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GERM.
IX.j
THE HIDDEN
LIFE
OF
4
CFI3RI9TtAN.
155
ercises
of
,this
christian
life,
or the
springs and principles
of
it,
still
we
shall
find,it
has
just
,reason
to
be
called
a
secret,
or
a
hidden
life.
Before
I
proceed,
I
shall lay down these two
cautions.
lst. Caution.
Though it
is
a hidden
life,
yet
I
en-
,
-
treat
my
christian
friends,
that
they would not
suffer
it
to
be such
a
secret,
as
to be unknown
to,
themselves.
God
has
ordained
it to
be
hidden,
not
that
it might
al-
ways be
unknown
to you,
but
that
yòu might
search
at;
ter
it with
diligence
;
and
that
when you
find
yourselves
possessed
of
it,
you
might rejoice
la
the evidences
of
your
life
and
his love.
Be
not
satisfied then, O
ye pro..
fessors
of
the
gospel, :until you
have
searched
and
found
this
divine
life
within
'you..
What
a
poor
life
must
that
christian
live, who goes
from day to
day, and from
year
to
year,-
and
still
complains,
?
I know
not
whether
I
ani
alive
or
no
?
:
Labour,
therefore,
after
self
-
acquaintance,
since
God
has
been
pleased,
in
his
word,, to
furnish
us
with sufiîci-
ent
means to
find
out our
estate;
,1:Johxa.v.
13.
These
things
I
write
unto
yea,-
says
the apostle,
that
ye
may
believe
on
the name
of
the
Son
of
God,
and that
ye may.
know
that
ye believe.
It
is
a
dishonour
to
the
gospel
of
Christ,
to abide always
in
darkness
and
don
btings,
and'
to rest contented
in
so
uncomfortable a
fra,Irte
We
are
told
in
Rev.
ii.
17.
that
those
whose
life
iS
supported
by
this hidden manna, have
also a white
stone
given them,
with
a
new
name
in
it;
which no mad knows, save he
that
receives
it;
that
is,
they have
divine
absolution and
pardon of
their
sins,
which was
represented heretofore,
in
some
courts
of judicature,
by
the
gift
of
a
white
stone;
but
surely,
if
my own
name
were
written
in
it,
I
would use
my
utmost endeavours
to
read the
inscription
myself,
though
it
may he a
secret
to
the rest of mankind;
then
my
God
and Saviour
shall
have the
honour of
his
pardoning
love,
and then
my
soul shall enjoy the
conso.,
lation.
-2d
Caution. Though it
be
a
hidden
life in
the
sacred
operations and the
springs
of
it,
yet the world ought to
see the blessed effects
of
it.
We
must hold
forth
to men
the
word
of
life
;
Phil.
ii.
16,
Let
the
world, see,
that
we
live
to
God, and
that
by
the secret power
of
his word
in the
gospel.