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النشر الإلكتروني

MEDITATION XX.

[December 5, 1802.]

CANTICLES V. 16.

THIS IS MY BELOVED, AND THIS IS MY FRIEND.

THEN you are wise and happy: wise in setting your affections on the only object in the universe that is worthy of them; happy, as you now have one that will stand by you, and protect you, and provide for you in every possible circumstance of difficulty and danger. But it is not all who have a real interest in Christ that can at all times, with a comfortable clearness, say so. Sometimes careless walking, sometimes a worldly frame, sometimes unbelief, may be the cause of this darkness and doubt. I believe there are some now present, that would be glad to know what are the certain evidences of an interest in Christ.

For your satisfaction, I would say it may be known two ways: from Christ's conduct towards you; and from your conduct towards Christ. Try it then from Christ's conduct towards you. Has he made you willing in the day of his power? Has he

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brought down the opposition and enmity of your wills against himself and his ways? Has he manifested himself to you, so as he doth not unto the world? Has he pitied and succoured you in the time of your darkness and temptation, so that you can say with the apostle, "When others forsook me, then the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me?" Has he met you in his ordinances, and drawn out the desires of your hearts towards him? These are tokens of his love; and comfortable evidences on his part that he is yours. Now inquire what has been your conduct towards Christ. Have you truly and cordially received Christ in all his offices, aud committed the cleansing and keeping of your souls to him? Have you given up yourselves wholly to his rule and government, without any exception or reserve? Have for him in all compastood you nies, and fought his battles against all opposers? Have you denied yourselves, taken up the cross and followed him? And if at any time he has favoured you with his presence and blessing in ordinances, has it not given you more satisfaction than ever you found in any earthly delights? Remember those evidences for your comfort; and strengthen and confirm them by continued acts of faith in Christ for pardon and strength, by repeated dedication of yourselves to him, and by the continued practice of self-denial and mortification, This is the way to keep the evidences of your

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interest in Christ comfortably clear. However, it may add to your satisfaction, if we go on to inquire, What value you have set upon Christ. If Christ is precious, his word is precious; his ordinances will be precious; his people will be precious; and any thing that tends to depreciate or dishonour Christ will be grievous to you. Doctrines that tend to his dishonour, and practices that tend to dishonour Christ, you will be grieved at the heart for them you will take it more nearly than if any should go about to vilify and depreciate yourselves. And further, you will keep Christ and cleave to him, whatever you lose or whatever you suffer. As persons do for what they count their chief treasure, they will venture any thing to secure it. If Christ be yours, you will rather hazard the loss of estate, trade, friend, liberty, and even life itself. You would rather lose all than lose Christ.

Have you indeed such a high esteem for Christ; let me ask, What are you the better for him? We know how it is with those that have found a great treasure, or, by any other means, from low and indigent circumstances, have been advanced to great wealth. It will soon appear to the world. They will be better dressed, keep a better table, dwell in better houses, mix with better company, and be better attended. Now let us inquire, How is it with you in all these respects? For instance, Are you better clothed? It was the first

thing the father did for his prodigal son when he returned. "Bring forth," says he, "the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet;" and it is one of the first things Christ does for every true believer. He takes off their rags, and provides for them white raiment, (as he expresses it,) that the shame of their nakedness do not appear. He clothes them wit the robe of his now perfect righteousness without, and he clothes them with the graces of the Spirit within. Now what is your clothing? Once you wore the garments of pride, malice, covetousness. Is there now a change? Have you put off the old man, and put on the new? Are you clothed with humility? Have you the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit? Have you the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness?

Again; as to diet. Are you better fed, as well as better dressed? When persons rise in the world, they generally keep a better table than formerly. If you are united to Christ, this is the case with you. In your natural state, the scripture speaks of your feeding on ashes, and feeding on the east wind; things incapable of affording nourishment. But if you belong to God's family, in your Father's house there is bread enough, and to spare; the bread of life, the fatted calf, Christ himself; and qis flesh is meat indeed, and his blood is drink indeed. We read that Elijah went, in the strength

of two meals, forty days without taking any thing more. That was reckoned an extraordinary thing; but it was nothing to what Christ says of himself; "I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever," John vi. 51.

Again; do you keep better company? ? As a person rises in the world, he, in general with his new condition, has new associates. So it is with true believers. If Christ is yours, you keep better company than before. The company that we naturally choose, are such as are strangers to God, rebels against him; such as, more or less, would help us in the road to hell. But if Christ is ours, he has put us out of love with such, and taught us to look upon them as vastly beneath us, as persons that we should be ashamed to be seen with; and enabled us to say with the psalmist, My goodness extendeth not to thee, but to the saints, the excellent of the earth, in whom is all my delight."

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Now, are you in this respect the better for Christ? Do you associate with and delight in persons of a higher rank than before? I mean as to spiritual things. Is a vile person contemned in your eyes, however great in the world; and do you honour them that fear the Lord?

Again; have you better attendance? A poor man has no servant; but let him be exalted to

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