2. Of willing service^ — -
[The Jews were, by the very covenant they had entered into at their circumcision, bound to consider themselves as " a holy people, a kingdom of priests :" and we also, by virtue of our baptismal vows, are " a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people"." The vows then made, it will be now our labour, and our delight, to perform. As the holy angels are " doing God's will, hearkening to the voice of his word," so shall we be studying to know his will, and be standing ready to execute it to the utmost of our power. It is astonishing what an alteration a principle of religion makes in the soul in this particular! The natural man lives only to himself: the spiritual man lives, or at least endeavours to live, wholly to the Lord ; to have no will, no way, no desire, no thought, but what will be pleasing and acceptable in his sight. What was the first ex- pression of piety in Paul, is the first of every converted soul ; *' Lord, what wilt thou have me to do ?" A view of him as our Master and our Father will insure thisP: and in proportion as religion increases in the soul, will be our endeavour to " glorify God with our bodies and our spirits, which are his^."]
3. Of humble dependence —
[Religion leads us to realize in our minds the thought of God's superintending care and effectual agency in our behalf. It does not bring us only to a sense of our obligations to him, but, if we may so speak, to a sense also of his obligations to us : for, if " we be his people, he also is our God :" and he, by virtue of his covenant and oath, is as much bound to employ all his glorious perfections for us, as we are to improve all our faculties and powers for him. What a blessed thought is this ! In what an exalted view does it place religion, which, if it calls us to duties, invests us also with the most glorious privileges ! It teaches us to " call upon him in every time of trouble," persuaded that " he will hear us," and give us ever increasing occasion to " glorify his name." This realizing sense of his presence, this assurance of his effectual interposition in every time of need, is the crown and summit of religion : it most of all glorifies God, and insures beyond a doubt the richest testimonies of his approbation.]
Let US LEARj^ then from hence,
1 . How to estimate aright our own character —
[It is not by negative virtues, no, nor by positive virtues of an external kind, that we are to judge of ourselves, but by the disposition of our minds towards God. We may be able to say with the Pharisee, " I am no extortioner, not unjust, no adul- terer ;" and may be able also to add with him, '' I fast twice in the week, and give tithes of all that I possess;" and yet be odious
characters " 1 Pet. ii. g. P Mai. i. 6. ' Rom. xii. 1. 1 Cor. vi. 20.