ner. leaves its childisfh pursuits and companions, and runs with quickened fteps to meet him. Afk this child why it observes fuch a conduct, it will reply,-My father whom I fincerely love is coming. But upon the child drawing near, I fee the father, not paffing it unnoticed by—not treating it with cold indifference as if it were a ftranger, but taking it up in his arms, and embracing it in the most cordial manWhat must be the natural conclufion which the child now draws? If it could, when firft. it faw its father returning, fay, "I love him," now it can say with equal confidence, "My father loves me." So that to exercife love, and to be embraced in love, are two diftin&t things. The former a foul may do for years together, and evidence it in the practice of the duties of Christianity: But the latter is only enjoyed by the believer on particular occafions; and, in fome inftances, perhaps not until he comes to his deathbed, does his faithful God permit him to experience a prelibation of the happy ftate into which he is about to enter. But, B. In what confifts the effence or nature of affurance? It confifts in this: That a person, beholding the conformity that exifts between his own expcriences and the principal marks of grace which are found in the word of God, is enabled thereby to draw this conclufion, "I am a child of God, and "confequently an heir of eternal life." Hence to affurance appertain thefe three things: First, infallible marks of grace as exhibited in the word of God; fecondly, a conformity of the heart with those marks; thirdly, a juft conclufion from those premises. If then a person on good grounds would be affured of his fellowship with God, he must first of all carefully investigate THE MARKS which are effential to a state of grace, which must be found in believers at all times, and with refpect to which the Lord himfelf declares, "That whofoever experiences them "fhall be faved." For example: a. God declares in his word, that all who enjoy fellowship with him, must have received the Spirit, and by his illuminating influence clearly discovered that by nature they are poor and miferable, and blind and naked; that they have come fhort of the glory of God, and that if they remain in such a situation, they must for ever perish. Hereby we know that we dwell in him, and he in us, given us of his Spirit, 1 John iv. 13. becaufe he hath b. God declares in his word, that in order to be faved, we must have an intereft in Chrift, and in the great atonement which he hath made for fin: For there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be faved, Acts iv. 12.-Therefore we must confess that we have nothing with which we can appear before God, but that all our falvation is alone found in Chrift. c. God declares in his word, how a foul must be exercifed, that has an intereft in Chrift. It muft have an EXPERIMENTAL KNOWLEDGE of him as a Saviour, who is all-fufficient, without whom we can do nothing, and who is altogether lovely, Songs v. 16. From this knowledge muft proceed an ESTEEM, 1 Pet. ii. 7, To you therefore that believe he is preFrom this esteem muft arife a real HUNGER and THIRST, Matt. v. 12, Bleffed are they that hunger and thirst. There muft alfo be a cordial reception of him, John i. 12, As many as received him, te cious. them gave he power to become the fons of God, even to them that believe on his name. d. God declares in his word, that those who have an interest in Christ must for fake the foolish, and go in the way of understanding, Prov. ix. 6; i. e. they must bid an eternal farewell to their old ways of fin in which they have heretofore walked; wage an everlafting war against iniquity as an enemy most cruel and dangerous; choose the way of holiness, that narrow way of God's commands, and with a full purpofe of heart determine to walk therein. e. God declares in his word, that all thofe who have paffed from death unto life muft love the brethren, 1 John iii. 14; i. e. they must highly efteem, and hold in the bond of affection, all who fear God, of every rank and defcription. For all who have an intereft in Chrift by faith bear the image of God. Now of all these things, as infallible marks of grace, which God himself has fettled, we must have a diftinct knowledge, nor are we to call any of them into queftion,-for the God of truth has uttered them. But, This is not enough. In order to be affured of faith, there must be, fecondly, a conformity of heart with those marks. The manner, however, in which this is effected, will prefently be fhown, when we point out the ways by which persons are brought to a determination refpecting their state. And having made an examination, thirdly, the conclufion itself follows. In making it, the foul reafons thus: "When I examine myfelf by all the "marks which God has laid down in his word, I "must acknowledge that I know fomething experi"mentally with respect to the exercises of grace. I 147 Are not mine exercises of anoind reft barely in the external as was once the cafe? Does e IN A MOMENT CHANGED HAVE SUPPRESSED in a offible that in your first contrue grace may have exiftot please God to make fuch s he fometimes does, thofe ere enkindled, feemed afteruifhed. By this mode of gned to wean your hearts world, and to prepare der to himself, and to his may indeed have fubfigether difappeared, fo as Is of confcience?-Does f offending your God? amine with care, whedid not proceed more them gave he power to become the fons of God, even to them that believe on his name. d. God declares in his word, that those who have an interest in Christ must forfake the foolish, and go in the way of understanding, Prov. ix. 6; i. e. they must bid an eternal farewell to their old ways of fin in which they have heretofore walked; wage an everlafting war against iniquity as an enemy most cruel and dangerous; choose the way of holiness, that narrow way of God's commands, and with a full purpofe of heart determine to walk therein. e. God declares in his word, that all those who have paffed from death unto life must love the brethren, 1 John iii. 14; i. e. they must highly esteem, and hold in the bond of affection, all who fear God, of every rank and defeription. For all who have an intereft in Chrift by faith bear the image of God. : Now of all these things, as infallible marks of grace, which God himself has fettled, we must have a distinct knowledge, nor are we to call any of them into queftion,-for the God of truth has uttered them. But, This is not enough. In order to be affured of faith, there must be, fecondly, a conformity of heart with those marks. The manner, however, in which this is effected, will prefently be fhown, when we point out the ways by which perfons are brought to a determination respecting their state. And having made an examination, thirdly, the conclufion itself follows. In making it, the foul reafons thus: "When I examine myself by all the marks which God has laid down in his word, I "must acknowledge that I know fomething experi"mentally with respect to the exercises of grace. I |