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Secondly, obstinacy in error, or in a wrong purpose. Psal. xix. 13. keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me; then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Jer. ii. 35. behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned. Acts vii. 51. ye stiff-necked, and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost.

CHAP. III.

OF

THE VIRTUES BELONGING TO THE SERVICE OF GOD.

SPECIAL virtues are those which pertain only to a particular branch of our duty; namely, to our duty towards God, or towards man.

OUR DUTY TOWARDS GOD relates to HIS IMMEDIATE WORSHIP or SERVICE; which is either internal or external.

Internal worship consists mainly in the acknowledgement of the one true God, and in the cultivation of devout affections towards him. Deut. vi. 4. hear, O Israel; Jehovah our God is one Jehovah; as in the first book, on God.

Opposed to this is, first, atheism. Psal. xiv. 1. the fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. also liii. 1. See more on this subject in the first book, as above.

Secondly, polytheism, or the acknowledgement of more Gods than one, except in the sense authorized by Scripture itself. Gal. iv. 8. when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no Gods.

DEVOUT AFFECTIONS TOWARDS GOD are LOVE, TRUST, HOPE, GRATITUDE, FEAR, HUMILITY, PATIENCE, OBEDIENCE. Deut. x. 12, 13. what doth Jehovah thy God require of thee, but to fear Jehovah

thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve Jehovah thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul; to keep the commandments of Jehovah and his statutes.

THE LOVE OF GOD is that by which we prefer him above all other objects of affection, and desire his glory. Deut. vi. 5. thou shalt love Jehovah thy God with all thine heart-. See also Matt. xxii. 37.

Desire his glory. Numb. xiv. 15, 16.

then the nations will speak,

saying, Because Jehovah was not able to bring this people into the land. Josh. vii. 9. what wilt thou do unto thy great name?

Opposed to this is a hatred of God: John xv. 24. they have hated both me and my Father; and a love of the world or of created things. Luke xiv. 33. whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. 1 Cor. vii. 31. they that use this world, as not abusing it. Philipp. iii. 7, 8. what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ; yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung that I may win Christ. James iv. 4. know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 1 John ii. 15. love not the world.

Of faith, in its primary sense, and as the instrumental cause of justification, I have spoken above; I now speak of TRUST IN GOD, considered as an effect of love, and as a part of internal worship, whereby we wholly repose on him. 2 Chron. xx. 20. believe in Jehovah your God, so shall ye be established. Psal. xviii. 2, 3, &c. Jehovah is my rock and my fortress....in whom I will trust, my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. So also Psal. xxvii. xxviii. 7. xxxii. 10. xxxvii. 5. commit thy way unto Jehovah, trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass. So also lxi. lxii. lxxiii. 26. lxxxiv. 12. cxii. 7. cxv. 9, &c. cxxiii. cxxx. 6. Prov. xiv. 26. in the fear of Jehovah is strong confidence, and his

children shall have a place of refuge. xvi. 3. commit thy works unto Jehovah, and thy thoughts shall be established. See also xviii. 10. xxx. 5. Isai. lix. 1. behold, Jehovah's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save. Jer. xvii. 7. blessed is the man that trusteth in Jehovah, and whose hope Jehovah is. Mal. iii. 16-18. then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, &c.

say, I

Opposed to this is, first, distrust of God. Gen. xii. 13. pray thee, thou art my sister. xxxii. 7. then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed. Numb. xiv. 1, &c. all the congregation lifted up their voice and cried. xx. 10, 11. must we fetch you water out of this rock? with his rod he smote the rock twice. 2 Kings vii. 2. if Jehovah would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? Isai. vii. 12. I will not ask, neither will I tempt Jehovah..

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Secondly, an overweening presumption. Numb. xiv. 44. they presumed to go up unto the hill top. xv. 30. the soul that doeth ought presumptuously. Prov. xxvii. 1. boast not thyself of to-morrow. Amos v. 18. woe unto you that desire the day of Jehovah. Mic. iii. 11. the heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon Jehovah, and say, Is not Jehovah among us? Matt. iii. 7. O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? iv. 6, 7. thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Rom. ii. 4. despisest thou the goodness-?

Thirdly, carnal reliance.

riches of his

2 Chron. xvi. 7. because thou hast relied

on the king of Syria-. v. 12. in his disease he sought not to Jehovah, but to the physicians. Psal. xiv. 6. ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because Jehovah is his refuge. See also exviii. 8, 9. cxlvi. 3. put not your trust in princes. cxlvii. 10. he delighteth not in the strength of the horse. Prov. xxix. 26. many seek the ruler's favour. Isai. xxx. 2. to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, &c. iii. 1. the Lord doth take away......the stay and the staff. xxii. 8. thou didst look

in that day to the armour of the house of the forest. xxxi. 1. woe to them that go down to Egypt for help. Jer. xvii. 5. cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart depart eth from Jehovah. Amos vi. 13. ye which rejoice in a thing of nought.

Fourthly, a trust in idols. 2 Kings i. 2. go, enquire of Baal

zebub—. More will be said on this subject hereafter, under the head of idolatry.

HOPE is that by which we expect with certainty the fulfilment of God's promises. Job xiii. 15. though he slay me, yet will I trust in him. Psal. xxxi. 24. be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in Jehovah. xxvii. 14. wait on Jehovah. cxix. 116. let me not be ashamed of my hope. Prov. x. 28. the hope of the righteous shall be gladness. Isai. xl. 31. they that wait upon Jehovah shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles. Rom. v. 4, 5. experience worketh hope; and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts.

Opposed to this virtue, as well as to faith, is doubt; to which even the pious are sometimes liable, at least for a time. 1 Sam. xxvii. 1. David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul. Matt. xiv. 31. O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? xxi. 21. if ye have faith and doubt not. Mark xi. 23. whosoever shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe-.

Secondly, despair; which takes place only in the reprobate. Gen. iv. 13. Cain said unto Jehovah, My punishment is greater than I can bear. Matt. xxvii. 5. he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. Acts i. 18. falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst.

GRATITUDE towards God is that whereby we acknowledge his goodness in conferring benefits upon creatures so unworthy as our

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