are considerable variations in the dill'ereut admeasurements. The other planets are Pallas, Juno, Ceres, Vates. 48 CHRISTIAN TRUTH : of all, who bid them to be and to move in their varied orbits ! But take a larger survey ; go beyond the sphere of our sun, and the planets revolving around it ; look up, on a clear night, to the immense concave above your heads. See its glittering glories. And then consider the light •which God has given respecting them, by modern discov- eries made through the telescope. It has been calculated that light comes to the earth from the sun in eight minutes, but so distant is one of the nearest of the fixed stars that light takes a year and a half to pass from that star to the earth. The distance of the stars from us is such that, in the best observations made with the most powerful teles- copes, they still retain the appearance which they have to the naked eye, of mere points of light. Their size must be immense. Their number is incalculable. The milky way, examined by powerful telescopes, resolves itself into an incredible number of small stars. 0 how great, how glorious the Creator and Upholder of these innumerable worlds ! Nor is his greatness and glory diminished, but magnified, by the same traces of wisdom, power and love, discovered to us by the microscope in the smallest and meanest of insects. The earth is not a flat piece of ground, but a globe, like an orange, about twenty-four thousand miles round. The sun does not go round the earth, as it appears to do, and as, in common language, all speak of it as doing : but the earth goes round the sun, in three hundred and sixty-five days, and turns round its own axis in twenty-four hours, causing thus the varied seasons of the year, and the inter- change of night and day. How wonderful is the power of God, thus suspending these mighty globes in the air, and revolving each in the immensity of space, and keeping each in its orbit, without ever deviating from their ap- pointed course. " Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded, and the)' were created. He hath also established them for ever and ever." If a cannon-ball were to proceed from the earth as ON CREATION. 49 quickly as it goes from the mouth of a cannon, and to con- tinue going with the same rapidity till it reached the near- est of the fixed stars, it has been calculated that it would take about (500 years to reach that star. How wonderful also are the cojiets. The word comet, taken from a Greek word, is so called from the appearance of the comet in the skies, generally with a long hairy brush, or tail of light, connected with it. A comet is a heavenly body, in the planetary region, appearing sud- denly, and then disappearing. Some return in a short period, others reqnire a longer period ; Halley's comet re- turns in about seventy-six years. Some of them pass so quickly through the air as to move many millions of miles in a day. But little, however, is yet known respecting them. This is calculated to teach us, respecting creation as well as redemption, that humbling but profitable lesson : " 0 the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and know- ledge of God ! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out ! " Meditation. 0 Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth, who hast set thy glory above the heavens ! And yet thou condescendedst to be my God and my portion for ever. And all thy wisdom, greatness, power, and love are, in Jesus, my security for everlasting blessedness. Who is so great a God as our God ? .3. THE CREATION OF MAN. "We must now more distinctly consider the creation of man, as God dwells more particularly upon it, and it more immediately concerns us. This is the account given of our creation : — "God said. Let us make man in our image, after our likeness ; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his 50 CHRISTIAN TRUTH own image, in the image of God created he him, male and female created he them." The ever-glorious Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, are represented here as determining to make man. He was to be made in tlie divine image. Our Lord Christ is frequently called in the New Testament, " the image of God"; (2 Cor. iv. 4. Col. i. 15. Heb. i. 8.) it appears there- fore hence, that his incarnation having been determined on before the foundation of the world, (Eph. i. 4. 2 Tim. i. 9. 1 Peter i. 20,) Adam was made in that fore-ordained image. He was also made in the likeness of God, which we learn is righteousness and true holiness, (Eph. iv. 24.) knowledge and truth. Col. iii. 9, 10. Thus Adam was originally formed perfectly holy and happy, appointed lord of all creation here below, and to be the head and parent of innumerable beings like himself. And when God had thus laid the foundations of the earth, the glorious hosts above united in one song of praise; " the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy ; " and our divine Redeemer, as the Wis- dom of God, is thus represented : " I was rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth, and my delight was with the sons of men." Meditation. How full of goodness is the Lord to us the children of men ! Why should he thus favour and distinguish man 1 Oh the riches of his wisdom, grace, and love, who formed us out of nothing, to be like himself ! What a fair and large dominion he has bestowed upon us ! To him be glory. 4. ALL THINGS MADE TO GLORIFY GoD. The Bible is very express upon this. " The Lord hath made all things for himself." Pi-ov. xvi. 4. " Of him, and through him, and to him, are all things, to whom be glory for ever." Rom. xi. 36. And all things created do indeed set forth and display to ox CREATION. 51 US the glory of the invisible God. His eternity may be clearly seen in their creation. He was before anything else was. " Thy years are throughout all generations ; of old thou hast laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure." Psalm cii. 14 — 26. His almighty POWER becomes manifest and obvious, when we look at the work of his hands. Rom. i. 20. His wisdom shines infi- nitely and incomparably excellent, the more minutely we survey what he has formed, and compare it with the most skilful works of any of his creatures. His loving-kind- ness is seen in the adapting of everything to its designed use ; and his holiness in the invariable tendency of sin to ultimate misery, and of righteousness to true happiness in the end, however we may first suffer. When created, all was indeed pre-eminently beautiful and glorious : so that when God himself surveyed the whole, it is said, he " saw every thing that he had made, and behold it was very good : " each was perfect in its kind, fit for the end for which it was made, and all full of life, beauty, usefulness, and happiness. But it must be acknowledged, many things appear far otherwise now ; sin and disease, misery and death, abound on every side ; spring and autumn, summer and winter, youth and age, cold and heat, want and fulness, all have their corresponding sorrows, trials, and afflictions ; and all God's blessings may l)e, and often are, changed into curses. Deut. xxviii. " Man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward ! " Whence arises aU these things ! and how are they declaring the divine glory 1 They spring from sin — the sin of man ; and we shall see how God has taken occasion, from that sin the more remarkably to display himself and his own glory. In the mean time, let his works speak his praise. What- ever man may be, God is perfect, and all his waj's are mercy and truth, and the whole earth is full of his glory. The whole creation is one entire volume, and the sense of every line is God. His name is legible on every creature, E 2 62 CHRISTIAN TRUTH : and he that sees not God at all, understands not the sense of creation. As it is eternal life to know God, so this God is the life of the creature which we know, and the know- ing of him in it, is the life of all our knowledge. Meditation. " Thou art worthy, 0 Lord, to receive glory and honour and power ; for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." Shall not the crea- ture glorify the Creator ? Is it not our reasonable— ought it not to he our most delightful service and duty ? 0 that we might always delight ourselves in the Lord, and rejoice in his greatness and goodness, and be helped to this tlirougli every part of this creation ! 0 tliat whether we eat or drink, or whatsoever we do, we may do all to the glory of God ! Alas ! alas ! how have I forgotten my Creator, and lived to myself, and disregarded thy glory ! May it henceforth be manifest in a grateful, praising life, that I am among thy saints, who shew forth thy praises, and bless thy holy name ! 5. THE FALL AND RECOVERY OF MAN. We cannot take a right view of the present state of creation, and God's glory in it, without a brief notice of the fall and recovery of man. If God formed all so very good, how entered evil into our world 1 The Bible tells us. It pleased God, after giving man the Lordship over the whole earth, to require from him one single, simple test of his obedience, saying, '•' Of tlie tree of the knowledge of good and evil thou shalt not eat : for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." Gen. ii. 17. Tempted by the devil, who took the form of a serpent for that purpose, and whom the Bible reveals to us as a fallen spirit, the father of lies, and the adversary of man, our first parents believed that enemy more than God, and, captivated by the appearances of good, for the sake of obtaining the fancied good, they dis- ON CREATION. 53 obe3'ed God, and took of the forbidden tree, and so lost their original righteousness, and man became " dead in trespasses and sins." Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean ? Man's nature was now fallen, and Adam now begat children in his own lilieiiess, aiter his image : " By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." You must now, therefore, view all men as being by na- ture " children of wrath," conceived in iniquity, and born in sin, and that wholly and altogether through the fault of man. But the great God, our Creator, had purposes of grace and mercy towards us, when we were rebellious and dis- obedient. These purposes he revealed in the sentence upon the serpent — " I vi'ill put enmity between thee and the wo- man, and l)etvveen thy seed and her seed ; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel," In this little sentence there is a whole Bible, a history of the world, and of the church of Christ. It is like that little acorn which contains all the parts from which the future magnificent tree hereafter shall spring. And, blessed be God ! it em- phatically points out the seed of the woman, who is our divine Redeemer, Jesus Christ, while he suffers for us, at length completely crushing our adversary, Satan. Jesus Christ, our Lord, bears indeed the title of the second Adam, and " the last Adam who was made a quickening Spirit. The first man is of the earth, earthy ; the second man is the Lord from heaven ; as is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy, and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly." He is the head of a new and recovered race of men, who shall be restored to more than all the original glory and blessedness of the first Adam. If " by one man's offence many were made sin- nei's, much more they which receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness, shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." You may, in the whole history of the first Adam, dis- 54 CHRISTIAN TRUTH ! cover much of God's grace revealed in the second Adam. He is the image of God, the head or father of a race ; his work affects his seed ; his dominion, his marriage, and the place where he dwelt, all these things may tell you much of Christ, and of our recovery in him. Meditation. Oh, how awful are the effects of sin and disobedience ! What tremendous evil one single act of unbelief and dis- obedience brought in upon our world ! God help me to see the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and utterly abhor it ! And how wonderful that divine wisdom, grace, and mercy, which has provided a way of recovery 1 O that I may belong to Christ, the second Adam ! Let me count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ, that I may win Christ, and be found in him. G. CREATION BEARS CONSTANT WITNESS OF REDEMPTION. God has, in his infinite wisdom and continual providence, so ordered all things, that the whole world is full of lessons teaching us, every day, and every hour, salvation by Jesus Christ. The book of nature, as has been often shewn, is a picture to discover to us the book of grace ; and the Bible is the interpreter which makes plain the spiritual mean- ing of earthly things. The sun shining in the heavens tells us some of the glory and some of the benefits of Christ Jesus, the Sun of Righteousness. The wind that blows where it listeth, and is invisible to the eye of sense, tells us something of the Holy Spirit who invisibly works where he pleases. The earthly father who pities his children, and provides for them, tells us something of that better Father, who is in heaven, and loves us on earth. The house in which I dwell, the food which I eat, the clothes which I wear, the way in which I walk, the friend in whom I delight, the husband of my choice, the wife of iny bosom, — all, to the spiritual eye, are full of Christ and ON CREATION. 55 his salvation. We are surrounded thus with constant helps to the knowledge of the grace of Christ, and to the enjoyment of communion with him. Especially by the mode in which all life is sustained, have we constant lessons of what are the just wages of sin, and of the doctrine of Clirist's dying for us sinners, and of our living by his death. The whole providence of God in the world is life by death ; every thing speaks it as the present law of subsistence through the whole earth. Mr. Kirby, after shewing how animals live upon each other, saj's : — " It may be remarked, with regard to this constant scene of destruction, this never universally intermitted war of one part of creation upon another, that the sacrifice of a part maintains the health and life of the whole. The great doctrine of vicarious sufferiiifj [or, one suffering for ano- ther] forms an article of physical or natural science ; and we discover, standing even upon this foundation, that the suff^erings and death of one being may be, in the Divine counsels, and consistently with what we know of the general operations of Providence, the cause and instrument of the spiritual life and final salvation of infinite hosts of others. Thus does the animal kingdom in some sort preach the gospel of Clirist." He also states that " more than twenty punitive kinds of creatures infest man internally — in the brain, the bile, the blood, the kidneys, tlie muscle, the cellular tissue, and the intestines. Death alone proves with a greater strength of evidence than this army of scourges set in arraj' against him, that man is fallen from his original state of integrity and favour with God." What an interjjreter of tlie state of man, and of the way of our salvation, then, is the book of nature ! Meditation. O my soul ! use the helps which thy God hath given thee in creation, for learning those things which belong to thy everlasting salvation ! My God and Father ! be thou .56 CHRISTIAN TRUTH : my teacher, not only by giving- me tlie light of thy pre- cious word, and the book of creation, but thine own Spirit also to shine upon that word, and interpret that book, and make them clear, and to shine in my heart, and dispel all the mists of sin and all the darkness of ignorance, through Jesus Christ, our Lord ! 7. THE NEW CREATION, The Bible holds out to us a most blessed discovery of a new creation, begun now, and to be perfected hei'eafter. This new creation is begun now in the children of God. " If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature ; old things are passed away ; behold, all things are become new, and all things are of God," A real Christian is born again of God ; " The new man, after God, is created in righteous- ness and true holiness." Our Lord Christ is the head and Lord of the new creation ; " the image of the living God, the first-born of every creature ; for by him were all things created that are in heaven and in earth, visible and in- visible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or princi- palities, or powers ; all things were created by him and for him, and he is before all things, and by him all things consist." All who have received the Holy Ghost have been thus quickened or made alive ; and being led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God ; his children, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ, preparing for their heavenly inheritance. This is that new creation of which the Bible speaks much, (Psalm li. 10. Ephes. ii. 10. Gal. vi. 15.) and which is peculiar to the people of God. (2 Cor. v. 17.) 0 my readers ! be not content without having this clear and manifest to your souls. You will never share the new creation glories hereafter, if you have never obtained the new-creating Spirit of God here. Call, then, earnestly upon God, " Create in me a clean heart, 0 God ! and re- new a right spirit within me." Plead with constancy his gracious promises : " A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you ; " and never be ON CREATION. 57 content till this mighty change be effectually wrought in your hearts by the grace of God. There is a promise also of a new heavens and a new earth : " Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind ; but be ye glad, and rejoice for ever in that which I ci-eate," Isaiah Ixv. 17, 18. So the apostle Peter, after describing the destruction of the present world by fire, says, " Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteous- ness. This new heaven and new earth being the habitation of righteousness, made to give gladness and everlasting joy, must be unspeakably blessed and glorious. The apostle Paul speaks at large on this subject. He describes the whole creation as exceedingly longing for it. God's gloiy is then eminently to be revealed in his children ; and we are told, " The earnest expectation of the creature [or creation] waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God ; for the creature [or creation] was made subject to vanity not will- ingly, but by reason of him who has subjected the same in hope. Because the creature Lor creation] itself shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God, For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the re- demption of our bodies." The present state of sin and misery is not, therefore, to continue for ever ; we may and should earnestly thirst after and long for a far better state of things, which God has promised, and which all who truly believe in his Son shall obtain. Prayer for a nexu heart. 0 thou that hearest prayer, and hast said, " Ask and ye shall have, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you ; call upon me, and I will answer thee^ 68 CHRISTIAN TRUTH : and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not : " behold me, a most sinful creature, coming to thy throne of grace, and asking for mercy and grace from thee, the God of mercy and the God of all grace, in the name of thy Son Jesus Clirist. Thou hast pi-omised to give a new heart and a new spirit ; and infinitely do I need these blessings, for my heart is full of deceit, vile, and des- perately wicked. Oh give me, I entreat thee, the new heart and the new spirit ! a heart sensible of sin, hating all iniquity, enlightened with the knowledge of thy glory in the face of Jesus Christ ; a heart dead to the world, and devoted to Christ my Saviour, and full of love to God and man. Work in me, 0 my Father ! to will ; work in me, O my Father ! to do. Has not Jesus declared, that with- out hiiu I can do nothing ? Hast not thou testified, thy grace is sufficient for me 1 I believe thy word. I implore that all-sufficient grace. Oh, leave me not to myself. Come, Divine Spirit ! and deliver my soul. Visit me, 0 my God ! with tliy salvation, and satisfy me with thy early mercy. I have no plea to offer but the name of Jesus ; I have no claim in myself but my great necessity, and total ruin through sin ; everything in me deserves only thy wrath ; but here is my claim, here is my hope — the precious promises of thy word and the blood of thine only son. And give me grace never to cease pleading these with thee, till I obtain those promises, and have an abun- dant entrance ministered unto me into thy everlasting kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 8. THE VOICE OF ALL CREATION PRAISING GOD. In the Book of Psalms, particularly from the 145th to the end, the whole creation is called to praise God our Sa- viour. It is a song yet to be sung here on earth. It is the right, the reasonable, the happy voice of all creation. It is foretold and anticipated in that bright vision of s-lory — " 1 beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels ON CREATION, 59 round about the throne, and the beasts, and the elders, and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, sayinn; with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that is in them, heard I saying. Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever." Everything, inanimate as well as living, is brought before us in the Psalms, as praising the great Jehovah. In the heavens above, sun and moon, stars of light, heaven of heavens, and waters above the heavens ; on the earth, fire and hail, snow and vapours, stormy winds fulfilling his word ; mountains and hills, trees, beasts, and all cattle, creeping things, and flying fowls, are called upon to praise and magnify him. And who are to be the priests leading and offering up this general song of praise 1 Christians are priests and kings unto God and the Father. Rev. i. 6. f^very part of creation now also should be considered as stirring us up to praise the Creator ; and as we are to pray without ceasing, so in and for everything should we give thanks. What a life of praise should be the life of the Christian, who believes in Jesus, and knows that all things work together for his good ! And who can tell the happy state of that immortal spirit, in perfect oneness with the great God, deligiiting and re- joicing in him ; basking in the sunshine of his love, who is altogether glorious and lovely, and having him who has all things for a full portion ? Oh, what a blessed state, even upon earth, in the land of sin and sorrow, trial and temptation, is that of the soul when, rising tiirough Jesus above these lower scenes, it can for a little time be occu- pied in the exulting song of redeeming love, and the glo- rious hope of a heavenly kingdom ! But what will it be when faith is lost in sight, and hope in full enjoyment, and we are evermore exalting and magnifying our God with GO CHRISTIAN TRUTH : countless hosts of similarly happy beings, for all those higher blessings which shall then on every side stream around us, through his overflowing bounty and loving- kindness. That there is so little of praise now, shows how far we are fallen from God. The Sabbath-day is indeed publicly appointed to be a memorial of the first creation, completed in the first Adam, and of the new creation, to be completed by the second Adam : and every Christian will carefully keep holy this Sabbath. But, by and bye, the new heavens and the new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness, for which we, according to his promise, are looking, will be manifested. In that blessed day, when the invitation comes from the throne, " Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great," there will be " heai'd as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thun- derings, saying. Alleluia ! for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth ; let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him." Amen. 9. PRAYERS. (1.) Prayer rightly to improve the works of creation. 0 thou who didst create all things that are in heaven and earth, and after furnishing the earth with innumerable proofs of thy wisdom, power, and goodness, didst place man there to be lord of all, and to offer unto thee continual sac- rifices of praise and thanksgiving, I beseech thee, let me by these thy works continually ascend in heart to thee, my Father ! Oh let not my soul cleave so as it has done to mere earthly things, to dust and vanity ; but quicken me, for thj^ name's sake ! And as thou art my Father, by creating me, so be still more my Father by creating me unto righteousness, and adopting me into thy family, and let all the works of thy creation, which suiTound me on every side, constantly lead me to holy and delightful in- tercourse and communion with thee ! Be not thou as a ON CREATION. 61 stranger to my soul ' Oh suffer me not to be alienated from thee, my God ! Let not thy gifts be turned into sin and rebellion by my resting' in them, but be continual means of helping me to see and know, and to love and walk witli thee, my God, all the day long. Hear me, for Jesus Christ's sake. (2.) Thanksgiving to God for his Works of Creation and Redemption. Almighty Father, Lord of heaven and earth, who didst make the worlds by Jesus Ciirist, whom thou hast ap- pointed heir of all things, how can we enough praise thy name, that thou hast been so mindful of man, and formed such creatures here for his use, and given him dominion over all ! The earth is full of thy riches, and so is the great and wide sea also ; and thou hast given all things to us, that we might, in the enjoyment of all, see thy love, and for ever bless thy name. We, thy sinful creatures, formed and sustained by thy power, and brought nigh again to thee by the blood of Jesus, do give thee praise and glory for all thy works of creation and providence, and every blessing of this life. The Lord is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works. But, oh, what thanksgiv- ings we owe thee for the wondrous work of i-edemption, and that amazing gift of love, thine only-begotten Son, to be the Redeemer and Restorer of lost man ! Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to liis abundant mercy hath begotten us again to a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away ! O our God ! may we ever rejoice with joy un- speakable in the hope of that glory, when all things shall be restored, and the heavens shall rejoice, and the eartli be glad, and all that is tlierein, before the Lord. And as thou hast called us out of darkness into thy glorious light, that we might ever praise thee, help us constantly to show forth thy praises, and live to thy glory, through Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen. CHAPTER IV. PROVIDENCE. 1. The nature of Providence — 2. General Providence — 3. Particular Provi- dence — 4. Providence in our temporal circumstances — 5. Providence affecting the soul — 6. The triumphing of the wicked short — 7. Good brought out of evil— 8. The signs of the times — 9. Dae regard to the Providence of God. 1. THE NATURE OF PROVIDENCE. Of all the endearing names which the great God bears, and by which he manifests his character to us, that of Father is one of the most instructive and delightful : " Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him." It is a name full of encouragement, full of comfort, and full of hope ; shewing us his care and love, and teaching his children their high and happy prospects, as heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ. This name, too, peculiarly points out to us the provi- dence of God, as it shews us that he guides and governs all things for the good of his family, and assures us of the provision which he has made for all their wants. By providence we mean the care of God over the beings which he has created : he watches over, directs, governs, and provides for them, and all concerning them ; main- taining and ordering all things to his own glory, and ac- cording to his own good pleasure. Men use the words chance and accident, good or bad liiclc, and good or bad fortime, respecting events unforeseen and unexpected. These words tend to obscure God's provi- dence, or are used without meaning ; for it is clear, from PROVIDENCE. 63 God's word, that nothing comes to pass carelessly, or as a matter of indifference. Not that God in any way is the author of sin ; his word is express on this point : " God cannot be tempted with evil, neitlier tempteth he any man ; but every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and en- ticed." The root and blame of sin is all in man. God forbids, liates, and punishes all sin, but he has permitted it for greater good in the end — to display more of his own glory, ultimately to add to the blessedness of his recovered and redeemed creatures, and, now, in Jesus, by whom " all things consist," that sinners may have " a day of grace." He also " sitteth on the flood ; " his kingdom rules over all. He punishes even now the wicked : " Shall there be evil in the city, and the Lord hath not done it 1 " The most cruel tyrants are merely " the rod of his anger." How striking God's language respecting Sennacherib, king of Assyria, when he was boasting of what he had done ! 2 Kings xix. Two leading parts of the providence of God are preser- vation and government. 1. Preservation. — He preserves living beings, and maintains a succession of them ; he also preserves a suc- cession of the productions of the earth for the use of man. 2. Government consists in directing the actions of his creatures ; permitting, but effectually controlling and over- ruling all their evil actions ; and inspiring, aiding, and concurring with all their good actions. It also consists in distributing, with perfect equity, punishments to the wicked ; and, with sovereign grace, mercy, and loving- kindness, as well as equity, rewards to the righteous, ac- cording to their obedience or disobedience to him. Though there may be wheels within wheels, and one wheel may seem, as in a watch, to run contrary to another, yet all shall display the wisdom of God, and fully answer his good and holy ends. 64 CHRISTIAN TRUTH : Meditation. This is indeed a blessed truth, that I am not left as an orphan, destitute and unprovided for, but have an Almighty- Friend and Father who cares for me. I see on every side the selfishness of fallen man ; I feel the power of this cor- ruption in my own heart. But, 0 ! how delightful the thought, that there is one full of wisdom, riches, power, and love, always at hand, and ordering all for me ! I need be careful for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and supplication, wdth thanksgiving, let my requests be made known unto him. Lord, help me thus to call upon the most high God, who performeth all things for me, and to enjoy all the peace and blessedness of full confidence in thy love ! 2. GENERAL PROVIDENCE. By the general providence of God is intended that con- stant and universal care which he manifests over all his creatures, and which is an ever-present witness of his wis- dom, power, and loving-kindness : " God left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness." The whole human race is thus constantly partaking of his bounty and goodness, reminded of his existence and his concern for us, and taught to seek after him. Acts xvii. 2.5 — 28. This providence of God is so extensive that it reaches to the very smallest and most minute circumstances. It is a great mistake that God is too great to concern himself about little things. You judge from the feeble powers of your fellow-creatures. You see man here can only be present in one place, aud do one thing at a time, and has only a certain measure of strength and ability ; but you forget that God has all perfections of every kind that we can know or imagine, centered in himself. He is everywhere present, has almighty power, aud has infinite wisdom. PROVIDENCE. 60 forethought and love ; and can and does direct, uphold, and govern all at once. His greatness is specially to be dis- covered in his cai'e of the minutest things ; " Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing ? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered." What a wonder- ful knowledge and providence do these things teach us ! Our Lord shews us that the same providence of God is concerned in providing for the fowls of the air and the grass of the fields. Matt. vi. How delightful it is to see in every thing the loving- kindness of God ! Truly every blade of grass, every leaf that grows on the tree, every bird that flies in the air, says in the Christian's ear, " The God who made me what I am, will do more for you. 0 trust in him, 0 love him, and shew forth his praise." Immediately after the deluge, the course of general pro- vidence was revealed : " I will establish my covenant with you, neither shall all flesh be cut off" any more by the wa- ters of a flood ; while the earth remaineth, seed-time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease." We ourselves are living witnesses of the faithfulness of this covenant : and every time that we see the beautiful rainbow in the clouds, we have God's token of this covenant, and his pledge of his gracious providence. To enter into the full history of general providence would be endless. The whole of the movements of the sun and moon, the earth and the planets, and of the starry sky be- yond them, the varied seasons of the year, the animals that people the earth, the air, the sea, and the rivers, the in- numerable productions of every kind in those different parts of creation, and their effects and uses, the regularity with which seasons move on, and animals migrate and re- turn again ; — these, and thousands of other things, are to the Christian continually displaying the kind care and love of God our Father. To him, every breeze that blows on earth, every ray of light, every drop that falls from the CHRISTIAN TRUTH ! sky, every breath of air that he inhales, every particle of food which he eats, is from a Father's hand and a Father's love. He can say, " I know that the Lord is great, and that our God is above all gods. Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, and in the seas, and all deep places. Meditation. 0 blessed knowledge, which, amidst all the darkness, and guilt, and sorrow of this transient world, shews me the infallible but all-wise, gracious, powerful, and com- passionate hand of my heavenly Father, guiding every thing, however great or however small ; no chance, no accident, but all for the best to them tliat love him ! May this knowledge lead me to prayer, confidence, peace, hope, and mucli joy, through Jesus our Lord. 8. PARTICULAR PROVIDENCE. By particular providence is meant that which relates to nations or individuals. " Many seek the ruler's favour, but every man's judgment cometh from the Lord." Prov. xxix. 26. This is a most cheering and consoling truth to the children of God. There is no poor man in his cottage, who is trusting in Jesus Christ and loving God, but may be assured that God is making all things work together for his good, however humble he may be in the world, or how- ever disregarded he may be by his fellow-creatures. It is a beautiful saying of St. Augustine, " God takes as much care of each particular, as if each were all, and as much care of all as if all were but one particular." 1. God deals providentially with nations. "When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel." The beginnings of each nation were under the leading and guidance of God ; he determined the bounds of their habi- tation. As he meant to make Israel the keepers of his PROVIDENCE. (>7 truth, and the means of blessing to the whole earth, he placed their land in the most central part of that earth, with the most easy means of communication to every other land. What a mercy it is, amidst all our national rebellions and disregard of God's glory, that he still preserves among us the light of his truth, and his own word in its purity. While other nations are wholly left in the darkness of popery, infidelity, mahomedanism, or paganism, 0 how much do we owe to God's good providence for our national mercies, in first sending to us the gospel, and then in rais- ing up our blessed Reformers to revive among us the pure light of divine truth, and maintaining that light for three centuries. To God be all the glory ! 2. God deals providentially with individuals. Each particular person is a child of providence, and may say of God, " he performeth the thing that is appointed for me." This providence is more extraordinary and remarkable in some than in others, but there is no one who has not had direct and gracious interferences and manifestations of God's goodness again and again. " His tender mercies are over all his works." Some of the books of scripture emi- nently display this particular providence in individuals. Look at the history of Joseph. Observe first his father's partiality, his brethren's envy, his dreams, his sale to the Ishmaelites, liis being bought by Potiphar, his being cast into prison ; his meeting there Pharaoh's officers, his interpreting their dreams, and then being sent to interpret Pliaraoh's ; his being subsequently raised to be governor of Egypt, and thus the preservation of his whole family. What a life of providence ! Look at the history of Moses. His birth at such a dangerous time, his exposure, Pha- raoh's daughter passing by, her compassion and commit- ting him to his mother, his education, his fliglit to Midian, his return, and deliverance of his whole nation. — What a chain of providence! Look at the history of Ruth. A famine compels Naomi and her husband to fly to the country of Moab with thfir sons. The sons there marry F 2 68 CHRISTIAN TRUTH Orpah and Ruth, !Moabitish women, and then the husband of Naomi and the sons die. Naomi returns ; Ruth, from love to the God of Israel, returns with her. See the whole history of her growing intercourse with Boaz, their mar- riage, and her ultimately becoming thus the ancestor of a race of monarclis, and of the Jlessiah himself. The book of Esther is full of similar providences. The name of God occurs not indeed in the book, but every part is full of his gracious and direct interposition. And can you not, Christian reader, find innumerable in- stances of the same gracious providence in your own life 1 How have your best blessings come — looked for or un- looked for ? By your own contrivance, or by God's gra- cious gift and disposal ? O what lessons of providence has your own life, I confidently appeal to your conscience, set before you ! That you have been spared time after time, that you have been preserved from imminent danger, that you have been helped through times of trial beyond all your expectations, to what was it owing ? Not to your wisdom, sufficiency and forethought, but to the wisdom, sufficiency and kind providence of your gracious God and Father. Meditation. God has indeed dealt most graciously with me ! Who am I, 0 Lord God, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto ? O what displays of loving-kind- ness on God's part, and of disregard of God on my part ! Well may he complain, " the Ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib ; but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider." Lord, give me a better mind for the time to come. 4. PROVIDENCE IN OUR TEMPORAL CIRCU31STANCES. Look back at the ways God has led you — see how he has from day to day provided for you. You have lived so many days, weeks, months, and years, and never perhaps PROVIDENCE. 69 been a day without food, clothing, protection and help. All were his gifts. He has fed you all your life long, (Gen. xlviii. 15.) and his mercies have been new every morning. He has thought of you when you have never thought of him. He has provided for you when you have totally disregarded the very baud that has given you all things. One of the titles by which God is known is " the Pre- server of men." Job vii. 20. And which of us have not found it true in our lives ? He has raised us, perhaps again and again, from sickness, and preserved us from ex- pected destruction. How many have perished by things which have done you no injury ! You have probably yet the possession of limbs, faculties, and senses, and a good measure of health and strength ; and when you know in how many thousand ways these might be injured every day, what but the care of him who " never slumberetli nor sleepeth," could have kept all these unhurt from year to year to the present moment. God's children have often a very rich experience of his faithfulness in providing for their temporal wants in their extremities. " They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing." The excellent Isaac Ambrose, who wrote that valuable book called " Looking unto Jesus," once was in great distress, and receiving unexpected relief, he observed, " One morsel of God's provision, especially when it comes unexpected and upon prayer, when wants are most, will be more sweet to spiritual relish, than all for- mer enjoyments were." God has in every way encouraged us to tnist in him implicitly, for giving us all that is good for us. He ap- peals to the power of paternal feelings, " If ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him." He appeals to his care of birds and of fowls, and asks, " Are ye not much better than they ? " He appeals to the life which he has given and the body which he has formed, and says, " Is not the life 70 CHRISTIAN TRUTH more than meat, and the bodj' than raiment ? " May the Lord liimself then remove all unbelief from your liearts, and enable you to l)e at perfect peace, with a mind stayed upon him, under tlie cheering hope expressed by St. Paul, " My God shall supply all your need out of his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." He knows what things we have need of. The poor may be afraid employment shall fail them, times become harder, and tlieir difficulties be so increased that they shall be un- able to get food for themselves and their families ; but God will at such times manifest more of his goodness in the seasonableness of his mercy. Meditation. How rich, 0 my God, are thy promises ! I may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, Jesus is my Shepherd, I shall not want. " When the poor and needy seek water and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, 1 the God of Israel will not forsake them." He who commanded the ravens to feed Elijah ; he who allowed not the widow's barrel of meal and cruise of oil to fail ; he wlio fed 4000 and 5000 with a few loaves and fishes, will still provide for the wants of all that trust in him. 5. PROVIDENCE AFFECTING THE SOUL. The wonders of Providence here are marvellous ! Not to speak of those things which concern our Lord Jesus Christ, and the waj^ in which Providence brought to pass all that had been foretold concerning him ; not to speak of the whole history of the church of God, a bush always burning but never consumed, a spark in the ocean and yet never extinguished : let us notice other things. There is the Bible lying on your table. How came it there ? You have it in your hands by a series of wonderful providences, for upwards of .3000 years. From age to age, the wicked have hated it, and sought to destroy it. There PROVIDENCE. 71 have been periods of general darkness, superstition, and in-norance, in vvliicli it seemed probable that it would be wholly lost. There have been periods when it was death to a Christian to have it in his possession. It has passed through innumerable hands, from copy to copy, in manu- script, for ages, and now you have it entire and complete, the word of God, a lamp to your feet and a light to your path. You live in a Protestant country ! By what wonderful providences were we delivered from the abominations of popery, and what unlikely instruments were used for that purpose. A wicked, violent, and arbitrary monarch quarrels with the pope, and thus God opens the door for separation from idolatrous Rome, and for the religious freedom and blessedness of the Reformation. In all the steps of that separation, 300 years ago, the Christian may discover innumerable traces of the hand of him who brings good out of evil, and overcomes evil with good. The same providence marked the Revolution of 1688. What God has done for us should lead us to earnest prayer, that in these changing and troublous times he may yet appear for us, and lead us to repentance, and still spare and bless us ! IIow gracious to us the dispensation, if indeed we really know our mercies, and believe in the God of our salvation, that we had our birth in this land, and at this time, with so many advantages for becoming wise unto salvation ! The large supply of pious books circulating through this country is another gracious proviilence. How much has God used such books as Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress and Wilberforce's Practical View, to the good of innumerable souls ! The providence of God in converting men to himself is indeed full of wonders, and full of variety. Some are gradually brought by Christian education, or by slow com- munication of spiritual light to a right mind. Others, like Paul and the jailer. Colonel Gardiner and John New- ton, are more suddenly converted. By nature men are dark and blind ; but God fulfils to his children the pro- 72 CHRISTIAN TRUTH mise, " I will bring the blind by a way they know not." Isaiah xlii. IG. Have you, reader, been brought to Christ ? Can you say, " God, who is rich in mercy for his great love where- with he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Chi-ist ! " And if so, cannot you see in the way that you have been brought, innumer- able tokens of the loving-kindness of God. Whether it was the book you read, the friend you conversed with, the minister you heard, the affliction you passed through, the danger you escaped, that first turned your heai't, — it was God's special grace, in his providence, that gave the real blessing. The same providence is richlj^ displayed in preserving men from temptation. What Christian can here look back without special thankfulness ? Again and again he has been on the very verge of grievously sinning against God to the great dishonour of his name, and he has been wonderfully withheld and delivered ! Abigail meets David just in the height of his anger, and turns him from sin. Laban is prevented by a dream from injuring Jacob. Joseph is kept by a holy thought, given to him in the hour of trial, from the temptation which his wicked mistress presented to him. God frequently shews us how weak and helpless we are, and then in the critical moment, sends us unexpected help, that we may glorify his great name. His providence, in marking sins with present evils, furnishes his people with a real help to obedience. The punishment of the sins of God's people in this world is very observable. Jacob's deceit, David's adultery and murder, Samson's licentiousness, met with remarkable and corresponding chastisements. " We are chastened now of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world." Healing the backslidings of his children manifests many a gracious providence. Often the woi'k of grace in the heart seems to have ceased, and all to have become dead and formal. And then that truth is seen, " he restoreth PROVIDENCE. 73 my soul, he leadeth nie in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." By some unlooked-for means, our wan- dering spirit is recalled back to God, a new supply of spi- ritual life and strength is given, and our backslidings are healed, God's work is again revived, and we press forward with renewed vigour in the Christian race. To be kept still IN THE WAV to Zion, Oh what a mercy is this ! Praise for Spiritual Mercies. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who bath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in hea- venly places in Christ Jesus ! Oh, what thanks and what love I owe thee, my heavenly Father, for the rich and full spiritual privileges and blessings which I enjoy 1 What more could have been done for me ? Only give me the heart to love, only open thou niy lips that they may show forth thy praise ; make me thine, wholly, unreservedly, and for ever. G. THE TRIUMPHING OF THE WICKED IS SHORT, That which has most exercised the mind of good men in every age has been, the prosperity of the wicked. David, in one of his Psalms (the 73d), speaks of this as almost occasioning his fall, and the slipping of his feet. Jeremiah asks, " Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper ? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously ?" BothDavid and Jeremiah then show that this is preparatory to their greater destruction. "I understood their end ; thou didst set them in slippery places, thou castedst them down into destruction." In the 37tli Psalm, David enters fully into this subject. He says, " I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay-tree : yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not." So Solomon testifies, " the prosperity of fools shall destroy them." In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, we have a history which displays the righteous providence of God, making that clear hereafter which seems unequal here. 74 CHRISTIAN TRUTH The rich man, clothed in purple and fine linen, lived in ease and luxury, thoughtless of his sick neighbours. The poor man, full of sores, perished " at his doors." But who can envy the rich, now tormented in hell ? or feel that the lot of poor Lazarus, now in Abraham's bosom, was really the harder lot 1 A future judgment will speedily set right all temporal inequalities. It is true that the wicked in worldly things have appa- rent advantage ; they seem to carry all before them, and the righteous suffer and find no relief. These things are so much the case that the apostle describes the calling of the Christian to be, to do well and suffer for it, and take it patiently, in imitation of Christ, who suffered for us, leaving us an example that we should follow his steps. A righteous tradesman will suffer many losses in business by never breaking the Sabbath nor deceiving others, A faithful man who does not seek to please men by flattery, will be less acceptable to them. A devoted Christian who will not walk after the course of this world, and condemns it by his heavenly spirit and conversation, will be sure to be evil spoken of. But all this is a part of the cross that is to be counted upon. After fully estimating the matter, St. Paul says, " I reckon that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Yet generally, even in this world, " the path of the just is as the shining light, shining more and more unto the perfect day." But sometimes the righ- teous suffer, like Lazarus, to the end ; and their full re- ward is always hereafter. This is the abundant recompense — " If we suffer we shall also reign with him." Christians must count the cost, and take up their cross daily and fol- low Christ, if they would be his disciples, and sliare his coming glory. For the holy Scriptures tell us of a day of wrath and punishment yet to come upon the ungodly. They foretel a period when the wicked shall go away into everlasting punishment, and the righteous into life eternal. This may ■well guard us against envying their present prosperity. PROVIDENCE. and lead us rather, while fleeing ourselves from the wrath to come, to look at them as our Saviour did at Jerusalem, with weeping and tender compassion, and earnest prayers, that they may yet know the things which belong to their peace. And, in the end, how awful and destructive is God's pro- vidence towards notorious sinners ! Hardened (as Pharaoh was) by the things that should have been for their healing, he leaves them alone (as he left the Ammonites), till their iniquities make them fully ripe for his judgment. Every thing becomes to them an occasion of stumbling and fall. " God endures with much long-sufl-'ering these vessels of wrath," till at length, after long patience and forbearance, he executes his awful judgments upon them, and they perish for ever. Meditation, 0 Lord, though clouds and darkness are round about thee, righteousness and judgment are the habitation of thy throne. Thou hast done all things well. " Although the tig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines, the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat, the flock shall be cut oft' from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls, yet will I rejoice in the Lord, and joy in the God of my salvation." 7. GOOD BROUGHT OUT OF EVIL. It may be truly said, the world is full of sin and full of misery. Satan, the God of this world, reigns in the hearts of the wicked, and they are the greater number everywhere. Evil has the chief sway among men, and the world is full of seasonable, suitable, and prevailing temptations to what is wrong. Tlie sun shines, and the rain descends upon the evil as well as the good, and hence, " the fool hath said in his heart. There is no God." How can this be if there is an almighty, wise, and gracious Providence ! Augustine meets this case well. He says, " God, who is 76 CHRISTIAN TRUTH infinitely good, would never permit evil, were he not infi- nitely wise, and knew how to bring good out of evil." It is the preparation for a greater good in the end. When a house is to be built, instead of the stones or bricks rising at once from the ground, the ground itself is dug into for a good foundation. When a rich crop is to be produced, the land must be manured with dung and soil, which seem to cover the grass and hinder the flowers springing up, and to be quite opposite to the ends to be attained. Bishop Hopkins remarks, " so God permits wicked men to dung the earth with their filth, that those attributes of his which seem to be buried under them may afterwards spring up with the greater lustre and glory : from hence he will reap the richer crop of praise to himself. Sometimes he glori- fies the severity of his justice by hardening them in their sins to their own destruction ; sometimes the riches of his mercy by calling the greatest and most flagitious sinners to repentance, and granting them pardon ; and always his infinite patience and forbearance in not executing present vengeance upon those who so daringly provoke him." Thus God makes known to his creatures, by his dealings with them, that he is Jehovah ; and manifests to them his own character, perfections, and glory. The permission of evil has remarkably manifested the God of glory. By this is developed his truth, power, wrath, justice, and holiness on the one hand, and his wisdom, grace, mercy, loving- kindness, and faithfulness on the other, in a way in which they never could otherwise have been manifested, not only to men, but also to heavenly beings. The apostle speaks of the calling of the Gentiles being " to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church, the manifold wisdom of God." Thus also our God raises his faithful people to eminent glory hereafter. They are prepared for this glory by a course of instruction and suffering. They are now in the state of scholars, in a school where their graces are to be called forth, strengthened, and matured for their future PROVIDENCE. 77 condition, that they may be meet for the inheritance of the saints in light. How could repentance, faith, patience, meekness, long-suffering-, truth, integrity, love, and holi- ness, be felt in our hearts, or seen and proved, but in such a world as that in which we now live, with such corrup- tions as we now have within and without. The world of the wicked is the furnace that purifies the gold of the church ; it is the workshop in which the vessels of mercy, by innumerable touches and blows of the tools of God's providence, are made fit for the mansions of bliss and glory. But of all the displays of good brought out of evil, the death of our Lord Jesus Christ is the most stupendous, ex- tensive, and astonishing. We shall know it fully only in eternity. What developements, also, will the second coming of our Lord, and the general judgment of all men, and the future reward of the righteous, and punisliment of the wicked, make of the wisdom and justice, patience and forbearance, holiness and loving-kindness, of all God's dealings with men ! Providence is now all wrapped up like the bud ; — it will be opened when the Sun of righteousness returns and shines in his glory. Meditation, O Lord, wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working, thou art my God, I will exalt thee and I will praise thy name. It is but little that I can now see of thy way, but that little shows me thou art glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, and doing wonders. Soon I hope to see thee as thou art, and know as I am known ; and till then, I will trust thee, and be assured that the Judge of all the earth must do right. Most we glorify liim now when we can least fathom his counsels, and yet confide in his truth, and holiness, and love. 8. THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES. The holy Scriptures speak to us very plainly of the duty 78 CHRISTIAN TRUTH : of discerning the signs of the times. " A wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment." Eccles. viii. 5. Our Saviour reproved the Pharisees as hypocrites, because they could not discern the signs of the times. Matt. xvi. The children of Issachar are singled out as " men that had un- derstanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do." 1 Chron. xii. .32. And John the Baptist was merely re- ferred by our Lord to the events tliat were then taking place, as proving the first coming of Christ. Matt. xi. The signs of the times in which we live are very remark- able, and should by no means be overlooked by the Chris- tian. We have seen, in the last forty years, many revolu- tions and changes, a great overthrow of kingdoms, and a wasting away of the power and wealth of Mahomedan and Papal countries. We see now a remarkable prevalence of iniquity', answering to such descriptions as are given in 2 Tim. iii. 1 — 5. 2 Pet. iii. and Jude. We see also a very extraordinary diffusion of tlie gospel, corresponding to Rev. xiv. 5 ; and a concern for the Jews, corresponding to Psalm cii. 13, 14. Rom. xi. 31. No one can calmly and wisely look on the face of the earth without seeing that the present times are very remarkable. Many think that they* are such as will rapidlj^ lead on to those very remarkable changes in the state of the world wliich God has predicted at the second coming of our Lord. Now, we ought not to be like the scoffers, who saj-, Where is the promise of his coming ? nor like the careless servant, who says. My Lord delayeth his coming ; but ra- ther like the wise virgins, watchful and diligent, gathering oil into our vessels, and preparing to meet the Bridegroom, that when he comes he may find us ready. The voice of Providence, as well as of the divine Redeemer, seems espe- cially now, in the wasting of the Turkish empire, which includes the river Euphrates (Rev. xvi. 12), and in the un- clean spirits now abroad, to give this lesson : " Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that vvatcheth and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame." And what a blessed hope is this to the Christian ! (Titus PROVIDENCE. 79 ii. 1.3) ; how holy and purifying ■ (1 John iii. 1 — 3) ; how comforting ! (1 Thess. iv. 18) ; and liow infinitely desir- able ! Tlie last lingering words of the book of Revelation are, " He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly ; " and the reply of every believer should be, " Amen, even so come, Lord Jesus." (Rev. xxii. 21.) Prayer with reference to these times. Lord, thou hast given me my birth in remarkable days, full of important events : oh give me wisdom to discern the signs of the times, and to know in this my day the things which belong unto my peace ! Often hast thou forewarned us that thou wilt return suddenly and unexpectedly as a thief, and that thy day shall come as a snare on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth ; I earnestly be- seech thee, then, to grant me grace, that my heart may not be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life ; but oh ! help me to watch and pray always, that I may be counted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and stand before the Sou of Man. Almighty Father, give me thy Spirit, that I may be found among tlie wise virgins, ready for my Lord's coming. Hear me, for his name's sake. Amen ! 9. DUE REGARD TO GOd's PROVIDENCES. There may be a great abuse of Providence : as when a wicked man pleads e divine mission for his wickedness : " The Lord said unto me. Go up against this land, and de- stroy it," (2 Kings xviii. 25); or when he pleads the uncer- tainty of life for self-gratification : " Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die ; " or charges God foolishly : " I am tempted of God," (James i. ];>) ; "Why doth he yet find fault 1 for who hath resisted Iiis will ? " (Rom. ix. 19.) Conformity to Providence is our duty. To every thing there is a season. Eccles. iii. 1. St. Paul learned how to be full, and how to suffer want. " In the day of adver- sity " we must " consider ; despise not tlie chastening of 80 CHRISTIAN TRUTH : the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him. In the day of prosperity be joyful : " be thankful to the Giver of all your mercies. Ps. ciii. The leadings of Providence should guide us. These leadings ■will sometimes, like a pillar of cloud and fire, make your path clear. At other times it will be very doubtful. What God would have us to do is then to be gathered, not from our wishes, nor merely from impulses on the mind, but from what, after tliought, prayer, and consulting with experienced and pious friends, appears by liis word to be the path of duty : that will ever be the true wisdom. Reliance on Divine Providence is a most clear and blessed duty. " Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body more than raiment ? Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." We need not have one anxietj' about worldly things, but should have a noble confidence in God that he will provide for us, " casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you." What a superiority does this reliance give in the midst of the alarms and tumults of this trouble- some world ! Constantly to observe the providence of God is a sure way to see many. It is an old saying — " He that watches God's providences will never want a providence to watch." The striking display of God's dealings'with men, recorded in the 107th Psalm, is closed with this promise : " Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall un- derstand the loving-kindness of the Lord." This will show us prayers answered, and quicken us to continued prayer ; (Psalm cxvi. 1, 2) ; it will greatly increase our faith, (2 Cor. i. 10 ; Matt. xvi. 9) ; and it will furnish us with abundant matter for praise. Providence must be regarded with a direct reference to God's word. That word is a key of Providence. They answer to each other as the key to its lock ; or as a full PROVIDENCE. 81 and just exposition to a short text. Providence is tlie most lively and instructive of all commentaries on the word. It is the fulfilment of promise — the manifestation of threat- enings — tlic accomplishment of prophecies — the living illus- tration of God's mind and will. History is the unfolding of Bible truth in actual life and experience, and it answers to it as a key to its lock. There is nothing happens to you, or in the world, of which the Bible does not show both the spring and the issue. It is a sure guide to lead you into that path which conducts to true peace here, and everlasting happiness hereafter. A due noticing of God's Providence is a great help to daily communion with the Father of our mercies. When Jacol) surveyed the way that God had led him, he said, " I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which thou hast shewed thy servant." This ob- serving of Providence led David to see in Absalom's re- bellion the hand of God, and to look through Shimei's curses to God's blessing. Oli how sweet is that Christian experience which makes everything that happens a means of raising the heart to God — all our life a Providence — and every Providence an act of faith and love, of prayer and of praise ! To attain this, two things ai'e all essential — First, To VIEW everything in Christ Jesus. He is the purchaser and the channel of every mercy. With him God freely gives us all things. Without liim we can do nothing, and we deserve nothing but wrath ; but " all are yours," when " ye are Christ's." Secondly, To receive the Holy Ghost. All our suf- ficiency being of God, the gift of his Spirit is absolutely needful to raise our hearts to communion witii the Father of our spirits in his daily Providence. Meditation. When David had gone through the particulars of God's Providence in the creation and preservation of all things, he concluded it thus: — "I will sing unto the Lord as long as 82 CHRTSTIAN TRUTH I live : I will sing praise to my God wliile I have ray being. My meditation of him shall be sweet ; I will be glad in the Lord." Psalm civ. 33, 34. Oh that these may be, more and more, my daily feelings and experience ! Grant, 0 my God ! that the steps of thy Providence, through thy Son, may be as a ladder from earth to heaven, on which I ascend day by day, and get nearer and nearer sights of thy ways and glory. ON BEDEMPTION. 83 CHAPTER V. ON REDEMPTION BT CHRIST. 1. On the Nature of Redemption— 2. The Redeemer— 3. The Extent of Redemption — 4. The Rejection of Redemption — 5. The Reception of Re- demption — 6. The Benefits of Redemption— 7. The Completion of Redemp- tion. 1. ON THE NATURE OF REDEMPTION. The word Redemption means, to buy again with a price. It is applied in the scriptures to the recovery of man from that state of slavery under sin and death to which his fall had reduced him, by our Lord Jesus Christ enduring the penalty of our sins, and shedding his blood as our ransom. " Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tra- ditions from your fathers ; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a Iamb without blemish and without spot, who verily was fore-ordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who by him do believe in God." It includes tlie whole of man's recovery from his ruin : the atonement made on the cross, when Christ " put away sin by the sacrifice of himself ; " the adoption of sons, (Gal. iii. 26.) deliverance from the power of sin, (Matt, i. 21.) and, finally, a rescue from the grave, hell, and everlasting ruin, and bringing us in the way of holiness, to endless glory. The divine justice requires the punishment of sin ; the divine truth requires the fulfilment of God's threatenings ; G 2 84 CHRISTIAN TRUTH : the wisdom of the divine government, the good of all crea- tion, the glory of God in the establishment of his law — which is holy, just, and good — demand that transgres- sors should die. To meet these, and innumerable other claims, and yet to save mankind with a holy salvation, " Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us." His redemption far more illus- triously displays the divine perfections than if all had perished. It fills all holy creatures with wonders of ad- miration at the beauties and glories of our God ; rescues innumerable lost souls, and causes their admiring love of God, and delight in him through eternity. While they are completely renewed after the divine image, the most awfully righteous display of his everlasting wrath will visit those who neglect such a stupendous provision of grace and mercy. The prime moving cause of this redemption is repre- sented to be love. " God is love. Herein is love : not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. In his love and in his pity he redeemed us." Boundless, unfathomable, inconceivable love — a love that j)asseth knowledge — was the cause of our i-edeniption. We can trace it no higher, and in this is sweet rest and satisfaction to our souls. Meditation on GocTs love in Redemption, It was great love in God, ray Father, to create me out of nothing, a rational being, the head of his creatures on earth, and then to surround me with so many blessings as he daily does in his providence. But when I had by sin and rebellion forfeited all, aud justly incurred his righteous wrath, 0 what tender compassion it was that led him in his pit}' and love to redeem me at such a price ! 0 Lord, teach me to see, and know, to believe, and rejoice ever- more in this love ! Let me not any more wrong thy truth, and ruin my own soul by the fearful guilt of unbelief ! Work in my heart true faith, the gift of thine own Spirit ! ON REDEMPTION. 85 2. THE REDEEMER. This is one of the precious titles of our divine Saviour, in which we shall through eternity rejoice. " Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation," is the song of the glorified host above ; and the Lord grant. Christian reader, that we may be among the happy num- ber of those who shall for ever join in it. The name Redeemer has a reference to an appointment, under the law of Moses, and of the nearest kinsman paying the price of the redemption of an inheritance (Lev. xv.), and being the avenger of l)lood to pursue and kill the mur- derer, (Numb. XXXV.) Our Redeemer both paid the ran- som price for the redemption of our souls and of our for- feited inheritance, and has with his Almighty arm con- quered all our foes. This glorious Redeemer is tue true God ! (1 John v. 20.) Survey the supreme glory of our Redeemer. From the beginning he had glory with the Father before the world was. " As for our Redeemer, the Lord of Hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel." (Isaiah xlvii. 17.) He can say, " I am the Lord thy God ! " (Isaiah xlviii. 17.) " He is over all, God, blessed for ever : " the only- begotten Son of the Father, This glorious being, as the church of England states, " the Son, which is the word of the Father, begotten from everlasting of the Father, the very and eternal God, and of one substance with the Father, took man's nature into the womb of the blessed virgin, of her substance, so that two whole and perfect natures, that is to say, the Godhead and Manhood, were joined together in one person, never to be divided ; whereof is one Christ, very God and very man, who truly suffered, was crucified, dead, and buried, to re- concile his Father to us, and to be a sacrifice, not only for original guilt, but also for actual sins of men." 0 what a mystery is here ! " God was manifest in the 86 CHRISTIAN TRUTH : flesh." Surely this ought to attract and fill every mind, and infinitely engage the afiFection and admiration of us sinners. Consider next his humiliatiox : " He who was in the form of God, took upon him the form of a servant ; he, who thought it no rohbery to be equal with God, made himself of no reputation, and being found in fashion as a man, humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." By hanging on that tree he " was made a curse for us," and so he redeemed us from the curse. 0 what a height and depth, and length and breadth of love, untold and inconceivable love, was there ! " Though he was rich, for our sakes he became poor, that we, through his poverty, might be rich." Well may the scriptures say, " God commendeth his love to us, in that while we were yet sinnei-s, Christ died for us." Consider farther his exaltation : " Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth ; and that everj' tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God, the Father." Jesus now reigns over all things ; everything is delivered into his hands. Our Redeemer is strong and mighty, omnipotent, the Almighty. What then is his character ? Beautiful beyond all expression ; unequalled in every perfection ; " chief among ten thousand ; altogether lovely." Every grace, every excellence, all wisdom, holiness, truth, equity, purity, love, and compassion centre in him as its proper seat, and flow from him as its true fountain. No one can know our Redeemer without beholding a " glory, as of the only- begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." And he yet lives ! " I know," says Job, " that my Re- deemer liveth." He ever lives to bless his people and to carry forward the gre;it work of their Redemption. He says, " I am he that liveth, and was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore. Amen, and have the keys of hell ON REDEMPTION. 87 and of death." Never, never sliall those who trust in him want a Redeemer : in affliction, in death, in the grave, in tlie day of judgment, and through eternity. He says : " Because I live ye shall live also." Will he receive those that go to him ? Look at his his- tory on earth. He is evermore the same ; he rejected none who came to him on earth, and we have his own assurance, " Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out." He not only receives all who come to him ; but this is the only possible way by which we sinful creatures can have access to God, and knowledge and enjoyment of God. Meditation on tJiC Redeemer. I am invited to " Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world ; " and so glorious is this ob- ject that all things, compared with the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ, my Lord, are utterly worthless. 0 help rae by thine own Spirit, and give me right views of the spiritual beauty and glory of Christ, that in him I may see God in his beauty and perfection, in him may see my sinfulness, and in him my recovery, and thus may be filled with ardent love, deep humility, holy joy, and " be made meet for the inheritance of the saints in light ! " 3. THE EXTENT OF REDEMPTION. The scriptures use more extended terms respecting re- demption, as a propitiation, than they do respecting election, sanctification, and glorification. There is no limitation, as it respects man living in this world, to the expressions respecting the extent of redemption. The mercy and com- fort of this to fallen sinners, situated as we are, is unspeak- able. We are thus placed under a gracious system of restoration and recovery. There is nothing that need now deter any human being from the fullest confidence in the death of Jesus, as being a proi)itiation for his sins. It is the duty of every human being, if he would not make God a liar, (1 John v. 10.) to " believe the record that God gave 88 CHRISTIAN TRUTH of his Son." And 0 how full and precious is that record 1 The Lord give to us simple faith, that our souls may be purihed in obeying the truth ! Tlie way in which the holy scriptures express this truth seems purposely varied to exclude all doubt, fear, and un- belief, and to leave every soul of man without excuse who does not believe God's word, and obtain peace and joy in believing. The terms most frequently used, where the objects of Christ's death are mentioned, are of the most large and general nature. " Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world," (John i. 29.) " The Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world." (1 John iv. 14.) " God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them." (2 Cor. V. 19.) " He is the propitiation, not for our sins only, but for the sins of the whole world." (1 Jolin ii. 2.) " All we like sheep are gone astray ; the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." (Isa. liii. 6.) " One died for ALL." (2 Cor. v. 14.) " He gave himself a ransom for all." (1 Tim. ii. 6.) " That he by the grace of God should taste death for every man." (1 Tim. iv. 10.) The wicked, who bring on themselves destruction, are described " as denying the Lord that bought them." The general strain of scripture is in this form ; and the varied expres- sions must not be diluted and lowered to meet any precon- ceived system. Never is it said, Christ died only for the elect, nor is there any phrase that can be so confined as to make such a sen- timent revealed truth. Such expressions as, " Redeemed out of every kindred — redeemed from tbe earth " — apply to another part of redemption ; its completion in glory. Such expressions also as, " 1 lay down my life for the sheep ;" (John x. 15.) " the church of God, which he pur- chased with his own blood ;" (Acts xx. 28.) " Christ loved the church and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it," (Ephes. v. 25.) — do not limit redemption to God's people, though they show a special design of love for them ; but they are by no means to be so restricted as ON REDEMPTION. 89 if the churcli only had a concern in it. Tiiis would be, without any just foundation, to make one part of scripture to contradict plain and positive dechirations in another. It would 1)6 in opposition to our Lord's word : " God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him naight be saved." (John iii. 17.) We must not add to God's word such expressions as the " elect" world, or the " Gentile " world. (Rev. xxii. 18.) That God is the " Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe," expresses that truth to which these passages of scripture lead us. This view furnishes a foundation of faith on which the soul of any sinner whatever may rest. It enables the minister without reserve to obey the divine direction : " Go ye into the world and preach the gospel to every creature." It also leaves every unbeliever under the aggravated condemnation of rejecting redemption. Our redemption, as it was completed on the cross, con- cerns the removal of sin, leaving us in a state of hope and under a day of grace ; this work was accomplished by the death of Christ. Jesus said on the cross, " It is finished." His death was " a full, perfect, and sufficient oblation and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world ; " not merely as it regarded some of the Gentiles in addition to the Jews, nor merely as it regarded the sufficiency of the price paid, but as it placed the fallen human race under a dispensation of grace and mercy, with the removal of every impediment to our full restoration to holiness and happiness, unless we wilfully reject so great salvation. Jesus dying for all men opens a spring of peace, holiness, and joy, to which the most vile and guilty may, by faith, have free access. The most polluted sinner, believing God's record, can now freely go to God as a loving father without one good thing in him to recommend him, and notwithstanding all his evil deeds. The barrier of sin is removed by the death of Jesus for all. The Church of England most scripturally states the ex- tent of redemption, in that beautiful explanation of the apostle's creed, which is in itself a little body of divine 90 CHRISTXAN TRtJTH I truth. " 1st. I learn to believe in God the Father, who made me and all the world." This is universal creation. " 2nd. In God the Son, who redeemed me and all man- kind." This is general redemption of the whole human race. " rird. In God the Holy Ghost, who sanctifieth me and all the elect people of God." This is distinguishing grace to the elect, making them meet for glory. Archbishop Usher thus forcibly expresses the extent of Christ's redemption. " The Lamb of God, offering himself a sacrifice for the sins of the world, intended, by giving satisfaction to God's justice, to make the nature of man which he assumed a fit subject for mercy, and to prepare a sovereign medicine that should not only be a sufficient cure for the sins of the whole world, but also should be laid open to all, and denied to none, that indeed do take the benefit thereof : for he is mufh deceived that thinks a preaching of a bare sufficiency is able to yield a sufficient ground of comfort to a distressed soul, without giving a farther way to it and opening a farther passage." But may not this doctrine of Christ dying for all, open the flood-gates of licentiousness ? If I believe that Christ atoned for my guilt, and that my sin is put away by his sacrifice, before I did anything to improve the blessing, may I not live as I please 1 No, it is impossible that you should believe it, and live so. You do not believe that Christ has put away your sins, if you can go on in sin against him. " Faith woiketh by love." The redemption is effected in such a way as, if really believed, makes sin infinitely hateful, and God infinitely lovely, glorious, and delightful, even to a fallen sinner. Jesus, the only-be- gotten Son of God, was given to humiliation, anguish, and bitter sorrows, to a painful and agonizing death, and all this was endured that our sins might be pardoned : really believe this, and his death becomes the death of sin, and a door is opened for love to God and man that nothing else can open. You have not faith if you have not love. What remains then, Christians, but for us to receive the joyful truth ; to believe God's own word that our Lord ON REDEMPTION. 91 Christ has put away sin by the sacrifice of himself, and that •'God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them. O see here, sinner, the heart of God opened to thee, full of love, and removing the barrier between thee and him, so that no angel above may more freely go to thy God than thou, a poor wretched sinner, may now go by Christ Jesus. Thou honourest God by believing- fully his word, and thus going to him as thy loving Father for all that thou wantest. ifeditation. 0 joyful news ! 0 good tidings ! Christ died for all, and therefore for me, and has put away my sins. Lord, help me to believe thy word with undoubting faith, and to live in that blessed faith against all the assaults of the world, the flesli, and the devil. Deliver me from unbelief — the evil heart of unbelief, which continually besets me, and enable me to venture all on thy faithful promises in Christ Jesus. 4. THE REJECTION OF REDEMPTION BY THK WICKED. Though our Lord Christ died for all (2 Cor. v. 15), " and gave himself a ransom for all " (1 Tim, ii, 6), yet it is perfectly clear that all are not everlastingly saved by him. Multitudes, notwithstanding his redemption, perish with an aggravated ruin : " Of how much sorer punish- ment suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the spirit of grace." The gospel is the richest and fullest display the world has ever seen, of the loving-kindness, tender compassion, and unspeakable grace of our God. Nor is there one im- pediment to man's receiving it ; but that he loves sin rather than holiness : " This is the condemnation, that light has 92 CHRISTIAN TRUTH come into the world, and men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil." They cannot bear tc see the extent of divine love, and the riches of divine grace, to us when enemies, because they must then see how hateful their hearts have been ; what an evil thing sin is, and they must loathe and abhor themselves, and henceforth aim in everything, with their whole souls, to live to God. They wish not for the Holy Spirit that Jesus bestows, for it would lead them from every sinful indulgence. The gospel takes away all excuse for a life of sin, and there- fore the gospel, in its holy efficacy, is hateful to our na- tural heart, which, when left to itself, delights in the ways of sin. But those that thus reject the gospel, " deny the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves quick de- struction." God made a liar ! mercy abused ! the Son of God trampled upon ! pardon rejected ! sin chosen ! Satan preferred ! O sinner, sinner, stop and consider what art thou doing ? whither art thou rushing ? what art thou pre- paring for thyself 1 Say not, " I would believe, but I cannot ! " You reverse the truth. It is " I cannot believe, because I will not." There is a full provision of mercy made for you, and you have only to believe that God speaks the truth. 0 put away j-our own enmity and alienation of mind, and come to God in the name of Jesus, and ask for his Spirit, and that he will take away the evil heart of unbelief, and give you the gift of faith, and you shall receive a new and a belie\'ing heart. " Be reconciled to God." Redemption is a discriminating test, developing the wickedness of your heart. " Christ crucified is to the Jews a stumbling-block, and to the Greeks foolishness — but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God." If you reject the gospel, it is because, preferring sin and rebellion to holiness and obe- dience, you charge God with falsehood. You voluntarily choose the wages of sin, which is death, and reject the gift of God, which is eternal life. You set your own wisdom ON REDEMPTION. 93 above God, and perversely make that which he sets forth for your life the means of your everlasting death. Say not it is the extent of your sin that keeps you from trusting in Christ ! Indeed it is not so. That is merely the pretext by which your proud evil heart of unbelief allows you to continue peacefully in a state of rebellion. Under the gospel we are taught, that all manner of sin is put away by the death of Christ. The real truth is, you will not take God at his word. Who could be more deplorably sinful than Israel as described by Isaiah : " Rulers of So- dom, people of Gomorrah," and with this the hypocritical observance of everj' form of religion ? Yet to them the in- vitation goes, " Wash you, make you clean, put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes, cease to do evil, learn to do well. Come now and let us reason togetiier, saith the Lord ; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow ; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." 0 my poor fellow-sinner reject- ing redemption, I entreat thee, pause ; there is salvation bought witli blood for thee ; free, complete, all-sufficient ! What will be thy guilt if thou count thyself unworthy of eternal life, when God himself sets it before thee as a free gift? Meditation. Is it indeed so that I am insulting God, wronging my own soul, and rushing to eternal ruin, simply by my un- belief? "0 Lord, show me the true state of my soul! Thou hast said, 0 Jesus, that thy Spirit shall " convince the world of sin because they believe not on thee ! " 0 teach me my true state ! O lead me by thine own Spirit to thyself ! May my God enable me to confide in all that he has said concerning his Son, that I may give him glory by believing his truth. • ). THE RECEPTION OF REDEMPTION BY THE BELIKVER. Affecting are the words of St. John respecting the gen- 94 CHRISTIAN TRUTH : eral rejection of the Redeemer. " He came unto his own, and his own received him not ; " but blessed be God, it is not universally thus : there were among them at the be- ginning those led to see the immense magnitude of em- bracing this salvation ; they " beheld his glory, the glory as of the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth : " and through the power of the Holy Spirit, they cordially welcomed Christ as the only Saviour." Believing in the name of Jesus is a real reception of redemption, and its true source is God's imparting to us divine power in the new birth (John i. 12). True faith is really believing all that God has testified respecting his Son (1 John v. 9, 10). God has in various ways from the beginning given testimony concerning Jesus. That chapter of Isaiah which most distinctly speaks of the unbelief of man (Isaiah liii. 1), most fully speaks of what Christ is, and what he has done. " He was wounded for our trans- gressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed ; the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." Faith gives credit to God ; believes that this is true, infal- libly true, that God means what he says. In doing this, faith sees that God is so full of love to man, and of such tender compassion to lost sinners, that " he spai'ed not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all." Faith also sees that sin is effectually removed from the sinner, and no longer charged to his account. " Christ was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." In doing this, faith really acknowledges the hor- rible nature of sin ; that its tremendous malignity was such in the sight of God that he took this marvellous way to remove our transgressions, even the wounds, and bruises, and death of his only-begotten Son. Hence spring up hatred of sin, love to God, delight in him, walking with him, and the whole life of faith, hope and love. This true reception of redemption and its effects does not come naturally, but in the way of God's wise and holy ap- pointment ; by means adapted, as all God's means are, in ON REDEMPTION. 95 infinite wisdom, for their designed end, and in means made effectual by his own imparted grace. Tiiere is " tlie ex- ceeding greatness of liis power" put fortli " to us who be- lieve, according to the working of his mighty power." Such is our natural blindness and hardness of heart, so far are we " alienated from the life of God througli the igno- rance that is in us," that we should reject all this display of mercy, did not sovereign grace provide for this our great necessity, and make those, who are truly born of God, willing in the day of God's power : thus working " in them to will and to do of God's good pleasure," that they may " work out their own salvation with fear and trembling." Jesus has received the Holy Spirit for us as well as merited our justification. Nor is it one act of faith, but a constant succession of acts all through a believer's life, which maintains his spi- ritual life ; ever coming to Jesus for pardon and strength ; ever going to God as our portion and joy by him ; ever re- ceiving out of his inexhaustible fulness those gifts of the Spirit which he has received for the rebellious ; doing all things by Christ which strengtheneth us. 0 blessed life ! To be nothing, that Christ may be every thing ; to be " translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God's dear Son ; " to live in the con- stant atmosphere of God's love ; to delight ourselves in him ; to have no barrier between God and our souls. O glorious light of life, to have the same mind with God, and his will our will, and his glory our glory, and a perfect one- ness with all holy and happy beings even for ever. How sweetly the apostle speaks upon it : " 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 : and not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement." Meditation. From the scriptural ground of Christ giving himself a 9G CHRISTIAN TRUTH rausom for all, what a view I get of the specialty and sovereignty of his grace in personal election. When I see a blasphemer, a persecutor and injurious, rebelling against him who bought him with his blood, — when I see such a one obtaining mercy by sovereign and distinguishing grace, then I see the riches of electing love. From this ground I get also the most awful views of the guilt of those who perish, seeing they deny him " who bought them with his blood," and " trample under foot the Son of God." From this ground I perceive the righteous character of the future judgment : it is a judgment of my conduct under a dispensation of the richest grace, being bought with the blood of the Son of God ; hence my responsibility is most awful, and my sin of rejecting God's love most tremendous. From this ground I see the loving-kindness and the holiness of my God so united, that both are infinitely delightful to me a sinner : Christ has the Spirit for me, every barrier is removed, and I have the freest access in this day of grace now to him as my loving Father. Lord, " help my unbe- lief ; " Lord, give me faith. 6. THE BENEFITS OF REDEMPTION. Immense are the blessings of redemption. 1. Consider the evils from which it delivers us. With- out redemption we are under the curse of the broken law. All the benefits which God had conferred on man origin- ally are forfeited and lost by our fall. The curse deprives us of them. The whole creation is subject to vanity, groan- ing and travailing in pain together, and every thing brings us misery. We are in bondage to Satan, who works in the children of disobedience, leading them captive at his will. We are alienated from God and at enmity with him by wicked works, and what situation can be more dreadful than for the creature to be hating that God on whom he depends for life, and breath, and all things. We are liable to afflictions, sorrows, pains, and sufferings from every pai't of God's creation. He has millions of weapons to punish ON REDEMPTION. !)7 the rebellious. The fear and terror of wrath to come — tlie judginent-day — the last sentence — the devourinq; fire and everlasting burnings. 0 what horrible evils are these I to have body and soul cast into hell- fire, where the worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched ! It is only from the long-suffering of God, his goodness that would lead men to repentance, his forbearance and compassion, and his restraining power, that all these evils break not upon the ungodly, and send them not, in a mo- ment, swiftly to everlasting destruction. The wrath to come is hanging over us ; and it is infinitely aggravated to those refusing Christ, that it is " the wrath of the Lamb. In the great day of his wrath — who shall be able to stand ! " But Christ endured the evil which we had merited, obtained for us the good which we had forfeited, and thus has in himself eternal redemption and all spiritual bless- ings for our use. It pleased the Father that " in him should ii.ll fulness dwell ; " as our head and Lord, he has all things for us. And in him we have reconciliation, and all other fruits of redemption. But all has to be received by us from him through faith. " Of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace." Receiving Jesus, according to the testimony which God has given of him, is the turning- ! oint of our salvation, and this faith is a divine gift, the v.ork of the Holy Ghost, tlie effect of that new birth ' which is not of blood, nor nf the will of the flesh, nor of t!ie will of man, but of God." If we receive it not, we are like the debtor owing 10,000 talents, whom his Lord first forgave, and then seeing he manifested an unforgiving spirit, cast him into prison for that cruelty, and brought upon him all the fault of his former debt, with the fearful aggravation of having aljused his forgiving love. The BENEFITS of redemption are very many and ver\^ great. We will notice reconciliation, forgiveness, justifi- cation, adoption, sanctification, and eternal life. Reconciliation. The Messiah was predicted as one who was to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring- 98 CHRISTIAN TRUTH in everlasting rigliteousness. " When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son." This " word of reconciliation," ministers have to preach, and the moment the death of Christ for our sins is truly believed, and we thus " receive the atonement " (Rom. v. 11) that moment the enmity of our carnal hearts against God and man is removed. Jesus " is our peace," blunging " us nigh to God by his blood," and " reconciling both " Jew and Gentile " unto God, in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby." 0 precious result of redemption received ! it takes away my hatred of him whose name is light and love, and brings me at once, a happy being, into the light of his countenance. Forgiveness. This goes along with reconciliation. 2 Cor. V. 19. By suffering the penalt\' of the law, Christ removed that penalty from sinners. " We have redemp- tion through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace." It is forgiveness by " redemption through his blood," and therefore there was a real and most costly price paid for it ; and our work is simply to believe God's word, and rejoice in God's love. O what good tidings for poor sinners are these ! But we must dis- criminate here between forgiveness and the actual recep- tion of forgiveness. Forgiveness is complete in Christ already for you ; believe God's love to you, and it is truly received by you and becomes a sweet spring of love and holiness in your heart. Adoption is also another fruit of redemption. '•' When the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." This rich privilege is set before us in the gospel. " Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God." The voice of the gospel is, " Come out from among them and be ye separate, and I will receive you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." This rich privilege is enjoyed by us the moment we believe in J esus. ON REDEMPTION. 09 " To as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." Justification, or being acquitted and dealt with as righteous, was purcliased by redemption. " Being justified freely by his grace througli the redemption that is in Clirist Jesus, whom God liath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood. He was delivered for our offences, and raised again for our justification." The ground of our acquittal fi-om guilt is solely the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. His resurrection proved that his work was accepted, and now through him sinners stand free from guilt. " By the offence of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation, even so by the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life." Ministers now go forth with the proclamation of the good tidings of great joy, that " now in this accepted time," now in the day of grace, tliere is justification for the ungodly, there is a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." 0 for precious faith in God's word to realize the benefit which Christ has obtained for us ! " Him has God set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood." Righteousness is ready for us in Christ the Lord. Faith receives it and blesses God for it. Sa NOTIFICATION flows froiu redemption through the power of the Holy Ghost. Christ our Lord " loved the church and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself, a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish." So he is said again to " give himself that he might redeem us from all iniquit}', and purify us uuto himself, a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus ii. 14.) It is only in redemption that a poor fallen sinner can gain real holiness, which is love, causing devotedness to God with the whole heart. But in redemption I see God all light, all love, all glory, all hatred of sin, and intensely loving the sinner ; and thus by re- H 2 100 CHRISTIAN TRUTH : demption I get to love God with ardent love from his having so first loved me, and I thus ohtain all the tresh springs of holiness and entire devotedness. The Holy Ghost given by Christ, my Redeemer, in the use of God's means of grace, shews me these things, and makes me holy by them. Eternal life is the last gift which we will notice, as the crowning gift of God's loving-kindness in redemption. " God hath given us eternal life, and tliis life is in his Son ; he that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son hath not life." Thus, you see, this precious gift, like all the rest, is in Christ for our use ; a free gift of the rich grace of our loving Father. And what is life, eternal life ? O how important to have clear views upon this point ! It is not mere deliverance from danger and safety from evil — it is not mere animal happiness, or intellectual enjoyments. "This is life eternal, to know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent." To enter into the divine mind, character and glorj- ; to see God as he is, in- finitely lovely, and in the conviction of his excellencies from a full heart, to exclaim, " How great is his goodness and how great is his beauty I By Christ to enter into that bright light in which God ever dwells, and in his light to see light ; to behold his glory in the face of Jesus : this is eternal life begun here, and which will be perfected here- after when we shall see him as he is, and know as we are known, God is the happy oxe ; to share in the same holy happiness, to partake of his bliss — this, and nothing less, is eternal life. Meditation. 0 ixexhatstible, unfathomable, boundless love ! " Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us ! " Blessed Saviour, let me constantly be looking to thee, and in thy face see more and more of this light of the knowledge of the glory of God, till I attain the same mind, and become wholly like thee ! ON REDEMPTIOX. 101 7. THE COMPLETION OF REDEMPTION. The purchase of redemption was completed on the cross. The beneficial effects of redemption will last through eter- nity. The scriptures shew us that Christians have now only the seal and earnest of that completed redemption which we shall have. St. Paul tells the Ephesians, " After that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of his glory." Chris- tians have a glorious inheritance, it is a sure possession, it was purchased by the blood of Jesus, and we are waiting for its complete enjoyment. We are in the situation of heirs, " heirs of God and joint heirs with Cnrist ; " and under the teaching of the Divine Spirit, are preparing for the possession of our future glory. This was the hope of the church from the beginning. Job expresses it with that remarkable introduction, " 0 that my words were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever ! " What is it he is thus anxious to re- cord 1 — his hope in final redemption : " For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth ; and though after my skin, worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God." Job xix. 24. Hosea brings a glorious promise of a similar kind : " I will ransom them from the power of the grave, I will redeem them from death. 0 death I will be thy plague ! O grave, I will be thy destruction ! " Hos. xiii. 14. Isaiah tells us, "He will swallow up death in victory, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces." Isa.xxv.8. And both these passages St. Paul applies to the future resurrection in that glowing description of the glory yet to come, to be given to the children of God, when they enter an 1 inherit ' the kingdom of God. " In a moment, in the twinkling of I an eye, at the last trump ; fot the trumpet shall sound, and I the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be j changed. For this coiTuptible shall put on incorruption, I 102 CHKISTIAN TRUTH : and this mortal shall put on immortality ; then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written : Death is swal- lowed up in victory. 0 death, where is thy sting ? 0 grave, where is thy victory 1 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." Completed redemption in the kingdom of glory, is the happy end and issue of the trials, sorrows, burdens, and afflictions of the Christian, and the full reward for every thing that he may have given up in consequence of his now believing God's word, and acting upon it. For this glory he is waiting. So the apostle describes the believer, now full of suffering and conflict, longing and hoping for that day. " We our- selves also, which have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adop- tion, to wit, the redemption of our bodies." But it is not merely the Christian that shall be redeemed. The earth, and all that dwell upon it, after that purifying baptism of fire which is so clearly foretold (2 Peter iii.) shall also be renewed. " We, according to his promise, look for a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness." Meditation. Surely we should liasten the coming of the day of God. (2 Peter iii.) when all this dark, sorrowful, and evil scene shall pass away, and the new heavens and the new earth appear. O with what holy thirsting should we say, " Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." THE INTERCESSION OF CHRIST. 103 CHAPTER VI. THE INTERCESSION OF CHRIST. ] . The need of Intercession — 2. The persons for whom it was made — 3. Tlic nature of Intercession' — 4. The office of High Priest — 5. Christ our Medi- ator, Intercessor, and Advocate — 6. Illustrations of Intercession— 7. The use and comfort of this truth. 1. THE NEED OF INTERCESSION. When any person has offended another by gross miscon- duct, his very person becomes so displeasing as to make a request by him unwelcome. If our whole course of con- duct towards a benefactor of the utmost wisdom, kindness, and bounty, from whom we have received innumerable benefits, has been one of ingratitude and injuries, the sense of alienation, even in our own minds, makes it impossible for us to come with confidence of heart to such an injured benefactor and solicit favours from him. Those favours would at once be granted to a beloved object ; to a child, or to one dear to such a benefactor, and intimate with him. But the guilty offender justly fears that his very person, associated, as it must be, with his misconduct, will quite hinder the success of his petitions. This, my friends, is our real situation ; yet we are far too blind to it. Prone we are, by nature, to make excuses for our misconduct, and to justify ourselves. Far are we from thinking that we need a Mediator. But let us learn our true position. The law of God is lioly, just, and good. It requires us to love our God su- premely, and our neighbour as ourselves. Obedience to it 104 CHRISTIAN TRUTH would be universal happiness. Its reward and its penalty, just and righteous altogether, are, " The mau that doeth these things shall live by them," and "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." We have all daily, hourly, and times with- out number, broken this good and holy law. Why are we not cut off ? How is it sinful man is spared by the holy God, and has been spared now for a period of nearly six thousand years ! " All have sinned and come short of the glory of God ; " how is it God for a season passes by and remits these sins ! It is all owing to " the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God hath set forth to be a pro- pitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righte- ousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God." This is the reason why a spared world of rebellious creatures is permitted to continue, not- withstanding the curse of the law, and the justice, and the truth, and the holiness of the great Jehovah. Here may we see clearly the need of Christ's intercession. But it is not merely a suspense of judgment that we sinful creatures require. A day of salvation, a season for obtaining renewed grace, is also of unspeakable moment, and the mediation of Jesus provides this. " He was made sin for us, who knew no sin , that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." We are, in virtue of this, exhorted, as in an '•' accepted time," in a " day of salva- tion," not to receive the grace of God in vain, but " to come out and be separate " from an evil world, and return to our heavenly' Father, who will receive us, and " be a Father unto us, and we shall be dealt with as sons and daughters. In this return to God, Christ is every thing. " No man cometh unto the Father but by him ;" but, both Jew and Gentile, " through him, have access by one Spirit unto the Father." Here, again, we see the need of inter- cession to make suspended judgment a season of grace, and to open a way by which we may return to the holy Jehovah. The many temptations which beset the children of God, and which they have not, through their still remaining THE INTERCESSION OF CHRIST. lOo ) carnal nature, power in themselves to overcome, shew the ; necessity of continued intercession. We have trials within and without, domestic and public ; temptations everywhere assault us, and a traitor within readily admits our worst foes. 0 the pride, impurity, selfishness, worldliness, that seek lodgment and entertainment in those hearts which ought to be filled with God and his holy law ! The hum- bling, constant, and painful experience of this, compels the Christian to look for help ; and delightful is the divine testimony, that Jesus knows bur temptations, and prays for us. Luke xxii. 32. Again, the just are not without sin. " If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." But sin brings us afi-esh under the penalties of the broken law ; " the wages of sin," at all times, " is death." Those who have obtained the righteousness which is by faith, still then need the Mediator every day. And most precious to them is the truth, " If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and he is the propitiation for our sins." All our services, too, are full of defects, and in themselves could not be accepted ; but it is a blessed truth that they are now " acceptable to God by Christ Jesus." 1 Peter ii. 5. But if our own necessities thus manifest the need of in- tercession, still more is it requisite when we bear in mind tlie judgment which is before us. " Every one of us shall give account of himself to God. God will Itring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." How shall we stand in that judgment ? Who can abide it ? It is a fiery trial. " Every man's work shall be made manifest, for the day shall de- clare it, because it shall be revealed by fire, and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is." Have we believed the gospel ? and are we bringing forth the fruits meet for repentance 1 What does conscience — what does the daily life testify ? Who can satisfactorily answer these questions, in the day of the Lord, without a Me- diator 1 106 CHRISTIAN TRUTH : Then, again, consider there is an enemy, Satan, the devil, or calumniator and detractor of men, full of malice and full of subtletj', ready to avail himself of all the purity of the law, and the charges of conscience, and well acquainted with all our transgressions. He is " the god of this world," He is " the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience." He tempts men to sin, and knows when they concur with his tempta- tions. His very title is, " The accuser of the brethren." And although he himself be full of wickedness, yet if his charge be just, " shall not the Judge of all the earth do right 1 " The charge must be met. We have a striking picture of the part which our Redeemer takes for us, in Zechariah iii. 1 — 5. " And he showed me Joshua the high priest, standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at the right hand to resist him. And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, 0 Satan ; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee : is not this a brand plucked out of the fire 1 " The ground of inter- cession here is traced to God's election, as it is in Romans viii. 33, 34. Nothing was there in Joshua and Jerusalem apart from this love of God. " Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. And he answered and spake iinto those that stood before him, say- ing, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. And 1 said. Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments." Thus Jesus sets us free from all the charges of Satan, and clothes us with the beautiful garments of salvation. Prayer to see the need of Intercession. Almighty Father ! thou hast told me that the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine upon them. 0 deliver me THE INTERCESSION OF CHRIST. 107 from this blindness, and shine into my heart, to give me j the light of the knowledge of thy glory in the face of Jesus Christ ! I beseech thee, 0 thou God of all grace ! in the name of Jesus Christ, shew me my sinfulness and weak- ness, and the all-sufficiency of that righteous Advocate, who is thy well-beloved Son, and who makes intercession for the transgressors. By him, who is the way, the truth and the life, by him alone I come unto thee. 0 hear me ! and give me true faith in him, for his name's sake. Amen. 2. THE PERSONS FOR WHOM INTERCESSION IS MADE. The persons for whom our Lord intercedes are trans- gressors. Very needful for our faith and comfort is it to keep this distinctly in view. " This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." His first coming is to save ; ; his second coming to judge and reign. At his first coming, again and again, he testified that he came " to seek and to ' save that which was lost." It was foretold of him : " He bare the sins of many, and made intercession for the trans- i gressors." It is sin, our sin, that makes this intercession necessary. Had we not sinned we should have delighted to go to God as Adam did before the fall, and God could have blessed us, ! as he did Adam, with full dominion over everything on earth, and with every gift of his creation. By sin we for- feited these privileges, and by Christ's intercession for sia- I ners a means of i-ecovery is provided for us. It is not because you are good, or better than others, I that you may hope for Christ's intercession, but because you are sinful, and infinitely need it. See, in the parable of the barren fig-tree, a beautiful picture of our Saviour's interceding for the Jews, in the midst of their sins, and for all sinners. " A certain man had a fig-tree planted in his vineyard, and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Be- 108 CHRISTIAN TErTH : hold these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig-tree, and find none : cut it down ; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering, said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it, and if it bear fruit, well ; and if not, then, after that, thou shall cut it down." We have the same blessed truth, without any figure, as a glorious reality, amidst pains, sufferings, shame and ingi-atitude unparalleled, in the crucified Redeemer, hanging on the cross, between the two thieves, crying out for his murderers, " Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." It may seem, indeed, an objection to this view, that in. his last intercessory prayer, speaking of those whom he had previously called " the men which thou gavest me out of the world," he says of them, " I pray for them ; " and then adds, " I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me, for they are thine." Still, how full is the farther evidence of his love, a love in its result including the world, when, in a later part of the same prayer, desir- ing the full union of his elect people, both from among Jews and Gentiles ; and their full glory, in our Redeemer's glory, at his coming, he thus intercedes for all men : " Nei- ther pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word, that they all may be one ; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them, that they may be one as we are one. I in them, and Thou in me, that they may be made perfect in me, and that the WORLD may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them as thou hast loved me. Father, I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my gloiy, which thou hast given me ; for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world." We have here a rich and comprehensive prayer. First, for the full blessedness of his elect, gathering now out of this evil world, that they may ever be with their Lord in glory ; and then a prayer for the world at large, the future blessedness of which is a result of the completion of his THE INTERCESSION OF CHRIST. TOO elect in one body, according as we read, after that beantiful description of the Lamb's wife, the lieavenly Jerusalem : " The nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it, and the kings of the earth do bring their glory I and honour unto it." May we have grace now, tlien, to believe in his name, and obtain the full glory promised to his elect. 0 let not us, by unbelief, fall short of the pro- mised rest, and come under the penalty of " everlasting de- struction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power." The Saviour has no backwardness of heart to pray for any. Of the most wicked city of Jerusalem he says, " How often would I have gathered thy cliildren together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not." Let us go to Jesus, under the drawings of the Father's love, and in the verj^ go'^o to him we have evidence we ai-e given to him : " All that the Father giveth me shall come to me, and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." (John vi. 37.) Let us put up our prayers in his name, and immediately his powerful intercession, like much incense, mingles with them and makes them effectual. (Rev. viii. 3.) How solemn is his asseveration, and let our faith realize it : " Verily, verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye sliall ask the Father in my name, he ! will give it you. Hitherto ye have asked nothing in my I name ; ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may I be full." i Meditation. Think then, 0 my soul ! of this mo.st blessed truth, that the Lord Jesus Christ intercedes for thee a sinner, when thou comest in his name to the Father ! What could my heart desire more adapted to my wants ? Who can be nearer to God than the only-begotten Son ? Who can be more my friend than he who died for me 1 What petition can fail which is made powerful by being put into the hands of such an advocate ! 0, let me most joyfully, and most gratefully always accept his mediation, use his name, and no CHRISTIAN TRUTH : with perfect confidence, notwithstanding my many siiiS, approach the most holy God through him. 3. THE NATURE OF OUR LORD S IXTERCESSIOX. Ample and full is the provision which our God and Sa- viour has made in his word for the peace and holiness of his people. Unspeakably important is it for us to have a right and clear understanding of this provision to meet our daily wants, enable us to do all his will, and prepare us for our heavenly inheritance. May the Lord then enable me from his own word to make plain to the reader this pecu- liarly comforting doctrine ! Intercession means, to act between two parties as an equal friend to both ; and the intercession of our Lord Christ relates to his acting between us and God his Father, that God may be glorified, and we everlastingly saved and blessed. Many things were requisite before this could be attained. The Lord Jesus, the only-begotten Son of the Father, had co-equal glory with the Father before the world was. (John xvii. 6.) He existed from the beginning with God, and was God- (John i. 1.) He was in the form of God, and thought it uot robbery to be equal with God.*' (Phil. ii. 16.) But if so, how could he then be an intercessor for man, an equal friend to God and man ? 0 wondrous plan of divine love ! he emptied himself of his original glory, and " took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of man ; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." He which sanctifieth us " became of one nature with us, '• for which cause he is not ashamed to call us brethren. For- asmuch, then, as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same." Taking our nature upon him, " he gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity." He laid down his own life for us (1 John iii. 10), " bearing our sins in his own body on the tree." ( 1 Peter ii. 24.) THE INTERCESSION OF CHRIST. Ill But it was necessary not only that reconciliation should thus be made for our sins, and a way provided by which the Holy God could look upon sinners without pouring his wrath upon them, it was farther necessary that we should have a living Mediator, partaker of the divine nature, that he might act on the part of God ; and partaker of the human nature, that he might act on our part. The Lord Jesus, therefore, rose from the dead, ascended with our recovered nature to heaven, and there is seated at the right hand of God, where he ever livi'th to make intercession for us. O glorious and most consoling fact ! Christ is " entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us." And 0 what ample encouragement have we hence, in all our approaches to God ! " Seeing then that we have a great High Priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession ; for we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infiraiities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Some particulars of his intercession are distinctly set before us in the Scriptures. 1. He presents his person, in our nature as his own, as a public head, mediator, and surety for us (Heb. ix. 12, 24 ; vii. 22), bearing our names on his breast. (Exod. xxviii. 29.) 2. He presents his merits as a full satisfaction for the debt of sin, and a full price for our redemption to glory. (1 John ii. 2 ; Eph. i. 14.) His blood speaks for us. (Heb. xii. 24.) 3. He makes known his desires and requests for our pre- servation from present evil (Luke xxii. 32), and our ob • taiuing future glory. (John xviii. 24.) 4. He receives gifts for us, even rebellious as we are (Psalm Ixviii. 18), and bestows those gifts upon us. (Acts V. 31.) 112 CnilISTIA?f TRUTH 5. He presents our prayers, with miicli incense. (Rev. viii. 3 ; Exod, xxviii. 38.) 6. The Father himself delights to concur in this. He "hearetli him always." (John xi. 42.) Christ is that " beloved Son in whom he is always well pleased." (Matt, xvii. 5.) Meditation. Oh that the door in heaven may be opened to me as it was to the apostle (Rev. iv. 1), and I by faith may behold in the midst of the throne that slain Lamb that takes awaj'' the sin of the world ! and in his intercession, while I see my deep sinfulness, may I see also the way clear and open to return with full confidence to the High and Holy God, as my most mei'ciful Father, and my own God. 4. THE OFFICE OF THE HIGH PRIEST. Great is the kindness and condescension of God in teach- ing us heavenly things, by giving, to Moses on the Mount, patterns of them to form part of the law, and thus to be a daily instructor in the invisible realities of the heavenl}' world. Our backwardness to receive this instruction may teach us our great dulness of apprehension as to spiritual things. In speaking of our Lord as a high priest after the order of Melcliizedec, the apostle adds, " of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be understood, seeing ye are dull of hearing." May the Lord himself open our ears to hear, and enlighten our eyes to see. Among the patterns of the heavenly things was tliat most lively type of our Lord Christ — the office of the high priest. Let us " consider," then, as we are bid to do, " the apostle and high-priest of our profession, Jesus Christ." One of the twelve tribes of Israel, that of Levi, was dedi- cated to the service of God. From the descendants of Aaron, in that tribe, the ordinary priests were chosen. The high priest was placed over all the other priests, by the direct appointment of God himself. Aaron was first THE INTERCESSION OF CHRIST. 113 appointed to this office ; being M'ashed, clothed with holy garments, and anointed with precious oil. He had a pecu- liar breastplate, with twelve precious stones, each stone bearing the name of one of tlie twelve tribes, and wore on his mitre a plate of pure gold, with the inscription, " Holi- ness to the Lord." He was clothed in this splendid dress whenever he was engaged in the Tabernacle or Temple ser- vice. He was to be free from all blemish ; and once a-year he entered alone into the Holy of Holies, with the blood of the bullock, to sprinkle on the mercy-seat. The whole of his services, as set before us in Exod. xxviii. and xxix., and Lev. vii , ix., xvi., and xxi., must be read, and com- pared with the Epistle to the Hebrews to give you an ade- quate view of the varied ways in which this sacred office illustrates that gracious work, by which our Redeemer is now carrying on intercession for us. He is appointed to this office immediately by God himself. (Heb. vi. 4 — 6.) He is the elder brother of God's spiritual family of priests. Without measure is his anointing, and the gift of the Spirit to him. He first offered himself a sacrifice for our sins, and then " entered into heaven itself, to appear in the pre- sence of God for us." How glorious and beautiful are his robes of righteousness ! how perfect his holiness ! On his head are many crowns, and by him have we access to and crimmunion with God. "Good things yet to come" are Libsured to us through him. Now he is within the veil, pleading our cause, but " unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." When he returns, like the High Priest, he will return to bless us, and put God's name upon us. In a fuller sense than has ever yet been realized, he will say to his people : " The Lord bless thee and keep thee ; the Lord make his face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee ; the Lord lift his countenance upon thee and give thee peace." Realize, then, Christian reader, these great truths : the atonement for sin is finished ; the High Priest is gone up into the Holy of Holies, even to God himself, and has been accepted. He is before the throne. He is engaged in in- 114 CHRISTIAN TRUTH : tercession on our behalf. He has received gifts for the rebellious. Believe all this grace provided for you, and seek for mercy and salvation through liim. How im- pressively the apostle addresses us ; " Having, therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which he hath consecrated through the veil, that is to say, his flesh ; and having an High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering." Hymn on the Office of the High Priest. See Aaron, God's appointed priest. Within the veil appear, In robes of sacred meaning drest, Presenting Israel's prayer. With the atoning blood he stands Before the mercy-seat ; And clouds of incense from his hands Arise with odour sweet. Through him the eye of faith descries A greater priest than he ; Thus Jesus pleads above the skies. For sinners such as we. He bears the names of all his saints Deep on his heart engrav'd ; Attentive to the state and wants Of all his love has sav'd. In him a holiness complete, Light and perfection shine : And wisdom, grace, and glory meet ; A Saviour all divine. The blood, which as a priest he bears For sinners, is his own ; The incense of his prayers and tears Perfumes the holy throne. In him my weary soul has rest, Thou gh I am weak and vile ; I read my name ujjon his breast, And see my Father's smile. THE INTERCESSION OF CHRIST. 1]5 5. CHRIST OUR MEDIATOR, INTERCESSOR, AND ADVOCATE. All the titles of our Redeemer have relation more or less to his intercession : but we will select Mediator, Interces- sor, and Advocate, as, with that of High Priest, specially applicable to this subject. He is our Mediator : the one who goes between God and man. The very appointment testifies the sweet truth, that " God will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth, for there is one God, and one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus." It is a blessed state when it can be said of us, " We are come to Jesus, the Mediator of the new covenant, — one who, as the Son of God, can aj^proach God for us, and as the Son of Man can feel and sympathize with us. A Me- diator is not needed when all is at unity ; he comes be- tween contending parties for reconcilation. When the contention was wholly owing to man's sin, and was be- tween the great God and weak man, how utterly helpless our state without a Mediator ! But, blessed be God, that he, in his infinite love, has provided a " daysman betwixt us," one that can plead for us, '• and lay his hand on us both." (Job ix. 33.) At Mount Sinai, (Exod. xx. 18—21,) the law " was ordained by angels in the hands of a Media- tor." Let us go to Jesus, our Mediator, and commit all our spiritual interests with perfect confidence, to him who is now in the heavenly mount with God for us. He is the niily being in heaven, he is the only one on earth, who can act for us with God, so as really to bless us. He is our intercessor : an intercessor is one who stands up in behalf of another to obtain blessings for him. We have set before us the awful state of the world without this, in Isa. lix. 1—15 ; and it is closed thus : " Truth faileth, and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey ; and the Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment." What could we next have expected but exterminating judgments ? No : this is not the mind of 1 2 116 CHRISTIAN TRUTH our God ; in jmlgment he remembers mercy. The prophet goes on : " And lie saw that there was no man, and won- dered that there was no intercessor ; therefore his arm brought salvation, and his righteousness it sustained him." Judgments come, indeed, on his obstinate and irreclaimable enemies, but his intercession obtains effectual salvation and deliverance for his people, and, in the result, the universal " fear of the name of the Lord, (v. 7 — 19). The office of intercession was undertaken by Christ, in its fulness, on his resurrection ; and now "who is he that condemneth 1" Shall " Christ that died, yea rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh inter- cession for us 1 " How glorious that view of the apostle ! " I beheld, and lo in the midst of the throne, and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain ! " and how delightful the songs made to this Lamb ! " Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred and tongue, and people and nation." What an effectual plea for us ! what an abiding and constant intercession is thus presented by the slain Lamb in the midst of the heavenly places ! 0 let us realise it in all our approaches to God ! He is our advocate. When a cause is to be tried, the person accused, from ignorance or want of ability, is gene- rally unable to plead for himself, and is glad to employ an advocate to plead for him. The gracious Redeemer has been pleased thus to set forth his own work for us. We have, indeed, in ourselves, a cause wholly desperate. Our very plea is, that we are guilty, but this " wonderful counsellor," out of that very plea, as St. John shews (1 John ii. 1, 2,) can gather, from God's gracious promises (1 John i. 9,) and his own propitiation for our sins, the very argument for our being forgiven, and cleansed from all unrighteous- ness. True it is we have a most bitter, malignant, and skilful accuser ; true it is that the holy and good law is clearly against us as transgressors ; true it is the Judge is altogether righteous ; true it is that our mouths are stopped, and we are guilty before God, and are compelled to say, TUE INTERCESSION OF CURIST. 117 " Beliolcl I am vile : and yet out of all these unpromising and most desperate circumstances, there is an effectual and prevailing plea for our justification, even " the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood : " a plea in which we become interested, when we have really gone to the Advocate and put our cause into his hands, for this is the proof that we are given to Christ, and shall behold his glory. (John vi. 37 ; xvii. 24.) Bishop Reynolds's Meditation on the Intercession of Christ. " He is our Advocate and Mediator ; he is the only Practiser in the Court of Heaven, and therefore he must needs be full of the business of his church. It is his office to despatch the affairs of those that come unto him, and crave his favour and intercession, to debate their causes ; and he is both faithful and merciful in his place, and be- sides, furnished with such unmeasurable unction of the Spirit, and vast abilities to transact all the businesses of his church, that whosoever cometh unto him for his counsel and intercession, he will in no wise cast them out, or refuse their cause. And this is one great assurance we may take comfort in, that, be our matters ever so foul and inexcusa- ble in themselves, yet the very entertaining of him as our counsel, and the leaning upon his wisdom, power, fidelity, and mercy, to expedite our business, to compassionate our estate, and to rescue us from our demerits, does, as it were, alter the property of the cause, and produce a clean con- trary issue to that which the evidence of the thing in trial, would of itself have created. And, as we may observe that men of extraordinary abilities in the law delight to wrestle with some difficult business, and to shew their learning in clearing matters of the greatest intricacy and perplexity before, so does Christ esteem himself most honoured, and the virtue and wisdom of his cross magnified, when, in cases of sorest extremity, of most hideous guilt, of most black and uncomfortable darkness of soul, which pose not only the presumptions, but the hope, faith, conjectures H8 CHRISTIAN TRUTH : thoughts, and contrivances which the hearts of men can even in wishes make to themselves for mercy, they do trust him " whose thoughts are infinitely above their thoughts." (Isaiah Iv. 8 ; 1. 10.) When the soul can go unto Christ with such complaints and acknowledgments as these : " Lord, when I examine my cause by mine own conscience and judgment of it, I cannot but give it over as utterly desperate and beyond cure ; my bones are dried, my hope is cut off, I am utterly lost : my sins and my sorrows are so heavy, that they have broken my spirit all to pieces, and " there is no sound part in me." But, Lord, I believe thou knowest a way to make dead bones live ; (Ezek. xxxvii. 3.) that thy thoughts and ways are above mine, and that thou knowest thine own thoughts of peace and mercy though I cannot comprehend them ; that thy riches are unsearchable ; that thy love is above human knowledge ; that thy peace passes all created understand- ing ; that though I am the greatest of all sinners, and feel enough in myself to sink me as low as Judas into hell, yet thou hast not left me without patterns of all suffering, of thy royal power in enduring, and in forgiving sins. And now, Lord, though thou afford me no light, though thou beset me with terrors, though thou make me to possess the sins of my youth, yet I will desire to fear thy name, to walk in thy way, and to wait upon thy counsel. I know there is not, in men or angels, so much wisdom, compas- sion, or fidelity as in thee ; and, therefore, if I must perish, I will perish at thy feet, I will starve under thy table, I will be turned away and rejected by thee, who hast pro- mised to cast away none that come unto thee. I have tried all ways, and here I resolve to rest and to look no further ; thou that hast kept such a sinner as I am out of hell thus long, canst by the same power keep me out for ever. Upon thy wisdom and compassion, who canst make dried bones to flourish like an herb, (Isa. Ixvi. 14.) and broken bones to rejoice and sing, I cast the whole weight of my guilty spirit. Into thy bosom I empty all the fears, cares, and requests of my distracted and sinking soul." THE INTERCESSION OF CnRIST. 119 " Where a man can thus pour out himself unto Christ, he esteems the price and power of his blood most highly honoured : when men believe in him against reason, and above hope, and beyond the experience, or the apprehen- sions they have of mercy ; for Christ loves to shew the greatness of his skill in the salvation of a Manasseh, a Mary Magdalen, a crucified thief, a persecutor and injurious blas- phemer, and in giving life to them that nailed him to his cross ; the more desperate the disease, the more honourable the cure." 6. ILLUSTRATIONS OF INTERCESSION. The history of the Bible is full of facts which illustrate intercession in general, and are striking types of our Re- deemer's intercession in particular. Sucli are the sacri- fices of the patriarchs before and after the flood, and those of the law of Moses in general. Let us take some more prominent examples. The first act of Noah, on his deliv- erance from the deluge, — that most striking evidence that God wiU awfully visit general guilt with general judgment — was an act of sacrifice and intercession. And in conse- quence of that, the Lord has ever since preserved the earth from destruction by another flood. The Lord " smelled a sweet savour," and said, " I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake ; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youtli." The history of Abraham's intercession for Sodom and Gomorrah shews the willingness of God, our Father, to be pleaded with for the worst of sinners, and also the cha- racter of that intercession which Jesus is making above for sinners exposed to the divine wrath. Read Gen. xviii. 20-33. Jacob's wrestling with the angel for his family, is ano- ther figure of our Lord's fervent and prevailing prayer for his family. (Gen. xxxii. 2i — 32.) " He had power over the angel, and prevailed ; he wept and made supplication unto him, he found him in Bethel, and there he spake 120 CHRISTIAN TRUTH with US ; even the Lord God of hosts, the Lord is his me- morial." (Hosea xii. 3 — 5.) We may see the same ti'uth in Joseph's interceding with Pharaoh for his family, and obtaininof tlius for them a settlement in the land of Egypt. (Gen. xlvii.l— 10.) Moses's whole history, his appearing before Pharaoli for Israel, and then his appearing before God for them in Mount Sinai, and his pleading in their behalf after their rebellions, are lively examples of the intercession of Christ. With what self-sacrifice, and earnestness, and powerful arguments, does he plead for them ! When God says, adapting his expressions to our weakness in resisting im- portunity, " Let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them, and I will make of thee a great nation ; " Moses will not accept a personal benefit at the cost of his people, hut beseeches the Lord with many touching pleas in their behalf to spare them, till he succeeds. Read Exod. xxxii. Aaron also, on more occasions than one, was made a striking pattern of the intercession of Christ. When a plague was sent among the congregation on account of their murmuring, and God threatened to consume them in a moment, Aaron " took the censer, and put fire therein from oif the altar, and ran into the midst of the congrega- tion, and put on incense, and made an atonement for the people. And he stood between the living and the dead, and the plague was stayed." (Numb. xvi. 46 — 48.) Intercession is farther illustrated by the history of Job. In the opening of the book of Job, his prayers and sacri- fices for his family are mentioned, " for Job said, it may be that my sons have sinned." In the close also, of the book, we find his friends were directed to go and offer up burnt- offerings, and Job was " to pray for them, for God would accept him." It is also added, " the Lord turned the cap- tivity of Job when he prayed for his friends." The history of Daniel is full of the spirit of prayer. The earnestness with which (in chap, ix.) he pleads for his people, and the many affecting motives urged, show us THE INTERCESSION OF CHRIST. 121 something of the greater earnestness with which our living High Priest is ever interceding for us. But in every thing Jesus has the pre-eminence. When wearied with the labour of an arduous day, he retired not for repose, but " went apart up into the mountain alone to pray." When on the very eve of his own apprehension and crucifixion, he poured out that most sublime and tender prayer for his apostles and the world, recorded John xvii. When hanging on the cross, he still prayed for his mur- derers. And now he reigns above, we are assured, this is the office which he is still carrying on ; — " he ever liveth to make intercession for us." How full of comfort should be to us that picture of his intercession which we have in the account given in Rev. viii. 3, 4 ! Meditation. Oh that, by every stream of grace and mercy, I may rise up to the Original Fountain, and by all see the overflowing fulness of Jesus, my living and ever-interceding Prophet and High Priest I May I search the Scriptures, which so fully testify of him, and constantly come to him, weak, sinful, and empty as I am, to receive out of his fulness grace for the supply of all my wants ! " Whatsoever I do in word or deed, may I do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." 7. THE USE AND COMFORT OF THIS TRUTH. The Israelites valued not the intercession of Moses till they were brought under the terrors and threatenings of Mount Sinai. And to some readers all the truths now de- clared may seem a matter of great indifference. Could they see their real condition, and realize their sinful de- parture from God, the fearful guilt that lies upon them, the threatenings of the Most High, and the terrors of that everlasting destruction to which they are hastening " who know not God, and obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ," they might learn the infinite value of Christ's in- tercession. 122 CHRISTIAN TRUTH : Let the bare fact itself, then, that the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Most High, " ever liveth to make interces- sion for us," speak with irresistible power to their con- science. Why is it, 0 sinner I that such an intercession is needed ? Why is your being spared from instant destruc- tion dependant on such a remarkable truth 1 Oh learn that there is an evil in sin of which you have yet no con- ception ; learn your utter insufficiency and inability to recover yourselves. The day of grace is yet continued, but it is a limited period, quickly passing away. Learn, too, that it is rash presumption for a sinner to approach God, except in the name of Jesus ! Can you more mock or insult the divine wisdom, majesty, and goodness, than by slighting his provided way of salvation 1 Let Roman Ca- tholics tremble for their awful guilt in saint-worship, and earthly mediators ! Let self-righteous men, who think by their own tears, prayers, alms, and works, to turn away the wrath of God, learn how vain is such a ground of con- fidence, and what contempt, wliile resting on these, they pour on " the only name given unto men whereby we must be saved ! " But are any burdened by sin, broken-hearted under lengthened and apparently unavailing struggles with their corruptions 1 Do the terrors of the Lord overwhelm them 1 Does the law of God manifestly, and in every thing con- demn them ? Does Satan bring man}' a heavy charge against them, and conscience sa\', It is all true ! I am guilty, verily guilty before God, shut up under sin I For them this doctrine is revealed as a precious balm to their wounded spirit. You have a mediator. You have an Intercessor, an Advocate, a High Priest. He is living, he is at God's right hand ; he is pleading for you. " Look unto him and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth." Christians, remember the intercession of Jesus in ALL YOUR prayers. Think of this before you pray. Thus may you gather holy boldness in approaching the throne of God. It is a blessed thing to have access with confi- dence to the great God as having reconciled us to himself THE INTERCESSION OF CHEIST. 123 by Jesus Christ, and no longer imputing our trespasses to us. This we gain by Jesus' intercession. In prayer, too, intermingle, as it were, with all your devotions, the fra- grant name of Jesus. " By him let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually." The recollection and realising by faith of such a Mediator, will give life and power to prayer. And, after prayer, still let us leave all to him ; not resting on their fervency, if fervent ; nor being in de- spair for their coldness, if cold ; but resting and hoping in the mighty intercession of him who is the elect in whom the Father delighteth ; the " beloved Son in whom he is always well pleased." And, Christians, imitate the Redeemer also in in- tercession. He has washed us in his blood, and made us kings and priests unto God and his Father. It is our office to be " the Lord's remembrancers." It is an exhor- tation given us, as a primary duty, to " make supplica- tions, prayers, and intercessions, and giving thanks for all men ; for kings and all that are in authority, that we may live a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty ; for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Sa- viour." Oh that his holy pattern and lovely example may stir up every Christian, to seek to be like him in interceding for a world perishing in sin, and in enlarged supplications tor all the family of God ! Thanks for Christ's Intercession. AH praise, all glory be thee, 0 heavenly Father, who hast not left me to perish in my sins, but hast in thy infi- nite mercy and tender compassion, provided a full ransom for them all, and a merciful and faithful High Priest, to appear in thy presence for me ! Oh how can I thank thee as I ought for this unspeakable gift of thy love ! Let Israel rejoice in him that made him ; let the children of Zion be joyful in their King ! Praise God in his sanctuary. Praise him in the firmament of his power. Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord ; and let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen. 124 CHRISTIAN TRUTH : CHAPTER Vir. ON THE HOLY SPIRIT. 1. Unity of the Godhead — 2. Distinctness of the Spirit — 3, Names of the Spirit — 4. Jesus receiving the Holy Spirit for us— 5. His office in Redemp- tion — 6. His love in undertaking it— 7. Our duty to the Spirit — 8. The enlarged outpouring of the Holy Ghost. 1. THE UNITY OF THE GODHEAD. The glories of the great God are beyond the limited com- prehension of the wisest and best of men, or the most ex- alted of angels. None, by all their searching can perfectly know Jehovah ; but every increase of holy knowledge of God, is an increase of blessedness, and part of the very hap- piness of everlasting life. The oneness of the true and ever-glorious Jehovah is frequently and plainly stated in the Bible. " The Lord he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath, there is none else." (Deut. iv. 39.) " Hear, 0 Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord." (Deut. vi. 4.) He asks, " Is there a God beside me ? Yea, there is no God." (Isaiah xliv. 8.) " An idol is nothing in the world, and there is none other God but one." (1 Cor. viii. 4.) The full nature of this oneness we cannot comprehend. It is a perfect unity in all attributes of wisdom, love, power, and riches, and in holiness and righteousness, be- yond our largest thoughts. It is the same mighty and merciful mind, the same gracious and holy Being, every- where present, controlling, directing, sustaining, filling, ON THE HOLY SPIRIT. 125 and governing all things according to his own will and grace, truth, and love, with a vastness and greatness that no created being can fully comprehend or realize. But it is the true happiness of every created being to know the great God, to confide wholly in him, to see him through all his works, and, by every display which he has made of himself, to rise to communion with him, and evermore to rejoice in him. In this unity of the Godhead, the Bible has revealed a Trinity of persons, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost ; each uncreated, incomprehensible, almighty, and equally God, and " yet they are not three Gods, but one God," and we are baptized, not in many names, but " in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." The full nature of this Trinity in unity also is far beyond our highest thoughts. The practical use of the doctrine is, however, manifest in every place where it is revealed in the word of God. It furnishes, in the mode of its revelation to us in the Scriptures, constant lessons of instruction, humiliation, confidence, holiness, comfort, and happiness, so that " to know God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent," is " eter- nal life ; to acquaint ourselves with God " is " to be at peace with him." And as there is a perfect unity of nature in the three persons of the Godhead, so God in his love has designed that those whom he has given to his Son, and who believe in him, should be brought to a perfect unity of mind and heart with each other and with him. The Saviour's prayer is, " That they all may be one. As thou. Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us : " and for this very end, " that the Avorld may believe" the divine mission of Christ ; so full of holy love is God to all his creatures, and while altogether righ- teous, yet full also of compassion in all his ways, even to those who have sinned against him. Meditation. May the last intercessions of the Redeemer be fulfilled in me ! May I believe in Jesus, and attain that blessed 126 CHRISTIAN TRUTH : oneness with the Father and Son for wliich he has prayed, and which he has connected with the final blessedness of the whole world ! 0 how delightful ought it to be to me, that I have but one to please ; and that one full of light and love, grace and glory, altogether excellent, and who has said, If there be first a willing mind, it is accepted ac- cording to what a man hath, and not according to what he hath not. 2. THE DISTINCTNESS OF THE SPIRIT. In considering the glories of the Divine Being, it is ne- cessary not to " confound the persons," or so to mingle them as that their several and distinct offices cannot be discerned. The Holy Scriptures make this very clear, by shewing that each Person has, in infinite love, undertaken a distinct work and office in our salvation, and by very frequently mentioning all three together in a distinct form. Thus the Lord Jesus bids his ministers : " Go ye, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." The way in which Christians are to build themselves up on their " most holy faith," is, " praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, unto eternal life." Our Lord, in his last discourse before his crucifixion, very frequently brings before us the three in one, both in their distinctness and their unity. We read in John xiv. 16, 17. "I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth." So again, ver. 26 : " The Com- forter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things." So again, XV. 2G, and xvi. 7 : The Spirit is seen acting as a distinct person again and again. Thus " the Holy Ghost said, Se- parate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them." (Acts xiii. 2.) And tliis was not merely a special occasion, but we are assured the ordinary min- ON THE HOLY SPIRIT. 127 isters of the church are appointed by him, from the charge, " Take heed to yourselves, and to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost has made you overseers." All spiritual gifts are indeed imparted by him. (1 Cor. xii. 1 — 12.) He especially distinctly inspires the sacred writers, speaking expressly to them (1 Tim. iv. 1), and moving them to write the word of God for our use. The distinctness of the Holy Ghost may be seen in the INFINITE WISDOM ascribed to him. " The Spirit searcheth all things, even the deep things of God ; for what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him, even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God." (1 Cor. ii. 10, 11.) Well may he be called " the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, and the Spirit of counsel " (Isaiah xi. 3), who thus searches and understands the unfathomable depths of the Godhead. The same distinctness may be seen in the personal WILL ascribed to him in dispensing his gifts. While there are " diversities of gifts, it is the same Spirit — all these worketh that one and the self-same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will." (1 Cor. xii. 11.) In these words we have a very full and plain statement of a distinct and personal being, acting voluntarily and freely, and one who has perfect power over the most precious gifts man can receive, and who distributes them just as he pleases, in full sovereignty of wisdom and love. We may again see this distinctness in the almighty POWER which belongs to him. Thus the Virgin Mary was told : " The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee ; therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." (Luke i. 35.) So the Holy Ghost is called " the Spirit of might " (Isaiah xi. 3), and Christians are " strengthened with might by the Spirit in the inner man." (Ephes. iii. IG.) We may yet further see this distinctness and divine glory of the Holy Ghost from his dwelling in each BELIEVER, whose body is his temple. On this the apostle 128 CHRISTIAN TRUTH : speaks very explicitly : " Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you. If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God de- stroy- ; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." (1 Cor. iii. 16, 17.) " Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in A^ou, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own." (1 Cor. vi. 19.) How clearly he must be God who is thus everywhere present with his people, and has temples for his worship over the whole earth, and leads them as the sons of God to the promised glory ! Thus may we see that the Holy Ghost is a distinct, divine person, to be adored, confided in, loved, and obeyed. Nor can this be more plainly and beautifully expressed than in the words of the Athanasian creed : " He is of the Father and of the Son, neither made, nor created, nor be- gotten, but proceeding ; so there is one Father, not three Fathers, one Son, not three Sons, one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts." Meditation. Oh unfathomable depth of the Divine glory ! " Who by searching can find out God to perfection 1 " But all that he has revealed of himself shews his extended wonders of love and glory towards sinful men. How can I duly mag- nify the divine glory of that Spirit who is everywhere pre- sent, and makes the human body of a sinful creature trust- ing in Jesus, the temple of his choice, and the abode in which he imparts his grace ! 8. THE NAMES OF THE SPIRIT. It has pleased the Divine Spirit to reveal himself to us in the scriptures under varied names, and each of these helps us to a fuller understanding of his being and glories. The most common name by which he is distinguished is Holy Ghost or Holt Spirit. The word Spirit, which also denotes wind or air in motion, shews us that the air and its actings in the natural world represents to us the ON THE HOLY SPIRIT. 129 Holy Spirit and his workings in the spiritual world. (John iii. 8.) The air is universally diffused, invisible, miglity in operation, absolutely necessary to life, and distinct from all bodies. So also is the Holy Ghost. He is everywhere present, unseen, almighty, the giver of life to the soul, dis- tinct in nature from every creature, and distinct in person from the Father and the Son, from whom he proceeds. He is holy as separated from all evil, and far higher than all created spirits, and the communicator of holiness to us. Being a pure Spirit, he has access to our spirits, sweetly changes our will, setting before us spiritual motives, awak- ening us to a sense of our sjiiritual danger, alarming our fears, giving, and enlivening, and enlarging faith, hope, and love, and so dwelling as a suggesting, governing, sanc- tifying, almighty and sovereign Ruler in his own temple the human body, and working in us all "the fruits of righ- teousness, which are by Jesus Christ to the praise and glory of God." He is tlie comforter ; the word thus rendered means one called in to assist another in distress, and includes the ideas of Advocate, Intercessor, Guide, and Instructor. It comprehends all that assistance which the Holy Spirit nft'ords to us in our weak, sinful, and helpless condition ; supplying the absence of our Divine Redeemer, and help- ing all our infirmities. It is the privilege of the people of >, perfectb/, indirisibb/, dint'mctlv — the first applied to his being God, and the second to his being man, the third to his being: of both one, and the fourth to his still continuing in that one both — we may fully, by way of abridgment, comprise whatsoever antiquity hath at large handled, either in declaration of Christian belief or in refutation of the aforesaid heresies. Within the compass of which four heads I may truly affirm that all heresies which touch but the person of Jesus CHRIST, OUR LIFE. 171 His life, too, mauifested throanhout the same grace as liis incarnation. He fulfilled all righteousness, he became obedient to the law in every jot and in every tittle. In a world of sinners he, through the eternal Spirit, gave what no being in the human form had ever before given — a pattern of victory over all temptations, sinless obedience to all God's holy laws, and perfect confidence, amidst all sufferings, in the righteous and holy will of his heavenly Father. With this he underwent the sufferings which our fallen nature had merited ; the curse of the law which we had broken fell on him ; the death which our sins had justly incurred was inflicted on him ; in the grave, to which we were justly sentenced, his body was laid ; the place of departed spirits, to which, through sin, all the spirits of men were consigned after death, he entered. Thus having, in our nature, shewn forth a perfect ex- ample of entire conformity to the will of God, and the possibility of man through the Spirit obeying that will ; having endured in our nature the righteous wrath of God against sin, and so quenched that curse which lay upon that nature, his spirit re-animated that body which could not see corruption ; he was raised triumphantly from the grave, he ascended with our flesh into the presence of God, he has reconciled thereby our very nature to the Holy God, and through him it is now righteous in God to receive those vv'earing the human form which the Son of God wears, and to give them every blessing when they return to God by him. Such is the glorious and wondrous plan of Divine grace. While " all have sinned and come short of the glory of' ( jod," he has provided a way by which we may be " jus- tified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in ( hifist Jesus, whom God has set forth to be a propitiation tlirough faith in his blood, to declare his rigliteousness for the remission of sins that are past, tlu'ough the forbearance Christ, whether thoy have ripen in these latter days or in any age heretofore, may be, with great facility, brought to confine themselves." Keble's Hooker, vol. ii. book 5. 172 CHRISTIAN TRUTH : of God ; to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness, that he might be just, and the justifier of him which be- lieveth in Jesus." Christ, then, is our life, as he purchased life for us (1 John iv. 9) ; as he works in us the meetness for our hea- venly inheritance. (Col. i. 12.) As life is in him as its head and root, its fountain and treasury (1 John v. 11); as he is the way to the Father (John xiv. 6) ; as he pre- pares heavenly glory for us (John xiv. 2, 3) ; and will communicate it to us at the last day (2 Tim.iv. 8 ; Rev. vii. 17; and it is in his glory we are glorified for ever. (Rev. xxii. 3, 4.) Oh then, would you obtain this life, come to Jesus and trust in him. He is the " author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." Heb. v. 9. Meditation. In what way could all God's perfections be more illus- trated, the equity and goodness of his law be more exhi- bited, the wickedness of all cavils against his truth be more manifested, the exceeding riches of his loving-kindness to man be more displaj'ed, than by his own Son emptying himself of his divine glory, appearing in our feeblest form, and by the power of the Holy Ghost, promised also to us, yielding perfect obedience unto God, d^-ing for us, and then rising again to be our life ] Oh how good that law, when the lawgiver himself fulfils it ! How consistent with per- fect loving-kindness all its penalties, when he who annexed those penalties to it endured them for our sakes ! How just 'and holy, how gracious and merciful, my God is ! And think how awful must be the guilt of rejecting all this pro- vision of mercy, and how sore the punishment of such transgression ; and dread, 0 my soul, above everything, neglecting so great salvation ! 8. THE LIFE WHICH WE HAVE IN CHRIST JESUS. Our Lord Jesus Christ is called " the word of life." It CHRIST, OUR LIFE. 173 is said, " In him was life, and tlie life was the light of men." Christ is " the light of the world, and he that fol- loweth him shall not walk in darkness, but sliall have the light of life." There is a real life to be derived from him. As by nature we are dead in trespasses and sins, so by grace when baptized into the death of Jesus we die to sin and gain life unto God. It is indeed a death and life in- compreliensible to a worldly and unconverted man (1 Cor. ii. 14), but not less real or inestimably important on that account. The apostle tells the Colossians, " Ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God ; and when Christ wlio is our life shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." So he tells the Galatians, " I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live ; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me, and the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God." Let us endeavour to illustrate this peculiarly important truth. We know that the life of the body depends on its union with the soul. If the soul be separated from the body, the body immediately becomes inanimate, and soon begins to corrupt and decay till the whole is a mass of cor- ruption and ruin. This is an exact picture of the state of the soul when it is separated from God. Tliere is a scrip- tural distinction between existence and life. " He that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son hath not life." The souls of all men living in the world have existence ; but without the indwelling of God by his Spirit, it is an existence wliich is corrupt and abominable, full of all filthinessand defilement, spreading infection and death. It is only the soul tliat lias believed in Jesus that has true life. The good Shepherd himself declares, "I am come that they miglit have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." Thus " man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." What is this life ? in what does it consist ? I will en- deavour to make this as clear and distinct as the Scrip- tures enal)le us to do. 174 CHRISTIATf TRUTH : It is a life of restoration to God's favour. By be- lieving in Christ we come to the blessed conviction and as- surance that God still bears a favourable and kind and gracious feeling towards us, notwithstanding all our sins, and that he has " reconciled the world unto himself." God looks upon his beloved Son in our nature, and is infinitely vrell pleased with him. Through him he is gracious to all who come in this appointed way. Christ " is able to save to the uttermost all who come unto God by him." Heb. vii. 25. In his " favour is life." Psalm xxx. .5. " His loving-kindness is better than life." Psalm Ixiii. 8. By Christ, then, I gain the light of God's countenance, and the joy of his salvation. It is A LIFE OF justificatiox. The removal of the guilt of sin ; the happiness of being accounted righteous before God, and of having nothing between God and our souls, is a blessedness unspeakably great. Psalm sxxii. ], 2. It gives us a guileless, free, and happy spirit with God. Now in the glorious gospel of Christ we learn, that " by the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men to justification of life ;" we learn too that " they which re- ceive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." By Christ, then, we have the life of justification ; we are brought, sinful as we are, into a state of righteousness before God : yes, are " made the righteousness of God in him.'' It is a life of adoption. We are brought into the relation of children. God, our own God, has a father's heart towards us, and we have the spirit of adoption, crj'- ing to him, Abba, Father. " Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." For this end he redeemed us " that we might receive the adoption of sons, and walk in the liberty, and confidence, and happiness of the children of the living God, all our days. It is A life of sanctificatiox, or holiness; this flows from the foregoing characters of this life. " The just live by faith." Rom. i. 17. " I am," says St. Paul, " crucified to the world : nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth CHRIST, OUR LIFE. 175 in me. As ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him." This life of holiness consists in inward con- formity to God's holy will, crucifying the flesh with its affections and lusts, and an outward walking according to the varied directions of his holy word. It is a LIFE OF JOY. " Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice. We joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ. As soiTowful, yet always rejoicing." God has provided largely for our happiness in the gospel of his Son. When Christ conies into your heart, and dwells there by faith, then comes joy, yes, " great joy." Acts viii. 8. To be fflad and to live are joined together. Psalm Ixix. S2. The joy that comes from our Lord Jesus Christ is the purest, fullest, and most enduring joy that an immortal being like man can possess. He receives the word " with joy of the Holy Ghost." 1 Thess. i. G. He is filled with " all joy and peace in believing." Rom. xv. 1.3. The joy he has in the joy of his fellow-creatures is exceeding great — Phil. ii. 17, 18 ; 1 Thess. iii. 19 ; and the joy he has in his God is still greater. Psalm xvi. 11 ; xliii. 4. And the prospect before him of a heavenly inheritance enables him, in the midst of all present sutferings, to " rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory." There is a life of glory also before us. "When Christ wiio is our life sliall appear, then shall we also ap- pear witli him in glory." Tliis is the full maturity and perfection of grace. Grace is now like the sap or juice which a rose-plant draws up inwardly in the spring, with little appearance of life, but when the Sun of Righteous- ness shines forth in glory, it will be like the same plant in the summer, with all its foliage, and bearing the crowns of beautiful and fragrant flowers. How beautifully David says to his God, " All my springs arc in thee." When Christians come to this fountain-head, it is promised " they shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house, they shall drink of the rivers of thy pleasure ; for with thee is the fountain of life, and in thy light shall we see light." Ps. xxxvi. 8, U. 176 CHRISTIAN TRUTH : Whence, then, arises this wonderful change in him who is by nature dead in trespasses and sins 1 All men through love of sin, reject the gospel, and if left to themselves must perish in this rejection. " If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost, in whom the god of this world (even Satan) hath blinded the eyes of them that believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." But our God will not thus be frustrated in his love to men. He has provided in the plan of redemption for this deeper wretchedness of man, under the blaze of so much light and love, by still farther depths and heights of loving- kindness. He chooses and singles out of mankind, thus rebellious, as he will, and whom he will, to make them vessels of mercy for his own glory, their salvation, and the final blessedness of our earth. How, then, do we obtain this life ? Christ is the giver of it, Christ is the way to it, Christ is the substance of it, Christ is the end of it. " For to me to live is Christ." Phil. i. 21. " In this was manifested the love of God to- wards us, because that God sent his only-begotten Son into the world that we might live through him. 1 John iv. 9. Baptism is the outward and visible sign of this inward and spiritual grace, a means whereby we receive the " same, and a pledge to assure us thereof." The new birth of the Spirit is the real beginning of this change. John iii. 3 — 5. It is by believing and realizing God's love to us in Christ that we live. John iii. 16. It is. by applying to ourselves what Christ has done in our nature, and as our head and representative, that we in spirit partake now of his life. " God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quick- ened us and raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." Prayer for Spiritual Life. My soul cleaveth unto the dust : 0 Lord, quicken thou CHRIST, OUR LIFE. 177 me according to thy word ! Author and giver of spiritual life, quicken me for thy name's sake ! Impart unto me tiiy Holy Spirit, that niy soul may live, and I may praise thee ! Thou hast called me to this life, thou hast assured me, 0 divine Redeemer, that thou camest into the world that we might liave life, and tliat we might have it more abundantly. Thou sayest, Ask, and ye shall have : 0 Lord Jesus, give unto my soul this spiritual life which thou hast for me. 0 thou, who hast given grace to desire it, give me the blessing thou disposest me to ask, that I too may tell of this life to others, and they may share it with me for ever, to the glory of thy irame. 4. THE RECEIVING OF CHRIST JESUS. Knowledge of God is the first step we make to real holi- ness and hajipiness. " Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his miglit, let not the rich man glory in his riches ; but let liim that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord, which exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness, for in these things I delight, saith the Lord." To gain this knowledge it is all-essential that we receive the Lord Jesus, as revealed in the word of God, into our hearts. Here was the great error of the Jewish nation. " He came unto his own, and his own received him not." Here was the great blessedness of the •" remnant according to the election of grace." They did really receive him as the true Messiah ; as their Prophet, Priest, and King. " As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." This receiving of Ciirist is believing the plain testimony of God concerning liim, being fully persuaded of the trutli of God's precious promises to us and to all men in Christ Jesus, embracing them with the heart, and so rejoicing in him as our complete Saviour, confessing him with the 178 CHRISTIAN TRUTH : mouth, and living as strangers and pilgrims on earth, that we may reign with him in glorJ^ It is not that God requires me to believe certain truths, difficult to reason, or above reason, that by overcoming this difficulty I may be entitled to pardon and salvation ; God deals not in this way with any man. His service is a reasonable service, as well as perfect freedom. But God having made perfectly clear, by its own bright light and holy love, to every conscience not wilfully blinded through the love of sin, the truth and reality as well as the glory and excellence of his word, does require all men to believe it, by his divine authority and positive command. " This is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ." And the nature of the truth to be believed is so pure and heavenl}', a seed of such power and influence, that it cannot be truly known and received into the heart without the most blessed and mighty effects. " Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first-fruits of his creatures. Ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren ; see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently, being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." It has a quickening, transforming, purifying effect upon our whole souls ; when giving up our self-wisdom and self-will to the infallible wisdom and holy will of God, we yield a joyful and entire confidence to truth so full of holy love, as is divine truth. But let us proceed more fully to illustrate the receiving of Christ as our life. The apostle dwells at some length on this. (Col. ii.) After directing us to " walk in Christ Jesus" as we have " received" him, and shewing the dan- ger of philosophy and vain deceit, and the fulness of his Godhead, he says, " Ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power." He then shews how baptism, " the circumcision without hands," introduces us CHRIST, OUR LIFE. 179 to this union with him ; that is, the completed act of bap- tism, not merely the washing with water by the appointed minister, but the baptism of the Holy Ghost also. He fui'ther states that we are " buried with him in baptism, wherein also we are risen with him through faith of the operation of God who hath raised him from the dead." Baptism is the outward sign of our receiving Christ, and being made one with him. It is also more than the out- ward sign ; it is the means and the pledge. Designed by God to teach us the truth of our being washed from our sins in the blood of Jesus, and sanctified by the power of his Spirit ; and designed also as his appointment to impart to us that faith and grace by which a real spiritual life may be begun or continued in us. All baptized Ciiristians have professedly received Christ ; by faith this becomes a reality ; but unbelief makes it not only void, but an awful apostacy and an aggravated con- demnation. Oh it is fearful to think what multitudes of professing Christians are now in this state, " having the form of godliness, but denying the power thereof ! " Prayer for grace to receive Christ as our Life. Almighty Father, who so loved the world that thou sparedst not thine own Son, but delivered him up for us all, and thereby dost -assure us thou wilt with him freely give us all things, open, I entreat thee, my eyes to see, open my heart to embrace this thy great love. Oh let not the god of this world blind my mind through my unbelief, but give me the precious gift of faith to believe in the name of Jesus, and rejoice in his grace. Lord Jesus, come and dwell in ray heart by faith, that I may be rooted and grounded in love. 0 Holy Ghost, direct my heart into the love of God. 0 God and Father of our Lord Jesus Clirist, quicken me and raise me to sit together with him in hea- venly places, for his name's sake. 5. THE RISEN LIFE ON EARTH. It is perfectly clear that the scriptures consider the real N 2 180 CHRISTIAN TRUTH life of a Christian to be something far superior to a mere moral course of good conduct, and to outward actions of piety and devotion. His life includes all that, and with that he is called, as his happiness and privilege, to do more than others. The apostle dwells at length on this in the sixth chapter to the Romans. Read that chapter, with prayer to be led into '■■ this newness of life," and being planted " in the likeness of his resurrection," and into " being dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through our Lord Jesus Christ." The risen life on earth of the real Christian, hidden now from the world, will all be manifested in that quickly coming day when our Loi'd appears : " When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall we also appear with him in glory." This is the great hope of the gospel : but before that day there is ,an earnest and foretaste of its joys ; there is a real life and blessedness now to be received and en- joyed. What is the nature of this risen life ? By what is it distinguished fi-om the natural life which all men enjoy ? Let us view it in its description as a resurrection. 1st. View this resuiTection as it regards all mex. There is a resurrection with Christ as the Lord from HEAVEN appearing in our nature, who for all men died and rose again. Adam was " the figure of him that is to come, in his representative character. Our Lord Christ is " the second man, the last Adam," who was made " a quickening spirit." Thus the apostle contrasts the two. " As by the offence of one man, judgment came upon all men to condemnation, even so by the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life." Again, also, he tells the Corinthians, " Since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." Here is that general redemption which Christ has provided for the whole race of man, and which enables ministei-s, with a full remedy, to go into all the world, and preach the good tidings to every human being. CHRIST, OUR LIFE. 181 2nd. View this farther in its application personally to a RKSURRECTION IN SPIRIT TO ALL BELIEVERS. There IS a resurrection with Christ, as our head, which is peculiar to his people ; he is called " the first-born among many brethren." Again it is said, " By hiin all things consist, and he is the head of the body, the church ; who is the beginning, the first-born from the dead." Every believer has spiritually a participation of those acts which Christ in his body went through for us. Was he circumcised in the flesh ? " we are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ. Was he crucified on the tree ? we also are crucified with him — " they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its affections and lusts." Did he suffer ? we are called to the fellowship of his sufferings : " Forasmuch, then, as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind, for he that suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin." His acts are the very model, visibly, of what Chris- tians have to go through and experience spiritually. " If ye, then, be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God." The apostle very remarkably opens this in his prayer for the Ephesians, He asks that God would "give unto them the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him ;" he then shews them " the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints," the mighty i)ower by wliich he was raised from the dead at God's own right hand in the heavenly places, and after many glowing expressions, full of heavenly feeling, he comes to shew that " God has quickened us together with Christ, and raised us up toge- ther, and made us sit together in heavenl}^ places in Christ Jesus." My heart almost sinks within me in speaking of these things ; in the feeling conviction that I and my fellow- Christians fall far below all these privileges. Our souls cleave so much to the dust that we can hardly raise our thoughts to this which ought to be our daily life. All our 182 CHRISTIAN TRUTH : affections and strongest feelings should be with our dear Redeemer in his glory. Just as the affections of a beloved absent child are with the parent, and the parent's with the child, so should be the state of feeling between our souls and that loving Saviour whose heart is always with us to do us good. In spirit we should be risen with him, and setting our affections constantly on things above. Hence there is a HEAVENLY citizenship. "Ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God." We belong not to earth which, in its present polluted and sinful state, is soon to pass away, and it and all its works to be burned up. " Our conversation," or citizenship, " is in heaven. We know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle fail, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." We are not now foreigners to heavenly things, but foreigners to earthly things. Our chief relations and connections now are no longer with that which belongs entirely to this earth and its vanities, but with that which belongs to the heavenly kingdom of our Re- deemer. There is our home, there our best friends are gone, or going : there is our richest treasure and our highest joy. How triumphantly the apostle speaks of this as the pre- sent character of the believer in the true enjoyment of his real privileges : " Ye are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assem- bly and church of the first-born, which are written in hea- ven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of the New Covenant, and to the blood of spi'inkling which speaketh better things than that of Abel." Meditation. Oh for grace to rise to this heavenly life on earth ! How precious, how valuable, such grace must be ! Lord, teach me to prize it and to seek it above every thing else, and willingly to part with other things, that I may win Christ, and be found in him. CHRIST, OUR LIFE. 183 6. THE POWER BY WHICH THIS LIFE IS SUSTAINED, Mysterious and hidden as is the life of the Christian in the eyes of the workl, there is an adequate power for its maintenance. We have seen that it pleases God first to impart this life in the new birth of the Spirit, pointed out in baptism, which is also God's means of grace for our ob- taining it, when received in faitli and duly improved. God has also provided outward means and inward and effective power for maintaining this life. Various are the outward means. I will notice two, the word of God and the Lord's Supper. The word of God is the means by which we are first begotten, and by which also we are afterwards nourished unto everlasting life. When the Israelites were fed with manna in the wilder- ness, the design was to make them know " that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live." The Lord's Supper is an ordinance specially connected with the maintenance of spiritual life. It is the outward and visible sign of the inward and spiritual grace. It is also a means whereby we are assured of its reality and blessedness, and whereby our souls are actually refreshed, when truly believing in the grace given in that ordinance. Our Saviour dwells at much length, in the sixth of John, on that feeding on Christ in our hearts by faith, of which the feeding on bread and wine, the symbols of his body and blood, is the sign, and the means, and the pledge. The inward and effective power is the Holy Ghost, which our risen and interceding Saviour has obtained in our behalf, and bestows on all who come to him. Won- derful is tlie difference between the outward means only, and the outward means made effective by the Holy Ghost, as St. Paul clearly shews, telling the Thessalonians, " Our gospel came unto you not in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance." But still Christ is the giver of the Holy Ghost. He has 184 CHRISTIAN TRUTH received for us, and he bestows on us sinners this divine gift. For tliis end he ascended in our nature, and, seated at the right hand of God, " lie ever hveth to make inter- cession for us." He tells us what the trreat subject of his intercession is, wlien he says, " I will pray to the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth." See then. Christian reader, how there is provided for you in him, who has loved you even unto death, every thing that you can possibly need for your great and urgent ne- cessities ; life and the means of life. It is a day of rich grace and abounding loving-kindness. But the very reality and extent of this grace makes it unspeakably important that you should not trifle with it. " Deadness of spirit and want of spiritual activity is very inexcusable in a believer. Christ has life enough for him, and he is willing enough to communicate more and more of this spiritual life : if the fountain of life were a mere creature, something might be said for our deadness and coldness : but now seeing Jesus Christ is our life, our deadness is inexcusable to ourselves, and dishonourable to Christ. The life and fruitfiilness of the branches is the glor}' of the tree ; and spiritual fruitfulness in a believer is an honour to Jesus Christ. We see (Psalm xcii. 12 — 15.) that the righteous flourish, to shew that the Lord is up- right. The fulness of Christ is manifested by the fruitful- ness of a Christian." When Moses had set before the Israelites the glorious doctrine of God's love to them, and his gracious designs for their happiness, he told them " the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it ;" assuring them that it was not in the inaccessible Leavens, or beyond the distant seas, but close to them and ready for them ; he also immediately added, " See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil." Thus, Christian reader, the blessed life of the Christian, has been also set before you, along with that awful and spiritual death in which all men are by nature sunk, CHRIST, OCR LIFE. 185 and from which, if not i-aised in the day of grace, you are ripening for the second death. The second death has power on those who have no part in the first I'esurrection. How forcibly are these things set before us in the words of Moses to Israel ! " I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing ; therefore choose life, that thou and thy seed may live ; that thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him : for he is thy life and the length of thy days." There are ten thousand ways by which Satan seeks to turn men's attention from these "great and everlasting con- cerns. What he seeks is to keep you in blindness, that you may be in entire captivity to him, to your everlasting destruction. But will you believe the father of lies, before the God of truth — the murderer from the beginning, before the Father of mercies ? Oh, listen to your heavenly Pa- rent ! Search the scriptures whether tliese things are not so. Pray for divine teaching, that the veil may be re- moved from your hearts, and the glorious light of the gos- pel may shine upon you. All things pertaining to life and godliness are through the great power and love of God given to you in Christ Jesus. In this day of grace, while the accepted time con- tinues, believe the love of God, be reconciled to him on whom you wholly depend, receive his abundant grace and gift of righteousness provided for you, and though death has reigned by one, even the first Adam, you shall reign in life by one, even Jesus Christ our Lord. Prayer for the gift of the Holy Ghost. 0 Lord Jesus Christ, who hast ascended upon high, who hast received gifts for the rebellious, even such as I have been, who invitest all to come to thee, and castest out none tliat come, behold me now at thy mercy-seat, asking for that most precious gift which thou hast so freely promised, 186 CHRISTIAN TRUTH : saying, Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely. Give me, even me, this thy Spirit, that I may know the things freely given me of God, that I may rejoice in thy loving-kindness, and from my own happiness tell others what great things thou hast done for me, and call them to turn unto thee the only Saviour and Redeemer, to whom, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory evermore. CHKISTIAN PRIVILEOES. 187 CHAPTER X. CHRISTIAN PRIVILEGES. 1. The outward state of tlie Christian— 2. His varied spiritual state — 3. His ordinary privileges in this life — 4. His special privileges — 5. His hope of future glory — 6. The communication of these privileges — 7. The effect of them. 1. THE OUTWARD STATE OF A CHRISTIAN. The outward condition of a Christian partakes of all tlie varied circumstances of our fallen race. There is no lawful situation in which a Christian may not prosper and adorn the gospel, from the highest to the lowest. Like David, Hezekiah, and Josiah, he may reign as a righteous king ; like the blind man, he may be a beggar by the way -side. Like Abraham, he may be very rich ; like the poor widow, he may have but a single farthing. Like Moses, he may have vigorous health, even in old age, "his eye not dim, nor his natural force abated ; " or, like Gains, he may be sick, or, as Lazarus was, he may be full of sores, and die in poverty and affliction. In these outward circumstances " all things come alike to all ; there is one event to the righteous and to tlie wicked ; to the good and to the evil ; to tlie clean and to the unclean ; to him that sacrificetii, and to him that sacrificetii not ; as is the good, so is the sinner ; and he that sweareth as he that feareth an oath." But his spirit being different from the spirit of the world, through the abounding grace given to him ; this makes a prodigious difference, in all these circumstances, between liim and the man walking after the course of this world. 188 CHRTSTIAX TRUTH First, he sees that all things are divinely ordered and appointed in infinite wisdom and love. " Promotion Com- eth neither from the east nor the west, nor from the north or the south ; but God is the Judge, lie putteth down one and settetli up another. Of him, and through him, and to him, are all things. And this is not a mere fact of sovereignty and power, but there is a special appointment of holy love and heavenly wisdom, designing in all things the highest good of him who believes in the Lord. " The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not he utterly cast down, for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand." This at once changes the character of every situation to the Christian. He sees, that if he has power and authoritj^, talents or knowledge, entrusted to him, they are given that he may be a minister of God to others for good, and thus he is preserved from the intoxicating spirit of eminent station. If he be left in poverty and affliction, he is assured that it is only that he may the more glorify God in them, and have a fuller reward hereafter ; " our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." Infirmity itself thus changes to him its very natui'e. The grace of Christ imparted with it, and his strength made perfect in our weakness, the mature Christian can say, " Most gladly therefore, will I rather glory in my infirm- ities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me ; there- fore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in neces- sities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake : for when I am weak then am I strong." In all outward things, then, there may be great similarity between the state of the righteous and the wicked ; or even the afflictions of the righteous may be many, and abound : the real difference here is in the spirit in which events are received. This makes that which is peculiarly the subject of God's commendation or condemnation, the inward cha- racter of a man, of such immense importance. This is what may be attended to by us in all situations, what may CHRISTIAN PRIVILEGES. 189 make us miserable or happy in all circumstances ; what leaves the wicked without excuse from their fancied diffi- culties of serving God ; for it will be found in the day of Christ that others in the self-same difficulties have served the Lord, and liave been happy in his service. Thus the gospel gives us to be blessed now, however we may be situ- ated, as well as blessed for ever. See in the beatitudes (Matt. V. ] — ]2.) in what consists the true description of privileges and blessings : inward poverty of spirit, mourn- ing, meekness, hungering and tliirsting after righteousness, being merciful, pure in heart, and a peacemaker, and even in being persecuted for righteousness' sake ! To see this indeed requires us to know and believe God's word, and to prefer the truth set before us by tliat woi-d to our own carnal wisdom. Hence faith is the very root and spring of all right views, and tiie most important of all graces in gaining heavenly wisdom. Well has the poet Cowper expressed the privileges even in this life of him who receives the truth of God : ' He is the freeman whom the truth makes free, And all are slaves beside. There's not a chaia That hellish foes, confederate for his harm. Can wind around him, but he casts it off With as much ease as Samson his green withes. He looks abroad into the varied field Of nature, anil thout^h poor perhaps compared With those whose mansions glitter in his sight, Calls the delightful scenery all his own. His are the mountains, and the vallies his, And the resplendent rivers ; his to enjoy With a propriety that none can feel, But who with filial confidence inspired. Can lift to heaven an unpresumptuous eye. And smiling say, ' My Fattier made them all.' Are they not his by a peculiar right. And by an emphasis of interest his. Whose eye they fill with tears of holy joy. Whose heart with praise ; and whose exalted mind With worthy thouKhts of that unwearied love That planned and built, and still upholds a world So clothed with beauty, for rebellious man 1 ' 190 CHRISTIAN TRUTH : Prayer to look at things unseen. 0 my God, who hast made all things, and didst design every thing; for thy glory, and to be a means of good to those that serve thee, I pray thee that I may so trust in and love thee, that all things may work together for my good ; that I may so look, not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are unseen, that the light and momentary afflictions of this life may never cast me down in despondency, but work out for me a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 2. THE VARIED SPIRITUAL STATE OF A CHRISTIAN. The scriptures speak very highly of the believer's present state. Many and precious are the names by which he is called : elect, holy, beloved, a son of God, his heir, his house, a king and priest unto God, the light of the world, and the salt of the earth ; these are only some of the titles by which he is distinguished from others. The source of all his blessedness is the free love of his heavenly Father. " God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, hath quickened us toge- ther with Christ (by grace ye are saved), and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. We shall have a clearer view, however, of this state, and of his rich privileges in it, if we remember that the scrip- tures distinguish between diff^erent stages of the Christian life. There is not only the natural man, who neither receives nor knows the things of God ; but there is also the man who is comparatively carnal, and only a babe in Christ ; and the spiritual man, who discerneth all things, yet is himself discerned of no man. St. John distinguishes Christians into three classes ; little children, young men, and fathers. Our Lord compares also the kingdom of God to seed in the ground ; " first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear." CHRISTIAN PRIVILEGES. 191 Let us, then, view these privileges in tlieir varied states. The apostle first states the general privilege of ALL Chris- tians, as children. " Your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake." This belongs to all, without exception, even to the youngest in the school of Christ. It is the doctrine of his forgiving love that does indeed especially attract and win the soul. " Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. Christ dying for our sins ; redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins accord- ing to the riches of his grace ; this is the all-powerful and invincible truth that stamps infamy on sin, loveliness on holiness, and leads the soul to delight in God. This is to be declared first of all ; and this fills the child of God, apprehending it by faith, with joy and peace in believing. The direct and immediate privilege of little children in the gospel (the word translated children is different in verse 13 from that in verse 12) is "knowledge of the Father." The natural view men have of God is that of severity and hardness, gendering bondage : one of the first blessings that we gain by the gospel is to see that God's name is love, and receiving the spirit of adoption, to be enabled to cry to him " Abba, Father." The sweetness of filial confidence and affection, the delight of looking to the great God with reverential fi-eedom and love is here inti- mated. What tongue can tell tlie light, and peace, and joy, and love to be found in the knowledge of him, in whose presence is fulness of joy. The privileges of the young men are threefold, all imply- ing establishment in the ways of Christ. First, they are " strong ;" settled and established : the little children are liable to be carried about with every wind of doctrine : being confident in their own strength they are especially exposed to danger ; but the young having been taught their own weakness by sad experience, and where their true strength lies, are " strong in the Lord and in the power of his might," and thus are saved from many temptations by which they miglit fall. Their conscious weakness becomes real strength. " The word of God " also " abideth in them." 192 CHRISTIA.V TRUTH : It is comparatively but little of that heavenly treasure that the babe in Christ has received. The young man having; found its value as a light to his feet, a two-edged sword for his arm, an unfailing treasure to enrich his soul, a sure and perfect gui le in all his difficulties, meditates more con- stantly on it ; he desires to fulfil the direction, " let the ■word of Christ dwell in you richly in all spiritual wisdom and understanding." The privilege is of this character, walking in a way difficult to find, in the fuU light of the sun, rather than with the glimmering taper of man's making ; with a growing assurance that we are in the right path. Once more, young men " have overcome the wicked one." Satan easily beguiles a babe with fancied good, and easily stumbles him with manifested evil. It is not so with the young man. For every one that useth mQk " merely, " is unskilful," or unexperienced, " in the ■word of righteousness, for he is a babe ; but strong meat," the word of God in its deeper and fuller truths, " belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who, by reason of use. have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." Hence he knows how to wield the sword of the spirit, and resisting the devil by prayer and the word of God, gains the victory again and again. The wiliness of the serpent, and the roar of the lion, are equally unavailing to overthrow him who takes the divinely-provided armour for his defence and his warfare. The privilege here is, not merely security from our spiritual enemies, but also victory over them. We