Doubtless this is the right tree, for behold all the commandments, the two tables hanging upon the boughs of it, and not broken, but kept and observed. We may as well say obedience is no obedience, duty is no duty, faith and love and humility and patience are not what they are, as that the tree that brings forth this fruit is not the tree of knowledge. "We know that we know him, because we keep his commandments." Yea, and this tree of knowledge is the tree of life too, both in one: "A tree of life to them that lay hold upon her." Prov. 3:18. Where these fruits are not found, where there are nothing but shows and painted fruits-where there are nothing but the fruits of unrighteousness, contention, strife, covetousness, sensuality, and the like-he is very ignorant indeed that is not able to say, Whatever I am ignorant of, this one thing I know, that I know not God. Christian, boast not of what thou hast, but consider what thou doest; try thy head by thy heart, and thy heart by thy hand; judge of thy light by thy love, and thy love by thy life; say not that God hath shined into thy heart, unless thy light shine, thy works shine before men: "The path of the just shineth." Prov. 4:18. It is but a form of knowledge that brings forth but a form of godliness; he that holdeth the truth in unrighteousness, hath not the truth in him. Thou sayest thou knowest the Lord, but what say thy ways? Do these speak the same things? Action is the best interpreter of the inner man: feel the pulses of thy heart; what watchfulness, what holiness has thy knowledge brought forth? Hast thou received

the Spirit, who yet walkest in the flesh? What, heaven in thy heart, and naught but earth in thy hand; truth in thy heart, and lies in thy mouth; holiness in thy heart, glory in thy heart, and in thy tongue nothing but filth or froth? What, a heart so full, and a life so empty; how can these things be? Has the light in thy heart given laws only to thy heart? or does thy heart submit, while thy tongue rebels and thou kickest with the heel?

Woe to us Christians, that sinners should be so full, and saints so empty; that they should speak what they have seen with their father, and we should speak no more what we have seen with our Father; that oaths, and lies, and blasphemies, and scoffs, and cursing should be so rife in their mouths, and that truth and goodness and holiness, blessings and praises, should be no more in ours; that there should be so much guile in their lips, and so little grace in ours; that the shade should be more fruitful than the sun; that the good ground should be the only barren ground; that their habitations should be so full of violence and oppression and wantonness, and no more mercy and righteousness and sobriety in ours.

Woe to us, that we know so much to so little purpose; that we should be bushels to hide, and not rather candlesticks to hold forth the candle of the

Lord he has lighted up in us. O how many dark souls might our candle lead on to the sun: the light that is in Israel might do much towards turning Egypt into a Goshen. Speak, Christians, speak what you have seen, and testify what you have believed: bring

forth out of your treasure; pity the blind world, or at least be more helpful one to another. Instruct as you have been instructed; convince as you have been convinced; comfort as you have been comforted of God. Outvie sinners; let not their mouths be so full of cursing as yours of blessing; while theirs are so full of blasphemies, let it be said of you as of your Lord, Full of grace are their lips. Good words are not wind; you may reckon them not among the leaves, but the fruit. While you are speaking of the things of God, you are therein doing the will of God. I confess the proverb is true, The greatest talkers are not always the greatest doers. But it is true also, he is seldom a great doer that hath nothing to say. There is a speaking which is our doing. There is a speaking in a way of boasting, to magnify and set up ourselves; beware of that: and there is a speaking to the use of edifying, to build up our brethren. When we are speaking to instruct, to convince, to awaken, and whet on our own and other spirits to our work, we are then doing our work. Speak, Christians, and speak often the things that you know; but let me add, let your lives speak also, and not your lips only. If you would not be vain talkers, nor all tongue, let your lips speak, and your hands speak, and your feet speak; let your works and your ways speak the wonderful things of God. Bring forth what you have received: he that is all inside, and he that is all outside, are equally nothing. The one is a shadow without substance, the other's substance is but a shadow; the one is a deceiver, the other a deceived soul; the one boasts

himself, the other thinks himself something; but nei

ther is any thing.

Christians, be full of good fruits, and you will make full proof that your wisdom is from above. "If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them."

Feeble Christian, that knowest but little of God and callest that little nothing, while thou doubtest whether the light hath shined into thee, dost thou walk in the little light thou hast; dost thou shine as a light in the world; dost thou know how to be holy and humble and harmless and honest; dost thou live under the power of those truths thou knowest; dost thou fear the Lord, and obey the voice of his servants? If so, trust in the Lord, and stay thyself on thy God; thou art a child of light, though, through thy trembling heart, thou walkest in darkness. Having not seen, thou lovest; and believing, thou shalt rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

II. ITS SAVOR. "And maketh manifest the savor of his knowledge by us in every place." 2 Cor. 2 : 14. The knowledge of God is sweet-scented; it casts forth a fragrancy wherever it comes. It hath a gratefulness to the heart, and leaves sweet impressions on the senses of the saints. They taste that the Lord is gracious. As their breathings go up as sweet incense, so his beams come down with like sweetness to them. The name of the Lord is 66 as ointment poured forth." Sol. Song 1:3. Why, what is his name? This is his name: "The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness

and truth; keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin." Exod. 34: 6, 7. Oh, what a bundle of myrrh, what a garden of spices is here inclosed. What a sweet-smelling savor does it send forth to those who have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

The name of the Lord is a precious ointment, and the knowledge of God is this ointment poured forth. Where God is known in the soul, there his sweet savor is shed abroad. The thoughts of God are precious, the ways of God are pleasant to them that understand them. His fruit was sweet unto my taste. Oh, the ineffable pleasures of religion! The carnal world count it an insipid thing; they cannot taste; and no wonder, for they do not see the things of God, nor can they, because they are spiritually discerned. Let God be savingly known, and then you will find what the savor of his knowledge is. This light is sweet, it is a pleasant thing to behold the sun. O my soul, let thy walks, let thy dwellings be in this garden of the Lord; let the sun shine, and the smell of his spices shall flow forth unto thee. O my Lord, shed abroad thy sweet ointment, let the smell of thy garments refresh my soul. Let me taste and see; let me see, and I shall taste that the Lord is gracious.

Vanish, all ye carnal pleasures and sensual delights; these rosebuds rot, the flowers of your gardens wither, dead flies are in all your ointments, the light of the Lord hath shined all your glories into darkness. The waters of the sanctuary have made