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keeps the soul at a distance from God. It begets a coldness and a shyness to him; and by shutting out the comfortable sense of his love, makes way for fear of wrath. Then the motives to walk with God lose their influence, and an evil heart of unbelief tempts the man to depart from the living God.

Look well, then, O my soul, to this leading truth, which has such universal influence over the Christian walk.

peace of thy conscience.

Attend to the

See it be true

peace, and mind it be well settled.

cuses or accuses.

Learn

to maintain it upon gospel motives. The heart follows the determination of conscience; and cleaves to the Lord, or departs from him, according as the conscience exIt is, therefore, absolutely necessary for our peace, that we should know how God has shown himself reconciled in Christ Jesus. This character of him in the Scriptures, should be studied. Whoever has been enabled to call him Abba, Father, should implore the assistance of the Holy Spirit, for an increase of faith; and should make use of all appointed means for

his growth in the knowledge of the love of his heavenly Father. The apostle is upon this subject in Romans v.-a chapter abounding with powerful arguments to establish the peace of God in the conscience; in order that the love of God may rule in the heart. He gives us this account of the privileges of a justified man. He has peace with God, through Jesus-by whom he has free access to God-is in a state of gracestands in it by the power of God—has reason to rejoice, (come what will,) in hope of the glory to be revealed-and whatever he meets with in the way to glory, should increase the rejoicing of his hope, and confirm his heart in the love of God to him. Observe how divinely the apostle speaks

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Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand; and rejoice in hope of the glory of God: and not only so, but we rejoice in tribulations also; knowing well that tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and expe

rience hope; and hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost, who is given unto us."

What privileges! how many, how free, how blessed, are here declared to be the portion of the justified man, which he is to enjoy in his reconciled God! Each of them tending to establish peace in his conscience, and love in his heart; that he may delight himself in God and in his ways. The first and chief blessing in experience, which draws after it all the rest, is the Spirit.

The Holy Ghost is given unto him, to be a witness for Jesus, and to shed abroad the Father's love through him. He comes as the Spirit of life, to quicken the soul, which had been dead in trespasses and sins, and to bring it to the knowledge of salvation; which he does, secondly, by the gift of faith.

Being justified by faith. He enables the sinner to believe in the finished work of the God-man, and to trust to the free grant of it in the word of God; whereby he sees himself fully justified: through the atonement

of Jesus, freed from sin and guilt; through the righteousness of Jesus, entitled to life and glory; and therefore, thirdly, he has

Peace with God through Jesus Christ his Lord-He sees God is at peace with himperfectly and continually reconciled. The peace is everlasting which was made through the blood of the everlasting covenant. The belief of this quiets and satisfies the sinner's conscience; which being purged by the blood, and justified by the righteousness of Jesus Christ his Lord, is at peace, is freed from guilty fears, and is reconciled to God; yea, to the justice of God, who can now be just, and yet the justifier of the ungodly. To what high honour is he then called? He is admitted into friendship with God, and has,

Fourthly, Access by faith into this grace, wherein he stands-access to a mercy-seat, to which he is invited to come freely, as a beloved child to an affectionate parent. Boldness and access with confidence are required and commanded. "Let us come boldly to the throne of grace: having boldness to enter

into the holiest by the blood of Jesus," let us by faith make much use of that new and living way, which he hath opened for us. O what a mercy is it thus to have access to a gracious Father! How much is the mercy increased by his settling his children in it! "We STAND in it," says the Apostle, denoting the being fixed in a state of perfect acceptance, conferred by sovereign grace, brought into it by unchangeable love, and kept in it by the power of a faithful God. How strengthening to faith, how encouraging to hope! for,

Fifthly, We rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Faith relies upon the truth of what God hath promised; and hope waits for the enjoyment of the good in the promise, but more especially for the glory which is to be revealed. This hope of glory is full of rejoicing: because every thing which hope looks at and draws its joy from, depends on the truth and faithfulness of a covenant God. There can be no failing on his part, and therefore on the believer's there can be no disappointment. On this ground hope casts

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