familiarity; no transport of earthly passion; no extravagant gestures; no violence of language: this would ill beseem a worm in the presence of the Almighty, a sinner bowed down before the Majesty and holiness of God. But still be fervent, urgent, importunate, My life is dependent; eternity is at stake; there is no place for lukewarmness. My Saviour has encouraged, has commanded me to ask, and seek, and knock,; and I cannot hear his persuasive, authoritative voice, without a decided emotion: He has promised every thing to my prayers, and it makes me pray with vigour: humbly indeed would I ask as a most unworthy sinner; yet heartily and confidently; because He has invited me, and "worthy is the Lamb." And, by God's help, so will I continue, without intermission, to my life's end; even until my season of prayer is exchanged for an eternity of praise. SERMON XIX. THE SIN AND DANGER OF LOOKING BACK. LUKE ix. 62. Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. BY the kingdom of God is here meant the service of God in the gospel, the state and privileges of a believer; and our Lord intended by this figure to describe the devotedness of heart and life, which are required of those, who would engage in working out their salvation by faith in His name; who would come to God through Him, to be delivered from sin and death, and to be made inheritors of everlasting happiness and glory. It was a very significant figure, and extremely easy to be understood. The husbandman, who holds and directs the plough, must have his eye continually upon his work, or it would be certainly marred and spoiled; he had better not attempt it, than be looking behind him; because he would be certain not only to lose his labour, but to do himself more injury than service. No one therefore could entertain the least doubt of our Lord's meaning; He solemnly declared, in the words of truth, which can never fail, that it was altogether useless and hopeless for any man to engage in His service, to pretend to be a member of His kingdom, unless he was prepared to give his whole and undivided attention to so weighty a concern. But let us consider the circumstance, under which our Lord addressed these. words of the text: a person came and said, "Lord I will follow thee, but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house." This appears, at first sight, to have been a very reasonable request: but Jesus knew the hearts of men; and He saw that the affections of this person were lingering with his earthly interests and endearments; that his heart was still with them; so that he was not prepared to follow the Lord with unreserved submission, in sincerity and truth. Observe the language of this undecided professor: "Let me first go bid them farewell;" his earthly relatives and cares engrossed his first attention; he would have them provided for, and then attach himself to Jesus as a secondary concern. Had he first given himself to the Lord, and thus shewed that "the seeking of His kingdom and His righteousness" was uppermost in his affections, he might have afterwards returned to his family without any hindrance or objection; and have given, to his worldly circumstances and his relations, any attention they required; might have done this more satisfactorily and successfully but such was not his purpose; and therefore he was unfit for the great undertaking, in which he professed a wish to join. Thus is there set before the christian world, in this and every day, a memorable lesson, full of the most important instruction; thus is there described the character of too many persons, who flatter themselves that they are taking an interest, yea a sufficient interest, in the kingdom of their Lord, and the work of their salvation. Impressed as they may be with some persuasion of its everlasting moment, it is, in fact, to them but a secondary consideration: the pursuits and interests, the pleasure and gains, the endearments and delights of this world, engross their prin cipal thought and care: in as far as the business of religion can be made compatible with these objects, religion is pursued with a seeming degree of readi ness, and a professed consciousness of spiritual obligation; where the disposition |