Page:Some Reflections on the Importance of a Religious Life.djvu/14

, are spoken of in Holy Scripture as essential to our salvation. Be assured, therefore, that they are needful for each one of you: pray that you may so pass from nature to grace, as really to become the children of God. Be cautious, however, of hastily or superficially pronouncing, concerning yourselves, that this great change is wrought in you, and exercise no less care in attempting to determine this of others. “Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity:” remembering, and a blessed assurance it is, that “if these things be in you and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The true believer in him is often reminded, to his own humiliation, that in us, that is in our flesh, dwelleth no good thing; that all our fresh supplies of wisdom and strength come from above; and that we ought from day to day to be pressing after that blessed state, in which we may humbly trust that Christ is known to be unto us wisdom and righteousness, sanctification and redemption. The further you advance in the Christian life, the more will you be brought to see, that such