redemption. The Son of God clothed with our nature, given, and set apart as a propitiatory sacrifice, the victim upon whom the sins of his elect were laid, and he sacrificed in their stead. The Lamb of God which took away the sins, not only of the Jewish transgressors, but the sins of the elect out of every nation, kindred and tongue, throughout the world. On this Lamb of God, rests my own individual hope for pardon, and for acceptance. I lay my own individual hand of faith on his dear head, confess my sin, and rely upon his sacrifice for pardon and acceptance, through the atonement made by himself, God's anointed priest. DR. R. Jer. xxxi. 8. And they shall come with will I lead them. weeping, and with supplication Chiefly in the latter day. But it is the Lord's way of leading every sinner to the Saviour with weeping; and through after life when reconciled, by supplication. What testimony does my heart and conscience give? He found me and described my exercises, about the age of seventeen; with weeping and supplication he led me to the Saviour, gave me lively faith, and much joy, and peace in believing; but, alas! no claim can I lay to the description of after life. The subjugation of the will, the devotedness of the heart, deliverance from the love of the world, peace with God, and with conscience, delight, calm, serene and steady, in communion with God! I see this in others, a lovely group of my own intimate friends now surround the throne, who answered to this description, and some are now on the way, abstracted from the world, God's people their chosen companions; his ordinances, public and private, their delight, they walk with God. But, oh, oh, far different the race I ran for many years! Careless and remiss, the world again got hold of my heart; love waxed cold, creatures became idols; carly instruction deeply laid in, and recollection of former experiences, dread of self-deception, and touches of the rod, were the means by which the Lord again led me with weeping and supplication. But no sooner was pardon manifested, and the rod removed, than my vile, abominable, unstable, guilty heart, was again caught in pleasure's net, seeking to reconcile God and mammon, ever forsaking the fountain of living waters, and hewing out broken cisterns; now drinking the waters of Sihor, then the rivers of Syria. Yet never-amazing! O how amazing! never altogether forsaken! Repenting and sinning; sinning and repenting, was my business, the Lord God still manifesting as many pardons. And how is it now? The Lord leads me again with weeping. He has pardoned; he has freely pardoned all, and he has manifested, and does manifest, that pardon so fully, that I scarcely ever feel a doubt: but shame and confusion, self-loathing, painful remembrance and self-reproach, mar my comfort. I have communion with God; He is my reconciled Father; He has given to me eternal life in the gift of his Son. I am a saved sinner, by the amazing plan of redemption, which comprehends even me. God's covenant stands fast; the covenant which he gave me in my youth, by which Jesus was surety to God for righteousness, and surety to me for covenant grace, the one only mediator between God and man. April-Sabbath. DR. R- 2 Timothy, iii. 12. Yea and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution. Gone as usual; but it came home to my heart. I have not suffered persecution, and why? because my life has not testified sufficiently against a sinful world. Alas! alas! the world loves its own, and I have been so accommodating (to say the least) as not to disturb it. The carnal mind is enmity against God, is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be; but the world saw little in me of that image which they hate, and enough of assimilation to balance that little. O my God! my long suffering, sin pardoning God! thou knowest my vile cowardice; with professors a professor of thy name, with wordlings a seeming worldling. And now the season is past, the opportunity lost; the time of life is arrived, when the world itself expects to be abandoned. No line of conduct in me, will now reprove them; they account it wise to look out for a better portion, when the world can no longer be enjoyed; and through the deceitfulness of their own hearts, and the suggestions of the ever vigilant enemy of souls, may be hardened in sin, by hoping to become religious in old age. Oh! let thy grace prevent it. The sinfulness, and O the ingratitude of my past life, rise in magnitude every review I take of it! And what can I say? Father, forgive! Yes, I dare say, Father forgive! I dare say more; thou hast forgiven! This grief of heart proves that thou hast not shut me up. I am not sealed up under impenitence. Thou rememberest thy covenant with me in the days of my youth, when thou didst draw me with the cords of love and with the bands of a man; and though no language can express my baseness and my ingratitude, through all my backsliding life, thy covena stands fast. I remember, and am confounded, and will never open my mouth any more, because of my shame, now that thou art pacified toward me for all that I have done. And I know, that thou art the Lord. Contrition dwell within this breast, Angels and fellow-sinners say, Will you not join me in this lay, Now, and through Heaven's eternal day? Blessed Comforter! thou seest old age upon me, loss of memory, and a desultory mind; I cannot retain éven the substance of my dear Pastor's sermons. I thank thee for the food and refreshment at the time, and often after, for refreshing meditations on the same subjects. I commit all to thee; keep them for me, and feed me with these truths as thou seest I need. O be to me memory, judgment, presence of mind; for order and regularity, natural powers, are gone. I rejoice in my dear Saviour, who of God is made unto me wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and complete redemption. He shall perfect that which concerneth me, and finish the work he has begun. Therefore I say, all is well. Sabbath, Nov. 22. DR. R. Zech. ix. 12. Turn ye to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope, even to-day do I declare that I will render double unto you. Since our first parent's transgression, all men are prisoners; every faculty of their minds in bondage to sin, Satan, and the world. Prisoners also under the curse of the broken law, the penalty of which hangs over their heads, suspended by the thread of life. Unconscious of their situation, satisfied with their slavery, though not happy even now. Conscience often disturbs their quiet, and creates an awful foreboding. These prisoners cannot help themselves; but God proclaims mercy; help must come from him. There is a hope set before them; yea, a strong hold, to which they are called to flee and be safe. My Jesus-my hope, my strong hold, my safety, my Saviour, my portion, my life, my happiness-yes, my happiness, for safe I am, and happy, though sometimes in heaviness, for yet sin dwelleth in me, and in others, dear as my own soul; and though I know it is pardoned, and provision made for pardon to the end, yet oh, oh, it is bitter, and bitter let it be! I would not have it otherwise. Heal my depravity, O God! take sin out of this heart; O fill it with love to thee, and to all my fellow sinners. My dear High Priest! it can be but a little further to Jordan. My seventy years are run. not the Ark of the Covenant appear going before me; am I not called to decamp and follow after? O my blessed, blessed High Priest! keep in my view; keep my eye fixed on thy person, and let me the little further, follow thee step by step, foot after foot, without losing one mark all the way to Jordan; and there let me see thee. Blessed Ark of the Covenant! roll back the waters of terror, stand firm in Jordan, and bid me come unto thee; and set up the stones of memorial in a song of praise in the midst of Jordan. O then thy glory let me see, Then cause thy face to shine on me, And language furnish to rejoice, That all around may lend their tongue, And sweetly join my dying song. Does |