related with, or essential to them, show that oixos denotes a building, and not persons. In Class III, I have presented oixos used to express the families of two persons, who had no children. ness with our spirit, that we are the children of God, and if children, then heirsHEIRS OF GOD, and joint heirs with Christ." Rom. viii. 16, 17. To be an heir to any thing is to possess a proper title to all In Class IV, the passages it involves. To be an heir of contain oikea and oixos in differ- God is to be entitled to God ent Evangelists, and in the himself. To look upon God same used as convertible terms: as our own-to realize our perthe family residing in the house, sonal interest in him-and to without any distinction of chil-regard all he possesses, as dren from domestics; so that, contributing to our eternal feafter all, the household of Ste-licity. phanas, who had addicted themselves unto the ministry of the saints, 1 Corinthians, xvi. 15, may be the very same family whom Paul baptized, 1 Corinthians, i. 16. I do earnestly request, if I have made any blunder in this business, that you will correct it in the Magazine; for reasons of some consequence to myself, and to the cause of truth, and with salutations to all your oikos, in my sense, not in that of the reviewer in your Magazine, i. e. not excepting those of them who do not live with you, nor yourself. I am, dear sir, yours, sincerely, CHARLES STUART. BELIEVERS THE HEIRS OF GOD. AMIDST the number of new covenant blessings which are conferred on the people of God, one of the most distinguished is, that they are HEIRS OF GOD. "The Spirit itself beareth wit That this is not an overcharged statement, of the privilege of a believer, is evident from the whole tenour of scripture. The great new covenant promise is, "I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people." The language of the sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty, as scattered through the Bible, displays the same fact. They are repeatedly using these elevated expressions: "My God!"-"O God! thou art my God, early will I seek thee."-This God is our God, for ever and ever; he will be our guide, even unto death." -"Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust, and not be afraid!" able to fathom its vast infinity, | be our wants or dangers, with his protecting care over us, we may bid defiance to gloomy fears. "I will help thee," is his language." I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness, therefore fear not, neither be dismayed." Let whatever event will happenlet poverty, let danger, let affliction press around, the allsufficiency of God is capable either to rescue from them, or support under them. It will, most assuredly, conduct his people out of them all. 0 believer! when dejected on account of the difficulties and trials of the way, look upward yet let us stand on its shores, and endeavour to scan a little of what is in itself illimitable. IF YOU ARE HEIRS OF GOD, his wisdom is yours, that wisdom by which he formed the earth, and established the heavens; which observes every event that has, or shall take place, and regulates it to its proper end, its destined purpose; which marshals every star in its order, and calls them all by their names; which circumvents all the rage of hell, and directs all the power of heaven. It is yours, O ye sons of God! to guide you amidst the intricacies of your-view the all-sufficiency of thy path-to remove every obstacle God. Chide thy desponding which would impede your wel- soul in the language of revelafare-to espy and counteract tion-" why sayest thou, the councils of the infernal pit, Jacob! and speakest, O Israel! that would hinder your eternal my way is hid from the Lord, happiness-to make all the dis- and my judgment passed over tresses of the world productive from my God? Hast thou not of your real benefit-to cause known, hast thou not heard, "all things to work together that the everlasting God, the for good, to them who love Lord, the Creator of the ends God, who are the called, ac- of the earth, fainteth not, neicording to his purpose." ther is weary? he giveth power to the faint, and to them who have no might he increaseth strength. They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings, as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint.” . His all-sufficiency is yours; and to all its boundless resources, you, as the heirs of God, are entitled. "I am God all-sufficient," is his own declaration, for the encouragement of his people. His are the cattle on a thousand hills his are the earth, the sun, the stars. With him are the riches of grace, and the treasures of glory. All felicity is in his hands; both his own happiness and that of all his creatures, is there. His power can effect all his designs-there is nothing too hard for him. Whatever O. His love is yours-that love which is eternal in its origin, and immutable in its nature, immutable in its extent, infinite in the diversity of its operations, and illimitable in its duration. For he has said, "I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore, with loving kindness, I have drawn thee." O the boundless expressions of divine love! in pitying our lost condition-in providing a method of recovery in electing us to salvation in the gift of Christin calling us out of darkness into marvellous light-in conferring on us all the privileges of grace-in supporting us under all our trials-in granting us communion with himselfin preserving, amidst the attack of the lost enemy, and bringing us to his eternal glory. O the riches of the love of God! But all these riches, believer, are conferred on thee-its immeasurable expanse is all thy own. It was his love which brought thee to believe on the Saviour-this that has supported thy existence to the present hour. It is a God of love which dwells in thee now, and will bring thee to the ocean of love when time shall be no more. His immutable fidelity is yours. For this is his character, and all which is contained in it, is for those who are heirs of God. But to know the value of this perfection, we must ascertain the nature of his engagements. Now, these engagements are contained in the promises of his word. Here he has declared, that he will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and iniquities will he remember no more; that he will pour out his spirit on them, will sprinkle clean water on them, and cleanse them from all their filthiness; that he will cause his face to shine on them, and give them peace; that, with the gift of his Son, all other things shall be freely given them; that grace and glory, and no good thing shall be withheld from them that walk uprightly; that he will never leave them, nor forsake them; will guide them by his counsel, and, afterward, receive them to glory. These are his declarations, and they are faithful and true. He is not a man that he should lie, nor the son of man that he should repent: Hath he spoken it, and will he not do it? Hath he said it, and will he not make it good? He is not yea to-day, and nay to-morrow: but " all the promises of God are in him, yea, and in him, Amen, to the glory of God, by us." All that he has spoken are as certain in their accomplishment, as was the word which said, "Let there be light, and there was light." His eternity is yours. For as the heirs of God possess an endless duration, so they require an endless portion. This cannot be found here: all things are mutable, and must have an end. If I have not an endless portion, my soul must famish in eternal want. But here it is found, " Of old thou didst lay the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of thy hands; they shall perish, but thou remainest: they shall wax old, as doth a garment; and as a vesture, shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end." As long as God lives, his people will never want an ample supply. After the sun shall be extinguished with dark ness, and the moon be turned into blood; after the fire shall burn our world, he shall say, "My happiness is still secure, for Jesus Christ is the same. yesterday, and to-day, and for ever." All his characters and relations are yours. Is he a friend? he is the friend of his children. Is he a father?-it is his sons who are privileged to say, Abba Father. Is he a portion?—it is for their welfare. To them he is a rock, a refuge, a strong hold. He is their high tower, and their glory. He is not ashamed to be called their God now, and he will publicly own them, as his property, "in the last day, when he maketh up his jewels." Since this is the fact, well may believers be called upon to rejoice in the Lord, and exceedingly to exult in their God. Let them sing of the wisdom, the all-sufficiency, the love, the immutable fidelity, the eternity, and all the varied characters of Jehovah. Surely, if these are insufficient to inspire joy and happiness, nothing is left in the universe to produce them. But an appropriating persuasion of interest in these will impart delight in the deepest trials; will enable them to say, " Although the fig-tree shall not blossom, and there be no fruit in the vine; though the labour of the olive should fail, and the fields yield no meat; the flock be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stall, yet will I rejoice in the Lord; I will joy in the God of my salvation." ALIQUIS. Luton. THE PARADOXICAL SAYINGS OF THE APOSTLE PAUL IMPROVED. (No. I.) "As deceivers and yet true.” WHEN the Redeemer sent forth his disciples, he apprized them of the reception they should meet with, and the treatment they should receive from their enemies. "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves; be ye, therefore, wise as serpents, and harmless as doves."" But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in the synagogues." He thus prepared their minds for the difficulties they had to encounter, and the sufferings they should experience while they were, by a holy and prudent deportment, to silence the calumny of their persecutors. In their subsequent history, the truth of our Lord's predictions was verified, and his grace illustriously displayed in their support. No consideration is more calculated, to reconcile the Christian to circumstances of an afflictive nature, than that proposed by our Lord on this occasion. "The disciple is not above his master; it is enough for the disciple to be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?" if the "true and faithful witness." Him, who A deceived heart hath turned them aside from God, and from the paths of virtue and happiness. They follow lying vanities, and forsake their own mer could not deceive, neither be | 'selves, is forcibly represented deceived, was treated as an im- in the word of God:-" Bepostor, and called, "this de- cause thou sayest I am rich, ceiver,." why should we mar- and increased with goods, and vel, that his servants, teaching have need of nothing; and the same doctrines, evincing knowest not that thou are the same dispositions, and in- wretched, and miserable, and culcating the same holy obe-poor, and blind, and naked.”dience to the will of God, should experience similar treatment? They were viewed as deceivers, by those who were strangers to their true character. The charge was unjust cies. In rejecting the truth of and unreasonable. Impostors the gospel, they act under the act from motives of personal influence of the god of this aggrandizement; but what sa-world," who hath blinded the crifices these servants of God minds of them which believe made! What self-denial they not, lest the light of the glopractised! But even their ab-rious gospel of Christ, who is stemiousness and mortifications the image of God, should shine were attributed to evil intentions; and, when the appellation of "madman" suited the purposes of malignity and persecution, that was employed. But such was the regard these holy men of God had for divine authority, and the promotion of human happiness, that they could reply, to all such charges, "Whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God; or, whe-them it was a small matter to be ther we be sober, it is for your cause." They fulfilled their commission, patiently submitting to bonds and imprisonments; evincing the divinity of their mission, and the benevolence of their hearts; while their great aim was, to secure the rights of the Deity, and the happiness of man. The truth is, the enemies of Christianity are themselves awfully deceived. How mistaken are their views of God, and of their own state and character! The deception which they practise on them unto them." The apostles, amidst all their trials, were steadfast in the faith, and maintained uniformity of character. However their circumstances varied, the state of their minds did not alter; neither depressed by adversity, nor elated by prosperity, they went steadily forward, in the great work in which they were engaged. With judged of men, while their own consciences, and those who best knew them, bore witness to the truth of their mission, and the rectitude of their conduct.The miracles which they performed, in healing the sick and raising the dead, but the still greater miracles of grace, effected, by their instrumentality, in the conversion of sinners, abundantly demonstrated, that they were the true servants of God, and faithful apostles of the Lord Jesus. They needed no recommendatory letter; their |