III. AND ALONE EFFECTUAL, 1. It is so in our secular woi·k. Slave-work, tnsk- work, is never like that of free men. All the heart is taken out of it if it bo not glad service such as only free men can render. 2. Yet mn·e in the service of the Lord. See the elder son in the parable of the prodigal. He bad no joy in his se1·vioe, e.nd hence how harsh and unloving he became I This is why St. Pe.ul;is for ever rejoicing that we are not under law, but under grace, So only will real service be rendered. IV. AND IT OUGHT To BE. See in that same parable the father's reply, "Son, thou art ever," etc. He was surpri~ed at such a spirit in his son; it ought to have been so different. But if it was wrong for that elder brother, who never transgressed, how much more wrong for us who have transgressed, and yet have been freely forgiven I Pray, therefore, not only that you may serve the Lord, but that you me.y serve him "with:gladness."-S. C. Ver. 8.-The go.<pel of our creation. '\It is he that hath me.de us, e.nd not we ourselves." This declaration was held to be a gospel. It occurs in e. psalm that may well be regarded as a universal psalm. It is not for Jesus only, but for" e.11 people that on earth do dwell." And amongst the reasons wherefore it calls on e.!l to be joyful in the Lord, there is this one-that "it is he tbe.t bath made us," etc. I. Now, WE CANNOT CONCEIVE OF GoD AS ACTING WITHOUT MOTIVE. And- rr. THEREFORE TB.ERE MOST HAVE BEEN MOTIVE FOB THE CREATION OF MAN, We can trace reasons and evidence of pnrpose in all God's works, and hence we are sure there must have been snch when he created man. III. il"D THIS MOTIVE MUST BA VE DEEN GRACIOUS OB THE BEVEBSE. 1. Jt could 'not have been the reverse; for, whether we look at the structure of man's body, where all seems so adapted to secure health and happiness; or whether we look at man's mind, the source to him of such unspeakable good ; or whether we think of man's. dwelling-place, this earth on which he lives, and. which is so stored with e.11 that ministers to bis comfort, delight, and well-being ;-whichever way we turn there i$ proof abundant that no malignant motive, or any the reverse of gracious, could have prompted the creation of man. 2. Therefore we are shut up to the conclusion that love, -grace, goodness, can alone expl,ain what we see all around us and in ourselves. IV. BuT IF THE .MOTIVE WAS A GRACIOUS ONE, WHAT WAS IT? For answer: 1. We look lo our own constitution, for that is the nearest idea we can have of God who made us in his own image. And we find : 2. That the purest pleasure springs from love- loving others and being loved by them. Why is home so blessed, but because there they are whom we tenderly love, and who love us in like manner ? 3. But love that Juu stood trial and testi'111] is the most precious of all. If, in spite of every inducement to be untrue to us, love has been faithful, how precious that! 4. But all this reveals the reasona where/ore God hath made us, and placed us where we are. He desired objects on whom he might lavish bis love, and who would love him, in whose love is our eternal life. And that love would be more precious e.nd more fruitful unto our eternal life in proportion as it endured test and trial (cf. 1 Pet. i. 7). Hence we arc born into a world of temptation, for so only can our love be perfected. 5. But such temptation will in no case be greater than we can bear. A father me.y let his son enter for a contest which he knows his son can and will, if he rightly strive, come out with honour; but he would not let him enter where defeat was certain and inevitable. And so our heavenly Father will not suffer us to be tempted above that we are able, though what we are able for we have to endure, because it is good for us that we should. He will submit no child of his to what must issue in ultimate defeat. We cannot conceive of his having created us, knowing that that would be the final issue. V. THEREFORE WE BAY THAT THE FA0T OF OUB CREATION BY Goo IS A VERY GOSPEL with which the gospel that "God so loved the world," etc. (John iii. 16), fitly and beautifully harmonizes. Yes, we may well be joyful in the Lord, because it is" he that bath made wi,n etc.-S. C.
Ver. 5.-" His truth mduretk." Test this declaration. I. As To WHAT GoD HIMSELF IS. He is ever true. None of the miserable motives which lead men to be untrue can have any power with hiw. Examine all his works, PY. 0, 1-5,] 'rHE BOOK OF PSALMS. 357