1. Propose to you the inquiry —
[To every individual amongst you would I propose the question, " Dost thou believe on the Son of God?" And let no one imagine, that it is an unnecessary inquiry. This man had argued well on the subject of evidences, and yet needed to have the question put to him. And many amongst ourselves may be able to defend the outworks of Christianity, whilst yet they have no personal acquaintance with the Lord Jesus. If we would determine this point aright, let us see how this man acted : the very instant that he was enabled to say with truth, " Lord, I believe," he fell down and " worshipped" his heavenly Benefactor. And will not true faith produce the same effect on us ? Shall not we feel delight in prostrating ourselves at the Saviour's feet, and in acknowledging our obligations to him ? Beyond a doubt, this effect must and will follow. Ask then yourselves, whether this be the habit of your minds from day to day ? Has it been so this very day ? Has it been so during the past week ? Is there in your souls such an overwhelming sense of gratitude to him, as constrains you to revert to him, and fix your thoughts on him, as soon as ever the occasions which have caused a momentary diversion have passed away ? Are you touched, as it were, with a mag- netic power, that draws you to him, as the needle to the pole ? This, I say again, is the invariable effect of true faith ; and the resolution of this question will furnish you with the true answer to the inquiry in the text.]
2. Commend to you the example —
[In reference to every part of God's word should the same disposition be exercised. I say not, that an attentive examination of evidences is not good : for we are bound to " prove all things, and then to hold fast that only which is good*." But a critical spirit, a disputatious spirit, a sceptical spirit, are not favourable to the reception of divine truth. They may be proper enough in reference to things which are purely intellectual; but not so in reference to things which are alto- gether spiritual. For a just discernment of these things we need the teachings of God's Holy Spirit y : and with childlike simplicity of mind we should ever pray with Job, " What I see not, teach thou me2;" and with David, " Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy lawa." Were such a spirit exercised by us, we should find, in ten thousand instances, that the difficulties of Scripture would vanish ; what was " crooked becoming straight, and what was rough, being smoothed to a plain." An obediential spirit would
* 1 Thess. v. 21. >' 1 Cor. ii. 14.
2 Job xxxiv. ;32. » Ps. cxix. 18.