belief shewed itself practically in his conduct. Thousands will admit, in words, all that has been stated respecting the value and necessity of religion, who do not thus "believe with the heart unto righteousness." They have not brought home to their minds, by serious reflection, the importance of the stake at issue. The blindness of their understandings, and their love of the present evil world, prevent their truly estimating the value of that recompence of reward which God has promised to all who love and obey him. They do not practically believe that reward to be so valuable or desirable as the Bible describes it to be; or, at least, there are other things which in their heart they love better. Their affections are so widely alienated from God, that they do not really esteem the service of God, or the reproach of Christ, to be greater riches than any earthly acquisition. In a word, they have not that firm and abiding persuasion, respecting those things which God has declared in his word, which the Apostle is describing in the chapter from which our text is taken. Their professed faith has never become to them, according to the definition already cited, "the substance of things hoped for, or the evidence of things not seen;" it has never brought the value of the soul, or the rewards of eternity, so powerfully before them, as to eclipse for

ever the vanities and pursuits of a sinful and unsatisfying world. They have not the principle which caused Enoch to "walk with God," and "to please him;" which led Noah, believing the certainty of the threatened judgment, to take shelter in the appointed ark; which made Abraham, in obedience to the Divine command, come out from a sinful land, and, in dependence upon the promise of God, seek a better country, even a heavenly; which induced him to perform the command of God even under the most painful circumstances, knowing that, sooner than the Divine promise should be broken, his son Isaac should be miraculously raised from the dead; which caused Moses to make the choice in our text; and which actuated all the other "cloud of witnesses," the triumphs of whose faith are recorded in the chapter before us.

Let, then, our earnest prayer be, that God would strengthen our faith; that, truly believing what he has revealed-feeling our sinfulness, our need of salvation, the infinite mercy of God in Christ, the necessity of true conversion to Him through the influences of the Holy Spirit, the shortness of time, the vanity of the world, the unspeakable importance of eternity, the joys of heaven, and the terrors of hell--we may lay these things to heart, and be influenced by them to " give diligence

to make our calling and election sure." Animated by this holy principle, let us "lay aside every weight" and "the sin which doth so easily beset us;" and "let us run with patience the race that is set before us," incited, not only by mortal examples, but "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who, for the joy that was set before him, endured (for us) the cross, despising the shame, and is now set down at the right hand of the Majesty on high," where "he ever liveth to make intercession for us;" pitying our infirmities, supporting us under our afflictions, pardoning our offences, justifying us by his merits, and cleansing us by his blood.

439

SERMON XXXVI.

ACQUAINTING OURSELVES WITH GOD.

JOB Xxii. 21-23.

Acquaint now thyself with Him, and

be at peace; Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart. If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up. Thou shalt put iniquity far from thy tabernacles.

thereby good shall come unto thee.

IN meditating upon this interesting passage of Scripture, we shall, First, consider the nature of the counsel here given; and, Secondly, the benefits which will result to us from following it; and, in so doing, may our hearts be directed to God in secret prayer, that, while listening to the injunction in the text, we may be inclined to obey it, and thus obtain the inestimable blessings which he has graciously connected with a compliance with this command.

First, then, we are to consider the counsel here given, which consists of three parts;

namely, to acquaint ourselves with God,—to be at peace with him, and to receive the law from his mouth.

1. "Acquaint thyself with God." The knowledge of our Creator lies at the foundation of all religion; for, "he that cometh to God must know that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." By nature we are ignorant of him. Something might indeed be learned respecting him from his works; for "the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal Power and Godhead;" so that, adds the Apostle, men are "without excuse, because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened." But this knowledge is but partial: and, partial as it is, it is not generally sought by mankind. Too many never reflect upon God as the Creator of all things; their supporter and governor; and the author of all their mercies. If a slight thought of his being or attributes pass through their minds, it is soon forgotten, and leaves behind it no traces of devout love or veneration. Though they believe in his existence, they cannot be said to be acquainted with him: and the little they know, instead of being