in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." This is the declaration upon which the hopes of a world may rest. He that cometh to Christ, deeply convinced of his sins and of his need of salvation, and from his heart receives Him as his Saviour,—who secured his pardon and eternal hopes,—following humbly and gladly His commands, can never fail of that salvation which he seeks. To this hope may we all flee, and thereon rest, putting our whole trust in the immutable promises of Him whose truth is pledged that none shall thus seek Him in vain. Let not the doubts or cavils of an evil heart of unbelief tempt us to neglect so great salvation, which God, in His infinite mercy hath provided for our souls; for, without this hope "who may abide the day of His coming? and who shall stand when He appeareth?"

VI.

THE TRUE TEST OF CHRISTIAN CHARACTER.

Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?"-JOHN xxi. 15.

THIS is the thrice-repeated question which the Saviour put to the Apostle who thrice denied Him; and in each instance it received the humble, yet confiding reply, "Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee; thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee." As the questions were put, not in rebuke, but, rather, to be the occasion of restoring the fallen, so the reply was a direct appeal to the Searcher of hearts to attest the depth of the love of His servant, and the strength of his devotion to His cause. Great as was the sin into which he had fallen through his characteristic boldness in meeting danger, instead of repelling him from Christ, it had rather quickened his love through the depth of his repentance; and now, reinstated in the favor of his Master, his love became still more ardent, as that of one who had been forgiven much. Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound to the glory of Christ's kingdom. The Saviour's forbearance and compassion towards a fallen, yet penitent and devoted disciple, are strikingly illustrated by the occasion,

and stand in strong contrast with the judgment which Christians too often mete out to each other. The question itself is one which should come home to the hearts of all who profess and call themselves Christians, yea, all who hear the Gospel; and I propose now to consider it, and apply it directly to our own hearts. "Lovest thou me ?" the Saviour demands of each one of us; and upon the true answer to this inquiry our immortal destiny depends.

1. This question, faithfully put, is an absolute, and the only absolute test of Christian character. It is the only one which the Scriptures recognize as sufficient, the only one which reaches to the depths of the heart,—and, above all, it is that which will determine our state at the final judgment. Nothing else can be received as a substitute for this searching question, in deciding whether we are Christians in that vital, spiritual sense which He demands of all His disciples. But great is the danger of resting upon other things as evidences of a Christian state, especially such as are in themselves required of all. The history of the Church presents many sad warnings of the danger of selfdeception in this respect. When, as at the first, there was nothing but reproach, and hatred, and great self-sacrifice, and probable death to be expected by a disciple of Christ, this danger was comparatively slight. Few were likely to enter the ranks of His followers, and take up that cross which all were compelled to bear, unless they

loved the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. They were daily called to prove their love by trials which were heart-searching. It was with them an immediate, practical question, whether they loved Christ more than father and mother, brother and sister, and even than life itself. At such a time, men were not likely to be in the Church who had not the love of Christ in their hearts as the most powerful of all principles and motives of action. But all this was changed when the time came that the name of Christ was honored among men. Then the Church was thronged by those who knew nothing of the Spirit of Christ, and many bore His name who never expected to bear any cross for His sake. Thenceforward membership of the Church, profession of the faith, worship among His people, the reception of ordinances, zeal for the outward extension of the Church, all led many to neglect that deeper search into their own hearts and watchfulness over their spiritual state, by which alone the Christian can answer the question of the Saviour, "Lovest thou me?" By many such things may the heart deceive itself when the love of Christ is not real; and while we neglect no duty implied in a visible relation to the Church, and faithfully use the outward means of grace, let us never forget that there is one only test of a Christian state, the love of Christ in the soul, showing its power in the life.

2. There was implied in the reply of St. Peter the humble yet assured conviction of the deep re

ality of his love to the Saviour. Great as was his consciousness of sin, and humiliation in the remembrance of his fall, yet he could not doubt the reality and power of that love which he felt within him, and which inspired him with the most ardent purpose to spend and be spent for his Divine Master. The Saviour knew his heart, and beheld him with holy love. And the Christian will be able to answer the same question to his own heart. He may be oppressed with the greatness of his sin, the manifold infirmities of purpose, and departures from the right way which mark his life, but if his heart, in its deepest desires and emotions, be truly given to the Saviour, he will not be without evidence of his state. He cannot be living for Christ and His kingdom and not know it. He cannot be resting upon Him with living faith, and yet rightfully doubt whether he love Him. He cannot be moving in the way heavenward, and yet be reasonably ignorant that he is truly seeking thus to follow his Saviour. How is it in regard to this world and its great objects of affection and desire? When there is a controlling affection, is it not manifest? Where the treasure is, will not the heart be there also? Will not the chief thoughts be given to that which men most earnestly desire on earth? Seek, then, for the evidence of love to Christ in the same way.

1. If you love the Saviour, it will appear in the prevailing tendency of your thoughts and desires, when not under the immediate control of imper