Still I recollect the saying, "Twas in love he passed by.NOW 5. Twas his love at first that mov'd him,.. Brethren, when we meet above, The uniform language of every soul taught of God, is beautifully, by the Apostle, set forth, thus: "But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour towards man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost--that being justified by his grace we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life."-TIT. III. 4, 5, 7. Here is a text without an Italic; a text which bids defiance to the severest critic, who would attempt to warp it by any false construction, to suit the purposes of fallen man.-Believer! dost thou offend the wise, the prudent, the whole-hearted, and the whole race of free-willers, by making mention of the name of Jesus, and of his righteousness only? trouble not thyself about it; but let their opposition make thee bolder before men: the good effects of it thou wilt certainly reap at a throne of grace; where the kind discoveries of Jesu's love, will more than compensate all that thou mayest lose, or suffer, for his Dear Name. 24. THE BELIEVER'S BEST EMPLOYMENT. My meditation of him shall be sweet.---Ps. Civ. 34. 1. JESU's name exceeds all others, Jesus angels far exceeds; Jesu's love's beyond a brother's, 2. Precious name! in meditation 3. He's my Bread, that came from heaven, Bread and Water shall be given, 7 4. He's my Life, and he's my Clothing, 5. To the living, true receiver, To the soul from bondage free, None so rich, so sweet as he! How empty do all the abstruse reasonings of the flesh leave the mind! Controversy, well managed, has proved useful to Zion; but, alas! how often does it display the weakness, not to say, wickedness, of each disputant.-Believer! ponder the path of thy feet, and be not too hasty in entering the thorny maze of disputa ion; but look at, and meditate upon him, who is thy "all in all," Sweet meditation upon him is the market-day of faith-she goes out of herself empty, and, like the industrious bee, comes home laden with her honey-sweets. 25. THE SOUND OF THE GOSPEL. Christ the power of God, and Christ the wisdom of God. ---I COR. 1. 24. 1. IN Jesus combine all the riches of grace; What glory and grandeur I see in his face: Jehovah's eternal and co-equal Son, Took all my transgressions and made them his own. 2. How great was his love! how mysterious the plan! Ye Saints, sound aloud the high praise of the man, Whose love from eternity mov'd him to bleed, And suffer the curse in your law-place and stead. 3. Jehovah's Anointed-the Son of his love, 4. Ye children of Zion, now dry up your tears, For you the Redeemer in glory appears: Now he lives! now he reigns! now he dwells in the sky, To answer the needy whenever they cry. 5. Afflicted believer, thy cause he'll maintain, Though dark be thy way, he'll revive thee again; In dark dispensations his kindness he'll prove, And teach thee to prize his immutable love. 6. What though thy corruptions are many and strong, Thy gracious Redeemer will help thee along; Christ the power of God, and Christ the wis dom of God, is the Spirit's testimony concerning Jesus: and Christ confirms the truth of the testimony by making wise the simple, and by giving power to the faint, and strength to them that have no might. When Jesus entered the Jewish synagogue he opened his mouth and declared his commission, qualification, and authority: saying, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor: he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised: to preach the acceptable year of the Lord." (LUKE, IV. 18, 19.) Precious sound-this! from precious Christ! "And when . |