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mises, "Thou shalt be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God." It is the most proThe wealth of the husband, passes over to his wife. The unsearchable riches of Christ become ours. He pro

fitable union.

vides all we need, and provides in accordance with his own infinite wealth. He confers all that is required, so that we shall become all glorious within, and shine as if clothed with the sun without. We take part in all that he is or has, and he takes part in all that concerns us. As husband and wife, Christ and his people are one. One in affection. One in the eye of the law. One in the eye of the eternal Father. O wondrous grace, God 66 says, I am married unto thee!" O glorious privilege, the prophet testifies, Thy Maker is thine husband!" 0 wondrous mercy, the apostle declares, "I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ."

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THE PROMISE. "I will betroth thee." In doing so he employs his servants, and he sends his Spirit. He woos and wins, and then takes us to be his. He loves us, and by manifesting his love, he gains ours. Then he says, "I will betroth thee to me for ever." There shall be no divorce, no putting away, no forsaking; thou shalt be mine, and mine for ever. 66 I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness." Out of sincere love, and in

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accordance with law and justice. legal impediment he will remove. debt he will discharge. Every obligation he On the most honourable principles he will marry. 'I will betroth thee unto me in judgment." That is wisely and prudently. Adapting himself to our nature, disposition, and circumstances; and putting us under a training, that will fit us to stand before his face, and share his joys for ever. He abounds toward us, in all wisdom and prudence, so as to prevent evil, and secure all possible good. I will betroth thee unto me in loving-kindness." Out of pure love. With overcoming kindness. In the gentlest, most generous, and most winning manner.

I will betroth thee unto me in mercies." As an act of grace, and displaying the most touching sympathy. Without looking for any cause in thee. "Yea, I will betroth thee unto me in faithfulness.' be no change of mind.

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I will pledge my word, and redeem it. I will enter into covenant with thee, and I will keep it. When

Jesus espouses us, he puts the wedding ring, which is a piece of pure, plain gold, representing his everlasting love, on the finger of our faith. He then puts a splendid keeper, with these six brilliants, or costly pearls, over it. The first, assures us that we are his for ever. The second, that our marriage is right, just, and legal. The third, that we are wisely wedded. The fourth, that we have a most loving husband. The fifth, that

he is full of sympathy and mercy. And the sixth, that he will never cease to be what he is, He will be faithful to his engagement. That we shall find him the same, yesterday, to-day, and for ever. "And thou shalt know

the Lord." Here he engages, that we shall become acquainted, and familiar with him. That we shall know him, so as to love him, and love him above all others. That we shall know him, so as to trust him, and trust in him alone. That we shall know him so as to live with him, and obey him, cheerfully, happily, and for ever.

Believer, Jesus has betrothed you to himself, and you are his, wholly his, and his for ever. Let thy heart firmly trust in him, let thy love be ever warm toward him, and never let thy feet wander from him. Cleave to him, for he is thy life. Rejoice in him, for he is thy Lord, and therefore worship thou him. Sinner, Jesus is willing to betroth thee. He has therefore sent you his like ness in his word. He has sent you a loving message by his servants. He has long waited for your reply. Will you consent to be the bride of Jesus? Will you unreservedly give yourself away to him? Will you agree to leave father, mother, house and home, and seek happiness, wealth, and all in Jesus? He can make you happy, he can make you holy, he can keep you safe, and he can raise you to the highest honour. Consent to be Christ's and your fortune is made for ever; refuse him, and ruin, eternal ruin, is certain,

THE GREAT DEFECT.

SOME things in religion may be dispensed with, without affecting our eternal salvation. But there is one thing we must experience, we must be born again. There is one blessing we must possess, and that is the Holy Ghost. As well may we expect to be saved without the sacrifice of Christ for us, as expeet to be saved without the Spirit of God within us. And yet, in all ages, there have been those, under a profession of religion, who have thought themselves safe without this indispensable qualification. In the days of the Apostles, there were those who turned the grace of God into licentiousness, who separated themselves from the society of the saints, who were sensual, "having not the Spirit." Jude 19. This was the great defect, and this defect was the cause of all the errors they fell into, and the evil course into which they were betrayed. There is reason to fear that in these favoured times, and in our privileged land, there are many professing Christ who are in just the same state, they have not the Spirit; and yet, no testimony can be plainer or more decisive than this, "If any man have not the Spirit of

Christ, he is none of his." Let us attend to this subject a little.

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WHAT MAY SUCH PERSONS HAVE? They may have a profession of religion, and that profession may have been made in a scriptu ral way. No one may be able to object to their creed, for it may be sound: nor to their conduct, for it may be moral. All the doctrines of the gospel may be believed, and all the moral requirements of the gospel may be outwardly observed. The intellect may be enlightened, the memory may be well furnished, and the life may be generally consistent. Yet such persons may not have the Spirit. They may fill an office in the church, and be a deacon, an elder, or even a minister. Their gifts may be respectable. duties may be regularly performed. names may stand high. Their usefulness may appear to be great. They may be loved by the Lord's people, and be honoured in the church. Yet they may be destitute of the Spirit. They may have a false hope buoying them up, and bearing them onward, so that they may not even doubt the goodness of their state and this hope may arise from impressions they have felt, pleasures in religious services which they have enjoyed, and the doctrines of the gospel which they have embraced. They may have an unfounded confidence, which makes them bold, fearless, and active. A confidence founded, not on Christ, not warranted by the word, but

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