3. Grace lifted us up from the hole of the pit, 4. We're lifted above by the Spirit divine, We're lifted from nature's dark cell, We're lifted to smile at the billows of time; In Jesus securely we dwell. 5. We're lifted to view his transactions of love, Who was lifted to bear all our sin; And soon shall be lifted to mansions above, With Jesus for ever shut in. As it is with the church as a body, so it is with every individual member, they have their waxing and their waning seasons; times of mourning and times of rejoicing, times of castings down and times of lifting up. Nor is the world at all friendly to a heaven-bound pilgrim; but quite the reverse. All the world, composed as it is of various sects, parties, and opinions, are in the flesh, and cannot be expected to act contrary to their natures and carnal dispositions: the more a child of God is friendly with them, the sooner he is ensnared by them; as many a believer has found to his ccst. Believer! love not the world, for it cannot love you, and your love towards it will of course be lost. Remember from what thou hast been redeemed, even from this present evil world, that thou shouldst be a vessel to honor. Remember the price of thy redemption, the precious blood of Christ; and when thou art sorely beset by satan, and he brings thy daily sins before thee to make thee despair, the Lord help thee to have much to do with that precious blood of the covenant, Jesu's blood has a sovereign virtue to heal the worst of spiritual wounds; and it has also a power to repel the fiery darts of the devil. 3. A SINNER SAVED BY SOVEREIGN GRACE. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.--Rom. v. 20. 1. NOT one of Adam's race But is by sin undone, Deep sunk in foul disgrace, And righteousness, has none; And this, when brought through grace to know, Will sink the sinner very low. C 2. A sinner all defil'd, Corrupt in ev'ry part, - de Yet, oft is so beguil❜d, He tries to mend his heart; M Until his wounds corrupt and stink, And he can neither work or think. dub. And scarce can lift a sigh, has ettua en He tries, but cannot pray,? © Nor lift to heav'n his eye; His bosom heaves, with guilt oppress'd, SA4. In this bewilder'd state, He pushes at the gate, 69 06. 20 Till Jesus opens wide the door, milk nasa And saves the helpless and the poor.sas 5. The pris'ner now goes forth! The lame man leaps with joy! He feels the Saviour's worth, And lifts his name on high! On Jesu's head the crown he'll place, A sinner sav'd by sov'reign grace. * Nothing is more common than to hear professors of religion cry out against sin in others, and speak much about sin, in general terms; but it is evident that such persons are entire strangers to their own sinful hearts. To inveigh against sin, in others, is a common mark of the hypocrite, and it serves as a cloak to' conceal, from the view of many, the rottenness of their own hearts, and the emptiness of their profession. Between such poor, blind creatures, and sinners truly convinced of their state by nature and by practice, there can be no real union, or communion; though, it is possible, both may attend the same preaching, be members of the same Church, and both profess to believe the same truths. Reader, art thou a professor of religion? how didst thou come by thy profession? examine the ground of thy confidence; for, be assured of this, unless thou art born again of the Spirit, thy confidence is vain, and will deceive thee in the last important moment. And the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. XXII. 2. tolatuda wo ts of #199 THE tree of Life is Christ, my Lordics 1. THE Jago For ever be his name ador'd, By all the chosen race shade I felt A full release from all my guilt; How rich and free, the grace t -M103 10 nas lepzon sd prɔ ayad „eɔitonry 2. Planted by God the Father's hands The Tree of Life shall ever stand, The same in Heav'n and earth; In paradise he gives his fruit, fruit, And here below his mercies, suit.Lib we d 40.00 to 14 is coola s phi 3. His leaves contain such virtues rare, Healing the nations far and near g Who know their plague and sore: His gracious words, his promises, His precious blood and righteousness:Sweet tidings to the poor! 4. His fruit was peace, and pardon free; |