i. e. from the impulse of a merely temporary excitement, "for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God. Now, therefore, put away the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the Lord God." He reminds them of their past inconstancy and levity of character, and warns them to take care that their present purpose be not ardent only, but complete; not the effervescence of some portion of their heart, but the deliberate consecration of the whole thereof to God. Even as Jesus warned his hearers, that they must be prepared beforehand to take up their cross and follow him. "For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish." Even as he reminded the ardent Peter," Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." So would I pray you, dear young friends, anxious as I am to win your hearts for God, and see you coming out to bold determination for him yet, temper zeal with thoughtfulness -sift your hearts, and see what spirit you are of-mistake not youthful fervour for settled purpose shut not your eyes to all the length and

breadth of that devotedness, and all the difficulty of that course to which you are called to give yourselves; but count the cost-breathe a deliberate valour -and be ready to stand fast for God in different moods, and under different feelings, than those which actuate you now. There will come seasons of coldness and declension. There will gather round you many a dark and chilling cloud. Not always will the sun shine on your soul; not always will the gods of your idolatry lie so prostrate as you feel them at this moment. But then- even then, remember, you are pledged to serve the Lord. When you are walking in darkness, and have no light, then also must you "fear the Lord, and obey the voice of his servant, and trust in his name, and stay upon your God!"

Or, are you ready to take up your vow of holiness, now that circumstances may be favourable to your purpose, and you are encouraged and assisted by the smile of friends, and your path seems plain and easy? Forget not that there will be paths of difficulty, and of danger also, which you must pass through. The road to glory is not all fair and even. It must pass through many a valley of humiliation. There are pitfalls in it to be watched against. There are enemies to be fought. The Christian is pledged to God amidst a cold-nay, and a taunting and opposing world. And never

can he serve God faithfully without conflict with that world. In some shape or other, and in some part of his course, to conflict will he be called-and for conflict must he gird himself—and in conflict must he boldly lift up the banner of his Lord, and confess before all men whose he is and whom

he serves. Multitudes have found it easy to profess religion, and to keep up a general decency of Christian character, amidst the manifold encouragements and helps, and the almost fashion for piety, the bounty upon godliness, of the last few years. But when the times of trial come which even now perhaps are thickening round us—when a piety that shall bear the storm of persecution, and a holiness that shall involve heroic fidelity to private and to social principle, shall be required of us; then let us remember, Christians, we may not be mere carpet knights, but hardy soldiers of the cross: we have the vows of God upon us to fight manfully against the world, the flesh, and the devil; we have been sworn to Virtue-not to goodness merely -not to childish harmlessness, propriety, benevolence, respectability, but to Virtue,—which is manly hardihood, and valour in the cause of God!

And this too, lastly, not in one place only, but in all; not in one particular of our character, but in relation and office that we bear; not as every personal religionists only, but as friends and neigh

bours, heads of families and citizens, members of the church and of the state; not in one department of our life, but in whatsoever God shall please to call us to; not in one corner of the field of conflict, but wheresoever the banner of Christwhich is the banner of high-principled, unflinching moral excellence-shall be displayed against the opposing hosts of Satan. Nor yet in times of youthful energy only, but through each several season of our life-through the selfishness of sorrow, the collapse of disappointment, the languor of sickness, the miserable flatness of exhausted vigour, the decrepitude of age-through all times, circumstances, places, and vicissitudes-through "all the days of our life," are we engaged and sworn to walk in God's holy will and commandments!

And who then is sufficient for these things? Who could hope to fulfil-who could venture even to remember his baptismal vow, if he stood engaged, himself alone, to work out the holiness to which it pledges him? Blessed be God, it is not so ! Blessed be God, the very relation out of which spring all these duties gives to us the pledge of all-sufficient help for their fulfilment. It is the distinctive blessing of Christianity that, with every command, it supplies both the encouragement and power which we need for our obedience to it. Whatever our weakness, by Christ we may be strong. What

ever our despondency, in Christ we may hope. Whatever our temptations, through Christ we may be more than conquerors over all. We have the pardoning love of God to set us free from fear; we have the promises of God to animate us with faith; we have the Spirit of God to strengthen us with might in the inner man; and therefore let us prayerfully, hopefully, and manfully address ourselves to God's Commandments, "striving according to his working, which worketh in us mightily."