"PROVE YOUR OWN SELVES."

How full of doubts is the faith of many! After long years spent in regular attendance upon ordinances, what painful misgivings as to their spiritual state perplex the minds of not a few! Notwithstanding the profession of faith in Christ made by repeatedly sitting down at the Lord's table, how little inward rest from life's cares do they find in Christ, how little peace amidst the world's tribulations, how little joy and confidence in the prospect of death! Frequently, indeed, it appears as if the only present effect of being religious were to fill the soul with distressing fears and miserable forebodings, whenever the thoughts are seriously turned towards God, judgment, or eternity. For many know just enough about spiritual things, and have just sufficient acquaintance with God to make them dread his wrath, but are not sufficiently intimate with him as a reconciled God and Father in Christ to be able to "enjoy him," and find holy delight in his service. "Were we only sure of our interest in Christ," say these doubting ones. But alas are not sure, and their religious experience is consequently of the most unsettled and unhappy kind, their influence for good is feeble and fitful, and the cause of Christ receives from them no vigorous, healthful, joyous impulse.

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What is the present duty of such? Evidently to examine themselves whether they be in the faith-to prove their own selves. But at the outset some one may ask: "How shall we begin? what line of inquiry shall we pursue? what plan shall we adopt in order to arrive at a sound conclusion?"

There are probably more plans than one, which, if rightly carried out, would lead to a conclusion that might be relied on without much fear of error or self-deception. There is, however, one thing to which such prominence is given in Scripture as the indispensable condition of salvation, that it may be well to confine attention to it.

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That one thing is faith in Christ, or believing on him. For it is written: "He that believeth in the Son hath everlasting life;" " he that believeth on him is not condemned;" and "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." To ascertain, therefore, the reality of your religion, inquire whether you have faith in Jesus Christ, whether you are resting on him alone for salvation. If so, you are justified, and your eternal interests are secure. If not, whatever your profession may be, whatever men may think of you to the contrary, you are still in your sins, still under the curse, and in danger of endless woe.

Without entering into any discussion as to the nature of faith, suffice it to say, that it is represented as "looking unto Jesus," just as the Israelites in the wilderness looked for healing to the brazen serpent; and as coming" to him, just as many came to him on earth, making personal application for the cure of their bodily ailments; or simply, without the use of any figure, it is trusting him. In the day of regeneration, the Spirit of life from God enters into the soul, and the man born from above, and effectually called, "embraces Christ Jesus, freely offered to him in the gospel," closes with Christ as his Saviour; and this, so far as words can express it, is faith.

Is this, then, the attitude of your soul towards the Saviour? Investigate the matter narrowly. Search into it with strictest scrutiny, for all other examination as to your spiritual state is likely to prove unsatisfactory so long as it remains undetermined in your own mind whether or not you are believing in Christ.

Perhaps you say you have frequently endeavoured to do this, but have never succeeded in definitely ascertaining the existence of faith in your soul. Knowing that, when in the heart, it brings forth fruit in the life, you have examined yourself as to your repentance, love, and new obedience, but found these at the best so imperfect, that you could not certainly conclude that you were in the possession of this precious faith. And no wonder, for this mode of procedure is both circuitous and, in the nature of the case, unsatisfactory. You find in your life something which at first you take for good works, and from them you think to infer the existence of faith in your heart. But on closer scrutiny you feel impelled to ask the very pertinent question, Are these works good? What is a good work? One of its chief characteristics is that it be done in faith, for without faith it is impossible to please God, and no work can be good that is not pleasing to him. Were these works of yours done in faith? You cannot tell, for you do not know whether you have faith, that being the very thing you are anxious to ascertain. So that, until you know whether you are a believer, you cannot know that any of your works are good, neither can you, from such works, infer the existence of faith.

True, James says: "Shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works;" but because others are to be made aware of my faith by my works, it does not follow that I am to be made aware of it by the same means. There is a simple and

more direct mode of procedure. To ascertain what transpires in your own breast, it is not necessary to call in the evidence of your outward deeds. If others are to be made familiar with your thoughts and feelings, such evidence is necessary, but for yourself you need it not; for while, as we shall see immediately, our works are of essential importance in helping us to test the genuineness of our faith, the fact of its existence is to be otherwise ascertained. Do you inquire how? From consciousness. Hereby a man knows what passes in his mind. If joy be filling his heart, he knows it without waiting for any of its outward manifestations, although others can know it only from his beaming face and gladsome song. If he be sad, he knows it from consciousness, although others require to see his mournful countenance and the tear-drop glistening in his eye. A mother does not require to ponder and take into consideration every deed of kindness done, and every self-sacrificing effort made, for the good of her child ere she knew whether she loves it. No, verily. Her own consciousness supplies her at once with a direct and unhesitating answer. Now, wherever there is faith in Christ, it exists in the heart, for "with the heart man believeth," and one's own consciousness ought surely to make one's self aware of the fact. No doubt assurance will afterwards become doubly sure when the fruits of faith are abundantly brought forth in the life; but, in the mean time, without waiting for such subsequent confirmation, if we are believing in Christ, we may know it now. This is plain from Scripture. "See," said the eunuch to Philip, "here is water, what doth hinder me to be baptized?" "If thou believest with all thine heart," replied Philip, "thou mayest." The apostle evidently took it for granted that it was possible for him to know whether he was believing or not without waiting for evidence afterwards to be furnished by his godly life. And the eunuch did know, and, promptly answering "I believe," was there and then baptized.

Let me press this simple question, then, upon your attention : Are you believing in Jesus Christ? Pause in your reading, I pray you, and return an answer to your soul. What say you? That you are unable to tell? Nay, then perhaps you misunderstand my question. I do not ask at this stage whether you have genuine, saving faith in the Lord Jesus. That is a question for future consideration. I ask simply, so far as you know, what believing is, and what the exercises of your own heart are, what do you think, are you trusting in Christ, or are you not? Do not be afraid to come to a decision. If you honestly think you are, why shrink from admitting it in your own mind, seeing that until this be done you can have no settled peace, no deep nor abiding joy? On the other hand, if you honestly think you are not believing, be not afraid to admit this also. Admitting it does not increase your danger. If destitute of faith, it is true, you are under the curse and condemned already, but the socner you know and realise your true condition the better, for then you may perhaps be induced to flee for refuge to the hope set before you.

Do you think then you are still living without faith in Christ? Then you will never obtain it by doubting that you have it not, nor by lamenting your sad case. Begin anew, and begin at once, without wasting time and precious opportunities by indulging unavailing regrets. Up! and put away this sad indifference. Up! the way is still open. Jesus is still near, that you may come to him; still exhibited in the gospel, that you may look to him and be saved. Up! I say, believe on the Lord Jesus. It is not enough to pray. Pray, by all means, wrestle, energise in prayer, for you need help from heaven. But prayer for grace to believe is not believing; neither can such prayer ever be answered until, by attempting to believe, you give God the opportunity to help your infirmity, and make his grace sufficient for your need.

But, perhaps you are believing, or think you are. That is well; and far be it from me ot attempt making you think otherwise. But do not take it too readily for granted, seeing that the heart is deceitful above all things. Test your faith. Try it, as men try silver, for God will admit none of us into his heavenly kingdom, without subjecting our faith to the most rigorous tests. What if your supposed faith should then prove spurious! what if mine, like worthless silver, should be reprobate! Should not the very possibility of such a thing lead us to greater diligence in proving our own selves, ere God come to prove us all.

And how is this to be done? how is faith, supposing it to exist, to be tested? How are we to ascertain whether it be the faith of God's elect? The answer must be brief.

The word of God tells us how faith operates, and what fruits it produces; and by comparing what Scripture says of it, with what we find in ourselves, we may reach a reliable conclusion as to the character of our supposed faith.

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit, are all unseen, but faith realizes their presence, and leads the soul to deal with them as if visible and seen. Do you thus realize the presence of God? Do you find that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, are to you living persons with whom you hold daily intercourse-intercourse as true and as real as that held with earthly friends whom your bodily eyes behold? Is faith to you the substance of things hoped for? You do not possess the things of heaven yet, the light, the love, the rest, the peace, the joy, the glory of that upper world. As yet, they are away far in the distant future. But does faith, meanwhile, secure for you any of the benefit of these things to help you on in your pilgrimage? Are you anything the better of these unseen things in which you believed? You are poor, perhaps, but when you apprehend Christ, and think of heaven, does faith make you feel that you are rich? You may be weary with toil: does faith, in the rest that remaineth, give you any present relief? You may be sick, and sad at heart, because of troubles, trials, griefs, and cares: does that faith-born hope of enjoying health and happiness in the paradise of God, act even now like a cordial to your fainting spirit? Perhaps you are

in spiritual darkness, and at times under the hidings of your Father's face does hope, which faith gives you, of one day being with him to see him as he is, and be satisfied with his likeness, help you to struggle on? In a word, do you find that the things of God, although distant, future, and unseen, are uppermost in your mind, and dearer to your heart than all the things of earth, present and visible though they be? If so, be sure your faith is genuine.

"Faith works by love.' Believing the love God has towards us, we learn to love him in return; and, loving God, we love all that is his. Do you love his name? his word? his day? his service ? his people? Because he commands you, do you love your enemies? If so, fear not, your faith will be likely to stand the scrutiny of the judgment-day.

Faith overcomes the world. Have you conquered, or are you making progress in conquering that love, which all have by nature, for its possessions, pleasures and applause. Are you successfully resisting its temptations? Are you crucified unto the world? is the world crucified unto you? Are you dead, or fast dying to it, and it to you? Then your faith is not only genuine, but strong, and faith leads us to please God. By nature we seek to please ourselves; but does this in your heart, which you regard as faith, prompt you to do all for him? Is this the object you have in view in the thoughts you cherish, the words you utter, and the actions you perform! Are you constantly aiming at this, not merely avoiding sin, but shunning the very appearance of evil? And are you resigning your will to God's: and choosing his way in preference to your own? If so, your faith will not be found reprobate at last. Proving ourselves thus, while we may be able to say, "Lord, we believe," the best of us will be constrained to pray,

"HELP OUR UNBELIEF."

"LORD, INCREASE OUR FAITH."

REV. HUGH YOUNG OF LAURIESTON.

As recorded in our obituary for May, the Rev. Hugh Young of Laurieston, near Falkirk, died on the 20th of April. His death was very sudden and unexpected, and took place in deeply solemn and impressive circumstances. Being Sabbath, he was quite prepared, and was just on the point of leaving his house for the purpose of conducting the services of God in the sanctuary below, when being made to feel his Master's hand laid gently but firmly upon him, and to hear his voice saying to him, "Friend, go up higher," his immortal spirit winged its flight to engage in the services of the sanctuary above. He had been ailing a little about two weeks before, but had got quite well again, and enjoye morning, he had, as was his custom, risen early and looked over the notes of the his usual state of health up to the day on which he died. Even on that discourses which he intended to deliver that day; he had also at the stated hour called his family together and conducted family worship with much spirit and animation; he had then after breakfast dressed himself, and was ready to go to church, when he was suddenly seized with an illness, which within a few moments terminated in death. Feeling himself unusually ill, he rang the bell for assistance, and being immediately waited upon by his daughter, who saw from his appearance that there was something materially wrong, and asked him what was the matter, he complained of a great pain in his back;