put none but serious questions to yourselves, and would not dare to make a trifling reply.

2. Be particular too, in communing with your hearts.

"The spirit of a man," says Solomon," is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly." (Prov. xx. 21.) It is the custom and the fault of many, to give a hasty glance into their hearts, ask a few general questions, and then go away. But communing with our own hearts requires longer time and closer attention. It is not,

as I have observed before, an accidental salute, as we pass one another in a crowd; but it is a set visit, a meeting by appointment, an hour set apart on purpose for private, serious and particular conversation. 'Thou tellest me, O my soul, that all is well; but I cannot be easily satisfied. How was it under such an affliction, or under such a temptation, or in such a duty? Was I as humble, or as patient, or as circumspect, or as diligent, as I ought? God will bring every work into judgment: it is my desire to act in the same manner.'-Without this, we may often speak to our hearts, but we shall never get any useful information. We may see no evil, because we look not carefully for it; and because we see no evil we may think that there is none and we may die-( than which a more deplorable case there cannot possibly be)-I say, we may go out of the world, crying, Peace, Peace,' when sudden and everlasting destruction is near!

3. Be resolute in communing with your hearts. There is a natural backwardness to this serious and close conversation. I believe that every one who attempts it, finds it at first very difficult. difficult.

We

may speak to our hearts, and speak again; but they may give us no answer: conscience is sometimes fast asleep, and nothing that is said can rouse it into sensibility. This is a very dangerous state, how much soever some are pleased with it; and, foolishly mistaking stupidity for approbation, take encouragement hence to say, All is well.' Besides, when our hearts give an answer, it is not always to be depended upon: "for the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked." He, therefore, who trusteth his own heart, is a fool; for it is now as apt to deceive, and to be deceived, as ever. If, therefore, you would commune with your own hearts, you must be resolute. O my soul, I must have an answer: I cannot let thee go till I have obtained satisfaction.

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But it is not only in getting an answer that resolution is necessary, but also in examining whether the answer be true. If you hearken to any thing, and take only what is uppermost, which is usually a gilded show, you do but teach your hearts to deceive; and if you be so easily imposed upon, you will never want impostors. You should therefore resolutely pursue your first question:- O my soul, I am jealous over thee with a godly jealousy. Thou sayest Peace, Peace:' but art thou sure that it rests upon a solid foundation? Did God ever say,

Thy sins be forgiven thee?" If I be at peace with God, what have I to do any more with idols? There was that particular sin, which once did easily beset me-thou wast at one time greatly delighted with it; and it was not without the greatest difficulty that thou didst at last consent to let it go: didst thou never call it back is it still in exile? I

6

must know for if there be within thee any thing of this kind, thy cry of Peace,' is all a delusion.' You may think that there can be no great difficulty to find out this; but if earnest, you will find that necessary.

ever you attempt it in vigorous resolution is

I only add, commune with your hearts, 4. Rightly.

Take care that you do not judge of yourselves by a false measure. Weigh your actions and thoughts in the balance of the sanctuary: "For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves are not wise;". "for not he that commend

eth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth." (2 Cor. x. 12, 18.) It is very common for those who have communed a little with their hearts, to look abroad into the world; and, finding some who are worse than themselves, they pride themselves on their comparative goodness. But, instead of looking at others, we should examine the law and the testimony, for that will be the rule of the judg ment of God. "O my soul, let others be as bad or as good as they may, what is that to thee, if there be but one text in the Bible that condemns thee?' Always, therefore, commune with your hearts with the Bible in your hands-I mean, always have it ready, that if any difficulty occur you may refer to it to decide; and let its decisions be final; for where the word of God is clear and positive, we need not look for any further evidence. "And as

many as walk according to this rule, Peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God."

You

I trust that many of you will now commune with your own hearts, and that you will do it with more regularity and success. I wish I could hope the same of all; but I must not be so sanguine: some, notwithstanding all that has been said, are strangers, and will continue strangers, to themselves. You care for none of these things. You are not pleased with any thing so serious. are all for action, and have neither time nor inclination for sober reflection. It would make you melancholy.-Yes, that is the cause.-But I am verily persuaded, that the principal reason with many, if not with most, is this, that they are afraid. If you are determined to hearken to nothing that would make you unhappy, I would advise you to keep to your resolution, and never go back from it upon any account. When Death comes, all pale and ghastly, and requires your souls at your hands, do not regard him; but calmly say to him, "Go thy way for this time, and when I have a convenient season I will send for thee." When the Archangel blows the trumpet, and calls to you in your graves, "Arise, ye dead, and come to judgment," do not regard him; but calmly say, Yet a little more sleep, a little more slumber, a little more folding of the hands to sleep." When Christ calls to you by name, "How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship;" do not regard him but calmly ask him, Who made thee a prince or a judge over us?'-What say ye, my friends? do

you think this will avail? You know it will not.Is it not better, then, to hear what your hearts will say now? Is it not better to set apart an hour this evening for this purpose? What if they should, as probably they may, upbraid you with your folly, for having lived twenty, thirty, forty, or fifty years in the world, and never taken notice of them before? Fall before the censure: acknowledge and lament the melancholy fact; and call upon your souls, and all that is within you, to bless God, who has spared you and disposed you now to self-examination.-If you commune with your own hearts, God may commune also with you; and you know not to what blessed, what honourable, what divine friendships, this acquaintance with yourselves may at length introduce you." Keep your hearts with all diligence, for out of them are the issues of life."