most prominent features in all who are truly upright before God : Whilst the world at large make the Sabbath a day of carnal ease or pleasure, and the generality of those who profess some regard for it sanctify only a part of it to the Lord, and that rather for conscience sake than because they have any pleasure in its duties, the upright devote to God and to the work of their souls the whole of it, and are as eager to improve that day for their spiritual advancement, as the ungodly are to improve the other six days for the advancement of their temporal welfare0.]
2. Their affiance in his covenant —
[If we could suppose all these dispositions and actions to be united in a man who should disregard the Gospel covenant, they would never secure to the possessor the approbation of his God. The very best of men are sinners before God, and must seek for mercy in the way in which alone it will be vouchsafed. The way which God has appointed, is, through the covenant of grace ; in which God has agreed to accept the atonement offered by his only dear Son, and to receive for his sake all who will plead the efficacy of that atonement. If any man think that his own virtues will suffice to recommend him to God, he will be left to suffer the penalty due to his iniquities, and will perish under the accumulated guilt of having despised the salvation offered him in the Gospel. In reading the Scrip- tures, we shall do well to notice how often " the keeping of God's covenant and his commandments " are united together. Neither of these can by any means be dispensed with : they are both necessary for their respective ends ; the one, to obtain mercy with our offended God ; and the other, to manifest the sincerity of our faith and love. We must bear in mind there- fore, that an humble affiance in the Lord Jesus Christ is quite as requisite for our acceptance with God, as any obedience to his commands can be ; and that " the laying hold of God's covenant" is essential to the character of all who would be approved by him.]
Such being the character portrayed in our text, we proceed to notice the terms in which God has de- scribed, II. The approbation with which he will honour it —
Whatever disadvantages such a person may labour under, God will,
1. Accept him in all his services — [Eunuchs and strangers were disqualified by the Law from entering into the congregation of Jehovah d. But God
c Isai. lviii. 13, 14. d Deut. xxiii. 1 — 8.