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Lord! day by day that union let me know,
By sweet communion as I forward go,

Let fears alarm, or enemies appal:
Bid me approach thy presence, reconciled;
Give me the favoured audience of a child,

Through him whose fulness filleth all in all!

Thine honoured servant, Lord, speed on his way,
Go where he goes-be with him if he stay;
Whene'er thy faithful labourer thou call,
Lord, manifest thyself his all in all:

Filled with thy fulness, then, in strains the high'st,

He'll shout the praise of "OUR MOST GLORIOUS CHRIST!" Sabbath-day, August 12, 1826.

W.

THE COVENANT OF PEACE.

Before the sun, the fount of light,
Or moon, or stars, which shine by night,
Or earth, or sea, to being sprang;
Before the omnipresent Word
Had spread the vaulted skies abroad,
Or the creation work began;-
The compact founded all in love,
Formed in the shining courts above,

By creature merit disapproved ;
Nor satan's fonl designs could break,
Nor man by his transgressions shake,-

Its strong foundations are unmoved.
The Father's self-moved love divine,
Which at the first in Christ did shine
On all the chosen seed in him,
Remains eternally the same,
A pure, celestial, burning flame,

Unquenched by satan, man, or sin.
Their foul disgrace was fully known,
But God the Son, his bride, his own,
With love immutable beloved;
And he engaged her sin to bear,
That she his righteousness should wear,
And be by justice well approved.

And God the Holy Ghost likewise,
Himself engaged to ope their eyes,

To see their helpless wretchedness;

To make them love, rich sovereign grace,
And fit them to enjoy the place,

Where God unveils his holiness.

And they in loud triumphant lays
Of sweet, melodious, grateful praise,
To all eternity shall sing,

Of love divine, eternal, free,
Vouchsafed by the co-equal Three,

Their one all-glorious God and King!

ELDAD.

THE

Spiritual Magazine;

OR,

SAINTS

TREASURY.

"There are Three that bear record in heaven, the FATHER, the WORD, and the HOLY GHOST: and these Three are One."

"Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."

1 John v. 7.

Jude 3.

OCTOBER, 1826.

(For the Spiritual Magazine.)

THE TRIALS OF THE SAINTS IN THE HANDS OF CHRIST.

It is an incontrovertible truth, that "many are the afflictions of the righteous." As they journey through this wilderness they meet with many things painful to flesh and blood, and their hearts are often discouraged on account of the way; but under their trials peculiar are their enjoyments and consolations. They are enabled by precious faith to discover the Lord's hand and loving kindness in their afflictions, and this enables them to say, "the cup which my Father hath given me shall I not drink of it?" A view of Christ as interested in all our trials will produce calm resignation to the divine will.

Let then the afflicted saints remember-1. That all their trials were appointed by Jesus. It is a precious truth that in the everlasting covenant all things pertaining to the spiritual and temporal welfare of the Israel of God were appointed; not only the time, the place, and the means by which they should be called by free and sovereign grace, but all the various trials through which they are called to pass; the nature of those trials, the way in which they should be brought about, and the way in which they should affect them:-these were all appointed by Jesus; he who came forward as their surety, and engaged to redeem them from death; he who beheld them as that glorious church, which he would finally present before his Father, without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing. Nor were the trials of the saints merely appointed by our adorable Saviour, but all the circumstances connected with their trials, and all the blessings necessary to support them under their trials. This precious truth yields the most solid comfort. When the Lord the Spirit enables the believer to look at VOL. III.-No. 30.

S

Jesus as the appointer of all his trials, what comfort does he find; in holy rapture, he exclaims, hath Jesus, who loved me with an everlasting love, appointed all my trials? then I will trust, and not be afraid; "he knoweth the way that 1 take, and when he hath tried me I shall come forth as gold."

The afflicted saints are to remember-2. That all their trials are under the direction of Jesus. The people of God have unnumbered enemies; satan, and their own corrupt hearts, carnal professors, and ungodly men, are all allied to afflict the saints; and dreadful would be their case were they left in the hands of their enemies. But all their trials are under the direction of Jesus, and not all the powers of earth or hell can inflict one pain more than he has appointed. This truth is clearly illustrated by the history of Sennacherib. His heart was filled with malice against Israel, and his design was "to cut off nations not a few," but not a step did he go beyond what was appointed. He was indeed the rod to chastise Israel, but a rod in the hands of a merciful Saviour. And not only in the history of Sennacherib, but in the history of many of the saints, the Lord has shewn that whatever may have been the design of their enemies to afflict, their trials have been under his wise management; hence it is that the wicked are sometimes suddenly checked in their persecuting career, and made the instruments of doing good to the very people whom their hearts abhor. How consoling is this truth to the deeply tried servant of the Lord. He looks around, and can say with David, 66 many there be that rise up against me," but the precious declaration, "hitherto shalt thou go, and no farther," bears him up. "Many indeed are my trials, but this is my comfort. He who hath loved me, and given himself for me, performeth the thing that is appointed for me," and persecution and distress, trials and temptations,

"All must come, and last, and end,

As shall please my heavenly Friend."

But it is not sufficient for the afflicted saints to remember that all their trials are under the direction of Jesus, they must consider-3. That they all come with his blessing. They are the pledges of his love, the fulfilment of his promise, "O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me!" Every trial is to do them some good, to purge away their dross, to wean them from the world, to make the promises sweet, and heaven more desirable; and then trials are made blessings. In the darkest season Jesus often manifests himself most gracious; as their afflictions abound so he causes their consolations to abound. Every trial comes as it were with this motto, "this affliction is not unto death, but for the glory of God." In every trying dispensation Jesus appears, saying, "It is I, be not afraid!" Hence, therefore, whilst all the afflictions of the wicked arise as marks of the divine indignation, all the afflictions of the godly are blessings of the everlasting covenant, and they shall eventually say under the influence of the Spirit, "I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right," &c.

But again, the afflicted saints are to remember that all their trials must end at the Redeemer's command. There is a set time to favour, and to try Zion. The people of God may be afflicted for months or years; they may be called for a long season to walk in darkness, but light is sown for the righteous. At the appointed season their sorrows must end, nor can all the powers of earth or hell detain them in the furnace of affliction one moment beyond the Redeemer's appointed time. A thousand difficulties may present themselves; every way of deliverance may seem to be shut up; but at the Redeemer's word all obstacles must vanish. He will work, and none shall let it.

Ye tried servants of the Lord, take then courage. He who is a friend that loveth at all times, knoweth every step ye have to tread in this wilderness. He sympathizes with you under all your trials, and encourages you by his promise, "Fear them not, for I am with thee!" Ere long the days of your mourning shall be ended; you shall enter perfect and uninterrupted peace; you shall see the Redeemer as he is, and enjoy all the riches of his finished salvation. Then will your grateful songs ascend to him who appointed and directed all your trials. Then will every affliction appear to have issued from boundless compassion. Be not then discouraged. Every step brings you nearer home, and the promise of your God cannot be broken, I will give them rest from all their sorrows."

Sunderland.

66

CLERICUS.

(For the Spiritual Magazine.)

THE IMPORTANCE AND GLORY OF CHRIST'S RESUR

RECTION.

THE resurrection of Christ from the dead filled the primitive church with a lively hope, and the hearts of the dear disciples, who beheld him ascend, with great joy. Once, indeed, they were sorrowful at the thoughts of parting with him; and when he was dead, their fears were excited lest he should not rise and prove himself the deliverer of Israel. Their hearts were sad, but when the dear object of their hope appeared alive again, it is said, "the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord;" while some could scarcely believe for joy and wonder. But when our Lord had opened their understanding they saw the necessity of his sufferings, and the certainty of his resurrection; and they afterwards felt the consequence of his ascension into heaven, by the down-pouring of the Holy Ghost, and witnessed the effects in the conversion of thousands through the ministry of the gospel. "And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all." The resurrection of Christ is of such vast importance, that if it could be taken away, our New Testament would become a blank. What then would become of all that is written in Moses, in the

prophets, and in the Psalms concerning him? What then would become of the church? Why, the apostle tells us, "that if Christ be not risen, our faith is vain, we are yet in our sins, and those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished!" O believer, how should such a consideration make us prize every testimony of our Lord's resurrection, and glory in the exaltation of our living Head at God's right hand! The apostle Paul was an ardent preacher and defender of this great doctrine; he suffered much, very much in the defence of it, and was grieved that some, even in the church of Corinth, should deny the resurrection of the dead. He well knew that in so doing they denied the resurrection of Christ also; he knew the oneness between Christ and his people, and that they stand or fall together.

Satan did all he could to hide this glorious truth when it took place, and the apostle had to suffer much from his malice, and the activity of his agents. He was called a setter forth of strange gods, because he preached Jesus and the resurrection. He called this doctrine the hope of Israel, and said he, " for the hope of Israel am I bound with this chain." For this precious truth he was often called in question: in defence of this he appeared before Ananias, before Felix, before Festus, and before king Agrippa. His wonderful escapes from the malice and vigilance of his enemies, and his preservation through the whole scene of his sufferings and perils, by land and by water, together with the encouragement he had from the Lord himself, is truly admirable. They all combine to prove the power of Christ's resurrection; the doctrine which he defended with so much spiritual boldness and undaunted courage. For this doctrine he was accused of the Jews. In defence of this cheering truth he must appear at Rome also. And encouraged by his risen Lord, he undertook his dangerous voyage, and suffered shipwreck; but his faith in this doctrine was not shipwrecked, as was the case with those who made shipwreck of faith, and said the resurrection was past already, and thereby overthrew the faith of others, 2 Tim. ii. 27, 28. Paul called it vain babbling that would lead to more ungodliness; he knew such evil communications would corrupt good manners; and while he experimentally knew that all the precious doctrines of grace, were doctrines according to godliness, he was sure that a denial of them would lead to licentiousness.

How earnestly does the apostle charge Timothy not to be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of him his prisoner, but to be a partaker of the afflictions of the gospel. Remember, said he, that "Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead, according to my gospel, wherein I suffer trouble as an evil doer even unto bonds." He well knew that the usefulness of Timothy's ministry would be lost, and his courage fail, if he were led away by the error of those who said there was no resurrection. Paul well knew the unity of truth, and that the truth of this doctrine proved the truth of every other doctrine, and that without it they were of all men the most miserable. He viewed the denial of it an inlet to all ungodli

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