g
from him? He has a just right to all your affections. He gave his all
for you, and now it is right that you should give your all for him. He
sacrificed his life for you; now you are brought to the sacrifice of
your life for him--a living sacrifice. You see that this claim is right
and just. It is a reasonable requirement on his part; a "reasonable
service" on your part.

But, dear reader, the question must be answered. Are you going to yield?
You may answer, Yes; but the Lord requires you to do so at once. Usually
when the soul is brought face to face with this consecration and begins
to become willing to yield up its treasures, it lets go the easiest ones
first, and as one by one they are counted over to the Lord there comes a
final struggle; the dearest one of all is now before you. The emotions
of the heart begin to deepen as the affections cling to this treasure.
Everything has now centered upon this one object. It is to be sacrificed
for Jesus or he must be sacrificed for it. Which will it be? It must be
Jesus only. Much reasoning may arise upon this important matter, but all
is vain. There must be the yielding. You must say from the depths of
your soul, "Thy will be done." You have often said this before, but it
never meant nearly what it does now. You truly feel the agonies of
death. Were you to be laid on your death-bed or in your coffin, there
would be no greater separation from everything of this earth than this.
No loved one can now go with you. No treasure can be kept as your own.
The lone, dark vale must be crossed. No sympathy of friend can follow
you. Everything must be left behind. Dear reader, this is a critical
moment. The destiny of your soul is hanging upon a single thread. You
are swinging out over the deep precipice--clinging, clinging, clinging.
Jesus demands that you let go and drop completely into his will. You
desire to do this, but your soul shrinks. It seems so dark below. Many a
one has here taken counsel with his own soul and decided to swing back
upon the side of self, thereby losing incalculable wealth, and missing
this glorious soul-rest which "remaineth therefore ... for the people of
God." O dear soul, do not fail to labor to enter in! Let the death
struggle continue until it has completed its work--until you have truly
ceased from your own works. The floodgates of heaven are ready to open
and fill you with such glory that it will cause this old world to fade
out of sight; but not un