LECTURE VII.

TREATMENT DUE TO YOUNG CONVERTS.

2 CORINTHIANS, XIII. 5.

Prove your own selves.

This exhortation was addressed by the Apostle to professed Christians. It takes for granted that they were not absolutely assured of their discipleship, and were liable to be deceived in the views which they formed respecting their own character. It enjoins the duty of referring their character to the proper test; proving whether Christ is in them by the sanctifying influences of his Spirit, or whether they are mere nominal Christians, finally to be cast off as reprobate.

The advice contained in the text was addressed to the Corinthian church indiscriminately; and it may properly apply to all Christians, without any reference to age or standing. It is, however, especially applicable to those who have just entered, or professedly entered, on the Christian life; for if they mistake their own character then, there is reason to fear that the mistake will be fatal. It there

fore becomes every minister, and every private Christian, who undertakes the office of a counsellor and guide, during a revival of religion, to make much use of the exhortation-" Prove your own selves."

It is, if I mistake not, becoming a somewhat popular notion, that nearly all the efforts which are made during a revival, should be directed to the awakening and conversion of sinners; and that comparatively little attention is needed by those who have indulged the hope that they have become reconciled to God. Far be it from me to say, or to think, that too much is done to effect the former of these objects; but I am constrained to believe that there is far too little done in reference to the latter. True it is that the sinner, while trembling under a conviction of guilt, is in circumstances of awful interest; for if the Spirit of God depart from him, it may be the eternal death of his soul: but it is no less true, that the period of his first cherishing a hope in God's mercy is an exceedingly critical one; for if he build on a sandy foundation, he may never discover it, until it slides from beneath him, and lets him into the pit. Let no Christian then imagine that his responsibility in connection with a revival terminates in the duty which he owes to awakened sinners: let him remember that there is another class who as truly claim his attention as they; and who cannot be neglected but at the peril of encouraging self-deception, and corrupting the purity of the church. Lend me your attention,

therefore, while I endeavor in this discourse to exhibit an outline of THE TREATMENT WHICH IS DUE

TO THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN HOPEFULLY THE SUBJECTS OF A RECENT CONVERSION.

We will consider the object which ought to be kept in view; and the means by which it may be most successfully accomplished.

I. The object to be aimed at in all our treatment of those who hope they have been recently converted, is twofold: to save from self-deception, and to build up in faith and holiness.

1. To save from self-deception.

That there is danger that many persons will practise deception upon themselves in these circumstances, must be obvious to any one who gives the subject the least consideration. For the mind is then in an excited state, when it is most liable to misjudge of its own exercises: and the heart has been burdened with anguish; and has been longing for relief; and is prepared to welcome with transport the least evidence of pardon; and of course is in danger of grasping at a shadow, and mistaking it for the substance. Besides, there is a chapter in the record of experience which teaches a most impressive lesson on this subject; which exhibits instances innumerable, of persons who have, for a season, felt confident of their own conversion, and have been hailed by Christians as fellow helpers in the work of the Lord, who have, nevertheless, subsequently been convinced themselves, and forced the conviction upon others, that what they had call

ed Christian experience was mere delusion. And while there is danger that self-deception will take place in these circumstances, no one can doubt that this is an evil greatly to be deprecated; for there is comparatively little reason to hope, in any given case, that it will be removed; and if it be not removed, it is in the very worst sense fatal. Surely then it devolves upon all who are active in conducting a revival of religion, to guard those who hope they have been recently converted, against self-deception. Even amidst all the peace and rapture which they may experience, in connection with what they suppose to be a conversion to God, it is the duty of those who counsel them, though they may rejoice in their joy, to rejoice with trembling, lest it should prove that the hope with which their joy is connected, should be the hope of the hypocrite, which shall finally prove as the giving up of the ghost.

2. The other great end to be kept in view in respect to the class of which I am speaking, is, to build them up in faith and holiness.

If they have actually been regenerated, they will certainly, in a greater or less degree, bring forth the fruits of holiness; for it is impossible that a gracious principle should exist in the soul, and be habitually and entirely inoperative. Nevertheless, it is not every Christian who lets his light shine as he ought; not every one that exerts any thing like the amount of influence in favor of the cause of Christ, that is fairly within his power. It therefore becomes

a matter of great moment that, at the very beginning of the Christian life, each one should be impressed with his obligations to labor for his Master to the extent of his ability; and should be assisted so far as may be, to form a character which will ensure at once the highest degree both of comfort and of usefulness. Whatever is done then to mould the character, will probably exert a far more decisive influence, than any thing which could be done at a future period; and upon the counsels and directions which an individual receives, at such a moment, may depend in a great degree, the amount of good which he is to accomplish during his whole future life. Surely then, it is no unimportant office, to counsel and guide the young Christian. He who does it aright may be instrumental of opening fountains of blessing, which shall send forth their purifying streams in every direction.

II. We proceed, secondly, to consider some of the means by which this twofold object is to be attained.

1. Let those who hope they have been the subjects of a recent conversion be put on their guard against too confident a belief that they have been truly regenerated.

I remember to have heard of an individual, who was afterwards greatly distinguished for piety, going to the elder Jonathan Edwards, to whose congregation he belonged, to tell him what God had done for his soul; and after that great and good man had listened to the account of his supposed