If some of the remarks of this morning should help us to test and try ourselves, and so incidentally lead some into comfort, and others into anxiety, I shall be very grateful, and so will you who shall receive the blessing. There are characters so like to that which the renewed nature exhibits, that even if you lived with the man you scarce could tell him to be a counterfeit, and yet after a little time and trial, the falsehood oozes through, and the man is found out. As in the outer world things may be very like and yet have no likeness, so in the spiritual world there are persons so like to Christians, that even a seraph’s judgment could not detect the imposture. After this sort doth the sea of life try the sons of men, and discern between the precious and the vile. Let old Boreas blow, let the Atlantic rollers advance in their fury, and you shall see how the flimsy ill built barque opens at every timber, her bolts start, her entire hull is disjointed and shivered, she is blown down and sinks to her doom but the other vessel, built of sterner stuff, well bolted, with seasoned timbers all fitted, staunch and sound, braves the fury of the tempest, and reaches her desired haven. We will inspect those two fine vessels upon the stocks, and unless well educated in the art of shipbuilding, who shall give a preference to the one or the other? But see them out at sea. Even thus and thus men trade with heaven, and such the differing results. Look but a year or two ago at two houses of business, how like each other! How large their transactions, how respectable their names yet the one all hollow, its capital long spent, its reputation all a bubble the other solid and substantial, with ample means and large connection this last has outlived the storm of commercial panic, while its rival has long been stranded and left a total wreck. Such is the true heir of heaven and the hypocrite when seen by the eye of wisdom. Take into your hand this paste gem so skillfully manufactured, how exceedingly like a diamond! Yet this was made in almost the twinkling of an eye, while yonder sparkling gem of real adamant has taken years even to cut its facets on the wheel yet when that paste gem with other unconsidered trifles shall be resolved into the vile dust from whence it sprang, that sparkling jewel shall shine with as clear a radiance of morning light within it as flashes from it now. As in a glass, see here the true Christian and the base pretender to that royal name. How like each other that monarch and the player, and yet how wide the difference! The one rules with real power, the other with but fancied sway: the king has fought for many a day to earn the sceptre the other in a few minutes in the green room has attained his monarchy, and we may add, in a few minutes more he will lose it too. The king who, after stern conflict and arduous struggles, has at last obtained the empire, shines not with greater pomp than yonder actor mimicking majesty upon the stage in borrowed robes and tinsel crown. There are many things in this world which are very much alike, and yet are totally dissimilar. THESE two verses very fitly describe in very similar imagery the opposite characters of the true and persevering believer, and the fictitious and the transient professor. O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.” - Hosea 6:3-4. “Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.
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