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Christ first builds his temple in the heart, and then he furnishes it.

I fully believe, that after thousands of years are spent in heaven, we shall be altogether surprised with fresh beams of glory, emanating from our blessed Lord.

If it be permitted me to drop one tear in the regions of eternal bliss, it will be when a gleam of holy sorrow crosses my mind, that I should ever have grieved the lovely Lamb I shall then see in the midst of the throne.

Divine power gives us to see what the glorious reality of redemption is. The curse is removed. The death of Christ was the death of the curse, that thrusts the sinner from God. Heaven owned the precious sacrifice, and the Holy Spirit of the living God descended to conquer and convert hard hearts, and to make sinners new creatures in Christ Jesus the Saviour. This excites the opposition and enmity of sinful man, and he tries to prevent the work, but he cannot. O what a vain effort would it be, if thousands were to arise with the determination to obstruct the shining of the morning sun,

and to try to place some dark object between man and its beams! But nothing comes with such invincible grandeur and dignity as the allpowerful gospel, when the Saviour, in his glory, ascends the chariot of truth. He comes to conquer, and his course is victory.

My God wins me to himself, by the amazingly attractive influence that beams from him through the gospel of his dear Son. Still I would not approach him nearer than he permits me through Christ. Should we be any better off if we were nearer the orb of day? No; the glorious source of light stands at its proper distance, and proves its greatness and power by its effects. So God, in the plenitude of his own glory, shines upon the sons of men, at that distance which is best for them; and blessed be his name for every beam of the divine brightness, which comes to me through the Lord Jesus Christ.

A Justifier by his atonement, a Sanctifier by his Spirit, Christ has done the good work for He is also to do it in me. An unapplied Christ is no Christ.

me.

In the burning summer heat, or in the storm,

the trees often fail to give sufficient shelter, but the rock supplies it always. Blessed be God for the "rock" Christ Jesus, who is also the fairest among the trees of the wood, under whose shadow we may sit with delight, and whose fruit is sweet to the taste.

It is a mercy to have a solemn ear, to hear the solemn voice of Christ-" whosoever will come after me let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me." "Oh!" say some, "this is a hard saying;" but if we are really Christ's disciples, our discipleship will soon do away with the difficulty of the hard saying. What does he bid us renounce? Only evil.

The soul of religion, is the Spirit of Christ in the mind of man.

There is nothing more plain to the believer, than the suitability of Christ's salvation to his

own case.

We should endeavour to honour the work of redemption, by our close imitation of Christ.

What a charming sound is there in these

words-" he ever liveth to make intercession for us," pleading our cause in heaven. How did he do it on the cross? One prayer there— "Father forgive them"-has brought multitudes to heaven. Many that heard Peter's sermon had probably cried out, "crucify him, crucify him," and yet even they were "pricked to the heart," and saved by that precious blood they had helped so wantonly to spill!

SECTION III.

Repentance.

WHOEVER Would be a pardoned sinner, must be first made a penitent sinner.

O may I be sensible of the infinite purity of my God, and sorrow deeply on account of my sins! I want to kneel before him, crying out, that I am vile in his sight, and imploring mercy. O for true repentance, this first wise work of God the Holy Spirit! God continue this blessing to my mind till the last gasp; and when I am lying down to die, may I still be crying out for mercy, as a sinner saved by the power of grace alone!

Repentance is not to be considered as an outward action, but as an inward feeling. The word repentance, means a change of mind. I can no more be reconciled to sin after this

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