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Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God....Dan. vi. 5.

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HAPPY Daniel, to have such a testimony of thy conduct from the mouth of thine implacable enemies. These men could alledge nothing against this servant of God, in regard to his outward life and conversation; for he was a good subject, a quiet neighbour, just and honest in his dealings. Though in an eminent station, yet with what contempt and scorn do they seem to speak of him! This Daniel, this over-righteous fellow, who pretends to be more religious than all the rest of his neighbours. As it was in the beginning, so it is now, and ever will be, "He that is born after the flesh, will persecute him that is born after the Spirit."....Gal. iv. 29. What then? our enemies no sooner assault us, with their tongues, but our God takes our part. "If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye. For the Spirit of glory, and of God resteth upon you."... 1 Pet. iv. 14.

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But, let every disciple see to it, that he suffers as a christian. Take heed, that thy life and conduct be, as becometh the gospel. It is a great blessing so to behave, that carnal men can find no just occasion, against our moral conduct. This they are judges of. Their eyes are upon us. They watch over us for evil. This ought to make us very circumspect. Our religion they abhor. For this, every follower of the Lamb is sure to be hated, for his master's sake. "Woe be unto us, when all men speak well of us," saith our master.... Luke vi. 26. They seek enough against us; as to our faith, hope, and life. And some would as surely cast us into a den of lions, as they did Daniel, were it practicable, and permitted. Yet, they could not deprive him of the love, presence and protection of the Son of God. These make every place a heaven of delight and joy. And when hated of all men for his sake, he pronounces us blessed, bids us rejoice, and hath left us an example, patiently to follow his steps.

Christ's dying prayer, for his very murderers, was; "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." Ignorance of the truth, is the cause of hatred and malice against his servants. Hast not thou a heart to pity, and a tongue to pray for thy enemies? Here we may indulge sweet revenge. These weapons we may always use. And how knowest thou, but the most furious persecutor, like Paul, may be a chosen vessel, of God the Father, redeemed by the Blood of Jesus....and ere to-morrow's sun, the grace of the Holy Spirit may make him an humble penitent? "who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou, that thou didst not receive?" .... Cor. iv. 7.

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happy souls who love your God, ✅Go on rejoicing ev'ry day, And whom the world despise,

Eternal life's your prize.

M.

For Christ is entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us....Heb. ix. 24.

How highly was Zacharias honored! He heard the gospel of salvation from the mouth of an angel; who said, “I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God, and am sent unto thee, to shew thee these glad tidings." But we see the awful effects of unbelief. Though thus beloved, and honored of God, yet he was struck dumb for a season....Luke i. 20. Though God most dearly loves his people in Christ, yet, he sees their sins, and with fatherly affection chastises for them. Do we not see somewhat of our own case here? For, as faith inspires the heart and tongue with boldness, so unbelief strikes us dumb. We cannot speak a word, nor offer a plea for our poor souls, if faith lose sight of Jesus. But he never forgets us. Our souls are never neglected by him. The Lamb is in the midst of the throne FOR US. In our nature, in the same human body, which was hanged on the tree, with five pierced wounds in his hands, his feet,, and precious side, he appears in the presence of God. There, like some victorious conqueror, who has gloriously delivered his country, from the cruelty and rage of a merciless enemy, he glories in the scars he received in the field of battle.

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When Jesus wept over dead Lazarus; see how he loved him, said the Jews. But when poor sinners think of our dear Lord's wounds, crucifixion, agonies and death, O what infinitely greater reason have we to say, See how he loved us! see how he still loves us. Notwithstanding all our base, unloving behaviour to him, still, O soulaffecting truth! still, he appears before God, FOR US; he presents his once mangled body; he pleads his once bleeding wounds in our behalf, as the atoning sacrifice for our sins, for our salvation. Thus glorified Jesus, now appears in the presence of God, for us; as our dear Mediator, loving Lord, and precious Saviour, our affectionate advocate, and powerful intercessor. But saith the adversary, "This is a cunningly devised fable." What profit is this to me? saith carnal reason, backed with unbelief. But, the Spirit of truth bears witness to this; first, in type and figure under the law; and, now in reality and substance in the gospel. To this very end, that at any time, when sin burdens the conscience; sorrow bows down the heart, doubts arise in the mind, and fears oppress the spirit, the poor sinner may, with confidence, thus consider Jesus: look unto him; and call upon him: and find this to be the food of his faith, and the support of his soul" for if God (Jesus) be FOR US, who can be against us?".... Rom. viii. 31.

Lift

up your eyes to th' heav'nly seat, Where our Redeemer stays; Kind intercessor, there he sits,

And loves, and pleads, and prays.

Petitions now, and praise may rise,

And saints their off'rings bring;
The priest with his own sacrifice
Presents them to the King.

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his namė JESUS; for he shall save his people from their sins.... Matt. i. 21.

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O PRECIOUS birth! precious son! precious name! The Holy Ghost brings consolation to the hearts of poor sinners, from the belief of the manhood of JESUS. To this end the comforter bears so particular testimony by the word of the conception and birth of Christ This is our happiness; at all times to consider the Saviour Emanuel, God with us:" our brother: "flesh of our flesh and bone of our bone." As Elihu says of himself, "Behold I am, according to thy wish, in God's stead. Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.".... Job xxxiii. 6, 7. Thus to conceive of Jesus, is a sweet mystery, joyfully known to believing hearts.

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The Holy Ghost brings joy to our souls, by the NAME of JESUS. This name is above every name to us: it is" as precious ointment poured forth:" it diffuseth the sweet odour of the Father's everlasting love, issuing in our eternal salvation. In the name of JESUS the whole gospel lies hid. The Spirit also comforts our hearts. By the WORK of Christ, he shall save. Here is not an if, a perhaps, or peradventure; but a positive declaration, what he absolutely shall do. He shall save sinners: from the curse of the law, by being made a curse for them: from the wrath of God due to them, by suffering in their stead: from the punishment their sins deserve, by the atonement of his precious blood: from the guilt of sin in their conscience, by the sprinkling of his blood through faith: from the love and power of sin in their hearts; by the grace of his Spirit, regenerating and renewing them in the spirit of their minds. So that they are as perfectly saved IN JESUS from sin, as though they had never fallen into And all this by Jesus: by no strength, power or ability of theirs. Who does Jesus thus save? "His people:" ALL his people, of every kindred, nation, tribe and tongue, even "all that the Father hath given him."....John xvii. 9. Who are partakers of this precious salvation? Every poor sinner who believes in Jesus. It is free for ALL who come to him. ALL who do come to him, and trust in him, find he is their Jesus, their salvation. O believer, here is the nature, the name, the work of thy precious Jesus to look to and live upon from day to day. It is thy mercy that salvation is his work, and he hath finished it. It is thy comfort to believe this daily. It is thy duty to give Jesus all the glory. The more light thou receivest from the word of Jesus and the Spirit of truth, so much the more wilt thou see of thine own vile sinful nature, and abhor thyself. How long? even until thou receivest the end of thy faith, the salvation of thy soul. Then wilt thou eternally glory only in the infinite perfection of the salvation of Jesus.

It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do, of his good pleasure....Phil. ii. 13.

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It is the peculiar blessing of every new creature in Christ Jesus, to be "renewed in knowledge." As the soul advances in the divine life, he more clearly understands the heights and depths of the mys teries of God's grace, by the word and Spirit of truth: so also he feels more and more of the workings of the mystery of iniquity within him. Therefore, he has done with talking of his own free will, and works of righteousness having any share in obtaining grace. These notions are the weeds of nature. They spring from pride. Pride is interwoven with our very constitution and being. This opposes andrebels against our own mercies, even the free-grace truths of the gospel. But it is the exercise of faith to submit to the righteousness of Jesus: to bow to the sovereignty of God's will, and to adore his Spirit who worketh in us to will and to do of his own good pleasure. O disciple of Jesus, how art thou sweetly constrained to own this from the rich experience of the truth upon thy own soul! What is the natural bent of thy free will, but to reject Jesus the Lord of life and glory? Its language is, "I WILL not have this man to reign over I have other and better lovers, and after them I WILL go. I WILL enjoy the pleasures of sin. I WILL love the world: I WILL take my full swing in the gay delights, the pleasing profits, and glorious honors of it. I WILL be saved in my own way, for my own works: I WILL not be indebted to be saved by grace wholly. Thus the natural FREE-WILL of man speaks plain, by its affections and actions, through the darkness of the understanding. Thy free will was to destroy thy self: it was the will of the Lord to save thee in Christ Jesus. Therefore in the day of his power, the Holy Spirit made thee willing. to come to Jesus for life and salvation. With free choice, and cheerful willingness, thou camest in faith, as a perishing sinner to a precious Saviour. Wilt thou any more ascribe any glory to thy will? wilt thou ever suffer thy power to share in the trophies of thy Lord? Nay, shall not free, sovereign, unmerited grace, have all the glory? Is not this the daily humble prayer of thy soul, "Leave me not, O Lord, to myself; for without thee, O Jesu, I can do nothing....nothing. but sin against thee, and wound my own soul." If thou truly delightest in the law of God after the inward man, it is the delight of thy soul "to do those things which are pleasing in his sight." Ever put this soul-humbling, grace-exalting question to thy heart, "Who made me to differ? what have I that I have not received?" I have nothing in myself whereof to glory. I glory in him, who saith, "I will work, and who shall let it?"....Isa. xliii. 13.

We that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened.... 2 Cor. v. 4.

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It is a sore temptation, that saints of God in all ages have fallen under, that, upon a survey of the outward ease. pleasure, and prosperity of the ungodly," they have called the proud happy,"....Mal. ii. 15....and under a sense of their inward groanings, burdens and sorrows, have been led to think, it is vain to serve God, and call in question his love to them and care for them. Such sentiments as these, at times exercise their minds: I called by grace! Is my soul quickened and made alive to God? have I fled to Jesus for refuge? am I a child of God by adoption, through the faith of Jesus? Surely it cannot be. Was it so, should I be thus plagued all the day, and chastened every morning? should I groan thus under oppression from Satan, tribulation from the world; and be thus burdened with the lusts of the flesh, and the carnal workings of corrupt nature? Surely if ever I have known any thing of Jesus in spirit and power, it is all come to an enda verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency to no purpose.' Thus doth the subtle serpent artfully steal into the mind, and borrows the tongue of saints. But this is very injurious to the soul, as we see in the experience of the Psalmist, 73d Psalm. And it is highly resented by our loving Lord and Saviour, as very dishonorable to him. See Mal. iii. 13.

Saints' burdens are creature allotments; believers groans are Jesus' concerns; children's sorrows reach the Father's heart; they are the lot of God's people in every age. Prophets, apostles, martyrs, and confessors of Jesus, none exempt while in this tabernacle. Yea, they evidence the life of the soul: and also, under the Spirit's influence, work for the profit of the soul. Hereby it is instructed in self-knowledge, so as to bow to the sovereignty of God in humility and dependence on Jesus. Prayer is excited, faith is called into exercise, God's word is searched, promises are prized, exhortations become pleasant, carnal hopes are cut off, worldly joys become irksome, earth is less loved, and a sinful body groaned under, makes perfect freedom in glory longed for. O there is a blessed writ of ease and rest, issued out from the court of heaven! Soon it will be served upon us. Then, down tabernacle: up soul to the presence of thy Lord. Farewel groans. Welcome eternal triumphs. Here is a sweet portion of comfort; drink of the brook by the way, and lift u tup thy head; "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain" thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved."....Psalm lv. 22.

Now let my Lord my Saviour smile,
And shew his name upon my heart;
I wou'd forget my pains awhile,
And in the pleasure lose thé smart.

O why, my soul, why these complaints?
Still while he frowns his bowels move;
Still on his heart he bears his saints,
And feels their sorrows and his love.

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