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"How unspeakable is the gift of eternal "life!"

Have we any reason to believe that we are the heirs of "eternal life?" Is this life the supreme object of our desire, and do we feel it already begun in our souls? Is it our earnest wish to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness? Are we indeed dead unto sin, and alive unto righteousness through Jesus Christ our Lord? Are we animated by his love, and purified and comforted by the Holy Spirit? Are we quickened together with him, and do our hearts ascend; are our affections placed where he sitteth, at the right hand of God? Then, however poor and mean we may be in the eyes of the world; still we are rich, we are great indeed. We have a possession which the world knows nothing of. Silver and gold, we may have none; but we have what is infinitely preferable-spiritual treasures never to be exhausted. All things are ours which are worthy of an immortal mind. We are more than monarchs; we are the children of God, destined for heaven, assured of "eternal life."

But how awful, how truly affecting the case of those, whose character is directly opposite; who are still in the gall of bitterness and the bond of iniquity; who are spiritually dead. They are not only without all the hopes and enjoyments of "eternal life ;" but are continually liable to the vengeance of Almighty God. It is only because He is infinitely merciful, that they are not immediately consigned to hell. If their eyes were not blinded; if their consciences were not seared by him who ruleth in the hearts of the children of disobedience, they would "awake to righteousness and sin "not." They could not, for an instant, delay their escape from "the wrath that is "to come."-May the Holy Spirit open their eyes, alarm their consciences, and convince them "of sin, of righteousness, "and of judgment !" They would then become "new creatures,-turn unto God, "and keep his commandments, and do "them."-Ah! better we had never been born, if we be not "born again." Our present animal life, the only life which we have, if we be not born again, is not a bles

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sing but a curse. To make it a blessing, we must be "sanctified through the truth, -yield ourselves unto God, and be "established in every good word and work. "Awake then thou that sleepest; arise "from the dead.-Hear these words of our Lord-"look unto me and be saved."-Merciful being! He still bears with all thy rebellion and ingratitude, and invites, nay pleads with thee, to accept "the gift of "eternal life."

Is this "gift of eternal life" really offered to us? It unquestionably is. May we, then, cordially receive it! May we be made like unto God, and be partakers of his happiness!-What gratitude should fill our hearts! How should we love him who hath thus loved us, and prepared for us this vast inheritance! Let us show our love by yielding to the motions of his spirit, and

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observing all things whatsoever he hath "commanded us." Let us go up through the world, in his strength, "girding up the "loins of our mind, and building up our"selves in our most holy faith. -I I pray

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"God that our whole spirit and soul, and "body, be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ !-Now "unto him who is able to keep us from falling, and to present us faultless before "the presence of his glory, with exceeding joy; to the only wise God our Saviour, "be glory, and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever, Amen."

THE

DIVINE EXCELLENCE OF CHRIST.

PSALM XLV. 2.

Thou art fairer than the children of men.

THE person who is the subject of the fortyfifth Psalm, is, doubtless the Messiah. In support of this idea, we can quote no less authority than that of an inspired Apostle. Paul, in the first chapter of his Epistle to the Hebrews, applies directly to the Messiah a very striking passage of this Psalm, in order to prove him to be not merely a human, inferior nature; but one who was exalted and divine. Evidently referring to the sixth verse of this Psalm, the Apostle represents the Father as thus addressing

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