God hath determined to work the salvation of his. For as wax is not melted without heat, nor clay hardened but by means thereof, so God useth means both to draw those unto himself whom he hath appointed unto salvation, and also to bewray the wickedness of them whom he justly condemneth. Q. By what means useth God to draw men to himself, that they may be saved? A. By the preaching of his word, and the ministring of his sacraments thereunto annexed. Q. What mean you by the word of God? A. I mean the doctrine of the prophets and apostles which they received of the Spirit of God, and have left written in that book which we commonly call the Old and New Testament. Q. How may I be assured that it is the word of God which that book containeth? A. By the majesty of God appearing in that plain and simple doctrine; by the pureness, uprightness, and holiness thereof; by the certainty of every thing therein affirmed; by the success of all things according to it; by perpetual consent which is to be seen in every part thereof; by the excellency of the matter uttered, but especially by the testimony of God's Spirit whereby it was written, who moveth the hearts of those in whom it resteth to consent unto the word, and reverently to embrace it. Q. How doth the word of God serve to draw men unto him? A. When it is so preached and heard, that men may understand and learn what God teacheth; accept and receive thankfully that which is thereby given, promised, and assured; and be moved with desire and diligence to do that which it commandeth. Q. Do the sacraments also serve to this end? A. Yea, verily; that by sight, taste, and feeling, as well as by hearing, we might be instructed, assured, and brought to obedience. Q. How doth baptism serve hereunto? A. It teacheth us to put on Christ, that with his righteousness our sinfulness may be hidden; it assureth us that we are so graft into Christ, that all our sins by him are washed away; it chargeth us to die to sin, to continue in the profession of Christ, and to love each other. Q. Hath the Lord's supper also this use? A. Yea, doubtless; for it teacheth that the body and blood of Christ crucified is the only food of the new-born children of God: it assureth that Christ is wholly their's to give and to continue life spiritual and heavenly to body and soul; to nourish, strengthen, refresh, and to make cheerful the hearts of the elect: it requireth thankful remembrance of the death of Christ, unity among them that do profess him, with a free confession of his truth. Q. Why is not the use of the sacraments commonly known? company; without regard unto the word whereunto they are so annexed, that they ought not upon any necessity by any person be severed from it, which teacheth the right use of every thing. Q. I perceive that nothing is more necessary than the word of God; therefore I pray you shew me how I may attain to some knowledge and profit thereby? A. To diligent hearing of such as preach it, by continual and orderly exercise of reading and praying. Q. What orderly exercise think you most convenient to be used herein ? A. That as every day twice at the least we most commonly receive food to the nourishment of this corporal life, so no day be let pass without some reading in such sort that occasion thereby may be taken to speak again unto God by prayer, as he in his word speaketh unto us; so that at the least two chapters would be orderly and advisedly read every day, all other business, impediments, and lets set apart. Q. This seemeth very easy to be done: what think you else requisite ? A. That some special places of scripture be so committed to memory, that the mind may ever be furnished with some good matter against all temptations. To which end I note these scriptures unto you, whereunto you may join others at your own choice, Ps. cxxxix. xxxvii. 1. Isa. liii. John xvii. Romans viii. 1 Tim. 4. Q. But the scriptures are hard, and not easy to understand. A. Discourage not yourself herewith, for God maketh them easy to such as in humility seek him; and that hardness which you find serveth to move you to the more diligence, and to make enquiry of such as have knowledge, when any doubt ariseth. That which you perceive not at one time, God shall reveal at another; so that you shall have your growing in grace, knowledge, and godliness, to God's glory, and your own comfort in Christ, whose name for ever be praised. Amen. Courteous Reader, You have now had presented to you a plain and sweet illustration of the Lord's revealed will. The language may appear uncouth, but it will not be the less esteemed by you, if you are one of the Lord's beloved and called in Christ. What á contrast is this specimen of bible truth to most of the preachings and publications of the present day! My hope is, that the blessed Spirit, the eternal God, may be leading you into some personal experience of the subjects contained in this ancient record. Allow me to offer you a few reflections upon the blessedness of clearly comprehending the great mysteries of the operations of grace, made manifest to the saints by the everlasting Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I am the more inclined to do this, because, through the corruption of human nature, the declarations of the Lord's most righteous will and pleasure are so frequently perverted to suit the sophistry and pride of man. But truth perverted, however mixed with truth, can be no direction for such as are taught of the Lord. The blasphemies of infidelity are not more to be condemned than the specious opinions of human reason upon the word of God. In order then that the chosen in Christ may be preserved from errors which would be fatal to their soul's present interest, it is revealed that the third person in the Trinity undertaketh of his sovereign will and pleasure to impart to them, and them only, a saving knowledge of the Lord's gracious mind, dispensation, and accomplishment of saving grace. This saving knowledge is therefore spiritual, and a free, unsought, unmerited gift. It is granted to those who are led to see what they are in themselves, and what they are in Christ, in consequence of their being individually, particularly, and specially chosen in Christ unto everlasting life. It flows from out of the fulness of him to whom they are united, in whom dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; and is conveyed by the Spirit into the new or inner man formed by the almghty power of God. And as in its first entrance into the soul, it is proved to be a free and peculiar gift of God, so all the after exercises thereof are renewings of the same gracious power, from the same everlasting substance, source, and fountain. This saving knowledge is, moreover, a manifestation of God's great love to the soul enriched therewith. Well may every one of the Lord's dear family be assured of this. What a peculiar blessing it is to you, my beloved brother, or sister, who by the earnests of the Spirit may perceive your sanctification, preservation, and calling in the Lord, to know for yourselves the mysteries of the kingdom of God; while thousands are shut up in immoveable darkness, you perceive light in the light of the Lord, are enlightened day by day, and feel the rays of the Sun of righteousness shining around, and in and upon you. To you it has been given to see the depths of the foundation of mercy, the breadth of grace communicated in your present time state, and by faith, so far as can be seen, the heights of glory reserved above. Surely you cannot but enjoy some sweet hope of the election of your soul and body unto heavenly blessings in the Lord. You understand the exceeding greatness of that love which appointed for you a full and sufficient ransom, ordained and provided for you ere your poor sinful soul became a tenant of its earthly tabernacle. Your personal experience of the love of God beareth testimony to your conscience, that for you, and for every other of the Lord's choice vessels, there was a fixed and determined appropriation of the blood of God; and you are constrained to acknowledge that through the sweet influence, direction, and upholdings of the power of God, you are enabled to press on through all the depraved and damnable corruptions of your own heart, to follow the steps of your blessed Lord. Allow me a few more moments of your time while I add, that a saving knowledge of divine truth is a blessed mean used by the Spirit for preserving the beloved of the Lord from those soul-distressing fears which are occasioned by the reasonings of carnal nature opposed to the counsels of Jehovah. How often do we hear it suggested by the human understanding, (which ever will err in spiritual things when destitute of the enlightenings of the Lord) that salvation is not merely contingent on the will of the creature, but must be secured by creature perseverance, and that failure therein subjects the soul to eternal condemnation! But how contrary this to the mind of the Spirit upon the great subject; who, when he reveals the everlasting salvation of God, discovers to the soul taught by him, that every sheep of the Lord's fold is an heir of salvation completely accomplished, and unfrustrably reserved for his peculiar people. What a contradiction to God's truth, to suppose a soul can be heir to an everlasting inheritance, and that soul not to be everlastingly reserved for such an enduring, unfading blessing! But I must stay my imperfect reflections upon this. glorious subject. May you, my kind reader, be daily led into his presence who alone can encourage his tried and afflicted ones to cast all their care on him. Of this I am well assured, that the more your mind is led spiritually to search into the deep things of God, so will you be led to walk in humbleness of mind, heavenly affections, and with bowels of compassion; rejoicing in the Lord, having no confidence in the flesh, built up upon the everlasting foundations of the church of the living God.. W. N. (For the Spiritual Magazine.) AN AFFECTIONATE ADDRESS TO THE JUNIOR BRANCHES OF THE HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH. My dear Young Friends, IT is a blessing of no small magnitude to hear the voice of calling grace in youthful days; to be born again in the vigour and flush of life; to lay our powers in the morning of life at the foot of the divine throne, saying, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? this is a mercy which many of the Lord's people are not favoured with. The many evils you escape through almighty love taking possession of your hearts you are not now fully aware of; as you ascend the hill of life, and take a retrospect view of it, this gracious interposition will shine out in all its glory. When giddy youth is anticipating all the pleasures of the world; is ready to break loose in all the gratifications of a depraved heart, anxiously expecting a release from the parental roof, or other restraint, promising himself all the indulgences of vice and folly; for the Lord then to arrest him on the threshold of ruin, and put his fear in his heart is an inestimable blessing. O the wonders of preserving grace; to be saved in that juncture, when ready to leap into the jaws of ruin! What humility, gratitude, and joy it excites in the soul; and often in after days is looked at with amazement and overwhelming delight. Oh! how great is the debt of gratitude for saving mercy in youthful days; it is the foundation of temporal comfort, and paves the uneven pathway of mortal life. When arrived to manhood, and a desire to settle in life begins to occupy the mind, a suitable companion exercises the thought. Says the warm-hearted, heaven-aspiring soul, surely it must be one that fears God. Were it always so, my dear brother (or sister), this address had never met thine eye. It is a fact, too notorious in our churches, (" tell it not in Gath, nor publish it in the streets of Askelon,") that not only young men and women, but many who have long trod the ways of Zion, have taken partners from among the ungodly, in violation of the divine command, in opposition to the broad day-light of their own judgments, to the grief of Zion, and the betraying of the holy cause of Jesus. Well may you startle at conduct so heinous and disgraceful, pregnant with a thousand woes unknown to them who have not broken down the fences of divine Majesty. That you may be preserved from such an irretrievable snare of galling misery and wretchedness, let me call up your thoughts to the word of exhortation, and remind you of your Father's gracious will, on this life's all-important subject, as recorded in his heavensent directory," she is at liberty to be married to whom she will, only in the Lord," 1 Cor. vii. 39. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for instruction. We are not only instructed by the doctrinal part of it into the mysteries of glorious grace; but the path of duty in which we can practically shew our love to him who bought us with a great price, is also pointed out; and thrice happy the man or woman that walks in the ways of peace. The apostle, in this chapter, has largely expatiated on the advantages of the child of God in a single state, above that of a conjugal one; shewing their freedom from the cumbrances of the world, which, naturally, devolve on the wife; he says, "they shall have trouble in the flesh." Yes, the happiest pair ever united have found the truth of these words; and will, while Jehovah Jesus is to be supreme in the affections, and sin and the devil is in existence. The child of God, in a single state, careth for the things of the Lord; his thoughts are all about them. He seizes every opportunity to wait on God, and is all concern to be among his family; the aim is, as the apostle here says, to please the Lord; but when married there is a caring for the things of the world (not supremely) they will have a pressure on the mind; difficulties will hedge up the way from the service of God. Husband, and children, (if the Lord give them) will have a claim on your attention; and the cares of life will damp your zeal, and hang heavy on your spirits; well might the apostle here say, "art thou loosed? then seek not one; she is happier if she so abide; this I speak for your profit," ver. 35. Not that I cast a |