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a manner as to convince them that the testimony came to them from God himself. But all this is a mere delusion. I say not that God may not reveal to any man whatsoever he pleases: but I do say, that we have no reason whatever to expect that God will make known to us, by revelation, any thing which, without such a miraculous interference, may be easily and safely deduced from his blessed word. He has told us, that "a tree is to be known by its fruits ;" and that the same means whereby we ascertain the quality of what is natural, must be used for the discovering of what is spiritual; or, in other words, that men are to be known and judged by the fruits which display themselves in their lives. This we all acknowledge to be reasonable, in forming our estimate of a tree; and it is no less so as a test for discovering the state and quality of our souls.]

2. An impartial test—

[There is no man whatever who may not here find a glass in which to behold his own face. The old, the young, the rich, the poor, the learned, the unlearned, may all judge themselves by this test. Of course, some allowance must be made for the different capacities of men, and the different opportunities which they have enjoyed of serving God. We do not expect the same degree of improvement from one who has possessed but two talents, which we look for from him who has had ten talents committed to his care. "From him to whom God has committed much, he will expect the more." But, making due allowance for these circumstances, every child of man may apply to himself this test, and may form, by means of it, a just estimate of his real character.]

3. A certain test

[We are assured, by our Lord himself, that "a good tree cannot bring forth corrupt fruit, nor can a bad tree bring forth good fruit." There is but one principle in the world that will sanctify the soul, and that is faith. And this principle, if genuine, cannot but be productive of universal holiness. Hence we may lay it down as an infallible rule: "By this, the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: he that doeth not righteousness, is not of God"."]

Now, then, let us adopt this test,

II. For the trying of our state

Of course, our first endeavour must be to learn what were Abraham's works; for, till we have ascertained that point, we cannot institute a comparison between him and us, or learn with any accuracy how

b 1 John iii. 10.

far we resemble him. Now, our Lord complained of his hearers, that, instead of believing his word and obeying his voice, they sought to kill him: "Now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth which I have heard of God. THIS DID NOT ABRAHAM." No:

Abraham believed all that God revealed to him, and obeyed all that God commanded him—

[God revealed to him, that he should have, by Sarah, a son, from whom should proceed a progeny numerous as the stars of heaven and as the sands upon the sea-shore; and, finally, a seed, in whom all the nations of the earth should be blessed. But no less than five-and-twenty years did he wait for this promised seed; even till, according to the course of nature, he could not have a child; he being one hundred years old, and Sarah ninety. But did his faith fail him? No: "he never once staggered at the promise through unbelief;" but against hope, he believed in hope; "being fully persuaded, that what God had promised, he was able also to perform."

At the same time that this revelation was given him, a command was also issued, that he should "leave his country, and his kindred, and his father's house; and go to a land which should in due season be pointed out to him":" and without hesitation did he yield obedience to this strange mandate". Another more remarkable command was given him afterward, even to take this very child of promise, and offer him up for a burnt-offering on a mountain that should be pointed out to him. Instantly, without so much as communicating with his wife upon the subject, he took the lad, and prosecuted his journey with him, for the space of three days, to the place appointed; and there proceeded to offer him up, in the way that had been enjoined. Here was another act of obedience that never had its parallel since the foundation of the world'.]

Now, then, see whether you do these works of Abraham

[Of course, we have not ourselves received either the same revelations or the same commands. But we may see whether we have the same principle of faith as he, and whether it operate to produce the like obedience. To us is that Promised Seed revealed; and we are told to look for all blessings from him. Yes, Christ is that Promised Seed, in whom alone can any child of man obtain the blessings of salvation.

e Rom. iv. 16-21.

e Heb. xi. 8.

d Gen. xii. 1-4.
f Heb. xi. 17-19.

Are we then going to him, and relying on him, and receiving from him all that we need for the salvation of our souls? Are we looking to him daily, and to him alone, for "wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and complete redemption?" O! inquire whether you are thus living a life of faith on the Son of God, as having loved you, and given himself for

you

Then see, whether, in compliance with God's command, you have come out from the ungodly world, and set out upon a journey towards that land, that good land flowing with milk and honey, which, however, you never have seen, nor can see till your pilgrimage shall have come to a close. And are you, in your way thither, sacrificing to God your dearest interests and most darling lusts? Say, do you take your very Isaac, and sacrifice him with your own hand? This will shew you whose children you are: for none but a child of Abraham can ever so resemble that father of the faithful: whilst it is

equally certain that " every child of his will thus walk in his steps."]

APPLICATION

1. Make use then, I pray you, of this test, for the ascertaining of your state

[You are not Christians because you were born of Christian parents, and have been educated in the Christian faith. True Christianity is seated in the heart, and displays itself in the life h And remember, there is no medium between children of God and children of the wicked one: so that, if it cannot be said with truth that God is your Father, it must be said, "Ye are of your father the devili:" and with him must you take your portion, even "with him, whose ye are, and whom ye serve. I pray you, then, "examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; and prove your own selves" with the utmost diligence; lest, while ye call yourselves Abraham's children, and hope to "sit down with him for ever in the kingdom of your God," you be disclaimed by him at the last, and be "thrust out of the mansionk" where he dwells, and where no unclean thing can ever enter.]

2. And use also this example as a stimulus to your

exertions

[See the heights to which your father Abraham attained; and strive, to the utmost of your power, not to come short of them

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g Rom. iv. 12.

i

ver. 44.

h Rom. ii. 28, 29. Cite, and expatiate on this. k Luke xiii. 28.

MDCLV.

LOVE TO CHRIST A TEST OF OUR RELATION TO GOD.

John viii. 42. Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me.

IF experience did not convince us, we could scarcely believe that presumption should be so rooted in the heart of man as we find it is. That it should exist, not only without any grounds, but in opposition to the strongest possible evidence, and be held fast with a pertinacity which nothing can shake, is truly surprising. Yet so it is: men believe that God is their Father, though not one feature of his image is found upon them, and their resemblance to Satan is complete. The Jews accounted themselves children of God merely because of their carnal descent from Abraham, his friend: and when our Lord endeavoured to shew them, from their works, that they could have no spiritual relation either to Abraham or to God, they could not so much as understand his words; so strange and incomprehensible did his distinctions appear. But, as he had just before shewn them that their works disproved their relation to Abraham, so now he appeals to their works as undeniable evidences that they were not children of God; If God were your Father, ye would love me." In discoursing on these words, we shall, I. Consider the test here proposed

66

Our Lord is proving that his obstinate opponents neither were, nor could be, children of God: and he gives them a test whereby they may try themselves. Now this test was the most easy, and most certain, that could be imagined: for if they were children of God,

1. They would have in themselves a disposition to love

[God is love; and all his children bear his image, especially in this particular. However vile they may have been in their unregenerate state, "living in malice and envy, hateful

and hating one another," by regeneration their evil dispositions are mortified, and a spirit of humility and love becomes the governing principle of their souls. This change is universal: it is the leading feature by which every child of God is known. The want of it, whatever else we may possess, infallibly proves us children of the wicked one. 66 Though we should know all the mysteries of our holy religion, and have a faith that can remove mountains, and give all our goods to feed the poor, and even give our bodies to be burnt for Christ, if we had not the principle of love in our hearts, we should be only as sounding brass and tinkling cymbals."]

2. They would find in Christ whatever was suited to conciliate their regard—

[This our Lord particularly specifies. He had "proceeded and come forth from God," in a way in which no creature ever had. He was the Messenger of the Lord of Hosts: he had not come of his own mind, like the false prophets, but was sent from God; as his credentials abundantly testified. Nor was he doing his own will, but the will of Him that sent him nor did he seek his own glory, but the glory of Him that sent him. Seeing then that he was the Father's Messenger to them; that he was come not only to reveal the way of salvation to them, but to obtain salvation for them, by bearing their sins in his own body on the tree; seeing that in the prosecution of this work he had displayed such unerring wisdom, such indefatigable diligence, such invincible patience, such almighty power, and such unbounded love; could they do otherwise than love him, if they were children of God? Could they be blind to so much excellence, and insensible of so much kindness, if God were their Father? Impossible. It could not be that God should leave his own children so much under the power of the devil, as to reject the mercy he had prepared for them, and destroy the Messenger whom he had sent to redeem them.]

That we may see more clearly the suitableness of this test, we will,

II. Compare it with other tests which men devise for themselves

Every man has some ground on which he builds his hopes, and some test whereby he tries his title to heaven. This test varies according to the attainments

a The terms here used, being never used in reference to any other person, are supposed to denote his eternal generation. But though there is ground for the remark, we would not lay much stress upon it.

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