Sinners are wont to put a high value upon some goodness which they fancy they possess, or upon good actions which they imagine they have done.  These, they conceive, are sufficient to save them; and sinners generally feel quite secure.  How little concerned, my son, have you been.  But sinners mistake as to their goodness.  They are all “dead in trespasses and sins.”  They are under condemnation.  They are in imminent danger.  Any day they may fall into the hands of an angry God.  Sinners under conviction see this and feel this.  The branch of self-righteousness on which they stand is insufficient to bear them.  By-and-by it begins to give way.  When the sinner feels this he cries, “What shall I do?  Who will save me?”

Now Christ is commissioned to save, and when the poor sinner sees that he is about to perish, and in that state cries for help, Christ comes to him and says, “Let go all hope in yourself; let go dependence upon every other thing; trust to me and I will save you.”  “Come, for all things are ready.”  But may be the sinner is afraid.  Will Christ do as he promises?  Is he able to save?  Well, the sinner looks round—­he hesitates—­perhaps prays—­weeps—­promises; but while all these are well enough in their places, they never of themselves bring peace and safety to the anxious heart.  At length he sees and feels that there is no one but Christ, who stands as it were at the bottom of the tree, that can save him.  And now he lifts up his voice and cries, “Lord, save me, or I perish.”  Into the hands of Christ he falls, and from that moment he is safe.  This is Gospel faith or confidence.

And this repentance and faith which I have described are necessary in order to salvation.  So the Bible decides; and whenever a soul exercises them that soul is a Christian soul, and that man is a Christian man.

There is yet one question further of great moment.  You hope, perhaps, that you are a Christian—­that you have truly repented, and do exercise true faith.  You ask, How shall one decide?

I will tell you this also.  Suppose you agree with a nurseryman to furnish you with a tree of a particular kind.  He brings you one.  You inquire, “Is this the kind of tree I engaged?” He replies, “Yes.”  But you say, “How do I know?  It looks indeed like the tree in question, and you say it is; but there are other trees which strongly resemble it.”  He rejoins, “I myself grafted it, and I almost know.”  “Ah! yes, almost; but are you certain?” “No,” he replies, “I am not absolutely certain, and no one can be sure at this moment.”  “But what shall I do?” you ask.  “I want that particular tree.”  “Well,” says he, “I will suggest one infallible test.  Set it out on your grounds.  It will soon bear fruit, and that will be a sure and satisfactory test.”  “Is there no other way?” you ask—­“no shorter, better way?” “None,” he replies.  “This is the only sure evidence which man can have.”