But we close. Very gladly would we linger, in company with the reader, over the contents of this most precious second Timothy. Truly refreshing would it be to dwell upon all its touching allusions, its earnest appeals, its weighty exhortations. But this would demand a volume, and hence we must leave the Christian reader to study the Epistle for himself, praying that the eternal Spirit who indited it may unfold and apply it in living power to his soul, so that he may be enabled to acquit himself as an earnest, faithful, whole-hearted man of God and servant of Christ, in the midst of a scene of hollow profession, and heartless worldly religiousness. May the good Lord stir us all up to a more thorough consecration of ourselves, in spirit, soul, and body--all we are and all we have--to His service! We think we can really say we long for this--long for it, in the deep sense of our lack of it--long for it, more intensely, as we grow increasingly sick of the unreal condition of things within and around us. O beloved Christian, let us earnestly, believingly, and perseveringly cry to our own ever gracious God to make us more real, more whole-hearted, more thoroughly devoted to our Lord Jesus Christ in all things. IN THE FATHER'S HOUSE "The wanderer no more will roam, The lost one to the fold hath come, The prodigal is welcomed home, O Lamb of God, through Thee! "Though clothed in rags, by sin defiled, The Father did embrace His child; And I am pardoned, reconciled, O Lamb of God, through Thee! "It is the Father's joy to bless; His love has found for me a dress, A robe of spotless righteousness, O Lamb of God, in Thee! "And now my famished soul is fed, A feast of love for me is spread, I feed upon the children's bread, O Lamb of God, in Thee! "Yea, in the fulness of His grace, God put me in the children's place, Where I may gaze upon His face, O Lamb of God, in Thee! "Not half His Love can I express, Yet, Lord, with joy my lips confess, This blessed portion I possess, O Lamb of God, in Thee! "Thy precious name it is I bear, In Thee I am to God brought near, And all the Father's love I share, O Lamb of God, in Thee!" DECISION FOR CHRIST In approaching the subject of "Decision for Christ," there are two or three obstacles which lie in our way--two or three difficulties which hang around the question, which we would fain remove, if possible, in order that the reader may be able to view the matter on its own proper ground, and in its own proper bearings.