from our hemisphere and entering into his glory. At that auspicious moment the massy gates of the celestial city were extended to receive the King of Glory, the Lord, mighty in battle; and the multitude of the heavenly host, who ushered into this lower world "the child born," and "the Son given," received the "man of sorrows" with acclamations of joy and s. ngs of immortal triumph, as "the mighty God, the everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace;" and conducted him with loud and lasting hosannas to the mediatorial throne, there to reign for ever as Zion's king, and the sinner's advocate and prevalent intercessor, till the last elect soul is transplanted from this barren soil to bloom with immortal vigour in the paradise of God when the curtain of time shall drop, the mystery of God be finished, the tottering fabric of creation crumble into its native dust, and Christ deliver up the mediatorial kingdom to the Father, that God may be all and in all.

Once more, my soul, review the wonders of redeeming love. While this is a theme which is the envy of devils, it fills all heaven with amazement, and each angelic spirit, which burns with holy rapture before the throne of the Eternal, with wonder and surprise; while the ransomed church in the wilderness contemplates with ineffable delight the mysterious theme, and viewing her full completion in her exalted head sings, with holy triumph, "see what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God." Well, then, may the heralds of the cross stand upon the heights of Zion, and proclaim the commission of their Lord," Comfort ye, comfort ye, my people, my chosen, my redeemed ones, the objects of my eternal love: speak ye comfortably to them, aad tell them in the name of the God you serve, that their iniquity is pardoned, and their sin covered, and that they have received at the Lord's hand double for all their sins." Blessed commission! glorious proclamation! it is a feeling sense of this pardon, applied to the soul by the Almighty energy of the Holy Ghost, which dispenses all slavish and soul-perplexing fears, allays the power of unbelief, re-animates our drooping faith, expands our vast desires to glorify the God of all our mercies, re-kindles our zeal, and causes us to pant for the extension of Messiah's kingdom in the in-gathering of the election of grace; and lays us low at the foot of the cross, that while we take to ourselves shame and confusion of face, our faith being in lively exercise, puts the whole glory of our salvation upon the head of Immanuel, and crowns him Lord of all. Thus brought to rest within the city of refuge, we cast anchor upon, and cleave to the rock that is higher than we. Here we may defy the united craft of men and devils, to remove us from this sacred eminence, resting securely upon the faithfulness of a God in covenant, and our hopes centering in the “blood of sprinkling," we may triumphantly sing,

"Should mountains from their seats be hurl'd,
Down to the deep and buried there,-

Convulsions shake the solid world,—

Our faith shall never yield to fear."

Even death itself shall prove a friend to the objects of redeeming love. To them he is no more a king of terrors, but a welcome messenger, sent from their heavenly Father to call them home; when with sacred joy, they shall take the last glance at the wilderness, and bid an eternal adieu to pain, sorrow, distress, and woe; and their emancipated spirits shall burst from their cage, to join the general assembly of the church of the first-born, whose names are written in heaven.

Here pause, O my soul, and contemplate the glories of the place where the King is seen in his beauty, and beheld in open vision, as a lamb that has been slain, while kindred spirits bow before him, and unceasingly sing his praise.

With joyful speed, through all the brilliant ranks
Of angels, thrones, and flaming cherubim they fly,
And prostrate at Immanuel's feet they fall:
There to adore that free, that sov'reign grace,

Which pluck'd such worthless brands from flames so fierce,
And rais'd them to those bright abodes of love.

March 20, 1828.

T. W. H.

LETTER FROM THE LATE REV. WILLIAM ROMAINE, TO A YOUNG MINISTER BEFORE HIS ORDINATION.

Dear Sir,

(Inserted by particular request.)

MR. FOSTER informed me of your commission to buy the law and the gospel. I make you a present of the Life of Faith. I have also sent you a book of inestimable value, [a small bible] which I was inclined to do, because it affords me an opportunity to introduce myself to you, and give you a word of advice on your going into orders. It is a great undertaking, and I will speak freely to you upon it, as, were I in your circumstances, I should have wished some one would have dealt with me. The Lord God make it a blessing to you.

First, I would have you, Sir, to consider one qualification for the ministry indispensably necessary, and that is, the knowledge of yourself; you cannot teach this till you have been taught, nor farther than you have been taught it. Consider what is your state; is not sin, misery, helplessness, your condition in Adam? Are not you by nature a child of wrath! Mr. M. do you know this? Have you ever felt the plague of your heart? Have you ever seen the legions of lusts within you, every one of them ready to take up arms and rebel against God? Are you sensible how often they have drawn you into actual rebellion? And, do you know what will be the end of this state without a Saviour? Think, Sir, how can you preach

these things, if you have never felt them? O beg of God then, to make you sensible how much you want a Saviour, that you may know how to address yourself to others upon the same subject.

Secondly, another indispensable qualification is the knowledge of Christ, to know his person-God-man-his work, in his life and death, as our whole salvation, made our's whenever his Spirit enables us to receive it, and enjoyed as our's, so far as by faith we dare believe in him. This is the doctrine to be preached. How can a man preach it who does not know it, or who does not believe it? Try yourself here, Mr. M. Is he, in whose name, and to preach whom you are ordained-is he true and very God-the self-existent Jehovah? Is there salvation in none other person or thing? God help you not to be deceived in that most essential doctrine.

A third thing is absolutely necessary, namely, the knowledge of God's word. I send you this little blessed book, in reading which you will learn yourself-here is your true picture-and here is the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom to know is life eternal.

In reading and hearing the scriptures, the Spirit sets in with the word, and shews the sinner himself, and then shews him the Saviour, and enables him to believe unto salvation. All the teaching of God's Spirit is in and by the word: he accompanies nothing but his own truth with his own blessing, and that he does so bless, that faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Are these things so? Is the bible the word of God? Does it make the believer wise unto salvation? . Is it profitable for doctrine, for reproof, &c. 0, Sir, what are you doing, that other books are so much read, and the bible so neglected? Will you learn from a poor penitent? Indeed I repent, and God forgive my mis-spent time in sciences and classics. I saw my folly two-and-twenty years ago, and have since studied nothing but the bible, and, I assure you, Sir, I am got but a little way. I see such things before me which I know but in part, that I am pressing on, and I wish for some of my lost time to spend in this blessed study. Take warning. Prize my little present: read it over and over: it is valuable, as coming from my heart's love, but infinitely more so as the copy of Christ's love. You cannot read it too much wear it out in reading, and I promise you a much neater and finer edition: but the finest is that which the Spirit writes upon the heart. O that he may write a very fair copy upon your's.

In these

Fourthly. Your next thing is to know your office: to what are you ordained? If you know not yourself, and know not Jesus, nor his word, how can you possibly discharge your office? things the chief part of it consists. A minister unacquainted with himself, can never shew his people what they are in themselves. What can he say of Christ, who is not acquainted with him? Or how can he preach the word, who never studied it, or who never had his understanding opened to understand the scriptures? Think of these things, Sir, and meditate much upon them. Weigh well your office; examine well your call to it. Are you enabled faith

fully to declare the whole counsel of God? With boldness to tell sinners their guilt and danger; which will make all the unconverted your bitter enemies-with clearness to set forth the way of salvation, through our surety, God-Jesus-with evidence, to shew the work of the Spirit in convincing of sin; in working faith in Jesu's word; to rely upon his blood and righteousness; and enabling the believer to live upon the fulness of Jesu's grace, receiving out of it, grace for grace every moment, for all the purposes of spiritual life. that you may do this successfully, in spite of all opposition, are you made willing to practise what you are to preach? That is the best sermon which the minister preaches all the week. Nothing is so powerful as example. Blessed is he who lives out of the pulpit what he says in it, and knows his doctrine to be truly experience; so may it be with you.

And

I had a great deal more to say to you upon your success in your office, or on your discouragements, &c. but Mr. B. who sits by me, is in a hurry, and I can add no more, being forced to scribble what I have wrote. What I leave out of my letter, I will put into my prayers for you for your going into orders-and for your being fitted for the work of the ministry-and for your saving your own soul, as well as their's who hear you. Remember me in your prayers. I very heartily wish you well in the Lord, being in him, and for his sake,

Your's, very sincerely,

(For the Spiritual Magazine.)

W. ROMAINE.

THE PRIVILEGES OF A BELIEVER AND HIS TRIUMPH OVER DEATH.

IT is on account of the faith which a believer bath, that he knows and is able to enjoy the privileges to which he is entitled. Those that are destitute of faith cannot claim their relationship to Christ, and consequently cannot participate in those privileges which belong only to the children of God; for the enjoyment of their privileges is in proportion to, and is the consequence of their faith. If a child of God cannot appropriate to himself a certain privilege, how is it possible for him to enjoy it? Can a person live upon or enjoy what he does not possess? Nevertheless as every child of God must have faith, so must he likewise have privileges, many, great, and glorious.

6

The believer being heir of God and joint-heir with Jesus Christ, appropriates to himself and lives upon his fulness. He can look at Mount Calvary and behold the mangled limbs of Christ nailed to the cross, and exclaim, yes, these sufferings, these pangs and groans, this atoning, precious blood, and glorious death are for me; to complete my salvation in him; to make me acceptable in the sight of God, and to procure for me for evermore a crown of glory which fadeth not away.' Yes, while I am persecuting Christ, and am the

cause of these excruciating pains, he is suffering for my salvation; so that were the voice of stern justice obeyed, I should for ever be in eternal misery and despair; but the voice of Christ, which is the voice of mercy, and far more powerful than that of justice, echoing from the blissful realms above, cries, save him, save him, he shall not descend into hell. I have redeemed him with my precious blood, have laid down my life as a propitiation for his sins, am raised again for his justification, and am now interceding for him in heaven:"Father, I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory." By faith in Jesus Christ he can trust all his concerns and troubles to him, whether natural or spiritual; and when overwhelmed with misfortunes can place them upon him, conscious of his own weakness and incapability, and of Christ's omnipotence and all-sufficiency.

·

These are some of the glorious privileges which belong to the children of God, and in which none others can participate; and they are not to be compared with those which they will everlastingly enjoy, when called from this state militant to one triumphant, when all their anxiety, their troubles, their temptations, and their contests will be over and consummated in eternal bliss and glory. O glorious privilege! the moment they quit this earthly tabernacle they shall ascend into the bosom of Christ, who stands ready to receive them. "Absent from the body, present with the Lord." Absent from a world of iniquity and unbelief, present in the company of innumerable angels and glorified spirits, shouting forth their loud hallelujahs, in the presence and to the glory of Him who loved them and saved them with an everlasting salvation; redeemed them, and brought them to everlasting bliss. Then will they enjoy all their privileges, realize all and more than what faith taught them to expect while journeying through this wilderness, and behold the glory of Christ, that glory which he had before the world began. Then will mysteries be unfolded, fresh mysteries be revealed to all eternity. Then will they be in the immediate presence of God where is fulness of joy, and sit on his right hand where are pleasures for evermore.Then will they go, "not unto the Mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness and tempest; but unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the first-born, which are written in heaven, 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 sprinkling, which speaketh better things than that of Abel."

With such glorious promises and blessed privileges as these, encouraged with such happy anticipations and sure hopes as are contained in God's holy word, wherefore should we fear when called upon to cast off this clay tenement, and to pass through Jordan into a "land flowing with milk and honey?" Notwithstanding these en