many affectionate admonitions to the child, I both of the father and mother. Dear children, ask your parents to pray for you, and with you; and if they will not, then, each of you, go by yourself, and pray for them. Ye godly parents and relations, who have been favoured with such a blessing from your heavenly Father; a child you so loved, blessed with such pleasing evidences of the gracious state of her soul, is now realizing more than has ever entered into your heart to conceive. Rejoice, and wipe cvery tear from your eyes. Her light afflictions, which were but for a moment, are now exchanged for an eternal weight of glory. God has done great things for her, whereof you have cause to be glad. Child's Memorial, by the late Rev. J. Griffin. THE BUILDING OF ZION-THE WORK OF THE EVERBLESSED AND GLORIOUS TRINITY. Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field, and afterwards build thine house."-Proverbs xxiv. 27. Fourthly-The field represents the world, from the creation down to the end of time, in which Jesus has his peculiar treasures. And the work to be fitted therein, leads us to contemplate. Jesus himself, from his birth to his death, and every individual member of his mystical body. Fifthly-This house to be built, denotes the whole election of grace, which house or holy habitation, Jesus, by His Holy Spirit, makes His own temple in a time state, preparatory to presenting it to himself, a glorious Church in the brighter and better world, without spot or wrinkle. It is evident that this portion of Holy | Jesus and his holy Father, in the counWrit relates to the wonderful transac- sel of peace, which was between them tion of the Holy Trinity-Father, Son, both. Zech. v. 13. and Holy Ghost, in the counsels of eternity, to bring about the mystical union of Jesus and his Bride, which was to be made manifest in due time, for The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy; and when the Lord, after his resurrection, showed himself to his two disciples, as they were travelling from Jerusalem to Emmaus, it is said, "He, beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, expounded to them in all the Scriptures, the things concerning himself." And doubtless the temple which Solomon built, was typical of Christ and his Church, for in the building of that sacred edifice, "The work was made ready before it was brought thither, so that there was neither hammer, nor axe, nor any tool of iron heard in the house while it was building," (1 Kings vi. 7), and when it was finished at the dedication, "The glory of the Lord, filled the house of the Lord," (1 Kings viii. 11). In offering a few remarks on this portion of Holy Writ, the first idea that strikes the mind is, Who is the speaker? which I humbly conceive can be no other than God the Father-for Jesus says, "I came not to do my own will, but the will of him that sent me." Secondly-This command could be spoken to no other than to Jesus, His co-equal Son, who lay in His Father's sacred bosom, from all eternity. Thirdly-The work to be prepared, and to be made fit, evidently sets forth First-In saying a few words of the Sacred Person, who in this command is the speaker, it may not be altogether foreign from the subject, to premise, that in the great work of the redemption of the Church, each of the glorious Persons in the ever-blessed Trinity, are equally concerned. Hence it follows that Jehovah in the infinitude of his wisdom from everlasting, saw what would take place in time; the fall of man by "sin entering into the world," was all clearly foreseen by Him, who then designed the means as well as the end, of the salvation of the whole Church-for God the Father chose the Church in Christ, from before the foundation of the world, as the Apostle Jude, at the commencement of his epistle expresses, where he writes, "To them that are (not shall be) sanctified (or set apart) by God the Father, pre-vah saith of Jesus, "This is my beloved served in Christ Jesus, and called." And Son, in whom I am well pleased, hear ye Jesus Himself says, (John xvii. 8, 9,) "I him." And what are the words of pray for them; I pray not for the world, Jesus? "Deliver him from going down but for them which thou hast given me, to the pit, I have found a ransom ;" and for they are thine, and all thine are mine, "Whosoever cometh unto me, shall never and I am glorified in them." Therefore perish. I will give unto them eternal the words, "prepare thy work without,' "life." All which clearly sets forth Jesus lead the mind back to eternity, as the to be the Person spoken to, “To prelate Mr. Irons beautifully observes, pare the work without." Who was as a "In that striking and wonderful lan- Lamb slain from before the foundation of guage, employed by the Prophet, Isaiah the world. vi. 8, wherein Jehovah the Father, is Thirdly-The work to be prepared, saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will and to be made fit for Jesus himself, go for us?" Whatever may be its in- leads us to contemplate Jehovah in his ferior meaning, with regard to the Pro- covenant character. The apostle Paul phet, it is the Son of God, who in be- in the first chapter to the Ephesians half of his Church replies, "Here am I says, "Blessed be the God and Father send me!" (see Sermon 172, Grove of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath Chapel Pulpit); Jesus himself also says, blessed us with all spiritual blessings, in "I came not of myself, but my Father sent heavenly places in Christ, according as me, and I came to do the will of Him that He hath chosen us in Him before the sent me." In the eighth of Proverbs, foundation of the world, that we should Jesus by the spirit of Prophecy says, be holy, and without blame before Him "I was set up from everlasting, from in love." Thus we perceive that God the beginning, or ever the earth was.' ." the Father Himself chose the work that From whence I infer, that the whole Jesus was to prepare, and make to fit for scheme of Redemption and Grace. "The work to be done without," was ordered, arranged, and planned, in the councils of eternity, nor can anything be added to it, nor anything taken from it; which clearly sets forth Jehovah the Father, to be the Almighty Speaker, in this beautifully mysterious prophecy. For in the economy of salvation, (as Dr. Hawker says), It is the Father's personal act to send, but never to be sent." Secondly-The Person spoken to, can be no other than Jehovah the Son, because such is the work of Redemption, that none could undertake it, but He who is Jehovah's fellow-none but He who says, "The Lord possessed me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I was by Him, as one brought up with Him; I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him, rejoicing in the habitable part of the earth, and my delights were with the sons of men.' Jesus also says, "Since sacrifice and offering, and burnt-offering for sin, thou wouldst not accept, Lo I come to do thy will, O God, in the volume of the book, it is written of me. Such is the heinousness of sin, that if man were to give his firstborn, for his transgressions, or the fruit of his body, for the sin of his soul, it would be utterly contemned; nor would he please the Lord, with thousands of rams, or with ten thousand rivers of oil; but hear what Jeho, himself. And Jesus, in addressing His holy Father, saith, "Father, the hour is come, glorify thy Son, that thy Son may also glorify thee, as thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life, to as many as thou hast given Him." This then was the work that Jesus was to prepare, and to make fit for himself; namely, to give eternal life to as many as his Holy Father had given him; whereof the Holy Ghost is a witness, for he is declared to be the Spirit of truth, and the Testifier of Jesus, who is not to speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak. Fourthly-In contemplating the field, where this fitting is made manifest, leads us to look at the parable of the Tares and the Wheat growing together, which evidently sets forth those whom the Lord fits for Himself, and those whom He in His infinite wisdom, is pleased to leave, who through the Adam fall are shapened in iniquity, and born in sin. Then, how did the Lord Jesus fit this work for himself? First, in leaving the realms of bliss, and becoming incarnate, taking upon Himself the likeness of sinful flesh, (though sinless himself,) bearing the wrath of God, the just desert of his church, who are emphatically called, "The bride, the Lamb's wife," who by nature and practice had become aliens to God by wicked works; sustaining the the loins of their mind girt with truth, they can do nothing against, but for the truth as it is in Jesus. As it is written, "I will cause the whole house of Israel to cleave to me as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man," (Jer. xiii. 11.) curse, agonizing in Gethsemane's guides them into all truth. Thus having garden, and dying the just for the unjust, on Calvary's mount. Thus by his active and passive obedience, his holy Father's righteous law was honoured, and every jot and tittle thereof obeyed. It was then He finished the work his righteous Father gave him to do, and when He ascended up on high, on entering the portals of glory, exclaimed, "Here am I, and the children thou gavest me, not one have I lost, save the son of perdition that the Scripture might be fulfilled." Secondly, then as all his children are called his bride, He fits them for himself, in a time state, by the Holy Spirit, showing them the awful consequences of the Adam-fall transgression, and that without holiness, no man can see the Lord; which causes great perturbation of mind-here they learn that nothing they did or ever could do, in and of themselves, would ever save them from eternal ruin; therefore, under a deep sense of their hopeless state and condition, they cry out, Lord save or I perish." Here they are led to see, and feel too, that All the fitness they require, Is to feel their need of Jesus, "Tis the Spirit's rising beam. The Holy Spirit also leads them to behold Jesus as their life, for saith Jesus, 'He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life;" here they know by blessed experience, the truth of the Apostle's declaration, "The life that I now live, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me,' which is an earnest of the rest that remaineth for the people of God, in whom they live, and move, and have their being. His everlasting arms being underneath them, they shall persevere unto the end, their life being hid with Christ in God, and fitted for Himself to enjoy his company, throughout the countless ages of eternity. In this field which Jesus makes fit for himself the Holy Ghost has been pleased to mark down in his Holy Word, how beautifully Jesus and his bride, (or His Church), are fitted for each other, a few will suffice. Jesus is called a Plant of Renown, (Ezek. xxxiv. 29). His Church planted together in the likeness of his of Life, (Rev. xxii. 2). His Church the death, (Romans vi. 5). He is the Tree Trees of Life full of sap, (Psalm evi. And being by the Holy Spirit taught, they behold Jesus, as the only way by which a poor sinner can ever obtain mercy. In Him they see a suitableness 14). He is the True Vine, (John xv. 1). every way answering to their forlorn His Church the branches, (John xv. 5). state; his precious blood to cleanse He the Apple Tree, (Song ii. 3). His from all sin; his righteousness to justify them in the sight of a holy God. His holiness to qualify them for the life of God that now is, and for that which is to come; and his Almighty power to preserve them through all the temptations and trials of this life, and land them safe in the realms of unutterable joy and felicity, there to behold His face in righteousness, and never, never sin; There from the ocean of His grace, Drink endless pleasures in. They are also led to see by the same Almighty Teacher, Jesus as the Truth they see all that ever came before Him, into their hearts and consciences were thieves and robbers, physicians of no value; but in Jesus they behold the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth; therefore his truth becomes their shield and buckler. The Holy Spirit being the Spirit of truth Church represented as sitting down under his branches eating his fruit, which is sweet to her taste, (Song. ii. 3). He the Rose of Sharon and Lily of the valley. His Church described as beautiful as a lily among thorns, and in the vineyard, even at the gates, Jesus has laid up all manner of pleasant fruits, both new and old for his beloved. The Church is also called a garden enclosed, which Jesus the Sun of Righteousness shines upon, with healing in his beams, and as his heavenly Father has planted them in Him, they shall never wither away, but shall bear fruit in this world, and in the world to come they shall reap life everlasting. Fifthly" The house which is afterwards to be built;" now although the word afterward is here used, "afterward build thine house;" we cannot suppose for one moment, there are first, second, and third acts with the infinite Jehovah-the Holy Three in One; for with the GREAT I AM everything to his His wisdom's vast and knows no bound, but chosen of God, and precious, ye also as living stones are built up a spiritual house." Again, "Behold I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious, and he that believeth on Him shall not be confounded." "For the Lord shall comfort Zion, He will comfort all her waste waste places, and He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord." Again, The words Afterwards build thine house," may without straining the sense, refer to the Church militant throughout all ages of time in their solemn assemblies, for the Church of Christ, is not composed of stones or bricks, nor of any particular party, but where two or three are gathered toge ther in his blessed Name, there He is in the midst of them, and that to bless them. Indeed Jesus is a sanctuary unto them, in their little assemblies; "For they shall return and come to Mount Zion with songs, and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads, they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall for ever flee away.' And as the Lord has designed by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe, He deigns to give each a portion in due season. The babe in grace may only see men as trees walking, yet: Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings, hath the Lord ordained praise, that they might still the avenger," therefore, they are kept looking unto Jesus as the only hope of Israel and the Saviour thereof in time of trouble. The little child who knows his sins are forgiven, sings of the mercies of the Lord, through the atoning blood of Jesus. For mercy shall be built up for ever, and goodness and mercy shall follow him all the days of his life. The young man in Christ being shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace, and clothed with the whole armour of God, by which he overcomes the wicked one, goes on in the strength of the Lord, being built on the Rock of Ages, against which the gates of hell shall never prevail. And the father and mother in Israel leaning on their staff, go on their way rejoicing in Christ, being more than conquerors through Him that loved them. They are therefore, earnestly longing for that period that shall waft them out of time into eternity, to enjoy that mansion which was prepared for them before the foundation of the world. As Medley sweetly sings Here my salvation stands secure, Nor shall my hope be overthrown, Built upon Christ the living Stone. Therefore, whether we contemplate the work prepared without, namely, in the counsels of eternity, between the Threeone-Jehovah; or whether we contemplate the work which the Lord Jesus fitted in the field, when He became incarnate from his birth, to his death, his resurrection, and his ascension; or whe-honour for ever and ever, Amen. ther we contemplate the revelation of this wonderful glorious work fitted in a sinner's heart by the teaching of the Holy Ghost, whereby Christ is formed in the heart, the hope of glory, and that that was once the seat of Satan, now made the Temple of the Holy Ghost that they might walk worthy of the Lord, unto all pleasing, being fruitful every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; or whether we contemplate the House that was afterwards to be built, as the Church collectively, it is evident it all has a tendency to exalt Jesus in his mediatorial office. His Church (who are one with Him) will ever ascribe all praise, might, majesty, and dominion to Him, who is worthy with the Father and the Holy Ghost, of all glory and in Untempered works that men prepare, T. H. B. Portsmouth, September, 1856. LINES ADDRESSED TO ONE CONTEMPLATING MARRIAGE WITH A WORLDLING. 2 Cor. vi. 14, &c., Matt. xxv. 31, &c. WHAT! can you for a Worm of dust, Would you forsake the Lord of life, Consider well before you do, The Holy Spirit doth command Then, how can children of the Lord How can they openly despise Arise then from the dust, and shine, Say, what communion can there be, What part hath she that doth believe, The one, a sinner bought with blood, When Jesus comes, in glory bright His blood-bought sheep He then will own. Before Him shall all nations stand, Upon the right, that happy band, Then shall the partner of thy heart, And then, you surely can't expect Then be advised, ere 'tis too late, |