SERMON III.

PROVERBS, XXIII. 26.

MY SON, GIVE ME THINE HEART.

THE hearts of the children of men are not naturally inclined to the object to which they are here invited. None saith, of himself, "Where is God, my Maker," that I may give my heart to Him?" Left to himself, man turns away, consciously or unconsciously, from God, and attaches himself to the service of His enemy. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life-which is not of the Father, but of the world-this it is to which the heart of man, such as he is by nature, inclines, and to which he addicts himself, with or without solicitation.

Our gracious God and Father sees, that, left to ourselves, we should all wander to destruction;

and therefore He graciously sends to us His word, to invite and direct us to the right way-the way which leads to peace and happiness. In inviting us to give Him our hearts, He is, in fact, inviting us to set our affections on the only object that will not disappoint us. He is saying, 'Save yourselves from bitter disappointment: secure what will exceed your largest expectations and desires.'

Let us consider what is meant or implied in the precept, "Give me thine heart.”—It is implied, that the person to whom it is addressed has not given his heart to God.

Are there none here-(let me speak to the consciences of those who hear me)-are there none here, of whom this can be said, that they have not given their hearts to God? How are you affected, how do you act, towards the person (or the persons) whom you love best in the world? Is he not frequently in your thoughts? Do not you cherish the remembrance of him? Do not you seek and look forward to opportunities of intercourse with him? Do not you consider what you can do or say to

give him pleasure? Are not you desirous of knowing his wishes, in order that you may gratify them? Are not you jealous of his reputation, and sensible to any dishonour done to him?-Now, are such your feelings, and conduct, towards God? Is the thought of God present to you habitually? and is the thought of His presence agreeable to you? Do you love the things more immediately connected with God, His word, His day, His Ordinances, His people? Do you take pleasure in conversing with Him?--To pray, is to converse with God. Is this pleasant, or irksome, to you? Are you deeply concerned for the honour of God?Which grieves you most-dishonour done to Him, to His word, His day and Ordinances, or an affront offered to yourself? What is it that you are proposing to yourself, as the grand object to be pursued through life? Is it your own gratification, or the advancement of the glory of God? God, the Searcher of hearts, sees, it is to be feared, a real aversion of the heart from Him, in many persons who are not inattentive to the outward forms of Religion. He sees some who go through these forms, not because they take delight in, or derive

any benefit from them; but because they regard them as duties which must be performed by those who would not incur His displeasure; and therefore they perform them, at the same time accounting them a burden. Their service to God, such as it is, is a service, not of love, but of fear: they are glad when it is over: they then go, as from a task, to what is more congenial to their taste and feeling.

My dear Brethren, I would, if I could, expose to you the workings of the natural mind of man towards God; not to irritate or give you pain, still less to discourage you in any attempt to do what you believe to be pleasing to God, but in order to prepare you to see and feel the necessity, not only of rendering to Him the outward homage of the lips, but of surrendering to Him your best affections-of seeking Him, not by constraint, but willingly, with all the powers and faculties of the body and soul.

I doubt not there are persons, who, though conscious that they have not given their hearts to God, are yet desirous of obeying the call to do

so. But, besides the natural aversion of their minds to a spiritual obedience, they labour under a confusion and perplexity of ideas as to the nature of the offering which they are required to make— they know not how to set about what they are invited to do. Now, to such persons I will endeavour to shew, how, by God's help, they may obey the precept of the text. True it is (Jer. x. 23), "that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.""The condition of man after the fall of Adam," saith our 10th Article, " is such, that he cannot turn and prepare himself, by his own natural strength and good works, to faith, and calling upon God. Wherefore, we have no power to do good works pleasant and acceptable to God, without the grace of God, by Christ, preventing us, that we may have a good will, and working with us when we have that good will." This we admit on the warrant of Scripture; and on that which is founded upon Scripture-otherwise it were of no value-the authority of our Church. But do we therefore say to you, that you may rest contented under that alienation of heart from God which is natural to