crime which led to the fearful punishment he received. Religion also has its price. What is it? It is, the soul and the body; the payment of all that we are, and all that we have, to the Lord; as a small tribute of gratitude for his numerous mercies, and especially for the unspeakable mercies of redemption by the blood of Jesus. The solemn requisition of God upon every human being is, "Son, give me thy heart!" He demands the full and unreserved dedication of our best affections, our most exalted powers, our most perfect services, to the work of religion. Without this, no one can be, in the full sense of the term, a Christian; or entitled to the comforts and inheritance which the gospel promises to the followers of our blessed Redeemer. But, alas! how many are there who "keep back part of the price?" They desire salvation; they long to have the pardon of sin, and the blessing of adoption; the privileges of God's children in this world, and the joys which await them in the world to come. But they are unwilling to make the sacrifices which God requires from his people. There is some avaricious principle, some darling lust, some favourite pleasure, some idolized object, or possession, which they cannot part with. God demands the abandonment of all sin; but they cling to the beloved idol, and say, "spare it, is it not a little one?" This forbidden object they wish to retain, and yet partake of all the privileges and joys of the faithful and devoted servants of Jehovah. They make a mental reser vation in favour of the particular object of their regard, whatever it may be; and yet, do not hesitate to take the vows of the covenant upon their lips and profess to give themselves to the Lord, in obedience to his commandment. Ah! miserable delusion! God will not accept of divided affections. He is a jealous God, and will not consent to give part of his glory to another. He has the most sacred and powerful claims upon all that we can offer him. Has he been half-hearted in the bestowment of his blessings upon us? Was the Lord Jesus half-hearted, when he gave himself up to ignominy, and sufferings, and death, for our redemption? And dare we make stinted, and half-hearted returns for God's unutterable gifts? Can we hope to deceive him by a partial devotion? No! he searches the hearts, and tries the reins of the children of men. And if we will not permit him to reign in our souls, without a rival; if we call ourselves his servants, when we design to serve him only partially; if we hold back a part of the price, when we pretend to give the whole; we "lie to the Holy Ghost," and bring the tremendous guilt of hypocrisy upon our souls. To every such individual we may say, in the language of St. Peter, "why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and keep back part of the price? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God." It was under satanic influence, that Ananias attempt ed to practise a fraud upon the Apostles of the Church; and without reference to the malign agency of the great and subtle deceiver, we cannot well conceive, how men should be led to play the hypocrite as the different classes of professors do, which have now been noticed. What an awful exhibition does it afford of the glaring folly, and desperate wickedness of men? They attempt to deceive Omniscience; to trifle with Him, who holds the thunderbolts in his hand, and by one stroke of his justice, can "dash them in pieces, like a potter's vessel!” SECTION III. The communicant's duty respecting the means of grace. Ir is charitably to be hoped, that there are few so "blinded by the god of this world," and "led captive by Satan at his will," as to be guilty of deliberate and wilful hypocrisy in a religious profession. But they know little of that heart which "is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked," who do not feel the need of beseeching God to keep them even from this presumptuous sin. There are, however, others besides wilful hypocrites, who "keep back part of the price;" and are thus chargeable, in some sense, with dissimulation be fore God. And here, let all professors, who read this volume, pause, and look well into their own state. Let them examine themselves, and that, "not lightly, and after the manner of dissemblers with God." Let each one pray, "search me, O God, and know the ground of my heart; prove me, and examine my thoughts; see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." When we join ourselves in covenant with God, and his church;—"subscribe with our hands unto the Lord, and surname ourselves by the name of Israel;" we promise to "follow the Good Shepherd, whithersoever he goeth," and especially, into the "green pastures," and beside the "still waters," which he has provided for the nourishment and refreshment of his flock. We engage "to walk in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, blameless." We virtually bind ourselves to comply with all the positive duties of religion, and means of grace; whether private or public, personal or social. Are there no professors of religion who neglect any of these means? Is there no reader of these pages, who, in this respect, "keeps back part of the price?" In boundless condescension and love, God invites us to come to the throne of grace, that we may "obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Our blessed Saviour directs us to "enter into our closet and shut the door, and pray to our Father who seeth in secret;" and says, that "our Father who seeth in secret, shall reward us openly." Every intelligent Christian will acknowledge, that secret prayer is the main spring of all personal religion; and that, without it, the "life of God" cannot be maintained in the soul. Do you, then, let me ask, daily retire for the purpose of secret devotion? Do you daily read a portion of that blessed volume which testifies of Jesus, and opens up the path of heaven to the view of the believing soul? Do you, not merely as a matter of form, bend the knee; but, humble your sinful souls before the mercy seat, and pour out the sighs and confessions of a contrite spirit-and the earnest desires of a heart longing for communion with God? Is the place of your retirement consecrated by the memory of many sighs, and tears, and vows? Is it often blessed with the presence of the Comforter? so that you esteem it as a kind of audience-chamber for the Deity;-as it were, the vestibule of heaven? Do you walk closely and humbly with your God? Do you frequently exult in the experience of His favour, which is life; and his loving-kindness, which is better than life? Or, are you, in a state of darkness, and alienation from the fountain of spiritual life and joy, forced to exclaim, "Oh, that it were with me as in days that are past!" "Where is the blessedness I knew, |