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which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you; for him hath God the Father sealed. These sinners said unto him, what shall we do that we might work the works of God? That ye believe on him whom he hath sent. My Father giveth you true bread from heaven, for the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world: I am the bread of life, he that cometh unto me, shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever. And the bread which I shall give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. Jesus said unto them, except ye eat the flesh, and drink the blood of the Son of man, ye have no life in you: whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. The Father giveth this bread, the Son giveth this bread; whosoever will, may take of this bread, and the promise with it. Father, I take this bread, I take and believe that I have in thee eternal life, according to thy word. O holy and blessed Comforter! Spirit of the Father and of the Son, whose office it is to take of the things of Christ, and show them unto his redeemed! when the bread and the water that perisheth, can no longer refresh this dying body; apply this living bread and living water to my soul, that life may spring up in the midst of death; and in that trying hour, bear witness with my spirit that I dwell in Christ, and Christ in me, and can never die.

John vii. 37. In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink; he that believeth on me, as the

Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. This spake he of the Spirit, that they who believe on him should receive. This he proclaimed to a mixt multitude of sinners like myself. Lord, I believe, and am sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. Be it unto me according to thy word. John xi. 25. I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth on me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth on me, shall never die. Believest thou this? I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God, which should come into the world; the promised Messiah ; the gift of the Father, the Covenant given to the people; the anointed Prophet and King, and consecrated High Priest; who through the eternal Spirit offered thyself without spot unto God; who came to do that most perfect will of God, by which we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Christ once for all. Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world! On thee I lay my precious never dying soul; wash me in thy blood, clothe me in thy righteousness; sanctify me, soul, spirit, and body, to thy service. I have no other foundation of hope, nothing within me, nothing without me; my entire dependence is on thy finished work; into thy hands I commit my spirit.

Let me hear thy consoling voice, compassionate Saviour! John xiv. 1. Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me; in my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so I would have told you; I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also. Oh! seal this upon my heart, and it is enough. To be where thou art, is heaven enough to

me. To be where thou art, to see thee as thou art, and to be made like thee, the last sinful motion for ever past: no more opposition, no more weariness, listlessness, dryness, deadness; but conformed to my blessed Head, every way capacitated to serve him, and to enjoy him. This is heaven. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh to the Father, but by me. Blessed Comforter! do thine office; take these things of Christ, and show them unto me; lead me in this way, feed me with this truth, and animate me with this life: whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father, in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye ask any thing in my name, I will do it. Blessed Comforter! here also do thine office; I know not what to ask for as I ought; help mine infirmities as thou hast said: suggest the prayer, be in me the spirit of prayer and supplication, and especially in that hour of need, when sickness saps the clay tabernacle, discomposing the spirit, and confusing perhaps the ideas: still, still, let my thoughts rise to my God. Oh! let no unhallowed subject get hold of me in that hour, but keep my Saviour's name in my heart, and on my lips. Oh! is not this according to thy will: watch over it then; and keep the avenues of my soul from every vain idea. If ye love me, keep my commandments, and I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him; but ye know him, for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me, and he that loveth me, shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself unto him; and we will

to

come, and make our abode with him. The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you: let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. In that last warfare, when nothing on earth can give peace; when the world recedes, and disappears; when friends must stand aloof, and leave me to the combat alone: Oh! blessed and promised Comforter, bring to my remembrance, and impress on my weary spirit, these sweet words of my Saviour. But it has often occurred to me, and may in that hour, that though Jesus received sinners; they were ignorant sinners. The Jews understood not the Gospel contained in their types and sacrifices; they were unenlightened and unconverted. The Gentiles were totally blind, serving dumb idols; neither, had known the Gospel; never had tasted the grace of God; neither, were backsliders like me. I have known the truth, been enlightened, tasted of the heavenly gift, been made a partaker of the Holy Ghost, tasted of the good word of God, and of the power of the world to come.

Fifty years ago, the Lord convinced me of my sin, my misery, and my total helplessness. I was also, I think, enabled to lay hold on the hope set before me.

I have, in numerous exercises, and acts, accepted of God's gift of Jesus Christ to me, a condemned sinner; taking hold of the Scripture words of invitation and promise held out for my acceptance. I have pleaded his own Covenant provision, in the substitution of his own Son in my room and stead, making him to be sin, who knew no sin, that sinners might be made the righteous

ness of God in him. I put in my claim as a sinner, among the ungodly for whom Christ died. I believed his testimony, and set to my seal that God is true. I rested on this foundation-I yet have no other-I know there is no other.-The foundation standeth sure. But Oh! what am I to think of the fruits. I have again and again turned back into the world: grieved the Spirit, crucified the Son of God afresh, and put him to open shame. No wonder I stand alarmed at the Apostle's assertion: my conscience testifies, that my character is nearly, if not altogether, such as the Apostle, by the Holy Spirit, says: it is impossible to renew to repentance. Hebrews vi. 4, 5. But thou hast renewed to repentance! Thy name is The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. Thou wilt by no means clear the guilty; but thou hast provided a substitute, and laid my guilt, and guilty person, on thine own Son.

By this gracious name, thou wast known to thy backsliding Israel in the wilderness; whose heart, like mine, was not right with God; neither were they steadfast in his Covenant; but he being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not. Many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath. They forgot God their Saviour, who had done great things for them; they transgressed his commandment, and in their heart turned back again to Egypt; they brought upon themselves many afflictions, and many times did he deliver them; they provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity: nevertheless, he heard their cry, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies;