POETRY. HE HATH DONE ALL THINGS WELL. YE saints extol the Lamb that died, His love no tongue can tell; He saves from death and hell; 66 He has done all things well." He laid his robes of light aside, And deign'd on earth to dwell; Contented thus to dwell; Although polluted, sinful, vile, His blood can cleanse from foulest stains, His virtue none can tell; To sinners chief it is proclaimed: "He has done all things well." He sav'd, and more than sav'd his own, His triumphs I would tell; Jesus has more than conquest gain'd: "He has done all things well." His love, his grace, I would record, THE SAINTS' HIDING-PLACE. BEFORE the wheels of time began To move, my soul was blest with grace, Of God in Christ my hiding-place. And while the wheels of time shall roll Or separate my worthless soul From Christ, my glorious hiding-place. His powerful care will well secure "Tis treasur'd in their hiding-place. Oh! wherefore, Lord, these streams of love, Which cheer my heart as here I rove, P. When in the light of truth I see, For ever banish'd from thy face; For slighting thee, my hiding-place. That I am favour'd thus with grace; Thro' Christ, my glorious hiding-place. If law and terrors fill my mind, To thee I'll bring my helpless case; If satan prompts me to despair, Of heav'n at last, why in that case, I'll tell him, I've an interest there, To thee in every trying hour I'll come, and spread my mournful case; Father, ten thousand thanks to thee, In Christ, my head and hiding-place. Ten thousand thanks, O Holy Ghost! A tuneful song to sov'reign grace; Nottingham, Jan. 1826. T. A. THE Spiritual Magazine ; OR, SAINTS? TREASURY. "There are Three that bear record in heaven, the FATHER, the WORD, and the HOLY GHOST: and these Three are One." * Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." 1 John v. 7.. Jude 3 DECEMBER, 1826. (For the Spiritual Magazine.) PEACE, THE BELIEVER'S ETERNAL PORTION. It is a precious truth that even here the believer does enjoy peace. "Being justified by faith, he has peace with God." He is interested in the everlasting covenant-his sins are fully atoned for-and he is perfectly reconciled unto God. All the blessings of the gospel are his, and all the glories of the eternal world his portion. Possessing these unspeakable blessings he does at seasons enjoy a peace which passeth understanding. Amidst all the disorders of the world, the comforts of his God refresh his soul; Jesus whispers to him, I am thy salvation, elevates his thoughts above the world, shews him that his eyes and his heart are perpetually upon him; and thus the believer is enabled to go on his way rejoicing. Tried he may be in a very severe manner, yet there is a something that renders all his afflictions mercies; a something which imparts tranquillity, notwithstanding all the assaults of earth and hell. He enjoys communion with God, the promises refresh his mind, and heaven beams upon his soul. This peace is hidden from the men of the world, and no persecutor can destroy it: but the enjoyments arising from this peace are not always the same. Though the believer's state is safe, because he is fixed upon the Rock of Ages, and cannot be moved, yet he meets with many things to disturb his mind. Satan stirs up the corruptions of his heart; the world persecutes him; his outward prospects are dark; and he is ready at seasons to say, "I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his anger." Whilst thus tried and tempted, perhaps the Lord withdraws the manifestations of his favour, causes him to walk in darkness and have no light; his communion VOL. III.-No. 32. 2 C with God is interrupted, the promises appear as a sealed book and a dead letter; the heavens are clothed with blackness, and his prayer seems shut out from the Lord. But at death the believer shall enter into a state of perfect and uninterrupted peace; his conflict shall cease; his tears be for ever wiped away; no more doubts and fears shall perplex his mind; no more enemies annoy his peacc. It is this that renders the prospect of the eternal world so delightful to the believer. Often he exclaims, I now go mourning without the sun, but in heaven the days of my mourning shall be ended; then I shall no more have to adopt the sorrowful complaint, "O that I were as in months that are past," but shall be perfectly holy and happy.' ye, who know what the plague of the heart means, who find a daily warfare, say, is not the prospect of uninterrupted peace delightful? Does not your soul aspire for that day, when death shall release you from this state of conflict, and usher you into the joy of your Lord? But what renders this prospect so refreshing is, that the enjoyment of it is certain. The believer may be tossed with tempests, and not comforted, but he shall enter into peace. The certainty of this appears from the immutability of the divine love and faithfulness. The love of Jehovah towards his people is unalterably the same: whatever may be their thoughts of him, his thoughts of them are always thoughts of peace, and not of evil. If then the Lord is without variableness or shadow of change, with regard to his love, the believer is certain of enjoying eternal peace. That love which appointed him to salvation, will conduct him through all trials to endless rest. This unalterable love was the ground of St. Paul's confidence, "I am persuaded that neither death, nor life," &c. And as the love of God is the pledge of the believer entering into peace, so likewise his faithfulness. He remains faithful to fulfil his promises, "I will give them rest from all their sorrows." " I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart, and with my whole soul." And not only the faithfulness, but the power of God is engaged for the believer entering into peace. His trials may be great, his temptations numerous, the hosts of hell may unite against him, but the Lord shall deliver him from every evil work, and preserve him to his heavenly kingdom. At his command Satan and every other enemy must cease their rage, and eternal tranquillity possess the soul. This state of uninterrupted peace belongs to all the family of God. Many who are interested in the Lord's loving kindness often fear they shall not obtain this peace; they discover so much of their own unworthiness, that they fear they shall not enjoy eternal felicity; but as the feeblest saint, in whose heart the Lord hath implanted his fear, is as much interested in his eternal favour as the strongest believer; so all Israel, whatever may be their doubts and fears, their trials and temptations, shall enter into peace. Is then eternal peace the portion of all the Israel of God? What comfort then is this prospect calculated to afford them. Courage! afflicted believer. Many are now thy sorrows; often thy soul is cast down within thee; often thy spiritual adversary endeavours to persuade thee that thou art a mark for the divine arrows; that no child of God was ever tried in the way thou art: but, fear not, you shall enter into peace. He who knoweth thy walking through this wilderness, will ere long give you rest, and cause you to rejoice over all your sorrows. Courage! persecuted believer. Here for the name of Jesus thou art called upon to take up thy cross, to experience much opposition from the world, and to go forth bearing his reproach; but ere long the wicked shall cease from troubling, and thy weary soul be at rest. You shall be delivered from the malice of your enemies, and the scourge of the tongue. Those who now vex your soul shall be silent in darkness, whilst you enjoy eternal repose. Courage! tempted believer.-Often now you exclaim, "O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death!”’ Often you are ready to say, if interested in the Lord's favour, why these assaults?—why these distressing views of my corrupt nature?' but fear not, you shall ere long enter into peace: you shall lay aside this body of sin and death. In heaven there shall be no more a pricking brier or grievous thorn; but you shall worship God in the beauties of holiness, and be for ever with him whom your soul loveth. Courage! believer, who art standing upon the borders of the grave. -You must pass through the dark valley, but you shall enter into peace. United to Christ, and living upon him, death must be your gain-Christ muşt release you from all the sorrrows of time, and introduce you into eternal rest. Fear not, then, ye humble followers of Christ! The present is indeed a wilderness; many conflicts and trials you must experience; but ere long the voice shall be heard, come up hither!" Then farewell sin and sorrow; farewell doubts and fears; farewell corrupt nature and persecuting world; and welcome heaven, where there is fulness of joy-where Jesus for ever dwells, and saints and angels join to praise and bless redeeming love. Sunderland, Nov. 9, 1826. (For the Spiritual Magazine.) CLERICUS. THOUGHTS ON PETER'S FALL AND RECOVERY. LUKE xxii. (Continued from page 184.) THE love of God is infinitely more ancient than the lasting hills, and more durable than pillars of brass! The hills shall flee away, and the mountains of brass shall be removed, and melt with fervent heat; but eternity itself cannot fully reveal the glories of incarnate love, nor can the rude hand of time remove it. In accordance with this fact is the language of the Lord by Jeremiah, " I have loved thee with an everlasting love." How very welcome must have been the first developement of it in the garden of Eden to our original pro |