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son or daughter but their own souls.' The escape of Lot from the overthrow of Sodom, and by the warning of Christ, the escape of the Christians from the destruetion of Jerusalem, are striking examples of Salvation, and remarkable proofs of the providence of God.

OF GOD'S REPOSITORY,

There was but one generation between ADAM and NoАH—in as much as Methuselah the oldest man, connected them both in a line-again SuEM connected NOAH and ABRAHAM, from whence a connect chain, down through his posterity was transmitted, recording the dispensations of Bivine Providence.

God as a wise and good being we may appre hend, has actions and ends worthy of HimselfHence the Righteous disposer of events and the universal Governor.-What he doeth must be right, just, GooD and WISE. And hence Righte ousness, Justice, Goodness, and Wisdom, reigning together, goodness will bestow MERCY where it can be done agreeable to Justice, and Wisdom and Righteousness are perfect and will not err, for here is perfect and complete harmony in the attributes of God, in every case whatever. The fewest means are employed to accomplish the most important and noble ends; in the display of his Justice against the impenitent; and in his warnings to Rebels. Hence privileges revert to the objects who were injured-whilst the greatest possible good and mercy is extended to future and remote generations of mankind.

• MORAL EVIL,' being universal in a social capacity, there was no moral virtue' but in individuals; and hence the necessity of virtuous society. Therefore, as every thing must have a beginning, Abraham, the fifth life from Adam, Methuselah, Noah and Shem, having come in be

tween, to connect the chain of tradition, by hav ing a personal acquaintance with each other, until the invention of letters should furnish a record. Abraham lived in Chaldea, feared the Most High, and was enjoined to quit that part of the country, and come to the land of Canaan. And God made a covenant with Abraham.Christ was on the side of GOD. The nature and object of the covenant' was HOLINESS," which Abraham was to receive, practise, teach his family, and transmit to his posterity.FAITH' was the condition on which the promised blessings were depending; and sion was the seal; and the blood of Christ, to which it looked forward, and which was comprissed in the blessings, was to purify the heart; through the faith of Abraham, whieh was in fact, the faith of the gospel.

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The eternal covenant between the Father and Son, to divide the world between Christ and Sa tan, is no where to be found in scripture; but the covenant with Abraham was real. The covenant was frequently intimated, but never confirmed, until it was actually done with Abraham. The Apostle calls it a MAN'S COVENANT; yet as Abraham was brought into it by faith and obedience, so must we. For we are to be justified by faith,' and without faith it is impossible to please God.' He that cometh to God, must believe that He is, and that he is a rewarder of them who diligently seek Him.' Hence, in this manner of secking through faith, there is a moral conformity to the whole will of God, from the heart, which necessarily implies resignation and dependence. Of course, there is an agreement between the will of the creature and the will of the Creator; at which time and place, the blessing of pardon and holiness is given by Christ, and received by the suppliant, which is the New

Covenant' of grace wrote in the heart, and a'confirmation of the covenant made with Abraham.

Thus Christ is the MERITORIOUS cause of our redemption.

But FAITH is the instrumental cause of our SALVATION.

• Abraham believed God, and IT was counted, or imputed to Him for Righteousness."-Thus Abraham was justified by faith and he was called the friend of God, And Abraham was circumcised, and those males of his household also, which was the beginning of the Church of God, established by faith upon EARTH, as a Spiritual Personal, Social Compact.

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From the family of Abraham originated afterwards, what was called the Congregation of the Lord,' and the Church in the Wilderness,' thro' whom the Oracles' were transmitted to posterity. As bad and as rebellious as the Jews were, God chose the best people the world furnished at that time, to prove and shew his mercy and display his justice, in a visible and providential manner, to bring about universal righteousness, as a precious seed in reserve, and as a REPOSITORY for Himself, to be manifested as a standing and living monument and credible proof through all ages of the world, as a reasonable evidence against infidelity. To this day in Hindoo, there are found black and white Jews. One class of them is called Children of Israel,' from the Ten tribes; the other is called Jews' from the tribe of Judah!

On account of National Sins,' the ten tribes," were permitted to separate, and become a distinet nation.

The Lord promised them his blessing, and an establishment and a sure house, if they would fear, obey and love him. But they did not; but were vain idolators, until they became unworthy

of a political existence. So the justice of God removed them into captivity by the Assyrians, who scattered them into all countries; and of course, they carried the writings of Moses and the Prophets with them.

And it proved to be a mercy to succeeding generations, who thereby had their minds impressed and prepared with expectations of the Messiah to come, as the Saviour of men, which was remarkably exemplified in the language of the Woman of Samaria, who said, when the Messiah cometh, he will tell or teach us all things.'

The writings of Moses, and the Psalms, and the Prophets, which were dispersed and conveyed by means of the ten tribes, who were generally scattered all over the then known world, prepared the way for the dispensation of the Gospel, and the spread thereof, from the persecution which arose about Stephen, and is an incontestible proof of its divine authenticity. As they were scattered at such an early period, and were a people who were held in detestation among the Nations of the ear which is also the fact at this very day, there was not the same temptation to counterfeit, alter, and impose, as there might otherwise have been. And moreover, if they were disposed to do it, there was not the same opportunity, considering the enmity between those at Jerusalem and those of the Samaritan mountain, and the dispersed. Besides, the great number of copies which they must have had among them, must have enabled any one who chose, to detect an attempt at an imposition.

And although twenty six false Christs have appeared in different ages of the world, the folly of each quickly became manifest; for error and falsehood can never become truth. But the true Messiah, although he met with every opposition, and although he appeared not in any worldly pomp

or grandeur, and although his gospel was contenued, and every method used that human ingenuity could invent, to abolish and destroy it out of the world, it still stands unshaken. And why, unless it had its foundation in Divinity? Truth will bear investigation, and carry its own conviction with it, when properly understood. And hence we have sufficient cause to be thankful for the repository which Divine Providence hath favored us with, by transmitting the account of his former dispensations for our perusal, reflections and benefit, inasmuch as we may become the heirs' of the inheritance, through the Covenant' of grace, which by FAITH are partakers of the happy realms in the paradise of God.

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GoD is declared to be a Spirit. His worship is required to be of that NATURE, viz. in Spirit and in truth,' i. e. in the HEART, and REALLY! For HE is said to be the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob!" Thus making a discrimination amongst men, and confining his spirital favours to his faithful worshippers. Thus also, PAUL declares that all are not Israchat are of Israel, neither because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children.' They must become spiritual children by an action of FAITH, UNder the influence of love divine, inspiring the heart with peace and joy, running through all their conduct. Or as the scriptures declare, If ye are Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.' Or, as said Christ, If ye were the children of ABRAHAM, ye would do the WORKS of ABRAHAM.' • Abraham rejoiced to see my lay, and he saw it and was glad;' for. before Abraham was, I AM.' JOHN VIIL 56, 58. Compare Genesis xvII. 1, 8, 1k. Rom, IV. 9 to 13, &c. Galatians 111. 6 to 15. shews ist, Abraham is called the FATHER of the FAITH FUL,' and the 'HEIR of the world.

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