NOW OR NEVER. 181 read and consider, and take advice of faithful guides. Canst thou carelessly sleep, and laugh, and sport, and follow thy business, as if thy salvation were made sure, when thou knowest not where thou must dwell for ever? " Examine yourselves whether you be in the faith; prove yourselves; know ye not your own selves, that Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates ?" " Give all diligence to make your calling and election sure." In the grave and hell there is no making sure of heaven; you are then past inquiries and self-examination, in order to any recovery or hope. Another kind of trial will finally resolve you. It must be now or never. 10. In all the duties ofthy profession of piety, justice, or charity, to God, thyself, or others, up and be doing with thy might. Art thou seeking to inflame thy soul with love to God? Plunge thyself in the ocean of his love; admire his mercies; gaze upon the representations of his transcendent goodness; " 0 taste and see that the Lord is gracious!" Remember that he must be loved with all thy heart, and soul, and might; canst thou pour out thy love upon a creature, and give but a few barren drops to God? When thou art fearing, let his fear command thy soul, and conquer all the fear of man. When thou art trusting him, do it without distrust, and cast all thy care and thyselfupon him: trust him as a creature should trust his God, and the members of Christ should trust their head and dear Redeemer. When thou art making mention of his great and dreadful name, 0 do it with reverence, and awe, and admiration: and " take not the name of God in vain!" When thou art reading his word, let the majesty of the Author, and the greatness of the matter, and the gravity of the style, possess thee with an obedient fear. Love it, and let it be sweeter to thee than the honey-comb, and more precious than thousands of gold and silver. Resolve to do what there thou findest to be the will of God.
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