as that of reprobation, upon such as deny the Godhead of the Saviour? Is there any warrant in the scriptures for so doing? See Jude 4. 1 John v. 10. 12. Heb. x. 29. John viii. 24.

There are many great practical consequences belonging to this great doctrine, which in the review of the past statement will probably present themselves to our consideration in short, we may affirm, that in every thing practical, or experimental, this doctrine mingles itself in christian exercises. If we understand any thing of the nature of sin, and of the distance to which we are thrown from God, we shall soon perceive that invincible power is needful, in order to roll away such a load as lay upon transgressors, and to remove those mountains of separation that rise between God and the guilty. A very little trial of the field of battle will also show us, that no victory is to be expected, if we have not an almighty and an unwearied helper. It is not in our power to bruise Satan under our feet, neither can we break the yoke of sin from our neck, unless a divine strength is perfected in our weakness; and very soon we find, that our case would be most wretched, had we not such a helper, as is able to hear all our cries, read all our sorrows, and answer our prayers; so that in all parts of our pilgrimage, or our warfare, we want this true GOD our Saviour! Having it, as we clearly see, we not only rejoice,

in the comfort of believing that He is our allsufficient Lord to succour and defend us; but we are encouraged to undertake any thing, however difficult, that meets us in our journey: when we realize that our Saviour is the ever-present God, we are emboldened to encounter the enemy, and to take up the weapons that we may fight : when we are running in the race, and ready to faint, the remembrance that God is our helper puts new vigour into the soul, and we are stimulated to strain every nerve, and to press towards the mark: Or if, as is too often the case, some painful sense of wandering sinks the heart, how do the thoughts, of having to do with God and not with man, move us again to return, and make trial of his grace. These are well known experiences in the church of Christ; and many a Christian will be ready to affirm, that for his part, he has found no motive half so prevailing with him, to works of labour, to efforts of love, or to the exercise of hope, as that of having to deal with a Saviour who is unchangeable, omniscient, omnipresent, and from whom he may ever expect mercy for the day, because he dispenses his compassions in the glorious sovereignty of divine goodness. This we find to be the comfort and high exhilaration of saints of old; see Rom. xvi. 20. 2 Tim. iv. 17, 18. Lam. iii. 22. 1 Pet. v. 7. We have a prospect also before us, of passing through a last conflict, in which nature will have strong pangs to endure,

and after which an awful eternity must be entered. There is no consideration can give us comfort in the dying moments, excepting we can then rest upon this promise, that we have believed in God our Saviour, that he has been able to triumph over all the enemies that are opposed to us, and that he has been the plague of the grave and death. When this confidence is our's, we can pass through the valley of the shadow of death and fear no evil; for His divine presence will be there, and none shall pluck us out of his hand. It was a great privilege to Stephen, that he could see the heavens opened, and Jesus standing at the right hand of the Father ready to receive him; and great was his blessedness when he fell asleep, saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit! This is a privilege not confined to Stephen all they, who believe in the name of the Son of God, shall in all ages have the same portion, and in the Godhead of their Redeemer triumph over every foe.

Do we not, therefore, perceive that this is a foundation article of faith, and that it is of the utmost importance for us as Christians to be scripturally established in this testimony of Jesus? If we are thus convinced, let us labour for an abiding application, of the several motives that arise out of it, to reverence, cheerfulness, hope, and labour; we shall no doubt experience that such motives are required by our souls, in the many times of difficulty and temp

tation through which we pass: And we shall see in the articles, that will come under consideration, that without this great first principle, that the Saviour is God, all other doctrines fail of a suitable support, and therefore must fail as to any practical influence in the soul. Oh may we implore that the Holy Ghost may come and testify of Jesus in this divine glory, and that we may by that witness know the Lord Christ, in all that majesty which belongs to His invincible reign; we need it now and ever. May God almighty give it in life, death, and eternity; then we shall shout Jehovah's praise, and rejoice greatly in Zion's Lord and King.

We have now to pass to that part of the Article which treats of the humiliation of the Son of God, it being declared that this glorious Person "took man's nature," &c.-This is a doctrine equally necessary with that of Christ's Godhead, for the ends promised in the eternal covenant; therefore it is of importance that Christians should be fully established upon the truth of the revelation, by which we learn, that this uncreated and wonderful person condescended to put on the veil of flesh, and to dwell with men in the full experience of all that belonged to a dependant nature. That this was unquestionably the condition of Jesus of Nazareth, the whole gospel declares: and in a variety of interesting evidences we may dwell on this marvellous

mystery, and admire the man Christ Jesus. If we rest for a while upon this exhibition in the manger and stable at Bethlehem, we see sufficient demonstration of the fact, we look at the weak and helpless babe, and we see the surrounding circumstances of that dependant period with conviction that here is indeed the child, the son, the infant of human kind. In the ensuing stages of life, we trace the same decisive evidences: for Jesus increased in wisdom, and stature, and passed through the gradual maturing of the human mind and body, even as other men. In the developement of the affections which accompanied this nature, we likewise perceive the feelings common to man's nature; for the bosom of Jesus was susceptible, of grief, of joy, of friendship, of sympathy, and many times was a region wherein strong relative emotions prevailed. The outward man was equally the subject of a human lot: we find Him hungry, thirsty, weary, requiring the refreshments that are requisite for other men, and possessing a real body susceptible of the evils of this life. In the last scene of His life, we have affecting testimony of this truth: nor can we enter into Gethsemane with Jesus, or ascend Mount Calvary with Him, without having our hearts filled with the overpowering sense of this amazing humiliation :-the sighs and groans, the strong crying and tears, the bloody sweat and agony, the surrender of the body to death,