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THE SPIRITUAL MAGAZINE,

ZION'S

AND

CASKET.

"For there are Three that bear record in heaven, the FATHER, the WORD, and the HOLY GHOST: and these Three are One."-1 John v. 7.

"Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."-Jude 3. Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience."-1 Tim. iii. 6.

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FEBRUARY, 1846.

THE GOSPEL PULPIT.

THE RIVER OF GOD ENRICHING HIS

CHURCH.

In this application of heavenly grace, we always consider this twofold operation: but still we ascribe all the glory to the Holy Spirit, inasmuch as he is the author of the word of God, and the alone qualifier of min

A Sermon preached at the New Meeting isters to publish it; only we distin

House, Liverpool,

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Secondly, To understand water in this river, we may observe, that water is for enriching and replenishing the earth; and it becomes effectual by being applied to the ground, either brought in streams, or poured forth thereon, so as the earth is watered thereby. In like manner the water of life is made effectual, to the enriching and replenishing the church, by the quickening influence of the Holy Spirit; together with the word of grace in the gospel, or by the everlasting gospel, under the application of the Holy Ghost, whereby the soul receives a communication of all those rich blessings of life and salvation which proceed from the Father and the Son. February, 1846.]

guish between the Holy Ghost going forth in the ministry of the word, and his going forth in his special influence, making the word effectual to the heart. For the gospel, considered simply as written in the bible, or preached by the minister, makes no impression on the heart, without the quickening Spirit co-operating. "The word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it." So the Lord blessed Lydia, and others, by opening their hearts to receive the things which were spoken. And in the parable, where the gospel is compared to seed, it brought no fruit, only in the good ground; which goodness of ground was not any thing natural in the creature; for by nature, "There is none that doeth good, no not one;" it must therefore be understood, of that preparation of the heart, which is from the Lord.

Neither does the Holy Spirit, by his immediate communications, re

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veal any gospel truth without the word; for as the vision and prophesy are now sealed up. and the scripture is complete in all needful instructions, and wholesome doctrine, there is nothing to be added thereto, nor any new revelation to any person, so that since the completing of the gospel revelation, till Christ's second coming, no man upon earth knows, or can know any thing of the mind of God, but what he learns by the works of creation, and providence, in common with other men, or what he knows from the Scriptures; they only being the revelation of God's will to us, and the means appointed of God, for the manifestation of himself. Therefore, by the preaching of the word, the great truths are made known; and by the blessing of the Holy Spirit, they are made efficacious to the soul. Thus, when God would bless Cornelius with these living streams, he appointed him to send for Peter to open the Scriptures, and preach the gospel of Christ to him and his house; and "While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word." And the gospel came to the Thessalonians, "not in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost." Wherefore the communications of saving grace, are always conveyed by this double stream: the word alone, declares the glad tidings, but does not give it place in the soul. The Spirit in his immediate operations. makes no new discovery; only in illuminating the mind to understand the scriptures, and causing the word to come with such energy, that the soul receives it with all meekness, reverence, and readiness of mind, as it is in 'truth the word of the living God.

And as there is no ground to expect spiritual blessings from the bare preaching of the gospel, without the divine influence; nor the blessings of grace from the Holy Spirit, without the word of his grace, since faith

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cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God;" neither have we any reason to expect the Holy Ghost should command his blessing upon any other doctrine, but the gospel of pure grace, where Christ is the Alpha and Omega. It is the office of the Holy Ghost, to take of Christ's fulness and shew it to his people, and to seal the instructions of his pure word to their hearts; but how shall he cause us to receive blessings of grace from such corrupt or legal doctrine, where pure grace is not held forth ? Can we expect God should water the seed of tares till it produce wheat? no, the more it is watered, the more rank will the tares be; so the more taste, attention, and affection, we have in hearing corrupt doctrine, the more corrupting it will be to our minds. Unsound doctrine cannot be the means of enriching the soul without a miracle; but can we expect Christ to work a miracle, for the sake of giving sanction to such doctrine, wherein he himself is not glorified, but which is mixed with the will, power, and righteousness of man, and the pure gospel of the grace of God, perverted and confounded? No, when Christ was pleased to work a miracle, to feed his auditory, it was by commanding a blessing upon real bread, and not by complying with Satan, in commanding stones to be made bread. Christ alone is the bread of life, and the Holy Spirit, whose office it is to testify of him, will not give stones to his people, instead of that bread, nor feed his children with husks, which swine do eat; nor will he apply to their souls any doctrine, wherein any thing is determined to be known, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. So we conclude that the water of life, whereby the church of God is enriched, is the fulness of grace, from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, and it is communicated alone by the Holy Spirit, in his word, and by his indwelling power.

But having considered these waters in their cominunications, let us consider them in their effects.

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First, Water is for purifying, so is the grace of God: Christ is the fountain opened for sin and uncleanness. His blood cleanseth from all sin, and purgeth the conscience from dead works." He loved his people, and washed them from their sins, both from the guilt, and from the infection of sin, in his own blood. He gave himself for his church," that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word." His saints are made clean through the word which he hath spoken upto them; and wheresoever he gives his Holy Spirit, he purifies the heart by faith; yea, such cleansing virtue is found in these waters, that nothing can prevent their purifying efficacy; for he saith to his people, in the very height of their pollutions, "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean. from all your filthiness, and from all your idols will I cleanse you." Therefore whosoever shall pretend to the giace of God, and does not experience inward and outward purification, but continues in sin, is an impostor; for he that sinneth, "hath not seen the Son of God, neither known him." Are the original, the fountain, and all the streams of this river of God, holiness? then every soul that drinks of the water, must partake of that holiness. But holiness is essential to the Father, Son, and Spirit; therefore holiness is essential to all that are called by his grace. And though at present, the saints are not made perfect in holiness, yet the true seed abides in them, real and experimental grace and holiness.

Secondly. Water is for refreshing and comforting, so is the grace of God. The gospel is good tidings of great joy, and the words which Christ speaks to his disciples, are spoken to that end," that this joy might remain in them, and that their joy

might be full." And he hath abundantly promised his Holy Spirit, the Comforter, who shall abide with his church for ever, whose fruits are joy and peace, and who continues as a plentiful rain, whereby God doth confirm his inheritance when it is

weary. And the saints in all ages

have been favoured with these refreshings, which made David say, "Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn increased;" with very many such expressions of joy and satisfaction. The prophet Habakkuk in the view of all temporal distress says, "Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation." And the apostle Peter declares concerning the saints, that they rejoiced with joy unspeakable and full of glory." And this must needs be the consequence, since every thing in Christ's kingdom leads to joy and satisfaction. God says, "I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people." And again, "They shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the Lord. In thy presence is fulness of joy, at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."

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Thirdly, Another effect of water is to cause fruitfulness: so likewise the grace of God enricheth the saints with all spiritual and good fruits; both internal. as love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, &c. and also external, being fruitful in every good work. Which is frequently called the fruit of righteousness, because it is the effect of union with Christ, who is the Lord our Righteousness; they only bearing this fruit, who abide in him; as also this fruit discovers so much of the righ teousness of the law fulfilled in their hearts. Therefore good fruit is the discriminating character of a good tree, ingrafted into Christ, and watered by his grace. None is barren among Christ's trees of righteous

ness, nor shall they cease from yielding fruit, because herein is the Father glorified, and Christ hath chosen and ordained them thereunto. Wheresoever the pure gospel seed is sown in a prepared heart, it bringeth forth fruit abundantly, and the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth. Wherefore the soul that bears either evil fruit or no fruit, is a stranger to true grace.

Thirdly, I shall now consider in what the fulness of this water consisteth.

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But here I confess my thoughts are lost, and all my conceptions are swallowed up in this boundless ocean, which being absolutely infinite and unsearchable, it would be equally vain to pretend to, as impossible to perform a complete search or inquiry into this unfathomable deep. passes all the capacity of created beings to conceive of it; and were it possible to conceive of it, it would surpass all the skill of tongues to express, and all the bounds of time to relate it. The more we view, the more we are struck with astonishment; and the more we would relate, the more we are struck with silence. I shall therefore only hint at two particulars.

First, The all-sufficiency of this grace, which is extended freely to every soul that seeks, asks, or desires the blessing. And all needy souls are invited by a royal proclamation to come and partake of these living streams. "In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst, come; and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." And the assurance that they shall receive, is as strong as the invitation is free. "Jesus answered and said unto her, if thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee,

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give me to drink, thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water." I will give unto bim, that is athirst, of the water of life freely." And as it is thus largely extended, it is also completely adapted to the circumstance and condition of every thirsty soul. They cannot be so miserable, but here is all-sufficiency to relieve them; their wants cannot be so great, but here is fulness to supply them; nor their desires so large, but here are immense treasures to satisfy them: for it is he whose name is I AM, in whom the grace subsists.

Secondly, the perpetuity of this grace, being from everlasting to everlasting. The love of God is an everlasting love; he hath mercy on his people, with everlasting kindness; and Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation." And therefore we are encouraged to trust in the Lord for ever, .. for in the Lord Jehovah there is everlasting strength." He doth not cause us to drink of waters that fail; but whosoever drinketh of the water which Christ giveth, it shall be in him “a well of water, springing up to everlasting life;" and he "that comes to him shall never hunger, and he that believeth on him shall never thirst." This grace hath its beginning from himself, is carried on by himself, and is completed in him, who is the Lord and changeth not, therefore must be eternally inexhaustible. All that are once blessed with his love, are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation;" because his “ loving kindness shall not depart, nor the covenant of peace be removed." This is that river of God, which is full of water; which though it may be branched forth into many rivers; yet all centre in one; and is one, eternal, and perpetually overflowing river of life. love, grace and glory; whose original, whose springing forth, whose progression, and whose consummation are

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all in God; whose effects are so salutary. and whose fulness is so inexinex haustible. And as God is its all, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, in one, united to complete its perfection; it is not in the power of adversaries, in earth or hell, to stop the stream, or prevent its sovereign virtues. And hence ariseth the strongest encouragement, to the thirsty soul, to look to Christ for salvation, and for a supply of whatsoever he wants. Whether he be a sinner under wrath, there are peace and pardon in Christ; or whether he be a regenerate soul labouring under temptations, and thirsting for God, there is grace sufficient to sustain him, and to perfect that which is lacking in his faith. Nor is there any discouragement to any soul, whatsoever his condition be, since no enemy can be so strong, but here is victory; no disease so malignant, but here is healing virtue; no bondage so severe. but here is liberty; no pollution so contaminating, but here is purification; no misery so deep, but here is consolation; nor any poverty so distressing, but here is a supply of durable riches. And no soul can be disappointed, that waiteth for the refreshing streams of this river of God.

I come now to the second head; which is to consider, the enrichings which God's people are blessed with from this river; these consist in two things.

First, Freedom from evil. Secondly, The enjoyment of blessings.

In the first place, every one that is made partaker of the special grace of God in Christ finds deliverance,

First, from the condemning power of sin, as saith the scripture; "there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." He that believeth on him, is not condemned. He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that hath sent

me,
hath everlasting life, and shall not
come into condemnation. It is true,

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the wrath of God is revealed against
all their unrighteousness, but the Fa-
ther hath imputed their unrighteous-
ness to his Son; for he hath made
him to be sin for us, who knew no sin."
He hath actually laid their unrigh-
teousness upon him.
"The Lord
hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."
He hath sent forth his wrath against
him : "Awake, O sword, against my
Shepherd, and against the man that
is my fellow, saith the Lord of
Hosts." Yea, Christ did verily feel
the punishment due to all the sins of
all his people. Surely he hath
borne our griefs and carried our sor-
rows: he was wounded for our
trangressions, he was bruised for our
iniquities: who his own self bare our
sins in his own body on the tree."
He hath set them free from wrath;
"having made peace through the
blood of the cross." And is become
their righteousness; they being made
"the righteousness of God in him."
Therefore the soul is not only ac-
quitted from all imputation of sins:
being justified freely by his grace
through the redemption that is
in Jesus Christ: "in whom we
have redemption through his blood,
the forgiveness of sins, accord-
ing to the riches of his grace," but
also, the application of this redemp-
tion and justification, is by the Holy
Spirit brought to the conscience;
whereby the soul is enabled to look
to Christ, with an appropriating
faith; and with the apostle to triumph
saying, "Who shall lay any thing to
the charge of God's elect?" It is
true, the law pronounceth a curse
against every one that transgresseth
it in the least degree, and continueth
not in every precept; but the belie-
ver can with joy and courage plead,
that "Christ hath redeemed us from
the curse of the law, being made a
curse for us." It is true," the wages
of sin is death;" but Christ hath
abolished death. and "destroyed him
that had the power of death;" so
that the believer can with satisfaction

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