they are all " holy, and just, and good :" and he loves them as perfective of his nature, and conducive to his happiness.
He loves them, I say, as 'perfective of his nature. For what is holiness, but a conformity to the Divine image, as sin is to the image of the devil ? It was by transgression that man lost that resemblance to the Deity which was stamped upon him at his first crea- tion ; and it is by the new-creating influence of the Spirit quickening him to a course of holy obedience, that this resemblance is gradually restored. Con- scious of this, he pants after holiness, desiring to " be changed into his Redeemer's image from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord."
Nor does he love them less as conducive to his hap- piness: for sin and misery are inseparable, as holiness also and true happiness are. What is the language of every precept in the Decalogue ? It is this : ' Be holy, and be happy.' Of this he is convinced ; and he finds, by daily experience, that " in keeping God's commandments there is great reward," and that "Wisdom's ways are indeed ways of pleasantness and peace."
At the same time, " he hates every false way ;" every deviation from the perfect rule of righteousness is painful to him : he " hates it ;" and hates himself on account of it. As a touch, which would scarcely be felt in any other part of the body, will occasion the severest anguish to the eye, so those thoughts or feelings which would be altogether unnoticed by other men, inflict a wound on his conscience, and cause him to go mournfully before the Lord of Hosts. Ask him on such an occasion, What it is that has caused him thus to mourn and weep ? Is it that his God has required so much ? No : but that he himself has attained so little. He wants to " be sanctified wholly to the Lord, in body, soul, and spirit ;" and, could he accomplish the desire of his heart, he would " stand perfect and complete in all the will of God." This is the object of his highest ambition ; and, when he finds, that, notwithstanding all his efforts, he still