The wisdom that is from above, is first pure, then peaceable, &c....James iii. 17.

TRUE knowledge centers in this one point, namely, that Jesus is our wisdom; even as the sun is the only source of all light. From hence light is communicated to the earth freely. As that hath no power to influence the sun to shed forth its comforting beams of light, so neither are we able or willing, while in a state of sin and folly, to exert any power to procure wisdom. But unasked, unsought, unmerited; Jesus, who is emphatically stiled wISDOM, came down from above, that wisdom might once more be found in our nature. In him most conspicuously shone forth every perfection of purity, peace, gentleness, &c.

This is our gospel to believe, that thus Jesus hath "abounded towards us in all wisdom"....Eph. i. 8. So also it is the rich experience of his members, that "out of his fulness we all receive.” Hence we are made wise unto salvation, for we know, love, and approve of Jesus, as "made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption." This is our chief glory, to glory in HIM, who is our greatest glory: this our highest wisdom, to glory in him who is our wisdom.

Nature with all its powers is averse to this; but wisdom seeks and apprehends us; causeth us to hear her voice, to be in love with her beauty; or we should never have had so much as one desire after her. The cry after wisdom, is wisdom in the heart. A desire after Jesus, is from Jesus being known to the soul. Thus Christ prevents us; he first cometh from above to us, then we soar from beneath towards him.

This is the purity of true wisdom: it hath no mixture with any thing from beneath. All the human systems and carnal schemes which the "wise of this world" call religion, as well as the impurity of the flesh, it turns from. It brings purity of affection to Jesus only, like a chaste virgin who has but one object of love it brings peace to the soul through the same object. Thus where Christ dwelleth in the heart by faith, that soul dwells in wisdom, and is united to purity and peace, &c. When the soul hath but once tasted this wisdom that cometh from above, there is an insatiable thirst after more; that so from this uncorrupted fountain the pleasing streams of purity, peace, gentleness, mercy, and good fruits, may incessantly flow. "Thus wisdom is justified of all her children."....Matt. xi. 19.

Nature with open volume stands
To spread her Maker's praise abroad;
And ev'ry labour of his hands
Shews something worthy of a God.
But in the grace that rescu'd man
His brightest form of glory shines;

Here, on the cross 'tis fairest drawn
In precious blood and crimson lines.
O, the sweet wonders of that cross,
Where God the Saviour lov'd and dy'd!
Her noblest life my Spirit draws
From his dear wounded bleeding side.

Now I know thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me....Gen. xxii. 12.

So spake Jesus to his friend of old. What! did not God know that Abraham feared him before this? Doubtless he did. But now in the exercise of faith and love he approved himself to God. He gave full evidence that God's commandments are not grievous: that it was his joy and delight to obey his God. Lord, give what thou commandest, and command what thou wilt, is the breathing of faith and love! Thus was the faith of Abraham justified by its fruits. Seest thou how his faith wrought by his works?. And by works he gave full proof that he possest the faith of God's elect. Thus he obtained this glorious testimony to his own soul from the mouth of the Lord: "Now I know that thou fearest God with a loving, filial fear. Thy faith worketh by love: it has influenced thy heart to this eminent act of cheerful, unreserved obedience to me." His faith consulted not flesh and blood; it surmounted carnal reason. The command of the Lord was the only rule of his conduct. He both sacrificed and enjoyed his Isaac. Thus saith Jesus to every believer, "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you."....John xv. 14. The Spirit of God, by St. James, stiles him સ "vain man," who thinks he may have faith destitute of works....James ii. 20.

It is the wisdom of a christian to know that his justification in the sight of God, through the blood and righteousness of Jesus, is "perfect and entire, lacking nothing." This is received by faith only. But this belief cannot exist without its object, Jesus; theref re it cannot be alone in the heart without love. Faith works by love, and love lives by faith. This inward principle manifests itself by obedi ence, as an outward evidence. Thus the believer's works are mani- · fest that they are wrought in God, and that the soul walks in the light of God's truth and love. But alas! it is an awful case amongst pro+ fessors, as Paul said on another occasion, "Many are sick and weak among you, and many are fallen asleep," through the intoxicating draughts of the love of this world, and living after the flesh. Such.. have no inward testimony that they please God. They possess not joy and peace in believing. They give no outward evidence that they are married to the Lamb, and live by faith on him. "Examine thy-'self, O christian, whether thou art in the faith; prove thy own self. Knowest thou not thine own self, how that Jesus Christ is in thee, except thou be a reprobate."....2 Cor. xiii. 5.

Grace, like an uncorrupted seed,
Abides and reigns within;

Immortal principles forbid

The sons of God, to sin.

Not by the terrors of a slave,

Do they perform his will;

But with the noblest pow'rs they have,
His sweet commands fulfil.

Whom he justified, them he also glorified....Rom. viii. 30.

WHAT poor scanty thoughts do we too often entertain of the love and beneficence of our covenant God! At best our conceptions are too contracted: we are straitened in our own bowels, while we have no cause to be straitened in the super-abounding grace of our Lord; we have little reason to borrow contracted thoughts of God's love from Egyptian task-masters. Our own corrupt nature too, too often furnishes with carnal pleas and unbelieving suggestions, which weaken our faith, cool our love, damp our zeal, deject our spirits, and grieve our hearts. Simple hearts should have nothing to do but with the plain simple truths of God. Hath the Lord said it? He will also do it. Faith defies satan's power, and smiles at human contradictions. Though humbled souls lie low in self-abasement, yet their views are exalted to the highest confidence, by God's purposes, declarations, and promises in Christ Jesus. So they are established in the truth.

All the blessings of grace and glory are sure to every believer; for all such are in Jesus beloved, justified and saved in the sight of God. So also in themselves, they are discharged from guilt, absolved from punishment, acquitted from the curse of the law. When the comforter brings the sweet knowledge of this to the conscience, then how do they triumph in Jesus! Satan cannot see this without envy. Then he stirs up all the powers of nature and corrupt reason to stop their glorying. Some miserable teachers are not aware whom they serve, when they talk of Jesus' righteous, justified members being consigned over to eternal damnation. Justification by faith is a fruit of electing love. All such as are chosen to salvation, they can never perish. Says St. Austin, "If any of the elect perish, God is deceived; but God is not deceived, therefore none of the elect can perish; for the Lord knoweth who are his." In Jesus they have a sure right and title to glory. And the Lord the Spirit glorifies every justified soul. The church, the King's daughter, he makes all-glorious within now. So each member hath a meetness for glory above. The glory of God lies near the hearts of sanctified souls. The way of truth and the paths of holiness are their delight. Sanctification of the Spirit is inseparable from belief of the truth. Both spring from the electing love of God the Father, and shall most assuredly issue in certain salvation of every happy subject. This is the challenge of Jesus: "Father, I WILL that those whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am."....John xvii. 24.

To God the only wise,
Our Saviour and our King,
Let all the saints below the skies
Their humble praises bring.
VOL. I.

Soon all the chosen seed
Shall meet around the throne,
Shall bless the conduct of his grace,
And make his wonders known.

Ff

Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye

shall find rest to your souls....Matt. xi. 29.

THUS, with tender affection, speaks Jesus our prophet to the lambs of his flock. He well knows we stand in need of daily instruction from him: he teaches us in the truth as we are able to bear it ; he knows the weakness of our understandings; he is "touched with a feeling of our infirmities." Therefore, lest our poor hearts should at any time conceive thoughts of him contrary to his nature and office, he says, "I am meek and lowly of heart." You find that you are poor sinners; ignorant of many truths; exercised with many conflicts, trials and temptations: do not think of me only as the high and lofty one who inhabiteth eternity, but as dwelling also with humble hearts. Look not on me as an austere master, a terrible lawgiver, a severe judge, who watches over you for evil, and is ever ready to take all advantages against you, No: I am your condescending, meek and lowly Saviour; your loving friend and kind instructor; therefore come and listen to my words: "Learn of me."

What sweet encouragement is this! Art thou, O soul, tossed with temptations? Harassed with corruptions? Beset with sinful passions? Do these bring disquiet upon thy mind, distress to thy conscience, and are a wearisome burden to thy spirits, so that thou dost not enjoy settled ease and composed rest? Remember thy Saviour's lowly character and kind advice. He hath an ear for thy complaints, a heart of love to pity thee, a powerful arm to relieve thee. With sweet familiarity pour out thy heart to him: as a bosom-friend tell him of thy sorrows, thy complaints, and fears. Always bear in mind his kind invitation; the loving meekness and lowliness of his heart, and the blessedness of his promise. He hath spoken it, and will he not bring it to pass? He hath said it, and will he not fulfil it?"Ye shall find rest to your souls:" sweet tranquility and inward composure as can be found in no object besides Jesus. Could the children of this world persuade us there is no evil in their vain diversions and carnal delights, still we know we cannot expect our Lord's presence, nor shall we find rest to our souls from the bewitching scenes of the play-house, &c. No; but the more rest we find to our souls in Jesus, the more we are delighted with him, and become dead to all things that are contrary to spiritual peace and joy from him. "We who have believed, do enter into rest.".... Heb. iv. S.

Let me but hear my Saviour say,
Strength shall be equal to thy day,
Then I rejoice in deep distress,
Leaning on all-sufficient grace.

I glory in infirmity,

[me:

That Christ's own power may rest on
When I am weak, then I am strong,
Grace is my shield and Christ my song.

I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight: These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them....Isa. xlii. 16.

HERE is a full proof of the personality of the divine Spirit, the third glorious person in the adorable trinity; and also the nature of his office in the economy of the covenant of grace for the salvation of the elect. He WILL lead them into all the paths of truth. Truth is of the very essence and perfection of Jehovah. The Father "hath chosen us from the beginning to salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the TRUTH."....2 Thess. ii. 13. Jesus is essentially "the way, the TRUTH, and the life,"....John xiv. 6....by whom we are saved; and the Holy Spirit performs his office as our guide to HIM.

We poor sinners "are all gone out of the way:" we are blind and see not the way, ignorant and know not the way, proud and have "turned every one to his own way;" and if left to ourselves, through the darkness that is in us, should seek death and destruction in the error of our lives. But, adorable grace! the Spirit of love prevents this. He will guide to Jesus, THE WAY, and into "all the truth, as it is in him." So we enjoy life from him: a life of love and holiness now, and eternal life and glory hereafter. O the loving condescension of this heavenly guide! yet it is natural for us to resist the Holy Ghost, to grieve the loving Spirit, and quench his blessed motions. This is our chiefest grief. Yet such is his amazing love, such his sovereign power, that, like a most affectionate friend, a benign comforter, he takes us by the hand, yea takes our hearts into his hand, and WILL guide, counsel, and direct us. This he doth outwardly by his word, and inwardly by his secret but powerful influences. In the light of his word of truth, we see how-sinful, miserable, and wretched we are in ourselves. But why doth he teach us this? Because we should not trust in ourselves that we are righteous, and deceive our souls into perdition. By the word of his grace, he teaches us the knowledge of Jesus. In him he shews us the love of the Father, the super-aboundings of grace over the aboundings of sin. He turns us from the crooked paths of pride, self-will, and self-righteousness, into the straight paths of grace, truth, and holiness. Here, O believer, is thy mercy. WILL work and none shall let it." O, this is the crowning mercy of all, "I WILL not forsake them." Here are four absolute declarations, I WILL. Bow proud free-will to thy Lord's WILLS. He WILL certainly guide thy soul through all the mazes of a sinful world to eternal glory. "As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."....Rom. viii. 14.

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