by we may be certified respecting ourselves whether we are his children or the children of the Devil. To expect it, is nothing more or less than to expect that God vouchsafes to every believer a separate and immediate revelation concerning his state, whereas the Bible (through the Holy Spirit shining on its pages) is sufficient of itself to make us wise unto salvation. Luther, the hero of Reformation, said of certain men in his day who pretended to Revelations, dreams, and voices, that notwithstanding some men might have visions, dreams, and voices, yet he neither cared for, nor desired them, such a sufficiency did he find in the Holy Scriptures. Oh, my brethren, exercise then a holy jealousy over yourselves, lest ye add unto, or take from that word; lest haply God add unto you the plagues that are written in this book, and take away your part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things that are written in this book. (Rev. xxii. 18, 19) In a matter of such infinite moment as the soul's salvation, we bless God we have no such uncertain rule to go by, as dreams and whispers, but a safe and unerring guide, even his own word, a vision written so plain that he that runneth may read; a lanthorn, shedding so clear a light that the way-faring man though a fool may not err by it. What folly and presumption then to have recourse to darkness when light is at hand; to venture the soul and its salvation on a dream, or a whisper, when that sure word is near; it is like a man at noon-day saying, I reject the light of the sun, I will walk by a dim taper. Having said thus much on the subject of dreams and whispers, I will now bring to your notice some of the marks which the Holy Scripture lays down of a man's being in a state of pardon and acceptance with God, in order that you, my reader, may come to a right conclusion in this most important matter. And may the Holy Spirit give you his infallible light, that in his light you may see light, and be made light in the Lord. Have you been born of the Spirit?" Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” (John iii. 5; See also, Titus iii. 5.) Do you believe in Jesus Christ for the remission of sins?" Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life." (John v. 24; See also, Mark xvi. 14; John iii. 36, and vi. 47.) Are you in Christ Jesus?" There is now therefore no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Rom. viii. 1.) They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts." (Gal. v. 24.) Is the image of the new man created in you ?— "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Cor. v. 17.) "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." (Rom. viii. 9. See also, 2 Cor. iii. 18; 1 John iii. 3 ; Gal. v. 22, 23.) How do you approach God in prayer ? -"Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." (Gal. iv. 6. Rom. viii. 15.) Finally, Have you the witness of the Spirit?— "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God." (Rom. viii. 16.) Does the Spirit in you testify of a well-pleasedness on your part with God's well-pleasedness with penitent, believing sinners through Christ in the Gospel? And does your renewed spirit, answer to the spirit of a child of God, as represented in Scripture, where it is said, "As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." (Rom. viii. 14.) And now, my dear reader, you have before you a glass wherein, without a dream, or voice, you may see yourself to the life; see both what you now are, and what your expectations hereafter. If you can read your title to the Heavenly inheritance clear, I beseech you to reflect often on the privileges to which you are born, and of which already you are made a partaker by the Gospel. You will find them largely set forth in the word of Life, which St. Peter exhorts you as a new born babe to desire, that you may grow thereby; for the leaves of this book are not only for the healing, but for the food of the nations, according as Christ has expounded his own words, " Except ye eat the flesh, and drink the blood of the Son of Man ye have no life in you." It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing; the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. Pray then, with David, that you may behold wondrous things out of God's law; that Christ, who is revealed in the word, may be revealed in you the hope of glory; then, am I persuaded, you will uever have recourse to such figments as dreams and voices for comfort, nor will you be found barren or unfruitful in your Christian profession. It may be you are the the subject of many doubts and fears. It may be you can only lay hold of the promises with a trembling, hoping hand. Well, even to you, without a dream, without a vision, I have a word of comfort. Jesus Christ said to doubting Thomas, “Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side, and be not faithless but believing." And what Christ said to Thomas, He says in spirit to you: son or daughter, put forth thine arm of faith; be not faithless, but believing. If thy fear be a filial fear, then do I find many precious comforts attached to it, for blessed is he who on this wise feareth always: yea the Psalmist calls upon you to praise God, because he has given thee this fear. But mount up a little higher; "O ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord;" trust His mercy, and that will beget love, and perfect love will cast out fear, that is, that fear which hath torment. But on this review, does your conscience testify you have neither part nor lot in the matter, then let the persuasion haunt you as a vision of the night; let it fasten on you as a dead weight; let it oppress you, yea even make you melancholy. Then if you are not content that matters should remain thus, if you desire to be freed from your bondage, seek it from Him who is exalted a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance and forgiveness of sins. Bow to the sceptre of the Son of David. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and so you perish, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Yea blessed are all they (and only they) who put their trust in Him. Psalm ii. 12. WATCH-WELL. ON returning home from a neighbouring town, where I had been assisting a brother Minister, I found that a poor woman, whom I had been accustomed to visit during a short illness, had died a few hours before my arrival. I somewhat regretted that I should have been from home when she died; but her experience during her illness was so satisfactory, that, without witnessing her last moments, I feel no hesitation in concluding that she is one of them of whom it may be said, "Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord." She had been accustomed for many years to attend the means of grace; and had so read the Bible that I could scarcely mention a passage to her which she was not well acquainted with. Her mind being thus richly stored with the best of treasures, and the Holy Ghost having, as I trust, taught her it's spiritual meaning, and applied its life-giving power to her soul, she never felt herself alone even when left alone. The word of God in her heart and memory |