that the man in whom they are found, has the spirit of error and pride, instead of the Spirit of God.

The second proof, whether a man be led. by the Spirit or not, is the effect which is produced on his heart and conduct in life. "Hereby we know that we dwell in Him, "and He in us, if we keep his command"ments. The life and behaviour, after all, are the most certain proofs of the nature of the spirit that dwelleth in our hearts. If a man's life be good; if his professions of religion make him dutiful to GOD, and cha ritable to man; if he be regular in the service of his Maker, and ready to be of service to his fellow-creatures, as far as his power and condition in life will allow him to be; if he is a good father, a good husband, a good brother, son, and neighbour; we may then be sure he lives under the influence of the Holy Spirit; and that GOD, of a truth, is with him but if he be deficient in, or negligent of, these duties, it is then clear, that he either deceives himself, or wishes to impose upon the world; for inspiration has declared to us, "Whosoever is born of "GOD doth not commit sin, for his seed "remaineth in Him; and he cannot sin, be"cause he is born of GOD. Whosoever "abideth in Him sinneth not; but whoso

"ever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither "known Him." He may appear, indeed, to be a religious man in his outward deportment, but his "inner man" is still in an unregenerate state, and the Spirit of GoD dwelleth not in him; for the fruit of the "Spirit is in all goodness, and righteousness, “ and truth.”

If the Holy Spirit abide in a man, he will shew that he possesseth it by being good, or fulfilling his religious duties of praise and thanksgiving, prayer and supplication, to GOD; hallowing his sabbath, and observing his ordinances. When we call seriously to mind "the goodness and loving-kindness ❝of God to us and to all men;" that we owe to Him "our creation, preservation, and, "above all, our redemption through JESUS "CHRIST, the means of grace and the hope " of glory;" it seems almost impossible that we should not feel the deepest gratitude for such inestimable love.". Indeed, it is so natural that we should both feel and express it, that we may pronounce those men to be little above the condition of "the beast that "perisheth," who do not do so. They are, as St. James saith, earthly, sensual, "devilish;" worshippers of " the God of "this world;" they can have "no fellowship with the Father," or his Son JESUS

CHRIST; no chance of peace, and comfort, and content, on this side the grave; and no prospect beyond it, but the fearful looking-forwards to a terrible judgment to come, and to the fiery indignation of an insulted GOD. Their folly, also, is equal to their ingratitude; for the return which God requires for his goodness to us, is of so easy and delightful a nature, that the very performance is attended with the greatest satisfaction that the mind can experience. "For what doth "the LORD thy GOD require of thee, but to "do justice, and love mercy, and to walk "humbly with thy God?" If He had commanded us to do some great thing" as an acknowledgment for his unspeakable goodness towards us, ought we not to do it with cheerfulness and readiness? "How "much more, then, when He saith, wash "and be clean ?"-when He tells us to fulfil those duties which will give us present peace as well as future joy? What, for instance, can be more comfortable to the mind, than to lift up our hearts in public praise and thanksgiving on the sabbath-day in his church, and in the society of our fellow creatures, to that GOD, to whom we and they are indebted for life, and breath," and all things; for all that we have on earth, and all that we expect in heaven?

What can be more satisfactory to the bosom, than to pour out our prayers and supplications, in the secret chamber, to Him on whom alone we can depend for protection from the evils, and dangers, and temptations, by which we are surrounded? Or, what can be more cheering to the soul, than to attend, the table of his Son JESUS CHRIST; there "strengthen and refresh" our inner man; "eat the bread of life;" "receive the cup of "salvation;"" and call on the name of the

Lord," who has redeemed us from sin and hell, and made us children of GoD, and inheritors of the kingdom of heaven? Depend upon it, my friends, that he who doth not fulfil these duties, and who doth not feel pleasure in doing them, hath not the Spirit of GOD dwelling in him; nor has any pretensions to be called a sincere christian; for "the fruit of the spirit is in all goodness."

But further, the man who hath the Spirit will also be righteous, or fulfil all his duties to his fellow-creatures. As GOD has thought proper to ordain that we should live together in the world in a state of society, so there are many duties which belong to the different members of it, which they are bound to perform, in order to make society happy and prosperous. Thus, the " high " and lofty ones, who are entrusted with

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power and authority, should "rule with dili gence," and use their power for the good of those whom they govern; so, also, the rich "should be ready to give, and glad to "distribute," assisting the needy, and encouraging their honest and industrious fellow-creatures; and thus, also, ought 'the humbler ranks of men, servants, and labourers, and such like, to study to do their duty in that state of life in which it hath pleased GOD to place them; "being obe

dient to them who are their masters "according to the flesh, in singleness of "heart, as unto CHRIST; not with eye"service as men-pleasers, but as the ser"vants of CHRIST, doing the will of GoD "from the heart; with goodwill doing "service as to the LORD, and not unto "men." If they act under the influence of the Spirit of GOD, low as they may be in the world, they will still be content, and honest, and industrious in their situation; knowing that He has placed them in it; and knowing, also, "that whatsoever good thing any man "doeth, the same shall he receive of the LORD, whether he be bond or free."

But, lastly, the man who hath the Spirit within him, will shew that he possesseth it, by that other effect of it-truth; in other words, by being true to himself, and prac

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