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 inconnection 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

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 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 called Christian experience was mere delusion. And while there is danger that selfdeception 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 conversion, and had heard him speak with rapture of the new and delightful views which he had of spiritual objects, and when the individual was expecting that he would do nothing less than congratulate him upon having become a child of God, he was disappointed beyond measure by simply hearing him say that what he had experi enced was an encouragement to him to persevere; though the man himself, in relating the circumstance many years after, when he had come much nearer the fulness of the stature of a perfect person in Christ, cordially approved the course which his minister had adopted. It is not always easy to satisfy persons in these circumstances, even of the possibility that the hope and joy which they experience may be spurious; but it is much to be desired, both as it respects their safety and their usefulness, that this should be effected; that while they acknowledge with devout gratitude to God the least evidence that he has extended to them a gracious forgiveness, they should fear lest a promise being left of entering into rest, they should seem to come short of it.

You cannot do better service to those who believe themselves to have been recently converted, than by presenting distinctly before them the evidences of Christian character. Let them clearly understand that the mere fact that the clouds which hung over their minds are dispersed, and that they are rejoicing in bright sunshine, constitutes no sufficient evidence of their regeneration. Encourage them to analyze their feelings, to examine the motives and principles of their conduct, especially to inquire whether they have the humility of the gospel, whether they cordially approve its conditions, and whether they glory in sovereign grace as it is manifested in the gospel scheme of salvation. Show them moreover, that the evidence of Christian cha

racter in order to be decisive, must be progressive; that it consists especially in a fixed purpose, and a steady course of endeavors in reliance on God's grace, to do whatever he would have them to do; that they must add to their faith all the virtues and graces of the Christian; and that if they fail of this, whatever other experience they may have, must be set down as nothing. Caution them against the wiles of their own hearts, and the wiles of the great adversary; and urge them to settle the question respecting their claim to Christian character, by referring their experience to the simple standard of God's word.

It is a matter of great moment that they should be impressed, from the beginning, with the importance of habitual self-examination; for this is not more essential to ensure them against self-deception, than it is to all their attainments in holiness. Let them be exhorted not only to inspect narrowly their motives and feelings from day to day, with a view to give a right direction to their prayers, and to ascertain the measure of their growth in grace, but also frequently to revolve the great question whether they have really been born of the Spirit. Such a course, honestly and faithfully pursued in the light of God's word, is hardly consistent with cherishing the hypocrite's hope, or with making low attainments in piety.

2. Endeavor to impress them with the consideration that if they have really been renewed, they are just entering on a course of labor and conflict.

It too often happens that, in the rapture which the soul experiences when it emerges suddenly into light from the gloom of deep conviction, there is little else thought of than its own enjoyment; and the bright visions of heaven by which it is well nigh entranced, occasion a temporary forgetfulness of the trials and conflicts, and all the more sober realities, of the Christian life. Now it is highly im.