I fear I shall be accused of darkening counsel," by words without knowledge; but I find it easier to think, than write on this subject. With many thanks for your kind notice of my imperfect efforts, and sincere regards to H. P. O., and the rest of the family under whose notice these lines shall come, Believe me, to remain, March 17th, 1834. Affectionately, your's in the Lord, A COUNTRY CURATE. THOUGHTS ON THE GRACES OF THE SPIRIT. "Now abideth these three; faith, hope, and charity, but the greatest of these three is charity."-1 Cor. xiii. 13. IN Gal. v. 22. there are also other graces or fruits of the Spirit mentioned, as "love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, against which there is no law." This is a united happy company, all flowing from the great ocean of being and happiness, the great eternal God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They are of heavenly origin, and of a pure spiritual kind. There is a kind of resemblance to them in nature, and very lovely they are, but do not rise much above ground in the day in which we live; and as they all came from heaven, they are certain of returning thither again, like water that is sure to rise to its level. They generally dwell together, are fond of each other's company; and it would grieve either of them to imagine for a moment, that any of them would die in the wilderness, or be useless in their heavenly country. This tribe are given for the use of all the election of grace, purchased by God's dear Son, for all the redeemed by blood; and each saint possesses them all in the day of regeneration by the Holy Ghost. Now, believer, which of them would you like to part with in this world, or even in the next? First, take a glance at them singly. Temperance-a christian destitute of this even in this world, does not bear much resemblance to Jesus, and is a disgrace to the church of God below: intemperance, therefore, can never enter heaven, for it is positive good alone that dwells in that bright world above. Meekness-a christian should be meek and lowly, like his divine Master. "Come unto me (he said) all ye that labour and are heavy laden; take my yoke upon you; learn of me, for I am meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest to your souls." Blessed Teacher ! who ever taught like him. "God beholdeth the proud afar off, but hath respect to the lowly." There are many precious promises left on record for the meek, but not one for the opposite character. I cannot conceive you would like to imbibe the haughty spirit of king Nebuchadnezzar, when he said," Is not this the great Babylon which I have built?" But he, poor man, was soon driven out with the beasts. Goodness-we do not like that professor where no goodness is to be seen; we do not like the saying-we think he is a christian, but a bad man. It is a contradiction in terms; for a good man bringeth forth good things, while the evil man bringeth forth evil things. They are all good in heaven: there is not a bad man in all the blessed regions above: it is a good country, a good home for all the good people of our God. Gentleness-Oh what a kind Saviour is our Jesus! he will " never quench the smoking flax, nor break the bruised reed;" he feeds his flock like a shepherd, and carries the lambkins in his arms, and folds them in his bosom. And what kindness prevails among the saints, when undefiled religion is engaged in the soul! they weep with those that weep, and rejoice with those that rejoice; they are kind one to another, sympathetic, esteeming each other better than themselves. If by eating flesh, (said one) I make my brother to offend, I will eat no more while the world standeth. What gentleness was here! Think what kindness there is in the bosom of angels, the nobles of heaven; they are to be our companions, brethren in Christ, to all eternity. Surely you could not endure to be unkind towards one of them; they ward off many a blow from you, christian. May you and I imbibe more of their spirit! Long-suffering the long-suffering of the Lord is salvation. The apostle exhorts to long-suffering, "forbearing one another in love, and forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Has your brother or sister in the Lord offended you, and do you say, I cannot or will not forgive them? Shame on you: then will you let the sun go down on your wrath? Poor soul, I pity you; but do not envy your peace or happiness. Do you wish to carry that temper with you into heaven? It would mar the enjoyments of the courts of bliss to admit such a spirit. Well may the Psalmist pray, save thy people, O Lord; save them." 66 Peace-it is the peace of God which passeth all (natural) understanding; it flows from the God of peace, through the Prince of Peace, by the spirit of peace. Peace is brought into the conscience; being justified through the merits of Christ, we have peace with God, and are reconciled to him by the death of his Son. God speaketh peace to his people: the enmity of the heart is slain; it procures pardon, and yields peace. The blood of Jesus is peace-speaking blood, and precious indeed. The saints are sons of peace; they have peace among themselves, unless the prince of darkness gets among them, and causes some root of bitterness to spring up to trouble them; for the infernal foe is ever at mischief; but soon shall we be far from his noise and strife. Heaven is a kingdom of peace; the inhabitants are all peaceable, and have all joy and peace. Joy" we joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom we have received the atonement." There is no joy to the convinced soul but by the reception of the sacrifice by faith. No one can have any reception of spiritual delights, and the pleasures arising from the love of God being shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost, but those that have experienced it; they are much more refined than any thing that can be produced by nature. It is the joy of the Holy Ghost; the joy of heaven in kind; the same joy that was set before Jesus, when he "endured the cross, despised the shame thereof, and is now set down at the right hand of the Majesty on high," in full possession of that unspeakable extacy, higher than highest angels know. Have you not had at times, my brother, that degree of joy and peace, that you have scarcely known whether you have been in the body or not, and have said and felt it too?" This is none other than the house of God." "Here I would set, and gaze away, A long and everlasting day." But the joys of heaven, what tongue can express, or heart conceive. Hark, my soul! they're sweetly singing, "What a wondrous happy throng; O what shouts of hallelujah, This kind of singing is worth hearing, no discordant notes or jarring sounds, but harmony and concord universally prevail throughout the heavenly choir. But not wishing to be tedious, I shall consider faith, hope, and love (or charity) together, neither can they be separated as the graces or fruits of the Spirit in this world, or in the next (according to my belief); they may be distinguished, but cannot be divided. It is the work of the Holy Ghost to create them, and his work shall stand fast for ever and ever; his omnipotence will maintain his own work, equal to God the Father, or God the Son; but if one of the graces could die or become extinct, it follows so may all. "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable,” 1 Cor. xv. 19. We read of some who having no hope, "are without God in the world;" but of his people there is hope in their end, saith the Lord. God is the God of hope; Christ is "the hope of Israel, the Saviour thereof." If hope could cease, God would cease to be the God of hope; but he saith, " I am God, and change not." Spiritual religion is the same on earth as it is in heaven; the same in kind, though different in degree. We worship God by faith in and through a Mediator, the God-man, Christ Jesus, here on earth; and so the worship is carried on in heaven. The great Invisible dwells concealed in dazzling light, whom no eye hath seen, or can see so must be an object of faith of necessity. The perfections of Deity will perpetually and eternally shine forth in splendour divine in the Glory-man, while the ocean of bliss will lay far above the sight of created intelligence. Here it is where Satan and his crew failed; for not having the faith of the operation of God, refused to worship the God-man, whom God commanded all the angels to adore. He was hurled from his high standing, “and is now reserved in chains of darkness until the judgment of the great day." No created power, however high it may stand, can support itself, for being dependent, if not sustained by divine almighty power, will of necessity fall off. There is but one independent, nor can there be more. May I be found in Jesus, my immutable Head, to worship and adore the great Invisible by faith, and hope, and love in time, and to all eternity; for I am persuaded there is safety no where beside. It is true there is no genuine religion without love, neither is there without faith or hope; they spring from the same divine principle implanted in the soul in regeneration. It is thought by some love will take the lead in heaven, but I must have knowledge and expectation before I can love. 'Disinterested love is not what many attain to, perhaps none. Some say they shall not want faith in heaven; I believe every christian has it now; and as it is an incorruptible seed, it liveth and abideth for ever; it is like a "well of water springing up to everlasting life." The actings of faith, and hope, and love, may vary, but the principle is the same: faith and hope comprises more than believing and hoping to get safe into heaven. Faith relies on the faithfulness of God, trusts his promises, believes what he has said, depends on his character, eyes the channel of communication; hope expects the fulfilment of his promises; and patience, submissive waits love's entertainments, nor shall she wait in vain, as they will be incessantly pouring in on the souls of the beloved to all eternity. Is Jesus Christ destitute of faith and hope? the Spirit was poured out without measure on him: he was anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows. Jesus Christ is now in heaven I expect. Can we suppose that he does not believe he shall see of the travail of his soul, and be satisfied-that he has no hope the purchase of his blood shall all arrive safe in his kingdom? This is impossible. The saints in glory surely believe and hope their joys will be eternal, because God has said it: they believe and hope the period will arrive when body and soul will be reunited: they patiently wait God's time, and take a pleasure in so doing. As to love, the kingdom is filled with love to God, love to Christ, love to saints, love to angels; and not one unbeliever among them all. Feb. 11th, 1834. A. B. THE ROSE OF SHARON. When nature fails with all her charms, 1 fly to my Redeemer's arms, Each flower may perish in the breeze, Yet, still the Rose of Sharon lives, Still sheds his fragrance o'er my soul; Ne'er of his beauties me deprives, But more imparts-as moments roll. Brighton. Amid such bliss what pain dismays? And greatens, rather than grows less. THE Spiritual Magazine ; OR, SAINTS' TREASURY. << There are Three that bear record in heaven, the FATHER, the WORD, and the HOLY GHOST; and these Three are One." "Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." on me MAY, 1834. REFLECTIONS ON PROVERBS XVIII. 24. "A Friend that sticketh closer than a brother." 1 John v. 7. Jude 3. As my mind was engaged this morning in the contemplation of our most adorable Redeemer, under the character given to him by Solomon in Prov. xviii. 24. of "a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother," it occurred to me, that if the Lord the Spirit would graciously bestow "the pen of a ready writer," he might also make use of the words written, to lead some of my Lord's little ones to feel and exclaim, "how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty!" Zech. ix. 17. Thus, on the knee of prayer, I take up my pen; and first, I am led to consider this kind and faithful Friend as to his person; and here my soul is lost in the contemplation, for "he is the brightness of his (Father's) glory, and the express image of his person." The stability of his purposes, and the security of his people, are beautifully expressed, by "his feet of brass," and his "legs like pillars of marble," Rev. i. 15. and Cant. v. 15. The glory of the Godhead shines forth conspicuously in his head as the most fine gold; and his tenderness and love, passing the love of women, is displayed in his eyes, like doves' eyes fitly set; his sympathy with his suffering people is so clearly demonstrated, in his being made of a woman, made under the law, learning obedience through suffering, being tempted at all points, and consequently, knowing what "sore temptations mean," while the grand but mysterious union of the divine nature with the human, exhibits his power to triumph over sin, death, and hell, to make a perfect and efficacious atonement, to magnify the law, and procure eternal redemption; so that considering the beauty of his person, as exhibiting all that is lovely in the sight of God and sinners, my soul triumphantly exclaims, "this is my beloved, and this is my friend!" Cant. v. 16. VOL. X. No. 122.] S |