more of the guidance, even the immediate guidance of the Spirit of our God; and we shall realize our doctrine in our own experience.

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My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." O! my beloved friends, here is the light of true Christian piety, very plainly to be distinguished from man's imagination, which, although it may assume the appearance of reality for a season, will only mislead into some miry marshes, where all will be misery and certain destruction, unless we make our escape from it. And I have felt a very earnest desire for us, that we may be brought down into the depths, into real humility and simplicity; I believe this is what we want, my friends, to be brought down from the airy height of our own imagination, and to come down into the valley of humility. You know, friends, that the most abundant waters are ever gathered into the low valley of humility; and there let us be broken before the Lord, and there let us renew our covenants with him by sacrifice, and let us give ourselves over to his immediate guidance and government; not in our own lofty imaginations, but with childlike simplicity; that our's may be the rejoicing of an eminent servant of God, who in his day said, "This is my rejoicing, with simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, I have had my conversation in the world." And if we are brought down into this humble state, and are favoured to come to this simplicity and

godly sincerity, I fully believe the Lord our Redeemer, who bought us with a price, will preserve us from mistaking the voice of a stranger for his voice; we may trust him, dear friends: and you need not be afraid of following that still small voice of the Spirit of Christ in your own hearts, which leads you into the path of self-denial; and I believe, friends, we are seldom in danger of walking in the wrong way, if we walk in that way which crosses our own lusts and vanities, our own pride and folly, our own worldliness, our own self-righteousness, and our own stubborn wills: and when, my beloved friends, we are favoured to hear the still small voice of Israel's Shepherd, even the immediate guidance of his Spirit in the soul, if we find that it leads into selfdenial, and into the crucifixion of the old man, with all his lusts and devices, we need not fear to follow him; for verily "the tree is known by its fruits;" and I do apprehend that there is no doctrine more clearly stated in the holy scriptures, than that the children of God, who are brought to a living faith in his Son, are favoured with the immediate influence of his own Holy Spirit, to govern, guide, and instruct them in all things, according to our Lord's blessed promise; "It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you: but if I depart, I will send him unto you; and when the Comforter is come unto you, he will guide you into all truth." The world

knoweth him not, and cannot receive him; but ye know him, for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."

O my beloved friends, we do not want a surer guide within us; we want more humility, and more simplicity, and more zeal, that we may follow our guide in the path of obedience; for "to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” And nothing, according to my apprehension, can be more explicit than the description of the same guide, (instructing and governing in us,) given by the apostle John, where he speaks of the anointing; "The anointing which ye received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you, but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things;" mark the comprehensiveness of the language, friends; "but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and no lie, abide in Him." And I do believe, my dear friends, that this may truly be said to be the very wellspring of a life of real Christian piety; it is no matter of human invention; and is ever to be distinguished from the enthusiasm of the creature. Friends, Satan will attempt to imitate it; he will try to guide us out of the right way, by a false light, which appears to have the true light, for a sign of true religion, by raising up speculative powers, when our real duty, and our real safety, lie in simple obedience; and thus he raises a mist round about us, and we think we descry a light, which is the mere

work of our own imagination; and if we examine its tendency impartially, we shall find that it does not lead to true happiness; and in his own vanity, and in his own stubborn will, takes him by the hand, and sets him in the seat of the scorner; and then he is mightily wise in his own eyes, and begins to judge his brethren; and he judges himself, by taking the mote out of their eye, forgetting the deadly beam which is in his own. But, my beloved friends, how different is the operation of the pure Spirit of our God in the heart of man; for it leads into humility, brokenness, tenderness of mind; the old man is slain by it; the old man is nailed to the cross of Christ; the pride of man's heart cannot stand by it; the rockwork of the heart is broken to pieces; and, in our humility, in our reverent waiting on the Lord, we are favoured (I am bold to assert it,) we are favoured, from season to season, distinctly to hear a word behind us, saying, This is the way, walk thou in it. If, friends, you would walk in it, notwithstanding the cross which is in it, notwithstanding the slaying of the old man, with all his imaginations, and all his vanity, and all his pride, you would find the pure light of truth abound more and more in your hearts. And those who follow the still small voice of Israel's Shepherd in faith, will find that their consciences will become more and more enlightened, and they will not be condemned by their consciences, but will be led along for a season, like persons blindfold,

following on in faith, making gentle, careful, steady steps, on their way to Zion.

Ours is the duty of little children, friends, to follow our Father's voice, to follow our shepherd's voice; but if we do follow on in faith, we shall soon have abundant cause to bless the Lord our God for his gracious goodness, and for that wisdom which cometh from above, and which is imparted to the souls of the believers in Jesus, in unmerited mercy and tender compassion. And, friends, I beseech you not to be guided by your earthly and carnal wisdom, which is sensual and devilish in its very nature, but to humble yourselves, and pray for the guidance of that wisdom which cometh from above, and which first of all is pure.

Now, friends, you want a characteristic ; some of you want to know how the Spirit of God is to be marked and characterized. Why it is first of all pure. My beloved young friends, mark the words; it will never fail to lead you in the path of purity. Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God." And when, in the smallest degree, you depart from purity, your access unto God is barred at that very moment; and some of you know it: do not all of us know, from our own experience, that the wisdom of God is first pure? And do you want another characteristic, friends? it is next peaceable. O! do not be afraid of following that pure witness for truth in your own bosoms, which leads you to make peace amongst others, and