a manner as to convince them that the testimony came to them from God himself. But all this is a mere delusion. I say not that God may not reveal to any man whatsoever he pleases : but I do say, that we have no reason whatever to expect that God will make known to us, by revelation, any thing which, without such a miraculous interference, may be easily and safely deduced from his blessed word. He has told us, that " a tree is to be known by its fruits ;" and that the same means whereby we ascertain the quality of what is natural, must be used for the discovering of what is spiritual ; or, in other words, that men are to be known and judged by the fruits which display them- selves in their lives. This we all acknowledge to be reasonable, in forming our estimate of a tree ; and it is no less so as a test for discovering the state and quality of our souls.]
2. An impartial test. —
[There is no man whatever who may not here find a glass in which to behold his own face. The old, the young, the rich, the poor, the learned, the unlearned, may all judge themselves by this test. Of course, some allowance must be made for the different capacities of men, and the different opportunities which they have enjoyed of serving God. We do not expect the same degree of improvement from one who has possessed but two talents, which we look for from him who has had ten talents committed to his care. " From him to whom God has committed much, he will expect the more." But, making due allowance for these circumstances, every child of man may apply to himself this test, and may form, by means of it, a just estimate of his real character.]
3. A certain test —
[We are assured, by our Lord himself, that " a good tree cannot bring forth corrupt fruit, nor can a bad tree bring forth good fruit." There is but one principle in the world that will sanctify the soul, and that is faith. And this principle, if genuine, cannot but be productive of universal holiness. Hence we may lay it down as an infallible rule : " By this, the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil : he that doeth not righteousness, is not of Godb."
Now, then, let us adopt this test,
II. For the trying of our state —
Of course, our first endeavour must be to learn what were Abraham's works ; for, till we have ascer- tained that point, we cannot institute a comparison between him and us, or learn with any accuracy how
L> 1 John iii. 10.