foregoing may be confirmed. The heart, we are told in the Scriptures, (and we know it from sad experience,) is deceitful above all things; we cannot rely on it alone, for a token of our being alive unto God through the influence of the Holy Spirit: indeed, we often see men miserably mistaken from this very error: because they are content with their inward feelings-their religious impressions alone they would tell you, (were you to speak with them on this subject,)" that their heart is in the right place, that they have no doubt their salvation:" "that nothing shall separate them from the love of Christ;" while at the same time they are not always careful to show their love in the right way; by the sobriety and holiness of their lives. And yet it is here, my brethren, that the surest evidence of the Holy Spirit's power is to be looked for; in our words-and in our works: by these a man is known as surely as a tree is known by its fruit-" A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things."

And how is it with ourselves as to these two points? What token do we give of the Spirit's presence by our words? Alas! I fear that we often testify against ourselves that we have not received Him; we often prove, by our hasty, our angry, our

unkind expressions; to say nothing of profane and impious conversation; that we are unsanctified in heart; that we are very far from having attained to that purity of speech, which becometh Christians, and which is required of us by our Lord. Remember how strongly He condemned the use of violent and improper language-"I say unto you let your communication be yea, yea, nay, nay, for whatsoever be more than these cometh of evil."

Again; and this is the last mark I shall bring forward this afternoon,-the evidence of the Holy Spirit must be sought for in our actions. Though our language be ever so good, yet if our actions contradict our words, our words themselves will soon be thought hollow and untrue; and we shall be exposed to the censure addressed by St. Paul to those," who professing to know God yet in works denied Him;" but it cannot so happen with our actions; they are a sure testimony to which our conscience may appeal: at any rate the risk of being deceived in them is far less than in our words: if they are of a kind such as God's word enjoins; if they are done in the spirit of His holy fear; then may we hope that the source from whence they spring is the right one; that the Spirit of God dwelleth in us, and that "he doeth the works."

I have now produced three tests, or marks, by

which we may try, each for himself, whether we have received the Holy Ghost: these marks are, I. The state of our hearts: II. The tone of our conversation: III. The general conduct of our lives.

Examine yourselves, my brethren, in all these three particulars, before you attempt to answer the question proposed in the text; examine your hearts narrowly and impartially; search out your spirits, search, and see, whether you are conscious of loving God, more than you love the things of this present world, and of fearing God more than you fear your fellow men when I say we are to search and inquire whether we love God first and before all things, do not suppose that such love is inconsis-. tent with, or excludes the love that we owe to one another; on the contrary, the love of God and the love of our neighbour spring from one and the same source; they are both shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost; we cannot love the one and hate the other: we cannot have any true piety, any lively feeling of devotion towards our Maker, so long as we harbour ill-will and animosity towards our brethren.

Search for the Spirit then in the feelings which animate your hearts,-feelings of love both towards God, and towards men. Search for Him also in that which proceeds out of the abundance of the

heart in the words that you speak, in your daily, hourly conversation; watch the door of your lips, see if that which issues from them be clean, sanctified, and fit for the Master's use. Lastly, if you would understand the true state of your souls, look for the mark of the Holy Spirit in the improved course of your lives: examine what progress you are making in godliness, what ground you have gained upon your sins, what conquest you have obtained over your evil tempers; what bad habits you have broken off; what better practice you have begun; how far you have got rid of, are disentangled from your former conversation; from the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; in what measure you have " put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness:" in other words, mark well how many of these works, not of the Spirit, but of the flesh, you have put off," anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, evil communication, fornication, uncleanness, covetousness, envyings, drunkenness," and the like; and how many of these you have put on in their stead-put on as men who possess the knowledge of the true God are called upon to do"bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, faith, meekness, temperance, charity," and a peace-. able disposition towards all: these are the true

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fruits of the blessed Spirit, and when they are wanting we are nothing.

Let no man deceive you, my brethren, on so important a question as this is; we cannot please God unless we have His Holy Spirit, and there is no proof of our having received that Spirit unless we walk according to the law of the Spirit. It is not the boasting of His presence, it is not the confident assertion that we are sealed by Him to the day of redemption, that we can trust to, as an infallible security, that we are so blessed. No; the sign of our deliverance from the bondage of our carnal nature, the true mark of the Holy Ghost's dwelling in us, will be seen in this, in every instance that we give of subdued lust, or conquered passion, in every humble, lowly thought of our own unworthiness; in every pang that we feel for our sins; in every yearning of our hearts towards God, and in every act of our daily duty honestly and cheerfully performed.

Having said thus much upon the marks of the Holy Spirit's presence; having urged upon you the importance of inquiring whether such tokens are to be found in yourselves; I will now go on to add a few remarks upon the second point I purposed to consider, viz. the means by which the Holy Spirit's aid is to be sought for and secured.