September 1

We take each other "till death do us part." And the relation is terminated by death—not the death of both, but the death of either. What then is the tenure of the treasure? What is our life? It is even as a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. Has God given you a companion in the days of your vanity? Rejoice; but rejoice with trembling. Perhaps already the wife has been called to give up "the guide of her youth," or the husband, "the desire of his eyes," with whom they once took sweet counsel together, and walked to the house of God in company.

But Christians can never be in a widowed state. They can never lose their defence, their glory, their joy. There is nothing precarious in the transactions of God with his people. "I know that whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever; nothing can be put to it, and nothing can be taken from it." How delightful, in a world of changes, to know that He changeth not, and therefore, that we shall not be consumed. Every thing seems reeling around me, and sinking beneath my feet, but I have hold of something firmer than the heavens and the earth. It is the word, the oath of eternal Faithfulness and Truth. "For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee." "I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me." I have had many a persuasion which has failed me, because, though the confidence was strong, the foundation was weak. But here the full assurance of faith can never do justice to the certainty of the event. "I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

"The word of life." PHR. 2:16.

THIS is a representation of the gospel, and it well deserves our notice. All life is valuable; but there are several kinds of it rising above each other. There is vegetable life. This is superior to mere matter, as a tree is more excellent than a stone. There is animal life. This is superior to vegetable, as a bird excels a tree. There is rational life. This is superior to animal, as a man excels a bird; for man was made a little lower only than the angels. "There is a spirit in man, and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth him understanding." Yet there is a life superior to rational. It is called the life of God, a life from which we are naturally alienated, but to which all the subjects of divine grace are restored by the Saviour, who came, not only that we might have

Mora. Exer

27 life, but have it more abundantly. It will be completed in heaven, but it is begun here. The case is this. Man, by transgression, is dead in state, for cursed is every one that continueth not in all things written in the book of the law to do them. He is also dead in nature, or as the apostle expresses it, dead in trespasses and sins. But the Christian is passed from death unto life. He is no longer exposed to condemnation, for he is justified by faith, and has peace with God. And he is no longer under the power of moral death, for he is quickened, and made to walk in newness of life. "I compare," says he, "my present with my former experience. I was once dead to divine things, for they no more impressed me than sensible things affect a dead corpse. But now, for the very same reason, I hope I am alive, for these very things do affect me, do interest me, do excite in me hope and fear. I am susceptible of spiritual joy and sorrow. I live, for I breathe the breath of prayer. I feel the pulse of sacred passions; I love and I hate. I have appetite, for I hunger and thirst after righteousness. I walk and I work, and though all my efforts betray weakness, they evince life."

But what will this life be when there shall be no more death; when the body shall partake of the immortality of the soul; when both shall be glorified together in a perpetual duration of knowledge, purity, friendship, riches, and glory? This is life eternal.

Now the gospel is called the word of this life, and it has four relations to it. A relation of discovery, for it reveals the reality and excellency of this life, the way in which it is obtained, the source from which it flows, and every particle of information we have concerning it. A relation of conveyance, for it communicates and produces this life. A relation of support, for it is the means not only of begetting this life, but of maintaining and increasing it. Therefore it is considered as its food, adapted to all stages of its being: milk, if we are babes; strong meat, if we are men. A relation of order; it is the rule by which this life is governed as to doctrine, worship, experience, exertion. To this rule all our religion must be brought; and as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.