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Let us run with patience the race set before us....Heb. xii. 1.

A LIVELY faith begets a cheerful heart. A joyful hope makes a resigned soul. An humble mind produceth a patient spirit. So we run with pleasure our short race, "looking unto Jesus." But alas! shame to us, there is a sin which easily besets us and which draws a a train of burdens and distresses along with it. Why are poor disciples' minds harrassed by frequent murmurings and impatience? Why their tempers soured with evil passions, and they utter hasty, angry, unbecoming speeches? Verily, UNBELIEF is the cause of all this. Their minds are clouded; they do not see Jesus; they do not consider Jesus as seeing them; they do not look to Jesus for patience: hence satan gets an advantage over them: pride begets impatience of spirit. Then, with fretful Jonah they cry out, "I do well to be angry.”

Well, soul, and how do you find your mind after doing thus well? what is the frame of your soul after thus gratifying the will of the flesh, your proud self-will? what hast thou gained hereby but dejection of spirit and sorrow of heart? what hast thou lost? Even the comforting view of Jesus, and the sweet sense of peace: thus the feet are entangled in a snare; and, instead of running with patience, we sit down in sorrow. Tossed by stormy winds, in a tempestuous ocean, the poor bark seems driven back many degrees from the haven of rest and peace. So we suffer loss of patience by looking from Jesus to other objects. While our beloved is viewed, patience possesses the heart, the feet run with delight the way of God's commandments, and we look forward with cheerful hope. Patience sweetens afflictions and improves exercises and trials. It keeps the heart from envy, the hand from revenge, the tongue from evilspeaking, and overcomes enemies without weapons; for it draws all its strength from Christ's love, the sweetness of his presence, and hope of his glory. A martyr tormented by infidels, was asked by way of reproach, what miracle his Christ had done? He replied, you now behold one: he enables me to bear your reproaches, and suffer your tortures with patience. I am not moved. Is not this a miracle worthy your notice? Whatever befals our souls is the wise allotment of our loving Father! We are exhorted to run with patience,” that we may not lie down in sorrow. The sun of consolation shall shine bright on our souls, while "we press forward towards the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.".... Phil. iii. 14.

O let my thoughts be humble still,
And all my carriage mild,

The patient soul, the lowly mind
Enjoys a sweet reward;

Content, my Father, with thy will, Let saints in sorrow be resign'd,

And quiet as a child.

And trust a faithful Lord.

He that believeth on the Son of God, hath the witness in himself....1 John v. 10.

MANY of the weak lambs of Jesus, are sadly perplexed in their minds about the nature of faith. From the corruption of their hearts, the workings of the enemy, unscriptural notions they have been. taught, and opposings of unbelief to the weakness of their faith, they are often ready to question, nay, sometimes to conclude they have not "the faith of God's elect." Here is a certain rule to determine by: this, if clearly understood in the light of the Spirit, will satisfy and comfort weak hearts. Mind, the apostle doth not say, he that believeth hath no sin, no doubts; knows his sins are forgiven, and has full assurance of his own salvation. No: "but he hath the witness in himself." What is this but an inward testimony of what is outwardly revealed in the word? As the Spirit bears witness in the word to Jesus the incarnate Son of God, the only true and all-sufficient Saviour of guilty, perishing sinners, so he, who thus believeth on the Son of God, hath this divine, satisfying, experimental testimony brought into his mind and conscience by the Holy Ghost. He hath an evidence in himself which neither men nor devils can destroy. Though he finds and feels himself a lost creature, a helpless sinner; so weak that he can do nothing to save himself; so vile that his nature is at enmity against Jesus and his salvation; yet he believes the Son of God came to seek and to save such....that there is all salvation in him and in no other for such. Thus believing, he hath the witness or testimony of the love of the ever blessed trinity in the salvation of sinners in his heart. The love of the Father in the gift of his Son; the love of Jesus in coming to save, and the love of the Spirit in testifying to this in the word, and by the faith of it in his heart.

Happy would it be for poor sinners, if instead of poring over themselves, they looked more steadily to the work of Jesus; considered more constantly the fulness of his redemption, the freeness of his salvation, and regarded the outward witness to the truth in the word. Faith in this would bring comfort to the heart; so would their doubts and fears vanish; the fruits of faith more evidently appear; and their minds, in God's own time, would be fully satisfied about their own interest in Jesus, and the knowledge of forgiveness of their sins by the witness of the Holy Spirit through faith: for faith in the Son of God, above all other things hath the preeminence. If the soul is filled with peace and joy, it is in believing; if with assurance of pardon of sins, it is through faith in Jesus; if sealed with the Spirit, it is in believing. "And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.".... John v. 4.

I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ....2 Cor. xi. 3.

By a godly fear in the heart, the Lord keeps his people from totally departing from him. But there is ever danger from satan, from men, yea and from brethren too, of our minds being corrupted and beguiled, so as to suffer the loss of that singleness of eye and simplicity of heart towards our dear Saviour, by which the soul is only kept happy. If the Lord's prophet had been more jealous over himself, and more simple to his master's voice, the fair speech of his brother had not betrayed him to disobedience and death, by the mouth of the lion....See 1 Kings xiii. 24.

Could satan so beguile Eve as to make her an instrument of death to herself, to the dear partner of her life, and to all their posterity? O disciples, "take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother, for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders."....Jer. ix. 4. But how comes all this? Alas! because "they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth,"....verse 3. Satan's subtilty hath robbed them of Christ's simplicity. The abiding, comforting presence, the sweet fellowship of Jesus are obscured to their mind. Jesus is not simply and constantly lived upon. The living actings of faith, the constant outgoings of the soul, the continual looking to, and daily hanging upon Jesus for salvation from hour to hour, is not enjoyed in the heart. Corrupted minds grow clouded. Hence they lose sight of our beloved friend; sweet simplicity departs, and other objects too oft become the subjects of converse and meditation. This is an infectious disorder; it rages among the children of God; it is easily catched; simple faith in Jesus is bewildered by perplexing notions; love to Jesus grows cold by keeping at a distance from him; and once humble, simple hearts get into doubting-castle. Satan cries, "There, there, so would I have it." Though Jesus will never forsake them, yet he suffers their own folly to correct them. By their smarting he teaches them to be wiser. Chaste virgins are jealous over their eyes, their tongues, and hearts, lest they give encouragement to unlawful love. We are equally to be on our guard against the corrupt principles of proud self-righteous Pharisees, as against the licentious principles of Antinomians. Both draw from the simplicity that is in Christ. The light of the body is the eye; "if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light."....Matt. vi. 22.

Satan appears almost divine,

Like innocence and love;
But the old serpent lurks within,
When he assumes the dove.

Fly from the false deceiver's tongue,
Ye sons of Adam, fly;

Our parents found the snare too strong,
Nor should the children try.

Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear....1 Pet. iii. 15.

WHEN the Lord Jesus is the glory of the soul, it is the soul's glory to sanctify him, and him only. How joyful to have one's heart detached from every other object and hope, and its whole delight to glorify our Saviour! How ravishing to dwell on the wonders of his love, the riches of his grace, the greatness of his sufferings, the fulness of his redemption, the perfection of his righteousness, the prevalency of his intercession, and all issuing in the eternal life of such vile sinful wretches as we are! Verily, under such views, most cheerfully does the believer sanctify the Lord Immanuel in his heart. Hence, how powerful is his soul animated with holy boldness against the fear of man! Yea, inflamed with love to the truth, how ready to give a reason of his hope! Perhaps, through the warmth of his zeal, and the heat of his affections, he does not always act wisely herein; but does what he is forbid by his Lord, "casts his pearls before swine." Hence he finds, as they were ignorant of the worth of his jewels, they turn upon him with wrath. The apostle seems to guard against this.

Christian, thou art to be always ready to answer, and to give a reason of thy hope. But to whom? Every man that asks with meekness and fear: meek to receive instruction; fear of error; and desires to know the truth as it is in Jesus. As the christian has freely received, so it is his delight freely to give to others. He hopes the Lord may make him the happy instrument of conviction, conversion, and edification to other souls. Far is it from the nature of a christian "to eat his morsel alone." He is to imitate the meekness of the lamb in his temper. The boldness of the lion is to accompany his concern for God's glory and the cause of his truth. Meek in speech, but not with timid fear to answer. When God's truth is the subject, the strongest confidence and the greatest courage are our glory. What is thy hope, O christian? Is it any other than "God's mystery, CHRIST IN YOU, the hope of glory?"....Col. i. 27. Dost thou see such infinite charms, such inestimable glory in that despised Jesus, who was hanged upon a tree as an accursed malefac tor? that he is the ONLY hope of thy soul? the ONLY glory of thy heart? O, blessed, highly favored art thou! Is it not thy joy to say, "Come and hear, all ye that fear GOD, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul?"....Psalm lxvi. 16.

Let the vain world pronounce its shame, With joy we tell the scoffing age,
And fling their scandals on our cause;
We glory in our Saviour's name,
And make our triumphs in his cross.

He that was dead has left the tomb;
He lives above their utmost rage,
And we are waiting till he come.

Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them....Psalm cxix. 165.

ALL inward peace and tranquility of mind arise from the knowledge and love of the law of the Lord. But hath not the apostle told us," the law worketh wrath?"....Rom. iv. 15. Have not believers experienced a sense of wrath in the conscience, through "the knowledge of sin by the law?" Yes, verily. But this law, the moral law, is subservient to the everlasting law of love, the eternal covenant of grace and peace; therefore in time "it was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made;" even Jesus, the seed of the woman, in whom the law of peace and salvation centered; of whom the ceremonial law 'was a shadow; and by whose holy life, the moral law received perfect obedience to all its demands, and a full satisfaction for all its curses and penalties by his sin-atoning sacrifice.

This eternal law, or purpose of God, was manifested by promise from Jehovah himself to the sin-convicted pair immediately after their fall; and confirmed again both by promise and oath to Abraham and his seed, which is Christ. "This law or covenant that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect."....Gal. iii. 17. No; this law of life, by promise, is "sure to all the seed." It is immutable, it is unchangeable, therefore not one of them can perish. Hence this law of salvation is the delight of believers. They have great peace from it. For with Paul, they know "the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made us free from the law of sin and death."....Rom. viii. 2. Hence

with David they say, "O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day." Though many things from within and without grieve and offend them, yet nothing from the law of grace and truth which came by Jesus Christ shall. Christ is not " a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence to them; they stumble not at the word of his grace." They are not offended because it teacheth that salvation is all of grace, according to election, through the blood and righteousness of Christ; applied to their souls in faith by the Holy Spirit. No; all this is their consolation and joy. The commands of Jesus do not offend them, they are all in love: "His commandments are not grievous."....1 John v. 3. Thus, all their joy and rejoicing is in Christ Jesus only, while they confidently and comfortably hope for eternal life, by God's purpose and grace, according to the everlasting law of love, and his free gift by Jesus Christ....Rom. vi. 23.

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