needs continually pressing on the attention of Chris- tians. It is not talking about religion, and talking fluently and well too, but steadily doing Christ's will and walking in Christ's ways, that is the proof of our being true believers. Good feelings and desires are use- less if they are not accompanied by action. They may even become mischievous to the soul, induce hardness of conscience, and do positive harm. Passive impressions which do not lead to action, gradually deaden and par- alyze the heart. Living and doing are the only real evidence of grace. Where the Holy Spirit is, there will always be a holy life. A jealous watchfulness over tem- pers, words, and deeds, a constant endeavor to live by the rule of the Sermon on the Mount, this is the best proof that we loA^e Christ.
Of course such maxims as these must not be wrested and misunderstood. We are not to suppose for a mo- ment that " keeping Christ's commandments " can save us. Our best works are full of imperfection. When we have done all we can, we are feeble and unprofitable servants. " By grace are ye saved through faith, — not of works.'* (Ep. ii. 8.) But while we hold one class of truths, we must not forget another. Faith in the blood of Christ must always be attended by loving obedience to the will of Christ. What the Master has joined to- gether, the disciple must not put asunder. Do we pro- fess to love Christ ? Then let us show it by our lives. The Apostle who said, " Thou knowest that I love Thee !" received the charge, " Feed my lambs." That meant, " Do something. Be useful : follow my example." (John xxi. 17.)
We learn, secondly, from these verses, that there are special comforts laid up for those loho love Christ, and prove it by keeping His words. This, at any rate, seems the general sense of our Lord's language : " My
JOHN, CHAP. XIV. gl
Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him."
The full meaning of this promise, no doubt, is a deep thing. We have no line to fathom it. It is a thing which no man can understand except he that receives and experiences it. But we need not shrink from be- lieving that eminent holiness brings eminent comfort with it, and that no man has such sensible enjoyment of his religion as the man who, like Enoch and Abraham, walks closely with God. There is more of heaven on earth to be obtained than most Christians are aware of. " The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him, and He will show them His covenant." — " If any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and sup with him, and he with Me." (Ps. xxv. 14 ; Rev. iii. 20.] Promises like these, we may be sure, mean something, and were not written in vain.
How is it, people often ask, that so many professing believers have so little happiness in their religion ? How is it that so many know little of "joy and peace in be- lieving," and go mourning and heavy-hearted towards heaven ? The answer to these questions is a sorrowful one, but it must be given. Few believers attend as strictly as they should to Christ's practical sayings and words. There is far too much loose and careless obedi- ence to Christ's commandments. There is far too much forgetfulness, that while good works cannot justify us they are not to be despised. Let these things sink down into our hearts. If we want to be eminently happy, we must strive to be eminently holy.
We learn, lastly, from these verses, that one part of the Holy Ghost^s vjork is to teach, and to bring things to remembrance. It is written, " The Comforter shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remem brance."
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