discourage the fullest confidence in God. It is our privilege, doubtless, to trace all our mercies up to his everlasting love, and to view them all as secured to us by covenant and by oathk : but then it is no less our privilege to fulfil God's will, and to resemble the holy angels, of whom it is said, that " they do his commandments, hearkening to the voice of his word." Beware then lest ye ever be led off from this ground. Rejoice in the Lord Jesus Christ, as the propitiation for your sins, as your all-prevailing Advocate, and as your living Head : but, whilst you believe in him, and love him, and rejoice in him, let your faith, and love, and joy, stimulate you to a holy and unreserved obe- dience. If he has " set your heart at liberty," let the effect be to " make you run with more enlargement the way of his commandments."
Lastly, we may derive from our text a direction to those who would adorn the Gospel. " Esteem all God's precepts to be right, and hate every false way." If God has enjoined any thing, do not ask whether the world approves of it ; nor, if he have forbidden any thing, inquire of the world, whether you shall abstain from it. The world are as inadequate judges of Christian morality, as they are of Christian prin- ciples : both the one and the other are " foolishness to the natural man." Of all the sublimer precepts, whether evangelical or moral, they are ready to say, " This is a hard saying, who can hear it 1" But let no true Christian " consult with flesh and blood." Let him rather say with David, " Away from me ye wicked : I will keep the commandments of my God." Does God call you to " live no longer to yourselves, but unto him?" or, Does the Lord Jesus Christ bid you " follow him without the camp, bearing his re- proach ;" and readily to " lay down your lives for his sake ?" Let " not these commandments be grievous in your eyes ;" but rather " rejoice if you are counted worthy to suffer for his sake." If at any time you be urged to turn aside from the path of duty, do not let the maxims or habits of the world bias you one
k II el>. vi. 17, 18.