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maidens to religion, but we see them so often usurp and tyrranize over their mistress, that while we trust our pages will not affront the eye of fastidiousness, we are determined that they shall not be overladen with meretricious ornaments, or obscured by fanciful imagery.

Reader, such is and such has long been the Spiritual Magazine. During a companionship which has now existed nearly a quarter of a century, hath our intercourse tended in any measure to thy spiritual edification? Thy answer will resolve best our first question, and prove whether in thus conducting our work, we have or have not been profitably employed. We have been, and not unfrequently, encouraged by testimonies affirmatory of this, and they are very delightful. As the number of our years increase, as our array of volumes lengthen, it is pleasant to reflect that our labour has not been thrown away, and that our two and twenty volumes are not regarded as lumber. Our name is unknown, our toil is unobserved, but we do wish the fruit of our labour to be apparent. Grant it, we beseech thee, O thou who alone canst render it efficient, and as the Spiritual Magazine is carried on wholly in dependence upon thee, do thou water it with thine own dew, and shine upon it thine own bright influences, so shall it be, as we fervently pray it may be, a means in thine hand to the souls' good of thy people, and the glory of thine own holy name.

"Now unto him that is able to keep us from falling, and to present us faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen."

THE EDITORS.

THE SPIRITUAL MAGAZINE,

AND

ZION'S

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.

66

JANUARY, 1846.

THE GOSPEL PULPIT.

THE RIVER OF GOD ENRICHING HIS

CHURCH:

nience of his creatures; which consideration alone affords very useful meditations to excite in us both thankfulness and obedience to God. And it may be observed, that something figurative appears in the words

A Sermon preached at the New Meeting taken only in their natural significa

House, Liverpool,

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Ir is usual with the Holy Ghost, in Scripture, to deliver spiritual truths in terms taken from natural things, so that many expressions are to be understood both in a literal and metaphorical sense, as might be instanced in many particular texts; which, retaining only their proper natural signification, have indeed a substantial meaning, very useful and instructive; but when understood according to their spiritual intention, afford instructions of a more rich and excellent nature. And such is the text before us.

The psalmist is here describing the great goodness of God to mankind in general, in watering and replenishing the earth, to make it fruitful and delightful for the support and conveJanuary, 1846.]

tion; for a river, simply considered, cannot greatly enrich the earth, (or but a very small part thereof,) without the concurrence of other natural blessings, as the sunbeams, showers of rain, breezes of air, &c.; therefore the "River of God" here ɛpoken of, must be understood of all that confluence of natural blessings by which the earth is replenished. But if we closely attend to the former part of the psalm, it is easy to perceive that the inspired psalmist had not his thoughts wholly confined to natural things, but had something higher in view. And as God frequently speaks of visiting and blessing the earth, when he intends his chosen people upon it, who because of their earthly original may be called earth, though blessed with heavenly grace in Christ; so the spiritual and heavenly blessings by which their souls are enriched, are frequently called rivers. Wherefore, I conceive, the chief and ultimate intention of the Holy Ghost in these

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First. Would we understand this river, we must closely attend to the phrase the river of God. It is not called a river, but the river, implying that it is not any common blessing, but a peculiar flow of blessings; and, therefore, directs us to the only begotten Son of God, in whom all fulness dwells. And it is called the river of God; denoting it to be the greatest, highest, and most excellent stream of blessings. It being a thing common with the ancient Hebrews, to join the name of God with anything wherein they meant to express the highest degree of excellency or perfection; that name being the highest epithet they could possibly use for expressing any wonderful thing. In the same light it may here be taken; shewing the blessings to be not only supernatural, but the highest degree of supernatural blessings; that is, the fulness of Christ, that fills all in all. And it is to be observed, that a river is a constant flow of water, permanent and uninterrupted; without beginning, but what cometh originally from the ocean, which no man can trace; and with out end, but what issueth into the sea, which no man can pursue; which may be useful for illustrating the following particulars.

First. The love of God the Father,

It

to his elect in Christ Jesus, which has its original in God alone, without the concurrence of any creature, or anything lovely in the creature, whereby God might be induced to set his love upon them; but dwelling eternally in himself, and flowing from himself, because it is himself; God is love. Not that we loved God, but he loved us. Therefore it is called an everlasting love. It is sovereign like God himself: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? is of perpetual duration; for having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. And all the blessings which spring from this love are of the same kind; election bears the same date; according as he hath chosen us in him, before the foundation of the world. Predestination, or God's purpose of grace, has no other foundation, but the good pleasure of his will. According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord, And the blessings of grace were given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. And the covenant, wherein all the blesings of grace are confirmed to God's chosen, is called an everlasting covenant; a covenant of peace, which shall not be removed. And it may well be compared to a river, for the abundance of blessings which flow in it; as the Lord being their God, and they being his people, writing his law in their hearts, and forgiving their iniquity, &c. Yea, it is one perpetual stream of blessings, for time and eternity, life and peace, grace and glory.

Secondly. The person of Christ, for the abundance, the constancy, and perpetuity of heavenly blessings, which dwell in him, and flow from him, may well be called the river of God, full of water, for it pleased the Father, that in him should all fulness dwell; not only in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, but every believer beholds him, full of grace and truth. So full and large,

that he not only gives living water to every one that asketh of him, but inviteth every one that thirsteth, to come to him and drink; yea, to drink abundantly. And for the constant supply found in him, he is called the fountain of life, fountain of living waters, fountain opened, &c. And the riches of grace and glory, which flow from him, are called a pure river of water of life. Also for his unchangeableness, he is said to be Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever.

Thirdly. The glad tidings of salvation by Christ, and truths contained in the Holy Scriptures, and preached in the gospel, that pure word of life, are frequently compared to waters, dropping as rain, distilling as dew, watering the earth, &c. And Christ is said to sanctify and cleanse his church with the washing of water by the word; and Apollos to water the church by preaching the gospel to believers. The scriptures may well be compared to a river; since they reveal unto us the mystery of the Father's will; testify of Christ; are used by the Holy Spirit in his special operations; and are not only of his own inditing, but under his special influence are made profitable, to the thorough furnishing the people of God, to all good works, through the many precious truths, gracious promises, and wholesome instructions therein contained; which flow as streams, and which God has promised, shall never depart from his children.

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dry ground, which our Lord Jesus Christ expresses in these words: "All things that the Father hath are mine; therefore, said I, that he shall take of mine and shall shew it unto you." And which the apostle Paul, in his player for the Holy Spirit to be sent forth to perform his grace-office in the souls of the Ephesians, so fully declares, when he concludes his petition thus: "That ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." The Holy Spirit also descends as an irresistible stream, none being able to hinder his operations; therefore, the apostle, in another prayer for the Holy Spirit upon the Ephesians, intreats for his operations, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead. Yet the streams are most gentle and refreshing; he guides into all truth, and brings to remembrance all the gracious words which Christ hath said, and these blessings are perpetual; the promise is, And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever."

Thus the everlasting love of God the Father, the person of Christ in his mediatorial office, the gospel of Christ revealed in the holy scripture, and the Holy Spirit, in his gracious influences, may each distinctly be called a river; the river of God full of water, by reason of the abundance of grace which flows in them to the children of God.

But as all these have one original, for all things are of God, they all unite in one, for Christ is all, and in all; they all agree in one grand design, to the praise of the glory of his grace; and all tend to the same desired end, to bless his elect with all spiritual blessings in heavenly things in Christ, that he might bring us to God.

For all blessings which at any time, or in any way or manner, have been made known or communicated to God's people, are no other but what were originally hid in God, and in

due time manifested, according to the good pleasure of his will. All the blessings which God purposed from everlasting, he purposed in Christ; and all his rich grace is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ. All the grace and glory fulness, that dwells in Christ, (so far as we at present are capable of conceiving it) is contained in the scriptures, written in the volume of the book, and by the gospel is preached unto us; and the whole revelation from first to last, amounts to nothing more or nothing less, than to declare the unsearchable riches of Christ. All the spiritual blessings conceived in the eternal counsels of the Father, and manifested in Christ, are communicated to the souls of his children by the Holy Ghost; even those things which the natural man cannot know, God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit. And all the operations and influences of the Holy Spirit, are nothing more nor less, than enriching the people of God with those blessings which proceed from the Father and Son; powerfully applying, and sealing to his children, that grace which in a word is declared to them by the gospel.

So that they are all one entire undivided river. Therefore, by the river of God, which is full of water, we may understand all the inconceivable depths of the boundless ocean of the grace of God, in all its streams, with all its out-goings and overflowings, its blessed effects, and glorious end. Wherein is contained all the blessings of life, and peace, grace, and glory; as adoption, redemption, righteousness, forgiveness of sins, sanctification, and eternal salvation, with whatsoever may contribute to the glory of God, and his people's eternal happiness; all flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb.'

Thus much (and nothing less) is comprehended in this phrase, the river of God; which may be further

illustrated by considering some of the properties of rivers.

First. All rivers have their original from the ocean, or the great unfathomable deep. For God, in the creation, gathered the water together into one place and called it the seas; wherefore all the waters that appear in rivers, fountains, clouds, rain, dew, or otherwise, are one way or other, brought from that one place; nor was there ever any water upon earth, for the common use of man, but what came from the sea, there being no other place from whence it could proceed.

So this river of God has its original from that immense boundless ocean, the unsearchable mind, will, and counsel of the Lord Jehovah; nor has it any cause but God himself. so astonishing to the Paul, as made him

was

64

This apostle

O the All the

cry out, depth of the riches," &c. blessings of grace flow according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. And the great salvation is wrought according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. The glad tidings of the gospel are no other than the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world. And the truths revealed to us by the Holy Spirit, are no other than the deep things of God. And as the water which breaks forth in fountains among the hills and valleys, which becomes the heads of rivers, is carried far through the earth, under ground, in a way to us unknown; so the river of grace was carried on in the secret decrees of God, undiscovered until the time appointed of the Father, being kept secret since the world began; and is called the mystery which hath been hid from ages, and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints. And the spotless Lamb of God (in whom all grace resides, and through whom it is con

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