consciousness of our guilty state and condition, as transgressors of God's most holy law-to have the heart of stone taken away, and to have a "heart of flesh" imparted-an unfeeling and impenitent heart removed, and a feeling and penitent one bestowed. To be born again is to be begotten unto a delight of God and his glorious perfections, as shining in the face of Jesus Christ; it is, in fact, a changing of the whole bent and current of the mind, from things natural to things spiritual, from things unholy to things holy and righteous,-from things sinful, defiling, and degrading, to things sacred and purifying in their operation: and therefore, secondly, the necessity of being born again is evident for as in our carnal estate we follow only the dictates of the flesh, and perform the functions of life natural to such a state of being; so, independent of the new birth, or being born again, we cannot perform the functions of spiritual life: for except a man be born again, he cannot feel spiritually,— pray spiritually,-believe spiritually,-repent spiritually, sing spiritually (or," with the spirit and with the understanding :") he cannot understand God's Book spiritually for "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God ;......neither can he know them; because they are spiritually discerned." In a word, he cannot "worship God in the spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus," and renounce "all confidence in the flesh." How forcible and important, then, are our Lord's words,--"Ye must be born again!" But, thirdly, that thou mayest know thy interest in the new birth, look for the indispensable evidences of its real existence and 1st, If thou art born again, thou art feeling sin to be a burden, and wanting to be as holy as the angels in heaven and the spirits of the just departed are. 2nd, Thou art pained if thou canst not feel spiritual in thy mind, devout and prayerful in thy feelings, and heavenly in thy affections. 3rd, It is a great grief to thee when the Bible-the Book of books,-is as a sealed book, and thou canst not perceive any beauty or glory in its doctrines, promises, precepts, and

invitations. 4th, If thou art born of God, the form of religion will not be enough for thee; the power of it must be felt to satisfy thy longings after enjoyment of, and conformity to God. 5th, If thou art born of God, the law of God will be written on thy heart or mind; but thou will discover another law written in thy members, warring against the law of thy mind, and bringing thee into captivity and bondage in a word, thou art verily born of God, if ever thou hast felt Jesus to be precious, sin to be hateful and exceedingly bitter, and holiness thy delight. If all, or any of these be thine to possess and feel, thou art born again—born from above. May heaven speed thy way thither. Amen and Amen.

We need to be born and created anew,

For nothing's in us that is holy and true;
By nature undone, we are as the slain,
And surely shall perish, unless born again.

We need to be born by power from above,
Or God, in salvation, we never shall love;

Though chosen, and ransomed, and loved of our God,
We need to be born to be holy and good.

We need to be born of the Spirit divine,
In order in Jesus' loved likeness to shine;
For oh, there is nought but rebellion and strife,
Till he in his mercy breathes spiritual life.

REFLECTION XII.-JANUARY 12.

"But how should man be just with God ?"-Job ix. 2.

How indeed, reader? and yet without being just with or before God, there can be no happiness with, or before God. The question, then, is of importance, and must not be passed over in silence, nor put away for a future day. With the light, then, of the New Testament, and the inward teachings of the Holy Ghost, let us seek to solve this all-important enquiry,-" How should man be just with God?" Man, who is so sinful

and depraved-so lost and ruined by reason of his guilty state-man, who is "born in sin and shapen in iniquity, and who is altogether helpless and far off from God,―man, who has broken the law of his Maker, and thereby rendered himself liable and exposed to the curse for "Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things written in the book of the law to do them :" -how shall such an one be just, or righteous and perfect, with or before God, who demandeth "truth in the inward parts," who is pure and holy, and “will not clear the guilty," who cannot look upon transgression with complacency and delight,-who in his very being is holy, and in all his actions righteous,— whose legislation is a legislation of righteousness, and whose law is "holy, just, and good;" though man be "carnal, sold under sin." How shall such a man be just with such a God? Mark, the infinite disparitythe unholy and sinful man-the perfectly holy and righteous Lord God! And can these ever be reconciled? Can God the offended, and the sinner the offender, ever come together and be one? O yes, hear the tidings: they can-they have-the deed is done : "For he, [that is, God,] hath made Him, [that is, Christ, the holy and the just One] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him;" that is, in Christ: for he was "delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification." Therefore, through him, that is, Christ, the forgiveness of sins is preached; and "by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses :" see Acts xiii. 38, 39. The whole church and people of God, then, stand just with or before God, in Christ: for he has taken their sins, and given them his righteousness-taken their demerit, and given them his merit, or all that he has merited by his perfect obedience, sufferings, death, and resurrection; and this is the only way by which man can be just with or before God: and this great and all-important fact is known only by believing in Jesus; therefore we are said to be "justified by faith;" that

is, knowingly so, and to our own hearts' comfort and` satisfaction. Then, reader, art thou so justified? art thou believing in Jesus? art thou taking him as thy all in all—as God's gift, as the end of the law for righteousness," as the great atoning sacrifice for sin,-as the only way of access to God, and as the only ground and foundation of thy hope for future blessedness in the heavenly world? Then, if thou hast so believed, thou hast renounced thine own works in the great matter of salvation yet thy good works will be necessary to justify thee before the world, and to evidence thy justification before God: therefore work out (evidentially) thine own salvation with fear and trembling : for it is God that worketh in thee to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

'Tis Jesus' righteousness alone
That justifies before our God;
He did himself for sin atone,

By shedding his most precious blood.
Through other ways none can be just,

Or freed from guilt, and sin, and shame;
The gospel bids us Jesus trust,

And rest alone in his great name.

His grace, and love, and mercy too,
Are free to all who feel their need;
And they shall all his glory view,

And prove he's good and kind indeed.
The Saviour's name, and all his work,
Are full of immortality;

The soul that doth all else forsake,
Is safe to all eternity.

REFLECTION XIII.-JANUARY 13.

"Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever: the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified."-Isaiah Ix. 21.

THIS is a divine and gracious promise, made by God to Zion, the city of the Lord-the holy One of Israel

(see 14 verse); and is very suitable to follow our last reflection, viz., How shall man be just with or before God? Here is a promise to meet the anxious enquiry: "Thy people also shall be all righteous;" that is, the people of Zion, mystically considered; Zion's children and converts, they shall be all righteous, every one of them; and they shall be completely and entirely righteous, and nothing but righteous; and therefore it is said, "they shall inherit the land for ever:" not the land of Canaan; but, figuratively, the heavenly world, where the sun shall no more go down;" where "the Lord shall be their everlasting light," and the days of their mourning be for ever ended. And now, mark, my soul, the pledge that God gives, the interest he claims, and the end he assigns: they are the branch of my planting: they are my workmanship, or "the work of my hands:" where they are, I have placed them, and none shall disinherit them: what they are I have made them, and none shall mar my work: for my glory shall be manifested in their everlasting felicity. "A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I, the Lord, will hasten it in his time:" and that too "that I may be glorified." Yes, all that God does, and all that he suffers to be done, is in some way to be for his glory; either the glory of his wisdom,-of his power,-of his justice, or of his grace! Yes, all things in the world of naturethe starry heavens, the clouds and the winds, the rains and the rivers, the hills and the valleys-all, all are for his glory. All the conflicting circumstances in providence among mankind, such as affliction,-diseases, losses,-disappointments,-breaking up of families,separation of chief friends,-destruction of nations, kingdoms, and countries, the conflagration of the world at last, the ultimate glorification of all the righteous, and the final destruction and destiny of the wicked,—the duration of the holiness and happiness of elect angels, and the perpetuity of the misery and woe of fallen angels. Yes, God will be glorified in all, by all, and through all; let it be thine, then, to promote,