duties on one side, and its inclinations on the other-will be permitted by God, whose Sovereign will must be the only rule of action'. Equal attention must be paid to those duties which require the exercise of self-denial. It is expected not only that we should believe, but also be willing" to suffer in behalf of Christ," if occasion require it. A readiness to bear reproach and loss for Christ, and to yield unfeigned submission to the dispensations of Providence, will shine through the conduct of those who engage in their hearts to serve the Lord. 3. Let it not be forgotten, that, in order to demonstrate the surrender of the whole man to God, the heart must be abstracted from every other object, and set exclusively upon him as its satisfying portion. First; the believer, in devoting himself to God, avows that he does not look for satisfaction from this world, or from any thing which it has to bestow. He does not, therefore, as others do, ardently covet earthly good: nor is he disappointed if the mercies which he possesses do not yield complete happiness; because he is aware that it is not in the power of mere creatures to supply the place of God, who alone can satisfy the largest wishes of the mind. Whilst the Christian values the blessings which God confers upon him, and uses them with a thankful heart, he dares not love them excessively, as worldly men do; because he is aware that the Scripture pronounces such attachment an act of idolatry, by which Jehovah is robbed of his glory, which is transferred to perishable objects". 'John xiv. 15-25. h Isa. xlii. 8. Rom. i. 25. 2 Phil. i. 29. Secondly: the soul which is unreservedly given up to the Lord seeks its happiness from him alone. It views God as the exhaustless fountain of real blessedness, who by his wisdom devises, and by his omnipotence executes, the plans which are to impart felicity. It seeks, therefore, in communion with him, those satisfying enjoyments which are adapted to minister to its spiritual wants. Should it surprise us, then, if we hear a devout Believer saying, 'Thou, O God! art the thing that I long for." "The desire of my soul is to Thy name, and to the -remembrance of Thee'." 66 If the Lord indulges the heart which is devoted to him with manifestations of his favour, the sweetest joy and peace abide therein; but if he hides his face, it is filled with trouble and suspense, and mourns his absence as the greatest calamity. Nor let it be objected that such a surrender of the heart to God is unreasonable. Has not He who called us into existence, and sustains us by his daily bounties, an undoubted right to the strongest expression of our gratitude in return? We are ready to do any thing in our power for those whom we love and esteem: and shall we think it too much to yield up ourselves unto the Lord, "who has bought us with a price," and desires us to give him our souls, not to despoil, but to enrich them with all the treasures of grace and glory'? To make such an absolute surrender of ourselves to the service of Heaven is to evince the truest concern for our temporal and eternal welfare. Think, for a moment, of the unspeakable glory reserved for the righteous, the exemption from sorrow, and the possession of inconceivable bliss, which they will * Psalm x. 1. lxxxviii 1-17. Isa. xxvi. 8. inherit through endless ages! If the peace of God, which now attends such devotion of the soul to him, passeth all understanding, what celestial raptures will fill the bosoms of his servants, when they stand " in his presence, where there is fulness of joy, and at his right hand, where there are pleasures evermorem!" Reader, inquire-Have you made this surrender of yourself to God? Has he the sole possession of your heart? Do your affections go out after him as the chief good? Do you study to render a sincere and uniform obedience to all his injunctions, without excepting those which oblige you to give up your own will and gratification? If this be the state of your soul, as attested by a holy life, "Oh, well is thee, and happy shalt thou be"!" But if you are still carried away by worldly objects, desires, and pursuits, if you have no wish to honour God by a thorough compliance with the demands of his Gospel, then "your heart is not right with God";" but you act as a rebel against his government, as one who is in league with the devil, and as the slave of the most wicked passions. "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” 4. The necessity of surrendering our hearts to God is obvious. The argument by which St. Paul enforces this indispensable duty ought to produce a conviction in every one's mind that God is the rightful proprietor of our hearts. "I beseech you, m Psalm xvi. 11. ° Acts viii. 20, 24. "ib. cxxviii. 2. therefore, Brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God!" Now, without this dedication of ourselves, and all our talents, to the glory of the Most High, our professions of affection to God are vain. Can you have any proper regard for him, when you withhold your heart, and refuse to do him the homage which he demands? Whilst your affections eagerly pursue every trifling pleasure and vanity, how can you be said to maintain supreme love for God? "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and Mammon". " Decision is absolutely expedient in this matter, because there is no neutrality in religion." He that is not with me," says the Great Redeemer of Mankind, "is against me; and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth"." 99 God accounts those as his enemies who do not delight in him, and act in entire subserviency to his will. Can you bear, then, to be cast off eternally by God, and to be doomed to unquenchable fire? Will you risk the felicity of Paradise for the indulgence of transitory pleasures, which yield, at best, but a delusive satisfaction? A few years, and all the trifling objects which seduce your souls from God will 4 Rom. xii. 1-3. Mat. vi. 24. P 3 Luke xi. 23. : vanish away! "but he that doeth the will of God shall abide for ever." You have forsaken your Maker ;-return to him without delay, that you may regain his lost favour. Commence immediately this solemn act of dedicating yourselves to His service. Time is on the wing; and not many days may elapse before you may be connected with the eternal state! Upon this supposition, you have not a moment to lose. - Em In the performance of this religious act, let every conscious sinner thus address God in sincerity: 'I confess, O Lord, that I have causelessly deserted thee, by going astray like a lost sheep. With shame I look back on my past conduct, and deeply regret that I have wasted so much invaluable time in the service of Satan. Now enable me, by thy grace, to give up my heart and affections to Thee. ploy them in promoting Thy glory, and in doing good to my fellow-creatures. Take, therefore, exclusive possession of my soul, and bind it to thyself, that it may wander no more in the way of evil. O Lord, draw me with the cords of love; and encourage me to follow thee, and live in obedience to thy will, unto the end of my days!' God will most certainly assist those who feel desirous to be set apart to His service. When he puts "his Spirit within them "," the work of dedication becomes easy and delightful; and the sweet peace which is consequent upon it proves that our duty is an unspeakably precious privilege*. |