I found that it was considered unsuitable to address her thus, because she was sure that she had formerly believed and obtained mercy. As this naturally led me to ask why she did not take comfort from Christ, she replied, he has forsaken me and left me in the darkness of despair. Though too orthodox to deny the perseverance of the saints as a doctrine of the scriptures, she was sure that she had once been interested in the divine favour, and was now abandoned of God. Unable to convince her of the inconsistency of the notion, I endeavoured to dispel her delusion by leading her to enquire first into her former evidences of religion, and then into her reasons for thinking herself at present a castaway. With regard to the former, she insisted that she must have been a child of God, because she had many sweet promises applied to her, that is, many texts of scripture came suddenly to her mind. Finding it impossible to convince her that this was no evidence of regeneration, or interest in Christ, I next asked, " why she did not rely upon those promises now?" to which she replied, "they are not applied to me." Thus the veracity of him that speaks in the scriptures went for nothing, and all the gracious assurances of salvation in Christ afforded no consolation, because they were not suddenly brought to the memory. While she was young,

frequent impressions were made upon a lively imagination, but when through advancing years she was precluded from public ordinances, the memory failed to recall former impressions, and the imagination was incapable of compensating those disadvantages: wanting a living faith the word of God afforded no consolation. The con

clusion of the scene was too painful to record; enough has been said to show the importance of examining whether Christ dwells in our hearts by faith. This is to be proved, not by momentary impressions, but by such lasting effects as are here shown to be scriptural marks of salvation. False fire will go out, and leave us to shiver in the chill of age and death. But true religion is a vital flame, inspiring genuine devotion, unfeigned faith in the word of a reconciled God, a durable love for the divine character, unfeigned benevolence to men, profound humility, and universal solicitude to keep the commandments of God. Whoever possesses this will find that the work of righteousness is peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance for ever.

ADDITIONAL TEXTS FOR SELF-EXAMINATION.

MATT. XXV. 31-46. Where Christ describes the process of the last judgment, and shows, that we shall be judged according to the regard which we have manifested to him in the persons of his people. Have we, therefore, owned his people, and administered according to our power to their relief for Christ's sake?

Luke xii. 8, 9. "Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of Man also confess before the angels of God. But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God." Have I owned Christ before the world, contented to take my share of the odium which may attend his cause?

But the first epistle of John is the storehouse of questions for the conscience. It was "written to believers that they might know that they have eternal life."

FINIS.

Printed by S. Jackson, Romsey.