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which causes the object of it to be considered with pain. His is the fear of a rational creature towards its all-perfect Creator, of a servant towards a tender master, of a child towards its wise and merciful father. Therefore, in the same proportion as he increases in the knowledge of God, he increases also in the fear of him. tial is such a temper of mind towards God, where his attributes are known, that the bright inhabitants of heaven express themselves as if they could not suppose it possible there should be a reasonable being void of such a disposition; for they say, "Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, O King of saints! Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name, for thou art holy?"

A Christian fears the Lord, so as to stand in awe: he can neither be bribed, nor intimidated, wilfully to sin against him. But as he is encompassed with infirmities, snares, and temptations, so he finds it necessary at some seasons, to the end of his life, to repel solicitations to evil by reflecting upon the severity of God's vengeance on impenitent sinners; and by meditating upon the wrath of God revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. In this fear of the Lord is safety; and the longer he lives under its influence, the more it becomes a generous filial fear.

2. This fear therefore does not hinder, but promote the exercise of another disposition towards God, which is most conspicuous in every real Christian, namely, a readiness to obey God without reserve. He beholds his Maker's absolute dominion over him founded in his very being. Every faculty of his soul, and every member of his body, is a witness of his Maker's righteous claim to his life and to his labours; when he requires them to be employed in his service, he does but appoint the use of what is his own absolute property. Ever conscious of this, he resolutely regards the authority of God in a world which despises it: he uniformly persists in obedience to him, though his natural corruptions, his worldly interest, and the prevailing customs of the world should oppose it. In his judgment, the command of God alone constitutes a practice reasonable and necessary. He wants no higher authority to confirm it; nor can any objections from selfish considerations

induce him to evade its force, or prevaricate with respect to the obligation of the command. He makes his prayer unto the God of his life, to teach him his statutes; to set his heart at liberty from every evil bias, that he

may run the way of his commandments. He says unto God, "I am thine, O! save me, for I have sought thy commandments." And when, through surprise, he has been drawn aside, shame, sorrow, and indignation succeed his transgression, and he becomes more humble, and more vigilant also against temptation for the future.

3. Gratitude to God is also a distinguishing part of the christian disposition. Where there is any degree of honesty and generosity of mind, there will necessarily be a desire also of testifying a due sense of favours received; an eagerness to embrace the first opportunity of convincing our Friend and Benefactor, that we feel our obligations. In the case of benefits and favours conferred by man upon man, all acknowledge the duty of this grateful return, and all are ready to brand with ignominy the ingrate who repays with ill-will or neglect his liberal patron. But, alas! where the obligation is the greatest possible, it is often the least felt, and men scruple not to treat with neglect the supreme Benefactor of the human race. From this detestable crime the real Christian alone stands exempted. He perceives cogent and continual reasons for gratitude to God, and is impressed by them. He is deeply sensible of the bounty of his Maker in all the providences relating both to his body and to his soul. Food and raiment, health and strength, he day by day receives as undeserved instances of the loving-kindness of his God; and all these common blessings keep alive a glow of gratitude to God within him. But much more is he excited to thankfulness upon considering the mercies relating to his eternal interest. He freely acknowledges that God might have justly cut him off whilst he was living in rebellion against his law; or have left him to continue under that dreadful hardness and blindness of heart, which so long had power over him. Instead of this, he can say, "He hath opened my eyes and changed my heart; conquered the stubbornness of my own will, and given me an unfeigned desire to be conformed to his; made me a member of Christ; persuaded me by his Spirit of the truth and absolute

necessity of redemption by the Son of God. I am able, in some degree, to comprehend with all saints the length and breadth, the height and depth of the love of Christ. I have a distinct view of that long train of reproaches, miseries, and torments, which my salvation cost the Lord of life and glory. I behold, on the one hand, the fathomless abyss of woe from which he has rescued me; on the other, the eternal glory he has promised for my inheritance. Whilst I meditate upon all these things, and grow more and more intimately acquainted with their truth, I feel upon my mind an increasing conviction that the Lord hath dealt bountifully with me. I am glad to confess that no slave can be so absolutely the property of his master, as I am of God; nor any pensioner, though supported by the most rich and undeserved bounty, so strongly engaged to gratitude, as I am to glorify God both with my body and with my soul, which are his."

That such is the prevailing sentiment of a Christian, is evident from the apostle's declaration. When he is shewing the powerful motive which influenced him, and all the followers of the Lamb, to such eminent zeal in his service, he says, "The love of Christ constraineth us;"—with a pleasing force it bears down all opposition before it, like a mighty torrent, and carries forth our souls in all the actings of an ingenuous gratitude and thankfulness towards God.

4. Another eminent part of the christian disposition is affiance in God. The sin of unbelief, though so often upbraided in Scripture, so dishonourable to God, and so hurtful to ourselves, is still the sin which naturally prevails in all men and even the Christian is sometimes assaulted and greatly perplexed by it. But though he must confess that, in seasons of great difficulty and danger, he is sometimes afraid; he can say, with equal truth, "Yet will I "put my trust in God." He can and does habitually pay to his Maker that most acceptable homage of placing his supreme confidence in him. He, and he alone, can do this; because he not only knows in general that "great is the Lord, and great is his power, yea and his wisdom is infinite:" but he has positive and express promises of grace mercy, and peace, made to him. For as true repentance, humiliation, and faith in Jesus, have taken possession of

his heart, and are habitually exercised by him; so when he looks into the holy volume, he sees God always described as full of compassion, and abundant in mercy and truth to all repenting and believing sinners. The sight of this constantly invigorates his hope, and increases his confidence.

Besides, he is persuaded that God has given his dear Son, not only as a pledge of his affection towards sinners, but as a sin-offering for them. On the merit of this sacrifice he builds his confidence; he fixes his dependence, where alone it ought to be, on the God of his salvation. "God hath promised," says he, "to bring every one to glory, who receives his only begotten Son, and trusts on his arm. He hath confirmed this promise even with an oath; he has engaged himself by a covenant, ratified in the blood of his Son. This Son, as Mediator and Highpriest of his church, now appears perpetually before the throne of glory for all who come to God by him; he makes effectual intercession for the relief of their wants, and for the gift of all things which can edify, comfort, and make them meet for heaven."-Filled with this knowledge, and emboldened by it, he trusts in the Lord, and stays himself upon his God. Though it would be presumption," he says, "and enthusiasm in me to expect to receive from God what he has no where promised, or what he has promised, in a way different from what he has prescribed; yet whilst I am living by faith in the Son of God, and testifying my unfeigned subjection to him as my sovereign Lord, I cannot but rejoice in the thought that God is faithful, who has given us exceeding great and precious promises, and that he is able to do exceedingly above all that I can ask or think."

And as the Christian first exercises trust in God, encouraged by the revelation he has made of himself in the gospel, and the promises he has freely given, which none besides himself receive with sincerity; so upon every advance he makes in knowledge and grace, the grounds of his affiance in God grow clearer and stronger. His own happy experience confirms the truth of every promise which at first engaged his dependence. The truth of the word of the Lord is tried to the uttermost by a vast variety of temptations and enemies, that it may be made manifest

whether there is any deceit in it; but the experiment, though ever so often repeated, always confirms its value. He beholds his vile affections weakened and mortified, the violence of his enemies restrained, the pleasures and hopes of his spiritual life all exactly corresponding with the account given in the Holy word of God. Therefore, from this complete evidence of its truth, he sees that it is good for him to hold fast by God, and to put his trust in the Lord God. And though whilst he remains in this fallen world, and has the principle of corruption in his heart, he may often find evil propensities and the workings of unbelief; yet he is grieved, ashamed, and confounded at their appearance; he complains of himself unto God; he cries, Lord, increase my faith, deliver me from an evil heart of unbelief! And thus he is enabled

with boldness to say, Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord Jehovah is my strength, and my song, he also is become my salvation." (Isaiah xii. 2.)

But what completes the Christian's trust in God even under the most afflictive visitations, is the promise from himself, repeated upon various occasions, to this effect:"That all things shall work together for good to them that love God," Rom. viii. 28. His afflictions therefore he believes are so far from being the scourge of an enemy, or the wound of a cruel one; so far from coming by chance, or upon a design of vengeance, that they are sent with a view to his welfare. It is " for our profit" that God afflicts, to make us 'partakers of His holiness." A lively persuasion of this truth prevents the cross from galling, though it does not remove it; it gives to every suffering a kind and friendly appearance. Thou, O God, of very faithfulness hast caused me to be troubled. -It is the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?"

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5. It is a distinguishing part of the Christian's temper in all things to give glory to God. We give glory to another, when, with high esteem and cordial regard, we declare the excellences he possesses. The Christian constantly endeavours in this manner to glorify God; to convince all who observe his deportment, that he looks upon the goodness, wisdom, holiness, and sovereign dominion