never thinks of God at all, or that he does not believe the Lord to be his God, or that he has never considered what such a belief requires of him.

For the discharge of external duties is no less essential than a devout disposition, to those who have the Lord for their God. They must worship him: “not forsaking the assembling of themselves together, as the manner of some is."1 They must give him thanks: " Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." They must put their whole trust in him: "Ye that fear the Lord, put your trust in the Lord." They must call upon him: "The same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him." They must honour his holy name and his word: "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord?"

1 Heb. x. 25.

3 Ps. cxv. 11.

They must

2 Ephes. v. 20.
4 Hebrews, ii. 3.

serve him truly all the days of their life: for who can believe in so great a Being, and love him, without becoming his faithful servant? "If ye love me, keep my commandments," said the Saviour and therein is the sum of all the service his creatures can offer to their Creator.

1

"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord," said Joshua, who had long since shewn his trust in God's promises; "If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us." Moses too left an example of true service, when he refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, and chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Anna too, the aged widow, left an example of true service for she departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day; and with Simeon, the just man and devout, who waited for the consolation of

1 Joshua, xxiv. 15. 2 Numbers, xiv. 8.

Israel, she spake of the Lord to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. Abraham left an example of true service, when he went away from his home, and his kindred, at the bidding of God, not knowing whither he went; and again, when he was tried, and offered up Isaac his son, accounting that God was able to raise him up even from the dead. Stephen left an example of true service, when he was stoned, calling upon God, and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit :" and he kneeled down and prayed for his murderers, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." And it were well for us, my brethren, if, like Joshua, we took account of our households and dependents, and of the means we adopt for their godliness, when we inquire, whether or no we will serve the Lord. And it were well to bear in mind Moses' self-denial, when Mammon and the guilty pleasures of the world come in competition with Christian duties. It were well to remember Anna's prayers, when the home hears no voice

of family devotion, the pillow witnesses no whisper of heavenward aspirations, or the open gate of God's house in vain invites to public worship. It were well to remember Abraham's faith, when trials press hard upon the troubled spirit: and to struggle hard for a share of Stephen's charity, when crosses and afflictions sour the temper, and petulance embitters animosity, with which we regard imputed authors of our misfortunes.

But it is time to consider how we are to avoid having other gods beside the Lord.

The idea of more than one being of perfect and infinite attributes is in itself a contradiction. One supreme governor precludes the existence of another. There cannot be two beings, each almighty. There cannot be two Creators, each infinite. There is then, and reason might have told all the world, that there could be but one God. Yet man without the revealed Word has in all ages believed in many gods. He has worshipped them.

He has ascribed power to them. He has attributed virtues; and he has attributed the basest depravity and crime. He has pictured to himself their conflicting wills and passions; and yet not found it inconsistent to serve them all. He has adored the sun, the moon, the stars. He has offered his polluted sacrifice to the very beasts and reptiles, with which the Creator has replenished the earth. He has fallen down to a stock or a stone, and prayed unto it, and said, "Deliver me, for thou art my god." Lumpish matter has been invested with divine attributes; each sage block become a governor of the uuiverse; and a clod made superior to a man. Or with darker superstition abominations have been offered at the shrine of cruelty: a Moloch's altar has been smeared with the blood of human sacrifice; and the grim idol drenched with tears of human suffering: man's offspring passed through fierce unhallowed fires; and the shrieks of perishing children drowned in the loud roar of drums and