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so in the long run to do more。 ＇32＇
Take； for an illustration of this； two English emigrants； and suppose
them set down side by side in New Zealand or Australia。 Give each of
them a piece of land to clear and cultivate。 Let the portions allotted
to them be the same both in quantity and quality。 Secure that land to
them by every needful legal instrument； let it be conveyed as freehold
to them and theirs for ever； let the conveyance be publicly registered；
and the property made sure to them by every deed and security that
man's ingenuity can devise。
Suppose then that one of them shall set to work to clear his land and
bring it into cultivation； and labour at it day after day without
intermission or cessation。
Suppose in the meanwhile that the other shall be continually leaving
his work； and going repeatedly to the public registry to ask whether
the land really is his ownwhether there is not some mistakewhether
after all there is not some flaw in the legal instruments which
conveyed it to him。
The one shall never doubt his title； but just work diligently on。 The
other shall hardly ever feel sure of his title； and spend half his time
in going to Sydney or Melbourne or Auckland； with needless inquiries
about it。
Which now of these two men will have made most progress in a year's
time？ Who will have done the most for his land； got the greatest
breadth of soil under tillage； have the best crops to show； be
altogether the most prosperous？
Any one of mon sense can answer that question。 I need not supply an
answer。 There can only be one reply。 Undivided attention will always
attain the greatest success。
It is much the same in the matter of our title to 〃mansions in the
skies。〃 None will do so much for the Lord who bought him as the
believer who sees his title clear； and is not distracted by unbelieving
doubts； questionings； and hesitations。 The joy of the Lord will be that
man's strength。 〃Restore unto me；〃 says David； 〃the joy of Thy
salvation； then will I teach transgressors Thy ways。〃 （Psalm li。 12。）
Never were there such working Christians as the Apostles。 They seemed
to live to labour。 Christ's work was truly their meat and drink。 They
counted not their lives dear to themselves。 They spent and were spent。
They laid down ease； health； worldly fort； at the foot of the cross。
And one grand cause of this； I believe； was their assured hope。 They
were men who could say； 〃We know that we are of God； and the whole
world lieth in wickedness。〃 （1 John v。 19。）
（3） Let us remember； for another thing； that assurance is to be
desired； because it tends to make a Christian a decided Christian。
Indecision and doubt about our own state in God's sight is a grievous
evil； and the mother of many evils。 It often produces a wavering and
unstable walk in following the Lord。 Assurance helps to cut many a
knot； and to make the path of Christian duty clear and plain。
Many of whom we feel hopes that they are God's children； and have true
grace； however weak； are continually perplexed with doubts in points of
practice。 〃Should we do such and such a thing？ shall we give up this
family custom？ Ought we to go into that pany？ How shall we draw the
line about visiting？ What is to be the measure of our dressing and our
entertainments？ Are we never； under any circumstances； to dance； never
to touch a card； never to attend parties of pleasure？〃 These are a kind
of question which seem to give them constant trouble。 And often； very
often； the simple root of their perplexity is； that they do not feel
assured they are themselves children of God。 They have not yet settled
the point； which side of the gate they are on。 They do not know whether
they are inside the ark or not。
That a child of God ought to act in a certain decided way； they quite
feel； but the grand question is； 〃Are they children of God themselves？〃
If they only felt they were so； they would go straightforward； and take
a decided line。 But not feeling sure about it； their conscience is for
ever hesitating and ing to a deadlock。 The devil whispers； 〃Perhaps
after all you are only a hypocrite： what right have you to take a
decided course？ Wait till you are really a Christian。〃 And this whisper
too often turns the scale； and leads on to some miserable promise or
wretched conformity to the world！
I believe we have here one chief reason why so many in this day are
inconsistent； trimming； unsatisfactory； and half…hearted in their
conduct about the world。 Their faith fails。 They feel no assurance that
they are Christ's； and so feel a hesitancy about breaking with the
world。 They shrink from laying aside all the ways of the old man；
because they are not quite confident they have put on the new。 In
short； I have little doubt that one secret cause of 〃halting between
two opinions〃 is want of assurance。 When people can say decidedly； 〃The
Lord； He is the God；〃 their course bees very clear。 （1 Kings xviii。
39。）
（4） Let us remember； finally； that assurance is to be desired； because
it tends to make the holiest Christians。
This； too； sounds wonderful and strange； and yet it is true。 It is one
of the paradoxes of the Gospel； contrary at first sight to reason and
mon sense； and yet it is a fact。 Cardinal Bellarmine was seldom more
wide of the truth than when he said； 〃Assurance tends to carelessness
and sloth。〃 He that is freely forgiven by Christ will always do much
for Christ's glory； and he that enjoys the fullest assurance of this
forgiveness will ordinarily keep up the closest walk with God。 It is a
faithful saying and worthy to be remembered by all believers； 〃He that
hath this hope in Him purifieth himself； even as He is pure。〃 （1 John
iii。 3。） A hope that does not purify is a mockery； a delusion； and a
snare。 ＇33＇
None are so likely to maintain a watchful guard over their own hearts
and lives as those who know the fort of living in close munion
with God。 They feel their privilege； and will fear losing it。 They will
dread falling from the high estate； and marring their own forts； by
bringing clouds between themselves and Christ。 He that goes on a
journey with little money about him takes little thought of danger； and
cares little how late he travels。 He； on the contrary； that carries
gold and jewels will be a cautious traveller。 He will look well to his
roads； his lodgings； and his pany； and run no risks。 It is an old
saying； however unscientific it may be； that the fixed stars are those
which tremble most。 The man that most fully enjoys the light of God's
reconciled countenance； will be a man tremblingly afraid of losing its
blessed consolations； and jealously fearful of doing anything to grieve
the Holy Ghost。
I mend these four points to the serious consideration of all
professing Christians。 Would you like to feel the Everlasting Arms
around you； and to hear the