eternal life, we can judge only by his works. One thing is clear ; that " he who committeth sin is of the devil ;" and " he that doeth not righteousness is not of Godk." Hence, if we are living in the wilful commission of any one sin, or habitual neglect of any one duty, we have no ground whatever to ima- gine that we are of the number of God's elect. To fancy therefore that a work of grace has been begun in us, and to conclude from thence that God will carry it on unto the end, whilst daily experience proves that it is not carrying on, but that we are the willing slaves of sin and Satan, is only to de- ceive our own souls, and to surrender up ourselves an easy prey into the hands of our great adversary. Our wisdom is, to seek an union with the Lord Jesus Christ by faith ; and not to be dreaming of privileges which we do not possess : for, as it is certain, on the one hand, that no man can be saved who lives in any allowed sin, so it is equally certain, on the other hand, that no one can ever perish who flees to Christ for refuge, and relies altogether upon him for " wisdom and righteousness, and sanctification and redemption." This then must be our daily work : and so far is the covenant of grace from superseding this duty, that it affords us our greatest encouragement to perform it ; because it assures us, that we shall " never seek God's face in vain," and that " they who trust in him shall never be confounded." Whilst therefore I would say to the trembling Believer, Look to " the covenant, which is ordered in all things and sure1," and expect God to fulfil all the pro- mises of it to your souls ; to the Unbeliever I would say, Look to the Lord Jesus Christ, to wash you from your guilt, and to renew you by his Spirit. Respecting the provisions of the covenant trouble not yourselves, till you have an evidence in your own souls that you desire deliverance from sin as much as freedom from condemnation : and get your souls well instructed in a thorough experience of the first principles of repentance and faith, before you presume to build your hopes either on the secret decrees of heaven, or on any fallacious arguments deduced from them.]
k 1 John iii. 8, 10. ' 2 Sam. xxiii. 5.