Yet, like him, have we also forgotten to " glorify
our God "—
[Though " we have known God, yet have we not glori- fied him as God1." We have not " given him glory by re-
jjentance" though that would have honoured him in a
very especial manner™. Nor have we honoured him by the
exercise of faith though that also would have greatly
redounded to his glory11. Nor have we endeavoured to honour
him in a way of holy obedience though our blessed
Lord has so expressly told us, that by our fruitfulness in good works " his Father would be glorified0." Had we acted, in any respect, as we ought to have done, we should have
d ver. 3, 4. e Acts xvii. 28. f Job xii. 10.
g Ps. civ. 29. h Isai. xlii. 6. ; Job xxxi. 4.
k Jer. x. 23. l Rom. i. 21.
m Josh. vii. 19. Jer. xiii. 15, 16. n Rom. iv. 20.
0 John xv. 8.
laboured that " the name of our Lord Jesus Christ might be glorified in usp." But, in having altogether neglected this, we are obnoxious to the very same charge as the impious Belshazzar.]
But as our opportunities of instruction have greatly surpassed any that that unhappy monarch ever pos- sessed, I shall go on to shew,
II. How far our guilt has exceeded his —
" To whomsoever God has committed much, of him will much be required:" and our demerits are aggravated in proportion to the advantages which we have enjoyed. As a heavier condemnation was denounced against the cities of Bethsaida and Ca- pernaum, because of the special mercies which they had abused, so will God regard us as more guilty than Belshazzar himself ; because,
1 . Our knowledge of him has been more clear —
[It was but little that Belshazzar knew of God. He did know that Jehovah was above all gods, and that he was able either to save or to destroy. He had seen this, in the degra- dation to which his grandfather had been reduced, and in the mercy that had been vouchsafed unto himq: and he knew it, from the testimony which that restored monarch had borne to the honour of Jehovah1. But we have a revelation from God himself; a revelation, wherein he has made known to us his nature and perfections, his works and purposes. There is not any thing respecting him which we are concerned to know, which he has not clearly revealed unto us : so that it is not an unknown God that we are called to serve, but one " with whom we may acquaint ourselves, and be at peace8." The precise nature of his will, too, he has declared unto us; so that we are informed respecting every thing which he would wish us either to forbear or do. We cannot plead ignorance in any respect : and therefore " knowing, as we have done, our Master's will," we have contracted greater guilt by our disobedience ; and deserved a heavier punishment than he ever did, who knew it not1."]
2. Our obligations to him are more abundant —
[Belshazzar was indebted to God for all the blessings both of creation and providence : but we are made partakers of the infinitely higher blessings of redemption. O ! what
i> John xvii. 10. 2 Thess. i. 12. i ver. 20 — 22.
r Dan. iv. 34—37. s Job xxii. 21. l Luke xii. 47, 48.
1128.1 belshazzar's impiety and ours compared. 505
tongue can declare the obligations we owe him for the gift of his only dear Son to die for us, and to redeem us to God by
his blood ? This as far exceeds all other mercies, as
the radiance of the noon-day sun exceeds the glimmering of a twinkling star. By the consideration of this, we should have been impelled to the most strenuous efforts in his service. The surrender of our whole selves to him, in body, soul, and spirit, has been our reasonable service. Yet have we not given to him the glory due unto his name ; but have " set up idols in our heai-ts;" and in the whole course of our lives have " worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is God over all, blessed for evermore11." What then do not we deserve at his hands? we, who "have trodden under foot the Son of God, and counted the blood of the covenant an unholy thing, and done despite to the Spirit of Grace?" If by this we have incurred a far sorer punishment than they did who "despised the law of Mosesx," much more must our guilt and punishment exceed that of the impious Belshazzar.]