God; and as I study it prayerfully, and find these characteristics
in my heart and life, I again infer that I am saved. This is true
self-examination, and is most useful.

These evidences are most important to guard us against any
mistake as to the witness of the Holy Spirit.

The witness of the Spirit is not likely to be mistaken for
something else, just as the sun is not likely to be mistaken for
a lesser light, a glow-worm or a moon. But one who has not seen
the sun might mistake some lesser light for the sun. So an
unsaved man may mistake some flash of fancy, some pleasant
emotion, for the witness of the Spirit. But if he is honest, the
absence of these secondary evidences and witnesses will correct
him. He must know that so long as sin masters him, reigns within
him, and he is devoid of the tempers, graces, and dispositions of
God's people, as portrayed in the Bible, that he is mistaken in
supposing that he has the witness of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit
cannot witness to what does not exist. He cannot lie. Not until
sin is forgiven does He witness to the fact. Not until we are
justified from our old sins and born again does He witness that
we are children of God; and when He does so witness, these
secondary evidences always follow. Charles Wesley expresses this
in one of his matchless hymns:--

"How can a sinner know
His sins on earth forgiven?
How can my gracious Saviour show
My name inscribed in Heaven?