his friendship: "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you;"" If ye love me, keep my commandments." "'Tis love that makes our willing feet In swift obedience move." IV. RELIGIOUS OBEDIENCE OVEB0OMES NATURAL REPUGNANCE TO ANY COURSE OF ACTION PRESCRIBED BY DIVINE AUTHORITY. We have an illustration of this in the context. 'l'he special vocation of the man with the ink-horn was to set a mark upon *he foreheads of the men who sighed and cried for all the abominations that were done; yet he seems also to have had charge of the officers of the city to whom was entrusted the e.wful task of punishment and destruction. The work of deliverance was agreeable and grateful; the work of chastisement and slaughter must have been painful and distressing. Yet in both directions the will of the rightful Lord and King was done; and the report was rendered of the fulfilment in all their completeness of the royal commands. It happens to us all now and again to be called to undertake some service from which we shrink, to which by our temperament and ha.bits we a.re naturally averse. But obedience has to be rendered, not only when the co=a.nds given harmonize with our predilections, but when they a.re sorely opposed to our natural or acquired tastes and inclinations. But rightful orders must be obeyed. As in the case of the Six Hundred- " Theirs not to reason why: Theirs not to ma.ke reply: Theirs but to do and die." So in the case of many a child of God, many a soldier of Christ, orders are known to be issued upon Divine authority which can only be obeyed at the risk of wealth, or reputation, or life. But such considerations have to be dismissed. Once satisfied that the commandments are Divine, the subject renders, if not a happy, yet a willing obedience. It is not to be expected that, in this imperfect state of being, obedience should always be enjoyment, though the aim of every Christian should be to say, with his Master, " I delight to do thy will, 0 my God In V. RELIGIOUS OBEDIENCE YIELDS SATISFACTION TO THE CONSCIENCE. If pleasure does not always accompany and follow true service, approval will not fail. Upon the grave of a great philanthropist may be read these lines- " He does well who does his best. Brothers I I have done my best: I o.m weary: let me rest." There may be something of self-righteousness in these lines. Here is an epitaph, how- ever, which may be placed over any faithful servant of Christ- " Life's work well done; Life's course well run; Life's crown well won: Now comes rest.'' There is, however, no reflection upon a life of obedience to compare in grandeur and beauty with that recorded to have been uttered by our Lord himself, "I have finished the work which thou go.vest me to do." To have given up one's own will, to have accepted the will of Heaven, to have toiled e.nd suffered as an obedient son and servant in God's ca.use,-this is the better pa.rt, which will ondure the retrospect of life's closing hour. VI. RELIGIOUS OBEDIEN0E BF:OURES AC0EPTANOE AND REWARD FROM THE SUPREME RULER HIMSELF. If rebellion is, in the eight of God, man's one great error and sin, obedience is, in his sight, above all things acceptable. Every man who is saved is indeed saved by gre.ce; but all a.re judged by their works. The good pleasure of the King promotes to higher service as the reward of diligence and fidelity. And there can be no words so welcome at the last as these, "'iVell done, good and faithful servant I "-T. Vers. 1-7.-The hour of judgmcnt. As nmong men there are magistrates' sessions as well as the great assizes, so also God has seasons for the locru. administration of 172 THE IlOOK OF THE PROPHE'l' EZEKIEL. [orr. 1x. 1-11
just.ice, as well as the final judgment. In fact, God is always upon his judicial seat always meting out justice to the various orders of his creatures. If he ceased to judcro' 0 he would cease to rule. '