counsels of the Almighty, and has boldly attempted to bring down, even the Divine Nature, to the measure of its own limited capacity.

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No wisdom but that wisdom which is from above, can comprehend the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. And as the Divine Nature, and the Divine Counsels are abundantly wrapped in deep mystery, the curious have been anxious to discover-the presumptuous have been bold to explain-and the sceptical have been ready to deny, those things which mere human faculties never could understand. The means of redemption have opened a wide field of conjecture, for speculative minds. But how inadequate must be the most exalted human powers, to comprehend the love of God, operating for the redemption of a fallen world! How unable to devise the means! how incapable of tracing them to the accomplished end!

It still remains to be the divine determination, to "confound the wisdom of the wise, & bring to nought, the understanding of the prudent." And yet he will, from time to time, reveal to the humble, attentive mind, however simple, all that is necessary for it to know,

It is instructive to remember, that when John saw, in the hand of him that sat on the throne, a Book, written within and on the back side, sealed with seven seals-"there was no man found in heaven nor on earth, worthy to loose the seals, or to look thereon." Let us then be cautious, how we presume to look thereon, or make what lies beyond the seals, the subjects of speculative inquiry. It is the Lion of the tribe of Judah alone, that is worthy to open this Book, and reveal the deep mysteries it contains. And until he is pleased to do this, all human anxiety is unavailing. And when this great work is going on, it will be progressive, and in due order from the

first to the seventh. And as it is carried on, how every thing is brought down, into greater and greater degrees of abasement, till nothing but God alone is exalted, and there is silence in heaven.

But before this state is experienced, there is another state or dispensation to be passed through— a state represented by the most striking metaphors “There was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood, and the stars of Heaven fell unto the earth,even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken by a mighty wind. And the heavens departed as a scroll, when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bond man, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens, and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand?" Where then will be all the idle notions of speculative minds? The very heavens-the imagined righteousness of these, must pass away as a scroll when it is rolled together.

Let us then seek rather to have our minds enlarged in the love of God in Christ Jesus, that we may adopt the language of the apostle, "we love him because he first loved us." In the affusions of this love, which prompts the filial language of Father, we shall be enabled "to receive the kingdom of heaven as a little child." How striking the comparison! In the little child there are no bold flights of fancy-no philosophical reasoning, (falsely so called,) no feelings of its own independent capa

cities and powers-but all is dependence on the teaching of the parent-all is faith-unhesitating confidence in the counsel and instruction received. In this humble, dependent, teachable state of mind, with love predominating over all, we shall be prepared for the opening of the seals; and view with increasing gratitude, at every stage of this progressive work, the wonders of Redeeming love-to sing the new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and has redeemed us to God by thy blood, and has made us unto God kings and priests:-and finally to participate in that heavenly silence, in which God is felt to reign over all, with that power and majesty, which the language of saints and angels cannot adequately convey.

CHAPTER V.

Of Sanctification and Justification.

I HAVE already shown, in preceding articles, that we believe Justification to consist of two parts, "or to have a twofold consideration." It has also been fully stated that we believe that/the first part consists in what Jesus Christ did for man, in removing the incapacities of the fallen state, and placing, in every human heart, that seed of Grace, which is the first principle, and efficient cause of salvation. The second part consists in what He does for us, in us, and this forms the subject of the ensuing ar

ticle.

As the inward operations of the Spirit of Truth are submitted to in the convictions for sin, and desire after redemption, which it produces in the heart, the work of Sanctification and Justification advances-for they go on together.

The apostle very clearly sets forth the successive advances of this great work. "But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." 1 Cor. 6. 11.

The first operations of Divine Grace, on the heart, are generally of the tendering kind. It is true that the mind, may be powerfully broken in upon, and the just judgments of God for sin, may be awfully revealed, but this does not take place unless there has been a slighting of the day of merciful visitation, and the offers of Redeeming Love. But even when the rebellious and backsliding, are thus

met with in judgments mixed with mercy-as there is a willingness wrought to submit to the purifying dispensation, the heart is brought into a state of great tenderness.

This state of christian experience is beautifully illustrated by the baptism of water to repentance, and is the very thing typified by that baptism, as used by John, to whose ministration it peculiarly belonged. And this answers to the language of the apostle, who represents washing, as the first process in the great work of renovation.

Under this dispensation, the subject not only becomes washed, and cleansed from the more obvious defilements, such as (figuratively speaking) water can reach,—but as repentance is experienced, & in the melting, soothing affusions of Divine Love, the soul becomes powerfully attached to its Redeemer. And thus it becomes prepared to bear a more purifying dispensation, which answers to the baptism of fire: wherein all those deep defilements, that were not reached by the former cleansing are removedthe dross, the tin, and even the reprobate silver are consumed, and sanctification takes place.

And not till we have passed through these purifying dispensations, are we sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. Then it is that old things are done away, and all things become new. In this state the soul is united to God, in a holy fellowship and communion, and stands as justified, or accounted just: its former transgressions being forgiven, done away, and remembered no more.

The judgments of God are not according to the decisions of men, who sometimes justify, or account men just, when there is no real change effected, but a mere exemption from the consequences of guilt. But as sin produces corruption and defile