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God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. GAL. vi. 14.

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HATEVER others may do, or whatever they may exult or glory in, God forbid that I should exult, except in the cross of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, and in the grand doctrine of justification and sanctification through him. And what else could I exult or glory in?-for a true beliver has nothing to glory in but CHRIST alone. Even in his very best performances he will be often deeply humbled, and cry out, "LORD, enter not into judgment!"—and well he may; for the ground of our glory, comfort, and salvation, is not in works, but in CHRIST, and the free grace of GOD; who, for his Son's sake, lays nothing to our charge, but daily covers and richly pardons all our iniquities: and thus believers walking steadily, might always be kept in solid peace; for the cross of CHRIST is a solid and unshaken foundation.

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,

And pour contempt on all my pride!
Forbid it, LORD, that I should boast,

Save in the cross of CHRIST my GOD;
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood!

His dying crimson, like a robe,
Spreads o'er his body on the tree;
Then I am dead to all the globe,
And all the globe is dead to me.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,

Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Purifying their hearts by faith. ACTS XV. 9.

OY faith in the SON of GOD we get an interest By in his great and glorious salvation; we are justified by faith; we have peace with GoD by faith. This is an excellent grace, which brings us out of a state of slavery and sin, into the liberty of the sons and daughters of GOD, and will issue in everlasting salvation. Faith purifies the heart of man, naturally vicious, and unites us to CHRIST, the root of all holiness. Now, reader, examine yourself whether you be in the faith; try the tree by its fruits; ask yourself these questions: Has my faith a purifying influence on my heart? Does the view of CHRIST dying for my sins make me die unto them? Has my faith in CHRIST as wounded for my transgressions and bruised for my iniquities, made me bitterly lament them, sincerely hate them, and seek the death of every one of them? Though there may be still sin in me, is there none allowed? Is there none, no, not one; no, not that sin which does most easily beset me, which I desire to be spared and excused in? Do I rather look upon all sin as the enemy of CHRIST and my own soul, and as such do I hate it with a perfect hatred? Am I praying fervently for divine grace to subdue it? and in the strength of that grace, do I maintain a constant and vigorous war with it, determined never to give it any rest in my heart, never to cease my conflict with it, till I have gained the complete and everlasting victory? Then thou art upright, go on and prosper!

That faith to me, O LORD, impart,

Which while it bringeth peace,

Will daily purify my heart,

And bring in holiness!

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He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit. Isa. xxvii. 6. They shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward. Chap. xxxvii. 31. They shall bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing. PSALM Xcii. 14. Her leaf shall be green, and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. JER. xvii. 8. HE evangelical Christians look THE themselves as barren trees, ever crying out, "O my leanness, my leanness!" Even before the judgment-seat of CHRIST, they acknowledge no fruits nor will plead them, though they have been fruitful. Matt. xxv. 37-39. The reason is, they are poor in spirit, and are not pleased with their fruits but only with CHRIST. Grant, O LORD, that I may earnestly seek to bring forth fruits, and may grow in fruitfulness as I grow in years, and never cease from yielding fruit; hereby proving myself to be a tree of the LORD's planting, whose leaf is green, and whose branches are flourishing and fruitful! Yet bless me also with deep poverty of spirit, that may see myself still nothing, having nothing of my own to glory in, or to justify me; and thus esteem CHRIST my All, and rest upon him wholly. LORD, 'tis a pleasant thing to stand In gardens planted by thy hand; Let me within thy courts be seen, Like a young cedar, fresh and green. There grow thy saints in faith and love, Blest with thy influence from above! Time, that doth all things else impair, Still makes them flourish strong and fair. Laden with fruits of age, they show The LORD is holy, just, and true; None that attend his gates shall find A God unfaithful or unkind!

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The breaker is come up before them: they have broken up, and have passed through the gate; and their King (as the Author and Finisher of faith) shall pass before them, and the Lord on the head of them. MICAH ii. 13. Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. JOHN xvi. 33.

HEB. xii. 1, 2.

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OMETIMES the enemy seems to get an advantage over us; but the battle is not over yet. At last thou shalt have the victory, and carry the day for all that. In hard struggles remember the power of CHRIST, who, in his resurrection, broke through everything. With him thou canst also break through, and be more than conqueror. Yea, in every conflict, if thy faith be firm, thou canst be sure of victory beforehand; for faith engages CHRIST's power, and his power ensureth victory: it is as impossible for thine enemies to keep thee always in bonds, as it was impossible that CHRIST could be kept in the grave by the stone, seal, and keepers. Nay, the greater their force is, the more glorious will be the victory of CHRIST Over them.

Hosannah to our conqu'ring King!

The Prince of Darkness flies;
His troops rush headlong down to hell,
Like lightning from the skies.
There, bound in chains, the lions roar,
And fright the rescued sheep;
But heavy bars confine their power
And malice to the deep!

Hosannah to our conqu'ring King!

All hail, incarnate love!

Ten thousand songs and glories wait
To crown thy head above.

Thy vict'ries and thy deathless fame
Through the wide world shall run,

And everlasting ages sing

The triumphs thou hast won.

Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
AMOS iii. 3.

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THEY must be agreed in heart, in affection, in
will, in their inclinations and pursuits, or
they cannot walk together in any mutual confi-
dence and comfortable communion. "What com-
munion hath light with darkness? and what con-
cord hath CHRIST with Belial? or what part hath
he that believeth with an infidel ?" 2 Cor. vi. 15.
We cannot walk with JESUS without a living union
with him, a hearty love to him, and a holy delight
in him nor can he walk with us on any other
principles. We cannot walk with each other
without mutual love. A living union with JESUS,
cemented and sealed by his Holy Spirit, is the
only bond of union and agreement between Chris-
tians, whereby they can walk together, to the
honour of GOD and their own benefit.-Alas! how
much it is to be lamented that those who, through
grace, are thus united, should be so visibly shy
of each other, because they differ in lesser mat-
ters. O my dear SAVIOUR! help me to be more
agreed with thee, and to walk more closely with
thee, and in more real affection and love with all
those who are really thine, to the praise and
glory of thy grace! Amen and Amen!

May the grace of CHRIST our Saviour,
And the Father's boundless love,

With the Holy Spirit's favour,
Rest upon us from above.

Thus shall we abide in union

With each other and the LORD,
And possess, in sweet communion,
Joys which earth cannot afford!

Love is the golden chain that binds
The happy souls above,

And he's an heir of heaven who finds
His bosom glow with love.

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