Ezekiel's hearers did in reference to him, “Ah, Lord, doth he not speak parables?" to others it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, and by the opening of their eyes they are brought out of darkness into marvellous light-the darkness of bondage, sin, and death, into the light of the glorious gospel of Christ. These secrets, too, are made known, not merely as simple truths, or facts of little consequence to them, but he makes them to know their own personal interest in them.

We are often struck with the confidence in which the inspired writers speak in reference to their own state, and the state of their brethren in the faith. There does not appear any doubt or fear on their own minds on the subject, for they say, "Now are we the sons of God; we know that we have passed from death unto life; we know that God abideth in us by the Spirit which he hath given us: we know that we are of God," &c. Now this assurance is none other than what our blessed Lord promised to his believing people; In that day ye shall know that the Father is in me, and I in you, and you in me." That the believers may, by real scriptural deduction, ascertain much of his state before God, there can be no doubt, but that internal manifestations are in many cases vouchsafed to the soul is also certain, for as our Lord has promised that "he will manifest himself unto us, as he does not unto the world," and this promise he has explained, by saying that he and his Father will love us, and come unto us, and make their abode with us. Accordingly, we find, that to many is given the Holy Spirit as a witness to bear witness with their spirits that they are sons of God, and as a Spirit of adoption, enabling them to cry with holy confidence, “Abba, Father." They have prayed to him like the Psalmist,

in the desire of their hearts, and enabled them to say, in reference to him, "Oh, God, thou art my God," and in reference to the Lord Jesus Christ, "My beloved is mine, and I am his." The Spirit of God also shews the believer in Christ that every occurrence of whatever kind is in some way or other working for the ultimate salvation of their precious souls. They may not always see this at first, but when more fully instructed they learn to trust in God, assured that though "clouds and darkness are around about him, righteousness and judgment are the basis of his throne." See a remarkable instance of this in the apostle Paul. He was shut up for two full years in prison, and was thus deprived of exercising his apostolic office in his accustomed way. Such an event as this would be contemplated by the church at large as a subject of unmixed sorrow; but St. Paul himself had far different views of it. He said, "I know that this shall turn to my salvation;" nor was he less confident that good would accrue from it also to the church; yea, he saw even whilst in bonds the beneficial results of his imprisonment, and declared that instead of obstructing the progress of the gospel, it had tended rather to the furtherance thereof, since many had been emboldened by it to preach the word with greater courage and fidelity. Thus does God compose the minds of all his faithful people; they hear the still small voice saying, this is the way, walk ye in it.' They may, indeed, for a season be ready to complain, with Jacob, All these things are against me;" but he whispers in their ears that all things are working together for their good, and that eventually they shall have as much reason to bless Him for the darkest dispensations as for those which were more gratifying to flesh and blood.

Passing by many other secrets which the Lord reveals to his chosen people, I will proceed to set before

you, secondly, that more particular view of his covenant which is the crown and summit of all blessings. The word covenant means an agreement between two parties; there are two especially spoken of in the Bible, the covenant of works, made with and broken by Adam and Eve, and the covenant of grace. Under the Old Testament, this covenant of grace was externally administered by promises, prophecies, sacrifices, circumcision, and the passover, with other types and ordinances. Under the New, it is administered in the preaching of the gospel, baptism, and the Lord's Supper, in which grace and salvation are held forth in more fulness, evidence, and efficacy to all nations. Now, from all eternity did God enter into covenant with his Son, as it is said, "The counsel of peace was between them both." And to this covenant God leads the minds of his people to behold it as the source of all their blessings. Certain it is, that whatever grace has been bestowed upon us, it has been conferred not on account of any works of righteousness which we have done, but according to God's "purpose and grace." But this is a great secret; a secret utterly unknown to the world at large, and which not many even righteous persons are able to receive. There is in the minds of many a prejudice against it, as though such an idea would necessarily puff up the mind with pride and conceit, whereas there is nothing in the world that so much tends to humble and debase the soul as this; for it takes from man all ground of self preference, and leads him to give all the honour of his salvation to God alone. Believer ! how wonderful is the thought that God from all eternity set his heart on thee, ordained thee to be born in a country where the true light of revelation shineth, and where the means and opportunities of conversion should be afforded thee. How wonderful, too, that this grace which

so many receive in vain should be made effectual for thee; and that by the operation of God's mighty power on thy soul, thou shouldst be turned from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God. Art thou not amazed that thou shouldst be taken when so many are left; and that the Saviour who to so many millions is only a stumbling block, and rock of offence, should be to thee for a sanctuary where thou hast found rest to thy soul. Truly, it is a great matter if God has taught thee that thou hast not chosen him, but he thee; that thou hast not loved him, but hast been loved and apprehended by him; that he hath loved thee with an everlasting love, and, therefore, with loving kindness hath he drawn thee. Does not the thought of this overwhelm thy soul with gra titude? and art thou not altogether lost in wonder, love, and praise? But in this gracious covenant believers look for the everlasting continuance of their blessings. This is another part of the same stupendous mystery and blessed indeed are the ears that have heard this secret from the Lord, and the eyes that can discern the truth of it. Believer, when God entered into covenant with his Son, he left it not uncertain whether any benefit should accrue from his mediation, but engaged that when he did make his Son an offering for sin, he should see a seed who should prolong their days, and then he gave thee to his Son that in thee he might see of the travail of his soul, and be satisfied. Thou wast then ordained to be a jewel in his crown, and the Father engaged. when he put thee into the hands of his Son, that none should ever pluck thee from thence." Times without number does the Lord Jesus speak of his people in this light, as given him from eternity by the Father, and of those who were to be given to him he would lose none. What a consolation is this to thee under all thy difficulties, and under all thy conflicts, to know

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that God has made with thee an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure. God himself tells us that

he confirmed his covenant with an oath, that by two immutable things,' &c. Rejoice, then, in this thought. Bless God for making it known to thee. See how safe thou art in the hands of an unchanging God. See to what it is owing that thou hast not been condemned already, and what is thy security against all the wiles of Satan, and all the infirmities of flesh and blood. Know, then, in whom thou hast believed, and that he is able to keep that which thou hast committed to him, so he will preserve thee unto his heavenly kingdom.

In conclusion, then, I would desire to impress upon your minds the necessity of seeking after increasing friendship with God. It is not to all, but to his friends only that God imparts these heart-reviving secrets, even to them who truly fear him. Nor is it amidst the noise and bustle of this world that he will communicate them, but in seasons of retirement, and in the stillness of the night. It is by a still small voice that he imparts them to the soul. Oh, let your fellowship with him be sweet and frequent. Go to him on all occasions; consult him in every emergency; listen to his voice, whether he speak by the written word or by his Holy Spirit. Say to him at all times," Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth.' So will he draw nigh to you, when you draw nigh to him; and when you spread before him your inmost wants, he will guide you by his counsel, he will lead you into all truth. He will make known to you the deep things of God, and by communications of every kind will perfect that which concerneth you, enabling you to comprehend in a measure, what none can fully comprehend, the heights and depths, the lengths and breadths, of the love of Christ, and

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thereby filling you with all the fulness of God.

A DIALOGUE BETWEEN MR. O., AND MR. T., ON SPIRITUAL SUBJECTS.

BY THE LATE JOHN RUSK. Continued from page 90. JOHN had a very particular discovery of this truth, among the many other things, as you read, respecting glory above, and the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it, for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof," verse 21, 23. "And there shall be no night there, and they need no candle, neither light of the sun, for the Lord God giveth them light, and they shall reign for ever and ever," ver. 22. 25. But I must not enlarge, and therefore, fourthly, these young men, having God's word abiding in them, they were established in that ever-blessed doctrine, namely, the imputed righteousness of the Son of God. I told you a while back, that these young men believed, that the Lord Jesus Christ, was and is Jehovah; thus they were rooted in, and now, they having on this righteousness, and being established in it, it has delivered them greatly from that legal self-righteous spirit, which sticks so close to us all, and which confronts the Lord Jesus Christ, although in the eye of men, it is so valuable, yet it is a secret enemy, it was that I believe, which caused Job to go into such a hot furnace, for it said, that Job was righteous in his own eyes, and therefore I will mention some things which will manifest to us, whether we are abiding in Jesus Christ is our righteousness; so then, if we are abiding in Christ, as our righteousness, we shall hate our own, as the church did, when she said, all our righteousness, are as filthy rags; now if Job had been manifestly abiding in Christ, he would not have spent

a whole chapter, telling us, what he had done; 2nd, if we are abiding in Christ, as our righteousness, we shall talk to others a good deal about it, saying with Paul," that I may be found in him, not having on mine own righteousness; but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness, which is of God, by faith; 3rd we shall find peace, quietness and joy in the Lord, and the witness of the Holy Ghost, as Abel did, who by faith, ob. tained witness, that he was righteous, and it is for these things, that the Holy Spirit, continually shews us our hearts and lives, to make and keep us sick of ourselves, and all that we do, and then leads us in constant actings of faith, to the Lord Jesus Christ, as our righteousness; this delivers us from an accusing, legal conscience, the law, Satan, dead works, condemnation from men, all that sourness and bitterness, which those things produce, and we feel on the contrary, fully satisfied, happy and comfortable, all the while this sweet influence lasts; now these young men, did abide in Christ, as their righteousness, not that they where without changes, yet they had got on so, beyond the babes, sucklings, and little children, inso much, as they where established, as it is written, in righteousness, shalt thou be established;" but 5th, these young men where established with grace, which shews that they were compleatly divorced from the law, dead to the law, and married to the Lord Jesus Christ; not like the foolish virgins, and thousands in our day, who never experienced a law work, and yet talk about being married to Christ; this is a grand deception of the devil, and so they will find it, when their lamps go out; a law work is intended to strip us of every thing, we ever gloried in, stop our mouths, and bring us in before God, as guilty and condemned criminals, and grace is the sovereign free, unmerited love of God, revealed and made known to

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our hearts, by the Holy Spirit, as Paul says, shed abroad in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost, given unto us," to enrich us, the grace of life to quicken, the grace of pardon to cleanse, the grace of righteousness to justify, the grace of love to warm our hearts, and restore grace also, for we are bent to backslide, grace is opposed to works, grace is a free gift to God's elect, of all the blessings of the new covenant, made between the Father and the Son, but works has to do with bond servants, under the law, who although God knows, that they can do nothing but sin, yet they being deceived, by the devil, vainly imagine, that they can, and so they would fain bring God in a debtor to them; now all this is for want of a law work, in the which we learn, what God is, and what we are by the fall, and that we are not only sin it. self, but altogether without strength, to help ourselves in the least.

T.-What hard work this stripping is and although I have gone through it, yet I often feel that legal working spirit holds me fast to this day, so that I try to be sensible of my sin, try to be sorry for it, try to be more alive to God, try to love him and his family, &c., and the more I try, the worse I am, for all this is God's work, it is he that must quicken us afresh to feel sin, as he did David when be sent Nathan the prophet to him ; it is he that gave repentance unto Israel, it is his work to make us lively in his ways, that we may run the way of his commandments with an enlarged heart, it is his work to circumcise our hearts to love him, and he teaches, or influences us to love one another, and to tell my brother the truth, I really believe, that the best way is to go at all times to a throne of grace, with honest confessions and humble petitions, and beg the Lord to do it all for us, to work in us, both to will and to do all his good pleasure.

0.-I remember what bishop Hun