righteous, and godly life, to the glory of God's holy name," he does not mock God with unmeaning words, or hypocritically assume a character which belongs not to him : he feels in his heart what he utters with his lips ; and desires to fulfil his duties in Zion, as much as to enjoy her privileges.]
2. He is consistent in the practice of it —
[He has learned in a measure that important lesson, " Ab- hor that which is evil; cleave to that which is gooda." The whole tenour of his conversation is agreeable to the strictest rules of righteousness. In all his dealings he is both just and honourable, not taking advantage of the ignorance or necessities of others, but endeavouring to do as he would be done unto. Nor is he less observant of his words than of his actions : he not only " walketh righteously," but " speaketh uprightly:" he rigidly adheres to truth, and avoids every deviation from it, whether in criminating others, or exculpating himself.
As he thus " cleaves to what is good, so he abhors that which is evil." Could he gain ever so much by an act of oppression, or were he offered ever so great a bribe to bias his judgment and to violate his conscience, he would " despise the gain," and " shake from his hands the polluted gift" with utter abhorrence. Were he advised to do any thing injurious or vindictive, he wTould " stop his ears" with indignation, and not allow the thought for one moment to dwell upon his mind. Did a con- taminating object present itself to his view, or any thing whereby his own corruptions might be stirred up, he would " shut his eyes," even like holy Job, who " made a covenant with his eyes that he would not look upon a maidV
We say not that the Christian is never drawn aside through the influence of temptation and corruption ; (for then where shall we find a Christian upon earth ?) but if at any time he be overtaken with a fault, he returns to God with deepest humi- liation and contrition, and renews his course with increased vigilance and circumspection.
That this is indeed the character to whom alone the promise in the text is made, is evident from parallel passages in the Psalms c, and from the strongest possible declarations in the New Testament d. O that all persons, whether professors of religion or others, would duly consider this ! Our conduct must be upright towards God and man : we must embrace the religion of the Gospel with sincerity, and adorn it by a holy conversation : nor can a person of any other character than this have any part or lot in the promises of God.]
Let us now turn our attention to,
a Rom. xii. 9. b Job xxxi. 1.
c Ps. xv. 1 — 5. and xxiv. 3 — 5. d 1 John iii. 0 — 10.
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