Let us therefore accept the kingdom. But beware of your peculiar danger, which is self-righteous pride, worldliness, and the evil heart of unbelief. Rather let us seek and get that grace from God which will make our royal state a humble service of worshipping priests.[384] The grace which the Apostle exhorts his reader to possess is much more than thankfulness. It includes all that Christianity bestows to counteract and vanquish the special dangers of self-righteousness. Such priestly service will be well-pleasing to God. Offer it with pious resignation to His sovereign will, with awe in the presence of His holiness. For, whilst our God proclaims forgiveness from the mercy-seat as the worshippers stand before it, He is _also_ a consuming fire. Upon the mercy-seat itself rests the Shechinah.
[361] Chap. iv. 16.
[362] Chap. vi. 20.
[363] Chap. x. 19.
[364] Phil. i. 23.
[365] Rev. xxi. 10.
[366] John xiv. 3.
[367] Gen. vi. 7.
[368] Gen. ix. 9, 10.
[369] Deut. ix. 16, 19.
[370] Reading =kai myriasin, angelôn panêgyrei, kai ekklêsia prôtotokôn= (xii. 22, 23). This disconnected use of =myrias= is amply justified by Deut. xxxiii. 2, Dan. vii. 10, and Jude 14. Besides, =panêgyris= is precisely the word to describe the assemblage of angels and distinguish them from the Church.
[371] =kritê theô pantôn=.
[372] Chap. viii. 10.
[373] =teteleiômenôn=.
[374] Chap. xi. 40.
[375] Deut. v. 27, 28.
[376] =paraitêsamenoi= (xii. 25).
[377] Chap. ii. 3.
[378] "The Bible finds me," said Coleridge.
[379] Exod. xix. 18. In his citation of this passage our author forsakes the Septuagint, which has "And all the people were greatly amazed."
[380] Haggai ii. 6, 7.
[381] 2 Pet. iii. 10.
[382] Chap. xii. 28.
[383] Rev. iii. 21.
[384] =latreuômen= (xii. 28).