nothing in the world really to fear; but when it takes possession of the mind it is torment. But herein God's people learn many useful lessons. They are made ashamed of themselves for their distrust of God, when it is proved that all their fears were groundless. Through the weight of fear they are driven to God as their only helper, and their secret anxieties make them frequent a throne of grace. In the gloomy regions of fear they learn the worth of a "Fear not," and the promise that is unheeded times of ease, is anxiously looked after, prayed for, and earnestly desired by the believer, "when fear is on every side."

One thought more, though many more may be suggested to the reader. Fear has a salutary effect upon the soul, in withdrawing it in spirit from a vain, frivolous, sinful world. With the gloom of some imagined or real evil impending, the heart is kept in disunion with the attractions of a dying world. It puts a shade upon its joys and gratifications, and this, under the leadings of the Spirit, has a healthful influence upon a child of God. The evils dreaded may begin and end in fear only, but wise and gracious results mark all God's dealings; and saints in all ages shall agree with the apostle Paul, who declared"And we know that all things work together for good to them who love God, to them who are called according to His purpose."

NO CONDEMNATION.

A MEDITATION BY THE AUTHOR OF "A MIND AT PERFECT PEACE WITH GOD."

By this I do know that Thou favourest me, (Psalm xli. 11),
When the foe cometh in like a flood, (Rev. xii. 16, 17),
That the Spirit against him a STANDARD uplifts, (Isa. lix. 19),
And sprinkles my heart with the blood. (Heb. ix. 13, 14).

The blood that was shed to abolish my sin, (Rev. i. 5, 6),
That by one man had enter'd the world, (Rom. v. 12),
And death by that sin; oh how fearful the fall! (Rom. vi. 23)!
To what depth of iniquity hurl'd. (Rom. vii. 18)!

How precious this blood, the blood of the Lamb, (1 Peter i. 19),
That speaks peace now in heaven for me, (Col. i. 20),

And for all who are prick'd in their hearts about sin, (Acts ii. 37),
Yes, for thee, trembling sinner, for thee. (Isa. lxvi. 2).

With my spirit the Spirit bears witness that I (Rom. viii. 16)
Am one for whom Jesus did bleed; (John x. 11);

And graciously takes of the things that are Christ's (John xvi. 14)
And whispers, "He loves you indeed." (John xvii. 23).

As the hart for the water-brook pants, so do I (Psalm xlii. 1, 2)
Follow hard after Him who hath said (Psalm lxiii. 8)
To the weary and heavily laden with sin, (Matt. xi. 28),
"In me there is life from the dead." (1 John v. 2).

"In Me there is life, in me there is rest, (Matt. xi. 29),
"In the world tribulation and woe, (John xvi. 33),

"Then look unto Me all ye ends of the earth, (Isa. xlv. 22),
"For through death I have vanquish'd the foe." (Heb. ii. 14).
When the flesh and proud reason for mastery strive, (Gal. v. 17),
"Your hope," says the Tempter, "is vain ;" (Lam. iii. 18);
But the Comforter's voice is heard in the storm, (Isa. liv. 11),
And "great calm" is my portion again. (Psalm cvii. 29, 30).
Temptation and conflict oft cause us to groan, (Psalm xxxviii. 9),
Oh, how strong is the evil within! (Rom. vii. 23)!

But justified freely by grace through the blood (Rom. iii. 24),
Though still sinning, I'm free from all sin. (Song of Sol. i. 5).

The life I now live in the flesh is by faith, (Gal. ii. 20),

In Him who once suffer'd for sin; (1 Peter iii. 18);

I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me, (John xi. 25, 26),
My Saviour from sin's reign within. (Rom. vii. 24, 25).

My soul! is this true? dost thou prove it indeed? (Psalm cxxxix. 23, 24)
Hast thou tasted the joy and the bliss (1 Peter ii. 3)

Of eating the flesh and of drinking the blood? (John vi. 53-56)?
There is more than mere notion in this. (Rev. ii. 9).

I know it; Lord help me to cleave unto Thee, (Acts xi. 23),

I owe it to Thee for Thy love; (Psalm cxix. 94) ;

I would walk in the Spirit, watch, hope, praise, and pray,
And wait for Thy Son from above. (1 Thes. i. 9, 10).

In whom all the saints have remission of sins, (Jer. 1. 20),
And never can finally fall, (Isaiah liv. 10),

For no man shall pluck them from out of His hand,
Whose Father is greater than all. (John x. 27-29).

There is no condemnation to them that are Christ's;
To them in whose place Jesus stood, (Rom. viii. 1),
As the Lamb foreordain'd in the counsel of old, (1 Peter i. 20),
To bring them to God by His blood. (Ephes. ii. 13).

They were chosen in Christ, beloved of God, (1 Thes. i. 4),
Before earth's foundation was laid; (Ephes. i. 4);

They were freed from the curse when for them He was curs'd (Gal. iii. 13)
On the tree where the ransom was paid. (1 Peter ii. 24).

But say, are your call and election made sure? (2 Peter i. 10) ?

If you're not born again you're undone; (John iii. 3) ;

For many a one Abba, Father," has said, (Gal. iv. 6),

Who never was own'd by Him "Son." (Matt. vii. 21-23).

Oh, may we submissively give up our will, (Psalm exliii. 10),
And say to “this mountain,” remove; (Matt. xvii. 20) ;
From our hearts cry with readiness, “Thy will be done,” (Acts xxi. 14),
And dwelling in God, dwell in love. (1 John iv. 16).

Forasmuch then as Jesus has suffer'd for us, (1 Peter iv. 1),
And is risen again from the dead; (Rom. vi. 9-11);

May we also walk in newness of life, (Rom. vi. 4),
Having life out of death in our Head. (Ephes. iv. 15, 16)

What is life? a clean lift out of self into Christ; (1 Cor. i. 30)
A standing in oneness with Him; (Rom. xii. 4, 5) ;
For just as He is, so are we in this world, (1 John iv. 17),
Without spot, without blame, without sin. (Col. i. 22).

Yes, in Christ, without sin, for there's no sin in Him, (Eph. v. 27),
And God makes us complete in His Son, (Col. ii. 10);

With Jesus, Faith sees herself one in His death, (Col. ii. 20),

And in His resurrection ONE. (Eph. ii. 6).

Look up then, ye mourners, 'tis Jesus that speaks, (Song of Sol. ii. 8),
Rejoice, be not faithless, nor weep; (John xx. 15);

O let us not question the love of His heart, (Isa. xlix. 14-16),
Who laid down His life for the sheep. (John x. 11).

Stand still now, and see the salvation of God, (Ex. xiv. 13),
Leave all creature efforts alone? (Rom. ix. 16);

Atonement is made, and the Father's well pleased, (Isa. xlii 21);
In believing, sweet peace is your own. (Rom. v. i).

When despairing, and tired of self, then you'll know (Psalm lxxiii. 26)
What it is to be saved without price; (Isa. lv. i) ;

Your self-righteous efforts keep Christ out of view, (Rom. x. 3);
"It is finish'd"-will not that suffice? (John xix. 30) ?

How calm is the peace the believer enjoys! (Rom. xv. 13),

In believing, his fears are removed! (1 Peter i. 8)!

He rests where the Father finds rest, IN HIS SON, (John viii. 29),
And loves Him who so freely has loved. (1 John iv. 19).

In this BLESSED ONE, obedient to death, (Phil. ii. 5 8)),
He sees his salvation secure; (Isaiah xlv. 24);

For He finish'd the work God gave Him to do, (John xvii. 4)
In a covenant ordered and sure. (2 Sam. xxiii. 5).

In the garden where Jesus did oft-times resort, (John xviii. 1),
There in spirit we'd often be found (1 Cor. vi. 17)

In fellowship deep with our suffering Lord, (Phil. iii. 10),
Where His blood fell in drops to the ground. (Luke xxii. 44).

Beloved, I pray you may live upon Christ, (Eph. iii. 17),
May walk up and down in His name, (Zech. x. 12),

May cleave to Him, yield to Him, hang on His lips, (Luke xix. 48),
And in everything live to His fame. (1 Cor. x. 31).

'Gainst the wiles of the devil, he only can stand, (Eph. vi. 10 11)
Whose strength is in God through the cross, (2 Tim. iv. 17),

Who is taught, when compar'd with this glorious Christ, (Psalm lxxiii. 25), To account what was gain to be loss. (Phil. iii. 7).

Are you, gentle reader, so rooted in Christ, (Col. ii. 7)

That you experimentally know (2 Tim. i. 12)

What it is to have peace in your soul through His blood, (Heb. xiii. 20),

To His sufferings submissively bow? (1 Peter iv. 13)?

There are many who think they believe and are saved, (John ix. 41 42), That from death unto life they are past; (1. John iii. 14);

If your faith does not stand in the power of God (1 Cor. ii. 5)

You will lie down in sorrow at last. (Isaiah l. ii).

Through the good Spirit's grace may you boast in that name, (Ps. lxxxix. 16), JAH-JESUS, our SAVIOUR and KING; (Psalm lxxxix. 18);

And still while exalting Him GOD OVER ALL, (Rom. ix. 5),

Of His sinless humanity sing. (Heb. ii. 14-18).

My Father, Thy child looks to Thee to be kept; (Psalm xvii. 5);
O shield and preserve me from harm; (Psalm lxxi. 3);

For snares are around me, without, and within, (2 Cor. vii. 5),
Hold Thou me with Thy powerful arm. (Isa. xl. 10 11).

My Father, I ask to be led by Thine eye, (Psal. xxxii. 8),
And not to be curbed by the bit; (Psalm xxxii. 9);
But, taught by Thy Spirit, be quick to discern (John xiv. 26)
What Thy mind is, and quickly submit. (Psalm ex. 3).

My Father, do Thou for me; Thy will be done, (Isa. xxxviii. 14),
Like a little one weaned from the breast, (Psalm cxxxi. 2),

I would feed on the bread that comes down from above, (John vi. 35),
"Till with Thee from all conflicts I rest. (Rev. xxi. 3 4).

When sorrows, temptations, and trials are o'er, (Isa. lx. 20),
He'll lead us right up to the throne; (Rev. vii. 17);
The song of FREE GRACE We shall sing evermore, (Rev. v. 9 10),
And know Him as we are "well known." (1 Cor. xiii. 12).

C. P.

THE LOVE OF GOD.

In 1 John iv. 9, 10, you will find the sum and substance of what forms the sum and substance of the whole word of God from first to last, and that is-Christ, the Son of God, and God Himself, the Saviour of His people. Called Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins. In the volume of the book it is written of Me, I come to do Thy will, O God." This being the sum and substance of the book -the whole volume of revelation being this-"I come to do Thy will, O God." As Mr. Colyer used to say, this is the heading of the book, the title of the book-Lo I come. The scriptures in old time were not like our books now. Every book was written on a separate roll, tied up, bearing each its respective title; but, says the Holy Ghost by David, the whole volume of revelation bears this title and superscription, "Lo I come to do Thy will;" therefore, when you open the book, look for an exhibition of this, for you have found nothing in the Bible till you have found the sum and substance of the book in Jesus. But carry this on a step further—the sum and substance and essence of the Book is Jesus; not only for His ruined people but in them-in their souls. So, if convinced of sin; if cut down by the law; if killed by the sword of the Spirit; if laid low under a sight and sense of sin: this is Christ. "Lo I come," He says; and come He will. This is the beginning of salvation. I know you can't believe this now, but it is not the less true; and in due time it shall be followed up by that blessed healing remedy for felt sin-a precious Christ; the Spirit shall testify of Christ. He shall take of the things of Christ and shew them to you, and this will satisfy thy soul. Poor wounded ones, cut down; made to groan under a sight of what they are; O they need healing, and they shall have it in due time. Were you ever killed? The ungodly cannot understand this; but, whether you do or not, I tell you on the warrant of God's Word, if you are never killed you'll be damned; and if you're ever killed you'll be surely saved. God can

make you understand this, but if left to yourself you never will. But Christ is the grand remedy for the ruined sinner, and he must feel his ruin to prize Jesus. Now we have the testimony here of the loving disciple and the beloved disciple; not that, as God, Jesus loved one more than another; they were all chosen and loved alike; and as a part of the Bride-the Church-His whole affections were theirs. Christ only loved His Church, but every member is beloved alike. His love did not extend beyond that limit. Chosen in Christ; implanted in Christ; all His love fixed there. But, after all, the chief point is does He love you? O my friends, it is to ascertain this, or to get fresh assurance of it, the Lord's living family meet together. "We have known and believed the love of God;" what would you give to say the same? But the sum of this portion is the manifestation of Christ to the soul; and in further speaking I would name four things-1st, the love of God itself, and a few observations upon it; 2nd, the manifestation of that love in sending His Son; 3rd, I might draw your attention to the purpose for which He is sent; 4th, the persons for whom sent. And first of the love. The apostle, in the 7th verse, describes the acting of this love; he that is a stranger to love is a stranger to God; for the essence of all true knowledge of God is love, and to know Him is to know a God of love. Not but God has other attributes besides love, such as justice, holiness, truth; but here the apostle is treating of the attribute of love, and the fruit of it when wrought in us will produce the love of the brethren, as you read verse 7. This loving disciple dwells more particularly upon the love of God in us and to us, and harps much throughout upon the love of the brethren as the evidence of the love of God being tasted in the soul; so that he that is a stranger to the love of the brethren and union with the saints, is a stranger to the love of God; has never been born of God; never converted; for when a soul is born of God there is a feeling of union with the Church and separation from the world. These are indispensable tests of being born of God; and every man so born, who knows the plague of his own heart, feels love and union to the Church of God and disunion with the world; and if you don't know something of this, your religion is not worth a straw. In verse 20 the apostle is most express upon this point-"If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brethren, he is a liar." You see this is exceeding plain; nay, at verse 12, chapter iii., he compares such to Cain, who murdered his brother; so those that love not the brethren the apostle calls "murderers." My dear friends, the very same spirit is in the world now; aye, and the spirit would be carried out if the laws permitted. O how soon, then, would the distinction between the world and the Church be drawn in indelible lines, even as of old; but we live in a day of vast profession; we hardly know who is who. "In this was manifested the love of God towards us; not that we loved Him;" no, we can take no account of our love to Him, either before or after regeneration. suppose no Spirit-taught soul is satisfied with its measure of love to God; but this is not the point. The point is this-God was first and foremost in the matter. He found us in enmity to Him; without love; but He loved us; it all originated in Him. In us was hatred

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