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But rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven....Luke x. 20.

Ir is matter of great joy to faithful ministers of the gospel to see the work of their Lord prosper in their hands, satan dethroned, and the kingdom of Jesus set up in the hearts of poor sinners. Our Lord by no means discourages rejoicing on this account; but his loving heart would not have it terminate and centre in this only; for their success may abate, a season may come when they may take up this lamentation, "Lord, who hath believed our report?". we see no more tokens of thy victorious grace. Therefore, lest their hands should hang down, and their hearts grow dejected and faint in their labours, he directs them to an inexhaustible fountain of consolation and joy: "Your names are written in heaven." Always rejoice in this. Remember you are always, "unto God a sweet savour of Christ, as well in them that perish as in them that are saved.".. 2 Cor. ii. 15.

This is also a sweet lesson to every christian. It is, doubtless, cause of great joy to find and feel the power of sin and satan subdued, corrupt lusts mortified, disorderly passions restrained, unruly. appetites brought into subjection, and the meekness and power of Christ to have the rule and government in one's heart. For these spiritual blessings we are inexpressibly indebted to the Holy Spirit, through the faith of Jesus. Notwithstanding, "in this rejoice not" (only and chiefly) saith Jesus, He leads us from the streams to the fountain; from the effects to the cause. "Rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven." In times of heaviness, through manifold temptations, frames may vary. In seasons of darkness, feelings and comforts may decline, "nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his."....2 Tim. ii. 19. But can any one know that his name is written in the book of life? Doubtless: else there is no meaning in our Lord's words. How can one rejoice on this account, if he do not know it? Though we cannot read the book of life, yet we have the records of truth. These reveal it plainly, and assure us, "We are the children of God, by faith in Christ Jesus."....Gal. iii. 26. If we have faith in Jesus, the faith of God's elect, this is an evidence of our adoption, and we may, we ought to rejoice. So Paul, who had the mind of Christ, speaking of some whose names are written in the book of life, immediately adds, "Rejoice in the Lord alway; and again I say rejoice."....Phil. iv. 4. But may not our names be blotted out? No; that is impossible. We are assured, "whatsoever God doeth it shall be for ever; nothing can be put to it or taken from it."....Eccles. iii. 14.

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He is our peace....Eph. ii. 14.

WHEN Jehu came to take possession of the crown of Israel, Jeza bel put this (as she thought) cutting question, "Had Zimri peace who slew his master?"....2 Kings ix. 31. As Jehu was called and anointed to be king of Israel, according to the word of the Lord, so is every christian called and anointed by the word and Spirit to the kingdom of Jesus. "He hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father, to him be glory," &c....Rev. i. 6.

But ere we take possession of our crown of glory, we must expect many severe and aggravating questions from the mouth of the adversary on earth. Verily, he hath great reason to urge the most cruel treatment, and to charge upon us the vilest behaviour to our master, Jesus; that bloody deed of crucifying the Lord of life and glory was caused by our sins. Not a transgression a disciple of Jesus commits, but the precious blood of his master was spilt for. The life of sin, and love of sin, is in our nature; and the law of şin is in our members, and while we are daily exposed to sin in our practice, satan like a powerful Assyrian army, will invade our land of nature, and attack the peace of our souls. What can we do? If we deny his charge, and say, "We have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." Acknowledge his accusations we must ; all in nature, reason, and conscience, unite to witness against us. But shall this destroy the comfort of our minds, the hope of our souls, and the peace of our hearts? Then how small our knowledge! how feeble our faith! how weak our hearts in the grace which is in Christ Jesus! All the power of darkness, all the curses of the law, all the accusations of sin, blessed, for ever blessed be the grace of our God, cannot, shall not overthrow this soul-comforting, Christe exalting, love-exciting truth; this man, even JEsUs, who was born in Bethlehem, and died at Calvary, "he is oUR PEACE, he hath made peace by the blood of his cross."....Col. i. 20. The everlasting gospel proclaims it; the eternal law of love confirms it; by faith we receive the joyful news of it; by the Spirit our souls enjoy the sweet sense of it; by the word, the blessed Spirit stirs up our pure minds by exhortations and examples to look unto Jesus, look off from every other hope, turn from every other object. His name, his nature, his offices, his work, all speak PEACE to poor, guilty, self-condemned souls, whose only hope is Jesus. The work of (JESUS') righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of (his) righteousness, quietness and assurance for ever....Isa. xxxii. 17.

O, let our voices never cease
To sing the Saviour's name;
Jesus, th' ambassador of peace,
How cheerfully he came!

It cost him cries and tears

To bring us near to God;
Great was our debt, and he appears
To make the payment good,

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us....1 John i. 8.

SINCERE upright souls before God, the scriptures deem PERECT. They are free from hypocrisy and dissimulation; they judge and speak of themselves according to truth; Christ who is essentially THE TRUTH, dwelleth in their hearts by faith; the Spirit leads them into all truth, concerning themselves and salvation in Christ. Satan, who abode not in the truth, is ever blinding souls to the truth, striving to seduce them from the truth, and to make them not only deceive others, but themselves also. He never baits his hook with á more alluring bait than pride. He aims to make us think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think, and to judge of ourselves, ánd say, "I am not like other men," I have no sin, I am perfect. This is the very essence of Phariseeism.

That very moment any soul says so, he is under the influence of a lying, deceitful spirit; "he bridleth not his tongue, he deceiveth his own heart, his religion is vain."....James i. 26. "He flattereth himself in his own eyes, till his iniquity be found hateful."....Psalm xxxvi. 2. But if we see no sin, if we feel no sin in us, are we not to tell of our happy state? Is not Jesus glorified hereby who hath thus PERFECTLY saved us? Seeing and feeling! If one in a high fever says, "I am quite well, I feel no disorder," we are sure he has a deceitful sense, he is not in his right mind. Alas! our senses are deceitful judges; they may delude us; they most certainly do, if they testify contrary to the truth of God's word. Our Saviour is only glorified by the truth. What! shall we give the lie to the Spirit of truth and the word of truth, under pretence of glorifying Jesus? Beware, O soul, “satan transforms himself into an angel of light, and makes thee think and say, thou hast no sin," for another reason than to glorify Christ, even to glorify thyself in thine own éyes, and in the sight of others. Hear confident Peter. Little did he think what was in his heart when he said, (perhaps he saw no sin, nor felt no sin at that time) "Though I die with thee, yet will I not deny thee." Think of his awful fall, his horrid oaths and dreadful imprecations, and be humble. Awful effects are not wanting in our day, of such whom satan has puffed up with this unscriptural notion of being SINLESS; but dreadful effects have followed. The higher the elevation, the greater the fall. O soul, ever remember, "thou standest by faith; this leads us entirely out of ourselves to the perfection of Jesus. Be not high minded, exalted with the notions of a state contrary to God's truth, here styled self-deceit, but fear;" ever be afraid of setting up thyself in opposition to the positive assertions of the Spirit of truth. He who says he has no sin, eommits sin in saying so; for he lies, the truth is not in him, he is deceived by the father of lies.

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This is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life: and this life is in his Son: he that hath the Son hath life....1 John v. 11, 12.

SOVEREIGN Power permits man to fall. Guilt fills the wretched pair with dread, and cuts off all hope in God, all claim upon him. Hence our first parents "fled from the presence of the Lord, and hid themselves." Sovereign love interposed, and the poor, guilty, trembling partners in woe were called before their highly-offended, justly provoked Lord. Was it to behold him clothed with vengeance? To hear the sentence of their eternal doom to destruction? To see hell opened to receive them? No; be astonished, O heavens! Rejoice ye apostate children of hell-deserving parents! They were to hear a RECORD of what was transacted in the eternal court and counsel of heaven, published on earth. This, instead of wrath, brought mercy; instead of woe, blessing; instead of eternal death, everlasting life; instead of a hell of misery, a heaven of happiness to their trembling hearts.

Fallen man came not to meet God, to sue for pardon, and entreat grace, but fled his presence. But the Lord follows sinful man with love in his heart; not to propose terms of accommodation or conditions of peace, but to proclaim the joyful news of eternal life as the free gift of free favor, unmerited grace, unconditional mercy, in and by the seed of the woman, Jesus Christ. Glorious RECORD of love! Blessed testimony of life! Joyful tidings of grace! Hast thou heard, known, and believed this RECORD? "Praise the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me praise his holy name." Behold and admire the wisdom, as well as the love of thy God. In this rejoice always; be humble continually. Life, eternal life, is given us. This life is in God's beloved Son, therefore can never be lost and forfeited. "Our life is hid with Christ in God." O, if Jesus dwells in our hearts by faith, we have God's beloved Son, we have eternal life. The report of this is joyful to our ears. The enjoyment of this enters our hearts, creates our present heaven, and fills us with joyful hopes of future glory. We have the strongest confidence, the fullest assurance to animate our souls, "Because I live, saith the head, ye (my members) shall live also."....John xiv. 19. God hath GIVEN us eternal life. He is faithful, he will not revoke his own precious free gift. Jesus hath overcome every enemy and opposer that might prevent our enjoyment of eternal life. The holy Spirit hath effected such an union to Jesus, as can never be broken. “We are joined unto the Lord, and are one spirit.".... 1 Cor. vi. 17.

Look
up, my soul, to him,
Whose death was thy desert;

And humbly view the living stream
Flow from his pierced heart.

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Hide not thy face from far me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation....Psalm xxvii, 9.

"Love never faileth :" it ever worketh in the heart of disciples towards its beloved object. Love cannot bear distance or separation from Jesus; the thought of it is grievous and painful; the dread of it makes the soul plead, fills the mouth with arguments, lest the poor heart should lose the sweet sense and comforting savour of the love of God. His presence is its heaven, his absence is its hell; his smiles create joy, his frowns bring gloom and sorrow on the mind. When the heart feels a sensible withdrawing of God, and the light of his countenance is hid, it cannot but be restless and uneasy. Real believers experience christianity to be more than a name....doctrines more than mere speculations to fill the head and amuse the thoughts....in ordinances, somewhat more is enjoyed than a dull round and formal attendance upon them. Christianity is a life of love it consists in knowing and enjoying the God of truth, of faithfulness, and of love in his ordinances.

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Therefore a loving soul most of all fears the anger of its loving Father; it dreads to be put away in displeasure, though but for a moment. To be left to one's self, O, this calls up one's cries and tears, and urges one to plead hard with one's dear Saviour. "Thou hast been my help." Past experiences of the love and power of its Lord are remembered, and urged as a plea for present help and future hope. God's precious promises of faithfulness and truth, O they are beheld as "fitly spoken, like apples of gold in pictures of silver."....Prov. xxv. 11. Past love cannot be forgotten; past mercies are recalled. What the Lord is still, in the appropriation of faith, is pleaded. "Forsake me not." Why so? Because "thou art the God of MY salvation." To whom should we go but to thee, O Jesus? Thou hast the words of eternal life. Forsake not the work of thine own hands; the soul for whom thou didst toil and suffer, bleed and die. There is salvation in thee, and in no other. I have found it so. Arise, O thou sun of righteousness, scatter the clouds of darkness, the mists of sin, and the fogs of unbelief; recall my wandering steps; revive my drooping spirit; "Bring near thy salvation in present peace and love." Such will be the cries and pleadings of Jesus-loving hearts. Such are the genuine actings of that faith which worketh by love. It ever hath a GOD IN CHRIST for its object, his faithfulness and truth for its support, his promises for its pleas, his glory for its aim, and the comfortable sense and enjoyment of his love as its portion and heaven. "Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none on earth that I desire besides thee."....Psalm lxxiii. 25.

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