confidently expect an abundant crop, because we know that it will not spring up in a single night. Again, in acquiring any of the arts and sciences, how many tedious processes we have to pass through. Yet we are not so foolish as to throw them aside in despair, because we cannot master them in a few hours. And reasoning from analogy, we have no ground to expect that the knowledge of God will be the growth of an hour; or that so mighty a blessing will be showered down at the very first request we deign to offer. Consider, I beseech you, how long God has been waiting upon you with this invitation. Wonder not if he keep you waiting for a time in your turn. But this will be as He pleases. I only mention it, lest any who have really begun to pray should feel discouraged at perceiving no immediate benefit from their prayers. God has no where promised to answer us so suddenly. But he will not keep us waiting without bestowing on us so much light and strength as will encourage us to persevere. O tarry then the Lord's leisure; be strong, and he shall comfort thine heart; wait, I say, on the Lord." 1

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I close this part of my subject, with the

1 Psalm xxvii. 14.

advice of the prophet-" Halt no longer between two opinions." If the Jehovah of the Scriptures be God, serve Him; but if the God whom Deists have fancied to themselves be God, then serve him. I have pointed out to you a way of deciding the question. Bring the Scriptures to the touchstone of truth. "THE GOD WHO ANSWERS PRAYER, LET HIM BE GOD."1

"Ask, and it shall be given you." Ask sincerely, fervently, perseveringly. If you thus ask, and receive not-I consent that you shall renounce the Bible for ever. If you ask and receive, then will the Bible become your everlasting heritage, the very joy and rejoicing of your heart. Then will you bless the day that

led you to the 'Test of Truth.'

1 1 Kings xviii. 21-24.

THE TEST OF TRUTH.

PART II.

ASK,

LUKE XI. 9.

AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN YOU.

I CANNOT behold a person who doubts or disbelieves the truth of Christianity, without feeling drawn towards that person with a tender and pitying interest, as if he were my brother or dear friend. My heart is linked to his by an irresistible sympathy. Should this appear mysterious, I can easily explain the mystery. I have been in the same situation myself. I "know the heart" of an unbeliever; his doubts, his objections, his disgusts, have all passed through my own mind. I enter into every particular of his feelings. If he is a sincere doubter-I mean, if he really desires to find out the truth, I can comprehend all the agony of

I

suspense, the horror of approaching eternity in the dark, which he now experiences, and which none but those who have felt can figure to themselves, even in idea. But my sympathy with such a doubter is also one of glad anticipation. I enter into his future feelihgs, and rejoice in the light and peace which are certainly prepared for him, though now they are hid from his eyes. know that "an understanding shall one day be given him, that he may know him that is true." "If any man wishes to do the will of God, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be true, or whether Jesus Christ spake of himself."1 Of this I am assured, both because it is God's promise, and because He has fulfilled that promise to me. "He has brought me out of the horrible" abyss of doubt and unbelief," and set my foot upon a rock, and established my goings." And O that while I endeavour to speak of His goodness towards me, "many may see it, and fear, and put their trust in the Lord! "2

I thank my God that I have been permitted, by bitter experience, to enter into this growing calamity of my fellow-men. Not only have the doctrines of Christianity been stamped upon my

1 John vii. 17.

2 See Psalm xl. 1-3.

soul with a certainty greatly enhanced by the strict and suspicious scrutiny, to which they have every one been subjected, but an intenseness is added to my prayers, and a liveliness to my hopes, for this class of wanderers from God, which nothing but a fellowship in sin and suffering could have produced. I can spread their miserable case before the Lord, with the happy conviction, that the same power which was displayed on my behalf, is ready to be stretched out on theirs. And when unbelief whispersCan these men be brought to the knowledge of the truth? my very soul burns within me, as I appeal to my own experience, that nothing is too hard for the Lord. May the Lord my God guide my heart and my pen, whilst I attempt to delineate the process, by which "he called me out of darkness into his marvellous light!"

My chief aim is to demonstrate the success which will invariably follow a sincere and candid application of the Test of Truth.' If I can persuade others to try the same method, I shall have gained my point. I seek not to answer objections. They are innumerable, as the turnings and windings of the human heart. Even with those who are sincere in their search after truth, the most trivial of these objections, though