the surrender of thyself, and all that thou hast, to God, as a thank-offering for thy deliverance from the house of bondage, and thy restoration to the enjoyment of light and liberty? Where is thy faith, and zeal, and holiness? Where is thy communing with thy heart, and making diligent search? Where is thy meditation upon God, thy drawing near to him, and det tug in him as thy portion? What! a stranger Bo all this, and yet a pretender to religion! Ah! man, thy Bible, consult thy heart; consult those

Christians indeed, and they will tell thee, that

is something different from this. To be religious, is to "be renewed in the spirit of our mind; to be dead, indeed, to sin, and to be alive to God through Christ Jesus our Lord;" and, "whether we cat or drink, or whatsoever we do, to do all to his glory." It is this reference to the Author of our being that constitutes religion; and the nicest observances of forms and ceremonies, and the exactest behaviour which terminates in self, have not the least claim to that sacred character. In opposition, therefore, to all such pretensions, it is called "lifting up the soul to God;" honouring, fearing, trusting, loving, and delighting in him; and in our text, "giving ourselves to the Lord."

These words are connected with an account of a contribution, which was made by the churches of Macedonia, for the relief of the Saints in Judea. As an additional commendation of their character, he says, "And this they did, not as we hoped; but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God." From that part of these words which has been read for our text, we propose to inquire,

what is implied in giving ourselves to the Lord---how this is to be done,---and why this should be our first and principal concern.

I. What is implied in giving ourselves to the Lord?. Whether we give ourselves to him or not, he has a natural and an unalienable right to us as the author of our existence. Besides this, he has redeemed us: not, indeed, with corruptible things, such as silver and gold; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish, and without spot: so that we are under the strongest and most indispensable obliga tions to glorify him in our bodies and spirits. Yet he expects that we should resign ourselves to him, and confirm his right to us by our own voluntary surrender.

We had sold ourselves to sin; we had been led сар. tiveby Satan, at his will; and the world had too much reason to claim us for its own, and to boast of its triumphs. To give ourselves, therefore, to the Lord, implies, that we renounce all former dependance and attachments; that we break the bands of sin asunder, and cast its cords away from us; and that thus disen, gaged from all rivals and competitors whatever, we present our bodies and spirits an unreserved sacrifice to God. It is to fall down before him in the lowest humiliation, and say, "O Lord our God, other lords besides thee have had dominion over us; but by thee only will we make mention of thy name. What wilt thou have us to do? Speak, Lord, for thy servants hear. We subscribe to thy own proposals. Whatever thou choosest us to be, to have, to want, to do, or to suffer, we cheerfully acquiesce in thy wise and righteous appointments. We give ourselves to thee beyond the power of revocation. We renounce for ever all

inferior claims and expectations. We bind ourselves to the horns of thy altar. We join ourselves to thee. in a covenant, which we hope will never be forgotten: and it is our humble and earnest desire, that whatever difficulties we meet with, we may never deny, nor desert, nor dishonour our Saviour!" Such, my friends, is the dedication or surrender of yourselves to God, which I am now recommending. I proceed, therefore, to inquire,

II. How we are to give ourselves to the Lord.

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I answer, in the first place, with humility and reverence. Remember that you are engaged with the greatest Being in the universe. Endeavour to get your minds impressed with a lively sense of his greatness; and consider that his eyes are as a flame of fire, that he cannot be deceived, and will not be mocked; and that he will be sanctified in them that come nigh him, and before all the people he will be glorified. For, is he not the high and lofty one that inhabits eternity? Do not angels prostrate themselves in his presence; and are not all the nations of the earth as the small dust of the balance, in comparison with him? Is he not a jealous God, and a consuming fire? while thou, my soul, art dry stubble before him; a beast, a worm, an enemy, a rebel, a wretch, whom nothing but my crimes could have rendered considerable? What is the sacrifice then which I dare offer to this high and holy Potentate? What is the mighty present which I am vain enough to imagine will be accepted by him from my hands? Blessed God, I have nothing but a broken heart, the poor remains of what I once was, to surrender to thee. It was originally thine, but I have wickedly withheld it from thee, and have madly devo

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ted it to sin and the world. With a high hand, and an outstretched arm, thou hast wrought salvation for me, and I would fain acknowledge the immense obligation. But how can I come before thee, Lord? How can a creature, mean and guilty like me, appear in thy presence? But while I tremble at a view of thy ma-, jesty and holiness, I rejoice that, through a mediator, sinners are permitted to approach thee; and that, though thou art the Lord of Glory, thou hast condescended to converse and covenant with dust and ashes. I will, therefore, direct my prayer to thee, and will look up; I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercies, and in thy fear will I worship towards thy holy temple.

Secondly, we must give ourselves to the Lord deliberately; I mean with the prudence and caution of those who know what they are doing. Rash promises are seldom observed. Zeal without knowledge soon becomes cold; and that religion which has nothing but passion for its foundation, like the house built upon the sand, will fall to the ground. Before, therefore, you enter into such important engagements, consider them seriously. It was excellent advice of Solo"Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thy heart be hasty to utter any thing before God; for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth; therefore let thy words be few." Christ decoys no man into his ser vice; but he expects from all that enter into it, fidelity and perseverance. Consider, O my soul, what a sacrifice thou art making. Body, soul, spirit, houses, lands, possessions, and friends, must be resigned to his disposal; and every sinful gratification whatsoever be renounced. Do I know what I am doing?

mon,

Does my heart consent to all this? Can I really deny myself, and take up my cross, and follow him through all the rugged paths of duty and suffering, in which he may think fit to lead me? Can I drink of the cup of which he drank, and be baptized with the baptism with which he was baptized? Can I bear to be pointed at, persecuted, and treated with contempt? Can I cut off my right hand, and pluck out my right eye, or part with that iniquity which, by long indulgence, is become dearer to me than either? These are questions of no small consequence at our entrance upon religion. If we cannot answer them with satisfaction, by pretending to religion, we shall only expose ourselves to the ridicule of the foolish builder, who began to build before he had counted the cost. But if, upon the maturest deliberation, we approve and consent to the proposals of the gospel, we may be pillars in God's house below, and stars in his kingdom above.

Thirdly, we must give ourselves to him cheerfully; not by constraint, but willingly. Consider yourselves as going to receive, not confer, a favour; and let gratitude and joy be visible in your countenances, and mingle with all that you do. If you be only driven to it by the rod of affliction, or the terrors of conscience, or the fear of death, it cannot be said to be your own act and deed; it is only the involuntary effects of consternation, and what, when the danger is over, you will probably wish to be undone. God loves a cheerful giver, and disdains the heart that is not freely offered. Blessed Jesus! art thou willing to receive me, and shall I be backward to come? IfI had all the excellencies of ten thousand angels, I could not deserve