work out his salvation with fear and trembling. We must, therefore, take care not to draw conclusions too hastily respecting sanctification; for if we should unadvisedly give up our confidence, we shall certainly bring ourselves into darkness, and lose many of our comforts. That the apostle in these words does not mean every kind of fear is sufficiently plain. None can doubt that our Lord was possessed of perfect love, and yet he prayed as in an agony that the cup might pass from him, and was heard in that he feared. So that by not fearing it is probable St. John intends, that when our love is made perfect, we shall not be afraid of acknowledging to the world that we are the followers of the Lamb of God, whatever may be the consequence; or, that all painful apprehensions of the threatened judgments of God are removed from the mind, when love dwells there and has the dominion.

It is then not inconsistent with this state, if we are sometimes troubled with some kinds of fear. The approach of danger; weakness of the nervous system; unexpected occurrences, change of circumstances, &c. may suddenly come upon us, and cause a momentary alarm, while the pure intention to please God is as strong as ever.

The natural constitution differs much in different persons. Some, who are altogether destitute of religion, are bold and intrepid; while others, who walk in the "ordinances and commandments of the Lord blameless," are timid and easily fluttered with almost every new thing.-Yea, there is reason to believe, that many confound the natural and innocent love of life, given us for the preservation of our being, with the fear of death; and perhaps you have known some of the servants of God drag on heavily from this mistake, till cast on the last bed of affliction, when this principle, being no longer of that necessity, has been suspended; they have then lifted up their heads, and left the world in holy triumph, without the least disturbance from doubt or fear. It is also too much to say that we are to possess uninterrupted joy.

Some have expected a stato next to rapture; in this however they have been often disappointed. Joy is indeed a fruit of the Spirit, and we are accordingly commanded to rejoice; and to rejoice in tribulation; and our Lord has bid us ask, that our joy may be full. These expressions certainly denote a state of great substantial happiness, yet not the ecstacy they imagined. The most holy are not exempt from the common ills of life. The road to heaven lies through the vale of tears. Some of whom it was said the world was not worthy, were destitute, afflicted, tormented. These were among the ancient worthies; and under the gospel, still greater numbers in the kingdom and patience of the Lord Jesus, though filled with a larger measure of the Spirit, have suffered yet more abundantly. The christian has too many trials, and too many enemies, not to have his joys lessened or suspended now and then. If there were no other cause, the dishonour done to God by the impenitent, and the rejection of his mercy, would do it. How many have said with the psalmist, when he beheld the abounding of iniquity, my heart is sore pained within me. Rivers of water run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law and St. Paul said that he had continual sorrow in his heart, occasioned by the unbelief and obstinacy of his countrymen.

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It may, however, be observed, that as we increase in the knowledge and love of God, we shall attain to much greater assurance of his gracious designs towards us, and shall find in our trials much greater support afforded. We may then reasonably conclude, that, as we get more of the Divine nature, there will be cause for much greater rejoicing.

It is setting it too high when it is represented as setting us above all inactivity and depression of mind. Flatness and dulness in the service of God, are very unpleasant to the christian. When these unwelcome visitants trouble him, they make him almost ready to think that he has mistaken his true condition. The service he offers is so yery remote from that word-"The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up," and comes so short of the observation of

the apostle, it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, that he would be discouraged, if his "conscience did not bear him witness in the Holy Ghost," that he aims to do the "will of God from his heart." This may arise from a degree of unfaithfulness in the use of our talents, and in that case calls for more watchfulness and humilty; yet there may be other causes which spread a langour through the mind, such as a natural and unconquerable lethargic state of body, excessive labour, providential interruptions to secret devotion not rightly received and improved, &c. These circumstances may be innocent in themselves, and yet may occasionally damp the holy fire. It requires frequent exercises of faith, and much wisdom, to order our steps aright; nevertheless, by the renewing of the Holy Ghost, we may in the end prove victorious.

Leading too close and sedentary a life has the same effect. It frequently happens that very studious men, or those engaged in great concerns, are not the most lively. They spend too much time upon comparatively unimportant subjects, or to the increasing of their knowledge in things not immediately tending to the glory of God, and the edification of the church of Christ, to which every man of God should strictly attend according to his ability. All was dross in the estimation of the apostle, but the knowledge of his crucified Lord, by which the world was crucified to him, and he to the world. The Spirit of truth draws us to God, for the fire of divine love, and then, as it were, repels us from him, to burn and shine in the world; or, in other words, it is exceedingly difficult to preserve life and fervency of spirit, without proportionable activity in the promotion of religion among men. We ought therefore to lay out ourselves, for the good of others, especially for the salvation of their souls; and while we are aiming at this, the Lord will cause our zeal to increase, and fill our hearts with the choicest blessings of his kingdom.

Sanctification is set too high when it is set above all wandering thoughts. It is indeed the will of God that we

should wait upon him without distraction. Many enjoy this salvation in an eminent degree, and no doubt it is a privilege belonging to the pure in heart, but it is not always to be expected without an extraordinary degree of grace, and perhaps not always then, as in the case of pain, and from other causes. We ought to remember that whatever the intellect is employed about, engenders thought. All our temptations do the same. All we examine, hear, or do, has the same tendency. All this may take place in the soul, and we still preserve a conscience void of offence toward God and toward man. Should we be thus troubled, we must not renounce what the Lord has done for us. This is the very thing our enemy watches for. Let us remember it is promised that the Lord will keep us in perfect peace, if our minds are staid upon him; and those things we heartily renounce for his sake, shall never be imputed to us for iniquity. Prudently oppose whatever does not tend to God, with that which does, and you shall still go on from conquering to conquer.

It is set too high when set above all temptation. The christian may meet with severe exercises of mind, yet feel the witness of the Spirit that he stands clear of sin, though sometimes it may be very faint ; nevertheless if he continue to believe, and inwardly cry for help, the Lord will hear and send deliverance. We must not give up our confidence in the all-purifying blood of Christ. There is no necessity for this, and the doing of it arises merely for want of distinguishing between the natural feelings, sin, and temptation. For instance, we may have received some unexpected unkindness-in this case we may be pained and grieved. In the same moment, we may be tempted to retaliate. We put it from us. It returns again and again. We still resist, and at last our victory is complete. During this storm our minds are thrown as into heaps, but we continue to exercise faith, and have the witness in ourselves, and when the calm succeeds, we sensibly feel, that by overcoming, instead of losing, we have gained much more

grace and happiness. In these spiritual conflicts the christian does not always find the same cause of triumph. In some of them he barely conquers, in others is more than conqueror; but, admitting that he conquers at all, on a close survey he is obliged thankfully to confess that though he seemed to have neither peace nor love, nor any of the fruits of the Spirit left, except this confidence that the witness still remains, (for he that believeth hath the witness in himself) yet he sees that great grace was upon him, and rejoices.

But supposing that by some sudden temptation or otherwise, you should be hurried into your former natural disposition, and by trifling, unguarded expressions, boasting, complaining, &c. you find that you have grieved the Holy Spirit, it does not follow because you have slipped down, that all your bones are broken, or that by one such transgression the whole body of sin is returned into your soul again; surely not. No degree of piety destroys our free agency; and as here we know but in part; are often pressed down with the corruptible body; and few get as much established in grace as they should do; it is not at all surprising, that the mind should at times be crushed and baffled by the misrepresentations, urgings, and repeated attacks of our malicious adversary and his agents.

On such an occasion fall down before God in deep humiliation, and without attempting to extenuate or cover your offence, sue for pardon through the infinite merit of the Lord Jesus. Do not stop looking at what you have fallen over without attempting through fear or shame to arise; fly to the blood of sprinkling, bewail your weaknesses, and pray for the healing power. Remember St. John's words, "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the propitiation for our sins and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole world.""

While you thus stand reproved for your faults, be encou raged by Divine goodness still to proceed in the path of duty.