fession in the very exercise of that profession. We learn to know a friend by actual intercourse and converse with that friend. We learn to know our Bible the more we read that Bible. We learn to know the Gospel of Salvation in the very faith and practice of that Gospel. How gradual are our perceptions of its extent and fulness. How increasing is our sense of its value and sufficiency. How the light which beameth from it, shineth more and more unto the perfect day;-till at last we shall indeed "judge all things, yea, even the deep things of God!"

And shall I add one other means by which our spiritual perception grows? Not only by mental scrutiny; not only by preparedness of heart; not only by daily-growing experience and practice; but by the communication of this truth to others. That which was suitable to us, and thereby judged and understood; that we find still more extensively and perhaps wondrously suitable to others, and thereby judge and understand it better still. It is like some efficacious medicine which we value for its benefit to us; but which we value yet more highly, and more confidently trust in, when it benefits our friends. And be it remembered, that all true spiritual life must and will exert

itself beyond our own interior mind. There can be no real burning of the heart within, but there will be a shining of the light thereof without. That which is stirring with a living power must put forth and manifest itself with a living energy. Opinions may lie barren in the head, and we may be indifferent to their communication; but no man ever yet possessed convictions, tried and well experienced convictions, but he longed and laboured to diffuse them, and transplant them, as it were, into other minds. "He that believeth on me," says Jesus," from within him there shall flow rivers of living water." And "this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believed in Him should receive;" a Spirit which not only should stir and animate their own souls, but which should break forth in invitation, in instruction, in endeavour to convince and spiritualize the souls of others, around them: yea, of all to whom, by any method, indirectly as well as directly, they could reach. "Be ye filled with the Spirit," says St. Paul to the Ephesians, speaking to yourselves," i. e. to one another,

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mutually "in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual songs." And to the Romans he says, "I am persuaded of you, Brethren, that ye are full of goodness, FILLED WITH ALL KNOWLEDGE,

ABLE also to admonish one another." Take this then, Brethren, as another mark to try yourselves by; whether you be indeed Spiritual men. Is religion so much at your heart that you long and labour to spread it abroad? Or can you be content to be religious for yourselves, and in your secret chamber, and dwell in barren selfishness? Do you seek, especially, to teach it to your children, to your servants, and to all within your influence? Do you love the assemblies of God's people, and delight to speak with one another of the things of God? Can there be a man truly spiritual who bursts not forth in spirituality in fitting times and places, and society? Can we understand and feel the goodness of our God and not exclaim, "O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!" Was there ever any thing in common life, in which you were seriously interested, which you did not long to communicate? And can religion be alive; and the Gospel be in force within the heart, and yet concealed, and not diffused around? Nay, rather, is it not as Jeremiah felt the holy ardour struggling within him?" His word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay!"

Here then, Brethren, we have found the first characteristics of the Spiritual man. Do you apply them for your personal examination. The Spiritual man has attained to some understanding and experience of the Gospel. He perceives something of its sufficiency and freeness; he finds its suitableness to his own condition; to his first feeling of need-to the daily wants of his spiritual life and to the necessities of all around him. Are we Spiritual men?

SERMON XVI.

SPIRITUAL AFFECTIONS.

ROMANS viii. 9.

Ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.

FROM the first clause of this declaration of St. Paul, I explained to you, two Sundays ago, what it is to be "in the Spirit," as distinguished from being "in the flesh;" what are the negative marks of a Spiritual man.

In passing on from this to the positive marks of true Spirituality, I mentioned last Sunday, that the first is the attainment of some Understanding and Experience of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The second of these marks, which is contained in the second clause of our text, and to which we now turn our attention, is this: That the