Page images
PDF
EPUB

have you obtained this invaluable justification by imputed righteousblessing?

་་

a

III. The scriptures speak of new name, "Thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name," Isa. lxii. 2. Christ is called the Lord our Righteousness, and his chosen bride (the church) is called by the same name. This is the name wherewith she shall be called, the Lord our righteousness," Jer. xxiii. 6: xxxiii. 16. The new name which is given in regeneration, is that of christian, of saints, the people of God, and the church of Christ. It is said that Lo-ammi shall be taken off from the converted Jews at the latter day, and that they shall be called the people of God, See Hosea i. 10; Acts xi. 26; Rev. ii. 17. The new name is a very superior name, being better than that of sons and daughters. "Even them will I give in my house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and daughters. I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off," Isa. lvi. 5. To be children of God, to be interested in the new covenant, to bear the image of Jesus, and to shine in his likeness, is better than to be the sons and daughters of an earthly potentate. Shew me an individual who has a new heart; and the new name bound upon his brow, and I will shew you a soul that shall strike a golden harp in glory, and sing the song for ever new, before the throne of God.

IV. We read of a new song, "Oh, sing unto the Lord a new song, for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand and his holy arm hath gotten him the victory," Psa. xcviii. 1. The song of redeeming love may be called a new one in allusion to that which was sung by Moses and the children of Israel after they got safe through the Red Sea, Exod. xv. 1. The church of Christ under the new testament dispensation, sing of covenant mercies, of salvation by grace; of redemption by blood: of

ness of free pardon, of divine promises, and everlasting faithfulness. Sinners saved by free and matchiess grace can raise a higher note than angels can. Angels sing of Christ as their head of conservation, and tune their notes to the praise of everlasting love: but they must pause while redeemed souls proceed with their loud sounding praises of redeeming love, Rev. i. 5; v. 9. Those happy souls whom God has chosen for his own, who are washed from their filthiness in the precious blood of Christ, adorned with his righteousness and snatched as brands from the burning, have cause to sing, they must sing, and so they do when the sun shines, and when in its bright light they can read their interest in new covenant mercies; free · grace has done the work, and to grace they give the glory. Through this grace, may writer and reader join with the happy songsters round the throne to praise the never ceasing wonders of redeeming love.

'Then will we sing more sweet, more loud, And Christ shall be our song."

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

Friend; then will come the marriage supper of the Lamb, when the bride arrayed in righteousness divine, will sit down in the presence of her hushand, and enjoy the blessings of the feast, Rev. xix. 7, 8. There faith will be turned into sight, hope into fruition, and sorrow into joy. There the crowned Redeemer will be seen in the full blaze of his glory, and the whole blood-redeemed family, will hold sweet and uninterrupted communion with him. If this should be our mercy, dear reader, we shall have light without darkness, joy without sorrow, peace without trouble, and communion without annoy; there old sorrows, old cares, and all enemies will have for ever passed away, and all things become new. 'O happy state of overflowing grace.'

Dear reader, allow me in conclusion to ask you one solemn question, what do you know of the new birth? it may be you are born again, if so, that is a great mercy for you; but if you know nothing experimentally of the new birth, you are yet without God, and without hope in the world, and if live and die in that state, you you cannot be saved, John iii. 3. 7.

A COUNTRY MINISTER,

GOD IS KNOWN IN HER PALACES FOR A REFUGE.

My beloved Friend,

In my last communication I invited your contemplation upon the glory and privileges of the church of Christ upon earth, as composed of poor guilty sinners, whose hearts the Lord hath touched, making them willing in the day of his power, to be saved in him, with an everlast. ing salvation. It is truly blessed, while witnessing the sad effects the introduction of sin has occasioned upon all the powers of the human mind, to contemplate the rising glories and deathless triumphs of the Son of God, who hath abolished death, and brought life and immor

tality to light, by the shedding of his most precious blood. This is the only foundation for a sinner's hope, and the spring of everlasting delight to the way worn traveller, as he passes through a world of thorns and briers; and will prove in the paradise above, an ocean of eternal blessedness, "when the ransomed of the Lord shall return to Zion with songs, and everlasting joy upon their heads, when sorrow and sighing shall flee away for ever."

a

Perhaps, before this happy period shall arrive, we may have to wade through the deep waters of affliction, and to drink the cup of sorrows, temptation and pain; well, be it remembered, our God sits at the helm of all human affairs, appointing and regulating every event to promote the saints' everlasting welfare, to make unto himself a glorious name; hence the sweet singer of Israel, who expe rienced this truth to be sweeter to than the honeycomb, exclaimed "God his taste than honey, yea, sweeter is known in her palaces for refuge; we have thought of thy loving kindness, O God, in the midst of the temple." Here again we are introduced into the church of the living God, a temple for the Most High to dwell in, in which his glory, as the God of all grace, is manifested to the vilest of the vile, their souls comforted, and eternally blest. It should never be forgotten, that the glory of Jehovah is great, very great in the salvation of a sinner; and yet, alas, how low and mean are our concep tions upon a subject in which angels of light desire to look into, and are ever learning from the church, the manifold wisdom of God; so earthly and sensual are our hearts, that only as the Holy Spirit, the glorifier of Christ, rests upon our souls, as a Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, have we any spiritual conceptions of his glory, or taste any of the blessedness that is contained in his name; yes, truly 'How sweet the name of Jesus sounds, In a believer's ear;

It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,
And drives away his fear.'

My brother, if we desire to have our minds affected by the greatness, and glory of God's method of saving a sinner, from the bitter pains of eternal death, let us ever bear in mind, that when our first parent violated the law of his Maker, he justly incurred his righteous displeasure, and had he from that moment, been consumed by the breath of his mouth, and consigned to the regions of everlasting woe, all the perfections and attributes of Jehovah would have been glorified during the countless ages of eternity. But oh, the matchless grace, the unmerited mercy, manifested in devising means whereby his banished ones should not be expelled from him. It is true, when a soul is spiritually convinced of sin, he can see no hope of deliverance, and often, in the feelings of his mind he is saying, "Can the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive be delivered;" can there be hope for such an one as me; sin is now the burden and torment of his soul, and in secret he groans out before God, Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name for ever." He can no longer take his fill of the imagined pleasures of iniquity; yea, a remembrance of his oft repeated transgressions, bite as a serpent, and sting as an adder, and he is ready to conclude, "there is no help for him in God;" but just in the moment of self despair, perhaps his feet are conducted to the house of God, the gospel table is spread, the poor, the lame, the blind, the utterly destitute are invited to partake of the provision, eternal mercy has provided; his heart is opened to believe the glad tidings of salvation; whilst the Holy Spirit with almighty power addresses the convinced, the seeking sinner, and says, "I counsel thee, to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich, and white raiment that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame

[ocr errors]

of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve that thou mayest see." Immediately upon this gracious invitation being applied to the heart, the captive is brought forth out of the prison-house, the bars of unbelief are broken, Satan subdued, whilst a conscience stained with guilt receives the blood of atonement, by which peace flows into the soul like a river, and righteousness ag the waves of the sea. Never, my brother, no never can I forget the holy joy that filled my trembling heart,

"When Jesus shewed his heart was mine, And whispered I am his.'

[ocr errors]

Yea, blessed be his dear name, such at times have been the sweet manifestations of the love of Christ to my soul, that my mouth has been filled with laughter, and my tongue with singing; so, that blessed scripture hath been happily realized in my ex. perience; He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing their sheaves with them.' Indeed, no tongue can tell the joy of heart that is felt, when a poor sinner, who has long been brooding over his miseries, and his soul fainteth within him, when divine comforts and spiritual life is infused into his soul, bringing him forth into the sweet liberty of the children of God, crying, Abba, Father. I refer to these seasons just to remind my brother, that however gloomy may be the frame of his mind, however mysterious the dispensations of provi dence, and however sorely he be tried by the prince of darkness; the "Lord loveth the righteous, and will satisfy them early with his mercy :" therefore wait on him, neglect not the house of prayer, remember he hath promised to make the place of his feet glorious, to feed his people, and to lift them up for ever.

Hark, the Redeemer from on high
Sweetly invites his favourites nigh,

[ocr errors]

may

From caves of darkness and of doubt,
He gently speaks and calls them out.

My soul to pastures fair he leads,
Amongst the lilies where he feeds;
Amongst the saints whose robes are white,
Wash'd in his blood is his delight.

Till the day break, and shadows flee,
Till the sweet dawning light I see,
Thine eyes to me-ward often turn,
Nor let my soul in darkness mourn.'

My dear friend, I would fain tell you, but time prevents me now, the sweetness I felt this morning before the break of day, whilst musing over the tender mercies of a covenant God, and could not but inwardly exclaim, "O how great is thy goodness O Lord, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men." This is a most blessed scripture, it has supplied my soul with many a sweet, and brought heaven down in a way of anticipation, even the glories of the Lamb in the midst of the throne. Mark, I beseech you, the blessed truth the Holy Spirit designs to convey to the heirs of promise in this scripture, and I am sure you will join with me and say, "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise, be thankful unto him, and bless his name;" and can it be otherwise, seeing that by faith we can discover blessings laid up to fill the ransomed soul with eternal delight, while immortality rolls along; and not only so, but there are streams flowing out of this ocean of everlasting blessedness, to cheer and comfort the heart of the pilgrim on his way to his Father's house above, where sin and death will not be known, or feared any more for ever; indeed, it is impossible to tell out what our covenant God in Jesus has wrought out, as well as laid up for the spiritual welfare of his children, in this vale of tears.

The sweet singer of Israel, not only celebrates the love and mercy of God, in laying up in a covenant ordered all

things and sure, an incorruptible portion which fadeth not away, when dull mortality will be swallowed up of life; but also, the many supports, liftings up, and deliverances we experience, as we make our way through this valley of cares, sorrows, and conflicts. It is here, in this distant country, we have sometimes to eat the bread of scarcity, and to drink of the bitter waters of Mara, so that we often imagine, judging by the outward dispensations of providence, our spot and portion is not that of the children of God, for of them it is said, "They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied;" and again, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delighteth in his way." But, my brother, the bitterest ingredient in the cup of divine appointment, arises out of the with. drawment of the light of our Father's countenance; of hardness of heart, and the little enjoyment of the chief things of the ancient mountains; truly we can say, "without are fightings and within are fears;" having to contend, "not only with flesh and blood, but principalities and powers, and spiritual wickednesses in high places ;" but blessed be God, this is not our rest and portion; For if we had only hope in this world, we should be of all men the most miserable;" our portion lies beyond the skies, and whenever the Holy Spirit is pleased to hold up to faith's view, the glories which are laid up for our everlasting felicity, we can then look over the mountains of our guilt, and the valley of conflicts, with which we have now so much to do, and taste, and enjoy by anticipation, the glories of the upper and better world; hence the apostle with holy triumph of soul exclaimed, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge will give me in that day, and

[ocr errors]

not to me only, but unto all those who love his appearing." Yes, blessed thought, the blessings laid up in the covenant of grace are immense and eternal, and will impart to every blood-bought sinner, full and everlasting bliss; "where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary I will be for ever at rest;" hence a brother of old said, after bearing the heat and burden of the day, "As for me, I shall behold thy face in righteousness, then shall I be satisfied, when I awake up in thy likeness."

Nor sorrow, nor sickness, nor pain,
Nor sin, nor temptation, nor fear.
Shall ever molest me again,

Perfection of glory reigns there.

This soul and this body shall shine,
In robes of salvation and praise
And banquet on pleasure divine,
Where God his full beauty displays.

My dear friend, I cannot close these hasty remarks without again inviting your observation to every movement of our Father's hand in a way of providence, all of which are intended to work out the purposes of his grace, in the everlasting salvation of all the objects of his eternal regard; hence the period was fixed, when sovereign mercy was to be manifested in arresting the sinner in the midst of his iniquities, the Holy Spirit by his uncreated light and power, resting upon his conscience, causing him to cry out, from a conviction of his guilty and undone condition, Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness, according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions."

66

This spiritual conviction, is the first manifested blessing of the everlasting covenant, by which the after mercies bestowed become adapted to his state and condition, and most blessedly prepare his heart for the full enjoyment of the saints in glory; hence precious faith is implanted in the soul; he views the atonement as completed upon Calvary's summit, as

[blocks in formation]

as

we

"And confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."-Heb. xi. 13. DEAR FELLOW PILGRIMS in this land of sorrow, are spared monuments of mercy in the land of the living another year. During the small compass of the past year, what changes have we witnessed: many of our old warriors in the camp of free grace are no more with us, but have cast anchor in the harbour, while we are left a few more days or hours to be tossed in the storm; they have put off the harness and laid down their crosses, to take their crowns, and fill their mansions in their Father's house above. Each revolving year brings fresh trials, and fresh deliverances with it. The world's smiles and frowns will soon be buried together in everlasting forgetfulness. Its smiles go away as

the foam on the water, and its frowns are as the waters that pass away and are no more seen. Time flies away

our

with swift wings, and carries earthly comforts and crosses too along with it: neither of them will accompany us into the house appointed for all living, Job iii. 17. For the last seven years, I have had to endure severe trials from false brethren, who make a fair show in the flesh, and are held in repute by many professors, who do not discern between those that glory in appearance only, and those that glory in heart. humility of these lay in words, they speak meanly of themselves that cthers may exalt them; hence the

The

« PreviousContinue »