(For the Spiritual Magazine.) THOUGHTS ON FAITH. In the homily of salvation, we are informed, that "the right and true faith is a sure trust and confidence which a man hath in God that his sins are forgiven, and be reconciled to the favour of God;" "that (merely) to believe the holy scriptures, and the articles of our faith to be true, is not christian faith; for the devils believe all these things, and yet remain in their lost estate." We might say, the devils believe and tremble, James xi. 19. while many in this christian country, believe, as it is called, and yet trifle. True faith is the gift of God, Eph. xi. 8. it is the operation of God, Coloss. xi. 12. it is the realizing confidence of the things hoped for, and the demonstration of things unseen, Heb. xi. 1. Faith brings peace and purity, and gives victory over the world, sin, satan, and self, Rom. v. 1. Acts xv. 9. 1 John v. 4. In fact, this "Faith is a precious heav'nly grace, Yes, the happy possessors of this previous faith, being quickened and anointed by the Holy Spirit, are enabled to look unto Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life; also to glory in him as the Lord their righteousness and strength; consequently they are prevented from putting any confidence in the flesh. They walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Cor. v. 7. (For the Spiritual Magazine.) COMFORT FOR THE TRIED FAMILY OF GOD. (Concluded from page 8.) B. 3. Of divine protection. "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee," &c. The Lord is pleased to suffer the enemies of his people to harrass and perplex their minds; he permits them to exercise his people in order that they may not take up their rest in outward enjoyments, and be stirred up to desire that day when the Canaanite shall be no more in the land. But though the saints are persecuted, they are not forsaken; the Lord is their shield and their defence; his power is ever exerted on their behalf, and his promise stands firm. No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper;" the experience of the saints bears testimony to this truth. Though assailed by the cruel tongue of slander, and persecuted in every possible way by the world, yet the Lord hath been their defence; he hath detected their malice, and caused it to issue in their welfare; he hath made them instrumental of effecting those things which they abhor; and whilst persecuting them, often to have been the means of supplying their wants. Look back then to past mercies, and relying upon the Lord's power, the saints may bid defiance to the rage of all their enemies. Since God hath manifested his power in their behalf, and engaged to keep them from all their enemies, what can injure them? Can the arm of the divine power be broken? Can satan or the world prove mightier than the Lord? O no! remember, thou persecuted servant of the Lord, that the faithfulness and power of thy God are engaged in thy behalf, and that thine enemies are held in chains by him who hath said, "hitherto shalt thou go, but no farther." The Israel of God, then, amidst all their trials and temptations are secure the Lord their God is with them; he watches over them every moment, and will never leave them nor forsake them. And let the afflicted and tempted servant of the Lord remember that the promise stands good at all seasons, and under all circumstances; it is said, "when thou passest," &c. that is, at whatever season, however great may be thy trials, however numerous thy enemies, however low thy frames and feelings, yet, "WHEN thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee." Lift up then, O mourning saints! the hands which hang down; for if thy covenant God is with thee, then all must be well. Has not his presence in past seasons given "songs in the night?" yes, you must say, "when the Lord manifested his presence, my trials were all light and easy; I could have followed him through floods and flames," and exclaim in holy rapture, "O blessed trial which comes with such marks of covenant love!" Remember then, that the promise holds still firm; as thy afflictions abound, so shall thy consolations abound. Many trials may yet be reserved for thee, many dark steps thou mayest have yet to tread in the wilderness; but he hath said for thy encouragement, "fear not, for I am with thee," at all times and seasons, "I will strengthen thee, and I will help thee, yea, I will uphold thee; fear not, thou art mine." We proceed, 3dly. To consider the reasons for which the promise of the divine presence and support is given. Jehovah in all his dispensations towards his people is guided by his covenant engagements. He does not support his people under their trials because of their profession of his name, or because he discovers any thing in them to deserve his regard; but because he hath chosen them for his own, and determined to make them happy in his kingdom. The first reason is, because he is their God. In the fullest exercise of his sovereign pleasure he determined, as the seventeenth article of our church expresses it, to deliver them from curse and damnation, and to bring them by Christ to everlasting salvation. He engaged to bestow upon them all the blessings their circumstances required, and to be their never-failing friend and portion; he made over, if I may be allowed the use of the expression, himself, and all that he had, for the good of his people; so that all his attributes are engaged for their defence, and all the blessings of his providence, as well as the glories of the eternal world, their portion. The Lord therefore declares, "I am thy God, and will be with thee in trouble." He considers himself as their Father; and shall a father be unmindful of the sorrows of his children? Shall he behold them tortured by pain, or assaulted by enemies, and not fly to their relief? Can the eternal Jehovah, who hath loved his people with an everlasting love, behold his people under their trials, and not sympathize with them? O no! he says to every afflicted saint, "I know thy sorrows, I, even I am he that comforteth you." And it is the eternal covenant engagements of Jehovah that keeps the believer amidst all the trials and temptations that he experiences. Not a single consolation comes to the believer under his trials, but with this message, "since thou art precious in my sight, therefore as one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you." 2. Because he is their Saviour. God hath not only made an everlasting covenant with his people, but become their Saviour; he hath devised a plan by which they are for ever delivered from the condemnation of the law, and the torments of hell. He is also the God of their salvation as it regards providential dispensations; his power is engaged for their defence, and he will preserve them from all evil: and it is this glorious character of a Saviour that forms the security of the saints. Jehovah bears them upon his heart; he remembers the everlasting covenant which he hath made with them; he views them as the people in whom he will be glorified, and who shall finally be as a royal diadem in his hand. He cannot suffer them to be tossed with tempests, and not exert his power in their behalf; he is their Saviour by the strongest ties, and neither earth nor hell shall destroy them. Rejoice then, O believer! for the Holy One of Israel is thy Saviour; to him belong the issues from death, and he will guide thee by his strength to his holy habitation. Whatever trials may befall you, still as your Saviour he will help you; whatever temptations may be proposed, still as your Saviour he will deliver you; whatever gloomy dispensations may befall you, still as your Saviour, he will make darkness light before you, and crooked things straight. 3. Because he is their Friend. "I gave Egypt for thy ransom." This with regard to the Israelites was literally true; his terror fell upon their rulers that the temporal Israel might be preserved; but the favours which God hath bestowed upon the spiritual Israel are greater. He hath given his beloved Son as their atoning sacrifice, their justifying righteousness; he put him to the utmost grief, caused all their sins to meet upon him, that they might reign with him for ever. And having bestowed this inestimable gift, what can he withhold? How can he refuse to comfort them under their sorrows, to preserve them in the hour of temptation, when he hath given his beloved Son for them? Surely the gift of his Son is a pledge that all these blessings shall be given. "He that spared not his Son, his own, his only Son, but delivered him up for us all; how shall he not with him freely give us all things?" When we consider, therefore, the character of God, and what he hath done for his people, we are not surprised at the declaration in the text, as it is the result of his love towards his people; it is the promise of one who hath a peculiar right in them, and considers their happiness connected with his own. What boundless compassion does this subject exhibit in Jehovah. When we reflect on the unworthiness of those by nature who are the objects of his love; when we consider their weakness and unworthiness, after the reception of his grace, we are lost in astonishment at that boundless compassion which caused the Creator of heaven and earth to say, "when thou, poor, weak, sinful worm! passest through the waters, I will be with thee," &c. O how will the celestial regions ring with hallelujahs to grace, free, matchless grace! What a solid foundation also does the promise in the text lay for the happiness of the whole redeemed church; whatever may be their difficulties and trials, the Lord will be with them. He will keep and uphold them; surely, then, they cannot perish, but must have eternal life; they will be brought through all their trials to the celestial kingdom, and for ever rest in the bosom of their God. Finally, we infer from this subject, that if such is the happiness which the saint derives from the presence of his God, as he passes through this wilderness; how great must be his consolation in the eternal world? What must it be to dwell for ever with the Lord, to enjoy for ever the sweet manifestation of his favour, and to feel no more assaults from a corrupt nature? Yet this shall be thy portion, exercised believer; the promises shall be made good here in thy experience. The Lord thy God he it is that goeth with you: but a few more rolling suns, and then thy sun shall no more go down, and thy God be thy glory. (For the Spiritual Magazine.) THE CHRISTIAN'S PORTION. CLERICUS. ← Having nothing, yet possessing all things.”—2 Cor. vi, 10. In the contracted compass of human frailty, how very many and diversified are its changing scenes! Every succeeding moment gives birth to events, which by turns excite our wonder and amazement, joy and sorrow. The revolving wheels of time are incessantly ushering into being the vast designs and infinite purposes of sovereign goodness in the disposal of his creatures, and hurrying them on with an astonishing avidity, to a never-ending hereafter. How all important then must be the experimental knowledge that our best portion is not in this world, but in reversion for us in the haven of everlasting rest. And the mercy appears more special, if a right estimate is made of every thing around us. A very superficial view will suffice amply to remind us, that in a natural point of view, their true and genuine resemblance is gloom and darkness, and their consequences and end are vanity and death. What a tragedy is life! Every scene of unenlightened man is darkness! He caters on the stage for a season with all the levity and frivolity of a maniac, sporting with his chains; or like the besotted sailor, regardless of his fate, dancing at the extremity of the mast, not knowing but the next gust of wind, or stormy billow, may deluge him in the awful ocean of a fearful eternity. The Lord has not however left himself without witnesses," for even at the present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace." Dark and gloomy is the present day; yet there are a few left who have not bowed the knee to Baal; and these are fitly designated, lights of the world set upon a hill, which cannot be hidden : out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, they shine in the rays of the Sun of righteousness. How condescendingly does this precious luminary shed forth his glories on the inhabitants of Zion; and how sweetly are his refulgent beams reflected back to their divine original, while their sacred lustre emit light around them. But for the feeble light transmitted from this source as the certain effect of supernatural influence, (and feeble it is comparatively) the earth on which they move would retrogade to its primeval state, and set in chaotic midnight. When the ransomed of the Lord cease their shining, the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll, and universal nature, agitated to her centre, shall be ingulphed in her original abyss; and, be it remembered, that however much the fact may militate against the pride of man, it will nevertheless be found, that the godly man is the salt of the earth which preserves it from putrefaction; and that when the last particle shall have been collected into the garner of eternal rest, then shall arrive the consummation of all things. Disappointment and death will soon close the career of the fondest earthly hopes for ever. The wisest plans that are concocted by the growing ingenuity of man, are crossed by the hand of providence ; and the fairest expectations are frequently blasted by the Lord, to evince the folly of so vain a trust. Here, the very air we breathe is pestilential. Here, our ears are astounded by the loud clangour and din of war, produced by the turbulent passions and malevolence of men. Here, our senses are appalled by the dolorous vociferations and groans of the dying who fall hapless victims around us; we shrink back from the rueful scene (unless frequent scenes of this description have blunted our finer sensibilities) with feelings of sympathizing and submissive pity, for those who know not the surpassing worth of a heavenly portion; while with gratitude and praise we exult in the conquering grace which constrains us to differ from them in our pursuit of happiness and peace. The openings up of the chequered path infinite wisdom has ordained for the christian's course, is replete with experience diametrically opposed to the native desires of man. The path of Canaan is rough and thorny. Nature would rather choose a smoother path, and repose on a bed of downy ease, than endure the toilsome fatigue of a long campaign, though its termination be certain victory. And, were it even possible further to enter into the path of glory (which is a path of tribulation) most gladly would she forego the attainment of a celestial crown of immortality, and renounce the blessedness of heaven, than bear the crosses by the way. VOL. III.-No. 27. H * |