enmity with God.' 'Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will be a Father unto you.'

Again, we must deny ourselves for the Lord's sake. The Christian is called upon sometimes to do what is contrary to his own inclinations. He must learn then to deny himself. He must no longer do things, merely because they square with his own will, but because the Lord would have him do them. The faithful service of God often brings us into trouble. We often have to bear much, for His sake. We often have to act in a way that flesh and blood would shrink from. But shall we not do what our Heavenly Father bids us do? not bear what He sees well to lay upon us? even rejoice in doing it; and thankfully and cheerfully bear it, at His bidding.

Shall we

Yes, and

When our own evil hearts then are ready to turn away from the task, or quake with fear, let us remember Him who said, 'If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.'

There must also be a bold, hearty, decided surrender of ourselves to the Lord.

There can be no living to God, where there is halfheartedness, wavering, or indecision. We must fearlessly face the world, and declare ourselves for Christ. There must be no hanging back, no fear of man's displeasure, no truckling to this person's arguments, or that person's fancies. Christ bids us come boldly forward as His servants, and we dare not hang back.

Ah, here is the trial. I know how difficult it is to take so strong and decided a step. And yet I am sure that thousands lose their peace of mind-lose God's favour—aye, and lose heaven too-for want of taking it.

D

I wish I could persuade you this day to leave the ranks of indifference, of indecision-may I not say, the ranks of cowardice? for I know that the conscience of more than one of you is now whispering, 'I ought to yield myself up at once to God.' I wish I could persuade you at this moment boldly and fearlessly to declare yourself for Christ, and to cast in your life with His people.

May the Lord Himself 'draw you with the cords of a man, with the bands of love!'

Lastly, we must live a life of faith.

'We' (St. Paul says), we Christians walk by faith, not by sight.' 'We look not at the things which are seen and are temporal, but at the things which are not seen and are eternal.'

If your treasure is here, labour for it night and day; strive for it, as for a prize; grasp it with all eagerness. But if you wish for that better portion, which is promised you, and is yet to come, pray for it, seek for it, live for it.

I trust you at times long for that better portion. There is a Friend for you above, out of sight, 'whom having not seen' you may ‘love.' There is an Almighty Arm ready to shelter you: place yourself under its care. There is a Home before you-an eternal home: be ever looking towards it with the unwavering eye of faith.

This, I believe, is what Scripture means by 'living unto the Lord'-a different life from that of others; a separation from the world; a denying of ourselves for Christ's sake; a bold surrender of ourselves to the Lord; a life of faith.

Oh, that God may give us grace to choose such a

life as this; and having chosen it, never to waver in our choice!

There are two other inquiries, which I shall touch upon very briefly.

Why should we thus live to God? We are not our own, but His. He made us. He preserves us. We are in His hands. To Him we owe our strength, our health, our lives. But still more, we owe to Him our salvation. He loved us, and sent His Son to die for us. We have been bought by His precious blood. 'He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him.' That Church on the heath, of which I spoke just now, is no longer man's property; it is God's house. And so the Christian is not his own, but the Lord's. He has consecrated himself to the Lord's service.

If we felt this more-'I am not my own, but Christ's not my own, to live for myself, but Christ's, to live for Him'-then how differently should we feel and act! Our life would be one entire consecration to our Master's service. Our constant inquiry would be, 'How can I please Him? How can I do His will? How can I glorify Him in my body, and in my spirit, which are His?'

Remember, He who is your great Creator, to whom you owe your very life-your Protector, who has guarded you up to this hour-your Father, who so tenderly loves you-He says to you, Give Me-not your money, not your health, not your strength, not your words—but give Me something in which I am more interested still; my son, give Me thy heart. And can you refuse to give it?

He who is your Saviour too, who has loved you as no brother ever loved you; who has stretched Himself on the cross for you; who has drunk the bitter cup of suf

fering for your sake; He says, 'I stand at the door and knock.' Oh, will you not let Him in? Will you not say, ‘Other lords beside Thee have had dominion over me; but I desire henceforth to give my heart, my life, myself, to Thee.'

And now, a word or two on the question, When shall we live unto God?

To this I answer without hesitation, Now, to-day, this very hour. The time past of our lives sufficeth to have lived to ourselves and to the world. Now begin to live to God. Why not?

What! Would you have young men and women, just entering on the joys of life give themselves to God? Would you have those who are in health and strength, with probably a long life before them—would you have them turn their backs on the world, and enter upon Christ's service? Yes, certainly I would.

We cannot too soon begin a life of such joy and blessedness. Why not? Are the world's bonds too strong to break? Is self too dear to be given up? Is the heart so fondly set on things below? Has it clung to them so long that it is unwilling to break away from them now, and enjoy those better things which God has to give? Oh, take care lest death comes and finds us living-I will not say a sinful life-but a selfish, unprofitable, worldly life.

I feel that the great end of this book will not be gained, unless it leads you to stand out from the world, and to be really anxious to lead godly and heavenly lives. I am thankful if you are quiet and respectable; if you go to church, and sometimes to the Holy Table. But I want more. I want to see sin forsaken, Jesus my Saviour loved and honoured. I want to see you crowd

ing into the narrow way-pressing onward with a firm and joyous step. I want to see you asking the way to Zion with your face thitherward, determined by God's help to live as an earnest, faithful, and consistent follower of Christ.

God grant that you may one day-ah, this daytake up the language of the Apostle, and say, 'Whether I live I will live unto the Lord: and whether I die I will die unto the Lord whether living therefore or dying, I will be the Lord's.'

CHAPTER V.

THE GREAT WORK OF LIFE.

OUR Lord's life on earth was the great pattern life. Even in the days of His childhood, He worked for His heavenly Father. Those early years were spent with His earthly Parents principally at Nazareth. Picture to yourself a Child, much like other children, year by year growing in wisdom and in stature; strictly following the wishes of Joseph and Mary; working at their trade, as the Carpenter's Son;' a sinless Child, a pattern of holiness, and perfectly pure in heart and life.

At the age of twelve, His Parents took Him with them, to attend the great Feast of the Passover, according to the custom of the Jews. It was usual on those occasions for several families to join together for safety, and to travel in company. Those Passover days must have been happy and solemn seasons; for there was much in them to remind the people of God of His past goodness to them, and of mercies yet to come.

The Feast being ended, the different companies