and believe the
Gospel. They are like the Pharisee in the parable, who thanked God
that he was not as other men--"extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or
even as this publican;" and who went on to say, "I fast twice a week;
I give tithes of all I possess." What is the judgment about such
self-righteous persons? "I tell you this man [the poor, contrite,
repenting publican] went down to his house justified rather than the
other" (Luke xviii. 11-14). "There is none righteous; no, not one."
"All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Rom. iii. 10,
23). Let no one say _he_ does not need to repent. Let each one take
his true place--that of a sinner; then God will lift him up to the
place of forgiveness and justification. "Whosoever exalteth himself
shall be abased: and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted" (Luke
xiv. 11).

Wherever God sees true repentance in the heart He meets that soul.

I was in Colorado, preaching the gospel some time ago, and I heard
something that touched my heart very much. The governor of the State
was passing through the prison, and in one cell he found a boy who
had his window full of flowers, that seemed to have been watched with
very tender care. The governor looked at the prisoner, and then at
the flowers, and asked whose they were, "These are my flowers," said
the poor convict. "Are you fond of flowers?" "Yes, sir." "How long
have you been here?" He told him so many years: he was in for a long
sentence. The governor was surprised to find him so fond of the
flowers, and he said, "Can you tell me why you like these flowers so
much?" With much emotion he replied, "While my mother was alive she
thought a good deal of flowers; and when I came here I thought if I
had these they would remind me of mother." The governor was so
pleased that he said, "Well, young man, if you think so much of your
mother I think you will appreciate your liberty," and he pardoned him
then and there.

When God finds that beautiful flower of true repentance springing up
in a man's heart, then salvation comes to that man.

CHAPTER VII.

_ASSURANCE OF SALVATION_.

"These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the
Son of God; that ye may knew that ye have eternal life, and that ye
may believe on the name of the Son of God."

(1 John v. 13. )

There are two classes who ought not to have Assurance. First: those
who are in the Church, but who are not converted, having never been