This revelation early

has some relation to him. began. It dawned in Paradise, and the light continued to shine more and more unto the perfect day. All the Jewish ordinances and sacrifices prefigured him. Of him, Moses, in the Law and the Prophets, did write: and the testimony of Jesus was the Spirit of Prophecy. He came personally as a preacher, and he was his own subject. He unbosomed himself to his disciples, as far as they were able to bear it; and promised them a fuller manifestation. This was done when the Holy Spirit taught them all things; and brought all things to their remembrance that he had said unto them; and inspired them, to communicate the information to others-that all may read and understand their knowledge in the mystery of Christ.

There is a revelation of the Saviour in us. This is more than the former. Many who have access to the Scriptures, will perish; and all their knowledge will only prove the savour of death unto death. There is, however, as to information, nothing in the internal revelation that is not in the external. It is not, therefore, a new revelation in itself: for the truths themselves are as old as the Creation; but it is new as to our perception and experience. If a man, born blind, were to receive his sight, he would not see a new sun, but it would be new to him. Even in a land of vision, we may be called out of darkness into his marvellous light; because the eyes of our understanding may be opened. We heard of these things before, but now, in God's light, we see them. This illumination shews us, not only their reality, but their excellency; and, with their glory, fixes, and replenishes, and sways the soul. Be not satisfied with any thing short of this. Distinguish between a Christian in name, and a Christian indeed. Do not place your religion on any thing without you. Have you the witness in yourselves? Is Christ

revealed in you? Have you such a sight of him, by faith, as to see that he is fairer than the children of men? as to feel him infinitely endeared? as to count all things but loss, for the excellency of his knowledge? This is what he himself means, when he said, "He that seeth the Son, and believeth on him, hath everlasting life."

There is a revelation of him by us. It is our destiny, our duty, our privilege, to make him known. This is done by our being the subjects of his Agency; as the work displays the attributes of the author, and the streams proclaim the quality of the fountain. We should discover him by our resemblance, as his followers; and by our testimony, as his witnesses. We can speak upon other subjects-why not upon this? Who has not opportunities to extol him among children, servants, friends, neighbours? What do seeking souls want, but to see Jesus? Or doubting ones, but to be assured of his love? Have we been freely healed by him? Let us tell the diseased and dying of the Physician. Let us zealously aid every institution that aims to shew forth his praise. Pray that his glory may be revealed, and that all flesh may see the salvation of our God.

There is also a revelation of him with us. The world knoweth us not: it knew him not. We are now hid, and he is hid; and both are to be displayed at the same time. The day of the manifestation of the sons of God is also the revelation of Jesus Christ. And when he, who is our life, shall appear, we also shall appear with him in glory. Them that sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. They suffered with him, and they shall be glorified together.

We wish to be distinguished. We want something exclusive-half the relish and value is gone, if others share with us. But his benevolence, his condescension, are such that he cannot be satisfied unless we partake with him: "I appoint unto

you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne."-But where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?

MAY 4." For even Christ pleased not himself."
Rom. xv. 3.

Not as if his undertaking our cause was against his will; or that he ever felt it to be a task, and a grievance. He was voluntary in the engagement, and cheerful in the execution; and could say, I have a baptism to be baptised with, and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!-But he never followed the indulgence of his natural inclination in the days of his flesh. He preferred the glory of God and our benefit, to his own gratification. He did not consult his ease; but denied the demands of sleep, when duty required exertion. He rejected, with anger, Peter's proposal to spare himself from suffering. He did not consult ambitious feeling; but refused the people, when they would have made him a king. He stood not upon rank and consequence; but washed the disciples' feet, and was among them as one that serveth. He was far more delighted with Mary's reception of his Word, than with Martha's preparation for his appetite. He was not only thirsty, but hungry, when the disciples left him at the well, to go and buy meat; but when they returned, and said, Master, eat; he replied, "I have meat to eat which ye know not of-In your absence I have had something above corporeal satisfaction-I have been saving a soul

from death, and hiding a multitude of sins-My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish his work." When the collectors of the Templetax came to Peter, he said to him, "What thinkest thou, Simon? Of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children freeThe Temple is the house of my heavenly Father, and I am his only begotten Son." But, though not bound like others, he foregoes his right, in order to avoid offence: "Nevertheless, lest we should offend;" i. e. excite pain, or dislike, or reflection, by their thinking we have not a proper regard to the Sanctuary and ordinances of God-"lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up: and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee." This he exemplified all through life: He was, therefore, well prepared, and authorised to say, "If any man will be my disciple, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."

-And observe the use the Apostle makes of it-Because Christ pleased not himself, therefore "let the strong bear the infirmities of the weak, and not please themselves"-" Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification." He, indeed, limits the duty. We are not to humour our brethren in a sinful course; but only in things innocent and lawful-and we are to do this with a view to secure and promote his welfare, and not any advantage of our own. But we are not to consult our own little conveniences, and appetites, and wishes. We are not even to follow our convictions

in every disputed matter. "Let us not, therefore, judge one another any more; but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock, or an occasion to fall, in his brother's way. I know, and am per

suaded, by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat for whom Christ died." Here, again, the Apostle calls in Jesus, as a motive, and an example— He denied himself so as to die for this weak brother, and will you, says he, refuse to deny yourselves in a trifling forbearance on his behalf? "It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak."

Herein, too, Paul enjoins no more than he practised; for he drank deep into the Saviour's spirit"I please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved." If "meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend." And how noble does he here look! And how below his principles does a Christian act, when he thinks of himself only; his own accommodation-yea, even his own conscience. He is to regard the satisfaction of another's mind, as well as his own; and is to walk, not only righteously, but charitably. Yet some say, "I do not think it sinful; therefore I am not obliged to abstain"-And was Paul obliged to abstain? All things were pure to him; but he would not eat with offence. Some seem never to regard how their conduct will affect others: but the Scripture says, "Give none offence; neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the Church of God." Asaph was checked in his improper language by remembering, that if he so spake, he should "offend against the generation of the upright." Let us, therefore, beware of throwing stumblingblocks in the way of the blind. Let us make straight paths for our feet,