fully with the exhortation of the text, praise should be our one employment from day to day, and the very element in which we Uve. So far as our imperfect state will admit of it, the dispositions and habits of the heavenly hosts should be in such constant exercise with us, that earth should be the very fore- taste of heaven itself.]
2. With all due intelligence — [Every duty should be performed in a wise and intelligent manner. " Whether we pray or sing, it should be with the spirit and with the understanding also^." Without fervour, our sacri- fice would be lame; and without understanding, blind: and God could never be pleased with such offerings as these ^. The heart and mind must go together, to make our offering a reasonable service. In smging praises therefore to our ascended Saviour, we should distinctly view him, not as a private person, but in his public capacity as our Head and Representative. We should have respect to him also as our Advocate and Inter- cessor, who is " living on purpose to make intercession for us." We should moreover consider him as " our forerunner," who is " gone before, to prepare a place for us, and will shortly come again to take us to himself, that where he is we may be also." These are the truths which the occasion suggests, and these the thoughts which should infuse the utmost possible fervour into our devotions. Whilst therefore a fire burns in our bosoms, let us be sure that it be taken from the altar of our God, and that the sacrifice we present to him be that of an intelhgent, as well as of a devout, worshipper.] In the review of this subject we cannot but see,
1 . The blessedness of real piety —
[I put the question to any living man ; Can a person be otherwise than happy, that lives in the state inculcated in my text? ]
2. How little there is of true piety upon earth — [Take this frame of mind as the true test of piety, and
you will find as much of piety amongst the very beasts, as amongst the world at large, yea, and more too : for " the ox does know his owner, and the very ass his master's crib ; whilst God's professing people neither know nor consider their heavenly Benefactor."
And how lamentably do even good men live below their privileges ! Let the very best amongst us compare his ex- perience with the frame that is here inculcated, and he must confess he has abundant reason to blush and be ashamed. Dear Brethren, let us awake to our duty, and never rest till we have attained such a measure of habitual and intelligent devotion, as shall be an earnest and foretaste of the felicity of heaven.] y 1 Cor. xiv. 15. z Mai. i. 8.
581.]