THE HOLY SCRIPTURES THE STANDARD OF

TRUTH.

As the word of God is the light to direct us, and to betray errors, so is it also the standard and beam to try the weights of truth and falsehood. Therefore our Lord, knowing that there should be such confusion of things in the latter days, commandeth that Christians, who live in the profession of Christian faith, and are desirous to settle themselves upon a sure ground of faith, should go to no other thing, but to the Scriptures. Otherwise, if they had regard to other things, they should be offended and perish, and not understand which is the true church. The master of a ship, when he is on the main sea, casts his eye always upon the lode-star [pole-star], and so directs and guides his ways. Even so must we, who are passengers and strangers in this world, ever settle our eyes to behold the word of God; so shall no tempest overblow us; so shall we be guided without danger; so shall we safely arrive in the haven of our rest. This is the rule of our faith. Without this, our faith is but a fantasy, and no faith; for faith is by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Therefore Christ

saith, John v. 39, "Search the Scriptures; they

are they that testify of me." There shall ye find testimony of my doctrine; there shall ye know what is the will of my heavenly Father, and there shall you receive the comfort for everlasting life.-Jewell.

THE LOVE OF CHRIST.

Oh then, since he will he forsake us?

Jesus Christ gave his life for our evils, and by his death delivered us. liveth now, and cannot die, His heart's blood was not too dear for us when we asked it not; what then can be now too dear for us asking it? Is he a changeling? Is he mutable as man is? Can he repent of his gifts? Did he not foresee our falls? Paid not he the price therefore? Because he saw we should fall sorely, therefore he would suffer sorely. This death of Christ, therefore, look on as the very pledge of God's love towards thee, whosoever thou art, how deeply soever thou hast sinned. See God's hands are nailed, they cannot strike thee; his feet also, he cannot run from thee; his arms are wide open to embrace thee, his head hangs down to kiss thee, his very heart is open, so that herein see, look, spy, behold, and thou shalt see nothing therein but love, love, love to thee; hide thee therefore, lay thy head there with the evangelist.

This is the cleft of the rock where Elias stood. This is the pillow of down for all aching heads. Anoint your head with this oil, let this ointment embalm your head and wash your face. Tarry thou here, and quite sure art thou, I warrant thee. Say with Paul, What can separate me from the love of God? Can death, can poverty, sickness, hunger, or any misery persuade you now that God loveth thee not? Nay, nothing can separate you from the love wherewith God has loved you in Christ Jesus; whom he loveth he loveth to the end: so that now where abundance of sin hath been in you, the more is the abundance of grace. But to what end? Even that as sin hath reigned to death, as thou seest, to the killing of God's Son, so now grace must reign to life, to the honouring of God's Son, who is now alive and cannot die any more.-Bradford.

THE CHRISTIAN A DEBTOR TO ALL.

The order of love or charity, some dream, the gospel of Christ knoweth not of, that a man should begin at himself, and serve himself, and then descend, I wot not by what steps. Love seeketh not her own profit, but maketh a man to forget himself, and to turn his profit to another man, as Christ sought not himself, nor

his own profit, but ours. This term, myself, is not in the gospel; neither yet father, mother, sister, brother, kinsman, that one should be preferred above another. But Christ is all in all things. Every Christian man to another is Christ himself; and thy neighbour's need hath as good right in thy goods as Christ himself, which is heir and Lord over all; and look, what thou owest to Christ, that thou owest to thy neighbour's need. To thy neighbour owest thou thine heart, thyself, and all that thou hast and can do. The love that springeth out of Christ excludeth no man, neither putteth difference between one and another. In Christ we are all of one degree, without respect of persons; notwithstanding though a Christian man's heart be open to all men, and receiveth all men, yet because that his ability of goods extendeth not so far, this provision is made, that every man should care for his own household, as father, and mother, and thine elders that have holpen thee, wife, children, and servants; if thou shouldest not care and provide for thine household, then wert thou an infidel; when thou hast done thy duty to thine household, and yet hast further abundance of the blessing of God, that owest thou to the poor that cannot labour, or would labour and can get no work, and are

destitute of friends. . . . If thy neighbour which thou knowest be saved, and thou yet have superfluity, and hearest necessity to be among the brethren a thousand miles off, to them art thou debtor; yea, to the very infidels are we debtors, if they need, as far forth as we maintain them not against Christ. Thus is every man that needeth thy help, thy father, mother, sister, and brother in Christ, even as every man that doth the will of the Father, is father, mother, sister, and brother unto Christ.-Tindal.

THE OFFICE OF REPENTANCE.

Pious tears, a serious deploring of former iniquities, and a just care of living a better life, with all other pious exercises, are things which we do not thrust away, nor put out of their place; only we search what is the place, what is the peculiar office of those things. And, in the first place, this should not be doubted of by any man-that repentance, as it is an excellent gift of God, so it brings forth fruits not to be repented of, according to its office. The office or duty whereof I reckon to be twofold. The first is, that which duly detests the sins committed. The other, that which diligently endeavours the reformation of the life, from which follow both great praise and greater fruits, and also very