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meat-offering is frankincense: he shall put frankincense thereon;' in connection with which, and yet in contrast, it is commanded, 'Ye shall burn no honey unto the Lord.' These emblems, like all the others, are at once simple, yet most significant. Frankincense is the most precious of perfumes, of enduring and delightful fragrance; fit emblem of the sweetness and fragrance of the offering of our blessed Lord. Honey, on the other hand, though sweet, is corruptible, soon fermented, and easily turned sour. In frankincense, the full fragrance is not brought out until the perfume is submitted to the action of fire. honey, it is just the reverse-the heat ferments and spoils it. The bearing of this on the offering of Jesus, is too obvious to require comment. The fire of God's holiness tried Him, but all was precious fragrance. The holiness of God only brought out graces which would have escaped our notice, had he never suffered; yea, much of the precious odour of his offering was the very result of his fiery trial. How different is it in believers! There is many a sweetness of nature -very sweet for a while it may seem to our taste, which yet will not stand the test of fire; the first trial is enough to sour it. Who is there that has been cast into sifting circumstances, where God's holiness, and our ease or interests, have come into collision, without feeling how much there is in us which could not be a sweet savour on the altar? And have we never found, in setting even before saints some plain, but neglected command of our Master, that much of the sweetness in them which we have taken to be frankincense, has at once shown itself to be fermenting honey. It was not so with the blessed Jesus; Anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows; all his garments smell of myrrh, aloes, and cassia;' 'Because of the savour of his good ointments, his name is like ointment poured forth.' Sweetness there is in abundance, but the sweetness of frankincense, not honey. Well might the bride exclaim, My beloved is a bundle of myrrh, my beloved is to me as clusters of camphire." And not to her alone for her He has been a sweet savour unto Jehovah. : A cake might be anointed again and again, but if there had been leaven in its composition, it could not be put upon the altar. What a lesson for those who are looking to the Spirit in them, rather than to Christ for them, as the ground of acceptance. The Spirit's operations in the greatest power, will never alter or destroy the old nature. As soon may we expect the nettle to yield us olives, as for sinful flesh to be ought but sinful. Salt water cannot be washed sweet; you may pour oil on it, but they will not mingle. 'That which is born of the flesh, is flesh; that which is born of the Spirit, is spirit.' The flesh is still in Paul after he had been caught up to Paradise; he therefore needs the thorn in it to humble him. The power of the flesh in us may be controlled, and its active energy restrained or weakened, but the leaven is still within us, only waiting its opportunity to rise. 'The root of bitterness' is there, though it may be out of sight, and kept from budding."

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CITY PRESS, 1, LONG LANE: W. H. COLLINGRIDGE.

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Rev Tha Gracefs Maister of West Street Chapel / Erighton

Printed in the Gospel Magazine. December. 1847. by W H Collingriage

THE

GOSPEL MAGAZINE.

"COMFORT YE, COMFORT YE, MY PEOPLE, SAITH YOUR GOD." "ENDEAVOURING TO KEEP THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT IN THE BOND OF PEACE." "JESUS CHRIST, THE SAME YESTERDAY, TO-DAY, AND FOR EVER. WHOM TO KNOW IS LIFE ETERNAL."

VOL. VII.]

DECEMBER, 1847.

[No. 84.

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THE CHURCH'S THREEFOLD BLESSING: PROTECTION—

PROVISION-PERSEVERANCE,

Defying the Assaults of her Threefold Enemy-The World, the Flesh, and the Devil.

HAVING, THEREFORE, OBTAINED HELP OF GOD, I CONTINUE UNTO THIS DAY.-Acts xxvi. 22.

BELOVED, one among the ten thousand mercies which stand in connexion with the divine mysteries of our most holy faith, is the peculiar adaptation of its language to each and every of the members of the redeemed family. Hence arises one of the vast blessings and privileges of UNION. One affects all, and the whole body is interested in its every member. Now how consolatory the thought, that the words of our text as much suit us as they did Paul-aye, and, by virtue of standing in oneness with the family of which he was a member, this his language may be said to be ours. As a fellow-heir of the grace of life-as a member of the household of faith, one of the same brotherhood, he spoke for us as well as for himself. Nor has his testimony lost a particle of its truthfulness or importance, though nearly eighteen hundred years have rolled away since it was uttered. How the distinctiveness of gospel truth is seen in this, as well as the uniform operations of grace; for, blessed be God, dear reader, it is your privilege and ours, upon the opening of this, the last month of another year, to exclaim with the apostle, Having therefore obtained help of God, we continue unto this day." And this each and every one can say, weak as he may be;

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and though much tried, and greatly tempted; for had it not been for help received, he would not be here to testify of the same; and if the Lord himself had not rendered that help, neither man nor devil would have done so; hence the language is his, whether he has faith to adopt it or not.

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The apostle in the words before us is speaking in the past tense. He was privileged to stand in bold defence of the truth before Agrippa; and there having publicly rehearsed the mighty acts of the Lord, in that distinguishing grace which arrested him on his way to Damascus, he tells how the enmity of the Jews was incurred thereby; but at the same time rejoices in the fact that help had hitherto been administered. And surely, beloved, there is something very cheering and most satisfactory when, with the eye of faith, we are enabled to look back, and with warmth of heart to acknowledge, that strength hath been given -help hath been vouchsafed, just as did Samuel, when he "took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us " (1 Sam. vii. 12). We say it is a great privilege thus to be indulged; to look back upon the journey of life, with all its changes, and sorrows, and difficulties, and say, "Well, hitherto hath the Lord helped us," or, " having obtained help of God, we continue unto this day.' This is acknowledging the Lord, and giving to him somewhat (though indeed but as a drop to the ocean) of that praise which is due unto his name. The very acknowledgment, too, is productive of a sweet feeling-a calmness and composure in the prospect of the future, with all its expected trials and discomforts. The Lord, who is the Author of this faith, is He alone who brings it. into operation; and, when thus it does operate, it brings glory to him. But to these remarks we shall have a twofold class of objectors, and both among the children of God. To prevent confusion, let us hear them, and (if the Lord will) answer them, before we pass on. The first class (and these are among the very weak ones) say, "How can we adopt the language of your text, or how can we offer praise, seeing we have no evidence the Lord hath done anything for us?" Mark what we said just now if the Lord had not been your helper, you would not be here to testify of it (or if this be too strong a word we will say) to talk about it. Why, beloved, with all your familiarity with darkness, Satan's suggestions, and your own hearts' deceitful doings, you have but a faint idea of either the power of the devil-the allurements and the enmity of the world-or the vileness of your own hearts; if you had, you would at once see, and acknowledge too, that it was nought but the Lord's restraining power on the one hand, and sustaining power on the other, that had kept you still hoping-still looking—still longing. Oh, you undervalue your mercies-you underrate the grace and the goodness already vouchsafed indeed you do, although unintentionally. Now, may the Lord keep you at least quiet under his handnot to suffer you to lie against your right-not hastily to misjudge or to con temn the Lord or his dealings with you. We speak

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