II <>> I'-V-.'iV^W'-r'- ' IV ■■ >v- '•'''■'■ rag •■■>'■ !•'■•'•■ %@ J LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. # > |M Q — f j UNITED STATES OP AMERICA. | 3 o 7>* **- tt TV MINE ANGEL BEFORE THEE." f'COPYi NEW YORK: PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHOR BY E. P. DUTTON AND COMPANY, 713 Broadway. 1872. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1872, by E. P. DUTTON AND COMPANY. Iii the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. RIVERSIDE, CAMBRIDGE: ELECTROTYPED AND PRINTED BY H. O. HOUGHTON AND COMPANY. PREFACE. HIS little volume is an humble endeavor to portray the pathway of the just, as marked out in the Word of God. It is such a compilation of texts from the Holy Scriptures as to present, in connected narration, the conflict of the strength of the World and the strength of the Spirit ; the New Birth from sin unto life, and gradual growth in grace ; the putting on of the whole armor of righteousness, and entrance upon the journey in the desert ; the struggles of the way, and the exceeding great and precious promises reserved for the faithful. These are told by the solemn declarations of the Holy Spirit, from the mouth of prophet and apostle. Every book of the Old and New Testaments speaks its word of warning, of command, of instruction, and encouragement. No speech of man breaks upon the harmony of the Divine utterance to sinful souls. May God bless the work of His own hands, to all who read, is the reverent prayer of THE COMPILER. Pittsboro', N. C, October 10, 1872. DEDICATED, BY PERMISSION, TO THE RT. REV. THOMAS ATKINSON, D.D., LL.D., OXON, BISHOP OF NORTH CAROLINA. Philippians i. 3. — I thank my God upon every remembrance of you. Philippians i. 10. — And pray, That you may approve things that are excellent. Philippians i. 11. — Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God. Song of Solomon iv. 13. — Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits. CONTENTS. The Worldling's Strength 9 The Short Continuance of the Wicked i° The Tower of Babel ll Belshazzar's Feast I2 Hainan's Triumph ........'••• r 3 Dives Faring Sumptuously . • 1 4 The Natural Man *5 Manasseh ' l & Nebuchadnezzar 1 7 The Prodigal Son ............ lo The Strength of the Spirit IO - The Spiritual Light ......•••••• 2 ° The Opening of the Word . .21 The Manifestation of the Word 22 The Power of the Word 2 3 The New Birth 2 4 Youthful Piety 2 5 Samuel 26 David 2 7 Josiah . .28 Timothy 29 Vlll CONTENTS. Preparing for the Battle 30 Garment ? j Sandals. ........ -,-, Girdle ............. ?o Breastplate -,. Buckler -,. Shield ^ Helmet ^ Frontlet ?g Sword no Journey in the Desert 40 Satan 41 The Broad Phylactery 42 The Robe of Humility ... 43 The Waves of Jordan .44 The Standard 45 The Crown ............. 46 Exceeding Great and Precious Promises ........ 47 The New Jerusalem 48 I1I1I HEN a strong man armed, keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace. The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit. Strong men retain riches. I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing. Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years ; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. St. Luke xi. 21. Proverbs xviii. n. Proverbs xi. 16. Revelation iii. 17. St. Luke xii. 19. "MINE ANGEL BEFORE THEE." IO Ctje £t)ort Continuance of tfje i©itfteti. HAVE gone here and there through the heathen, 2 Esdras m. 33 . and I see that they flow in wealth, and think not upon thy commandments. Are they then of Babylon better than they of Sion ? 2 Esdras m. 31. I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading Psaimxxxvii. 3S . himself like a green bay-tree. Yet he passed away, and lo, he was not. Behold at evening-tide trouble : and before the morn- ing he is not. Wickedness overthroweth the sinner. Their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah : their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter. Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, I E^kiei xvi. 49 fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her | and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the j hand of the poor and needy. Psalm xxxvii. 3 6. Isaiah xvii. 14. Proverbs xiii. 6. Dcut. xxxii. 3 2. "MINE ANGEL BEFORE THEE." II €l)e Cotoer of 2Sa6eL HE whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. And they said, Go to, let us build us a city, and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven ; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. And the Lord said, .... Go to, let us go down, and there confound their lan- guage, that they may not understand one another's speech. So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth : and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel. Their inward thought is, that their houses shall con- tinue for ever, and their dwelling-places to all genera- tions. This their way is their folly : yet their posterity ap- prove their sayings. m Genesis xi. i. Genesis xi. 4. Genesis xi. 6. Genesis xi. 7. Genesis xi. 8. Genesis xi. 9. Psalm xlix. 11. Psalm xlix. 13. "MINE ANGEL BEFORE THEE." 12 25ri£&a33arV f ea£t Daniel v. i. Daniel v. 4. Daniel v. 5. ELSHAZZAR the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king's palace : and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink ; that continue until night, till wine inflame them ! And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and | isaiahv wine, are in their feasts : but they regard not the work j of the Lord, neither consider the operation of his hands. Daniel v. Isaiah v. 26. ii. MINE ANGEL BEFORE THEE." 1 3 $aman'£ €riumgl). HEN went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart : but when Haman saw Mor- decai in the king's gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full ,of indignation against Mordecai. The evil bow before the good ; and the wicked, at the gates of the righteous. So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth, That the triumphing of the wicked is short The heaven shall reveal his iniquity ; and the earth shall rise up against him. Esther v« 9. Proverbs xiv. 19. Esther vii. 10. Job xx. 4. Job xx. 5. Job xx. 27. "MINE ANGEL BEFORE THEE." 14 2Dtta£ faring &um$tuou$lp* HERE was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. .... The rich man also died, and was buried : And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments. Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols : the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee. For their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched. Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength ; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strength- ened himself in his wickedness. How are they brought into desolation, as in a mo- ment ! Now consider this, ye that forget God. St. Luke xvi. 19. St. Luke xvi. 22. St. Luke xvi. 23 Isaiah xiv. 11. Isaiah lxvi. 24. Psalm Hi. 7. Psalm Ixxiii. 19. Psalm 1. 22. HE wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves ser- vants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey ? For of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. Thine own wickedness shall correct thee. Isaiah lvii. 20. 1 Corinthians ii. 14. Romans viii. 7. Romans vi. 16. 2 Peter ii. 19. Jeremiah ii. 19. MINE ANGEL BEFORE THEE." 16 fl^anaggel)* evil in ANASSEH .... did that which was the sight of the Lord. ^ He built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord. He observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wiz- ards. And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God. Moreover, Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another. Wherefore the Lord brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon. He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity. So am I made to possess months of vanity, and weari- some nights are appointed to me. 2 Chr. xxxiii. 2. 2 Chr. xxxiii. 5. 2 Chr. xxxiii. 6. 2 Chr. xxxiii. 7. 2 Kings xxi. 16. 2 Chr. xxxiii. 11. Proverbs xxii. 8. Job vii. 3. "MINE ANGEL BEFORE THEE." *7 $tfMrf)at>iiC33at:* ING Nebuchadnezzar .... walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty ? While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken ; The kingdom is departed from thee. The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchad- nezzar : and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws. He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way. The Lord of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honorable of the earth. A man's pride shall bring him low. Daniel iv. 29. D..niel iv. 30. Daniel iv. 31. Daniel iv- 33. Psalm cvii- 40. Isaiah xxiii. 9. Proverbs xxix 23. "MINE ANGEL BEFORE THEE." 18 €f)c $rofcigaI dfeon, HE younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land ; and he began to be in want. Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth ; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes : but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place. He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man : he that loveth wine . . . . shall not be rich. St. Luke xv. 13. St. Luke xv. 14. Ecc!esiastes xi. 9. Proverbs xxvii. 8. Proverbs xxi. 17. UT when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted. O wretched man that I am ! who shall deliver me from the body of this death ? Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. For thine incorruptible Spirit is in all things. And is the breath of the power of God, and a pure influence flowing from the glory of the Almighty. Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold. O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice ; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely. St. Luke xi. 22. Romans vii. 24. Zechariah iv. 6. Wisdom of Solo mon xn. 1. Wisdom of Solo mon vn. 2: • Psalm lxviii. i3- Song of Solomon ii i4- "MINE ANGEL BEFORE THEE." 20 €t)e J>giritual ligtjt OD said, Let there be light : and there was light. And the light shineth in darkness ; and the darkness comprehended it not. Where is the way where light dwelleth ? Then commanded st thou a fair light to come forth of thy treasures, that thy work might appear. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. In him was life ; and the life was the light of men. Genesis i. 3. St. John i. 5. Job xxxviii. 19. 2 Esdras vi. 40. 2 Corinthians iv. 6. St. John i. 4. MINE ANGEL BEFORE THEE." 21 €fje adenine of tl)e i©or&. HE entrance of thy words giveth light : it giveth understanding unto the simple. Thou gavest also thy good Spirit to instruct. For she is the brightness of the everlasting light. Thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it. Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God. Because the Spirit helpeth our infirmities. Quench not the Spirit. Psalm cxix. i-;o Nehemiah ix. 20. Wisdom of Solo- mon vii. 26. Isaiah xxx- 21. Ephesians iv. 30. Romans viii. 26. 1 Thess. v. 19. "MINE ANGEL BEFORE THEE." 22 €Jje Manifestation of tl)e D^orD* N the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. For as soon as thy word went forth the work was made. And thy word was a perfect work. Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. Behold the word of the Lord, receive it. St. John i. i. St. John i. 14. 2 Esdras vi. 43. 2 Esdras vi. 38. Psalm cxxxviii. 2 2 Esdras xvi. 36. MINE ANGEL BEFORE THEE." 23 €l>e $otoer of tlje l©orfc. S not my word like as a fire ? saith the Lord ; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces ? What a word is this ! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out. For thy power is the beginning of righteousness. My word shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Heaven and earth shall pass away : but my words shall not pass away. For these words are true and faithful. Jeremiah xxiii. 29. St. Luke iv. 36. Wisdom of Solo- mon xii. 16. Isaiah lv. 11. St. Mark xiii. 31. Revelation xxi. 5. |j)HY word hath quickened me. And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins. Wherefore he saith, Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of in- corruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. It is the Spirit that quickeneth ; . . . . the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit. Psalm cxix. 50. Ephesians ii. 1. Ephesians v- 14. 1 Peter i. 23. St. John vi 63. St John iii. 7- Ecclesiastes xi. 5. "MINE ANGEL BEFORE THEE." foutljfui $irtp. HEREWITH AL shall a young man cleanse his p sa imcxix. 9 . way ? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. I love them that love me : and those that seek me early shall find me. The fear of the Lord is a fruitful garden, and covereth him above all glory. The word of God most high is the fountain of wisdom. To give .... to the young man knowledge and dis- cretion. When I was yet young, or ever I went abroad, I de- 1 Ecclesiastics n sired wisdom openly in my prayer. Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, I Ecciesiastes xii. i while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them. Proverbs viii. 17. Ecclesiasticus xl. 27- Ecclesiasticus i. 5. Proverbs i. 4. "MINE ANGEL BEFORE THEE." 26 y*38e5 Samuel. AMUEL ministered before the Lord, being a child, girded with a linen ephod. The Lord came, and stood and called, . . . . 1 Samuel iii. 19. Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak ; for thy servant heareth. And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. Samuel, the prophet of the Lord, beloved of his Lord, Ecclesiastics xivi. established a kingdom, and anointed princes over his people. 1 Samuel ii. 18. : Samuel iii. 10. 13 MINE ANGEI BEFORE THEE." 27 2Datati* AMUEL took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren : and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day for- ward. So was David chosen out of the children of Israel. Slew he not a giant, when he was yet but young ? For he called upon the most high Lord ; and he gave him strength in his right hand to slay that mighty warrior. In all his works he praised the Holy One most high with words of glory ; with his whole heart he sung songs, and loved him that made him. 1 Samuel xvi. 13. Ecclesiasticusxlvii. 2. Ecclesiasticus xlvii. 4- Eccl esiasticus xivii . 5- Ecclesiasticus xlvii. 8. " MINE ANGEL BEFORE THEE:' 28 3fa£ia!)* EHOLD, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name. Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign. And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord. For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father. And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might. The remembrance of Josias is like the composition of the perfume that is made by the art of the apothecary. 1 Kings xiii. 2. 2 Chr. xxxiv. 1. 2 Chr. xxxiv. 2. 2 Chr. xxxiv. q. 2 Kings xxiii. 2%. Ecclesiasticus xlix. MINE ANGEL BEFORE THEE." 29 €imotf)p* TIMOTHY, keep that which is committed to thy trust. .... Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned. .... From a child thou hast known the holy scrip- tures ; which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Even. a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. 1 Timothy vi. 20. 2 Timothy iii. 14. 2 Timothy iii. 15. Proverbs xx. 11. Ephesians vi. 11. 2 Corinthians x. 4. Ephesians vi. 13. NDURE hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus 2 Timothy a. 3 . Christ. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Laying aside every weight, and the sin which doth so | Hebrews xii. easily beset us, let us run with patience the race that is set before us. And war a good warfare. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. 1 Timothy i. 18. Hebrews xii. 2, " MINE ANGEL BEFORE THEE." 31 4Barment E wrestle not against flesh ana blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wash you, make you clean. Let thy garments be always white. Cast about thee a double garment of the righteousness which cometh from God. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his gar- ments. Being .... clothed with the garments of salvation and covered with the robe of righteousness. Ephesians vi. 12. Isaiah i. 16. Ecclesiastes ix. 8. Baruch v. 2. Revelation xvi. 15. Isaiah lxi. 10. "MINE ANGEL BEFORE THEE." 32 &an&al& THOUGHT on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my foot- steps slip not. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Order my steps in thy word. For we walk by faith, not by sight. Having your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Walk as children of light. He will keep the feet of his saints. Psalm cxix. 59. Psalm xvii. 5. Psalm cxix. 105 Psalm cxix. 133. 2 Corinthians v. 7. Ephesians vi. 15. Ephesians v. 8. 1 Samuel ii. 9. "MINE ANGEL BEFORE THEE." 33 4Bittifc. >^S3? TAND, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth. Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning. For a man's mind is sometime wont to tell him more than seven watchmen, that sit above in an high tower. It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle. Strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man. Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind. Trust ye in the Lord for ever. Ephesians vi. 14. St. Luke xii. 35. Ecclesiasticus xxxvii. 14. Psalm xviii. 32. Psalm xviii. 39. Ephesians iii. 16. 1 Peter i. 13. Isaiah xxvi. 4. "MINE ANGEL BEFORE THEE" 34 25reagt$rtate* UTTING on the breastplate of faith and love. As timber girt and bound together in a build- ing cannot be loosed with shaking : so the heart that is stablished by advised counsel shall fear at no time. I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel. I can do all things through Christ which strength- ened me. Having on the breastplate of righteousness. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. i Thessalonians v. 8. Ecclesiasticus xxii. 16. Psalm xvi. 7. Philippians iv. 13. Ephesians vi. 14. Psalm cxix. 11. "MINE ANGEL BEFORE THEE. 35 SSucMer* OD is a buckler to all those that trust in him. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust : his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. In a day of salvation have I helped thee. The Lord is ... . my buckler. He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. The Lord is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. For the joy of the Lord is your strength. Psalm xviii. 30. Psalm xci. 4. Isaiah xlix. 8. Psalm xviii. 2. Psalm xviii. 34. Proverbs ii. 7. Nehemiah viii. 10. " MINE ANGEL BEFORE THEE:' £f)ielb* BOVE all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. All things are possible to him that believeth. And bringing the shield of ... . prayer. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avail- eth much. With trust in the name of the Lord. Saved by the Lord, the shield of thy help. For a threefold cord is not quickly broken. The Lord is my strength, and my shield ; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped. Ephesians vi. 16. Mark ix. 23. Wisdom of Solo- mon xviii. 21. James v. 16. Isaiah 1. 10. Deut. xxxiii. 29. Ecclesiastes iv. 12. Psalm xxviii. 7. "MINE ANGEL BEFORE THEE." S7 pelmet* ♦ ma OR an helmet, the hope of salvation. i Thess- v- 8. fPflS For we through the Spirit wait for the hope Galatians v. 5. pyiP^ n{ righteousness bv faith. Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious ap- Titus it. 13. pearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. For we are saved by hope. Romans viii. 24. The spirit of those that fear the Lord shall live ; for Ecclesiasticus their hope is in him that saveth them. xxxiv. 13. The ear trieth words. Job xxxiv. 3. Take heed therefore how ye hear.. St. Luke viii. 18. The ear of the wise seeketh knowledge. Proverbs xviii. 15. Take the helmet of salvation. Ephesians vi. 17. Thou hast covered my head in the day of battle. Psalm cxl. 7. ^fe- f'zMsS T "MINE ANGEL BEFORE THEE: 38 frontlet- EEP my commandments, and live ; and my law as the apple of thine eye. And they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. The inspiration of the Almighty. Maketh the doctrine of knowledge appear as the light. The commandment is a lamp ; and the law is light. Therefore have them, for a memorial between thine eyes. $$£& Proverbs vii. 2. Deuteronomy vi. 8. Job xxxii. 8. Ecclesiasticus xxiv. 27- Proverbs vi. 23. Exodus xiii. 9. MINE ANGEL BEFORE THEE." 39 £toortJ. HE sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword. I the Lord have drawn forth my sword out of his sheath : it shall not return any more. So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth : it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please. Take this holy sword, a gift from God, with the which thou shalt wound the adversaries. The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. A two-edged sword in their hand. A sword, a sword is sharpened. When ye search the scriptures. Ephesians vi. 17. Hebrews iv. 12. Ezekiel xxi. 5. Isaiah lv. 11. 2 Maccabees xv. 16. St. John vi. 63. Psalm cxlix. 6. Ezekiel xxi. 9. St. John v. 39. PEAK unto the children of Israel, that they go forward. And they journeyed, till they pitched in the wilderness of Paran .... at Kadesh-barnea. Caleb said, Let us go up at once, and possess it ; for we are well able to overcome it. Then Moses said, Dread not, neither be afraid of them. The Lord your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you. Yet in this thing ye did not believe the Lord your God. So we see that they could not enter in, because of un- belief. Let us labor, therefore, to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. If God be for us, who can be against us ? Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Exodus xiv. ii Numbers xii- 16. Numbers xiii. 30. Deuteronomy i. 29, 3o- Deuteronomy i. 32. Hebrews iii. 19. Hebrews iv. 11. Romans viii. 31. St. John vi. 37. St- James iv. 7. MINE ANGEL BEFORE THEE." 4* £atan* OW there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. The accuser of our brethren .... which accused them before our God day and night. All that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, .... is of the world. And is a snare of the devil. Who, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. Lest Satan should get an advantage of us : for we are not ignorant of his devices. For it is the land of graven images, and they are mad upon their idols. Job i. 6. Revelation xii. 10. 1 John ii. 16. 2 Timothy ii. 26. 1 Peter v. 8. 2 Corinthians xi. 3. 2 Corinthians ii. 11. Jeremiah 1. 38. MINE ANGEL BEEORE THEE." 42 €|)e 25roati $l)placterp* OME not near to me ; for I am holier than thou. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, are these. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee ; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else besides me. The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock. And no marvel ; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Pride is the beginning of sin. Isaiah lxv. 5. St. Luke xviii. 12. Jeremiah vii. 4. Isaiah xlvii. 10. Obadiah 3. 2 Corinthians xi. 14. Ecclesiasticus x. MINE ANGEL BEFORE THEE:' 43 €fje Hofie of $umilitp. EHOLD, I am vile. I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up ; and he shall save the humble person. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall. For I say .... to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think. Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast him- self as he that putteth it off. Job xl. 4. Job xlii. 6. Job xxii. 29. 1 Corinthians x. 12. Romans xii. 3. 1 Kings xx. 11. 1 "MINE ANGEL BEFORE THEE." 44 €J)e l©abe£ of Slortian* 1 Peter iv. 17. Jeremiah xli. 5. 1 Maccabees ix. 45- Isaiah xxvii. 5. Isaiah xxvii 8. Isaiah xxv. 4. 1 John v. 4. H HE time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God. If thou hast run with the footmen, and they earied thee, then how canst thou contend with 1 and if in the land of peace, wherein thou st, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in lling of Jordan ? behold, the battle is before us and behind us, and er of Jordan on this side and that side, the marsh ; and wood, neither is there place for us to turn lim take hold of my strength. stayeth his rough wind in the day of the east m the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm the wall. is the victory that overcometh the world, even h. ] 1 1 1 1 ( iave w lorses i trusted the swe For, the wat ikewis( iside. Let 1 He wind. Whe igainst This 3ur fait "MINE ANGEL BEFORE THEE." 45 €J)e J>ran&arti. I am HEN the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. .... the bright and morning star. I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. Behold the Lamb of God. Behold the man whose name is The Branch. He that hath the key of David. .... Shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the Lord continually. That he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby. For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. Isaiah Hx. 19. Revelation xxii. 16. Song of Solomon ii. 1. St. John i. 29. Zechariah vi. 12. Revelation iii. 7. Exodus xxviii. 30. Ephesians ii. 16. 2 Corinthians i. 20. MINE ANGEI BEFORE THEE: 1 46 W$t Croton, HE Lord their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people : for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land. The Lord hath wrought great glory by them through his great power from the beginning. For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing ? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming ? For ye are our glory and joy. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of right- eousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day : and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. Therefore shall they receive a glorious kingdom, and a beautiful crown from the Lord's hand. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. Zechariah ix. 16. Ecclesiasticus xliv- 2. 1 Thess. ii- 19. 1 Thess. ii. 20. 2 Timothy iv. 7. 2 Timothy iv. 8. Wisdom of Solo- mon v. 16. 1 Peter v. 4- "MINE ANGEL BEEORE THEE. 47 <£rceebtng <*Breat anb $tcciou£ $romi£e£. E that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches ; To him that over- cometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth, saving he that receiveth it. He that overcometh .... I will give him the morn- ing star. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment ; .... I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. Him that overcometh, will I make a pillar in the tem- ple of my God, .... and I will write upon him my new name. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. Behold, I come quickly ; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. Revelation n. 7. Revelation ii. 11. Revelation ii. 17. Revelation ii. 26, Revelation iii. 5. Revelation Revelation Revelation xxii. 12. E are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels. And I saw a new heaven and a new earth : for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away. And I John -saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven. The Lord God Almighty, and the Lamb are the temple of it. The glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Surely I come quickly : Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Hebrews xii. 22. Revelation xxi. 1. Revelation xxi. 2. Revelation xxi. 22. Revelation xxi. 23. Revelation xxii. 17. Revelation xxii. 20. Revelation xxii. 21. 3U