that if you would reckon right, in the matter of gospel sanctification, and mortification of sin, you must go to the cross of Christ; how many poor souls are burdened from day to day for want of reckoning right this way; they are in good heart, when they find that sin does not trouble them; but when these spiritual enemies that war against the soul begin to trouble them, they are casting away all their hope; alas! they pray hard, and strive hard, but all to no purpose; they thought they had cut off the head of this Goliah, but find he is alive still; sin is afraid of nothing so much as the cross of Christ; all our strength against it, and all our power over it, must come this way; you may cast up your accounts about your sanctification, as merchants do their books, at this time of the year, to know how matters stand; but if ever you have a balance this way for your comfort, and food for your faith, it must come from the old man's being crucified with Christ: thus the great apostle taught the saints, reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin; how so, saith the soul, since it makes me mourn and weep every day? Why, dead unto the condemning power of sin, and unto the dominion power of it, as it gives the law strength to condemn, for the strength of sin is the law; and shall be by and by unto the inbeing of it, when it shall trouble you no more; but alive unto God in our justification, in, by, and through Christ; and alive unto God in our sanctification, as Christ is made of God unto us, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption; aye, and alive unto God in our comforts about it, that we fall not into a slavish, bondage fear about it. More

of this you have in Rom. viii. 1, 2, 3; upon this the sanctification of the Spirit is built and secured, and shall be carried on in spite of all your enemies, till you are sanctified in soul, body, and spirit sin's destruction by Christ's death, lays the foundation of our

sanctification in a life of holiness, that shall be wrought up unto a perfection by and by. And now what provision is this, in this feast of ours, for the new creature to lift up its head, and still rejoice, though it is troubled by the body of sin? What conflicts and distress had good Mr. Marshall about this matter, till he was brought to this point; all his Baxterian principles would not do; but here joy and comfort sprang in, as he himself declares in that excel

lent treatise of his, "The Mystery of Gospel Sanctification:" hence those exhortations have a weight in them on our practical holiness, such as, mortify the deeds of the body through the Spirit:" Rom. viii. 13; and "put off the old man, which is corrupt through the deceitfulness of sin, and put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him ;" Eph. iv. 22; this is health to thy soul, and marrow to thy bones.

4. Death abolished, and the power of the grave conquered, are another part of this provision, that make up this sumptuous feast; upon this also have the saints in all ages fed, and been greatly comforted. Death came in by sin, and is the wages of it; death corporeal, death spiritual, death eternal, all entered at the door of sin: sin gave death its sting, and the law its power; and digged every man's grave; yea, Tophet of old, hell itself, as a servant of Christ in this city used to express it: Christ has taken the sting of death away, which is sin, in every sense of it, and the condemning power of the law, and carried away the pins and bars of the grave, and delivered his people from going down into the pic where there is no water. Christ, and none but he, was able to do it, and he has done it, and effectually too, for all the chosen of God, and every believer here, hath a right to triumph in it; he will swallow up death in victory, saith this prophet in the 8th verse of the chapter, where our text is: and was

it foretold that he should do it? he hath done it; for now, saith the apostle, "grace is made manifest, by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and brought life and imortality to light through the gospel." 2 Tim. i. 10. Death as the wages of sin, and the rottenness of the grave are done away, and all the evil that can be comprised in the word death: death in all forms and shapes, let it come suddenly or more lingeringly, by burning fevers, or wasting consumptions, or wracking pains, there is no penal evil in it to thee, O believer; it is yours in the royal charter of blessings; it is the way to your Father's house; it is the high road to your home; it is your gain; it will free you from all evils, and let you into all your soul has longed to enjoy, in an uninterrupted communion with God, Father, Son, and Spirit, saints, and angels; the Lord will lighten the valley for you, and walk with you through it: how have the martyrs sung in death, in the midst of the flames? Christ came to deliver them, who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage, Heb. ii. 15; he can make that passage easy to you and I, and make us triumph with him of old, that could say, O death, where is thy sting? 1 Cor. xv. 55; and, as for the grave, the house appointed for all living, to which we are all hastening, and are another year nearer it than the last, it is called an unclean place, because it is the fruit of sin; but Christ has lain there, and perfumed it for all his people; and though worms must destroy and feed upon the body, Christ keeps the key of the grave to put you in and let you out, and will raise the body gloriously by and by, and fashion it like unto his glorious body; Phil. iii. 22; he will call unto you, "awake, and sing ye that dwell in the dust, for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead;" Isa. xxvi. 19; you will then put on strength, and your beau.

tiful garments, and be loosed from all your bands.

(To be concluded in our next.)

A LETTER FROM A SISTER IN THE FAITH.

We live in a day when "iniquity abounds, and the love of many waxeth cold;" when the enemies of our God and of his Christ, are using all their efforts, yea, they spare no pains, trouble, or expense, to propagate their awful heresies; in such a case may we not say, “ the children of this world, are wiser in their generation, than the children of light? Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind; be sober and hope to the end," holding fast the form of sound wrods" for the time is come when they will not endure sound doctrine;" Now as "the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times, some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;" so, beloved, be not thou carried about with divers, and strange doctrines, for it is a good thing, that the heart be established with grace.” Again, therefore I say, the times we are living in, are solemn and eventful, "Truth is fallen in our streets, and equity cannot enter;" infidelity and popery are making rapid strides, and no doubt a time of persecution is drawing near, and where it will be made manifest, who is on the Lord's side; moreover when we reflect, on the languishing state of Zion, the very few faithful watchmen upon her walls, who shun not to declare the whole counsel of God, and the few that hold up the arms of their ministers, by contending for the faith once delivered to the saints; `I am bold to affirm, that the errors which have crept into the church of the living God, during the last fifty years, and scattered the flock of slaughter, would never have made such inroads among them, had it not been for the compromising system of those, who

profess the truth, and who instead of standing forward in the front of the battle, unfurliug the blood-stained banner of the cross, setting up Christ alone as Jehovah's ensign to the people, and thus making a bold stand against the first approach of the enemy, are the very first to listen, then approve, and then say, a confederacy; thus men of corrupt minds, and unsound principles, men who would trample under foot the grand, glorious, and fundamental doctrines of our most holy faith, who set forth the corruptions of their own depraved nature, as a test of christian experience, instead of Christ in you the hope of glory; the Spirit's witness, and the joy of the Lord our strength. In this way then have they privily crept into the churches of the saints, drank up the deep waters, and fouled the residue with their feet, made the hearts of God's dear people sad, whom the Lord would not have made sad; till their word hath eaten like a canker, at the very vitals of christian union and communion, and thus they have scattered the choice of the flock, and caused many of the Lord's hidden ones, to retire to their closets with their Bibles, and instead of hailing the approach of the Lord's day, with a Welcome, sweet day of rest; it is often ushered in with a sigh and a groan, for the languishing state of Zion; Oh, how are we made to realize "not a famine of bread, or a thirst for water, but of hearing the word of the Lord." We run to and fro to seek it, but cannot find it. Nevertheless, it has been my mercy under such trying circumstances often, to prove the blessedness of that precious promise, they shall not be ashamed in the evil time, and in the days of famine, they shall be satisfied."

Condescend, my dear christian friends, to bear with me a little longer, for having given you a brief sketch of what I am the living witness: my desire now is, that you may, when reflecting on the privations of

many of the Lord's tried family, who are destitute of a preached gospel, be led to prize your exceeding great mercies more than ever; seeing the Lord has placed you, where you have not far to go to the sanctuary. But unto you more especially, my dear brethren and sisters, who stand in christian union and communion with the Lord's servant, at Corpus Christi, bear with me, while I again entreat you to walk as becometh saints, holding the mystery of faith in a pure conscience, always striving together for the faith once delivered to the saints, with an endeavour to keep the union of the Spirit, in the bond of peace. You full well know, that when Aaron and Hur stayed up the hands of Moses, the enemies were discomfited, and the Lord honoured, in the sight of all around; so that Moses built an altar, and called the name of it, Jehovah Nissi, "Go thou and do likewise, and the Lord prosper your handy-work, to the glory of his holy name.' Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children, and walk in love; that ye may be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." The Lord enable you therefore brethren, to know him, who labours among you, in word and doctrine; and to esteem him very highly in love for his works sake, and be at peace among yourselves. "Put on there. fore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering, forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, and may the peace of God, rule in your hearts.

Unto the teachers also of the school, with whom it has been my privilege to meet and hold sweet com munion, would I humbly speak in love; "Be not weary in well doing, for in due season, thou shalt reap, if thou faint not." Let love, patience, and perseverance, prompt you to continue instant in season, and out of season, shewing a good example to your young charge around, your du

ties are most interesting, for what can be more delightful, than to see the teacher, surrounded by his class, teaching the children, to "Remember their Creator, in the days of their youth." And it shall come to pass, when any of them shall ask, what mean ye by this service; that ye shall say, it is the Lord's ordinance, who was sacrificed for us." "And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, shalt talk of them, when sitting in the house, when walking by the way, when lying down, and when rising up." Finally, my brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things; and the God of love and peace be with you."

And now, in taking my leave of the dear children, I affectionately entreat them to be regular in their attendance at the school, attentive to their teachers, quiet and attentive in the house of God, and above all have a becoming reverence for the word of God at all times, endeavour to store your memories, with the precious word of the Lord, while you are young, let no day pass without reading a portion of the sacred scripture and with the blessing of the Lord upon it, you will find it the means of fortifying your minds against erroneous traditions, and preachers, as well as preserving you, from the many snares of youth. Again, I entreat you to be obedient to your parents, "Honour your father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise." "And may the blessing of the Lord, which maketh rich, and addeth no sorrow thereunto, rest upon you all;" "that the peace of God which passeth all understanding, may keep your hearts and minds in the love of God, and in the patient waiting for Christ."

Farewell, beloved friends, and if in conclusion, I may add another word or two, it shall be to bear my testimony to the gospel of the grace of God, as faithfully preached by your honoured pastor. It is now six years this month, since the gospel preached by him, came to me, not in word only, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. Since which it has been my happy portion, to hear from him, the same good old fashioned truths every year, in his annual visits to the flock of slaughter, at Portsea. Added to all which, I have been so highly honoured of the Lord, as to spend one month at his residence, and again to hear him four Lord's days, besides his weekly labours, and 1 call God to record this day, that I have heard none other things from him, than what I first received; which was Christ Jesus, and him crucified, Christ Jesus, and him glorified. The Lord Lord still keep him faithful in the truth, in this awful day of departure from it; that he may even yet be made a more honoured instrument in his hands, of comfort, consolation, reproof, edification, and establishment to my soul.

Lastly, I desire to raise my Ebenezer to the Lord, upon leaving you, for all the goodness, he has caused to pass before me, since my sojourn in your midst. And therefore, while I thank you all in the name of the Lord, for your repeated acts of kindness, to one so truly unworthy of them; I shall not cease, to make mention of you always, in my prayers to God for you, when ever favoured with access to Him. The Lord cause you also, when it is well with thee, to remember the mourning dove, in the cleft of the rock.

The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and the love of God our Father, together with the sweet communion, of God the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.