transient; whereas, in the other, it will be unspeakable and eternal. Not that it is at all needful to err on either side : the marks and evidences of true love to Christ are laid down with the utmost precision in the Holy Scriptures ; and if you read the Scriptures with earnest prayer to God for the illumination of his Spirit, " He will guide you into all truth." Tf you are destitute of true love, he will convince you of sin ; and if you are possessed of it, he will shine upon his own work, and give you the witness of his Spirit that you are his. Your Lord and Judge " knoiveth all things" him therefore you cannot deceive: O pray that you may not deceive yourselves.]
3. To those who can truly say, " Lord, I do indeed love thee " —
[How sweet to you must be those words of our Lord, " If any man love me, my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him"." You may rest assured, that these words shall be fulfilled to you. There is not any mercy which God will not vouchsafe to those who make Christ their all in all. While you have a scriptural evi- dence that you do this, you have a right to rejoice: and your joy is an earnest of that everlasting blessedness which you shall possess in his immediate presence.
Be careful then to " abide in his love." Guard against every thing that may impeach the sincerity of your regard. " Keep yourselves diligently in his love ;" and be attentive to the duties of your calling, whatever they may be. To Peter, who was a minister of his Gospel, our Lord said, " Feed my sheep ; feed my lambs ; feed my sheep." This he required of him as the best testimony of his regard. To you he says, " Finish the work which God hath given thee to do." Can you instruct others, whether adults or children? embrace every opportunity with joy. Can you do any thing whereby your Lord may be glorified? do it: and " whatever your hand findeth to do, do it with your might."]
[Another Exordium. — It is universally acknowledged, that men ought to inquire into their actions, so far at least as to ascertain that they are just and honourable : hut few are aware of the obligation which they lie under, to examine the dispositions of their minds to- wards God. Yet this is of prime importance. We should ask our- selves frequently, Do I love God ? Do I love the Lord Jesus Christ, my Saviour ? This was the question which our Lord himself put to Peter after his fall. The question and the answer given to it, furnish us with a fit occasion to observe — ]
n John xiv. 23.