and conviction that are necessary, and he has only now to believe in Christ, to trust to Him, to fall into his embrace, and live for ever.

O yes! when we find that Christ is the only Saviour known to the Bible,-that salvation or damnation are dependent on our belief or rejection of Him,-that God everywhere refers us for salvation and eternal life to Him,-that He is made the object of supreme love and honor, and the centre of worship, in heaven and on earth, and that faith in Christ, trust in Christ, coming to Christ, living in Christ, following Christ, and glorying in Christ, are the essential elements of all Christian experience, -how can any reasonable man question whether Christ is, as the apostle John says he is, "The true God, and eternal life, and able therefore to save to the uttermost all who put their trust in Him?"

We can easily imagine a host of excuses which this little boy might have offered; but we also know, and you will admit, that they would all have been false and vain, and that he had every warrant and encouragement to act as he was required. We know, too, that in no other way could the child have been

saved at all, and that if he had remained fearful, and hesitating, and halting, he would certainly have been lost. Now just so is it, O sinner! with you. You can frame a hundred excuses; but they are all false, and without any foundation; and if you do not break through them all, and at once and for ever, and ENTIRELY yield yourself to Christ, casting your soul on him and committing it to His hands, you must perish.

SINNER RESOLVING TO GO TO CHRIST.

ESTH. iv. 16.

Come, humble sinner, in whose breast

A thousand thoughts revolve;
Come with your guilt and fear oppress'd
And make this last resolve:-

"I'll go to Jesus, though my sin
Hath like a mountain rose;
I know his courts, I'll enter in,
Whatever may oppose.

Prostrate I'll lie before his throne,
And there my guilt confess;
I'll tell him I'm a wretch undone,
Without his sovereign grace.

I'll to the gracious King approach,
Whose sceptre pardon gives;
Perhaps he may command my touch-
And then the suppliant lives.

Perhaps he will admit my plea,
Perhaps will hear my prayer;
But if I perish, I will pray,
And perish only there.

I can but perish if I go,
I am resolv'd to try;
For if I stay away, I know,
I must for ever die."

CHAPTER V.

GIVE YOURSELF UNTO THE LORD.

Man is so constituted, that in order to fix and deepen his thoughts, they must be spoken or written. Language and letters are intended to be means of expressing, and of giving stability, to the thoughts and feelings of the soul. When they really do so, the man is sincere and truthful, but when not, he is deceitful and hypocritical. Where more than one person is concerned, reliance is put upon words and writing, in proportion as there is mutual confidence, but in all matters of importance, “to put an end to strife," and to impart unwavering assurance, an oath or written engagement is given. This is the foundation of all business transactions among men. This, also, is the case in the formation of all partnerships and associations. Even as individuals, we never enter upon any important transaction without deep reflection and very careful decision. This ought to be the

case, and every such determination ought to be made after seeking the guidance and blessing of God. "In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct thy steps."

Were you, for instance,—that I may use an illustration to which in Scripture the consecration of the soul to Christ is compared-solicited, and did you feel it to be your duty, to marry, how carefully would you weigh every consideration bearing on the eventful issue. How often would you retire within yourself, and in view of all the possible results of your decision, earnestly importune that "wisdom that cometh from above, and which is profitable to direct." Having done this, you would then, probably, set your seal to a written engagement, or otherwise express your assent. This would afterwards be ratified by a solemn public contract in the presence of God, and probably of many witnesses assembled on the occasion, your hymeneal torch be lighted at God's altar, and your heart be there plighted in faith to the partner of your bosom.

Now, so it is in your relation to God. To Him also, thoughts and feelings are expressed by words or writing. In this way they are also deepened and confirmed. And as God requires

you to "give Him your heart," and to "vow unto the Lord," and "pay your vow," you cannot hesitate about either the obligation or the expediency of doing so. Only let your heart, and your lips, and your pen agree. Let what you say or write be what is "written on the fleshy table of your heart," and you cannot fail to derive from a solemn consecration, important and lasting benefit.

Let me then beseech you to join me, even now, in making a surrender of yourself to God in Christ. Come with me into God's presence, as "in Christ he is reconciling sinners to himself," and dedicate yourself to Him, saying,

Eternal and unchangeable Jehovah! Thou great Creator of heaven and earth! and adorable Lord of angels and men, I desire, with the deepest humiliation and abasement of soul, to fall down at this time in thine awful presence, and earnestly pray that thou wilt penetrate my very heart and soul with a suitable sense of thine unutterable and inconceivable glories! Trembling may justly lay hold upon me, when I, a sinful worm, presume to lift up my head to Thee, presume to appear in thy majestic presence on such an occasion as this.