God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. Gal. vi. 14. may; A TRUE believer has nothing to glory in but Christ alone. Even in his very best performances he will be often deeply humbled, and cry out, "Lord, enter not into judgment !" and well he for the ground of our glory, comfort, and salvation, is not in works, but in Christ, and the free grace of God; who, for his Son's sake, lays nothing to our charge, but daily covers and richly pardons all our iniquities; and thus believers walking steadily, might always be kept in solid peace, for the cross of Christ is a solid and unshaken foundation. When I survey the wondrous cross His dying crimson, like a robe, Purifying their hearts by faith. Acts xv. 9. By faith in the Son of God we get an interest in his great and glorious salvation; we are justified by faith; we have peace with God by faith. This is an excellent grace, which brings us out of a state of slavery and sin, into the liberty of the sons and daughters of God, and will issue in everlasting salvation. Faith purifies the heart of man, naturally vicious, and unites us to Christ, the root of all holiness. Now, reader, examine yourself whether you be in the faith, try the tree by its fruits; ask yourself these questions: Has my faith a purifying influence on my heart? Does the view of Christ dying for my sins make me die unto them? Has my faith in Christ, as wounded for my transgressions and bruised for my inquities, made me bitterly lament them, sincerely hate them, and seek the death of every one of them? Though there may be still much sin in me, is there none allowed? Is there none, no not one; no not that sin which does most easily beset me, which I desire to be spared and excused in? Do I rather look upon all sin as the enemy of Christ and my own soul, and as such do I hate it with a perfect hatred? Am I praying fervently for divine grace to subdue it? and, in the strength of that grace, do I maintain a constant and vigorous war with it, determined never to give it any rest in my heart, never to cease my conflict with it till I have gained the complete and everlasting victory? Then thou art upright, go on and prosper! That faith to me, O Lord, impart, Will daily purify my heart, He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root. Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit. Isa. xxvii. 6. They shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward. Chap. xxxvii. 31. They shall bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing. Psalm cxii. 14. Her leaf shall be green, and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. Jer. xvii. 8. TRUE evangelical Christians look upon themselves as barren trees, ever crying out, O my leanness, my leanness!" Even before the judgment-seat of Christ, they acknowledge no fruits, nor will plead them, though they have been fruitful. Matt. xxv. 37-39. The reason is, they are poor in spirit and are not pleased with their fruits, but only with Christ. Grant, O Lord, that I may earnestly seek to bring forth fruits, and may grow in fruitfulness, as I grow in years, and never cease from yielding fruit; hereby proving myself to be a tree of the Lord's planting, whose leaf is green, and whose branches are flourishing and fruitful! Yet bless me also with the deep poverty of spirit, that I may see myself still nothing, having nothing of my own to glory in, or to justify me; and thus esteem Christ my All, and rest upon him wholly. Lord, 'tis a pleasant thing to stand Time, that doth all things else impair, Purifying their hearts by faith. Acts xv. 9. By faith in the Son of God we get an interest in his great and glorious salvation; we are justified by faith; we have peace with God by faith. This is an excellent grace, which brings us out of a state of slavery and sin, into the liberty of the sons and daughters of God, and will issue in everlasting salvation. Faith purifies the heart of man, naturally vicious, and unites us to Christ, the root of all holiness. Now, reader, examine yourself whether you be in the faith, try the tree by its fruits; ask yourself these questions: - Has my faith a purifying influence on my heart? Does the view of Christ dying for my sins make me die unto them? Has my faith in Christ, as wounded for my transgressions and bruised for my inquities, made me bitterly lament them, sincerely hate them, and seek the death of every one of them? Though there may be still much sin in me, is there none allowed? Is there none, no not one; no not that sin which does most easily beset me, which I desire to be spared and excused in ? Do I rather look upon all sin as the enemy of Christ and my own soul, and as such do I hate it with a perfect hatred? Am I praying fervently for divine grace to subdue it? and, in the strength of that grace, do I maintain a constant and vigorous war with it, determined never to give it any rest in my heart, never to cease my conflict with it till I have gained the complete and everlasting victory? Then thou art upright, go on and prosper! That faith to me, Will daily purify my heart, He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root. Israel shall TRUE evangelical Christians look upon themselves as barren trees, son is, they are poor in spirit and are not pleased with their fruits, but Lord, 'tis a pleasant thing to stand Time, that doth all things else impair, |