which shineth more and more to the perfect day. The Christian servant may never be indolent in the service of his master, The Christian warrior may never relax his efforts in the cause of his prince. The Christian child may never grow lukewarm in his affections toward his heavenly Father. Believers must add to their faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance, and to temperance patience, and to patience godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity; for if these things are in us and abound, they make us that we shall be neither barren nor unfruitful, in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 3. Cheerful. The Christian's walk, the apostle directs to be with thanksgiving.' This is the voice of happiness, proceeding from a sense of miseries escaped, and of mercies enjoyed. Believers who walk in Christ, will thank him for both these. They will thus go on their way rejoicing in him. The further they advance in their walk, the more they will rejoice, because the more they experience of the sweetness of grace. Its ways are pleasantness, and its paths peace. Believers ought to display this, avoiding discontent, praising God, and acknowledging his unmerited goodness. Of Such are some of the particular views and exercises of mind, which are required in order that we may be presented perfect in Christ Jesus. these the Gospel alone gives us information, inasmuch as it reveals Christ, the hope of glory, who is the sum and substance of all correct preaching. In the faith and hope of this Gospel, it is the duty of , all believers to persevere, giving thanks unto God for the grace wherein they stand. And as this Gospel approves itself to our understanding and Vol. IV.-No. XII. 4 N our hearts, we ought all to seek to feel its power, and live according to its directions, that we may be qualified for eternal happiness. FROM THE CHRISTIAN GUARDIAN. Letter from the late Rev. John Newton, to a Now for a letter of thanks to dear Miss for her favour of the 10th July, and for the late trouble I have given her. I have no need to give a direct answer to what you have written this time, as it turns upon the subject of a letter to Mr. part of which you say you have transcribed for your own use. I may think myself happy if I can write any thing that the Lord is pleased to make useful to you; and I have no reason to value myself upon it, while I find I am so poorly able to follow myself the advice I can offer to others. Indeed, the difference between my judgment and my sensible experience, between what perhaps some of my partial friends think I am, and what I really feel myself to be before the Lord, the searcher of hearts, is so great, that it is a great mercy Satan has not been able to persuade me, that my preaching and writing are no more than imitation and invention; and that I am as much a Christian by what I say, as Garrick is Richard III. by personating that character upon the stage. But the Lord is gracious to me when I hear other people speak of their doubts and fears, it appears to me that, were it right for any person to give way to doubts, who feels himself a sinner, and believes that Jesus is able to save, there can be no one who has stronger causes for doubting than myself. And yet somehow I hardly know what it is to doubt, either of my acceptance, or of my perseverance; not because I have attainments to rest in, for I am still vile and inconsistent; not because I have enjoyed such striking manifestations of the Lord's favour, and such spiritual consolations as ought to exclude all hesitation, for in these things Į am kept very short. But on what side of my experience can my doubts properly fix? I feel and own myself a sinner, certainly I cannot be mistaken in this point. I read that Jesus is the Saviour of sinners, and from the views I have of him, as his person, offices, sufferings, and glory are described in the Bible, I cannot doubt of his ability to save to the uttermost. Were it possible I could be deceived in this article, I must ascribe the deception to the Scripture, for I am sure I do not think more highly of his power and sufficiency than the Scripture warrants me. Rather my conceptions of him are very faint and narrow, compared to what they ought to be, if the Bible is to be credited. Shall I then doubt of his willingness? Methinks, after what he has repeatedly said upon this point, it would be less dishonourable to him, to question his power, than his readiness, to save. If he is the truth, shall I dare to contradict his solemn reiterated assurances, that whosoever cometh to him he will in no wise cast out? Nor can I well doubt, that he has so far subdued my natural prejudices against him, as to make me willing to come to him. For I long stood it out against his invitations, and disdained the thought of being indebted to him for salvation; and I should have done so to my latest breath, had he not made me willing in the day of his power. How can I doubt my own feelings? I have been self-condemned, cast off from every shadow of hope but what I found in his promise. I have been on the point of perishing, and, like the man-slayer with the avenger of blood at his heels, I fled for refuge. I know as well as that I am now writing, that there was a time, yea, there have been many times, when I have been encouraged and enabled to commit my soul, my all, into his hands. And, therefore, if he is able to save, and if his word is to be trusted, it seems I must be safe. The number or the magnitude of my sins, and the discoveries I have daily made of new evils in my heart, might indeed condemn me a thousand times over, if I was to be judged by the law. But they have nothing to do, as I apprehend, with the Gospel; they only prove that my disease is very inveterate, which is no bar to my healing, if the Physician I apply to, is infallible and almighty, and determined not to cast out a single patient that seeks his help. This is all I have to say for myself. He has given me a desire of being saved in his own way. The knowledge of his person, work, and promise, constitute a three-fold cord, (not easily broken,) which he himself threw out to me, and put into my hands, when I was on the point of perishing in the great waters of guilt and distress. If after all this I should be lost, would it not be a dishonour to his veracity? And how would Satan triumph, not only over me, but over him likewise, could he say, "Now I have one in my power who trusted in Jesus for salvation, and ventured his all upon his word, but finds himself disappointed." No, it cannot be. Till the enemy can prove that Jesus did not die, or did not rise from the dead, or that he said more than he meant, or more than he was able to perform, I have good reason to hold fast my confidence. Mrs. Newton has been well for about a fortnight, but had some return of her fever and head-ache yesterday to-day she is better again, but weakened. I see she has just so much health as the Lord sees fit. When he removes his hand, she is presently well; when he touches her frame again, she droops. He afflicts us gently, He relieves us frequently, but He holds the rod over us. O! for grace to praise him and trust him in all changes. Pray for us, that every dispensation may be sanctified. My thoughts are often at BIf I had wings, you would often see me. Here every thing is mixed. If we meet with pleasure, we soon feel pain in parting: but we live upon the confines of a better world. That will be a meeting indeed, when we stand before the throne, and shall for ever rejoice in his sight. At present we have our several paths to walk in; something to do, something to suffer for him; and when our measure of services and suffering is finished, he will remove us. See-! he looks down with compassion upon us; hear his gracious words, "Fear none of these things, be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." Is not this enough to animate us? Lord increase our faith, and we will follow thee, and leave all events in thy hand; only let us know and feel that thine eye is upon us, thine arm underneath us, and thine ear open to our prayers. I am, with sincerity, dear Miss Your most affectionate and obliged servant, Olney, 16th July, 1778, |