free, even while our enemies were waiting to exercise their utmost malice against us, by binding us with chains of everlasting darkness. O what mercies what compassions are in our God-in our Jesus! He remembered us in this our low estate, and manifested the exceeding riches of his grace, in coming from heaven to save his people from their sins. To this end Jehovah was manifested in the flesh, as it is written: "The children of Israel, and the children of Judah, were oppressed together; and all that took them captives held them fast, and refused to let them go: but their Redeemer is strong, the Lord of hosts is his name, he shall thoroughly plead their cause." He made all our enemies his own, and fought our battles against them. He obeyed, that the broken law which stood against us might be magnified by his obedience: the penalties of it he endured, when the Lord laid upon him the iniquities of us all. His cross was his triumphal chariot, on which he vanquished all our foes. blotted out the hand-writing of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and he took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross: and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in that same cross. By dying on it, he put away sin by the sacrifice of himself; and by his rising from the dead on the third day, according to the Scriptures, he overcame death, and him that had the power of death, that is, the devil. And now, as God-man in one Christ, the almighty Saviour of his redeemed, he is seated upon his throne of grace: all his enemies being made his footstool, he is able to save to the utter He most all that come unto God by him. the battle which the Redeemer fought. the victory which he obtained. Such was The important news of it is the substance of that blessed gospel which he ordered his apostles to preach to every creature, and which he promised to assist them in, and to be with them for that purpose, to the end of the world. He is as good as his word to this day. Still faith cometh by hearing it. The Holy Spirit witnesses to it, that it is the truth of God; and he applies it, and makes it the power of God unto salvation. He enables the hearers to mix such faith with it, that they receive and enjoy the happy fruits of Christ's victory. Once they were dead in trespasses and sins, but now Christ hath quickened them. They were guilty, and bound over to condemnation, but the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath freed them from the law of sin and of death. Once they walked after the course of this world, but now they walk with God. Their old enemies are still fighting against them, and watching for their destruction; but they are enabled to gain daily victory over them, over the world, the flesh, and the devil, through the strength of Jesus, and through the power of his might. Their wants are many, and they are daily made more sensible of them; but they have an abundant supply of every thing that pertains to life and godliness, out of the infinite fulness of God their Saviour. Thus far the two Treatises went which were formerly published upon this subject, entitled, The Life of Faith, and The Walk of Faith. The present Treatise relates to the improvement of the former doctrines, considering the Scripture motives and en couragements for the believer's rejoicing always in the Lord, and triumphing in the God of his salvation. The ground of his triumph, is the work of Christ: his warrant to depend upon it, is the word of Christ : and his actual dependence, is the work of the Spirit of Christ. Building upon these principles, he is commanded to go on from faith to faith, still pressing forward, that he may see more clearly the glory of the person, and the glory of the work of Christ; what he is to trust to for his title to salvation, and for the things which accompany salvation; and may, by every day's experience, be growing into a more settled dependence upon the word of Christ, and upon his faithfulness to fulfil it; and thereby may be learning to expect constant supplies, and, according as his faith increases, receiving greater supplies of the power of the Spirit of Christ-that the God of hope may fill him with all joy and peace in believing, that he may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Ghost: and we have an encouraging example in the Thessalonians, who had great trials, and met them with great faith. The apostle commended it highly, but by practice it had so improved, that having occasion to mention it some time afterwards, he says" We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly." We have the same promises, and the same helps, as they hadpromises exceeding great and exceeding precious, containing a free grant in Christ of all spiritual blessings a full warrant to make use of them for life and godliness, with commands and encouragements to trust and not be afraid of any enemies, or of any dangers; because he is faithful who has promised to be with them-to guide them with his counsel-to keep them safe by his power-to bless them with his love—and never to leave them nor forsake them: so that, in all difficulties and troubles, they may go on their way rejoicing, until faith and patience have done their perfect work. To this purpose, a Divine, whose praise is in all the churches, has given his testimony:-" It is an everlasting spring of comfort and encouragement unto the people of God, both in prayer, and unto prayer: they pray to him who is mighty, mighty to do what they pray for. The Lord's promises are our richest inheritances, and that not only because he hath promised greater and better things than are in the compass of any man's power to make good, or in the compass of any man's understanding to comprehend; but because he will certainly be as good in performance, as he hath been in promise: for he is in one mind concerning all that he hath promised: he will be merciful as he hath promised, and pardon sin as he hath promised, and sanctify all our troubles as he hath promised: he will give us his Spirit as he hath promised, and save us eternally as he hath promised." A great layman thus confirms the same truth-Were God but believed in what he says, all the temptations of Satan, and the doubtings of our unbelieving hearts, would be silenced and brought to nothing.. What exceeding folly is it in our hearts, that God, who never deceived any that trusted in him, should be distrusted by any, and not believed by all! He is the God of truth: so is his word the word of truth. And not any soul, that ever tried God by trusting him upon his word, but found him so. Oh, then, take God's word, and our hearts will be quiet. Though the heathen do rage, yet they imagine but a vain thing. In this glorious doctrine, free grace in God is the fountain, full satisfaction to divine justice the way, but perfect salvation and redemption to all his elect body in Christ the end. And truly when a soul can say, 'My Beloved is mine, and I am his,' he hath spoken all at once. I know no other light nor rule, but the word and Spirit, to make out any thing of God to any soul: the glory of the great day will be God is mine, and I am his." CHAPTER II. Some Scripture Encouragements for the Triumph of Faith. ALL the Old Testament words which we translate "triumph," signify great joy, felt in the heart, and expressed outwardly in word or deed; a jubilee of joy, even joy in the highest, as near as it can be to the joy of heaven. In the New Testament the word is used but twice. First, for what Christ engaged to do for us; and secondly, for what Christ engaged to do in us. For us he undertook to fight our battles against all our enemies-sin, the world, Satan, death, and hell: and the Captain of our salvation has gained a complete victory, and had a most glorious triumph over them in his own person, when he blotted out the hand-writing of ordinances that was |