glorifying effects in the heart and life. And what effect do we and may we expect to see in the conduct of such? Why, some of these effects Paul speaks to Timothy,-lovers and admirers of themselves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, or causing others to blaspheme, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those who are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof; these with self-will, selfgratification, and self-indulgence will more or less be discovered in those who receive the precious doctrines in an unhumbled mind.. These men will boast much about what they know, and like the pharisees of old, only in another form of words, ride over a poor, humble, mourning, and seeking soul, by saying, Stand off, for I have more knowledge than thee. These men, I say, will hear, receive, be pleased with, and contend for the doctrines of grace; yea, say it is a good thing for the heart to be established in grace; but they mean the doctrines and not the grace: they forget to look at the word as it stands in Heb. xiii. 9, with grace, and not in grace. But the poor hungry child of God is not satisfied with believing these glorious doctrines as a Bible truth, but, like all poor hungry men, wants to be fed with them, by the humbling and crumbling power of God the Holy Ghost.

There is, also, a spiritual and special receiving of these precious and comforting doctrines; and, blessed be God, I know what it is to receive them at the hands of the Spirit as my Comforter, Teacher, and Guide. But as my brother J. E. C. has noticed the effects those doctrines must and do have on the minds of those who receive them, in the love of them, I shall conclude, by saying, that when the blessed God stopped me in my mad

career, giving me life and light, the holiness, majesty, and sovereignty of Jehovah made me tremble, fear, and cry, and the doctrines afforded me no comfort, but I felt sure I must be cast into hell. I remember once asking God to send me there, that I might know the worst of my state. In my greatest extremity the Spirit took these words from the Bible and lodged them in my poor distressed soul,—“I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee;" then I received the doctrine of eternal, unchangeable, sin-subduing, soul satisfying, soulhumbling, all-conquering, unmerited, unsought for, unthought of, Godglorifying, and pharisee-mortifying love of Father, Son, and Spirit.

Having now given you a plain statement why I wrote to you on the subject, and also to my brother J. E. C. my motive for asking the favour, I would now ask, What inconsistency was there in my deacon praying "that the high and blessed doctrines might have a constraining and humbling ef fect upon our hearts and lives, as we see the pernicious effects these precious precious doctrines have on some who receive them in an unhumbled mind," that a seeker after truth should make such a bustle, or feel so angry, and cause all this trouble and loss of time?

Dear sir, the insertion of this will much oblige, your's, in the highest and strongest of all bonds, Stepney.

Dear Sirs,

WILLIAM ALLEN.

QUERY.

THE FAITHFUL GOD.

Deut. vii. 9.

THERE are many sentences of Holy Scripture that are familiar to our tongues, which have not been duly regarded as bearing upon our character and state as we stand before the Lord; hence it is that we often employ sentences without reflecting what influence such statements have upon our minds. God is faithful" is a sentence which almost every person who has a vestige of reverence for the Deity will admit; but the import of this attribute will have more bearings than one. It has an appalling as well as a smiling aspect. He who is faithfulness itself is as firm in his threatenings as in his promises. And therefore it is to be feared that many employ a phrase which destroys their vain hopes, or at least impresses condemnation on those, who while they acknowledge that God is faithful, act as if faithfulness had ceased from the earth.

In all the words and ways of the Most High, the honor and glory of his own character ranks prominent. In all his dealings with the children of men "justice and judgment are the habitation of his throne." This sounds awful to every lover of self and sin, but is a source of great consolation to every sin-burdened sinner found weeping for mercy at the feet of Jesus. Upon the faithfulness and equity of Jehovah the glory of the gospel appears most blessed.

It will be the design of these few lines to point out the inseparable connection betwixt the truth and compassion of a God manifest in Christ.

I remark, God is faithful in his dealings with sin.

beyond the institution of marriage.. Truth distinguishes the perfections of God, but does not divide them; nor should we. We have heard of "darling attributes," but unques tionably such a statement is not sanctioned by the Scriptures; and it is to be feared that much evil has been done by the adoption of the sentiment, seeing it supposes that one attribute is dearer to the Most High than another: thus upon this human invention of abstract mercy, the faithfulness of Jehovah is entirely overlooked and disregarded.

"God is faithful affects our interest either in a way of favour or anger. It becomes us duly to consider in what condition, we stand in relation to this attribute. Mere faithfulness cannot clear the guilty; and as the whole human race is declared sinful before God, it is evident that no hope can arise to the guilty sinner from the faithfulness of the Most High, exclusively considered.

But let us solemnly and seriously inquire what is included in this important phrase "A faithful God." And we shall then see that the gospel of mediating worth can alone open a door of hope to ruined man. It involves a determination to do always right, to maintain truth in every department of his government, whether moral, providential, or spiritual. It clearly expresses the inviolability of his law, which can suffer no repeal. It intimates the stability of his word, that he will not recall a sentence of his lips: "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall not pass away:" He speaks and it is done:""The word that goeth forth of his mouth shall not return unto him void; it shall accomplish that which he pleaseth, and

terrupted the divine counsels. The awful change it has accomplished rests with man alone. All these things were foreseen and righteously permitted without infringing upon the character of God. But there are some persons so besotted by extravagant views of this subject, as to deny the distinction betwixt divine sufferance and the Lord's absolute appointment: perhaps it is to be feared that the looseness is not to be confined to their sentiments: although in the judgment of charity we trust there are many honourable exceptions to this statement.

God is faithful to punish sin. This he hath declared, and he will not revoke the statement. How then can any escape his wrath? Not by the deeds of the law. Nothing short of absolute perfection will do there: this no mortal ever had, nor ever will have. Does not the very thought fill us with amazement, to think of expecting the favour of the Most High upon law doings; whilst truth emphatically declares, "Cursed is he that continueth not in all things written in the book of the law to do them." And such is the condition of all such who either openly deny or subvert the atoning sacrifice by the expectation of mercy as the result of human obedience.

Thus the faithfulness of God is an awful subject to the man who loves his sins. It makes no promise of mercy to men as dead in sin, nor could it, for this would be to forfeit its character, since the holiness of Jehovah demands the punishment of sin. Who would not therefore dread to be found with those deluded mortals who, under the semblance of morality, deny the only remedy that a compassionate God hath set before us in the gospel.

A proper understanding of the faithfulness of God is essentially connected with a state of grace. Unless we have a consistent knowledge of this great attribute, we cannot really

prize the gospel. To have the law enter our very souls, and explore our thoughts, is a very different matter from our going to the law with promises of amendment. A sanctified view of God's truth will humble the

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receiver. God is faithful" says the poor culprit: how therefore can I hope? I have sinned in thought, word, and deed. The law curses; justice will admit of no extenuation. Abstract mercy is a phantom, for God is faithful to his character. And thus the broken down wretched outcast apprehends damnation. Speak to him of mercy, he will reply "God is faithful:" he has said "The soul that sinneth it shall die," and he will not alter the thing that is gone out of his lips. It is by this painful training that false ideas of the divine character are purged away, legal hopes destroyed, all imaginary asylums are swept into oblivion by the besom of truth, and the poor self-condemned and inwardly wrecked conscience then learns a right view of the holiness and faithfulness of the Most High God.

The law of Persia allowed not of the repeal of any statute that had passed the king's seal; but a second law might be made to meet the exi gence of the case. This was Pagan legislation; notwithstanding it had some mercy in it. But the misery and wretchedness of Zion were thought of before the rolling tides of time began to move. In the everlasting covenant of a Triune God provision was made to maintain the divine faithfulness in the salvation of the church. Herein truth and equity and love and mercy agree. And this is God's plan: a scheme worthy of Him whose name is Jehovah. These things are revealed in the person of Jesus. Thus Jehovah is glorified and sinners are saved, in perfect harmony with the rectitude of his law and the rights of justice: hence he is styled a just God and a Saviour." And John declares 66 He is faithful and

just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." -God has made promise only in Christ, because as the Surety of the new covenant Jesus engages to maintain the faithfulness of Jehovah, What the law required he gave; unsinning obedience which we had not, and blood whose merit speaks before the throne. It was the blood of Him who is essentially the true God, yet as truly and properly man. It was the blood of Him who knew no sin, yet he came to give his life as a ransom for his people; and as Jesus has but one wife, so he owns but one church. It was blood dignified by the greatness of His person who shed it. Its full estimate the Lord only knows; but all his members shall enjoy that individual blessedness arising therefrom, which does essentially spring from their individual representation in him. God is faithful to his Son, our Saviour: and here the poor sinner may derive a ground of encouragement to trust his case with Jesus. The Prince of Life hath himself in formed us that the Father always hears him; and if so, most assuredly he will hear all who plead his name. Fly then, my poor trembling friend, to the Shelter from the storm, for neither curse or wrath can fall upon the soul found in Jesus.

A promise is given to Immanuel that he shall see his seed." And God is faithful: our heavenly Father is as truly bound by his covenant to deliver the sin-bound, as Jesus was bound as surety to pay the price. If the advocacy of Christ is doubtful, what have we to rest upon? but eternal truth declares He ever liveth to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him :" so that perseverance in the truth is the best evidence of the Spirit's witness. As truly as Jesus stands engaged to present all his purchased ones before the throne, so truly doth the Father and the Holy Ghost stand officially engaged to draw and bring poor sinners to the

Saviour's feet. And thus the Holy Three in One bear their record in the great matter of everlasting salvation.

But this is a mere doctrinal statement, which may amuse the dead, merely considered in itself. We must know by heart felt experience that the divine faithfulness is so manifest in our souls 'God is faithful (saith the apostle) by whom ye were called into the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord," 1 Cor. i. 9. Herein we see and feel his faithfulness manifested. It is by a holy calling that redemption is valued; for we are called to know our need, and we are called to enjoy a Saviour. "Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it," 1 Thess. v. 34. It thus appears that the quickening of a sinner is a matter of faithfulness; and surely the arm that brings out will bring through and safely take home. Thus we see that faithfulness in God has a smiling aspect to those who through mercy are taught the value of the atonement: for the Most High has all his doings in faithfulness and truth (Isa. xxv. 1).

If we turn to afflictive dispensations, we are taught they are dispensed in faithfnlness. Just a needful correction but not more the Lord is faithful to his word, and that word says "Ye shall have tribulation," yet the same authority declares we shall come through it" These are they that came out of great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and

made them white in the blood of the Lamb," Rev. vii. 14.

In our preservation the faithfulness of God daily appears. He always sees us, even when we think ourselves forgotten. Every dispensation to the church is by Christ; and he is the manifesting medium of all grace here and glory hereafter. If then Jehovah hears the Head, he will hear the members. If eternal faithfulness rests upon the work of Christ, the soul that trusts there cannot fail. Here is good ground for thy feet

weary traveller, a solid rest for thy weary heart, support in every time of difficulty, and strength to grapple with every foe. Trust then in Him, O my soul: : pour out thy heart before him. God is a refuge for us."

From these considerations it will appear most important to keep in view, the necessity of seeing all the divine perfections working together in the worth and kingdom of Jesus. And this view of the divine character will I conceive materially help us in a dark hour. When the soul is heavily pressed, and the enemy very near, we are apt to say God hath forsaken us, whereas his faithfulness is pledged to the contrary," I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." This is declared by a faithful God, and therefore must stand for ever; so that it is evident we often increase our bonds by overlooking the divine veracity: and yet were we asked our belief, our reply would be "The Lord is faithful." But will he be so to me? Yes indeed he will, for they that trust in him "shall never be confounded, world without end."

His faithfulness is developed in his defence of his people. The power of his arm is pledged for their protection. He seeth all snares and traps which are spread for their feet. To his almighty glance hell is uncovered, and every dark design of the black prince is laid open. Immanuel has the enemies of Zion in chains, nor dare they move without his permission. And in proportion as the believing mind contemplates the care of a Saviour, in the same degree quietness rules the heart, and the soul feels happy. We are destined to be weaned from an arm of flesh, and though the weaning process be both painful and protracted, the end is sure. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee,"

Nor is divine faithfulness less evident in reproving the heaven-born. A wise man will hear instruction.

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The Christian is most to be pitied when he seems unwilling to fall under truth. Let the righteous smite me it shall be a kindness." We are so soon caught in the snare of the devil, that we need reproof upon reproof. This faithfulness will do, and in this the love, care, and compassion of a covenant God are very apparent. We thus learn that we are not our own, but bought with a price;" and he who has given his life for the church, is himself her guide and directory to the mansions of eternal bliss; so that although his people may fall, they shall not be utterly cast down, for "the Lord upholdeth them with his hand,"

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The

We see, then, that the faithfulness of a triune God has nothing in it to distress or devour a poor penitent sinner. It presents an awful appearance to the dead professor and the profane. The Most High will not clear the guilty: even Jesus the Head of the church was not spared. curse of the law he bore for his dear people; and the exact amount of suffering connected with the demerit of the people represented by him, our Immanuel bore. Faithfulness was honored at the cross, whilst the unparallelled sufferer opened his bosom to the vindictive sword: and whilst paying the price of our ransom in agonies and blood, equity and truth attended the administration: so that our Jesus could not suffer an iota beyond what was necessary to deliver his church; and when this was done, we are assured of it in those memor able words "It is finished," and which voice was recorded in heaven, earth, and hell.

I have a great dislike to controversy of a sentimental kind, but I must here enter my protest against the theory of those, who assert that there was sufficient value in our Redeemer's atoning sacrifice for the whole world, had it been the pleasure of God to have saved the whole. But surely this is reasoning to no purpose; and