The First of March.FAITH OF THE SON OF GOD --- Galatians 2:20."I live by the faith of the Son of God." --- Galatians 2:20. In spiritual things we are too often living upon self; we seek in frames, forms, creatures, and animal life, that inward peace and stablity of mind which is only to be found in the Redeemer. Outward duties are well in their place: they are to be performed, but not to be trusted in; they are as the scaffold to the building, a means to carry on the work; but not the work itself. When favoured with the gracious presence of Jesus, they are blessings, without it, they are nothing. The whole dependence must be on Jesus: he is the way, the truth, and the life; without him, prayers, praises, rites, and ordinances, are carcases without a soul. This is the case with every external service that is destitute of the presence and blessing of the Holy Spirit, who alones imparts communion of heart, and a quickening of the soul in faith, and in love of Jesus, and often a delightful view of that which is behind the veil of the ordinances, (such as no carnal eye can behold,) a purely spiritual discovery of the Lord in his goodness, beauty, grandeur, and glory. Vain are our fancies, airy flights, 'Tis faith changes all the heart, |