It  is  not,  then,  by  any  such  methods  as  by  dreams,
or  the  suggestions  of  texts  of  Scripture  to  the  mind,
or  visions,  or  impressions  upon  the  mind,  or  strong
persuasions  of  our  eternal  election,  that  we  are  to
obtain  this  blessed  hope  of  personal  interest  in  the
mercies  of  redemption,  but  by  coraiiaring  our  hearts
with  the  Word  of  God.  We  will  here  quote  the
beautiful  languaire  of  the  celebrated  Ralph  Cud-
WOETH,  in  a  sermon  preached  before  the  House  of
Commons  during  the  Commonwealth:  "  The  way  to
obtain  a  good  assurance  of  our  title  to  heaven,  is  not
to  climb  up  to  it  by  a  ladder  of  our  own  ungrounded
persuasions,  but  to  digaslow  as  hell,  by  liumility  and
self-denial  in  our  own  Iieart.s;  and  thougli  this  may  seem
the  farthest  way  about,  yet  it  is  indeed  the  nearest
and  safest  way  to  it.  We  must,  as  the  Greek  epigram
speaks,  '  ascend  downward  and  descend  upward, '  if  we
would  indeed  come  to  heaven,  or  get  any  true  per-
suasion of  our  title  to  it.  The  most  triumphant  con-
fidence of  a  Christian  riseth  safely  and  surely  on  this
low  foundation,  that  lies  deeper  under  ground,  and
there  stands  firmly  and  steadfastly.  Wlieu  our  heart
is  once  turned  into  a  conformity  with  the  Word  of
God,  when  we  feel  our  will  to  concur  with  His  \vill,
we  shall  then  personally  perceive  a  spirit  of  adoption
within  ourselves,  teaching  us  to  say,  Ahba,  Father.
