III. In his habits —
The righteous man hves altogether to his God — [See him from day to day : his whole soul is humbled before God, tinder a sense of his own extreme unvvorthiness. Were you to behold him in his secret chamber, you would behold him more abased before his God for an evil thought or desire, than an ungodly man would be for the actual commission of the grossest sin. Oh ! the sighs and groans which he involun- tarily utters, under the load of that burthen, that body of sin and death, from which he cannot get free ! and many are the tears which he sheds in secret, because he cannot attain that perfect holiness which his soul panteth after.
With his humiliation he breathes forth in devoutest accents his prayers and praise. His prayers are no formal service, but a holy wrestling with God ; and his praises resemble those of Leaven, that are accompanied with the devoutest prostration of soul.
A life of self-de7iial, too, characterizes his daily walk. He desires to " crucify the flesh, with its affections and lusts ;" and it is his incessant labour to " mortify the whole body of sin." " Not a right hand, or right eye," would he willingly retain : he would gladly part with every thing, however dear to him, if only he may but enjoy the testimony of a good conscience, and approve himself faithful to the heart-searching God.
To p)repare for death and judgment is his one concern. He lives as on the borders of eternity. He knows not at what hour the bridegroom may arrive ; and therefore he " keeps his loins girt, and his lamp trimmed, that he may be ready to enter into the bride-chamber" with his beloved Lord.]
But how is it with the wicked in these respects ? [Are they from day to day humbling themselves in the Divine presence? Wliat cares and sorrows they have are altogether of a worldly nature. To " abhor themselves," like Job, and " to repent in dust and ashes," unless for some wick- edness that has exposed them to public hatred and contempt, is no part of their experience before God.
And what are their prayers and thanksgivings ? Nothing but a mere lip-service, in which their hearts are not at all engaged.
As for self-denial, they know little about it. Their whole life is a system of self-indulgence. They may not run into gross sins on account of their regard for their character amongst men; but they pursue with unabated ardour those earthly vanities on which their hearts are set. Pleasure, or riches, or honour, occupy all their thoughts, and stimulate all their exertions. They live altogether for themselves, and not for God ; for the body, and not for the soul ; for time, and not for eternity.
1^0 Jr'HUVEKBS, XII. ^o. [779.
Surely the further we compare the characters, the more will the superiority of the righteous appear.]
It remains that we yet further contemplate the righteous,
IV. In his end —
How blessed this will be, no words can adequately describe !
[Were you present with him in his dying hour, and God were to open your eyes, you would see angels attendant on him, to bear upon their wings his departhig spirit into Abra- ham's bosom. Could you follow him, and witness his reception by the Most High God, what plaudits would you hear ! " Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thovi into the joy of thy Lord ! " How would you, then, behold him graced with a crown of gold, seated upon a throne, invested with a kingdom, and shining forth with a glory that would eclipse the noon-day sun ! To all eternity will he then live, in the immediate fruition of his God, holy as God himself is holy ; and happy, according to his capacity, as God himself is happy.]
Alas ! alas ! here all comparison must for ever cease —
[The wicked, unhappy creatures ! are dragged into the presence of an angry God, in vain " calling upon rocks and mountains to cover them from his wrath." From him they hear that terrific sentence, " Depart accursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels ! " and into that fire are they cast, even " that lake that burnetii with fire and brim- stone," from whence " the smoke of their torment will ascend for ever and ever." But this is too painful to reflect upon. O that the very mention of it may suffice to confirm the assertion in my text, and to convince you all wherein alone true excel- lency can be found !]