b'B V \n\n4571 \n.C47. \n\n\n\nm \n\n\n\nI i \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nm\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \n\n\n\n: \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nA CHI \n\n\n\n\niIihIIIIH \n\n\n\nt&cJiyliy/ff <=A?k. - \n\nUNITED STATES OF AMEEICA. \n\n\n\ntfUe^L^*L, Vet. /J, T. -\xc2\xa3iT/. J \n\n\n\nC II I L D \n\n\n\nASSISTED IN \n\n\n\nGIVING THE HEART TO GOD. \n\n\n\n" Whom shall he teach knowledge ? and whom shall he make to \nunderstand doctrine ? them that are weaned from the milk, and \ndrawn from the breasts. \n\nFor precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line \nupon line, line upon line ; here a little and there a little." Is. 28: 9\xe2\x80\x9410, \n\n\n\nWritten far the Massachusetts Sabbath School Society, and \nRevised by the Committee of Publication. \n\n\n\n\nMASSACHUSETTS SABBATH SCHOOL SOCIETY, \n\nDepository No, 13 Cornhill. \n\n1844. \n\n\n\n^ \n\n\n\nEntered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1844, \n\nBy C. C. DEAN, \n\nin the Clerk\'s Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. \n\n\n\n- \n\n\n\nCONTENTS \n\n\n\nCHAPTER I. \nDeliberation essential in giving the heart to God. 5 \n\nCHAPTER II. \nLove essential in giving the heart to God. . . 15 \n\nCHAPTER III. \n\nPenitence essential in giving the heart to God. . 19 \n\nCHAPTER IV. \n\nHumility essential in giving the heart to God. . 27 \n\nCHAPTER V. \n\nFaith essential in giving the heart to God. . . 35 \n\nCHAPTER VI. \n\nThe heart must be surrendered to God joyfully, \n\nand with a full consent 48 \n\nCHAPTER VII. \nThe heart must be surrendered to God for eter- \nnity. . . 57 \n\n\n\nCHILD ASSISTED, &c. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER I. \n\nDELIBERATION ESSENTIAL IN GIVING \nTHE HEART TO GOD. \n\nSome years ago two little girls came \ninto my room weeping, and as they \nappeared to be in great trouble, I \nasked them why they wept, and looked \nso sad. They replied that they were \nsinners, and wished to know what \nthey should do to be saved. I was \nglad to find that this was the cause of \ntheir trouble, and told them that they \n\nmust repent, and believe in Christy \n\ni* \n\n\n\nA CHILD ASSISTED IN \n\n\n\nand give their hearts to God immedi- \nately. But as they were children, and \ndid not clearly understand what was \nmeant by giving the heart to God, \nthey desired me to explain it to them \nin language so simple that they could \ncomprehend it, for they w 7 anted to do \nit immediately, and be pardoned and \nsaved. I felt that this was a moment \nof great interest to these children, and \ntherefore pointed out to them as clear- \nly as I could what they must do, and \nthen, having urged them to submit at \nonce to Christ, I commended them to \nGod in prayer, and they left the room. \nShortly after, both of them, as they \nhoped, were enabled to give their \nhearts to the Saviour, and found peace \nin believing. They appeared humble \nand penitent, their tears of sorrow \nwere wiped aw r ay, and their sadness \n\n\n\nGIVING THE HEART TO GOD. / \n\nwas exchanged for songs of deliverance. \nAfter some months for self-examination \nand prayer, these dear children were \nreceived into the visible church, and \nhave since, I believe, adorned their \nprofession by a life of humble piety. \nThinking it possible that some other \nchildren might wish to know how they \nmay give their hearts to God so as to \nbe accepted of him, and be pardoned \nand saved, I have thought proper to \npoint out the way in this little book, \nhoping that it may assist some young, \nbut anxious mind, in making the final \nsurrender to Christ. \n\nIn Prov. 23 : 26, we read, " My son, \ngive me thine heart," and in Ro. 6 : 13, \n" Yield yourselves unto God." From \nthese two commands I infer, that it is \nthe duty of every sinner immediately \nto give his heart to God. \n\n\n\n8 A CHILD ASSISTED IN \n\nThe heart is that part of us which \nloves, hates, and desires ; and as the \naffections of the heart control the other \npowers of the soul, if the heart be right, \nthe mind will be right also, and the \nthoughts and actions will take a right \ndirection. If we love God with all the \nheart, we shall delight to think about \nhim every day, and pray to him, and \nshall strive to please him in all our \npursuits. If we love Christ with all \nthe heart, we shall take pleasure in \nthinking of him also, who he is, and \nwhat he has done ; how he came down \nfrom heaven, suffered and died upon \nthe cross to save us, rose again the \nthird day, and ascended up to heaven \nand sat down on the right hand of God, \nwhere he ever liveth to make interces- \nsion for us. You see therefore that \nthe heart controls the mind ; if the \n\n\n\nGIVING THE HEART TO GOD. 9 \n\nheart be holy, the thoughts will be \nemployed upon holy and heavenly ob- \njects. As then the affections of the \nheart control the other powers of the \nsoul, when we give up our hearts to \nGod, we give up our entire selves to \nhim, to love and serve him forever ; \nto be governed by him, to obey his \ncommands, and to honor and glorify \nhim in all we do. \n\nAnd now, my dear child, if you will \nfollow me in a few simple thoughts, I \nwill, with divine assistance, attempt to \nshow you how you may give your heart \nto God, so as to be accepted of him, \nbe pardoned and saved, and live hap- \npily with him in heaven forever. And \nhere let me remark once for all, that \nin making the final surrender of your- \nself to God, you must rely for assist- \nance upon the enlightening and subdu- \n\n\n\n10 A CHILD ASSISTED IN \n\ning influence of the Holy Spirit, and \nseek this influence in constant, humble \nand fervent prayer. God, your heav- \nenly Father, says to you, "My son, my \ndaughter, give me thine heart." But \ndo you ask, How shall I do it ? I reply, \n\n1. You must give your heart to God \ndeliberately. \n\nWhen men are about to undertake \nsome great work, as the building of a \nmeeting-house, a great ship or a rail- \nroad, they think about it, draw their \nplan, and calculate how much it will \ncost. Now giving the heart to God is \na great and important work ; it de- \nserves your most serious and careful \nattention; it will affect you for a whole \neternity. If this work be done right, \nyou will be saved, but if neglected, \nyou will be lost forever. Do you wish \nto know w r hat it will cost to give your \n\n\n\nGIVING THE HEART TO GOD. II \n\nheart to God ? If you will listen at- \ntentively, I will tell you. In giving \nyour heart to God, you must give up \nall your sins, your pride, your vain \namusements and sinful pleasures. \xe2\x80\x94 \nYou must carefully suppress all sinful \nthoughts and feelings ; you must not \nget angry, nor speak wicked words, \nnor lie, nor steal, nor play, nor work \nunnecessarily on the Sabbath. You \nmust hate and forsake all your sins, \nbecause they are wrong and displeas- \ning to God. You must love and obey \nChrist, because he is good and holy, \nand because he came into this world, \nsuffered and died upon the cross to \nsave you, and now lives in heaven to \nplead your cause at the right hand of \nGod. You must love and obey the \nBible, and read it every day, because \nit is the word of God, and tells you all \n\n\n\n12 A CHILD ASSISTED IN \n\nyou need to know about heaven and \nhell, God and Christ, holy beings and \nholy things, and because it tells you \nwhat you are, and whither you are go- \ning, and how you must feel and act so \nas to please God and go to heaven. \n\nYou must pray daily in your closet, \nand when you pray, confess your sins \nwith a broken heart, and thank God \nfor his mercies. You must be kind \nand gentle to all, love and obey your \nparents, love your neighbor as your- \nself, and love and pray for your ene- \nmies. These are some of the great \nand good things which you will do if \nyou give your heart to God. You see \nthen that doing this great work will \ncost you no money, nor the loss of \nhealth or comfort, nor any real good. \nYou will only lose your sins, and the \nmisery which they occasion, and from \n\n\n\nGIVING THE HEART TO GOD. 13 \n\nthese, surely, you would most gladly be \nfree. And what will you gain by giv- \ning your heart to God? All the bless- \nings which you can reasonably desire. \nShall I mention some of them ? You \nwill gain a new heart and a right spir- \nit, the full pardon of all your sins, \npeace of conscience, and delight in \nprayer and praise. You will gain the \nfavor of God, the love of Jesus, a hope \nfull of immortality, humility, holy love, \njoy in believing, peace and triumph in \ndeath, acquittal in judgment, and a \ndwelling place in heaven forever. And \nwhen you enter that holy habitation, \nand shall see God in his glory, and the \nSaviour in all his infinite holiness at \nhis Father\'s right hand, when you \nshall see the holy angels in all their \nheavenly beauty, and shall gaze upon \npatriarchs and prophets, apostles and \n\n\n\n14 A GHTLD ASSISTED IN \n\nmartyrs, with their crowns of life, their \nrobes of holiness, and their harps of \ngold, and all of them singing the glad \nhosannas of the redeemed, and when \nyou yourself shall be perfectly holy \nand happy, and be filled with unspeak- \nable joy and praise ; you will then \nknow as you never can before, what \nheaven is, and what a blessed thing \nit is to be entirely the Lord\'s. \n\nAnd now, my dear child, in view of \na habitation so splendid, a God so glo- \nrious, a Saviour so exalted, a worship \nso divine, companions so pure, so har- \nmonious, so celestial, will you not now \nmake up your mind calmly and delib- \nerately to give your heart to God ? \n\n\n\nGIVING THE HEART TO GOD. 15 \n\n\n\nCHAPTER II. \n\nLOVE ESSENTIAL IN GIVING THE HEART \nTO GOD. \n\nThou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy \nheart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. \xe2\x80\x94 \nMat. 22 : 37. \n\nGod is love ; and he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth \nin God, and God in him. \xe2\x80\x94 1 Jn. 4 : 16. \n\nIn pointing out still further the way \nof life, I remark again that you must \ngive your heart to God affectionately. \nGod is love, and you must give up \nyourself to him in pure, filial affection, \nand love him with all the heart. \n\nPerhaps you will get a clearer idea \nof this, if I illustrate it by the follow- \ning incident. Soon after I awoke one \nmorning, I heard the cry of fire, and \non inquiring where it was, I ascertained \n\n\n\n16 A CHILD ASSISTED IN \n\nthat the house of a very excellent \nmember of my church was in flames. \nThis man had two lovely little chil- \ndren, and when he discovered that his \nhouse was on fire, he thought of his \nlittle ones, who at that moment were \naroused by the flames, and began to \ncry bitterly for relief. He rushed into \nthe room, which was then filled with \nsmoke, and found that the fire had al- \nready caught the bed on which his \nchildren were lying. With much dif- \nficulty he reached the bed, and when \nthose children heard the kind voice of \ntheir father, and felt his arms around \nthem, they leaped into his bosom, and \nclung to him with the most ardent af- \nfection, until he had conveyed them to \na place of safety. \n\nYou see now what it is to give your \nheart to God affectionately. Those \n\n\n\nGIVING THE HEART TO GOD. 17 \n\nchildren were in imminent danger, and \nhad they not been rescued, they must \nin a few moments have been consumed. \nYou also are in imminent danger, for \nyou are a sinner, and may die at any \nmoment, and lose your soul. Those \nchildren cried for help, and so must \nyou. Their kind father heard their \ncries, and came to their relief. In like \nmanner, God, your kind and heavenly \nFather will hear your penitential cries, \nand come to your relief. Those chil- \ndren cast themselves most affection- \nately into their father\'s arms ; they \nrested their affectionate hearts upon \nhis bosom and were saved, and I pre- \nsume, loved him more dearly than ever \nbefore. You also, relying upon the \nassistance of the Holy Spirit, must cast \nyourself as a poor, dying sinner, most \naffectionately into your heavenly Fa- \n\n\n\n18 A CHILD ASSISTED IN \n\nther\'s arms, and rest for salvation upon \nthe bosom of his everlasting love. And \nnow, my child, will you do it ? Will \nyou in filial love give your heart to \nGod ? Will you do it now ? Think \na moment who God is ; how great and \nkind, how holy and good. He created \nyou and supports your being. He \ngives you food and clothes, rain and \nsunshine, parents and friends to take \ncare of you, and a house to dwell in. \nHe has given you his holy Bible and \nholy Sabbath, his own dear Son to die \nfor you, and his holy Spirit to renew \nand sanctify your heart. what a \nGod he is ! A God of love ! This \nGod, your Father in heaven says to you, \n"My Son, give me thine heart." Have \nyou done it ? Will you do it in love \nevery day? If so, I will proceed and \npoint out another important particular \nin the work of giving yourself to God. \n\n\n\nGIVING THE HEART TO GOD. 19 \n\n\n\nCHAPTER III. \n\nPENITENCE ESSENTIAL IN GIVING THE \nHEART TO GOD. \n\nThe sacrifices of God are a broken spirit ; a broken \nand a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. \xe2\x80\x94 \nPs. 51 : 17. \n\nGod be merciful to me a sinner. \xe2\x80\x94 Luke 18 : 13. \n\nIn dedicating yourself acceptably to \nGod, I remark, once more, my child, \nthat you must give up your heart to \nhim penitently. Penitence is contrition \nor sincere and deep sorrow of heart in \nview of sin committed, seen and felt. \nLook at Peter after he denied his Lord. \nHe saw and felt his sins, and wept bit- \nterly. His heart was filled with godly \nsorrow, because he had done wrong, \nbecause he had offended God, and dis- \n\n\n\n20 A CHILD ASSISTED IN \n\nhonored and grieved his kind and gra- \ncious Saviour by ungratefully denying \nhim with curses and bitter oaths. \nWith these penitent feelings, he cast \nhimself entirely upon the mercy of \nGod in Christ, and was immediately \npardoned. Look at the publican, who \nwas also a great sinner. He felt the \nburden of his guilt so much, that he \ncould not look up to heaven, but smote \nupon his breast, saying, God be mer- \nciful to me a sinner. As soon as he \ngave himself to God with these peni- \ntential feelings, the burden of his guilt \ndisappeared, and he went down to his \nhouse a pardoned, justified sinner. \nThese are examples of true penitence, \nand we may therefore safely follow \nthem. You see now how these men \ngave their hearts to God ; they did it \npenitently, and received at once a full \n\n\n\nGIVING THE HEART TO GOD. 21 \n\nand free forgiveness. Sometime ago \na lovely youth entered my room, and \nsitting down by my side, said to me \nwith much seriousness, " I am a sin- \nner." But what have you done ? " I \nhave spoken wicked words." And \nwhat else? " I have disobeyed my \nparents." And what else ? " I have \nnot believed in Jesus Christ as I ought, \nand this," continued he, " is the worst \nof all." This dear youth was not \nashamed to confess his sins to me, and \nthen, kneeling down by my side, in a \nvery simple but humble manner, he \nconfessed his sins to God. I trust that \nhe penitently gave his heart to his \nheavenly Father, and became a child of \nGod. And now, my dear child, I \nwant you to see and to feel as Peter \nand the Publican did, and as that be- \nloved youth did, that you are a great \n\n\n\n22 A CHILD ASSISTED IN \n\nsinner. Pride is sin, and you have \nmuch of that. Wicked thoughts and \nfeelings are sins, and you have some of \nthem. Vain and idle words are sins, \nand you have spoken some of them. \nAnger is sin, and have you never been \nangry ? Disobedience to parents is \nsin, and have you never disobeyed \nyour parents ? Playing on the Sab- \nbath, and neglecting to pray every day \nin your closet are sins, and have you \nnot been guilty of these ? But you \nhave not loved God with all the heart ; \nthat is sin. And there is another sin \nthat you have committed, which is per- \nhaps the greatest of all ; you have not \nbelieved in the Lord Jesus Christ, and \nour Saviour says, "he that believeth \nnot shall be damned." This great sin \nof unbelief you have committed every \nmoment when you have been awake 3 \n\n\n\nGiVING THE HEART TO GOD. 23 \n\nsince the time you were capable of un- \nderstanding the Saviour\'s character, \nand your obligations to love and obey \nhim. 0, my child, you are a great \nsinner ! Your sins are very numer- \nous. Your heart is exceedingly wick- \ned. And do you now ask, What shall \nI do ? I reply, do as Peter and the \nPublican did ; confess your sins to God \nwith a broken and contrite heart ; \nmourn over them with sincere and \ndeep godly sorrow, because they are \nwrong, and hate and forsake them, be- \ncause they are displeasing in the sight \nof God. \n\nAn inspired writer has told us, that \n" whoso confesseth and forsaketh his \nsins shall have mercy." "If we con- \nfess our sins," says the apostle John, \n" he, God, is faithful and just to for- \ngive us our sins, and to cleanse us from \n\n\n\n24 A CHILD ASSISTED IN \n\nall unrighteousness/\' But, do you \nask again, will God receive my wicked \nheart ? yes, my child, he will \ngladly receive it, if, with the feelings \nof the dying thief, you can say, Lord, \nremember me. He took Peter\'s heart, \nand the Publican\'s heart, and the heart \nof Saul of Tarsus, and w T ashed them \nfrom all their pollution, and made them \npure in the blood of the Lamb. And \nnow, if upon your knees before God, \nyou can heartily say with the prophet, \n" behold I am vile," and with the \nprodigal, " Father, I have sinned \nagainst heaven and in thy sight," and \nwith David, "Have mercy upon me, \nGod, according to thy loving kind- \nness, and according to the multitude \nof thy tender mercies, blot out my \ntransgressions, w r ash me thoroughly \nfrom mine iniquities, and cleanse me \n\n\n\nGIVING THE HEART TO GOD. 25 \n\nfrom my sins," God will take your \nheart and purge away its guilt, and \nmake of it a new heart, a heart to \npraise and pray, and fill it with joy \nand peace in believing, and give you a \nplace in his holy family, a mansion in \nhis upper kingdom, and a seat at his \nris;ht. hand forevermore. \n\nThe penitent thief received forgive- \nness, the weeping Peter obtained par- \ndon, and the returning prodigal was \nadmitted to his father\'s house. It is \nsaid of Judas, that he repented, but it \nis not said that he was contrite for sin. \nA penitent heart is an object in which \nGod has peculiar delight. With con- \ntrite ones, he loves to dwell. " A \nbroken and a contrite heart, God, \nthou wilt not despise. " " To this \nman, will I look," saith Jehovah, \n"even to him that is poor, and of a \n\n\n\n26 A CHILD ASSISTED IN \n\ncontrite spirit, and that trembleth at \nmy word." And now, my child, have \nyou given up your heart penitently to \nGod ? Can you say, \n\n" Here\'s my heart, take and seal it, \nSeal it for thy courts above" 1 \n\nThink a moment. Can you weep and \nmourn over sin, as the woman did at \nthe feet of Jesus ? And will you \ncherish such feelings every day ? If \nso, I will proceed, and point out anoth- \ner important particular in this great \nwork of giving up ourselves to God. \n\n\n\nGIVING THE HEART TO GOD. 27 \n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV. \n\nHUMILITY ESSENTIAL IN GIVING THE \nHEART TO GOD. \n\nFor thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabit- \ned eternity, whose name is Holy, I dwell in the high \nand holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and \nhumble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and \nto revive the heart of the contrite ones. \xe2\x80\x94 Is. 57 : 15. \n\nThough the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto \nthe lowly.\xe2\x80\x94 Ps. 138 : 6. \n\nI remark, as a fourth particular, \nthat you must give up your heart to \nGod, with humility. Although peni- \ntence and humility are closely con- \nnected in the work of salvation, I have \npreferred to speak of them separately, \nthat you may see more clearly their \ndistinctive and peculiar features. Pen- \nitence is not humility, nor humility \n\n\n\nA CHILD ASSISTED IN \n\n\n\npenitence, and yet they are insepara- \nbly connected in the act of giving the \nheart to God. Our Saviour, while on \nearth, was a pattern of perfect humility. \nTo burdened sinners he says, " learn \nof me, for I am meek and lowly in \nheart, and ye shall find rest to your \nsouls. In heaven, humility reigns in \nall its loveliness, saints and angels are \nperfectly humble. Should a proud \nfeeling enter their hearts, they would \nbe banished immediately from their \nblissful habitation. Pride is probably \nthe sin for which the fallen angels were \ncast out of heaven, and confined in ev- \nerlasting chains of darkness unto the \njudgment of the great day. Before you \nenter heaven therefore, you must be \nperfectly humble, for a proud heart \ncan never dwell in that holy habita- \ntion. Pride is exceedingly hateful in \n\n\n\nGIVING THE HEART TO GOD. 29 \n\nthe sight of God. " God resisteth the \nproud." "The proud he knoweth afar \noff." If then, my child, you cherish \na haughty spirit, God will resist you, \nand withhold from you his pardoning \ngrace. But do you ask how humble \nyou must be in order to give your \nheart to God acceptably ? I reply, \nthat you must be humble enough to \nfall upon your knees, and confess freely \nyour sins to God, acknowledging that \nyou are wretched and miserable, and \npoor and blind and naked. You must \nbe so humble, that you will not be \nashamed of Christ, or his religion ; so \nhumble that you will not be afraid or \nashamed to have your young compan- \nions and the world know, that you \nhave decided to be a follower of Jesus. \nYou must, in a word, be humble \nenough to bow to Christ and yield \n\n3* \n\n\n\n30 A CHILD ASSISTED IN \n\nyourself unto God. This is a point of \ngreat importance. Vast multitudes \nfail of heaven, because they are too \nproud to follow the Saviour in that \nholy way which leads to it. In giving \nyour heart to God, then, lie low in the \ndust of humiliation before him, feeling \ndeeply your unworthiness, and remem- \nbering for your encouragement, that \nhe giveth grace to the humble. I have \nnever yet seen a sinner too humble, \nnor a saint too lowly. Be clothed \nwith humility ; for he that humbleth \nhimself shall be exalted. I once asked \na young man if he was willing to kneel \ndown with me, w T hile I commended \nhim to God in prayer. His proud \nheart rose against it. He despised the \nact, and would neither bow nor pray, \nthough he should gain heaven by doing \nit. I assured him that there was no \n\n\n\nGIVING THE HEART TO GOD. 31 \n\nmerit or religion in kneeling, but that \na humble posture and a lowly heart \nbecame a sinner, when as a guilty sup- \npliant he asked for divine mercy. God \nabhorred his pride, and at this time \naccepted neither his person nor offer- \ning. Some time after 1 found this \nyoung man in a very different state of \nmind. The Holy Ghost had discov- \nered to him his guilt ; and being asked \nto pray, he fell upon his knees, and in \na strain of humble confession and en- \ntreaty, he besought the Lord to have \nmercy upon him. Now the pride of \nhis heart was broken clown, and he \nwas not ashamed to confess his sins or \nacknowledge Christ as his Saviour. \nHe was not afraid nor ashamed to have \nhis companions and the world know \nthat he was asking the way to Zion. \nIn his lowliness, as he hoped, he gave \n\n\n\n32 A CHILD ASSISTED IN \n\nhis heart, and God accepted it, and \ngave him the consolations of pardon, \nand he became a man of prayer. \xe2\x80\x94 \n"Though the Lord be high/\' says the \nPsalmist, "yet hath he respect unto \nthe lowly." \n\nAnd now, my child, that you may \nhave distinctly before your mind a \nmost beautiful and impressive illustra- \ntion of penitence and humility com- \nbined, look at the woman at the feet \nof Jesus. "And behold a woman in the \ncity, w T hich was a sinner, when she \nknew that Jesus sat at meat in the \nPharisee\'s house, brought an alabaster \nbox of ointment, and stood at his feet \nbehind him, weeping, and began to \nwash his feet, with tears, and did wipe \nthem with the hair of the head, and \nkissed his feet, and anointed them with \nthe ointment." Luke 7: 37, 38- This \n\n\n\nGIVING THE HEART TO GOD. 33 \n\nwoman was a great sinner, for the Sa- \nviour says, her sins were many. She \nwas a penitent sinner, for the Saviour \nsays that her sins were forgiven. She \nwas a humble penitent, for she did \nwhat a proud heart would scorn to do ; \nshe stood behind the Saviour, at his \nfeet^ weeping, and washed his feet \nwith tears, and wiped them with the \nhair of her head, and kissed his feet in \nthe ardor of her affection, and as an \nact of kindness, anointed them with \nthe ointment. lovely humility, weep- \ning penitence ! What lowliness, gen- \ntleness, tenderness are here ! She \nbows low, and with a full, a gushing \nheart gives up herself to Jesus. There \nwas nothing mean in this service. \xe2\x80\x94 \nEven Gabriel, with all his exaltation \nand holiness, would have felt himself \nhonored in performing it. This is the \n\n\n\n34 A CHILD ASSISTED IN \n\nhumility of heaven, and in cherishing \nit, there is safety and peace. Lower \nthan this, my child, you need not sink ; \nmore penitent than this you need not \nfeel in giving your heart to God. And \nnow, have you this humility ? Think \na moment. Were the Saviour here \nwould you take a place at his feet, and \nfeel yourself honored in doing it ? \nCould you without reluctance and with- \nout blushing, in the presence of all \nyour companions, and with a world of \nsinners gazing upon you, wash his feet \nwith tears, and wipe them, and kiss \nthem from the spontaneous feeling of \nyour heart ? If so, I will proceed, \nand mention another particular of great \nimportance in giving away ourselves \nto Christ. \n\n\n\nGIVING THE HEART TO GOD. 35 \n\n\n\nCHAPTER V. \n\nFAITH ESSENTIAL IN GIVING THE HEART \nTO GOD. \n\nBy faith ye stand.\xe2\x80\x94 2 Co. 1 : 24. \nBelieve on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt \nbe saved. \xe2\x80\x94 Acts 16 : 31. \n\nIn pointing out to you, my dear \nchild, the way of salvation by Jesus \nChrist, I remark once more, that you \nmust give up your heart to God in \nfaith. Faith is trust or confidence in \nGod; and in giving your heart to him, \nyou must so confide in his power, truth \nand willingness to save, that you shall \ncommit yourself entirely and uncondi- \ntionally to his disposal. Perhaps you \nwill see this more clearly by the aid \nof a simple illustration. A little boy \n\n\n\n36 A CHILD ASSISTED IN \n\nawakes at midnight, and discovers that \nthe house in which he is sleeping, is \non fire. He leaps from his couch, and \nooens the door, and the flames rush in \nupon him. He closes that, and opens \nanother, and the flames rush in upon \nhim there also. He closes that, and \nlooks to the window ; no fire is there. \nHe opens it, and lo, his kind and af- \nfectionate father stands upon the firm \nground below. The father discovers \nhis child, and exclaims, " my son, you \nwill be consumed in a moment ; drop \ninto my arms, and I will save you." \nThe boy knows that his father loves \nhim ; he has always treated him kind- \nly, and been true to his word. He is \nalso a strong man, and amply able to \nsave him. These properties in his fa- \nther are the foundation of his faith. \nBelieving that hi\xc2\xa7 father will do what \n\n\n\nGIVING THE HEART TO GOD. 37 \n\nhe promises, he drops into his arms, \nand is borne away to a place of safety. \nHere you see the influence of faith. \nThe little boy, from a knowledge of \nhis father\'s character, believes that he \nwill do what he has promised, and on the \nstrength of his faith, drops into his fa- \nther\'s arms, and is saved. This is \ngiving up one\'s self in faith. And \nnow, my dear child, you are a sinner \nagainst God, for you have broken his \nlaw, and on that account are liable ev- \nery moment to be consumed by the \nflames of the second death. That lit- \ntle boy awoke, and when he discovered \nhis danger, he made an effort to es- \ncape ; he hastened to the window, the \nonly way of escape, and there he saw \nhis father, with a heart of compassion, \nand arms of love ready to save him. \nYou also must awake, and when from \n\n\n\n38 A CHILD ASSISTED IN \n\nthe Bible you discover your danger, \nyou must make an effort to escape ; \nyou must hasten to Christ. Jesus died \nthat you might live, and God, for Je- \nsus\' sake is ready to pardon and save \nyou. He is able to do it, for he is al- \nmighty ; he is willing to do it, for he \nis full of mercy, goodness and love ; \nhe is a God of truth, and will surely \nperform what he promises. This God, \nso great, so good, so willing to save, \nlooks upon you with intense interest \nin all your guilt and danger, as that \nfather did upon his little son, and with \nall the compassion of his infinite soul \nhe says to you, " My son, give me thy \nheart, fall into my arms of mercy, for \nyou are in danger of perishing ; do it \nnow, and do it in faith, for he that be- \nlieveth shall be saved." You see \nclearly, my child, what you must do ; \nyou must believe in God, and so be- \n\n\n\nGIVING THE HEART TO GOD. 39 \n\nlieve in him, as to cast yourself entirely \nand unconditionally into his hands and \nyou will be saved. Suppose now that \nlittle boy had not awaked ; he must \nhave perished in the flames. And you 5 \nmy child, unless you awake from the \nslumbers of sin, must perish likewise. \nBut suppose he did awake, and discov- \ner his danger, and fly to the window, \nand hear his father with outstretched \narms say to him, " my dear son, fall \ninto my arms, and I will save you," \nand still refused to believe his father, \nand held on to that burning house, he \nmust have perished in the flames not- \nwithstanding. It was not enough then \nfor that little boy to awake and dis- \ncover his danger, and fly to the win- \ndow, and hear his father say with a \nmelting heart, " falLinto my arms, and \nI will save you;" all this was not \nenough ; he must do one thing more ; \n\n\n\n40 A CHILD ASSISTED ffl \n\nhe must believe his father, and fall in- \nto his arms unconditionally in order to \nbe saved. And so it is with you my \nchild. It is not enough for you to be \nawakened, and discover your danger, \nand ask what you must do to be saved, \nand even go to God in prayer, and \nhear him say in his word, "My son, \ngive me thy heart;" all this is not \nenough ; you must do one thing more,, \nand the very thing required ; you must \nbelieve in God, and in the exercise of \nfaith cast yourself into your heavenly \nFather\'s arms. \n\nPerhaps you are now ready to ask,, \nare faith in God and faith in Christ the \nsame, and is giving the heart to Christ \nin faith the same as giving it to God 1 \nI reply that faith in God and faith in \nChrist are essentially the same. The \nFather and the Son are two in their \nofficial work in redemption, but one in \n\n\n\nGIVING THE HEART TO GOD, 41 \n\nessence and equal in power and glory. \nIn giving your heart to God the Father, \nyou give it up to him as your creator, \npreserver and benefactor, and in giv- \ning your heart to Christ by faith, you \ngive it up to him as your redeemer, \nintercessor and judge. \n\nPerhaps you will better understand \nwhat it is to give the heart to Christ \nin faith by the aid of a simple illustra- \ntion. Suppose a child, who is perfectly \nblind, is lost in a vast wilderness, and \nhaving wearied himself out by fruitless \nefforts to find his home, he at last gives \nup all for lost, and in despair lies down \nupon the earth to die. Just at this \nmoment, a friend, possessing every \npossible excellence, and in whom he \nhas the highest confidence, draws near, \nand says, "My child, I perceive that \nyou are in a very perilous condition ; \n\n4* \n\n\n\n42 A CHILD ASSISTED IK \n\nthe wilderness is full of enemies, and \nif you lie here, you will certainly die, \nI once had a dreadful conflict with \nthese your enemies, and though I suf- \nfered much in the conflict, I gained a \ncomplete victory over them, and in the \nconditions of peace, I required that all \nin this wilderness, who should be found \nunder my protection, and with my \nmantle resting upon them, should be \nallowed to pass in safety. I know \nyour father well, my child, and if you \nwill now T give me your heart and hand, \nand cast this my mantle about you, \nand give up yourself entirely to my \ndirection, I will conduct you safely to \nyour father\'s house. The child, hav- \ning perfect confidence in the wisdom \nand uprightness of his friend, and in \nhis ability and willingness to do what \nhe had promised, leaps from the ground, \nand giving him his heart and hand, \n\n\n\nGIVING THE HEART TO GOD. 43 \n\ncommits himself entirely to his protec- \ntion and guidance. Here you see the \ninfluence of faith. The child first be- \nlieves that his friend will save him, \nand then gives up himself entirely to \nhis direction. In the continued exer- \ncise of faith, he follows his friend with- \nout anxiety, going to the right or left \nas he bids him, without solicitude for \nthe result, until he reaches his father\'s \nhouse. You see now how T his faith \noperated to deliver him from his for- \nlorn and wretched condition. Had he \nbeen stubborn or heedless, and refused \nto believe, even the kindness of his \nfriend could not have rescued him. \nIn an important sense, therefore, his \nfaith saved him, though he was restored \nto his home by the power of another. \nNow apply this illustration to your \nown case. You are that lost child, \nand sin has made you blind to your \n\n\n\n44 A CHILD ASSISTED IN \n\nspiritual interests. The world is that \nvast wilderness in which you are wan- \ndering, and sin and Satan and the jus- \ntice of God are your enemies. Christ \nis that friend who comes to your re- \nlief, and his righteousness that shield \nof protection. In his bloody agony, \nand by his sufferings and death upon \nthe cross, he sustained a dreadful con- \nflict with your enemies, and though in \nthis conflict he lost his life, he procured \nyour ransom. God is your father, and \nheaven is that home to which he offers \nto bring you. And now, my dear \nchild, Jesus the friend of sinners, sees \nyou in your lost and perishing condi- \ntion, a wanderer from God, blinded by \nsin, in yourself helpless and hopeless, \nsurrounded by enemies and ready to \ndie. In tender mercy he pities you, \nand comes to your relief. He offers \nto remove your blindness, to take away \n\n\n\nGIVING THE HEAKT TO GOD. 45 \n\nyour sins, to shield you with his own \nrighteousness from all the assaults of \nyour enemies, and bring you home to \nGod and to heaven, on the condition \nthat you will cast away your sins, be- \nlieve in him, and give up yourself en- \ntirely to his disposal. These are his \ngracious offers, and will you in faith \naccept them ? Believe on the Lord \nJesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved. \nOf this Jesus, your Lord and Saviour, \nyou have read and heard much ; you \nknow him well : you know that he \npossesses every possible excellence, \nthat he is able and willing to save, \nthat he is true to his word, and will \ntherefore perform all that he promises. \nThat lost child believed immediately, \nand received at once the kind offer of \nhis friend. You are that lost child, \nand Jesus is your almighty and gra- \ncious friend. He comes to save you ; \n\n\n\n4(3 A CHILD ASSISTED IN \n\nhe requires your heart and hand, your \nlove and obedience, the entire com- \nmittal of your all to him. If you re- \nfuse to believe you must die in your \nsins. Before his friend appeared, you \nsaw no way for that poor, lost child to \nescape, and there is none for you but \nthrough faith in Jesus. \'" I am the \ndoor," he says, and you must enter \nthis door by believing in him. u I am \nthe way, and the truth, and the life," \nhe says, that is, the true way to eter- \nnal life, and you must enter upon this \nway by believing in him. That child \nbelieved and reposed such confidence \nin his friend, that he followed him \nwithout hesitation, and without anxiety \nas to the result. And such must be \nyour confidence in Jesus, your heav- \nenly friend. You must believe, and \ngive up yourself to him, so as to follow \nhim, to feel as he requires, and do as \n\n\n\nGIVING THE HEART TO GOD. 47 \n\nhe says. When Jesus tells you in his \nWord to repent and forsake your sins, \nyou must do it. All that God requires \nof you in his Word, your faith in Jesus \nmust lead you cheerfully and heartily \nto perform. This is the faith which \npurifies the heart, and saves the soul, \nand in the exercise of which there is \nan exceeding great reward. That \nblind child, when rescued from his \nperilous condition, no doubt loved his \nbenefactor, and so it will be with you. \nIf you give up yourself to Christ by \nfaith, you will love him with all the \nheart as your Lord and your God, \nyour atoning priest and glorious king, \nand in loving him you will delight to \nobey his commands. \n\nIf now, my child, you understand \nthis point, I will proceed, and state \nanother particular evidently implied in \ngiving up yourself acceptably to God. \n\n\n\n48 A CHILD ASSISTED IN \n\n\n\nCHAPTER VI. \n\nTHE HE&RT MUST BE SURRENDERED \nTO GOD JOYFULLY. \n\nThen they that gladly received his word were bap- \ntized. \xe2\x80\x94 Acts 2: 41. \n\nRejoice in the Lord always ; and again I say, re- \njoice. \xe2\x80\x94 Phil. 4:4, \n\nIn stating to you, my child, as clearly \nas possible the way of salvation by Je- \nsus Christ, I remark again, that you \nmust give up your heart to God joyful- \nly. In the dedication of our persons \nto our heavenly Father as well as our \nproperty, God loveth a cheerful giver. \nIf you were lost in a vast wilderness, \nand were surrounded by enemies, who \nwere ready to devour you, how glad \n\n\n\n\n\n\nGIVING THE HEART TO GOD. 49 \n\nyou would be to meet a beloved friend \nwho had power to deliver you, and \nshould kindly offer to lead you back \nagain to your father\'s house, and how \njoyfully would you commit yourself \nentirely to his protection and guidance. \nNow God is this kind friend, and in \nyour sinful wanderings from him, he \nmeets you by his Word and Spirit, and \nseeing you assailed by enemies within \nand without, and exposed to die, he \nkindly offers to deliver you, and bring \nyou safely to a holy, peaceful habita- \ntion in his kingdom above. When you \nhear him say to you in his word w r ith \npaternal tenderness, "My son, give \nme thine heart," how joyfully should \nyou make the surrender, and give him \nyour best affections, your life, your all. \nHe well deserves the gift ; for he is \nyour God and father, a God of loving \n\n\n\n50 A CHILD ASSISTED IN \n\nkindness and tender mercy, not willing \nthat any should perish, but that all \nshould come to repentance. God takes \nno pleasure in a reluctant service ; he \nwill not accept your heart, until you \ncan give it to him joyfully. This is \nall right you perceive, for you can de- \nrive no happiness from serving God, \nunless you serve him joyfully. Pa- \nrents love to see their children obey \nthem cheerfully, and leap for joy to do \nwhat they require, and so does God. \n\nA vessel at sea is wrecked in a tem- \npest, and all on board lost excepting \none. This poor sailor clings to the \nwreck, and is at the mercy of the \nwaves. He is cold and hungry, and \nevery sea that rolls over him, threat- \nens to break his hold, and send him to \nthe bottom. Day after day rolls away, \nbut no vessel comes to his relief. At \n\n\n\nGIVING THE HEART TO GOD. 51 \n\nthe moment when he is just ready to \ngive up all for lost he discovers a ship \nat a distance leaping over the waves, \nand directing her course towards him. \nAs soon as he discovers that ship, an \nemotion of joy thrills his soul ; and as \nshe approaches nearer and nearer, his \njoy increases. A sailor on the watch \nspies at a distance a speck upon the \nwater, and in a moment cries, "a \nwreck ahead, and a man upon it." \nThis cry, bounding over the water, \ncomes to him as life from the dead. \nIn a moment a boat is out, and being \nmanned with able seamen, is on her \nway towards him. And now his joy \nincreases, and as she comes along \ngently by his side, his joy becomes \nunspeakable, and summoning up all his \npowers, he leaps into the boat, and is \nborne away with a joyful heart in safety \n\n\n\n52 A CHILD ASSISTED IN \n\nto the ship. Here you have a lively \nillustration of what it is joyfully to give \nyour heart to God in Christ. You, my \ndear child, as a lost sinner, are in a \nperishing condition, clinging to a mis- \nerable wreck, and liable to be dashed \nby every wave. Christ is that ship, \nand beholding you in a perishing con- \ndition, he comes to your relief. This \nlittle book is that boat upon the water \ncoming gently by your side to assist \nyou in getting into Christ, the ark of \nsafety. The sailor on the wreck re- \njoiced greatly when he saw that ship ; \nand how should you rejoice at the name \nof Jesus, when told that he came into \nthis world to seek and save the lost ; \nthat he suffered and died that you \nmight live, that he agonized and wept \nand bled that you might never die. \nHow should you rejoice to hear him \n\n\n\nGIVING THE HEART TO GOD. 53 \n\nsay, "Suffer little children to come \nunto me, and forbid them not ;" "Come \nunto me all ye that labor and are heavy \nladen, and I will give you rest." The \nsailor on the wreck rejoiced exceed- \ningly, when he saw that boat come to \nhis relief, and how greatly should you \nrejoice to be assisted by the Bible, the \nminister of Christ or some good book, \nin finding the way to Jesus the sinner\'s \nfriend. The sailor leaped for joy, \nwhen he planted his foot upon that \nnoble ship in expectation of being car- \nried safely to his country and home, \nand how exceedingly should you re- \njoice in committing yourself to Christ, \nthe ark of safety, in full expectation of \nbeing carried safely to the haven of \neverlasting rest, to that country and \nhome where joy shall be unspeakable \nand full of glory. \n\n5* \n\n\n\n54 A CHILD ASSISTED IN \n\n" Here, Lord, I give myself away, \n\'Tis all that lean do." \n\nAs you now see clearly, I trust, how \nto give your heart to God joyfully, I \nremark once more, that in giving your- \nself to God, 3^011 must cast yourself \nunconditionally and w T ith the full con- \nsent of the heart upon the sovereign \nmercy of God in Christ Jesus. The \nmercy of God in Christ is your only \nhope, and on this you must rely with \nthe full consent of the heart for pardon \nand eternal life, or you must perish. \nYou cannot give your heart to God \nreluctantly or partially. If you linger, \nhesitate or desire to make the least re- \nserve, he will not accept it. He will \nhave the whole of your heart or none \nof it, and have it too with its full con- \nsent. God is an infinite sovereign, \nand deserves the whole. He regards \n\n\n\nGIVING THE HEART TO GOD. 55 \n\na partial surrender as no surrender ; \na partial service as no service. In \ngiving yourself to God, you must not \nmake conditions, but accept cheerfully \nhis own conditions. You must fall \nwith all your heart into his hands, and \nbe willing that he should dispose of \n} r ou according to his sovereign pleas- \nure. Unconditional submission to the \nwill of God is the turning point in \nyour salvation. Sink or swim, live or \ndie, you must yield yourself with the \nfull consent of the heart to his sover- \neign pleasure. \n\nBut, do you ask, how a sinner feels \nwhen he falls unconditionally upon the \nmercy of God ? I reply, he feels that \nhe deserves to die ; that he is utterly \nundone ; that he is in a helpless and \nperishing condition, and finding that \nhe cannot save himself, and seeing no \n\n\n\n56 A CHILD ASSISTED IN \n\nother way of escape, he casts himself \nas his last resort, with all his guilt and \nhelplessness, entirely upon the mercy \nof God in Jesus Christ. \n\nThis is the point to which you and \nevery sinner must be brought, before \nChrist will be formed in the soul, the \nhope of glory. You must cease, my \nchild, from attempting to save yourself. \nSave yourself, you never can, for you \nare utterly undone. You must let go \nthe bush; that is, you must renounce \nyour sins, and every earthly depend- \nence, and cast yourself just as you are, \na poor, helpless sinner, upon God\'s \npardoning mercy in Jesus Christ. \n\n\n\nGIVING THE HEART TO GOD. 57 \n\n\n\nCHAPTER VII. \n\nTHE HEART MUST BE SURRENDERED TO \nGOD FOR ETERNITY. \n\nGod requires your heart, my child, \nbecause he deserves it, and he deserves \nit not for a day nor for a year, nor \nduring the period of your earthly ex- \nistence merely, but for a whole eternity. \nGod is unchangeable in all his perfec- \ntions, and unchangeably worthy of \nyour strongest love, your purest hom- \nage, your unceasing gratitude and \npraise. If it be right, that you should \nglorify God in loving and serving him \nwith all your heart for a single hour, \nit is right that you should glorify him \nby loving and serving him a million \nhours, and throughout eternity upon \n\n\n\n58 A CHILD ASSISTED IN \n\nthe same principle. The consecration \nof yourself to God must be final and \neternal. In giving up your heart to \nHim, you take a step, which you must \nnever retrace ; you make a promise to \nlove and obey him, which you must \nnever break ; you enter into a cove- \nnant with him not to be dissolved, to \nbe his only, and his forever. \n\nWhen with a reconciled heart you \nopen your eyes upon the holiness and \nglory of God, you will love him, be- \ncause you choose to love him; and as \nyou discover more and more of his in- \nfinite excellence, and sink deeper and \ndeeper into his love, your desire will \nbecome stronger and stronger to com- \nprehend with all saints, what is the \nlength and breadth, and depth and \nheight of his goodness, and to know \nthe love of Christ, which passeth \n\n\n\nGIVING THE HEART TO GOD. 59 \n\nknowledge, till you are filled with all \nthe fullness of God. There is a con- \nstraining power in divine love, which \nwill induce you to forget the things that \nare behind, and urge you forward to the \nmark for the prize of your high calling \nof God in Christ Jesus. Going back \nwill be out of the question. Your af- \nfections will be drawn towards God \nyour Saviour, and eternity will be short \nenough to speak his praise. The little \nboy, when rescued from the flames, \nhad no desire to enter again that burn- \ning house. The rejoicing sailor, when \nlodged safely in that noble ship, had \nno desire to return again to that mis- \nerable wreck. And you, my child, \nwhen born again, when rescued from \nthe power of sin, and animated with a \nhope full of immortality, and on your \nway to that everlasting kingdom, that \n\n\n\n60 A CHILD ASSISTED IN \n\neternal weight of glory in the presence \nof God above, will have no desire to \nreturn back again to the bondage of \ncorruption, and the gloomy prospects \nof an unpardoned sinner beyond the \ngrave. The way of holiness is pleas- \nant, and its path, though upward, is a \npath of peace. Ask the young convert \nif he wishes to go back, and he will \ntell you no. Ask the aged christian, \nalmost ripe for heaven, if he wishes to \nreturn back again to a state of impeni- \ntency, and with a tone of unutterable \nsurprise, he will answer, no. Go \nthrough the ranks of the redeemed \nabove, and ask the countless multi- \ntudes around the throne, if they are \nweary of the service of God, and with \na voice loud as many waters, they will \nanswer, no. They gave their hearts \nto God for a whole eternity, and eter- \n\n\n\nGIVING THE HEART TO GOD. 61 \n\nnity will be short enough to enjoy his \nlove and sing his praise. \n\nI have now, my child, explained to \nyou as clearly as I can how you must \ngive your heart to God so as to be ac- \ncepted of him, and pardoned and saved. \nYou must give yourself to him deliber- \nately, affectionately, penitently, with hu- \nmility > in faith, joyfully, ivith the full \nconsent of the heart, and for eternity. \nDo this, and you will be saved. \n\nI have chosen to present the subject \nunder these eight particulars, that you \nmay see clearly the different states of \nfeeling included in the act of conse- \ncrating yourself to God. As you pass \nalong step by step, you can examine \nyourself in each particular, and ascer- \ntain with greater precision whether \nyou possess the feelings herein des- \ncribed. This work belongs to you ; \n\n\n\n62 A CHILD ASSISTED IN \n\nno other being can do it for you, and \nthis work you must do relying upon \nthe assistance of the Holy Spirit, or \nyou must perish forever. Submission \nor death is the only alternative. But \ndo you ask, when must I give my heart \nto God ? I reply, you must do it now, \nthis moment, while you are receiving \ninstruction from this little book. "Be- \nhold/\' says an apostle, " now is the \naccepted time, behold, now is the day \nof salvation." I can give you no other \ninstruction ; the Bible gives no other. \nThe past is gone. You never can go \nback to do this work. The future has \nnot arrived, and to you it may never \ncome in a land of mercy. The pres- \nent moment, the passing now is yours, \nand given you for the express purpose \nof making your peace with God. Im- \nprove it then, for you know not what an \n\n\n\nGIVING THE HEART TO GOD. 63 \n\nhour may bring forth. A lovely youth \nonce entered my room, and asked me \nwhat he should do to be saved. I told \nhim that he must repent and believe \nin Jesus immediately, and in a word, \ngive his heart to God. We knelt and \nprayed, and he left the room, as I hope, \na believing penitent. Shortly after he \nfell into the river and was drowned, \nand I saw him no more. my child, \nyou know not what a moment may \nbring forth. For what is your life ? \nIt is even a vapor, which appeareth \nfor a little time, and then vanisheth \naway. Had that precious youth put \noff the work of salvation to a future \nperiod, he might have sunk down \nthrough a watery grave to a world of \nendless burning. \n\nBut do you ask, can this great work \nbe done now ? I reply, it can, and \n\n\n\n64 A CHILD ASSISTED IN \n\nought to be done now, and if deferred, \nmay not be done at all. God is ready \nto pardon, when you are willing to re- \npent. For your encouragement I will \nrelate a fact. Some years ago a young \nman came to me, in great distress, \nto inquire what he must do to be \nsaved. He w T as bathed in tears, and \ntrembled in view of his guilt as an un- \npardoned sinner in the hands of God. \nI spoke a few words to him, pointing \nhim to Christ as his only refuge, and \nthen we knelt down to pray. When \nthe prayer closed, he did not rise, but \nseemed overwhelmed with a sense of \nhis guilt, and cried for mercy. I prayed \nagain ; we then rose from our knees, \nand sat down together upon the sofa, \nbut the work was not done. I then \nasked, " do you wish to be a christian \nnow?" "Oh I do." "Are you will- \n\n\n\nGIVING THE HEART TO GOD. 65 \n\ning to submit now ?" "I think I am." \n" Will you give your heart to God, as \nwith divine assistance I attempt to \npoint out the way ?" " I will try to \ndo it." I then described to him, step \nby step, as I have done to you, my \nchild, what is implied in giving the \nheart to God, asking him in each par- \nticular, Do you feel thus? " I think I \ndo." Having finished my remarks, \nand perceiving that a change had taken \nplace in his feelings, I asked again, \n" Are you reconciled to God ?" " I \nam," he replied. His agitation now \nceased, and he appeared most sweetly \nsubdued and calm as a summer\'s even- \ning. He now wiped away his tears, \nand appeared like a new man, humble \nand penitent at the feet of Jesus. I \nwas persuaded that he was born again, \nand had passed from death unto life, \n\n6* \n\n\n\n66 A CHILD ASSISTED IN \n\nby my side, upon that sofa. it was \na solemn moment ! The Holy Ghost \nwas there, and made the spot like the \nplace between the cherubim of glory. \nI can never forget it. The young man \nleft the room with a hope in Jesus, and \nwent on his way rejoicing. He has \nbeen for years a professed follower of \nthe Saviour, and by a life of humble \npiety has proved satisfactorily that he \nthen and there gave his heart to God. \nDo you now ask why you should \ngive your heart to God ? I reply, \n\n1. Because he requires it. This reason, \nif no other existed, would be sufficient. \nGod is a being of infinite excellence. \nHe created you for himself. He has \nendowed you with all your noble pow- \ners of thought and feeling, that you \nmay love and enjoy him forever. He \nknows what you are, and what you \n\n\n\nGIVING THE HEART TO GOD. 67 \n\nought to be through the whole period \nof your endless existence. From this \nperfect knowledge of your duty and \ndestiny, your wants and liabilities, he \nrequires your heart. His claims are \nabsolute and righteous. He gave you \nbeing, and upholds you in existence \nevery day. He has fed and clothed \nyou, and watched over you with more \nthan paternal tenderness and care. \nHe has given his Son to die for you, \nand his Holy Spirit to renew and sanc- \ntify your heart. He has given you his \nholy Bible, and Sabbath and friends to \ninstruct you. He has surrounded you \nwith loving kindness and tender mer- \ncy, and in return for all this he re- \nquires your heart, your supreme and \nconstant love, and your cheerful obe- \ndience. And can you refuse it 1 Is \nthis too much to give to God your fa- \n\n\n\n6S A CHILD ASSISTED IN \n\nther, your creator and heavenly king. \nno, my child, your whole heart is \nnot too much for God to receive, or \nfor you to give. Should he require \nless, it would prove your ruin. \n\n2. It is reasonable that you should \ngive up your heart to God. It is a dic- \ntate of reason that you should eat and \ndrink, and work and take care of your \nbody ; and is it not in a far higher \nsense a dictate of reason, that you \nshould take all possible care of the un- \ndying soul, which thinks and feels and \nacts, and which will be unspeakably \nhappy or wretched to all eternity, ac- \ncording as you receive or reject the \noffers of grace ? Now in giving your \nheart to God, your hungry soul begins \nto feed upon the bread of life, of which, \nif a man eat, he shall live forever ; \nyour thirsty spirit begins to drink the \n\n\n\nGIVING THE HEART TO GOD. 69 \n\nwater of salvation, of which if a man \ndrink, he shall never thirst, but have \nin him a well of water, springing up \ninto everlasting life. In giving your \nheart to God, you begin to work out \nyour salvation with fear and trembling, \nwhile God works in you to will and to \ndo of his good pleasure. In giving \nyour heart to God, you obey your \nheavenly parent; and in keeping his \ncommands there is great reward; a \ngreat reward of peace, hope and con- \nsolation in the present life, and of joy \nunspeakable and full of glory in the \nparadise and presence of the eternal \nGod. \n\n3. The plan of redemption was de- \nvised and executed that you might give \nyour heart to God, and glorify him by \nan obedient and holy life. Shall it be \nin vain to you, my child, that God \n\n\n\n70 A CHILD ASSISTED IN \n\nloved the world, and Jesus died for it, \nthat the Holy Spirit has been given to \nconvince of sin, and the Bible and Sab- \nbath given to aid you in securing sal- \nvation ? Shall it be in vain to you \nthat the word of God is filled with \nwarnings and invitations, entreaties \nand commands to induce you to live \nhenceforth, not unto yourself, but unto \nHim who died for you, and rose again? \nShall ministers preach, and christians \npray, and religious books be placed in \nyour hands to no purpose ? yes, \nmy child, all this array of power and \ngoodness, of mercy and love will be to \nyou utterly in vain, if you withhold \nyour heart from God. \n\n4. You must perish forever, un- \nless you cheerfully comply with the \nrequisition, " My son, give me thine \n\n\n\nGIVLXG THE HEART TO GOD. 71 \n\nheart." Heaven is a holy place, and \nno impenitent heart will ever enter \nthat blissful habitation. God has set- \ntled the question, that you must repent \nor perish ; that you must yield yourself \nunto him, a willing sacrifice, holy and \nacceptable, or you must die. Our Sa- \nviour declares, "that except ye re- \npent, ye shall all likewise perish. \nHe that believeth not, shall be \ndamned." These are some of the rea- \nsons why you should immediately give \nyour heart to God. They are weigh- \nty and solemn reasons, and deserve \nyour most serious and prayerful atten- \ntion. Life and death, blessing and \ncursing are now set before you. \nChoose life that your soul may live. \nReason, revelation, and providence, \ntruth, obligation, and happiness, like \n\n\n\n72 GIVING THE HEART TO GOD. \n\na cloud of living witnesses, all give in \ntheir testimony, that your heavenly \nFather ought to be obeyed and loved \nby you without delay. \n\nI now commend you to God and \nthe word of his grace, hoping and \npraying that you will repent and live, \nand be found at last among those, who \n" shall shine as the brightness of the \nfirmament, and as the stars for ever \nand ever. \n\n\n\nDeacidified using the Bookkeeper process. \nNeutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide \nTreatment Date: Oct. 2005 \n\nPreservationTechnologies \n\nA WORLD LEADER IN PAPE& RESERVATION \n111 Thomson Park Drive \nCranberry Township, PA 16066 \n(724)779-2111 \n\n\n\n01 \n\n\n\n'