III. Now, let us give a brief catalogue of the mercies unfolded in this blessed office of Jesus as Chief Ruler. By "the Chief Ruler " the truth of God is maintained, or it would have been banished from the world long ago. When I say the truth of God, I mean gospel truth; I mean the truth of the grand scheme of salvation and redemption; I mean the truth which honours Jehovah in all His Persons and perfections, and saves ruined sinners without their help; I mean the truth as portrayed in this precious, holy book, the Bible. Such is man's abhorrence of it, and such man's slavery to "the father of lies," that there is scarcely a truth (if any) in all the precious Word of God, which has not been frittered away, objected to, and diluted, even when admitted, so as to appear really of no value and importance. Not only in the case of Pagans, but in the case of Papists especially, everything in the Word of God is perverted, poisoned, and turned upside down; and not only among them, but among mock Protestants of the Papal order; for there are not a few of that class in our beloved country. Instead of the truth of God being viewed by them as a reality, all centring in Christ, who says, "I am the truth," we find them "teaching for doctrines the traditions of men," and not the truth of God; substituting rites, ceremonies, superstitions, external things, for things spiritual and Divine. Now, beloved, if it had not been for "the Chief Ruler," these enemies of the truth would have destroyed long ago from the face of the earth the truth and the precious Bible that contains it. I come into closer compass, and even among those who profess to be what is called evangelical, those who profess to preach the gospel, there are numbers who deliver truth in such ambiguous terms, that it may be taken to mean anything or nothing. Now, between these classes, what would have become of the truth of God, if "the Chief Ruler" had not preserved it? I owe the existence of the truth of God, in its fulness, to the superintendence of our Chief Ruler. He would not leave Himself without witnesses; and, therefore, "when He ascended up on high, He gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." All the grace that goes forth with His preached Word is from His own fulness, and is administered by His own Spirit; and He raises up, and will raise up in every age of the world, men of renown-Pauls, Wyckliffes, Knoxes, Whitfields, Romaines, and Topladys. You may call them Micaiahs, if you like, or any other name; but He will not leave Himself without these men on earth, called, and qualified, and set apart by Himself, who will "declare all the counsel of God;" who will insist on the sovereign, electing love of God the Father, the responsible substitution of the covenant Head, and the sovereign, invincible operations of the Holy Ghost, making the objects of Divine love and the purchase of Divine blood, holy and separate from the world, and devoted to God. This is an outline of what I consider to be truth, and truth which God will not allow to be destroyed. It is often at a low ebb, and is now sinking lower and lower every day. God Almighty

revive it!

It is to me a melancholy view which I am obliged to take of the sad declension of vital godliness and pure truth in the day in which I am closing up my career. We have all the outward show of religion, but, alas! very little of its kernel. Splendid edifices spring up like mush

rooms all around-crowded congregations throng them-abundance of wealth supports them-natural talent glitters in them; but where is truth and its results? where are the broken-hearted sinners? where are the strong believers, walking in the liberty of the gospel? where are the bold advocates of free grace? Here and there one may, indeed, be found, loaded with reproach, despised as a high-doctrine man, and shunned as a dangerous being; yet this is called an enlightened age, because the pulpit, the press, and the platform speak "great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage (Jude 16). Oh! where has the Christianity of olden times fled? O Lord, revive thy work in the midst of the years!

Moreover, His empire is secured through it. Whatever convulsions may take place, "the Chief Ruler" shall never quit His seat, never give up His empire. He is "a priest upon His throne," and He must sit there and rule until every enemy submits. Nebuchadnezzar once thought His seat of rule very secure; but in one moment, it was taken from Him, and He was driven out from among men, and forced to eat grass like an ox, thoroughly degraded and brutalized. The dupe of Antichrist thought himself very secure on the French throne, but he was banished. The present Antichrist once thought himself very secure on the Roman throne; but he is driven thence, and I pray God he may never be restored. But the empire of our Chief Ruler is "from everlasting to everlasting." According to the language of the prophet, "The God of heaven shall set up a kingdom that shall never be moved." Yea, thou glorious Chief Ruler of thy Church! thy kingdom shall come; thine empire is secure, and cannot suffer; thy throne shall never be abdicated; thy subjects shall never die.

All the persons and perfections of Deity are pledged in honour each to other, for the eternal security of the empire of grace. God the Father hath sworn that "the Chief Ruler," even Jesus, shall have the dominion from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth; "yea, all kings shall fall down before Him, all nations shall serve Him" (Psa. lxxii. 11). And again, “Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice, from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this" (Isa. ix. 7). So long, therefore, as the Lord of hosts is the Lord of hosts, the kingdom of our "Chief Ruler" must be immovable. So, also, God the Son declares, "My kingdom is not of this world;" and when the seventh angel shall sound his trumpet, the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign for ever and ever; yea, and all His people, who are the recipients of His grace, being made kings and priests, shall reign with Him for ever and ever. The Holy Ghost, also, is expressly designated the glorifier of our "Chief Ruler," and the kingdom which He sets up for Him in the hearts of His people is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Thus all the Persons of Deity are solemnly engaged for the perpetuity of the empire of grace, while all the attributes of Jehovah are employed to sustain it. Hence it must increase and grow with heavenly births, and spiritual prosperity, until all the election of grace is gathered in, and all the graces of the Spirit in them are matured for glory.

Yet further. Negociations are all settled in Him. According to

No one

the passage I cited in the history of Joseph, every matter was brought to him. The monarch said, "I shall take no more care even about the ruling of my own house. His word shall be obeyed." If you had wanted to go to Pharaoh in those days, you must have gone through Joseph; and if you want to go to Jehovah to hold communion with Him, you must go through Christ; for "No man cometh to the Father, but by Him." He is "the Chief Ruler." If you are desirous of living nearer to God—and who is not?-there are two things which I would urge upon you. Look up for the anointings of the Holy Ghost, and make use of "the Chief Ruler" to find access. can get near the throne, but by Him. Socinians cannot get near there; Arians cannot. Oh! what a privilege belongs to the family of the living God, in consequence of the mediation of "the Chief Ruler!" All negociations are with Him. And shall I tell you how they go on? He takes them, accompanied by all the imperfections of the creature, drowns the imperfections in His blood, carries their concerns with Him to His throne, and says, "Father, I will," concerning them all. And, consequently, the apostle felt authorized to say, "My God shall supply all your need, according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Oh! the blessedness of having habitual access to God through Him.

All negociations of a meritorious kind are with Christ and the Father on behalf of His people, and are for ever settled to the Divine glory, and to the infallible salvation of the whole Church of God, but there are matters of negociation going on daily between the child of God on earth and his Father in heaven, which are of too great importance to be entrusted to any but "the Chief Ruler," who is also "the Advocate on high, Jesus Christ the righteous." He regards with intense interest all the wants, all the sorrows, all the cares, all the desires of His bloodbought family upon earth; ever living to make intercession for them, being able to save them because He is "the Chief Ruler." Go, then, my tried brother or sister in the Lord, and carry all thy great concerns and thy little concerns to the throne, in full confidence that our "Chief Ruler" will negociate them wisely and successfully for you, and send you down the needful supply of grace. There can be no matter too great for Him to manage; there is nothing too little or minute for Him to notice; cast all your care upon Him, for He careth for you; yea, He is touched with the feeling of your infirmities, and knows well how to succour them that are tempted and tried.

One word more, and I close. Triumphs there are secured to us, and repeatedly realized by our Chief Ruler. Why, every temptation that we are enabled to repel is by His mighty power and in agreement with His promise, "There shall no temptation happen to you, but such as is common to man; and with the temptation, He will make a way for you to escape, that you may be able to bear it." "The God of peace" will bruise Satan under your feet shortly. There is no difficulty in providence concerning which He has not said, "I will make crooked things straight before you, and rough places plain. These things will I do unto you, and will never forsake you.' loved, how runs your intimacy with your Chief Ruler? When did you negociate with Him last? Did you tell Him all you knew, all you hoped for, all He had promised? And did you get an answer? Did He hand you down a crumb of bread from His storehouse? If He did, surely you will rejoice in intimacy with Him. O beloved! time

Be

would fail me, and eternity would not be long enough, to tell out all the triumphs that Jesus, our Chief Ruler, effects for His people. Just glance at the last triumph, when the believer shall exclaim, "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" I was struck by the fact, brought before me this morning, of one of our dear brethren, who was with us last ordinance day, being suddenly snatched away from his beloved partner, but having just time enough to rejoice in Christ, and make the satisfactory statement that all was right between God and his soul. I beg of my hearers to think of the number of such cases which have occurred among us, and to remember them in their supplications before God. I never knew nor heard of a congregation in which there were so many widows as in this. God Almighty support them by His omnipotent power!

Now, just examine this one point:-"Is this Chief Ruler related to me? Am I relying upon Him? Does my life habitually glorify Him? Am I living in the anticipation of spending eternity with Him?" May the Holy Ghost enable you to answer these questions satisfactorily, and the name of Israel's covenant God shall have the glory.

THE 116TH SONG IN

MR. IRONS'S NEW VERSION OF THE BOOK OF PSALMS.

LET God arise and plead His cause,
For mortals now make void His laws;
Let them that hate Him flee away,
And Zion triumph ev'ry day.

But let the righteous all be glad,
For ransom'd souls should not be sad;
Let them their Father's acts proclaim,
For Jah, Jehovah, is His name.

The fatherless and widows share
In His paternal love and care;

He brings forth souls enslaved and bound,
Leaves the rebellious on dry ground.

Before His presence, at His look,
Heaven, earth, and even Sinai shook,
When God went forth to save and bless
His people in the wilderness.

Thy grace, O God, like plenteous rain,
Confirms thy weary Church again;
Thy goodness, all thy cov'nant store,
Thou hast prepared to feed the poor.

The Lord gave forth His word of old,
Made those who preach'd His gospel bold,
Made kings and armies flee apace,
And spread the triumphs of His grace.

Delivered in Grove Chapel, Camberwell, Sunday Morning, June 24, 1849, BY THE REV. JOSEPH IRONS.

"Be not far from me, for trouble is near; for there is none to help." Psa. xxii. 11.

I THINK it quite impossible for a spiritual man to peruse this Psalm without exclaiming, "A greater than David is here!" The very language uttered by our beloved Christ on the cross, and in previous seasons of His sufferings, is here penned by the spirit of prophecy; and whether David had an immediate eye to Him in all, or not, the Holy Ghost hath caused David to set down many things which, in a subordinate sense, might relate to his own experience, and breathe his own desires, but in all of which the Holy Ghost was giving to His Church to the end of time, lessons relative to our precious, glorious covenant Head, which should be of infinite value and importance to every member. Often have I reminded you, that the Book of Psalms should be read without attempting to systematize or limit its expressions to one particular object.

There is every possible variety in the Book of Psalms; and it is this conviction which has led me to attempt the paraphrase of it for your use, because there is in it doctrine most pure, and in the most striking statements; there is Christian experience in its heights and depths, and lengths and breadths; there are promises for encouragement innumerable; there are injunctions with regard to fruitfuluess in Christian character, which ought never to be lost sight of; and with all these, the prominent feature, and the most conspicuous object, we should look for in the Psalms is the Person, official character, and perfect work of Jehovah Jesus. Nevertheless, even in such a verse as I Published in Weekly Nos., 1d., and Monthly Parts, 5d.

VOL. II.

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