them. Surely, then, such forgiveness is worthy of a God, because it is inexpressibly full, and its possessor must be truly blessed! "Was ever love like this ?"

It is free and unconditional. It flows more freely than the air he breathes, because it is the good pleasure of his heavenly Father's will. No pre-requisite goodness is wanting to recommend the coming sinner. Come just as you are, is the free invitation. Though full of guilt and mourning under sin, here is free forgiveness, is the divine declaration. Behold, the black catalogue of your sins is cancelled, being nailed to the cross; and though now you are in yourself black, yet in Christ you are comely! A knowledge of your need proceeds from the principle of spiritual life implanted, which is made manifest by the exercise of faith; and however feeble may be her cries, gracious answers shall be given in due season, by a sense of divine forgiveness being freely communicated to the soul. The vilest of the vile have received pardon through this source! The dying thief, Manasseh, Magdalen, Paul, Peter, the Publican, and others, are luminous monuments of its sovereign freeness; for they are indeed most conspicuous trophies of discriminating and rich abounding favour. These had nothing to recommend them to divine forbearance; their salvation was mercy-yea, it was all of mercy. So is thine, fellow sinner- so is mine! Oh! may Jesus, by the Holy Ghost the comforter, speak to your hearts in the day of trouble, "fear not, thy sins are forgiven thee!" Divine clemency is indeed free, absolute, and unconditional, and its subjects must be truly blessed.

It is also sovereign. Divine love sought them out when strangers to the commonwealth of Israel. Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated, are certain truths recorded in the oracles of God, at which ungodly men will ever cavil. It is nevertheless obvious, from the tenor of holy writ, as well as it has been exemplified by the divine conduct in the experiences of his dear people in all ages, that he has chosen some, whom he has raised up from the dunghill of this perishing evil world, to inherit all the needed blessings of this life, as well as granted them a rich endowment of immortal hopes, and many sweet foretastes of that which is to come; while it is equally evident, others are left to suffer the demerit of their sins in an eternity of woe. Vilest outcasts in society are chosen in the secret purposes of eternity, and made incomparably blessed; while the proud pharisee, lulled to repose in the fatal lap of delusion, is passed by; and even these are sometimes chosen, and their pride brought low, while others, who are in the view of men less guilty, are left to perish in their sins and in their blood! So inscrutable are the secret designs and ways of our great Jehovah. "Blessed indeed therefore must be the man whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered."

And as a crowning blessing, his pardon once bestowed is everlasting in its duration. It was an act sealed in the eternity past, and therefore is the same in the day of time, and shall be the same for ever.

In the day of time he needs frequent revelations of it, as he experiences the openings up of sin within him; and he has it freely given by divine influence because it is a blessing stored up in the everlasting covenant for his use, to be applied by the Spirit's power in every appointed season. As he contracts fresh guilt, he needs repeated applications of the blood of sprinkling, which renews his peace, and makes the ways of wisdom, ways of pleasantness.

"Did Jesus once upon me shine?

Then Jesus is for ever mine"

may be the language of his soul.

Blessed therefore beyond all finite description is the state of him whose sins are thus forgiven ! Fourthly. The benign effects of this divine forgiveness are founded on true peace, which surpasseth all understanding, and is succeeded by a lively gratitude and cheerful obedience, that springs from divine love shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost. This heavenly bestowment is his only true incentive to gospel obedience; which is ever dissimilar to the obedience of a slave. Oh, with what amazement he views his safe standing on the rock of eternal ages; and with what astonishment is he lost while contemplating the grand scheme of his salvation! A deep sense of his obligation to his redeeming Lord, begets in his breast a lively zeal for his Master's glory, and inspires true love to him on gospel principles; as well as an anxious concern for his honour and glory, above all things desiring to walk worthily his high vocation. Should he lose sight of his numerous obligations by reason of sin and darkness, the Holy Ghost, the remembrancer of his people, will again and again renew a sweet savour of them to his soul, and produce therein fresh excitements for his love, wonder, gratitude, and praise. Happy is the man that is in such a case." Ps. cxliv. 15.

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The blessings resuling from this truly grand, and incomprehensible subject, are weighty and multifarious beyond degree. In all ages of the church the saints of the Most High have realized the forgiving mercy of a covenant-making and fulfilling God: not one of the promised blessings theiein contained have failed them; and he abides for ever faithful. Heb. x. 23. Amongst an innumerable retinue of covenant blessings, which are too numerous to detail, the saints of God have all experienced in some degree, sweetness from the following as they have dawned on their minds by the efficient power of the Holy One. Freedom from the condemnation of sin-deliverance from the curses of a broken law, legally and experimentallyliberty of the sons of God-a free participation of the privileges of saints-interest in the mediatorial intercession and work of Jesusdivine security in him, because their lives are hidden with him in God-the constant operations of Jesus's love, and unwearied compassion, and frequently its sweet enjoyment-blessedness in their basket and in their store, and also the guardian care of angelic envoys to protect them through the desert, and safe conduct them home.

These as well as ten thousand other mercies they have realized and enjoyed, the half of which can never be told. But above all, to crown the whole, they have the full fruition and enjoyment in reversion of a treasure in heaven, which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor heart conceived of; all of which is laid up for those who fear him.

May Christ and his cross, dearly beloved, ever be your motto. It manifests great grace in exercise to love crosses, because your heavenly Father hath appointed them; and they are assuredly all in love, and closely connected with the crown in reversion for you! Oh! how great the honours so undeservedly lavished on you! Finally, it may be truly said, there is that inconceivable blessedness couched in the doctrine of the text, which boundless eternity itself will be insufficient to unfold. Blessed be God for so unspeakable a gift! Amen. Peckham Park, Oct. 5, 1825.

(To the Editor of the Spiritual Magazine.)

ON THE SOVEREIGNTY OF CHRIST.

Dear Sir,

"His word was with power." Luke iv. 32.

H. C.

WE have in scripture some beautiful instances of that divine power which accompanied the words of Christ, when upon earth, and of the effects which they produced.

He spoke to Levi, a publican, while sitting at the receipt of custom, a worldly money-making man, and he said to him, "Levi, follow me!" And Levi being one of those given him of the Father, (and he has said, "all that the Father giveth me shall come to me") was "made willing in this day of God's power" (Ps. cx. 3.) to give up the wealth and all the consequence attached to his station, to follow Christ, and to suffer privation and persecution for his sake.

He spoke to Zaccheus, a wealthy worldly man, who from curiosity had placed himself in a sycamore tree to see him pass by; and he bade him come down and receive him into his house; and such power had his words upon him, that he came down and received him joyfully; and such was the change they wrought in him, that he stood forth, saying, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor, and if I have taken away any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold." (Luke xix. 8.)

He spoke to the woman of Samaria, at Jacob's well, and so exposed to her the secrets of her past sinful life, that she astonished ran into the city, confessing herself a sinner, and saying to all she met, "Come see a man that told me all that ever I did; is not this the Christ?" (John iv. 29.)

He spoke to those who had brought a woman to him taken in adultery, and he knowing their hearts, for as God he knew the hearts of all men, (Acts i. 24.) and that they were no better than her whom they sought to condemn, said to them, "He that is without sin among

you, let him first cast a stone at her; and his word came with such power, that they which heard it being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst." (John viii. 4.)

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He spoke to Lazarus, when dead in his grave, saying with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth!" and his word was with such power, that "Lazarus came forth, bound hand and foot with grave clothes." (John xi. 44.)

He spoke to a man who had a withered hand, and required him to do that which appeared impossible, even to stretch forth his hand lifeless as it was; but his word was with power, "And the man stretched forth his hand, and it was restored whole as the other." (Mark iii. 4.) And, by the by, this stretching forth a withered hand, is I believe, a very favourable argument with the arminians in favour of free will, and of there being in man, fallen as he is, some power to do that which is spiritual. To such I would answer, that Christ having a purpose of mercy towards this man, gave him not only the will, but the power to do that which he required of him; for as the apostle says, "It is God that worketh in you to will and to do of his good pleasure." (Phil. ii. 13.) No doubt a divine power accompanied the words spoken, and this diseased man being first acted upon, acted, and put forth a lifeless hand; and the power to do this was no less of the Lord than the cure itself.

This withered hand, Sir, is pushed upon me perpetually by the arminians, as an argument in favour of the free-will and power of fallen man; but our church says, and she speaks the truth, that "The condition of man after the fall of Adam is such, that he cannot turn and prepare himself, by his own natural strength and good works, to faith and calling upon God: and we have no power to do good works, pleasant and acceptable to God, without the grace of God by Christ preventing us, that we may have a good will, and working with us, when we have that good will." Article 10.

All men while in an unregenerate state, are described as being dead in trespasses and sins; and as soon might men in this state do that which is spiritually good, without power from Christ, as Lazarus have come forth from the grave; or Levi have given up the profits of a place to follow Christ; or Zaccheus have given half his goods to feed the poor; or the diseased man have stretched forth a withered hand!

But, blessed be God, the words of Christ in his gospel are not with less power now, when he is present by his Spirit in the preaching of it, than when he spake on earth, and raised Lazarus from the grave. Now sinners are quickened by his word, when dead in trespasses and sins. And it is a sweet promise he has made, that all his sheep, that is, all that belong to him, and were given him of his Father, and were redeemed by him, shall hear his voice in the gospel; for, speaking to those who had already heard his voice, and belonged to his fold, he said, "Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold, them also I must VOL. II.-No. 21.

2 I

bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd." (John x. 16.)

It is not left to chance, you see; it is not a may be, but a shall be, that all that belong to him, shall, before they quit this world, hear his voice in the gospel; that is, internally and savingly, so as that it shall quicken them, and be to them the power of God to their salvation.

"The word that goeth out of my mouth, (saith the Lord) shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I send it." (Isaiah Iv.)

If he does not send his word with power, by his ministers, to his scattered ones, he will bring them within hearing of the word. If he does not send his ministers, as he sent Philip to the eunuch at Gaza, he will bring them under the ministry of the word; and when he sends it forth, it shall not come back to him void; it shall accomplish that which he pleaseth, either for the conversion of sinners, or for the comfort of the saints.

"The hour is coming, (said he) and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live." (John v. 25.) Such of his sheep as are not yet gathered; who are still dead in trespasses and sins; who are separated from God; alienated from the life of God, and in whom the image of God is defaced; who are dead in all the power and faculties of their souls, to that which is spiritually good; who are without spiritual breath, or sense, or feeling, or motion, and which is the state of all men by nature-such shall in God's good time hear the voice of Christ in the gospel; a voice of love, and grace, and mercy, of life and liberty, of peace, pardon, righteousness, and salvation, and which being attended with his power, is the means of quickening dead sinners. They shall hear it-not only externally but internally; it shall come to them not in word only, but in power, and work effectually in them; they shall receive it, understand it, believe and obey it; and they shall livethey shall live a life of faith on Christ, a life of communion with him in this world, and live with him for ever in that which is to come.

May the Lord send forth his word with power, my dear Sir, in your excellent Magazine, and by this mighty instrument enlighten our dark hearts, and purge our defiled hearts, and bend our stubborn hearts, and fix our inconstant hearts, and quicken our dead hearts, and spiritualize our earthly hearts, and expand our selfish hearts, and comfort our sorrowful hearts, and warm our cold hearts; and may we find that after a lapse of eighteen hundred years since he spake on earth, that still his word is with power.

Believe me, dear Sir, in the best of all bonds, faithfully yours, ELAH.

Νου. 11, 1895.