Walk before me (as in my presence) and be thou perfect. GEN. xvii. 1. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man; for God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. ECCLES. xii. 13, 14. I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof, in the day of judgment. MATT. xii. 36. CONS ONSEQUENTLY all such things as are now called indifferent in their nature will also be brought to God's bar, and not be called indifferent there, but judged as actually good or actually evil. Oh the prodigious harm that is done by this false doctrine of innocent things! It opens the door to innumerable sins; for though our conscience often tells us that we should not do such things as are not actually good, yet presently innocence is pleaded, it is called a harmless thing; which though it could not be said to be good, yet it was not evil neither, but quite indifferent in its nature; by which thousands are drawn into the snares of the devil. O LORD, grant that all my works may be done unto thee, and in thy presence, agreeably to thy commandments; that even my leaves may not wither, and whatsoever I do may prosper and abide for ever, and that while here I may be fitted, by the sanctifying influences of the Spirit, for the holy and blessed communion of heaven that is hereafter to those who keep thy law. Within thy circling power I stand; On every side I find thy hand; O may these thoughts possess my breast, Nor let unruly passions dare Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. JOHN iii. 3. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 COR. v. 17. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, &c. TITUS iii. 5, 6. See also JAMES i. 18, and 1 PETER i. 23. CONS NONSEQUENTLY no outward form of religion will do; but we must be renewed by the Spirit of GOD, and have our hearts changed, else we cannot enter into the kingdom of GOD. CHRIST (by saying, Verily, verily,) has confirmed this twice by an oath. How is it possible then that mere honest and moral men can be saved? Will CHRIST break his double oath? No, surely. Now, since outward gross vices only are blamed in conversation or preaching, a moral man slips through the law without censure; and the careless think they can leave off their open sins one time or another; and so none are duly concerned to be thoroughly converted; but the new birth and a real change of the heart being insisted upon, and CHRIST held forth in this only true way, every one who will be saved must be turned. The second Adam shall restore When from the curse he sets us free, His Spirit purifies our frame, And seals our peace with GOD; JESUS and his salvation came By water and by blood. Why art thou cast down, O my soul! and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance and my God. Ps. xlii. 11. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. ROM. viii. 18. BELIEVERS, we are here assured, may be in great distress; but though much perplexed, and often discouraged, they are secretly held up by faith, and brought off conquerors. If God had commanded us to pray and hope only till a certain time mentioned, and his help had failed to come within that time, we might justly despair. But since he requires us to hope even to the end or last moment of life, this should keep us from impatience and despair: for though he should tarry even to the end, believers will certainly experience him then to be faithful to his promise. He may try our faith and patience to the utmost, but he cannot break his own word. Dear LORD, whatever load thou art pleased to lay upon me, enable me to wait in faith and prayer till the joyful hour of deliverance comes; knowing that thou layest on no burden disproportioned to the grace thou art giving. 'Tis GOD that lifts our comforts high, Or sinks them in the grave; He gives, and (blessed be his name!) Peace, all our angry passions then! Be silent at his sov'reign will, If smiling mercy crown our lives, Be not soon shaken in mind. 2 THESS. ii. 2. Idetermined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 1 Cor. ii. 2. In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. COL. ii. 3. But we preach Christ crucified. The testimony of Christ was confirmed in you. 1 COR. i. 6, 23. MY dear Saviour, enable me to rest humbly and quietly in thee, avoiding all such novelties as might breed presumption, distract my thoughts, and cause my heart to swerve from thee. Whoever has tasted the sweetness of thy word will be satisfied with it; and better it is to improve in the life of faith, and power of godliness, than in new words, forms, and professions. May the LORD quicken me by the old truths, and humble my heart evermore, so as to receive them better, and to abide in that which I have heard from the beginning. Novelty is the bane of souls, by which we are often grievously tormented and distracted. It is work enough for a meek and quiet soul to keep within the bounds of a settled mind, and effectually to centre in GOD. How can such enjoy true rest, who, from a vain curiosity to know everything, are ever running after new doctrines, or prying into every man's business?—LORD, save me from this unsettled mind, and make me determined to know nothing but JESUS CHRIST and him crucified, and to have his testimony confirmed in my heart. Amen. O that the LORD would guide my ways To keep his statutes still; O that my GOD would grant me grace My soul has gone too far astray, Yet since I've not forgot thy way, David's Prayer.-Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. Ps. li. 2. Divine Answer.-The blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, cleanseth us from all sin. 1 JOHN i. 7. See also 1 Cor. vi. 11. NDER the ceremonial law all things were UNDER purged with blood; and without shedding of blood there was no remission: thus it is impossible that any one sin, even the least sinful motion, should be taken away, except by the blood of JESUS CHRIST. May this teach me the heinousness of sin in the sight of the great Jehovah, and may it tend to keep my heart humble and my conscience tender; for how dreadful must the stain of sin be, since nothing but the blood of CHRIST can wash it out. Blessed be God for opening this fountain, and keeping it open, day and night, for the vilest sinners to wash in. May my polluted soul be daily washed in this fountain, and receive both peace and strength from it, and arrayed in the robes of CHRIST's righteousness, may I be prevented from doing anything dishonourable to thy name. My dying Saviour and my GOD, And cleanse and keep me clean. Wash me, and make me thus thy own, Wash me, and mine thou art; Wash me, but not my feet alone— My hands, my head, my heart. For ever here my rest shall be, |