to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus, before the world began. Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying my counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure, also I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant."

God the Son is second in order in this heavenly firm, who himself engaged willingly and cheerfully to fulfil and perform every part of the said engagement made by him, with the Father to the very letter of the same, see Isaiah vi. 8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us, then said I, Here am I, send me.' Psa. xl. 7." Thep said I, Lo I come, in the volume of the book it is written of me."

God the Holy Ghost is the third party concerned in this holy firm, who himself manages all the books, see Rev. xx. 12 And I saw the dead both small and great stand before God, and the books were opened; and another book was opened which is the book of life, and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." He also settles all accounts, reveals all necessary secrets, or private matters that concern all that are evidently interested therein, "There is a God in heaven, that revealeth secrets," Dan. ii. 28. "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him and he will shew them his covenant," Ps. xxv. 14. "And I will pray the Father, and he shall send you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever. Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not neither knoweth him, but ye know him, for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."

I would now take notice of the persons who do business at this firm,

so blessedly contrived, and so admi. rably set up, namely,

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First. The whole election of grace, whether male or female, rich or poor, bond or free, learned or unlearned; For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office; so we being many, are one body in Christ, and every one, members one of another;" Romans xii. 45. There is neither jew nor greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female, for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."

Second. All who are sovereignly called by divine grace, to acknowledge of themselves, and the need they each, and every one of them have, of such a blessed and never failing firm, consisting of durable riches, and righteousness, of which in Jesus, there is an ever overflowing fulness, that can never be exhausted, " And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace;” John i. Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.'

Third. Every one that is in debt, discontented, and in distresses, and all who sensibly know, and feel their real need of such a liberating, and soul-supplying, and soul-supporting firm, as saith the apostle, I desire fruit, that may abound to your account;" "And the Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer ;" 2 Sam. xxii. 2. All such, teeling their leanness, poverty of spirit, lost, ruined, naked, and forlorn state, and condition; having nothing to recom. mend them to the favour, or notice of the firm, but rags, and rottenness, will most humbly, and gladly apply thereat, seeing all such are most graciously invited by every party blessedly concerned in the firm; "Come unto ine, all ye that are weary, and heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

Fourth. All the hungry and thirsty travellers Zionward, Isaiah lv. 6. namely, such as feel themselves to be worse and worse every day, and

to say,

who are through grace, enabled to come to Jesus, for comfort and cure, being inwardly convinced by the Holy Spirit, there is no other source, no other remedy whatsoever, nor indeed have such any desire, for any other assistant, being blessedly taught Lord, unto whom shall we go, thou hast the words of eternal life;" and "whom have I in heaven but thee, and there is none upon earth, that I desire beside thee;" and it is the Spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing, the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life."

I now come to notice, secondly,

The business itself.

1st. Salvation by grace, displaying throughout, the blessed work, and worth of Jesus, such as his wonderful undertaking in council and cove nant, to prove and secure the same to all the heirs of promise, also his taking human nature into union with his divine; his travelling from one end of the law to the other, in order that complete obedience, atonement, sanctification, justification, and eternal salvation should be obtained for all the election of grace in him; that an eternal inheritance, and endless happiness might be for ever enjoyed by all the church, in aud through him ; "For there is now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit ;" "Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."

2nd. Endless and complete re. demption is another part of this joint business performed alone by the glorious second person in this firm; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." Also, "In whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace." Zech. x. 8; Hosea xiii. 14. Thus, by and

through our blessed Jesus, redemption work is, and shall be, in all its bearings, effectually completed for his people, from sin, death, hell, and eternal damnation, and finally, from the corruption of the grave; as it is written, "I will ransom them from the power of the grave, I will redeem them from death; O death, I will be thy plagues, O grave, I will be thy destruction, repentance shall be hid from mine eyes." For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them which are asleep, for the Lord himself shall de. scend 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. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we be ever with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

3rd. Complete atonement or final reconciliation between the sinner, justice, the law, God, and the conscience of every saved sinner, by the performance of which, two being agreed, can walk together in harmony, comfort, and settled peace. Amos iii. 3. "God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, and hath committed unto as the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christ's stead be ye reconciled to God." "For he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." Rom. v. 11; John i. 7.

4th. This business includes a real

work in the heart of all whom Jesus came to redeem by shedding his precious blood, and by his almighty power, such as regeneration, the new birth, spiritual and genuine conver. sion, and a powerful turning of the sinner by grace from the error of his way, and bringing the wanderer home to God. "Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Being born again, not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible, by the word of God which liveth and abideth for ever." Thus, it is plain this life can never die, or cease to be; as it is written, "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever." Also, "I will give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." See also 1 John v. 11-20.

5th. This business includes supplies of all things necessary for time and eternity, such as life, light, food, clothing, habitation, education, comfort, consolation, pardon, peace, righteousness, and endless felicity, all, all, all free without cost or care from the happy saved receiver. Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy and eat, yea come, buy wine and milk, without money and without price."

6th. This business includes in it the blessed and sweet soul-confidence of the above, brought home to the heart by God the Holy Ghost, whose blessed office it is to perform all our works of grace and peace in us, for He shall," saith Jesus, take of the things of mine and show them unto you," &c., Lord, thou wilt ordain peace for us, for thou hast wrought all our works in us." Also, For it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure."

7th. This business involves in it a full assurance of faith in the confi

dence, faithfulness, power, ability, willingness, suitability, and benevo lence of all the glorious three in the heavenly firm, as the one eternal God of all grace, who hath called us into his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after ye have suffered awhile make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Again, furthermore, this business! will necessarily include one or two of the firm in conjunction with the third, as dealers in sheep; as it is written, "In the cities of the moun tains, in the cities of the vale, and in the cities of the south, and in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, shall the flocks pass again under the hands of him that telleth them, saith the Lord." Therefore, the second person on whom this busi. ness lies is styled by the Father, bis shepherd," Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts; smite the shepherd and the sheep shall be scattered, and I will turn my hand upon the little ones." And Jesus, as a kind shepherd, deals kindly and gently with his purchased flock. "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he sall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.' And Jesus is himself and by himself styled the good shepherd; I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine." Peter calls him the chief shepherd, and Paul, the great shepherd, and also the true shepherd.

This will lead me more particularly to consider. 3rd. The person designated to this important appointment itself, as connected therewith, namely, Jesus Christ himself, with promise of support from the Father; see Isaiah xlii. 6, 7. "I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and

give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the gentiles. To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness, out of the prisonhouse." See also Isaiah xliii. 1-7. 1st. He was prepared, and formed for the work in counsel and covenant, 'My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lower parts of the earth." Thine eyes did then see my substance, yet being imperfect, and in thy book, all my members were written; which in continu. ance were fashioned, when as yet, there was none of them." Psalm cxxxix. 6, 7. Thus was the Lord Jesus rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and his delights were with the sons of men. Moreover in Isaiah lxi. he beautifully observes, "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has appointed me to preach good tidings to the meek, he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord; and the day of vengeance of our Lord; and to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified." And in the xl. Psalm he says, "Lo, I come, in the volume of the book, it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God, yea thy law is within my heart." "I have preached righteousness in the great congregation, lo I have not refrained my lips, O Lord, thou knowest," See also, Phil. xi. 7, 8, 9; and Hebrews xi. 7, 8, 9.

2nd. He was born for it, as it is written, "Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel." Also " that

which is conceived in her, is of the Holy Ghost;" "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." He was brought up to it. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation; which thou hast prepared before the face of all people. A light to lighten the gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel." And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba Father." See also, Acts xiii. 2, 3,; and Heb. ix. 26.

3rd. He was early put to this business, namely at the age of twelve years, when we hear no more of him in the business, until his age extends to 29 years, when he began in good earnest, nor rested until he had fulfilled his wonderful design.

4th. He carried on the business with strict punctuality throughout, and never failed or forsook it, until he finally finished it, when he bowed his blessed head, and gave up the ghost. Thus he glorified his Father on the earth, and finished the work, which he gave him to do.

5th. He wrought hard, and fought hard; he wrought long, and sweat blood in the garden of Gethsemane, for his worst enemies; even for poor, miserable and forlorn sinners, whom he came to seek, and to save ; For the Son of man, came to seek and to save that which was lost." The apostle says, This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

6th. He satisfied all parties concerned in the business, as it is written,

And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water, and lo the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him; and lo a voice from heaven saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

To be continued.

I send you a few lines to let you know that I have been ill at home ever since I saw you; very ill; in violent pain; could hardly keep from screaming out; sometimes in bed for a while, then up, but no rest night nor day; awake all the night, thinking, it never will be day. I got home that night with much difficulty, and have been confined ever since, and there is very little signs of my getting better; but all things are possible with God. Mother has been very sadly, particularly Saturday night, but she is better. S and M

are both well, thank God. I hope you are comfortable, and that you try all you can to give satisfaction to master and mistress; I hope they are well, and the family. O. E- remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth, everything short of an interest in Christ is a blank,

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vanity and vexation of spirit;" pursuing this world is pursuing the shadow and neglecting the substance. O, how the devil labours continually to amuse the children of men with numberless things, to keep all thought of God and conscience far away. Novels, play-books, jest-books, &c. with every other nonsense that he can invent to harden men in sin; but God will not let his people go on so to their destruction, but will, sooner or later, awaken them to a sight and sense of their danger; and the way he does this is by quickening their dead souls, (for every soul is born into this world spiritually dead) and this life makes a great change in them, and is attended with the true light; they now consider their latter end, the day of judgment, an angry God, and themselves sinners against him, and these convictions will never altogether go off but something or other will open the wound, their thoughts now are as follow: Oh, that

I knew that Christ died for me; Oh, that I knew that I was a child of God. Such ask their way to Zion with their faces thitherward. Such are turned from the broad road to the narrow path, and from disobedience to the wisdom of the just. When I first sought the Lord, everything for a time appeared pleasant, and I expected to get better and better, for I thought religion to be quite different to what it is, and as people used to applaud me, that nursed my pride, and I liked it well. I got a fine prayer, hymn-book, and bible, and constantly attended chapel; went to prayer-meetings; visited the sick; took the Lord's supper; and had some confidence that I was right; but God did not let me go on long this way, for I had terrible sbakes, and at last, when I found out W. Huntington, he soon pulled me down and turned me inside out, and this went deeper and deeper and deeper, so that I was a burden to myself, and often wished I never had been born. However, as the Lord wounded me so he was pleased to heal me, and I never did, nor could rest, till I was sure that Christ Jesus, the Son of God, loved me and gave himself for me. I used to find such longings, desires, thirstings, crying after him in agonies of soul, pleading the promises; for I clearly saw there were only two sorts of people in the world, elect and reprobate, and I wanted to know which of the two I was. Thus I came after the Lord in chains, with supplication and bitter weeping he led me; I entered in at the scrait (or difficult) gate, and although the way did appear very perilous, and I have all along found it a path of tri bulation, yet, blessed be God, it is the right way, and I never have repented of it, and can see the woeful state of every soul out of Christ, for God is unchangeable in all his purposes. Give my best respects to your master and mistress, and if you like you may shew them this letter;