WEAK FAITH AND UNBELIEF.

THERE is perhaps no part of a minister's office more arduous than to know how to encourage weak faith, and at the same time to discourage unbelief: and yet the difficulty seems to lie in distinguishing between that unbelief which dishonours God, by rejecting, or rather by doubting the testimony of his word; and that which makes the soul question its own particular interest in the promises. Of the former kind was that of the disciples, when our Lord " upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen," Mark xvi. 14. Luke xxiv. 25. Of the latter kind was that of poor Peter, who, when he was ready to sink, cried out "Lord save, I perish." Whilst Jesus very gently, if at all, rebuked his fears and misgivings, he cherished and comforted his weak faith. "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt ?" Of the same kind is that of every humblo convinced sinner, weary with doubts, and heavy laden with fears; and whosoever tells a poor, penitent, awakened soul, that his doubts and fears increase his guilt, which must be the case if they are sinful, rubs salt into the wounds, when he should apply oil; and acts but too like the unfaithful shepherds of old, against whom the Lord thus complains by the mouth of his prophet. "The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound that up which was broken," Ezek. xxiv. 4.

A poor doubting soul ought not (indeed he cannot) rest satisfied in such a state, but should be continually looking to Jesus to increase his faith. There is no better way for a poor doubting soul to grow strong in faith, giving glory to God, than by plying the throne of grace for Jehovah the Spirit to enable him to take the promises as they are sweetly revealed in the sacred word, and appropriating them unto himself; this will be a blessed antidote against all the attacks of Satan, giving him fully to believe; thus acquiring that assurance of faith, by and through which he shall grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Much of the miserable feelings of the saints of the Most High, too often arise from setting under what is termed a legal ministry; and it is a fact indisputable, that from the way and manner in which the truth of God is handled by such ministers, they are brought into bondage: hence arise doubts, and fears, and misgivings, and a host of other unhappy suspicions respecting the truth of God. But where the everlasting gospel is preached in its fulness, freeness, and efficacy, the Lord the Spirit uniformly accompanies it with divine energy and unction to the soul, and the believer becomes established in the doctrines of the cross, and thereby is enabled to set to his seal that God is true, and frequently rejoices with joy unspeakable, and full of glory.

POETRY.

UPON THE DEATH OF A FRIEND.

THE DESIRES OF A SINNER.

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."

1 John v. 7.

Jude 3.

FEBRUARY, 1835.

A SERMON BY THE REV. ROBERT HAWKER, D. D. LATE VICAR OF CHARLES, PLYMOUTH.

Never before Published.

If you turn to your Bibles, you will find a sweet portion of the word of God, to which I would this Morning beg to call your attention: 2 Samuel chap. xxiii. and part of verse 4. "And he shall be as the light of the morning, as when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds."

THE church of Christ was in a very lovely frame of mind, when, under the unction of the Holy Ghost, she broke out in admiration of her Lord in that divine song, Cant. i. 3. "Thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee." Every one will love the Lord when he sheds abroad his love in their hearts, or, as it is said, "when the savour of his good ointments is diffused upon their souls, then his name becomes as ointment poured forth." In other words, when the blood of Christ which has perfumed all heaven itself, is poured into the heart and conscience of believers, then is the name of Christ like precious ointment upon their souls, and the graces of the Holy Spirit break forth more abundantly. Christ above all others becomes the great object of all their joy, of all their delight, and of all their happiness. He is sweeter to their thoughts than the honey and the honeycomb, and they find enough to engage the whole of their affections for time and for eternity. Now the word of God is the Spirit's own writing; and when by the same Spirit the great truths of the Bible are brought home to our hearts and consciences, then we are satisfied with our portion, and Christ becomes as "the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds:" by which means we are filled with " unspeakable and full of glory." VOL. XI.-No. 132.]

F

"joy

This has been invariably realized by all the saints of the Most High ever since the creation of the world. As much in the old testament church as in the new, all have looked on, all have lived and died in Jesus; and all have more or less realized the substance of that glorious transport of praise, 2 Cor. ii. 14. "Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place." What! always causeth us to triumph in Christ? Yes, my brother, when Christ becomes the sole object of our faith, when we view Christ in the real excellency of his character, then he becomes the fulness of all our joy and delight; and then can we evermore perpetually triumph in his unsearchable riches and grace.

If you ask me, why it is that so many thousands of the Lord's people are so exceedingly low and fluctuating in their faith and hope towards God, whilst others live as if there was not a cloud in their spiritual firmament? I should refer you to the scriptures for an answer; "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee." By this we perceive that the peace of the church consists in a trust and confidence in God, and therefore, we may well be exhorted to "trust in the Lord for ever; for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength," Isa. xxvi. 3, 4. And what the apostle John says will further explain this"There is no fear in love, for perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath torment; he that feareth (that is, he that has a slavish, fearful apprehension of God, and that he thall come short of his grace and mercy) is not made perfect in love."

If you know the Lord Jesus Christ by a spiritual apprehension of his person and work; if you could look to him as to the sun in a morning without clouds, you would have nothing to prevent your enjoyment of the everlasting shining of his beams upon your soul.

66

Salvation, which is the entire aud complete work of the Lord Jesus Christ, is as incapable of being taken from us, and given to another, as are the names, characters, and attributes of Jehovah from the immensity of his Godhead: and all the whole church from Adam to the present time, are "saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation," beyond the reach of the world, sin, Satan, death, hell, and the grave. As I before observed, the old testament saints as well asowe, looked unto, and trusted in the same Lord Jesus. They looked forwards to the coming of their Messiah, who was to make an end of sin, to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in an everlasting righteousness." But we, as it were, look back to him as having completed the whole, as having overcome all his and our enemies; and seated himself at the right hand of God, as our Representative, Surety, and Intercessor for evermore. Well, therefore, to repeat the words, may each and every one of us join in the song of the illustrious apostle-" Thanks be unto God who always causeth us to triumph in Christ;" and of that eminent servant of Jesus, king David My mouth," said he, "shall shew forth thy righte