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Picture of a Heart which has just been im pressed with the view of death & judgment by the striving of the Holy Spirit for entrance.

Men and brothern "What shall I do to be saved" Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.

This heart represents one who has had a sight of death and judgment. Many must be laid on beds of sickness, before they permit themselves to think on this alarming subject. When the sinner, conscious of guilt, expects to be launched into that eternal existence for which he has made no preparation, the vanities of the world lose their power to fascinate. Sometimes on recovering, this salutary conviction is retained; but in most cases, with health, the sinner returns to his wallowing in the mire. The holy spirit is ever ready to act in concert with the first emotion of this conviction. Sometimes a continued will to sin repels its strivings. In other cases, its admission is permitted, and its stay secured by using the appointed means for growing in grace.

When the husbandman has ploughed and sowed, he may pray to Him, who by giving sunshine and rain can crown his labour with a good harvest; but without using these means, he has no reason to expect a crop as an answer of prayer. It is equally vain to dream that the influence of the great spirit, which is as sunshine and refreshing showers, would produce the good fruits of the spirit, without the co-operation of the affection and will. When affliction, or some other cause, ploughs the heart, the affection and will

must receive the precious truths of revelation; thus taking root, they soon yield the peaceable fruits of righteousness. Watchfulness and prayer are

equally to be observed, as the means of guarding the heart from the re-admission of temptation. "Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation." If these duties could be dispensed with in us, why are they so solemnly, so repeatedly urged upon us by our heavenly Father? Would he say, "My son, give me thy heart," if it was not in our power to give or withhold its affections? Why would he bid us cease to do evil, and learn to do well, if we were no more than passive machines? What means our Lord and Saviour, when he says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock!" Why, and for what, dear child, does thy Saviour stand knocking at thy heart, but for admittance? He would call its affections his own! Surely thou wilt not refuse him! Has he not bought thee with the price of his blood? To whom then dost thou belong but to him who gave himself for thee? A death-bed repentance, as it is termed, is in many cases a lamentable delusion. How can God be reconciled to those who have given the service of their youth and prime to the Devil, the world, and self, and have spurned the instructions, invitations, and warnings of his beloved son, whom he sent into

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