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Meditations.

MEDITATION XIII.

HEBREWS vii. 25.

He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him.

SALVATION is my great concern; I am the creature of a day; my body is of the dust, and returning to the dust again? I am in jeopardy every hour. Here I have no abiding city; as a tenant at will, I may be dismissed at a minute's warning: but I have an immortal soul-a soul that must be happy or miserable to eternity-a soul that must join angels in glory, or fiends in darkness! How weighty then is the concern of salvation; and how important each moment that shortens the span allotted me below.

When I look within myself, how far from salvation doth my state appear! A sinner I, vile and abominable; in nature at enmity with God, in practice a transgressor times beyond number; under guilt which I cannot remove, under corruption I cannot subdue, under wrath I cannot avert, and such wrath as is for ever wrath to come.

When I look to God, what can I expect? holy in his nature, and therefore infinitely removed from sin; just, and therefore bound to punish it; unchangeable, and therefore punishing eternally; omnipotent, there can be no resistance; omniscient, and therefore no escape from his notice.

Meditations.

Who shall deliver me? "Behold me," saith the Saviour, "I am he that bringeth salvation, salvation to the uttermost, mighty to save; atoning blood shall sprinkle the throne of justice; my Spirit shall guide thy steps, and almighty power strengthen thee. My salvation is near; I bring it to thee in my word; I seal it to thee with my blood, and will accomplish it in thee by my Spirit for ever." Do so, Lord, if thou wilt save, none can destroy.

MEDITATION XIV.

EPHESIANS ii. 5.

By grace ye are saved.

TRUE, Lord, or such a wretch as I must despair; impotent and helpless to every thing which is good, and prone to every thing which is evil, what must become of me, if salvation was not free? It is of thy eternal purpose and grace that there is any hope for sinners; it is of thy grace that I am called out of darkness into thy marvellous light; it is of rich grace that when I was dead in sin, I was quickened together with Christ; it is by grace alone I stand; whatever attainments I reach unto, still it is by the grace of God I am what I am; without this grace I am nothing, have nothing, can do nothing but sin. And in eternity, as well as time, the grace of my God will alone be exalted: when the top

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Meditations.

stone of the spiritual building is laid, it shall be with shouting, crying, "Grace, grace unto it!" When eternal life is adjudged me in the last day, it will be the gift of God in Jesus Christ; and, through eternity, this will be the theme of all the saved by grace, "Thou, Lord, alone, art worthy to receive blessing, and glory, and honour." If it be of grace then, it is no more of works. Why is my foolish heart then continually going about to rob God of the glory of his grace? It is of my pride and unbelief: my unbelief that staggers at the promise, and will not suffer me to think God can be glorified more in the exercise of sovereign grace in the Redeemer, than in the execution of deserved vengeance on me, a sinner; my pride, that fain would sacrifice to its own drag, by offering something of my own to plead for my acceptance. Lord, give me clearer views of the riches of thy grace, that my unbelief may be confounded; and deeper discoveries of the utter wretchedness of all I am and do, that my pride may be abased and thus may I thankfully embrace this free salvation, and be content to be saved from first to last as a sinner!

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Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels, and authorities, and powers, being made subject unto him.

WHAT a glorious contrast are my Saviour's sufferings and exaltation! He suffered-it became him. The cross was ignominious; but the crown he hath received, exceeds in glory. He was crucified in weakness; but now all power is delivered to him in heaven and in earth. The scourges ploughed up long furrows on his back; his face was disfigured with buffetings, his head pierced with thorns; but now he shineth as the sun goeth forth in its strength, glorious in holiness. The soldiers mocked, and nailed him to the tree; but angels now bow down, and hail him over all God blessed for ever. He bowed his head, and died for sin once; now death is swallowed up in victory; the mount of Calvary is exchanged for the mount of God; the reed for the sceptre of the universal kingdom; and the iron nails for that rod of dominion, which shall bruise his enemies to pieces, as the vessels of a potter are broken. What cause, then, have I to rejoice in my King, so great and glorious in himself, and exalted on my behalf, to reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet! If he take my cause in hand, who shall be able

Meditations.

to harm me? What are fiends of hell, or men on earth, that I should fear them? Be strong then, my soul, in the Lord, and in the power of his might; he will make thee more than conqueror on earth, till he shall take thee to reign with himself in heaven.

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