more especially his dealings with you as individuals, his mer- cies, and his judgments, of whatever kind they be ; for they all have a voice to you, and may be improved to your spiri- tual and eternal good. Have you mercies ? Let them incline you to a willing and unreserved surrender of yourselves to God1. Have you judgments ? " Hear the rod, and him that hath appointed itm." Only improve the providences that occur : and you shall never want a providence to improve.]
2. Cultivate the mind which God requires —
[He requires all to " fear and tremble at his presence11." And, I beseech you, account not that a legal and undesirable frame of mind. Indeed, indeed, it is the safest state for all of us. I would not undervalue exalted joys: but I confess I love most the religion of a sinner : I love humility and self- abasement : I love the fleeing to Christ, and the washing daily and hourly in the fountain of his blood. I love religion, under the character of holy fear ; and I would have you to " be in the fear of the Lord all the day long." Not that it is a slavish fear that I would recommend, or a fear that is constrained by an apprehension of God's displeasure. No ; it is a fear that proceeds from love ; a fear that is inspired by a sense of grati- tude, and that is dictated, as it were, by your own hearts ; saying, " Come, let us fear the Lord our God," who has done such great things for us. It is this, this cordial willingness, this impatient desire, that puts all the value into the disposition which I am now recommending to you. And be not contented to experience this fear in your own hearts, but endeavour to impress it on all around you. Let it grieve you to see the hardness and obduracy of all your neighbours : and take occasion from every mercy, whether temporal or spiritual, to stimulate all, even to the remotest ends of the earth, to love, and serve, and glorify their God.]
1 Rom. xii. 1. m Mic. vi. 9. n ver. 21.