set his heart upon the prosperity of the church to which he belongs. Oh, that indifference were buried in the depths of the ocean! Oh, that every member of God's church were filled with faith, fired with love, and glowing with zeal, for the honour of our beloved Saviour. May the divisions of Reuben soon cause great searchings of heart, anxiety of mind, and distress of soul, until they are healed and done away for ever. Let us inquire, Why is it? if we do not prosper. It was a worm at the root that caused Jonah's gourd to wither. It was a Babylonish garment, and a wedge of gold, that caused Israel to ffee before their enemies. And if we do not prosper, is there not a cause ? there be a cause, may it not be ascertained ? If it may be ascertained, ought we not to "light the candle and search diligently until we find it ?" 0 Lord, thou hast said, that thou wilt "search Jerusalem as with candles, and wilt punish the men that are settled on their lees;" search, oh, search thy church, and let all that hinder her prosperity be discovered, condemned, deplored, and removed! Let us carefully avoid everything that would hinder our prosperity.

If

Paul

was very careful and very accommodating, lest he should hinder the gospel of Christ. Let us imitate so excellent an example, and take care that that there be nothing in our creed, conduct, spirit, temper, or deportment, likely to grieve the Holy Spirit, or prevent the truth from having free course. Let us not only carefully avoid everything likely to hinder, but let us diligently employ every means to secure it. Prosperity flows from God: it is a free-grace blessing; but it flows in a certain channel, and is generally attracted by certain means. Oh, for such a measure of grace to be given to the church of Jesus, that there may be no rest until God arise and have mercy upon his Zion, or until we can confidently say, "The God of heaven, he will prosper us.

WHERE ART THOU?

In sin? Then you are under condemnation. The wrath of God abideth on you. Every perfection in God's nature is opposed to you. Every threatening in God's word is aimed at you. Justice frowns upon you. The law sentences you. Satan claims you. Christ will judge you. Eternity will be dreadful to you. If in sin, you are under the curse.

In the world? Then you are in imminent danger. You are God's enemy. You are Satan's slave. You are surrounded by all the elements of misery, and have within you a source of torment and woe. If in the world, you are not in Christ; and, being without Christ, you are without hope, or peace, or the enjoyment of real happiness.

In Rome, or superstition, which is the same? Rome is Antichrist. And to put anything in the place of Christ, as the ground of justification before God, whether prayers, or penance, or tears, or good

works, is antichristian. Everything must be renounced but Christ, in order to acceptance with God, or justification before God. A sinner may as well trust in his vices as his virtues, in his foulest sins as his best works, for justification before a holy God. We must count all things but loss for Christ, and seek to be found in him, stripped of our own righteousness, and clothed in his perfect obedience.

In Christ? Then you are safe, holy, and happy. But if you are in Christ now, you were not once. You have been inwardly convinced of this. You saw and felt the need of it. You earnestly and heartily desired it. You diligently and prayerfully sought it. You doubted and feared that so high a privilege would never be yours. But you cried unto God until faith brought you to his feet, love looked up and was overcome with a sense of his glory, and the Holy Spirit united you to his person. You felt that Christ and your soul were one. You could claim him, and he acknowledged you. Your sins were pardoned. You felt justified before God. Peace flowed into your soul, and you loved him, because he had first loved you. You realized that his blood had made your

peace, that his righteousness was your wedding garment, that his wealth was your portion, and his Spirit was your Comforter, Guide, and Friend. You could call God Father, look at the promises as your property, and anticipate heaven as your final home. Oh, the mercy of being in Christ? To such, there is no condemnation. To such, every providence is a blessing. To such, all things work together for good. Christ represents them before God, often visits them on earth, and will soon come to receive them unto himself. Reader, are you in Christ? You were in sin once, have you been delivered? You were in the world, have you been brought out of it? You were more or less superstitious, have you renounced everything of your own, and are you now relying on Christ, and on Christ alone? His blood alone can cleanse you from sin and guilt. His righteousness alone can justify you before God. His Spirit alone can make you meet to partake of the inheritance of the saints in light. Take heed that you are not found out of Christ at last. Beware of a religion that does not unite you to Christ's person, conform you to Christ' image, and make you happy in