SISTER MARY,

CCCCI.

I HAVE got a bad cold, not only in

Nov. 20, 1799,

my

head and stomach, though that is bad enough, but I have also a cold heart. O this body of sin and death

what a sore burden! And how closely allied to Satan is this old man! What amazing condescension and humiliation in God, that he should stoop so low as to remember and visit with his great salvation such poor, rebellious mortals, who are so feeble, weak, and helpless, and so unmindful and ungrateful. But the covenant stands fast with our Surety; and by the blood of it the state prisoners are sent forth out of the pit, wherein there is no water. This Surety is our strong hold, out of whose hands, and out of whose favour, grace and righteousness, neither sin nor Satan can pluck us; and this the adversary knows; yet, hating us with perfect hatred, he is unwearied in tempting. But "verily Christ took not on him the nature of angels;" for which the devil hates the Saviour, as their high nature was passed by, and ours assumed and the thoughts of his being judged by Christ in our nature; yea, and of our sitting in judgment upon him;

"Know

ye not that we shall judge angels?" are truly mortifying to such proud and lofty spirits as devils, for they never thought that they should be judged in that nature which they had ruined. Herein Satan is mortified, sin is condemned in Christ's flesh, and the sinner saved; God is "just, and yet the justifier of him that believes." The ungodly are justified, not in their ungodliness, but from it. Iniquity is forgiven, and yet vengeance is taken of our inventions. We are bought with a price, and yet saved by free grace. To us it is, in God, an act of mercy; but through Christ we are saved in a way of strict justice. Here is the poor sensible sinner's firm basis under all his trials, temptations, and discouragements.

Always aim at the approbation and testimony of God himself, as the things that will support the believer when all other props fail. God bless you both! so prays

W. H. S. S.

CCCCII.

Feb. 22, 1800.

WE

ELL, Mary, how do you do? Is it well with thee? Is it well with thy husband? Is it well with the children? "Say ye to the righteous,

It shall be well with him." O the spotless robe-the brilliant garment-the bridal attirethe soul-adorning vesture, which the heavenly Bridegroom hath wrought out for those that trust in him before the sons of men! He came forth as a bridegroom from his chamber, and rejoiced as a giant to run a race. He saw the darling of his soul, in the ruins of the fall, a prey in the den of dragons, exposed to the vengeance of heaven, bound hand and foot in the chains of guilt, and led captive by the worst of foes. He saw the airy heavens swarming with devils, and the dark places of the earth filled with violences and with the habitations of cruelty. He considered the infernal legions which he had to encounter, and the malicious tribes he had to oppose. He saw the infinite breach that was open between God and man. But in this gap he saw no man, and he wondered that there was no intercessor; his own arm therefore must bring salvation, and his own righteousness must sustain him.

Pity to his spouse moved him, and indignation against his foes roused him. The day of vengeance rose up in his heart, and the year of his redeemed appeared in his view; Isaiah lxiii. 4. "He put on righteousness as a breast-plate, and a helmet of salvation upon his head; he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as with a cloak." Isaiah

lix. 17. His perpetual and spotless obedience added strength to his invincible breast-plate, and every victory added lustre to his helmet: the crooked serpent felt the dint of his sword, and the lighting down of his arm distributed the indignation of his anger; the vengeance of his garments filled his enemies with terrors, while his zeal swallowed him up. He wounded the infernal head over divers countries; the objects of his choice bowed to his sceptre when they felt the arrows of his quivers; and received truth, meekness, and righteousness, while the right hand of his Godhead shewed the manhood terrible things. His conflicts were not attended with a confused noise, nor with garments rolled in blood; but with burning and fuel of fire. The corrupt trees became the fuel of his wrath, but his purifying furnace was in Zion.

By fire and by sword did he plead with all flesh, and the slain of the Lord were many; and by the sword of his mouth and the breath of his lips was that slaughter made. He went forth for the salvation of his people, yea God the Father went forth for salvation with his anointed; and he divided him a portion with the great, and a spoil with the strong man armed; and, though often sunk with sorrows and acquainted with grief, yet " he shall drink of the brook in the way, and therefore shall he lift up his head," and pursue his victories; for

every time that he drank of that brook the power of the Lord was present to heal, and of course some conquests were made, and the subjects of his kingdom were increased. Nor did he ever quit the field of action till Satan, sin, and death, were subdued; and many of his subjects were led to feel their enemies' overthrow, and to triumph in the victory. He led captivity captive, and received gifts for all such rebels as come over to his standard, and ever since the Lord God has dwelt among men. But, bless him! he shall appear the second time, and shall dethrone all the principalities of Satan, the prince of the power of the air.

The fear, the pit, and the snare; the wrath of the law that excites fear, the bottomless pit, and those to whom the Lord Jesus hath been a snare and a trap, will all be revealed, and brought to light; for the windows of heaven shall open, and the foundations of the earth shall shake. The earth shall break, dissolve, and move exceedingly; and shall reel to and fro, and be moved like a cottage under her load of transgressions; and she shall fall and never rise again. Then shall all the infernal potentates be punished, and wicked princes of the earth with them; "It shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high." This punish