"FIGHT THE LORD'S BATTLES,"

The sacramental host of God's elect is warring still on earth, Jesus Christ being the Captain of their salvation. He has said, "lo! I am with you alway, even unto the end of the age." Hark to the shouts of war! Now let the people of God stand fast to their ranks, and let no man's heart fail him. It is true that just now in England the battle is turned against us, and unless the Lord Jesus shall lift up His sword, we know not what may become of the church of God in this land, but let us be of good courage, and play the man. There never was a day when protestantism seemed to tremble more in the scales than now that a fierce effort is making to restore the Roman antichrist to his ancient seat. We greatly want a bold voice and a strong hand to preach and publish the old gospel for which martyrs bled and confessors died. The Saviour is, by His Spirit, still on earth, let this cheer us. He is ever in the midst of the fight , and therefore the battle is not doubtful. And as the conflict rages, what a sweet satisfaction it is to know that the Lord Jesus, in His office as our great intercessor, is prevalently pleading for His people! O anxious gazer, look not so much at the battle below, for there thou shalt be enshrouded with smoke, and amazed with garments rolled in blood, but lift up thine eyes yonder where the Saviour lives and pleads, for while He intercedes, the cause of God is safe. Let us fight as if it all depended upon us, but let us look up and know that it all depends upon Him.
Now, by the lillies of christian purity, and by the roses of the Saviour's atonement, by the roes and by the hinds of the field, we charge you who are lovers of Jesus, to do valiantly in the holy war, for truth and righteousness, for the kingdom and crown jewels of your Master. Onward! "for the battle is not yours, but God's."

CHILDREN OF GOD.

Adoption gives us the rights of children, regeneration gives us the nature of children, we are partakers of both of these, for we are children of God. And this is a gift of grace recieved by faith. We are not the children of God by nature in the sense meant here. We are in a sense "the offspring of God" by nature, but this is very different from the sonship which is the peculiar priviledge of those who are born again. The Jews claimed to be the family of God, but as their priviledges came to them by way of their fleshly birth, they are likened to Ishmael, who was born after the flesh, but who was cast out as the son of the bond-woman, and compelled to give way to the son of the promise. We have a sonship which does not come to us by nature, for we are " born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of man, but of God." Our sonship comes by promise, by the operation of God as a special gift to a peculiar seed, set apart for The Lord by His own sovereign grace, as Isaac was. This honour and priviledge comes to us by faith, note well Galationsc3v26 "for ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." As unbelievers we know nothing of adoption. While we are under the law as self-righteous we know something of servitude, but we know nothing of sonship. It is only after that faith has come that we cease to be under the schoolmaster, and rise out of our minority to take our priviledges of the sons and daughters of God.
Faith worketh in us the spirit of adoption, and our consciousness of sonship in this wise, fist, it brings us justification, the bible says, " the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith." An unjustified man stands in the condition of a criminal, not of a child, his sin is laid to his charge, he is reckoned as unjust and unrighteous, as indeed he really is, and he is therefore a rebel against his King, and not a child enjoying his Father's love. but when faith realizes the cleansing power of the blood of atonement, and lays hold upon the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, then he or she is justified, and becomes the child of God. Justification and adoption always go together. "Whom He called,them also He justified," and the calling is to the Father's house, and to a recognition of sonship. Believing brings forgiveness and justification through our Lord Jesus Christ, it also brings adoption, for it is written, " but as many as recieved Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name."

ETERNAL SECURITY.

Now think of the joy of this fact. Our union with Christ is not only lasting, it is everlasting. With great boldness we utter the challenge, "who shall separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord?" It is true that we hold Christ, and that we will hold Him tighter still, but the greater mercy is that He holds us, and He will never let us go. Does He not say concerning His sheep, "I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand?" And will He not be true to His word? You may take Christ from our hand, but you cannot take us from Christ's hand, He holdeth us fast, He is married to us, and He Himself declares, " The Lord, the God of Israel, saith that He hateth putting away." He will have no divorce between our soul and Himself. This living, lasting union, which we have already found to be such a glorious reality, is to last for ever and ever, blessed be the name of The Lord!

C.H.SPURGEON. - Vox

C.H.SPURGEON. - Vox

EACH ONE RECEIVING CHRIST.

But as many as recieved Him, to them gave He

power to become the sons of God.

Even to them that believe on His name.Jn1v12

Those who received Christ were different from those who did not receive Him, they were as different as white is from black, or light from darkness. They took a distinct step, separated themselves from others, and came out and received Him Whom others would not receive. Have you taken such a step, dear friend? Can you say, " yes, let others do as they will, as for me, Christ is all my salvation, and all my desire, and at all hazards I am quite content to be counted odd, and to stand alone, I have lifted up my hand to heaven, and I cannot draw back. Whatever others may do, I say, Christ for me."

As it was a distinctive act, so it was a personal one, " to as many as recieved Him." They had to receive Christ each one by his own act and deed. " Even to them that believe on His name." Believing is the distinct act of a person. I cannot believe for you any more than you can believe for me, that is clearly impossible. There can be no such thing as sponsorship in receiving Christ or in faith. If you are an unbeliever, your father and your mother may be the most eminent saints, but their faith does not overlap and cover your unbelief. You must believe for yourself. I have had to even remind some that The Holy Ghost Himself cannot believe for them. He works faith in you, but you have to believe. The faith must be your own distinct mental act. Faith is the gift of God, but God does not believe for us, how could He? It is for you to distinctly believe.

Come, dear hearer,have you been trying to put up with the national faith? the national faith is a mere sham. Or have you tried to think that you possess the family religion"oh,we are all christians, you know!" yes, yes, we are all hypocrites, that is what that comes to. Unless each one is a christian for himself, he is a christian in name only, and that is to be a hypocrite. Oh, that we might have the certainty that we have each one laid our sins on Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God! God grant that, if we have never done so before, we may do so this very moment!

CHARLES HADDON SPURGEON.

" WHY STAND YE GAZING?"

"Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?"acts1v10

What the disciples did we are very apt to imitate. " oh," say you, " I shall never stand gazing up into heaven." I am not sure of that. Some christians are very curious, but not obedient. Plain precepts are neglected, but difficult problems they seek to solve. I remember one who used always to be dwelling upon the seven vials and seals and trumpets. He was great at apocalyptical symbols, but he had seven children, and he had no family prayer. If he had left the vials and trumpets and minded his girls and boys, it would have been a deal better. I have known men marvellously great upon Daniel, and specially instructed in Ezekiel, but singularly forgetful of the 20th chapter of exodus, and not very clear upon romans chapter 8. I do not speak with any blame of such folk for studying Daniel and Ezekiel, but quite the reverse, yet I wish they had been more zealous for the conversion of sinners in their neighbourhoods, and more careful to assist the poor saints. I admit the value of the study of the feet of the image in Nebuchadnezzar's vision, and the importance of knowing the kingdoms which make up the ten toes, but I do not see the propriety of allowing such studies to overlay the common-places of practical godliness. If the time spent over obscure theological propositions were given to a mission in the dim alley near the good man's house, more benefit would come to men and more glory to God. I would have you understand all mysteries, if you could, but do not forget that our chief business here below is to cry " behold The Lamb!" By all manner of means read and search till you know all that The Lord has revealed concerning things to come, but first of all, see to it that your children are brought to Christ, and that you are workers together with God in the upbuilding of His church. The dense mass of misery and ignorance and sin which is round about us on every side demands all our powers, and if you do not respond to the call, though I am not a man in white apparel, I shall venture to say to you, " ye men of christendom, why stand ye gazing up into the mysteries when so much is to be done for Jesus, and you are leaving it undone?" O ye who are curious but not obedient, I fear I speak to you in vain, but I have spoken. May The Holy Spirit also speak.