Well, then, nothing remains but practising duties that are pressed upon you on the first opportunity. Not he that heareth, understandeth, loveth, delighteth, commendeth, but 'he that keepeth mstvnction,' it is, ' is in the way of life,' Prov. x. 17. He that submitteth himself to be guided by God's word, he is going the right way to eternal life and iiappiness. But to set home this point more fully, I shall inquire —
1. What kind of observance we must address ourselves unto.
2. Why we must thus lift up our hands, or address ourselves to our duty.
First, How, for the manner, must we lift up our hands, or what doing is necessary ?
1. It must be universal: 'Herod did many things,' Mark vi. 20. Partial reformation in outward things will not serve the turn. In sundry particulars men may yield to the word of God, but in others deny their obedience ; as in some cheap observances, or such duties as cross not our lusts ; but David would lift up his hands to the com- mandments, without distinction and limitation. Many, this they will do, and that they will not do ; and so do not obey God's will, but l^eir own : Ps. cxix. 6, ' Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments ; ' Luke i. 6, ' And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.'
2. This doing must be serious and diligent. Every Christian must bend the powers of his soul, and lay out the first of his care and labour, in his obedience unto God: Phil. ii. 12, 'Work out your salva- tion with fear and trembling : ' this is not a wgrk to be done by the bye ; but with the greatest care and solicitude.
3. This must be our settled and our ordinary practice. To lift up our hands now and then is not enough, to do a good thing once, or rarely. No ; we must make religion our business. The lifting of the hands to God's commandments is not a thing done accidentally, occasionally, or in a fit of zeal, but our trade and course of life : Acts xxiv. 16, ' I exercise myself in this, to have a conscience void of offence both towards God and men, ev tovto) aaKco. This was the employ- ment of his life.
4. We must persevere or continue with patience in well-doing, not- withstanding discouragements : Heb. xii. 12, ' Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees.' There must be no fainting, whatever discouragements happen ; as there was a great deal of do to hold up Moses's hands in Israel's conflict with Amalek :
YeR. 48.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 15
Exod. xvii. 11, 12, ' As long as he held up the rod of God, Israel pre- vailed ; but Moses' hands were heavy ; ' a sign of many infirmities, not able long to endure in spiritual exercise ; for though ' the spirit he willing, yet the flesh is weak.' But faith should still hold up our hands.
5. This lifting up the hands, or alacrious diligence, should flow from a right principle, and that is faith and love.
[1.] Faith, or a sound persuasion of God's love to us in Christ, that keepeth us doing : Eom. xii. 1, ' I beseech you, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service;' and Titus ii. 11, 12, 'The grace of God, that bringeth salvation, hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.' Thankfulness to God is the great principle of gospel obedience.
[2.] Love : ' Thy commandments, which I have loved ; ' 2 Cor, v. 14, ' The love of Christ constraineth us.' Nothing holdeth up the hands in a constant obedience to God and performance of his will so much as a thorough love to God and his ways. Faith begets love, and love obedience. These are the true principles of all Christian actions.
G. This lifting up of the hands imports a right end. Commanded work must be done to commanded ends, else we lift up our hands to our own work. Now, the true end is the glory of God: 1 Cor. x. 31, ' Whether, therefore, ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God;' and Phil. i. 11, 'Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Christ Jesus, unto the glory and praise of God.' God's glory must be our main scope, not any by-respect of our own. Well, then, this is lifting up our hands to the commandments of God, not doing one good work, but all ; and this with a serious diligence, in our ordinary practice, continuing therein with patience, whatever oppositions we meet with ; and this out of faith, or a sincere belief of the gospel, and fervent love, and an unfeigned respect to God's glory.
Secondly, Why such a lifting up the har-ds, or serious addressing ourselves to our duty, is necessary ? My answer shall be given in a fourfold respect — God, ordinances, graces, and the Christian, who is to give an account of himself unto God.