And it is addressed also to those whose minds are in a measure enlightened to see the evil of sin; who often wish that they were in the way of life, and that they were partakers of the blessings of salvation; who often weep over their sins, pray for forgiveness, and inquire, "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?" but who are only almost, not altogether, persuaded to be Christians. Many commandments they have perhaps observed from their youth up, and sometimes wonder what it is they lack yet. Dear friends, this one thing is lacking-decision for Christ. Something stands in the way, some easily besetting sin; some practice inconsistent with the reign of Christ in the heart; carefulness and trouble about many things, instead of undivided affection for, and all diligent pursuit of the one thing needful"How long halt ye between two opinions?"

I wish now to invite your attention to some characteristics of the man who no longer halts between two opinions, but is on the Lord's side.

1. He has a firm and practical belief in God's word. He is well persuaded that he has believed no cunningly devised fable, but that the holy men of God who wrote it spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. Its revelations are to him the mind and will of God; realities to be believed and obeyed. It is the man of his counsel and the guide of his steps, and he takes heed to his ways according to its teaching and direction. Let him but hear its voice calling him to duty, to self-denial, to follow the steps of the Good Shepherd, and it is enough; his prayer is "Draw me, and I will run after thee." So, also, let him but hear the divine word of promise speaking consolation in the time of trouble, or guidance in the season of perplexity, and he at once seeks to stay his mind upon God, and is kept in perfect peace.

2. A man who is decided for God

cordially admits that true religion is a personal and spiritual matter, and endeavours to exemplify its nature in his life and conduct. He feels that God's claim is upon each one personally and individually—“My son, give me thine heart; and that in this matter no one can act as a substitute for another; no one can believe or promise, or be responsible for another; but that each must bear his own burden, give account of his own deeds, and be rewarded according to his own works.

He feels that true religion is a spiritual thing, and that acceptable worship must be from a sincere heart, and must be offered in spirit and in truth: that it consists not in forms and ceremonies, not in meat and drink; but in righteousness, joy, and peace in the Holy Ghost; that obedience is better than sacrifice; and that to love God with all the heart, and one's neighbour as one's self, is better than offerings, and whole burnt offerings,

And knowing and feeling that the claims of God upon him are supreme, and that the treasures of the world in exchange for the soul would be an infinite loss, he, therefore, seeks to glorify God with his body and spirit which are the Lord's; and accounts riches, honour, pleasure, and reputation among men as but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus the Lord; that he may win Christ and be found in him. And therefore, amidst all the cares and trials of life, amidst all its duties and occupations, he ever strives to remember that "One thing is needful," and seeks first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, believing that all other things shall be added unto him.

3. A man decided for God acts not upon principles of worldly expediency, but upon what is right in the sight of God, and consistent with his word. Many professors, I am persuaded, walk with the multitude and drift with the stream. The mode of con

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ducting business, for example, is too often upon worldly principles. Some may say: But if we do not as the world does, we must give up business; if we do not yield to its prejudices, and conform to its customs, we cannot get on in the world." I can easily conceive, indeed, that a man may get rich on such a plan, but I cannot understand that such prosperity is to be taken as a mark of God's approval; or that God honours those who cast aside, or trample under foot, the principles of truth and justice. A man decided for God will exercise faith in him, will look to him for help in the struggle against evil, and for prosperity in a righteous path. And he will feel that it is better to have but little with the approval of his conscience, than to have even great wealth with the accusations of his conscience. He applies this rule to all his transactions in life; to his intercourse with his fellow-men, to the relations he sustains, and the duties he has to discharge. He does not ask-What are others accustomed to do? not, What will men think or say of me? not, What inconvenience shall I suffer? or, What advantage of a worldly nature shall I reap? but, What wilt thou, O God, have me to do?

4. A person truly decided on the Lord's side seeks to avoid being conformed to this world, but seeks to be transformed by the renewing of his mind, that he may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Between some professors of religion and the world, there is little more difference than the name, or connection with the visible church; attendance upon the means of grace, and the observance of religious ordinances. Some from the company they keep, the places they frequent, and the amusements they seek, seem to try how far they can go with the world without losing all trace of niety, and without absolutely en

dangering their eternal salvation. But he that is fully on the Lord's side, remembers that it is written, " If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things of the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." His treasure is in heaven, and it is his aim that his heart should be there also. He has no continuing city here, but he seeks one to come, and therefore he seeks to walk as a stranger and a pilgrim until he is permitted to enter the better country, even the heavenly.

A man who is decided for God, trifles not with temptation. He will hold no parley with it, but will, in the strength of the Lord, resist the devil, trusting to the divine promise that resistance will cause Satan to flee. He will not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stand in the way of sinners, lest he should sit down in the seat of the scornful. Some think that it is easy to stop in the path of evil, and to retrace the steps already taken, but he judges that the only safeguard is to avoid it, to pass not by it, but to turn from it and pass away.

Yet once more I remark that a man who is truly decided for God, desires to be zealous of good works, knowing that God hath before ordained that his people should walk in them. He was once a child of darkness, but now he is light in the Lord, and he desires that his light may shine before men, that they, seeing his good works, may glorify his Father who is in heaven. And although he is conscious that in many things he offends, and comes short of the divine requirements, yet it is his desire and aim to live not to himself, but to Him who died for him and rose again, and to do all to the glory of God.

Now, my readers, have I described

your characters or not? Do you practically believe the word of God, or are you living in practical unbelief? Do you seek first the kingdom of heaven and its righteousness, or are you chiefly seeking after the things of this world? Do you practically regard the good part as the one thing needful," or do you practically regard religion as a matter of convenience, more fit for age than for youth; more fit for sickness than for health; necessary for a dying hour, but not for an active and long life? Do you act upon the principles of worldly expediency, or are you influenced by the fear of God? Do you regard the opinions of men more than the command of God, and do you love the praise and honour of man more than the praise of God, and the honour that cometh from God only? Are you desirous to avoid even the appearance of evil, or do you fancy that you can take the burning coals of temptation, pleasure, and worldly compliance into your bosom and not be burned? Are you living to yourselves, or are you living to God? For as you can answer these questions in truth, and in God's sight, so you may determine whether you are decided on the Lord's side or not.

If you are not decided for God, let me remind you that this decision is a matter of Divine request and command, and that it meets us, as it were, at the threshold of life, and through his forbearance and mercy his voice still speaks to us. Hear ye, then, the word of the Lord, Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth" (Eccles, xii. 1). "My son, give me thine heart (Prov. xxiii. 26). Choose you this day whom ye will serve" (Josh. xxiv. 15). "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live" (Deut. xxx. 19).

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Nothing can stand in the place of this decision or be a substitute for it. You may read the Bible, and offer daily prayer; you may attend God's house, and partake of the Lord's Supper; you may take part in religious and benevolent efforts; you may contribute liberally of your substance to charitable objects; you may even do many wonderful works in the name of Jesus Christ; but it is utterly in vain thus to draw near to God while the heart is far from him. For the Saviour has said, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."

This decision for God is but a reasonable service. He hath made us, and not we ourselves; and in him we live and move and have our being. In his increasing goodness he supplies our wants, and his design in his goodness is to lead us to repentance. But, above all, he has so loved the world as to give his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. And to as many as receive him, Christ gives power and privilege to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. Is it not reasonable, therefore, that you should be on the Lord's side.

But if you profess to be the Lord's, to look for and trust in his mercy, through Christ Jesus; if you are called by his name, and numbered amongst his followers; if you hope that he will make his grace sufficient for you, that he will guide you by his counsel, and afterwrds received you to his glory,-how much more reasonable is it that you should not at any time halt between two opinions, but that you should always, and with all your heart, seek to carry out the resolution of Joshua, that honoured servant of God, and great leader of his people, who said, "But as for me, and my house, we will serve the Lord "?

As this decision for God is a positive and sacred duty, so to comply with it is to walk in the path of safety. He that is not with Christ is against him. He that is not Christ's friend is his foe; and at the last he will say, "But those mine enemies which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.' To the wavering and undecided Laodicean church, Christ says, "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." Such deceive themselves when they say, I am rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing. They are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked, and their only safety is to repent, and forsake this halting between two opinions, and to be truly decided for God. A man halting between two opinions is a man who hears the Lord's sayings and does them not, and is therefore like unto the man who built his house upon the sand, and when the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, it fell, and great was the fall of it. But the man who is decided for the Lord has passed from death unto life, and shall not come into condemnation. He not only hears the sayings of Christ, but he also does them; and Christ himself likens him to the wise man who built his house upon a rock; and although the rains descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon the house, yet it fell not, because it was founded upon a rock.

Decision for God is the path of happiness. It secures to us the approval of our conscience, and of the Lord, whose voice it is. It greatly aids us in our approaches to God, and ministers to our comfort in the hour of need and in the time of trouble. Brethren, if on this matter

our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and knoweth all things. But if our hearts condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. It is this alone which can fully calm the heart's anxieties, which can foster that perfect love which casteth out all fear, which can help us fully to realize the pleasantness of the ways of wisdom, and the peace of her paths, and which can impart unto us that full assurance, that profound peace, and that longing anticipation which evidently dwelt in the heart of the apostle when he said, "I know in whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day" (2 Tim. i. 12). “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight; I have finished my course; I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing" (2 Tim. iv. 6-8).

Decision for God is also of essential importance in connection with the professing Christian's labours for God, and usefulness in his service. In the conflicts between good and evil which are constantly taking place in the world, it behoves every one that names the name of Christ to take a decided part; and no one who regards either faithfulness or consistency can decline doing so. The tendency of mercy and grace is not only to awaken the heart to gratitude, but also to awaken its sympathy and excite its pity towards those who are without God, and without hope, and without Christ in the world. And upon you who profess

to be his disciples, to be bought with the precious blood of Christ, devolves the duty of disseminating the vital truths of his word, and of seeking to bring others under their saving influence. But if you halt between two opinions yourself, it must have a chilling influence upon you, and hinder your usefulness. How can you urge decision upon others if you feel that you are lukewarm yourself? How can you see clearly to take the mote out of your brother's ere while the beam remains in your own? You would often feel the proverb, Physician, heal thyself," applicable to you, and the thought of your own inconsistency and want of devotedness to God, would close your lips and paralyze your efforts.

And now, Christian friends, suffer one word of exhortation. If you are conscious that in some respects, and on some occasions, you have halted between two opinions; if you are conscious that even in many instances you have failed to serve the Lord with that decision of purpose and action which his claims and your character and vows demand, then humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, and he will lift you up; confess your sins and shortcomings to your heavenly Father, and he will forgive you; renew your consecration to him, for he waiteth to be gracious; be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might, and he will make his grace sufficient for you, and thus your future course shall be one of increasing happiness and usefulness.

And now I entreat those of you who have not yet repented of sin or believed the Gospel-who have not yet given your hearts to God-I entreat you to consider your ways, and to weigh well the claims of God to your affection and service. And if the Lord be God alone, and if there be no Saviour beside him, then I pray you at once follow him. Let

it be done now. Every day's delay renders the work of decision more difficult; and every day's procrastination renders it more unlikely that it will ever be performed at all. Delay in this matter is most dangerous; life itself is uncertain ; and the strivings of God's Spirit may cease if you refuse to seek the Lord while he may be found, and to call upon him while he is near. And if you live and die undecided for God, or rather decided against him, consider what an accumulated load of guilt and punishment must fall upon you. You have been the object of both goodness and forbearance; to you both warnings and invitations have been addressed; to you the word of his salvation has been sent. But if, after all, you prefer darkness rather than light, because your deeds are evil,-if you will have none of the Lord's counsel, and despise his reproof,-if you will not take Christ's yoke upon you, nor bear his burden,-if in effect you say, Let us burst his bonds asunder, and cast away his cords from us, we will not have him to reign over us,"-of how much sorer punishment, therefore, will you be deemed worthy than if no such advantages had been afforded you? Your time of spiritual fear and trouble will come, and it may come even as a whirlwind. What, then, will you do if the Lord shall turn a deaf ear to your cry, and mock at your calamity? Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we beseech you to flee from the wrath to come. Make Christ your refuge, who is the hope set before you in the Gospel. Halt no longer between two opinions; but commence this New Year by giving yourselves to the Lord. Yea, Come Now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

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G. W. FISHBOURNE, '