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Thus at one reckoning, the greater part of your sheep prove goats or wolves; but a remnant is behind of decent people, the modern soft phrase for a christian. Let these decent people take a decent trial; it will not hurt them, if they are good men and true.

St, Paul says, Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith. He takes it not for granted that christian professors must be true believers, but commands them all to prove their own selves: and drops a question, as a touchstone, to prove themselves by. A strange question it must seem to such as have not true faith, yet it is a most important question, and the only one that distinguishes true faith from counterfeit. The Apostle does not ask the Corinthians whether they are sober, honest, charitable, church going people, the present pigmy standard for a Christian soldier; but he asks a very searching question, even this, Know ye not that Jesus Christ is in you? And declares, if they knew it not, they must be reprobates, disapproved of God as hypocrites notwithstanding all their decent carriage.

The meaning of St. Paul's question is plainl "know ye not that the Spirit of Christ is in ▾ where Christ's Spirit is, there is he.

of question is asked in the first

not, that ye are the temple of of God dwelleth in you ""

Very right, Doctor

tians, to be sure, must though we feel it not, fluence, we must be su are born in a Christian

breathe a wholesome Christian air, have a pew in some Christian church, keep a merry Christmas every year, and bury upon Christian ground. Here is proof enough, Doctor.

Yes, Sir, proof enough that you live in a Christian land, but no proof that you are Christian people. To suppose you have the Spirit's presence, and yet remain an utter stranger to its influence, is the topmost tower of enthusiasm, the soaring pinnacle on which its floating weathercock is fixed. So! this blessed guest comes to lurk in your bosom, like a spy in a camp: or like a thief in a cellar; and steals in and steals out, without your notice; mighty fine; but you are not such a wild enthusiast in common life, as to suppose there is money in your pocket, when you feel none; nor bank notes in your drawer, when you find none. If you never feel any symptoms of patience, you cannot well suppose yourself possessed of any; and why should you dream of the Spirit's presence, when you never find any tokens of it?

The Spirit's influence must be felt, or it cannot profit; and the very offices of the Holy Spirit do suppose and warrant such a feeling. Let me mention some of them, which are these to quicken, to strengthen mightily, to witness our adoption, and to bring heavenly joy. Now Sir, what avails that quickening which I cannot see? It leaves me just as heartless to spiritual duty as it found me. And what advantages does that mighty strengthening bring, which is not perceived by me? It yields no further power to subdue my lusts than I had before. And of what service is that witness in the court of conscience, who speaks in such a low or mumbling tone, that none can

hear or understand him? I am just as well without his evidence as with it. And lastly, of what use or value is that heavenly joy, which I cannot taste? All this is just the picture of Isaiah's hungry man, who dreamt he was eating, but awoke and was empty.

But, Sir, St. Paul did not ask this idle question, "Do you suppose the Spirit of Christ is in you?" All the church at Corinth, and all the churchmen in Great Britain might have answered quickly, "Yes, Mr. Paul, we do suppose it." But he asks a weighty question, "Do ye know it?" Have you real experience, in heart-felt knowledge, that the spirit of Christ is in you? Are you acquainted with his operation? Do you know it.

St. Paul may ask this question safely, because his name is canonised, and his bones are mouldered into dust; but if a living preacher ask the same question, the world cry out enthusiasm! And yet Saint Paul makes this very knowledge the evidence of true faith, and accounts other faith which produces not this knowledge, to be counterfeit, and the men themselves to be reprobates.

Jesus saith to his diciples, "Ye know the Spirit, for he dwelleth in you." His words carry this plain meaning, that where the Spirit dwells, he makes his presence known by his operations on the heart.

St. John tells the whole christian church, "Hereby we know that Christ dwelleth in us, by his Spirit which he hath given us." We know the Spirit of Christ dwelleth in us, and thereby are assured of our union with Christ. And, like as Paul had done before, he proposes this knowledge as a touchstone to try your profession; hereby we know that Christ dwell eth in us.

Indeed, Doctor, I am a stranger to the Holy Spirit's influence, yet do not seem disposed to question my profession. Still I think my faith is sound like any roach; and am sure there is no better in the parish. The vicar never questioned it; and why should you? It is not mighty civil. Besides, I am free of my beer, and have the good luck to be loved by every one; scarce a dog will bark at me. "As honest as the old grazier," is a common saying, and this alone is proof enough that I must be a christian.

Indeed, Sir, this alone is proof enough against your christianity. "While you are of the world, the world will love you; but when you cease to be of the world, and are chosen out of the world, the world will hate you." It hated Jesus Christ, and will hate every true disciple.

Paul affirms peremptorily, "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution." Live where you will, in a christian or a heathen land; live when you will, in the present or a distant age; Paul affirms universally of real christians, "Yea, they all shall suffer persecution." If you lead what the world calls a godly life, you will have the world's commendation. You may be sober, and honest, and friendly; you may pray and give alms, and fast too if you please; and while these things are doing by your own strength, and made a ground of acceptance with God, you are waxing godly in yourself, or from yourself, made godly by the world's spirit, and the world will applaud you. But if once you grow godly in Christ Jesus, renouncing all your wisdom, strength and righteousness; and come to Jesus as a lost sinner, seeking all supplies from him, resting all your hope

upon him, making him your all in every thing, and counting all things utter dross in comparison of him, then the world will hate you, and lift a heel against you. A godly life in Christ Jesus thwarts human pride and stains all its glory, which will not be suffered very patiently.

Woe

Men are apt to bless themselves in the world's esteem, and look upon it as a kindly token that the Lord accepts them. To rectify the judgment and sweep away deceitful hopes, arising from the world's good name, Christ has dropt a curse upon it, saying, unto you when all men shall speak well of you." This is one of the Lord's Shibboleths, which he uses to alarm a decent professor, the world's favorite. It is a frightful ugly bridge upon the king's highway. An Israelite goes over safely, but no Edomite can pass it. Esau, the elder brother, will not travel here, but trudges down to a ferry built by Mr. Fairspeech, to make a smoother passage over the river.

So much for the world's esteem: happy is the man, who has lost it wholly and honestly. But your faith, Sir, must be canvassed a little more. You are a gra

zier it seems, and when you buy a bullock at a fair, you do not take the salesman's word, but feel the beast yourself, and examine all its points minutely. Now, Sir, do the same by your faith; take it not on trust as recommended by your neighbor, but examine it, and handle all its points by the word of God. Faith is an active and a fruitful thing: its fruit is pleasant both to God and man. And the man who possesses it, is a noble man indeed, an heir of God through Christ. But it behoves us to be wary, for counterfeit faith, like counterfeit gold is very current.