7. Though you be a real Christian, while you remain in doubt of this, you must in a great measure be deprived of spiritual comfort. That there are many genuine saints who do not clearly see their claim to this character, cannot be reasonably questioned. Such persons are, in a great measure, strangers to spiritual comfort. Their state may be safe, but it is destitute of that "peace and joy in believing," which God has provided for his children. Though they be on the way to the celestial Zion; yet they advance slowly, heavily, and amid much gloom and sorrow. They are harassed with doubts and fears, dejected in spirit,-and frequently uttering sighs and bitter lamentations. They long and pray for the consolations of Christ, but cannot find them.

If you, my dear brother, be indeed a child of God, and yet habitually under this painful darkness and disquietude, it is in vain for you to expect deliverance from it, till you know your calling of God. Till you see that you possess the character of a believer in Christ, and are indeed among those who have passed from spiritual death, to spiritual life, you cannot participate of their exalted felicity. This, however, you cannot see without careful and diligent self-examination. But if you assiduously and perseveringly engage in this duty, without doubt you will sooner or later discover somewhat of the Spirit's work, both in your heart and in your practice. And then, but not till then, shall your gloom be dispelled, and your sorrow be exchanged for joy," joy unspeakable and full of glory."

Are you not prepared to say, that you would account this the greatest happiness which you would desire on earth? Could you read your title to eternal life, by clearly perceiving the agreement between the work of the Spirit in your heart, and the descriptions of it contained in the divine word; would you not esteem it of infinitely greater magnitude, than were you unexpectedly to discover that you are the rightful heir of the richest estate in our country? Would you not account every earthly attainment unworthy to be compared with this? Like an apostle, are you not ready cordially to join in testifying, that you would count all other gain but as loss, for the excellent knowledge of Christ Jesus your Lord; and that there is no labour to which you would not willingly submit, and no sacrifice which you would not willingly make, to be able to see your interest in his sacrifice?-Go then, and actively, frequently, and impartially try your character by his word. And, connecting this with the diligent and concientious observance of all the appointed means of grace, you will soon arrive at this most blissful attainment.

8. If you be ignorant of your state, whatever your character be, you cannot aright improve the means of grace.-Let me suppose that you are merely a nominal Christian, but uncertain whether or not it be so, how can you suitably apply to yourself the word of God? When you peruse its hallowed pages, or hear them read and its doctrines preached; are you not in continual danger of perverting it to your own hurt? Instead of see

ing your own character in its descriptions of the wicked, and listening to your own condemnation and exposure to misery in its awful threatenings; are you not in continual hazard of putting them past yourself, and of applying them to others? Instead of regarding the great and precious promises as intended for others, and what you have no right to claim; are you not in danger of flattering yourself that their rich blessings and consolations are intended for you? And when you engage in the exercises of prayer, instead of confining your supplications that God would begin in you the good work of grace, and make you a partaker of the heavenly birth; are you not ready to ask its advancement, and to implore blessings which God bestows on none except his regenerated sons and daughters? Instead, therefore, of improving the means of grace for your conversion, you thus abuse them to your remaining in a state of security and spiritual death.

On the other hand, let me suppose that you are truly a child of God, while you continue ignorant that this is your state, it is impossible that you can aright employ the means of grace. Instead of endeavouring to advance your sanctification, and to rear the spiritual building, your whole solicitude will be about laying the foundation. Instead of marching onward in the way which leads to heaven, you will timidly and doubtingly linger at the first stage of your journey, questioning whether you have yet entered upon the right road. Ever uncertain respecting your real state, you will be kept from

effectually endeavouring to "grow in grace," and to "perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord." You will be alarmed by threatenings which apply, not to you, but to others; and you will put

from you that

consolation to which you are entitled. And, even when you pray in language appropriate to your case that "the God of peace would sanctify you thoroughly, in soul, in body, and in spirit," and that he would more and more conform you to his image and will, -your doubts and uncertainty about your condition, will incline you to think that you have prayed amiss, by supplicating the progress of a work which is yet to begin. Thus, to a great degree, you counteract your petitions. And though, in spite of your misconduct, God will not utterly abandon his own good work in your soul; yet its progress towards perfection must be slow, and to you imperceptible.

If you desire to make advancement in holiness, first endeavour to know that the seed of holiness has been planted by the Spirit of God in your heart. When once this important point is ascertained, then you will be better prepared to seek after the watering and cherishing of the good seed, that it may spring up and produce a plentiful harvest of the fruits of righteousness. Then your prayers will be presented to the Lord in good earnest, that he would promote in you a growing assimilation to the image of Christ, and a meetness for the heavenly inheritance. Then you will employ the means of grace with a direct view to the specific ends for which you ought to use them, the mortification of remaining

sin, and the maturing of every holy principle. Thus your profiting will soon be made apparent both to yourself and to others. You will become "the living epistle of Christ, known and read of all men."

9. As a farther inducement speedily to engage in self-examination, consider, that the longer you delay this duty, the more difficult it will become.-Were you called to sit in judgment on the character of another, delay might be of advantage, that you might have time to collect evidence, and obtain all possible information. But the case is widely different when you are required to try yourself. Here the evidence is all at hand. You need only to look within to your heart, and without to your general practice, and you will have it all before you. So far from deriving advantage from procrastinating this important search, any farther than is needful to understand the manner in which it should be performed, you will greatly increase the difficulty. By delay, the points respecting which you should examine yourself will become more numerous, and consequently your work be rendered more complex and tedious. The merchant who has allowed his books to remain long unbalanced, while yet his business is going on, every day that he continues to put off the task, makes it more arduous and forbidding. Exactly so you will find it in respect to balancing your accounts for eternity. Every day's delay will increase the amount of your work, and the difficulty attending its performance. Your aversion to engage in it will thus be strengthened. Though you may flatter yourself that

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