and thousands rejoiced in the knowledge of the remission of their sins, of being born again, of having the witness of the Holy Spirit to testify with their spirits that they were sons and heirs of God, joint heirs with Christ, and could bear indubitable testimony of the salvation which is through him, and also that Christ was he which was to come, the Messiah. That God had raised him from the dead and exalted him to his right hand a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance and forgiveness of sins; now the word of the Lord had free course and was glorified. The enemies of the cross being somewhat conquered, the saints went on their way rejoicing, this was but a momentary respite; he who was cast out from the presence of the Holy God, the prince of darkness, could not suffer his children to remain inactive, for verily the word of God is against them. "There is no rest for the wicked," saith our God. Still the children of light, the followers of the Prince of Peace, had abundance of peace amid sufferings and persecutions: read the words of the Lord, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." But for the children of darkness there is no peace even in the world, which they take for their portion; while permitted to creep on the dunghill of iniquity, commit all lewdness and abomination with greediness, to be bastards on the earth and a stink in the nose of holiness, until God's mercy is exhausted, justice vindicated, and his judgments doom them to endless perdition and misery in hell!! There is no peace for devils, or men which have become such. Rejoice therefore, lift up your heads and leap for joy, all ye sons of God, even in the fiery furnace of persecution, for your redemption draweth nigh; when ye are wading in the waters, when the floods come nigh your souls, be not dismayed, your God is about your path, he will uphold you with the right hand of his majesty, and when ye walk in the fire it shall not burn unto your souls, "for 1 am your God, I have called you by your name, ye are mine; I will deliver and honor you and ye shall glorify me." O what glorious, sweet and heavenly words are these! What love to poor mortals! What condescension, what kindness! Although cast out as evil-doers, and killed all the day long by our fellow-men; hunted as sheep by wolves, but yet not destroyed nor forsaken by our Heavenly Father; no! now is the time he arises to plead our cause against our enemies, to hurl their presumption to the ground, and make them before him as the chaff of the midsummer's threshing floor. O the value of such a friend, to stop the mouths of Lions, to beat down our enemies, and finally bring us into the haven of eternal rest and felicity. O that we could love him better, honor and glorify him more and more. My dear brethren, ye who walk in the spirit of God, being the temples of the Holy Ghost, be not weary in well-doing; keep your reins tight, that ye give not freedom to your natural affections and passions which are lying dormant in your bodies, having been conquered through the captain of our salvation, the conqueror of devils, sin, death and hell. Be therefore not enticed or provoked by these powers to do evil; they will beset you on either hand, and when they find you inflexible will revile and upbraid you-disregard all these trifles as our brethren the apostles did; neither turn to the right hand nor the left, but keep straight on your way, with your faces Zion-ward. Be dilligent in watching, fasting, and above all, prayer, that ye fall not into temptation, and when permitted to be tempted that ye come off innocent and with honor, as our Lord and Master also did, who was permitted to be thus assaulted-and like him let not the frowns nor smiles of the world influence you against the discharge of your duty to God, and should they be even permitted to execute their threats, ye all know what St. Paul saith, "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain." Be ye therefore of the same mind, for death is in the catalogue of the blessings of the saints of the Most High; every one is not privileged thus to glorify our God and Saviour and wear a martyrs crown in the courts above. I urge you finally my brethren, pray, pray without ceasing, pray day and night that your faith be confirmed and your confidence increased; that you may grow in the knowledge of our blessed God, in his wisdom, understanding and holiness; that when it pleases him, and in such a manner as he may deem proper, to call you from this tottering world, ye may be found perfect, wanting nothing, end your course with joy, and your immortal souls be wafted by Holy Angels into the realms of eternal glory, there to join them with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and all the patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and saints of the Lamb, in singing praises and hallelujahs to the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, the Everlasting Triune Deity, forever and ever. Amen. DISCOURSE V. THE ETERNITY OF CHRIST. Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever. Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines; for it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace, not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. Hebrews, 13th chapter, 8th & 9th verses. From Everlasting to Everlasting Thou art God; God over all and blessed forevermore; Thou ineffable, infallible Po tentate; Thou King of King's and Lord of Lord's; be Thou alone worshipped, and adored; be Thou by Thy great name Jehovah feared, reverenced, and honored; be Thou alone praised; be Thou praised by Thy glorious Angels in heaven and by their brethren, the holy saints and martyrs on the earth; he Thou praised by the whole creation; be Thou alone praised, O Lord; to Thee, O God, be all the worship and praise forevermore. Amen. Jesus our blessed Redeemer, while here below, sojourning among creatures of the dust, who, although vile, sensual and develish, had under their Satanic master, clothed themselves in self-righteousness and a ficticious garb of holiness; exalted themselves above all that was of God or Godly, were consequently dreadfully averse to "The Lord our Righteousness," and diametrically opposed to his holiness; who had set up their idols in their hearts, and were under the influence of him who is the father of all iniquity, abomination and crime, and who has great delight to seat himself in the temple of God as though he were God, and to get fools to cringe to him, worship and bestow that honor upon him which alone belongs to the Eternal Father of life and glory, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the same yesterday, and today, and forever. Yea, verily, Jesus Christ is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending; He in whom all things live, move, and have their being; the power Omnipotent, who by His word spoke into being the whole universe; the Holy of Holies, where his Glory is manifest to perfection, where the Cherubims and Seraphims worship the mystic Deity in the beauties of Holiness; in the effulgence of His Glory, veil their faces with their wings and cry, "Holy! Holy!! Holy!!! Lord God Almighty! which was, and is, and is to come; Great and marvelous are Thy works, just and true are thy ways Thou King of Saints;" Hosanna! Hosanna!! Hallelujah!!! Hallelujah!!! Amen, Amen; "Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God, forever and ever. Amen! Amen!! "Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and Glorify Thy name? for Thou only art Holy: for all nations shall come and worship before Thee; for Thy judgments are made manifest." "Hallelujah! Hallelujah!! Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God," forever and ever, Amen; Hallelujah! Amen!! Amen!!! Amen!!!! And when Jesus, the Everlasting Father said, "let there be light," the resplendant sun stept into the firmanent, all glorious in appearance, reflecting partially, the Creator's Glory, followed by the milder moon, comets, planets and stars innumerable, all contributing to their Maker's praise: God, all-wise, great and infinite, We behold Thee on Thy glor'ous throne, Diffuses a gold'n bloom, The moon leads on the nocturn'I van, The eth'real, æriel fan, And circumvolving, sing Thy lay, The stars, the chorus array, |