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God: the promise is indeed fulfilled in you, When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee; and through the floods, they shall not overflow thee.'"

"Yes, sir, God is more merciful to me than I deserve. I have been a great sinner; but my Saviour has pardoned all my sins: yes, I feel that he has precious, precious Jesus!"

The poor old man now sobbed aloud; and, covering his face with his hands, he went out of the room.

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Oh, sir! that, that is my only sorrow my poor father will have no child to support him!"

"God will take care of him, Maria: he is a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother."

I know it, sir; I know it; but it is a great trial to leave him so old and infirm but God's will be done; we shall not be parted long. Oh, that will be a blessed meeting!-meet to part no more!-live with angels, and God, and my blessed Jesus! Oh how I long to see him! Death does not appear terrible to me. I can say, "O death, where is thy sting?'

Now, while you hear my heart-strings

break,

How sweet my moments roll! A mortal paleness on my cheek, But glory in my soul.

Overcome by so great an exertion, her head gently fell upon the pillow, where for some time it remained in listless inactivity: at length, however, she again rallied her spirits, raised her feeble head, and continued, "There is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, and it will not be long before I put it on: do you think it will, sir!

"It may be longer than you expect, Maria; but not longer. than your heavenly Father sees fit: wait pa tiently upon him, and learn submission to his will."

"That is what I pray for: I fear I

am too impatient. Lord, help me to say Thy will be done.""

6

A female neighbour now entered, to afford her some necessary assistance: I therefore took my leave of her: "Farewell, Maria: may God be with you to strengthen and uphold you."

"Farewell, sir: I hope I shall see you again in this world; if not, in a better."

As I left this chamber of death, this portal of eternity, this "gate of heaven," I turned to take a last parting look of the dying maid. That look, only death can erase from my remembrance. Her languid eye had followed me to the door; and as I turned, the expressive glance encountered mine. I hastily averted my head, to hide the gushing tear, and saw her no more!

The afflicted father was waiting for me below. He grasped my hand, while the tears were rolling down his withered cheeks: he would have spoken, but tears choked his utterance. I squeezed his hand in silence, and passed on.

"Farewell, Maria," thought I, as I hastened home: "thou art a lovely flower nipped in the very bud; but thou shalt blossom again in a kinder soil. I shall see thee, I shall hear thee, I shall speak to thee no more in this world; but I trust ere long to meet thee in a brighter and a happier, where sin shall no more

more

defile us, sorrow shall no oppress us, and death shall separate

us no more for ever. "Then over our happy and glorified soul The waves of affliction no longer shall

roll;

But on the kind bosom of Jesus above, Be blest with his presence, his smiles, and his love."

Two days after this, the welcome messenger arrived, that carried the spirit of this youthful believer to the bosom of her Father and her God.

e. II.

ON PREACHING CHRIST.

THE different and discordant opinions on the subject of "preaching Christ," and its vital importance to the interests of true religion and to the happiness of man, render it a duty of the first magnitude humbly and seriously to inquire, What is the real meaning of the expression; and how we may so preach as to fulfil the requirements of the word of God, and to discharge our duty to the souls committed to our care, as the "faithful stewards of his mysteries."

The duty of "preaching Christ" to our people, from the first to the very last of our labours, is clear, from the many full and unequivocal declarations in the Gospel, and from the example of the Apostles themselves. Christ was the subject of their preaching on all occasions, under all circumstances, and to all people, "whether Jew or Gentile, barbarian, Scythian, bond or free." The Apostles, "daily in the temple, and, in every house, ceased not to teach and to preach Jesus Christ." Philip "went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them." Paul, when converted, "preached Christ in the synagogues" (Acts ix. 20). How often, and how clearly, and how boldly, does the great Apostle declare his duty, and his holy resolution, to "know nothing, and to preach nothing, but Jesus Christ," and him crucified;" "glory in nothing save in the cross of his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ;" and to "preach not himself, but Jesus Christ" as the "all in all" of man's salvation!-Here is our example-this is our subject -this is our duty. But,

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No one can, for a moment, suppose that there exists any peculiar influence or efficacious charm in the bare use or repetition of the name of Christ, without meaning, without connexion, and without experience; that we could convince the unbeliev

ing, convert the ungodly, or turn men "from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to the living God." I would say, then, to "preach Christ," scripturally, and with the hope of profit to our people, through the blessing of the Spirit of God on our labours, is,

1. To declare, simply and clearly, the whole counsel of God, as revealed to us in his holy word, though opposed to all human opinion and conceit;-is, to lay open, plainly and honestly, to all, the way of mercy, as made known to us in the glorious Gospel, without any servile adoption of human systems, or submission of our judgment to the dogmas of men, however excellent or learned they may be;-is, to explain, fully and faithfully, the plan of redemption, salvation, and life, by "repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ;is, to give to every part of Divine truth its due place, prominence, and proportion; not to exalt and dwell upon one doctrine, to the exclusion of others equally true and equally important; but to preach the whole truth, without fear and without favour; and to shew the holy and practical tendency of every doctrine of the Gospel of God.

2. To "preach Christ," so as to impress the careless and to awaken the slothful, to bring men to seriousness of thought and to earnest inquiry, is, to state clearly and distinctly the Fall, the consequent corruption and ruined condition of all mankind; and thus prove the need of a Saviour from the sin and misery of man;-is, to declare his state of guilt and condemnation, from the awful curses of the broken law, "in that all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;→ is, to proclaim, with all earnestness and fidelity, the utter impossibility of man, of any man, being able to "save his own soul" by his own

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the ways of grace till he reach in safety the realms of glory.

goodness; or by his own merits as "God hath concluded all under sin," and as "cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the law, to do them : and that we must, therefore, repent or perish, be converted or be condemned. None, but such as are deeply convinced of their own state of guilt and misery from sin, will ever hear with joy the glad tidings of the Gospel of Christ, esteem the preaching of the doctrines of the cross "good news," or willingly and thankfully embrace the offer of pardon and salvation by Christ Jesus.

3. To "preach Christ" scripturally is, to proclaim, with all holy zeal and love, the freeness and fulness of his pardoning mercy, and the all-sufficiency of his grace to receive, pardon, and save the guilty sinner of every character and of every clime ;-is, to declare Him to be the way, the truth, and the life," by whom alone the penitent for sin can come to God, obtain peace in his conscience, and live and die meet for glory;-is, to declare Him to be "the only name under heaven given among men whereby they can be saved," as the only "hope of glory," and as "able as willing to save all to the uttermost who come unto God by him; "-is, to testify that "He is the end of the law for righteousness; that by Him all that believe might be justified from all things; " and that He is "made of God, unto all that believe, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption; -is, to exhibit Him as the only fountain of mercy to man, the only source of happiness and blessing to the soul; as the true and proper channel of grace from God to the children of men; as the sun and centre of all true religion, from whence originate and proceed all the beams of light and life to the penitent believer; and as the "all in all" of a believer's hope and confidence, from the very first step in

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4. To "preach Christ" with effect and blessing, is, to exhibit Him in all the promised grace, power, and work of his Holy Spirit, as the promised Comforter of his believing people, and as the great Teacher of the people of God; - is, to direct the attentions and prayers of men to the Spirit of wisdom, light, and purity, to "take of the things of Christ" and to "reveal the Saviour" to their souls, to "shed abroad the love of God in their hearts" and to "lead them into all truth;-is, to instruct men in the doctrine of the Spirit, as giving light to the dark and ignorant mind, as softening the hard heart, as subduing our natural corruption, as winning the soul to God, restoring the lost and wandering sheep to the true Shepherd, guiding the Christian pilgrim through the wilderness; applying all the precious promises of the Gospel to the fears and necessities of believers in the Son of God; and to save the tempted, tried, and doubting soul from all its dangers; and to bring the humble and believing penitent to the end of his journey in peace. The doctrine of the Spirit's influence and power to convince and to convert the souls of men, to build up and preserve the children of God, is, and hath been in all ages of the church, and will be to the end of time, the doctrine of usefulness and comfort, of godliness and salvation.

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5. To" preach Christ" must signify to preach Him in all his sacred and holy offices, as the Prophet, Priest, and King of his church and people; as their Prophet, to instruct them in the nature of their own true condition before God, the evil of sin and the guilt of transgression, the will of God, the way of life, and the path of duty to God and to man; as their Priest, to atone for their sins, even the "sins of the whole world;" to blot out transgressions, to pay the vast debt due

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to infinite Justice, to open the prison doors to the bond-slaves of sin, to reconcile by his blood a world of sinners to his offended Father, to open, and to keep open, a way of access to God; that, by his sufferings, and the atoning blood of his cross, "God might be just, and yet the justifier of all who believe in Jesus;" -as their King, to appoint laws to his subjects, and to give commands for the obedience of his believing \ people; to rule in their hearts by his sceptre of love; and to reign, by his grace in their souls, over all, and against all, opposition from the powers of darkness, unbelief, corruption, and an evil heart; to bring all the powers and affections of the inner man into a holy subjection to the will of God, and to make every penitent believer a "new creature by the purifying influence of his grace. It must be clearly manifest, to every serious and reflecting mind, that the not rightly distinguishing and not scripturally uniting these gracious and inseparable characters may be considered, most justly, as the true source of all error in religion, as regards the person and work of the Saviour, from the low and heartless Socinian to the wild and visionary Antinomian. These holy offices and characters of Christ cannot be separated from each other, without the most serious injury to the soul that dares to do it. Like his seamless robe, they are beautiful when in union, and full of the richest blessings and comfort to the believing soul. United, they proclaim Him the "Son of the Most High," the "Man of sorrows," and "God blessed for ever." United, they declare Him to be "the Head over all things to the church," the Word of God, and that "in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily;" and that, as the "faithful High Priest" of his people, and as "God manifest in the flesh," He hath all knowledge and ability to instruct and "save his people from their sins." If we separate these

holy and precious characters of the Redeemer, all is darkness and disorder, all is doubt and confusion. Separated, the Bible becomes an inexplicable mystery, the statements of the Gospel are wholly unintelligible, and the soul is left to uncertainty and conjecture. But, if these characters are viewed as united in the person of Christ, every thing is clear and harmonious throughout the Scriptures, and Jesus is the suffering and the triumphant Saviour, the condescending and the exalted Redeemer; "the Son of Man," and yet the "God of glory." -"Preaching Christ" in all his holy offices would be the death of all error in opinion and practice, to those who truly feared God, and were really desirous to secure the eternal interests of the soul. Like the beams of the rising sun, it would dispel all the mists of ignorance, prejudice, and error, and exhibit, as by the light of day," the truth as it is in Jesus," and preserve the humble and penitent believer from mistaking the way to the kingdom of heaven.

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6. To" preach Christ" faithfully, we must preach Him in all his holiness of conduct, as "not only a sacrifice for sin,but also an ensample of godly life :"- -we must state this distinctly, that He "left us an example, that we should follow his steps," and "walk as he also walked.” We must preach Christ as our great pattern for holy imitation, and hold Him up as our daily example, to follow in all known duty both in public and in private. We must plainly state the spirit and conduct which He uniformly exhibited, and the bounden duty of all believers to possess, and manifest "the same mind that was in Him." must exhort to duty and obedience, to public worship and private prayer to every act of Christian charity and kindness, by the example of Christ. We must not fail to explain and enforce the holiness of his calling, that believers are required to be "holy in all manner of conversation

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and godliness." We must again and again remind professors of the Gospel of Christ, that all his ways and commandments are holy, that all his people are holy, and that we only do and can shew our "love to Him by keeping his commandments." Every title by which his people are described, distinguishes them as a "holy people," as "separated from the world," as devoted to the glory of God, as "zealous of good works," as careful to adorn the doctrine of God their Saviour in all things;" as "denying," through Divine grace, "all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and living soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world," and as glorifying God in their body and in their spirit, which are his."

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7. To" preach Christ" to the comfort of his people, we must constantly proclaim Him as the Surety of his believing people, who hath already paid, to the utmost farthing, the vast amount of the debt due from sinners to God, that believers in Jesus might be now "justified freely, and from all things," and stand accepted and complete in the perfect righteousness of their Redeemer. We must "preach Christ" as the great and only Mediator and Advocate with the Father, to plead our cause, to present our services, to procure us all needed blessings, to supply our daily necessities, to help our in'firmities, and to secure and grant us all "grace to help in time of need." We must represent Him as ever living to make intercession unto God for us;" as "touched with the feeling of our infirmities ;" and as able and willing to "succour them that are tempted," to raise the fallen, strengthen the feeble, and to preserve all, who love and trust Him, by his mighty power, through faith, unto salvation."

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8. To "preach Christ" to the establishment of our hearers who "love Christ in sincerity," we must, at all times, declare most plainly his unfailing love and unchanging

faithfulness to his beloved and redeemed people; that no change of circumstance, time, or place, can alter his affections towards the true believer, or affect his purposes of mercy towards the humble penitent. We must declare that all his promises are faithful and true, and never will or can fail or disappoint those who believingly trust in them. We must "preach Christ”. as the counsellor and companion, the guide and guardian, the friend and protector of his believing people, of all that love and serve him, all the way to glory; and that nothing

either present fears or dangers, future opposition or tribulations, all the powers of earth and hell combined-shall or can separate the true believer from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus."

9. To "preach Christ" fully and completely, we must declare Him to be the Judge of all men; before whose awful tribunal we "must all appear," to "give an account of the deeds done in the body," and be rewarded or punished "according to our works." This we must do with holy boldness and affectionate fidelity, however unpleasing or unpalatable it may be to the false professor and the painted hypocrite; though it may excite the sneers of spiritual pride from some, or the seffs of irreligion from others. We must "preach Christ" as the final Judge of all men; who will prove every professor; try every heart; expose before the assembled world the real state of every soul, in that great and glorious day of inquiry and retribution: when no form of religion will be allowed to pass without the power of it; when all "faith" that doth not work by love," and produce the holy fruits of obedience, in heart and life, to God's commandments, will be declared vain and worthless. For, his "fan is in his hand and he will throughly purge floor; and he will gather his wheat into the garner, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

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