Ghost. True faith is not only a certain knowledge, whereby I hold for truth all that God has revealed to us in his word, but also an assured confidence, which the Holy Ghost works by the Gospel in my heart, that not only to others, but to me also, remission of sins, everlasting righteousness, and salvation, are freely given by God, merely of grace, only for the sake of Christ's merits."

This is strong language, and should have a solid foundation, or we must set down the man for a hypocrite, and erect a pillar in the way, lest any pilgrim be encouraged by his example to a like presumption. To test his right to such a confidence, let us arraign him before us, and try him by his own words; let us see whether he has given us a reason for the hope that is in him, with meekness and fear, or in the pride and presumption of a wicked heart. "Sir, what do you mean by 'assured confidence?" Without hesitation he will tell us that he means a hearty, full, and certain persuasion that God is a reconciled Father to him in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son-that he embraces the promises of God with entire satisfaction, great comfort, and perfect peace.

Right or wrong, there are such men to be found, and have been for these thousands of years past, "who stagger not at the promise through unbelief; but are strong in faith, giving glory to God." Let them have their peace and comfort, let them enjoy

their rest, if they can only show that they are not building their house upon the sand. If they cannot, as we love the souls of men, we will sound the alarm, and warn all here against such a faith; but if they can, we will lie down and sleep by their side in that sweet, quiet, refreshing sleep, which God "giveth his beloved."

Let us question further. "Sir, upon what does this confidence rest? What is there in your heart and life on which you can justly found a hope like this?" The man is silent, and looks sadly at us, for he sees that we have mistaken him, and fears that we have mistaken the Gospel too. He had not said a word of his own experience as the ground of hope. He never thought of looking to himself for comfort. He supposed we were inquiring about his faith in Christ. Yet, if we press him, he will give a modest answer. "I am a poor, weak, unworthy sinner. I see in myself much corruption and great guilt; but the blood of Jesus Christ was shed for sinners, and blessed be his name, it cleanseth from all sin. This forgiveness has been freely given me by God, merely of grace, only for the sake of Christ's merits. Since it was so given, unworthy as I was, I could not refuse it; and now to Christ I look, and on him I fully depend for all good."

"But have you truly believed the Gospel?" It seems rather an unnecessary question, since he is so

evidently making use of the Gospel for the very purposes for which it was intended, and what is that but believing it? "Oh yes!" he will say, "why should I not believe it? How can I help believing it? It is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.

This

is the sole foundation of peace, and joy, and hope to my soul. There is an assured confidence, wrought by the Gospel in my heart, that not only to others, but to me also, remission of sins is freely given.'

We cannot drive him from his words. He cannot speak less confidently. He evidently knows nothing of faith but this. We must try him by the unfailing test of Scripture. "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."

But let us understand clearly what he means. It is not an 66 assurance of sense," "an assurance of hope," "an assurance of grace and salvation," as it has been variously called, that he here claims, but a pure and strict assurance of faith. It is unquestionably a strong and undoubting faith. This is not a faith just within the borders of salvation-not the faith of one who has built on the foundation of Jesus Christ with “wood, hay, stubble," and shall be saved "so as by fire"--but the faith of one walking in the clear and unclouded light of the Sun of Righteousness. It is the faith of one who has "given

diligence to make his calling and election sure," by confidently accepting and appropriating the unspeakable gift of God, and fearlessly relying on his sincerity, faithfulness, power, and grace, and claiming for his own, in present right, by God's grant, everlasting righteousness and salvation. And yet it is a humble and self-disclaiming faith. It sees no worthiness in self. Did any one ever more emphatically disclaim all dependence on personal desert, than this man does, when he rejoices in salvation, as "freely given of God, merely of grace, only for the sake of Christ's merits ?" There can be very little pride in the heart that so rejoices in such a salvation. This is no Pharisee-a publican rather, for every word is a virtual acknowledgment of his own entire sinfulness. It is also a simple and direct faith that he expresses. No part of his confidence arises from the discovery of grace in his own heart. He may have made such discoveries; this faith may have been very fruitful in good works, and he may have received some pleasant confirmation of his hope in experience; but this is not the place to speak of such things. The character and direction of his faith are not changed by such results; he does not feel that he has any thing that he can associate with Christ as a ground of hope, or any thing that gives him a better right to rely confidently on Christ, than he had at first. It is a faith "which the Holy Ghost works by the Gospel in my heart,"

based solely upon the testimony of God concerning his Son, which his heart has been opened by the Holy Spirit to receive. His eye is upon the great Mediator, and his language, "I know whom I have believed, and that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day." His soul has obtained a full, firm confidence of forgiveness and salvation immediately from the Gospel, and in that confidence rejoices.

There can be no question that this must be a very delightful faith, if one may venture to entertain it. As its evidence is not variable, but "the same yesterday, to-day, and forever," it is probable that it will not be subject to the remissions and intermissions-that it will be less spasmodic and unequal than the form of faith which depends for its confidence on secondary evidence. If he is a hypocrite, the poor man will fare hardly at the last, woe to him, but he is sure of a happy life. Such a faith will be bright sunshine on one's path, even if it end in darkness.

If, however, it is not safe and sanctifying; if it goes beyond the privilege of the creature; if it is making too free with the riches of God's grace; if he intends that we shall ever stand trembling as slaves or culprits before the throne, then let us carry out his intention, and wash our hands of all that may frustrate it. God's will be done, if the world perish!

But it may be, that upon a resort to the Holy