The ation and lost his ballast when he fell. sinner is like the troubled sea when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. The spirit of restlessness and wandering is in his heart. He seeks rest and finds none, just because he seeks it in the wrong quarter; he seeks it on the shifting sand, and not on the solid rock. Jesus sees man in this condition, and, sympathizing with him, cries, "Come, unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." The sinner, weary and depressed, under Divine teaching comes to Jesus, and at his feet enjoys peace, pardon, and repose. He obtains rest from the burden of sin, from guilty fears, and the dread of hell. He receives the atonement, submits to God's righteousness, and finds access with confidence to God through faith in Jesus. Now he un derstands that verse, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me.' Having come to God through Christ, the direction is given, "Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him; fret not thyself because of him that prospereth in his way, because of the man that bringeth wicked devices to pass." He now rests on God's word of promise, on his solemn oath, on his gracious covenant, on his paternal relation, and on his infinite and unchangeable love. His soul is steady. He has an anchor which he casts on that which is within the vail, even the precious, plead ing blood and prevalent intercession of the great High Priest. He rests in God now, and is happy. The peace of God keeps his heart and mind, and the sense of restlessness which once tormented him so much is lost. Reader, have you sought and obtained rest at the feet of Jesus? Do you rest in God as your covenant God and gracious Father? True religion is the soul resting in God, having received full supplies from God as the result of coming to God. 66 Fourth, it is rendering to God. Having come to God, being graciously supplied by God, and enjoying sweet repose in God, the soul now cries out, What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me ?" The person, the life, the time, and all the talents become consecrated to God. The man wishes to live for God. To work for God. To be of use in God's world and in God's church. To bring glory to God's name. He works not for a title to life, for he has that. He works not for supplies, for he has them. But he works to express his gratitude, to show his love, and to magnify God's free and sovereign grace. He is willing to fill any situation, to do any work, or be anything, if he may but honour that blessed Jesus who died for him, and glorify that gracious God who has saved him by his grace. He lays his property at the feet of Jesus, offers all he has to Jesus, and only begs to be employed by Jesus. This is the proves This natural effect of true faith. This that the life of God is in the soul. makes it manifest that the man is created anew in Christ Jesus unto good works. In such a case there is no doubt of sincerity or spirituality. The man has not only the evidence in himself, but he presents an evidence to all that are around him. He is manifestly declared to be a child of God. He is proved to be a vessel of mercy. His calling and election are sure. Such, then, is true religion, and nothing else is. Unless, therefore, a man comes to God as a poor sinner for life and salvation, unless he receives from God grace to pardon his sins and sanctify his nature,-unless he finds rest in God in this restless world, and unless he renders unto God according to that which the Lord hath done for him, he is not a truly religious man. "Tis religion that can give After death its joys will be Be the living God my friend, I AM very fond of attending cottage prayer meetings. I often find the Lord specially present there. I get my heart warmed, and sometimes my zeal inflamed. Oh, that cottage prayer meetings were much more common than they are! I attended one last night. A venerable grey headed cottager was requested to pray. He had not been very long brought to Christ. He prayed very simply, and fervently, and to the point. But as several young persons were present, he appeared to be particularly interested in them, and prayed very earnestly for them. He evidently longed for their conversion. The salvation of their souls lay near his heart. One petition that he put up particularly struck me. He was pleading for their immediate conversion to God, and he cried "LORD, LET THEM NOT KNOW WHAT AN OLD SINNER FEELS." Ah, thought I, who can tell the feelings of an old man, who has spent all his best days in the service of Satan, and can now only give the refuse to the Saviour! He feels that he is a sinner, with an emphasis, and that the Lord Jesus is a most wonderful Saviour, or he could not, he would not save him. From the old man's prayer, feelings of I could gather that his were Sorrow, deep sorrow. He could not look back on the past without sorrow. He was a husband, but he had not loved his wife even as himself. He was a father, but he had not trained up his offspring in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. He was a servant, but he had not acted under the influence of gospel precepts. He was an immortal being, but he had for many long years neglected to seek and secure the sal vation of his soul. He was a neighbour, but he had not loved his neighbour as himself. He was a creature of God, but he had not loved God with all his heart, mind, soul, and strength. He was a sinner, but he had not fled to Christ for refuge, until his head was hoary, and his health and strength were gone. He was sorry. Sorry that he had lived without God, and without Christ in the world. Sorry that he had grieved a God of love, crucified the Son of God afresh, and resisted the Holy Spirit. Sorry that he had run into sin, and led others astray by his example. With what fervour did that old man pray for his young friends, "LORD, LET THEM NEVER KNOW WHAT AN OLD SINNER FEELS. He felt Regret, painful regret. He regretted that he had squandered his property, lost the best of his time, degraded his nature, and ruined his immortal soul. He had lost |