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his Creator. For we know "if we suffer with Christ, we shall also reign with him." He has passed through the gate of death, and hast opened the door of everlasting life; and if we deny ourselves, and follow his example, we may be assured that we shall with him enter into glory. "Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned."* Reader! have you that Charity which St. Peter says "shall cover a multitude of sins?" Is it your greatest pleasure to give more than to receive? Is it your delight to exclaim as St. Paul did, "Without Charity I am nothing worth." " Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away." And when you have done all these things which are commanded of you, say, we are unprofitable servants, we have done that which was our duty to do." Much has been done for you: many sufferings did our Lord experience to secure your redemption; therefore, it is your bounden duty to glorify God by contributing your money and your time to his service, and distributing relief to the necessitous; * 1st Tim. 1st chap. 5th verse.

always recollecting that out of Faith, Hope, and Charity, that "the greatest of these things is Charity!"— "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity for God loveth a cheerful giver."* For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not."+

Finally. We must ever bear in mind the declaration of our blessed Lord to the rich man, "if thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me." And unlike the young man who went away sorrowful, "for he had great possessions," we must cheerfully cast "down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bring into captivity every thought (yea every action) to the obedience of Christ."§ Be not willing to justify

* 2nd Cor. 9th chap. 7th verse. † 2nd Cor. 8th chap. 9th & 12th verses. § 2nd Cor. 10th chap. 5th verse

If

yourself as the lawyer when he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbour? Are we not all one flesh and blood, hath not one God created us? Who maketh thee to differ from another, and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? "If a man say, "I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?" If, alas! we should be coveting riches, let us abandon this thought, and desire the riches of God's grace. "There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.”* we have wealth let us lay it out to the glory of the bounteous Giver: and if we thirst for wisdom, let it be the knowledge of our Maker, and we shall be amply rewarded. Please all men in all things, not seeking your own profit, but the profit of many that they may be saved. And, remember, unless you endeavour to cultivate this greatest of all gifts, Charity, how can you presume to think that you are of the chosen number of Christ's, and assure your heart before him? True Charity is not so easy as we may imagine, neither is it so common as it

* 13th chap. Prov. 7th verse.

appears to be.--What we are often witnessing is only a semblance; frequently, a mere pretence. Thus while many are considered charitable, and flatter themselves that they are so, according to the principle and opinion of our Lord and his charity, are as far from it as the most sordid individual in the world, and those who spend all upon themselves, or hoard up their wealth and therefore, in the last day will be amazed and terrified; for such will not reap precious seed,-"they have cast their bread, but not the right bread upon the waters: and therefore, will not find it after many days!"

"Awake our zeal, awake our love,

Chelmsford,

To serve the Saviour here below,
In works which perfect saints above,
And holy angels cannot do.

Peace which the world can never know,
Our God to him will give,

Who thus shall tread the Saviour's steps,
And to his glory live."

26th Oct. 1844.

A. M. W.

SHEARCROFT, TYP. CHELMSFORD.

THE CHRISTIAN'S PECULIAR PRIVILEGE.

"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”

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THE position of the Christian with respect to God is of a very high character, and cannot be too often brought to our remembrance. It is a stupendous fact, that we poor, vile, and miserable creatures are the temple of God," redeemed by the precious blood of his dear Son, and sanctified by the Spirit of grace, for "neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth, but God that giveth the increase." Let us meditate for a moment on three points arising from these remarks.

I. Of what the temple of God consists.
II. The blessing we receive :-and
III. The Sin of defiling such temple.

1. We may reasonably infer this "temple of God" to be the outward and visible Church militant here on earth, composed of members, worshippers of God, and heirs of immortality. "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." (2nd Eph. 19, 21 & 22.)— That Church which is "built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone." That Church which is the pillar and ground of the truth, "not having spot or wrinkle, but holy and without blemish :"that Church which Christ loves: " for we are members of his body,

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