Improvement —
1. Let us put ourselves under his direction —
[Christ is the great Head and Lord of all. From him we must receive directions, as he did from his Father, and as Moses did also. Nothing is to be done by us but according to his word ; nothing to be done which he has forbidden ; nothing to be omitted which he has commanded : no deviation is to be admitted in a way of excess or defect. If doubt at any time arise respecting the path of duty, we must consult him, and not proceed, till we have attained, so far as we can attain, the knowledge of his will. Human ophiions are to have no weight with us in opposition to his word. And if we see not as yet the reasons of his commands, as Moses certainly did not in relation to the ceremonial law, we are not on that account to disobey them, but in all humility to comply with them, saying, " What I know not now, I shall know hereafter™." Nor are we to complain of any commandment as difficult or self-denying; but to disregard even life itself, if by the sacrifice of it He may
g Eph. iv. 14. h Heb. x. 26. ' Heb. x. '23.
■•^ 2 Tim. ii. 12. > 2 Chron. xv. 2. ™ John xiii. 6, 7.
be glorified". Admirable was the lesson which the Jews were taught in the wilderness : if the pillar and the cloud moved for several days and nights together, they continued to follow it : and if it was stationary for a year together, they were stationary also. Thus it should be with us : we should move ivhen, and where, and as the Lord prescribes, and in that way alone, to the latest hour of our lives.]
2. Let us endeavour to approve ourselves to him in our respective spheres —
[He walked amongst the seven golden candlesticks, the seven Churches of Asia, and declared to each of them, *' I know thy works." And still are his eyes as a flame of fire to penetrate the inmost recesses of our hearts. We must not therefore be satisfied with walking irreproachably before men, but must labour to approve ourselves to Him who searcheth the heart and trieth the reins. We must be attentive not to our actions only, but to our motives and principles, that, if possible, every thought may be brought into captivity to his will. We must seek to obtain from God that testimony which he bore to Moses, that we are " faithful in all our house." Let us look to it, that as parents and children, masters and servants, rulers and subjects, we do all that he has required of us. Let us labour to " serve him with a per- fect heart;" so that in all our commerce with men, and in our secret walk with God, we may have " the witness of his Spirit that we please him";" and may receive from him in the last day that testimony of his approbation, " Well done, good and faithful servants, enter ye into the joy of your Lord."]
3. Let us expect from him all that he has under- taken for us —
[Still does he superintend the concerns of his Church : and though he has wrought much for us, yet is there much that yet remains to be done, and much that he has promised to be accomplished. But " his promises are sure to all his seed^:" not one of them shall ever fail: nor shall even the least member of his house ever have occasion to complain that he was disappointed of his hope. Joshua's testimony shall be that of all the Church in the last day, that " of all which God has promised, not one thing has failed ^i." Take hold then of his promises, and plead them before him. If they appear too great to be fulfilled, " stagger not at them, but hope against hope, and be strong in faith, giving glory to God""." If your