Son ; and by the very name we bear, we profess our- selves the followers of Christ, and the servants of the living God. Our duty, then, is " to serve our God," and to serve him in the very way prescribed in our text. We must serve him,
1. With reverential fear —
[Never for a moment must we forget that we are sinners, deserving of God's wrath and indignation. The circumstance of our having been forgiven by him, so far from removing all occasion for reverential fear, is rather a reason for the augmen- tation of it. We should " lothe ourselves the more because our God is pacified towards usb;" for his very mercy shews how basely we have acted, in sinning against so good a God. If the glorified saints in heaven fall upon their faces before the throne, whilst yet they are singing praises to God and to the Lamb, much more should we on earth, who have yet so much corruption to mourn over, and so many evils to deplore. As for that kind of experience which some think to be warranted by their views of God's faithfulness to his promises, and which others derive from a conceit of their own sinless perfection, (I mean, that confidence, on the one hand, which is divested of fear ; and that familiarity, on the other hand, which is not tem- pered with contrition,) I cannot but regard it as most delusive and dangerous. It would be well, too, if some, who are not carried to these extremes of doctrinal error be not equally defective, through a captious abhorrence of all forms in external discipline and deportment. Many, from a zeal against what they are pleased to designate as Popish superstition, conduct themselves with sad irreverence in the worship of the Most High : and, if they feel not already a contempt for the Majesty of heaven, sure I am that they take the most effectual means to generate it in their hearts. Men, as sinners, should lie low in the dust before God : and though, as redeemed by the. Lord Jesus Christ, they are to put away slavish fear, they are never for a moment to divest themselves of that fear which is filial, but to " walk in the fear of the Lord all the day long."]
2. With ardent love —
[A filial fear will not in the least degree impede the exer- cise of love ; but will temper it with a becoming modesty and care. Blended with fear, it cannot possibly be too ardent. We should so " love our God, as to serve him with all our heart and with all our soul." In truth, without love, our obe- dience, however exact, would be nothing worth. Love is the crown of all. Even amongst men, it is love which constitutes
«> Ezek. xvi. 63. Y2