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."

Let us apply these remarks. As there is but one infallible test as to a
tree, so there is but one in respect to a man claiming to be a
Christian. "What _fruit_ does he bear?" "By their fruits," says our
Savior, "ye shall know them." Only a good tree brings forth good fruit.
Here, then, we have a plain, simple, and, I may add, infallible rule for
testing ourselves. What kind of fruit are we bearing? What fruit must we
bear? "The fruits of the Spirit," says the Bible, "are love, joy, peace,
long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith," &c. If, then, we have been
born of the Spirit, _i.e._, born again, or in other words, if we are
Christians, we shall bear the fruits of the Spirit.

I have known persons suggest various marks or tests by which to try
themselves; but I have never found any which could certainly be depended
upon besides the one which I have named--_the fruit which one brings
forth_. The application of this test requires time. For evidence of
Christian character, a person must examine himself month after month and
year after year. His great aim must be to glorify God. He will,
therefore, strive to keep his commandments. He will shun all known evil,
and let others see that he sets a high value upon all that is "lovely
and of good report." He will pray, not one day or one month, but
habitually. His life will be a life of prayer, and in all the duties of
the Christian profession he will endeavor to persevere. He will find
himself imperfect, and will sometimes fail; but when he fails he will
not sink down in despair and give up, but he will repent and say, "I'll
do better next time;" and thus he will go forward gathering strength.
Many trials and difficulties he will find, but the way will grow