As Christians we are assumed to be servants of God, and re-admitted into his family, from which for our disloyalty we had been discarded; so that as he was our natural Lord, so he is now such also by special grace; who did make us, who doth maintain us, under whose protection and at whose disposal we subsist; whence we are obliged to be faithfully diligent in his service: we must constantly wait upon him in devotional addresses; we must carefully study to know his pleasure; we must endeavour exactly to perform his will, and obey his commands; we must strive to advance his glory, to promote his interest, to improve all talents and advantages committed to us for those purposes; we must, as St. Paul expresseth it, "always abound in the work of the Lord.".

We must also look upon ourselves as servants of Christ our Redeemer; who by his blood hath purchased us to himself, that we might be " zealous of good

works;" performing a service to him, which consisteth in a faithful discharge of manifold duties, and in pursuance of all virtue; with most intent application of mind, with expedite promptitude, with accurate circumspection; "giving all diligence," as St. Peter speaketh, in "adding" one virtue to another; "being ready," as St. Paul saith, "to every good work" and " seeing that we walk circumspectly," or behave ourselves exactly according to the rules of duty in all our conversation.

This service requireth of us assiduous attendance on works of piety and devotion; that we do "incessantly watch to prayer," that we " always give thanks," that we" continually do offer up the sacrifice of praise to God."

66

66

It demandeth from us a continual "labour of charity;" that we serve one another in love;" that we should as "we have opportunity, work good to all men," that we should " always pursue

good toward one another, and toward all men.

It obligeth us "with all our powers to pursue peace with all men," (which, considering our natural peevishness, pride, and perverseness, is often no easy task,) and that we do "studiously endeavour to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace."

It chargeth on us contentedly and patiently to undergo whatever God doth impose of burthen or sufferance, so that

66

patience hath its perfect work ;" and it is a crabbed work to bend our stiff inclinations, to quell our refractory passions, to make our sturdy humour buckle thereto.

It doth exact that we should govern and regulate according to very strict and severe laws all the faculties of our soul, all the members of our body, all internal motion, and all external actions proceeding from us that we should check our inclinations, curb our appetites, and com

pose our passions; that we should guard our hearts from vain thoughts and bad desires; that we should bridle our tongues from evil and from idle discourses; that we should order our steps in the straight way of righteousness, not deflecting to the right hand or to the left.

In the discharge of this service, how many rough difficulties are there to be surmounted, how many great obstacles to be removed, how many stout oppositions to be encountered, how many potent enemies to be vanquished, how many sore hardships, crosses, and tribulations to be endured!

How shrewd a task must we find it to circumcise our hearts, to mortify our earthly members, to crucify our flesh with its affections and lusts, to pull out our right eyes, and cut off our right hands, to renounce our worldly interest, to hate our nearest relations, to take up and bear our cross, whenever conscience and duty shall call us thereto !

Our calling therefore doth require great industry; and the business of it consequently is well represented by those performances, which demand the greatest intention, and laborious activity; it is styled exercise, (agonistic and ascetic exercise; "Exercise thyself to godliness;" and "Herein I exercise myself to have always a conscience void of offence toward God and toward men;") wrestling, ("our wrestling is not only against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers;") running a race, ("Let us run with patience the race that is set before us: So run that ye may obtain: I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling;") a warfare, a combating, ("War a good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience: Fight the good fight: Thou therefore endure hardship, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ: Every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things;") offering violence, ("The kingdom of heaven