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"Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved; How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed! "Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come;

"Tis grace has brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home.'

SEVENTEENTH DAY.-MORNING.

'But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them

that believe on his name.' John i. 12.

WHEN the Lord of glory came to this world, the most despised and rejected him. Yet all did not. Isaiah cried, 'Who hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?' And yet in a few verses after he adds, He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied,' Isa. liii. 1, 11. In like manner, John in this chapter tells us, that when Jesus came, the darkness comprehended him not;' the world knew him not;' 'his own received him not.' | Still, a little flock did receive him. Their eyes were opened to behold his glory, their hearts to feel his love. They left their earthly all, and followed him, they hung upon his lips, kept his sayings, walked in his steps, put on his righteousness, drank in his spirit; and to them he gave power to become the sons of God.' There always has been, and always will be, a hidden church. As David was never to want a son to sit upon his throne, so David's Son and David's Lord never shall want souls over which to reign. As in Noah's day of almost universal corruption, and in Elijah's day of dark idolatry, there were some hidden ones that knew and loved the Lord; so in our day, in the darkest parishes of Scotland, you will find some hearts that kindle at the name of Jesus. In countries sunk in the darkness of popery, you will find some heaven-taught souls groping their way to heaven by the strait gate and the narrow way. Christ will never want a vineyard on earth on which to show his love and care. He will never want a witnessing church to proclaim his grace. Upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.' Matt. xvi. 18.

How clearly these words show that to receive Christ is the same as to believe on his name. Many souls find great difficulty in knowing what faith is. Satan seems to make great use of this in some hearts, in order that he may divert their anxious soul from the great object of faith to look at the workings of their own mind. The

At one

Bible makes no difficulty in the matter. time it is described as coming to Jesus: 'I am the bread of life, he that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst,' John vi. 35. Again, it is called a laying hold: 'Who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us,' Heb. vi. 18. In another scripture it is called submitting: They have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God,' Rom. x. 3. In other parts of the word of God it is called looking to Jesus, calling upon the name of the Lord, hearing that the soul may live, knowing, cleaving to the Lord. In one and all of these the meaning of God is, that the heart is made willing to be justified through the blood and obedience of the Lord Jesus. O! it is the truest and most lasting joy in the universe when Christ is fully revealed to the soul, and when the excellency of the way of salvation by Christ is made manifest; the heart is often so filled that the tongue cannot speak. It is 'joy unspeakable, and full of glory.'

Sinner, have you received the Lord Jesus Christ? Has your heart melted at the sight of the heaven-provided Saviour? Have you known the gift of God? Have you seen and delighted in the finished work of Christ? If Christ had to come and die, you might say, perhaps he will not go through with it. But he has done it. It is more than eighteen hundred years since he agonized in Gethsemane, and poured out his soul upon the cross. "It is finished.' His whole work, as Surety in the place of sinners, is finished. The whole undertaking is completed. Nay more, God has accepted it. He has declared it from heaven: "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased,'-and that any sinner is welcome to draw near by Jesus. O! I am willing to be found in Jesus, let your soul reply; I am willing to stand under the shelter of the one Mediator to all eternity. What satisfies God satisfies me. Who shall condemn? It is Christ that died.'

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But what good shall I obtain by receiving Christ? Hear the divine answer: As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God.' An awakened soul is seeking only rest, peace with God, forgiveness of sins. But Christ gives far more. He gives the child's place in the father's love. We are by nature children of wrath, a generation of vipers, children of the wicked one; but the moment we consent to put on the glorious righteousness of Immanuel we become adopted sons of God: '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."

Sinner! do you know what it is that God offers you in the gospel? Though you are a viper, under the curse of the broken law, and your heart more like Satan than God, yet the holy God offers you a place in his bosom. He sent forth his Son to make room for you, to take you into the son's place. He cast out his dearly beloved Son, that he might enfold you in his arms. What are all the joys of sin compared with this? What are earthly titles compared to this? Sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal. Surely you must be deceived by the god of this world, if you are willing to remain a child of the devil rather than become a child of God.

SEVENTEENTH DAY.-EVENING.

And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief."' Mark ix. 24.

How very small was the faith with which this man came to Christ. It was like a grain of mustard seed. Twice we read of Jesus expressing wonder at the great faith of the poor worms that applied to him. When the centurion came to him in behalf of his beloved servant who was sick, he believed that Christ was willing and able to heal him, though he lay beneath a sinful roof. 'Jesus marvelled at so great faith,' Matt. viii. 5 -13. When the Syro-phenician woman cried after him in behalf of her child, she would not be turned back by his long silence, or by his seem

of grace, and waited for an answer of peace, till Jesus cried, 'O woman, great is thy faith, be it unto thee even as thou wilt,' Matt. xv. 21-28.

There is still fuller blessing contained in these words. Those who receive Christ receive power to become adopted sons. This is blessed, this is wonderful. But those who receive Christingly rough words; she saw deep into his heart receive power to become real sons-sons by a new birth. It is good to be an adopted son, but ah! to be a real son of God, having the same spirit, features, joys, this is the full bliss of being a Christian. When a rich man adopts a beggar boy into his family, and takes him for a son, he not only clothes him, and feeds him, but he educates him as his child. He puts him under a teacher to rid him of old habits, to put a new spirit in him, the spirit of his own child. This is what God does with all that receive Christ. When a sinner flees to Christ, God not only puts the best robe on him, and embraces him, and seats him at his table, but he sends forth the Spirit of his Son into his heart. The same almighty Spirit that dwelleth in his own bosom, and in his Son, the Spirit that was given to Jesus without measure, he sends into the poor pardoned sinner's heart, to make him a son indeed, 'born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.' Surely if men knew what God is willing to do for them in Christ, they could not so lightly esteem the Rock of their salvation. O sinner! God is willing to take out your old alienated heart, and to give you the heart of one of his own weaned children. He is willing to give you the Spirit of Christ, to change you into his image, to make you like him now and in eternity. Surely it may be said to every soul that despiseth Christ, 'Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! wilt thou not be made clean? when

shall it once be?' Jer. xiii. 27.

'Lo! his clothing is the sun,

The bright Sun of righteousness,

He hath put salvation on,
Jesus is his beauteous dress.
'Lo! he feeds on living bread,
Drinks the fountain from above,
Leans on Jesus Christ his head.
Feasts for ever on his love.'

Another time a leper came, and as he kneeled said, 'Lord, if thou wilt thou canst make me clean.' This was little faith. He believed the power of Jesus; he was not sure of his willingness. He thought he might be willing, for he came and applied to him; still he was not sure, and said, If thou wilt. With holy majesty Jesus rebuked his unbelief, and granted his desire: I will, be thou clean,' Matt. viii. 3. But far weaker than all these was the faith of this unhappy father; If thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.' Alas, that ever such words should be spoken to the Lord of glory. He in whose hand our breath is, and whose are all our ways-He by whom all things were created that are in heaven, and that are in earth-He whose name is Jehovah-Rophi, 'The Lord that healeth thee,' was standing before him, and yet his faith could reach no higher than that, 'If thou canst do anything.' And yet Jesus did not cast the unbelieving man away from him. never can deny that word, Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out.' He sent him home a happy father with his child made whole. These things were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. How evil unbelief appears in another, and yet how little do I perceive the same dishonouring thoughts of Christ when they lurk in my own bosom. I feel as if I never could use such language to Jehovah-Jesus; and yet how many times in the day I doubt both his love and his power. How often, when guilt is on my conscience, I doubt whether he be entirely willing to be the Mediator between God and such a sinful

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Jesus

wretch as me.
tation, when the passions are roused, I doubt
whether he be able to subdue such a heart as
mine. How often these words are the language
of my heart: If thou canst do anything, have
compassion on me, and help me.' And yet for
all our unbelief, he doth not send us empty away.
Faith, as a grain of mustard seed, obtains ever-
lasting benefits, Luke xvii. 6. Do not let me then
keep away from Christ, because my faith is small.
Though he had to call his disciples, Ye of little
faith,' yet that did not hinder him from rebuking
the winds and the sea for them, and there was a
great calm, Matt. viii. 26. In like manner
though my name may be, 'Thou of little faith,'
to the end of life's troubled journey, yet will I
go to him with such faith as I have, and he will
in no wise cast me out.

How often, in an hour of temp- | Let him wander among those that never pray to
Jesus, like Abraham in the land of the Canaanites,
or let him lie on a sick bed with none to wait
on him that know the Saviour, then he will
begin to learn by sad experience that warm feel-
ings are not faith-that faith in Jesus is like a
grain of mustard seed in his bosom. O it is a painful
but a blessed lesson to be taught how weak our
faith is. It makes us trust less to our feelings,
and less to friends, and makes us cleave closer to
Christ as our all in all.

But observe the prayer of the anxious father, 'Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief.' O! surely this was a groan dictated by the Spirit of supplications. Never was prayer better timed, or better expressed. The Author of faith stood before him-to whom could he go for faith but unto Christ? Faith is the gift of Jehovah Jesus, John xvii. 2. He in his kingly power, riding through the world, sends out his arrows, and brings down the people under him, Psal. xlv. 5. He not only brings gold for our ransom, and white raiment to cover our nakedness, but he brings in his hand, to the door of sinners, eye-salve to anoint our eyes, that we may see, Rev. iii. 18. He was not only wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for iniquities, but he bids us reach forward our finger, that he may guide it into the prints of the nails, and reach forward our hand, that he may guide it to his wounded side. He was not only the Rock cleft for sinners, but by his Almighty power he puts us into the cleft of the rock, and hides us there, Exod. xxxiii. 22.

Would that all the church of Christ were taught this prayer, 'Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief,' or that other, 'Increase our faith,' Luke xvii. 5. Two precious things are contained in it. A sense of our want of faith, and a clear knowledge of the fountain whence living faith must flow. Few people know how small their faith is. In a Christian land, sitting under a lively ministry, surrounded by warm-hearted Christian friends, the feelings are fanned into a glow, and the believer thinks that his faith is strong and full, But let providence call that believer to a foreign land, where

'The sound of the church-going bell

These valleys and rocks never heard,
Never sighed at the sound of a knell,
Nor smiled when a sabbath appeared.'

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But if it be good to know how little faith we have, it is better far to know what an overflowing fountain Jesus is. He is 'Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending.' He is 'the Author and the Finisher of our faith.' He anointed our eyes at the first, and made us see men as trees walking. He alone can anoint them more fully, that we may see all things clearly. He alone can help our unbelief. He can cover all the sin of it, for O it is crimson sin. He can remove it by fuller discoveries of himself. My Beloved is like a roe, or a young hart.' On Judah's hills the gazelle bounds with amazing ease and graceful swiftness over the most rugged rocks. It is its very nature to spring from crag to crag. So easily, swiftly, and agreeably to his gracious nature does the Lord Jesus reveal himself to the souls that wait for him. Often by a single visit the unbelief of half a lifetime vanishes, and the soul cries out with adoring joy, 'My Lord, and my God.' Wait on the Lord Jesus, O doubting soul. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord,' Lam. iii. 20. Often look beyond the blue sky to him who sits on the right hand of God, and cry out with tears, 'Lord I believe, help thou mine unbelief.'

'Lord, thou canst heal me if thou wilt,
For thou canst all things do,

O cleanse my leprous soul from guilt,
My filthy heart renew.

'He heard, and with a gracious look,
Pronounced the healing word,

"I will be clean," and while he spoke,
I felt my health restored.

6 Come, lepers, seize the present hour,
The Saviour's grace to prove,
He can relieve, for he is power;
He will, for he is love.'

EIGHTEENTH DAY.-MORNING.

'That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.' Eph. iii. 16—19.

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How remarkable are the prayers of Paul! He used to pray for individuals whom he loved by name. Without ceasing, the names of Timothy and Philemon were upon his heart, 2 Tim. i. 3; Phil. iv. He prayed for believers whom he had never seen, Col. i. 9; ii. 1. He prayed for all true saints, Eph. vi. 18, 24. He wrestled with continual sorrow of heart for the Jews, Rom. ix. 1; x. 1. In how remarkable a manner he prayed, without ceasing,' 'day and night,' 'with joy,' 'with thanksgiving,' with humility bowing his knees.' How large were his requests! He opens his mouth wide, that God may fill it. In Rom. xv. 13. he prays: 'Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing.' In 1 Thess. v. 23. he prays: And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly,' &c. So in these words he asks for amazing gifts. God only can fully comprehend the vast meaning of such a prayer. The words of man seem to be too narrow to express his large desires. These are 'groanings that cannot be uttered,' the intercession of the Spirit through the mind and heart of Paul. None but God could have given such a prayer, and none but God could answer it.

O that all ministers could pray like Paul. Probably no man ever lived who was the means of saving so many souls as Paul. Probably no minister was ever made the instrument of bringing his people to such a height of holiness as Paul. How was this? Look at his prayers for an answer. Consider their frequency, their urgency, their vastness. It was on his knees Paul fought the good fight of faith, and obtained grace for his own soul, and for all the churches. Such a man would be a blessing to the whole world. O Lord, teach us to pray.'

There are three principal petitions here, each one growing out of the other.

1. Consider the last petition, ver. 19. 'That ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.' This is the sum and end of all his prayers for them. Indeed it is the chief end of man. The great object of the gospel is to bring poor empty sin

ners to be filled with all the fulness of God, to be like an empty vessel cast into a vast ocean, to be filled with all the fulness of his love, of his presence, of his Spirit, of his joy, of his likeness. This Adam would have been had he persevered in holiness. This we become when united to Christ, and shall be to all eternity. This David panted after, 'My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God,' Psal. xlii. 2. This David, in some measure, enjoyed: 'Whom have I in heaven but thee, and there is none on earth whom I desire beside thee,' Psal. lxxiii. 25. Certain it is that the believer's God can draw near, and reveal himself, and fill the soul in a way that worldly men never thought of. He can fill the heart with a sense of his love. One dear Christian could say, 'My soul hath been compassed about with the terrors of death, the sorrows of hell were upon me, and a wilderness of woe was in me, but blessed, blessed, blessed be the Lord my God, he hath brought me to a place of rest, even to the sweet running waters of life.' Another dear Christian, of whom President Edwards writes, experienced such clear and lively views of Christ that 'her soul did, as it were, swim in the rays of Christ's love like a little mote swimming in the beams of the sun that come in at a window.' The same person, speaking upon the most deliberate consideration, could say, that 'what was enjoyed in a single minute of the whole space, which was many hours, was worth more than all the outward comfort and pleasure of the whole life put together.' O! that Christians now were filled with these drops of the fulness of God. He can fill the soul with his holiness. A natural man has not a spark of God's holiness. He may be pleasant, amiable, and of a natural integrity, but he has none of the 'living water.' The moment a soul is united to Christ, the same Holy Spirit who dwells in the bosom of the Father dwells also in him. I will put MY Spirit within you,' Ezek. xxxvi. 27. The believer becomes a partaker of the divine nature,' 2 Pet. i. 4. He becomes 'a partaker of his holiness,' Heb. xii. 10. He does not become as holy as God, but the same stream that flows through the divine bosom flows through the soul that is one with Jesus. O to be holy as he is holy, blessed as he is blessed, pure as Christ is pure. O to be filled with all the fulness of God.

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in this petition. The Father must grant you his free Spirit. Every word is precious—“That he would grant you.' The gift of the Spirit at first is of free grace. When he breathes on the dry bones in the open valley, it is of freest mercy. And so every further work of the Spirit on the heart is of free grace. O what need have we to pray, 'Cast me not from thy presence, neither take thy Holy Spirit away from me.'

6

But has God enough to supply our need? Yes, he has 'riches of his glory,' unsearchable riches. Just as he has inexhaustible treasures of rain and dew to water every green herb, so he has infinite treasures of the Spirit all ready to be poured into the hearts of his needy people. But what will his Spirit do for me? He will strengthen you with might in the inner man.' Your eye is din, and cannot see afar off. He will anoint it that you may see the King in his beauty. Your heart is dead and stony. He will quicken and soften it that eternal things may impress you. Your faith is like a bruised reed. He will strengthen you with might, so that you shall hold Christ, and not let him go. It is true of the Spirit as of the Father, that 'he giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.'

ledge. This appears to be one vast petition | shall I come to that abiding believing knowledge expressed twice over, that they may have a calm, of the love of Christ? The answer is to be found abiding, realizing view of Christ and his love. If any man were to ask, How shall I come to be filled with the fulness of God? The answer will be found in this prayer; you must come first to an abiding believing knowledge of the love of Christ which passeth knowledge.' Keep the eye of faith continually fixed on Jesus, on his glorious person, fairer than the children of men;' on Jesus your Prophet, having the tongue of the learned to speak a word in season to them that are weary;' on Jesus your Priest, 'through the eternal Spirit offering himself without spot unto God;' on Jesus your King, reigning from sea to sea in the hearts of his own, and winning many crowns in the conversion of sinners. Behold him, behold him. Keep your eye and heart upon him, keep the arms of faith around him, so 'that Christ may dwell in your heart by faith.' A tree takes a firm hold of the ground by its thousand roots; the winds shake but cannot remove it, so let your heart be rooted and grounded in the love of Christ,' then you may calmly view the vastness of that love. When a man is first awakened he does not know much of his sin, and cannot know much of the love of Christ; but when rooted and grounded in Christ, and the Spirit breathes in the heart, he then begins to comprehend with all saints, and to know the love of Christ that passeth knowledge. Observe the breadth and length of it:'As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us,' Psal. ciii. 12. Compare Lev. xvi. 22. So broad and so long is the love of Jesus. Observe the depth of it: 'He being in the form of God, thought it no robbery to be equal with God, but emptied himself,' &c., Phil. ii. 6. Measure from the throne of glory to the cross of Calvary, or to the rocky sepulchre-so deep was the love of Christ. Observe the height of it: To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me on my throne,' Rev. iii. 21. Measure how far it is from the lowest hell to the throne to which Christ will raise us; so high was the love of Christ. It passeth knowledge.' It is like a vast ocean, and our heart is like a little creek upon the shore; we embrace the ocean, but we cannot measure it; we shall know more of it in eternity; we never shall know it all, for 'it passeth knowledge;' and it gives 'a peace that passeth all understanding.'

EIGHTEENTH DAY.-EVENING.

'God is faithful, by whom ye were cailed unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord,' 1 Cor. i. 9.

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THE anxieties of a faithful pastor never end in this world. First he is anxious that his people be brought to Christ, and then he is anxious that they be kept abiding in him to the end. What a fountain of consolation is this text while he looks upon those, of whom in his heart he has the sweet persuasion that they are 'sanctified in Christ Jesus, and called to be saints,' and repeats these words in his heart, God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ.' It is this sweet truth, the faithfulness of our covenant God, that is a rock to the pastor's soul, and makes him feel that those who are now dearly beloved, and longed for,' will soon be his joy and crown.' But not only to 3. Observe the first petition, ver. 16. That he the pastor, to the flock also, especially in time of would grant you, according to the riches of his temptation, affliction, and desertion, these words glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit are like the snow of Lebanon, or the cold flowin the inner man.' If any man were to ask, Howing waters from another place.' Sometimes it

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