Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. MATT. vi. 13. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power. REV. iv. 10, 11.

NE that is really poor in spirit, though he

life ever so long, and ever so diligently, always thinks himself to have received but a very little portion of CHRIST, and the work of sanctification hardly to be begun in his soul. So far is he from believing he has already attained it, that after all his best actions, he counts himself not worthy to be called by the name of a grateful son. He is never pleased with himself. No degree of holiness will satisfy his soul. He seeks and finds no rest or comfort but in the infinite mercy of GOD, and in the pardon of his sins by faith, though he does not divide CHRIST, but receives him in all his offices, and gives himself entirely up to him, without reserve, to be more and more sanctified' and perfected; and in this state he is safe indeed, he is prepared for death, and has no reason to be anxiously afraid, though earnestly desirous of higher degrees of sanctification.

For ever hallow'd be thy name

By all beneath the skies;

And may thy kingdom still advance,
Till grace to glory rise.

A grateful homage may we yield,
With hearts resign'd to thee;

And as in heav'n thy will is done,

On earth so let it be.

For thine the pow'r, the kingdom thine;

All glory's due to thee:

Thine from eternity they were,

And thine shall ever be.

He hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure; for this is all my salvation, and all my desire. 2 SAM. xxiii. 5. I have made a covenant with my chosen. PSALM lxxxix. 3.

HIS was David's plea and confidence when,

with eternity full before him, he was just going to make his appearance before an infinitely pure GOD. This must be our plea also, if ever we would obtain the approbation of our Judge. After a life of the most eminent holiness, the best of men will have reason to cry out, "Enter not into judgment with thy servant, O LORD!" It is true, indeed, the believer will discover some evidences of grace, just to show the child of GOD, and no more; but all so imperfect, that he dares not ground his expectations on them. Here the Covenant of grace steps in to his relief, wherein he sees ample provision made for the security of his eternal interest; for the covenant is made with CHRIST and his seed. It is an everlasting covenant, not only made before time, but extending its beneficial effects through the ages of eternity. It is ordered in all things; therefore nothing can be wanting in it, either to promote the glory of GOD, or the salvation of believers. It is sure also; depending on no conditions, requiring nothing but what it gives, conferring its blessings freely, and making them sure to all the seed, being established upon better promises. Happy souls, who are interested in this wellordered covenant! May it be all my salvation, and all my desire!

Thy word is truth, thy promise sure,

Hence faith and hope abide;

True faith in JESUS will endure;
Nought can from CHRIST divide !

I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of Truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. JOHN xiv. 16, 17.

W work of recovering fallen man, and the

HEN GOD designed the great and glorious

saving of sinners, "to the praise of the glory of his grace," he appointed, in his infinite wisdom, two great means thereof; the one was the giving of his Son for them; and the other was the giving of his Spirit unto them. And hereby was way made for the manifestation of the glory of the whole blessed Trinity, which is the utmost end of all the works of GOD. Hereby were the love, grace, and wisdom of the Father, in the design and contrivance of the whole; the love, grace, and condescension of the Son, in the execution, purchase, and procurement of grace and salvation for sinners; with the love, grace, and power of the Holy Spirit, in the effectual application of all unto the souls of men, made gloriously conspicuous. To these heads may all the promises of God be reduced. Happy for the church that the Spirit is to abide with it for ever; and awful to think that the unconverted world neither can receive nor know the Spirit!

Holy Spirit, heav'nly Dove,

Bringing peace and bringing love,
Take me, and possess me whole!
Form the Saviour in my soul!

Be my true and constant Guide!
In my fainting heart abide!
All the grace of GOD reveal,
And each precious promise seal!

Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation, not to be repented of; but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 2 COR. vii. 10.

THERE is a sorrow which has the breach of

GOD's holy law for its object, called godly, because it is produced by the Spirit of GoD discovering the evil of sin, and the plague and corruption of our own hearts, and deeply humbling us under a sense of sin, producing evangelical repentance, and leading the soul to cry to the LORD JESUS CHRIST for pardon and salvation; the Holy Spirit at the same time enabling us to believe in him, and rest upon his person, blood, and righteousness, for redemption and salvation: which repentance will never be repented of. But sorrow, arising from the love of this world, worketh death, death eternal! LORD JESUS, grant me to feel more of this godly sorrow for sin, and to rejoice more in thee as my Saviour!

Father, thy long-lost child receive;
Saviour, thy purchase own;
Blest Comforter, with peace and joy,
Thy waiting creature own.

Return, my roving heart, return,

And life's vain shadows choose no more;
Seek out some solitude to mourn,

And thy forsaken GOD implore.

O thou great GOD, whose piercing eye
Distinctly marks each deep retreat,
In these sequester'd hours draw nigh,
And let me here thy presence meet.
Through all the windings of my heart,
My search let heavenly wisdom guide;
And still its beams unerring dart,

Till all be known and purified.

Then let the visits of thy love

My inmost soul be call'd to share,

Till every grace combine to prove

That GOD has fix'd his dwelling there.

Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. PSALM xcvii. 11. Unto the upright there ariseth light in darkness; he is gracious, full of compassion, and righteous. PSALM CXii. 4. Cast not away therefore your confidence, which has great recompense of reward; for ye have need of patience, &c., for yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. HEB. X. 35, 37; ISAIAH lviii. 10-12.

TH

HIS shows that believers are subject to many changes of joy and sorrow. In a state of gladness, therefore, we have reason to fear; and in the hours of trouble and sadness, to entertain good hopes. Thus we shall always be able to keep the happy medium between the extremes of levity and despair. Before a man has a true sense of his own miseries, the complaints and infirmities of the saints are often a stumblingblock; but afterwards they will administer to him great comfort. This is the reason that GOD has revealed them in Scripture; for the complaints of his elect children give more comfort than all their most heroic actions. Grant, O LORD, that whether sorrowing or rejoicing, I may have the light of the Holy Spirit to

direct me.