fal them; nor any plague come near their dwelling. Their heavenly Father will not fail to protect them, to provide for them, and to bless them. He will guide them by his counsel; and afterwards receive them to glory. They may, therefore, re. gard with indifference the riches, honours, and pleasures of the world, knowing that they have in Heaven a better and an enduring substance: they may be cheerful, and even joyful, amid all the ills of life, knowing that all such things work. together for their good, and that sorrow and sighing shall soon flee away; and they may look forward without dismay to the approach of the King of Terrors, - knowing that, with regard to them, he hath lost all power to hurt; but is sent from above, as a friendly messenger, to bring them out of this valley of tears, and conduct them to the realms of light and bliss!

But how may believers know that they really belong to the number, and so that they are really interested in all the privileges of the children of God? This is, no doubt, a matter of great importance, and nearly connected with their peace and comfort; and St. Paul informs us of the gracious provision which the blessed God hath made for the peace and comfort of all his children: "The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God." While believers are anxiously enquiring into their real state and character, the Divine Spirit himself comes forward and gives evidence in their favour, and makes it appear that they are really the sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty.

We are not to imagine that the Divine Spirit bears this wit ness by any immediate suggestion to that effect; for this would ascribe to them the prophetic gift of inspiration: nor are we to imagine that he does so by the ministry of an angel, or by a voice from Heaven; for such extraordinary modes of intercourse have long since ceased:-but he does so by working in them all those holy tempers which the Scriptures make the distinguishing characters of the children of God; and by leading them to attend to, and enabling them to observe the coincidence between what he has wrought in their hearts, and what he has declared in the word.

Pride ill becomes a creature, and especially a fallen creature; yet pride is natural to the heart of man. We are all naturally disposed to think of ourselves more highly than we ought; to think that we are persons of some worth and con-sequence; that we deserve to be esteemed and honoured; that God himself must surely regard us with so much complacency, as to overlook any improprieties with which we may be chargeable. We think that we are rich, increased with goods, and have need of nothing; but poverty of spirit is one of those holy tempers which the Spirit works in believers; and by which he bears witness with their spirit, that they are the chil✩ dren of God. "Blessed," says our Lord," are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven." They see something of their own meanness and littleness as creatures; and then see something of their own vileness and wretchedness as sinners. They know that they have, in ten thousand instances, in heart and in life, broken the commands of that God in whom they live, move, and have their being, and who hath been daily loading them with his benefits; and that in doing so, they have been altogether inexcusable, and have justly deserved to be made monuments of his vengeance.. They are, therefore, disposed to loathe themselves, in their own sight, for their iniquities and for their abominations; and to acknowledge that, in themselves, they are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.

Natural men may be awakened to a sense of their danger as sinners, as transgressors of God's righteous cause, and obnoxious to his avenging justice; but, in that case, God is to them an object of terror. They regard him as an exasperated and implacable enemy: they would wish to flee from his presence; and hide themselves, if possible, even under the rocks and the mountains, from his all-seeing eye. But filial confidence in their heavenly Father is also one of those holy tempers which the Spirit works in believers, and by which he bears witness that they are the children of God. They have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but the spirit of adoption, whereby they cry Abba, Father. As no part of the renewed nature of believers is indeed perfect, no more is their filial confidence; but though doubts and fears may often assail them, faith and hope in God habitually prevail. They see that their sins are indeed immensely great, but they see that the divine compassions are greater still; and that the righteousness of the Lord Jesus is a robe so awful and glorious, that, being arrayed in it, all their sins are covered, and they appear excellent and comely in the eyes of Infinite Purity. They, therefore, exercise filial confidence in God as their heavenly Father. They pray to God, through the Lord Jesus Christ, having by him received the reconciliation; believing that he will allow them to want no good thing; that he is not more able than willing to supply all their need, according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

If natural men presumptuously imagine (as they sometimes do) that they are the children of God, the objects of his peculiar favour, they are disposed to lay aside the fear of him. They regard him without that awe which should ever accom pany the thoughts of him in the greatest and most excellent creatures. They approach him with unhallowed familiarity and boldness; they forget that they are sinful dust and ashes they forget that he is a consuming fire: but filial reverence of their heavenly Father is likewise one of those holy tempers, which the Spirit works in believers. Hence they are so often

called in Scripture "the Fearers of God," and "the Fearers of his Name." They study to be in his fear all the day long; they are afraid of doing any thing to dishonour and displease him ; they endeavour to have their thoughts, words, and actions conformed to his will. When they draw near before him, they are careful to do it with profound reverence, to have all vain imaginations banished froin their mind, to be filled with a sense of his presence, and to worship him in spirit and in truth.

Natural men would gladly banish all thoughts of God for ever from their minds, if they might be but allowed to gratify, without fear, the desires of the flesh and of the mind. They are lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God: their carnal mind is even declared to be enmity itself against God. But filial and supreme love of their heavenly Father, is another of those holy tempers which the Spirit works in believers; and · by which he bears witness with their spirit, that they are the children of God. Hence they are called in Scripture," them that love him, and that love his name." They love him, because he is infinitely glorious and excellent, the only living, the only wise, and the all-sufficient God, holy, just, good, and true. They love him, because he is their Maker and Preserver; because he gives then all things richly to enjoy; and more especially, because he hath redeemed them. They love him, because he hath made him, who is the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, to be sin for them, that they might be made the righteousness of God in him; because he hath saved them, and called then with a holy calling; and because he hath constituted them the children of his family, and the heirs of his kingdom. They account him their exceeding joy; they desire, above all things, to be near him, and to be like him. They give diligent attendance on all those ordinances of his institution, in which his gracious presence is to be enjoyed, and by which conformity to his image is to be promoted. They are habitually disposed to address him in the words of the Psalmist, "Whom have I in Heaven but thee? and there is none on earth that I desire besides thee!"

Since the entrance of Sin, this world has been one widely extended scene of affliction and sorrow. "Man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward;" and the children of God are by no means excepted. Their bodies are as liable to the inroads of pain and disease; their names are as liable to be loaded with unmerited reproach; their circumstances in life may be as narrow as those of others around them: they are as much exposed to vexations, disappointments, and difficulties. But filial submission to the will of their heavenly Father is likewise one of those holy tempers which the Spirit works in believers, and by which he testifies that they are the children of God. They know that all the ills which befall them are by 3 Q

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divine permission and appointment; that they are all inflicted in paternal kindness for their correction and instruction in righteousness; that God hath promised to be with them in all their afflictions, to support them under them, to secure the sanctified use of them, and, in due time, to compass them about with songs of deliverance; and that the trial of their faith, being much more precious than gold which perisheth, will be found unto praise, honour, and glory at the appearance of Jesus Christ. They are, therefore, disposed to acquiesce in the will of their heavenly Father, saying, "The will of the Lord be done." "It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good."

The heart of man is by Nature utterly impure. It is a cage of every unclean and hateful bird: it is filled with all unrighte ousness. Evil thoughts, corrupt affections, vile imaginations spring up there in horrid luxuriance. But purity of heart is one of those holy tempers which the Spirit works in believers, and by which he bears witness with their spirit, that they are the children of God. "Blessed," says our Lord," are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." The hearts of believers indeed are not perfectly pure: a principle of impurity still lodges and works in them; but they are habitually and prevailingly pure. They connive at no vain wicked thoughts and dispositions, but sincerely hate and oppose them: they are daily grieved with their remaining impurity; and are daily be wailing it in the presence of their heavenly Father: they are daily endeavouring to have all the powers, and all the exer cises of their souls," holiness to the Lord;" and of the habitual purity of heart, they give satisfactory evidence in the holy circumspectness of behaviour in the world: they are denied to all ungodliness and worldly lusts; and live soberly, righteously, and godly. "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him, and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." In this the children of God are manifest.

Love to the brethren is also one of those holy tempers which the Spirit works in believers; and by which they are proved to be the children of God. "We know," says St. John, "that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren." Believers love the brethren, not merely because they may be connected with them by blood, by acquaintance, or by being of the same party, or because they may be possessed of many amiable qualities; they love them because they are the children of God; because they are beloved of God; because they have been redeemed with the blood, and have been sanctified by the Spirit of God; because they bear the image, and are devoted to the service of God. They, therefore, account them the excellent, the honourable of the earth; worthy of being known, esteemed, and loved; whose society ought to be coveted, and whose temporal and spiritual well

being it becomes them assiduously to promote; and they conscientiously conduct themselves towards them accordingly.

The love of peace is another of those holy tempers which the Spirit works in believers; and by which he bears witness with their spirit, that they are the children of God. "Blessed," says our Lord, " are the peace-makers; for they shall be called the Children of God." God is the God of Peace; and all his children are like him in this, that they are lovers of peace. Whoever are the promoters of discord in families, or in civil or religious societies, this, assuredly, will not be the conduct of God's genuine children. They are disposed, if it he possible, as much as lieth in them, to live peaceably with all men. Instead of causing, they study to be healers of breaches wherever they come, to remove from the breasts of men those mutual misapprehensions, which are the frequent sources of heats and jealousies, and to diffuse universal harmony and happiness around them.

Since then the Divine Spirit has wrought so many holy tempers in believers, by which he marks them out the children of God, in the due use of means, by comparing his work in their hearts with what he has declared in the word, believers may be comfortably assured of their heavenly adoption; and if they may be thus comfortably assured, how earnestly and how diligently should all who account themselves bedievers, seek after such an assurance! If they be indeed believers, the investigation will much redound to their establishment, furtherance, and joy of faith; and should they ever be found to be hypocrites, better, surely, be brought to the true knowledge of their character while they may have access to God for pardoning mercy and sanctifying grace, than to rush blindfolded into bottomless perdition!

Let believers then abound in careful self-examination, according to the rule of the word; and since the more grace is in exercise, a comfortable issue will be the more speedily obtained; How diligently should they stir up the gift of God that is in them! How carefully should they keep themselves from iniquity! How eagerly should they endeavour to bring forth more abundantly all the fruits of righteousness! And how fervently should they implore copious communications of the influence of the Spirit, to strengthen all those holy tempers which he has abundantly wrought in their souls, to draw them forth into more lively and vigorous exercise, to render them more and more discernible amidst all the remains of coruption, to assist and direct them in enquiring into their state and character, and to watch them to bring their enquiries to a confortable conclusion!

They who enjoy a comfortable assurance that they are the children of God, should labour to maintain it. By careless