feelings, nor any compulsion on the judgment; but there is a spontaneous effusion of holy affections, a voluntary homage of the heart; and subjects once regarded with indifference, if not with aversion, now absorb every faculty of the soul. In proportion as the Lord is pleased by his grace thus to pour into our hearts good desires, so shall we be spiritually minded, and enjoy peace and hope and love, walking in sweet obedience to the will of God, and in conformity to the image of his dear Son. And the more simply and entirely the heart is yielded up to God, waiting for the continual renewal of his Holy Spirit, the more tranquillity and repose of mind will be enjoyed. "His yoke is easy and his burden is light." "His soul is kept in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on God, because he trusteth in Him."

But greatly will the christian be deceived if he expect at all times to maintain that equanimity. The calm and unruffled surface of the deep, which we contemplate to-day spreading out its smooth bosom to the rays of the summer's sun, is to-morrow heaving high its ponderous waves, towering in foaming billows, and bursting with fury on the shore; and so the believer : many a tempest sweeps over his heart, and his spiritual horizon is often overcast with clouds: Satan will return on him with fierce temptations, faith may be shaken, and comfort interrupted but the Lord his God, and Messiah

his prince, will not suffer the conquered enemy to resume his evil sway; in every temptation there shall be a way of escape: and by blessed experience the christian warrior shall know the truth of that declaration of St. John, "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." * Assured of ultimate success, he fights his way, relying on the unerring promise, "The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly." Such is the victory which the Saviour achieves over the strong man, in the heart of every one of his people.

How many important and interesting topics of self-examination arise out of this subject! Is my heart the renewed and sanctified dwelling-place of the Most High, or is it the dungeon of Satan, where evil passions and corrupt affections revel almost unrestrained? How fearful the alternative! There is no void heart; there is no soul untenanted; all are filled either with the good or with the evil spirit; God or Satan is there.

Of some persons, alas! there can be no doubt. The vicious and the profane, the unjust and the cruel, the dissipated and the persecutors of God's people ;—these are of the wicked one, for they do his works. "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. In this the children of God are manifest and the 1 John iv. 4. + Rom. xvi. 20.

children of the devil. Whosoever doeth not righteousness, is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother."* Such men are the servants and slaves of Satan. O that it would please God to open their eyes to a sense of their danger, and "give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth, that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will!" †

Of many others, however, we may stand in doubt and of themselves they may well be suspicious. They enjoy tranquillity of mind; but is it the peaceful fruit of the Spirit, or is it the carnal security of unconversion? They are not the slaves of any vice, nor is there any palpable deviation from correct conduct, by which we can discover that the chains of Satan are rivetted upon them. And yet there is an indifference about spiritual, and an eagerness about temporal things; an insensibility to the great truths of the gospel, and a devotedness to the world, together with a total absence of all spiritual conflict and exertion, which cannot but induce a suspicion that the enemy hath beguiled them; that they are reposing in false security; trusting to their own righteousness, and satisfied with their present portion. And how fearful is even a doubt upon a subject of such infinite moment! To suppose it possible for one instant that we are in Satan's + 2 Tim. ii. 26.

* John iii. 8, 10.

bondage, and the heirs of his everlasting perdition, how insupportable the idea! God Almighty grant that we may each one of us determine by his grace to solve these interesting questions; Whose servant am I? To which kingdom do I belong? Whither are my steps hurrying me? And may we never rest until we have made "our calling and election sure!"

FINALLY: To all who are engaged in this arduous conflict, and who indulge the hope that the Saviour's gentle sway is established in their hearts, this subject affords INSTRUCTION and CONSOLATION. INSTRUCTION ;-let them never forget the formidable character of that evil spirit with whom they have to contend: and let them remember that though he is cast out of their hearts, and is no longer their tyrant-master, he is still near at hand to harass, tempt, and destroy them. He is vigilant, envious, wicked; he thirsts for their souls, and pants for their destruction; he pursues them day and night, and anxiously "waits for their halting." How watchful then should they be! Ought they not to learn from their enemy, and imitate his unremitting vigilance? "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation." Their adversary is still "a strong man;" and if he find them slumbering at their post, how surely will he take advantage of them! On the other hand, this subject affords them INThey learn from it that if

FINITE CONSOLATION.

they have a deadly enemy, they have also a faithful friend, who is far mightier than their enemy. The strong man is stripped of his armour, the devil is subdued and chained, and he can have no power at all against the weakest of the servants of Jesus except as it is permitted him from on high. To tempt them, to harass, perplex, alarm, and sorely hinder them, is permitted him; but he cannot destroy, he cannot pluck them out of the hand of their great Captain. Unto Jesus is all power given in heaven and in earth-hell rolls along at his feet—the spirits in prison tremble at his frown-and to his people he saith, "He that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of mine eye!" With what holy security of faith, with what filial confidence may every ransomed sinner commit the keeping of his soul unto this faithful Saviour and Creator; assured that ere long we shall be more than conquerors through him that hath loved us, and given himself for us!"