1

mated with this fteady and prevailing defire of pleafing God.

And, in the 1st place, This would make us ready to every good work, by removing all thofe grounds of hesitation and fufpence, whereby double-minded people are perplexed and retarded in their way. A man must be very flow in his motions, when every step is burdened with fuch questions as thefe: What will men think or fay of me, if I act in this manner? Will it endanger my reputation, or hurt my interest, or prevent my rifing in the world? You will eafily fee that à confiderable time muft elapfe before all thefe difficult points can be fettled. Whereas the man whofe fingle aim is to please God, is at once freed from all these incumbrances. He no fooner dif

than he proceeds

covers the will of God, immediately to action; and whilft the other is bewildered with numberlefs conjectures, he goes cheerfully forward, leaving all his temporal concerns in the hands of that God by whofe law he is governed, and to whofe difpofal he is entirely refigned. And is not this an unfpeakable advantage,

towards

towards abounding in the fruits of righteoufnefs? How free is the mind of fuch a man? how firm are his fteps? He walks ftraight forward, without deviating into bypaths; and whilft his confcience tells him that he is accepted of God, he enjoys a pure and unmixed tranquillity, which the world can neither give nor take away.

A 2d happy effect that would flow from our being animated with a steady and prevailing defire of pleafing God, would be, that our conduct would thereby become confiftent and uniform. God alone is invariable. What pleased him yesterday, pleaseth him to-day as well; and though his commandments are exceeding broad, yet they perfectly agree among themselves, and make one beautiful and harmonious system. Whereas men not only differ from one another, but, at times, from themselves alfo, and require oppofite and contradictory things; which makes it absolutely impoffible to please any number of them at one time, or even to continue long in the favour of any one of them, without the most difgraceful inconfiftencies in our conduct

But he whofe fingle aim is to please God, in fome measure resembles the Father of lights," with whom is no variableness, nei"ther fhadow of turning."- -"His path is "as the morning light, that fhineth more " and more unto the perfect day." His character is still brightening; he advanceth from one degree of grace to another and is every moment drawing near to the enjoyment of that God whofe approbation he constantly fought.

In the 3d place, The divine principle mentioned in my text, would produce an univerfal obedience to the laws of God, because they are but various ways of compaffing the important end at which it aims.

The man who is truly animated with it, will, like David, have a "respect to all "God's commandments;" and instead of complaining that they are grievous, will rather rejoice in being furnished with fuch a variety of opportunities for promoting the glory of his heavenly Father. This divine principle will have influence upon him in the moft fecret retirement, as well as when he acts in the open view of the world.

The

The hypocrite, who courts the approbation of men, may be very exact and punctual in the outward exercises of religion: but he who feeks to pleafe God, will not reft in thefe. He knows that his Father feeth him in fecret; he rejoiceth in the thought of it, and therefore omits no duty that bears the ftamp of his authority: Yea, his heart is as much engaged in the fevereft acts of felfdenial, as in thofe inftances of obedience which are accompanied with the most immediate pleasure and advantage.

this leads me to obferve, in the

-And

4th place, That a fincere defire of pleafing God, would likewife leffen the difficulties of obedience, and fupport us under all the fufferings to which our duty may at any time expofe us.-Perhaps our duty may be accompanied with much pain and trouble in the world: perhaps, like Paul, we may be fhamefully intreated, and, like the reft of the Apostles, looked upon as the filth and offscouring of all things. But still the Christian reasons thus :- What are these

'things to me? Is it not

better to please

God, than to indulge this corrupt flesh,

• or

or to feek the approbation of man," whofe breath is in his noftrils?" Should I please men, I could not be the fervant of * Christ. Thofe hardships and difficulties which I now fuffer, will foon be at an • end and though my good things are not • in this life, yet hereafter I fhall be comforted in that ftate, "where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at reft.' Was I not forewarned by my

bleffed Saviour, that the way to his king• dom lay through many tribulations; and fhall I now faint, because I find it to be fo? * Where can I enjoy fo good an opportunity of fhowing my regard to my Lord, as by ferving him, now that I am brought to the teft? He is now faying to me, as once *he faid to Peter, "Loveft thou me, more "than these?" Awake then, O my foul,

and answer with that Apostle, "Thou "Lord, who knoweft all things, knoweft "that I love thee;" and I adore thy goodnefs in granting me this opportunity of

testifying the strength and fincerity of my love, to thy glory and my unspeakable { comfort. Such will be the sentiments of

the