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enemies already conquered; look on thyself as not only accepted with God through Christ, but even in league and covenant with him against all thine enemies; and by these means thou hast, even in the contest, peace, courage, strength, and victory.

6. In this book are several parts of Scripture-History_evangelized, or applied to spiritual purposes in a gospel way; which may serve as specimens for the improving of many more to the same end; hereby great advantages will arise to the intelligent reader. "The sword of the Lord and of Gideon." The command to drive out the Canaanites; and if not, their becoming pricks in the eyes of the Israelites, the noble exploits of the Jews in their wars, and the interpositions of Providence in their behalf; their departing from God, and his selling them into the hands of their enemies; their groanings under captivity and oppression; the rage and malice of their adversaries, &c. afford ample matter of caution and instruction to every serious reader; all may be easily brought home and spiritualized, and will teach him to admire free grace; the tokens of Divine favour will warn him of the power of his enemies; will show him the danger of sin and corruption, and the necessity of keeping close to the Captain of his salvation from day to day.

Lastly, Dear Reader, beware of formality in the use of this book; it will be of little service barely to read it over; see that these truths be brought home to thy conscience, and beg of the Almighty that he would be pleased to apply them by his Holy Spirit; then they will be blessed indeed to thy soul: examine your experience as you go along, particularly how you hate and fight against sin; how you maintain communion with God thro' the Spirit; what it is to live by faith in Christ Jesus; which are subjects much insisted on in this work; and in the knowledge and experience of which consists the greatest part of a Christian's happiness. See if your graces are lively and vigorous; if they are kept in exercise the kingdom of Heaven is a growing kingdom; the seeds of grace must bring forth fruit.

May the Lord our God, who, at the building of the material temple of Jerusalem, did not despise the least service of contribution, graciously accept, in Christ, of this feeble labour of love towards building up this spiritual temple, and continue to bless it richly in the edification of gracious souls, to the glory of his name, and for the sake of his eternal love! Amen.

· HOSANNA! Mark xi. 9.

À NEW scene of time now begins: put up thy Hosanna, O my soul, that the Lord may save, bless, and prosper thee; may he grant thee a happy new year indeed! For this purpose begin it with a dedication of thyself to God; thy time, circumstances, and life are in his hands; implore his blessing and protection over thee this ensuing year. Begin this and every following day with prayer; let God have thy first thoughts in the morning, the impression they make will not be easily erased by worldly matters. Grace is promised in the use of means; be thou diligent then and punctual in the performance of them; let thy daily request be for an increasing knowledge of thyself, and of Jesus Christ in his offices; for a sense of pardoning mercy; for a lively vigorous faith: for communion with the Father and the Son through the Spirit; for true holiness in heart and life; for strength and protection against thy spiritual foes, and for persevering grace to hold out to the end. Pray for the prosperity of Zion; they prosper that love her; for thy friends and relations, begging the Almighty to take them into a covenant relation to himself; for a blessing on thy worldly affairs; for a sanctified use of health or sickness, prosperity or adversity, as God shall please to send. Perhaps, O my soul, this may be the last year of the Lord's patience and thy pilgrimage: Is thy state safe? Art thou a real believer in Jesus? Is the oil of grace in thy vessel? If so, thou art prepared for every emergency.

And now, my soul, another year

Of thy short life is past;

I cannot long continue here;

And this may be my last.

Now a new scene of time begins,

Set out afresh for Heav'n;
Seek pardon for thy daily sins
In Christ, so freely giv'n.

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I will ransom them from the power of the grave. I will redeem them from death; O Death, I will be thy plague! O Grave, I will be thy destruction. Hos. xii. 14. Christ having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Col. ii. 16.

THE world is afraid of a hidden poison where there is none.

The

real hidden poison of sin, which the Lord grant me to fear, is everywhere; for it has infected all things and all places. But, O my dear Saviour, thou being my all-sufficient Preservative and Antidote in all places, O! dwell in me continually, and increase thou my faith, that I may know thee and enjoy thee more and more! Take away all slavish fears of Death and Hell from my soul, for thou hast conquered both for me.

Hosanna to the Prince of Light,
That cloth'd himself in clay :
Enter'd the iron gates of Death,

And tore the bars away.

Death is no more the King of Dread
Since our Immanuel rose;

He took the tyrant's sting away,
And spoil'd our hellish foes.
Now holy triumphs of the soul
Shall death itself outbrave,
Leave dull mortality behind,
And fly beyond the grave.

But now, O Lord, thou art our Father: we are the clay, and thou our Potter; and we are all the work of thy hand. Isa. lxiv. 8.

BEING only clay in thy hands, O Lord, as I must not, so I would not,

resist thy workings by any means; and I pray and hope thou wilt prepare and perfect me for a meet vessel of grace, in spite of a thousand hindrances. No work of thine comes ever short of its intended perfection; for who can stay thy hand? It is thy own saying, "I will work, and who shall let it ?" Isaiah xliii. 13.

An artist delights in his own workmanship, and would not leave one single flaw or defect in it designedly. Phil. i. 6. O! then look upon me too, thou wise Creator!-see how flesh and blood disorder my poor soul, and deliver me from all that may endanger my spiritual life! Knowing thou canst do no less than an human artist, who is ever ready and exerts his skill to mend and perfect his work, I trust that thou wilt not always suffer these impediments to hinder and disgrace thy work. Nay, such is thy wisdom and power, that out of darkness thou canst bring light; out of sickness, health; and though I am now destitute of strength and life, yet I believe thy work will be finished at last, and glorify the name of its Maker. j Pet. v. 10.

Finish, Lord, thy new creation!
Pure in heart, oh, let us be!

See at length thy great salvation
Perfectly restor❜d by Thee!

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