the promised land—the boundary necessary to be passed ere entrance could be made. So with us. We cannot enter the true church of the Lord, and become partakers of its blessings, unless we go forward, straight up out of the water. And as the heavens were opened, and the divine benediction bestowed, when Jesus went up out of the water, so will it be with us. The interior things of the Word of Divine Truth will gradually unfold themselves before us. The love of our Father will take possession of our hearts. The truth of His wisdom will enlighten our understandings. The influences of His Spirit will fill us with serenity and peace, and the Lord will receive us into His church, as His beloved children, in whom He is well pleased.
October Thirteenth.
AIR AND WATER FREE GIFTS; BUT BREAD ONLY TO BE HAD BY LABOUR AND AT A PRICE.
"In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread."—Gen. iii. 19.
THE LORD, in His wisdom, takes care that man/ shall be abundantly supplied with those aliments so necessary for securing the bodily health, as air and water. It is very certain we may term air an aliment, since without it man must soon perish as to his body.
The grand doctrine of the professing church at this day is, that faith alone is saving. The doctrine of the Bible is directly the reverse. But then faith can be acquired without any labour. It needs no seeking for,
