which was the first circumstance that called into exercise and placed before their senses the principle of justice, wasi. e., belongs to believers, or is placed to the circumstance from which they derived this most important abstract idea. -From " Philosophy of the plan of Salvation."

peace.

You and I look inwardly to our hearts, and backwards to our past lives. There we see sin and unworthiness. These inspections are useful, indeed needful, to abase and humble us, and put us in the position in which Jesus meets and saves. But they cannot yield comfort. Peace and hope spring from a source without us. We must look out of ourselves, to the Lamb who was slain. A foundation for resting on is laid; but not in ourselves. Let me then state some of the views of Christ's righteousness which have occupied and cheered me, and which may be of service to you.

This cannot mean the attribute of rectitude or justice, because it is unto, their account, and is upon them as a robe to cover. It is not the perfection of divine justice; but the glorious medium through which it is shown in our pardon. See ver. 26. "Set forth, for the manifestation of his justice, in the remission of sins, that he may be just, and the justifier of the believer in Jesus." The testimony of David is brought "Blessed is the forward in Rom. iv. man whose iniquity is forgiven, and to whom God will not impute sin." And what is the ground on which it rests? Paul says that David describes "the happiness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness without works."

In Rom. v., the apostle illustrates and establishes this momentous doctrine, by a comparison of the first and second Adam. By one act the first federal head fell, and involved us in its guilt and consequences. In that dispensation strict justice reigned. Grace, with justice, reigns in the eternal covenant, and on a basis worthy of their union. The obedience of the second Adam does not consist in one act of conformity, or in the abstinence from one prohibition; but in a series of holy thoughts and doings, in accordance with God's law, during a life, first of humble privacy, and then of great publicity. The law was in his heart, and its principles of love to God, and love to man, impregnated all his conduct. Adam's single offence, as committed in the midst of every benefit, and in the face of every obligation, was very heinous, and exposed him, with us, to the merited punishment. The obedience of Jesus was yielded in a variety of positions, amidst every class of evils, against the most formidable temptations, and under every disadvantage. Adam fell in a Paradise! Jesus conquered in a desert. "By the disobedience of one man many were made sinners, by the obedience of one man are many made righteous.”

Its excellence is intrinsic, consisting in the obedience of Immanuel, as our surety, to the precepts of God's law, and his endurance of its penalty. It is the amount of what he did and suffered, from first to last, during his residence here. It is the character and glory of Jesus, God in our nature, exhibiting every perfection in fulness and harmony. This righteousness is the sole basis of our pardon, and the perfect standard of our sanctification. "We are predestinated to be conformed to the image of his Son." This righteousness imputed, justifies from every charge, and as seen, and trusted, and loved, transforms into its own likeness. Study Rom. iii. "But One excellence belongs to the work now the righteousness of God is mani- and sacrifice of Christ, which has no fest, being witnessed by the law and the parallel, and in which it is incomparable; prophets, even the righteousness of God," It magnifies the law, and makes it through faith in Jesus Christ, unto, and upon all who believe, for there is no difference, for all have sinned."

honourable." The Redeemer, in his divine person, was the lawgiver, the creator, the fountain of all law and order,

the standard of all perfection. As such, | inseparable. "That blood which purges he could not be also a subject. But he the conscience, purges it from dead assumed our nature, took on him the works to serve the living God." While form of a servant, was made under the I humbly look to the perfect obedience law, and humbling himself, became of Immanuel for my acceptance, my obedient to death, even to the death of view of it draws my heart to its lovelithe cross. Therefore his infinite dignity ness. His love produces love in me to and divine perfections have stamped his him. Yes, you will find, my doubting obedience with an excellence, transcend- friend, that as by faith you contemplate ing the united holiness of all created this glorious righteousness of God's beings. Beware, my timid, fearful bro- Son, as the sole basis of your reconther, of interposing aught between you ciliation with God, faith will sanctify and that righteousness, whether peni-you. tence, or tears, or prayers, or well doing of any kind, or gracious exercises, or any qualification. The office of faith is to receive this "gift of righteousness; "We are saved by grace, through faith, and that the gift of God." Christ's Spirit to purify, teach, and comfort, is given freely to them who ask. And his merit is as freely reckoned to him who worketh not, (to attain it) but who believeth on him who justifieth the ungodly.

stone.

Let us, then, to encourage ourselves in this employ, examine some scripture instance of experience, both in the Old "and New Testament. In the New Testament, the private religious history of individuals is not minutely recorded. But on the great subject of a simple and exclusive dependence for salvation on the oblation of Christ, information is large. "To them," says Peter, "who have obtained like precious faith with us, in the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ." We," says another apostle, "are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, confide in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh."

Let the rejection of the Jews teach you this needful lesson: Rom. ix. 10. To them the gospel was preached by the Lord himself, and then by the apostles. But they stumbled at the stumbling "Going about to establish their Nor are we without the recorded exown righteousness, they would not sub-perience of believers. Hear Paul on mit themselves to the righteousness of God." "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness, to every one who believeth." Let us take heed, lest we fall, after the same example of unbelief. That righteousness is beyond all price, and cannot be bestowed, but as a free donation.

"Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to thy cross I cling,
Naked, come to thee for dress,
Helpless, look to thee for grace!"

Dwell on these lines, and throw your
whole soul into them by fervent prayer.
The hymn may be known to you, and
may express your genuine desires.

PART III.

In severe and protracted indisposition, when death is considered the probable result, the mind cannot but recur to the past when it looks onward to the great change. "Am I pardoned? and am I fitted for the enjoyment of heaven?" Acquitted from guilt, and holiness of heart are felt equally necessary, and are

two points, my disconsolate brother, about what he saw and felt in himself. "I know that in my flesh dwelleth no good thing." "This is a faithful saying, that Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief." Let us next hear of the remedy to which he repaired, or the way in which he sought and found relief; "Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead :" Phil. iii. 8—11.

Disconsolate brother, turn these lines into a prayer, and present them with all

in my heart, what is to be done in such WHEN GREAT RELIGIOUS AGITATIONS a state of uncertainty?" There is but one way,-admit the worst of yourself, and as a sinner look to the cross.

To guide and direct in this process, examine their experience as expressed by the persons themselves, or referred to by the blessed Spirit. Here is one by Asaph, Psa. 77, who was in mental distress, and attempted to obtain relief by an enquiry into his past character and position: "In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord, my hand was stretched out in the night, and ceased not, my soul refused to be comforted. I remem- Jesus was emphatically the " Prince bered God and was troubled. I com- of peace," and the "peace maker," and plained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. so he is always found to be, when indiThou holdest mine eyes waking, I amviduals or communities conform to the

laws and institutes of his blessed word; | blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus, and to but, as in the beginning of the gospel his Father and our Father, surely Disof Christ, and since that time, the senters who profess as a first principle faith and practice taught by Jesus and the equality of all believers in Christ's his Apostles have been opposed to the supremacy in things spiritual, let who dogmas of carnal wisdom; then have will ascribe to pope, king, or queen, and arisen strifes and divisions in the world. contend for it too-Nonconformists Even so is it now, let the New Testa- who deny these dogmas, and denounce ment doctrine, the pure gospel of the them as usurpations, ought now espe"Son of God" be proclaimed fully and cially to contend for the"faith which fearlessly, and human nature (which "is was once delivered to the saints," one not subject to the law of God, neither article of which is given by Christ as indeed can be,") will rise and rebel. noted above, and enforced by an inspired Not only doctrinally, but practically, so Apostle in the following passages which far as the rule of religion is concerned, inform us that He "set him (Christ) at the men of the world, be they poli- his own right hand in the heavenly ticians, as prime ministers, or eccle- places, far above all principality, and siastics, as archbishops, bishops, priests, power, and might, and dominion, and &c., as the pope and English hierarchies every name that is named, not only in call themselves, these always have this world, but also in that which is to arisen, and may be expected to rise in come; and hath put all things under his great wrath against each other, and feet, and gave him the Head over all to against those who maintain simple New the church;" and again in 1 Cor. viii. 6, Testament discipline in the church of "But to us there is one God, the Father, Christ. The pope says that the Roman of whom are all things, and we in him, Church of which he is the pontiff, is "the and ONE LORD Jesus Christ, by whom Queen, the Lamb's Wife, and that he is are all things, and we by him." Let the head of all the people of Christ upon this be taken up as a solemn profession, earth."- Great swelling words of vanity and constantly regarded. indeed! The English church, as by law As the Scripture doctrine of supreestablished, also declares that the sove-macy only in Christ has been handed reign is the supreme in the church of these realms under Christ. The great contest between these is, who is to be called master or lord supreme, and to bear the rule. To these arrogancies what ought we as Baptists to say, who hold the doctrine that there is no head under Christ of the church, neither in heaven nor earth? Whatever Papists or Episcopalians may declare or do, we are called upon to mind this, that while we own most fully and loyally that in civil matters her Majesty the Queen is the head of the British power, yet we must never lose sight of that great and fundamental principle laid down by the Redeemer, in Matt. xxiii. 8-10; "But be not ye called Rabbi; for one is your Master-CHRIST: and all ye are brethren. And call no man your FATHER (PAPA, POPE, or "FATHER IN GOD,") upon the earth; for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called Masters, for one is your Master, -CHRIST." If any are anxious that the titles Master or Father should be ascribed to the rightful owners, our

down as a most solemn profession by those who conscientiously and scripturally came out and separated from such as hold a human head in the church, so amidst the fulminations of the Vatican, or the pretences of the English Establishment-may we be enabled to hold the Head, CHRIST, and to abide by his direction, to call no man, or set of men, Fathers Masters.

or

The supremacy or headship is not the only point of dispute, nor the only feature of resemblance between the Roman and English Church. There are many, many features from which we may recognize mother and daughter,--or perhaps two sisters in apostacy. This nearness of affinity it would be well at the present to bring under the most careful consideration of the church of Christ, and call upon all true believers to maintain that Christ and Christ only is the Head of his body, the Church.May we be enabled to give heed to the solemn declaration "Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion," and

Gems of Old Divinity.