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standing? Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing. It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in: That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity. Yea, they shall not be planted: yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble. Mat. 10. 29. Job 12. 9, 10, 14-16, 21, 23, 24. Dan. 4. 35. Ps. 33. 8-11. Is. 40. 13-15, 22-24.

THE 104th PS. DESERVES PARTICULAR ATTENTION.

NOTE E.

A SCRIPTURAL description of the unrenewed heart. In connexion with the following texts of Scripture, it should be remembered, DIVINE VERACITY has decided that, "As in water, face answereth to face; so the heart of man to man."-Prov. 27. 19.

It is wicked,-Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the Lord against thee, and it be sin unto thee. Deut. 15. 9.

Froward,-Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord. They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the Lord: but such as are upright in their way are his delight. Prov. 6. 14. and 11. 20.

Perverse,-A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised. Prov. 12. 8.

Rebellious,—But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone. Jer. 5. 23.

Impenitent,-But after thy hardness and impenitent heart, treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God. Rom. 2. 5.

Hard, O Lord, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return. Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord

of hosts hath sent in his Spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts. Jer. 5. 3. Zech. 7. 12.

And Stony.-A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. Ez. 36. 26.

It is full of Vanity and Iniquity,-And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it. Ps. 41. 6.

Of Pride,-The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after GoD: GOD is not in all his thoughts. Ps. 10. 4.

Of Covetousness,-Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: a heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children. 2 Pet. 2. 14.

Of Mischief,-Which imagine mischiefs in their hearts; continually are they gathered together for war. Ps. 140. 2.

Of Deceit,-Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy. They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak. The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things. Prov. 12, 20. Ps. 12. 2, 3.

Of Evil and Madness.-This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead. Eccl. 9. 3.

REFLECTIONS.

From this Scriptural view of the UNRENEWED HEART, it ap pears, exactly FITTED,-justly DESERVING,-and certainly EXPOSED, to endure "indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish," in time and to ETERNITY, No wonder that unrenewed persons are deeply distressed when their HEARTS are shewn them by the Holy Spirit. The efficacy of Christ's BLOOD,-divine POWER, and FREE GRACE, are supereminent、 ly displayed when sinners hearts are RENEWED.

NOTE F.

Let those who have been SPIRITUALLY ENLIGHTENED, remember their increased obligations, and be careful to walk worthy of their high vocation.

Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day:

we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breast-plate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of GoD: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Dearly beloved, I beseech you, as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.- Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick: and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 1 Thes. 5. 5-10. 1 Pet. 2. 9-12. Mat. 5. 13-16. Rom. 13. 11-14. 1 Pet. 1. 18—23.

NOTE G.

The AUTHOR and means, nature and fruits, of EVANGELICAL REPENTANCE briefly stated.

JEHOVAH, Father, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if GoD peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth. 2 Tim. 2. 25.

Son,-Him hath GOD exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. Acts 5. 31.

And Spirit-For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. Rom. 8. 13.

Giveth repentance by the means of his word, written,―The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. And he said unto

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him, if they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. Ps. 19. 7. Luke 16. 31.

And dispensed.-And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their GoD.- To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto GOD, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. Luke 1. 16. Acts 26. 18..

Self-examination,-Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord. Lam. 3. 40.

Conviction of Sin,—What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house. 1 Kings 8. 38.

Self-loathing,-And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed. Ez. 20.43.

Sincere confession,-And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean.But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our `iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. Lev. 13. 45. Is. 64. 6.

Fervent Petition,-And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. Luke

18. 13.

Turning to God,─And I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be my people, and I will be their GoD: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart. Jer. 24. 7.

In heart,-I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee. Set thee up way-marks, make thee high heaps: set thine heart toward the highway, even the way which thou wentest: turn again O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities. Luke 15. 18. Jer. 31. 21.

And in life, united, constitute genuine repentance.-1 entreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word. I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments. Ps. 119. 58-60.

NOTE H.

A brief statement of the Author, the means, the nature, the evidences, and the privileges of genuine FAITH.

We are required to have strong,-He staggered not at the promise of Gop through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to GOD. Rom. 4. 20.

Steadfast,-Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. 1 Cor. 16. 13.

Persevering-For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Col. 2.5-7.

Faith-Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Heb. 11. 1.

In God, And Jesus answering, saith unto them, Have faith in GOD. Mark 11. 22.

In Christ,-Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. John 6. 29.

And in the Scriptures.-And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the Lord your GOD, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper. Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 2 Chron. 20. 20. Luke 24. 25. 2 Tim. 3. 14, 15.

Faith has for its Author JEHOVAH,-For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. Rom. 12. 3.

Father,-And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. Mat. 16. 17.

Son,-Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of GoD. Heb. 12. 2.

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