the test of Scripture. It is certain that many do be- lieve a lie ; and are given over to it by God, as the punishment of their presumption. What the Apostle says respecting this, is so awful, that I almost tremble to repeat his words : yet as they are the words of God himself, I trust you will hear them, not only without offence, but with the reverence that is due to God : " For this cause," (that is, " because men receive not the love of the truth, that they may be saved,") " God shall send them strong delusion, that they may believe a lie, that they all might be damned, who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in un- righteousness1." What a fearful judgment is this ! and how should we dread the provoking of God to inflict it upon us ! If then we would not be given up to judicial blindness, " let us search and try our ways, and turn unto the Lord our God." Let us be satisfied with nothing but the clear express testimony of Scripture : for God has said, " He that trusteth his own heart, is a foolm." If we find that we have really been born again of the Spirit, and been washed from our sins in the Redeemer's blood ; if there be no sin which we knowingly indulge, nor any command of God which we do not endeavour to fulfil ; if we can call God to witness, that the continued labour of our lives is to " walk as Christ walked ;" then God forbid that I should attempt to destroy the confidence of such persons : they have a right to be confident ; and instead of distressing their minds with needless fears, I would exhort them to " hold fast their con- fidence, and the rejoicing of their hope firm unto the end." But nevertheless I would entreat them to deal faithfully with their own souls ; and not only to search them with all diligence themselves, but to cry mightily unto God in the words of David ; " Search me, O God, and know my heart ; try me, and know my thoughts ; and see if there be any wicked way in me ; and lead me in the way everlasting!" Yea more, to their dying hour I would urge them to be diffident of themselves, even when they are most confident in
1 2 Thess. ii. 11, 12. m Prov. xxviii. 26.