views you have of God, as covenanting vs^ith his Son to expiate our guilt, to renovate our souls, and to present our services to him perfumed with the incense of his own merits, and ren- dered acceptable through his prevailing intei'cession. Indeed, my brethren, these should be subjects of our most anxious inquiry from day to day. St. Paul says, " Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith''." And I also would say the same : for, if " without a true faith it is impossible to please God," you cannot but feel the indispensable importance of having this matter clearly ascertained, and distinctly determined.]
2. Into the fruits and effects of your faith —
[It is here taken for granted, that the believer " comes to God :" and it is certain that true faith will bring us to God, in deeply penitential sorrow, and in earnest cries for mercy. If we really believe in God, we shall " diligently seek him" in the use of all his appointed ordinances, and in the name of his only dear Son. Yes, and we shall have our expectations of mercy greatly enlarged. We shall delight to view God, not merely as a Sovereign, but as " a Rewarder," who is at all times waiting for opportunities to express the utmost possible love towards his obedient people. Say now, brethren, whether such be your views, your contemplations, your joys? Of what value is your faith, if it be not productive of these fruits? If it operate not in this way, it is no better than the faith of devils^. " But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak^." " But we desire that every one of you" make these things a subject of most earnest inquiry ; that so, after a diligent and candid examination, ye may discern your real state before God ; and may be brought " to a full assurance of hope" that ye are really " pleasing God" in this world, and shall be " rewarded by him" in the world to comes,]
^ 2 Cor. xiii. 5. « Jam. ii. 19.
f Heb. vi. 9. s Heb. vi. 11.