means whereby the hearts of his people are opened to admit him, the King of Glory, into their souls. What grace is here! Christ speaking by his blessed word, and appearing unto his people in his blessed ordinances, all in flames of love, and standing at the door of their hearts, knocking with the hammer of his word, saying, "Open to me, my love, my dove, my undefiled." I am thy Beloved,-I am thy Salvation,-I am God-even thy God. The adorable Jesus is pleased, not only to inform his church where he was, but he adds, "If any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." These words inform us of what Christ expected from the true and living members of his church; and that was, that as he had given them to know where he was, namely, at the door of their hearts, whereby he fully discovered unto them his great delight in holding fellowship with them; so it highly became them upon this information, to show their readiness to entertain him, by embracing him in the arms of their faith and love. If any man hear my voice, in my word of grace, and open the door,-shows his hearty desire to hold fellowship and communion with me ;-I will, out of the riches of my free grace. give him the desire of his heart. These words are spoken by Christ unto his church, to souls who have already enjoyed his presence and fellowship; and who, having heard his voice in his word, speaking against, and reproving his professing ones, for their coldness, remissness, and lukewarmness; are waiting upon him in the means of grace to have their hearts, which have been already opened by him in conversion, to be brought more and more in love with him, and to be more powerfully drawn after him. And the design of these words is to put the real people of God upon seeking after Jesus with the greatest eagerness, whereby it would appear that their

66

hearts and affections were truly set upon him, ultimately and supremely; and the hearts of God's faithful people are opened unto Christ, and appear to be so, when it is the prayer and desire of their souls in every ordinance, "Draw me, and we will run after thee." If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." Christ expects his people when he has thus graciously been pleased to address them, and show his great delight in them, and his readiness to hold converse with them in his ordinances, to show their great desire, readiness, and delight, in entertaining him in their hearts, and he gives them to know what they may expect from him; namely, to sup and be entertained by him, with most blessed and intimate communion with himself; a blessing, which no words can express, and which nothing but heaven can exceed. "I will sup with him. I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."

In the 11th chapter of St. John's gospel, we have our Lord thus speaking unto his disciples, "If a man love me, he will keep my words, and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." Now, this does not, nor was it spoken by our Lord, to convey any such idea as this, as though our keeping Christ's words or commandments, were the cause of his love to us, and of his vouchsafing this inestimable favour and privilege of being admitted to have holy fellowship with God, the Father, and his Son, Jesus Christ. But the meaning of our blessed Lord is, that souls, who from a belief and sense of his free and wondrous love unto them, manifested in his life and death, were brought to love him, would manifest their love unto him by keeping his words and commandments, and hereby their love to Christ would be evidenced:and this high honour is promised unto such. We, says Jesus, will come

unto him, and make our abode with him; which is expressive of the indwelling of God the Father, and God the Son, in his saints, who are the Temples of the Holy Ghost. And this is a wonderful favour indeed! to have him dwelling in us who is the light of heaven and the joy of paradise. Jesus does by this holy fellowship give his saints to feed and feast upon the riches of the fulness of his grace, and causes them to be satisfied with the pleasures of his holy temple, and they sup with him, by the exercise of their grace upon Christ, and in the goings forth of their souls to him, in acts of faith, and hope, and love. And I apprehend our Lord's promise of supping with his people, extends to the kingdom of glory, where the saints will have perfect and uninterrupted communion with God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, for ever; and that by sense and vision.

And this brings us to consider what Christ promises unto the faithful in this church, or the grace contained in the promise made unto it. To him that overcometh, will I grant to sit with me on my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father on his throne."

We have observed in the former sermons, that Christ promises the overcomer, that he will be in heaven unto him, the tree of life,--the crown of life, the bread of life, and the bright and morning star, and the life, and everlasting light and glory of his people. And here he sums up all in this, in the promise of supping with, and solacing the overcomer with the eternal fruition of himself in eternal glory, where he will be the everlasting feast, food, and joy of his people; and their eternal bliss and felicity will be communion with God and the Lamb, through the eternal grace of the Holy Ghost. Here the Father's everlasting love will be fully known, and be perfectly enjoyed; the Son's salvation clearly understood, and the saints will enjoy the full blessings of

it; and here the Holy and Eternal Spirit, who already dwells in the saints, as the spring of all spiritual joy, will fill all the glorified, and make them all consummately blessed in the most perfect enjoyment of the three persons in the one Jehovah, who will be the everlasting portion and fountain of bliss to all eternity unto his people.

To him that overcometh sin, the world, and the devil, through faith, in my victories, who am the everlasting conqueror,—and the lukewarmness, and self-confidence, and carnal security, which I have been reproving professors for, will I, the eternal saviour, bestow upon such the following blessing;-I will grant to such to sit with me on my throne. This contains the sum and substance of all the promises. Christ, himself, in his own person, has finally conquered and vanquished all the enemies of his people, and he is crowned in heaven as the everlasting conqueror of sin, death, and hell, and is known there under this most glorious title, King Jesus, the conqueror. And he is, in consequence of his glorious victories and achievements, sat down with his Father, in his throne, at his right hand, crowned with glory and honour. The crown of pure gold is set upon his head. A name is given him above every name; and God the Father has made him as mediator and head of his people, most blessed for ever. His redeemed people are one with him in all his victories and triumphs, and they shall partake with him, and receive from him everlasting glory. To him that overcometh, will I, the Self-existent Jesus, grant to sit with me on my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father on his throne. They shall partake and share in all my victories over sin, death, and hell. They shall sit upon thrones of glory, clothed with immortality, and eternal honour, They shall reign as conquerors with me in the kingdom of my Father, and

wear crowns of glory which fadeth not away. They shall inherit all things, and I will be their God, and their exceeding great reward. May this promise, which is the sole fruit of Christ's free grace, and which contains in it all that Christ himself can give, or his people enjoy, namely, the perfect fruition and participation in heaven, of all the benefits of Jesus' love, and work, and victory, lead us to observe our Lord's command, to fight his battles faithfully, and to live and act as those who shall shortly be seated by him on thrones of glory.

-

I was much favoured on the road to from thence to Cranbrook, and it was more than once or twice brought to my mind, that the waters of Marah would succeed the oil of joy, and so I have found it, for we have had a sick house ever since; but all things work for the soul's good of them that love God; all is not food it is true, but conscience tells me that physic is as needful as food, and as conducive to the health of the soul. Physic, weaning and fasting have ever been the most grievous and distressing things to me, but these are appointed for us, we must be purged both from filth and idols, nor shall we be taught knowledge, or made to understand doctrine, till weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breast, Isa. xxviii. 9. And the bridegroom shall be taken away, and then shall we fast in those days. All these have been dreadful in their accomplishments in

me; but they have sharpened my appetite for the twelve fruits on the tree of life, in the paradise of God; deadened me to this world, and made me buy the little faith and hope that I am favoured with, knowing that these are incorruptible seeds that cannot die, and each of these as peace, filial fear, honesty and tenderness of conscience, meekness, humility, selfabhorrence, hope and faith, love to the Lord, and adherence to his truth, these, and all of these, are not the fruits of nature, but of God the Holy Spirit, and these will abide with us for they are the Lord's treasure which come from Christ's fulness, and are lodged in the earthen vessels, that the excellency and the power of these, and the actings of them, and the energy thereof, may be not of us, but of God, and whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world, and constant prayer, watchfulness, and thankofferings, for all favours, greatly increase, encourage, and strengthen, faith and hope. Remember me to Mr. H. . Yours, in Christ Jesus,

QUERIES.

W. H. S. S.

1. A reader of your Magazine would be glad to have the opinion of some one of your correspondents, who are men of truth, and lovers of a free grace gospel, upon the words of our dear Lord, John xv. 10, in which he speaks of his own commandments, and of the commandments of his Father; are we here to consider him as speaking of the law of the ten commands, which he came to fulfil, or are we to understand by his own commandments the precepts of the New Testament in distinction from the moral law, the law of his Father?

2. If the Lord Jesus Christ was sacrificed as an atonement for the sins of only a specific number, wherein does the condemnation exist, of those who reject the gospel?

A plain reply is earnestly requested by W. W., Gloucestershire.

CHRISTMAS.

Hark! the lyres
Of blissful seraphim vibrate with strains
Of thrilling ecstacy: they celebrate
Immanuel's incarnation. Wreathe a crown
Of circling praise, ye followers of the Lamb,
And cast it at His feet. To Him, to Him
Ascribe hosannas. Oh! for David's harp
To wake new melody. Let the echoing
spheres

Again reverberate the angels' song
"Glory to God!" Ye ransomed hosts-
Who owe salvation to his work on earth-
Awake in hymns of gladness: sweeter far
Thy simple anthem to the ear of heaven,
Than the full cadence of an orchestra.

Lord, may my heart a sanctuary be--
A consecrated temple-may therein
An altar be erected to thy name;
That faith and love, like ministering priests,
May give the sacrifice of prayer and praise;
Let Leavenly fire descend and kindle it,
That thence, in tributary clouds may rise
Accepted, incense of purest odour.

No more the Saviour in a manger lies, A helpless infant; but the heaven of heavens Is his abode, where myriad angels wait His high commands. No more a meteor star Directs to Bethlehem: but the Day-spring' beams

Within the heart, and to the mercy-seat Leads seeking sinners. On his mother's breast,

A beauteous innocent, uo more he lays
Submissively dependant: but enthroned
In yon pavilion, at His girdle hang
The keys of power, and in His hand he holds
The sceptre of dominion; from his mouth
Proceeds the doom of nations; His provi-
dence

Governs each circumstance; sea and land-
The mighty elements-the spacious heavens--
All wait on Him, and at His great behest
Perform their doings. Eastern Magis now
Come not to Bethlehem with their precious
gifts

To worship and adore: but gracious souls. Led by the Spirit, on the knee of prayer Present their only offering-'t is their hearts, Where godly sorrow and sincerest love Supply the place of myrrh and frankincense.

Oh! for that faith, which through the course of years

Could rapidly proceed, and taught of God

Discern the features of that glorious age
When Godhead dwelt with man.
Oh! pre-

cious faith,

Inwrought by Deity within the soul! This was the eye which pierced the mystic gloom

Of shadowy type and symbol sacrifice,
And showed the patriarchs that propitious
hour.

When the Anointed-Israel's only Hope-
The great Messiah-should on mercy's errand
Visit Jerusalem, and there present,
As the one Great High Priest, a sacrifice
Rich to atone for chosen Israel's sin.
And, Lord, we anxiously desire to look
With the same mental vision, and behold
Thy work accomplished: we would also trace,
Illumined from on high, thy life's day through,
And ponder with amazement on each scene
Of wondrous mercy. Oh! for a lucid beam
Of heavenly light shed on the sacred page
Where inspiration's pencil has pourtrayed
Each glowing circumstance. Great Book of
God!

Thou art the mirror where the Flower of
Love-

The Rose of Sharon-is reflectively
Presented to our minds: in thee we see
Each curling leaf unfold, till gradually
The perfect blossom, a transparent wreath
Of mingled beauties, meets the eye, and fills
The soul with admiration. May that power
Which first inspired the sacred penmen, fill
Our souls with wisdom. Let the seal of truth
Stamp its impression on our feeble minds,
And in a rhapsody of lively faith
Lead us from Bethlehem to Mount Calvary,
And preach, Great Spirit, to our wondering

souls

The Mystery of Love.

But what, O Lord, Is the great deep of thy hnmility, Or topless heights of love unsearchable, If the good Spirit, the Almighty Testifier, The Witness unto Life, doth not reveal, Within the conscience, blest identity In each transaction. For his church the Lord,

Prompted by love, incarnate form assumed--
Wrought by his life a robe of righteousness---
And dying, from his streaming wounds sup-
plied

A cleansing fountain, where his fallen Bride
Plunging should rise unspotted; and a flood
To quench the fire of justice; and received,
As her great Surety, the outpouring vials
Of wrathful vengeance on his holy head :-

YE mourning saints, dry up your tears, And take your harps with one accord; Come lay aside all doubts and fears,

This is the birth-day of our Lord!

He comes, He comes, the Prince of Peace,
To save us in our lost estate;
He comes to bring a full release

For those who at his footstool wait.

He comes, the Lord our Righteousness,
To lay his princely glory by;
He comes, to dwell in deep distress,

He comes to suffer, bleed, and die.

He comes, the Bright, the Morning Star; Extol the stem of Jesse's rod:

He comes to wage triumphant war,

Bow and adore th' Incarnate God. He comes, the Day-spring from on high, To shine on dark benighted man; He comes in deep humility,

To consummate redemption's plan. View Him, ye angels! view your Lord, Sovereign of all, a babe of days; View and adore th' Incarnate Word! Oh, raise to Him your noblest lays. Ye souls, who in effulgence bright

Stand day and night before the throne; Crown Him, the tribe of Judah's might, Laud and extol Him King alone! Ye Christians all, your pæans bring,

And tune your hearts to sweetest lays; Proclaim your glorious conquering King, And praise him through eternal days.

EMMELINE.

IT IS FINISHED."

"T is finished, hear the Saviour cry,
What do these copious words imply?
Salvation's work completely done,
All finished by God's equal Son.
"T was for this end that Jesus came,
That sinners might believe his name;
For he has borne the curse of sin,
And righteousness for them brought in.
Behold the darling Son of God,
Behold him shed his precious blood;
Nothing but that encrimsoned stream,
From sin his children could redeem.

See on his head a thorny crown,
Now he must bear his Father's frown;
This was the plan Jehovah laid,
The law of God must be obeyed.

"T is finished, on the cross he cried,
'T is finished for my chosen bride;
I 've paid the law its full demand,
And none shall pluck her from my hand.

"T is finished, with what grief and joy
These words my heart and soul employ;-
Grief that I thus should pierce the Lamb,
Joy that I'm saved from sin and shame.
Behold him on the accursed tree,
Look, O my soul, to Calvary ;

'T was there my sins pierced his dear side, 'T was there he bowed his head and died.

Then in the gloomy tomb he lay, But quickly thence he fled away; And now he reigns in realms above, Our Intercessor, full of love.

MARY.

JEHOVAH'S SOVEREIGN LOVE DIS-
PLAYED TO HIS ELECT.

Behold the Eternal God of Love,
Sends his rich blessings from above;
New mercy grants, and grace bestows,
To sinners who were once his foes.
What wondrous love our God displays,
In all his wondrous works and ways;
His chosen sheep are all brought in,
Washed from pollution, guilt, and sin.

He knows his sheep, he knows their name,
To them his love he doth proclaim;
Gives each to drink of streams divine,
And makes in each his glory shine.

Through grace their souls find sweet release,
They tread the heavenly paths of peace;
New mercies every day attend,
All those who on the Lord depend.

They find in him a heaven below,
When Christ his countenance doth show;
When the bright wonders of his love,
Flow from his radiant throne above.

Such visits doth our Lord impart,
To shew the affection of his heart;
Gives each to drink of joy and love,
Foretastes of bliss in heaven above.

Oh, blessed place of sweet delight,
Where we shall reign within thy sight;
Where we shall dwell in bowers of peace,
And drink full draughts of happiness.

MOSES G.