orn with this idea. Self-righteousness is a native of the human heart; the manner in which it ever cleaves, even to the regenerate, is a proof of this. But the righteousness which is by faith, being a doctrine of pure revelation, and finding no counterpart in the mind of man, has to encounter his most deep-rooted prejudices. It is a mystery, hid from the eyes of all men living by nature, however deep their parts, and keen their penetration. He that would have this justification must not be unbelieving-must not consult with flesh and blood -must not listen to the Gospel report with a mental reservation; retaining to himself the right of sitting in judgment on Heaven's record, of receiving this and rejecting that, according as it approves itself to his way of thinking or not. He must not be faithless, but believing. Let it be enquired, how do the great majority of us stand with respect to salvation? If one were to ask us whether we were in a state of pardon, and acceptance with God; whether we had received a justifying righteousness, and could draw near to God through faith in the imputation of his Son's obedience: if it was enquired, whether we had received the Spirit of God, and could regard him as the earnest of the inheritance in our hearts-many among us on being asked these questions, would be disposed to laugh within themselves at the questioner, for being so credulous as to imagine, that such a state of things was attainable. And if they spoke out their real feeling they would reply, "Whence are those great things to come?" Rom. x. 6, 9. But if we understood the gospel, we should not be disposed to answer thus. We should then perceive that there was pardon, grace and salvation to be found in it, even in that word which so dwells with us in the letter, that it may be truly affirm ed of it, that it is more familiar to us than any other record whatever; so familiar indeed that the expression is well warranted that it is "nigh unto us; in our mouth and in our heart." We know not what a treasure lies buried in the Gospel field, when we neglect to take the word of God and hide it in our hearts. It is the medium of conveying Christ to the soul; our healer, justifier, sanctifier: it brings us into union through the Spirit, with that personal Word of whom we read, "In him was life, and the life was the light of men." Faith only is wanting to give it a reality and subsistence in the soul, But faith finds a spirit couched beneath the letter; it traces up the Word to Him that spake it, and apprehends God in his Gospel. It meets Christ there, and finds his saying to be the truth, "The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life." SELECT PASSAGES. Christ came not only to spread his garment over our nakedness and deformity, but really and effectually to be a Physician to save our souls, to cure all our inward distempers. The Gospel is not only a doctrine of a righteousness without us, but of a righteousness both without, for, and within us too; "that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, &c." Christ without, happiness itself without, cannot, make us happy, till they come in within us, and take up a dwelling in our souls. Binning. You know, that the weightiest end of the cross of Christ, that is laid upon you, lieth upon your strong Saviour: for Isaiah saith, "in all your afflictions, he is afflicted." O blessed Second, who suffereth with you! and glad may your soul be, even to walk in the fiery furnace, with "one" like unto the Son of man, who is also the Son of God.-Rutherford. I hope you are not ignorant, that as peace was left to you in Christ's Testament, so the other half of the Testament, was a legacy of Christ's sufferings, John xxi. 35. "These things I have spoken, that in me ye might have peace; in the world ye shall have tribulation, &c."-Ibid. Begin the Christian race, from the cross, and whenever you faint or grow weary look back to it.-Rev. Thomas Adam. Blessed is he, who spends his life, not in the pursuit of such knowledge as flesh and blood can bestow, but in the study and love of Jesus Christ.-Quesnel. Temptation serves to awake faith. Not one moment passes, but we have occasion to say, "Lord, save."-Ibid. HEBREWS iv. 14, 15. Seeing then that we have a great High-Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. "For we have not an High-Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." Redeemer mine! of sin's dread conflict weary, My burden'd soul thy promis'd rest would share; Whilst thus I come, thy death and merits pleading, Past are those agonies of flesh and spirit, But not the love which did thy bosom fill; For man that pleading voice is lifted still. Oh! Lord of love, when life and health are failing, 1 CHRONICLES xxi. 16. Thy Angel stands with naked sword outstretch'd, FOSTER, PRINTER, KIRKBY LONSDALE. FRIENDLY VISITOR. No. CLXX.] NOVEMBER, 1832. [VOL. XIV. EXTRACTS FROM MEMOIRS OF REV. T. CHARLES. It is not our own ease and comfort, but our usefulness, that we should always have in view. God's faithfulness is as much engaged to fulfil his promises to the weakest, as to the strongest in faith. It is not said, he that believeth strongly, but he that believeth, shall be saved. The weakest believer, if his faith purifies the heart and worketh by love, is as nearly related to God as the strongest; just as the weakest and the most helpless child in the family is as much the father's child, as the strongest and the stoutest. How little do the best of us believe and trust in the Lord: we know not how to content ourselves with a bare promise. Except we can see some probability in the means used to accomplish his gracious designs, and unless we know the particular way by which he may likely bring his purposes to pass, we hardly know how to believe him at all. Thus we trust in ourselves, rather than in God. We think ourselves quite ruined, when we have nothing but God and his sure word of promise to depend on. We are not satisfied that God should know and choose for us: but, like the prodigal, we would have the portion in our hands; else our comforts are gone. Lord, keep all in thine own hands. God our guide.-Fully to follow the counsel of the best and wisest of men, is to depend on an arm of flesh. They only are right and safe, who make God's glory their end, God's word their rule, God's Spirit the guide of their affections, and God's providence the guide of their affairs. They may not be led the nearest, but always the best road; as it will certainly appear when they come to their journey's end. We have abundant reason indeed in every thing to give thanks; to bless the Lord for what he denies, as well as for what he gives. Our gracious Father orders the concerns of his children, not in compliance with their M blind notions and perverse humours, but according to his own infinite wisdom and goodness. Prayer. To be enabled to ask, is the next thing to receiving. It is much easier, and more natural for a carnal mind to fear, fret, vex, dispute, and contend, than as a poor unworthy sinner to ask of God. God doth not willingly afflict any of his children. They always stand in absolute need, at that very time, of that very affliction he sends. It could not be laid aside, nor delayed longer, nor altered for another, without hurt to their souls. It is just as certain that prayers for spiritual blessings will be answered whenever God sees best, as that the husbandman who sows his seed with proper precautions, will reap. The only reason why our endeavours to obtain spiritual blessings are not attended with greater success, is, they are not made in earnest. Never omit prayer, or any other devotional exercise, when the time for it arrives, because you feel indisposed to the duty. Christians seem to expect that their views of Christ, and love to him, will increase, without their using the proper means. They should choose some scene in his life, and meditate long upon it, and try to bring the circumstances before their minds, and think how he thought and felt at the time. At first all will appear confused; but let them continue to look steadily, and the mists will disappear, and their hearts will begin to burn with love to their Saviour. At least one scene in Christ's life should be thus reviewed every day, if the Christian hopes to find his love to his Redeemer increase. Lord, why is it that thou art never weary of heaping favours on ungrateful, perverse, stubborn wretches who render thee evil for good? The Lord seemed to reply to me, "Because I am never weary of gratifying my dear Son, and shewing the greatness of my love to him. Till I am weary of him, and cease to love him, I shall never be weary of heaping favours on his friends, however unworthy." At the beginning of evening, before the candles are brought in, we all sit down and take a tour up to heaven. |