for them, they could not doubt God's right to every return which it was in their power to make. How much stronger his claim is to our obedience, must be obvious to every considerate mind. Think of yourselves, Brethren, as redeemed from death and hell by the blood of God's only dear Son, and then say whether you are not bound to love and serve him with your whole hearts. Think how mercifully God has borne with your transgressions hitherto, (for you have been a stiff-necked people, even as Israel of old were :) think how your every want is still supplied, not only for the body, as theirs was, but for the soul, by the bread of life sent down from heaven, and by water from Christ Jesus, the stricken rock : think how mercifully God has committed you to the guidance of his own Son ; and to what a glorious land he is leading you, even " a land flow- ing with milk and honey." Can you, in the contemplation of these things, doubt whether the entire surrender of your souls to God be " a reasonable service e?" Or rather say, whether the smallest wash to reduce or limit His claims would not be the most unreasonable thing that could enter into your minds ?]
But the excellency of them also is equally ap- parent—
[Every command of God is given us "for our good.'" There is not one which has not a direct tendency .to make us happy. If they require us to subdue and mortify our indwelling cor- ruptions, what is tins, but to heal the diseases of our souls, and to restore us to the image of our God ? If they require us to love and serve our God, what is this, but to bring us, so far as they are obeyed, to a foretaste of our heavenly inherit- ance ? Who ever found an evil issuing out of a conformity to God's holy will ? If it has brought a cross upon us, who has not found that very cross an occasion and a ground of more exalted joy ? Were present happiness alone consulted, there is nothing in the universe that can advance it like the service of our God : but, if the future state be considered, and the augmented weight of glory which shall be accorded to us in pro- portion to our services, we may well say, that every command of God is good, and that " in keeping his commandments there is great reward."]
Let me now address you, brethren, in a way,
1 . Of faithful reproof —
[You all profess yourselves to be the "Israel" of God; and are convinced that your obligations to Jehovah are as much superior to those of the Jews, as your redemption and your destination are superior to theirs. But how have you
e Rom. xii. 1.