This we say is the true and proper tendency of the doctrine in our text. The Jews, if they had justly appreciated the favours vouchsafed to them, would have been the holiest of all people upon earth : and so will Christians be, if once they be sensible of the obligations conferred upon them by God's electing and redeeming love.]
Improvement —
1. Let those who are zealous about duties, not be forgetful of their obligations —
[It is frequently found that persons altogether hostile to all the doctrines of grace, profess a great regard for the interests of morality. I stop not at present to inquire how far their professions are realized in practice : all I intend, is, simply to suggest, that high and holy affections are necessary to all acceptable obedience ; and that those affections can only be excited in us by a sense of our obligations to God. If we attempt to lessen those obligations, we weaken and paralyse our own exertions. If we have been forgiven much, we shall love much: if we have received much, we shall return the more. If then it be only for the sake of that morality about winch you profess so much concern, we would say to the moralist, Search into the mysteries of sovereign grace, and of redeeming love. If without the knowledge of them you may walk to a certain degree uprightly, you can never soar into the regions of love and peace and joy : your obedience will be rather that of a servant, than a son ; and you will never acquire that delight in God, which is the duty and privilege of the believing soul.]