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the Divine Trinity is so great, that each person has taken an equal share in the grand economy of grace.

As I would not be tedious, I proceed to notice its properties, which are as follows:

1. It is inconceivable. Angels cannot fathom its mighty depths. If those pure spirits fail in the attempt, we need not wonder that man, whose powers are bounded by the fens of mortality, should be unable to explore it: the apostle says, "it passeth knowledge," Eph. iii. 19. The greatest saint knows but little of it comparatively speaking; "for eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him," 1 Cor. ii. 9.

2. It is great. Its greatness appears in its being an unspeakable gift, "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son." As sovereignty appears in the choice it has made, the chief of sinners-a bloody Manasseh-a backsliding David-a persecuting Saul -a filthy Magdalene-and such were you and I: Oh how great the grace that has made us to differ from our former selves: "God who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he hath loved us, hath quickened us together with Christ." Every believer has cause to say with an inspired apostle," Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God." We, whose transgressions cry aloud for vengeance, that we should be chosen, redeemed, justified, sanctified, pardoned, and adopted into the family of God, is love unparalleled.

3. It is free. I will love them freely, is the declaration of our covenant God, Hosea xiv. 4. That there could be nothing in the creature to excite divine attention is obvious, for it was fixed upon the heirs of grace before time began, consequently before they were born, or had done either good or evil; it must therefore be unmerited and free. The blessings resulting therefrom are as follows: a free salvation, a free justification, Rom. v. 16. and a free pardon; hence, these blessings are without money, and without price, Isa. lv. 1. Rev. xxi. 6. Oh! my friends, here is encouragement for Sion's poor! May the Lord enable you and I to be ever coming to and receiving from his divine fulness.

4. It is everlasting. It knows no change-it is like its Divine Author, "the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever:" hence it is called everlasting, Jer. xxxi. 3. Though the saints suffer many privations, they never shall, yea, they never can be deprived of this. God, as a merciful Father, chastises them for their folly, but loves them the same when he afflicts, as at other times; through all the varied scenes of life, he rests in his love. "Having loved his own which are in the world, he loveth them to the end:" not merely to the end of their lives, nor to the end of time, but through the countless ages of eternity. What rich consolation does this afford the mourning believer, when by faith he can realize the sacred sweetness of that precious promise-"The mountains shall depart, and VOL. VII.-No. 81.

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the hills be removed, but my loving-kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee." Mourning souls, to the glory of God, and to thy comfort be it spoken, it is not all the powers of earth and hell shall ever be able to separate thy soul from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus. See Rom. viii. 35 to 39. Though thou canst not receive this for thyself at all times, yet remember it ever stands firm as the throne of heaven.

5. The love of God is constraining. The apostle says, "the love of Christ constraineth us," 2 Cor. v. 14. It constrains us to love God, to serve him, to love his saints, to delight in his ordinances, and to follow him through tribulation's thorny paths.

6. It is heart-breaking. It breaks the rocky heart, and causes the tears of repentance to flow, and when richly shed abroad in the heart, gives a sense of divine goodness, and enables its possessor to say— Thy mercy is more than a match for my heart, Which wonders to feel its own hardness depart; Dissolv'd by thy goodness I fall to the ground, And weep to the praise of the mercy I found."

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It was this that broke the heart of a backsliding Peter, and caused him to weep bitterly, for having thrice denied his Lord, Matt. xxi. 75. Now may the good will of him that dwelt in the bush, dwell in our hearts by faith, that we may know something of the love of Christ, in the pardon of sin, in the enjoyment of sweet peace, in preserving us through all the storms of life, and landing us safe on Canaan's peaceful shores, where may we ever join ransomed millions to sing, “unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, to him be all the glory given." Amen and amen. A COUNTRY MINISTER.

April, 1830.

(For the Spiritual Magazine.)

THE CHOICE EXPERIENCE OF MRS. REBECCA COMBE, Eldest Daughter of the late Rev. DAVID CLARKSON, delivered by her on her admission into fellowship with the Church, late under the care of the late Rev. THOMAS GOUGE.

IN giving an account of the dealings of God with my soul, I desire truly and sincerely to repeat the state of my case; I am sensible it will be in much weakness, but I hope my end is, that God may have the glory of his own work, which he hath wrought on so mean and unworthy a creature as myself.

I had the advantage and invaluable blessing of a religious education, both my parents being eminent for wisdom and grace. Under the instructions of my good mother, I had early and frequent convictions; though these impressions lasted not long, for I wore them off, either by a formal engaging in some religious duties, or else by running into such diversions as were suited to my childhood. But

my convictions being renewed as I grew up, and it being impressed on my mind, that this way of performing duties by fits and starts, merely to quiet an accusing conscience, would not satisfy the desires of an immortal soul, capable of higher enjoyments than I took up with; this put me on serious thoughtfulness what method to pursue, in order to bind myself to a more stated performance of those duties which I was convinced the Lord required of me.

Accordingly, I made a most solemn resolution to address myself to God by prayer, both morning and evening, and never, on any occasion whatever, to neglect it, calling the Lord to witness against me if I broke this solemn engagement. But, alas! I soon saw the vanity of my own resolutions, for as I was only found in the performance of duty through fear, and as a task, and having once omitted it at the set time, I concluded my promise was now broke, and from that time continued in a total neglect of prayer, till it pleased the Almighty Spirit to return with his powerful operations, and set my sins in order before me. Then my unsuitable carriage under former convictions, together with my breaking the most solemn engagements to the Lord wounded me deep. Indeed, I was tempted to conclude I had sinned the unpardonable sin, and should never be forgiven.

Yet, in my greatest distress and anguish of spirit, I could not give up all hope, having some views of the free and sovereign grace of God, as extended to the vilest and worst of sinners, though I could not take the comfort of it to myself. My sins appeared exceeding sinful. I even loathed and abhorred myself on account of them, and was continually begging a deeper sense and greater degree of. humiliation. I thought I could have been content, yea, I was desirous to be filled with the utmost horror and terror of which I was capable, if this might be a means of bringing me to that degree of sorrow which I apprehended the Lord expected from so vile a creature. The heinous nature of my sins, and their offensiveness to the pure eyes of his holiness was ever before me, insomuch that I thought I could not be too deeply wounded, or feel troubled enough.

This put me on a constant and restless application to God through Christ, from whom alone I now saw all my help come. I had tried the utmost I could do, and found it left me miserably short of what the law required and I wanted. I was convinced that an expectation of some worthiness in myself, as the condition of my acceptance before God, was that which had kept me so long from Christ and the free promises of the gospel; and therefore, as enabled, I went to the Lord, and pleaded those absolute promises of his word, which are made freely to sinners in his Son, without the least qualification to be found in me. I was enabled to urge those encouraging words, Rev. xxii. 17. "Let him that is athirst come, and whosoever will let him take the water of life freely." Also Isa. lv. 1. "Without money and without price;" with many more of the like nature, which would be too tedious to mention. I desired to come to Christ, unworthy as

I was, and cast my soul entirely upon him, for I clearly saw that all I had heretofore done profited me nothing, since my very prayers, considered as a sinner, were an abomination to the Lord. There was nothing left therefore for me to take the least comfort and encouragement from, but the free grace of God in Christ Jesus, which I continued to plead with much earnestness, and found my soul enlarged beyond whatever I had experienced before.

Soon after, I providentially opened a manuscript of my father's, and cast my eye upon that part of it, where he was shewing, what pleas a sensible sinner might make use of in prayer. Many things were mentioned which were very reviving. I was miserable, and that might be a plea. I might also plead his own mercy, the suitableness, the largeness, and the freeness of his mercy. I might plead my own inability to believe, of which I was very sensible. I might also plead the will of God, for he commands sinners to believe, and is highly dishonoured by unbelief. I might likewise plead the descent of faith, it is the gift of God, and the nature of this gift, which is free. Yea, I might plead the examples of others who have obtained this gift, and that against the greatest unlikelihoods and improbabilities that might be. I might and could plead further, my willingness to submit to any thing, so that I might but find this favour with the Lord. Moreover, I might plead Christ's prayer, and his compassions-the work of his Spirit already begun;-that regard which the Lord shews to irrational creatures; he hears their cries, and will he shut out the cries of a poor perishing sinner?-In short, I might plead my necessity and extreme need of faith, a sense of which was deeply impressed on my soul.

On reading these pleas I found great relief, yea, they were to me as a voice from heaven, saying, " This is the way, walk ye in it. I was enabled to go and act faith upon a Redeemer, and could give up my all to him, and trust in him alone for all. I was now convinced by his Spirit, that he would work in me what was well pleasing and acceptable to God, and that he required nothing of me but what his free rich grace would bestow upon me. Now was Christ exceeding precious to my soul, and I longed for clearer discoveries of him, both in his person and offices, as Prophet, Priest, and King.

And, O how did I admire his condescending love and grace to such a poor, wretched, worthless creature as myself! I was greatly delighted in frequent acts of resignation to him, desiring that every faculty of my soul might be brought into an entire obedience, and could part with every offensive thing, and would not have spared so much as one darling lust, but was ready to bring it forth and slay it before him. In short, I could now perceive a change wrought in my whole soul. I now delighted in what before was my greatest burthen, and found that most burthensome in which I before most delighted. I went on pleasantly in duty; my meditation on him was sweet, and my heart much enlarged in admiring his inexpressi

ble love and grace, so free and sovereign, to so wretched a creature, which even filled my soul with wonder and love.

But this delightful frame did not long continue, for I was soon surprised with swarms of vain thoughts, which appeared in my most solemn approaches to God, and such violent hurries of temptation, as greatly staggered my faith, which was weak. Hereupon I was ready to give up all, and to conclude I had mocked God, and cheated my own soul; that these wandering thoughts, and this unfixedness of mind in duty, could never consist with a sincere love to the things of God. I thought my heart had been fixed, but O! how exceeding deceitful did I then find it! which greatly distressed me, and made me conclude my sins were rather increased than mortified, insomuch that I was ready to cry out, "O wretched creature that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death!" and, in consideration of the power and prevalency of indwelling corruptions, and daily temptations which I had to grapple with, I was ready to say, " I shall one day fall by the hands of these enemies."

But these discouragements were fully removed by reading some of my father's writings, where it was observed, that a person had no reason to conclude his sins were more increased, merely because they appeared more, and became more troublesome, since this arose from the opposition they now met with, from that principle of grace which now was implanted. Hence I learned, that before the flesh reigned quietly in me, and therefore I perceived not the lusts thereof, but now all the powers and faculties of my soul were engaged against them, they gave me the greatest disturbance, and struggled more and more. Also these words were impressed on my mind with an efficacious power, 2 Cor. xii. 9. " My grace is sufficient for thee," which gave me peace in believing that it should be to me according to his word.

Thus, after many conflicts, comforts, and supports, I determined to give myself up to some church, that I might partake of the Lord's supper, and have my faith confirmed in the blood of that everlasting covenant which I hoped the Lord had made with me, since he had given me his Spirit as the earnest thereof. I accordingly was joined to a church, and in coming to this ordinance found great delight: my faith was strengthened and my love increased from that sweet communion I then enjoyed with my Lord by his blessed Spirit, who often filled me with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Thus I walked under the sweet and comfortable sense of his love; and whilst in the way of my duty, I was thus indulged with such sights of the Redeemer's glory, and such a taste of his grace, I frequently wished that I might never more go back to the world again.

But after all these manifestations (O wretched creature!) God in his providence called me more into the world by changing my condition. This new relation brought new affections and new temptations, which, being too much yielded to, insensibly prevailed, and

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