From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand, Matt. iv. 17. THE kingdom of Heaven appertains to those who repent; and the first mark of repentance is poverty of spirit; whence JESUS saith (chap. v. 3.) "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven." John preached repentance: JESUS preaches it here, and so did his apostles afterward. Thus true repentance is necessary for all; and the beginning of it is to acknowledge ourselves poor miserable sinners, depraved by nature, and totally void of any righteousness or worth of our own, - to confess our nakedness, to drop all the figleaves of vain excuses and false comforts, to lay open our poverty and wants before God, to accuse ourselves, and plead guilty of all our sins, but seek mercy from CHRIST. If we do this we are blessed, and the kingdom of Heaven is ours. This poverty of spirit is both the first and last foundation laid in the heart; for the faithful are more and more grounded in poverty of spirit the nearer they approach to their consummation, Pure are the joys above the sky, These holy gates for ever bar None shall obtain admittance there Pray without ceasing. 1 Thess. v. 17. F we have not got grace enough, it is because we do not pray enough; for most true it is, we need not strive to move Gon to compassion, and exhort, as it were, the blessings from him by our prayers, which he has promised. Very far from it. He is every minute communicating himself to us; in every word he holds forth CHRIST and every good thing to us: but we must always have a soul hungering after CHRIST, and by incessant prayer stretch out the hand of Faith to receive him. This is chiefly to be understood of the inward desires and groanings of our spirit; but we must not omit to pour out our supplications daily, as oft as we can, by words, else our secret mental prayers at last may become so secret, as to cease perhaps entirely. Holy Father, lend an ear Whilst I sue in Jesu's name; Grant me comfort, or deny ; Abba, Father, in my heart! Abide in me. John xv. 4. Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. John vi. 68. It is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God. Psalm lxxiii. 28. To abide in CHRIST, who is our righteousness and strength, and not to be moved from him, is the very life and power of Christianity; we do this when our thoughts are going out after Him, our hearts cleaving to Him, and our minds stayed upon Him. Now to know CHRIST, and thus to abide in Him, as our righteousness, brings peace and joy; which joy in the LORD is certainly followed with strength to overcome sin and the world, which believers renounce the more readily, as they have found something better in CHRIST. May the LORD give me grace likewise immovably to abide in him! Christ is my light, my life, my care, My limbs, my bowels, or my eyes! With their dear hold of Christ my love. My God, and can a humble child, That loves thee with a flame so high; Without the pity of thine eye! Have ty'd my heart so fast to thee, Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree; that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Gal iii. 13, 14. THE spirit of sanctification is the gift of CHRIST. Consequently there is a great difference between moral actions done by our own strength, and true sanctification of the spirit. The latter cannot take place before the soul truly receives CHRIST, and abides in him as its only propitiation, righteousness, and peace; for he being first made to us of GoD our righteousness, will then be made our sanctification likewise (1 Cor. i. 30); and the kingdom, work, and image of God, will go on best when we trust least to our own strength. Sanctification is now become a more easy task, since CHRIST lives and works in us, and we in a child-like temper live henceforth to him who died for us. The law commands and makes us know The law discovers guilt and sin, And shows how vile our hearts have been; Forgiving love and cleansing grace! By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. John xiii. 35. Forbearing one another in love. Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Let not the sun go down upon your wrath ; but be ye kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven you. Eph. iv. 2, 3, 26, 32. HUMBLE Christians never affect singularity, nor pretend to have the preference one of another: they rather study to be of one mind, and strive not about words, lest the general harmony subsisting be tween them, and the edification of souls, should be hindered. Whoever judges and blames every thing, and can never agree in words and notions, or join in devction with other experienced Christians, is puffed up with self-conceit, and is in the way to make a dangerous shipwreck ; for "pride comes before a fall.” Nor diffrent food, nor diff'rent dress, We do the Gospel mighty wrong, For God, the gracious and the wise, Receives the feeble with the strong! Let pride and wrath be banish'd hence, Meekness and, love our souls pursue; Nor shall our practice give offence To saints, the Gentile, or the Jew, |