our. Every new discovery of our depravity, pollution, and misery, is introductory to some new discovery of Christ, in his person, righteousness, and grace. The foundation of our knowledge of Christ, is always laid, in the knowledge of ourselves. His teaching always tends to some practical results; as the effect of it therefore we apply to Christ, receive from Christ, rejoice in Christ, and devote ourselves to the praise and glory of Christ. Everything the Spirit teaches, has a direct tendency to lead us to Christ.

If he therefore teach us to know the law, it is that we may flee to Christ and seek deliverance from it. If he teaches us to know doctrine, through every doctrine, he teaches us to have fellowship with Christ. If he teaches us to understand gospel ordinances, it is in order that attending to them, we may meet with Christ, and honour him. So from every spot, and from every subject, the Holy Spirit, leads us directly to Christ; and the more we experience of his teaching, the more precious Christ becomes, and the more simple and entire is our dependence upon him.

As a teacher, the Holy Spirit, displays the greatest wisdom, teaching us as we are able to bear. He manifests the most touching tenderness, even as a mother toward her only, her beloved child. He exercises uncqualled patience, putting up with our dulness, waywardness, and inconstancy.

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teaches us according to the best, and most approved system, so that his lessons are never forgotten, nor can they be perverted. What we merely learn form the word, or hear from man, we may pervert; but what the Spirit teaches is accompanied with grace, and humbles and sanctifies, while it instructs and informs. Every one taught by the Spirit, so knows himself, as to renounce all dependance on any thing, and every thing of his own; so knows the law, as to realize that he can never be justified by his obedience to it; so knows the Saviour, as to renounce all, and every thing for him; so knows the world, as to forsake it, preferring the Saviour's worst things, to its best things; and so knows Satan, as to flee from him, and seek shelter and protection, from the Lord Jesus Christ alone.

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Reader, is the Holy Spirit your teacher ? Methinks from the foregoing remarks, you can tell? You must be taught of God, or you cannot be a child of God; for thus it is written in the Scriptures, All thy children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be the peace of thy children." Do you ask, "But how may I know for a certainty that I am taught of God?" We cannot give you a better answer, than the Saviour's own words, who quoting from the prophet the forcgoing passage, says, "It is written in the prophets, and they shall be all taught of God, every one therefore that hath heard, and learned of the Father, cometh unto me."

Have you as a poor lost sinner, come to Jesus? Have you come to him for salvation? Are you daily coming to him, as the hungry man to be fed, as the filthy child to be cleansed, as the naked beggar to be clothed? In a word, are you coming to Jesus for grace now, the grace you will need through life; and for glory, that when you die, you may be received into everlasting habitations ? If so, no doubt but the Spirit is your teacher, for these are the legitimate and invariable effects of his work. To him therefore you may look to be taught all that is necessary for you to know, and on him you may de~pend to train you up for heaven. But if you are not taught of God, you are in a sad state, for you have no correct knowledge of yourself-you have no saving acquaintance with the Lord Jesus-you do not understand the gospel, nor can you be fit for heaven. Let me beseech you then to come to a decision upon this point, and if you have the Spirit as your teacher, thank God, and seek more of his gracious instructions; but if you have not, or cannot satisfactorily conclude that you have, then as a free gift, from a gracious God, seek this blessing. Fix your mind, and exercise your faith, on this gracious assurance of the Saviour, nor rest until you realize its truth. "If ye being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father, give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him."

STANDING IN GRACE.

EVERY man by nature is under the law, bound to obey its precepts, and pay its penalty; and unless its requirements are fully met, the law can never justify us. But the gospel invites us to leave the law, and come to the Saviour, and coming to the Saviour, we are delivered from the law; it has no more power over us than if it had executed the sentence of death on us, it having put Christ to death in our stead. We are dead to the law, and the law is dead to us. We are not under the law, but under grace; Jesus has died for our offences, and has been raised again for our justification. Our privilege is great, our state is most blessed. We stand in grace, according to Paul's words, who speaks of "this grace wherein we stand." Rom. v. 2. Grace is favour, law is requirement; we are not under requirement therefore, but under favour. We will look at

Our

PRIVILEGED STATE. We are justified. Justified by his grace. Justified by the blood of Jesus. Justified by faith in Christ, We are reconciled to God, who meets us at the cross, holds out the hand, and asks us to be reconciled to him. We are not only reconciled, but are become intimate friends,

and are treated as such, Not only intimate friends, but special favourites, and are therefore allowed to come to God when we will, and wherever we will-to walk with God all the day, and every day-to commune with God on all subjects that interest us-to commit our all to God, to be preserved and kept safe to leave our all with God, without anxiety or perplexity-to expect from God all he has promised, and all we ask in faith -yea, we may expect sympathy in all our sufferings; a supply of all our wants; and support under all our troubles. Can any state be more blessed? Could we be more highly privileged? For us, all the demands of the law are met. To us, all the blessings of the gospel are given. We are interested in God's highest love. We may claim all the merit of the life and death of his Son. We may look for all the grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit.

Our standing

WE STAND IN THIS STATE. is firm, for there is to us no condemnation. We shall stand to the last, for we shall suffer no inglorious defeat. Our condition is stable, for we build on a rock. Our privilege is permanent, for grace never changes. The oath, the promise, and the unchangeable love of God secures us. Being in Christ now, we shall be in Christ for ever. Being united to Christ now, we shall never be severed from him. Our standing is from grace, grace in God's heart, he had a favour towards us.

Our standing is of grace, or it is