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Doth the ploughman plow all day to sow? doth he open and break the clods of his ground?....Isa. xxviii. 24.

"THE Lord of hosts hath decreed to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honorable of the earth."....Isa. xxiii. 9. Therefore his word sends us to the common transactions in life, that we may gather instruction in humility, and be taught to bow to his sovereignty. Every dispute against the latter is a strong evidence of the want of the former. When the mouth is not stopped, but daringly opened against sovereign purposes and eternal decrees, it is an awful sign that the plough of God's law hath not cut deep into, such sinners hearts; for, instead of pleading guilty and being speechless, the pride of nature urges vain pleas against free-grace truth, everlasting love, the finished salvation of Jesus, and the certain glory of all his chosen members.

But verily, as the ploughman plows at a proper season, and sows his seed at the appointed time, and as harvest shall not fail, so the church of Christ is "God's husbandry."....1 Cor. iii. 9. By the ministry of the word the Lord plows up the uncultivated ground of unfruitful hearts, he opens and breaks the clods of pride and lust, he casts in the seed of eternal life in the knowledge of Jesus, then the graces of faith, hope, love, and holiness, take root downward and spring forth upward. But alas! the seed is exposed to many dangers; weeds may grow up and choke it; if refreshing showers, the warm sun, or the purifying air is withheld, it will rot, and bring forth no fruit unto perfection. The poor heart is not without its fears, yea is at its wit's end at times, lest so it should be. And what can he do? He cannot command the clouds, call forth the sun, or cause the wind to blow. Boasting in self is at an end; trusting to inherent grace is cut off; hence the soul is led in humility to see that all things are of God; that if ever he reaps the harvest of eternal life, it is wholly and solely owing to God's free gift by Jesus; that all present fruitfulness is by the Spirit's energy and influence, in consequence of the Father's love and faithfulness, and the Son's perfect work and salvation; therefore look not so much within, nor around thee, as above to Jesus. Doubting disciple, from this inexhaustible fountain hope and encouragement flow. Though all within seems gloomy and distressing, all without opposing and discouraging, yet our God is over all and above all. Ever remember there is as great a necessity for the heart to be deeply rooted in humility downward, as for the pleasing fruits of peace and joy to spring upward. Our heavenly husband knows which is best for us. As the ploughman minds his work, and does his duty; so do thou. Be diligent in thy work; be humble in thy heart, knowing "God giveth the increase."..........1 Cor. iii. 7.

That every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God....Rom. iii. 19.

In our natural state we are ever most backward to take guilt to Ourselves, most skilful at self-excuses, most averse to self-examination, because we dread self-condemnation; hence we are ever prone to pass judgment at the bar of pride and carnal reason upon the truths of God, because we think they are against us. O what is there in such stout-hearted rebels, who are far from righteousness, to invite down the blessed Spirit to enlighten our minds! It is by his special mercy we see the spirituality and extent of God's holy law: though in it we see nothing but justice with a drawn sword, and mercy with a veiled face, yet it cuts off all glorying in the flesh, stops the mouth of pride and arrogance, and leaves the poor sinner tinder a sense of guilt, and subjects him to the judgment of God. To such, the sound of mercy how welcome! the proclamation of grace how joyful! the name of Jesus how precious! the way of salvation by him how acceptable! How willingly do such desire to be eternally indebted to free grace! How dead do such become to former legal hopes! Expectation from their fulfilling terms and conditions is cut off; grace freely given, mercy richly bestowed through Jesus, becomes the subject of all their hope, the matter of all their glorying. Now it is not, What have I done? How have I behaved? but, What hath Jesus done! What a glorious salvation hath he wrought! "I am a poor sinner, stript of all, now bow to the sovereignty of God, adore his electing love, admire God's salvation, sit humbly at the feet of Jesus, dwell on the wonders of his love and sufferings on Calvary's mount, thankfully receive the testimony of Jesus from the Spirit, and give the ever-gracious THREE all the glory of what I am in time, and of what I hope to be in eternity.' When the soul is become guilty in its own sight, the mouth is thus stopped: every self-righteous plea is silenced. When the sinner thus sees himself, he is quite out of conceit with himself.

Thus the law is good if a man use it lawfully; but if the Lamb's wife seek to the law, as a woman to her husband, to get comfort from it, and life by obedience to it, verily this is not continuing a chaste virgin to Jesus. We shall then cease to bring forth fruit unto God; but we shall be, as God complains of Israel of old, "an empty vine, who bringeth forth fruit unto himself."....Hosea x. 1. We shall grow delighted with ourselves, and imagine we have that within us. to talk of and glory in, instead of the work of Jesus, for us. But thus saith the Lord, "Thou shalt remember and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more, because of thy shame, when I am pacified towards thee, for all that thou hast done."....Ezek. xvi. 63.

Jesus said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.... John xi. 4.

Ir frequently happens, that intervening occurrences seem to contradict the truths of God. Therefore if we judge from sight and appearance, we shall be often deceived. God's word alone is the rule of faith; what he has declared shall certainly come to pass, however repugnant it may seem to carnal reason. Thus our Saviour declares of Lazarus, "This sickness is not unto death:" yet he afterwards told his disciples plainly, "Lazarus is dead:" and Jesus found him in the grave, where he had lain four days. But Jesus, who had power over death and the grave, knew his own intention of raising him, both for the glory of the Father, as well as glorifying himself. This was the great end of his coming into the world; therefore in the life, and by the death of Jesus, glory redounds "to God in the highest, peace on earth, and good-will to men."

Did Jesus love Lazarus? Did his compassionate eye drop a tear of affection over his friend's grave? O what an innumerable company of poor sinners did his loving eyes behold, who, like Lazarus, were not only to all appearances past hope, but actually " dead in trespasses and sins!" but he says of them also, "This sickness is not unto death." Eternal death shall not have the dominion over them; but he would get glory to God, and glorify himself in quickening and raising all God's chosen ones, all his dearly beloved members.

On the death of Lazarus "Jesus wept: he groaned within himself;" and he cried to his Father. How must the heart of Lazarus be inflamed with love to his dear Lord for giving him a second life! O believer! the raising thy soul from a death of sin to a life of righteousness, cost thy Saviour not only a sigh, a tear, a groan, a prayer; but agonies, sweats of blood, tortures beyond thought, sufferings beyond expression. His immaculate heart's blood he freely poured forth for our sins, to procure the life, and to obtain the salvation of our souls. Canst thou think of this love without reflecting on thy misery? O hard heart! O cruel unbelief! How little affected with such love as none but God could shew! Is this thy pain and sickness? Come, then, that the Son of God may be yet more glorified in thee, bring thy hard heart to the feet of Jesus, and confess thy unbelief to him with this humble cry, "Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief."....Mark ix. 24.

Come, happy souls, approach your God So strange, so boundless was the love With new melodious songs;

Come, tender to almighty grace

The tribute of your tongues.

That pity'd dying men,
The Father sent his equal Son

To give them life again.

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Seekest thou great things for thyself? Seek them not..., Jer. xlv. 5.

THE glorious company of the apostles, the goodly fellowship of the prophets, the noble army of martyrs, every member of the church of Christ in every age, were called to deny and mortify self. In this there is no difference: all are equally clothed with the same corrupt nature, are men of like passions, and are therefore in danger of selfseeking, and of having their affections attracted from Jesus, to the alluring objects of this present evil world. The scripture has recorded a very short chapter of the prophet Baruch's conduct. On reading this we may truly look within, around us, and then look up and cry, "Lord, what is man?" and with astonishment may add, "that thou art mindful of him."

Yea, what is every Baruch (i. e. blessed man) who bends the knee to Jesus, and is renewed in the spirit of his mind? Alas! he is still of the earth, earthly, prone to cleave to the dust, ready to seek great things for himself, from the objects of time and sense.

One would

have thought, just at a time when the prophet had been reading the dreadful roll, full of mourning, lamentation and woe, which were shortly to come upon the kingdom, this would have entirely curbed every carnal desire after selfish views and earthly glory. But no; the lusts of the flesh can only be mortified by the power of the Spirit. Jeremiah is sent with a loving warning and tender prohibition to Baruch: Is this a time for self-seeking, instead of thy master's glory? What! aspire after worldly honor and dignity in a time of threatened ruin: be wise; know thy station; act in character.'

Here, O Christian, see the picture of thy own corrupt nature. Know thyself; consider, thou also art in the body: remember, "in thy flesh dwelleth no good thing." Though under threatened ruin and destruction, yet it will lust after such things which are agreeable to its carnal state. Never say with Hazael, "Am I a dog that I should act thus and thus?" Beware of the deceitful reasonings of the flesh. It has ever plausible pleas to urge for its gratifications. Selfseeking is one of the lusts of the flesh. All views that arise from self, centre in self, and tend to please self, are contrary to fellowship in Jesus. If self is indulged, it will prove like a pampered steed, to run away with thy spirit from thy beloved. Therefore he asketh, "Seekest thou great things for thyself?" he forbids; "Seek them What will it profit thee if thou couldst gain the whole world and lose sweet peace with God, comfortable communion with Jesus, and the joyful fellowship of the Holy Ghost?" "Ye cannot serve God and Mammon....Matt. vi. 24.

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Let not your hearts be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me....John xiv. 1.

JESUS comforted the heart of a sorrowful widow by restoring her dead son to life again. Could he not also, by the power of his Spirit, consolate the hearts of his dear disciples, without preaching outward rules and directions to them? Plainly he will be heard as our prophet. Those disciples only, who obey the word of his doctrine, shall enjoy the consolations of his love. So it seemeth good to our Lord to teach; so it is necessary for us to believe. Troubles are the common lot of God's dearest children: "Many are the afflictions of the righteous.” ....Psalm xxxiv. 19. They feel and groan under heart troubles, which strangers know not of; inward disquietudes, which carnal men are utterly free from, are oft amazed to hear of; and are ready to hug themselves, and thank God they are not troubled about. Ah, this inward insensibility is a bad sign! But disciples' troubles are Jesus' concerns. He has a remedy against them: he will give comfort under them. Believing in an absolute God will not do this. Nay, the glory of his majesty, the greatness of his power, the perfection of his justice, &c. appear in dread array against us. We dare not think of God out of Christ, knowing ourselves to be poor sinners. Therefore, says Jesus, "Believe also in me." Believe my humanity: that I became MAN for your sakes, died for your salvation, and am risen again in your nature to pray for you. Remember the covenant that is established between the Father and me on your account. When thoughts arise in your mind, and your poor hearts are troubled with finding you are still but "unprofitable servants," you see much cause for sorrow, mourn and complain that there are many things amiss in you; that you do not believe so perfectly, love so comfortably, obey so cheerfully as you wish; yet ever remember, I am your Mediator before the throne; you stand not in the Father's love for your works' sake; but the Father is ever well pleased with me. He loves you, and is well pleased with you for my sake. Do not distress your poor hearts. Sorrow not as without hope; but believe in me and be comforted. You have no sin, but my blood dearly atoned for; you want no perfection, but what my righteousness supplies; you stand in need of no holiness and conformity to me, but what the blessed Spirit beThus believe on me as your living head, thus daily look on yourselves as my dear members, thus live on me and honor me as your Lord, and glorify me as your only Saviour. This is to obey Christ's command. Thus is the troubled heart comforted. This is our sweetest privilege. We should be concerned to make this our daily employ on earth. Shortly all our troubles and sorrows shall end, for we shall meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we be ever with the Lord: wherefore comfort one another with these words.".... 1 Thess. iv. 17, 18.

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