cast. Like our blessed Master, you are to go about doing good, ministering, as He did, to the wants of a suffering, sorrowing and sin-laden world. You are to be angels of mercy to the poor, to visit the sick, pray with the dying, care for the orphan, seek the wandering, comfort the afflicted, save the sinning, and ever be ready to take up any other duty proper to your calling. Such a ministry confers upon you a great honor, and involves a solemn responsibility. We are persuaded that you have not entered upon it lightly. No doubt, in the sacred stillness of the sanctuary of the heart you have already consecrated yourselves to this office and work. What you have done

alone with God you are now to do formally and publicly, as the Church sets you apart for her special service in co-operation with her pastors.

The President shall then ask:

Question-Do you believe that you have been led by the Spirit and Providence of God to engage in this work, and to assume the duties of this office?

Answer-I do.

Question-Do you, in the presence of God and this congregation, promise faithfully to perform the duties of a Deaconess in the Church of God, so long as you remain in this calling?

Answer-I will endeavor so to do, the Lord being my helper.

Question-Do you accept the Bible as God's Word, and will you take it as the guide of your life and the source and authority of your spiritual instruction?

Answer-I so accept it, and will so employ it.

Question--Will you strive to walk so close to your Saviour that you may ever carry His presence and bene. diction to the hearts and homes of those to whom you minister?

Answer-I will endeavor so to do.

Question-Will you accept the direction of those whom the Church may set over you, in the prosecution of your work?

Answer-I will cheerfully do so.

HYMN 923.

She loved her Saviour, and to Him
Her costliest present brought;

To crown His head, or grace His name,
No gift too rare she thought.

So let the Saviour be adored,
And not the poor despised:

Give to the hungry from your hoard,
But all, give all to Christ.

Go, clothe the naked, lead the blind,
Give to the weary rest;

For sorrow's children comfort find,

And help for all distressed.

But give to Christ alone thy heart,

Thy faith, thy love supreme;

Then for His sake thine alms impart,
And so give all to Him.

All present shall kneel and join in silent prayer for the

candidates.

Then the President shall say:

Almighty God, who hast given Thy handmaidens the will to do all these things, grant also unto them power to perform the same, so that all their works may be begun, continued and ended in Thee, and that they may glorify Thy holy name, and finally obtain everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Then all shall rise, and the President shall present each candidate with her license, saying: Take thou authority to discharge the duties of a Deaconess in the Methodist Church.

The President may then offer a few words of counsel, and close with the following invocation:

May the Holy Spirit of the Living God descend upon you and abide with you evermore. May His holy anointing impart unto you grace for every trial, and gifts for every duty. May His presence be to you a pillar of cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night, all along the journey of life; and may the blessing of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit be with you, now and evermore. Amen.

VIII.

502. THE FORM OF RENEWING THE COVENANT.

After a short sermon, impressing upon every soul the importance of giving himself to God, and that without delay, each Minister is recommended, on his first tour round his Circuit in the New Year, beginning the first Sabbath in January, to read the following directions, or some of them, in every Congregation, and persuade as many as possible to make solemn Covenant with God, and by divine grace, to keep the Covenant inviolate unto the day of His coming:]

I. Get these three principles fixed in your heart: That things eternal are much more considerable than things temporal; that things not seen are as certain as the things that are seen; that upon your present choice depends your eternal lot. Choose Christ and His ways, and you are blessed for ever; refuse, and you are undone for ever. And then,

II. Make your choice.

Turn either to the right hand or to the left; lay both parts before you, with every link of each; Christ with His yoke, His cross, and His crown; or, the devil with his wealth, his pleasure, and curse; and then put it to yourselves thus: "Soul, thou seest what is before thee, what wilt thou do? Which wilt thou have, either the crown or the curse? If thou choosest the crown, remember that the day thou takest this, thou must be content to submit to the cross and yoke, the service and the sufferings of Christ, which are linked to it. What sayest thou? Hadst thou rather take the gains and pleasures of sin, and venture on

the curse? Or wilt thou yield thyself to Christ, and so make sure of the crown?"

If your hearts fly off, and would fain waive the business, leave them not so. If you be unresolved, you are resolved. If you remain undetermined for Christ, you are determined for the devil. Therefore, give not off, but follow your hearts from day to day; let them not rest till the matter be brought to an issue; and see that you make a good choice.

This is your choosing the good part, God and the blessedness of the world to come, for your portion and happiness; and in this is included your renouncing the world and worldly happiness.

III. Embark with Christ.

Adventure yourselves with Him; cast yourselves upon His righteousness, as that which shall bring you to God. If you stay where you are, you perish; and escape home of yourself you cannot. Christ offers, if you will venture with Him, He will bring you home, He will bring you to God. Will you now say to Him, "Lord Jesus, wilt Thou undertake for me? Wilt Thou bring me to God, bring me into the Land of Promise? With Thee will I venture myself; I cast myself upon Thee, upon Thy blood, and Thy righteous ness; I lay all my hopes, and venture my whole interest, soul and body, with Thee."

IV. Resign and deliver up yourselves to God in Christ. "Yield yourselves to the Lord," that is, as His servants; give up the dominion and government of yourselves to Christ. "Neither yield your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin; but yield yourselves to God, a