thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified!"* But does he never know sorrow? Not "the sorrow of the world, which worketh death;" but his sorrow is of a godly sort. There are seasons when he has a view of Him whom he pierced; when this promise in the prophecy of Zechariah is fulfilled in his experience-"I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him as one that mourneth for his only son; and shall be in bitterness as one that is in bitterness for his * How different is this to an idea that has been com monly inculcated, that sorrow should be marked in the countenance and conduct of those that seek the Lord, confirming it by what Mary said, after finding her Son Jesus in the temple, whom she thought to be lost-"Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing;" and all from not understanding 2 Peter 1. 20, 21. the meaning of which cannot be easily mistaken. + 2 Cor. 7. first-born:" but with this mourning he enjoys peace; even when he loathes himself, if it be from a proper principle, it is from a belief that God is "pacified "+ toward him: and when he desires to see more of his own vileness and poverty, and more of the imperfection of his own righteousness," the end is effectually answered, when the Holy Ghost is pleased to give him a view of the glory of Christ-his complete righteousness, and unsearchable riches. * Zech. 12. † Ezek. 16. It was well spoken by one, about twenty years ago, when the king went in great state to St. Paul's-" If a beggar should happen to see his majesty to-day with his superb retinue, he will see himself to be a beggar indeed." ESSAY III. THE TRUE EVIDENCE Believest thou this? John 11. 26. HERE another anxious question is resolved: How shall an individual of Adam's posterity know his interest in this great salvation? The simplicity of this point is often even a stumbling-block to many. But what say the Scriptures? "He that believeth shal be saved;"" He that believeth on him is not condemned;"-" He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life;"-" Even the righteousness of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all, and upon all, them that believe;" and "Faith is the substance of things hoped for: the evidence of things not seen." The apostle Paul knew the election of those to whom he wrote at Thessa ་ 十 lonica, because the Gospel came unto them in much assurance of the truth of it. Faith has nothing to do with sin nor self, but looks directly at what is revealed in the word concerning its object, CHRIST; and "He that believeth on HIM, the Son of God, hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God, hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, That God hath given to us eternal life; and this life is in his Son."* There is often a great mistake here. The avowed enemy of God and man blindeth the eyes of men, who often, under the pretencé of humility, are guilty of the greatest sin that man is capable of-making God a liar: and they see not the evi! of it, although they are apt also to wait for the halting of those who tremble at the thought of giving God the lie. The word is indefinite: wcho * 1 John 5.. |