Thus under this head also may be seen a perfect harmony between those things which we have affirmed.
»^ Gal. V. 3, 4. 1 Gal. ii. 21. « Isai. xlv. 22.
" Matt. xi. 28. « John vi. 37. p 1 John i. 7.
>? Acts xiii. 39, r Isai. i. 18. » 2 Cor. i. 20.
' Rom. iii. 26. " 1 John i. 9.
and those which you " read" in the Scriptures, and " acknowledge" in your prayers.
Nor do we doubt a similar issue to our inquiries, while, under the last head of our discourse, we state to you The path of duty.
We inculcate the practice of every personal and relative duty. But we are not satisfied with that y standard of holiness which is current in the world : ^ we require a higher tone of morals : in addition to sobriety and honesty, we insist upon a life entirely devoted to God : we affirm, that it is every man's duty to delight himself in God'' ;" to have such a lively sense of Christ's love to him, as shall constrain him to an unreserved surrender of all his faculties and powers to the service of his Lord^'. We must live for God : we must be like a faithful servant, who inquires from day to day what his master's will is; and inquires, in order that he may do it. As a servant who had neglected all his duties through the day, would feel ashamed and afraid of his master's displeasure, so should we feel ashamed and afraid, if any day pass without having executed to the utmost of our power the duties of it. We should walk as on the confines of the eternal world, and act as persons who must shortly give account of every talent that has been committed to them. To be " dead unto the worlds" and " alive unto God^ ;" to attain more and more of the Divine image^; to grow up into Christ in all things''; to enjoy fellowship with God'^, and anticipate the enjoyments of heaven" ; this is our duty, and should be our daily study and delight.
In requiring so much, we are supposed to require what is altogether impracticable, or, at least, what, if practised, would unfit us for all the common offices of life. But what do we read in the Holy Scriptures? Do they require of us less than this ? Do they not teach us to " yield ourselves living sacrifices to God,
^ Job xxvi. 10. and Ps. xxxvii. 4. y 2 Cor. v. 14.
^ Gal. vi. 14. a Rom. vi. 11. »> 2 Cor. iii. 18.
<■ Eph. iv. 15. '' 1 John i. 3. ^ Eph. i. 1.3, 14.
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as our most reasonable service*^ ?" Do they not enjoin us to " live henceforth not unto ourselves, but unto him that died for us and rose again ^ ?" Do they not require that " whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do, we should do all to the glory of God*" ?" And is not the Holy Spirit (through whose Divine agency alone we can do any thing that is good) promised to us for this very end, to renew us after the Divine image in righteousness and true holiness ?
And wherein do our own acknowledgments differ from this ? Let us attend to the supplications which we offer before God : — " Grant, O most merciful Father, for Chris fs sake, that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of thy holy name" Here, so far from putting godliness out of our thoughts, we profess to desire it in the first place ; and justly do we ask that first, because, without that, all our acts of righteousness and sobriety would be no better than splendid sir>s ; they would want the motives and principles which alone distinguish them from heathen virtues. Mark too the measure and degree in which we desire these virtues : we are not satisfied with that which shall gain us a name among men ; we ask, (and let it ever be remembered that without the influences of God's Spirit all our own efforts will be in vain,) that we may be enabled to attain such a degree of piety, as that God may be glorified in us, and that the transcendent excellence of Christianity may be visibly exhibited in our lives.