simplicity in the description before us, at the same time that it very sufficiently distinguishes the Chris- tian from all others.
1. " He hears the word of God" —
[Every true Christian considers the preaching of the Gospel as God's instituted means of converting and edifying the souls of men. Instead therefore of making frivolous ex- cuses for staying at home, he will suffer many inconveniences rather than absent himself from public worship. And when he is there, he will " receive the word, not as the word of man, but, as it is in truth, the word of God." He will listen to it as the word of God to his own soul in particular, and will apply to himself the truths which the minister, as God's ambassador, shall set before him.
In this he differs widely from all other persons : for though others may be regular in their attendance on divine ordinances, they do not hear the word of God with that reverence, that self-application, that submission, which become sinners in the pi-esence of their God.]
2. He "keeps it"—
\_The godly keep it in their hearts as a ground of hope. They do not come to the word of God, determining to receive nothing but what accords with their own pre-conceived notions ; but they desire to know what method God has prescribed for the reconciling of sinners to himself: and when they find that he has sent his only dear Son to die for them, they do not say, How can this be ? but they acquiesce thankfully in the divine appointment, and trust in Christ as their only Saviour a
They keep it also in their lives, as a rule of conduct. They will no longer regulate themselves according to the maxims of the world, but will inquire, What does my God require of me? What is the way in which he has directed me to walk ? Having ascertained these points, he does not turn back because the world calls him precise, or because his own corruptions render his progress difficult ; but he holds on in his course with firm- ness and uniformity. He finds many who endeavour to turn hiin out of the way; but he keeps the word of God, as "a light," that points out his path in general, and as " a lantern," that is to direct every step he takes
It is scarcely needful to observe, that this part of the cha- racter is peculiar to the Christian ; for there is no other person that can at all be compared with him in these respects.]
a They see his suitableness, and sufficiency, and excellency, and say as Paul, 1 Cor. ii. 2. Gal. vi. 14.