every feature of the human heart. It never flatters, never dis- torts ; but shews, to every one who will look into it, precisely what character he bears in the sight of the heart-searching God. An insincere person does not like it ; he turns away from it : he will not come to it, because it presents to his view his own deformities. But the true Christian loves it on this very ac- count. He desires to know the worst of himself. He sees that it will be to no purpose for him to deceive his own soul : he is assured that God will not form his estimate according to the partial views which he himself may take : and therefore he desires to see himself just as God sees him. True it is, that he never looks into this glass without finding deeper and deeper
cause for humiliation but still he loves it ; yea, he loves
it on this very account ; even as David did, when he said, " Thy word is very pure ; therefore thy servant loveth it."]
2. As a revelation of mercy —
[In this view it is particularly delightful to him. The plan of salvation which it unfolds is so grand, so wonderful, so suit- able in all its parts, and so sufficient for all his necessities, that
he can never sufficiently admire it It is his meditation,
and his song, all the day. The Scripture represents the Gospel as " a feast of fat things, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined :" and such indeed he finds it to his soul. In comparison of it, and of the knowledge of it, he " counts all things in the universe but dross and dung " ]
3. As a rule of life —
[From the moment of his having found the way of salvation by a crucified Redeemer, the one desire of his soul has been to " live to Him who died for us and rose again." " "What wilt thou have me to do ? " has been his constant inquiry at the throne of grace : and he delights exceedingly in this word as a sure directory under every situation and circumstance of life. From day to day he reads it with this particular view, that he may know " how to walk and to please God." He perceives that men are always endeavouring to lower the requisitions of this law : but he strives rather to have his attainments raised to that perfect standard. Not one of all its commandments is regarded by him as grievous. Nothing is grievous, but his own want of conformity to them. Could he have his heart's desire, it would be to " walk in all things as Christ walked," and to " stand perfect and complete in all the will of God" ]
In proportion as this character exists in any, is, II. The blessedness of those in whom it is found —
This, as might well be expected, is exceeding great. We notice it in two respects ;