God, and quenching the Spirit of God, and bringing on a state of doubt and darkness as the result, there can be no question. The word of God, in connection with the good man's experience, but too plainly teaches us this fact. But we see no reason to believe, that if at any time, the christian who had wandered from his duty, should humble himself before God, wait upon him, be in earnest, and employ diligently his best efforts to that end, he would not receive fresh light and comfort, and be strengthened anew to go on his way rejoicing. Why should God, in special sovereignty, withhold from his people a comfortable persuasion of their being his people, when they sincerely desire to know the truth on this point, and will take sufficient time and pains to gain that knowledge? Does it not seem more honorable to God, more in accordance with the free spirit of the gospel, and more consonant to the general experience of christians, that the Most High should always give his spirit to those who truly ask him; and that the Divine Comforter should so dwell with them, in the exercise of an enlightening and purifying influence upon their souls, as to leave no necessity, ordinarily, if at all, of their walking in darkness, and having little or no evidence of their piety. Men may, indeed, $0. misapprehend the evidence of christian character, through wrong views of the nature of true piety; or may be so under the influence of a constitutional tendency to gloom and melancholy; or may be in such a state of declension even from their own ordinary standing as christians, and so willing to remain in that state; that it may be difficult for them at once to rise out of that condition, and become immediately, established, confirmed, cheerful christians. But in a sound state of mind and body, with proper instruction on this subject, and with a real desire and correspondent endeavors to live near to God, and thus to acquire a knowledge of their true character, christians with few exceptions, we think, might enjoy satisfactory evidence of their being children of God, evidence which would leave little or no doubt of the fact. How desirable such a state of mind would be, under all the diversified circumstances of this world of trial, we may take occasion to notice hereafter. All that we are here led to say of it is, that whatever enjoyment there may be in such a state of mind, it is one which no well instructed and faithful child of God, need despair of attaining. Reader is this your state of mind? If not, ask yourself who is in fault? And be faithful to your soul in the answer which you give.

5. It is a frequent error with doubting christians, to spend too much time in direct efforts to ascertain their spiritual condition. That kind of self-examination which searches out our besetting sins and temptations, for the sake of resisting them, cannot be prac

ticed too much. But there is a kind of self-examination, a per petual, anxious agitation of the question "Am I a christian? which defeats itself. It checks our growth in grace, and prevent the affections from going forth to God and the interests of hi kingdom, by fixing our thoughts upon ourselves. The mental ac tivity which should be spent in making evidence of piety is waste in looking after it; and the only effect is to produce mental wea riness, without at all answering the end in view. Hours, and days may be spent in a painful, forced examination of ourselves and the whole result be, that not a particle of new light is gained. The mind remains just where it was before, in all its darkness and distress; or wearied out in the effort, is brought lower perhaps than ever, by its unavailing and misdirected labor. Never, we believe, will the burdened soul find rest from such a state, till it learns to forget self, to go out of the narrow circle of its own anxieties and doubts, and dwell on the perfections of God and the transcendent glories of the plan of redemption ;-to dwell on the interests of our fellow beings, the value of their souls, and the motives to labor for their salvation, till the heart gushes out in tenderness over them, in gratitude to Christ, in devotedness to God, and we see at a glance that we are indeed his children.

Laying aside these misapprehensions, then, as to the evidence of our piety and the mode of gaining it, we would press the question again, before we leave this part of the subject, is there any thing in the nature of the case, which renders assurance unattainable at the present day, or which should discourage any one from attempting to obtain it? And here we have simply two questions to consider. Is there any thing in the nature of a predominant choice or purpose of the soul, to prevent us from knowing within a moderate space of time, what is the true state of our hearts? On no subject but religion, certainly, is there felt to be any difficulty in this respect. The soldier and the civilian, the poet and the painter, the man of business and the man of pleasure, can all tell us, towards what classes of objects their chief inclinations lie. They know where they find their chief happiness; in what course of action they are best satisfied and pleased; what they principally love, and what they hate. But is this true of men's feelings towards the great objects of worldly pursuit, among which there is no such difference in their nature, as to suppose any radical change of heart in transferring the affections from one object to another? How much more emphatically is it true then, when the objects between which the choice is to be made, are so widely different, as the Infinite Jehovah and the good of his everlasting kingdom on the one hand, and the world or some selfish interest on the other!

We are brought then to our second question. Is there any thing, in the nature of God and in the good of his kingdom, considered as the objects of our supreme choice, which should forbid the idea of their being known to us in this character? The supposition would be impious. If we are incompetent to decide whether our affections are supremely placed upon the living God and his kingdom, in distinction from their being placed upon the passing vanities of time and sense, why has God required it? What can we know at all respecting our real characters? How can conscience decide on the actions of our lives? What duty, then, can be more obvious and imperative, than that of attaining to the full assurance of hope!

We pass now to consider some motives for aiming at such an assurance, derived from the character of the age and country in which we live.

The spirit of the present age both favors and demands those high attainments in piety, which would justify such an assurance; -particularly on the part of christians in this land. It is an age of bold and independent research. Authority, prescription, the force of custom, are yielding before the irresistible progress of free and fearless investigation. The results who can foresee? There is a state of things coming on, which demands the restraining and conservative influence of a tone of christian principle, and of practical obedience to God, higher perhaps than was ever called for before. The men of this age and nation will think for themselves; it is emphatically their birthright, and we rejoice to see them disposed to claim and use it. Guided and restrained by the Spirit of Jehovah, all will go on safely and prosperously. The spirit of this age will work only to produce sublime and glorious results. Freedom will bless the nations. Light will be diffused. Christianity will spread. The march of events will only serve to bring on the consummation of the church's triumph upon earth. But, if God takes off his hand, and lets the mighty machinery now in operation go on without the guiding and tempering care of no common piety in the church, it must, we all know, work tremendous effects. Christians are therefore called upon to be eminently faithful; and to take just that attitude, which they would maintain under the influence of an assured confidence in God, a steadfast, unwavering piety. It is no hesitating, half way christians, that the church wants at this day. She needs decided men, fully equipped and unshrinking soldiers. of the cross. And such christians the spirit of the times is in many respects admirably adapted to produce. There is every advantage now for becoming intelligent, established, assured disciples of the Redeemer. Such times as ours will make such VOL. IV

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christians, if the spirit of the age is allowed to exert its appropriate influence on the church of Christ. It will call into action just such principles as the crisis demands. And if there are any christians on earth, whom it especially concerns to improve the high privileges which the present period of the world furnishes, it is the friends of the Redeemer in this country. One century hence, or even in half that period, and what a spectacle will this nation present! and what an influence may the American church then be exerting upon the welfare of mankind, if in the mean time, she is true to God and her own best interests!

These considerations derive an additional interest from the character of our political institutions. In the strict sense of the term, we are the only people on earth who govern themselves. Unless we do it in the spirit of the gospel, our privileges will be converted into a withering curse,-the unexampled means which we possess of benefiting mankind, into a portentous instrument of evil. How amazing then is the responsibility under which the christian churches of this land are now lying, to exhibit in high perfection, the excellence and the energy of the principles which they profess. How much do we in fact need just this sort of influence, to harmonize local and jarring interests, and to obviate any tendencies that may arise, or that may already exist, towards exasperated and permanent sectional jealousies and discontents. Now the inquiry is,-and a momentous one certainly,-what are the American churches to do? What attitude are they to take? How are they to bring their influence to bear most effectually, upon the great moral crisis that is coming on? The answer, we think, is a short one. It is to cultivate more of that benignant and assured piety, which carries its own evidence along with it, and shines in its own pure and holy brightness.

We would advert for a moment to another consideration,-the unexampled career of temporal prosperity which this nation is running. How much reason is there to fear, that it may engender a spirit of national pride and self-confidence, which will prove our ruin! Less than half a century has elapsed, since this nation emerged from a long and exhausting struggle for its independence, and took its acknowledged rank among other independent states. How astonishing the change! A population of thirteen millions, and doubling at very short intervals. A national domain of almost unlimited extent. Vast physical resources which have, as yet, hardly begun to be developed. A mass of mind possessed of giant energies. A commerce which spreads its canvass on every sea. A name and a glory which are the envy of the age. Our national debt on the point of being extinguished, and a revenue far surpassing any ordinary peace expenditure required by the exigences of the government.

Now is there nothing to be apprehended from such a floodtide of prosperity, as is rolling in upon us? Nothing from such a rapid growth from dependence and debility, to affluence, and power, and greatness? In other countries, national pride and self-confidence have been the uniform result of such a state of things. The fostering care of heaven, being unacknowledged and disregarded, has been at length withdrawn; and provocation upon provocation has finally called down from on high the slow, but sure retribution of ingratitude and perfidy towards the Supreme Ruler of nations. And where, it is pertinent to ask in season, is the remedy? In a country like ours, is there any known cause, which promises to be an effectual barrier to the evils contemplated, unless it is that spirit of eminent holiness among the people, which we have urged in these pages. The ordinary standard of piety, will not suffice. What might suffice in other lands, will not suffice here. Other lands may be more exposed to other evils; but there is no country on earth, which has the half to fear that we have, from the rapid augmentation of wealth and power and their various temptations.

We need not dwell on those corrupt religious principles which are already so prevalent among us, as the natural consequence of this prosperity. Infidelity, universalism, and the various forms of a spurious christianity, are becoming more bold, active, and unwearied in their exertions. They are rapidly obtaining those means of influence over the public mind, which property, and talents, and station always confer. The attitude in which religion is presented in this country, as associated with revivals, missionary exertions, and the temperance reformation, is peculiarly calculated to call into open and organized opposition, all the latent bitterness and infidelity of the human heart. We must, therefore, expect to see the line more definitely drawn, which separates the friends from the enemies of Christ. True christianity will never become the religion of this land, without a severe and protracted conflict. Real christians must prepare themselves to stand forth without reproach, in the presence of criticising, scoffing, exasperated opponents. The people of God can never keep their hold on the understandings and hearts of this community, without a purity of life, an elevation above the power of worldly principles, a meekness under injury and reproach, a spirit of self-denial for the good of others, and an absorbing anxiety for the salvation of souls, which shall carry them very far back in character, towards the times of the apostles. It was thus that primitive christianity fought its way into confidence and favor, by securing to itself a testimony in the hearts and consciences of its bitterest opposers.

But, do the circumstances of the times give occasion for de