delight to do their Father's wilF. They account the enjoy- ment of his favour to be their highest happiness s.]
They serve God — [Their rehgion does not consist in mere inefficacious feel- ings. They make it appear to the world that they are God's servants. They perform even their civil and social duties with a reference tohini^. They do everything with a view to his glory'.]
They are despised indeed by the world, but ap- proved by their God —
This will appear while we,
II. Declare the peculiar honour conferred upon them — God has testified, in the strongest terms, his ap- probation of the godly. He has moreover " set them apart," as distinct from those that perish —
This he did secretly in his eternal purpose —
[His regard for them did not commence after they became godly. Their godliness is the fruit and not the cause of his love''. He loved them, and set his heart upon them, from eternity ^]
He did it also openly, when he called them by his grace —
[These two periods of their separation are mentioned by St. Paul"\ In conversion, God sets apart sinners for himself. He inclines and enables them to come out from the world". He causes them to devote themselves entirely to his service".]
He has set them apart too " for himself" —
[He makes their souls his own habitation '*. He sheds abroad his love in their hearts by his Holy Spirit. He pre- serves them as li^^ng monviments of his power and grace. He regards them as his own peculiar treasure i.]
This being a point wherein all are deeply interested, we shall,
HI. Commend the subject to your solemn attention — This is not a matter of doubtful disputation —
*■ Rom. vii. 22. s Ps. iv. 6, 7.
^ Rom. xiii. 5, 6. i 1 Cor. x. 31.
^ Jer. xxxi. 3. See also 2 Tim. i. 9. and Rom. viii. 29, 30.
' Eph. i, 4. m Gal. i. 15. " 2 Cor. vi. 17, 18.
" 1 Pet. ii. 9. P 2 Cor. vi. 16. q Ps. cxxxv. 4.