hope which is based upon the finished work of his Redeemer.

Now, it is in this way that faith acts as the procuring cause of justification. The child of God was given to Christ from eternity, and long ago Christ obeyed the law, and died upon the cross for that child's justification; but it is only now, by the grace of God, that he is enabled to behold, and come, and take the blessing which has been purchased for him. All was accomplished that could be done for his salvation while he was yet insensible to his high and glorious destiny; but in due time God gives him faith, and by that faith, as with a hand put forth, he takes hold of Christ, then rests on the promises, and reposes his soul on God, as a sin-pardoning and reconciled Father in Christ Jesus.

This faith, thus bestowed upon the children of God, is a fruitful principle, and by its fruit it only can be recognised. There is no degree of faith which is unproductive; even the smallest amount of seed sown in the soul will germinate, blossom, and bring forth fruit ; "some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold." (Matt. xiii. 8.) As we can only know that we are of those who were given to Christ in the absolute covenant of redemption by the faith which God bestows upon us, so we can only know the genuineness of that faith, by its effects upon our minds and conduct. A dead faith is fruitless. It leads to no permanent good. It neither softens our hearts, nor inspires us with hope. But God's faith so worketh by or through love, as to

produce in His children sanctified dispositions, a holy life, and an obedient will; but, in nothing is it more clearly to be discerned, than in that sweet assurance of hope which enables the believer to go on his way-a weary way—a rough way—an obstructed way,-rejoicing.

Now, though faith and assurance are distinct operations of the mind-as distinct as the seed is from the germ which it produces-yet are they so connected, that the one cannot exist without a manifestation, in some degree, of the other. Faith is the confidence which a sinner reposes on the promise of God to pardon him for Christ's sake; and, therefore, if he has this confidence, he must have hope. If he has no hope of pardon, where is his confidence? Faith, it is true, may be given in a measure small as a grain of mustard seed, and will, consequently, be productive of a proportionally small amount of fruit; yet, the lowest possible degree of confidence must inspire the sinner with hope. It must lead him to Christ for salvation. It must display to him the finished work of his redeemer, and, therefore, must give him peace in believing, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

If, then, we find that we have this assurance of hope only in a measure so small as to be hardly perceptible, we must ascribe it to our little faith, and it should be our anxious prayer, continually urged until we receive a gracious answer, "Lord increase our faith;" but if we possess it in the lowest degree, though it be small as a grain of mustard seed, or even, as in the case of the disciples, less perceptible than this, we have reason

to rejoice; for it has been given by God for our salvation, and is the earnest of all blessing.

But, with hope through Christ, there are also sanctified affections, and holy desires brought forth by a living faith; and, he who possesses not this evidence of God's presence in his soul, may be assured, that the principle within him, call it what he pleaseth, is but Idead and worthless. Faith worketh. It leads the believer to work out his salvation with fear and trembling, (Phil. ii. 12.); to be watchful over his heart, and careful how and where he walks. We see how it operated on St. Paul, who tells us that he fought, not as one who beats the air, but he kept under his body, and brought it into subjection; lest, after he had preached to others of salvation, he should possess only the evidence of an unsanctified heart, an unbelieving mind, an unconverted state, and so be in danger of rejection; for he knew the truth of his own words, "We are debtors not to the flesh to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." (Rom. viii. 12-13.)

The believer is still the occupant of a sinful body, and his flesh is ever prone to evil; but faith leads him to wage a constant warfare with himself. The evil desires of his heart he controls. The wicked suggestions of his nature he opposes; and this he does in proportion to the degree of that blessed principle which is bestowed upon him. A feeble resistance to our

corruptions, indicates a small advance in the Divine life; and a yielding to the foe by a quiet resting in sin, is the most convincing proof, that we could ask, of a want of that principle, the absence of which is death. "Faith worketh by love." (Gal. v. 6.) "We love God, because He first loved us," (1 John iv. 19.); and a sense of this love communicated to our hearts by faith, leads us to desire, and then to do all that is well pleasing to God: "If ye love Me," says Christ, "keep My commandments." (John xiv. 15.)

Then, reader, let me beseech thee to make thy calling and election certain to thine own mind. Be not easy until thou hast ascertained whether or not thou art a child of God. Hast thou fulfilled the conditions of salvation by repenting and believing? Is thy faith that living principle—that ever-fruitful grace of the Spirit-that worketh by love to seek and do the will of God? If so, thou mayest be sure that thou art God's; thou mayest be certain that thou art one of those who were given to Christ, in the everlasting covenant of redemption; for thou couldest not have this holy principle infused into thy soul, but by God Himself; and God would not have given to thee by His Spirit this faith, if thou art not dear to Him, and He was not determined to effect thy salvation. Be then of good cheer. Comfort thy heart, and press on to know the Lord. Go on unto a perfect knowledge, an enlarged faith, and a more abounding love, and God will add more grace, and carry on the work which He has begun in thy soul.

CHAPTER XXII.

THE SANCTIFICATION OF HIS CHURCH OBTAINED THROUGH OUR COVENANT REDEEMER.

"O God, whose blessed Son was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil, and make us the sons of God, and heirs of eternal life; Grant us, we beseech Thee, that having this hope, we may purify ourselves, even as He is pure; that when He shall appear again with power and great glory, we may be made like unto Him in His eternal and glorious kingdom; where with Thee, O Father, and Thee, O Holy Ghost, He liveth and reigneth, ever one God, world without end." Sixth Sunday after Epiphany.

We have now considered the material parts of the scheme which, in the counsels of eternity, was devised for man's redemption; and it only remains that we wind up the subject with a view of the glorious results, present and to come, of this covenant.

St. Paul, in a striking passage, says, "Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it; that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." (Eph. v. 25-28.)