Death will soon sweep away all that learned triflers are now weaving with so much self applauded address. Nor will the fine-spun dresses in which the moralist and the selfrighteous clothe themselves, be of more advantage to them either for ornament or defence, than the produce of a spider. But it is given to a few to know their present state and future destination. These are built upon the immovable Rock of Ages for eternity. These are trees springing from a living root, and bear the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ to the praise and glory of God. When we are joined to the Lord by one Spirit and receive Christ by faith of the operation of God; we are after a secret and mysterious, but most real and admirable manner, made one with Christ; and if God giving us his Son could not but with him freely give all things else," how shall he refuse our persons, when we are united to his person, when our souls are joined to his soul, sanctified by his blood, clothed with his robe, stamped with his image, sealed with his Spirit, and consigned to all the glories of God in Christ as our inheritance. The saints are described in scripture, as being men wondered at," as a peculiar people, a holy nation, and so on. God blesses them with peculiar nearness to himself, and loves them with a peculiar love. They are strangers and sojourners here; this is not their rest, it is polluted; it is only a wilderness through which they must pass, a place that lies in their road ;-an inn, at which they must lodge: it is their tribulated pathway to their Father's house. But there is a certain joy and spiritual rejoicing, that accompanies them in whom the Holy Ghost doth dwell; a joy in the midst of sorrow: a joy given to allay their sorrows, and to alleviate their burdens. Now this Spirit of comfort is the hope and confidence, the certain expectation of the saints; this is the refreshment of all

wearied travellers, the cordial of all languishing saints, the support of the scrupulous, the guide of the doubtful, the anchor of timorous and fluct uating souls, the confidence and staff of the mourner. But the work of the Holy Ghost can never be des troyed, this holy fire will never go out, but like the fire of heaven, it must shine, although like the stars sometimes covered with a cloud, or obscured by a greater light; yet they dwell for ever in their orbs, and walk in their circles, but go not out by day nor night, nor are extinguished or altered by all the changes that take place in the world. The fire of the Spirit is still kept alive; it burns within when the light breaks not forth, and is eternal in duration as its great author. Hence (Jesus says) "he that believeth on me hath everlasting life (John vi. 47.) and because I live you shall live also." So that instead of our God being a consuming fire, he shall become to us the circle of a glorious crown, an unsetting sun of eternal light. This is the portion laid up for them whose hearts are burning lamps, and are all on fire with divine love, whose flames are fanned with the wings of the holy Dove, and whose spirits shine and burn with that fire which he kindleth in them, by which their spirit is becalmed, made even as the brow of Jesus, and smooth like the heart of God; and then it ascends to heaven upon the wing of the holy Dove, and dwells with God, till it returns, like the useful bee, loaded with the blessings and dew of heaven. Some of the saints of old under the Spirit's influence have had the key of prayer, to open God's four closets, of the womb and the grave, of providence and ruin. What God's purposes and decrees has determined the Spirit leads us to ask of God. "Whose counsels must stand, and who will do all his pleasure." By whose power rocks have been rent, and mountains fly in pieces like the drops of a

broken cloud; but when the heavens melt, and the sun be a globe of consuming fire, and the moon dark like an extinguished candle, then the weakest of God's dear children shall be supported by the arm of God, and kept safe and immovable as the throne of heaven. The Lord will guide his people with his unerring wisdom, support them with his al mighty arm, supply them out of the inexhaustible riches of his grace, re. vive them when fainting, heal them when wounded, plead for them above as their great High Priest, manage for them upon earth as their great and good Shepherd, and at last give them a crown of everlasing life and glory that fadeth not away. Ascend, thou christian pilgrim the mountain of the Lord, and behold the scene which unfolds itself. Behold the new heav ens and the new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness; the city which hath foundations; the pure river of life, clear as crystal, proceed. ing out of the throne of God and of the Lamb; the tree whose leaves are for the healing of the nations. All this, and more than the mind can conceive, or the heart desire, is assured to you, by the unchangeable promise and oath of God, whose language is 66 be strong and of good courage, for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goeth. Arise, go over this Jordan, thou and all this people, unto the land which I do give them. Every place that the sole of your toot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you." Here is your security. Amidst the many and varied troubles of human life, and the possible agonies of dissolving nature, may the language of your heart be, this "God is our God for ever and ever." though the filg-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be found in the vine; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the field shall yield no meat; yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation."

"Al

All below, is too scanty to afford

us,

us happiness. When we stand upon the threshold of eternity we shall have clearer views than we have now, of the vanity of what is passing from and the glory of what is before us.- O that we may have our lions girded, and our lamps burning, and be as servants waiting for their Lord, that when the voice sounds through the chambers of souls, The master is come and calleth for thee, we may arise immediately with a triumphant Amen even so come Lord Jesus. Then we shall have a day without a night, a summer without a winter, a flood without an ebb, a morning without clouds, a blissful communion with God without interruption for ever! Hallelujah, Amen.

The day of life. though chequered much
With scenes of good and ill;
If heavenly grace the spirit touch,
Shall close in glory still.

How fair the christian, when revealed
And if behind a storm concealed
In full meridian glare!

He still shines brightly there.

No storm his brightness can destroy,
Whose life is light divine;
Afflictions work his lasting joy,
And make him sweetly shine.

Death's hand doth not the saint enshroud,
As to our eye it seems;

But tears away the mortal cloud
That hides his heavenly beams.
Westminster.

W. C.

EXTRACTS FROM SERMONS DELIVERED BY REV. J. VINALL, AT JIREH CHAPEL, LEWES.

No. 16.-To be Continued.

Micah vii. 19.-" He will turn again; he will have compassion upon

us.

In the former part of the chapter we have an account of the trying dispensation which the prophet was in, and of the awful day in which he lived; yet amidst it all what a strong act of faith was he enabled to put

64

forth. We here see, if I may so speak, faith in her best dress, that is, in a firm and humble trust in God, under the most trying dispensations. Hear what he says in the seventh and eighth verses, Therefore I will look unto the Lord, I will wait for the God of my salvation : : my God will hear me. Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy, when I fall I shall arise, when I sit in darkness the Lord shall be a light unto me.' In the verse preceding my text, in what a holy ecstacy does he break out, Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage. He retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy." Oh what language is this! From what is said in my text, we may judge the church had known what it was to enjoy the Lord's presence, and also that there was a cause why the Lord withdrew, and generally this cause is sin, as in the following portion : ،، But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." And again, "For the iniquity of his coveteousness I was wroth." &c. &c. Many more I might name. I will now speak of some of the useful lessons we are taught when thus exercised, that is, before the Lord turns again.

1. Mortification. I know this is an old fashioned doctrine, and what at one time, I am free to confess, I knew but little about. But for some few years the Almighty has been pleased to greatly exercise me in this branch of experience. I have read

much about it in old authors, but not to my entire satisfaction, most of them treating on it too much as an act of the creature. We are called "to mortify our members," which are enumerated, but like every part of the christian's path, he cannot perform it as an act of his own. You will say, then, How is this brought about ? know that under the divine leadings

I

of the Holy Spirit it can be accom. plished, but, I believe, in general it is from outward dispensations, together with the inward teaching of the blessed Spirit. Let the characters of Job and David suffice. Look first at Job. God's testimony was, "None like him on the earth." Yet all his property shall be taken away, he shall lose all his children, and he be smitten with sore boils from head to foot; his friends turn against him, the arrows of God sticking fast in him, the poison whereof drank up his spirit. Was not this a most mortifying dispensa. tion. Put it to yourselves. It is one thing to read these trials, but another to experience them. And, moreover, he sat upon a dunghill, and scraped himself with a potsherd. What mortifying dispensations was David called to experience: his daughter to be defiled by her brother, his own son to rise in open rebellion, to be driven from Jerusalem, see Shimei cursing him. Read the whole history. And this was no mean man, but a king, and anointed to that office at the command of God. If these two men did not know what mortification was, I know not who did. This will lead to,

2. Humiliation. Did it not with Job? Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." What did David say of Shimei? "Let him alone, the Lord hath bidden him; it may be the Lord will look on my affliction, and requite me good for his cursing this day.” And also what he said to Judah, in reference to the ark of the covenant of God: "If I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord; he will bring me again, and shew me both it and his habitation; but if he' say thus, I have no delight in thee, here am I, let him do to me as seem-' eth good unto him." But above all, if we are led to see our dear Redeemer in his whole life, from his birth to his grave, what can we say, but it was a life of complete mortification, and this path will lead to exaltation. Was it not so with the blessed Saviour? Did

not the end of Job prove so, and the same with David. This path also will lead to much prayer and supplication. What said David: I give myself unto prayer.” A soul under these dispensations will be crying day and night unto God. I can truly say, in the whole course of my life, I never have felt so much of it as I now do; my soul is continually going forth to the Lord in sighs, breathings, and earnest desires, and sweet do I find it, although to nature very painful. Another end to be answered is, for the trial of our faith, as it is written, "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that And again, perisheth," &c. My brethren, count it all joy, when ye fall into divers temptations, knowing that the trial of your faith," &c. And were it not, my friends, for these trials, how should we know whether our faith is genuine or not? Have not the Lord's children in all ages been called into this branch of experience? We find it from the beginning of the Bible to the end. And when the anemy of souls is permitted violently to assault me, I am enabled at times to take encouragement therefrom, considering that if there was not the real work of God within, he would not be so enraged at me.

Another thing that will be found in this path is Patience. Ah, you will be ready to say, I feel nothing but impatience. I believe it will be much felt at first under trials, but the dear Lord will so lead us, that at last we shall be able to say with David, "I waited patiently for the Lord." That text has been long on my mind, "In your patience possess ye your souls," which should the dear Lord' lead me to speak from on some future occasion, I trust it will be profitable. It is no easy path to get at the substance of that text..

in me that beareth fruit, he purgeth it." How was it with Ephraim when left to himself?" Ephraim is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself:" and so will every child of God if left of God. The Almighty is obliged, if I may so speak, to bring on afflicting dispensations to effect this work.

Another thing that will be found is, Christ will be made precious. It is no where said, He is a brother born for prosperity, but for adversity. And whatever office characters he sustains, we shall find him to be all that we can possibly require in every condi tion, whether as a Husband, Father, Advocate, Tower, Shield. Oh what a blessed field here opens, had I time to get into it. I will therefore only intrude upon your time, briefly to remark, that when this process has been passed through, (if I may so speak,) on the backsliding child of God, that then the words of my text will be fulfilled, for the dear Lord will turn again, restore the joys of his precious salvation, comfort Ephraim aud his mourners, give the oil of gladness for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, and get to himself an everlasting name, and our souls eternal benefit. I often fiud when my time is out, matter flow in more than when I begin. What has been spoken agreeable to the will of God, may he be pleased to own and honour for the good of your souls, and to Israel's Triune God be all the glory ascribed.

me. And did not David feel an ardent love for his friend Jonathan? yes he did, and I think this sprung from a higher source than nature. It lasted till death; and then says of his departed brother, Thy love to me is wonderful, passing the love of women. A solid ground this, indeed, for David to indulge in the mournful strain he did, when Jonothan fell. And real believers know, and they only, what it is to " weep with those that weep, and rejoice with those that do rejoice." Similar weeping and corresponding rejoicing have all the saints. None but the inhabitants of the city know the privileges thereof. A stranger knoweth not their sorrows nor intermeddleth with their joys. No stranger knoweth the worth of Zion's King, nor enjoys the smiles of his face, nor experienceth the depth of her mourning when he withdraws to his Father's court (as Bunyan says) and he ceases to shew himself as he used to do. But, Oh, what a privilege has Zion's above earthly citizens! Their king may die, but Zion's King ever lives, and though their iniquities separate them and their God, in sweet enjoyment, yet the promise runs thus "I will see you again." Oh your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. And a good reason may be assigned, for man is not the author of the Christian's joy. We," says favoured Paul, joy in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ;" and adds to this, "When he appears. we shall also appear with him, shall be like him, and behold his glory, and this glory shall be the glory of the only begotten Son of God the Father," in a manner too mysterious for mortals to attempt to tread the threshold of inquiry into. Yet he is said to be full of grace and truth, consequently knowing no sin, neither could or can guile be found in his mouth. Just such a Saviour, my dear brother, as suits such poor bankrupts as you Oh how sweet does Hart

and me. sing, October, 1842.]

"None but Jesus,

Can do helpless sinners good." And to hold one hour's communion with him, is worth more than all nature's treasures, for it is from the mercy-seat he looks down, while justice sits smiling by; so that a poor tempest-tossed sinner may come with boldness to a throne of grace, and obtain mercy and grace to help in all times of need. Sure I am if this way be hedged up there is no other for me. I do not wonder at the sweet

singer of Israel delighting to dwell so much upon mercy, seeing he had tasted so much of it in pardoning his heinous sins, and supplying his nuplacable foes. merous wants, and defeating his im"Oh," says he, "if the Lord had not been on our side, when men rose up against us, then had they swallowed us up quick.", Such is the malice of man. O Lord, I would say, forgive them, for they know not what they do. But to come home: Does not the word mercy sound swectly in thy ears, and does not thy very heart vibrate at the sound? Canst thou not say, with Jacob, "The God that fed me to this day?" Yes, say you, but what is to be done for the future? member Jesus is the same yesterday, to day, and for ever. One of our poets say,

Why re

"He that brought me safe thus far, Will lead me safely home." And that is enough for you and me. Methinks I could hear you exclaim, with thy poor brother, Lord increase my faith!

What dost thou mean to bear with some degree of patience present trials, or what is to come? I suspect you need both. Be it so, it is not out of the way of the promise, nor too much to try. The invitation is, "Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.' And it is my opinion, and I believe I am not alone in this, our covenant God will take care that our mouths be opened, by fresh trials, or a prolonging of present, that his power

H H