FORMALISTS ALIKE IN ALL AGES.

47

engrafted into the one only true vine, run away therefrom? Why should they go back from Christ to his forerunner John? Thus reversing the order of Divine appointment. "For if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain,”* "O, foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of Faith? Are ye so foolish ? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so many things in vain, if it be yet in vain ?" But how strikingly similar have been the foibles and follies of poor man in every age. For

John bears this record, "That was the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

He

was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not! He came unto His own, and His own received Him not! But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

How strikingly does every sentiment thus applied to the Galatian professor, and his creaturely services, apply to the English professor and his creaturely services. How strikingly alike is the English professor who is zealous of forms, yet perceives not the presence of the true light in his heart; or, if in part he perceives it cannot trust it implicitly to guide him into all truth; and the Jew who, when the Redeemer came to him perceived Him not as the inward Saviour, but rather remained

* Galat ii. 21. † Galat iii. 1. 4. ‡ John i. 9. 13.

48 THE POWER OF THE LORD OUR ONLY STAY.

zealous of the tradition of the elders. The light which enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world is still striving with man, and would, if obedience kept pace with knowledge, lead him into all truth;* but he, not knowing what is stirring within him, runs into creaturely activity to ease his troubled soul, and runs after those who tell him, "Lo! here is Christ, or there;"'t forgetting all the while that the kingdom of God is within him,”‡ and away he goes to some hired preacher to explain to him the things of God, although that very Being has dclared by one of His servants, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him."§

66

I trust that I do not wish to exalt a sect; but, though utterly unworthy, I felt constrained thus to advocate for the perfect allegiance of all to a faithful God, that we might not worship idols in the shape of Water Baptism, or other outward forms.

When we experience a state similar to that of the apostles, who prayed of their Divine Master, "Lord, increase our faith;" and when we feel great desertion and anxiety, not knowing whether we are in the path of duty, we should do well to remember, "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runneth into it, and is safe;" so let us not run to the "Lo here, or Lo there, "** but remember, that the kingdom of God is within us. And let us all, whereever we go, bear about with us the remembrance of this anthem, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee.”††

FINIS.

* John xvi. 13. † Mat. xxiv. 23. Luke xvii. 21. § James i. 5. || Luke xvii. 5. ¶ Proverbs xviii. 10. **Luke xvii. 21.

Isaiah xxvi. 3.