overt act committed, they should instantly give information against him, and with their own hands put him to death d. But here was the overt act visible to all ; and the civil magis- trate was present to sanction their conduct : and therefore they were bound to obey the order given them, and to execute the laws with impartial severity. Hence their conduct is marked in our text as an act of obedience to God, and a " vin- dication of the quarrel of his covenant e."]
Nor is it by any means unconnected with our duty as Christians —
[Certainly we have nothing to do with the judgment of zeal, nor any right to take the execution of the laws into our own hands. But we should be zealous for the honour of God ; and we ought, in subserviency to the laws, to exert ourselves for the suppression of open impiety and profaneness. More particularly are we bound to serve God ourselves, and to account all personal sacrifices as unworthy of a thought in com- parison of our duty to him. Our Lord tells us, not only that "if we love father or mother more than him, we are not wor- thy of him ;" but that we must " hate father and mother, yea, and our own lives also, if we would be his disciples f." Of course this must not be understood 'positively ; (for the Gospel inspires nothing but love, and that even to our bitterest ene- mies :) but it must be taken comparatively ; and be explained as intimating, that we should be so firm and decided in our obedience to him as to be altogether unmoved by the affection or menaces of our dearest friends, or even by the apprehen- sions of the most cruel death. Our Lord himself has set us an example in this respect : for, when some persons told him that his " mother and his brethren were standing without, and desirous to speak with him, he replied, Who is my mother ? and who are my brethren ? Whosoever shall do the will of my Father, the same is my brother and sister and mother g." Thus must love to the Creator be the predominant affection in our hearts ; and all inferior considerations must be subordinated to his glory.]
From the commendation given them we proceed to notice,
II. Their reward —
This may be considered as of two kinds ; 1. Official honour — [The Urim and Thummim were in some way united to the
d Deut. xiii. 6 — 10. e Lev. xxvi. 25. with the text.
f Matt. x. 37. and Luke xiv. 26. e Matt. xii. 47 — 50.