but at the motive and principle from which we give it t and even " a cup of cold water given with a single eye to his glory, shall in no wise lose its reward." Even a desire which we were not able to carry into effect shall be accepted of him, just as David's was, who desired to build a house for the Lord: " Thou didst well, in that it was in thine heart." How far God will recompense our liberality with present comforts, we cannot absolutely determine ; but he will surely " recompense it at the resurrection of the just ; and he would account him- self unrighteous, if he were to forget to do so^. This, how- ever, we must ever bear in mind, that our actions are always exalted in God's estimation in proportion as they are lowered in our own : and that the persons whom he represents as ho- noured and rewarded by him, are those who were altogether unconscious of their own excellencies, and were surprised to hear of services noticed by their Judge, which were overlooked and forgotten by themselves''.]
From this subject we may learn,
1. How impossible it is for any man to be justified by the works of the law —
[We inquire not now into any kind of gross sin : we will suppose that all of us are free from any imputation of that kind ; and that our lives have been altogether spent in doing good: yet who amongst us would present his alms-deeds before the heart-searching God, and defy him to find a flaw
in them? If we cannot do that, we must renounce
all confidence in the flesh, and rely only on the meritorious sacrifice of the Lord Jesus ]
2. How thankful we should be that a Saviour is provided for us —
[The Lord Jesus Christ is come into the world to seek and save us. He is that Great High Priest who " bears the iniquity of our holy things," and will clothe us with the un- spotted robe of his righteousness, provided we are willing to put oflf " the filthy rags of our own." Let us look then to him, whose works alone were perfect. Let us remember, that " though we know nothing by ourselves, yet are we not hereby justified :" God may have seen much obliquity in us, where we ourselves may have been perfectly unconscious of it : but if, on the whole, our " eye has been single," our imperfections shall be pardoned, and our services be recompensed with " an eternal great reward."]
^ Heb. vi. 10. «= Matt. xxv. 44.