Tower; as much to the humble soul that is crying after Christ, as to the privileged believer who finds rest and security in him. From the want of information on this truth, many who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity are often in fear for their safety, and suppose. the character does not belong to them; but the text clearly shews, that not the enjoyment of safety, nor yet the act of running, constitutes the sinner righteous; for he was righteous while running, yea, and before he began to run.

By running to Christ is signified, the desires of the soul going out after Christ, under a feeling sense of its need of such a Saviour as it apprehended Christ to be; and that soul must be already righteous in God's esteem; for, who but the Spirit of God implants those desires in the heart, and draws them out after Christ? Certainly they cannot be the effort of fallen nature, for that is spiritually dead. And in whom does God the Spirit display this his rich grace? Certainly in those only for whose offences the Surety was delivered, and for whose justification he was raised again. And if they have redemption and justification in Christ, must they not be righteous before God in him? So that their running to, or longing to know Christ, is the effect, not the cause of their being made righteous. Nor does their enjoyment of safety in Christ add in the least to their character; for that was stamped in Jehovah's purpose, of which their enjoyment is satisfactory proof.

The glorious gospel explains this heavenly truth,-"justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." Rom. iii. 24. And, "being justified by faith we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom we have access by faith into this grace (of justification) wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." Rom. v. 1, 2. The quickening grace of the Holy Ghost, by which the soul is born again of God and becomes a new creature in Christ, is the sure earnest of all the privileges of the sons and daughters of the Lord God Almighty. Though it may be some time before this blessedness be realized by the renewed soul, yet, being a child, all the honours of the family are his own: for, "if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ," Rom. viii. 17. And in due time such shall enter upon their inheritance; but no addition will be made thereby either in the Father's affection to the child, or the child's relation to the Father: these must continue the same for ever. Were these truths more familiarized to the minds of feeble believers, they would see the sure ground for comfort that every one has who runs to Christ the Strong Tower.-"Let the heart of those that seek the Lord rejoice."

There seems something beautifully significant in the term “ runneth." As the action of running is very natural to those who are anxious to escape from danger, and to those who earnestly desire to embrace or possess some valuable object; hence it well represents the solicitude of the renewed soul to find security in Christ from the dreaded consequences of sin. When wounds or disease are felt,

soundness and health become truly desirable. When famine threatens, supplies will be eagerly sought. If darkness distress the traveller, he longs for the light. If tempests rise, he seeks for shelter. If foes oppose or oppress, protection is most needful. If an object esteemed the most valuable seems in danger of being lost, painful anxiety must be felt. And under all such circumstances, the intense feelings of the mind, and its anxious solicitude, may be fitly represented by the laborious act of running.

So when, by the Holy Spirit's quickening grace, a sinner is brought to feel the guilt and misery of his fallen state, and to form some apprehension of the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, and of his suitableness and sufficiency as a Saviour, the intensity of that soul's desires after Christ may be well compared to the action of running. For his feelings will not allow him to sit in stoical apathy to think about Christ; nor yet to move towards Christ with calm indifference; but will impel him to run or flee for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before him. And for the strong consolation of such a soul, the two immutable things, the counsel and the oath of God, confirm his safety, Heb. vi. 17.

The knowledge of safety in Christ is of vast importance to the children of God, both as it respects their comfort and their conduct, while in this world of enemies and troubles. That it has a powerful effect on their comfort is certain; for they cannot rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, if they doubt of their interest in Christ. They cannot stand fast in the liberty of the gospel, if they do not know that Christ has made them free. They cannot eat and drink freely at the Father's table, if they fear that they are not children. Nor can they calmly sustain the shock of enemies or troubles, unless they feel themselves secure. And as the knowledge of safety is essential to the comfort of believers, so is it of great importance as to their conduct: for without the enjoyment of security in Christ the very strongest motives to obedience are unfelt, and religious services will be but the forced obedience of a deluded mind, vainly expecting thereby to secure the favour of God. Or, they will be the labours of an awakened mind frequently rendered toilsome by slavish fears, and always liable to interruption from enemies. But when the believer knows and enjoys his security, the service of God becomes perfect freedom to him. Constrained by sovereign love, he runs with diligence the race that is set before him. Strengthened by the Spirit, he fights fearlessly under the banner of truth against his spiritual adversaries. Resting on the merits of his glorified High Priest, he approaches the throne of grace, obtains strength by which he is enabled to triumph in the Lord, and to celebrate his praises with sweet delight. He bows to his heavenly Father's will under all his painful exercises, with a submission unknown to those who are strangers to his privileges. He looks forward with well-founded confidence of being kept by the power of God through faith, unto the inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, reserved in heaven for him.

This is only a very slight sketch of the happiness of that soul who knows his interest in Christ. His deep humblings and self-loathings before God in secret; his happy moments of fellowship with the Father and Christ; his anxious desire to glorify God in his body and spirit; his frequent groanings under the burden of sin; his transporting anticipation of release from this world of snares, and possession of the holy and eternal rest; are strong features of character, but cannot be described.

For the encouragement of feeble, fearing, seekers of Christ, it may be proper to make a few further remarks on their safety. Indeed, the subject is of such importance that it demands a far greater space than can be allowed. Let them remember, if the Lord the Spirit has made them to feel their need of Christ, they have the true mark of sonship already on them; and that it is not the will of their Father that one of such little ones should perish! They may be severely buffeted by the implacable enemy satan; they may be sadly cast down through the plague of their own hearts; they may be sorely tossed on the sea of worldly trouble: all these things are common to the heirs of glory, and have often raised their fears very high, and sunk their hopes very low, yet did never in one single instance endanger their safety; but they have frequently been over-ruled for their good, by weakening their carnal hopes, by humbling them more deeply in the knowledge of their own nothingness, by driving them more earnestly as poor ruined sinners to Christ, and making him more precious to them. Every new-born soul is safe in Christ, whose grace is sufficient for them in all their afflictions, and whose strength shall be made perfect in all their weakness. The fulness of Christ shall supply all their needs. The power of Christ shall protect them from all harm. The wisdom of Christ shall lead them forth by the right way to the city of habitation. May, therefore, the hearts of all who seek the Lord rejoice in his holy name.

Ramsgate.

Dear Friend,

(For the Spiritual Magazine.)

ON CHURCH FELLOWSHIP.

(ADDRESSED TO A FRIEND.)

E. G.

I Am truly glad to hear, that you have it in contemplation to join the church of Christ at H. for christian communion is not only an article of faith, but is often made a great blessing to the children of God. I have no doubt but you have made the subject a matter of prayer to God, and sought his direction again and again, that his glory may be promoted and your soul's prosperity advanced, by the line of conduct you are pursuing. Jehovah's revealed word should be the saints' directory every step they take. God the Holy Spirit has convinced you of sin; you have a daily sight and sense of it;

you are often pressed down under the weight of it; sin is a great grief to you; you find it follows you wherever you go; you sigh in secret before the Lord on account of it, the hardness of your heart, the emptiness you discover in every religious duty; and you frequently wish that your services were more acceptable to the Lord.

Well, my friend, all these inward exercises are signs of spiritual life, and proofs of the Lord's love to you; and as the Lord carries on his work in your soul, you will have many painful pangs, and much soul anguish, which will almost overwhelm you; but Jesus the good physician, the faithful friend of poor self-condemned sinners, will stand by and cheer your heart with some sweet promise or heavenly smile. And as he once said to unbelieving Thomas, “Behold my hands and my feet," he will often give you some delightful views of his beauty, of the greatness of his love in leaving his Father's bosom, coming out of heaven that you may be kept out of hell where hope never comes, in shedding his heart's blood to atone for your black sins, in the life of holy obedience he lived, in being made sin and a curse, and in working out a glorious righteousness to justify your person.

These are heart-warming truths, and I hope that you will often find them cordials to your soul as you travel heaven-ward. Your purity and perfection is in Christ alone. "In him," says Paul, "ye are complete." In him saints are blessed, through him we have access to the Father, and through the same medium Jehovah the Father holds fellowship with the church. What great grace is displayed in your case, that Jesus should love you and give himself for you, and draw your soul to him by regenerating power, and dispose you to unite with his family here below, to attend his holy courts, commemorate his dying love, and with all his saints, below and above, bear a part in praising him. You are advanced to a very high pitch of honour, to have your name written in the Lamb's book of life, to be a daughter of the Lord God Almighty; this relation is far better than to be allied to all the mighty monarchs of this world.

It is a great blessing to be united to a church of Christ, to have opportunities of waiting upon the Lord in his holy ordinances, to be fed with gospel manna, to be instructed into the mysteries of the word, to have the soul kept alive to God. I hope that this will be your case in the connexion that you are about to enter into; that the ministry may be much blessed to you, that Jesus may become increasingly dear, that your heart may be often drawn out in love and gratitude to him for loving you, and that a spirit of prayer may be given you for the minister you sit under, and for the people you are about to unite with in christian fellowship. You are aware that the church of Christ in this world is composed of sinners, all full of imperfections, and you are not exempt; you will have many attacks from satan, many distressing discoveries of the awful depravity of

your heart; you will have many sneers and persecutions from the world, friends may look cool, and your covenant God at seasons hide his heavenly face, no access to the throne, no blessing under the word, without fightings, within fears, the daily cross very heavy, and every thing appear to run crooked. But on the other hand, the eye of the Lord will be upon you, his holy arm under you, his supporting presence will often cheer you, the Sun of righteousness will often burst through the clouds, suitable promises will be sent home to your heart. The mercies of the Lord are new every morning, and his hand will help you, and his heart pity you; he never leaves nor forsakes his children; he is a friend who loveth at all times; and all the changes that you pass through, are to lead you to rest upon and to trust in an unchanging God.

You are about to enter into a new family, to become a citizen of Zion, to join the general assembly, to share in the joys and sorrows of the visible church. You are to pray for all your brethren and sisters in Christ, for the whole election of grace called or uncalled, for all the sent servants of the Lord; and particularly for him that God has made a blessing to your soul, that the word by him may be blest to many, that the hungry may be fed, the prisoners liberated, the weak and wavering established, the miserable made happy, and sinners savingly converted. Pray that the church may enjoy peace and prosperity, abound in faith and good works, love to God and each other.

Do not

I wish you much soul-prosperity, many Bethel visits, great out-goings of soul after the Lord, many times of refreshing from his presence; and as showers of rain make the earth fruitful, so showers of grace make saints bring forth fruit to the glory of God. be cast down because the Lord may not always shine upon you, nor always meet you under the word; your times are in his hand, he knows when to comfort and when to correct you. It will be your lot, with all the holy brethren, frequently to feel very barren, cold, and indifferent to the things of God. You may have a long winter in your soul, the leaf of your profession quite withered, no buds of hope, faith, love, peace, and joy to be seen, nor any shooting forth for a long season. But Jesus, the dew of Israel, will come again, and his showers and shines turn winter into summer, and night into day. When the day-spring from on high visits you, then there will be a spring in your soul; and when the spirit of adoption is given, there is no difficulty in calling God my Father, Jesus my Saviour, and the Holy Ghost my Comforter!

It is my prayer that wisdom may be given you to discern things that differ, and not make a Christ of your frames and feelings; for it is possible to have a melting frame in duty, and not have Christ. You may be much affected, shed many tears, be much enlarged, and all amount to nothing but the going out of natural affection. Many make their feelings and their impressions their righteousness, and are satisfied with it; but our tears will not wash away guilt, nor make