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well-conditioned flock is the credit of the shepherd; and a well-ordered family, the commendation of the master; and the moral and prosperous state of his subjects, the praise of the ruler: so a wise, holy, consistent, amiable, lively, useful church is the honour and happiness of the preacher-He lives, if they stand fast in the Lord: for they are his glory and joy.

But why, for this satisfaction, does the Apostle refer to so late a period as the day of Christ? Had he no present rejoicing, from their excellencies and exertions? He had. But he knew that he must now rejoice with trembling. He had known many who did run well, but were hindered; who began in the Spirit, but ended in the flesh. He had seen many moral blossoms perishing without fruit; and experience taught him to distinguish between the hope of the spring and the richness of autumn. Persons for a season may rejoice in a minister's light, but in time of temptation fall away. They may hang on his lips, and then break his heart. He only that endureth to the end shall be saved: and then are we made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end-and "the day will declare it."

And till then the true character and condition of those among whom he has laboured, will not be completely ascertained and developed.

-Till then, also, his hearers will not be placed beyond the reach of moral harm; or be incapable of injuring the cause they profess.

Till then, also, his aim will not be fully accomplished, which is, to "present every man perfect in Christ Jesus," and "filled with all the fulness of God."

Then, also, many will acknowledge their obligations to his instrumentality, for their conversion or edification, which he knew nothing of here-and it will be safer and better for him not

to know the extent and degree of his usefulness, till he is secure from the possibility of vanity and pride-Then is the period for rejoicing, when there can be no mistake, no excess, no danger, in the joy.

-Oh! may he that watches for my soul, as one that must give an account, do it with joy, and not with grief!

What a proof is here that there will be a knowledge of each other in heaven! How else could the Apostle say of converts, "What is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, at his coming? For ye are our glory, and our joy."

MAY 22.-"Justified by the faith of Christ."
Gal. ii. 16.

LET me remark here the blessing, and the way in which it is obtained.

What is justification? It is not the making us righteous in person, but in state. The Papists confound it with sanctification; and some Protestants do the same. But justification stands opposed to condemnation. It is the absolving a man from a charge; the acquitting him when accused; and pronouncing him righteous. Only as we are really guilty-we cannot be justified by disproving the offence, but by the non-imputation of it, and treating us as innocent. The manner is described by the Apostle: We are justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God hath set forth as a propitiation for sin. The blessing is full and complete: for we "are justified from all things." It is permanent

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and irreversible: "Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." It is also a present benefit. The perception of it may be wanting; but the state is real-they have passed from death unto life-they are accepted in the Beloved. And blessed, says David, is the man whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed in his duties. Blessed in his comforts. trials. For him affliction has no curse. Death, no sting. Eternity, no terror.

Blessed in his

This inestimable blessing is obtained by the faith of Christ. We are often curious, and ask for reasons, when we should be satisfied with facts. It is not necessary to be able to explain precisely how faith justifies the soul. It should be enough for us to know that it is a truth clearly revealed.

And since, O my soul, none are justified that do not believe; and all that believe are justified; let me apply my heart unto wisdom: and, instead of losing myself in subtle enquiries and angry disputes, let me do two things-Let me observe, first, the importance of this faith. It is, in a sober sense, as important as Christ: and what is ascribed to him meritoriously, is ascribed to faith instrumentally. He is the well; but by faith we draw water out of it. He is the refuge; but a refuge cannot screen us, unless it be entered. He is the Bread of Life; but food cannot nourish us, unless it be eaten-and all this is done by faith only.

Let me, secondly, ask, seriously and earnestly, have I this faith of Christ? Do I believe the record, that God hath given us eternal life, and that this life is in his Son? And am I repairing to him; and trusting in him alone for salvation? How does my faith sow? Does it "sow in tears?" How does it rejoice? Does it " Does it "rejoice in Christ Jesus?" and has it "no confidence in the flesh?" How does it work? Does it "work by love?" How

does it travel? How plead? Can I say, "I will go in the strength of the Lord God; I will make mention of His righteousness only?"

MAY 23.-" Be not ye called Rabbi; for one is your master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren." Matt. xxiii. 8.

RABBI signifies Master; not a domestic or civil master, having servants or subjects under him; but a master of pupils; a leader, a teacher, having disciples who admire and follow him. It was not an ancient title: we scarcely read of it before the coming of the Messiah. The Scribes and Pharisees were exceedingly fond of this name. "They love," says our Lord, "greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, rabbi." "But," adds he, "be not ye called Rabbi."

The Apostles followed this admonition. "We have no dominion," said they, "over your faith, but are helpers of your joy." They did not lord it over God's heritage, but fed them with knowledge and understanding; and were ensamples to the flock. They considered themselves as messengers, deriving all their authority from their employer; and always referred their people from themselves to him. They delivered nothing but what they had received; and called upon those they addressed, not to believe in them implicitly, but to search the Scriptures; to prove all things; and hold fast that which was good. They were offended if persons thought too highly of them, or wished to be named after them. "Was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even

as God gave to every man ?" "So, then, neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase."

-It is now hardly possible to avoid religious names; but we lament that they were ever introduced. Why should parties be called Calvinists, Arminians, Lutherans, Baxterians, or by any other denomination? If the sentiments held by any of these men are not found in the Sacred Writings, they are not binding upon the conscience, whoever sanctions them and if they are, why should it be intimated that they have any other origin? Let us be satisfied with the words the Holy Ghost useth, without attaching salvation or damnation to men's definitions of them. The documents are Divine and infallible; but who can pronounce the explications to be so?

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If we call ourselves by the name of any human authority, let it be an inspired one. Let us call ourselves Paulites, after Paul; or Johnites, after John. But no. The worthy name by which we will be called, is Christians after Christ. All we are brethrenbut he is our Master; and the voice from the most excellent glory cries, "Hear ye him." His authority was proved by miracles, wonders, and signs. In him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. All he delivers to us is truth-truth unmixed with error-truth of the mightiest importance-truth that can make us free-truth that can make us holytruth that can make us blessed-for evermore. And as to the mode of his tuition, none teaches like him; so tenderly; so effectually; so perseveringly. Will ye also go away? Lord, to whom should we go, but unto thee?

O my

Will ye also be his disciples? soul! refuse not the privilege. Henceforth may I hear him, watching daily at his gates, and waiting at the posts of his doors. Lead me in thy truth, and guide me; for thou art the God of my salvation: on Thee do I wait all the day.

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