does not flatter himself all will be well at last, though God tells him to the contrary. On this account, "he that trusteth his own heart is a fool." But when the Lord gives a new heart, he makes it sincere. A real Christian is like Nathanael, of whom our Saviour said, "Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile;" that is, no allowed hypocrisy in his dealings with God or man.

VI. And lastly, the heart is naturally an unbelieving heart. It is a sad thing that man should be more ready to believe the father of lies, than the God of truth. It was by hearkening to the devil that Eve, our first mother, sinned; and there has been in mankind ever since "an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God." It is plain that people do not believe God. If they believed what he says of sin, they would not dare to practise it. If they believed what he says of Christ, surely they would come to him for life and salvation. And the reason they do not is, they "love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil." But the new heart is a believing heart. The Christian takes God at his word. He believes his threatenings, and fears. He believes his promises in Christ, and hopes. He believes his commandments, and obeys. Without this faith "it is impossible to please God;" for he that believeth not God hath made him a liar. faith glorifies God, "He that believeth on Christ hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." John iii. 36.

APPLICATION.

But

And now, dear children, I have told you what sort of hearts we have by nature, and what the Lord can make them by his grace, I hope you will consider

what I have said, and consider what hearts you have. Are they not hard, and proud, and worldly, and wicked, and deceitful, and unbelieving? I think you must own they are so by nature. And does not this show you that you must be born again, and have a new heart? If your hearts should not be changed, you will grow more wicked as you grow older; and if you should die in your sins, you will be lost for

ever,

and say,

But, my dear children, I hope better things. Do not you know that Jesus Christ came to seek and to save that which was lost?" And do not you remember reading that some good people brought their little children to him, and desired him to bless them? And he said, "Suffer little children to come unto me." Would you not be very glad if he were here now, and you could go and kneel down to him "Blessed Jesus, bless me, even me also?" Well; though he is in heaven, you may do this now. He is the same to-day that he was then. He loves little children as well as ever. And I beg and beseech each of you, when you go home, to go into some private place, and kneel down, and say, "Blessed Jesus, I have a wicked heart, that makes me do wicked things, and I am afraid of thy anger: but I have heard in the Gospel that thou hast died for sinners, to save them from hell, and sin, and the world; oh, save me, lest I perish! Take away my heart of stone, and give me a heart of flesh; a heart to know, trust, and love thee, that I may serve thee in this world, and be for ever happy in the world to come."

Let none of you say, "I am not old enough, or not big enough, to be religious: it is time enough yet." Dear children, you are not too young to die. Younger than you are in the grave. Besides, you cannot be too young to serve the Lord. Can you be safe too soon? Can you be happy too soon?

Can you glorify God too much? Surely not. Well then, pray for a new heart. It is the best gift that God can give you, or you receive; and may God Almighty, for Christ's sake, bestow it upon every one of you. Amen!

A NEW HEART.

O FOR an heart to praise my God,
An heart from guilt set free;

An heart that's sprinkled with the blood
So freely shed for me.

An humble, lowly, contrite heart,
Believing, true, and clean,

Which neither life nor death can part
From Him that dwells within.

An heart resign'd, submissive, meek,
My dear Redeemer's throne;
Where only Christ is heard to speak,
Where Jesus reigns alone.

The holy nature, Lord, impart,
Come quickly from above;

Write thy new name upon my heart,
Thy new, best name of love.

END OF VOL. I.

W. CLOWES, Printer, Duke-Street, Lambeth.

OR, SHORT AND PLAIN

DISCOURSES,

FOR THE USE OF

FAMILIES, SCHOOLS, AND RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.

BY GEORGE BURDER.

VOL. II.

CONTAINING THIRTEEN SERMONS.

A NEW EDITION.

"Come, let us go forth into the Field; let us lodge in the Villages-Sol. Song.

LONDON:

THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY,

Instituted 1799;

SOLD AT THE DEPOSITORY, 56, PATERNOSTER ROW;

AND BY THE BOOKSELLERS.