mind, more diligent in my calling, more tender in my family, more subdued in my tempers and conduct than I was before?

"And as to the prospects of the future, have I not a dawn of hope? Is not something of the peculiar glory and excellency of the gospel apparent to me, and is it not inviting me onwards? Have I not support under afflictions here, and a humble expectation of beholding my God in peace hereafter?

"What more, then, do I need? I formerly talked of the evidences of Christianity; but I never sought to be satisfied upon safe grounds. I formerly inquired, but with a wish not to find the religion true. I formerly scorned the devotional spirit, and the distinguishing doctrines, and the pure morals of Christianity: I had my reward. I found no peace; I found no satisfying conviction; I remained a proud, careless, discontented, unhappy creature; I was living in the practice of many vices, and in the omission of many duties. But now I am at peace; now I pursue after holiness; now I acquiesce, at least I desire to do so, in the will, the whole revealed will of God; now I ascribe it to the undeserved goodness of God, that I was led in earnest to make this inquiry, which I trust will issue in salvation.

"I am now only ashamed of my former perverseness and rebellion of heart; I mourn that

I should so long have resisted truth, hardened my conscience, grieved the blessed Spirit, and provoked God. I lament also over my present weakness of faith, irresolution, inconsistency. But I feel that Christianity has fulfilled, and more than fulfilled, all its promises to its disciples. I feel that it makes me a better man; that it keeps me from sin; that it urges me to duty; that it provides me with resources of pardon and strength; unites me to my Saviour; makes my heart a temple of the Holy Ghost, and gives me an anticipation of eternal glory. Whatever others may do, I shall hold by the Christian doctrine: whatever others may say, I shall declare the inward testimony to its truth, of which I am a partaker; however others may depart from the profession of Christ, it will be my desire to say, Lord, to whom shall I go ? Thou hast the words of everlasting life; and I believe and am sure that Thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God."

Such is some inadequate sketch of the feelings of one who is in earnest about Christianity, and makes a trial of its grace.

but

The cases of individuals are so various, that a thousand differences will arise in each the main features will be the same; and the directions and the result are, therefore, easily rendered applicable. Let the inquirer study

the Bible with an application to his own heart; let him pray for divine aid; let him use the means of grace; let him believe in the Saviour and pray for the Holy Spirit; let him mark the complete adaptation of Christianity to all his wants; and he shall find a gradual effect produced on his heart, which is the seal and inward witness of the truth of the promises on which he relies.

And what shall I further say, in concluding these Lectures on the inward test of Christianity? What shall I add after the remarks made in the last discourse on the NATURE of the argument, its SCRIPTURAL AUTHORITY, the FACTS on which it rests, and its SINGULAR IMPORTANCE? What, after the DIRECTIONS offered in the present?

Let every one before me enter for himself upon this momentous question of the practical experiment of the Christian promises. Take the preparatory steps at least. Consider all the admissions you are compelled to make as believing in the being and attributes of God. Remember the primitive and indissoluble obligations which chain you to the throne of the Almighty. Call to mind the responsibility you are under for all you know and all you might have known.

VOL. II.

Recollect, especially, these two things: Unless you make a practical trial of Christianity, your historical faith will only increase your condemnation; and, If you do make a trial, you will have no need to put to an experiment any thing else relating to religion.

I. I say, UNLESS YOU MAKE A TRIAL OF PRACTICAL RELIGION, YOUR MERELY HISTORICAL FAITH WILL ONLY INCREASE YOUR

CONDEMNATION. For you will not have to plead that you did not know Christianity; you cannot say you had not received it as a divine Revelation; you can never assert that you were not warned and admonished of your duty, your danger, your remedy. Your historical faith, then, if it do not result in submission of heart to the yoke of the gospel, will turn your accuser. It brought you up to the throne of mercy-before which you refused to bend; it compelled you to admit the truth of a religion against which you closed your heart; it made known the claims of a heavenly Father and placed you before his feet-and you spurned his grace and salvation; it presented to you a way of making an experiment of his promises-and you rejected the offer. What, then, will be your condemnation, if you persist in your rebellion of heart before God? O, dare not his vengeance! O, provoke him not to take his

Holy Spirit from you! O, harden not your heart, like Pharaoh of old; but yield yourselves unto God. Unknow what you have learned of truth, you cannot. Escape from its obligations, you cannot. But you may yet seize the advantages offered you; you may yet enter on the practical duties of the religion which you profess; you may yet turn your historical knowledge to its proper purposes, by considering the argument we have been enforcing, and following the directions which we have given.

II. Remember, also, that if you once make a trial of real Christianity, you WILL HAVE NO

NEED OF PUTTING TO THE EXPERIMENT ANY OTHER FORM OF RELIGION OR IRRELIGION.

EVER KNOWN for this important reason-that you have already been trying, in fact, all your past life, one or other of the pretended religious systems which are abroad in the world.

INFIDELITY makes fair promises. You need not try it; you know already too much of the evil heart of unbelief. The tendency to infidelity is the cause of all your reluctance, coldness and misery.

Will you try IDOLATRY? The first converts to Christianity, and the converts from heathenism in every age, have tried it; and your own natural

1 Heb. iii. 12