his master's disposal as we are at God's. The Jews exercised a most despotic power over their servants —
[Some of the servants among the Jews were captives taken in war : others were slaves bought with money. Over these, their master had unlimited authority. They were regarded by him as his stock, and, like his cattle, were transmitted to his children as a part of their inheritance^ They were employed in all kinds of services : nor did their master esteem himself indebted to them for any services they might perform. This was perfectly well known to those whom our Lord addressed s. Perhaps many of his hearers had servants whom they so treated. Hence our Lord appealed to them respecting the truth of his statement.]
But God has an infinitely higher claim to our services —
[He originally formed us in the womb. We have not a faculty which we did not receive from him. This gives him an entire right over ush. He, upon this very ground, has an unlimited authority over the greatest monarch, as much as over the meanest slave1. He has preserved us every moment since our first existence in the world. However he may have made use of second causes, he has been "the author of every blessing" we have enjoyed. The beasts are not so dependent on their owner as we on him. On this ground he claimed the homage of his people of oldk, and may justly demand our utmost exertions in his service. He moreover has bought us with a price : he has paid down a sum which exceeds all calculation. Silver and gold were insufficient for the cost: nothing would suffice but the blood of his only dear Son. Behold, he with- held not the mighty ransom1. He delivered up his Son for us allm. And has not this given him a right over us? Can we say in any respect that "we are our otvn?" or, is not the Apostle's inference just, That we should therefore glorify him with our bodies and our spirits which are his11 ?]
Hence it is evident that we can never confer an obligation upon him —
Even hired servants do not confer an obligation by the services they render. Much less do they, who belong to their master as his purchased possession. Least of all can ive make God our debtor. We can do no more than what is our abso- lute duty to do. Works of supererogation exist only in the
f Lev. xxv. 44 — 46.
e In this land of liberty this state of things does not exist : would to God it did not in any part of the British dominions !
h Isai. xliv. 21. ' Job xxxi. 13—15. k Exod. xx. 2, 3. 1 1 Pet. i. 18, 19. m Rom. viii. 32. " i Cor. vi. 19, 20.