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love to his kind deliverer! When he reflects on his danger, how does it excite his gratitude! he cannot think of his preserver but he remembers his mercy. But where is our warm affection, our fervent love to that precious man, whose heart was as a flame of love to us, and who willingly offered himself as a sacrifice for our sins? How was he straitened till his baptism was accomplished! how did his soul long till it was finished! But, alas! we think too little of our danger. We are too prone to look on sin as of small moment; because the sacrifice of Jesus is not constantly upon our hearts. Disciple, dost thou not see cause of mourning for this, and to pray daily for more heartaffecting views of Jesus by the Spirit? Oh, the infinite value of this one sacrifice! Sin, how malignant its nature! how deep its stain! nothing but blood divine could atone for it. How prevalent this one sacrifice! it hath for ever put away all our sins.

Behold the Man! gaze, wonder, adore, and love Jesus on the cross fully atoning for sin. This work being for ever done, behold this same Man for ever set down on the right hand of God. There he pleads the sinner's cause, and presents the perfection of his sacrifice. What singular consolation this! A sense of sin is distressing to the converted soul. But Oh, when this one sacrifice, by this one Man, is beheld by the eye of faith, how does it revive the drooping heart, give peace to the troubled conscience, and excite joy in the sorrowful mind! Poor sinners have nothing else to look to for hope. Pardon and peace can be had from no other object. Of this we can never glory too much. Nor can our confidence be too strong, our expectations too great, our triumphs in Jesus, over sin, Satan, the law, and death at any time unseasonable. These precious truths are our never-failing springs of consolation. If we "sin, we have an Advocate with the Father," 1 John ii. 1. His blood "cleanseth from all sin," 1 John i. 7.

JULY 15.-And, lo, a horror of great darkness fell on him.-Gen. xv. 12.

There is somewhat very gloomy, and awful, in a total eclipse of the sun. When the earth is darkened, creation wears a melancholy aspect, and seems to mourn in silent sadness. But our astonishment on these accounts is greatly abated, as these are not uncommon appearances, and as they are foretold, and accounted for. As in the natural, so in the spiritual world; God's children in all ages have experienced darkness of soul; therefore none should think this peculiar, "as though some strange thing happened to them," 1 Pet. iv. 12. We see Abraham, the friend of God, and father of the faithful, under an eclipse of the bright shining of the Sun of righteousness. Darkness, horror, yea a horror of great darkness fell on him. And this, too, after an extraordinary appearance of the Lord to him, who called him by his name, bid him fear not; assures him, I am thy Shield and thy exceeding great reward; then gives him the comfortable promise of the seed that should spring from him. Abraham "believed in the Lord, and he counted it to him for righteousness; and he offered a sacrifice, as the Lord commanded." But, alas, how soon did his bright sun of comfort disappear, and darkness and horror fall on him! How changeable are our frames! Extraordinary manifestations of comfort and joy are often succeeded by darkness of soul and trials of faith. So it was with our dear Saviour, after the Father's declaration, "This is my beloved Son." After the visible descent of the Holy Ghost upon him, he was led into the wilderness, to undergo the most sharp and trying temptations. Thus, after Paul had been caught up to the third heavens, a messenger of Satan was sent to buffet him.

Hence, O believer, under spiritual darkness and distress of soul, write not bitter things against thyself. Think not, God ceaseth to love thee, and visits thee in wrath. No: God ever rests in his love, he changes

not. Thou art equally as safe in his hands, in the dark, though not so comfortable, as in the light. Nay, love itself inquires after souls in such a state, and gives precious advice to them. See and study Isa. I. 10. Now the Lord teaches his sovereignty, instructs in humility, cuts off self-glorying, excites patience, prayer, and hope, in and by his precious promises. Jesus saith, "He who followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life," John viii. 12. Oh! then, in every dark hour, cleave and cry to him in faith and hope. Be fully assured of this. "When I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me," Micah vii. 8.

JULY 16.-No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.-1 Cor. xii. 3.

As the heavens declare the glory of the Lord, and the firmament showeth his handy work; so, every page of his sacred word proclaims his grace to his people, reminds them of the insufficiency of their natural power and free will to any saving purposes. Formal professors say, Jesus is the Lord. The confession is easy. It is common to the openly profane and the decent pharisee; but is no more profitable to salvation, than that true declaration from Satan, "Thou art the Holy One of God," Mark i. 24. But saving confession of Jesus with the lips, proceeds from believing on him with the heart, through spiritual discoveries by the Holy Ghost. O believer, know thy distinguished blessing! Esteem not this a common privilege, but special grace that thou canst see, own, come to, trust in, and call the despised Nazarene, Jesus, thy Lord and thy God; in whom is all thy hope, and from whom is all thy salvation. This is truly the faith of God's elect. Bless the Spirit for it.

Hear what he declares of such a confession; "Blessed art thou; for flesh and blood hath not revealed this

unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven," Matt. xvi. 17. This is given, only to his children, by the Holy Ghost. Most blessed confession! May it be ever uppermost in our minds, in our lips, and evidenced by our lives, that Jesus is Jehovah! That our Saviour, the man and Mediator, our atonement on the cross, our righteousness in his life, our Intercessor at the right hand of glory; this, this is our plea, to all that are against us. We are sure this is a godly, righteous plea, for it is given us by the Holy Ghost, in the word of truth. By it the Father is glorified, Jesus honoured, drooping hearts are revived and comforted; faith is established, hope confirmed, love increased, holiness advanced, Satan vanquished, sin subdued, the law answered, the world overcome, death conquered, and we become sharers in the triumphs of glory and immortality.

Christian, cheer up. With this truth in thine heart, this confession in thy mouth, go on thy way rejoicing; nor men nor devils can harm thee. For thy Saviour is almighty to protect, ever loving to save. Only, fear to offend love itself. Doubt not his love. Grieve not his Spirit. Come, a few more days to prove thy allegiance to Jesus on earth, and thou shalt reign with him in glory. For he saith, "Whosoever shall confess me before men, him will I confess before my Father which is in heaven," Matt. x. 32.

JULY 17. Jesus said, Will ye also go away?-John vi. 67.

This is the voice of our Beloved, and our Friend, to his disciples. Our Captain keeps no pressed men in his service. All his subjects enter as volunteers. They are made willing to come to, believe on, and follow him in the day of his power. Force and compulsion act not on their ingenuous minds. But, what they see in Jesus now, what they expect from him hereafter, endears him to their souls.

But, daily observation furnishes instances of many, who profess to own Christ, and follow him for a season; but anon, through not understanding his doctrine, not seeing their own wretchedness, and not knowing his love, they are offended, forsake Christ, his truths, and ways. They go back again to the world, the enjoy ment of their lusts, and take up with carnal preachers, who cry, Peace, peace! unto them. Thus they make shipwreck of faith and a good conscience, which they professed to have; and the last end of such is worse than their first. They forsake their own mercies, by going away from Christ; and are left to perish without hope or remedy.

But, all who know Jesus in spirit and truth, he keeps from such folly. The sight of others falling off, and leaving him, is made of blessed use to them. It excites humility and gratitude, quickens holy jealousy, and godly watchfulness. Such a tender expostulation, "Wilt thou also go away ?" kindles a spark of fire, and blows up a flame of love in the sinner's heart. As when a tender parent says to his dear child, Wilt thou go away, and leave me? How does it draw forth its affections! and the little thing, with eager embraces, clings the faster to its parent. By this question, our dear Saviour has often roused my sluggish heart, called forth a holy fear, and excited an earnest cry, "“Lord, keep me. Oh, never, never let me forsake thee!"

When the aged Polycarp was going to seal the truth with his blood, the pro-consul threatened death in various ways. He answered, "Why tarriest thou? Bring forth what thou wilt; we christians are fixed in our minds, not to change from good to evil." He was promised liberty if he would reproach Christ. Full of love, he replied, "Eighty-six years have I served my Lord, and he has never done me the least wrong: how then can I blaspheme my King and my Saviour?" How victorious is faith! How powerful is love! Lord, increase our faith! Inflame our love! "To whom should we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.

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