(3.) They were obligations to duty, and that worship and obedience which we owe to God ; for a man by ofi'ering a beast did in eflfect devote himself and all his power and strength to God ; the worshipper was to consecrate himself wholly to his service. So Rom. xii. 1, ' I be- seech you by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. This was the interpretation of the rites of the law, and the reasonable part of that worship. And are not we to give up ourselves to God, with a sincere firm resolution of new obedience ? Thus for our humi- liation the sacrifices revealed our misery ; for our consolation they pro- pounded the remedy of grace ; and in order to our sanctification they taught us gratitude and new obedience. But their chief and first re- lation was to Christ, without whom our misery had been in vain dis- covered, and holiness of life to little purpose required, for we have all from him.
Use. To press you to enter into covenant with God, especially being encouraged thereunto by the atonement and reconciliation made by Christ. You have no benefit by it till you personally enter into the bond of it. It is true, God being. pacified by Christ, offereth pardon and acceptance on the conditions of the gospel, but we do not actually partake of the benefit till we perform those conditions. Though the price be paid by Christ, accepted by the Father, yet we have not an actual interest, through our own default, for not accepting God's cove- nant. The covenant of nature lieth upon us whether we consent or no, because that is a law, but this is a privilege ; and therefore we must man by man make out our title and claim. What shall we do ?
1. Bless God for this grace, that when man had irreparably broken the first covenant, and fallen from his state of life, and all the world
SERMON UPON PSALM L. 5. 83
left under guilt and a curse: Eom. iii. 19, 'All the world is become guilty before God ; ' that God took occasion by this misery to open a door of hope to us by Christ : 2 Cor. v. 19, ' God was in Christ, recon- ciling the world unto himself ; ' and hath set up a new court of righteousness and life, where sinners may appear, where grace taketh the throne, and the judge is Christ, and the rule of proceeding is the gospel, and upon faith and sincere obedience we may be accepted. Oh ! let us run for refuge to this court, take sanctuary at this grace : Heb. vi. 18, ' Who have fled for refuge, to lay hold upon the hope set before us.' The Lord standeth with arms open to receive us, if we will but acknowledge our iniquities : Jer. iii. 13, ' Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God ; ' 1 John i. 9, ' If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness ; ' judge and condemn ourselves for them : 1 Cor. xi. 31, ' If we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.' With penitent and contrite hearts ; the self- condemning sinner is acquitted : Luke xviii. 13, 14, ' The publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes to heaven, but smote on his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other : for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.'
2. Own Christ as the Son of God, and the Kedeemer of the world, and the fountain of your life and peace ; for till we own the mediator of the covenant, we have not the benefit of the covenant. Though his blood be shed, it is not sprinkled on us : Heb. xii. 24, ' And to Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than the blood of Abel.' Nor can it be pleaded by us with any comfort and satisfaction. Therefore you must own him : John xx. 28, ' My Lord and my God.' At least prize and esteem him : Phil. iii. 8, ' I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.' And use him to the ends for which God hath appointed him: John i. 16, 'Of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace;' and 1 Cor. i. 30, 'But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wi§dom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.' Let him be to you what God hath appointed him to be, and do for you what God hath appointed him to do for poor sinners : Micah v. 5, ' This man shall be the peace ; ' that is, in him alone will we seek it ; this is the blood of the covenant.
3. Devote yourselves to God, to serve him and please him : Isa. xliv. 5, ' One shall say, I am the Lord's; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob ; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord, and surname himself by the name of Israel ; ' and Ezek. xvi. 8, ' I entered into a covenant with thee, and thou beeamest mine.' Now this must be done sincerely ; not only with a moral sincerity not to dissemble, but with a supernatural sincerity : Deut, v. 29, ' Oh ! that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always.' It is done to God, who will not be mocked. And every consecration implieth an execration. But for the present, see no lust be reserved. If you live, or resolve to live, in any