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And now, little children, abide in him; that when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming....1 John ii. 28.

'A BURNT child dreads the fire:' so a soul who has fallen into any snare of the enemy, when rescued by grace, fears the same evil and wisely cautions his brethren against it. I fell, do you beware. So it was even with the beloved disciple John. He did not abide by Jesus in the day of trial; but, with the rest of his disciples, forsook him and fled. But who can tell the sorrow of his heart? who can paint the distress of his mind and the shame of his face, when Jesus appeared to them, and John said, "It is the Lord?"....John xxi. 7.

And is Jesus gone but for a season? will he assuredly come again and take all his little children home? and do we expect his appearance? do we believe we shall shortly see him in the glory of his Father and of his holy angels? What constancy and courage should this inspire us with! how ought christian soldiers to abide in Jesus the captain of their salvation; abide in a steady profession of his name; in a firm reliance upon his death and atonement; in a confident hope of being righteous in him; "accepted in him the beloved;" in an uninterrupted obedience to his will, and an earnest endeavour to follow his example! and above all, to abide in child-like dependence upon him, loving to be near him, conversing freely with him, pouring out our hearts before him, simply telling him of our weakness and dangers, our troubles and sorrows, and praying him to keep us from falling. This is sweet and pleasant, thus always to abide in the faith of our Lord. The more we thus delight ourselves in the Lord, the more we grow dead to all things beside him. But, soul, be assured that conforming to a vain world, complying with its sinful customs, gratifying the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life; as this is not abiding in the teachings of Jesus, it will weaken thy confidence in him, and bring shame upon thy soul before him. Thou findest it so even now, when thou dost approach unto his throne of grace. How often, from thy foolish forsaking thy master and his ways, have thy hands been made to hang down, thy knees feeble, thy heart faint! O how hath holy boldness in Jesus forsaken thee, and shame and doubts and fears overspread thee! O then if thou hast any regard for the glory of thy Lord, any concern for thy present peace and joy, study and pray to live and walk so as to enjoy the presence of thy Saviour.

I cannot bear thy absence, Lord;
My life expires if thou depart ;
Be thou, my heart, still near my God,
And thou, my God, be near my heart.

I was not born for earth or sin,
Nor can I live on things so vile;
Yet will I stay my Father's time,
And hope and wait for heav'n awhile.

And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night to him, though he bear long with them?....Luke xviii. 7. .

THIS question implies the strongest assertion. Thus our Lord concludes a parable he had delivered to this end, "that men ought always to pray and not to faint." Our Saviour well knew how ready his disciples' hands are to hang down and their hearts to grow languid and faint, so as to be remiss in this duty. Therefore his loving heart would stir up and encourage them to a constant perseverance in prayer; assuring them that God's ears are ever open to their cry, and his omnipotent arm would most certainly avenge the enemies of his own elect, and surely deliver them from all their troubles. Hath the Lord loved his people with an everlasting love? hath he chosen them in Christ Jesus from before the foundation of the world? hath he given them the precious faith of his own elect, and the cry of his children, Abba, Father? and shall an unjust judge deliver one whom he cares not for, and the just and holy Lord leave any of his beloved little ones to the power of any adversary? O, believer, never indulge such an hard thought of thy heavenly Father! Doth sin make thee cry? satan cause thee to call? the world excite thee to complain? Blessed be God for a throne of grace to go to, and an all-powerful King to protect and conquer for us. Duty is thine; be careful not to neglect it. Deliverance is the Lord's; be assured in his own time, way and manner, thou shalt receive it. Remember, one moment before thy Lord's time would not be thy mercy.

Thy prayers, however frequent or fervent, do not influence the Lord to elect and chuse thee to salvation. No; but the cry of a heart believing in Jesus is an evidence of election. Therefore thou art in Christ always acceptable to God; so are thy prayers through him: "The prayer of the upright is his delight."....Prov. xv. 8. Though thy comfort may be often damped through the coldness and deadness of thy prayers; yet art thou to persevere conscientiously in thy duty. Why? To profess thy subjection to the Lord: "He is thy Lord, worship thou him."....Psalm xlvii. 11. Therefore prefer a cold prayer before none at all. Better to bring words that want a soul, than neglect to bring our bodies which have souls in them: "Take with you words."....Hos. xiv. 2....and say, if you cannot take the spirit and pray. This is the only foundation of hope of being heard, not our frames in duty; but the prevalency of Christ's intercession for us before the throne, and the faithful promises of God in him by the word and Spirit of truth. "Continue in prayer."... Col. iv. 2.

Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life; and few there be that find it....Matt. vii. 14.

So Jesus taught. But teachers in every age have taught a broad way and wide gate. The greatest part of professors have readily received their doctrine. This is a melancholy truth. There fore Jesus adds, "Beware of false prophets." It is the sole prerogative of the king of saints to open a gate and make a way to his own kingdom. Glory to our God, who in sovereign grace and everlasting love hath done this. The gospel proclaims, FREE

WELCOME: COME Who WILL: ENTER FREELY, WITHOUT MONEY AND WITHOUT PRICE. Jesus is the strait gate of God's love, the only gate of righteousness: by him we enter with access to God, stand perfectly justified and graciously accepted before him. Jesust is the narrow way. By the blood of his cross he hath made peace, atoned for the sins of transgressors by one offering. Hence called strait and narrow, because the only way to life is by ONE man, ONE righteousness, ONE atonement. Thus it is a gate of love: a way of grace. Too strait a gate for blind men to see: too narrow a way for proud, natural men to submit to walk in. Hence "few there be that find it." But it is very awful to think of, whoever takes any other way or aims to enter by any other gate, goeth in the broad road to everlasting destruction. His boldness and confidence is no proof that he is right; but a melancholy sign that he is blind and deceived. For "the way of a fool is right in his own eyes."....Prov. xii. 15. And there is a way which seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death."....Prov. xiv. 12. But whoever enters the kingdom by Jesus, feeds in the pastures of grace, truth and love; he drinks of the river of consolation, and shall be nourished up to eternal life. Like a person who takes up his resi dence for life, in a more delightful kingdom than he was born in: so the believer is conformed to the laws, speaks the language, of the New-Jerusalem, and "hates the garment spotted with the flesh." Thus the Holy Spirit leads the blind by the way they knew not, even the right way to peace, love, holiness, happiness, eternal life and salvation. Thus to a "little flock it is the Father's good pleasure to give the kingdom." By his word he directs them: by his Spirit he guides them: by his love he comforts them: by afflictions he profits them: by conviction of sin he humbles them: by the pros pects of hope he animates them. All this is to make them walk steadily in Christ, who is THE WAY.

Christ is the sure foundation stone,

Which God in Zion lays,
To build our heav'nly hopes upon,
And his eternal praise.

Chosen of God, to sinners dear,

And saints adore the name ;--
They trust their whole salvation here,
Nor shall they suffer shame.

The Lord is in his holy temple: Let all the earth keep silence before him....Hab. ii. 20.

Here Jeho

WHAT God's people of old were favored with in type and figure, we now enjoy in reality and substance. The temple of old was an eminent type of the body of Jesus. In it Jehovah made his presence known. Here troubled consciences sought relief. The mercy-seat was set up for poor sinners to approach to. vah was consulted. From hence he spoke in grace and love to his people, and silenced every guilty fear. Thus God was in his holy temple: thus God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself. Was this ministration glorious in the eyes of spiritual worshippers? How doth ours exceed in glory! The fulness of the godhead dwelt bodily in Jesus. This is the temple in which God delights to dwell. Hence grace is dispensed, peace communicated, mercy bestowed, life and salvation freely given.

Here, christian, believe and adore; behold and wonder; look and admire; admire and love! Jesus is the Lord thy God, worship thou him....Hear the gracious words that are spoken from this living temple. KEEP SILENCE, at the last and most joyful words Jesus spoke, IT IS FINISHED: my Father's work is done, my dear member's salvation is completed. Hear this with joy, meditate on it with love, let the voice of pride and self-righteousness be exalted no more, hear the voice of Jesus only. So shall words of legal terror and wrath be silenced: conscience shall be at peace: the murmuring cry, and the lustful desires of the flesh shall cease. Thus attend the voice of Jesus. Silence every carnal cavil: every lofty word and proud imagination, which exalt themselves against him.

Doth the Lord thus speak in and from his temple to his children? Yea more, he dwells in them. Each sanctified member of Jesus is also called his holy temple....1 Cor. iii. 17. What exalted honor are believers called to! "Your bodies are the temples of the Holy Ghost!"....chap. vi. 19. Most powerful motive to holiness! Be attentive to the voice of Jesus within. The temple of thy heart is the throne of his residence. Here he speaketh comfort to the troubled conscience: like as Jesus spoke to the tempestuous sea, (6 PEACE, be still." And as he called to his affrighted disciples, "It is I, be not afraid:" so to the listening soul, who saith, "I will watch to hear what he will say"....to every waiting heart at his feet, Jesus will speak silence to the clamours of the law, the commotions of sin, and the accusations of satan.

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Send comforts down from thy right And in thy temple let us see

While we pass thro' this barren land. A glimpse of love, a glimpse of thee.

He will guide you into all truth....John xvi. 13.

OUR Lord here gives his disciples a farther exhibition of the covenant of grace, and a fuller display of the grace of the covenant. Here is a full proof of the personality of the Holy Spirit, and also of his sovereignty in his operations and influences upon his members. Christ did not tell his apostles, as some ignorantly talk," If ye will but be yielding and tractable, and suffer my Spirit to lead you, ye shall enjoy his kind assistance." No: this were to degrade the glory of this divine agent, to exalt the pride of the creature, and render the gracious guidance of the Spirit dependent upon the will of the flesh. As though instead of being the cause of life, he was to be only a mere auxiliary to aid and assist man's pious motions and good dispositions. Far be such thoughts from our hearts. All glory to this heavenly paraclete," he will work, and who shall let him?" He WILL GUIDE into the whole truth of covenant-love and salvation by Jesus Christ. This is the adorable person the Spirit is to testify of, and to glorify in the sight, heart and affections of his people. The apostles themselves were at this time in much ignorance about, and strong prejudices against many things concerning Jesus. As to the nature of his kingdom, they still dreamed of the grandeur of a temporal one. Their prejudices were great in favor of their own nation, and they thought "God was a respecter of persons:" of Jews above Gentiles; and were very hardly brought to give up the types and shadows, particularly the sign of the covenant-circumcision, as not fully seeing that Jesus the substance was really come, who is essentially THE TRUTH itself.

There is no hope for poor guilty sinners but in the truth, For when the Lord declares his name to Moses, this is part of it, "I will

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by no means clear the GUILTY,"....Exod. xxxiv. 7. This must be very distressing to sensible sinners. I know one who has found it so, My poor soul has been sadly distressed with this text. But the Spirit teaches that the truth of God is inviolably preserved, while the guilty. sinner is perfectly saved in the Lord Jesus, with an everlasting salvation. Jesus stood as our guilty substitute. The Lord laid all our iniquities upon him. He suffered as our surety all the wrath due to our transgressions, "and with his stripes we are healed."....Isa, liii. 5. The reputed guilty died. The real guilty become guiltless. "His blood cleanseth them from all sin,"....1 John i. 7. "God is just while he is the justifier of the ungodly sinner who believes in Jesus,"....Rom. iii. 26. Glory to the condescending Lord, who leads us out of the destructive paths of natural pride, self-will, and selfrighteousness," and gives us repentance to the acknowledging of the truth,”......2 Tim. ii. 25...." that we may be sanctified through the truth."....John xvii. 17.

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