David, he prophesied again, and excited in the be- holders the same wonder as before " ; we cannot but feel extremely jealous of such conversions ; and, to- gether with our grateful admiration, blend also a measure of prudential inquiry, saying, " Is Saul among the prophets ?"
This is a matter which ought not to be too hastily assumed —
[It is a fact, that many " have a name to live, whilst they are really dead^;" and " say they are Jews, whilst they are not, but do Hes." " Many will say unto Christ, Lord, Lord! when they will not do his wilP;" and " name the name of Christ, when they will not depart from iniquity^" In the days of old, many would call themselves the children of Abraham, when they would not do the works of Abraham'^: so now at this day, many will " profess that they know God, whilst they" palpably and habitually " in works deny him^," So far do many carry their self-deception, that they both live and die in the full confidence of their acceptance A\dth God, when yet they have never truly known him; and they will even go to the bar of judgment, as it were, with their arrogant claims in their mouths, " Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name, and in thy name cast out devils, and in thy name done many wonderful works? " But to their utter consternation will the Judge address them, ^' Depart from me: I never knew you, ye workers of iniquity™."]
How, then, shall the point be determined ?
[I answer, if you would know whether you are indeed among the j^rophets, inquire diligently, whether you have the mind of the prophets ; and whether you have the spirit of the prophets. If we do not accord with the Prophets and Apostles in their views of Christ, the matter is clear; we can have no part with them. Moses and all the prophets testified of Him, as the only Saviour of the world : and, if we do not regard him in this Hght, renoimcing all our own righteousness, and looking for acceptance through Him alone, we stand at once self-convicted, and self-condemned.
But we must go further, and examine whether we be re- newed, not merely in sentiment, but also " in the spirit of our mind." We must not merely have a new creed, but really be made new creatures, having all our dispositions and desires conformed to those of Christ himself; being " holy as he is
e 1 Sam. xix. 15, 20 — 24. ^ Rev. iii. 1. g Rev. iii. 9.
^ Matt. vii. 21. * 2 Tim. ii. 19. ^ John \m. 39.
1 Tit. i. ^ 6. m Matt. vii. 22, 23.