2. With profound reverence —
[" They fell upon their faces," in humble adoration of their God and King. This union of humility and joy was exactly what one would have wished to see in them : and happy would it be if some who talk most of spiritual joys would learn of them! Even the seraphim before the throne cover both their faces and their feet, from a consciousness of their unworthiness to behold or serve their God: and the glorified saints, from similar feelings, cast their crowns at his feet. How much more therefore should ive have our most exalted joys tempered with humility! This should never for one moment be forgotten :
f Judg. vi. 21, 22. and xiii. 19 — 22. e ver. G.
h See a similar instance, Ezra iii. 11. » Rom. viii. 31 — 39.
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our affiance, our love, our gratitude, our assurance, our very triumphs, will all prove vain, if they be not chastised and softened with humiliation and contrition. If we look at the most eminent saints, and mark the effects of God's condescen- sion to them, we find them invariably expressing their acknow- ledgments in a way of reverence and self-abasement k: and the more our devotion resembles theirs, the more acceptable it will be to the Supreme Being.]
Let us learn from this subject,
1. To lay no stress on transient affections—
[One would have thought that such a frame of mind as the people experienced at this time, must have issued well ; and that they would henceforth approve themselves faithful to their God. But these were mere transient emotions, which were forgotten as soon as any temptation arose to call forth their unsubdued corruptions. And thus it is with multitudes under the Gospel ; whom our Lord compares to seed sown upon stony ground, which springs up with great rapidity, but withers away as soon; because it has no deepness of earth to grow in, nor any roots to nourish it1. We ought indeed to have our affections called forth into exercise ; nor is that reli- gion of any value that does not engage them in its service : but that religion which is seated only in the affections, will never be of any long duration. The understanding must be in- formed, the judgment convinced, and the will determined, upon the subject of religion; and then the affections will operate to advantage; but, unless the whole heart and the ivhole soul be engaged in the work, it will come to nought.]
2. To be thankful for the advantages that we enjoy—
[We are apt to envy the Jews their exalted privileges, and to imagine, that, if we had enjoyed the same, we should have made a better improvement of them: but we see how fleeting and inefficacious are the impressions made by sensible mani- festations, when of that whole nation two only were admitted into the promised land. They " walked by sight:" but we are " to walk by faith." This is the principle which we are to cultivate : we must look by faith to the great sacrifice : we must see our great High-Priest entered within the veil for us, and coming forth to " bless us with all spiritual blessings." Then shall we find, that, in proportion as this principle is brought into exercise, it will work by love, and purify the heart, and overcome the world, and render us meet for our everlasting inheritance.]
k Gen. xviL 3. Exod. hi. G. > Matt. xhi. 5, 6, 20, 21.