Pharisees, " who paid tithe of mint, and anise, and cummin, but neglected the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith d."
In these things vital Christianity consists. The turning of the whole heart to the observance of God's laws, is the great promise of the Gospel, and the certain effect of it, wherever it is received in truth : " A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit will I put within you : and I will cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments to do theme." And again, " I will put my law in their inward parts, and
write it in their hearts f" Nor is a peaceful disposition
less certainly imparted by the Gospel : for love is the neces- sary fruit of faith^, and forms the most striking feature in the
character of every true believer h Joy also in the
Holy Ghost will invariably accompany these holy dispositions : for the Holy Ghost delights to dwell where God is honoured, and man is loved for God's sake. In the hearts of such be- lievers " he will glorify the Lord Jesus, and will shed abroad the Father's love : he will fill them with joy unspeakable and
glorified" Such righteousness, such peace, and such
joy, are the fruits and evidences of the reign of Christ in the soul : and in them, rather than in forms of any kind, does his kingdom consist.]
Having thus marked the nature of practical Chris- tianity, we shall,
II. Point out its peculiar excellence —
The ordinances relative to meats and drinks were mere " beggarly elements :" they had no value at all, except as " shadows of good things to come." But these holy dispositions are truly valuable : and every man who cultivates them,
1. Is accepted of God —
[The observers of forms and ceremonies were not at all accepted, unless their services were accompanied with a suit- able and corresponding frame of mind l ; yea rather, they were hateful, even as the offering of swine's blood, or as murder itself k. But not so the services of which we have been speak- ing : they are truly pleasing in the sight of God ; and the dispositions exercised are in his sight " an ornament of great price." Yes, " the righteous Lord loveth righteousness," and " will meet him who rejoiceth in working it1." There is no
d Matt, xxiii. 23. e Ezek. xxxvi. 26, 27. f Jer. xxxi. 33. s Gal. v. G. h 1 John in. 14. ; Isai.i. 11—14.
k Tsai. \\\i. 3. * Isai. lxiv. 5.