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must be unfitted for Divine communion here, and consequently for an admission into that glorious kingdom where no unclean thing can enter and He who knew the weakness and depravity of human nature, strictly enjoined as a means of preservation, watchfulness unto prayer, and that continually, 'lest ye enter into temptation;' and again : 'Watch ye therefore and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things, and to stand before the Son of Man.'

"Some passages of Scripture have engaged my attention, particularly those relating to justification and salvation by faith in Christ, so often repeated and insisted on by the great apostle to the gentiles; in accordance wherewith, many are the instances recorded in the evangelists, of the efficacy of faith in the blessed Jesus, and also that 'to as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God.' I felt an earnest desire that I might lay aside every preconceived opinion, whether received by education or from the sentiments of others, and that my views of the subject, if any should be presented, might truly be the revelation of the Divine will to my soul, and consequently such as I might safely build my hopes upon,

of being admitted, at the end of time, to an inheritance with the saints in light; and in this centred state of mind, it soon seemed clearly to open thereon, in the following manner. When any one, through the operation of Divine Grace on the soul, is brought under conviction for sin, and enabled to believe in Christ, and look unto Him as the only ground of his hope of acceptance with God, (whether the conversion be sudden or gradual,) he is, by and through the atoning sacrifice, (that being the Divinely appointed means,) justified from past transgression; raised from that state of death which came upon all mankind by the fall of Adam, into newness of life; and thus made meet for an admission into the paradise of God, as was fully exemplified in the case of the thief on the cross. Such can adopt the language, 'Being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ;' and, while they abide in Christ the Living Vine, are free from condemnation, walking not after the flesh, but after the Spirit; being, by the renewings of the Holy Ghost, enabled to persevere in their Christian course; and pressing after attaining 'to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ;' (which even the great

apostle, though his conversion was so remarkable, considered he had not already attained, but was pressing toward the mark for the prize ;) and to such a degree of victory over their souls' enemies, as, in the Lord's time, will render them partakers of the gracious promise, 'Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, that shall go no more out.'

"To some an evidence may be afforded that their election is made sure: yet to all who arrive at this state such an evidence may not be granted, but doubts at times may continue to assail them. Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his;' and these will be found amongst the sheep on the right hand in the kingdom of glory, ever ready to cast down every crown at the Redeemer's feet. But in passing along to such a blessed attainment, they have to experience, some in a greater and some in a less degree, that a Christian's life is a continual warfare-that they have potent enemies to encounter-many conflicts and baptisms to pass through-and many refining operations to endure, in order that the heart may be kept a fit temple for the Holy Ghost to dwell in; that they may bring forth fruit to the glory of God, and

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'show forth the praises of Him who hath called them out of darkness into his marvellous light.' They find that, in order to be a disciple of the lowly Jesus, they must take up their cross daily, deny themselves, and follow Him, by obeying his Divine requisitions as made known in the secret of their hearts and if at any time, through unwatchfulness or the prevalence of temptation, they are drawn aside into evil, they quickly feel the bitterness of it; but the language contained in the blessed Scriptures stands recorded for their consolation: "Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand;' and that, 'If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.' And when favoured to feel it applied to their case by the promised Comforter, they again go on their way with thankfulness in being restored to a sense of Divine favour; keeping in view the ground of their hope for final acceptance, that, as Christ was the author, so He must be the finisher of their faith-that by Him alone we shall stand complete before his Father's throne, He having 'by one offering perfected for ever them who are sanctified,'

'I am convinced that other foundation in Zion can no man lay than that which is laid, 'disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God and precious,' 'a Chief Corner Stone,elect, precious. He that believeth shall not be confounded;' but to the master builders, wise in this world's wisdom, it still remains a stone of stumbling and rock of offence.' This is, I consider, in a sorrowful degree, the situation of numbers in the present day. In reference to such the following query has been suggested to my mind-If He who is Almighty, and of Infinite Wisdom and Goodness, saw fit to appoint a means suited to the dignity of his Divine Majesty, (though calculated to humble the pride of the creature,) whereby to restore fallen man to a state fitted for Divine communion whilst here, and for an admission at last into an eternity of never-ending felicity; requiring on our part that we should believe in and accept the means thus graciously offered, as so fully set forth in the sacred records; shall poor finite man, because the plan is so mysterious that he cannot comprehend it by human reason, reject it altogether? choosing rather to rest satisfied with a belief, that, by merely following the example and precepts of our Saviour, so great is the love