2dly. To live unto the Lord, is to make his approba. tion our governing aim, and to study to please him in all that we do.

I need not tell you that we early contract a love for many things which are hurtful to our souls, and stand condemned by the laws of our sovereign. This renders some parts of duty so painful to the flesh, that they are compared in Scripture to the cutting off a right hand, and the plucking out a right eye;" operations which no man would submit to, far less perform them himself, unless the preservation of the rest of his body rendered them absolutely necessary. Other parts of duty are attended with inconveniences of a different kind: they may draw upon us the scorn, the hatred, and persecution of a partial, blind, malignant world; so that if we listen either to the corrupt part of our own nature, or to the voice of the multitude, we shall unavoidably be persuaded to leave them undone, or rather to do the contrary. Nothing else than a prevailing habitual desire to please the Lord can reconcile us to the practice of these self-denying duties. But if this principle be deeply rooted in our hearts, the roughest paths of obedience will soon become smooth ; with resolution, nay, with cheerfulness, we shall address ourselves to our work; declining no service, how painful or difficult soever, that we know will be crowned with the approbation of our Judge. Thus did the primitive Christians live unto the Lord. It appeared a small matter to them to be judged of man's judgment; this was their labour, that, whether present or absent, they might be accepted of their Master. They so spake, and so acted, not as pleasing men, but God, who trieth the hearts of bis creatures, and will render unto every one according to his works.

3dly. To live unto the Lord, is to make his glory our end in every thing we do.

Paul expressed the genuine spirit of Christianity, when, with a diguity becoming the character of au apostle, he thus wrote to the Philippians: “I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened anto me, have fallen out rather unto the further. ance of the gospel; so that my bonds in Christ are mani. fest in all the palace, and in all other places; and many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Some indeed preach Cbrist even of envy and strife; and some also of good will. The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affiction to my bonds; but the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. What then? not. withstanding every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached ; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. For I know that this shall turn to my salvation, through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation, and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also, Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain;" Phil. i. 12,-21. If we live unto the Lord, we shall not seek great things for ourselves. This will be our only concern, that the Lord may be magnified in us, and by us, either by our doing or suffering; by our life or by our death. We shall be contented to be employed in any station his wisdom shall choose for us, and study to honour him in that station by the diligent performance of the duties that belong to it. Tbough we occupy the meanest office in his family, we shall with pleasure

apply ourselves to the work of that office, without repining at those who are dignified with a higher place; nay, instead of looking at them with envy, we shall rejoice to bebold their diligence and success. If our Lord be well served, if much work be done, that will satisfy us, by whatsoever hapds the work is carried on. We shall execute what falls to our own share in the best manner we can; and pray for larger measures of grace to those who bave the honour to be employed in higher pieces of service.

4thly. To live unto the Lord, is to be wholly resigned to his disposal, blessing him at all times, in adversity as well as in prosperity; making him as welcome to take from us as to give unto us.

How well our Apostle had learned this important les. son, appears from his own words, (Phil. iv. 12.) “ I know both how to be abased, and I know how to a. bound; every where, and in all things I am instructed, both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” It is rebellion against our Lord to repine at any of bis dispensations, how afflicting soever. What have we that we did not receive from him ? and is it not lawful for him to do what he will with his own? David, after contemplating the heavens, the work of God's fingers, the moon and the stars which he had ordained, breaks forth into this exclamation, (Psal. viii. 4.) 6 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made bim a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.” He there celebrates the goodness of God, in assigoing to man, at his first creation, so bigh a rank among the variety and immensity of his works. The form of expression is a little varied, (Psal. cxliv. 3.) where, speaking of God's condescen

sion to man in his fallen and degraded state, he saith, “ Lord, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him? or the son of man, that thou makest account of bim? Man is like to vanity; his days are as a shadow that passeth away." This reflection arose from the experience he had of Goul's unmerited kindness to himself, “ who had taught his hands to war and his fingers to fight;" who had raised bim from the sheppfold to the throne of Israel, and bad “ subdued his people under him.” But I am persuaded you will agree with me, that what Job saith (Job vii. 17, 18.) is more striking and emphatical than either of the former two; wben, in the deepest adversity, he expressed bimself thus: “ What is man that thou shouldst magnify him ? and that thou shouldst set thine heart upon him ? and that thou shouldst visit him every morning, and try him every moment ?” David, speaking of the Divine beneficence, calls it a being "mindful" of man, “taking knowledge” of man, and “ making account” of him; but when Job speaks of correction and chastisement, he raiseth his style, and calls it God's “magnifying man,” and “setting his heart” upon bim. He wonders that God should bestow such attention upon a sinful creature; that he should stoop so low as to become his physician ; nay, that he should visit him every morning, to administer medicine for the recovery of his spiritual health, afflicting his body for the good of his soul. In this light will the true disciple of Jesus Christ view the most distressful events of Divine Providence. Convinced that his Lord knows what is good for him better than he doth, be will kiss the rod, and make every dispensation welcome; and though nature may shrink a little, and even wish that the bitter cup might pass from him, yet grace will teach him to consent, and dispose him to say, “ Nevertheless, not my wils, but thine be done.” Once more,

5thly. To live unto the Lord, is to be so thoroughly devoted to him, as to account that we live not at all, but in so far as we serve him, and show forth his praise.

This, I apprehend, expresseth the true spirit of the Apostle's words. He reckoned nothing worthy to be called living that was not subservient to the great purpose for which life was bestowed. He measured his time, not by days, or months, or years; but by a succession of services to his dear Master, by those acts of obedience he was enabled to perform. What portions of time were otherwise employed, he did not esteem to be living at all; these he reckoned among the vacancies of life, like the hours that pass away in sleep, which is the image of death. The true Christian prefers one day in the courts of the Lord to a thousand any where else, and would rather be a door-keeper in the house of his God, than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

Thus have I told you what is included in living unto the Lord. I shall now proceed,

11. In the second place, To apply this description of genuine Christianity as a measure or standard for helping us to judge of our spiritual condition. For this end, I must beg your attention, and the answer of a true conscience, to the following questions.

1st. Of what weight is the authority of God in your hearts ?

I am not inquiring, whether the things you do are commanded by God? I formerly observed, that there may be a deception here. God enjoins many things as duty, to which human nature, even in its present state, feeleth no aversion ; for our apostacy was chiefly from God himself; and though some fierce and unsocial passions have sprung from this bitter root, yet, in the main, we are not naturally disaffected to our fellow-men, but