#5f5 IN III I Ml Mi IN U II IMI No.,37. WHAT TAN I DO? BY REV. T. V. MOORE, D. D., RICHMOND, VA. Tnis isaqucstion that is often asked by those on whom the matter of personal religion is pressed, and although sometimes asked in a spirit of evasion, is frequently asked in sincerity. We propose to answer this question, and to show some things atleast that may be done by every one who is really anxious to know what c^m be done to secure eternal life. Before specifying these things, it may be proper to say, that none of them are necessary prerequisites to a believing recep- tion of Christ. It is the duty of every one who hears the gospel to receive it at once, and without delay, or qualification, to accept the Saviour just as he is oUc'rcci, Without waiting for any more feeling, any more conviction of sin, any more prepa- ration of heart, or any better state of soul than when there is an honest det;ire to be saved from sin in its guilt and pollu- tion. To suppose that it is needful to wait for any protracted 'preparation, any washing of the outer scales of the leprosy before; comip.'j; to the great physician, is to contradict the whole icnor of the gospel, which- calls on the sinner to come to repentance, on the sick to come to the physician, on the !•:? a vv-laden tocome to the relieving hand that can give them But as there are some who say, "We know not hovf* to come to Christ, we. find no real or active interest in our hearts on this subject, our judgments are convinced but cur hearts' are utterly unrnoved, and yet we are .willing to do whatever may he done to awake a deeper interest in our bosoms- and bring us to the point of a sincere and hearty sur- render to Christ, if- we only knew what we could do." We will try'to-meet this desire^and specify to such persons some things that they can do, and if they are not mistaken in this view dfih'eir feelings, they will "be willing to do these things, ' and the d6ing of them will either impel them farther forward 2 WHAT CAN I DO: to the cross, or show them that there is some wedge of gold or Babylonish garment, that is hidden beneath the tent. 1. You can begin to consider ike question of personal religion. It is the want of consideration that causes much of the indifference you feel on this subject. Have yon-ovtr given it itone hour of serious reflection ? Have vou ever refund to your yaoiftand there carefully thought on *fiis matter, in the pres- ence of God, and with a sense of his omniscient scrutiny ? Have you not rather banished it -Vrotn your thoughts, and tried to avoid what would produce serious re^eeticws? Have you not been afraid to go alone, on*l face to -feee, mth an unseen, but all-seeing God, gaze on this high and awful question ? This then you can do. You can retire to day, or to-night, to some private place, and there think of the. &ct that you are a sinner, that you are making God your enemy 'Wery day, that you are standing in a path that for six thou - :> ^>M ves- -^.^ . '; '^wept by the whirlwind of fetB*g9$W fi 'i?.\&*i LjJ) v' ■• ' ^ <: -' W'V . < '" -Unloosed at any infl$tets$, , \^M~ile-)\< is 3tij&' fa*g! " ' * ■' X 'if ' S - ■ ■■ id the bottomless afe-ysS' ■ utt a >iifa petition that may give way in an instant by st*^ ' 3 #®g v "u^cid^nt, that you are hanging all the concerns of . t »' rnity on a mere rferhaps, and that thousands have perished • fay €oing just »that you are doing now. Yon cafrthinik of Calvary — why Jesus suffered, why you thmfe. gg jittje of a Saviour's blood, and how fearful a tbjn*r it must be to have' that blood lying neglected at your fee*. -Will you consider^ this matt^. not oneCv ' sg$ifty 'jjSh.d'agai*. until jvm feel tbjA . you are hi , $#nwir".mt ^rst .'..■-'• •:■• ■•>.w-^'->-. •. vr-... : " ^ *-,,y;T.* ..- 2. T^u' ran. /./-i^ ' You, jsay '-tligfciyi ^. ^H^ot^e^**. .:e fcy.a^y uireci . :a| J yonran^wtiof^fihat God alone can do -VKelhings.' Has^nc&God Baidfkj»--he is ' \vittm|r &><£© the. . ^r alT who desired iU If you • reajly •'..-- these tliingft, you &&n pray fw fcheha, for praye* ■■iS^rt'fy-aSiiV O0fer'i:>; up of our desires to God for thii^s ai^sed V to his will, in the name of Clmsi Jesus. T|i«& n» you^j^der, you jiuvr pray* andat'i^si say, "Got! be merciful ^ me,a #i*n»er, ? ' Antf iif this pray^t? "Is sincerely ofr#red, you have the assn ; rarive *factw« regard to theVeertainJy rvith which it will Ue answers... . 3. } You lwe the BiU.e. 'Read the Slst Psalm- t%e ^dii»u53lh <*f baiah; the 12th 10. loth chap- WHAT CAN I DO. 3 ters of Luke ; the 3d chapter of John; the 4th and 5th of 2d Corinthians, or similar portions of Scripture, which may readily be found. You can get religious boosts, such as James's or Henry's Anxious Inquirer, the Great Question, the Way of Life, Baxter's Call, the Memoirs of McCheyne, Henry Marty n, or some of the many excellent works so easily accessible by the distributing agencies of our religious litera- ture. Head them daily, and keep your soul thus in contact with Uie great facts of religion. Do this every day. 4. ¥o>i. &M avoid what will dissipate serious refection. You know Wttfjithis is by experience, for you Jvnri jr*ht it in various for /us. The jpersons, the things uid Vhinge fo\\ cvi avoid, and thus ! , ""JO'VU^ exwtk i'fom *he .fowl* * iat pick i/-^ v : ' y*\ '\ '* r *■' • . 5. Yon san seek ihc n&p^'. 7 * •>. > I ' t b : i can go tO- ''" your pastor, or- soutf ChV'^an ( * uiin to explain i»e Way-f ■'•iaivafcon Ui 'yon •'.*,, )J i ! nJ-'y "Mo -o with your •' m i< y r roHy Mi-'y/.'.r ^..r./iir not with yogu- rt! iar*pfiysiciau wiun .•:; f « can noX only attend church otrs-u'e Snbbath, . kt can attend; the weekly lecture and the praye¥-fnee;i:>:z. The ver>vr.eascte Vhat . makes you shrink from altendinj lie fea-' • ^^(•r-howUl take you there, if you are :n eafjue^tti wha^ ' f ? ihall ye seek me and find ise->vh*n-yc, earch-tt '*4i all your heart." '♦.;_/•' A>, J?/;/, can resfi. i - : o'-'c..";a?(. . ^ fi ■""■: y.o~ real dt4Mfc$£y i# • -. J _• ■*»■• »•■ ■ £-'.» E-.tfie r«a ' T yVu'r Uitheu^T >,^/?V>*. ' • ^ . \iw « 'vvv-'you muta ». : j ' a .~>iii anr/ v :V,% * f you are unwiliit^^VfiivJ^up your hold of t* • * . i -«st give up your hope orrhc other. If vou * • W"-» ' - ur sins, take up tfc* Oeeahnguo, prSal. v. L9-2o, ** € v*&— -15, or similar portion of iiVd* word, and ^i v 'V-«* ; ^discover them. But vou do not need &ve$ ,^c v speci?*'/ " -A WHAT CAN I DOT every one, and hence of you, and he requires it of you now. Your secret, feeling is that these duties are obligatory only on a Christian. But this is a mistake. They rest on all, and a Christian is only trying to do, what is binding on every one, and you among the rest. You ought to do these duties whether you are a Christian or not. The proof that you are willing to be a Christian will be found in the fact that you are willing to begin the discharge of these duties. If unwill- ing, you do not desire really to be a child of God ; if willing, begin them now, for they are binding on you now ; you are a rebellious child, but still a child, and bound to do all the duties of a child, and if you wish to return to your Father, that; wish will be manifested by beginning to obey him as a child, ilere again is the second great test of your sincerity. 8i- You can then, try to look to Jesus for pardon, for strength, for holiness, for happiness, and for eternal life. You can try to believe that Jesus will do as he has promised to do, save those who strive honestly to trust and obey him. Is it not strange that this should require any. effort? Then try these things, and as you take one step, you w Ml see more readily IjOW and when to take another. i ''T-Ho'0