of Israel P." The proudest Pharisees would " bind the law of God upon their hands, and wear it as frontlets between their eyes :" but the godly alone fulfilled the true intent of that ordinance, by " laying up God's words in their heart and in their soul^." So now " He is not a Jew who is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh : but he is a Jew who is one inwardly : and circumcision is that of the heart ; in the spirit, and not in the letter ; whose praise is not of man, but of God""." In other words, he only is truly righteous, who can say with Paul, " I delight in the law of God after my inward man ;" and amidst all the temptations of the flesh, " with my mind I serve the law of God^"]
In connexion with their character, we are led to contemplate,
II. Their security —
'' None of their steps shall slide." Of this they may be assured : for a stability is, and shall be, given them, that shall preserve them amidst all temptations ; a stability arising,
1. Partly, from the very character which they possess —
[" The law of God being in their hearts," thei/ tvill not unnecessarily venture themselves in slippery places. How many fall a prey to the tempter by presuming upon their strength, when, like Joseph, they should rather have fled from the scene of temptation ! It is by going fearlessly to the utmost verge of what is lawful, that thousands perish*. The inquiry of a truly pious soul will be, not, " Is this thing lawful?" but, " Is it expedient also ?" and, if the place, or scene, or gratification be calculated, either in itself or in its circumstances, to ensnare his soul, he will keep at a distance from it : for, whilst he is praying daily to God, " Lead us not into temptation," he accounts it folly and impiety to rush unnecessarily into temp- tation of his own accord. This cautious deportment tends greatly to the preservation of the godly, and to " keep them from defiling their garments" in this polluted world".
Moreover, they are looking to this law to direct their steps. They " have hid it within their hearts, on purpose that they may not sin against God'' :" but to what purpose have they deposited it there, if they do not consult it? or " wherewith shall they cleanse their way, but by taking heed thereto
P Rom. ix. 6. 1 Dent. xi. 18.
"^ Rom. ii. 28, 29. ^ Rom. vii. 22, 25.
t ' Licitis perimus omnes^ has long been a proverb in the Church.
" Rev. iii. 4. ^ Ps. cxix. 11.