Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-09-20

possibly be right yet were it not probable
he would be deceived! Theaprlication may
safely be left TO the judicious reader.
| pass on, then, to some other tess ofour
spiritual safety, which are OF palmer, a
more practical, and conceive, Of a more
scriptural kind; promising, however, that
they are wholly and essentially different
from the grounds of our acceptance with
God, and therefore to be carefully disin-
guishcd from them. One OF the mos sails
factory, because the most tangible, ofthese
tests, is that lore Of the brethren which is
mentioned by the Apostle John, Il John iii.
H. ave know that we have passed from
death unto life, because we love the breth-
rcn." Here, il any where, we may reach
the point ofccr"ainiv. For by nature, as
':cncmies to God" we are. s'aIiens from the
commonwealth OF israeli" and count the
society OF saints Il burthen rather than a
privilege. Accordingly, when a lady Of
rank, after a spiritual change had been
wrought in her by divine grace, once met
the sainted Wilberiorcc at Barley-W ood,
she was suddenly so much affected as to
shed many tears, and that at the painful re-
collection Of having once abhored his very
name. When, therefore, she loved and
honored it, was not that change Of feeling at
least a presumptive proof Of a correspond.
ing change OF character and condition be.
fore God
Not, however, that any one scri plural ev-
idence of our interest in Christ is either to
be overlooked or undcrvalued. What God
has taught man must implicitly receive {:
what the Lord values man must in no wise
disregard. Prayer, therefore, when pro-
ccedng from the heart, and directed to the
great objects ofreconcilationt to God through
the blood of Jesus, Of conversion by his
Holy Spirit, and of consistent Christian
life, must be his Immediate work, and on
that account is an index OF our participation
Of the rich blessings ofthe Gospel covenant.
AS such it was clearly recognized by God
himsclfin the instance OF the great apostle,
Acts tx. IL. And the more this grace is
exercised, especially i'll the season Of temp
tation, or in the hour of sorrow, the more
cause have we to rest satisfied that the
Lord has mcrcifully taught us how to
pray. Ispcak not ofour devotional frames
or feelings. They vary even in the best.
Yet however dull our affections at throne
of grace, if still we pray like David, (Ps.
cxix. 25,) "My soul clcaveth unto the dust;
quicken thou me according to thy word, "
is not this petition an evidence that we are
taught of God, and adopted as his dear chill
dren! Never does man Of this world
mourn secretly before God over such fail
ures in devotion, nor implore such spiritual
recovery as blessing ofthe highest order.
How closely the beatitudes are connected
with that spiritual safety | have noticed, is |
conceive, sufficiently clear TO all who im-
partiallv regard them. | have indeed heard
it asked, "Did the dying thief possess these
evidences of his satety?" Admit that he
did not visibly or confessedly possess them;
vet who will deny that they were implanted
in him by the Holy Spirit, and that they did
exist, however feebly or imperceptibly, in
his then contrite breast? His, however,
was case ofno ordinary occurrence. Af-
ter all, the beatitudes are unmeaning, if we
are not permitted, and even required, to ask,
in order to decide the question Of our lnd-
vidual interest in the blood of Christ.-Am
| meek, poor in spirit. and especially pure
in heart. &c. &c. Notwithstanding that
impurity which clcaves to the most exalted
earthly saint, there is comparative purify
imputed to him by the Spirit, as appears by
certain passages in the holy Scripture. Heb.
ii. ii; viii. 10 : Phil. H.. ). If, therefore, it
is the fixed and intense desire Of our hearts
that God would cleanse their very thoughts
BY the inspiration ofhis Holy Spirit (prayer
before the communion SERVICE have we not
an abundant proof that we are made ''new
creatures" and consequently are in Christ
Jesus
In the third chapter of the first cpistle of
ST. john and third verse, the question now
under discussion is very simply and practi.
cally decided. Every man that hath this
hope in him puriie:hhlmself, even as he is
pure" "He that committe-h sin softhe dev-
H." On that love fthe brethren which isnext
insisted on by the apostle, have already
dwet. The whole chapter ought indeed, to
be seriously studied both by those who have
hitherto been distressed from want of some
sufficient evidence of their saving union with
Christ, and by those who would confne
such evidence within the limits Of that in
ward testimony which the Spirit generally
means in the safety ofthe true believer.
Nor is it uninportant to remark with what
tenderness the Lord speaks to those whom
he has not vet enriched with the full assur-
ance of faith. He does not, like some pi-
Gus, bur, alas misjudging men, charge such
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