at teaching and out of the persuasionary school of Ill-pause. In fine,
Mansoul desired some time in which to prepare its answer.'

There are many men among ourselves who have been bedevilled out of their
best life, out of the salvation of their souls, and out of all that
constitutes and accompanies salvation now for many years. And still
their sin-deceived hearts are saying to them to-night, Take time! For
many years, every new year, every birthday, and, for a long time, every
Communion-day, they were just about to be done with their besetting sin;
and now all the years lie behind them, one long downward road all paved,
down to this Sabbath night, with the best intentions. And, still, as if
that were not enough, that same varlet is squat at their ear. Well, my
very miserable brother, you have long talked about the end of an old year
and the beginning of a new year as being your set time for repentance and
for reformation. Let all the weight of those so many remorseful years
fall on your heart at the close of this year, and at last compel you to
take the step that should have been taken, oh! so many unhappy years ago!
Go straight home then, to-night, shut your door, and, after so many
desecrated Sabbath nights, God will still meet you in your secret
chamber. As soon as you shut your door God will be with you, and you
will be with God. With GOD! Think of it, my brother, and the thing is
done. With GOD! And then tell Him all. And if any one knocks at your
door, say that there is Some One with you to-night, and that you cannot
come down. And continue till you have told it all to God. He knows it
all already; but that is one of Ill-pause's sophistries still in your
heart. Tell your Father it all. Tell Him how many years it is. Tell
Him all that you so well remember over all those wild, miserable, mad,
remorseful years. Tell Him that you have not had one really happy, one
really satisfied day all those years, and tell Him that you have spent
all, and are now no longer a young man; youth and health and self-respect
and self-command are all gone, till you are a shipwreck rather than a
man. And tell Him that if He will take you back that you are to-night at
His feet.

4. 'We seldom overcome any one vice perfectly,' complains A Kempis. And,
again, 'If only every new year we would root out but one vice.' Well,
now, what do you say to that, my true and very brethren? What do you say
to that? Here we are, by