suspect it in ourselves? It is certain tliat a man may " seem to be religious, and yet deceive his own soul, and have all his religion vain," because of some one sin that is unsubdued, and unper- ceived within him ^ ? I can never therefore too earnestly im- press upon your minds the necessity of diffidence in all that relates to your souls. There is but one standard of truth : and by that must every opinion be tried. If the way which you think right will stand the trial of God's word, it is well : but, if it accord not with that, it will prove delusive in the end, and issue in the everlasting destruction of your souls. Be it ever so specious, it cannot deceive God. To all then I would say, Act in reference to your souls as the mariner does in navigating a dangerous sea: he consults his chart and his compass con- tinually ; and, not contented with thinking himself right, he puts his thoughts to the test, and seeks for evidence that he is right. Then may you hope to avoid the rocks and quicksands on which so many thousands perish ; and to reach in safety the haven you desire.]
2. To point out the only true way —
[There is a way, which seemeth indeed wrong to the greater part of mankind, which, however, is surely right, and the end thereof are the ways of life. This is the way of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; as Christ himself has told us; "I am the way, and the truth, and the life : no man cometh unto the Father but by me''." This indeed is not approved by the world at large: " to the Jews it is a stumbling-block, and to the Greeks foolish- ness^:" but it is " the good old way, wherein whosoever walks shall find rest unto his soul'." Let it not be any matter of astonishment that this way is not generally approved : for it is too humiliating for our proud hearts, and too self-denying for our low and grovelling spirits. Men do not love to renounce all self-dependence, and to have all their wisdom, all their righteousness, and all their strength treasured up in another for their use, to be received daily out of his fulness in answer to urgent and believing prayer. Nor do they like to have that high standard of holiness, which he gives to his disciples as the rule of their life, and the test of their attainments. But, beloved, this is the only true way to heaven : we must believe in Christ, and live altogether by faith in him, going forward in his strength, and " growing up into him in all things as our living head." Then, though regarded by men as self-deluding enthusiasts, we shall be approved of our God, and receive at last " the end of our faith, even the salvation of our souls."]
1 Jam. i. 2G. ■■ John xiv. 6.
s 1 Cor. i. 23. t Jar. vi. 16. Matt. xi. 28, 29.