their character, and they are most detestable hypocrites. In the parable of the sower we have the same truth yet more fully delineated ; for persons may bring forth fruit for a season, and prove apostates at last ; yea, they may continue to bring forth fruit to the very end of life, and be found at last to have brought forth no such fruit as God will approve ; the briers and thorns having so choked the corn, that " it brought forth no fruit to perfection m."
Hence it is clear, that nothing short of " a patient conti- nuance in well-doing" can ever prove us to be truly upright before God. If we would be acknowledged by Christ as his, we must be " Israelites indeed, in whom there is no guile."]
2. Universally sufficient —
[Shew me a fruitful Christian, and I inquire not to what Church he belongs, or what be the subordinate tenets of his creed. I know full well that nothing but an union with the Lord Jesus Christ can ever render a man fruitful in good works. Philosophy never could accomplish this; no, nor could the law of Moses, with all its precepts, and promises, and threatenings, effect it. An outward form of religion was all that the law could give : the Gospel alone could supply the power. Hence St. Paul says, " What the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin [did ; that is, he] condemned sin in the flesh ; that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit"." " The law made nothing perfect; but the bringing in of abetter hope did0." Yes, the Gospel sanctifies us throughout, in body, soul and spirit, and transforms us altogether into the Divine image in righteousness and true holiness : and that image, enstamped upon the soul, proves to demonstration whose we are. To ourselves it is " an evidence that we have passed from death unto life:" and " by it all others, also, know us to be Christ's Disciples."]
You will now be anxious to ask,
1. What are those particular fruits, by which we are to judge of our state before God ?
[It is not by any particular class of fruits, but by fruits of every kind, that we should judge of our state. There must be "no partiality" in God's law; "nor any hypocrisy," in pre- ferring one part of it before another. In all that relates to God, we must be upright ; humbling ourselves before him, embracing the salvation he lias offered us in Christ Jesus, and devoting ourselves unreservedly to his service In all
m Matt. xiii. 20—22. n Rom. viii. 8. 1. ° Ileb. vii. 1!.
1693.1 Christ's love to us. Gl
that relates to our neighbour, we must do unto him exactly as we, in a change of circumstances, should think it right for him
to do unto us In all that relates to ourselves, there
must be a subjugation of our own passions, a government of our tempers, and an habitual exercise of all holy and heavenly affections The whole circle of the Divine command- ments must be our rule of duty ; and superadded, as it were, to them must be the whole life of faith on the Son of God, and the whole life of love to him and to his people for his sake. In a word, see what were the fruits which the Vine itself, the Lord Jesus bare ; and then you will see what is expected from the branches, and what will prove you to be vitally united to him. Set " Christ before you as an example, and follow his steps;" and you will need no other directory whereby to prove you are his Disciples.]
2. What encouragement have I to address myself to this laborious undertaking ?