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that the fruits of His Spirit may dwell in you, and you shine as lights
in the world. Be not a hindrance or curse to the cause of God; you
can be a help, a blessing. Does Satan tell you that you cannot enjoy
salvation, full and free? Believe him not.
I saw that it is the privilege of every Christian to enjoy the deep
movings of the Spirit of God. A sweet, heavenly peace will pervade
the mind, and you will love to meditate upon God and heaven. You
will feast upon the glorious promises of His word. But know first that
you have begun the Christian course. Know that the first steps are
taken in the road to everlasting life. Be not deceived. I fear, yea, I
know, that many of you know not what religion is. You have felt some
excitement, some emotion, but have never seen sin in its enormity. You
have never felt your undone condition and turned from your evil ways
with bitter sorrow. You have never died to the world. You still love its
pleasures; you love to engage in conversation on worldly matters. But
when the truth of God is introduced, you have nothing to say. Why so
silent? Why so talkative upon worldly things, and so silent upon the
subject that should most concern you—a subject that should engage
your whole soul? The truth of God does not dwell in you.
I saw that many are fair in their profession, while within is cor-
ruption. Deceive not yourselves, falsehearted professors. God looks
at the heart. “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”
The world, I saw, is in the heart of such, but the religion of Jesus is
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not there. If professed Christians love Jesus better than the world, they
will love to speak of Him, their best Friend, in whom their highest
affections are centered. He came to their aid when they felt their lost
and perishing condition. When weary and heavy-laden with sin, they
turned unto Him. He removed their burden of guilt and sin, took away
their sorrow and mourning, and turned the whole current of their af-
fections. The things they once loved, they now hate; and the things
they hated, they now love.
Has this great change taken place in you? Be not deceived. I would
never name the name of Christ, or I would give Him my whole heart,
my undivided affections. We should feel the deepest gratitude that
Jesus will accept this offering. He demands all. When we are brought
to yield to His claims, and give up all, then, and not till then, will He
throw around us His arms of mercy. But what do we give when we
give all? A sin-polluted soul for Jesus to purify, to cleanse by His