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Hot correspond therewith. Can you, my dear reader, with an unwavering tongue, call God your Father, while you despise his parental authority, and hate his children?" To the law and to the testimony"-"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another *;" and "whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God; neither he that loveth not his brother " Do you profess to acknowledge Christ Jesus as your Prophet and your Priest, while you are committing high treason against him who is the King of kings, his crown and dignity? refusing to be "under the law to Christ;" saying, We will not have this man to reign over us!" Are you presumptuously dreaming that" the Holy Spirit dwells in you and walks in you, while in your habitual deportment you are destitute of the fruits of the Spirit, which are "love, gentleness, meekness?"-for if we profess to "live in the Spirit, let us walk in the Spirit." "Now, if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his and hereby we know that he abideth in us by the Spirit which he hath given us;" for it is by close examination of ourselves with the word of God, that we arrive at proof; and from proof we attain unto knowledge. "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith, prove your ownselves; know ye not your ownselves that the Spirit of Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?"

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ZENAS.

THE SAVIOUR'S HEART

OPENED TO HIS AFFLICTED PEOPLE,
[Written by a late eminent Minister of Christ. }

ON perusing the Acts of the Apostles, we find, when they were unable to labour, through their own infirmities and the injuries they received in the many dangers to which they were exposed, or the persecutions which fell upon them from every quarter, they employed themselves in declaring their confidence in the Saviour's mercy, power, and love; affirming that none of these things could move them. They rejoiced in tribulation; nay, were willing not only to do, but to suffer the will of God: and their epistles travelled far and wide; not in order to estab lish their own credit, or to preach themselves, but Christ Jesus their Lord. Their cheerful language was like that of the Sa viour's forerunner, "He must increase, but I must decrease." -Lord, help thine afflicted people of every age to follow their example, and go and do likewise!

Many who have been brought to the acknowledgement of the truth as it is in Jesus, are often writing bitter things against themselves; and entertaining, not only very unbecoming, but

Now

very hard thoughts of Christ. They are too often not contented with him as a Mediator between them and God, but seek after something to mediate between them and him nothing so soon and so ellectually wipes these dishonourable apprehensions and tormenting fears away, as a believing view of the Saviour's Heart. If his heart be full of love, his head can never devise mischief-if his heart be full of love, his hand can never destroy:- if his heart be full of love, he can never forget nor forsake his blood-bought people. In short, when a self-condemned soul can sce by faith the love of his Saviour's Heart, it encourages him to run, to fight, to shont victory, through the blood of the Lamb*.

Let us view the Saviour in his conduct towards his people,towards himself, and towards his Father, previous to his departure from his disciples; and afterwards enquire, on his victorious return from the tomb, when he inhabited the very same body, and possessed that individual heart which he took with him into glory, whether his affection was dampt by the cold sweat of death, or extinguished in the gloomy regions of the grave?

A view of the dear Redeemer's conduct towards his disciples and followers, previous to his departure from them, will soon evince the affection he had for them. The tender farewell he took of them, the endearing sermon he preached to them, and the earnest prayer he offered up on their account, unitediy declare "that, having loved his own, he loved them unto the end."

Not as the world the Saviour gives,

He is no fickle friend;

Whom once he loves he never leaves,
But loves them to the end.

This interesting account of our blessed Lord's conduct, is given us by the apostle John. He speaks of him as "knowing that his hour was come;" intimating what the Redeemer elsewhere asserts, that no weapon can destroy till the appointed time. In vain is his life sought, till the hour approaches. His death was neither casual in its time, nor indeterminate as to its end. As he knew for whom he died, so did he know the hour in which his life was to be given up a ransom for many.Before that hour was at hand, he could flee from one city to another, and miraculously escape the vigilance of his intending murderers; but now no persuasion can prevail on him to "save himself" He cheerfully meets his apprehenders, and rejoices in fulfilling bis Father's will §.

The apostle proceeds to shew in what point of view he looked at death. He calls it " departing out of the world unto the Father."-Approaching death is very awful. A separation of such old and intimate friends as soul and body, is not

Rom. viii. 37. + John xiv. 1, 2, 3. John xv. John xviii. 11.

without some reluctance and pain. To enter a world of spirits, and leave what is mortal to moulder in the grave, with any degree of cheerfulness, requires a fortitude which grace alone can impart. To look at death as rending us from our relatives, families, and friends, is distressing and grievous; but to esteem it the door of our father's house, and the entrance which leads to our best friend, our treasure, our all, is truly pleasing and delightful. Thus St. Paul viewed it, when he longed to be dissolved, and to be with Christ ↑.

Ou returning to his Father, Jesus well knew that he should be invested with all the glory he had before the worlds were made; that the sons of the morning would resume their praises, and the redeemed, who were set at liberty from the bondage of corruption, would sing of him who had bought them with his own blood. In this prospect, we might imagine he would be taken up. Abraham his friend, David the man after his own heart, and others who had been faithful unto death; and not his poor afflicted, sinful friends on earth, inen are apt to think,. would engross all his affection. But, wonder O heavens! it is said, his love, i. e. his heart, his care, his attention, is not swallowed up with approaching glory, the rest and peace of his father's house; nor the incessant praises of his glorified people above; but employed to comfort and support his own who were in the world. Not his Abrahams, Isaacs, and Jacobs; but his weeping Marys, his denying Peters, his forsaking disciples, and his faithless Thomases.

"He loved his own," (rec dies) his own members, people, and children, who were in the world, liable to be deceived, and tempted to fall into sin, and to have their hearts filled with sorrow, and water their couch with their tears. Simon, say no more within thyself, that if this man were a prophet, he would have known Mary to have been a sinner. How strangely art thou mistaken! He knew her well, and all her numerous sins. Her soul was given to him. Her name was written in his book of life, and her sins laid by imputation upon him. She was his own, he loved her in (not for) her sins, and therefore came down to save her. His divine power had made her willing, his special grace caused her to mourn, his tender mercy bound up her broken heart, and his soul-reviving words were, "Thy sins, which are many, are forgiven."

O ye fearful followers of the Lamb, wonder no longer at the Saviour's speaking to persecuting Saul, and striking conviction to his heart, when he might in justice have sent his soul into Hell. Saul was his own; his heart's love was fixed upon him. He had refrained, as Joseph did, as long as he could: and at last he bursts out, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me!" Be not surprized, ye enquiring seraphs, at the Redeemer's ↑ Philippians i. 33. ↑ Luke vii. 47.

attention to dying Stephen. His enemies were dispatching him with stones, and his Lord could not sit any longer, even by his Father's side. He rises up, and Stephen sees him, stauding at his Father's right hand *.

What can attract thine eye, exalted Lord? What causes thee to rise from thy seat? His own chosen, blood-bought Stephen was in danger. He arose to strengthen his feeble spirit, to encourage his departing soul; to shew his affection, care, and willingness to help, and to be ready, as the father of the prodigal was, to cast his arms about his neck, as soon as he was safely landed on the heavenly shore.

I have seen kings forming laws to defend their own subjects, the beasts of the field fighting to preserve their own young; the hen gathering her own chickens under her wings, and sheltering them from approaching danger (and even the world loves its own) and wilt not thou, O Lord, love, and call, and keep, thine own? Hail, Son of David, faithful, everloving Lord! having loved thine own, thou wilt love them unto the end. Refrain from glorifying thy grace no longer,-manifest thy love, and break the hearts of sinful rebellious men, by making thine own, who are in the world feel, that notwithstanding thy personal presence is above, thy affection and care is with them upon

earth.

To the Saviour's view of death, and his care of them for whom he was about to die, in order to shew his love, I must add the following account of what he did: It is said, "That Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God and went to God, rose from supper, and laid aside his garment, and took"- what dost thou Expect reader? his mighty power to destroy his enemies? Did he make bare his arm to cut his persecutors in pieces? or was he about to wreak his vengeance on a sinful world? He had just reflected that all were in his hands- all Devils! all men! all things! He rises, and lays by his garments. Tremble, O Hell, and shake, O earth! He who was girded with almighty strength, girds himself wth a towel. Instead of pouring out his wrath in a second deluge upon the earth, he pours water into a bason, and begins to wash the feet of his disciples, who had then angels worshipping at his own!

O miracle of love! My soul, lie low in the dust before him; there thou wilt learn the meaning of this wonderful way of expressing Christ's present meditation on all things being given to him. Infinite love and divine mercy, exalted views of his own glory, and the most condescending expressions of his willinguess to save, are here all sweetly blended together.

Our Lord was willing to shew that no future greatness could

* Acts vii. 56.

lessen the love he bore to his followers; and to encourage them to come without reserve to him, he humbled himself even to wash their feet with water; and was about to shed his precious blood, that a fountain might be opened to wash away their

sins.

Reader, thou art travelling towards the grave. How far thou mayst be from Jordan's river's side is known to none but God. Sooner or later thou must depart. This world is not an abiding place, even for those who love it best. Many who live lovers of pleasure, may vainly hope to die lovers of God. As none, not the Saviour himself, have been exempt from death, art thoû ready to depart? Whither art thou bound, to Heaven or Hell? If God should say, "This night thy soul is required of thee," would thine eyes be opened above to admire the Son of Righteousness, or lifted up in torments to see the happy afar off*? Dear fellow-probationer for eternity, be serious, be solemn as the death I am now speaking of.

A fellow-sinner addresses thee in the tenderest pity, and begs thee to consider the Saviour's view of death. Art thou going to the Father? Hast thou taken refuge in the Saviour's merits? Art thou the subject of the blessed Spirit's work of grace in the heart?; "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord." They were chosen in him, preserved in him, called in him, and will be kept in him through faith unto eternal salvation. If thou art unacquainted with the Father, unmindful of the Son, and unsanctified by the Holy Ghost, depart indeed thou mustnot unto the Father, but where there is weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth. The Lord turn thine heart. May Jesus' tears prevent thine. May his blood wash thee from thy sins; then wilt thou have a way opened to a believing and triumphant view of death and eternity.

Secondly, Christian, what hast thou to fear? Did ever pri soner lament when his prison-doors were set open? Did ever captive sigh when his chains were knocked off? Doth the weather-beaten traveller weep when, over a distant hill, he sees the towers of his native city? or the seaman who has been long tossed in a storm, mourn when it abates? Is the school-boy sorrowful when the time of his returning to his father's house is drawing on? No! the prisoner rejoices, the captives are like men that dream, the traveller's heart is elated, the seaman's countenance is cheered, † and the dear boy, who has been long absent from his home, eagerly counts the hours, and earnestly expects the messenger for his joyful departure.

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