wound; but, with a little mollifying ointment and proper care, I have no doubt it will soon be healed." We may easily judge which of the two the poor man would be most ready to believe; yet the advice first given might, after all, be the best. The same reasoning will hold good in regard to the state of the soul. Our Lord speaks of "cutting off a right hand, and plucking out a right eye," to denote the necessity of a total separation from every beloved sin.

A day is coming that will try every man's state and work. You can lose nothing by examining yourself impartially before the Judge appears. But should you rest on an ill-grounded assurance of your salvation, and find your mistake when there can be no opportunity of rectifying what is wrong, or repenting at the foot of the cross, your state will be desperate. When Christ comes, he will bring his fan in his hand, and thoroughly purge his floor. If the devil were allowed to winnow, he would soon blow away both the chaff and the corn, as with a whirlwind: but Christ will separate them, and while he gathers the wheat into his garner, without losing one precious grain, he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. You may be thankful that the fan is in good and safe hands.

2. Observe, it is very necessary to be careful in examining yourself, or your labour will all be lost. Four things have been mentioned as evidences of repentance. I shall briefly review them, and beg you to make an application to yourself as I proceed.

It has been said, the true penitent forsakes sin. Let it, however, be remembered, that it is possible to forsake the act of some particular sin for a time, and yet not put off the habit. We do not say the moment it ceases to rain, the weather is fine, when we see the tempest still thick in the air. It is a fit and familiar comparison which Gurnall uses, "We do not say that a man forsakes his house every time he leaves home, but only when he quits it with the full purpose never to return." The same may be said with respect to our forsaking sin. Where sincere repentance takes place, there will be no allowance of iniquity. "He that walketh righteously and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppression, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing of evil," proves that the root of religion is in him.

I have said that a true penitent renounces the world. You may reply, I have now given up my youthful follies and vain pursuits. But you have need to be careful how you judge by this rule. A man may quit the circle of fashion, plunge into the tumults of business, and at last sink into the stupor of ease and indolence, and all the while remain wedded to the world. To be carnally minded, though with a considerable variety of feelings and pursuits, is death. The fever may be followed by a palsy, and the disease be still fatal. The wild worldling and the tame worldling are of the same species. The difference between the youth and age of many persons is similar to the difference there is between a gay butterfly on the wing, and a sluggish worm grovelling in the dust.

I have said that a true penitent resists the devil. You may reply, this too I have done. Many temptations have been laid in my way, with which I have refused to comply. But what made you refuse? It might be your convenience, not your conscience. Some change their sins as they do their clothes, and so wait upon their old infernal master in a new livery.

I have said that the true penitent loves Christ, and longs to be like him. You may say, I think highly of the Redeemer, and hope to be saved by him. And how is this manifested? If you have an earthly friend, you burn with indignation to see him ill-treated, or to hear him slandered and dishonoured. And can you sit unmoved while scoffers blaspheme that worthy name by which we are called? Can you witness dishonour cast upon Christ and his truth without being grieved, and roused to take off the foul reproach? Is this thy kindness to thy best friend? A real love to Christ, and a desire to be like him, cannot be hid. You must show them in various ways. Now examine yourself by these evidences.

But what shall I say to you, if by the foregoing pages you are fully convinced that you are yet in a state of impenitence? There is not a moment to be lost. O weigh well the worth of your immortal soul! Set death and judgment before you. Christ stands with open arms ready to receive you. While the gospel sounds, hear, and your soul shall live. Let not gains and cares entangle you; let not toys and trifles divert you; let not errors and vain hopes delude you. Fly, fly, without delay, to the Redeemer. Are you saying, Lord, I come to thee. Lo! I fall at thy feet, that I may put off the iron yoke of bondage, and

1

put on thy easy yoke of obedience. I have opened my mouth and given up myself, and I cannot, I dare not go back. Lord, I will follow thee, through pains and changes, through honour and dishonour. I can gladly say Amen, may it be so. Witness, ye angels, and second the solemn vow. But remember, when you put your hand to the plough, you must not stand still, nor so much as look back, but persevere to the end. If, like Peter's, your resolution rests on your own strength, like his it will assuredly fail when the trial comes. O look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of faith, that you may be strengthened with all might by his Spirit in the inner man, and so run the heavenly race as to obtain the immortal prize.

3. Observe, that if you have some evidences of repentance, you ought not to be always doubting and complaining.

Some sincere Christians are so much engrossed with their fears, that they gain little advantage from their hopes. Such persons resemble seamen, so intent in watching the coming storm as to lose their sheet anchor, which should secure them in a hurricane. You may cry out, "O that I had but the proofs of having undergone a thorough change, and I should be happy! Would to God I could speak with the same well-grounded confidence which many can." Do not always look on the dark side of the cloud. "A repining life," said one, "is but a lingering death." Do not always hang your harp upon the willows, or tune it to melancholy strains. "Unreasonable. fears are the sins of our hearts, as well as thorns in our sides: thev grieve the Spirit, and provoke

him to withdraw his comforting influences." If you have not such bright evidences of an inward change as some have, be not always poring upon your own state, and labouring to spell out the reality of your personal religion by the tenure of your frames and feelings. It is useless to cry, O that I had assurance in the same way as Elijah or Hezekiah, Paul or John! Having the ordinary means of grace, it is wrong to expect miracles. If the enemy can draw you into doubts and despondency, so as to entangle your soul, he will triumph in your distress. Let nothing keep you back from the throne of grace. If you doubt whether the work is yet begun, pray that it may be begun. If you cannot go to God with a broken heart, go to him for a broken heart. He waiteth to be gracious, and is exalted to show mercy. He never said to the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain. Believe him to be as good as his word: trust in the Lord wholly, and be not afraid.