blessed book; and have you never found any delight in perusing it? The Holy Spirit often mentions one fearful sign of a heart estranged from God, "Thou hast despised my holy things, and hast profaned my Sabbaths." Do you lightly esteem the means of grace, and do you neglect to watch over your heart upon the Sabbath? Are its holy hours unimproved, and its privileges not valued?

Again, in trouble, the unconverted look to human help, "He trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, whose heart departeth from the Lord." Is this your habit? Do you depend upon the sympathy and assistance of your poor fellow-sinners, while you seek not the help of your God?

Again, they refuse to hear the voice of God, as it speaks to them in affliction, "Thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; they have refused to receive

correction; they have refused to return. Or if they are impressed for a season, and appear to return and inquire early after God;" yet "their heart is not right with him, neither are they steadfast in his covenant; for all this, they sin still, and believe not for His wondrous works." Now are you never desirous to improve the different afflictions and trials sent you? Has the effect of them entirely past away? Again, they prize not the Gospel, and therefore, 66 they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth." Ah! my friend, here we may well be humbled!

How little do we value the inestimable benefit of a faithful ministry! how little do we prize that truth, which can alone save the soul! how do we shrink from boldly confessing it before those who think not with us! But are you never able to express your adherence to the

truth, and your conviction of its unspeak

able importance? I must not pursue these inquiries as time and space would fail me. I will close therefore, with the SUREST test of all. Being alienated from the life of God;" "They that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh."

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They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them."

Now, dearest, are you still alienated from the life of holy communion with God your Redeemer and Friend ? Do you still dread his presence, and fear to be alone with him? Do you still shrink from that spiritual, confidential intercourse, which He condescends to permit, and to command? and are you so taken up with earthly pursuits, that you only give your attention and affections to what concerns this wilderness world? Are you of its spirit,-influenced by its opinion,— seeking happiness in conformity to its

customs and manners,-united in feeling, and in conversation with those who belong to it? Thus my sweet friend, we have hastily gone through some of the symptoms of an unconverted state, all which at one time sadly applied to yourself; yet I think if you will only dwell on them, and examine their present application to yourself, with Christian simplicity, you will be constrained to acknowledge, that now they describe you no longer; the darkness is past, and the true Light, the Light of the world hath shined into your soul; in other words you have come to Jesus, "for who made thee to differ ?"

But I trust this will be made still more apparent, while we consider some of the most striking features in the character of a child of God. I must of necessity take you over the same ground again; but in a subject of such importance, and on a

point of such peculiar interest, you will not, I know, object to this.

The Holy Spirit according to our Lord's promise hath convinced him "of sin," hath shewn him his defiled and awful condition, and he humbly confesses his guilt, without seeking in any degree to extenuate it. The language of the soul is, "I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord." "Against thee, thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight."

Now, my friend, you know that it is thus with you. You know that you have been convinced, that the root of all sin is forgetfulness of God; and conscious that ingratitude to Him has been stamped on all your thoughts and words, and actions, you fall low before him, feeling that you are utterly unworthy of His