you doubt of the virtue of Christ's blood, or of the truth of God's record concerning it?

You reply, I dare not question either of them; yet, nevertheless, I cannot, with any settled comfort, maintain peace with God. But it is your privilege to maintain it, confirmed to you by the royal charter of grace, and ratified in it, by many express promises. Jesus has made peace by the blood of his cross; and if you believe what the God of truth says of it, peace should rule in your heart always for all things are well ordered for you, and sure in the everlasting covenant. On the part of God, all is unalterably fixed and settled. What is it, then, which unsettles you? Is it something you find in yourself? Is it from indwelling sin, remaining corruption, a body of sin and death, or from the weakness of your faith, and of your other graces? What! have you forgotten, that from all these, the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth? Is it from a suspicion that your peace is not right, because it ebbs and flows? This should humble, but not

discourage you because there is a gracious provision made to remove your suspicion. God has taken the charge both of you and of your peace: he keeps both by his mighty power, as it is written, The peace of God, which surpasseth all understanding, shall keep, with a safe guard, your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. You are as safe in the hand of God, at the lowest ebb, as at the highest spring-tide of sensible comfort: because your safeguard is almighty; and he is equally concerned about your peace, whether you feel it or not. Your sense of it may vary, but he varies not. There is in him, no variableness, nor shadow of turning. How should the belief of this stay your mind upon your God, and keep guilt out of the conscience, even when you are walking in darkness, and have no light!

0 my soul! meditate upon those precious truths. Give thyself wholly to them. Consider how deeply they enter into the very being of thy peace. Unless they be understood, thou canst not know the way of peace; and unless they be received by faith, thy

conscience will not be purged from guilt and unbelief. And while these defile it, thou canst not look upon God as reconciled, or delight thyself in him or his ways. Can two walk together except they be agreed? But when they are agreed, and of one mind, then walking with God becomes pleasant, and all his paths are peace.

Search, then, and examine thyself, O my soul, and that not lightly, and after the manner of dissemblers with God; but closely and thoroughly by the light of the divine word, and under the teaching of the divine Spirit. Dost thou understand what is revealed concerning the way of peace-what was covenanted in the counsel of the eternal Threeand what has been done in consequence of it? Jesus Christ is the great peace-maker. He has made peace through the blood of his cross. The Father sent him, gave him to be a covenant of the people; to fulfil for them all righteousness, and to be their atoning sacrifice. The Father has seen the work which gave him to do, and has accepted it; is perfectly satisfied with it, and therefore is in

he

finitely delighted with him, and with all his. He would now be known by the high style and title of the GOD OF PEACE. Fury is not in him to those whom he sees in the beloved. He is a Father, fully, for ever reconciled to all his children in Christ Jesus. He loves them, as he loves him, with every kind feeling of the most tender parent. And he will bring every one of them to partake, with their glorified head, of the blessings of his everlasting love.

If thine understanding be enlightened with this knowledge of God, is it effectual in thy conscience? Canst thou plead it there? This is the principal thing. Hast thou a good conscience, freed from guilt and condemnation, by believing the record which God hath given of his Son? He is well pleased with him for his righteousness' sake. His soul delighted in the sweet-smelling savour of his Son's sacrifice. Because he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross, therefore the Father hath highly exalted him. This is the witness of God. Dost thou yield to it, and give it full credit?

What! canst thou set to thy seal that God is true, and that what satisfied him has perfectly satisfied thee, and therefore the peace of God rules in thy conscience always, and by all means?

Remember, this is thy privilege. Thou art called to the enjoyment of it. The evidence is as full as could be desired, for the ending of all strife in thy conscience. The greatest honour thou canst put upon the divine witnesses, is so to end it, as to suffer no appeal to be made from their decree. Thy conscience should join issue. It should say the same that God does. It should plead thy discharge from guilt, under the broad seal of heaven; and should stop the mouth of unbelief with those words, written in golden letters in the royal charter of grace—“ There is NO condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus-they are freely forgiven ALL trespasses. They are justified from all things. Thy sins and iniquities," says God himself, "will I remember NO MORE.' These are the immutable words of truth. They cannot be broken. O my soul, put