ounce her faith and turn her back upon her Lord.

The waters rose to her waist, and he rode out again, and, when half
unconscious, she was dragged out, and urged to recant. Refusing to do
this, the girl was again bound to the stake.

When the waters reached her shoulders the offer was repeated. To one
and all she replied something like this: 'No, I will not draw back! I
will not deny my Lord!' And as the rising tide came in she bowed her
head, and poured her soul out unto death rather than deny her Master.
She bound her sacrifice to the altar, and died in the faith.

Some of those who hear my words are disappointed and sad at heart, for
they have gone back on Jesus Christ; not perhaps to save their lives,
but for a mere trifle. Why these neglected vows? Why these defiled
sacrifices? Why these broken consecrations? If they were ever really
put on the altar they were not, I am afraid, bound there. Impulse,
sentiment, desire, intention may have induced the offering, but it was
not bound with 'cords of submission, cords of determination'.
Companionships, some secret indulgence, some selfish pleasure, some act
of reversal, carried off the sacrifice.

Alas! how many have never seriously and sincerely approached the Divine
altar to make the full surrender of themselves to God. The love of sin,
the selfish gratifications which are so precious to them, have kept
them back, though often convicted about their duty.

But the act of dedication is very simple, and can be made or renewed
now. While we bow before God around the altar of consecration, bring
yourselves and the sacrifice again and put it on that altar in an
unchangeable covenant, and with a simple faith that will bring from God
that holy fire which makes it possible to maintain it there for ever.

_A willing sacrifice at last
Myself to Thee I give;
The weary, painful strife is past--
I die that I may live._

_I yield Thee all my hallowed powers,
Thine only will I be,
Contented if I may but know
Thou giv'st Thyself to me._

X

'Why Should I?'

'_Thou saidst, What advantage will it be? What profit shall I have, if
I be cleansed from my sin? I will answer thee, and thy companions with
thee._' (Job xxxv. 3, 4.)

In reading these words I have no wish to enter into the controversy
between Job and his friends as to the relationship of physical
suffering to sin, but to emphasize a certain mental attitude which they