very fine young woman, on the occasion of my visit to a certain town,
offered herself as a Candidate for Army Officership. Hearing that the
case did not mature, I inquired a little later, from an Officer who had
seen her, what the difficulty was, and he repeated to me the
explanation she had given him: 'Well, Colonel, I have changed my mind;
I have left The Army and become a Christian'. That seems a strange
putting of the position; but I fear that it was with her, as with some
of you who have sought to dodge the cross, escape the toil, and evade
the testimony, the sacrifice, and the service which are indispensable
to the maintenance of Holiness. Instead of trying to escape from duty
as it is revealed to us from day to day, our hearts should be tuned up
to the idea in the song, which says--

_For thee delightfully employ
What e'er Thy bounteous grace hath given;
And run my course with even joy,
And closely walk with Thee to Heaven._

The central thought of Jeremiah's text is beautifully illustrated in
the Parable of the Lost Piece of Silver. Look at this woman's anxious
concern and corresponding action; she lights the candle--that is,
uses what light she has; she sweeps the house--turns everything over;
she searches diligently--keeps at it, not giving up at the first
disappointment. Observe also the effect upon herself when her search
is successful. Full of satisfaction she calls in her neighbours and
friends--'Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I had
lost'. Loud in her testimony, she delights in making her blessing
known. You see, this woman so valued the piece of silver, that she gave
herself up to the search for it, and nothing satisfied her until she
found it. When men appreciate the importance of having a clean heart
and the blessing of God like that, they will not seek long without
result.

There are two or three things implied in this whole-hearted search
after God which need to be emphasized. Of these I will name, first,
_intensity of desire_. There are blessings that come like God's rain
and sunshine, sought or unsought; but no man ever got a clean heart who
did not badly want it; and if God is to sanctify and keep you in the
enjoyment of the blessing, your heart will have to be moved by strong
desire.

Jesus put it clearly when He talked about 'hungering and thirsting'.
Even prayer, without strong desire, does not accomplish much. 'What
things soever ye _desire_'; it is