hallow God's name, and sanctify him in an ordinance, when we give him the vitals of religion, and a heart flaming with zeal.

the voice of one crying,—he is the prince; I am but a lesser star, he is the sun; I baptize only with water,-he with the Holy Ghost. This is a hallowing God's name, when we translate all the honour from ourselves to God, Ps. cxv. 1, "Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory!" The king of Sweden wrote that motto on the battle at Leipsic. Ista a Do

with me. If a Christian hath any assistance in duty, or victory over temptation, he rears up a pillar and writes upon it, Hucusque adA. 7. We hallow and sanctify God's name, juvavit Deus,-hitherto the Lord hath helpwhen we hallow his day, Jer. xvii. 22, "Hal-ed me. John Baptist transferred all the holow ye the sabbath-day." Our Christian nour from himself to Christ; he was content sabbath-which comes in the room of the to be eclipsed that Christ might shine the Jews' sabbath-is called the Lord's day, Rev. more, John i. 15, “He that cometh after me i. 10. This was anciently called dies lucis, is preferred before me." I am but the herald, —a day of light, wherein Christ the Sun of Righteousness shines in an extraordinary manner. It is an honour done to God, to hallow his sabbath. 1st. We must rest on this day from all secular works, Jer. xvii. 22. Bear no burden on the sabbath day. As Joseph, when he would speak with his brethren, thrust out the Egyptians, so when we would have converse with God on this day, we must thrust out all earthly employ-mino facta sunt,—the Lord hath wrought this ments. It is observable, Mary Magdalene victory for us. refused to anoint Christ's dead body on the sabbath day, Luke xxiii. 56; she had before prepared her ointment and spices, but came not to the sepulchre till the sabbath was past; she rested on that day from civil work, though it were a commendable and glorious work, the anointing of Christ's dead body. 2d. We must in a solemn manner devote ourselves to God on this day; we must spend this whole day with God. Some will hear the word, but leave all their religion at church; they do nothing at home, they do not pray or repeat the word in their houses, and so they rob God of a part of his day. It is bewailing to see how God's day is profaned! Let no man think God's name is hallowed while his sabbath is broken.

A. 8. We hallow and sanctify God's name, when we ascribe the honour of all we do to him, Ps. xcvi. 8, "Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name." Herod, instead of hallowing God's name, stained the honour of his name, in assuming that praise to himself which was due to God, Acts xii. 23. We ought to take the honour from ourselves and give it to God, 1 Cor. xv. 10, “I laboured more abundantly than they all." One would think this had savoured of pride, but the apostle pulls the crown from his own head, and sets it upon the head of free grace: "Yet not I, but the grace of God which was

A. 9. We hallow and sanctify God's name by obeying him. How doth a son more honour his father, than by obedience? Ps. xl. 8, "I delight to do thy will, O my God!" The wise men showed honour to Christ, not only by bowing the knee to him, by presenting him with gold and myrrh, Mat. ii. 11. We hallow God's name, not only by lifting up our eyes and hands to heaven, and bowing the knee in prayer, but by presenting God with golden obedience. As the factor trades for the merchant, so we trade for God, and lay out our strength in his service. It was a saying of reverend Dr Jewel, “I have spent and exhausted myself in the labours of my holy calling." To obey is better than sacrifice.' The cherubims representing the angels, are set forth with their wings display. ed, to show how ready they are to do service to God. To obey is angelical. To pretend honour to God's name, yet not to obey, is but a devout compliment. Abraham honoured God by obedience; he was ready to sacrifice his son, though the son of his old age, and a son of the promise, Gen. xxii. 16, 17, "By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thy only son; that in blessing, I will bless thee."

A. 10. We hallow and sanctify God's

name when we lift up God's name in our praises. God is said to sanctify, and man is said to sanctify: God sanctifies us, by giving us grace, and we sanctify him by giving him praise. What were our tongues given us for but to be organs of God's praise? Ps. lxxi. 8, "Let my mouth be filled with thy praise, and with thy honour all the day," Rev. v. 13, "Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever." Thus God's name is hallowed and sanctified in heaven; the angels and glorified saints are singing hallelujahs; let us begin the work of heaven here. David did sing forth God's praises and doxologies in a most melodious manner, therefore was called the sweet singer the tables, Exod. xxxii. 19. We grieve to of Israel, 2 Sam. xxiii. 1. Praising God is a see God's sabbaths profaned, his worship hallowing of God's name, it spreads his re-adulterated, the wine of truth mingled with nown, it displays the trophies of his excel- error.-2d. We grieve when God's church lency, it exalts him in the eyes of others, is brought low, because now God's name Ps. 1. 23, "Whoso offereth praise glorifieth suffers. Nehemiah lays to heart the miseme." This is one of the highest and purest ries of Sion; his complexion begins to alter, acts of religion; in prayer we act like men, and he looks sad, Neh. ii. 2, "Why is thy -in praise we act like angels; this is the countenance sad?" What! sad, when the music of heaven, this is a work fit for a king's cup-bearer, and wine is so near! saint, Ps. cxlix. 5, 6, "Let the saints be joy-but it fared ill with the church of God, and ful, let the high praises of God be in their mouths!" None but saints can in a right manner thus hallow God's name by praising him. As every one hath not skill to play on the viol and organ, so every one cannot rightly sound forth God's harmonious praises; only the saints can do it; they only can make their tongue and heart join in concert, Ps. ix. 1, "I will bless thee, O Lord, with my whole heart ;" and Ps. lxvi. 17, "He was extolled with my tongue." There was joining in concert. This hallowing God's name by praise is very becoming a Christian; it is unbecoming to murmur, this is a dishonouring God's name, but it becomes the saints to be spiritual choristers in singing forth the honour of God's name. It is called "the garment of praise," Isa. Ixi. 3. How comely and handsome is this garment of praise for a saint to wear! Ps. xxxiii. 1, "Praise is comely for the upright." Especially, it is a high degree of hallowing God's name, when we can speak well of God, and bless him in an afflicted state, Job i. 21,

"The Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord!" Many will bless God when he gives, but to bless him when he takes away is in a high degree to honour God and hallow his name. Let us thus magnify God's name. Hath not God given us abundant matter of praising him? He hath given us grace,-a mercy spun and woven out of his bowels; and he intends to crown grace with glory, this should make us hallow God's name by being trumpets of his praise.

A. 11. We hallow and sanctify God's name when we sympathize with him; we grieve when his name suffers. 1st. We lay to heart his dishonour. How was Moses affected with God's dishonour! He breaks

religion seemed to lose ground, and God's name suffered therefore Nehemiah grows weary of the court,―he leaves his wine and mingles his drink with weeping! This holy sympathy and grieving when God's name suffers, God esteems an honouring and sanctifying his name. Hezekiah grieved when the king of Assyria reproached the living God, Isa. xxxvii. 17. He went up into the house of the Lord, and spread the letter of blasphemy before the Lord," 2 Kings xix. 14. And no doubt watered the letter with his tears; he seemed not to be so much troubled at the fear of losing his own life and kingdom, as that God should lose his glory.

A. 12. We hallow and sanctify God's name when we give that same honour to God the Son as we give to God the Father, John v. 23, "That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father." The Socinians deny Christ's divinity, saying that he is a mere man: this is to make him below the angels, Ps. viii. 5, for the human nature,

considered in itself, is below the angelical; count him unwise, that should contend more this is to reflect dishonour upon the Lord of for a box of counters than for his box of eviglory. We must give equal honour to the dences. Son as to the Father; we must believe A. 14. We hallow and sanctify God's Christ's Deity; he is the picture of his Fa- name, by making as many proselytes as we ther's glory, Heb. i. 3. If the Godhead be in can to him; when, by all holy expedients, Christ, he must needs be God; but the God- counsel, prayer, example, we endeavour the head shines in him, Col. ii. 9, "In him dwell- salvation of others. How did Monica, St eth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily;" | Austin's mother, labour for his conversion! therefore, he is God. How could these divine She had sorer pangs in travail for his new titles be given to Christ, Omnipotency, Heb. birth, than for his natural birth. It is a hali. 3,-Ubiquity, Matt. xxviii. 20,-a power lowing of God's name, when we diffuse the of sealing pardons, Matt. ix. 6,-Co-equality sweet savour of godliness and propagate rewith God the Father, both in power and dig-ligion to others; when not only we ourselves nity, John v. 21, 23,-how, I say, could these honour God, but are instruments to make titles of honour be ascribed to Christ, if he others honour him; certainly when the heart were not crowned with the Deity? When is seasoned with grace, there will be an enwe believe Christ's Godhead, and build our deavour to season others. God's glory is as hope of salvation on the corner-stone of his dear to a saint as his own salvation; and that merit, when we see neither the righteous- this glory may be promoted, he endeavours ness of the law, nor of angels, can justify, the conversion of souls; every convert is a but we flee to Christ's blood as to the altar member added to Christ. Let us thus hallow of refuge, this is an honouring and sancti- God's name by labouring to advance piety in fying God's name. God never thinks his others; especially, let us endeavour that name to be hallowed, unless his Son be ho- those who are nearly related to us, or are noured. under our roof, shall honour God, Josh. xxiv. 15, " As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Let us make our houses Bethels, places where God's name is called upon, Col. iv. 15, "Salute Nymphas, and the church that is in his house." Let the parent endea vour that his children may honour God, and the master that his servants honour him; read the word, drop holy instruction, perfume your houses with prayer; the Jews had sacrifices in their family as well as in the tabernacle, Exod. xii. 3. This is a hallowing God's name, when we make proselytes to him, and endeavour that all under our charge should honour and sanctify his name.

A. 13. We hallow God's name by standing up for his truths. Much of God's glory lies in his truths; God's truths are his oracles. God intrusts us with his truths as a treasure; we have not a richer jewel to intrust God with than our souls, nor God hath not a greater jewel to intrust us with than his truths. God's truths set forth his glory; now when we are zealous advocates for God's truths, this is an honour done to God's name. Athanasius was called 'the bulwark of truth;' he stood up in the defence of God's truths against the Arians, and so was a pillar in the temple of God; better have truth without peace, than peace without truth. It concerns the sons of Zion to stand up for the great doctrines of the gospel: the doctrine of the Trinity, the Hypostatical union,-justification by faith, the saints' perseverance. We are bid to contend earnestly, Jude 3, to strive as in an agony for the faith, that is, the doctrine of faith; this contending for the truth, brings great revenues to heaven's exchequer; this is a hallowing of God's name. Contend for the truth; some can contend for ceremonies, but not for the truth. We should

A. 15. We hallow God's name when we prefer the honour of God's name before the dearest things. 1st. We prefer the honour of God's name before our own credit. The saints of old have, for the honour of God, been willing to endure reproach, Ps. lxix. 7, "For thy sake I have borne reproach." David cared not what reproach he suffered so God's name might not suffer. The prophet Elijah was called in derision, the hairy prophet;' and the prophet Isaiah, ‘the bearer of burdens;' and the prophet Zepha

4

niah, the bitter prophet;' but they did bind | Gentiles through you," so by our holy and these reproaches as a crown about their head; Bible-conversation we honour God's name. the honour of God's name was dearer to them than their own honour. Moses esteemed the reproaches of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, Heb. xi. 26. The apostles went away rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of Christ, Acts v. 41,-that they were graced so far as to be disgraced for the name of Christ. This is a hallowing God's name, when we are content to have our name eclipsed, that God's name may shine the more.-2d. We prefer the honour of God's name before our worldly profit and interest, Matt. xix. 27, "We have forsaken all and followed thee." When these two, God and estate, come in competition, we will rather let estate go than God's love and favour. Thus that noble marquis of Vico parted with a fair estate using these words, "Let their money perish with them, that count all the gold and silver in the world worth one hour's communion with Jesus Christ.-3d. We prefer the honour of God's name before our life, Rom. viii. 36, "For thy sake are we killed all the day long." The honour done to God's name, is not by bringing that outward pomp and glory to him as we do to kings, but God's honour comes in another way, and that is by the sufferings of his people; when the world sees how entirely God's people love him, that they will die in his service, this exalts and honours God's name; God's crown doth flourish in the ashes of his martyrs. St Basil speaks of a virgin, condemned to the fire, who having her life and estate offered her, if she would bow to the idol, answered, Valeat vita, pareat pecunia,—Let life and money go, welcome Christ. When God's glory weighs heaviest in the balance, and we are willing to suffer the loss of all rather than God's name should suffer, now we do in a high degree hallow God's name.

A holy life speaks louder than all the anthems and praises in the world; though the main work of religion lies in the heart, yet when our light so shines, that others behold it, now they glorify God; when our lives shine, now God's name shines. The Macedonians used one day in the year to wear the picture of Alexander set with pearl and costly jewels: so when we carry the picture of Christ about us in our holy example, now we bring honour to God's name.

Use 1st. See the true note and character of a godly person; he is a sanctifier of God's name, "Hallowed be thy name." A true saint doth ambitiously endeavour to advance God's name. This is the question he asks himself in every thing he is going about: "Will this action tend to the honour of God's name? Will this exalt God?" This was St Paul's chief design, that Christ might be magnified, Phil. i. 20. viz. that the crown upon his head might flourish. A godly man thinks it is scarce worth his while to live if he may not bring some revenues of honour to God's name.

Use 2d. I may here take up a sad lamentation, and speak, as the apostle Paul, weeping, Phil. iii. 18, to consider how God's name, instead of being hallowed and sanctified, is dishonoured. God's name-which is more worth than the salvation of all men's souls-suffers deeply. We are apt to speak of our sufferings,-alas! what are all our sufferings? God's name suffers most. God's name is the dearest thing he hath. How do men stand upon their name and honour? God's name is this day dishonoured, it is like the sun in an eclipse. Theodosius took it heinously when they threw dirt upon his statue; but now-which is far worse-disgrace is thrown upon the glorious name of Jehovah. God's name, instead of being hallowed, is dishonoured by all sorts, 1. By heathens; 2. Turks; 3. Jews; 4. Papists; 5. Protestants.

A. 16. We do hallow and sanctify God's name, by a holy conversation, 1 Pet. ii. 9, "Ye are a royal priesthood, a peculiar 1. By heathens. They have a knowledge people: that ye should show forth the praises of a Godhead by the light of nature, Rom. of him who hath called you." As an unholy i. 19, but they dishonour God, and sin against life doth dishonour God's name, Rom. ii. 24, the light of nature. The Egyptians worship "The name of God is blasphemed among the an ox; the Persians worship the sun; the

Grecians and Romans, Jupiter; and the Par-" Who can forgive sin but God only?" (2). thians worship the devil.

2. God's name is dishonoured by the Turks. They adore Mahomet their great prophet, as one divinely inspired; Mahomet was of an impure, vicious life; Mahomet plucks the crown from Christ's head denying his Deity.

3. God's name is dishonoured by the Jews who give not equal honour and adoration to God the Son, as to God the Father. They expect a Messiah yet to come,-seculum futurum; they believe not in Christ, they blaspheme him, and slight righteousness imputed; they vilify the Christian sabbath.