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The heavenly bridegroom, and his virgin company. 329 The royalist and the rebel, or, the son of peace in

Gospel Zion, and her eternal glory..

The passover feast, and the proper guests.....
The heaven-born soul in his highest character (con-

sidered as having put on the new man), deri-
ving the whole of his pedigree from the sinless
seed of God.....

The saint's daily labour, and present pay.........

354

384

391 405

LIGHT SHINING IN DARKNESS.

I.

GOD'S UNERRING WATCHWORD TO THE DOUBTFUL SAINT WHEN HALTING BETWEEN 'LO HERE AND LO THERE.'

ISAIAH XXX. 21.

"And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left."

THE prophet in this chapter describes a people upon whom the Lord waits to be gracious, that is, he observes their conduct, considers their straits and troubles, and suffers their cases to get desperate, with respect to human aid, that he may display the riches of his grace when there is no eye to pity nor hand to help, and that his strength may be perfected in their weakness; by which means he convinces them of their sins and of their insufficiency, and so stops the mouth of boasting, and secures the glory of their salvation to himself.

He further intimates that God's gracious deliverance of them shall be obtained in answer to weeping, crying, and praying. And that for a

while adversity and oppression shall be their sorrowful meat and drink; yet that it shall terminate in such an unctuous and experimental knowledge of the truth, as shall greatly fortify them against the seduction of blind watchmen and dumb dogs. "Thy teachers shall not be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers."

A minister of the letter stands in his chains, and in the bondage of his corruption; and he savours of sin and wrath, and nothing else; and the shew of his countenance proclaims it, and testifies against him.

The presumptuous sinner, that runs into the ministry unsent of God, stands in pride, arrogance, and false confidence, and hardens and emboldens the wicked.

The heretic, who holds damnable heresies, is a minister of Satan, and stands in the father of lies, actuated and influenced by him.

The Arminian stands in the flesh, trusts in his own heart, leans to his own understanding, and makes flesh his arm. He is not emptied from vessel to vessel; he is settled on his lees; his scent is not changed; he savours not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

But the minister of Christ stands fast in the Lord; he stands in the Lord's strength, in his grace and favour, in his righteousness, in his truth, in the peace that he has made, and in the liberty that he has proclaimed. He stands as his ambassador and his mouth to the people, shining in his

light, and burning with his love, seeking his ho nour and glory, and the welfare of all his seed. For such to live is Christ, and to die is gain."

Now for God to be gracious to such souls, to hear their cry, and to answer them, and then to enlighten them to see eye to eye with their own teachers, and that themselves are built upon the same foundation that the apostles and prophets were built on, and that the most profound minister of Christ cannot get into a corner, or be hid from them in the mysteries of the kingdom, is a blessing indeed. But if, at any time, they should be seduced, or led astray, then a word behind them shall set them right again. "Thine ears shall hear a word behind thee."

But then what is this word behind us? The law is called a voice of words; and every believer should endeavour to keep this voice of words behind him, and not suffer himself to be bewitched like the foolish Galatians, in being led back to it again. This voice of words blinds us when it is before us, and kills us when it is within us; and therefore, having fled from the wrath to come, and from the mount that burns with fire, from blackness and darkness, we should beware of the leaven of the pharisees, lest they bring us back to the law again; for he that hath got his face Zionward should keep Sinai at his back, and the voice of words always behind him, as a spur to his diligence, and as a caution not to look back, remem

bering his former affliction, and his misery, the wormwood, and the gall.

However, this is not the word behind us, because it gives not life, nor doth it shew the way to it as this word does which says, "This is the way, walk ye in it." For not the law, but the gospel; not Moses, but Christ; not the letter, but the spirit; shew the way of life, and the way to life.

Again, the word of life in the mouth of Christ is a word before us. "When he putteth forth his own sheep he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him; for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him, for they know not the voice of strangers." This is a word before, and not behind us.

But further, the word of truth in the mouth of gospel ministers should be a word before us. It is a sad thing when one who is called a leader goes behind. He ought to be before the flock in knowledge, experience, judgment, and gifts; and to say with Paul, "Be ye followers of me, and mark them that walk so;" and again, "Follow me, as I follow Christ." But to have a pastor over a people who is nothing but a novice, or an old woman, is one of Zion's worst calamities. "As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them." From which rulers and oppressors the good Lord deliver us all!

But, notwithstanding all that has been said, the