October 31

“liencw a r’tQlitsjnrit within me.” — Psalm li. 10.

^jf’Tj BACKSLIDER, if there be a spark of life left in ilvl’-A groan after restoration. In this renewal the same exercise of grace is required as at our conversion. We needed repentance then; we certainly need it now. We wanted faith that we might come to Christ at first; only the like grace can bring us to Jesus now. We wanted a word from the Most Iligh, a word from the lip of the loving One, to end our fears then; we shall soon discover, when under a sense of present sin, that we need it now. No man can be renewed without as real and true a manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s energy as he felt at first, because the work is as great, and flesh and blood are as much m the way now as ever they were. Let thy personal weakness, 0 Christian, be an argument to make thee pray earnestly to thy God for help. Remember, David, when he felt himself to be powerless, did not fold his arms or close his lips, but he hastened to the mercy-seat with, “Renew a right spirit within me.” Let not the doctrine that you, unaided, can do nothing, make you sleep; but let it be a goad in your side to drive you with an awful earnestness to Israel’s strong Helper. 0 that you may have grace to plead with God, as though you pleaded for your very life — “Lord, renew a right spirit within me.” He wha sincerely prays to God to do this, will prove his honesty by using the means through fvhich God works. Be much in pra3-er; live much upon the Word of God; kill the lusts which have driven your Lord from you; be careful to watch over the future uprisings of bin. The Lord has his own appointed ways; sit by the way- «iidc, and you will be ready when He passes by. Continue in those blessed ordinances which will foster and nourish four dying graces; and, knowing that all the power must proceed fiom Iliui, ccaso not to cry, “Renew a right spirit nc”