A. 9. We hallow and sanctify God's name by obeying him. How doth a son more honour his father, than by obedience? Ps. xl. 8., " I delight to do' thy will, O my God !" The wise men sliowed honour to Christ, not only by bowing the knee to him, but by presenting him with gold and myrrh, Mat. ii. 11. We hallow God's name, not only by lifting up our eyes and hands to heaven, and bowing the knee in ])rayer, but by presenting God with golden obe- dience. As the factor trades for the mer- chant, so we trade for God, and lay out our strength in his service. It was a saying of reverend Dr. Jewel, " I have spent and ex- hausted myself in the laboius of my holy calling." ' To obey is better than sacri- fice.* The cherubims representing the an- gels, are set forth with their wings display- ed, to show liow ready they are to do ser- vice to God. To obey is angelical. To pretend lionour to God's name, yet not to obey, is but a devout compliment. Abra- ham honoured God by obedience ; he was ready to sacrifice his son, though the son of his old age, and a son of the promise, Gen. xxii. 16, 17., " By myself have I sw(»rn, saith the L(»rd, because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thv only son ; that in blessing, I will bless thee."
A. 10. We hallow and amctify God'n
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name when we lift up God's name in our praises. God is said to sanctify, and man is said to sanctify : God sanctifies us, by givinjT us grace, — and we sanctify liim by giving liim praise. What were our tongues given us for but to be organs of God's ])raise ? Ps. Ixxi. 8., " Let my mouth be filled with thy praise, and with thy honour all the day," Rev. v. 13., " Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever." Thus God's name is hallowed and sanctified in heaven ; the an- gels and glorified sjiints are singings halle- lujahs; let us begin the work of heaven here. David did sing forth God's praises and doxolojjies in a most melodious man- ner, therefore was called the sweet singer of Israel, 2 Sam. xxiii. 1. Praising God is an hallowing of God's name, — it spreads his renown, — it displays the trophies of his excellency, — it exalts him in the eyes of o- thers, Ps. 1. 23., " Whoso offereth praise glorificth me." This is one of the highest and purest acts of religion ; in prayer we act like men, — in praise we act like angels, this is the music of heaven, — this is a work fit for a saint, Ps. cxlix. 5, 6., " Let the saints be joyful, let the high praises of God be in their mouths !" None but saints can in a riii;ht manner thus hallow God's name by praising him. As every one hath not skill to play on the viol and organ, so every one cannot rightly sound forth God's har- monious praises ; only the saints can do it ; they only can make their tongue and heart join in concert, Ps, ix. 1., "I will bless thee, O Lord, with my whole heart ;" and Ps. Ixvi. 17,, " He was extolled with my tongue." There was joining in concert. This hallowing God's name by praise is ve- ry becoming a Christian ; it is unbecoming to murmur, this is a dishonouring God's name, but it becomes the saints to be spi- nti\al choristers in singing forth the honour of God's name. It is called " the gar- ment of praise," Isa. Ixi. 3. IIow comely and handsome is this garment of praise for a saint to wear ! Ps. xxxiii. 1., " Praise is comely for the upright." Especially, it is an high degree of hallowing God's name, when we can speak well of God, and bless m in an afflicted state, Job L 21., " The
Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord !" Many will bless God when he gives, but to bless him when he takes away is in an high degree to honour God and hallow his name. Let us thus magni- fy God's name. Hath not God given us abundant matter of praising him ? He hath given us grace, — a mercy spun and woven out of his bowels; and he intends to crown grace with glory, — this should make us hal- low God's name by being trumpets of his praise.