O wretched state of deep despair,
To see my God remove,

And fix my doleful station where
I could not taste his love.

FOURTHLY.-Let us now consider what means are neces sary and proper for you to adopt to avoid deception. Dwell upon the subject. Ponder it deeply. Let it take hold upon your mind, and your mind take hold upon it. Let it not be dismissed from you with the same ease as you send into oblivion many other subjects of a religious nature. It is unusually momentous, and has an awfulness about it far beyond the usual topics of reflection. The very idea is terrific, a self-deceived professor; a professor going to perdition! The frequency of it makes it still more alarming. If it were only a bare possibility, an occurrence that might exist, yet that rarely did exist, it would still demand our serious attention-but when it is so common, that it is to be feared there is scarcely any church in which there are not some in this situation, and no large church in which there are not many, how serious, how alarming a matter does it become!

You should bring the matter home to yourselves, and admit not only the possibility of the danger in the abstract, or in reference to others, but in reference to you. Your profession does not necessarily imply the actual possession of religion. You must not receive it as evidence that you are Christians. In those moments, and such it is presumed you spend, when with more than usual anxiety you ask the question, “Am I really a child of God?" it is not enough to reply, "I am a professor:" for this in any state of the church, and especially the present one, is not a proof, scarcely a presumption, that you are born again of the Spirit. It is possible then, that you may be deceived, and you should not imagine that there is any thing in your circumstances to render the idea inapplica. ble to you.

You should dread the thought of being deluded. Its fearful consequences should be solemnly meditated upon, seriously and piously revolved. It should be often said, with holy trembling, "Oh, if I should be at last deceived!

You should examine your state, frequently, deliberately, solemnly, and impartially. Time should be set apart, occasionally, for the special purpose of prayer and self-scrutiny. You should have times and opportunities of more than usual length and earnestness for self-examination, when you should look again, and with more intenseness, upon your evidences of personal religion. When your former and your present state, your supposed conversion, your conduct, and the state of your affections, shall all come under review,-when with a wish not to be deceived, you shall ask yourselves for the reasons of the hope that is in you. It is too important a matter to be taken for granted; the consequences of deception are too awful and remediless to be carelessly risked.

Nor is it enough to trust to your own examination. Aware of the deceitfulness of the human heart, and our proneness through self-love to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think, and at the same time recollecting how much interest we have in believing we are right, you should beseech God to make known to you your real condition. You should carry to him the prayer of David, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."-Psalm, cxxxix. 23, 24. You should deal honestly with God, and tell him that you wish to know your state, and that you deprecate as the heaviest judgment that could befall you, being deceived.

If you have reason, upon examination, to think you have taken up a false opinion of your case, do not blind yourselves to your condition; do not conclude against evidence, that you are safe; do not attempt to silence the voice of con

science or corrupt its testimony: this is worse than useless, it is most alarmingly dangerous, and is the last stage of the delusion. Instead of this, begin afresh. What is to hinder you? If you are not converted, you may be. Let not the idea of a false profession throw you into despondency. God is as willing to forgive the sin of a false profession as the sin of no profession. The blood of Jesus Christ can cleanse you from this sin. Now repent, now believe, now hope, now love. God waits to be gracious even yet. It is not too late to be renewed yet. The door of mercy is not closed yet. Sincerity of profession is not beyond your reach yet. Begin to be in earnest. Determine to trifle no longer. Set apart time for private prayer, reading the scriptures, and holy meditation. Be diligent in attendance upon the public means of grace. Make a fresh and entire surrender of yourself to God. But especially look by faith to Jesus Christ, for the pardon of your past insincerity, lukewarmness, and worldliness. Be humble, very humble in your own eyes, and before God; but still do not despair. Exercise dependance upon the Spirit of all grace, confide in his power, and rely upon his mercy. Be thankful that since you were in error, you have discovered it, and have not been permitted to go on in darkness till you had stumbled over the precipice into the yawning pit of destruction below.

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If, upon examination, you have good reason to think all is right, rejoice in Christ Jesus. Let the peace of God which passeth all understanding, rule in your hearts, to which ye are called, and be thankful. ye Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God, speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem." This discourse is intended not to disturb the of peace God's people, but to destroy the false confidence of his disguised foes. There are two classes of professors to whom the alarming appeals of it do not apply; the first, are those eminent Christians who have the fullest assurance of hope, and whose assurance is sustained by the joy of faith, the obe

dience of love, and the patience and purity of hope: whose religion is so vigorous and influential as to be self-evident to themselves and others. They have scarcely need to ask the question, "Am I a child of God?" for the proofs of it are ever within them. Blessed state! happy Christians! and all are invited to become such. But there is another class who are not likely to be deceived; those who are truly, and sometimes sorrowfully, anxious about the matter; who are often trying themselves by the Word of God; who know, if they know any thing, they would not be deluded for ten thousand worlds; who, notwithstanding their many imperfections, their painful consciousness of defects, still know they do love the Lord Jesus Christ, though with too lukewarm an affection; who, notwithstanding all their doubts and fears, are conscious of a real and sometimes an intense longing after holiness. Be comforted, ye timid followers of the Lamb: self-deceivers are rarely afraid that this is their state and character. Dismiss your fears and go on your way rejoicing.

CHAPTER IV.

THE YOUNG PROFESSOR.

By the Young Professor, I mean the person lately converted, and who has but recently assumed the Christian name, whether in the morning or the meridian of his days. I cannot do better than submit to the consideration of such persons, the following judicious advice given by the justly celebrated Jonathan Edwards, of America, to a young lady, who had just commenced the life of faith.

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'My dear young Friend,

As you desired me to send you, in writing, some directions how to conduct yourself in your Christian course, I would now answer your request. The sweet remembrance of the great things I have lately seen at S, inclines me to do any thing in my power, to contribute to the spiritual joy and prosperity of God's people there.

"1. I would advise you to keep up as great a strife and earnestness in religion as if you knew yourself to be in a state of nature, and were seeking conversion. We advise persons under conviction, to be earnest and violent for the kingdom of heaven; but when they have attained to conversion, they ought not to be the less watchful, laborious, and earnest in the whole work of religion; but the more so, for they are under infinitely greater obligations. For want of this, many persons, in a few months after their conversion, have begun to lose their sweet and lively sense of spiritual things, and to grow cold and dark, and have 'pierced them