in the word of God, that is, sins of ignorance, and sins which we know are sinful. That each of these may be, and are committed by the Lord's family, that each class is the same by whosoever committed, and that the blood of Christ which cleanses from all sin cleanses from both.

Having, as we think, now set our opinions in a fair light, both with respect to the query of an Old Watchman, and the request of an Inquirer after Truth, we leave the subject, unless further explanation is required, praying that the Lord may convince us when we err, give us grace to glorify the riches of his grace, imbue us with the spirit or temper of our glorious Head that all our discussions may have for their end his glory, and each others real good. That great grace may for this purpose rest upon you Mr. Editor, upon an Old Watchman, and an Inquirer is, and shall be, the prayer of

Saffron Walden.

ONESIMUS.

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

BY THE LATE REV. JOHN RUSK.

Continued from page 61.

By faith Noah being warned of God of things not yet seen, moved with fear he prepared an ark to the saving of his house, by which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness, that is by faith. But again these saints are said to be heirs of the kingdom of God, for they are translated out of the kingdom of Satan into the kingdom of God's dear Son; no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and with the household of God. Satan, sin, and death are all dethroned which used to reign in and over them, and they are now under the reign of Christ, grace, and life, for the kingdom of God is set up in their hearts, which is righteousness,

peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Hence Christ says, "the kingdom of God cometh not with observation, but the kingdom of God is within you, and this a saint is an heir of." "Hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him." James ii. 5.

T.-But you promised to speak of the riches of the glory that these young men were strong in possession of, whence you seem, my brother, to run away from the subject all together.

O.-No, not at all, only I am leading you deliberately into it, first by shewing what a saiut is, then this inheritance that is in this saint, and so on, only have patience and let me go my own way. Now Christ in the great day before an assembled world, will pronounce the following sentence upon all his saints, when he says, "Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;" inherit it, and the saints shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever and ever, for ever and ever. And now we will come to the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and it all lays in having God for our portion; this, as sure as you and I are born, contains all the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints. Hence Jeremiah says. "The Lord is my portion, saith my soul," and David says the same, the Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup." And again, if you read Ps. xxi. and compare it with what the prophet Isaiah says, you will see that it throws a light upon the riches of the glory, and proves that it consists in a trinity of persons in God, experimentally known by all real saints. He begins, The king shall joy in thy strength, oh, Jehovah, and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice; you see the source from whence all his joy arose, that is God's strength

and God's salvation. Here lays the riches of the glory, "thou presentest him with the blessings of thy goodness, thou settest a crown of pure gold upon his head;" and what was this crown of pure gold set upon David's head? the prophet Isaiah will tell us that it is God himself, "In that day shall the Lord of Hosts, Jehovah of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty to the residue of his people," chap. xxviii. ver. 5. This was the crown of pure gold set upon David's head, and what these young men had to make them strong, as the prophet tells us in ver. 6, where he says, that he shall be for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate. This is beautiful, and the real truth, for the connection of the psalm shows that David was not glorifying in a liceral crown of pure gold, and, therefore, mind what follows, "he asked life of thee and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever." Here is the riches of the glory of everlasting life flowing from God the fountain, and when he found this crown upon his head, he says, "his glory is great in thy salvation;" but why? because it is an everlasting salvation. Again, "Honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him;" honour in that is, an adopted son of the most high God, and majesty in that is, a king to reign over every enemy. "For thou hast made him most blest for ever;" by most blessed, I understand every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus, such as pardon, righteousness, and eternal life, which are all called blessings of everlasting duration, most glad and that

for ever.

"Thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance," for he says elsewhere, "thou art the health of my countenance and my God." It is the Lord's countenance shining upon us that makes our countenance healthy, for " in the light of the King's countenance is life, and his favour is like a cloud of the latter rain." And he finishes the psalm by April, 1845.]

saying, " be thou exalted, O Lord, in thine own strength, so will we sing and praise thy power." And now we will sum up the whole respecting the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, for it is very precious.

T.-Oh, my brother, how vain is all human glory to this, and what thousands and millions are pursuing the shadow and letting the substance go. They think us fools in seeking after these things; but, oh, what fools are they, for "what shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul.” But go on, I delight to hear about the riches of his glory, and firmly be lieve it is God himself.

O.-I told you that the inheritance in the saints is salvation, promises, life, righteousness, and the kingdom of God; but what is the source, the spring-head, the ocean, or fountain from whence all this inheritance flows, for that is the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints ? why it is a trinity of persons in God, and nothing short of this will do. Let us trace it all up. 1st. Salvation. This salvation flows to us from a trinity of persons in Jehovah ; and, therefore, called wells of salvation, for we are saved by God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. God the Father saved us by his Son, "God so loved the world that he gave his Son that whomsoever believeth in him might not perish but have everlasting life," Which faith to believe is a sovereign work, it is the gift of God; the Son of God saved us by his sufferings and death, He shall save his people from their sins, and the Holy Ghost saved us by regenerating and renewing, therefore, 'with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation." Promises All these promises flow to us from God the Father, through Jesus Christ the Mediator, by the Holy Ghost; take away a trinity of persons in God, and all these pro

:

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2nd.

mises fall to the ground, "for all the promises of God (that is the Father) are yea and amen in Christ Jesus, to the glory of God by us, and it is the Holy Ghost that is the Spirit of faith in us, and it is by faith we obtain promises. 3rd Life For as the Father hath life in himself, so the Son is the resurrection and the life, and it is the Spirit that quickeneth. This is the river of the water of life, pure, and clear as crystal, (which John saw) proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb; what we enjoy are the streams, and it is to be in us a well of water springing up to everlasting life. 3rd. Righteousness: This righteousness in which we are justified is the righteousness of God, this is the name whereby he shall be called, Jehovah, or the Lord our righteousness. Take away his divinity and it is of no account, but his divinity stamps an eternal dignity on it, and makes it valuable. God the Father accepts us in this best robe, and the Holy Ghost reveals it to our hearts; hence we are said to be justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 4th. The kingdom of God, and this comes from the Holy Trinity. 1st. The Father, fear not little flock, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom;"

ble riches, and twice, riches of his glory, and truly they are unsearchable, but blessed be God for the little that we know—but go on a little more if you please.

O.-Lastly then, light is called glory, hence when that light shone upon Paul at his conversion, he said, "I could not see for the glory of that light." And from whence comes all true light? why from God the fountain. "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all;" that is, I humbly conceive, Jehovah in a trinity of persons. James tell us that God the Father is the Father of light, and Christ says, "I am the light of the world," and he is called the Sun of Righteousness that is to arise upon them that fear his name, with healing in his wings, and the Holy Ghost is called the Spirit of revelation and understanding in the knowledge of Christ Jesus, so that, as David says, The Lord God is a sun and a shield." This light then in the fountain is God himself, and the riches of the glory of this inheritance in the saints, Arise, shine, thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee, and the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, thy God, thy glory."

To be continued.

COND COMING OF CHRIST.

T.—Oh, what a low state is the church of God sunk into, and how different they are now to what Paul was, when he wrote this epistle, I think he notices these riches, by calling them riches of his grace, and that he is rich in mercy, also unsearcha.

MORE than eighteen hundred years ago a wonderful person appeared in this world, known by the name of Jesus, the Son of God, the Son of man, the root and offspring of David, the bright and morning star. He came from the bosom of his Father to save the lost, to redeem the helpless slave, to reclaim the wanderer, and to establish a kingdom in this world. When he had finished the great work of redemption, he returned to heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God in the kingdom of immortal glory; from thence he will

come at the last day to judge the world in righteousness, Psalm xcvi. 12, 13.

Daniel tells us that he saw, one like the Son of Man come with the clouds of heaven, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool. That this was the Son of God coming to judgment is obvious, because the judgment was set and the books were opened. The prophecy of Enoch appears to agree with this, "Behold he cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon the wicked, and to convince them of the ungodly deeds which they have committed against him." If these humble lines should meet the eye of one who has never thought of death and judgment, the unworthy writer prays, that God the eternal Spirit, may bless them to such an one, that he may be prepared for the solemn day, when we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, 2 Cor. v. 10.

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With reference to the second coming of Christ, hear what the Saviour says. Speaking of a time of tribulation, he says, Immediately after those days, the sun shall be darkened, the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven, and the tribes of the earth shall mourn : and they shall see the Son of Man, coming in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory," see Matt. xxiv. Again, to cheer the hearts of his sorrowing disciples, he assured them, that he would come again and receive them unto himself that they might be with him for ever. The blessed Jesus is gone to prepare mansions for his people, to represent them before that throne, to plead their cause, and at the appointed time, he will come and take them home to glory and to God, John xiv. 1, 3. Paul says, Unto you that look for him, he will appear the second time, without sin, unto salvation." Cheer up, dear fellow

travellers, for here is great encouragment for you, who are looking for the blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God, even our Saviour, Titus ii. 13.

At his second coming he will appear glorious indeed, for he will come in the glory of his Father, in his own glory as God-man Mediator, and in the glory of the holy angels, a bright retinue of which will attend him down the skies. When he came the first time, he appeared in our nature as the holy child Jesus, the son of Mary, the despised Nazarene, but when he comes again, he will appear in all the glory and majesty of the mighty God, and second person in the glorious Trinity, to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in them that believe, 2 Thess. i. 10.

If any should ask, from whence he will come, I reply, from heaven. The Holy Ghost by Paul's able pen, has taught us to believe, that he will be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God and obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 Thess. i. 7, 8.

What our ascended and crowned Lord will come again to this earth for, is very clear from the words of Job, "I know that my Redeemer livcth, and that he stand at the latter day upon the earth, and though after my skin, worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God." Job xix. 25, 26. It is not quite certain to what part of this earth, he will come, but I think it is very probable that he will appear on the mount of Olives from which he ascended. is said, that his feet shall stand upon the mount of Olives at that day, when Jesus shall come, and all his saints with him. Zech. xiv. 4; see also Acts i, 11.

It

The time of his coming we cannot ascertain; various calculations have been made by good and learned men, but proved in vain. We are told that the day and the hour knoweth

no man, not the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. If God has been pleased to reserve the time of the Saviour's coming as a secret to himself, it is vain to attempt to find it out. "Secret things be long to God, but things which are revealed to us and our children." Let us rest assured that he will come at the appointed time, and watch and pray that we may be prepared to meet him at his coming, Mark xiii. 32, 37. I am disposed to think, from the signs of the present times, that his second coming is nearer than many persons imagine. The nations of the earth are in a state of political agitation, sin runs in torrents down our streets, the church is slumbering, and the gospel is spreading to earth's remotest bounds, and the Saviour says, "When the gospel shall have been preached in all the world, as a witness unto all nations, then shall the end come." Read Matt. xxvi. 3, 14. Here are the signs of his coming. It is evident that the Saviour will come suddenly, because we are told that he will come as a thief in the I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they should see his shame," 2 Peter iii. 10.

night. Behold," he says,

Lest I should intrude on the kindness of the Editor, and the patience of the reader, I hasten to notice the end and design of his coming.

.

He will come to raise the dead. Paul in his First Epistle to the Thessalonians says, the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first." Thus the dead shall hear his voice and come forth, they that have done good to the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation. John v. 28, 29; Dan. xii. 2. Neither the happiness of the righteous, nor the misery of the wicked will be com

plete till after the wonderful morning of the resurrection.

He will come to judge the world. Then will the dead, small and great, stand before him, the books will be opened, and the dead judged according to the things which are written therein, Rev. xx. 12. Then shall the righteous be received into the kingdoms prepared for them before the foundation of the world, and the wicked cast into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and bis followers, Matt. xxv. 31, 46.

Dear reader, are you and I prepared for this glorious appearing of the Son of God? I will tell you what is necessary. Redemption by the blood of Christ, justification by his imputed righteousness, and regeneration by his Spirit and grace, for except a man be born again of water and of the Spirit he cannot see, much less inherit the kingdom of God. John iii. 3.

A COUNTRY MINISTER.

THE WORK OF GOD IN THE SOUL.

My dear friend,

WHEN you, was last in London, I promised you, I would send you a let ter, which I then intended to have soon accomplished, but I am sorry to say, although I have had the will, yet I have not found the power; or in other words, I have not had a convenient opportunity; and now I have my fears respecting it, thinking you will say I am troublesome; yet on the second consideration, if you are acquainted with the unspeakable love, and great condescension of our Lord Jesus Christ to sinners, you will not despise the scribbling of one of the least of the family, who through the rich mercy of Christ, hath obtained mercy, and the remission of sins. I must confess, it was an unspeakable joy to my heart, when I found you enquiring the way to Zion, with your face thitherward; and as it was what