I ready and willing to do any and every particular thing that He shall command me to do, even if it is plucking out a right eye, or cutting off a right hand, or selling all my goods to give to the poor?” try yourself by this test, and see if you lack anything in your moral character.  When this thorough and proper touch-stone of character is applied, there is not found upon earth a just man that doeth good and sinneth not.  Every human creature, by this test is concluded under sin.  Every man is found, lacking in what he ought to possess, when the words of the commandment are sounded in his ear:  “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and all thy soul, and all thy mind, and all thy strength.”  This sum and substance of the Divine law, upon which hang all the other laws, convinces every man of sin.  For there is no escaping its force.  Love of God is a distinct and definite feeling, and every person knows whether he ever experienced it.  Every man knows whether it is, or is not, an affection of his heart; and he knows that if it be wanting, the foundation of religion is wanting in his soul, and the sum and substance of sin is there.

2.  And this leads to the second and concluding thought suggested, by the subject, namely, that except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. If there be any truth in the discussion through which we have passed, it is plain and incontrovertible, that to be destitute of holy love to God is a departure and deviation from the moral law.  It is a coming short of the great requirement that rests upon every accountable creature of God, and this is as truly sin and guilt as any violent and open passing over and beyond the line of rectitude.  The sin of omission is as deep and damning as the sin of commission.  “Forgive,”—­said the dying archbishop Usher,—­“forgive all my sins, especially my sins of omission.”

But, how is this lack to be supplied?  How is this great hiatus in human character to be filled up?  How shall the fountain of holy and filial affection towards God be made to gush up into everlasting life, within your now unloving and hostile heart?  There is no answer to this question of questions, but in the Person and Work of the Holy Ghost.  If God shall shed abroad His love in your heart, by the Holy Ghost which is given unto you, you will know the blessedness of a new affection; and will be able to say with Peter, “Thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.”  You are shut up to this method, and this influence.  To generate within yourself this new spiritual emotion which you have never yet felt, is utterly impossible.  Yet you must get it, or religion, is impossible, and immortal life is impossible.  Would that you might feel your straits, and your helplessness.  Would that you might perceive your total lack of supreme love of God, as the young ruler perceived his; and would that, unlike him, instead, of going away from the Son of God, you would go to Him, crying, “Lord create within me a clean heart, and renew within me a right spirit.”  Then the problem would be solved, and having peace with God through the blood of Christ, the love of God would be shed abroad in your hearts, through the Holy Ghost given unto you.