Let us add to our faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, says the apostle, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. (t) Let us then in all our ways acknowledge him, and he will direct our paths. Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established. (u) Commit thy way unto him, trust also in him and he shall bring it to pass. (v)

If the Lord is our light and salvation, whom shall we fear? if he is the strength of our life, of whom shall we be afraid?

(t) 1 Pet. 1. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
(v) Ps. 37. 5.

(u) Prov. 16. 3.

In God we have put our trust, we will not fear what flesh can do unto us. (w) Fear not; for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather them from the west; I will say to the north, give up; and to the south, keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth; even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea I have made him. (x)

Yes, these are thy works, thou unchangeable friend,
Inviting to mansions above:

O! still to thy flock, like a shepherd extend

The crook of thy mercy and love.

Till taught by thy precepts and cheer'd by thy light,
Escap'd from the regions of darkness and night,
They wait to receive thy commands.

(w) Ps. 27. 1,56, 4.

(x) Isai. 43. 5, 6, 7.

Chapter VE.

THOUGH we may be as Israel was detained in Egypt, that is in flesh and blood, yet if we are pressing forward to our incorruptible inheritance, having in a measure attained that state of innocency and pure love, free from those passions and evil affections which the soul so lately laboured under; we must, "as new born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that we may grow thereby; if so be we have tasted that the Lord is gracious." May it be our earnest desire and privilege to partake of the milk of that Eternal Word, distilling its virtues into our souls, that we may be nourished and fed thereby. That we may grow as the willow by the water courses, and as a lily in the garden of the Lord,

being refreshed with the dew of heaven, and quickened by the beams of the Sun of Righteousness, whose enlivening presence rejoices the heart. For "by one spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one spirit." (y)

While we are partaking of the influences of this spirit, clothed with humility and meekness, sitting at the feet of our Holy Redeemer, endeavouring to follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which we cannot see his face, we must look diligently lest we fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble us, and thereby many be defiled; not being redeemed with silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ; (a) who was delivered for our offences, and raised again for our justification; (b) for if Christ be not risen, then there is no re

(y) 1 Cor. 12. 13.

(a) 1 Pet. 1. 18, 19. (b) Rom. 4. 25.

surrection of the dead, then is the preaching of the apostles vain, we are yet in our sins: (c) but now is Christ risen from the dead, that we should walk in newness of life. For in that he died, he died unto sin once; but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise, let us reckon ourselves also to be dead indeed unto sin; but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (d) It is by the Holy Spirit which dwelleth in us, that we are enabled to hold fast the form of sound words, which we have heard, and to keep alive all those good things which have been committed to us, (e) that we may partake of the streams of that river, which makes glad the city of our God, the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. Thou who lovest righteousness and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy

(c) 1 Cor. 15. 14, 13, 17, 20.

(d) Rom. 6. 4, 10, 11. (e) 2 Tim. 1. 14, 13, 14.