Behold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world! JOHN i. 29. These are they who came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple. REV. vii. 14, 15.

THE

HESE are they who have obtained pardon and purification through the blood of the Lamb, they are the Lamb's wife, arrayed in fine linen, clean and white; for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. Rev. xix. 8. And it is because they are washed in the blood of the Lamb, that they are admitted to the immediate presence of GOD, and are before the throne. Nothing that is impure or unholy, or that defileth, can come there. He that washes himself continually in the blood of CHRIST, does not make light of sin, but detests it above all things, for what can be more abominable than sin, since it cannot be taken away but by the blood of the SON of GOD! This humbles true believers, and makes them watch against sin; and if it has not the same effect on thee, Reader, matters are not right with thy soul; for, talking of the blood of the Lamb, and yet trifling with sin, cannot agree together, but show a false or a deceived heart.

Now will I hate those lusts of mine
That crucified my GOD!

Those sins that pierced and nailed his flesh
Fast to the fatal wood.

Yes, my Redeemer, they shall die,

My heart has so decreed;

Nor will I spare the guilty things
That made my Saviour bleed.
Whilst with a melting, broken heart,
My murdered LORD I view,

I'll raise revenge against my sins,
And slay the murd'rers too.

Verily, I say unto you, they have their reward. MATT. vi. 2. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 2 TIM. iv. 8.

OR this crown faith strives.

FOR

And because this faith justifies, it makes the world say,Well, I also believe. But where is their conflict and conquest? It is answered, I rely on CHRIST and grace. But Canaan was also a free gift of grace, and yet it was not taken without conflicts. And moreover, as worldly people are unacquainted with the wickedness of their hearts, they do not trust alone upon grace, but on their duties and outward form of godliness; self-love and pride still reigning in their hearts. When shalt thou, my soul, be driven from thy earthly stay, when shalt thou hope alone in JESUS, and be saved? How long shalt thou trust in an arm of flesh? O turn now unto the LORD who begat thee, and in his strength fight, and thou shalt overcome all thine enemies; in him have faith, and with thee all shall be well.

No works nor duties of your own
Can for the smallest sin atone;
The robes that nature may provide
Will not the least pollutions hide.

Ye sons of pride, that kindle coals
With your own hands to warm your souls,
Walk in the light of your own fire,
Enjoy the sparks that ye desire.

This is your portion at my hands,
Hell waits you with her iron bands;
You shall lie down in sorrow there,
In death, in darkness, and despair.

Run with patience the race set before us. HEB. xii. 1.

HE

E that runs, and wants patience, will never get to the end of his race; for in the race of God's commandments men have foul play; one comes and rails on him for his zeal, for running so fast, when he thinks himself too slow: another gives him a blow, and strikes him down; and up he gets and runs again. Every man will make room and give way to him that is in a race here; while he that runs the heavenly race may expect, and will find, many stand in his way, and stop him all they can, so that he will have great need of patience: without it everything will offend him. What is a wise man, a zealous man, without patience? He will bear nothing, suffer nothing, and can do no great good. David had many enemies that spake mischievous things against him, and laid snares for his life; but he was as a deaf man that "heard not; and as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth." Saul was twice in his power, yet he would not avenge himself of him; he wanted neither courage nor wisdom; he had a stirring spirit, a working head, was sensible of wrongs, knew himself innocent, his adversaries malicious; his thoughts must needs be troubled, and yet he was his own man under all; he committed his cause to GOD, his patience was in exercise, and he waited GOD'S time of deliverance. CHRIST's active and passive obedience made him a complete Mediator: may thine, Reader, make thee a complete Christian. Awake, my soul, dismiss thy fears, The sword of truth gird on,

The Christian warfare boldly wage,
Nor think thou art alone;

For CHRIST, thy King, by his all-strengthening power,
Shall safely guide thee till thy conflict's o'er.

Whom God set forth to be a propitiation (mercyseat) through faith in his blood, &c. Roм. iii. 25. GOD hath set forth the propitiation. From all eternity he proposed CHRIST to be the mercyseat. The spring of all is from the Father, who is love; he proposed, revealed, and made CHRIST known to Adam, to Abraham, and to the Prophets; he proposed the mercy-seat as an object of faith in all the sacrifices that were types of CHRIST; this mercy-seat is clearly and fully set forth in the Gospel dispensation.

Whither shall I, a poor sinner, conscious of guilt and apprehensive of wrath, flee for refuge? Where shall I find it? Where but under the covert of atoning blood! While others have recourse to refuges of lies, and would establish a righteousness of their own, in the LORD, my righteousness, I find rest and safety. Having fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before me, in CHRIST, my hope, I shall have strong consolation. Does Jehovah from this mercy-seat offer pardon to me, a rebel sinner ? Shall I not hear this voice of mercy, and live, and joy in GoD, through CHRIST? Will GOD Commune with me from this mercy-seat, and bless me with the manifestation of his love? O delightful interview, when most alone, retired from the world, but least alone when with my GOD! O the inexpressible pleasure of secret devotion, of "a life hid with CHRIST in GOD!" If the contemplation of divine love here below be so ravishing, O what shall I experience above! "My GoD, guide me here by thy counsel, and afterwards receive me to glory." LORD, while I live, my light, my truth, My all-atoning Saviour be;

While here, me by thy counsel guide;
At death, take me to be with thee.

No man can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and Mammon. MATT. vi. 24. If I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. GAL. i. 10. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 JOHN ii. 15.

OTH Satan tempt thee, either by pleasures,

dignities, or profits? O my soul, stand upon thy guard, gird on thy strength with such thoughts as these:- What can the world profit me, if the cares of it choke me? How can pleasures comfort me, if their sting poison me? or what advancement is this, to be triumphing in honour before the face of men here, and to be trembling with confusion before the throne of God hereafter? What are the delights of the world to the peace of my conscience, or the joy that is in the Holy Ghost? What are the applauses of men to the crown prepared by GOD? or, what is the gain of the world to the loss of my soul? The vanity of the creature is far beneath the excellency of my soul; and the things of time not worthy to be mentioned with the things of eternity. Two masters, of such opposite principles as God and Mammon, I cannot serve; therefore, Satan, upon the most deliberate consideration, I must give thee and thy service up, for thou biddest me to my loss.

Two masters are too much for me;
Nor can the world with GOD agree;
Then, tempting Mammon, get thee gone,
And let me serve my CHRIST alone.