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CHAPTER VII.

CONCLUDING REMARKS ON CHRISTIAN RESPONSIBILITY.

THE design of the foregoing pages has been to offer a few thoughts on the important subject of man's responsibility, and to suggest the various occasions which call for its exercise, when, by the Divine favour, Christians may become blessings to others. But as it is the motive which gives value to the action, and alone renders it acceptable to our Judge; so we should look carefully into our hearts, and examine whether we are actuated by those holy principles which the Gospel inculcates. The most powerful motive in a generous heart is gratitude; and if this is felt towards an earthly benefactor, how much more should it be felt towards Him who "hath given us life, and breath, and all things;" and, to crown all other mercies, has

spared not His own Son, but given Him up for us all." Every real Christian who has been brought out of darkness into his marvellous light, must feel that a soul redeemed demands a life of praise; and the Apostle St. Paul, after having expatiated in glowing language on "the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God," in the great work of man's redemption, urges on his converts the duty of showing their gratitude by their lives, and calls upon them by the constraining motive of thankfulness for mercies already received to present their "bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God;" and, as if anticipating the derision of the scornful, who might term such self-denying disciples enthusiasts, he adds, "which is your reasonable service;" that service which, in simple justice and plain reason, is due from you to your Maker, Redeemer, and Preserver. This self-devotion is the grand secret of Christian piety, the spring which sets in motion the whole scheme of philanthropic exertion, and constrains all the faculties of soul and body into the service of our great Master. When once the Holy Spirit has overcome in the heart the great enemy of man's salvation, and made a sacrifice

of selfishness, when the believer can adopt the language of the converted Apostle, and ask,

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Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do ?"—when, in humble dependence on the Divine protection, he can say with the same Apostle, " whose I am, and whom I serve," all labour will be light, and the service of Christ will be found to be perfect freedom. The hardest labour is to convert our own heart; but when, by the help of One that is mighty, that is accomplished, the blessing of God will go with us in our attempts to convert others.

The power we have to benefit our neighbours is in itself a blessing from God, and a talent to be employed. "I will bless thee, and thou shalt be a blessing," is the Divine order and law; to this end the Almighty has implanted the sympathetic and compassionate affections in the heart of man. Even the unenlightened heathen feel their influence; but to the Christian is superadded the Divine principle of charity and brotherly love, for Christ's sake; and the prospect which revelation opens to him of a world beyond the grave, adds a new stimulus to his exertions, and excites in his bosom a desire to snatch from destruction, and

guide into the way of peace, those whom he sees perishing for lack of knowledge. To him has been made known the greatness of the Divine compassion; he believes that "God would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth;" and to subserve the intentions of Omnipotence thenceforth becomes alike his honour and his happiness. He knows no distinction of tribe, or language, or colour; but assured that Christ tasted death for all men, and being commanded to honour all men, he prays and labours for the whole brotherhood of man; and, extending his views beyond the present life, he looks forward with joyful expectation to the complete triumph of the Redeemer over the powers of darkness; and longs for that glorious period when those who have been redeemed with the precious blood of Christ out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation, shall join the heavenly anthem, saying,

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Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever!" In the character of St. Paul we see the motive which led him to make such zealous exertions, and which should lead us to do likewise, "the love of

Christ constraineth us, because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead; that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them." What would have been our state if Christ had not died for us, "the just for the unjust, to bring us to God?" What blessing is there that we do not owe to Him? He has in man's nature paid the penalty of man's transgression; He has offered up, by his sacrifice of Himself upon the cross, that atonement which has made reconciliation for sinful man; He has by His Spirit spoken the words of consolation to the trembling penitent; He has by His precious promises smoothed the bed of death, and opened the prospect of a blissful eternity. Let us show our gratitude for these blessings by our zeal in making them known to others. It will be vain to boast of our Christian privileges unless we show our faith by our obedience. Christ has indeed purchased us unto Himself for a peculiar people, but it is that we may be zealous of good works; and as the chosen people of God in old time were rejected because they failed in that which was expected of them, so will Christians be excluded