TO PROFESSING CHRISTIANS, IN JUDGING THEIR SPIRITUAL STATE AND GROWTH IN GRACE. BY THE REV. JOHN BARR, AUTHOR OF 'PLAIN CATECHETICAL INSTRUCTIONS ON BAPTISM AND THE LORD'S SUPPER,' AND THE SCRIPTURE STUDENT'S ASSISTANT.' Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves: know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates. 2 Cor. xiii. 5. Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 2 Peter iii. 18. GLASGOW: BLACKIE, FULLARTON, & Co.; A. FULLARTON & Co, EDINBURGH; W. CURRY, JUN. & Co. DUBLIN; AND SIMPKIN & MARSHALL, LONDON MDCCCXXXI. PREFACE. ABOVE two years ago, the Writer of the following series of discourses, in the course of his ordinary ministrations, addressed them from the pulpit to those under his pastoral care. Though he had some intention at that time, from the hope of their being useful, to have given them to the public; yet from circumstances, which it is unnecessary to mention, the work was entirely laid aside, till within a few weeks prior to its being put to press. In reconsidering the topics here illustrated, he has judged it proper to extend his original plan. Instead of confining himself to a few of the most striking particulars in each Chapter, he has greatly augmented their number,—so greatly that in several instances it is now nearly doubled. The consequence of this has been, that, to prevent the enlargement of the volume, and to preserve some proportion among its different parts, he has been compelled very much to compendise the points formerly delivered from the pulpit. The subjects here considered are obviously of general and transcendent importance. The first of |