responsible to God: and, if they shrink not from using it, because the exercise of it would subject them to the re- proaches of the ungodly, let them bear in mind, that they shall receive commendations from their God ; and that, by every friend of piety and of order, they will be reckoned, like Phinehas, the truest patriots of their day. Ministers also, in their re- spective spheres, should use influence for the suppression of iniquity; boldly rebuking it in public, and using every lawful method of discountenancing it in private. Persons too in every sphere of life should co-operate for the same benevolent pur- pose; assured that, by obstructing the progress of sin, they approve themselves the best friends both of God and man.]
3. The greatness of our obligations to the Lord Jesus Christ —
[If Phinehas was so great a benefactor to his country, and deserved the thanks of all, for sacrificing the lives of two licen- tious profligates, what thanks are due to the Lord Jesus Christ, who offered his own life a sacrifice for us! Here was love un- searchable, and zeal unparalleled. To him must every human being confess his obligations : to him must every one that shall finally be saved, render everlasting praise and honour. O let every one throughout the camp of Israel behold his Benefactor: let every one contemplate Jesus as appeasing the wrath of God, and effecting our reconciliation with him: and, inasmuch as " for his obedience unto death God hath highly exalted him, and given him a name above every name," let every heart acknowledge him ; let every knee bow to him ; and every tongue be occupied in ascribing glory to his name.]