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CHAPTER III.

FAITH.

1. Oh blessed words of comfort!—Oh glad tidings of great and unbounded joy!-But how, how shall I secure these precious promises? How shall I secure this Almighty Redeemer, to my soul?

2. Faith, christian, is the hand by which thou must apprehend and hold fast these gifts and graces-for gifts they are-free, and wholly unmerited.

3. Look to the divine word of thy masterread, and thy heart shall receive consolation ; read, and apply to thy master and thy God.

4. He that believeth on me and is baptized, shall be saved, were thy words, oh God of truth, when triumphant over death and the grave—when leading captivity captive, and gloriously ascending to the right hand of thy Father.

5. He that believeth on thee shall be saved! I believe, oh! Lord, help thou mine unbelief—thou from whom alone this faith proceeds, oh! increase it in my heart-Oh strengthen my trust and confidence in thee!

6. Faith alone can give substance, faith alone can give reality to the glorious blessings which from thee we hope to receive.

7. Faith alone affords an evidence-faith alone can bear undoubted testimony, and witness to my soul of those things which I see not, and yet believe.

8. Lord, I believe-oh that my heart was melt. ed, oh that my soul was wholly turned into absolute dependence upon thee!

9. Lord, I believe I believe that thou art the Christ, the promised and expected Messiah, the anointed of the Father, full of grace, and truth.

10.. I believe, that thou art the son of God, God as well as man, and the only mediator between God and man: I believe thy eternal Divinity; acknowledge and confess thy real humanity.

11. I believe that with the father and the Holy Ghost, thou reignest in power and in glory for ever and ever-three persons in all respects equal, and yet but one God!

12. I believe that thou art the merciful High Priest to offer and intercede, the sacrifice to bleed and atone, and the altar to sanctify and hallow the gift.

13. I believe there is no salvation in any other name or power; I desire to be saved by naught but thy all-prevailing and all-sufficient merits.

14. I believe, lord-(increase my faith, increase my love-stretch out thine hand to me while walking over this stormy sea)-I believe thy life, death

and resurrection-I believe so must we die to sin as to rise to righteousness, if we would rise to life and glory.

15. I own, I feel, I know, that by grace only we are saved-thy free grace, thy most unmerited favour.

16. I confess myself light upon the balance; I am assured nothing but thy weight or merit can give me a weight of glory.

17. I believe and have been baptized. Oh! sprinkle my heart with thy blood: apply it with the hyssop of thy spirit: purge me, I shall be clean: grant me to be indeed regenerate and born again, to be made thy child-oh grant me, Father, to be born of thee?

18. By grace only do I wish, by grace only do I hope for salvation.

19. Nothing, nothing do I see in myself that can in the least deserve thy love.

20. But all things do I see that can cause thy hate and raise thy indignation against me.

21. Wherefore, oh Lord! with thy penitent servant Job, I seek not to justify myself in thy sight, but abhor myself in dust and ashes.

22. And thus humbled and abased, I wait thy favour; thus despising myself, I cleave unto thee, who, while we were yet sinners, didst shed thy blood for us, and thus open the gate of everlasting life.

CHAPTER IV:

WORKS.

1. Faith, christian is the rock whereon thou must build: found there thy hope, and it shall rise to eternity.

2. Faith is the root from whence the fruit of good works must arise.

3. Believe rightly, confess truly, acknowledge sincerely, the Lord thy Saviour; and what thinkest thou will follow?

4. A perfect and ready obedience to all his commands, a studious and ever anxious desire to tread in his steps, to wash away all thy filth in the blood of redemption, and to become pure as the pure and immaculate Lamb who redeemed thee.

5. Justified though thou mayst and must be without any works, yet thy justification can never be availing unless sanctification ensue, and bless thee with the assurance of thy adoption and sonship.

6. Can the wind blow, and the tops of the towering pines be unmoved?

7. Can the sun send forth his bright beams of glory, and no heat proceed therefrom?

8. Can thy heart feel ardent love and not know desire?

Cc.

9. How much rather cannot faith exist without works, or a man be justified who is not made holy.

10. Certain as the pine trees move when the wind bloweth; certain as heat and warmth proceed from the sun when it shineth; certain as the heart burneth with love, panteth also with thirsty desire;

11. So certain from a true belief, and from a firm and right reliance on thy Saviour, oh man! will spring forth an earnest endeavour to become like him in all things; yea, thy delight will be in his commandments.

12. Thou wilt rejoice to call him Father-thou wilt rejoice to show thyself an obedient son: ever dissatisfied with the best of thy doings; ever pres sing forwards, and anxious still to serve and love him more.

13. Daily wilt thou pant after the water springs of life; hourly wilt thou wish to be transformed into the perfect image of thy God. Rejoice and be glad―thy desire shall not be disappointed, thou shalt be so transformed-be meek. and hear, be wise and attend.

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