WRITINGS OF MEN.

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have perhaps occurred to the mind of every inquirer on the same subject; and very probably they have often been satisfactorily answered by able writers. This is a common error of young inquirers. They are apt to think others take things upon trust, and that they are the only persons who have thought of the difficulties which start up in their minds. But, when their reading becomes more extensive, they learn, with shame, that what appeared to them original thought, was only reviving old cast-off opinions.

III. Use such helps as you can obtain. Read carefully selected and judicious authors, on doctrinal subjects. The advantages arising from the perusal of other books than the Scriptures, to obtain doctrinal knowledge, are these: 1. We may profit by the experience of others. We see how the difficulties which arise in our own minds appeared to them, and how they solved them. We learn, also, that our difficulties with commonly received opinions are not new; but that they have before occurred to the minds of others who, nevertheless, after examination, have retained these opinions. This may prevent us from hastily rejecting any doctrine without thorough examination. 2. Much light may be thrown upon many difficult passages of Scripture, by an intimate acquaintance with the times and circumstances in which they were written; and men who undertake to write on

* See Appendix, H.

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AID OF THE SPIRIT.

such subjects generally search deeply into these matters. 3. God has been pleased, in every age, to raise up men "mighty in the Scriptures." By the extraordinary powers of mind which he has given them, they may have clearer perceptions of divine truth than we are able to obtain by the exertion of our own faculties alone.

We may also

employ the sermons which we hear, for an increase of doctrinal knowledge, as well as an excitement to the performance of duty. But all these things must be invariably brought to the test of God's word. We are commanded to 66 try the spirits, whether they be of God." Do not take the opinions of men upon trust. Compare them diligently with the word of God, and do not receive them till you are convinced that they agree with this unerring standard. Make this your text-book; and only use others to assist you in coming to a right understanding of this.

IV. In all your researches after doctrinal knowledge, seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Make it a subject of daily prayer, that God would enable you to understand his word, that you may be "rooted and grounded in the faith." The influences of the Holy Spirit are twofold. He enlightens the understanding, to lead it into a correct knowledge of the truth; and he applies the truth, to the sanctification of the heart. Pray diligently that you may have both. If you persevere in the proper observance of this direction, you cannot fail to profit by the others. But, if you neglect this,

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your pursuit of doctrinal knowledge will serve only as food for your pride, self-confidence, and vainglory, and exert a blighting influence upon your soul.

CHAPTER III.

NATURE AND EFFECTS OF TRUE RELIGION.

"And he [the righteous] shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season: his leaf shall not wither."-Ps. i. 3.

"Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is: for he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.” — JER. xvii. 7, 8.

In the first chapter I spoke of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, as represented by our Lord, under the similitude of a living spring. In the last, I endeavored to show that the operation of the Spirit of God upon the heart is inseparably connected with the truth. My present object will be to show the effects produced by both these operating together. This is most beautifully described in the passages quoted above. Here the Christian is represented under the similitude of a tree planted by the rivers of water. The grace of God, or the Holy Spirit acting in unison with the word, to carry on the great work of regeneration and sanctification in the soul, is represented by the constant flowing of rivers of water. This shows the abun dance of the provision. But a tree may stand so

THE TREE BY THE RIVER.

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near a river as to be watered when it overflows its banks; and yet, if its roots only spread over the surface of the ground, and do not reach the bed of the river, it will wither in a time of drought. This aptly represents those who appear engaged and in earnest only during remarkable outpourings of the Spirit. They are all alive and full of zeal when the river overflows; but, when it returns to its ordinary channel, their leaf withers; and, if a long season of spiritual drought follows, they become dry and barren, so that no appearance of spiritual life remains. But mark how different the description of the true child of God: "He shall be as a tree planted by the rivers of water." This figure appears to have been taken from the practice of cultivating trees. They are removed from the wild state in which they spring up, and their roots firmly fixed in a spot of ground cultivated and prepared to facilitate their growth. This planting well represents the fixed state of the renewed soul, as it settles down in entire dependence upon the word and Spirit of God for nourishment and growth in grace. But the figure is carried out still farther," and spreadeth out her roots by the river." When the roots of the tree are spread out along the bed of the river, it will always be supplied with water, even when the river is low. This steadiness of Christian character is elsewhere spoken of under a similar figure: "The root of the righteous shall not be moved." "He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root."