་་ demned am I, if I look at my keeping God's commandments! But when by faith I am led to the Saviour again and again, what comfort. happiness and delight this brings; for I can see that by his obedience I am made righteous; and if righteous, the law is not made for a righteous man. Now commandments is called a way hence David says, 'I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart." And what enlarges the heart but love? This love made Paul ready to die for the sake of the Lord Jesus, and it comes, not from the law, but from the fulness of Christ : hence the love of God is in Christ Jesus, and the Spirit of God sheds it abroad in our hearts; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, the Spirit of love, there is liberty or enlargement. But I come to the eleventh way, which is humility; for this is called a way also, "And what (says Micah) doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justice, love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" But there is no humility without faith. Show me an unbeliever and I will shew you a proud man, if he is a professor, for boasting is the effect of pride, which is only excluded by the law of faith. James says that God resisteth the proud, but he giveth grace unto the humble. God's children feel plenty of this pride, it opposes them in their humble walk with God, as well as in looking to the law and trying to keep it, will oppose a constant looking to the Lord Jesus Christ, who has expressly told us that he kept his Father's commandments, and abode in his love, and tells us to keep his commandments, and to abide in his love. By which I clearly understand that he obeyed every precept and commandment of God's righteous law. Now, I say, a legal spirit in us opposes. our looking to Jesus, who has obeyed all holy command, and makes us wretchedly miserable. So it is in our humble walk with God, this proud, independent spirit ever will fight and strive against us, and will work in all directions. Now let me ask you, my reader, if you are an experimentally tried soul, how do you feel when you are led forth, in faith, to believe that Jesus Christ undertook your cause, that he died for you, satisfied divine justice for you; when you are led to look on him whom you have pierced, do these things lift you up with pride, and will any thing short of these things truly humble you? This is learning of him who was meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest to souls. There is no humility when faith is not in exercise, therefore humility is the way, and faith leads us on in it. Is it so or is it not? And all humility comes from the Lord Jesus Christ, so that these ways are one. Twelfth. Another way is regenerating and renewing us; this is called a way: hence Christ speaks unto his disciples about following of him in the regeneration. What is regeneration? It is putting in us living principles of grace to oppose corruption, and there is a grace to war and fight against all corruption; it is called the new man, corruption the old man; it is called spirit, corruption is called flesh : now as soon as this takes place in us, a war begins, in a greater or less degree, which will continue until death. The flesh strives hard for the mastery, and as the good Spirit draws out grace, they oppose each other, and a sore conflict it is; hence Paul says, The flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary the one to the other, so that you cannot do the thing that ye would." There is, however, no way of putting off the old man, and putting on the new, but by faith, for you may take the whole of the new man to be love, in opposition to the old, which is enmity. And faith brings this love in: "We have believed the love which God hath to us." So that faith enables us to follow Christ in the regeneration. But this faith is not in our power, for it is the Holy Ghost that draws it forth, time after time, into lively act and exercise, and enables us to put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and walk in him. What is put ting on the new man? This is regeneration and renewing; a precious path indeed: the prophet Isaiah calls it as follows, And there shall be an high way and a way, and it shall be called the way of holiness," &c. Thirteenth. Another way, is walking in wisdom to them that are without. Now by this, I understand the fruit and effects of regeneration in an outward life and walk consistent with our profession. It is true, the hypocrite can put on the sheep's skin, but still he is declared to be a wolf: yet these characters find no difficulty in it, for not having life to feel their true state by the fall, nor light to see it, they only view outward things to be sin, such as murder, adultery, thieving, lying, &c. But God's children are led by degrees into the chambers of imagery, and see greater and greater abominations as they go on. Satan takes an advantage of this teaching, and tempts them to put in practice what they feel working within; they therefore walk in jeopardy at times for a while together, fearing they shall bring a scandal upon their professiou: they keep crying, groaning, sighing and praying to the Lord, to hold them up, to subdue their iniquities, not to let sin have dominion, but that grace may reign, and thus exercise themselves day and night, in the day of prosperity and in the night of adversity, to have a conscience void of offence towards God and man. And they never walk with greater wisdom to those that are without, than when they feel a tender fear of offending God, because he is good to them, and they see it; when they feel a love also to him and his family for it is then that love worketh no ill to a neighbour. And in both this fear and love there is a believing or December, 1843.] 66 looking to the Lord, for in his fear there is strong confidence, and at such times we feel faith working by love; but this path is attended with dangerous foes, and they will oppose it; for after this sweet influence abates, then comes a wretched crop from within, malice, murder, enmity, evil surmisings, a hard heart, unbelief, &c., and we really feel as if we were full of devils, while Satan suggests, Where is now thy God? Oh, this is a perilous path indeed, after walking in that holy fear and love, giving no offence to any ! Now Jesus Christ is this one way; hence he is made of God unto us wisdom. James speaks beautifully upon this head, when he says, the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy," iii. 17. If this wisdom, that leads a man to walk consistent with his profession towards them that are without is first pure, it is plain that such characters perform these good works by a living faith, or looking to the Lord, and no other way, for God purifies the heart by faith; and then comes this wisdom from above: "Unto the pure all things are pure." but to the unbelieving there is nothing pure, or clean, mind and conscience both being defiled. Again: this wisdom is peaceable; they follow peace with all men. But Paul tells us, there is peace in believing. Again: if this wisdom is full of mercy and good fruits, the tree must be made good, and then the fruit will also; and such will bring forth out of this treasure of grace in his heart, good things, and it will be his delight to be instrumental in gathering others to Christ. But nothing of this can be done without faith is in exercise, which is not always; hence the psalmist David believed, and therefore he spake; and Paul says, we do the same. This is the work of faith. labour of love, &c.; and though it meets with great opposition, yet charity suffereth long, and is kind; and, as before observed, faith ever will work by love. And this wisdom teaches us that we are dependent upon the Lord for every good work, word and act and we feel so much corruption working in us, that we are sure that there must be a sovereign, supernatural power, put forth every moment, if any of these things are performed. A child of God may be walking with this wisdom today, and act very uprightly, but if God withdraws and leaves him one moment, he is sure to slip and fall into something evil secretly, if not openly. That is a precious prayer of David, Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe;" and of Jabez also, 'Keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me," and God answered them both. 66 (To be Continued in our next.) THE SAINT'S SUPPORT IN THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH. THE writing of GEORGE HENRY GODDEN, after he had been sick and was recovered of his sickness. Unto his dear friend, dwelling at the lodge at Mesech, greeting; Grace be with thy spirit, beloved sister, as a proof of hy interest in the everlasting covenant of salvation, with eternal glory. 66 I was brought low, and he helped me to lie passive on his almighty hands, as clay in the hands of the potter; whereby it was my high privilege to be dumb before him, and not to open my mouth, for the Lord did it. See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no God with me; I kill, and I make alive; I wound and I heal; neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand." Bless the Lord, then, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name." It is the opinion of the medical man, that my lungs are affected, &c, if so, then a fresh mercy hath dis covered itself in my case, in that peradventure I shall shortly go hence, and be no more seen. But this is with the Lord, who only performeth the thing appointed for me, and many such things are with him; therefore praise to his most holy name, he keeps my mind in perfect peace, knowing that whenever the time doth arrive to be absent from my body, in the twinkling of an eye, I shall be present with the Lord. What a glorious prospect then opens to faith's view, to see Jesus as he is. Who can tell what that is? But this is not all: To be like him," A step higher indeed! neither may we stop here, but to be "for ever with the Lord," which is the best of all. Wherefore, comfort yourselves with these words, and edify one another even as also ye do; "for to me to live is Christ, and to die will be my everlasting gain." Therefore I feel fully assured, by the power of the Spirit, that even this cometh of the Lord of Hosts, who is wonderful in counsels, and excellent in working;" so that with all boldness, Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life or by death." And thus, "When langour and disease invade, This trembling house of clay, At least, so, "blessed be the Lord God of Israel, it is my high and distiuguishing privilege to find, this not being our rest, for it is polluted! While on the other hand, we seek a city out of sight, Zion its name, the Lord is there, it shines with everlasting light! Oh! dear Sarah, if such the sweetness of the streams, what must the fountain be? We must go and see. The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength but labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away." This was much upon my mind yesterday morning, when preaching the everlasting gospel, with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven, from "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved;" during which hallowed season, it pleased my honoured Lord to feast his church, and refresh them much with his sacred presence. The devil sent unto me the other morning, through the medium of a most kind and affectionately attached friend, to say, That if such was the precarious state of bodily health at present, I had better give up preaching altogether, as such violent exertions could not be attended with any beneficial results to my flesh. After thanking my friend, for his mistaken view of things, I told him, My times were all in the Lord's hand, and that as long as the Lord strengthens my ancle bones to stand up in his great name, and gave me the tongue of the learned to speak a word in season, I trusted to be continually at my post, proclaiming salvation, rich, free, full and everlasting, through the blood of the Lamb! "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift." Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.' Then, saith another most precious jewel in the mediatorial crown, and whom I love as my own soul, Well, but, dear Henry, could not your sermons and expositions be shorter? No; the work of the Lord must not be done by halves; especially when the express is, Whatever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might," not knowing whether this or that will prosper. At all events, of this one thing I am certain," for thongh I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of, for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel." Blessed be God, therefore, for this sweet word of message, to be 66 instant in season and out of season; "For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: so shall my word be, that goeth forth out of my mouth; it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereunto I send it.' Beloved in the Lord, pray excuse my having said so much about the least of all called saints; but being confident that both yourself and dear Ann are affectionately interested in such news from the West, my pen hath not been kept back from telling out what God hath done for my soul. Oh, magnify, then the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together, who is thus leading his people forth in the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation. But I must stop now, for the advice is, Not to stoop too much, on account of my chest. Well, well, be it so; nevertheless, one or two words more and I have done, as we sometimes say. How are all my dear brethren and sisters in communion, who worship together God in Christ at the upper room? What? some of them are removed from earth to heaven, from grace to glory, and from a body of death, into the place of" spirits of just men made perfect." Happy change for them, for "blessed are the dead which die in the Lord." Nevertheless, the thought is blessed, " and these having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise; God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.' Render my best love to each of the blessed man and woman of your number, whom I highly esteem in the Lord; and I humbly pray, that they may, with you, still go on to approve things that are excellent, being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. Grace be with all them, who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. A LETTER TO A MINISTER. My very dear Father in the Lord, GRACE and peace be multiplied" unto you. I am once more permitted to write you a few lines, being persuaded, you will be glad to hear from me, as I ever am from you; indeed, you are one whom I highly esteem for the work's sake, in this very cloudy and dark day, in which any thing may be heard from the pulpit, but the pure, unadulterated gospel of the blessed God, and that is shut out. I did hope, when I first came here, I might hear the truth; but I cannot, neither for comfort or otherwise at times I am much cast down, but through sovereign mercy, not in despair; there is a blessed "nevertheless" in God's word; the foundation of God standeth sure, amid all the vain babblings of vain, proud, puffed up men; and to that blessed word I am compelled to go. and hang and rest, as the Lord the Spirit enables me, for I am driven out from every other quarter. Is it not a mercy, that I am led to shelter in the Rock of Ages, in this very weary land of toil and trouble? And our rock is such, as against it nothing can prevail. Oh, how those precious truths are smothered up, and but skimmed over in this place! I am so angry at times, that I am almost ready to answer, and contradict these preachers publicly you never have a word of their own experience, neither can I believe they ever knew a change; for if they had, they could not but speak of it; neither can they adopt the apostolic language, of comforting others with the same comfort wherewith we ourselves are comfor ted of God: no, not a word of personal, home, heart-work; neither do they make any distinction between sheep and goats, but all blended together with do, do. Dear Sir, I an not so peculiarly tried in a certain respect, as at B-; so the Lord fits the burden to the back. Do not be silent at the throne of grace for me, that the Lord would make a way still through the wilderness, and that my soul may be fed. I often fear, lest I should get into a lukewarm, calm, dead state of soul. I have many restless nights; the enemy tells me, it will be so and so, and that my heart was never changed, and I almost inclined to believe him at times, looking inwardly, instead of out of self, to my Surety and Advocate. But such is my infirmity; yet nothing will really satisfy, but my exalted Lord: his presence, love, grace and salvation, is all I want. May the Lord the Spirit go on to bless you and your labours, as he hath done. I am always glad to see your name in "Zion's Casket," and should be most happy to have a line from you any time. From your truly well wisher, and Sister in the Lord. A QUESTION FOR ELUCIDATION. HAVING recently heard a sermon founded on James i. 25, wherein the preacher, speaking of the "law of liberty," took occasion to refer to what he termed an error of most people, with regard to St Paul's meaning in the viith of the Romans, 14th to the 24rd verses. The statement made, was, That the apostle did not mean himself in those verses, otherwise there would be an evident contradiction in the following chapter; or could he mean a man that was brought under" the law of liber |