3. A self-denying surrender of our whole selves to God —
[It was no little act of self-denial, for the whole nation to leave their houses, and live in booths (not in tents of canvass, as we are apt to imagine ; but in booths, made of the branches of trees) for seven days every year. In truth, this ordinance was so contrary to flesh and blood, that, from the days of Joshua, till after their return from the Babylonish captivity, the people never once observed it. But we must not draw back from any act of self-denial whatever. We must forsake all, and follow Christ : father, mother, houses, lands, yea, and life itself, must be hated by us in comparison of him. Though in the world, " we must not be of the world ;" but " be crucified to it," and " have our conversation altogether in heaven." This is our duty : " we must live not to ourselves, but to Him who died for us, and rose again." Nor must we account any thing hard : we should rather "rejoice, if we are counted worthy to suffer shame or loss for the Lord's sake;" and "not count even our lives dear to us, if only we may honour him, and " finish our course with joy." At the discovery of their long-neglected duty through the instructions of Ezra, the people, even all the con- gregation of those who were come out of captivity, made them- selves booths, on the roof of their houses, and in their courts, and in the courts of the House of God, and in the street of the water-gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim : and there was very great gladness y." O, that there were in us also such a heart! For I hesitate not to affirm, that the more self- denying readiness we manifest to obey the commands of God, the more solid joy shall we possess. Verily, " in keeping God's commandments there is great reward."]
4. A joyful anticipation of the period more especi- ally referred to —
[Abraham, two thousand years before the Saviour's ad- vent, was filled with joy at the glimmering view of it which he beheld : and shall not we rejoice in the prospect of his second advent, when all the ends of his incarnation and death will be gloriously accomplished ; and when all, both Jews and Gentiles, shall be gathered together as "onefold under one Shepherd?" " Woe be to us, if we are at ease in Zion," and altogether in- sensible to these great events ! Were " the Ammonite and the Moabite forbidden to enter into the congregation of the Lord, even to the tenth generation, because they met not the Hebrews with supplies of bread and water, when they came out of Egypt2 ;" what judgment, then, think ye, may we expect, if we
y Neh. viii. 14 — 17. z Dent, xxiii. 3, 4.