soul also he has no hope but in God. To the free mercy of God in Christ Jesus he trusts for every blessing. In the atoning sacrifice and prevailing intercession of Jesus he con- fides, as the ground of his acceptance with his reconciled God. On the all-powerful grace of Christ he relies, as that which alone can enable him to subdue his enemies, and to serve his God. Feeling that he is in himself ignorant, guilty, polluted, and enslaved, he renounces all self-confidence, and makes Jesus his wisdom, his righteousness, his sanctification, and redemption.
Surely there can be no difficulty in ascertaining our proper character, if only we will make this point also a matter of serious self-examination ]
Address —
1. Those who, according to these distinctions, must be considered as devoid of real Christianity —
[Remember who it is that cuts you off from the number of true Christians: it is not man, but God, even that God who will judge you in the last day according to his own word. O continue not in such a state ; but seek that circumcision of the heart which, though condemned by men, shall ultimately have praise of God.]
2. Those who have reason from the foregoing remarks to hope that they are Christians indeed —
[What reason have you to bless God for the mercies that have been vouchsafed to you ! But remember, it is not by past experience merely you are to judge, but by the continued habit of your mind. Rest not satisfied with any thing you have known ; lest you " begin in the Spirit, and end in the flesh." The text does not characterize the Christian by what he has done, but by what he yet does : and therefore " press forward, forgetting what is behind, and reaching forth unto what is before :" and " as you have received how to walk and to please God, so endeavour to abound more and more."]