God spared not the angels that sinned

THEN, is it not wonderful that he should spare us ? They were more noble in their nature, and more exalted in their station; yet when they sinned God did not spare them, but cast them down to hell. Nor would he have spared us, but for the method of his grace; by which his Son became our substitute, took our responsibility, came into our world, and acted as our surety. And when he appeared in this character, he was dealt with accordingly, he was not spared, therefore we read, "He spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all." Was not this wonderful, God would not spare his Son, that he might spare us; us who were his enemies, and who would have remained so for ever if he had not changed our hearts by his grace? Let us this day reflect upon the facts, " God spared not the angels that sinned," " He spared not his own Son," but he says of us, " I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him." O mystery of mercy! What depths of love, what heights of grace are here! My soul, adore the sovereignty, and eternally praise the distinguishing grace displayed !
 
  Amazing work of sovereign grace
That could distinguish rebels no I

    Our guilty treasons call'd aloud
b'or everlasting fetters too.

I will look for him

THE Lord often conceals himself from his people. He leaves them, that they may learn the value of his presence, their dependence upon him, and their impotence without him. When he withdraws their comfort declines, their prospects are beclouded, then- enemies are lively, and their fears are often strong. They feel desolate, depressed, and alone. And except Satan beguile them, or the things of time entangle them, they begin at once to go in search of him. They look for him in the works of his hands; in the dispensations of providence; in the ordinances of his house; in the pages of his word; and especially in the closet, where they pour out their hearts. They go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but they cannot perceive him; on the left hand where he doth work, but they cannot behold him; he hideth himself on the right hand, that they cannot see him. Then they passionately cry, " Oh that I knew where I might find him!" Disappointed, and dispirited, they fear, fret, and perhaps complain; but they cannot give up, still they cry, " I will look for Mm."

   Disconsolate, forsook,
    Jesus, for thee I look:
Only thou my heart canst cheer,

    Comfort with thyself restore;
Show thyself the Comforter,

    Come, and never leave me more.

Let us hold fast our profession

WE have a great, a glorious High Priest; he has made a full atonement for our sins; he is gone to present his blood before his Father in the holiest of all; he has a tender heart; he ever liveth to make intercession for us. We have professed to be the true circumcision, to trust in his finished work alone for acceptance with God, and to devote ourselves entirely to his service. But there are many temptations to draw us aside, to lead us to trust in something of our own, to doubt either his power or his pity, and to withdraw ourselves from his service. But, let us be steadfast. Let us be steady. Let us hold fast our profession, and prove that we do so by coming boldly to the throne of grace in his name, by looking only to him and his perfect work for our justification and complete salvation, and by devoting our time, talents, and influence, to the promotion of his glory, and the extension of his kingdom. Many have given way to temptation, many have made shipwreck of faith and of a good conscience, let us therefore watch and be sober. Let us be jealous of ourselves.

    Jesus ever lives to plead
    His suffering people's cause,
Let us then pursue our Head,

    And bear his daily cross,-
Faithful unto death remain,
And in the crown of life resound.

On whom dost thou trust?

THIS is a very important question. Much depends on it. Let vis therefore apply it to ourselves, and to each other. On whom dost thou trust? On thyself? Then hear God's testimony, " He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool." He knows not its weakness, its depravity, or its deceitfulness; or he would never trust it. On whom dost thou trust? On thy fellow-men? Then hear God's threatening, " Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord: for he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited." Do you say, "But they are wise men, great men, exalted in station, excellent in character." " Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish." But on whom dost thou trust? On Jehovah? Jehovah as revealed in Jesus? Then take the comfort of God's promise, " Blessed is the man that trusteth 'in Jehovah, and whose hope the Lord is.

    Happy the man, securely blest,
    Who finds in Jacob's God his rest
    Whose hope, when threatening changes rise,
    Finn on Jehovah's power relies

Ye are sanctified

THE Corinthians were by nature dreadfully depraved, but where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. They were created anew in Christ Jesus, they were sanctified by the power of the Holy Ghost. To be sanctified is to be separated from sinners; to be delivered from the power of sin, and to be set apart for God. Sanctification begins in regeneration. There is no holiness in any one of God's fallen creatures, until regenerated by the Holy Spirit. We may separate ourselves from others, but we shall not be truly sanctified to God, unless we are renewed in the spirit of our minds. Every truly sanctified person loves holiness, prays for holiness, and strives for holiness. In vain do we boast of a sound creed, rejoice in church privileges, or expect heaven at death, except we really desire and seek to be holy. But, if we mourn over sin, fly to the fountain of a Saviour's blood, and strive for conformity to the Lord Jesus Christ, unquestionably we are sanctified,as the Corinthians were, "in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." Beloved, are you sanctified ? Your God says, " Be ye holy, for I am holy."

 Lord, let thy grace with sweet control,
Bind all the feelings of my soul;
Bid all its vanities depart,
And ever sway my wayward heart.

No lie will swallow up death in victory

DEATH is the fruit of sin. It is God's standing testimony against it. It is man's enemy. It is the object of the sinners dread. It has filled many saints with fear and alarm. Some are all their life time subject to bondage through the fear of death. It is a solemn event. The consequences are momentous. We must die. No one can escape it. No one will, except those who are alive when Jesus comes. But though it is a foe, and a terrible one too, it cannot really hurt a Christian. It is not now a curse, but often a blessing. As a penal evil it is abolished. It will be swallowed up in victory. The monster has lost its sting, and it will lose its existence. The victory of Jesus over it will be complete, manifest, and eternal. There shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away." Rev. xxi. 4. It will be as perfectly done away, as completely lost sight of, as the stone that is cast and swallowed up in the depths of the sea.
   
Ah, grant me. Lord, in death to find.
That death is swallowed up in thee,

    While on thy loving breast 
I gasp for Immortality!

    Purchased by thine lasting grace,
    And in my heart forever known.

They have not all obeyed the gospel

AND does the gospel require obedience? Yes : it commands us to repent of sin; to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ; to pray always and not to faint; to confess Christ before men; to glorify God in our bodies and spirits which are God's ; and to consecrate ourselves and all we have to the Lord's glory. But comparatively few obey the gospel. Reader, do you? Are you daily sorrowing for sin ? Are you placing your entire confidence in Jesus, and resting on his finished work alone for acceptance with God ? Do you pray as naturally as you breathe, and pray for all you need or desire ? Have you confessed Jesus before your fellow-men, and taken up the apostle's determination to glory only in his cross ? Do you aim at God's glory in every purpose you form, in every plan you draw, in every work you execute ? Have you consecrated your person, property, and talents, to the Lord; and do the ministering angels see written upon all you have," This is the Lord's ? " Solemn inquiries these! Let them sink down into your heart. Take them, and search your heart with them.
   
Turn and claim me as thine own,
Be my potion, Lord, alone;
In me all thy grace display,
A in thy gospel I'll obey.