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begotten us again to a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

He ascended into Heaven,

And O with what joyful acclamations was he welcomed home in those high regions of the blessed, after all his wonderful achievements, to effect eternal redemption for us! He led captivity captive, and dragged the infernal powers after his triumphant chariot, to shew that hell, as well as death, is subject unto him.And now he has cleared us a way to glory, and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers; being gone to prepare a place for us, that where he is, there we may be also. Even where

He sitteth at the right band of God, the Father Almighty,

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Far above all principalities and powers, a glorious King for evermore. With all power and authority in his hands, and all the crowns and mansions of glory at his disposal. He is not only the Prince of the kings of the earth, by whom they 'all reign, but all the angels in heaven fly to do his pleasure, where he has thrown off the veil, under which he shrouded his majesty here below; and shews himself now in all the splendor of the King of Glory, to the admiration of the highest cherubims and seraphims, who will be joyfully taken up to all eternity in beholding such wonders of divine beauty and glory. To him I look as the great author and

finisher of our faith, and the blessed object of my daily worship and devotion; who in all the height of his glory, does not forget his poor retainers here, but has still bowels of compassion to intercede for us, as well as fulness of power to prevail on our behalf; and God forbid that I should forget this absent friend; that he should be to me, out of sight out of mind. O'where should be my heart, but with the great lover and beloved of my soul?, who not only humbled himself on earth, but even now in heaven so humbles himself as to remember me in my low estate. And when I am loaded, or gravelled, that I know not what to do, I will go and put the matter into his hands, who can easily help me out, and set me right; for what enemies, too hard for me, but he can soon make them his footstool? What boon so big to be asked, but this great Master of requests in heaven, can obtain it for me? What time I am afraid then, or troubled, in a strait, or at a loss, I will look unto Jesus, at God's right hand above, and remember his kind office there; and pray his friendship, and intreat his gracious favour, who is worthy ever to be heard for me, though I am unworthy to speak for myself.

From thence be shall come to judge the
Chuich and the Dead.

And shall appear in greater power and glory than ever he was seen here in weakness and poverty; when his stubborn enemies, that would not that he should reign over them, shall be

brought forth and slain before him; and all his sheep that hear his voice, and follow him, waiting for his coming, and loving his appearing, shall then hold up the head, and never droop any more, but find the most refreshing sunshine amidst all the gloominess and horrors of that day, which will be to them a day of discharge, and jubilee, and coronation; the most sweet and lightsome day that ever came over them. Then shall I see him sit on the throne, to give me my portion, who was nailed on the cross to purchase my salvation; my advocate, my life, my Saviour, will be alone exalted in that day. And will my advocate accuse me? will my life destroy me? will my Saviour condemn me? No; though good and bad both be called over there, so long as Jesus is my judge, who himself has satisfied for the bad, and will make my imperfect good then shine out as the noon-day, I will pray, come Lord Jesus, come quickly.

I believe in the Holy Ghost,

The Lord and giver of life, the heavenly counsellor and comforter of our souls, by whom I call Jesus Lord, and cry Abba Father unto my God. And having such a blessed Guardian, and divine inhabitant, why do I drag on heavily, as if left comfortless? why do I not overflow with joy in the Holy Ghost? Am I weak? he is the power of the Most High, to help my infirmities. Am I forgetful? he is the kind monitor, to bring all needful things to my remembrance. Am I afraid lest I should fail of

God's acceptance and salvation? this blessed spirit witnesseth with my spirit, that I am the child of God, and seals me to the day of redemption. Away then, thou foul accuser of the brethren: peace, clamorous conscience; 'and stand aside all pitiful creature comforts; I have affiance in the Holy Ghost, the comforter. I belong to

The holy Catbolic Church,

I am a member of that most truly royal society, some of which, already entered into the joy of their Lord, are got out of the field to their crowns, and passed from service to triumph; and the rest here-yet on their pilgrimage and warfare, are reaching forth to the glorious prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places, where the Sun of righteousness is risen to us, and causes the heavenly day-spring from on high to shine upon us; yea, in that church, against which the gates of hell shall not prevail. I believe

The Communion of Saints.

The same life and spirit pervades the multitude of believers every where: and like so many rivulets, they run all to the same sea, although not in the same channel: or, like divers strings of a musical instrument, though they have several notes, yet they make up one song of praise and glory to their common Lord: from whom they

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receive influence, as all the bodily parts do from the head, and are knit together as fellow members of Christ's body. They are the household of faith; of that corporation and family of heafor the sake of which they forget their own people, and father's house. Yea, as all the parts of the body, how mean soever they may be, share in the same life as is in the head and heart; and the noblest members despise not the meanest; but the lowest are of use to the highest; and all conspire for the joint interest of the whole; so I, as a part of this great body, whilst I struggle not by myself, but keep to the flock of Christ, and join with them in the worship and service of my Lord, and tender and love them in my heart, am one of their happy number, and do share in the prayers of every faithful christian throughout the world; and communicating now with the saints in all offices of love, I shall be advanced, with them to the possession of their heavenly inheritance in eternal life.

The Forgiveness of Sins,

This is the article that strikes at the very root of bitterness, and removes the ground of all my fears and griefs. O how numerous are my sins and what a heavy load upon my soul! But it lightens my heart to hear of God manifested in the flesh; to undergo all the penalties of sin, in the very nature that sinned; to bear our sins in his own body on the tree. And when our all-sufficient surety has finished the

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