Christ. Self-love is unwilling to be beholden to Christ for every good thing; it is always trying to put some confidence in the flesh: but the believer is commanded, and is taught to deny self, to put it upon the cross, and to crucify it daily with its affections and lusts. As Christ is exalted, self goes down. As Christ is beloved, self is not only denied, but is also abhorred. The prophet Ezekiel, in the thirty-sixth chapter, describes the very height of the experience of a great believer, who is blessed with the abundant graces of the Holy Spirit: the result of which is, "Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and ye shall loathe yourselves in your own sight, for your iniquities, and for your abominations. Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord God, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel." Such is the genuine working of true grace; it lays the sinner low at the Saviour's feet, abased and humbled to the dust: "Behold, I am vile—I abhor myself, and I repent in dust and ashes." The sense of God's distinguishing and sovereign mercy brings all high thoughts of self into subjection to Christ Jesus, and teaches the believer to walk humbly with his God, ascribing all his salvation to the praise of the glory of the exceeding riches of God's grace in his kindness towards us through Christ Jesus: that, according as it is written, "He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."

Thus it is evident, that when the believer looks back upon what he was by nature, or considers what he now is by grace, he has nothing of his own to

The best

But the grand

boast of: yet even in this continual warfare between the flesh and the Spirit, in Christ Jesus he may rejoice even to a triumph, a jubilee of joy. triumph is yet to come. glorying in the Lord here is only a prelude to it. Now we have the espousals with our heavenly Bridegroom, but then the marriage will be consummated. Now we are kept waiting in hope for the crown of righteousness, but that will be our coronation day. What a day will it be ! What wonders and miracles! The promises, exceeding great and exceeding precious, will then have their full and everlasting accomplishment by a faithful God, when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them who have believed. When they shall see him face to face-shall be with him where he is-shall be like him, and made capable of enjoying the honours, and riches, and pleasures of his kingdom, in their fulness of blessedness for evermore.

CHAPTER XI.

The Eternal Triumph.

THIS is the great lesson which the believer is learning, till he comes to the end of his faith-what is promised him, and what he hopes to be at the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the centre to which all his experience tends; and, while he keeps it in view, it so enlivens and animates his prospect, that come what may, he goes on his way

rejoicing, in hope of the glory of God.❝ “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit." And by his holy inspiration he opens the eyes of the understanding, both to understand what is revealed, and also to know the things that are freely given to us of God: for great as they are, endless as they are," the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned;" but he that is spiritual, has spiritual senses given him to exercise upon spiritual things --he is made certain of their reality his faith gives a substance to the things hoped for, and evidence to the things not seen a hope that never maketh ashamed an evidence very clear and satisfying: sometimes he can triumph in hope of the glory of God, when the Holy Spirit sheds abroad in his heart the Father's love, and bestows great joy and peace in believing. But he who is thus taught of God knows only in part. An apostle knew no more. The best of our present enjoyment is only a foretaste of the heavenly banquet. But even this little is of such a nature, and has such efficacy, that when it is truly believed, it influences the whole man, while he looks not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. They are not seen by the eye of the body, but are visible by the eye of faith; so we read,

Come, taste and see how gracious the Lord is." By this eye of faith Moses saw Him that is invisible:

and this sight so affected him, and had such an influ, ence upon his heart and life, that he lived above the world with all its temptations. This is the victory that overcame the world, even his faith. The same sight stills works the same effect-producing a real value for spiritual and eternal things, and forming the heart to love and to practise the apostle's rule "My conversation is in heaven, from whence also I look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." In the scripture view of our victory in Christ, there are two great points, which will take in all that is revealed of our eternal triumph; namely, the complete conquest of all our enemies-and the full and eternal enjoyment of all possible good. These two

truths come now under our consideration: and if we can meditate upon them under the influence of the Holy Spirit, and mix faith with his revelation, we shall have a good, warrant to begin those praises which will never end; and to sing in harmony with all the redeemed our everlasting jubilee.

When we come to the end of our faith, even the eternal salvation of our souls, our victory is described to be a perfect deliverance from all evil-from sin, from suffering. Sin, has brought, all pain into the world-miseries upon the body-miseries upon the soul-spiritual wickedness numerous hosts of foes -mighty principalities and powers-it has armed thousands, yea millions of them, for our destruction -made us our own enemies by enslaving us to divers lusts and passions, making us the prey to earthly, sensual, devilish tempers and as if there was not suffering enough in the world, filling us with many

imaginary fears, which occasion real suffering. At last come the wages of sin-death with its terrorshell with its torments! O what a deliverer! what a deliverance! Not one enemy left. They are all brought under, and subdued to rise no more. The Captain of our salvation has vanquished them for us. His victory is the earnest of ours. His was complete, so is ours. No sin, no suffering, can come near the habitation of his holiness. Indeed he suffered once for sin, but he put it away by that sacrifice of himself. By faith we have the benefit of his suffering, a conscience purged from guilt, no condem nation left, no charge from any enemy. God himself justifies; God himself sees us, accepts us, glorifies us, in and with his Son: for in that day he will present us to his Father, without spot of sin, unto eternal salvation.

Of this blessed and complete victory over all sin, and all suffering, the prophet Isaiah had a delightful prospect, speaking of it in these words: "And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and shall come to Sion with songs, and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." O give thanks unto the Lord Jehovah, for he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy. They have as much to thank their Redeemer for, as any creature possibly can have: his ransomed were under sin, helpless, miserable, dying sinners: from this slavery he bought them with an inestimable price; and they are become his property, his peculiar people, who have through him liberty to return to God, and