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Weep not; behold the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has prevailed. Rev. v. 5. He rose triumphantly, and destroyed the works of the Devil; therefore sin shall not have dominion over us. Rom. vi. 14. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. Rom. viii. 2.

MANY complain that, though they will not turn back, yet they have no power to advance farther. If this should be thy case, my reader, remember that the enemy of souls will discourage thee. Go on praying, and venture it evermore upon the Lord. Consider how he awakened you at first, how often he has heard your prayers afterwards, and assisted you in many hard struggles. Surely he will help you now also. If that will not do, begin, as it were, afresh; acknowledge yourself guilty in every respect; and, as the chief of sinners, plead for mercy, and be instant in your humble supplications; looking at the same time upon God as a reconciled Father through CHRIST, who is willing to receive you, pardon, and bless you in spite of all your misery: then you will soon make a better progress. To despair of our own strength is good; but we must never despair of the power of CHRIST, who is risen from the dead, but be sure to overcome with him at last. He will certainly help you in the due and best

season.

Hell and thy sins resist thy course,

But hell and sin are vanquished foes!
Thy Jesus nailed them to the cross,
And sung the triumph when he rose.
He dies, and in that dreadful night
Did all the powers of death destroy;
Rising, he brought our heaven to light,
And took possession of the joy.

Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth
every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chasten-
ing, God dealeth with you as with sons: for what
son is he whom the Father chasteneth not? He
chasteneth us for our profit. Heb. xii. 6—10.
To these chastenings belong outward afflictions,
which are precious means, and sanctified to be-
lievers. And this is a clear proof that we should
receive such chastenings with gladness, and that
we should not repine under them. They evidence
the fatherly care and love of God, and are designed
to try our faith, and purge our souls from the
drossy matter of earth that is mixed up with
them; and from them we must learn that chastise-
ments will be the means of good to us, if we use
them aright. O my dear heavenly Father, thou
art only pleased with a true child-like confidence ;
but I am still of a distrusting heart, when any-
thing comes upon me on a sudden. Help me al-
ways to entertain the kindest thoughts of thee,
and to fear no adversity; looking on it as a token
of love and not of hatred, and really believing it
to be intended as a blessing for my good. What-
ever thy providence may order, let me only be
convinced of thy fatherly affection, and fall in
with thy wholesome and loving designs.

Though for my sin I justly feel
Thy discipline, O God,

I wait thy gracious moment still,
Till thou remove thy rod.

For I have found 'tis good for me
To bear my Father's rod;
Affliction makes me learn thy law,
And live upon my God.

This is the comfort I enjoy

When new distress begins;

I read thy word, I run thy way,
And hate my former sins.

The entrance of thy word gives light; it giveth un-
derstanding to the simple. Ps. cxix. 130. Or-
der my steps in thy word; and let not any ini-
quity have dominion over me. Ver. 133. The
Scriptures testify of me (Christ). John v. 39.
WE may have a clear sight and a real taste of
the Gospel, and yet be soon deprived of the com-
fort of it again, if we do not walk in godly sim-
plicity and poverty of spirit; for CHRIST will
have none but humble and child-like disciples.
But if we abide in CHRIST, by a close and humble
walk with him, we shall come to great and last-
ing assurance; for neither a sweet sense of
CHRIST, nor even faith itself in CHRIST, is the
ground of our salvation; but CHRIST alone re-
ceived into the heart as the Saviour. Faith does
not save, but enables us to receive the Saviour,
and with him salvation. Neither does a sweet
sense of CHRIST save us; it only shews the Sa-
viour is present with us. Now, the weakest true be-
liever does receive CHRIST as well as the strongest,
though he reap no present comfort from his faith.
We must first believe, before we can feel, and be
thankful for our feelings, but not trust in them.
Thy mercies fill the earth, O Lord,
How good thy works appear!
Open mine eyes to read thy word,
And see thy wonders there.
When once it enters to the mind,
It spreads such light abroad,
The meanest souls instruction find,
And raise their thoughts to God.
'Tis like the sun, a heavenly light,
That guides us all the day;
And through the dangers of the night,
A lamp to lead our way.

Since I'm a stranger here below,
Let not thy path be hid,

But mark the road my feet should go,

And be my constant guide.

Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity, and quicken thou me in thy way. Ps. cxix. 37. IF you were to see a man endeavouring all his life to satisfy his thirst, by holding up one and the same empty cup to his mouth, you would certainly despise his ignorance; but if you should see others ridiculing the dull satisfaction of one cup, and thinking to satisfy their own thirst by a variety of gilt and golden empty cups, would you think that these were the wiser or ever the happier, or better employed, for their finer parts? Now this is all the difference that you can see in the happiness of this life. The dull and heavy soul may be content with one empty appearance of happiness, and be continually trying to hold one and the same empty cup to his mouth all his life. But then let the talented men of the world lay all their heads together, and they can only shew you more, and various empty appearances of happiness; give them all the world into their hands, they can only make a great variety of empty cups; for search as deep as you will, there is nothing to be found here nobler or greater than eating and drinking, rich dress and applause, unless you look for it in the wisdom and laws of religion. Reader, reflect upon the vanity of all orders of life who live without godliness, and see how all the ways of the world are only so many different ways of error and blindness, that you may be earnest at a throne of grace to be turned from the creature, and seek for happiness in the Creator.

No peace or lasting rest

Earth's flatt'ring joys impart:
The portion of a beast

Will not content my heart.
The God of spirits only can
Fill up the vast desires of man,

David's Prayer.-Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not thyself from my supplication. Ps. lv. 1.

Christ's Answer.-Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. John xvi. 23. For the Father himself loveth you. Ver. 27. He has promised: Before they call I will answer; and whilst they are speaking I will hear. Isa. lxv. 24. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. Mark xi. 24.

HE that converses much with God in prayer, and has some child-like confidence in his word, shall certainly be heard; and these answers of prayer are undeniable evidences of the truth, faithfulness, and love of God, and greatly strengthen his faith; and at last bring him to be intimately acquainted with God. The more we receive, the more we are enlightened to see how much there is still wanting. This stirs up to more frequent prayer, and to more fervent desires; and the more we desire and believe that we shall receive it, the more shall be granted. Unbelief receives nothing (Matt. xiii. 58); but faith opens all the treasures of God, and never goes away empty. Because on me they set their love,

I'll save them, saith the Lord;
I'll bear their joyful souls above
Destruction and the sword.

In me they every grace shall find
For sorrow, joy, or care;
Their broken hearts I will upbind,
Unloose their every snare.

My grace shall answer when they call;
In trouble I'll be nigh;

My power shall help them when they fall,
And raise them when they die.

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