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THE

Spiritual Magazine ;

OR,

SAINTS

TREASURY.

<< There are Three that bear record in heaven; the FATHER, the WORD, and the HOLY GHOST: and these Three are One."

< Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."

John v. 7.

Jude 3.

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AUGUST, 1826.

(For the Spiritual Magazine.)
DELIVERANCE FOR BURDENED SOULS.

They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed."
Psalm xxxiv. 5.

THE record of the experiences of the saints of old, is esteemed by all the tried of the Lord's family invaluable, because herein they read their own history. In all ages the troubles of saints have arisen from the same cause, have been precisely the same in their nature, and however various in some respects, have invariably required the same remedy. In the instance before us, the psalmist having experienced a peculiar deliverance, while making acknowledgment of his own enjoyment of divine favour, alludes to the only means by which the Lord's people are delivered from their burdens; and the expression he uses is calculated to instruct and comfort those who are liable to similar exercises, and who are called to contend with the same enemies,—to direct them to a suitable object for relief, and to comfort them with the persuasion that those who have preceded them have found deliverance from the like afflictions.

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The doctrine of this scripture is calculated to counteract one of the most frequent evils which attend the experience of the Lord's people the disposition to look within, for that which can alone be found in the Lord Jesus Christ. In order to prove this, let us first notice what is plainly implied, that the people of God are subject to burdens and darkness.

The first cause of distress to an enlightened mind arises from the sense of guilt and deserved condemnation, under a conviction of sin. Until this burden is felt, no desire will be excited for the knowledge of the Redeemer; nor will the gospel salvation be valued till this burVOL. III.-No. 28.

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is the body of sin within, their burden in y are relieved, with the ass union, and that ere long they sl se they shall see him as he is.

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powerfully felt, darkness and oppression under this part of the conflict, looking to J certain and only relief: hence the sweet promise, cometh in like a flood, the Spirit Jehovah shall andard against him-that standard is Christ. The pro dealings of God with his saints are sometimes so myster painful, as to make the strongest of them bow un clouds and darkness are round about, but still jus judgment are always the habitation of his throne; and the who can see Jesus on that throne is encouraged to cast his bur him who sits there.

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Perhaps the reader may be the subject of some of these care therefore will be glad to hear of the suitableness of the Lord and his all-sufficiency to afford him certain relief. Let such a look to him in the glory of his person, the Mighty God, the Prin Peace, Jehovah the Saviour, God-man Redeemer, the Almighty. such he is omnipotent, and able to do any thing that his people require; omniscient, and therefore acquainted with all the wan his people; omnipresent, always at hand, on every occasion and every place. Consider his glorious authority as Mediator, extend over all worlds, aud possessed by him that he may give eternal lif his sheep. Consider the displays of his power and love, in humiliation, death, sacrifice, obedience, resurrection, and eter exaltation. Look to the merit of his blood, the glory of his righ ousness, and the exhaustless nature of his invaluable fulness. Lo to him in his intercession, and remember he will eventually come be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe To this might be added all the precious names he bears; but bein

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a standard as inspires their minds with courage, assurance of victory over all their adversaries. and soul-cheering thought it is, that our Lord Jesus Christ suu.. to all the variety of suffering his church is subject to, that he might be a faithful and merciful High Priest over this his spiritual house.

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Even those who are exposed to the severest trials in providence, and in addition have to submit to the frown and reproach of those who revile them for living godly in Christ Jesus, may derive encouragement by looking to him who once had not where to lay his head, and may be made content with their lot, by considering him who endured such contradiction of sinners against himself. Those acts

of faith by which Christ is honoured as all in all, not only afford their subjects present relief, but give an assurance of eternal confidence. The believer will never have cause to regret his hope in Christ. Many of the events of time, though affording momentary delight, induce shame upon their remembrance; but confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ causes both delight and boldness: they looked unto him and were lightened, and their faces were not ashamed. This remedy

never can fail: when we meet with disappointment, darkness, and distress, it will be found upon examination we are not looking to him. The man who has some dangerous and almost perpendicular height to climb, is only safe and comfortable as he keeps his eye upward; if he look down, his head becomes confused and his situation uncomfortable aud unsafe. Thus it is with the believer, if he look within himself all is hopeless; if he look around upon his enemies, discouragement arises; if he look down upon this perishing world, the greatest confusion will ensue; but if he look to the Lord Jesus Christ, he will be delivered from his burdens, relieved from his darkness, and possess the assurance that he shall never be ashamed. Let Israel then look to Jehovah, and wait for the God of his salvation. EZRA.

den presses so heavily as to forbid to its distressed subject, the hope of relief from any other quarter. The light of the Sun of Righteousness will not be desired, until the darkness of nature is felt: but when a man feels his condition to be helpless and miserable, it would be hopeless too, were it not for the suitable provision sovereign grace has made in Christ Jesus; to whom the poor sinner is taught to look by faith, in whom he is enabled to trust, through whose glorious merits he is released from the intolerable load of guilt, and by whose shinings with beams of pardoning love and mercy he becomes light in the Lord. There are but few of the Lord's children who travel long in the divine life before they have a dark path to walk through, arising from the concealment of Jehovah's face; they walk in darkness and can see no light; this is a severe burden to them, from which they are only delivered as the Lord enables them by faith to look to Jesus, when they are again lightened.

Another heavy burden to believers, is the body of sin they carry about with them; and as they look within, their burden increases, but enabled to look to Jesus, they are relieved, with the assurance that sin shall not have the dominion, and that ere long they shall be like their holy head, because they shall see him as he is. When the temptations of satan are powerfully felt, darkness and oppression are often endured; but under this part of the conflict, looking to Jesus is the believer's certain and only relief: hence the sweet promise, when the enemy cometh in like a flood, the Spirit Jehovah shall lift up a standard against him-that standard is Christ. The providential dealings of God with his saints are sometimes so mysterious, and withal so painful, as to make the strongest of them bow under their burdens; clouds and darkness are round about, but still justice and judgment are always the habitation of his throne; and the believer who can see Jesus on that throne is encouraged to cast his burden on him who sits there.

Perhaps the reader may be the subject of some of these cares, and therefore will be glad to hear of the suitableness of the Lord Jesus, and his all-sufficiency to afford him certain relief. Let such an one look to him in the glory of his person, the Mighty God, the Prince of Peace, Jehovah the Saviour, God-man Redeemer, the Almighty. As such he is omnipotent, and able to do any thing that his people may require; omniscient, and therefore acquainted with all the wants of his people; omnipresent, always at hand, on every occasion and in every place. Consider his glorious authority as Mediator, extending over all worlds, aud possessed by him that he may give eternal life to his sheep. Consider the displays of his power and love, in his humiliation, death, sacrifice, obedience, resurrection, and eternal exaltation. Look to the merit of his blood, the glory of his righteousness, and the exhaustless nature of his invaluable fulness. Look to him in his intercession, and remember he will eventually come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe. To this might be added all the precious names he bears; but being

limited, the writer would only direct his companions in tribulation to one view of this altogether lovely One, which should never be overlooked the interesting idea, that from voluntary sufferings for his people, he is able to sympathize with them under all their trials.

Are we arraigned before the bar of conscience, the demands of the law being charged upon us, and the sword of justice apprehendedly unsheathed against us? He was not only arraigned before the bar of justice, but as our surety was condemned, and the sentence of justice in all its most terrific forms executed upon him. Do we mourn because the Lord hides his face from us? Where can we look for sympathy but to him who cried, " My God! My God! why hast thou forsaken me?" And here let it be kept in mind, our Father never hides his face from his saints but in love; he hid it from our surety in wrath. Are we exposed to the keenness of satan's temptations? He was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin; hence under temptation he becomes to his people such a standard as inspires their minds with courage, and gives them assurance of victory over all their adversaries. What an important and soul-cheering thought it is, that our Lord Jesus Christ submitted to all the variety of suffering his church is subject to, that he might be a faithful and merciful High Priest over this his spiritual house.

Even those who are exposed to the severest trials in providence, and in addition have to submit to the frown and reproach of those who revile them for living godly in Christ Jesus, may derive encouragement by looking to him who once had not where to lay his head, and may be made content with their lot, by considering him who endured such contradiction of sinners against himself. Those acts of faith by which Christ is honoured as all in all, not only afford their subjects present relief, but give an assurance of eternal confidence. The believer will never have cause to regret his hope in Christ. Many of the events of time, though affording momentary delight, induce shame upon their remembrance; but confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ causes both delight and boldness: they looked unto him and were lightened, and their faces were not ashamed. This remedy never can fail: when we meet with disappointment, darkness, and distress, it will be found upon examination we are not looking to him. The man who has some dangerous and almost perpendicular height to climb, is only safe and comfortable as he keeps his eye upward; if he look down, his head becomes confused and his situation uncomfortable aud unsafe. Thus it is with the believer, if he look within himself all is hopeless; if he look around upon his enemies, discouragement arises; if he look down upon this perishing world, the greatest confusion will ensue; but if he look to the Lord Jesus Christ, he will be delivered from his burdens, relieved from his darkness, and possess the assurance that he shall never be ashamed. Let Israel then look to Jehovah, and wait for the God of his salvation. EZRA.

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