empty name? what their hope, but presumption? We would not willingly speak thus, God knoweth ! We would be glad to be found false accusers in this matter. Greatly should we rejoice to be convinced of our error, and to revoke every intimation we have here given. But, whilst the fruit pro- duced by you is no other than what the world at large pro- duce, we can address you in no other terms than those of grief and sorrow. If the fruit be bad, the tree must be bad also. O brethren ! examine well the daily operation and effect of your faith and love and hope; and then ask, whether St. Paul would have exulted over you, as he did over the Thessalonian converts ? and, if your own consciences testify that he would have found no such cause for joy in you, then learn to relax your confidence of your state before God, and seek to be made " Israelites indeed, in whom is no guile."]
2. Suffer ye then yet farther a word of exhortation —
[To those who really possess and manifest the graces before described, we would say, Be thankful to God for his electing love; and give him all the glory of whatever good there is in you. " Press onward too, forgetting what is behind, and reaching forward to what is before :" and never think that you have already attained, whilst and thing remains to be attained.
But to those in whom there is little or no evidence of such a work of grace we would say, For Christ's sake deceive not your own souls. This which you have seen in the Thessa- lonians is Christianity: and this is the state to which the Gospel is designed to bring you also : this too is the object of all our ministrations : and, if these graces be not wrought in your hearts, we consider ourselves as " labouring in vain, and running in vain." Whilst we see not this effect of our mini- strations, how can we " give thanks for you?" or how, with any comfort, can we " make mention of you in our prayers ? " Instead of rejoicing over you, we can only mourn and weep on your accountk: and, instead of having the delightful thought of presenting you to God " as the children which God has given us1," we have the terrible apprehension that we shall prove swift witnesses against you to your eternal condemna- tion1". We pray you, brethren, lay to heart these affecting considerations; and begin without delay to seek that entire change both of heart and life, which invariably characterizes the elect of God, and which alone can warrant any hope of happiness in the eternal world.]
k Jer. ix. 1. and xiii. 17. 1 ver. 19. with Isai. viii. 18.
2192. J MANNER OF THE GOSPEL BEING EFFECTUAL. l27 ~i