"that he had, he was without delay obedient to "the calling of the Son of God Jesus Christ."

Our blessed Lord, passing by the sea of Galilee, saw St. James and his brother John in a ship with Zebedee their father, and called them to become His disciples. A Divine power accompanied the word, with which, so soon as they heard it, they chearfully complied, and immediately left all and followed Christ. Our Apostle conferred not with flesh and blood; he disputed not the propriety of Christ's command, entertained no doubt respecting the truth of His promises, made no inquiry into the minute consequences of the undertaking, asked not what troubles and dangers might attend the new employment, but readily surrendered himself to the will of his Divine Master, to be employed as He should think fit. The extent of his obedience is the more remarkable, as he left his aged father in the ship behind him. For we find that some others, who received a like call to discipleship, excused themselves from an immediate adherence to Christ, on pretence that they must go and bury their father, or take a final leave of their kindred at home. But no such slight and trivial pretence had any influence on the mind of our Apostle, whose fervent spirit broke through every obstacle to obedience, and abandoned at once all his secular interests and relations that. he might follow Christ. Let it not be said, that the desertion of his father was an unnatural act; for, besides the consideration of his leaving servants to take care of his father and assist him in his business, it is to be remembered, that the command of God is paramount to every other requisition, and supercedes every inferior claim. It is the glory of Abraham's faith that, when

God called him to leave his kindred and his father's house, and to sojourn in a strange land, not knowing whither he went, he obeyed implicitly the Divine injunction; as he also did, when the sacrifice of his dear Isaac was required. It is probable that Zebedee himself sanctioned the conduct of his sons, and would have accompanied them in their attendance on Christ, if his age and other circumstances had not prevented him. And it is very reasonable to suppose, that his sons abundantly compensated for the loss of their personal service by the instruction which they afforded him in the doctrines of salvation; a supposition, which is greatly strengthened by the known piety of their mother Salome.

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On the obedience of St. James to the call of Christ we found an earnest petition for grace, that "we" also, forsaking all carnal and "worldly affections, may be evermore ready to "follow God's holy commandments, through "Jesus Christ our Lord."

It is indispensably required of all who hear the name of Christ to become His followers. The command is universal, addressed alike to the rich and to the poor, to the young and to the old, "FOLLOW ME." We cannot enjoy the benefits of His death without enlisting ourselves in His service. And therefore, as all men are sinners and stand in absolute need of a Saviour, it is the interest of all to follow Him that they may be real partakers of His great salvation. Every man can discern how great is the folly of a sick patient, who indulges the hope of a restoration to health, while he rejects the only remedy that can procure it. Decency and morality can never give to a sinner admission into heaven; for in order thereto, obedience to all the

commandments of God is peremptorily required. "And this is His commandment, that we believe "in the name of His Son Jesus Christ;" obedience to which will be followed by a chearful and universal compliance with the precepts of the moral law. Faith in the great atoning sacrifice is indispensably necessary. And this

"faith" which "worketh by love" has a constraining power on the soul of its possessor, whereby he is effectually engaged to renounce the world and the flesh, and to "follow the "Lamb whithersoever He goeth."

26.)

A constant readiness to "follow the holy com"mandments of God," forsaking "all worldly " and carnal lusts," is a disposition of soul which Divine grace only can produce and maintain. This will be evident, if the solemn declarations of our Lord be duly weighed : "If any man "come unto me, and hate not" (comparatively speaking) his father and mother, and all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple." (Luke xiv. "Whosoever he be that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple." (Luke xiv. 33.) Were we to judge of the nature of the Christian religion from the conduct of the generality of its professors, we should suppose that it involved no difficulties, imposed no trials, and required no sacrifices, and consequently, that the petition of our collect was altogether needless. But how different is this supposition from the true state of the case, as represented in our Lord's foregoing declarations! The followers of Christ must renounce their own righteousness and trust only in Him; and this is no easy task to our naturally self-righteous hearts. They must forsake sin in all its shapes, without sparing one

intirely to the guidance of the Word and Spirit of their heavenly Master. But self-denial is always a laborious and painful work. The excision of a right eye, and the amputation of a right hand, are figurative modes of expression employed by our Lord to paint the difficulty and anguish by which it is generally attended. If we determine to follow Christ, we must previously count the cost; and it will be wise to conclude that we may suffer the loss of all for His name's sake. An endeavour to serve two masters, whose commands are so very opposite as those of God and Mammon, of the flesh and Spirit, is a vain attempt.

The Roman soldiers took an oath, which was called Sacramentum, to follow their general whithersoever he led them. A Christian also, by the sacramental engagement of his baptism, is bound to follow the Captain of his salvation in a similar manner, and without reserve; or, in other words, forsaking all worldly and carnal affections, to be "evermore ready to follow God's holy com"mandments." Wherever he sees the print of his Master's foot, there he is to place his own. The life of Christ was a life of obedience; and and such also is that of all His genuine followers. As every day brings its duties, so every day finds them engaged in an inquiry about what their Lord would have them to do; and in earnest supplications, suggested by a conviction of their own impotency, for grace to enable them to obey His will. Reader, is this your daily work? Are you thus labouring to walk in the way of His com. mandments, careless both of the smiles and censures of the world, and deaf to all the sinful claims of the flesh? Without consulting with flesh and blood, do you diligently study His will to the end that you may fulfil it? And is it your

prevailing desire "that Christ may be magnified in your body, whether it be by life or death?" These are questions which will determine the sincerity of your profession and your prayers.

No man can become a true follower of Christ, so as to "forsake all worldly and carnal lusts," and to be "evermore ready to follow God's holy "commandments," unless he be influenced by almighty grace. This our Lord positively asserts, (John vi. 44.) No man can come unto me, "except the Father, who hath sent me, draw "him." When St. James, in obedience to the word of command, left his father and all that he had, to follow the despised Nazarene, it is evident that a Divine energy inwardly accompanied the external call. A stone suspended in the air without visible support is not a more supernatural and miraculous phænomenon, than a sinner leaving the world in heart and affection to suffer affliction with the people of God. Common reason may persuade a man to become decent and honest; but it can never induce him to deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Christ.

It is natural to the human heart, prone to selfseeking and self-indulgence, to shrink back at the proposal of so great a sacrifice. Our Lord's parable, recorded in Luke xiv. 18, puts this assertion beyond a doubt. Some of our excuses, similar to his who only asked permission to return and bury his father, have an air of plausibility. One is ready to say-" By becoming religious, I "shall loose my character among my friends, and "in the world."-It is acknowledged that, in consequence of adherence to Christ, you will forfeit the good opinion of the majority of your neighbours, and incur the disgrace of being ac