with trembling steps and palpitating heart you came to Christ-and when you cast yourself down before him, determined to be saved by him, or to perish there? If so, do you not also remember, how you then and there committed your soul into his hands, and gave yourself away to him, to be his for ever? At that moment you entered into Christ, you became united to Christ, and from that moment to the present, you have been safe in Christ. Safe! Yes, for what can separate you from his love? Safe! Yes, for Christ dwelleth in you, and you dwell in him. Safe! Yes, for having died for your sins, and having arisen for your justification, he is your Advocate with the Father, and ever liveth to make intercession for you. Are you safe, beloved? If you are in Christ you are, but if you are not in Christ you cannot be. Is your soul in PEACE? If you are aliveif you are safe-it ought to be. If God has quickened you by his Spirit, and if he has united you to his Son, he is at peace with you; he loves you with an everlasting love, he daily watches over you, and he will make all things that take place, to work together for your good. At peace! Surely you are, for what can harm you? What can really injure you? With God for your Father, the Lord Jesus for your Saviour, the Holy Spirit for your Comforter, the oath and promise of God for your security, and heaven for your final home, what should agitate, disturb, or distract your mind? At peace! Yes, if you have faith in God, confidence in the Lord Jesus, and implicit trust in the great and precious promises. At peace! Surely you are, unless you have taken your eye off the Saviour, and are looking into your own hearts, or on your imperfect lives. At peace! Yes surely, being justified by faith, you have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. But have you peace? Unless you are reconciled to God, you cannot have peace. Unless you walk with God, you cannot have peace. Unless you cast all your cares upon God, you cannot enjoy peace. But, any believer, who rests on the finished work of Jesus, who sees God working in the dispensations of divine providence, and who exercises confidence in the covenant and promises of God, will have peace at all times, in all places, and under all circumstances. Have you life, then, reader? If you have not, you may, Jesus can give it you, and he will if you apply to him. He has never refused an applicant, or frowned on one who came to him; but he did complain of some of old, and exclaimed, "Ye will not come unto me, that ye might have life." Are you safe? You may be. Jesus says, "I give unto my sheep eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any one pluck them out of my hand." There is safety. 66 66 But you may say, Perhaps, I am not one of the sheep of Christ." Hear his own precious words, This is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day." If you therefore perceive that Jesus is the Son of God, and believe on him, you are one of his sheep, and he will give you everlasting life now, and will raise you up in glory at the last day. Is your soul in peace? It may be, even though you are in poverty, or temptation, or persecution, or trial. For with a consciousness that we are accepted in the Beloved, that we are training for glory, and that all things that concern us, are arranged and provided for, by our Father which is in heaven, we may well enjoy repose. O that sinners would come to Jesus, that they might have life, and so live unto God! O that all who are under convictions or impressions, would seek union to Jesus, that so they may realize that they are safe ? O that all who are in union with Christ, would walk closely with God, in confidence, and filial love, that so they may enjoy peace. Gracious God, give life to every dead soul that reads these lines-give peace to every troubled heart, whose eye rests on these pages-and may both writer and readers enjoy safety in Christ, be made conformable to Christ, and so be prepared to dwell for ever with Christ, for thy mercy's sake. Amen. They are affected by hidden objects. Their secret sins, sins of the heart, which no eye sees, and which no one but God knows, affects them painfully. Secret foes, which no one else fears, for they wrestle not merely against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness in high places. Secret honours which no one else desires, for they aspire to be the sons of God, to sit with Jesus on his throne, to wear a crown of glory which fadeth not away, and to walk with the Son of God in white as his worthy ones. Secret attainments, which no one else seeks, for they seek to ascend the heights of holiness, and to sink into the depths of love. But they are most affected by the invisible One, especially with his sovereignty, holiness, and love. As seeing him, they perform duties, bear trials, and seek the things which are not scen, which are eternal. Their names are written and hidden in God's book of life. Their life is hidden with Christ in God. Their persons are covered with the shadow of God's hand. They dwell in the secret place of the Most High. They are all glorious within, and they will appear in raiment of wrought gold. Reader, are you one of God's hidden ones? Have you their secret experience of sin, and sorrow for it-of holiness, and ardent longings for itof trial, and support under it? Do you live in secret and habitual fellowship with God? The world will see your works, whether good or bad, and they will judge by them; but God looketh at the heart, and you must judge by its habitual bent. The revealing day is coming, when God's hidden ones will be brought forth to the light, how will it be with you then? Christ who is their life, will appear, and then will they also appear with him in glory, have you this prospect? 66 All will have to appear before him, but mark the difference, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt." which rank will you stand? In which? Ye saints, exult in Jesus' name, "Tis hid from every carnal eye, Satan may rage, the world annoy, The seed of grace your Lord bestows, In |