stream at once deep and undefiled; and while we rejoice in his compassions, we shall listen to his high behest-"Be ye holy, for I AM HOLY." There is nothing by which the religion of the Bible is more remarkably distinguished, from every system of man's invention, than by the first and great commandment of the law-"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." 5 Here is the first of all moral obligations, and the foundation of all right practice. Now if this commandment was sustained under the legal dispensation-if even the ancient Israelite knew enough of the mercies of God to be furnished with motives to obey it-with what prodigious force must it press on the mind of the Christian believer! Those who know that they are indebted to the Father for the unspeakable gift of his only-begotten Son, may well feel themselves constrained to love him, with all their heart, and soul, and might. No divided affections can possibly meet his claims upon their gratitude. Won and subdued by the strength and tenderness of his compassion, they must desire nothing, but to be his entirely, and his for ever. But, in loving God, we must love him as he isa Being of infinite purity and righteousness. His 46 noral attributes must all be dear to us; and we must not only love him, but love his law, which is at once the rule of our lives, and the transcript of his chai racter. A hatred of sin, and an ardent desire after holiness, must ever mark the disposition and conducti of the Lord's children. If David could say "Oh how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day; thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ver: for they are the rejoicing of my heart "6_ follower of Jesus, in every age, ought surely to the breathe in the same spirit, and to burn with the same ardour. to If the ancient Israelites were commanded talk of the Lord's precepts when they sat in their down1, houses, or walked by the way, and when they lay gently to their children; to bind them for a sign and when they rose up; to teach them dili upon to their hand, and for frontlets between their eyes; write them on their door-posts and on their gates? much more is the Christian bound, by every tie of gratitude, to love and obey them-to guard and cherish them as his dearest treasure. Finally, if, under a humbling sense of his mercy, truly love God and love his law; we shall heartily endeavour to promote his glory. Our rejoicing will be in remembrance of his infinite blessedness; while it we will be our. << to highest happiness to exalt his holy name administer to the display of his goodness and 6 Ps. cxix, 97, 111. 7 Deut. vi, 6, 7. greatness."8 The supreme object of our ardent and disinterested affection, He will be our end in all things! 8 "The true servants of God feel that the best end of their being is fulfilled, if they administer to the display of the divine goodness and greatness; and that it is the grand office and privilege of creatures to exalt their all-perfect Creator and Father, and to experience an entire annihilation of themselves, in the contemplation of his excellencies, and the desire of promoting his honour and praise."Love to God Considered, by James Joyce, 3rd edition. p. 60. E IV. IN THE DIPLATION JF GOD IN REDEMPTION.— "My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king; my tongue is the pen or a ready writer. Thou art fairer than the children of men; grace is poured into thy lips; therefore God hath blessed thee for ever."1 Such were the glowing words poured forth by the psalmist, when his harp was tuned to the praises of Emmanuel. The love of Christ is indeed an animating subject, full of joy and sublimity; and to dwell on its principal features, under the guidance of Scripture, must be regarded as one of our happiest privileges. When such are our reflexions, we may well say with David-" In the multitude of my thoughts within me, thy comforts delight my soul." 2 1. In the first place, the Christian ought ever to keep in mind, that the Son of God was not the unwilling victim of the righteousness of the law, but a co-operator with the Father, in the scheme of justice and mercy. His humiliation and sufferings, although undergone in obedience to his Father's command, were also voluntary as it regarded himself; and in the Holy Scriptures, they are ascribed indifferently to the Father's love, and to his own. "Hereby perceive we the love (of Christ,3) because he laid down his life for us."4 "As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you . . . . greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."5 "Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour."6 "Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word; that he might present it to himself, a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."7 "Unto Him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever."8 "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation, him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men; and being found in and took upon 3 Not "of God," as in the English version. 4 1 John iii, 16. 5 John xv, 9, 13. 7 Eph. v, 25-27. 6 Eph. v, 2. F |