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love and fidelity to thee; and then stretching out our hands to strange gods. But now our hearts are fixed; O God, our hearts are fixed, trusting in thee. We are "come to a resolution to give thee our hearts fully, perpetually, beyond the power of revocation. We declare before all the world that we are not our own; and are ready to bind ourselves by the strongest engagements, to glorify thee in our bodies and in our spirits, which are thine.

II. What is implied in God's demanding the heart?

1. It implies strong affection on his part.

Men do not usually claim what they are indifferent about. If it be offered, they will accept of it; but if it be withheld, it gives them no concern. So, if God had been indifferent about our hearts(and most astonishing it is that he should be otherwise considering what our hearts are; how indif ferent-worse than indifferent, how averse, how full of enmity against him. One would think, if hearts so worthless and corrupt had been offered him, he would have rejected them with infinite contempt and indignation)-But, I say, if God had been "indifferent about our hearts, he never would have solicited for them. Perhaps (we might think,) if with all humility we were to kneel down, and with tears and importunity beseech him to accept of them, he might vouchsafe to take them; but if we do not, he will never inquire after them, nor care whether hehas them or not. But the language of the text is not the language of indifference: My son, give me thine heart so kind! so pathetic! as if he were

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asking an alms; as if he could not bear to be denied there is love in every word.

It is a common saying, and never used with' greater propriety than here, "That love requires love.' Now," God so loved the world that he gave' his only-begotten Son." His heart's love was bound' up in Christ; and yet he freely gave him up. And he expects our hearts in return. What better proof can you wish for of his particular kindness for you, than his asking for your hearts? He doth by that say, as in Jer. xxxi. 3, "I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee." And shall such drawings be ineffec tual? Shall we wantonly throw away our hearts upon every vanity that solicits them, and suffer them to be a cage of unclean birds, a harbour for every lust, and the property of every bold invader, as if we cared not who had them; when, at the same time, God hath done so much to gain them, and even now condescends with so much tenderness to ask for them?

2. Shameful backwardness is implied on our part. No man makes a formal demand of what he is sure will be offered him without it: and if God had foreseen that all men, after a little indulgence of fleshly lusts, would of their own accord think on their ways and turn their feet unto his testimonies; and that they would encourage one another in 'religion as much as ever they enticed one another to sin, saying, "Come, and let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant never to be forgotten:** -I say, if the Lord could have depended on our voluntarily giving our hearts, he needed not to have

demanded them. But, alas! "the Lord looked. down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any, that did understand, and seek after God. They are all gone aside, they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one." (Ps, xiv. 2.)

Indeed, bad as the world is, there are few so abandoned, as, when God makes his suit to them, to tell him in so many words, 'We have nothing to give thee.' Something or other most men would offer. But what is it? Why, some offer to give God their tongue. They will talk about religion from morning to night, in all companies, seasonable or unseasonable. They will dispute about religion, and be strenuous in defence of this and the other doctrine; and no one shall outdo them in extolling "the unsearchable riches of Christ." And this, they hope, will suffice.

Others will offer to give God their ear.-Oh, they will be "swift to hear." They will run They will run every where, any where, where any thing is to be heard. Never shall any preacher come, let him be who he will or what he will, but they will be some of his hearers. They will hear a sermon every day in the week, and two or three times a day, if they can: and surely, they hope, this will do.

Others, again, will offer to give God their hand. -Oh how good they will be to the poor! They will not be so close-fisted as some are, when they are called upon for their charity: they will be ready to communicate; and, in this respect, whatever their hand findeth to do, they will do it with their might. And, surely, "charity will cover a mul

titude of sins," and atone for the want of every thing else.

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In short, men will present their bodies to God, and fondly presume that it t is an holy, and must needs be an acceptable, service; though all the while the heart is withheld, or secretly surrendered to the lusts of the flesh, or the lusts of the eye, or the pride of life. God knows that (for all things are naked and open to the eyes of him with whom we have to do"); and, therefore, when he says,

My son, give me thine heart," it is as if he said, -Do not tell me of this or that: I will have the heart, or nothing. To what purpose is the multitude of thy fair speeches unto me?-such incence is an abomination. I insist upon a free and full sur render of thy whole self, body, soul, and spirit, with all the parts and powers and faculties of each. O my son! my son! why art thou so backward to yield thyself to me! Why wouldst thou put me off with any thing, rather than that which thou knowest I principally require and delight in! Have I been a barren wilderness unto thee? What could have been done more unto thee that I have not done? Why then, my son, why wilt thou not give me thine heart?

Whose conscience does not upbraid him with in gratitude? Who doth not blush, that God should be obliged to ask, and ask again, for what we should freely and long ago have offered him?

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III. When should we give our hearts to God? I answer, Immediately, the moment God calls for them. Say not to God, Go thy way, and come again, and to-morrow I will give, when thou hast it by thee. Why would you put him off till to

morrow? Why not to-day? Why not now? What excuses are you framing? You are busy?" What is that business, which is more important or urgent than the salvation of your souls? You are happy as you are? What is that happiness, which the very thoughts of death will damp, and the approach of death destroy, and which, after death, will issue in weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth for ever. You are young? For that very réasón give your hearts to God. He loves them that love him; and "those that seek him early, shall find him." You are old? The more need there is, that what you do you should do quickly.But your hearts are wicked? Alas! till you have given them to God they never will be better. Give those stony, deceitful, and desperately wicked hearts to God; and beg that he would give you, in the room of them, a new heart, a heart of flesh, a clean heart, an upright heart.

No, none of your excuses will serve.But why should you seek excuses for delaying what can never be done to better advantage than now?" Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salva tion." You know not whose your hearts may be, nor where your hearts may may be, to-morrow. When God, therefore, comes down among us, and says, "My son, give me thine heart," let it not be three or four only who comply; let it be a general act; let nothing be heard but" the voice of much people," saying, Lord, here is my heart, and, Lord, here is my heart, and mine; and so let it go round, till God has every heart among us. What a happy beginning of the New Year would this be!Who knows what impor tant events this year may be big with! "Go to

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