"Give Up All for Christ"
When our Saviour was on earth, He was accosted by a young man who asked Him, “Good Master! what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He was young. He was amiable. He was a ruler of the people, but still his uneasy conscience told him that all was not well with him. The blessed Jesus turned to the amiable youth and said — “One thing thou lackest; sell all that thou hast, and come and follow me, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven.” The young man was not prepared for this. He wished indeed to save his soul. But when he lifted up his eyes, and looked out upon the rich possessions that lay stretched before him, and then thought of the unseen treasures of which he had only the promise, and which were to be reached only through a life of privation, he hesitated. “Do I love this Jesus or my possessions most?” we may imagine him to have reasoned with himself. “Can I give them all up for Christ?” He hesitated. The allurements of the world were too strong for him. He turned and went away sorrowful. And when in the dread day of final retribution, the rejected Saviour shall spurn such as he from His presence forever, we fear that the young ruler will “go away sorrowful” once more.
In the town of S I knew a man
somxC years ago who was eminent for his financial abilities, but remarkable also for his greediness for gain. He was an usurer and a miser. He had amassed nearly all Ills immense fortune by taking advantage of the necessities of his neighbors. During the progress of a powerful revival
in the town where he resided, Mr. M
was brought to penitence and prayer. He even prayed before his family; and the whole town were amazed when it ran from mouth to mouth that the aged usurer had been seen in an inquiry-meeting. The pastor of the church pointed out to him his besetting sin, and told him that unless he would give up the unjust and illegal practices of which he had been guilty, he would grieve away the Spirit and destroy his soul.
“Within a few days he was waited on by a neighbor, who urged him to engage in a pecuniary speculation which would bring him in large but unlawful gains.
He hesitated like the young ruler. But the allurement was too strong. The transaction was agreed to — and the Spirit of God immediately left him! That very night he refused to pray, and relapsed immediately into the most shocking profanity and contempt for holy things. The aged scoffer still lingers, ripening, we fear, for an awful perdition.
I have read too of a lawyer in I,
who was brought under deep conviction of sin. He was in great mental distress, and was urged to embrace the Saviour at once. An election was approaching in which he was to be a prominent candidate. When his pious friends conversed with him, he answered, “I know that I have a more important election to secure than that for which I am a candidate here. When the political canvass is over I will secure the salvation of my soul.” He was warned that lie was grieving the Holy Spirit, but he remained resolute. The canvass ended. He was defeated, and under the influence of shame and remorse he plunged into intoxication, and became a wretched sot!
If these sad incidents shall meet the eye of any inquirer who is hesitating between Christ and the world, — between the Saviour of sinners and avarice, or sensual pleasure, or ambition, let me tenderly exhort you to hesitate no longer. Give up all for Christ. Cry unto God for strength to make the surrender, lest a fate as disastrous as those I have been reviewing should be yours.