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tioiis. We must keep up intimate friendship with the great Advocate in heaven, if our petitions are to prosper.
In the second place, our Lord declares, "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit ; so shall ye be my disciples." The meaning of this promise seems to be, tha.t fruitfulness in Christian practice will not only bring glory to God, hut will supply the best evidence to our own hearts that we are real disciples of Christ.
Assurance of our own interest in Christ, and our con- sequent eternal safety, is one of the highest privileges in religion. To be always doubting and fearing is mis- erable work. Nothing is worse than suspense in any matter of importance, and above all in the matter of our souls. He that would know one of the best receipts for obtaining assurance, should diligently study Christ's words now before us. Let him strive to bear much fruit in his life, his habits, his temper, his words, and his works. So doing he shall feel the "witness of the Spirit " in his heart, and give abundant proof that he is a living branch of the true Vine. He shall find inward evidence in his own soul that he is a child of God, and shall supply the world with outward evidence that can- not be disputed. He shall leave no room for doubt that he is a disciple.
Would we know why so many professing Christians have little comfort in their religion, and go fearing an<i doubting along the road to heaven ? The question re- ceives a solution in the saying of our Lord we are now considering. Men are content with a little Christianity, and a little fruit of the Spirit, and do not labor to be holy in all manner of conversation. They must not wonder if they enjoy little peace, feel little hope, and leave behind them little evidence. The fault lies with themselves. God has linked together holiness and hap-
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