strength to perform, and patience to bear the righteous will of his heavenly Father; that he may walk worthy of his high calling in the sight of men, and live under the deepest sense of his own worthlessness in the sight of God. While he who is weak in faith, though he feel a love to Christ, and dare not rest on any other ground for safety, yet not knowing what Christ is to him, remains destitute of the sweetest and most humbling experience of those who are strong in faith, and a stranger to the most powerful of all motives to love and obedience, that is, the knowledge of the soul's security in Christ.

It is, undoubtedly, the holy pleasure of the Lord that there should be in his church below babes, young men, and fathers; and certainly no power but his own can strengthen his little ones, or comfort those who are in trouble: notwithstanding, the devices used by the enemy of souls to keep the church in bondage, ought to be exposed and guarded against. One device of satan which tends much to strengthen the fears and weaken the hopes of feeble disciples of Christ, is, persuading them that without personal purity, holy affections, and strong faith, they can have no interest in Christ. This persuasion must come from the devil, for the scriptures require no such qualifications. No-trembling soul! such terms are not proposed for your acceptance by Christ: his sweet invitation and precious promise runs thus-come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. From which it is divinely clear, that " All the fitness you require, is to feel your need of him."

Another device of satan may frequently be seen, in the advice of ministers (but not those who preach the pure gospel) warning those of their hearers who enjoy something of the love of God, not to be confident. It is better, say they, to fear than to presume. Now that it is better to possess godly fear, than carnal confidence, is most certain; but that it is better for a dear subject of grace to be harassed by distressing fears, than to be stablished, strengthened, and settled in the truth, is a thought too absurd to be entertained in any rational mind.

Further, the infernal design of the adversary of souls, to keep in bondage those whom he cannot devour, often shews itself in an unsound ministry, under the specious pretext of a superior regard for personal holiness, the credit of religion, and the glory of God. Hence those who long to know their security in Christ are frequently told, that confidence relaxes every nerve of obedience, encourages licentious living, and brings reproach on the ways of God. The writer of these lines was long under this delusion; but being happily freed therefrom, he feels effects directly opposite to those above stated.

May the Lord the Spirit convince all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, of the folly of listening to such unscriptural sentiments, and strengthen them to embrace, and hold fast, the doctrine which is according to godliness. Then while they know that they were chosen in Christ, that they are secure in Christ, and that they have eternal VOL. II.-No. 21.

2 H

life in Christ, they shall feel the desire, and obtain strength to walk worthy of their heavenly calling, and to follow the Lord as dear children.

Ramsgate

E. G.

(For the Spiritual Magazine.)

ON DIVINE FORGIVENESS.

(Concluded from page 198.)

His life is not only manifest by spiritual sight, but also by his spiritual sensibilities and feeling. The dead in trespasses and sins feel not; but he that is begotten again to a lively hope, ever possesses some feeling, however low he may be reduced in his experience by the oppressive power of sin, satan, and the world. But these painful operations, and his degree of feeling, are all designed according to the sovereign good will and pleasure of God, and are wisely proportioned and adapted to his circumstances. He feels more or less pungently, as the Spirit of all grace is pleased to reveal to his mind a sense of his nothingness, unworthiness, and extreme poverty, having spent all his substance. Luke xv. 13. And the plague of his own heart, its coldness and apathy, its barrenness and depravity,-such views will excite anguish of spirit, Ps lxxvii. 2. though he may be enabled in the exercise of precious faith to look above it all, and with Paul triumphantly exclaim, "I thank God through our Lord Jesus Christ." This experience evinces divine compunction of spirit on account of sin, and a holy triumph over its penal consequences; is most sweet to his soul, and is all of grace. Furthermore, he feels something of the worth and preciousness of salvation by the cross, from his abject need of such a way of mercy, and under gracious operations is enabled to rejoice with deep humility in the rich discovery of this inexhaustible mine of grace. This knowledge he gains by experience, from many trials of his own strength, which in the issue he ever finds to be perfect weakness; nevertheless, he tries his every effort for recovery, before he comes to Christ, to save him wholly from the abyss of ruin which surrounds him. Feeling his wounds to be incurable by human art, he is led to Jesus the only wise physician, with whom is consummate skill, and in whom is stored the healing balm of Gilead. A feeling consciousness of his malady and corruption become the means of his self-abasement, and in this situation he feels condemned on every ground. In this way he is led to ask for forgiveness in a way of mercy, which when granted him, he highly values, and would not part with for a diadem. Such is his experience; and such experience is usually in some degree manifest, preparatory to the richer displays and more open discoveries, of the glories of a full, and free, and finished salvation.

Hearing is also another blessed evidence of life. My sheep hear my voice, said Jesus, they know it from that of a stranger's. John x.

3-6. They hear it by faith in his work, in his ordinances, in his promises, in his sanctified afflictions, and in his providences. They hear his voice in the tempest, as well as in the calm. He speaks peace by his Spirit, and the troubled bosom is succeeded by a calm and heavenly tranquillity. They attend the means of grace where the silver trumpet of the gospel is blown with a certain sound; the melody of this sound they can distinguish from the strange and erring voice of him that preaches it not; though some of weak discernment whose ears are less circumcised to distinguish things which differ, are frequently puzzled, and momentarily led captive by its apparent, but not real similarity. In the earlier stages of his experience he hears, but understands not perfectly, how God can display his justice in saving him, oppressed as he is by sin; and thinks he must render himself meet for mercy, 'ere he makes application for it; but in due time being brought by the teachings of God the Holy Ghost to Jesus, his last resource, from real necessity, he hears as it were, with new ears the melodious sound of a finished salvation, which is replete with delight, harmony and worth.

All

The faculty of smelling is another demonstrative evidence of spiritual sensibility. The amazing sacrifice Jesus offered up on the altar of his atoning merit, is both acceptable to God, and is grateful incense to the spirits of this new born babe of grace; and as it is a sacrifice all of love, it is like strengthening aliment which revives his spirits, and the savour of his name is more precious and regaling to his soul than ointment poured forth. Cant. i. 3. The divine and allsufficient righteousness of Jesus, to the man who sees and feels his nakedness, is most fitly appropriate and truly welcome to him. thy garments, said the church, smell of cassia, Ps. xlv. 8. and surely it may be said with equal truth, that the presence and sweet enjoyment of his Saviour's love, is more precious to his soul than the fragrance of an alabaster box of ointment. Jesus, the inimitable rose of Sharon, and the illustrious lily of the valley, in his goings forth in the garden of his grace, emits therein a sweet and incomparable perfume, which operates like a reviving cordial to the fainting drooping spirits of his tender herbs, who well know his refreshing influence in the day of draught; yea, the scent which emanates from the beloved of their souls is "as spikenard sent forth," it revives, it animates the soul. And since the manifested presence of Jesus is so delightful, and the resemblance of his person is so divinely graceful, no wonder the church of Christ should be enamoured with their king in his beauty, and in the extasy of her love to him, (excited by his love to her,) while held in his embrace exclaim," my beloved is the chiefest among ten thousand, yea, the altogether lovely."

Tasting, is also a rich evidence of spiritual life. The regenerated soul tastes that the Lord is gracious. Rich grace has given him a spiritual appetite for spiritual sustenance. He hungers after. righteousness, and thirsts for the wine and milk of Canaan. He drinks of the brook by the way, even of spiritual consolations, which recruits

his strength, and invigorates his spirits, so as to enable him to march onwards. He drinks of the pure blood of the grape, and cannot as once he did, rest well content without it. He tastes the sweetness, and loves the pure streams of gospel grace, the discriminating nature of which enhances its blessedness in his ravished view, and he longs to taste it more fully in his heavenly Father's kingdom. He is indeed painfully taught, that he is the subject of indwelling sin which he dares not utter to his fellow men; but this he loathes, as contrary to his spiritual nature; and it is no more he that sins, but sin that dwelleth in him. Rom. vii. 20.

And what shall we say to all these sterling evidences of a life of grace imparted, and consequently a state of divine forgiveness? "Oh, blessed art thou, Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood hath not revealed these things unto thee." Surely of such a man we may say, "Blessed art thou, for thy transgression is forgiven thee, thy sins are covered!"

The happy consequences of this work of grace, and the renewal of divine influence on his spiritual faculties, are sweetly discoverable by their benign effects. The result of these operations is self-loathing and abasement on account of indwelling sin, accompanied with longing desires after spirituality of mind, and a deep conviction of his entire dependence on God, the fountain of all mercy, for the supply of his every temporal and spiritual need. As he proceeds the hidden iniquities of his heart are opened up to his view, which much astonish him; and he is led again and again to the water brooks of spiritual consolation with brokenness of heart, and true contrition of spirit, to plead the merit of his Redeemer's blood and righteousness for the remission of his guilt. He views and reviews his guilt, he measures his actions by the law of God, but the one confirms his hardness of heart, and the other begets despair; nor can he, only as he is enabled to look to Calvary, experience genuine sorrow, mingled with joy and gladness. He ardently desires the sincere milk of the word that he may grow thereby, seeks communion with God and fellowship with Jesus as his native element, and walks in all the ordinances of his house scripturally blameless. He speaks well of the name of Jesus, and is made ardently desirous of spending the remnant of his days in prayer and praise. Such are the benign effects of divine forgiveness, when proclaimed to his heart by God the Holy Ghost's energetic influence, and infinitely more than words can express.

This super-excellent state of blessedness, the forgiveness of sin, has its only centre and source in the unchanging love of God, which flows down to every elect member of his church in a way of free covenant favour, through the pure channel of a Mediator's blood, and is made known to them at the fore-appointed season by the irresistible operations of God the Holy Ghost, who seals home the blessing in the court of conscience, and proclaims therein a full acquittal from every legal charge.

for

There is no cause in the guilty sinner for the free exercise of divine forgiveness out of God either before or after his conversion; not even his wretchedness and misery, tears, penitential sorrow or repentance; for these are but effects flowing from the grand cause,-these are but evidences of grace, and could not exist antecedent to the cause producing them. Oh, ye ransomed of the Lord, your God is love, and of infinite compassion to transgressors; yea, for you (wonder, O heavens!) you he gave up his well beloved Son a vicarious sacrifice, to effect your ransom, even when ye were dead in trespasses and sins, Eph. ii. 1. and this for his own sake, and for his own glory! Being the objects of eternal love-being adopted children of the Most High God by eternal and immutable choice and favour, every individual object of that love is at the predestinated period rescued from the Adam-fall; and by virtue of their redemption by Jesus, they are brought into a state of manifest union and communion with him, and are introduced into a spirit of liberty, to which they are legally entitled by an inalienable right by ransom. In this glorious work they are entirely passive: all is of grace from first to last. Their divine pardon is an act of justice to their surety, for the full equivalent received from him; from this source emanates their reconciling favour; and on the ground of this perfect and divine satisfaction, and that alone, all the heirs of promise are eternally free, and are richly entitled to all that He is as God-man mediator to his people. Sweet channel this for the communication of forgiving mercy! and sweet is the thought, that these heavenly rills shall ever follow them through all the varied scenes of time, until their safe arrival at the blissful consummation of their journey's end. Blessed therefore is the man whose transgression is forgiven.

I hasten, in the third place, to state some of the blessings which arise from that forgiveness, quoted in my text; and here I would premise, that it consists judicially in the non-imputation of sin, and the imputation of righteousness. Its blessedness was before time; is realized and enjoyed in the appointed measure through the medium of precious faith in time; and extends o'er the canopy of time through the countless ages of vast eternity.

The properties of divine forgiveness are fourfold-full and overflowing, free and unconditional, absolutely sovereign, and everlasting in duration. In this rich cluster of infinite love is comprised every possible blessedness.

It is full of mercy to the subject in my text: all his debts are cancelled by the full payment of his surety, whether past, present, or to come. They were all charged to the account of his beloved, and crossed by the crimson lines of his atoning blood; yea they are for ever blotted out from the book of his remembrance. Col. ii. 14. Jesus, the antitypical scape goat, has borne away all his sins, both original and actual, into a land of perpetual forgetfulness. They are cast behind him as a mill-stone into the mighty deep, and entombed for ever in the gulph of oblivion. They are washed away by the boundless ocean of Immanuel's precious blood, which eternally obliterates