Lives but thy Goodness is continually flowing down upon us, and therefore we will, as is most reasonable, with all the Powers thou haft given us, adore and bless thee, and manifeft the Sense we have of the Obligations we are under, both by the Praises of our Lips and the Obedience of our Lips. This leads me to add, 2dly, That fince God is the blessed and only Potentate, we owe him the most abfolute and unreserved, and at the fame Time the most chearful Submiffion and Obedience. He has given us Laws for the Rule of our Duty, all which Laws we are indifpenfably bound to obferve. It highly concerneth us therefore to be acquainted with his holy Will, and what it is that he requireth of us; our Part is not to difpute, but to obey. We should fet ourfelves heartily to fulfil his Commandments, however they may appear difficult, or difagreeable to the Flesh. And our Obedience should not be merely by Conftraint, but of Choice, as being perfuaded of his juft Propriety in us, and Dominion over us, that he is our moft rightful Sovereign and Lord, and the Lord of the Universe, of infinite Wifdom, Righteoufnefs, and Goodness; and that all his Laws are holy, juft, and good, and tend to the true Felicity and Perfection of our own Nature, Nature. We fhould not fuffer the Luft of the Flesh, the Luft of the Eye, or the Pride of Life, any Prospects of worldly Honours, Pleasures, or Gain, to entice us, or any Fears of worldly Evils to deter us from the Duty and Allegiance we owe him. If it ever happens, that the Commands of an earthly Monarch interfere with the Laws of the great King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, we must not hesitate a Moment which to prefer; for it is an eternal Truth, that we ought to obey God rather than Man. Acts v. 29. He alone is the Lord of Conscience; and all Laws are in themfelves void, and incapable of laying an Obligation upon us which are contrary to the divine. His Difpleasure is infinitely more to be feared than that of any, or all the Potentates upon Earth. They can only kill the Body, and after that have no more that they can do; but he, after he hath killed, hath Power to caft into Hell; as our Saviour speaks, Luke xii. 4, 5• And on the other Hand, his Favour is of infinitely greater Importance to us, than that of the greatest earthly Monarchs. He hath the Treasures of the Universe in his Hands, and is himself the infinite Good, the everlafting Source of true Glory and Bleffednefs. They can at beft only beftow fome B b 4: tran tranfitory Riches and Honours on their Servants and Favourites; and what are these compared with that eternal Glory and Felicity with which God will reward those that love and serve him in Sincerity? This is a Reward far tranfcending what we could have challenged as ftrictly due to us, even though we had perfectly obeyed. How much less could we have claimed it on the Account of an Obedience fo imperfect and defective as ours is! But he will reward us, not merely according to our Deserts, but according to the glorious Riches of his Grace in Jefus Chrift, through whom he is pleafed graciously to accept and reward our fincere Obedience, flowing from Faith and Love, though mixed with lamented Failures and Defects. This is the Tenor of that Covenant which he hath established with us through the. Redeemer, and in which we are affured, that eternal Life is the Gift of God through Jefus Christ, to those that fincerely believe and obey him. Let us therefore make it our daily Care and Endeavour to observe the holy and excellent Laws which he hath given us, and to go on in a patient Continuance in well-doing, looking for the glorious Appearing of our Lord Jefus Chrift, which in bis Times he shall shew, who |