members d." In fact, there is not any one so ignorant, but that even his unenlightened reason prescribes to him a better path than he pursues. Let us look around, and see what are the dispositions and habits of all around us. Are not all " fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the minde," without affecting any thing higher than the gratification of their own corrupt appetites ? We are told, that " they who are after the flesh, do mind the things of the fleshf :" and we know, from infallible authority, that to whomsoever we yield ourselves servants to obey, his servants we are to whom we obeyg." In truth, even to our dying hour will our conflicts with this tyrannical master continue ; for even St. Paul himself com- plained, " O wretched man that I am ! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death h?"]
3. To the Devil—
[Well is Satan called " the god of this world : for he worketh in all the children of disobedience1." Ever since he prevailed over our first parents in Paradise, he has subjected the whole race of man to his dominion, " taking them in his snares, and leading them captive at his willk." That men deny the agency, and even the existence of this great adversary, is only a proof to what an extent they are " blinded by him1," and how effectually he has lulled them to sleep in his very arms"1. Doubtless it is very humiliating to think of ourselves as his vassals : but this is the true state of every unconverted man ; and even the saints themselves are not delivered from his influence, but through the mighty power of Jehovah him- self, given in answer to fervent and believing prayer".]
But the Psalmist's mention of liberty leads us more particularly to shew,
II. What sweet enjoyments they have of it who love and serve their God — David accounted the service of his God to be per- fect freedom. And so, indeed, it is : for the man whom " the truth of the Gospel has made free °," and who "looks to God's precepts" as his only rule of conduct, he, I say, walks,
1. According to the dictates of his own judgment —
[He has an insight into the mind and will of God, and clearly discerns that there is not, in all the Holy Scriptures,
d Rom. vii. 23. e Eph. ii. 3. f Rom. viii. 5.
s Rom. vi. 16. h Rom. vii. 24. • Eph. ii. 2.
k 2 Tim. ii. 26. I 2 Cor. iv. 4. m Luke xi. 21.
n Eph. vi. 12—18. Jam. iv. 7. Rom. xvi. 20. ° John viii. 32.