Now the genuine fruit of piety is as clearly exhi- bited in the words before us, as in any part of the Inspired Volume: and the passage is peculiarly worthy notice, because in the writer of it were combined the fullest conviction of the understanding, together with the strongest affections of the heart : in his judgment, *' he esteemed God's precepts to be right;" and in his heart, " he hated" every thing that was opposed to them.
May God of his infinite mercy inspire us with the same heavenly sentiments, whilst we consider these two things, — The Christian character as here delineated, and The light which it reflects upon the Gospel of Christ !
I. The Christian character as here delineated —
In the text is drawn a broad line of distinction between the Child of God, and every other person under heaven.
Christians are either nominal or real. Each class has gradations, from the highest to the lowest; but between the two classes there is an immense gulph, that separates them as far as the east is from the west. To ascertain to which of the two we belong, is of infinite importance; but self-love blinds our eyes, and renders the discovery of it extremely difficult. This Scripture however holds up, as it were, a mirrour before us; and, if we will look sted- fastly into it, we may discern with great precision what manner of persons we are.
The difference between the two classes is this : the nominal Christian, however eminent he may in appearance be, is partial in his regard for God's precepts"; but the true Christian approves and loves them all without exception''.
The nominal Christian, we say, is partial in his regard for God's precepts. He may esteem those which countenance his oiun particular party. The Papist, for instance, and the Protestant, will severally glory in those passages of Holy Writ which seem to justify their adherence to their respective modes of worship, and to afford them ground for believing that theirs is the more Scriptural and Apostolic Church. The
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* Mai. ii. 9. •• Ps. cxix. 6.