In proportion as this character exists in any, is,-
II. The blessedness of those in whom it is found — ■
This, as might well be expected, is exceeding: great. We notice it in two respects ;
1. The happiness of their minds — [*' Peace," in the Scripture use of the term, is not a mere absence of trouble, but an actual state of very sublime enjoyment. The person ** who loves God's law," in the way before described,
has.
has, as the very first-fruits of his faitli in Christ, a sense of re- concilialion w'ltli God : '• beinj^ justified by faith, he has peace with God : God has said to him, both by his vvord and :>pirit, " Peace, be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven thee." Com- bined with this he has the testimony of a good conscience. Though he sees nothing in himself but what furnishes him with grounds for humiliation and self-abasement, he cannot be insensible of the change that has been wrought in him : he dares not deny the work of God in his soul. He has the vvitness of the Holy Spirit, and the testimony of his own sphit, concurring to assure him, that " old things have passed away within him, and all things l>e- come new :" and though he cannot attain that measure of per- fection that he aspires after, he is conscious that if he could, he would be " pure as God is pure," and " perfect as God is per- fect." His daily and hourly employment brings in an abundance of peace to his soul. He is engaged in doing what he believes to be the will of God ; and he finds by sweet experience the truth of that saying, " The work of righteousness is peace, and the effect of righteousness is quietness and assurance for cver^." Nor has lie Ip'ss comfort in looking forward to the eternal state. He is not left to be a prey to fears and appiehensions about his future destiny. He knows in whom he has believed, and that his God and Saviour is able to keep him unto that great and awful day. He sees also, that he has in Christ a right and title to the hea- venly inheritance ; and that, " when the earthly house of this tabernacle shall be dissolved, he h^s a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." Hence, instead of dreading the approach of death, he looks forward to it as the consummation of all his wishes, and the completion of all his happiness ; and " desires to depart, that he may be with Clirist." Such is the peace which it fs the privilege of all who love the Gospel to en- joy, and which Christ himself has left them as a most invaluable legacy, saying, " Peace I leave with you ; my peace I give unto you r" and verily it is " a peace which passeth all understanding."]
2. The stability of their goings —
[Those who have not this divine principle within them, are liable to be tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine, and to be '^ moved from their stedfastness" by every temptation. But not so the true Christian, in whose heart the law of God is en- graved. He, though still assaulted with manifold temptations, ig enabled to withstand them all. At the very moment of the assault, he says, with Joseph, " How shall 1 do this wickedness,, and sin against God ?" And throughout the whole course of his life he experiences, on the whole, the t'rth of tVir pro- mise, " G kI is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will with the temptation also male
a way '' Isal, xxxii, 17. See also Ps. xix. 11. & Prov. iii. 17.
429.] BLESSEDNESS IN JLOVING GOD's LAW. 447
a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it*^." If he be tried with the most formidable persecutions, he does not, like the stouy-grouiul hearers, presently desist from following the Lord, but takes up his cross manfully, and makes up his mind to suffer the loss even of life itself, rather than dishonour and- deliv his Lordv Be his trials ever so numerous, he says concerning them, *' None of these things move me, neither count 1 my hie dear untx) me :" " I am ready, not to be bound only, but also to die, for the Lord's sake," Perhaps one of the greatest stumbling- blocks which lie in the way of the sincere, is the fait of mtiny ivho once appeared to rim well. 'I'hese in their fall sweep away,' as it were with their tail, many, very many, of the stars of hea-' ven'*. But those who truly love God's law are fixed as the sun in- the firmament''. They know that the truth and excellence of re- ligion does not depend un those who profess it : and therefore,- whatever be the conduct of others, he determines, through GodV assistance, to hold it fast even to the end. Thus does he sur- mount the obstacles which sin and Satan place in his way; and is finally " made more than CHDuqueror through Hinr that loved' him. "J