bodies of slain beasts; but he cannot " present his own soul a living sacrifice to God ;" he cannot have that inflamed with the fire of divine love, unless he be regenerate and created anew in Christ Jesus ]
Respecting the practical duties of the law, we may farther observe,
II. That they are such as must commend themselves to the conscience of every candid inquirer —
To those who are blinded by prejudice and passion, the words of truth and soberness appear as folly and madness b. But, as our Lord's answer constrained the Scribe to confess that he had spoken truth, so must it prevail over every one that has a mind at all open to conviction. Let any one bring the great practical duties of the law to the test ; let him pro- pose as severe a test as he will ; and we will venture to affirm, that the more they are scrutinized, the more excellent will they appear.
1. Are they reasonable? — YES.
[What can be more reasonable, than that we should love Him who is infinitely lovely, and who has so loved us as even to give his only dear Son to die for us ? ]
2. Are they conducive to our happiness ? — YES.
[Wherein does the happiness of heaven consist, but in the exercise of love ? Conceive of the whole heart, and mind, and soul, and strength being occupied in love to God ; and our neighbour being in all respects loved as ourselves, and treated by us in every thing, as in a change of circumstances we should wish him to treat us; must we not be happy? With every bad passion so subdued, and every Divine affection so exercised, we say again, could we fail of being happy ? ]
3. Are they perfective of our nature ? — YES.
[The want of love is that which debases us even lower than the beasts that perish. " The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib :" but we, with all our advantages, are blind to the highest excellency, insensible of the greatest obli- gations, and regardless of our best interests. No words can describe the full malignity of such a state. But let a principle of love possess our souls, and it instantly refines all our feelings,
b Our Lord compares the attempting to instruct such persons, to a casting of pearls before swine, who will only turn again and rend us. Matt. vii. 6.