1268. J god's appeal to self-justifying sinners. 589
to put himself on a footing with an earthly governor ; and to ask, how even such an one would be pleased with the treat- ment which he receives at our hands? Now let us suppose, that, whilst professing allegiance to an earthly monarch, we were as lukewarm in his service as we are in the service of our God : that we shewed no more zeal for his honour, no more concern for his interests, no more respect for his laws, than we have towards our heavenly Master ; would he consider us as good, loyal, duteous, and loving subjects? Would our love to his enemies, and conformity to their wishes, create no jealousy in his mind, especially whilst we thought that our attentions to him were quite equal to his deserts ?
Or, to bring the matter more home to ourselves : if a son of ours felt as indifferent towards us, as we do towards our God ; or a servant were as little anxious to please us, as we are to please him : if, when he rose in the morning, he thought as little what work he had to do for us ; and, when he went through the day, attended as little upon us ; and, when he lay down to rest at night, felt as little dissatisfied with himself as we do with our conduct towards God ; should we be pleased with him ? Should we account ourselves well treated by him ? Should we, when he was brought before us, commend him, saying, " Well done, good and faithful servant?"
Now, if an earthly governor would not accept from us, or we from our own servants, such services as these, how can we suppose that God should be pleased with them ? I think we shall scarcely venture to say that God is entitled to less at our hands than we are at the hands of our fellow-creatures : and therefore, according to this lowest of all standards, we are exceeding faulty, and may justly be condemned out of our own mouths.]
If we have nothing to urge in reply to this appeal, let us attend to,
II. The obvious and necessary deductions to be made from it —
It is plain from hence,
1. That our defects are exceeding great —
[If every service, of the kind we have been speaking of, is evil, what must we think of our whole lives, which have been spent either in open rebellion against God, or, at best, in a continued series of such services as these ? To appreciate your state aright, T will not refer you to your more flagrant sins : I will set before you your very duties, yea, your best duties, your confessions, your prayers, your sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving : and I will take these, not in your private chambers only, where perhaps, from want of suitable helps,