I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord. MANY ANY have received comfort from these words in death, and waited in faith for their salvation. The thoughtless and impenitent wait only for temporal prosperity in their lives, and therefore cannot expect eternal bliss; but, on the contrary, a dreadful judgment after death. O that they would enter into themselves this very day, that, at the eve of life, they might, like Jacob and Simeon, depart in peace. We will not, therefore, look for any earthly things, but for the Saviour, who is already come, who will grant us his salvation, his aid and deliverance in life and death, and will conduct us safely at last, though we should wait some time for his help. Yes, my Redeemer, they who wait, depend upon, and hope in thee, shall not be ashamed. Grant us only faith and patience, that we may wait on thee from one morning-watch to another; and another; and enduring all things, make the whole course of our lives one perpetual expectation of thy aid; and may we ever abundantly experience thy help and salvation, especially at our latter end. CHRIST'S Own soft hand shall wipe the tears And pains and groans, and griefs and fears, How long, dear Saviour, O how long, OI could break this carnal fence, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned. JOHN iii. 16-18. Он OH that these truly precious words were ever warmly impressed on our hearts! that they were our last thoughts at night, and the first at our waking in the morning; and that they were improved in such a manner as to make our dying bed easy in the evening of our life, and to ensure our rising with gladness in the morning of the resurrection! And what more blessed and delightful meditations can I daily dwell upon than to think thus:-GOD has loved me, even me, when I was his enemy; and so loved me that he gave me his only Son! Bless me with faith in CHRIST, then CHRIST is mine, and all things are mine, Cor. iii. 21; for he that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all; how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Rom. viii. 32. He will never suffer a believing soul to perish; he has passed his word for it. It is he that says, "I shall not perish; I shall not be condemned," but have everlasting life if I believe. This will I build and depend upon to my last moments, as upon an immoveable rock. Amen and Amen. O, for this love let earth and skies And the full choir of human tongues "To him who sits upon the throne, And to the Lamb that once was slain, In Christ we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins. COL. i. 14. Hav ing forgiven you all trespasses. Blotting out the hand-writing of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and the way, nailing it to his cross. Therefore, said he, It is finished. took it out of COL. ii. 13, 14. JOHN xix. 30. HAST AST thou, O my soul, felt the weight of thy own guilt and misery, and been enabled, in reality and truth, to lay hold by faith of the blood of CHRIST for thy redemption, and faithfully to devote thyself to him in heart and life? Then hast thou a sure foundation to go upon. Let it be thy constant care firmly to depend upon these, and such like blessed declarations; look to JESUS for every blessing thou standest in need of. Has CHRIST brought life and immortality to light? then look unto him and live. Is there redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins? then throw all thy guilt upon his atonement. Has he blotted out the hand-writing of ordinances that was against thee? then shake off selfrighteous dependencies and legal fears also. Did he die for thy sins? then let his goodness and love lead thee to unfeigned repentance; let the sense of thy sins break thine heart, but encourage thy hope in the gospel. 'Tis finished-was his latest voice; He bowed his head, gave up the ghost, 'Tis finished-the Messiah dies David's Prayer. Keep me as the apple of thine eye; hide me under the shadow of thy wings. PSALM xvii. 8. Divine Answer. He shall cover thee with his feathers; and under his wings shalt thou trust. His truth shall be thy shield and buckler. PSALM xci. 4. THER HERE is none, O LORD, that has more need continually to keep close to thee in prayer and faith; and at the same time none is more unable to do it than I, the least of all thy flock! O, that thou wouldst be graciously pleased to incline and enable me to this blessed work! and grant that thy good Spirit, according to his own pleasure, may never suffer me to be faint and backward in the same! Whilst I truly rest my faith under the wings of thy grace, I am sure of defence, power, and comfort; but as soon as I wander from thee, I am in danger of losing the comfortable sense of these privileges, and falling into various errors and perplexities. "Guide me, O LORD, by thy counsel in this world, and at last receive me into glory! Amen.” Psalm lxxiii. 24. He that has made his refuge GOD Just as a hen protects her brood From birds of prey that seek their blood, Thrice happy man! thy Maker's care What though a thousand at thy side, From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. MATT. iv. 17; iii. 2. Rend your hearts and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God. JOEL ii. 13. THE kingdom of heaven appertains to those who repent; and the first mark of repentance is poverty of spirit; whence JESUS saith, Matt. v. 3, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." John preached repentance; JESUS preaches it here, and so did his apostles afterward. This true repentance is necessary for all; and the beginning of it is to acknowledge ourselves poor miserable sinners, depraved by nature, and totally void of any righteousness or worth of our own-to confess our nakedness-to drop all the fig-leaves of vain excuses and false comforts to lay open our poverty and wants before GOD-to accuse ourselves, and plead guilty of all our sins, but seek mercy from CHRIST. If we do this we are blessed, and the kingdom of heaven is ours. This poverty of spirit is both the first and last foundation laid in the heart; for the faithful are more and more grounded in poverty of spirit the nearer they approach to their consummation. I dwell, saith He whose name is holy, with him who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and the heart of the contrite ones. Isa. lvii. 15. Pure are the joys above the sky, These holy gates forever bar None shall obtain admittance there |