THE TRUE PENITENT. 515 spring after Jesus into the chariot of cheerful obedi- ence : thy heart is as his heart ; and while active grace draws thy willing soul along, God's free Spirit pours the oil of gladness upon the-fervid wheels of thy affec- tions : supported and animated by thy Lord's presence, thou swiftly movest, thou delightfully fliest in all the ways of duty : mountains of difficulties sink into plains before thee ; wisdom's roughest ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. Now thou rejoicest tó, be thought worthy to suffer shame for Christ's name, and countest it all joy when thou fallest into divers trials. With him the cross loses its dreadful aspect, and enormous weight : when thou findest it in the highway of holiness, instead of consulting with flesh and blood, ,how thou shalt go aside to avoid it, thou immediately takest it up, and it proves a comforting staff, a never - failing prop. Christ crucified works this miracle of grace, for Him thou receivest with every cross; and the moment thou dost so in the power of his Spirit, God, even thy own God, gives thee his choicest blessing: he crowns thee with loving kindness and tender .mercies;' and with the inexpressible complaisance of a father who receives a lost son ! With the triumphant joys of a Saviour, who embraces a raised Lazarus, he says to the myriads that surround his throne, " One more sinner repenteth unto life ! hallelujah ! He hath escaped the avenger of blood, he hath passed the gate of the city of refuge ! hallelujah ! Shout, ye sons of the morning ! My angels, strike your golden harps ! Dance every heart for joy, through the realms of heaven ! Let bursts of triumphant mirth, let peals of ravishing praise, roll along the transporting news ! Let all your exulting breasts reverberate, let all your harmonious tongues echo back our glorious joy ! For this my son was dead, and is alive again ! This your brother was lost, and is found !" And irradiating thy soul with the light of his recon, ciled countenance, he says to thee from a throne blaze ing with grace and glory, " Penitent believer, receive the adoption of a son. Because thou receivest my Son,
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