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ON JOHN, IV, 23.

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

We are taught from the sacred scriptures that we are no longer under the law, and that Jewish ceremonies have come to an end. Paul tells us that the law is our school master to bring us to Christ. If it had not been for the law we should not have known sin, neither would it have been imputed, but now are we under condemnation. And instead of going to Jerusalem at set times to worship, because God had promised to dwell in the temple, and to meet with his faithful ones, we are now privileged and blest with the Holy Ghost dwelling in our hearts, whereby we cry,-" Abba Father."

These carnal ordinances, only made way for the establishmen of that spiritual worship, which we enjoy in this life and through eternity, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.

The law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope, by which we draw nigh unto God, as Christ has become an high Priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands. Not the washing of divers kinds, nor of meats, nor drinks imposed on them, until the time of reformation-but all things are fulfilled in Christ, all things are finished in the Gospel. For behold I create new Heavens and a new earth. Jerusalem was the place of my rest until she was destroyed in consequence of unbelief and idolatry, and then was that which was spiritual established. And this is the covenant that was made: "After those days saith the Lord I will put my laws into their minds and write them in their hearts.

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This is the blessed hour spoken of in the above, when the true worshippers shall worship in spirit, for no other is accepted. What a delightful theme for meditation is this! and yet how solemn when we imagine we hear him who has prepared the way, saying,-"O my Father if this cup may not pass away from me except I drink it-Thy will be done!" What love is exhibited towards us! how can such love rest upon such vile creatures all over defiled with sin, as we are. God delights in the obedience of his Son, so he does in our obedience, if he did not, he would not prepare for us a kingdom, spotless and sinless! He became our righteousness; well may we ponder long upon his goodness, and cry unclean. And may we hear the still sweet voice saying, -"Thy sins and iniquities will I remember no more!" To him is the worship of Heaven directed and may we join in the praise of," Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and wisdom, and honor, and blessing and glory forever." through him we have access to the Father of Spirits.

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Let us rest on his promises and not be destroyed through unbelief, for by faith we stand.

The true worshippers are those that have been purged from dead works; which are under the law but now saved by grace, and the Father secketh such to worship him. He hath done everything to make us true worshippers. Let us cleanse ourselves from the filthiness of the flesh and walk in the spirit that we stumble not.

The dragon is not destroyed although he has been cast out, his wicked devices are to be feared and guarded against, for in his mouth was a flood of water to destroy the woman, which is the church. But God has protected her from the earliest period to the present time, and ever will, though all hell were raised to oppose it with its utmost power.

Thus the Gentile church is exhorted to stand, having on the whole armor, and not fall through unbelief as did the Jews. Take heed lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

Lord save from apostacy, and from thy judgments, that must fall upon the guilty. For the hour cometh, and now is, when er in spirit and in

truth, for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

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Now when they saw the boldness of Peter, and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus.

It appears that the people were gathered, and those unlearned men were teaching them, and the Priests and Sadducees were grieved and fell or come upon them and put them in holds, or prisons until the next day. Howbeit many of them which heard believed. The next day all the rulers and scribes and chiefpriests were gathered at Jerusalem to inquire into the matter, for they had been healing a lame man: they wished to know by what authority they had done this, or by what power, or in whose name?

But Peter filled with the Holy Ghost declared to them that it was by the name of "Jesus of Nazareth whom ye crucified," but who had risen again from the dead. This is the stone which is set at naught by you builders, they thought that they were building on the right, or good foundation, but although Priests, they did not know the power of God, and they consulted what they should do with these men, for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem.

But that it spread no farther they must be threatened, and they told them or commanded them not to speak at all, nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John cared for none of their threats, for they had an eye single to the glory of God. For said they: "We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." And being let go they went to their own company and reported all that the chief Priests and Elders said unto

them: and when his company, or his brethren heard, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said,--" Lord thou art God which made Heaven and earth"-he referred to David, who had said,—The heathen raged and the people imagined vain things against the Lord and against his Christ. And now Lord behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants that with all boldness they may speak thy word. They did not think that they were unlearned, but still desired that signs and wonders might be done by the name of Christ. And when they had prayed; the place was shaken where they were assembled and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and they spake the word of God with boldness. And all that believed were of one heart and of one soul. And with great power gave the Apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, which was important, because the Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection of the dead, nor angels, nor spirits. And great fear was upon them all. They were bold in the fear of God, for they were taught by his spirit and who can harm us, if we be the followers of that which is good? It appears from the writings of the Apostles that there were many in their days that trusted to their learning, for the world by wisdom knew not God. And by the foolishness of preaching some are saved, whether learned or unlearned if attended with divine power. There has always been a spirit of opposition against the church, for not many mighty, not many noble are called, but God hath chosen the poor and despised of this life to confound the wise and mighty, that they should not trust in their own works, for if we exhalt ourselves we shall be abased. It is a good hand-maid to religion, but nothing to be depended upon. Israel was always hated by other nations And I would ask what is there in the principles of religion that is not good? The fault is in our own breasts;-a deadly hatred to God, and his government; we are not subject to his law neither indeed can be. And when they perceived they were unlearned and ignorant men they marvelled; no wonder they marvelled, and so they would now, for the same principle is prevalent, for many like to be called Rabbi. They took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. And O that we might so live that those around us might be compelled to say the same thing. That they may not be able to resist the wisdom nor the spirit by which we speak-help us Lord to be bold as well as harmless in thy cause.

ON JOHN, V, 39.

Search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life and they are they which testify of me.

In this Chapter we are told that Christ healed a man of his in firmity which had bowed him down for many years, and that the Jews upbraided him for doing it on the Sabbath day.

But Jesus answered them,-My Father worketh hitherto, and I work:-for that the Jews sought the more to kill him.

He still labors with them, and says,-The Son can do nothing of himself, and,-"That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father." And again: "He that heareth my words, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life. I can of mine own self do nothing, because I seek not mine own will." Then he speaks of John bearing witness of him. "These things I say that ye might be saved."

He further says: "But I have greater witness than John, for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me that the Father hath sent me;" but he tells them his word does not abide in them, and him that is sent ye believe not; then he tells them to search the scriptures for it is they that testify of me.

What a oneness between the Father and Son, and then he directs the disciples to be one "Even as we are: my Father in me, and I in you." How important that we should search the scriptures with a prayerful heart, for out of them we can draw treas ures new and old. In them is nourishment for the weak, and comfort for those that are cast down; reproof for those that are out of the way, and they are eternal life to those that believe; therefore search the scriptures and we shall find the stem of

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