bondage, and invested with all the blessings of an eternal inheritance " From all other lords that have had do- minion over us," we should now turn to serve the Lord, even that adorable Saviour who has made us free ; yea, we should " serve him with a willing heart b," " coming into his presence," and walking constantly before him, as his redeemed people. Our sighs and tears should all be put away ; and we should " sing unto the Lord a new song, as full of joy, for the mar- vellous things which he has donec." I mean not to say, that there should be no times for humiliation and contrition ; for such seasons will be needed, even to our dying hour. But the more abiding frame of our minds should be joy ; as it is said, " Rejoice evermore: " " Rejoice in the Lord alway ; and again I say, Rejoice."]
We may next observe, II. The grounds of this duty stated —
[The Lord whom we serve is no other than Jehovah, the only true God. Yes, though in his human nature he has died for us, in his divine nature he is the Most High over all, " God blessed for ever." Prophets and Apostles bear ample testi- mony to thisd: " Know it," therefore ; and let it be treasured
up in your minds as a ground of unutterable joy And,
whilst you contemplate his excellency, remember especially your obligations to him : " It is He who hath made us, and not we ourselves." As creatures merely, it is unnecessary to say we have not made ourselves. It is in reference to our new creation, as the people of God, that these words must be under- stood ; and in this sense they contain a most important truth. We suppose that you are become the people of God, and the sheep of his pasture. But who sought you out in your wan- derings ? Who brought you home to the fold of Christ ? Who feeds you yet daily in green pastures ? Who protects you from all your enemies ? Who is the one source of all that you en- joy ? Can it in any measure be ascribed to yourselves? Have you wrought it by any power of your own ? or have you me- rited that it should be wrought for you ? No : " He that hath wrought you to this self-same thing is God : and he has done it, not for your righteousness sake, but for the glory of his own great name." It is " He who has made you to differ" from those who are yet far off from him; and "you have nothing, which you have not received" as a free gift from hime.
Say, then, whether you have not reason to rejoice, and to " serve your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart f."]
As we proceed in the psalm, we find,
b 1 Chron. xxviii. 9. c Ps. xcviii. 1.
d Isai. xlv. 21, 22. Rom. ix. 5. e 1 Cor. iv. 7.
f Deut. xxviii. 47.