the Lord Jesus? Examine thyself again and again, O my soul, that thou mayest determine a point on which thy peace and safety so much depend; but examine with prayer for the illuminating grace of the Holy Spirit. Nothing is so common, and yet nothing more dangerous, than to deceive ourselves. Hence arises the Apostle's injunction: "Let no man deceive himself."* Jesus came to seek and to save that which is lost.† Have I seen my undone state by nature? Have I seen the Holiness of God in the mirror of his divine law? Has the conviction of my guilt and misery laid me in the dust before him? Am I emptied of all self-dependence, self-seeking, and self-righteousness? Under a deep sense of my own helplessness and wretchedness, have I fled to Christ for life and salvation? Can I rejoice that through him there is blood to atone, righteousness to justify, grace to sanctify, strength to support, and consolation to cheer in every time of need? Faith purifies the heart.‡ Have I that faith in Christ which purifies the heart? Do I feel indwelling corruption to be the very grief and burden of my soul? Am I daily striving and warring against it in the strength of my Redeemer? Do I find its power grow weaker, and holy affections become more vigorous and powerful, more constant and natural, more ardent and abiding? Faith worketh by love.§ Does my faith work by love? Is Christ the first object of my desire, the very joy and rejoicing of my heart? Do I love God the Father, who showed such love to me, in giving his only Son for my redemption? Do I love God the Son, who so willingly became man, that he might bleed and die for * 1 Cor. iii. 18. + Matt. xviii. 11. § Gal. v. 6. Acts xv. 9. me? Do I love God the Holy Ghost, who so graciously applies this great salvation to my soul, and who brings me into the bonds of the everlasting covenant? Does my love to the ever-blessed Trinity manifest itself by a lively gratitude, a uniform obedience, and an earnest endeavour to promote the glory of God? Lord, how defective is my obedience, how cold is my love, how feeble are my endeavours! What sin rises in my mind! What idle words pass my lips! What inconsistencies mark my actions! 1 When I come to examine what I ought to be, yea, what I must be, if ever I am saved, and compare this with what I am, O! what cause do I find for humiliation and sorrow. What need do I see of a precious Saviour, to work in me all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power. When viewed in the sight of my sins, how precious does Jesus appear. He is, indeed, the UN SPEAKABLE GIFT. Is Does my faith work also by love to man? Are my friends the friends of Jesus? Do I love all them who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, by whatever name they may be distinguished among men, or in whatever country they may dwell? my heart so contracted that it can only contain those of my own religious communion; or, can it embrace the Christian indeed, though in some non-essentials he may differ from me? Do I love the image of Christ wherever I behold it? Are all the true, living members of Christ's mystical body regarded by me as brethren? Do I, with joy, anticipate the period when, saved by grace, I shall join the ten thousand times ten thousand, and the thousands of thousands gathered out of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, who shall swell the everlasting chorus: "Worthy is the Lamb "?* Can I now sing in hope of this heavenly blessedness: "We praise thee, O ! God, we acknowledge thee to be the Lord. All the earth doth worship thee, the Father everlasting. The holy Church throughout the world doth acknowledge thee, the Father of an infinite Majesty, thine honourable, true, and only Son; also the Holy Ghost the Comforter?" Can I, from the heart, pray for the good estate of the Universal Church, that it may be so guided and governed by the Holy Spirit; that all who profess and call themselves Christians, may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of Spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life? Is it my heart's desire that the Divine Majesty would inspire continually the Universal Church with the Spirit of truth, unity, and concord, that all they who confess his holy name, may agree in the truth of his holy word, and live in unity and godly love? Did this spirit of brotherly love, which breathes throughout the services of the Church of England, influence all who call themselves Christians, we should behold a revival of primitive unity in the essentials of Christianity, and a return of that primitive charity which compelled even the persecuting heathens to exclaim: "See how these Christians love one another.” Does my faith work by love, even towards those who may despitefully use me, and say all manner of evil against me falsely for Christ's sake? Do I love them so as to pray for them, and to be at all times ready to do them good? Is sin the only object of my hatred, both in myself and others? Can I pity the sinner whilst I abhor his sin? Is holiness the object of my wishes, and the subject of my prayers? Whilst I cherish a love of complacency towards all the children of God, do I feel a love of compassion towards his enemies and mine? Does Faith overcometh the world.* my faith enable me to overcome the world? Have I learned in the school of Christ, the shortness, * 1 John v. 4. the emptiness, the vanity, the insufficiency, the uncertainty of all earthly comforts, pleasures, honours, riches, and delights? Has this knowledge had a practical effect, by causing me to renounce the world both in heart and affection? Whilst I am in the world, can I, with sincerity, say that I am not of the world? While my hands are engaged in the diligent prosecution of my lawful calling according to the will of God, is my heart totally disengaged, and disentangled from earthly idols, and wholly given up to God, through Christ ? Have I come out from among the carnal part of mankind, which in Scripture is called the world, though nominally Christian, and have I joined myself to that little flock, that part of the true Church who are travelling Zionward, and of whom Christ said: "It is my Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom ?"* If faith has produced these blessed effects in any soul, or if these gracious operations of the Spirit are daily ripening and coming to maturity, then is that person a CHRISTIAN INDEED. He is a vessel of mercy afore prepared unto glory. He is an heir of God, and a joint heir with Christ. O! Almighty Saviour, make me one of thy disciples, a Christian indeed. Perfect the good work of thy grace in me, and when thou hast prepared me for thyself, receive me into the place prepared for me. Impress my mind with this truth, that heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people; that all who are redeemed by thy blood are made meet for the inheritance of the saints in light; that all who serve thee here shall follow thee, whithersoever thou goest; for with thee is heaven, and joy, and love. O! how rich, how extensive are thy promises! The Christian parent may well rejoice, while viewing his offspring and thy gracious purposes of mercy: "I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring; and they shall spring Luke xii. 32. up as among the grass, as willows by the watercourses. O that the young plants in thy vineyard may all become trees of righteousness, bearing abundant fruit to thy glory! Ye tender youths, whose opening day Allur'd by folly's tempting ways, Happy the youth whose first desires, Peace, sweet peace, will Christ bestow, The Spirit dwelling in his heart, The Saviour calls-O hear his voice, Where He bled and died for thee. |