Now let me, O my soul, upon this fresh mark of salvation, ask thee again this important ques. tion, What sayest thou? Let me charge thee to be faithful, and endeavour to draw a just conclusion. And do I love Christ? Yes, O my soul, if I know any thing I must know this, that Jesus is precious, precious in every character, in every view; more precious than thousands of gold and silver, and all that is counted dear by men in general; so precious, that I hope I have parted with every sin, even that which so often besets me, every thing that stands in competition with Christ, and lays claim to my heart, and have welcomed the Lord Jesus to my soul. Nay, had I ten thousand souls, I think, if I mistake

The stony ground hearers received the word with joy, though they had no root in themselves and therefore in the time of temptation fell away. The nature of the joy should be investigated. Holy joy, or, as the apostle terms it, joy in the Holy Ghost, is not in ourselves, our supposed excellence and importance, in the estimation of God or man, but is thus described, 66 we joy in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. We should narrowly observe the effects of our joy. That of the hypocrite makes him more vain and presumptuous: that of the Christian renders him more humble, watchful, and devotional. The degree of our gladness in religion will usually depend on two things, the degree of our religion, and our natural disposition. Religion, if real, may be small, and may therefore produce little delight; nor will the most eminent godliness create so much joy in those who are on all subjects grave, as in those who are constitutionally cheerful.

not, I am sure, I would commit them all to his care, and devote them all to his service, to honour him here in life, and to love and praise him for ever. Bless God then, and rejoice.

The fourth Scripture Mark of Salvation.

ROM. VIII. 14.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the Sons of God.

Q. IV. Am I led by the Spirit of God?

§ 1. Am I led to an humbling sight of myself, and to walk humbly with God? Am I led to see my meanness and dependence as a creature? Led to see, that I am brought out of nothing

It is much to be feared that this question is not often put to the conscience by many who profess religion. Hence the great prevalence of religious or spiritual pride, which kindles the flame of strife in churches, and exposes men to the most mortifying and scandalous falls. A just view of our religion, as the product of sovereign mercy, a consciousness that wherein we are better than others, we owe more to divine grace and a conviction that were we to be judged by our best tempers and holiest performances, we must perish, would keep men from that worst of all solecisms pride in their religion. That masterly casuist, President Edwards, lays it down as an axiom," that the person who is apt to think that he, as compared with others, is a very eminent saint, much distinguished in Christian experience, in whom this is a first thought, that rises of itself and naturally offers itself, is certainly mistaken: he is no eminent saint, but under the great prevailings of a proud and self-righteous spirit. And if this be habitual with the man, and is statedly the prevailing temper of his mind, he is no saint at all; he has not

into existence by God, and am supported every moment of my existence by him, that in him I live, and move, and have my being? Am I led to see I owe all I am and have, to the mere goodness and mercy of God, and hold it entirely at his sovereign will and pleasure? Am I led humbly to write at the foot of all my enjoyments, What have I that I have not received? Led to acknowledge with humble gratitude, that wherein I am superior to, or better than others, it is God who makes me to differ? Am I led to see my vileness and unworthiness as a sinner? Led to see the universal depravity of my heart, and the innumerable transgressions of my life? Led to see the sins that cleave to, and pollute my best tempers, and my holiest duties? Am I led to see, that if a righteous God were to mark my iniquities, even the iniquities of the best day I ever lived, the best duty I ever performed, I must unavoidably perish? Under these views of myself, am I led to walk humbly with God? Seeing I deserve nothing, have forfeited every thing by my sins, am I led to look for all from God in a way of mere mercy and grace? Seeing myself not worthy of the least of all the mercies

the least degree of any true Christian experience; so surely as the word of God is true." Reader, ask thyself the questions in page 37 and 38 again and again. They may mortify thy pride, but if well improved they will save thee from more severe mortifications.

of God, am I led to be exceeding thankful for every crumb he bestows upon me? Convinced I have by my sins deserved to be for ever miserable, am I led to be patient and resigned under every affliction it pleases God to exercise me with? Sensible of my own weakness and insufficiency for any thing that is spiritually good, am I led continually to seek and depend upon the grace of God; and when any good is done by me, am I led to say with humble thankfulness, “Not I, but the grace of God, which was with me?" And fully persuaded, when I have done my best, I have nothing to boast of, but much to be humbled for, as a sinful and unprofitable creature, am I led to depend purely upon the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life?

§ 2. Am I led to the Lord Jesus Christ? Led to him as the one mediator between God and men? Led to him as the way, the truth, and the life, the only way by which I can attain to the knowledge and likeness, the love and enjoyment of the blessed God? Am I led to submit to his teaching, as my unerring prophet, and to embrace, with the greatest readiness and fullest assent of soul, all bis doctrines, however mysterious to reason, as well as to consent cheerfully, and with my whole heart, to all his precepts, however contrary any of them may be to flesh and blood? Am I led to repose all the hope and confidence

D