While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen, are temporal; but the things which are not seen, are eternal....2 Cor. iv. 18.

THE faith of the gospel stamps vanity upon the righteousness, glory, and happiness of every object short of Jesus. When the soul beholds the King in his glory, it pours contempt upon all things beside; all the transient objects of time and sense die in esteem while the crucified Saviour is in view; this is our greatest gain, our chiefest glory. Far, infinitely beyond all the reasonings of vain philosophy, is the christian's sight by faith, to reconcile his mind to afflictions, endure with patience under, and give victory over them, Thus Moses "endured, seeing him who is invisible."....Heb. xi. 27. Though the eye of nature hath not seen, nor the uncircumcised ear hath heard, nor can the carnal heart conceive the spiritual things of God's covenant, Jesus's incarnation, and the Spirits revelation; yet the enlightened, heaven-born soul, sees these things in open vision by the eye of faith; to look at them is his chief delight and joy, to obtain clearer views of them his daily study, to converse and be more familiar with them is his chief happiness, his heaven begun on earth; a strange mystery to his natural self and to the carnal world, is the believing soul; to love and converse with an unseen Saviour, to look to invisible objects, to derive all happiness from things that are not seen; no marvel that there should be so great fight of opposition from fallen nature and carnal reason against such a life.

Soul, ever remember with humility and thankfulness, our dear Saviour saith, "unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God."....Mark iv. 11. "These things are hid from the wise and prudent." O disciple, whilst thou dost adore the Father's love, dost rejoice in the Son's grace, remember thou art wholly indebted for all this rich discovery to the divine Spirit; give him. equal glory; grieve not the Spirit, who is the glorifier of Jesus, by turning thine eyes to any other object for righteousness, peace, and happiness. Is Christ thine all? Are the unseen things of his kingdom thy portion? Be a chaste virgin to thy Lord. "Where thy treasure is, there let thy heart be also." Happy for thee to find with Paul, "I die daily." I am dying to the world while living in it; I find and feel many pains and disorders in my frail body as sure forebodings of hastening dissolution; I know perfectly that the day of the Lord is coming, that each breath I draw brings nearer this solemn advent. What then should I look to? Upon what should my Affections be placed? Blessed be God for revealing these eternal "Be careful for nothing," &c....Phil. iv. 6.

ngs as our portion.

Perfect, as pertaining to the conscience....Heb. ix. 9.

CONSCIENCE, or an inward perception of divine truth, is not common to all men; when sin is charged upon it, it perceives its guilt, knows and feels misery, and is filled with wrath. This is the peculiar glory and excellency of the gospel, it brings relief to the conscience. We say, my mind to me a kingdom is; for we feel in our minds the kingdom of Jesus. We enjoy somewhat more in Jesus than outward show and shadow; even inward, substantial comforts. What was that lord the better for the miraculous plenty in Samaria, when for his unbelief, Elisha told him, "thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat of it?"....2 Kings vii. 19. The truths of Jesus do not merely amuse our heads and engage our tongues, but we feed on them in our consciences. Like the patriarchs....Heb. xi...." We embrace them" as the very joy of our souls. The blood of Christ, through the eternal Spirit, sprinkles our hearts from an evil or guilty conscience, brings pardon and peace of mind to our troubled conscience, cleansing to our defiled conscience, and "by the resurrection of Jesus, we have the answer of a good conscience towards God,"........1 Pet. iii. 21. Herein we glory in being perfectionists; nothing but this can make us "perfect pertaining to the conscience;" for the law maketh nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope does; Jesus is our hope; by him we draw nigh'to God; in his blood we perceive and know by faith we have a perfect atonement and perfect cleansing from all our sins, perfect deliverance from the condemnation of the law; in his righteousness we are perfectly accepted and justified before God; this is our wedding garment; this we have, being married to the Lamb; we dare not look to any thing else for perfection; if we do, we feel the smart of it; our conscience is defiled. That we may have and keep a good conscience, purged from dead works to serve the living God, we exercise our minds on Jesus; so we rejoice in Jesus, and walk with him by faith. Conscience is the best friend or the worst enemy; a sense of guilt makes it our worst enemy; Jesus makes it our best friend. To maintain peace and perfection of conscience, observe first, the moment the guilt of sin is felt, confess it to Jesus, and pray him to take it away. Secondly, seek not that from the law of works which can only be found in the gospel of grace, perfect salvation. Thirdly, look not for that in yourselves which is only in Jesus, perfect righteousness. Fourthly, expect not that in this world which can only be enjoyed in the next, perfect freedom from all sin. "Jesus is our rock, his work is perfect."....Deut. xxxii. 4.

1

My God shall supply all your need, according to his riches in glory, by Christ Jesus....Phil. iv. 19.

PAUL, though an eminent saint, and a great apostle, was yet a man of like passions, a poor sinner, even as others. Yet, with what amazing boldness and confidence he speaks of what his God shall do! Though he had never been admitted into the secret counsels of the glorious trinity; yet the holy Spirit had well instructed him, in the covenant transactions of Jehovah. He well knew the nature of the everlasting covenant: that it was "ordered in all things" in infinite wisdom and eternal love: that all the graces and blessings contained in it, are sure to all the heirs of promise. As soon might a God of truth prove false, a God of faithfulness be unjust, as any one of his promises in Jesus to his people fail.

Such is the security of the covenant; such the confidence of faith. God the Father is the fountain; the Son the treasury; and the Spirit the dispenser of all grace. Believers' needs are God's concerns. They shall have a rich supply for all their wants. The value of their supplies, are enhanced to the highest degree. Not only riches, but riches in glory; glorious riches. They receive all from glory, and all comes to them through the glorified man Jesus Christ He is their "Friend who loveth at all times: their brother who was born for adversity." In the hour of our distresses and in the time of our need, we too often forget that we have such a God and Saviour to trust in and call upon. Instead of looking to a throne of grace, we pore over our dunghill of corruptions; here we are sure to find nothing but misery, poverty, and sin. Is there such an inexhaustible fund of riches in Christ Jesus? Is it for the poor and needy? Dishonorable thought of Jesus, ever to imagine he is an unconcerned spectator of our wants, or that he will withhold when 'we need. Nay, but he "knows how to have compassion." He is touched with a tender sympathy, "a feeling sense of our infirmities."....Heb. iv. 15. "Trust in him at all times, ye people, pour out your hearts before him, God is a refuge for us ;" and the Psalmist adds, "Selah."....Psalm Ixii. 8. Consider this well, spread it before your minds, just as we put N. B. for Nota Bene; take special notice of this, it is of the greatest importance. “Lord help our unbelief.”

When in the light of faith divine

We look on things below,
Honor, and gold, and sensual joy
How vain and dangerous too.
God is mine all-sufficient aid,
My portion and my choice;

In him my vast desires are fill'd,

And all my pow'rs rejoice.
In vain the world accosts my ear,
And tempts my heart anew;
I cannot buy, your bliss so dear,
Nor part with heav'n for you.

But rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven....Luke x. 20.

Ir is matter of great joy to faithful ministers of the gospel to see the work of their Lord prosper in their hands, satan dethroned, and the kingdom of Jesus set up in the hearts of poor sinners. Our Lord by no means discourages rejoicing on this account; but his loving heart would not have it terminate and centre in this only;' for their success may abate, a season may come when they may take up this lamentation, "Lord, who hath believed our report?" we see no more tokens of thy victorious grace. Therefore, lest their hands should hang down, and their hearts grow dejected and faint in their labours, he directs them to an inexhaustible fountain of consolation and joy : “Your names are written in heaven." Always rejoice in' this. Remember you are always, "unto God a sweet savour of Christ, as well in them that perish as in them that are saved.”.. 2 Cor. ii. 15.

This is also a sweet lesson to every christian. It is, doubtless, cause of great joy to find and feel the power of sin and satan subdued, corrupt lusts mortified, disorderly passions restrained, unruly appetites brought into subjection, and the meekness and power of Christ to have the rule and government in one's heart. For these spiritual blessings we are inexpressibly indebted to the Holy Spirit, through the faith of Jesus. Notwithstanding, “in this rejoice not” (only and chiefly) saith Jesus, He leads us from the streams to the fountain; from the effects to the cause. "Rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven." In times of heaviness, through manifold temptations, frames may vary. In seasons of darkness; feelings and comforts may decline, "nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his."....2 Tim. ii. 19. But can any one know that his name is written in the book of life? Doubtless: else there is no meaning in our Lord's words. How can one rejoice on this account, if he do not know it? Though we cannot read the book of life, yet we have the records of truth. These reveal it plainly, and assure us, “Wẻ are the children of God, by faith in Christ Jesus."....Gal. iii. 26. If we have faith in Jesus, the faith of God's elect, this is an evidence of our adoption, and we may, we ought to rejoice. So Paul, who had the mind of Christ, speaking of some whose names are written in the book of life, immediately adds, "Rejoice in the Lord alway;} and again I say rejoice."....Phil. iv. 4. But may not our names be blotted out? No; that is impossible. We are assured, "whatsoever God doeth it shall be for ever; nothing can be put to it or taken from it."...Eccles. iii. 14.

He is our peace....Eph. ii. 14.

WHEN Jehu came to take possession of the crown of Israel, Jezabel put this (as she thought) cutting question, "Had Zimri peace who slew his master?"....2 Kings ix. 31. As Jehu was called and anointed to be king of Israel, according to the word of the Lord, so is every christian called and anointed by the word and Spirit to the kingdom of Jesus. "He hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father, to him be glory," &c....Rev. i. 6.

But ere we take possession of our crown of glory, we must expect many severe and aggravating questions from the mouth of the adversary on earth. Verily, he hath great reason to urge the most cruel treatment, and to charge upon us the vilest behaviour to our master, Jesus; that bloody deed of crucifying the Lord of life and glory was caused by our sins. Not a transgression a disciple of Jesus commits, but the precious blood of his master was spilt for. The life of sin, and love of sin, is in our nature; and the law of sin is in our members, and while we are daily exposed to sin in our practice, satan like a powerful Assyrian army, will invade our land of nature, and attack the peace of our souls. What can we do? If we deny his charge, and say, "We have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." Acknowledge his accusations we must; all in nature, reason, and conscience, unite to witness against us. But shall this destroy the comfort of our minds, the hope of our souls, and the peace of our hearts? Then how small our knowledge! how feeble our faith! how weak our hearts in the grace which is in Christ Jesus! All the power of darkness, all the curses of the law, all the accusations of sin, blessed, for ever blessed be the grace of our God, cannot, shall not overthrow this soul-comforting, Christexalting, love-exciting truth; this man, even JESUS, who was born in Bethlehem, and died at Calvary, "he is OUR PEACE, he hath made peace by the blood of his cross."....Col. i. 20. The everlasting gospel proclaims it; the eternal law of love confirms it; by faith we receive the joyful news of it; by the Spirit our souls enjoy the sweet sense of it; by the word, the blessed Spirit stirs up our pure minds by exhortations and examples to look unto Jesus, look off from every other hope, turn from every other object. His name, his nature, his offices, his work, all speak PEACE to poor, guilty, self-condemned souls, whose only hope is Jesus. The work of (JESUS') righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of (his) righ teousness, quietness and assurance for ever....Isa. xxxii. 17.