feeble man, who, at most, " can only kill the body, and after that has no move that he can do?" Were there no recom- mence beyond the grave, we could not justly complain of this command : but what shall we say, when we reflect on the crowns and kingdoms which every victorious servant of the Lord shall have awarded to him ? Does any man account it a hard matter to sustain a momentary pain or trouble, in order to procure a prolongation of his bodily life ? How, then, can any thing be considered hard that ensures to us the possession of eternal happiness and glory ?]
2. They are all, without exception, conducive to our happiness —
[Truly, if we would designate obedience to God's com- mandments by its right name, we must call it rather privilege than duty. Was it not Adam's privilege in Paradise to know, and love, and serve his Creator? and is it not a privilege to all the saints and angels in heaven to be incessantly occupied in singing praises to God and to the Lamb ? Or if we look at the duties of repentance, and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, shall we not esteem them high privileges ? Offer them to the unhappy souls that are shut up in the prison of hell under the wrath of Almighty God, and then tell me, whether they will not be regarded as privileges. But I will venture to ask of persons in this present life ; Who amongst you ever spent a day or an hour in humiliation before God, and does not at this moment look back to it as the best season of his life ? Who does not regret that such a season has passed away without a due improvement of it ? and who would not be glad to have it renewed, protracted, perfected ? In truth, holiness in all its branches is the very perfection of our nature, and the restora- tion of our pristine happiness : and if we were as holy as the glorified saints and angels are, we should be not one atom inferior to them in peacefulness and bliss. Say, then, whether the commandments of our God deserve to be accounted grievous? No, in truth: " they are all holy, and just, and good ;" and " in keeping of them there is great reward."]
Address —
1. Those who entertain prejudices against religion as a hard service —
[Why will ye not believe our blessed Lord and Saviour, when he says to you, " My yoke is easy, and my burthen is light?" You will say, perhaps, This is contrary to experience; for every one finds how difficult it is to be truly religious. But what is it that makes it so ? It is nothing but your own corruption that renders a conformity to God's command- ments difficult : and, if once you obtain a new heart, and have