Such conduct would be deemed a heinous offence even to a creature like ourselves : how much more offensive then must it be to him! it is nothing less than "making God a liar." This is the interpretation which God himself puts upon such conducts Let us dread lest we be found guilty of this sin; and let us " be strong in faith, giving glory to God."]
2. With an obedience that has no reserves —
[The obedience which a soldier owes to his Commander is unbounded. The Commander has only to say, " Come," and he cometh ; " Go," and he goeth ; " Do this," and he doeth it. He does not think it any excuse for disobedience, that by following the command he shall have to encounter an enemy that will seek his life. On the contrary, the more dangerous the post is that is assigned him, the more he con- siders himself bound to execute the command with prompti- tude and zeal : and, if he hesitate through fear, he is deemed unworthy any more to serve his prince : yea, he may account himself happy, if his life be not also forfeited as the penalty of his transgression. Shall there then be any limit to the obedience which we shall render to our heavenly Leader? Shall his commands be disobeyed through fear, or be executed with a timid trembling mind ? Shall not his authority awe us, and his example shame us, into a conduct more worthy of our profession? Shall we not account it rather an honour to suffer for him, and be ready at any time, or in any manner, to lay down our lives for his sake ? Yes ; we must fight the good fight of faith. We must put on the whole armour provided for us, and go forth " strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." We must be studious to learn from day to day, what is his will concerning us; and, once apprised of it, we must set ourselves instantly to obey it. Does it call for self- denial? We should for his sake " mortify the flesh with the affections and lusts." Does it summon us to action ? " What- ever our hand findeth to do, we must do it with our might." We must be ever ready to " follow him without the camp, bearing his reproach." There is nothing to which he calls us, which He has not himself both done and suffered ; he, without any obligation on his part, except what his own love had im- posed upon him : whereas we are bound by our allegiance to the God of heaven, and by all our hopes of acceptance with him in a better world, to "war a good warfare:" for it is only by being " faithful unto death that we can ever obtain the crown of life h."
It is said in the words following my text, that the Gentiles to whom this Saviour was given, " should run unto him, and
s John v. 9, 10. h Rev. ii. 10.