self; he does not owe his existence to any one-eternity, omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence, are peculiar to him, while immutability is apparent in his nature. In this truth we rejoice, that in conjunction with the Father and the eternal Spirit, he is the Most High God, the Mighty God, the Lord of Hosts, Jehovah the Most High, the Holy

One. And in the covenant relation to his people, he is set forth as my Lord, my God, our God, your God, their God; so as the glorious Mediator, as representing all his people. The Father hath said, "I will make him my first-born, higher than the Kings of the earth." And the apostle says, he is exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance to his people. His exaltation consisted in his glorious resurrection, his triumphant ascension, his taking his seat at the Father's right hand, in his reception of the Spirit for his dear, people, and in the open display of his reign in the human nature. This is the certain Nobleman that went into a far country, to receive for himself a kingdom. He is both Lord and Christ, while angels brought him near, before the seat of glory in triumph; and there was given dominion and glory, which should not pass away. He sits and reigns of the universe in his general providence, and in his church by his word and Spirit. Thus saith the Father, "I have set my King upon my holy hill of Zion"-embrace the pure one. But these ideas are connected with a sweet consideration, that the Lord's people stand very high in his estimation. Hence what is said of Israel, in a figure, is true of them in reality "You only have I known of all the families of the earth." We stand higher in his affection than others He has united the church to himself. We stand higher in his estimation. than angels, he passed them by, and took our nature that sinned, and

"I

He took part of the children's flesh and blood, he took not on him the nature of angels but the seed of Abraham-as a proof how higher we stood, he entered into covenant with the Father, and acted as our surety, mediator, head of influence he came, he obeyed, he lived, he suffered, he died!

O! for this love let rocks and hills

Their lasting silence break.

The tallness and uprightness of the Palm tree may be an emblem of the exercise of faith on him, the motions of spiritual affections to him; the tendency of our desires of communion with him and likeness to him. Thus we grow like the Palm tree-we grow up into him in all things.

Secondly. May not this point out the Eternity of his existencethe longevity and incorruptibility of the Palm tree. Eternity of nature is peculiar only to Deity—he is eternally the same in his nature, decrees, and purposes-I am God, I change not-every thing is mutable below the stars, God alone is immutable. This arises from the simplicity and spirituality of his nature, and consists in a freedom from all kind of change or inconstancy therein: "Thou art the same and thy years shall not fail.” The change of his conduct and the operations of his providence cannot alter his purposes, plans, or promises; he is, was, and is to come. These meet in his name, and so in his nature he co-exists with all the points of time, but is unmoved and unaffected with any, as a rock in the rolling waves of the sea, or a tower in a torrent of gliding water. With his unalterable nature we triumph in his unalterable affection-his kind purposes of love and mercy, with all that holy delight he took in his church from all eternity. We rejoice in all that is included in that sublime idea of the apostle in the latter part of the first chapter of the Hebrews, which

is also a quotation from the 102nd Psalm, in reference to the heavens and the earth he says, " They shall perish, but thou remainest; they shall wax old and vanish away, but thou art the same and thy years shall not fail." I would here notice the high privilege of all the people of God, that Jesus possesses a life for them; as the Head, the Mediator, and the Representative of his church he will ever live, hence the Father promised he should see his seed, he should prolong his days: and himself hath declared, Because I live ye shall live also." This life is in Christ, it is safe in him: "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God," nor shall we ever be deprived of it. This is communicated by the life-giving influences of the Spirit; and our dear Lord says, "The water I shall give him shall be in him a well springing up into eternal life." This springs up now in concern, desire, hope, faith and love; and will to all eternity in praise, admiration, and joy. This life cannot be lost, "I give my eternal life and they shall never perish." Let us rejoice in this precious declaration.

Thirdly. This metaphor is designed to point out that fulness of grace which is in a precious Saviour -the head, the sap, whence cometh all that we want. Hence John says, "Out of his fulness we have all received." This fulness respects his mediatorial character. He has a fulness as God, "In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." As Mediator he has a fulness of fitness for his work; but this respects his dispensatory fulness, for it pleased the Father that in him all fulness should dwell; every thing we can possibly need is in Christ. Naturalists tell us that the vital force or sap of the palm tree is not in its root, but in its top; and is it not a most blessed consideration, that our life is not hid in ourselves but in Christ, and that it is communicated to us just as we

need it?

From him is our fruit found, and if a separation could take place we must soon wither and die; but eternal truth has said, None shall pluck you out of my hands."

Fourthly. This mataphor is designed to shew the benefits which flow to us through him: having all blessings in his hand he bestows them upon the most unworthy. The fruit which grows on the palm tree we are informed was sweet to the taste and lovely to the aspect, and is fit both for food and drink; and perhaps this was the reason why the Israelites encamped at Elim, where there were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees. Our adorable Lord is richly laden with pardon for the guilty, righteousness for criminals, purity for the polluted, wisdom for the ignorant, and liberty for the captive. Oh, for more faith to receive out of his fulness grace after grace just as I feel my need. May not this also be an emblem of the christian, richly laden with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, his obedience and suffering, through which the Spirit is sent to them: these things manifested to the conscience producing peace with God, access within the vail, joy in God, communion and holy fellowship with him, which enables him to walk in all well-pleasedness to God: is not this beautiful to the eye, and his conversation sweet to the taste of every renewed heart? Which leads me to observ that what was said of the Redeemer in the 1st Psalm, his dear people are interested in, "His leaf shall not wither, he shall not cease from yielding fruit:" while this is true of our dear Lord, it is equally true of all who are planted in him; hence the flourishing state of God's elect in Christ their covenant Head, is spoken of in the 91st Psalm as distinguished from the wicked who are compared to grass, and of the mere nominal professor who professedly begins in the spirit and ends in the

flesh-trees whose fruits withereth, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; but the believer, planted by the river of divine love, shall flourish in immortal bloom, engrafted into the tree of life, and while one exists the other must.

Fitthly. This metaphor must remind us of the prosperity of the Redeemer's kingdom amid all the opposition it meets with. This palm tree grows upright though many weights may be laid on it. How the dear Redeemer grew amid all the sorrows he met with and under all that pressed him down. How firm he stood, how steadfast in his affections, how kind to his church. When hell, sin, men, devils, scribes and priests opposed him; and when the tremendous weight of our sins was upon him, with all the wrath due to them. Nothing could divert him from his purpose, but through all his love to his dear church and people was manifested : well might Solomon exclaim, " Many waters cannot quench love, neither could the floods drown it." Glory be to thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, that it has prospered amidst great opposition: this stone, cut out of the mountain without hands, has rolled on and will until it overturns all that opposes it, and still stand for ever. What is said of the church in Egypt is true to this hour, the more they were oppressed the more they grew. This remark was exemplified in the establishment of christianity, when the apostles brought the gospel into the gentile world, while their adversaries ran and proclaimed, the men that turned the world upside down are come hither also." In fact it was high time; sin and superstition had turned the world one way, the gospel was sent to turn it right. Did not many pagan emperors awfully oppress the church, yet it flourished in one place or another. Did not Popery use all means to oppress this palm tree, and did it not flourish still either

in one country or another? And is it not a truth in the personal experience of every believer, that the more he is oppressed the more he grows? The apostle's experience is our's to this day, "We are troubled on every side, yet supported, borne up, and blest," and can exclaim through grace, "But none of these things move me,' either out of covenant love or hands of Jesus, nor from our hope or profession; rather they make us grow more in love with the Saviour, conformable to his image, and dead to the world and all its charms. Though often pressed down with a body of sin and death, with persecutions and trials, with many secret sorrows, which are like dead weights, to all appearance retard my progress, but overruled for my good can sing, "Kind is the tempest, blest the storm.

That brings me nearer home."

A thousand trials with the presence of God, will do us more good than ease, sloth, and distance from him. Well may the excellent Toplady say,

"For more the treacherous calm I dread,

Than tempests bursting on my head." The palm will not flourish in cold countries, nor can we flourish in coldness, deadness, and indifference. If Jesus smiles, if he warms the heart, we flourish in the courts of our God. He has promised, and we have sometimes found it true, Unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings:" under his wings we are safe, under his smiles we sing.

Sixthly. May not this metaphor be an emblem of the glorious victories of the Lord Jesus, and his people through him. Branches of palm were emblems of joy and tokens of victory: the Jews at their feast of tabernacles, as a token of joy, carried palm branches in their hands; and when the multitude came forth to meet the Saviour, they took branches of palm trees-perhaps an emblem of

66

the future victories of the Saviour, and the joy resulting from them. David in the vision of prophesy calls upon the church to sing that the Lord had gotten himself the victory." And Isaiah, wrapt in the Spirit, in the same sweet prospect says, "His own arm brought salvation." By his preaching and miracles he overcame the delusive systems of scribes, pharisees, and priests. By the apostle's preaching he gained a victory over the idolatrous nations of the gentiles; and by his word and Spirit he gained a victory over sin, in its guilt and curse, by being made a curse for us, and enduring what it deserved, and which we must have felt in hell if he had not. Oh, then how much we are indebted to God our Saviour for enduring the cross-to the Father for this display of his covenant loveand to the Holy Ghost for forming and supporting the human nature of Christ, for revealing him in his word, the proclamation of him in the gospel, and testifying of him in the hearts of his people. He overcame the curse of a broken law, being made a curse for us. He overcame the world, he overcame Satan, and by his death took away the sting of temporal death, and overcame all the plans, purposes, and powers of hell, ransomed his church, barred the gates of the prison, and threw wide open the gates of the celestial city. Oh, wonderous deed of mighty love and grace! He slew more at his death, as our anti-typical Samson, than through his life: he threw down the principal pillars of the devil's kingdom, sin and death, and exclaimed, 'It is finished! it is finished!" Oh, may this echo through the wide creation-loud triumphs sound, and hallelujahs ring the glory, the dominion is the Lord's, and God omnipotent shall reign for ever. In him the believer overcomes through faith, for according to his faith so are his victories. This grace has to do with his person, his work, his perfections,

his offices, his relations, his word and his faithfulness to his promises. This is what we have to fight with as our armour, and we want the whole of it that we may stand in the evil day, for by faith we stand, we live, we walk, we triumph: Lord, increase this faith in our hearts! Having victory in life it is an earnest we shall have it in death, and live in heavenWe are more than conquerors through him." He does all for us: leads us on and crowns us with victory, while he kindly pronounces, "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; I will be his God, and he shall be my son." The victories of Christ were attended with joy; the victories of the church are always with joy: hence the redeemed are represented as victorious in heaven, clothed in white, with palm branches in their hands, to shew Jesus had honoured them with the victory (Rev. vii).

(To be Concluded in our next.)

LETTER TO THE EDITORS, In Reference to a Piece signed James, on the Forgiveness of Sin, inserted in our October number.

Gentlemen,

In your Magazine for October last, I observe, at page 229, the following: "He will therefore prefer

the free-will, or moderate Calvinistic minister; these ministers are made and sent by the devil, and are the instruments of carrying on by delusion the dark designs of the infernal world," &c. And also, at page 231, "These men-made, or rather devilmade ministers, snuff np the wind (the false doctrine) of the wilderness, and if we set ourselves down at the feet of these asses, what can we expect but a kick."

Now, Gentlemen, in justice to your readers, and in defence of the preceeding, I wish to be informed, either by you or the writer of the foregoing, if he includes, under the denomination" free-will or moderate Calvin、

istic ministers," all that do not preach exclusively the doctrines from time to time, advocated in your pages; as, if such be the meaning, many good and true christian ministers of the Baptist, Independent, and other denominations will be included in the term. And should this be his interpretation, I, together with many of your readers, wish to be informed upon what data or evidence he proves them to be "made and sent by the devil;" as I consider this a mere assertion until substantiated by the most indispensible evidence.

A CONSTANT READER.

Newcastle on 7yue, Feb. 6. 1840

UNPUBLISHED LETTERS OF THE LATE REV. W. HUNTINGTON TO A FRIEND.

No. 4. To be Continued. DEARLY beloved friends in the Lord Jesus, you may justly think it strange that you have not had a line from me before now; but it appears to me that I am to stand in jeopardy every hour, and that this world is by no means, nor in any sense to be my rest. I, am to be tossed like a ball in a large country, and to be emptied from vessel to vessel that I settle not upon my lees. * * *

My house is now to be sold, and three times its worth is put upon it if I like to buy it by private contract, but as I am determined to have nothing to do with it; it is to be put a second time to the hammer next Friday. I therefore of necessity must seek another dwelling in the country of the Philistines, unless I go to Moab. This has put me in a strait, to live in town I cannot. for I cannot bear, nor breathe in the smoke; to live close to London is impossible, for I should never be alone. What is it then? Why, a farm has offered, and I have embarked in it; and what can be expected now, but to swim in the list of bankrupts. The living and

live but those that could add to Job's misery, and strike the dying dead. My old unwearied master and enemy the devil, and all his faithful allies,— carnal reason, distrust, hardness of heart, rebellion, discontent, murmuring, and unbelief,-appeared armed together; while the devil led the van, mustered the hosts, and according to his usual custom began the onset: and I am still in the fire, but am enabled to distinguish, through the illuminating power of the Holy Spirit, the difference between the devils' works and the works of God.

When God took me first in hand, he came with terrible majesty, and as a consuming fire; ur appeased wrath seemed to work in me, and unpardoned guilt met with it, and between these two down I went, but when the deliverance camc, justification, pardon and peace came into my heart, and the matter was settled, and satisfaction and cordial affection took place on both sides. But when the trial of faith came, it was, as if some strange thing had happened unto me indeed, and surely my faith was tried with fire with a witness, for God went, and nothing remained but a bare remembrance of what he had done; Satan came, and every corruption revived; hardness of heart, such as I think none ever felt, enmity, despair of the Lord's ever returning again, rebellion worked to the highest