I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies, and of all the truth which thou hast showed unto thy servant. Gen. xxxii. 10. Who am I, 0 Lord God, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto? 2 Sam. vii. 18.

A SOUL truly humbled, highly esteems every favour, and judges itself utterly unworthy of the least, looking upon every thing as a free gift, and bestowed only for Jesus Christ's sake. Now, O my dear Father, it is true, in myself I deserve none, no, not the least of thy mercies; but as thou hast graciously looked upon me, and given me thine only Son, who hath purchased all blessings at a high price for sinners, I do believe that goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life. Amen. Be it so, holy Father, to thy glory and my everlasting joy!

Now to the pow'r of God supreme
Be everlasting honours giv'n;

He saves from Hell (we bless his name)
He calls our wand'ring feet to Heav'n!

Not for our duties or deserts,
But of his own abounding grace,
He works salvation in our hearts,
And forms a people for his praise !

'Twas his own purpose that begun
To rescue rebels doom'd to die:
He gave us grace in Christ his Son,
Before he spread the starry sky!
Jesus, the Lord, appears at last,
And makes his Father's counsels known;
Declares the great transactions past,
And brings immortal blessings down!

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. Rom. xii. 1, 2. THE presenting our bodies a living sacrifice unto God, when attended with serious prayer and reading the Scriptures, is the best means of knowing the will of God. To neglect this, and use other means, is tempting God, and exposing ourselves to the temptations and siftings of the wicked one. We may think ourselves to be divinely convinced by faith of the will of God, though we follow our own imaginations, and spoil the best of our actions. Self-will generally takes quick resolutions, and has a great deal of assurance: whereas God very often leads his people blindly, and takes methods quite different from ours. "Who therefore believes shall not make haste." Isa. xxviii. 16. Let every one be careful that he does not mistake self-will and plausible re.. presentations for divine convictions and assurances of faith; always strictly examine himself first, whether his body, soul, will, affections, are entirely offered up to the good-will and pleasure of God; for God requires the service of the whole man, even a sacrificing our whole selves to him at all times, not only at church, but in all other places, that we do not conform to the world, but be daily transformed by the renewing of our minds.

Tho' lifted eyes salute the skies,

And bended knees the ground, Yet God abhors the sacrifice

Where truth cannot be found,

Lord,search my thoughts,and try my ways,
And make my soul sincere;

Then shall I stand before thy face,
And find acceptance there.

L

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with jewels. Isa. Ixi. 10.

IN vain dost thou dress up and adorn thyself, O my soul, before thou approachest Christ. To him thou must come, filthy, naked, and miserable as thou art; he will clothe and adorn thee himself; and in this ornament alone thou shalt rejoice. For the very best of our robes and performances are not without spots, but still want to be washed in the blood of Christ, and covered with this ornament. Rev. vii. 14. This, and this alone, is the way to enjoy and maintain true peace. will enable us to rejoice, that our names are written in Heaven.

Awake, my heart,--- arise, my tongue,
Prepare a tuneful voice;
In God, the life of all my joys,
Aloud will I rejoice.

'Tis he adorn'd my naked soul,

And made salvation mine; Upon a poor polluted worm

He makes his grace to shine.

This

The Spirit wrought by faith and love,
And hope, and ev'ry grace;
But Jesus spent his life to work
The robe of righteousness.
Strangely, my soul, art thou array'd
By the great sacred Three!

In sweetest harmony of praise,
Let all thy pow'rs agree.

I have sinned against the Lord. Divine Answer: The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. 2 Sam, xii. 13. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 1 Cor. xi. 31. He that with unfeigned repentance accuses and judges himself, ac

counting his own righteousness and best doings as filthy rags, and seeks for mercy through Jesus, may expect to receive forgiveness of all his sins at once, though chastisement may follow; for pardons are not bestowed in parcels or various measures, as spiritual gifts are.— God, through Christ, receives the whole person of a penitent sinner into his favour, forgiving both original and actual sins in one instant; so that either none or all are forgiven: but though repentance be needful to humble a sinner and to bring him to Christ, yet no sins are forgiven on account of this repentance, but through faith alone in the blood of Christ. This fountain washes away the guilt of all sins, though ever so numerous and heinous; for it is written, "The blood of Christ cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John i. 7.

Show pity, Lord! O Lord, forgive!
Let a repenting rebel live!
Are not thy mercies large and free?
May not a sinner trust in thee?

My lips with shame my sins confess,
Against thy law against thy grace:
Lord, should thy judgment grow severe,
I am condemn'd, but thou art clear.

Should sudden vengeance seize my breath,
I must pronounce thee just in death;
And if my soul were sent to Hell,
Thy righteous law approves it well.
My crimes are great, but don't surpass
The pow'r and glory of thy grace;
Great God, thy nature has no bound ;
So let thy pard'ning love be found!

Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who being past feeling, have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. Eph. iv.18 19. Ir a man be naturally dead, bring a candle into the room, he sees it not; let the sun shine in his face, he perceives not the beauty, nor feels the warmth thereof: offer him rich presents, he receives them not; he hath no eye to see them, no heart to desire them, no hand to reach out unto them. Thus it is with one that is spiritually dead; let the sunshine of the gospel blaze out ever so clear he sees it not, because he is in darkness; though he lived under plentiful means and dispensations, yet he is blind and sottish; offer unto him the rich Pearls of the Gospel, those rich treasures of grace in Christ Jesus, yet he hath no heart to them, no hand of faith to lay hold upon them; so blind, so sottish, so stupid and senseless is he, that though these rich treasures, these graces, these Pearls of the Gospel be conveyed unto him in earthen vessels, in a plain and familiar manner, yet he doth not, he cannot apprehend them, judgments do not affright him, and mercies cannot allure or persuade him; yet this creature is all life in the element of sin, he loves it, he pleads for it, he commits it with greediness. This is St. Paul's account of the unconverted Gentiles; and how many such have we under a Christian name! O Lord, exert thy great power, quicken all that are thus dead in trespasses and sins; "turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to thine own self." Amen.

A carnal soul is blind within,
And has no want of Jesu's grace;

He feels and fears no harm in sin,
And turns from God his haughty face