can only be found in Jesus, legalizes the word of the gospel, makes use of it against himself, and thus satan gains his end by keeping him at a distance from Christ. Hereby the believer's mind is affected, shut up, and contracted, in consequence of harbouring some secret jealousies concerning the love of Christ. The Child of God, in such a case, says, O what a depth of corruption! what a fountain of impu rity is within me! I once thought my self among the number of the renew. ed and called people of God, looked on myself as sanctified by faith which is in Christ Jesus, but alas! such a sight and sense of my inward sinfulness and cor ruption have been discovered to me in the hour of temptation, that I know not what to say or think of myself and state. I am vile in my own eyes, so that I cannot but most heartily loathe and abhor myself. And if I be thus exceedingly sinful, vile, and loathsome in my own sight, what must I be in the eyes of an holy God? Sure I am, the language of Job well becomes me, and fitly exprefses my experience; "Behold, I am vile, I "abhor myself, I will lay mine hand

upon my mouth." The mind, thus deeply affected with the experience it hath of the body of inward corruption, and inwardly opprefsed by the devil through his temptations and fiery as

saults, is in heavinefs for a season: and there is a necessity for it. By this mean the believer learns to know himself. He feels his great need of Christ. Those words from the mouth of his dear Lord serve to sustain him, "My grace is suf "ficient for thee." The temptations and afsaults of satan, with which the believer hath been exercised, through the divine influence of the Holy Ghost have done him good: they have produced such frames and feelings, as will ever serve to humble him and keep him low in his own eyes. His mind is emptied of all high thoughts concerning himself. His frame of heart is meek and lowly. He views himself to be the least of saints and the chief of sinners. The publican's prayer suits his feelings as well as his case, and he offers it up with the energy of the Spirit, "God be merciful unto me a sin"ner," through the propitiatory sacrifice of thy coequal Son. In the valley of humiliation he prizes Christ's refresh+ ings, When under darknefs and in souldistress without spiritual consolations such a scripture as this is prized beyond the gold of Ophir; "For a small mo"ment have I forsaken thee; but with

great mercies will I gather thee. In "a little wrath I hid my face from thee "for a moment; but with everlasting "kindness will I have mercy on thee,

"saith the Lord thy Redeemer." He experiences that the flesh lusteth against the spirit. He feels the effects of it, which leads him to see that his salvation is all of grace, and that he needs Jesus every moment and for every thing. The experience which he hath of himself with the rage and malice of satan against him only increases his importunity at the throne. He is poor and needy, and as such he betakes himself to the Lord, and finds a promise which exactly suits his case, frame, and feelings: "Fear not, "thou worm Jacob, I will help thee! "When the poor and needy seek water, "and there is none, and their tongue "faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear "them, I will open rivers in high places "and fountains in the midst of the val"leys. I will make the wilderness a pool "of water, and the dry land springs of "water"." The fulfilment of which promise to the believer, in a time of spiritual need, renders the grace and good contained in it most inestimably precious. It gives a proof of God's being his God, shews how his eye is on his child, is an exprefsion of his mercy, and draws out the faith and hope of the believer into fresh act and exercise; so that he saith, Truly my soul, waiteth upon "God: from him cometh my salvation. b Isa. xli. 14, 17, 187

a Isa. liv. 7, S.

"In God is my salvation and my glory: "the rock of my strength and my refuge "is in God. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your hearts before

him. God is a refuge for us. Selah!" Thus, in the course of the believer's experience, a way is opened for his knowing God more fully, as his covenantGod, and for trusting in him under that character. Looking on the promises and declarations of grace in Christ Jesus, as so many parts of the covenant, he finds, that, as there is a time for the execution of all God's purposes, so there is for the fulfilment of all his exceeding great and precious promises, and that some of them would remain unknown to him, if he were not brought into soul-distress. Moreover, in some circumstances, he prizes spiritual strength more than divine consolations: and he sees ground for thankfulness for this promise at all times, let his frames and feelings be ever so uncomfortable: "He giveth power "to the faint, and to them that have no "might he increaseth strength." From his own experience he can give God the honour of saying concerning him, "He is faithful that promised;" and may add, "He will not leave me nor forsake "I have his word for it. To live thus by faith on God, as he hath been pleased to reveal himself in the word,

"me.

and to hold communion with him by mixing faith therewith is the glory of our most holy profefsion: it is doing God the utmost honour, and giving him the highest glory we can pofsibly render him on this side heaven.

O my soul! learn thou to improve this subject daily. Seek to put honour on his word by stedfast faith continually. O thou blessed God and Father, who keepest covenant for ever, blefsed be thy holy name! thou art ever mindful of it. O, look upon the glorious Mediator of it, and upon me in him! And, for his sake, bestow on me thy Holy Spirit, as the spirit of promise to put life into it; and send him to explain and apply thy promises, as my various cases may require. I thank thee for appointing Christ to be the captain of salvation, and for calling me to fight under his banner against sin, the world, and the devil. Thou hast provided me with armour of proof. Lord, clothe me with it. Teach me the proper use of every part, and let me go forward, fighting the good fight of faith, laying hold of eternal life. I ask it for the honour of thy grace, and would ascribe all praise to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; to whom, ás coequal and coeternal in the unity of one undivided Godhead, be everlasting glory, blessing, and worship. Amen.