1. Those who are in a state of reconciliation with him —
[Doubtless there are many amongst you, who can say with the Church of old, "Though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortest me'." To you then I would say, " Who knoweth the power of God's love? Accord- ing to your hope, even your most sanguine hope, so is his mercy ;" yes, and infinitely above all that either men or angels can con- ceive. Compare your state with that of those who are now lift- ing up their eyes in the torments of hell ; and say. Whether eter- nity itself will suffice to express your obligations to Him who has redeemed you by his blood, and to the Father who has accepted that atonement in your behalf? Oh ! bless without ceasing your reconciled God. Labour to count, if it were possible, the riches of his grace; and to explore " the height and depth and length and breadth of his incomprehensible love." And let the stupen- dous mercy vouchsafed unto you, quicken you to every possible expression of gratitude to your adorable Benefactor.]
'2Cor. V. 11. * Isai. xii. 1.
THE beauty of JEHOVAH IMPARTED TO HIS PEOPLE.
Ps. xc. 17. Let the leauty of the Lord our God be -upon us!
IT is pleasing to think that in every age the Lord has many " hidden ones :" even as in the days of Elijah, who thought himself the only worshipper of Jehovah, whilst there were in reality '' seven thou- sand men who had not bowed their knee to the image of Baal." It is not every one who dies ap- parently under the displeasure of God, that will be visited with his judgments in the world to come. Many ** are judged of the Lord now, in order that
they