IV. Their impending fate —
Saul was rejected of his God —
[He might have urged in his behalf, that the command which had been given him, left him a discretion to exercise mercy : and, at all events, his desire had been to honour God with sacrifices which must otherwise have been withheld. But the commands of God leave nothing to our discretion. We are not at liberty to restrict any one of them ; but are bound to execute them all in their full extent. And as Saul, in deviating from God's command, had, in fact, " rejected the word of the Lord, God, in righteous indignation, rejected him^."]
And what better fate awaits us who limit the commands of God?
<J ver. 21, 24. e yer. 21, 24. f vcr. 23.
[It is in vain for us to dispute against the commands of God, as too strict, or too difficult. We are not called to dispute, but to obey. Nor is it a partial obedience that will suffice: nor are we at liberty to commute obedience for sacrifice. Nothing is left to us, but to obey: and, if we would please the Lord, we must "follow him fully:" our obedience must be entire and mireserved : and, if it be not unreserved, we are guilty of direct and positive " rebellion, which is de- clared by God himself to be, in his sight, even as idolatry:" for, whatever we may think to the contrary, there is little to choose between disobedience to the true God, and obedience to a false one^.
I declare, then, to all of you, my Brethren, that, to what- ever privileges you have been exalted by God himself, you will have reason to curse the day wherein you ever listened to man in opposition to God, or withheld from God the entire obedience of your souls. By whatever excuses you may pal- liate such conduct, I declare to you, before God, that it is rebellion against him, and that, as rebels, he will reject you in the day of judgment,]
As an IMPROVEMENT of this subject, there is one thing only which I would say ; and that is. Take the Holy Scriptures, hi every thing, for your guide —
[Call not any thing " A hard saying'\" You may not be able to understand the reasons of God's commands, or to appreciate his reasons aright, if they were stated to you. Doubtless, to study their real import is your duty : but when that is once ascertained, you have nothing to do but to obey them. You are not to sit in judgment upon them, or to lovver their demands. If the whole world urge you to depart from them, you are in no wise to comply. For God you are to live : and, if need be, for God you are to die. It is on these terms alone that you can ever be acknowledged as Christ's disciples'. If, then, " you have been called to God's kingdom and glory," see that you " walk worthy of your high calling." " Be faithful vmto death, and God will give you the crown of life."]
g ver. 23. '> John vi. 60. i Matt. x. 38, 39.