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Things in Its Exceeding Great and Precious Promises. Looking also to the Sure Word of Prophecy, as to the Future as well as Past Dealings of GOD with Man, in the Record and Predictions of The Old as well as of The New Testament of His Word, Which now are so Manifest to our understandings, as far as is Essential to our Salvation, we should dedicate every tribute of praise and adoration, with the Apostle, to This FATHER of Mercies in CHRIST JESUS and GOD of All Consolation, through the Agency of His HOLY SPIRIT; praying in Spirit and in truth to be Established and Built-up in That Faith, that the Glory Awaiting the Elect in CHRIST may Comprehend, with Its Eternal Blessings, our Souls also, and to that end, that our hearts may indeed be transformed from the objects of this Life to Those of the Life to Come; and may exhibit the Influence of a lively Faith in the Preachings of CHRIST and His Apostles by a steadfast obedience Thereto, in all manner of holy conversation and Christian observance.

-The Harmony between the Prophecies in The Old Testament and the Proofs. of their Fulfilment, as regarded The Promised MESSIAH, in the New, is the Foundation of the Christian's faith, and the Source of his rejoicing in that belief, and the Comforting Assurance It yields to his heart, that The Reign of Heavenly Peace is Opened before him, and that The Advent of The SON of GOD in the Nature of Human-Kind, to Propitiate the Return of DIVINE Favour to that Nature, is the Anchor of the Individual's hope of Pardon and Reconciliation, and of the Experience of the Realities of Heaven in GOD's Graciously-Appointed Season, at the Resurrection to Life Eternal and to the Judgment to Come, when the Glories of The REDEEMER'S KINGDOM shall be Revealed, and an Inheritance Therein Obtained by All, who are CHRIST's at That His Coming, as JUDGE of All Mankind. -May the Preaching of JESUS and His Apostles, Confirmatory as They are of The Doctrine and Foreseeing of the Prophets, as Servants of The MOST HIGH, and who spake as they were Moved to do by The HOLY GHOST, be Established in our hearts through The Mercy of The MOST HIGH, and the Intercessory Love of The SON, and the Ingrafting and Nurturing Grace of The HOLY SPIRIT! How Elevating to the pious and faithful Soul is This Revelation from On HIGH! and how should the thought arise in our hearts, and fill them with gratitude and devotedness, when contemplating the Vast Privilege and Benefit Extended to us in all their Distinctness and Efficiency; Which were only faintly Shadowed forth and Typified from the Beginning of Creation to CHRIST's First Advent! To Whom be glory and thanksgiving for Ever and Ever! Amen. May we therefore fail not in our faith, nor faint in our hope, but with the Apostle bow our knees, and the knees of our hearts, unto The FATHER of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, of Whom the whole Family in Heaven and Earth is named, that He would Grant us, according to the Riches of His Glory, to be Strengthened with Might by His SPIRIT in the inmost recesses of our Souls; that CHRIST may Dwell in our hearts by faith; that we, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend, with all Saints, What is the Breadth and Length and Depth and Height; and to know (or appreciate) the Love of CHRIST (Which indeed immeasurably Surpasseth the utmost grasp of knowledge, and Which even the Angels desire better to understand,) that we may be Filled with all the knowledge of GOD, and of His Gracious Dealings and Dispensations of Benevolence towards us! And again, with the Apostle, may we say, Now unto Him, That is Able to Do exceeding Abundantly above all, that we ask or think, according to The Power of DIVINE Grace, That is Ever Ready to Work within us, be Glory, by CHRIST JESUS, given and encouraged by us and in All over whom we have influence, throughout the remainder of our and their Lives!-Eph. iii. 14 to 21.- -With the Apostle Jude also may we say, Now unto Him, That is Able to Keep us from falling, and to Present us faultless before the Presence

of His Glory, with exceeding joy; to The Only Wise GOD our SAVIOUR, be Glory and MAJESTY, Dominion and Power, both now and ever! Amen-Jude 24, 25.- -Grace and Peace from GOD, and FATHER of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, be unto us, and Blessed be He, by our Lives and Conversation being in conformity with His Will and the Revelations Graciously Made Thereof, and for His having Made Known unto us The Mystery of His Will, according to His Good Pleasure, Which He hath Purposed in Himself! that in the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times He might Gather together in One All Things in CHRIST; both Which are in Heaven, and Which are on Earth, even in Him-Eph. i. 9, 10. —Even the Mystery, Which had been Hid from Ages, and from Generations; but now is Made Manifest to His Saints; unto whom GOD would Make Known What is the Riches of the Glory of This Mystery, Which is CHRIST in us, The Hope of Glory-Col. i. 26, 27.The Last Command of our Blessed SAVIOUR, after He had Ended His Mediatorial Course of Expiatory Sacrifice and Triumphant Endurance, as Given to His Apostles, was, to go and teach all Nations, baptizing them in The Name of The FATHER, and of The SON, and of The HOLY GHOST; inculcating obedience to His Commandments; and Adding the most Comforting Assurance, that He would, in SPIRIT, be with the Faithful of every Generation alway, even unto the end of the World-Matt. xxviii. 19, 20. Unto The KING, Eternal, Immortal, Invisible, The Only Wise GOD our SAVIOUR, be Honour and Glory for Ever and Ever!-1 Tim. 1, 17; Jude 25. -Amen! and Amen.

EPHESIANS, CHAPTER I.

VERSES 1, 2.-Paul, an Apostle of JESUS CHRIST, by the Will of GOD, to the Saints, whica are at Ephesus, and to the Faithful in CHRIST JESUS, Grace be to you, and Peace from GOD our FATHER, and from The LORD JESUS CHRIST!

Paul never separates himself in his Ministerial Office from his HOLY and Hallowed MASTER. His meat and drink it was to awaken a spirit of gratitude and devotedness to Him, unto Whom the Peace and the Hope, Set before us in the Life to Come, are wholly Attributable. To the Mercy and Forbearance of The ALMIGHTY he felt he owed the great Rescue from Jewish prejudices and perversions of Holy Scripture; and from the intoxicating influence of Spiritual Pride, and the dangerous Elevation in the powerful exercise of persecution under the assumption of doing GOD service. The film, that made him think darkness was light, was Removed from his Spiritual Eyes, and seeing JESUS by them, though to his natural eyes Invisible, he saw Truth in all Its Majesty, and DIVINE Love in the Revelation so Signally Made to him, and felt that in return every thought of his heart and act of his after life should be gratefully and faithfully dedicated to the Glory of GOD, and the Edification in That Truth of All within his influence, and whom by his preachings or his writings, and by example as well as by precept, he could win to add to that Glory, and the attainment, through The Great Expiatory Sacrifice by The Incarnate SON of GOD, of the Glories of an Immortal Inheritance in The KINGDOM of Righteousness and Community of Holiness.-Though the Apostle particularly addresses himself to the Converts at Ephesus, he expands his invocation of Those Peculiar and Distinguishing Manifestations of DIVINE Love, in the Imparted Grace of The HOLY SPIRIT, and the Communication of Perfect Peace in Mind and Heart, to All of that, and every future Age, whom Faith in its genuine and true efficacy and vitality hath rendered Votaries to The GOD of Truth, resting their hope and comforting assurance of Salvation on The Mediation of His SON; through Whom and Whom Alone, as The SAVIOUR of the World, Access is obtained to The FATHER, and Sanctification is Derived from The SPIRIT.The like salutation and designation preface the Apostle's Letter to the Roman Converts, and to Such as are Called of JESUS CHRIST. To them Grace, as the Heavenly Garment, and Peace as the Antepast of Heavenly Entertainment, are besought from their Rightful and Only SOURCE, GOD, and The SAVIOUR-Rom. i. 7, 6.-Paul's visit to Ephesus and his reception there in seeking to spread The REDEEMER'S KINGDOM, His Power and His Glory, are thus recorded in the Acts of The Apostles; It came to pass, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the Upper Coasts, came to Ephesus, and finding certain Disciples, he said unto them, Have ye received The HOLY GHOST since ye believed?' And they said unto him, 'We have not so much as heard whether there be Any HOLY GHOST!' And he said unto them, 'Unto What then were ye Baptized?' And they said, Unto John's Baptism!' Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the People, (Luke iii. 3, and John i. 15, 26, 27, 30,) that they should believe on Him, Which should Come after him, that is, on CHRIST JESUS. When they heard That, they were Baptized in the Name of The LORD JESUS; and when Paul had laid his hands upon them, The HOLY GHOST Came on them; and they spake with tongues and Prophesied; and all the Men were about twelve. And he went into the Synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the Things concerning The KINGDOM

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of GOD. But when Divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of That Way before the Multitude, he departed from them, and separated the Disciples, disputing daily in the School of one Tyrannus: and this continued by the space of two years, so that all They, which dwelt in Asia, heard the Word of The LORD JESUS, both Jews and Greeks. And GOD Wrought Special Miracles by the hands of Paul; so that from his Body were brought unto the Sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil Spirits went out of them. Then certain of the vagabond Jews, Exorcists, took upon them to call over them, which had evil Spirits, the Name of The LORD JESUS, saying, 'We adjure you by JESUS, Whom Paul preacheth.' And there were seven Sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and Chief of the Priests, which did so. And the evil Spirit answered and said, 'JESUS I know! and Paul I know! but who are ye?' And the Man, in whom the evil Spirit was, leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them All; and the Name of The LORD JESUS was Magnified: and Many, that believed, came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. Many of them also, which used curious arts, brought their books together, and burned them before all Men; and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver: so mightily Grew the Word of GOD, and Prevailed! After these things were ended, Paul pur- ◇ posed in The SPIRIT, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.' So he sent into Macedonia Two of them, that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season. And the same time there arose no small stir about That Way; for a certain Man, named Demetrius, a Silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the Craftsmen; whom he called together with the Workmen of like occupation, and said, 6 Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth: moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much People, saying, 'That they be no gods, which are made with hands:' so that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought, but also that the Temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the World worshippeth.' And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians!' And the whole City was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, Men of Macedonia, Paul's Companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the Theatre. And when Paul would have entered in unto the People, the Disciples suffered him not. And Certain of the Chief of Asia, which were his Friends, sent unto him, desiring him, that he would not adventure himself into the Theatre. Some therefore cried one thing, and Some another; for the Assembly was confused; and the more Part knew not wherefore they were come together. And they drew Alexander out of the Multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the People: but when they knew that he was a Jew, All with one voice, about the space of two hours, cried out, 'Great is Diana of the Ephesians!' And when the Town-Clerk had appeased the People, he said, 'Ye Men of Ephesus, what Man is there, that knoweth not how that the City of the Ephesians is a Worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image, which fell down from Jupiter? Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly: for ye have brought hither these Men, which are neither Robbers of Churches, nor yet Blasphemers of your

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goddess. Wherefore if Demetrius, and the Craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any Man, the Law is open, and there are Deputies; let them implead One Another. But if ye enquire anything concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful Assembly: for we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse.' And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the Assembly. And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the Disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia. And when he had gone over those Parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece, and there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia. And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus. These, going before, tarried for us at Troas; and we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days, where we abode seven days. And upon the first day of the week, when the Disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow, and continued his speech until midnight; and there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together; and there sat in a window a certain young Man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead. And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him, said, ' Trouble not yourselves! for his life is in him.' When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed; and they brought the young Man alive, and were not a little comforted. And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot. And when he met with us at Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene; and we sailed thence, and came the next day over against Chios; and the next day we arrived at Samos, and tarried at Trogyllium; and the next day we came to Miletus; for Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost. And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the Elders of the Church; and when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons; serving The LORD with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews; and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you; but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks, repentance toward GOD, and faith toward our LORD JESUS CHRIST. And now, behold, I go bound in The SPIRIT unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there; save that The HOLY GHOST Witnesseth in every City, Saying, 'That bonds and afflictions abide me.' But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the Ministry, Which I have received of The LORD JESUS, to testify The Gospel of The Grace of GOD. And now, behold, I know that ye All, among whom I have gone, preaching The KINGDOM of GOD, shall see my face no more: wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all Men; for I have not shunned to declare unto you All The Counsel of GOD. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the Flock, over the which The HOLY GHOST hath Made you Overseers, to feed the Church of GOD, Which He hath Purchased

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