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

other places; and many of the brethern in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the I need not tell you that we early con- word without fear. Some indeed preach tract a love for many things which are Christ even of envy and strife; and some hurtful to our souls, and stand condemned also of good will. The one preach Christ by the laws of our sovereign. This ren- of contention, not sincerely, supposing to ders some parts of duty so painful to the add affliction to my bonds; but the other flesh, that they are compared in Scripture of love, knowing that I am set for the deto the "cutting off a right hand, and the fence of the gospel. What then? notplucking out a right eye;" operations withstanding every way, whether in prewhich no man would submit to, far less tence, or in truth, Christ is preached; perform them himself, unless the preser- and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will vation of the rest of his body rendered rejoice. For I know that this shall turn them absolutely necessary. Other parts to my salvation, through your prayer, and of duty are attended with inconveniences the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, of a different kind: they may draw upon according to my earnest expectation, and us the scorn, the hatred, and persecution my hope, that in nothing I shall be of a partial, blind, malignant world; so ashamed, but that with all boldness, as that if we listen either to the corrupt part always, so now also, Christ shall be magof our own nature, or to the voice of the nified in my body, whether it be by life multitude, we shall unavoidably be per- or by death. For to me to live is Christ, suaded to leave them undone, or rather to and to die is gain." (Phil. i. 12-21.) If do the contrary. Nothing else than a we live unto the Lord, we shall not seek prevailing habitual desire to please the great things for ourselves. This will be Lord can reconcile us to the practice of our only concern, that the Lord may be these self-denying duties. But if this magnified in us, and by us, either by our principle be deeply rooted in our hearts, doing or suffering; by our life or by our the roughest paths of obedience will soon death. We shall be contented to be embecome smooth; with resolution, nay, ployed in any station his wisdom shall with cheerfulness, we shall address our choose for us, and study to honor him in selves to our work; declining no service, that station by the diligent performance how painful or difficult soever, that we of the duties that belong to it. Though know will be crowned with the approba- we occupy the meanest office in his family, tion of our Judge. Thus did the primi- we shall with pleasure apply ourselves to tive Christians live unto the Lord. It ap- the work of that office, without repining peared a small matter to them to be at those who are dignified with a higher judged of man's judgment; this was their place; nay, instead of looking at them labor; that, whether present or absent, with envy, we shall rejoice to behold their they might be accepted of their Master. diligence and success. If our Lord be They so spake, and so acted, not as pleas- well served, if much work be done, that ing men, but God, who trieth the hearts will satisfy us, by whatsoever hands the of his creatures, and will render unto work is carried on. We shall execute every one according to his works. what falls to our own share in the best manner we can; and pray for larger measures of grace to those who have the honor to be employed in higher pieces of service.

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 dignity becoming the character of an apostle, he thus wrote to the Philippians: "I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me, have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; so that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all

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 lesson, appears from his own

sician; 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, he 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 will, 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. measured his time, not by days, or months, or years; but by a succession of services to his dear Master, by those acts of obe

He

words, (Phil. iv. 12.) "I know both how | tion upon a sinful creature; that he to be abased, and I know how to abound; should stoop so low as to become his phyevery 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 his 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.) “What is man, that thou art mindful of him; and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor." He there celebrates the goodness of God, in assigning to man, at his first creation, so high 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 condescension 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 him? Man is like to vanity; his days are as a shadow that passeth away." This reflec-dience he was enabled to perform. What tion arose from the experience he had of God's unmerited kindness to himself, "who had taught his hands to war and his fingers to fight;" who had raised him from the sheepfold to the throne of Israel, and had “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; when, in the deepest adversity, he expressed himself 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, magnifying man," and setting his heart" upon him. He won- I am not inquiring, whether the things ders that God should bestow such atten- you do are commanded by God? I for

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,

II. 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?

merly observed, that there may be a de- hypocrisy ? Are you as ready to perform ception here. God enjoins many things the most self-denying duties as those that as duty, to which human nature, even in are accompanied with immediate pleasure its present state, feeleth no aversion; for or advantage? Are you the same in seour apostasy was chiefly from God him- cret that you appear, or wish to appear, in self; and though some fierce and unsocial public? Or rather, do you not suit your passions have sprung from this bitter root, behavior to the humor of the times ? yet, in the main, we are not naturally dis- Can you charge yourselves with no inaffected to our fellow-men, but rather dis- stances of a timid compliance with the posed to wish them well, and even to do prevailing maxims and manners of the them good, provided our personal interest world? Hath not fashion some weight be not hurt by it. And therefore no man with you, to draw you into many things can be said with certainty to live unto the which you do not inwardly approve? and Lord, merely because he performs the are you not often restrained from doing common offices of justice, humanity and what conscience tells you ought to be done, beneficence, towards others with whom he by the fear of incurring the ridicule and is connected; for these things have a come-censure of others, even of those whom, in liness in them that is obvious to the dimmest eye; they are of good report among all men; and, in most cases, a man cannot serve himself more effectually than by practising them. But if he practise them merely, or even principally, to promote his own interest, he must not pretend that he liveth unto the Lord; he only serves himself, and must therefore be left to reward himself as he can. If he do not mean to serve the Lord, if he do not act from love and loyalty to his Sovereign, he can have no ground to expect any rewardness, that you may labor more abundantly, at his hand.

2dly. Whom do you seek to please, and whose approbation do you principally covet ?

your hearts, you do not, and cannot esteem? If so, then these very hearts must testify against you, that hitherto you have not been living unto the Lord.

3dly. What regard do you feel for the honor of your Lord?

Are you willing to become any thing, to do any thing, and to suffer any thing for his sake? Are you contented to serve him in the meanest station of his family? or if you aspire to an higher place, is it solely to enlarge your sphere of useful

and serve him to greater advantage, than your present inferior situation will permit? When we see you climbing upwards as fast as you can, may we really suppose If you only, or even chiefly, court the that this is your aim? That it ought to applause of men, it is plain that you do be your aim, is obvious; for he who came not live unto the Lord. "We labor," not to be administered unto, but to minissaith the apostle Paul, in the name of all ter, keeps no idle attendants about his true believers, "that whether present or person for mere parade and show. Earthabsent, we may be accepted of Christ; " Îy princes, who are made of the same ma2 Cor. v. 9. The Pharisees gave much terials with other men, need many exteralms; they were frequent, and loud, and nal appendages to eke them out, as it were, long in their prayers; but they did all "to and to give them bulk and importance in be seen of men;" and therefore our Lord the eye of the world; but he who made styled them hypocrites, and denounced the heavens and earth, infinitely disdains. many awful woes against them. I am to borrow any significancy from the worksensible that this species of hypocrisy is manship of his own hands. The angels not the disease of the present age: there that excel in strength do his commandare few that make much noise about their ments, hearkening unto the voice of his prayers or their alms; and there are still word: the highest seraph hath his task: fewer, I suppose, that can justly be charged" They are all ministering spirits, sent with excess in either; so that a caution forth to minister for them who shall be against being righteous overmuch seems heirs of salvation." And can any of the quite superfluous. But can you discover sons of men be so befooled by temporal nothing in yourselves that is akin to this prosperity, as to imagine that any little

I SHALL conclude this discourse with reminding you of those peculiar obligations that lie upon all who name the name of Christ, to live unto the Lord in the manner I have endeavored to describe.

elevation they can attain on this footstool, I will make all others to know you too, in relaxes their obligation to serve God so that day when every disguise shall be torn strictly as meaner men do? They may off, and your real character shall be pubimagine it; and when we survey the upper lished in the presence of an assembled ranks of life, we find too just cause to sus- world. pect, that this absurd and impious conceit is entertained by many; but the faithful and true Witness hath assured us, "that unto whomsoever much is given, of them much will be required; " and that the greater talent, if not faithfully improved, shall only heighten the condemnation of its possessor, and entitle him to more and heavier stripes. Once more let me ask, 4thly. What is it that gives the highest

1st. Unless we live unto the Lord, we shall counteract the very design of that marvellous love he hath manifested towards us, in giving himself for us an offering and sacrifice to God for a sweet-smell

body on the tree, that we being dead to sin, should live unto righteousness." "He gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." He died for all, that they who live," by the merit of his death, "should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him who died for them, and rose again." This is so much insisted upon in the New Testament writings, that the Socinians have represented it as the sole end for which our Lord both lived and died. But though we justly maintain, in opposition to them, that the death of Christ was, in the strictest propriety of

"One thing have I desired of the Lord," said David," and that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.""I count all things but loss," said the holy apostle Paul, "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." If you are sincerely devoted to the Lord Redeemer, you will value other things in exact proportion to their connection with him, and the relation they bear to him. You will prefer the Bible to all other books, because it is the word, the testa-language, a true propitiatory sacrifice for ment of your Lord. You will rejoice at expiating the guilt of sin, and rendering every return of the Sabbath, because it is the exercise of mercy to the sinner conthe Lord's day. You will delight in his sistent with the holiness and justice of saints, and account them the "excellent God; yet in expressing our abhorrence of ones in the earth," because they are dear their error, we must beware of running to your Lord, and bear his image. Prayer into the opposite extreme; for nothing will be your sweetest entertainment, be- can be more clearly asserted in the oracles cause it is the means of correspondence of truth, than that "the Son of God was and intercourse with your Lord: And manifested for this purpose, that he might doing good to the bodies, and more espe- destroy the works of the devil; "} or, in cially to the souls of men, will be relished other words, that he might prepare men by you as the most pleasant and honora- for heaven, by the sanctifying influences ble employment, because it renders you of his Spirit, as well as that he might purmost like unto your Lord, "who went chase a heaven for them by the merit of about doing good," leaving us an example his blood. And it deserves particular that we should follow his steps. And thus notice, that though the main difficulty the will you estimate all other things. first preachers of Christianity had to struggle with among their own countrymen, was to bring them off from a proud dependence upon their own righteousness, that they may rely upon Christ alone for pardon and acceptance; yet in declaring

These, and such like questions, I would have you to put to your own hearts, as in the presence of that God who is already perfectly acquainted with you; who will shortly cause you to know yourselves, and