II. What evidence we should have, that it is such as God requires — Men can judge only of acts, and can ascertain principles no farther than they are illustrated by the outward fruits produced by them. The inward mo- tives and dispositions of the mind can be discerned only by ourselves, and by God, who searcheth the heart. Nor can they be discovered even by ourselves without great care and watchfulness. We are very apt to mistake our own motives and principles, just as the Disciples did, when they would have called fire from heaven to consume a Samaritan village : " they knew not what spirit they were of." But we ought not to be so deceived respecting our conver- sation :
We ought to have " the testimony of our con- science" respecting it —
[We should have a consciousness, that we do indeed desire to do the will of God, and that we would not willingly either go beyond it, or fall short of it, in any thing. We should be able to make the same appeal to our God and Saviour as Peter did, " Lord, thou knowest all things ; thou knowest, that I love thee," and that I am seeking nothing but the glory of thy name : ' thou knowest that, in order to find out thy will, I study thy blessed word, and seek instruction from thy good Spirit, and commit my ways to thy guidance : thou knowest that, though I often have doubts and misgivings whe- ther I do really adopt the most perfect line of conduct, I do not intentionally deviate from any thing which I believe to be pleasing and acceptable to thee. I can appeal to thee, that I do continually exercise myself to keep a conscience void of oifence both towards God and man.']
Such a testimony may be enjoyed by every one of us —
[It is not the result of pride, as some would imagine; but the voice of God's blessed " Spirit bearing witness with our spirits." When Job was accused of harbouring some hidden iniquity, which had brought down such signal judgments upon him, he made his appeal to God in these energetic terms, " Thou knowest that I am not wicked •'." The Apostle Paul frequently appealed in like manner to the heart-searching God. In the very chapter before us he says, " I call God for a record
k Job X. 7.