duly followed, will suffice to direct our conduct ; yet we must have a very considerable knowledge of the Scriptures, and a well-regulated mind, in order to ascertain clearly the will of God. It not unfrequently happens that one duty seems to interfere with another ; as when a work of mercy calls for a violation of the Sabbath, or a command of an earthly parent militates against the command of God. In the former case we are to " prefer mercy before sacrifice :" in the latter, we must " obey God rather than man :" but how to discriminate aright at all times, is very difficult : and a well-intentioned person may grievously err, if he do not bring his actions to the touch- stone of God's word, and determine, through grace, to regulate them according to that standard a.]
2. The manner —
[It is by no means sufficient that the matter of our actions be right, for they may be so debased by the manner of per- forming them, as to be rendered hateful in the sight of God. Prayer is a duty plainly enjoined : but if it be cold and formal, or offered with an unbelieving heart, it will find no acceptance with God: in vain do persons worship God in such a manner b ; they shall receive nothing at his hands c. Nothing could have been more pleasing to God than David's attempt to bring up the ark to Mount Zion, after it had been at least fifty years in a state of obscurity : but David was inattentive to the manner in which God had appointed the ark to be carried ; he put it on a new cart, instead of ordering it to be borne upon the shoulders of the Levites ; and therefore God manifested his displeasure against him, and against all the people, by striking Uzza dead upon the spot for presuming to touch the arkd. We ourselves are not satisfied to have our commands obeyed, unless a due attention be paid also to the manner of executing our will ; much less therefore will God be pleased, if we be not as studious to " serve him acceptably," as to serve him at all.]
3. The end —
[Our end or motive in acting determines more than any thing the quality of our actions. Not that a good end will sanctify a bad action ; but a bad end will vitiate every action connected with it. If, for instance, in our religious services we seek the applause of men, we must expect no reward from God : the gratification of our pride and vanity is all the reward that such polluted services can obtain e. In the account which is given us of Jehu, we find that the very same action, which was rewarded on account of its outward conformity with God's
a Acts xxvi. 9 — 11. Gal. ii. 13. and John xvi. 2.
b Matt. xv. 7—9. c jam. i. (j, 7. d 1 Chron. xv. 13.
e Matt. vi. 1—5, lo.