and said, " he would avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu," Hos. i. 4. Let us look to our ends in obedience ; tliougli we shoot short, let us take a right aim ; one may do God's will, yet not with a perfect heart, 2 Chron. xxv. 2., Amaziah " did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart." The action was right for the matter, but his aim was not right ; that action which wants a good aim, wants a good issue ; he doth God's will rightly, that doth it uprightly, his end is to honour God, and lift up his name in the world. A gracious soul makes God his centre. As Joab, when he had taken Kab- bah, sent for king David, that he might carry away the glory of the victory, 2 Sain, xii. 27., so when a gracious soul hath done any duty, he desires that the glory of all may be given to God, 1 Pet. iv. 11., " Tliat in all things God may be glorified." This is to do God's will as the angels, when we not only advance God's glory, but design his glory; the angels are said to cast their crowns before the throne. Rev. iv. 10., crowns are signs of the greatest honour, but these crowns the angels lay at the Lord's feet, to show they ascribe the glory of all they do to him.
4. We do God's will as it is done in hea- ven by the angels, when we do it willingly, — sine murmuratione. The angels love to be employed in God's service ; 'tis the angels' heaven to serve God ; they willingly descend from heaven to earth, when they bring mes- sages from God, and glad tidings to the church ; now heaven being a place of such jov, the angels would not leave it a minute of an hour, only that they take such infinite delight in doing God's will. We do resem- ble the angels, when we do God's will will- ingly, 1 Chron. xxviii. 9., " And thou Solo- mon, my son, serve the Lord with a willing mind." God's people are called ' a willing people,' Ps. ex. 3. (Heb.) " a people of willingnesses ;" they give God a free-will offering ; though tliey cannot serve him perfectly, they serve him willingly. A hy- pocrite, though he doth facere bomim, yet not ve/le, — he hath no delight in duty,— • he doth it rather out of fear of hell, than love to God, — when he doth God's will, yet it is against his will. Virtus nolentiiim nulla
THE THIRD TETTTION IN THE LORD'S PRAYER.
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est. Cain brouo^ht his sacrifice, but grudg- ingly ; liis worship was rather a task than an offering, rather penance tlian a sacrifice; lie (lid God's will, but against his will ; we must bo carried uj)on the wings of delight in every duty. Israel were to blow the trum- pets when they offered burnt-offerings, Num. X. 10. : blowing the trumpets was to show their joy and cheerfulness in serving God ; we must read and hear the word with delight, Jer. xv. 15., " Tliy words Avere found, and I did eat them, and thy words were unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart." A pious soul goes to the word as to a feast, or as one would go with delight to hear music. Sleidan reports, that the Protestants of France had a chin'ch tliey called Paradise, because, when they were in the house of God, thev thought them- selves in paradise ; the saints flock as doves to the windows of God's house, Isa. Ix. 8., " Who are these that fly as doves to their windows ?" Not that a truly regenerate person is always in the same cheerful temper of obedience ; he may sometimes find an in- disposition and weariness of soul ; but his weariness is his burden, — he is weary of his weariness, — he prays, weeps, useth all means to regain that alacrity and freedom in' God's service, that he was wont to have, — this is to do God's will acceptably, when we do it willingly, — it is this crowns all our services, — delight in duty is better than duty. The musician is not commended for playing long, but well ; it is not how much we do, but how much we love, Ps. cxix. 97., " O how love I thy law !" Love is as musk among linen, that perfumes it; love perfumes obedience, and makes it go up to heaven at incense. This is doing God's will as the an- gels in heaven do it ; they are ravished with delight w})ile they are praising God, therefore the angels are said to have harps in their hands. Rev. xv. 2., as a sign of their cheer- fulness in God's service.
5. We do God's will as the angels in hea- ven, when we do God's will fervently, — sine rcmissione. Rom. xii. II., "Fervent
in spirit, serving the Lord :" a metaphor \ but in gold : God will have the best we from water when it seethes and boils over ; have, — golden services. 80 our affections should boil over in zeal | 7. We do God's will as the angels in hea- and fervency. The angels serve God with ven, when we do it readily, and swiftly, fervour and intenseness. The angels are The angels do not dispute or reason the
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