The Test of a New Creature.
MANY good persons are often perplexed with the inquiry whether they are actually converted. Satan no doubt often raises this question and presents it to the minds of conscientious persons; nevertheless in so important a concern as salvation, we want explicit evidence. This, however, is furnished to our hands in the Bible. There we may read the unerring marks of a "new creature in Christ Jesus." In those blessed pages we may find the never-failing evidences of a change of heart by the power of the Spirit of God. To those who are interested in this matter, the following thoughts from that holy man, John de la Fletcher, may tend to edification and comfort. And while we all assent to that teaching of Christ, "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye cannot enter the kingdom of God," it is our exalted privilege to know that we are in "the way of life," and so secure of Heaven. But read the following paragraphs, and see if "The Spirit answers to the blood,
And says you are a child of God."
G. W. A. 1. Do I feel any pride; or am I partaker of the meek and lowly mind that was in Jesus? Am I dead to all desire of praise? If any despise me, do I like them worse for it? Or, if they love and approve, do I18love them more on that account? Am I willing to be accounted useless, and of no consequence,—glad to be made of no reputation? Do humiliations give me real pleasure, and is it the language of my heart, Make me little and unknown,
Loved and prized by God alone? 2. Does God bear witness in my heart that it is purified? that in all things I please him? 3. Is the life I live, "by the faith of the Son of God;" so that Christ dwelleth in me? Is Christ the life of all my affections and designs, as my soul is the life of my body? Is my eye single and my soul full of light,—all eye within and without; always watchful? 4. Have I always the presence of God? Does no cloud come between God and the eye of my faith? Can I "rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing, and in every thing give thanks?" 5. Am I saved from the fear of man? Do I speak plainly to all, neither fearing their frowns, nor seeking their favors? Have I no shame of religion; and am I always ready to confess Christ, to suffer with his people, and to die for his sake? 6. Do I deny myself at all times, and take up my cross as the Spirit of God leads me? Do I embrace the cross of every sort, being willing to give up my ease and convenience to oblige others; or do I expect them to conform to my hours and customs? Does the cross sit light upon me, and am I willing to suffer all the will of God? Can I trample on pleasure and pain? Have I "A soul inured to pain,
To hardship, grief, and loss,
Bold to take up, firm to sustain,
The consecrated cross?" 7. Are my bodily senses, and outward things, all sanctified to me? Do I not seek my own things to please myself? Do I seek grace more for God's honor than my own profit, preferring the glory of God to all in earth or Heaven, the giver to the gift? 8. Am I "poor in spirit?" Do I "take pleasure in infirmities, necessities, distresses, reproaches;" so that out of weakness, want, and danger, I may cast myself on the Lord? Have I no false shame in approaching God? Do I seek to be saved, as a poor sinner, by grace alone? 9. Do I not "lean to my own understanding?" Am I ready to give up the point, when contradicted, unless conscience forbid? Am I easy to be persuaded? Do I esteem every one better than myself? Am I as willing to be a cypher as to be useful, and does my zeal burn bright notwithstanding this willingness to be nothing? 10. Have I no false wisdom, goodness, strength; as if the grace I feel were my own? Do I never take that glory to myself which belongs to Christ? Do I feel my want of Christ as much as ever, to be my all? and do I draw near to God, as poor and needy, only presenting before him his well-beloved Son? Can I say, "Every moment, Lord, I need,
The merit of thy death?
I shall hang upon my God,
Till I thy perfect glory see,
Till the sprinkling of thy blood
Shall speak me up to thee?" Do I find joy in being thus nothing, empty, undeserving, giving all the glory to Christ? Or do I wish that grace made me something, instead of God being all? 11. Have I meekness? Does it bear rule over all my tempers, affections, and desires; so that my hopes, fears, joys, zeal, love, and hatred, are duly balanced? Do I feel no disturbance from others, and do I desire to give none? If any offend me, do I still love them, and make it an occasion to pray for them? If condemned by the world, do I entreat;—if condemned by the godly, am I one in whose mouth there is no reproof; replying only as conscience and not as impatient nature dictates! If in the wrong, do I confess it? If in the right, do I submit, being content to do well, and suffer for it? It is the sin of superiors to be overbearing, of inferiors to be stubborn; if, then I am a servant, do I yield not only to the gentle, but to the froward, committing my cause in silence to God; or, if a master, do I "show all long-suffering?" The Lord of all was "as he that serveth." If I am the greatest, do I make myself least, "and the servant of all;" if a teacher, am I lowly, meek and patient, not conceited, self-willed, nor dogmatic? Am I ready to give up the claims of respect due to age, station, parent, master, etc.; or do I rigidly exact those demands? 12. Do I possess resignation; am I content with whatever is, or may be; seeing that God, the Author of all events, does, and will do, all for my good? Do I desire nothing but God, willing to part with all, if the Lord manifests his will for my so doing? Do I "know how to abound," and yet not gratify unnecessary wants; but being content with things needful, do I faithfully and freely dispose of all the rest for the help of others? Do I know how to suffer need? Is my confidence unshaken while I feel the distress of poverty, and have the prospect of future want, while, humanly speaking, strangling were better than life? And, in these circumstances, do I pity those who, having plenty, waste it in excess, instead of helping me? 13. Am I just; doing in all things as I would others should do unto me? Do I render homage to those above me, not presuming on their lenity and condescension? As a superior, do I exercise no undue authority, taking no advantage of the timidity, respect, or necessity of any man? Do I consider the great obligation superiority lays me under, of being lowly and kind, and of setting a good example? 14. Am I temperate, using the world, and not abusing it? Do I receive outward things in the order of God, making earth a scale to Heaven? Is the satisfaction I take in the creation consistent with my being dead to all below, and a means of leading me more to God? Is the turn of my mind and temper in due subjection, not leading me to any extreme, either of too much silence, or of too much talkativeness, of reserve or freedom? 15. Am I courteous, not severe? Suiting myself to all with sweetness? Striving to give no one pain, but to gain and win all for their good? 16. Am I vigilant; redeeming time, taking every opportunity of doing good; or do I spare myself, being careless about the souls and bodies to which I might do good? Can I do no more than I do? Do I perform the most servile offices, such as require labor and humiliation, with cheerfulness? Is my conversation always seasoned with salt, at every time administering some kind of favor to those I am with? 17. Do I "love God with all my heart?" Do I constantly present myself, my time, substance, talents, and all that I have, a living sacrifice? Is every thought brought into subjection to Christ? Do I like or dislike, only such things as are pleasing or displeasing to God? 18. Do I love God with all my strength, and are my spiritual faculties always vigorous? Do I give way to no sinful languor? Am I always on the watch? Do not business, worldly care, and conversation, damp my fervor and zeal for God? 19. Do I love my neighbor as myself; every man for Christ's sake, and honor all men, as the image of God? Do I think no evil, listen to no groundless surmises, nor judge from appearances? Can I bridle my tongue, never speaking of the faults of another, but with a view to do good; and when I am obliged to do it, have I the testimony that I sin not? Have I that love which hopeth, believeth, and endureth all things? 20. How am I in my sleep? If Satan presents an evil imagination, does my will immediately resist, or give way to it? 21. Do I bear the infirmities of age or sickness, without seeking to repair the decays of nature by strong liquors; or do I make Christ my sole support casting the burden of a feeble body into the arms of his mercy? Jesus, Lord of all, grant thy purest gifts to every waiting disciple. Enlighten us with the knowledge of thy will, and show us "the mark of the prize of our high calling." Let us die to all thou art not; and seek thee with our whole heart, till we enjoy the fullness of the purchased possession.—Fletcher.