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We are changed....2 Cor. iii. 18.

WHAT a blessed and glorious change has passed upon our souls! Lord, help us to consider it this night to thy glory and our comfort, how, by whom, and why are we changed. 1st. How are we changed? From sinful into sinless creatures? No: some speak of this change as if it was a total change of our corrupt nature: hence many dear children of God, finding and feeling all the ruins of their fallen nature from day to day, are sorely distressed, and conclude that no spiritual change has passed upon their souls: but this change is purely spiritual; it passeth upon the spirit of our minds; these were enmity against God, now they love God and delight in the law of God. Our souls, once dead in sin, are now alive in God. We are translated from darkness into light; we see with open face, in the glass of the gospel, the glory of Jesus in all his offices and precious salvation. Hence our minds are changed into his image; we are united to him and are one with him; the image of God, lost in the fall, is restored to our souls in Christ; we are in him, as righteous before God as though we had never sinned; as holy and without spot of sin, as though we had never lost our innocence. Such is our glorious change; this is the joy of faith; this is above nature, beyond carnal sense. 2d. By whom are we changed? By the Lord the Spirit. Being loved of God the Father, when dead in sin; being redeemed by God the Son from our sins; God the Spirit changes us from dead sinners into living saints in Christ. 3d. To what end? that we should admire ourselves, glory in ourselves, and so trust in ourselves as to expect God's favor and eternal life for what we are in ourselves? O, no. Though changed into the image of Christ, yet we shall find all the evil of sin in our flesh: though new creatures in Christ, still the old man, with all his corrupt lusts and carnal affections is alive in us: this is enough to humble us. But the Spirit changes us, that we should glory in and glory of Christ; that all our joy and rejoicing should be in the Lamb of God, who hath taken away our sins, for ever saved our souls, and brought us into sweet peace and holy fellowship with God; that we may enjoy him in love, and walk before him in holiness below, and live and reign eternally with him above. These are the great and glorious ends of our being changed. One change more and we are in glory. We shall all be changed, body and soul, into the image of the heavenly Jesus.

Chang'd in my state, my heart and Rejoice, another change awaits
By power of the sacred THREE: [ways, Thee, as a new-born child of God:
My soul adore this LORD of grace,
And walk in love and purity.

Thou soon shalt pass the heav'nly gates,
Free from all sin, with glory clad. M.

I am the Lord, I change not, therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed....Mal. iii. 6.

RELIGION without feeling is like a dead carcase: feeling without truth is only nature warmed by fancy. Those are the only precious feelings, which are caused by the word of God: this is a joyful feeling, when we can say, "I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil."....Psalm cxix. 162. Why such exceeding great joy? Because the word of God testifies of the immutable nature and unchangeable love of a covenant God to poor sinners. I am the LORD, Jehovah, Father, Son and Spirit: I change not. There's the believer's security from destruction: in this consists his safety unto salvation; for alas! we are poor, changeable creatures: now, our souls are strong in confidence, warm with love, joyful through hope, enlarged in prayer, with Christ in our view and glory in our eye; anon, a cloud arises in the horizon of our hearts, unbelief prevails, lust rages, corruptions roar, all nature is in ferment, and the soul in distress: then, what has it to look to for hope, and turn to for comfort? An unchangeable God, who is of one mind; with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning....Job xxiii. 13. James i. 17. A precious "Jesus, who is the same yesterday,, and to-day, and for ever."....Heb. xiii. 8. "The Lord thy God in the midst of thee, is mighty: he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy: he will rest in his love: he will joy over thee with singing". Zeph. iii. 17. The different frames and feelings which distress us, do not affect God nor cause any change in his love to us. A changeable God must be an unhappy being, like ourselves: but God never changes in his love, purposes, and grace to us. For, 1st. He did "not love us, choose us, and set his heart upon us on account of what he saw in us, but as he viewed us in the Son of his love. We are unrighteous sinners in ourselves; but he sees in Christ an everlasting atonement for our sins, and an everlasting righteousness to justify ús: therefore he is ever pleased with us in Christ; ever of one mind concerning us; ever rests in his love to us and joy over us : no change in us can ever affect his mind, his love, or his joy. Hence learn, 1st. Not to live upon your frames and feelings, nor upon any thing you are in yourself. Bless God for lively frames and comfortable feelings; but know, these are not Christ; they do not make you acceptable to God. But, 2d. Look to and live upon what you are in Christ: that is your glory. God so views and loves you. Look here, live here, and rejoice. So you will, 3d. Be like God,

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of one mind unto Jesus, live upon him, and walk to the glory of

your God and Father, in him.

God never changes in his love,
As feeble men do think,

As though to-day he souls approve,
After to hell will sink.

M.

The heirs of promise....Heb. vi. 17.

In

CONSIDER, 1st. An heir of promise, is one who has no just right or legal title to an inheritance, but as it is ensured to him by the promise of the owner: just so the Lord makes sinners, who have no right or title to his heavenly inheritance, a free promise that they shall be heirs to it. 2d. When was this promise made? “Before the world began, God who cannot lie, promised eternal life!".... Tit. i. 2. Sd. To whom could the promise be made, seeing man was not then created? It was not made to man, but FOR man: not for any thing in man: nor does this promise receive any stability by any thing done by men. It was made in the eternal council and covenant, by God the Father to his co-equal Son; for, and in behalf of all the heirs of God. 4th. Who are the heirs of promise? God knows every one of them: we know their name: it is SINNER. the fulness of time he makes them manifest, and they have blessed evidence and assurance of their being heirs: for, as the Father gave them to Christ, the Spirit draws them, and they come unto Christ this is the blessed evidence of heirship: they are refugees: they flee for refuge from the curse of the law the desert of sin, every hope, and all help in themselves to lay hold of Jesus their trustee, to whom the promise was made, in whom it centers, and through whom it shall be fulfilled: but neither their fleeing, nor their faith, makes them heirs; but being heirs in Christ, they are enabled to flee to him, believe in him, and enjoy the comfort of it. 5th. See then, ye believing heirs, how safe your state, how secure your inheritance; "it is reserved for you.".... 1 Pet. i. 4. God willing more abundantly to SHEW unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath....Heb. v. 17. Othe love of God! O the horrid blasphemy of men! They who say an heir of promise may be damned, charge the great God with perjury! For, 6th. The inheritance is not by works: not for any thing we have done, or can do: not for any grace given us, but being heirs by promise, grace is given us, that we should live and walk like sons of God and joint heirs with Christ. As you

did nothing to make yourself an heir of promise and to get a title to eternal life, so you can do nothing to forfeit it. It is impossible for God to lie he cannot be forsworn: his promise cannot fail: yet, if you do not live like an heir of God, your faith will grow weak, your comfort low you will lose sight of your title, and your Father will visit your transgression with a rod....Psalm lxxxix. 52.

I have no right to be an heir,
Of God's most rich inheritance;
His promise gives to all a share,
Who place in Christ their confidence.
VOL. II.

Then, Lord, I humbly come to thee,
A sinner vile, wretched and poor;
O grant me clearly now to see
I've entered in by Christ the door. M.
E e

My son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.... 2 Tim. ii. 1.

PAUL had known what it was to be strong in vain confidence and self-righteous hopes; to be strong in rage and persecution against Christ and his people: but his poor soul had severely smarted for that. Now Christ had got possession of his heart, he was all in all to him; he thought he could never enough recommend him and his grace to his dear friends. O let us imitate him. 1st. The grace that is in Christ Jesus: because of our low, mean, scanty thoughts of his rich grace, we are low in courage against our enemies, and weak in the comforts of our souls. Know, there is much more in this than many weakly suppose, as though Christ came into the world to procure some grace for us, puts it into us as they do seeds into a hot-bed, leaves us to be faithful to it, and so to secure our own salvation. What kind of grace is this? Not saving grace: if this is all, it would end in our certain destruction; but the grace, or favor that is in Christ towards us, is nothing less than the everlasting love of God to us: an everlasting atonement for our sins: an everlasting righteousness to justify our persons: an everlasting salvation for our souls; and the everlasting consolations of the Holy Ghost, all promised to us in the everlasting gospel, and enjoyed in faith those who diminish ought of all this from the : grace of Christ, are open enemies to God's glory in Christ, and to the peace, holiness, and comfort of our souls. Ignorance and unbelief are our Lord's enemies and ours. Against these, 2d. Be strong in this grace fortify your mind: fence yourself round with it: entrench yourself in it let your confidence be strong in it against all opposing enemies; be bold in faith: strong in hope; confident in the grace of Christ rest not in any degree of grace received; but be strong in the fulness of the grace that is in Christ. Are your lusts and corruptions strong? Oppose the Almighty grace of Christ to them: are your doubts and fears strong? "Be strong in the precious promises which are in Christ Jesus, yea and amen, to the glory of God."....2 Cor. i. 20. Are your conflicts, temptations and distresses strong? Flee for refuge to Jesus, the hope set before you: there is STRONG CONSOLATION for you! God knowing our distress and dejection through the prevailings of unbelief, has graciously confirmed his council and promise (O astonishing!) by his OATH. Can you, dare you think it possible for God to lie or be perjured? Then, whatever in nature, sense and feeling oppose, stagger not at the promise of God through unbelief; "but be strong in faith giving glory to God." ....Rom. iv. 20.

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With strongest love, and sufferings
Christ manifests his grace:

Then let's be strong, in Christ complete [great, We're sure to see his face.

M.

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life.... 1 Tim. vi. 12.

SOLDIERS of an earthly monarch are regularly enlisted to fight under his banner: they wear his livery and are furnished by him with arms: in a day of battle they prove their courage and faithfulness. So the captain of our salvation chooses and enlists his own soldiers: he puts on them a livery whereby they are known to his enemies : he puts an armour on them and weapons into their hands. From the moment they enlist under him, they enter the field of battle: there is never any peace with the enemy; the fight is the good fight of faith; the prize is eternal life; the daily word of command is, FIGHT....stand to your arms....give no quarter to the enemy....beware of the least truce with them; for the danger is great, the effects will prove awful. It is A GOOD FIGHT: it is in a good cause; under a good captain, who gives good encouragement, and has assured us of certain victory over the worst of enemies. Fight this good fight for the glory of him, who in dying for us has for ever conquered all who are against us. But they are not all dead yet : fight on it is a good fight of FAITH. Dost thou say I have got no faith? Then pull off thy soldier's livery. What hast thou to do in the rank? But who told thee thou art destitute of faith? Why, thou hast laid down thy shield, are got into the enemies' camp; he has seduced thee by his deceitful insinuations, and will prevail over thee. No faith! What meanest thou? Instead of fighting against, thou art parlying with the enemy. Dost thou believe that Jesus is the Son of God, the Saviour of sinners? Yes, sayest thou, but I have not the comfort of knowing that he is My Saviour! What then? Wilt thou deny thy faith for want of comfort? Desert thy Lord's banner till thou hast got assurance of his love? Fight on against thy worst foe, unbelief, and cry to thy best friend, Lord increase my faith. The battle is the Lord's: thy strength is from him: "be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart: all ye that hope in the Lord."....Psalm. xxxi. 24. LAY HOLD ON ETERNAL LIFE; it is the free gift of God. Lay hold of it by faith; possess and enjoy it now in the belief of thy heart; hold it fast in hope: quit not thy confidence in it; so shall thy heart be warm with love, thy spirit filled with joy, and thine arms made strong to fight, until thou art crowned in eternal glory. Remember, the joy of thy Lord is thy strength. When death, the last enemy comes, hold fast thy faith, and thou shalt sing, victory in death.

True 'tis a fight with many foes,

For us too great and strong;
But Christ has conquer'd all our woes,
The batile can't be long.

Cheer up my soul, look to thy Lord,
For strength in ev'ry hour,
Vict'ry is promis'd in his word,

O'er all thine en'mies power.

M.

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