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.

Fear not: for I have redeemed thee

ISRAEL needed redemption both from Egypt and Babylon, and the Lord redeemed themWe needed to be redeemed from sin, Satan, and the present evil world, and Jesus has become our Redeemer. The price of our redemption was his precious blood; the power that effects our deliverance is the power of his Holy Spirit. The legal difficulties were all removed when he died in our stead, but we were as really enthralled and held in bondage as if no price had been paid for our release; therefore it was necessary that power should be exerted, and this has been done, and we are now the redeemed of the Lord. He redeemed us because he loved ns; because he had set his heart upon us; because he intended to glorify himself in us, before angels, devils, and men. Having redeemed us he bids us not fear. For having purchased us so dearly, he will not easily part with us: having delivered us when we were his foes, he will certainly take care of us now we are his friends. Still it seems natural to fear. But he who redeemed us says, "Fear not, for I am with thee, I will keep thee."
   
Why shouldst thou fear, when I am thine,
    When all I am, I am for thee?
If thou art weak, my strength divine

    Is perfect in infirmity.

Whose I am

WE are all the Lord's by creation: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves. He produced us by his power, and intended us for his glory. But the generality withhold from God his right. They do not own him, worship him, or obey him. He is not in all their thoughts. But this was not the case with Paul. He had made a surrender of himself to God. He had consecrated all his powers to his service. He sought by all means to promote his cause, and advance his glory. He was the Lord's child by adoption and grace. He was the Lord's servant by solemn engagement. He had given himself to God, and he recognized God as his owner, sovereign, and master. He consulted God's will. He was employed in God's work. He expected God's protection. He was now in danger, but his God sent an angel to assure him of his safety, and to comfort him in his sorrow. The Lord always cares for his own. He never did neglect a faithful servant, or fail to bless an obedient child. Beloved, are you the Lord's ? Do you recognize his right to you ? Have you entered into engagements with him ? If so, you are in a happy state.

    If I am thine, Lord, let me be
    Entirely set apart for thee:
    If I am not thy right assert,
    Tills moment claim und win my heart.