feelings the love and observance of Righteousness in all our actions and communications, in all our motives and meditations; remembering, that GOD is The GOD of Righteousness, and to The Righteousness of His SON, Perfected by His Obedience and Atonement, we owe the hope both of Pardon and Acceptance in The DIVINE Councils. The study and the retention and appropriation of the Revelation of JEHOVAH's Dealings and Purposes of Mercy in CHRIST JESUS to Mankind, and of the Rules and Precepts Therein Laid down, and of the faith, and hope and charity Inculcated Therein, will insure us that Preparation, which will qualify the Soul for the Mansions and the Court of The PRINCE of Peace. And as we are only capable of Justification in the Judgment of A HOLY and Pure GOD, by faith in JESUS CHRIST and His All-Cleansing Righteousness, this faith must be inwardly felt, as well as outwardly professed, and treasured in our Souls, to be put forth as a lively and actuating principle, with unfeigned and unfailing confidence and unceasing gratitude towards CHRIST as The FOUNDER of It. Thus with this Prospect of Salvation before us we may, in heartily receiving and cherishing It, find ourselves helmeted for the conflict, and rest on the defensiveness It will amply supply. Hence not only does The Gospel of JESUS CHRIST Bring Peace to the Soul, but It arms us with the Sword of The SPIRIT, That All-Conquering Weapon, the Word of GOD, Whose Ethereal Touch no Human or Hell-born Power can withstand. To All of Which, as only consistent with the gratitude and humility of A Soul So DIVINELY Guarded, the Spirit of circumspection and communion in watchfulness and prayer must be added, ever admitting the necessity for Such Super-Human Protection and Direction, and ever appreciating The Goodness That Prompted Such Merciful Care and Consideration, and breaking forth in praise of A Dispensation, So in Its Progress Leading to and Insuring Such True Peace and heart-felt Joy, and Such Excellent Greatness in the Courts of The LORD's Presence Hereafter. Including also the hope of joining in the Communion of Saints in Heaven Those, who, by our course of consistent piety and vital faith and true charity, both by our precepts and example, by our exertions and exhortations, we may have striven, under the Aid of The HOLY SPIRIT, and The WORD of GOD, to have drawn Thither by the same faith and hope in JESUS CHRIST and in His MEDIATORIAL Office. As the Apostle elsewhere cautions, Amidst the uncertainty of this life, the precariousness of the present hour or beyond the moment in which we breathe, the night of Death may be with Some of us, (and who can justify the saying or the thought, that it is not with me?) and then the Day of Judgment will be, in effect at least, instantly at hand; therefore let us cast off all works of darkness, and let us put on the Armour of Light! Let us walk honestly as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying: but let us put on The LORD JESUS CHRIST!-Rom. xiii. 12 to 14; approving ourselves as the faithful Servants and Soldiers in His Retaining, by much patience under afflictions, by labours of love, by watchings and under trials, whether at home or from home, by pureness, by knowledge, by kindness, by love unfeigned, by the Word of Truth, by the Armour of Righteousness on the right-hand and on the left, Enwrapt in the Panoply of the Grace of The SPIRIT, and firm in the faith as it is in The GOSPEL of our LORD and MASTER JESUS CHRIST-2 Cor. vi. 4, 5, 6, 7; cherishing with the Apostle this persuasion, that if so actuated, neither Death nor Life, nor evil Angels, nor Principalities, nor Powers, nor Things present, nor Things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other Creature, shall be able to separate us from the Love of GOD, Which is in CHRIST JESUS our LORD-Rom. viii. 38, 39. —As the Prophet Isaiah, when predicting the Advent of The MESSIAH, declared, that Righteousness should be the Girdle of His Loins, and Faithfulness the Girdle of

His Reins, (Isaiah xi. 5,) and as This Character was so Eminently and Exquisitely Fulfilled in Him, so should we strive to be righteous in all our ways and faithful in all our vows, that He may on His Second Advent Receive us as of His Adopted Brethren. How beautiful are the feet of them, that preach The Gospel of Peace, and bring glad Tidings of Good Things!—Isaiah lii. 7; Rom. x. 15; for they, as Members of CHRIST, are Members of His Church upon Earth, Which is His Bride, of whom Solomon largely speaks in his Canticles. And the quality of faithfulness St. John thus exemplifies-Whatsoever is Born of GOD overcometh the World: and This is the Victory that overcometh the World, even our Faith. Who is he, that overcometh the World, but he, that believeth, that JESUS is The SON of GOD?-1 John v. 4, 5.- -Isaiah elsewhere Foretold of The Incarnate SON of GOD, that His Arm should Bring Salvation unto Him, and His Righteousness It should Sustain Him; for He should Put on Righteousness as a Breastplate, and an Helmet of Salvation upon His Head and He should Put on the Garments of Vengeance for Clothing, and be Clad with Zeal as a Cloak-Isaiah lix. 16, 17. So should our. ur Souls be imbued with uprightness, and our hearts be strong in the Power of our REDEEMER, and in the Vindication of His Cause, and Title to Universal gratitude and obedience.The Word of GOD,described by Paul here as The Sword of The SPIRIT, is Illustrated by the Same Author, if he be the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews, wherein it is said, that The Word of GOD is Quick and Powerful, and Sharper than any two-edged sword, Piercing even to the Dividing asunder of Soul and Spirit, and of the joints and marrow; and is A Discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart; neither is there any Creature, that is not manifest in His Sight: but all Things are naked and opened unto the Eyes of Him, with Whom we have to do; concluding with this Exhortation, which we may and in true wisdom should apply and appropriate to ourselves individually, Seeing then, that we have A Great HIGH-PRIEST, That is Passed into the Heavens, JESUS, The SON of GOD, let us hold fast our Profession (as Christians)! For we have not an High-Priest, which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but (ONE, Who) was in all points Tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come (and come) boldly unto The Throne of Grace, that we may obtain Mercy, and find Grace to Help in time of need! — Heb. iv. 12 to 16.Our SAVIOUR, when Prefacing His Parable of the efficacy of prayer, if addressed even to an unrighteous and infidel Judge with importunity, Said, Man ought always to pray and not to faint-Luke xviii. 1. And as continuing instant in the spirit of prayerfulness, at least inwardly, is the Christian's interest, so should our Souls be given unceasingly to watchfulness, as Enjoined by That FOUNTAIN of Wisdom and Love, The SON of The Living GOD, Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation !—Matt. xxvi. 41.

VERSES 19, 20—And (praying) for me (Paul) that Utterance may be Given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the Mystery of The Gospel, for Which I am an Ambassador in bonds, that Therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

The prayer of the Righteous availeth much. And highly Gifted as Paul had been in his Miraculous Conversion, in His Personal communication with The Incarnate SON of GOD in His Glory, and with the Effusion of The HOLY SPIRIT in Grace without measure, he yet felt the need of Continued Supplies of That Grace, that he might speak the Word of Truth and Extend the knowledge of The LORD in The Gospel of His SON, using all diligence in every fitting opportunity, and all Wisdom in his conversations and preachings, as well as in his writings; and therefore was it, that he sought this prayerful influence on his behalf, doubtless feeling, that this would be a Schooling for the office of prayer,

and enlarge in the minds of those he addressed, or who should read or hear his Letter, the sense of its importance, as well as exhibit the comprehensiveness of its Objects. It is both prudent and wise by inward aspirations to seek the Help and Guidance of The HOLY SPIRIT in the Pulpit, on the Platform, and in the Study; and, if asked in a meek and yielding spirit, the Grace and Ornament and Weight of speech or writing may be hopefully calculated on as the fruit of such confiding prayer, if the Honour of GOD and of His CHRIST be aimed at, and not the pride of self-approval or the applause of Fellow-Men. Every Professor of Christianity in his life, exhibiting the acts of a consistent faith in Its Principles, should be ready to give a reason of the hope, that is in him, and that so impressively, however concisely, as to silence the Gainsayer, and to win over the Wavering to the same confidence and hope and accordance with the adoption of Gospel Discipline and observance of Its Duties, as well as a firm and grateful dependance on Its Promises and Assurances. Such boldness in the Great Work of winning Souls to CHRIST is a fortitude and a courage, infinitely more desirable than the Warrior's prowess in Human conflicts. For the prayers of Others, who by their Lives and conversation may seem to have influence at The Throne of Grace, it is well for us individually to ask, and the repeated example of the highly Gifted St. Paul instructs, as well as injoins us, so to do, letting such seeking for supplicatory intercession have a Spiritual and Heavenward tendency in the language of the Apostle, Pray for us, that the Word of The LORD may have free Course, and be Glorified 2 Thess. iii. 1.- -When The ALMIGHTY Declared to His Prophet Isaiah, that There is no Peace to the Wicked, He Injoined that Preacher of Righteousness, and faithful Minister of His Word, and Oracle of His Purposes of Mercy to Mankind in every Generation, to cry aloud and spare not; to lift up his voice as a trumpet, and shew the People their transgressions, that they might seek The LORD daily, and delight to know His Ways, and might do Righteousness, and take delight in approaching unto GOD and His Favour-Isaiah lvii. 21; lviii. 1, 2.

▲ VERSES 21, 22.-But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved Brother and faithful Minister in The LORD, shall make known to you all things; whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.

Next to the gratification of a personal intercourse with Paul, must have been the visitation of an accredited Messenger from him, entrusted with the communication of the most sublime and animating Truths from himself, as contained in this Casket of inestimable Jewels, the Counsel and Wisdom and DIVINELY Gifted Revelation discussed in this Epistle. From Tychicus's intimacy with the private habits, and life and conversation of the Apostle, as continually with and confided in by him, he would be able to impart to them the Enlargement of the Doctrine of CHRIST JESUS; whilst the Further Development of the Hopes and Duties of The Gospel would fall within the power and province of his communicative Office. The Picture he would give of Paul's continuing courage and zeal in his HOLY MASTER's Service, and in the Spread of the Glad Tidings of Salvation in The Gospel of Peace, through Pardon of sin and in the Reconciliation of The DIVINE NATURE, would indeed administer unspeakable Consolation and confidence to those, with whom he held intercourse as faithful Followers of The Truth in JESUS.Paul had met with Tychicus in Greece, and when, after a residence of some months there, he found the Jews, in their relentless and envious persecution of him, were pursuing him thither, and seeking his destruction, being determined to withdraw for a season, be prepared to go into Syria, purposing to return through Macedonia, there accompanied him into Asia

(with Others as Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus, and Secundus, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus, and of Asia) Tychicus and Trophimus-Acts xx. 2, 3, 4. He was also the selected Messenger to the Colossian Converts, of whom in his Epistle to them the Apostle thus wrote, All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you; who is a beloved Brother, and a faithful Minister, and Fellow-Servant in The LORD; whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts; with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved Brother, who is One of you: they shall make known unto you all things, which are done here at Rome, from whence the Epistle was written--Col. iv. 7 to 9.

VERSES 23, 24.-Peace be to the Brethren and love with faith, from GOD The FATHER, and The LORD JESUS CHRIST! Grace be with all them, that love our LORD JESUS CHRIST in sincerity! Amen.

Such is the Apostle's order of prayer for Others, and as a fruitful lesson should it prove to us, that in reference to the Spiritual State and Eternal Interests of Others of our Fellow-Creatures, we should pray for That Peace, Which Cometh, as Wisdom, from Above, on them as on ourselves, (and what Richer Blessing can we here wish for?) when It Takes full possession of the heart, and Enlivens the Soul with the feast, not only of contentedness, but of Joyfulness at the prospect of all attainable Happiness in the Life to Come, in the Unbroken Union with Heavenly Spirits, and the Crowning Bliss of The SAVIOUR's Unceasing Manifestations of His Love. Grateful, adoringly grateful should we be, that the Riches of These otherwise Unattainable Blessings, are within the reach of All, who embrace The Gospel of JESUS CHRIST in sincerity, and to whom the Saving and Sanctifying Faith Thereof will therefore be Abundantly Imparted.Greet ye One Another with a kiss of Charity! was St. Peter's exhortation also; and the conclusion of his first Epistle was with the Prayer, that Peace might be with All, that are in CHRIST JESUS! as assuredly It will be, both in Time and in Eternity-1 Pet. v. 14.

PHILIPPIANS, CHAPTER I.

VERSES 1 to 8.-Paul and Timotheus, the Servants of JESUS CHRIST, to all the Saints in CHRIST JESUS, which are at Philippi, with the Bishops and Deacons, Grace be unto you, and Peace from GOD our FATHER, and from The LORD JESUS CHRIST! I thank my GOD upon every remembrance of you; always in every prayer of mine for you All, making request, with joy, for your Fellowship in The Gospel from the first day until now being confident of this very thing, that He, Which hath Begun a Good Work in you, will Perform It until the Day of JESUS CHRIST: even as it is meet for me to think this of you All; because I have you in my heart: inasmuch as both in my bonds and in the defence and confirmation of The Gospel ye All are Partakers of my Grace: for GOD is my Record, how greatly I long after you All in the Bowels of JESUS CHRIST.

And What Wages are Reserved for Such Service! The Riches of a Life in Heaven, its reflective Rest, its enduring Consolations, its Exalting Gratifications, immeasurable beyond not only the highest experience of Spiritual Delight here, but beyond even the most advanced conception of them, and with the Conviction, that when Time shall be no more to exhaust them, and when Immortality will attach to the Soul, it shall be Eternity's Office to Sustain them. The MASTER, with a Countenance and Voice of Exquisite Delightfulness and Harmony, will then Greet Such Servants, and by His Unabating Love will Rejoice their Spirits and Animate them with the most Pleasurable Sensations. This too for a devotedness in the mere moment of existence here. The Apostle addresses himself to Saints, Such as were indeed Sanctified and Made Holy by the reception of The Grace of The HOLY SPIRIT into their hearts, through the Intercession of The Incarnate SON of GOD, from Whom, having entered freely upon the Relationship of Servants to Him, they receive, as an Earnest of the Efficacy and Power to Reward them, the Gift of The SPIRIT, that, being Thereby Drawn to CHRIST, they should continue faithful to Him unto the end.--But the Apostle also distinctly names Bishops and Deacons,' knowing and foreknowing, that All are not Israel, that are of Israel, and that though the high privilege of each Office was granted and intended to Bring them Nearer to CHRIST, and in the front Rank of Saints, it was not a necessary consequence of such Appointments to render them Such, if their hearts were not firm in the faith and faithful to the trust. And upon them therefore, though in a degree the outward Ministers of Grace, the Apostle, by his example, instructs us to pray for the Especial Help of The SPIRIT, as to Such as are Placed in any Spiritual Authority, and that, in proportion to the extent of the Power, which by their Fellow-Mortals is thus cast upon them, under the hope, if it may be, of A SPIRITUAL Guidance in such choice. The Prayer is for the Peace of GOD, and This can only be known and felt and enjoyed by the Faithful in CHRIST JESUS. Ever ready to receive the right-hand of Fellowship in the Vitally important and comprehensive work of Christian love and charity, in the adoption and diffusion of The Gospel of JESUS CHRIST, the heart of the Apostle abounds in thankfulness to GOD for every experience of that devotedness in Others to the Cause of CHRIST, always attributing to the Mercy of GOD and the Influence of His SON's Offering of Himself, Once for All, A Sacrifice for sin, the confidence entertained of such Conversion and Progress in Holiness; and that, if GOD in CHRIST, by His SPIRIT, had Drawn them unto Himself, He would Keep them fixed in the faith firmly unto the close of their Earthly Pilgrimage. This was the Apostle's hope, and this one amongst the multifarious objects of his daily supplications; and then he looked forward to the Glorious Issue of such wise-hearted Servitude at the Great Day, when CHRIST should Make up His Jewels; and Knowing them, that are His, Call them to the Everlasting