of these Jewish professors, by a reference to the history of their father Abraham.

Addressing the avowed unbelievers among the Jews, Christ said, "If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham" John viii. 39; and the reasoning of James with professed believers is the same. The justification of the patriarch was an act of free grace and of pure compassion; and great would be his peace and his joy when called from a state of condemnation to a state of acceptance. But his blessedness must have advanced as he grew in acquaintance with the promises and character of God. What a view is given us of his happiness in these words," and he was called the friend of God." James ii. 23. 2 Chron. xx. 7. Isaiah xli. 8. It was in that confidential intercourse with God-that cultivation of fellowship with him—that imitation of him—that ready obedience to him—that union with him, in judgment, affection, and aim—and that entire trust in him which so highly distinguished his character, that his blessedness was continued and advanced. His happiness was still farther heightened by the delightful sense of the approbation and complacency with which Jehovah regarded him ; and by the many tokens he received of the unceasing care and kindness of his God. In the day of the Lord all his sins will be declared forgiven; but, in as far as his character was righteous, forgiveness will not be called for. The approbation which he received when on earth, will then be ratified by his just and applauding Judge.

This view of the subject gives an edge to those parts of Scripture which call upon Christians to seek, that they may be found at last of the Judge, "in peace, and without spot, and blameless ;" and which exhibit even to them, the solemn nature of his judgment. 2 Peter iii. 14. 1 John ii. 28. Rom. xiv. 10. 2 Cor. v. 10.4

Never let any sentiment be admitted which would blunt the admonitions of Scripture, and reduce to unmeaning sounds the solemn warnings of heaven. On the other hand, ever give the proper place to the doctrines of the cross, and the gracious promises of the covenant.

When the Christian, dear friend, thinks of the sins that stain even his religious services, and of the imperfections that at best mingle with them, he may well wonder that any of them should be acknowledged by his Lord. Even when the redeemed are at the seat of judgment declared the approved servants of Christ, they are represented as expressing their surprise that they should be thus applauded. Matt. xxv. 37, 38, 39.But the Saviour can separate from what is sinful all that proceeded from love, out of a pure heart, a good conscience, and faith unfeigned. Many were the errors and the infirmities of his first disciples; but in his intercessory prayer on the night in which he was betrayed, he does not mention one of them. All that was good in their behaviour, he separates from what was evil; the latter had been forgiven, and the former he approves. To his Father he says of them, "They have kept thy word." "I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me." "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." See in this a disposition to commend rather than condemn, and learn to trust in him as one who will not forget our work of faith, and our labour of love. Job, notwithstanding his occasional failures, was upon the whole a submissive sufferer; and hence God, exhibiting him as an example, says to us, "Ye have heard of the patience of Job." What a kind Master do we serve! Ought we not to be ambitious of high degrees of his approbation? On the resurrection morn, when on

coming forth from the grave, and on viewing all the grandeur and importance of eternity, our first thoughts and words will turn upon the atonement of him through whom we have obtained the victory, 1 Cor. xv. 45—57— when we shall count it an unutterable blessing to "find mercy of the Lord in that day," how transporting to find, that not only are all our sins declared completely forgiven, but that He who "washed us in his blood," will kindly and openly declare his complacency in our poor services in his cause on earth. Will not this at once humble and elevate the heart? make the whole soul to thrill with ecstatic delight ?— Will it not be joy unutterable and full of glory?

༤། ས་པ

Will it not

Let us seek, then, to manifest the tried faith and approved obedience of the father of the faithful. He is held up as an eminent example of the supporting and sanctifying influence of faith in the atonement. Let us give glory to God as he did, by implicit confidence in his word, and unreserved and persevering submission to his will. The love of God towards us has been manifested in the merciful forgiveness of our sins; but his great object in thus displaying his compassion, is to effect our deliverance from sin, and to advance us to that exalted blessedness which results from a holy resemblance to him, from union union of heart with him, and from the enjoyment of his complacent satisfaction in our character and services, May it be justly said of us, that our spirit and conduct, like that of Abraham, make it manifest that, like him, we have been treated as though we were righteous," for the sake of the Redeemer. What a happiness thus to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour! Like the patriarch, let us cultivate the spirit of pilgrims, and look for the heavenly country; let us, like him, be decided in the service of God, contented with our lot on earth, the friends of peace, kind to all men, particularly attached to the

མ་

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family of ly of God, and distinguished by the patient selfdenial and perseverance of a life of faith.And magi 1 2 3 has hige to die if the peace and be our happiness, as it was

hope of the faith of Christ, and to be gathered to thei assembly above. I remain, also a 900 Snimilərq yus llit gnitiew tuodtiw oitavise gimlA 9dt: to 299799b sdt gaitseqer boltte

been e ceedingly injured by being led to pry into the subject of election, instead of being occupied with the unrestricted calls and invitations of the Gospel. No man obtains the blessings of redemption, by believing that he is elected of God, or that Christ died for him, in

distinction from others, but by believing the broad declaration of Scripture, that the Saviour "died for sinners," and "for the ungodly," and that his atonement is sufficient to cleanse from all sin. This blessed testimony every one is called to believe, in order to his salvation, without waiting till any preliminaries are settled, respecting the decrees of the Almighty.Christians have obtained the blessings of mercy in the way of coming to the Saviour, not as persons chosen of God, but as poor, guilty, and helpless sinners, having no plea but what arises from his work, and from the promise of life through him.

In accordance with this, a writer, whose views of the subject in question will not be suspected of being too low, has said that "election is often put for selection or separating by calling." In this way, he interprets the expression in Rom, viii. 33, Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect ?" understanding it of those who, in verse 30, are said to be actually called, and against whom, as persons actually justified in time, no charge can be so laid as to subject them to condemnation; and he refers to Isaiah xiv, 1; xlviii. 10; Ezek. xx. 5, and John xv. 19, in proof of the application of the word in question to occurrences in the present state. (Beart on the Law and the Gospel, part ii. page 151.)

I remarked in a former letter, that the change of mind which separates Christians from the world, is often expressed by their being said to be called and chosen of God, out of the kingdom of darkness into that of Christ. The terms elect and chosen, and words of similar import, are accordingly sometimes applied to the conversion of the soul in time, and not to the transactions of eternity. John xv. 19. 1 Peter i. 2.; ii. 9. Thus, in Colossians iii. 12. Christians are called upon

to act as elect persons: that is, as appears from the