And they said one to another, Did not our hearts burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?....Luke xxiv. 32.

WHEN the fire of divine love burns in the heart, disciples cannot refrain speaking of it to each other. But how transient are the frames of God's dearest children! Too apt are the strongest believers to live upon sense and feeling, instead of faith and promises. The former may, and often doth fail in enjoyment, but the latter is founded upon the firm immutable foundation of the God of truth, therefore is sure and infallible.

These disciples were just before in dejection and despondency. The time was come for resurrection-comfort, but their Lord not appearing as they expected, they were sad. Jesus was with them, but they knew him not. He upbraids; "O fools, and slow of heart to believe all the prophets have spoken!" Then he expounds the scriptures concerning himself. Presently the fire kindles in their hearts. But it seems that it was soon past: yea, gone before they spoke of it. "DID not our hearts burn?" how sweet was it! what ravishing moments WERE those! Doubtless they could have wished them to have continued always. So they should if the master saw good. If Jesus knew it was best, every disciple should enjoy hearts ever warm, ever glowing with the heavenly flame of divine love. It verily is sweet to sense. Those who have been "baptized with the Holy Ghost, and fire" of divine love, will speak of it to the glory of Jesus, and long for more lasting enjoyment of it. This best wine is reserved for the last. Disciple, soon shalt thou drink thy fill, without danger of being intoxicated. But thou must wait the promise, as these disciples did. Thou must go to the same place where they now are, before thy thirsty soul is perfectly satisfied. May it be our present concern, that we give Jesus no cause to upbraid us for folly and unbelief, in not abiding by the prophets, promises, and his testimony! We are to live upon the truth of the word, and not upon fire and feeling within. But yet, disciples should ever be on their guard against such who deny the experienced comforts and joys of the Holy Ghost. Be not put off with dry notions, which are like the pale light of the waning moon; but administer not the animating warmth of the meridian sun. For, saith Jesus. "The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life."....John vi. 63.

If sweet be our frame,

We thank his dear name:

If bitter we pray,

Or if it remain,
And we are in pain,
We cheerfully bear,

[it there.

And Jesus so loves us, he takes it away. And bless our kind Saviour who suffers.

I find then a law, that when I would do good, evil is present with me....Rom. vii. 21.

THE heathens in their sacrifices were wont to cry out, 'Keep at a distance, O ye profane:' but they withheld not their offerings, lest the unhallowed should be the more polluted, or their sacrifices be defiled by them. For the godly consolation, edification, and estab lishment of sanctified souls, it seemed meet for the spirit of wisdom that the apostle Paul should leave his experience in this epistle to the Romans. Here he confesses himself a poor sinner, yet a holy and happy believer in Jesus. Hereby to many precious souls Jesus hath been made more infinitely precious, while sin has been viewed as more exceeding sinful, and themselves made to sink lower in humility at the feet of sovereign grace. Let those who dare advert to this blessed testimony for contrary purposes, remember the judge is at the door. Shortly they must account, if they turn the food of God's word to the poison of their own souls.

Fools make a mock of sin, while godly souls groan under the burden of in-dwelling corruption. The former's conduct is an awful proof of their state. The sorrows of the latter is a certain evidence of the spiritual life and sanctification of their souls, being born again of the Spirit; to do good is the delight of their hearts. Being living members of Jesus by faith, they love conformity to their head; being sons of God by adoption, it is their joy to love, obey, and please their heavenly Father in all things. Perfection in holiness they aspire after; entire freedom from sin they comfortably hope for: but the God of truth will not suffer his own elect to be deceived, and to think themselves what they are not, nor ever will be in the flesh, perfectly freed from sin; for the old man, with his affections and lusts, is ever near, ever present with them. "In their flesh dwells no good thing," nor ever will; they are not to expect any good from it; it lusts only to evil continually; their best thoughts are often interrupted and diverted, their most holy desires are often damped and discouraged, their best actions are seldom, if ever, free from the bold intrusion of unwelcome guests from the world, flesh, and the Devil. 'I would be wholly devoted to the Lord, saith the gracious soul; all my powers and faculties, time and talents, all that I possess and enjoy, would I wholly (as assisted) freely and willingly dedicate in love to Jesus.' Scarce the pleasing thought is conceived, but the evil of pride injects. What a rare name will this acquire me! how shall I be admired, and shine as somebody in the christian world! O this sinks the christian with shame, and causes him to hide his head with holy blushing. But let not this discourage thee. Paul abated nothing of his zeal for God's glory and doing good, because of this. Follow his steps. "Trust in the Lord and do good."....Psalm xxxvii. 3.

While the earth remaineth, seed-time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease....Gen. viii. 22.

"GODLINESS is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come."....1 Tim. iv, 8. By faith we view the declarations of Jehovah as the blessings of a father's love. The returning seasons, the revolving periods of time declare the glory of our heavenly Father; while the christian meditates upon and gratitude inspires his heart for the innumerable blessings of time, yet far nobler subjects demand the contemplation of his soul. Happy for us, when temporal blessings are enjoyed as covenant mercies, and are sanctified to us in Christ Jesus. We see and adore the sovereignty of God in appointing times and seasons. The immutability of his will is the law by which they are governed. When the fixed period shall come, all nature shall be reduced to its primitive nothing. Time shall be swallowed up in a never-ending eternity. Happy soul, who art taught the displays of grace from the images of nature, who bows to the sovereignty of love, rejoices in the covenant of grace, and rests upon the immutability of God's purposes and promises in Christ Jesus to poor sinners! Such are assured that as in nature, so in the kingdom of grace, seed-time and harvest shall not fail to God's church and people, because of "his everlasting covenant which is ordered in all things, and sure."

There is a time for the immortal seed of the word to be sown in every elect soul. This is experienced by the seed striking root in conviction of sin; by its springing up in faith, desire, and love to Jesus. And because the sun of righteousness ever lives and shines upon his members, they shall most assuredly reap an harvest of eternal glory. Chilling cold and winter's blasts may succeed the summer of love and warmth of affection. Nights of darkness, from desertion, temptation, and affliction, may follow days of peace, joy, and consolation. These various seasons and changes will pass upon and he experienced by believing souls" while the earth remaineth;" that is, so long as our earthly, sensual nature continues; but it is sentenced to dissolution. We must leave it on this side Jordan, then we shall see it no more as an enemy for ever. But in the presence of Jesus the soul shall have fulness of joy, and the body shall be raised a glorious body, to enjoy the pleasures which are at his right hand for evermore. There shall be no night of darkness, no chill of affections, no winter of distress. At present this is our sweet consolation; of every one of his beloved members Christ saith, "Because I live, ye shall live also."....John xiv. 19. In the experience of faith we know "Christ is our life;" with joy we declare, "when he shall appear, then shall we also appear with him in glory."....Col. iii. 4.

Holding faith and a good conscience; which some having put away, concerning faith, have made shipwreck,... 1 Tim. i. 19.

"HE that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved.".... Mark xiii. 13. So the master taught; so disciples believe. By perseverance in the faith, the crown shall be enjoyed. So glory perfects what grace begins. God's power is faith's confidence; God's truth is faith's assurance; faith's author and faith's finisher is Jesus. Therefore, "the righteous shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger," saith the son of faith and patience....Job xvii. 9. "The top-stone (of finished salvation) shall be brought forth with shoutings, crying grace, grace!"....Zech. iv. 7. Such are the immutable truths of the covenant of grace, the gospel of grace, and the God of grace. Whatever legal spirits do, gracious souls will ever draw gracious influences from the safety and security of grace. "Let him who thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall.".... 1 Cor. x. 12. Take heed that he be not high-minded, and trust in uncertain riches that he fancies he hath obtained by his own faithfulness, creature-ability, and natural free-will, and so be led away from trusting in the living God, who giveth all things. Many such self-sanctified saints have, and do daily fall away, and have made terrible shipwreck of their fancied faith, imaginary good conscience, self-applauding inherent righteousness, and have perished in the gulph of vain glory and presumption. Therefore see to it, disciple, that you hold fast, and contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to God's saints: such as the doctrines of eternal election to salvation, according to the everlasting covenant love of the ever glorious trinity, a finished salvation by the atonement, full justification by the perfect righteousness of Jesus, and final perseverance in holiness by the Spirit of truth. Hold them fast, not in word only, but in power, as the essential truths of Jehovah, as the very life and joy of thy soul. So shalt thou have and keep a good conscience, sprinkled from guilt by the blood of Jesus; and a good testimony of it by the Spirit of grace, through faith. Ever remember, "the answer of a good conscience towards God is by the resurrection of Jesus Christ." 1 Pet. iii. 21. Thou couldst obtain it no other way. Thou canst only enjoy it by the faith of this. Beware of putting this away. Hold it fast. Be confident of this very thing, that he who hath began a good work (of faith and love in thee) will perform it unto the day of Christ."....Philip. i. 6.

Amidst a thousand snares I stand,
Upheld and guarded by thy hand,
Thy words my fainting soul revive,
And keep my dying faith alive.

Grace will complete what grace begins,
To save from sorrows or from sins:
The work that wisdom undertakes,
Eternal mercy ne'er forsakes.

And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth....John xvii. 19.

BELIEVERS have the strongest assurance of attaining the highest degree of holiness their souls are capable of enjoying, from a reconciled God, from an interceding Mediator, and from the influences of the Holy Spirit. How precious is every work of JESUS! Hath нE shed his blood to procure our pardon? Hath HE wrought out a righteousness to justify us? What then? Doth he commit a stock of inherent grace to us, to improve and be faithful to, in order to sanctify and consecrate ourselves to God? O no! ever be aware of this notion: it leads to pride, nourishes a spirit of independence on our head, makes faith void, vacates the office of the Spirit, and is therefore to be rejected as a dangerous heresy.

But, saith Jesus, "for the sakes of all my dear members, I sanctify myself." Not to the office of priest. This was by the call of the Father....Heb. v. 4, 5....not to make holy his human nature. He was sanctified by the Spirit....Luke i. 35. But our Lord here speaks of his willingly becoming THE LAMB for a sacrifice, to take away the sin of the world. O, to this he most cheerfully set himself apart, consecrated himself to God for the sake of ALL his beloved members, according to the covenant of truth, the law of truth, and the grace of truth and to this blessed end, "that they also may be sanctified through the truth."

Through this same truth, all the members of Jesus, being yet unborn, and having neither done good or evil, were to be sanctified, set apart, or consecrated unto God. Thus " Jesus suffered without the gate, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood.".... Heb. xiii. 12. "God chose them from the beginning, through the sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth."....2 Thess. ii. 13. Through belief of what truth doth the Spirit sanctify? Through the faith of JESUS, who is the TRUTH, they are sanctified to God..... Acts xxvi. 18....are made vessels for his use and to his glory. Poor drooping believer, thou feelest thy sins and corruptions, thou groanest under a body of sin and death, and therefore sayest, I am not sanctified, I have no part nor lot in this matter.' What! believe the truth; believe in JESUS, and yet destitute of the sanctification of the Spirit? Impossible. As verily as Jesus hath consecrated thee to God by his blood, his Spirit hath sanctified thee through. faith. "Abide in me," saith the Lamb; so wilt thou enjoy more fellowship with him, and be more conformed to his image.

Did Jesus sanctify himself

Because his members were unclean?
Then all who now believe in him,

Are freed from all the curse of sin.

We're sanctified through the truth:
From hence no lie did ever spring:
But all will sure be liars found
Who dare to say, we have no sin. M