of the inspired volume ; and that no part of it can, by any means, be dispensed with. If we be not penitent, we can never come to Christ aright ; if we rely on any thing but his meritorious blood and right- eousness, we can never be accepted of him ; and, if we yield not ourselves up to him in a way of holy obedience, he will never acknowledge us as his. The same Scripture which says, " Except ye repent, ye shall all perish"," says also, " He that believeth not the Son, shall not see life ; but the wrath of God abideth on him0;" and still further adds, " Without holiness, no man shall see the Lordp." Now no true Disciple of Christ would wish any one of these de- mands to be waved, or softened down in any respect. He would most gladly comply with them all. He would assign no measure to his penitence, no bounds to his faith, no limits to his obedience. In actual attainment, it is true, he has many defects, and much that affords him occasion for grief and shame : but, in heart and mind, he is like-minded with God; and he can appeal to God, that he would regard a perfect con- formity to his revealed will as a very heaven upon earth. Now comes the question which it behoves every one of us to put to himself with all sincerity ; What evi- dence have I that I am Christ's ? Has the Spirit of Christ actually wrought these things in me ? Does my conscience bear me witness that I am deeply penitent before God : and that not merely on account of some flagrant transgression which I may have committed, but for the indwelling corruptions of my heart, and for the defectiveness of my very best duties ? Do I take the law as my rule of judgment, and feel that I have need, in reference to every one of the commandments, to pray from my inmost soul, " Lord, have mercy upon me for my past violations of this law, and incline my rebellious heart to keep it in future ?" Can I also appeal to God that I do flee to Christ for refuge, renouncing utterly every other ground of hope, and " determining to know nothing, and rely on nothing, for my acceptance with God, but
» Luke xiii. 5. ° John iii. 36. p Heb. xii. 14.