as what Christ can do for him. He is anxious.

His sins disturb his conscience. The broken law alarms him. The coming judgment overawes him. The terrors of hell seize him. "What must I do to be saved?" is then his cry. "Lord save me, I perish," is then his prayer. His helpless and distressed condition exhibits an anxious desire to be rescued from danger. An incident in the life of Sir Brook Watson, commemorated in one of our "Art Treasures," illustrates this most forcibly. He is in the sea, spent and sinking. A hungry shark is hurrying to seize him. Turned upon his back, the drowning man looks imploringly to the sailors in the boat, who have thrown out a rope which he is too feeble to grasp. What then occupies his mind so long as consciousness remains is, the desire to be saved. Thus is it with the awakened soul. It is a blessed wish. Jesus never refuses to save. The cry from the depths is sweetest music in his ear. "Joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth." The helplessness that depends on him has around it his everlasting arms. "Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." To produce this desire and suggest this prayer, is the great object of gospel preaching, and of all expostulation and appeal addressed to the sinner. Many are careless of danger-unconscious of its nearness and its fatal issue. Hence the need for words of thunder, that sinners may be awakened; and of words of love in a revealed gospel, that they may be won to the Saviour. Has the reader been thus led to ask what Jesus can do for his soul?

When a soul has been brought to Christ, and obtained a good hope of eternal life, the emotion that succeeds the joy of deliverance is gratitude to the Redeemer. The saved feels that he is no more his own, that he belongs to his Saviour. Such is a proper feeling. Christ's work in saving is a redemption. It was a purchase. At the cost of his precious

blood he rescued his people from the curse of the law. "Ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price." Christ has therefore a legal claim to his people. He gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify us unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church."

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The obligation arising out of redeeming love necessitates the dedication of the redeemed to the Lord. Gratitude takes its best expression in a psalm of life." The " song with words" has its pauses and its end. It is occasional and temporary. But life never ceases its course; its faculties never fail; its work is never done. The " song without words" is the endless anthem of a devoted life. The believer owes all to Jesus, and hopes for all from Jesus. He is solemnly bound therefore to dedicate himself, saying, "What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me?" His regenerated life must be laid on the altar as a thank-offering to God.

It was this that the Macedonian converts did, and for this the apostle so strongly commends them. They "first gave their own selves to the Lord."

It was an intelligent dedication. It arose from their consciousness of blessings received from the Lord. They had been heathens, following the lusts of the flesh and the pride of life; but they were saved. Without any claim, plea, or prayer on their part, the Redeemer had revealed his grace and delivered them from the wrath to come, and renewed them by his Spirit in the image of God. They had this happy experience. The Spirit witnessed with their spirits that they were the children of God. Hence "they gave their

very selves to the Lord." They acted from enlightened and deliberate conviction. It was not the outburst of impulse, but the decision of principle. They knew what they did. Their act was the expression of an intelligent purpose. Such is true Christian devotedness. It is not mere feeling, but a strong conviction of duty.

It was a hearty dedication. Duty is sometimes performed with a grudge. The heart does not accompany the action. There is a religion of duties, which is cold, formal, profitlessan endeavour to keep peace with conscience. But from the apostle's description of Macedonian devotion, it is evident that there was sincerity in this offering. Their hearts were laid on the altar as a dedication of love. It was the reciprocity of the Saviour's love for them-the reflux of the tide that had flowed from the bosom of the Lord into theirs. It is thus the Lord wills that offerings should be made. "Love is the fulfilling of the law." "Lovest thou me?" is His request to the disciple; and when the answer is as heartfelt and earnest as was Peter's of old,— "Lord, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee," the dedicated life is an offering of a sweet savour to God.

“They gave their very selves to the Lord." Of all that we have life is most precious. "Skin for skin, yea all that a man hath will he give for his life." The wealth of the world is freely surrendered for the safety of life. But this richest possession did these devoted converts give to the service of their Lord. 66 'They gave their very selves to the Lord." The object was worthy of the gift. Men talk of devotedness to a country, a church, a cause with which a man may be identified, but this was for a nobler object-the highest and best of all-the Lord himself.

"They gave their very selves to the Lord first." Before

they attempted any work, or made any other engagement, or used any of their graces or possessions, they made this contribution. It was their first donation to the Lord whom they loved. It is esteemed an advantage if a large subscription heads a list of benefactions. It is a key-note to what succeeds, and prompts more liberal things in others. The ascent, not the descent in the scale, is a difficulty. It is of as great consequence to the individual Christian that he begin with such a liberal gift as the Macedonians offered. It is the spring of subsequent donations. It is the earnest of more. It is the guarantee of substance, of prayer and pains to the cause of the Lord.

It

Professing Christian! have you made your first contribution to Christ? Has it been "your very self?" should be nothing short of this good example. You cannot expect to be useful unless you begin from this point. Christian labour and liberality are acceptable to God, and blessed in their results, only when they proceed from a life dedicated to the Lord. They then obtain their best and strongest motive.

CHRISTIAN USEFULNESS FOLLOWS PERSONAL DEVOTED

NESS.

As soon as they were engaged to be the Lord's, the Macedonian Christians gave themselves to his cause, and sought an opportunity of doing good. They commenced the habit of Christian usefulness.

It was in the outset of their religious career. When their hearts were full of fervent gratitude for mercy, when their first love was strong, and their lives were being moulded in a new form, they entered upon a course of well-doing for Christ. When the sense of obligation pressed most heavily upon their consciences they determined to begin the faithful discharge of Christian duty. Ere yet blighting influences

had chilled their spiritual affections, or disappointments made them weary, they formed the purpose of a life of faith in labours of love. When the necessities of men appeared greatest and most alarming,--as to a soul newly quickened with sympathy they never fail to do,-they burned with a desire to alleviate the abounding evil by efforts of their own. In the first spring-tide of Christian feeling they launched the mission ship of their usefulness. It is in such a season that earnest labourers generally begin. It is then they ought. Nc time and no circumstances can ever be so favourable. It was under similar impressions, and at corresponding periods that those useful Christians sketched in this volume began their works. Of one of them, a humble joiner toiling every day for his bread, it is said that "there, in the darkness of midnight, and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, he consecrated himself to his Redeemer, not merely in the confidence of pardon and acceptance, but with a determination to live and labour to promote his glory, in the salvation of the perishing." Nor did he delay after the purpose was formed. In the full enthusiasm of his soul and with serious conviction of duty he began at once.

Thus, beloved reader, should it be with you. Have you given yourself to the Lord first? Then in the same spirit, and with the same object, dedicate yourself to the Lord's work. Gratitude calls you. Duty calls you. The perishing call you. Brotherly sympathy calls you. "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." "But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?"

It was by grace that the early converts in Macedonia devoted themselves to the Lord's cause. At the outset of