him at the hour of death, and at the day of judgment-found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. Blessed testimony for Jesus !-encouraging example to place our whole trust and confidence in the Lord our righteousness, and our strength: for he is the same to us as he was to the apostle Paul, and we have as good reason to triumph as he had, because it is written, "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God: for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and a bride adorneth herself with her jewels: for as the earth bringeth forth its bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations." This is the righteousness of faith, and these are the fruits of it, which abound to the glory of God, even peace

with him, joy in him, a holy walk with him, and a victorious warfare by him. In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory. Herein to glory is the believer's bounden duty. He is called to it, as his gospel privilege, and according to his faith he does triumph in it, as his present happiness, and as a good ground for his hope of eternal joy. Wonderful blessings are promised to this faith and hope, and they are truly experienced at this day. Bless the Lord, O my soul, for his providing such a garment for glory and beauty. He has warranted thee to put it on, and having through it free access into his presence, he has commanded thee to join that great multitude, whom no one can number, who are standing before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palms in their hands, and who cry with a loud voice, say. ing, "Salvation to our God, who sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb for ever." Their robes are as white as the light, being washed clean in the blood of the Lamb, and through him they have conquered, as the

palms in their hands denote; yea, are more than conquerors, having crowns of righteousness upon their heads, which can never fade away. For grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. O what matter of triumph is here! a righteousness absolutely perfect, and everlasting! This greatly enhances all our high joys in Christ, that there is full security for their continuance. It depends on the faithfulness of God to his word and promise, fixed in his eternal counsels, and established upon immutable things. "Their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord, and mine is an everlasting righteousness. Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner, but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished." The state of a believer is always one and the same on God's part. He may vary in his apprehensions of his state, but with God there is no

variableness, or shadow of turning. He may be a believer walking in darkness-tempted to doubt, he may pay too much attention to sense and feeling-may get into a legal spirit—his evidences may be clouded—when outward things and providences seem to make against him, his faith may be sore tried, and he may stagger at the promises of God through some fit of unbelief-the man changeth, but God changeth not. His mercies are sure mercies. They cannot fail: For they spring from the ocean of grace, and are streams which no created power can cut off but they shall infallibly return to it again, and shall bring with them all the happy objects of his love. The Father chose them, and gave them to his Son, who has all their names written in the Lamb's book of life. For them he lived and died; and when he presents them at the last day to the Father —“Behold I, and the children whom thou hast given me," not one of them shall be wanting for the Holy Spirit is by his office the Lord and giver of life to them, and in the day of his power he enables them to re

ceive Jesus, and to live by faith upon him, as members united to, and in fellowship with their glorified Head. This covenant of the blessed Trinity is unalterable, being ordered in all things and sure. All the subjects of its grace shall infallibly be saved according to our Lord's promise, and according to our Lord's prayer, viz. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand." Trusting to these immutable securities the heirs of promise are commanded to draw strong consolation, even to rejoice in Jesus with a fulness of joy; in darkness as well as walking in light-in winter as well as in summer-in adversity as well as in prosperity-in death as well as in life; because he has all power in heaven and earth to make good to them every covenant engagement. And he will do it; for the ransomed of the Lord shall re turn, and shall come to Sion with Songs, and everlasting joy upon their heads; they shall