Duty and Interest.

Ex. xxiii. 25.

" And ye shall serve the Lord your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee."

PSALM XXXvii. 16.

"A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked."

PROV. X. 22.

"The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it."

PROV. XV. 16.

"Better is little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure and trouble therewith."

ECCL. iii. 13.

"And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God."

"Since 'tis Thy sentence I should part

With the most precious treasure of my heart, I freely that and more resign;

My heart itself, as its delight, is Thine.

My little all I give to Thee:

Thou gav'st a greater gift, Thy Son, to me.

"Take all, great God! I will not grieve;
But still will wish that I had still to give.
I hear Thy voice; Thou bidd'st me quit
My paradise; I bless, and do submit:
I will not murmur at Thy word,

Nor beg Thy angel to sheath up his sword."

KEBLE,

2 CHRON. Xxv. 9.

"And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, The Lord is able to give thee much more than this."

MAZIAH, King of Judah, had sinfully leagued himself with idolaters. From principles of worldly policy, he had formed an alliance with the kingdom of Israel, then at enmity with God. The prophet of the Lord was thereupon commissioned to warn him of the consequences, in these words,-"O king, let not the army of Israel go with thee; for the Lord is not with Israel." Still, he was left free to act as he pleased. "If thou wilt go, battle; God shall

do it, be strong for the

make thee fall before the enemy: for God hath power to help, and to cast down." The king hesitated. He had given, out of his treasury, an hundred talents for the promised help; and now, he would receive no equivalent. No assurance even, is granted by

the prophet, that the loss should be repaired. He is simply told, that the silver and the gold are God's, to give or to withhold,-"The Lord is able to give thee much more than this." Amaziah, at length yields to the voice of warning. He separates himself from the army that came out of Ephraim, and obtains a signal victory in the Valley of Salt.

Reader, this narrative is most instructive. We have only given the outline. Read it in your Bible, prayerfully. You may discover points of striking resemblance between the case of Amaziah and your own; and, at some period, you may remember having asked the same question, "What shall I do for the hundred talents ?" The claims of the world often conflict with those of religion, and a struggle ensues. Duty says, "Do this ;" inclination, self-interest, worldly policy demand, "But what shall I have in return for the sacrifice ?" See, the man who has been induced by the Spirit of God to yield himself to the service of Christ, has he no sacrifices? Must he not surrender old habits, desires, and companions,-habits, which had become engrained in his nature, and friends, in whose society he once took delight. Yes; there

are sacrifices. He must exchange the smile of the world for its withering frown; he must abstain from pleasures, once congenial to his taste, pursuits, which promised high advancement, and objects, on which his every desire was fixed. And this he must do, trusting simply to the assurance,—" The Lord is able to give thee more than this." Unbelief may whisper, "But is He also willing ?" Experience might afford convincing proof that He is; but, such doubts are unworthy of being entertained for a moment. God must be trusted. He asks for a childlike confidence. He says, as of old to Amaziah, If thou wilt go, do it." If you are resolved to continue the unholy alliance with the enemies of God, then, hold to these pleasures of the world, retain your love for old habits and pursuits; but, remember the fatal consequences. Reader, know you aught of this feeling, this conflict between duty and seeming interest? You listen to the Sabbath bell, as it rings out a loving invitation to the house of God. Do you ever feel the risings of a wish to absent yourself on some trivial pretext?-the state of the weather, the visit of a neighbour, or the few miles of distance.