No man hath ascended up to heaven but he that came down from heaven, &c. JOHN iii. 13. EPH. iv. 9. DEUT. XXX. 11-14. MATT. xi. 27.

N° mere man whatsoever has entered, or can

enter, into the secrets of GOD's heart in. heaven, relating to the great mysteries of salvation, so as immediately and perfectly to understand them, and make them known to others; but this privilege is peculiar to the Messiah, who is spoken of under the character of "The Son of man," Psalm lxxx. 17, and Dan. vii. 13, and always had an existence in heaven as the Son of God, and who came from thence into an incarnate state, that he might reveal GOD's counsels to men. As many are perplexed about the divinity of CHRIST, the following note may help them to conceive of that matter more properly:-As the divine and human natures were united in the person of CHRIST, some things are attributed to one nature which properly belong to the other. Thus, when it is said, 1 Cor. ii. 8, "The LORD of glory was crucified;" and Acts xx. 28, he is called "GOD who purchased the Church with his own blood;" the meaning is not, that he, as the LORD of glory divine, was crucified, or, as GOD, shed his blood; as if that nature could be crucified and bleed; but that the person, who was the LORD of glory in one nature, was crucified in the other, &c. So when it is said "The Son of man is in heaven;" the meaning is not that he, as the Son of man, was there whilst he was on the earth; but that he, who was here in his human nature, was there in his divine.

My Saviour, whilst he dwelt on earth,

As God in heaven had his abode ;

So let me, by an heavenly birth,

Live in the world, yet dwell with GOD.

I will perform my good word towards you: for I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the Lord; thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end. unto me, and I will hearken shall seek me and find me.

13, 14.

THERE

Then ye shall pray unto you; and ye JER. XXIX. 10, 11,

HERE is a valley where neither sun, moon, nor stars are seen, and in which the Christian has often to travel; yet in the darkest place of it GOD is very nigh. This is the valley of extremity. It is into this valley that every soul must go before it can get a hold of CHRIST. It is here the sinner struggles with JESUS, and says, "I will not let thee go except thou bless me." It is hard work travelling in this valley. Were it a light matter to rely on the faithfulness of GOD in times of distress, what need to give us so many and various promises? If our faith be right, we must also endure and wait his time with patience, which certainly is not an easy task; since the promise of our LORD not only tarries very often, but sometimes his providence goes contrary to his word, and makes his word seem to fall to the ground; yet then we must remember that these are the very ways and methods of GOD, which have ever been in the deep, and acted contrary to our expectation. This the corruption of our nature requires; and the wisdom of GOD ever chooses first to help us inwardly, by exercising faith and patience, and so prepares us for a right use of his outward favours. Thus we receive a double blessing at once from his hands. Who shall pretend to teach him skill, Or guide the counsels of his will? His wisdom, like a sea divine,

Flows deep and high beyond our line.

Behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her. Hos. ii. 14. Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages. SONG, OF SOL. vii. 11.

THE LORD forsaketh not his saints, though the great waves of affliction come upon them, and nigh overwhelm them, because they have forgotten their first love, and though the heavy tide of temptation be running strong against them, and they with their little bark of faith be unable to stem it, though they have given their hearts to that in which the LORD delighteth not, though they have backslidden often and far, yet the LORD will allure them, and bring them into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto them." O LORD, this world is nothing to me but a wilderness, a place of tribulation, where, being tossed to and fro, I enjoy no rest; but when I lift up my heart and look for peace in thee, I am supported and comforted. Grant that I may thus be strengthened for the time to come, whenever I am at a loss what course to take. Let me always firmly believe thee to be a present help in trouble, who art willing and able to bear me up under all outward distresses, till I shall safely arrive at the rest of the people of GOD.

LORD! what a wretched land is this, that yields us no supply,
No cheering fruits, no wholesome trees, nor streams of living joy;
But prickling thorns through all the ground and mortal poisons grow,
And all the rivers that are found, with dang'rous waters flow.

Yet the dear path to thine abode lies through this horrid land;
LORD! we would keep the heavenly road, and run at thy command.
Our souls would tread the desert through, with undiverted feet;
And faith and flaming zeal subdue the terrors that we meet.

When ye pray, say, Our Father, &c. LUKE xi. 2. Ye ask and receive not, for ye ask amiss. JAMES iv. 3.

MANY say the LORD's Prayer who do not

pray it. They do not care that God should say Amen, though they themselves will say so. They say, "Our Father;" but if he be their Father, where is his honour? They say, "which art in heaven;" but did they believe it, how durst they sin as they do upon earth? They say, "Hallowed be thy name;" yet take God's name in vain. They say, "Thy kingdom come;" yet oppose the coming of his kingdom. They say, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven;" yet will not stand to their word, for this is the will of God, their sanctification; but they want none of that. They say, "Give us this day our daily bread;" yet mind not the feeding of their souls with "the bread (CHRIST JESUs) which came down from heaven." "They say, "Forgive us as we forgive others;" but alas! if GOD should take them at their word, how undone were they, whose hearts burn with malice and revenge. They say, "Lead us not into temptation;" yet run into it. They say, "Deliver us from evil;" and yet deliver themselves to evil, and give up themselves "to fulfil the lusts of the flesh," &c. Yea, those generally sin most against this prayer who stickle most for the saying of it. Reader, how often hast thou been guilty of such vain petitions and repetitions? Wonder not, if thou prayest in such a manner as this, that thou receivest nothing. Labour to get a deep sense of GOD's majesty and mercy, that thy prayers may be fervent and earnest, and GOD will bless thee.

Assist and teach me how to pray;
Incline my nature to obey;
What thou abhorrest let me flee,
And only love what pleases thec.

ever.

Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and for HEB. xiii. 8. Who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification; that, as it is written, he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 1 Cor. i. 30, 31. He has finished the transgression, he has made reconciliation for iniquity, he has brought in everlasting righteousness. DAN. ix. 24. Isa. xlv. 24.

WHEREIN have we that we should glory be

fore the LORD? Have we obeyed the law? Have we satisfied, or can we satisfy, the Divine Justice? Where is the righteousness which we have of ourselves to give to GOD? Let us look back upon our past lives-is it there? Let us look into our own hearts-is it there? Alas! In ourselves we find nothing but misery; but in CHRIST We find all that is good; nay, he is himself our All. He works and gives what is necessary to salvation, therefore we cannot, and need not, bring anything to him of our own; but since he is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and our all, we may, and must rely only on his name, and draw everything from him by the continual prayer of faith. And when by living faith in CHRIST he becomes our all, the law, sin, Satan, and even our own judgments, have lost their power and right of condemnation over us. Jehovah speaks, let Israel hear; Let all the earth rejoice and fear, While GOD's eternal Son proclaims His sov'reign honours and his names. I am the Last, and I the First, The SAVIOUR-GOD, and GOD the just, There's none besides pretends to shew Such justice and salvation too. In me alone, shall men confess, Lies all their strength and righteousness But such as dare despise my name, I'll clothe them with eternal shame.