[Fire will go out, if left to itself. We are commanded to " stir it upz." This must be done by meditation a, by prayer b, by reading of the word of Godc, by attending on divine ordi- nances^ and by holy and spiritual conversation6. Watch then the motions of the Spirit, and delay not to comply with them. Let every thing serve as fuel to the flame : and, how much soever you delight in God, endeavour to abound more and more.]
z ava^wiTvpeiy, 2 Tim. i. 6. a Ps. xxxix. 3.
b Ps. xl. 1—3. c Jer. xxiii. 29. Heb. iv. 12.
d Acts x. 33, 34 « Luke xxiv. 32.
1 Thess. v. 21. Prove all things ; hold fast that which is good.
THERE are many who, either from an indifference about truth, or from a conceit that they are already sufficiently acquainted with it, neglect the public ministration of the Gospel, and even hold it in con- tempt. This is extremely culpable ; because the ordinances of religion are God's appointed means for carrying on his work in the souls of men. Hence we are bidden " not to despise prophesying ;" and " not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is." At the same time, we are not necessarily to give our assent to every thing we hear ; for error may be proposed to us as well as truth : and therefore the Apostle gives us this ad- vice : " Prove all things : hold fast that which is good."
In considering the two parts of this advice, we shall take each in its order :
I. Prove all things —
Remarkable is that address- of Elihu to his friends : " Hear my words, O ye wise men ; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge : for the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat. Let us choose to us judgment : let us know among ourselves what is