their hearts," and " fill them with a peace that passeth under- standing, and joy that is unspeakable," we can have no doubt but that religion's ways are ways of pleasantness," and that " in keeping God's commandments there is great reward." In proof of this, we need only see with what delight David con- templated the paying of his vows to God": and the more we resemble him in the ardour of his piety, the more shall we resemble him also in the sublimity of his joys.]
2. Our hope in death —
[What must be the prospects of an ungodly man in his dying hour ? When he looks back upon all his duties neg- lected, all his vows broken, and his eternal interests sacrificed to the things of time and sense, what must he think of the state to which he is hastening ? He may try to comfort him- self with his own vain delusions ; but he will feel a secret consciousness that he is building on the sand. Hence it is, that those who will not give themselves up to God, are so averse to hear of death and judgment: they know that, if the Scriptures be true, and God be such a God as he is there represented, they have nothing to expect but wrath and fiery indignation. It is the godly only who can feel composed and hajjpy in the near approach of death : they, when the time of their departure is at hand, can look forward with joy to " that crown of glory which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give them." " Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright ; for the end of that man is peace."]
3. Our welfare in eternity —
[" God will surely put a diflPerence between those who served him here, and those who served him not." Hear what Solomon says to us in the text : " When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it : for God hath no pleasure in fools." No indeed ; God can have no pleasure in those who never delighted themselves in him. How is it possible that he should receive to his bosom those who spent their whole lives in rebellion against him ? He shews his abhorrence of them by the very name whereby he designates them in the words before us : he calls them " fools," and will leave them to reap the bitter fruits of their folly. We may see how indignant God was against Zedekiah for violating a covenant whereby he had engaged to hold the kingdom of Judah as tributary to the king of Babylon". What indignation then must he feel against those who have violated all their engagements with him ! If the neglect of vows made by compulsion to an oppressive enemy be so criminal, what must be the neglect of vows voluntarily
m Ps. xxii. 25. and Ixvi. 13, 14.
" Ezek. xvii. 11—21. Cite the whole of this.