صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني

to those whose strength is all gone, who have not a deed or duty, not a thought or action that they can draw the least comfort from, but every thing of their own without and within condemns them. They are thankful when enabled to turn aside to see the great sight of a God in man's nature advocating their cause, appearing on their behalf, perfuming their poor prayers, full of grace to impart to them in times of temptation; when their souls sink within them, when satan thrusts sore at them, and when providence seems to frown upon them. A blessed resting place this!

Secondly; Noah was a type of Christ as a builder. He cut down the trees, prepared the planks, made them all exactly to fit; pitched them within and without with pitch; prepared the several rooms in the ark for the different inhabitants; and provided food suitable for all. Here we may see the great builder of the world, and the great builder of the church; his people are trees of righteousness, they are cut down by the holy law, by the quickening Spirit, by afflictions, and by the everlasting gospel, regenerating and converting grace prepare them for the church militant. They bring forth fruit to God; they fill the places allotted them; some pastors, some deacons, some with edifying gifts, some with property, a liberal heart and open hand; many private individuals, who fill up and fit their stations with comfort and credit to the community; the strong and the weak, wise and illiterate pastors to preach and feed the flock, a flock fitted for the shepherd; weak babes to nurse, and mothers in Israel to take charge of the young: thus all are arranged in beautiful order to fill up their appointed places by the great Architect, and have on the rich and royal robe of their husband's perfect righteousness, which is their right and title to heaven, and they are all-glorious within by the sanctifying influences of God the Holy Ghost, which is their meetness for heaven.

Thirdly; Noah typified Christ in his readiness to receive all that come for admittance into the ark. Here we see a wonderful display of the power of God. All who come were drawn by a secret instinct, many quite contrary to their wild natures were disposed to enter within a building to be confined for some months; and here we see Jesus. And sinners are drawn to Christ in a most marvellous way, the wild are tamed, the profligate reformed, the unclean made holy, the very ignorant made wise unto salvation, the most hardened and obdurate melted down, sinners that no providence could alarm, no ministry could impress, no calamity affect, nor death in all its horrifying forms could fill with any fear, are drawn by a secret power to Christ and his church, and none refused who come to him. And as the door in the side of the ark was of that magnitude to admit the largest animal, so the fountain of Christ's blood is large enough to wash the greatest sinner in, the garment of his salvation sufficiently large to cover them, his heart to hold them, his house to receive them, his hand to provide and protect them, and his gospel is still power of God to salvation.

the

Fourthly; as the ark contained a mixture, or a variety of creatures, so does the visible church of Christ, clean and unclean, the black ravenous raven, and the clean chaste dove. Some have considered this raven as setting forth three subjects: first, the law and gospel: secondly, the two natures in every believer: thirdly, the dif ferent characters in the house of God. When the raven went out of the ark it brought no good tidings back to Noah, nor does the law; it curses and condemns, but holds out no hope of mercy. But the dove, like the gospel, brings back the olive leaf of peace. The black raven is much like the naughty nature of man, it does not like restraint, cannot bear to be confined by grace and ordinances, but loves to be roving abroad, and feeds upon the world and the flesh. But the new nature loves that which is holy, like its author and object God; can bear the restraints of grace, is perpetually praying that grace may reign through righteousness, and cannot feed upon any duty, any creature-righteousness; nothing but the body and blood of Jesus will satisfy. And the black raven is awfully descriptive of the many characters who work their way into the society of the saints, like Judas and Simon Magus: how dreadfully black their conduct! And many there are in our day both preachers and people, their scent never changed, who deceive the simple with their gifted lamps, without oil, while the Lord's doves go mourning on, faint yet pursuing.

Fifthly; both Noah and Christ offered a sacrifice unto the Lord, and both were accepted by Jehovah, and he smelled a sweet-smelling savour in them: but the sacrifice of Christ was of infinite value. Noah's sacrifice was of testification, expressive of his gratitude to his covenant God for his providential care, merciful deliverance, and faith in him. But Jesus offered up his own body, as a lamb without spot upon the altar of his deity, and thereby did fully satisfy the justice of his Father; and it is his atoning sacrifice that satisfies the awakened conscience of a sinner. As the great Martin Luther says, it requires the same atonement to satisfy a conscience that is alarmed, as to give the holy law and justice of God content; and it is for the everlasting consolation of the children of God, that the great sacrifice of Jesus affords a sweet savour to Jehovah ; and nothing can be more acceptable to God from his people, than when they are well pleased with his dear Son, and for them to be constantly raising up this precious plant of renown, in all their preaching, prayer and praise.

The conduct of Noah may here arrest our attention. He obeyed the command of his God, he built the ark, he entered into it: the Lord shut him in. He continued there the appointed time; we hear of no complaining; he rested on the power of God to preserve the ark and him from drowning, and although he had no helm, compass, pilot, mast, sail, anchor or steersman, yet he landed safely on the mountain of Arrarat. The Lord sitteth upon the water-floods, and holds the winds in his fist; not a gale can blow, nor a drop of rain fall, a bil

low roll, a leak spring, nor a ship sink, without leave from the Lord. We here may see the sovereignty of God. How many millions were drowned we cannot say; this we are sure of, all out of the ark were. But the covenant God of Noah will have a vessel built on purpose, that his servant may be safe; yes, and God will shut him in, preserve him alive all through the deluge, no accident shall occur. The great Commander and controuler of all, commands Noah and his family to leave their abode, and out they go in regular order: no confusion when God arranges: then an altar is built expressive of the good man's gratitude; and surely it well becomes the saints often to be building altars to God acknowledging the perpetual obligations they are under to him, for the many remarkable displays of his and providence, and the many deliverances wrought on their behalf.

power

It is a great help to faith to record and recollect the various interpositions of divine providence that occur in our pilgrimage. This circumstance that took place in the eventful life of Noah no doubt he often referred to; so it is with all true believers. There are some sermons they have heard, some particular promises have been applied, some special answers to prayer granted, some peculiar manifestations of divine mercy afforded, some more than common high prizings of Christ experienced, and some third heaven visits given, which have left such an impression, that no time, place, or circumstance, can obliterate; and it affords unspeakable pleasure to the christian when God the Holy Spirit brings to his remembrance former days, when in his first love. Jesus was to him very sweet and precious, when the gospel was manna from heaven to his soul, when in the midnight watches his whole heart like Jacob's was drawn out to admire the great love of God in contriving, executing, and revealing the wonderful plan of salvation as set forth in the ladder that Jacob saw, and in all those pillars of divine providence that he has set up to the praise and glory of his covenant God: it does his soul good to remember them.

Lastly; Noah and Christ were both preachers of righteousness; both met with a great deal of opposition, and apparent little success; both lived in a very ungodly age; and both were very much despised. Thus it was in the beginning so it is now, and ever will be. Men in a natural state will always hate Christ, the righteousness of the church, the doctrine of justification by the perfect obedience of Jesus alone; and all who contend for, and preach this God-glorifying, Christ-exalting, soul-comforting, faith-strengthening, and sin-subduing truth. And this may be a word of relief to all the Lord's dear servants, who meet with much persecution from professor and profane; it was the case with their Master whom they serve, and will be with all his faithful messengers.

Hampstead.

I wish your publication much success,

J. C.

Sir,

(To the Editor of the Spiritual Magazine.)

If the following short piece, entirely composed and written by a little daughter of mine (only ten years of age), be thought worthy a place in your Magazine, it is at your service. I have reason to believe the child has been under the gracious teaching of the Spirit for some time. She has always been of a studious turn of mind, particularly in the best things.

Bildestone.

I remain, your's sincerely,

SUSANNA.

THE SAINTS' RESURRECTION, AND THEIR ETERNAL BLISS IN HEAVEN.

WHAT words can describe the extacy the saints of God shall feel, when raised from the tomb of death in the likeness of Christ their glorious Head! then they shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air, and burst forth into songs of adoration and praise around their ever-blessed Immanuel. What rapture shall glow in their bosoms when they shall rise from the grave, blooming with immortal youth, shining in the image of Jesus, and adorned with the beauteous robe of righteousness wrought by him! they will be calm and serene, rejoicing in God their Saviour, when the general conflagration begins: "when the heavens shall pass away with a great noise :" when "the sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood :" when cities, palaces, and thrones, shall be involved in one common ruin. When the second resurrection takes place, the saints (having taken possession of their crowns and sceptres) shall join the sentence of their King, upon the wicked, these enemies of the sons of God: the princes of heaven shall at this their open coronation day, behold bound hand and foot, and cast into outer darkness, where sin and horror for ever reigns.

Now will their joy be complete indeed, when with songs of unspeakable joy and praise they shall ascend to the paradise of light, with their beloved Lord, to behold the ineffable glories of the God of Israel beaming in his face. In the company of innumerable hosts of angels, the cherubim and seraphim, in the company of their beloved fellow saints, shall they bow before the throne of the everblessed Three! beauties for ever fresh shall strike their eye, while they, full of flaming love, and ravished with the glories of Immanuel, strike with more than seraphic fire, their tuneful harps and join the chorus of the redeemed, saying, "blessing, and honour, and glory, and power be unto Him that sits upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever."

"With eyes made strong to bear the sight,
They gaze with infinite delight,-

Drink in the excellence divine,

And with Immanuel's glory shine."

Yes, there shall they see him as he is,—see him in all his beauty and perfection, while the overpowering sight shall fill their bosoms with indescribable rapture. Ten thousand smiles from Jesu's face shall irradiate their countenances and heighten their joys, while GOD shining in his Son Immanuel shall be all in all. Like as a mirror reflects the objects around, so shall they reflect the bright beamings of the Sun of Righteousness, while gazing on his glorious perfections. Not only shall they see him, but see him as John saw him, “crowned with many crowns;" their eyes shall behold the King in his beauty, and ravished with the transcendant sight they shall cast their honours at his feet, amidst choirs of angels, fall worshipping before the great I AM, and shouts of joy resound throughout the paradise of God.

But the glory of glories is yet to come: for if such be the beauty of the King and such the splendour of his person, what must it be to be ONE WITH HIM? to sit with him on his throne and to enjoy far more than angels, the unveiled vision of his face? O wondrous union! sublimity of all that is sublime! happiness no where to be found but within the veil !

"They live in endless ecstacies,
Possessed of true immortal bliss;
And every heart with heavenly song
Rolls great Immanuel's praise along."

Here all is perfect rapture; here the extended capacities of the saints in light are lost in contemplating the refulgent glories of the King of heaven! here seraphs lost in wonder fall with awe profound beneath the feet of the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb; while both with unspeakable admiration burst forth into songs of rapturous praise, and heaven's concave resounds with shouts of extatic joy! ESTHER.

(For the Spiritual Magazine.)

THOUGHTS ON SANCTIFICATION.

It is not unfrequently thought that persons are unfriendly to holiness of life, who deny what is called progressive sanctification, or that sin in the christian grows weaker and weaker, and the principle of holiness stronger and stronger, like the houses of Saul and David; but they are greatly mistaken who thus believe; we contend for holiness of principle and practice as strenuously as they do.

We believe, according to the word of God, that sanctification may be considered, first, a setting apart, Genesis ii. 3. The Lord separated or set apart the first born in Egypt, also the priests Aaron and his sons, were to be sanctified for their office; secondly, Christ is expressly said to be made sanctification to his church, typified by Aaron bearing the name of the children of Israel in his breast-plate of judgment upon his heart, when he went into the holy place for a memorial before the Lord continually, Exodus xxviii. and xxix. and

« السابقةمتابعة »