many to righteousness, shall shine as the stars for ever and ever*."]
Application —
1. Remember, in the first place, to offer up your- selves to God —
[This must precede every thing else. Nothing that you can do will be of any value, till this is done. St. Paul, when commending the Macedonians for their unparalleled liberality, mentions it to their honour, that " they first gave their own selves to the Lordy." Thus must all of you " present your- selves as living sacrifices to God," sanctified throughout by an unction from above, and by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost. This is " your reasonable service;" and most "acceptable will it be to Godz." If you do not this, it is in vain that the Gospel is ministered unto you. To effect this, is the scope of all our labours, and the great end also of God's tender " mercies a." It is for this end that you have been bought with a price ; that you should no longer consider yourselves as at your own disposal; but that you should be His who bought you, and " glorify him with your bodies and your spirits, which are hisV]
2. Contribute to the utmost to the offering up of
others —
[It is a blessed work wherein to be engaged. If we be successful in one single instance only, it will well repay the labours of a whole life. Who that knows the value of his own soul, must not pant after the salvation of the souls of others ? And who, that knows his obligations to God, must not long to serve God in a way so acceptable to his mind, and so conducive to his glory? Let me not, then, call you to this work in vain. If there be any who are by education and by grace fitted for personal exertion in that field of labour, let him, like the Pro- phet, stand forth, and say, " Here am I : send mec." If it be only in a subordinate manner that you are able to assist in this good cause, still let it be seen that your heart is in it, and your labour according to the full extent of your ability. In your contributions, be liberal after your power : and in what- ever way you can be useful, " give yourselves to the work" with cheerfulness, and persevere in it with diligence. Certainly, if ever united exertions were called for, it is now, when God is so evidently prospering the work, and putting honour on those
who are engaged in itd " Come then, all of you, to
the help of the Lord :" and " whatever your hand findeth to do, do it with all your might."]
x Dan. xii. 3. y 2 Cor. viii. 5. x Rom. xii. 1.
a Rom. xii. 1. h 1 Cor. vi. 19, 20. ° Isai. vi. 8.
d Here any particulars may be mentioned.