kindle upon him! the soul that hath grace stamped on it, has God's own image, and he will never destroy it. Grace is a Christian's coat of mail, which fears not the arrow or bullet. Grace may be shot at, but can never Grace puts the soul into Christ, and there it is safe. (Róm. viii. 1.) "There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus."

be shot through.

X. Grace hath an heart-establishing excellency. (Heb. xiii. 9.) "It is a good thing that the heart be established with grace." A man void of grace is called, (James i. 8,) "a double-minded man." Hearts devoid of grace waver and toss about, like a ship without ballast; but grace consolidates and fixeth the heart. Hypocrites are like meteors in the air; David was a fixed star. (Ps. lvii. 7.) "My heart is fixed;" grace keeps the heart upright, sincere, and stedfast; carries it to God as the centre; there it rests, to him it cleaves; then, whatever changes come, the soul is settled as a ship at anchor.

XI. Grace hath a preparatory excellency. (2 Pet. i. 3.) "Who hath called us to glory and virtue.' Chrysostom observes, "Glory is the highest peg of our felicity, it transcends all our thoughts; glory can have no hyperbole." Grace tunes and fits the soul for glory; God doth first by his grace cleanse us, and then pours in the wine of glory. The silver link of grace draws the golden link of glory after it; indeed, glory is nothing else but grace commencing, and taking its degrees.

Christian Magazine, 1792.

TRUE grace is allowed to be glory begun; the same in kind, though different in degree; all lively duties, therefore, are so many approaches to heaven, not only as they bring us nearer to the celestial world, but as bringing more of present enjoyment; therefore, im

provement in grace is called, being changed from glory to glory. We all know that they who are running in a race, feel new vigour when they come within sight of the goal, and especially the first of the competitorswith what a spring doth he advance in his last steps to lay hold on the prize! It is the same in the Christian race-the near approach of salvation drives off lazy slumbers, and sets all the powers of the soul in animated motion. Travellers tell of some countries which are so full of aromatic plants and flowers, that they perceive them at some distance, and are highly refreshed by the pleasing gales. Do you not think it is the same with the Christian traveller, as he bears up towards the heavenly country, of which the land flowing with milk and honey was a figure, a shadow?

But, I say, do you not think that the nearer we draw to heaven, the clearer anticipation we shall have of the joys above? I appeal to you, my aged and venerable friends, who have been long in the wilderness, and are now almost upon the banks of Jordan, whether the prospects from Pisgah be not reviving, whether you do not feel your spirits invigorated with the breezes from Canaan? O, if dying saints could tell us what they feel, we should have proofs enough; their countenances tell us, that while they are walking through the valley of the shadow of death, they are rejoicing with joy unspeakable and full of glory-that when their heart and flesh are failing, God is the strength of their heart and their portion for ever.

Lavington.

FAITH.

THE Acts or Exercises of Faith seem to be three: or rather, that Faith, which is required in order to our Justification, is a complex act of the mind, which includes three distinct but concurrent exertions of its powers. It includes,

1. The assent of the understanding to the truth of the testimony of God in the Gospel; and especially to that part of it which concerns the design and efficacy of the death of Jesus as a sacrifice for sin.

2. The consent of the will and affections to this plan of salvation; such an approbation and choice of it, as implies a renunciation of every other refuge, and a steady and decided preference of this. Unbelief is called a disallowing of the foundation laid in Zion; whereas Faith includes a hearty allowance of it, and a thankful acquiescence in God's revealed method of forgiveness.

3. From this assent of the enlightened understanding, and consent of the rectified will, to the evangelical testimony concerning Christ crucified, results the third thing, which I suppose to be implied in justifying faith: namely, Actual Trust in the Saviour, and personal apprehension of his merits. When, under the promised leading and influence of the Holy Ghost, the penitent sinner thus confidently relies, and individually lays hold, on Christ, then the work of justifying faith is complete; then, and not till then, he is immediately justified.

On the whole, may it not be said, that the Faith, to which the privilege of Justification is annexed, is such a belief of the Gospel, by the power of the Spirit of God, as leads us to come to Christ, to receive Christ, to trust in Christ, and to commit the keeping of our

souls into his hands, in humble confidence of his ability and his willingness to save us?-It will readily occur to you, that the several expressions which I have just used, are all employed in Holy Scripture, as synonymous with that believing which is unto righteousness. (John i. 12; Matt. xi. 28; Eph. i. 12; 2 Tim. i. 12.)

Jabez Bunting.

DOUBTLESS the true living faith of a Christian, hath in itself such a particular stamp, as brings with it its own evidence, when the soul is clear, and the light of God's face shines upon it.

Faith is the vision of the kingdom of grace; it is the eye of the new creature, that quick-sighted eye, that pierces all the visible heavens, and sees above them.

This is the very life of divine faith, touching the mysteries of salvation, firmly to believe their revelation by the Spirit of God. The word carries the lively stamp of divine inspiration; but there must be a spiritual eye to discern it. He that is blind knows not that the sun shines at noon, but by the report of others; but they that see, are assured they see it, and assured by no other thing but by its own light. To ask one that is a true believer, how know you the Scriptures to be divine? is the same as to ask him, how know you light to be light?

Firmly to believe, that there is a divine truth in all these things, and to have a persuasion of it stronger than of the very things we see with our eyes, such an assent as this is the peculiar work of the Spirit of God, and is certainly saving faith.

There is in lively faith, when it is infused into the soul, a clearer knowledge of Christ and his excellency than before; and with it a recumbency of the soul upon him, as the foundation of its life and comfort; a resolv

ing to rest on him, and not to depart from him upon any terms. Though I be beset on all hands, be accused by the law and mine own conscience, and by Satan, and have nothing to answer for myself; yet here I will stay, for I am sure in him there is salvation, and no where else. All other refuges are but lies, poor base shifts, that will do no good. God hath laid this precious stone in Zion for this very purpose, that weary souls may rest upon it; and why should not I make use of it according to his intention? He hath not forbid any, how wretched soever, to believe, but commands it, and himself works it where he will, even in the vilest sinners.

Leighton.

HOPE.

THE hope of the righteous is founded upon the mediation of Jesus Christ. When we were fallen from dignity and sunk in depravity, and when no human hand could help, or any human eye could pity us, Jesus voluntarily espoused the sinners' cause, magnified the law we had violated, endured the misery we had merited, and, by his dying groans, his efficacious sufferings, and meritorious death, satisfied the requisitions of justice, laid a foundation for the honourable exercise of mercy, and hath thrown open the gates of the celestial city to every believing obedient soul. And did the Lord Jesus lay aside the glory he had with the Father before the world was? did he veil his essential glory by the assumption of human nature? was he born in a stable, and laid in a manger, and destitute of the common comforts of life? was he abused in his character, ill-treated in his person? was he op