1 Thess. v. 16 — 18. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks : for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
THE just union of personal and relative duties is the brightest ornament of the Christian profession. The discharge of either will be imperfect, if it be not united with an attention to the other. As beauty in the human body consists not in the exquisite forma- tion of any single feature, but in the just symmetry and configuration of the whole frame, so the perfection of a Christian character consists not in an exclusive
attention to any one duty, but in a due regard to all duties, civil and religious, social and personal.
St. Paul has been giving directions respecting the duties we owe to each other as a Christian society a. He now descends from the social to the personal duties ; stating at the same time both the grounds on which they stand, and the indispensable necessity of attending to them.
Taking his directions in a comprehensive and united view, we learn that religion is,
I. A spiritual service —
[Many, like the Pharisees of old, suppose it consists in a formal attendance on ordinances, and an external decency of conduct. But true religion is inward and spiritual. It calls forth the strongest energies of the soul. It enables a person to maintain a holy intercourse with God in secret. St. Paul himself describes it as consisting, not in outward ceremonies of any kind, but in a devotedness of heart and soul to Godb, and declares that no man can be a Christian indeed, who does not possess and manifest this elevated state of mind0. How earnestly then should we examine whether we be thus conti- nually waiting upon God in the exercise of prayer and praise !]
II. A rational service —
[Spiritual religion is too often deemed enthusiasm. In- deed, if we interpreted the text literally and in the strictest sense of the words, we should make religion impracticable and absurd ; but, when properly explained, it enjoins nothing but what is highly reasonable. It requires us to live in the stated and devout exercise of public, social, and private prayer ; and to maintain such a sense of our own unworthiness, as excites a lively gratitude for every mercy we enjoy, and stimulates to an unwearied admiration of the Divine goodness : and can any thing be more reasonable than such a state ? Should not they, whose iniquities are so great, and whose wants so numerous, be frequently employed in imploring mercy and grace in the time of need ? And they, who are daily loaded with benefits, be daily blessing and adoring their Benefactor? Such a service is expressly called a "reasonable service d." To do otherwise were surely most unreasonable-: nor are any people more irrational than they who pour contempt on these holy exercises from an affected regard for rational religion.']
a ver. 14. b Rom. xiv. 17.
c Phil. iii. 3. and Rom. ii. 28, 29. d Rom. xii. 1.
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III. A delightful service —
[Many are prejudiced against spiritual religion, as though it must of necessity deprive them of all the comforts of life. Certain it is that it will rob them of all the pleasures of sin : but it will afford them infinitely richer pleasures in its stead e. What can be more delightful than to maintain " fellowship with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ?" Can there be any melancholy arising from incessant praises and thanks- givings? Were the first converts, or the Samaritans, or the jailor, rendered melancholy by the acquisition of religion f? Many are made melancholy by false views of religion ; but none are by just and scriptural apprehensions of it. In pro- portion as we live in the exercise of it, we resemble the glorified saints and angels.]
Such being the nature of true religion, we will endeavour to enforce the practice of it —