did grandeur, thou at present canst not conceive. I will abide with thee for ever to engage thy attention, and thou shalt see my glorymy riches-my beauties. I will capacitate thee to behold with astonishment, and not be confounded; nor, shalt thou feel the least embarrassment when the gates of paradise are flung wide open, and thou findest thyself among kings and princes; yea, in the immediate presence of thy Father. Having my robe upon thee, my Father will look on thee with infinite delight. Whom I love, my Father loves. He is mine, and I am his; all mine are his, and, he is their's, yea, we are all as one; and our eternal delight will be in each other. With, and among us, will be, all love; all joy; all delight; all happiness; all pleasure; all life; all light; all glory, for ever and ever!

Malmsbury, Oct. 18, 1828.

(For the Spiritual Magazine.)

DENIZEN.

THE LOVE AND CONDESCENSION OF JEHOVAH, AS WELL AS HIS CARE TOWARDS HIS BELOVED, REDEEMED, AND CALLED PEOPLE, AS THEY ARE VERY STRIKINGLY SET FORTH IN THE SCRIPTURES.

LOVE being the essential spring from whence all blessings flow, it must be viewed as the grand and adorning links in the great chain of Jehovah's wise arrangements. Love takes the lead in God's addresses to his chosen family, "I have loved thee with an everlasting love." Hence, when Adam fell from his state of purity, by transgression, and the Lord speaks to him, he says, "the seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head." In this first promise of a covenant God in Christ, begins the developement of the love of God; for Christ, who was promised, is the great expression of that love: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

The gift of Christ, in the eternal purpose of God, as "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world," was the life, peace, and salvation of all the old testament saints; they believed in the coming Messiah; they lived upon him by faith; and his flesh was meat indeed, and his blood was drink indeed to them. Every type, figure, and ceremony, were as windows, through which they looked for the promised and coming Saviour, who was the substance of them all. They saw through a glass darkly, and yet, they beheld "him who was to come to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself,'

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The 11th chapter of the Hebrews presents a striking specimen of the nature, power, and effects of their faith. It produced peace in the soul; it laid hold of those things which the Holy Ghost presented to view. And, as the Spirit takes of the things of Christ, and reveals them to the mind; so, peace was enjoyed by them, through his cleansing, pardoning blood, and justifying righteousness. Where

laws are violated, justice is incensed; and, until reparation is made, punishment is due; consequently they could not enjoy peace through, and from the blood of those victims which were constantly offered up, for these were not viewed with approbation by the Lord, but as they pointed to Him, who was to come in the fulness of time; of which we have an account in the ninth chapter of Daniel, verses 24 to 27. The time of the coming of the Messiah, and the wonderful achievements that were to be effected by him, are clearly stated.

The sacrifice, and oblation, did not cease till Christ came in the flesh. The fire continued to burn upon the altar, consuming every victim that was offered upon it; proving that justice was not satisfied, because actual reparation had not been made; the fire upon the altar, being figurative of the wrath of God against sin. But, when Christ, the only appeaser of vengeance, the only effectual victim appeared, he consumed the fire of Jehovah's wrath in his own person; for all the phials of his wrath were emptied upon him; and the agonizing pangs they inflicted made the holy sufferer exclaim, "My God, my God! why hast thou forsaken me?" Here they worked to the end of the law for righteousness. It was through this medium that peace, like a river, flowed to the called of God; which peace they enjoyed, and, in which they rejoiced. The life of unsinning obedience to the law, and the ignominious death of the Son of God, formed the foundation of their salvation; and, was the cause of their spirituality of life; and, such is the case now, with all the called of God.

The condescension of the God of heaven is evident in the scriptures; and, also, in the great acts achieved for the chosen family. Love laid the base of the condescension of the Lord." He loved his people;" consequently, he condescends to make that love known, to apply it, and also to produce, in its recipients, those effects which would be for his glory, and their happiness.

The whole world was enveloped in wickedness. For, by the disobedience of one man sin was introduced into the world; and, like a contagious disease it spread; it proved to be hereditary, for every one that was born brought this disease along with him; as such, all the human race were, and continue to be, infected, polluted, yea, ruined. Therefore, for the God of heaven to restore to man what he took not away, must be an act of condescension; indeed, particularly so, when we consider that he had to stoop from heaven to earth to effect it; and this he did, for he left the bright abodes of the blessed, and as a servant, journeyed in this polluted world, yea, "he who was rich, (for his people) became poor, that they, through his poverty, might be

made rich."

There is an appointed time for all things; and by this rule, Jehovah acts. He has said, that "his people shall be willing in the day of his power." When God calls a sinner out of death into life, out of darkness into light, from the service of Satan to the service of God, from the love and practice of sin, to the love of God, and the practice of holiness; calls to the participation of the blessings of salvation, afford

ing a fountain to bathe in, and a perfect robe of righteousness to adorn their persons; pronouncing such, without spot, or blemish, or any such thing. This is restoring mercy indeed! and, it may be truly said, that such things form a part of the condescending acts of the God of all grace, towards his much loved children.

But, there is another idea to be considered; they are the objects of his care. He is constantly watching over them for good. He neither slumbers nor sleeps; and to express his tenderness towards them, he says, that in all their afflictions he is afflicted; yea, that whosoever touches them, touches the apple of his eye. In his all-wise providence, he takes care of their persons, ruling and over-ruling for their good; saying to them that "all things shall work together for their good." They are a poor and afflicted people, but they are the Lord's; and, to prove his care of them, he says, "many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth them out of them all." They are a tempted and tried people. They have to pass through the furnace, to try their faith; but even here, God is with them, Isaiah xliii. 2, 3. They are a persecuted people; this is a part of their wilderness portion, for it is through much tribulation that they are to enter the kingdom of heaven. The work of grace in the soul is also his care, for he has said, that where he begins a work, he will carry it on, until the day of Jesus Christ.

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And all their spiritual necessities he has promised to supply out of his riches in glory by Christ Jesus! They are the beloved of the Lord. He is not ashamed to call them brethren. They are the recipients of salvation; for it was for them that Christ purchased it. They are the objects of his special and unremitted attention and care; for, watches over them for good. Well might the apostle say, "who shall separate us from the love of Christ ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, for thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things, we are more than conquerors, through him that loved us. For, I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." This song of triumph, and holy confidence, is the portion of every true believer, although all are not enabled to sing it. Many can say with the poet, when by faith they feel their standing upon the Rock of eternal ages,

"More happy, but not more secure,

The glorified spirits in heaven."

May the good will of Him that dwelt in the bush, be with all those that love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and truth, for the sake of the glory of his grace. Amen.

Suffolk, Sept. 1828.

(For the Spiritual Magazine.)

THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF SEPARATION FROM THE LOVE OF CHRIST.

(Continued from p. 273.)

BUT what "shall separate from the love of Christ? — shall tribulation, or distress?" If the people of God are exercised with many severe afflictions, deprived of earthly comforts, and brought low as it regards their temporal circumstances-if they experience great distress of body and mind, are brought into great straits respecting their temporal support, and their souls' eternal welfare; shall these things separate from the love of Christ? No; for these afflictions spring from the love of Christ, and must bring them nearer to Christ. Under all their afflictions Jesus also remains the same, and often gives them the sweetest enjoyment of his loving-kindness in the time of tribulation. Not all the distresses they experience shall affect this, for they can have no circumstance of distress, but what Jesus hath appointed-no circumstance of distress, but what he hath appointed peace and comfort for them. They may often in distress of mind say, "the Lord hath forsaken me;" but still the Redeemer declares," with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee." His thoughts are not their thoughts; and when all is distress with them, he still bears them upon his heart, still is accomplishing the purposes of his mercy concerning them.

But what shall separate from the love of Christ?-shall persecu tion, or famine?" If believers are persecuted by the world, and their names cast out for evil; if through the malice of the world they are brought into the greatest difficulties, and all their temporal supplies appear to be cut off-shall these things separate from the love of Christ? Surely not; for persecution for righteousness sake is an evidence that Christ hath loved them; and so far from separating them from Christ, it unites them more closely to him. In the season of persecution Jesus appears as their friend, and they are made willing to give up all things for him. When outward support appears cut off, the Holy Spirit brings them to depend more simply on the fulness of Christ; and in due time to experience the fulfilment of his promise, "I will satisfy her poor with bread." Besides, many "of whom the world was not worthy," have experienced all the distressing effects of persecution, famine, and nakedness, and yet under all their trials enjoyed the richest consolations from Christ, were refreshed by his promises, and could testify that Christ is a solid comfort when all other comforts fail.

But what shall separate us from the love of Christ? —shall peril or sword? If the people of God experience not only great persecu tion from the world, but are in the utmost danger of life, surrounded by enemies, and at length cut off by the sword of persecution, shall

No; for the saints can When in the hands of

these things separate from the love of Christ? be in no danger but the Redeemer knows. their enemies, their enemies are in the hands of Christ; and though they are permitted to take away their lives, yet this shall only be to hasten to glory. Their enemies may cut them off from the enjoyment of their family, deprive them of every earthly comfort, and put them to the most painful death; but nothing can separate them from Christ. The union between Christ and his people is indissolvable, and their spiritual life secure from harm. St. Paul shews by a striking quotation from the 45th Psalm that persecution and death may be the lot of the people of God. For these purposes the people of God are described as the "flock of slaughter;" and when we read the 11th chapter of Paul's epistle to the Hebrews; when we reflect on the Dioclesian persecution, in which seventeen thousand were slain in three days; they are well entitled to the appellation. But did the severe persecutions in the primitive age of the church, when Nero, and succeeding emperors, devised every species of torture, separate believers from Christ? Read the accounts which are given of their cheerful submission to death; the triumphant manner in which Ignatius, Polycarp, and others, whose names shine on the pages of ecclesiastical history, met death; and see that neither peril or sword can separate from Christ. We might extend the question, and ask, shall life, with all its adverse scenes-shall Satan, with all his powerful temptations, separate from the love of Christ? Is the reason asked? It is because Jesus will never lose his interest in his people. He does not call a sinner to-day, and, as the arminians assert, condemn him to-morrow: his wisdom and justice, as well as his love, forbid this. My brother in the Lord, who are called to pass through a vale of tears, let this truth encourage you, persecution may much distress you, but nothing shall separate you from the love of Christ; hear his own gracious declaration, "I have graven thee (or delineated thee) on the palms of my hands; thou shalt not be forgotten of me." Trust then, and be not afraid. If you cannot be separated from Jesus, then not from comfort, for Jesus is the God of all consolation; if you cannot be separated from Christ, then you can never finally faint, for Jesus is your strength; if you cannot be separated from Christ, then you cannot want protection, for Jesus is your defence; if you cannot be separated from Christ, then not from glory, for "he that hath the Son hath life, and shall not come into condemnation."

But we proceed, thirdly, to consider the triumphant answer which St. Paul gives-"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors." These afflictions and persecutions mentioned, so far from separating from Christ, do not suspend its exercise.-They are so far from separating from Christ, that they afford a cause of triumph to the saints. Believers not only triumph over the world by the influence of faith, but over its persecuting rage. They not only bear persecutions, but, in the strength of omnipotence, they glory in them; proclaim the praises of God in the furnace of affliction, discover marks of divine