hearts. The next lessons we learn are, the holiness, justice, and terrible majesty of God. These are the_things that we hear and learn of the Father; and "Every one that hath heard and learned of the Father (says Christ) cometh unto me." Now what is that which is promised to this blessed man, thus chastened and taught out of the law? Why, God will give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked." The thing promised is rest; but who wants rest? None but those who labour, and are heavy laden. The labourer is he who is toiling under the curse and wrath of God, to recommend himself to God's favour, and to get life by the works of the law and hard labour this is. load that he carries is the guilt he has contracted, and the corruptions of his heart, which the law discovers; and this is a sore burden, too heavy for any to bear. Now there is a voice in the word to such souls pointing to Christ, "To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing," Isa.

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xxviii. 12. The Saviour calls to such souls also-" Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” But no invitations will do for a poor soul that finds himself condemned already. And, therefore, "No man can come to me (says Christ) except my father draw him." However, to Christ all that are taught of God must come; for the Spirit of God and the promise of life are both in him; and into his hands are all the elect put, and to his foot they must be brought, and be made to hear his voice and receive the word from his mouth, that they may live. The fiery law comes first to condemn us to death, and the voice and word of the Son of God afterward to raise the dead. "The Lord came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them. Yea, he loved the people: all his saints are in thy hand and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words," Deut. xxxiii. 2, 3. This pas

sage shews that all whom the Father teaches out of the fiery law must come to Christ, the great prophet, and sit down at his feet to receive of his word. This was the good part which Mary chose, that could not be taken from her. Here Mary Magdalen sat, and got her pardon and her much love; and here God draws us all. But how does he draw us?

1st, by causing the storms of Sinai now and then to abate, and the arrows of his quiver to lose their keenness.

2dly, By guiding our eyes to the promises, encouragements, invitations, and kind pathetic words spoken by the Lord Jesus.

3dly, By causing now and then a ray of light, a beam of hope, and some budding expectations, to spring up in our hearts while we attend to the voice of Christ in the gospel.

4thly, The dreadful passages of scripture that pierced us through get out of sight, and nothing but Christ and his kind dealings with sinners appear; and while our face is turning to the Lord the vail is gradually taken away. The

more we see of Jesus, the softer our souls get, and the more our hearts melt; and the more Christ shines in the word, the more we wonder, till his very name appears as a healing ointment poured forth; and, as the bowels yearn over him, so faith in him springs up; the Holy Spirit then testifies of him, and presents him to view, till the understanding becomes susceptible of the light of his countenance, and then confidence goes out and embraces him; then God accepts us "in the beloved," and gives us "the light of the knowledge of the glory of himself in the face of Jesus Christ," while the Spirit fills us with joy and peace. And here the soul finds "rest from the days of adversity, till the pit be digged up for the wicked;" that is, they shall rest safe and secure in Christ Jesus, while the wicked fill up their own measure; for the wicked are said to dig their own pit, and to fall into their own destruction. This, my dear brother, is what the apostle calls coming "to God the Judge of all;" and then "to Jesus the Mediator of the New Testament, and to

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the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel," Heb. xii. 23, 24. This is a saving and an experimental knowledge of the holy and blessed Trinity. We come first to God in a fiery law; when he chastens and judges us, "that we should not be condemned with the world," 1 Cor. xi. 32; and then draws us to Christ, and accepts us in him. And in Jesus Christ we find rest from both our labour and our load, and, at the same time, we come into the glorious liberty of the children of God. The Holy Ghost sheds abroad the love of God in our heart, and this casts out wrath, which is a spirit of bondage to fear, and all torment with it; and operates in us as 66 a spirit of love, of power, and of a sound mind." This is an experimental knowledge of the Holy Trinity, and such as none ever experience but the elect of God; and in this way they are all taught of God and the experience of this good work is such as Satan and all his emissaries can never destroy. No man, made thus wise to salvation, ever dared to set his mouth against the