God's grace can possibly produce it. But, wherever his grace operates, there, in proportion to the measure of that grace, this character is found. No one can ever " behold such light" as Daniel reflected, but he will be instantly constrained to " glo- rify our Father which is in heaven." Man could as soon create a world, as form this new creation. Wherever it is found, that acknowledgment must be made : " He that hath wrought us to the self-same thing, is God."]
2. How it disarms prejudice —
[A want of piety, or wisdom, or consistency, in a profes- sor of religion, causes " the way of truth to be evil spoken of," and " God himself to be blasphemed." But a pious and con- sistent conduct wrests from the very enemies of God a confes- sion, that " the righteous is more excellent than his neighbour." Hence St. Paul, exhorting Titus to " shew himself in all things a pattern of good works," adds, " that he that is on the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you™." I well know that no blamelessness of conduct can conciliate the regards of an ungodly man ; for, as long as he loves darkness rather than light, he must hate you : but you may at least hope to " put to silence the ignorance of foolish men11," and to " make those ashamed who falsely accuse your good conversa- tion in Christ0."]
3. How it tends to the welfare of your own soul —
[Beyond all doubt your everlasting reward will be pro- portioned to your present attainments. As he that " builds on the good foundation nothing but wood, hay, stubble, will suffer loss, and, if saved at all, be saved only so as by firep;" so he that embraces in his mind, and illustrates in his life, the whole circle of his duties to God and man, will have an en- trance ministered unto him abundantly into the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ"1." The more we have im- proved our talents, the richer will be the recompence of our fidelity. We may not in this world have such an interposition in our behalf as Daniel had in the den of lions ; or see, as he did, the vengeance of God executed on our adversaries : but we shall have strength given us to sustain our trials, and a weight of glory awarded to us in proportion to them. Go for- ward, then, " strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might:" and "hold fast your confidence firm unto the end:" then " your labour shall not be in vain in the Lordr ;" for " if you suffer with him, you shall also be glorified together s."]
m Tit. ii. 7, 8. n 1 Pet. ii. 12, 15. ° 1 Pet. iii. 16.
p 1 Cor. iii. 12—15. i 2 Pet. i. 5—11. r 1 Cor. xv. 58.
8 Rom. viii. 17.