IV.

Stand in awe, and fin not.-Pfalm iv. 4.

THE occafion, and primary intention of many of the pfalms of David, are uncertain. It is of lefs moment however, as we may ftill apply to ourselves the inftructive precepts, and noble ftrains of piety and devotion, with which they abound.

The pfalm before us is of this kind. The occafion is obfcure: the inftruction distinct, and manifold. I have chofen the fourth verfe to discourse on, Stand in awe, and fin not: from which words I propose to fhew you the feveral ways, in which standing in awe prevents finning: and you may confider, as I go on, in which of these ways you yourselves are restrained.

There are fome people indeed, whose wicked lives fuffer no reftraint-who ftand in awe of nothing. These are totally excluded from the idea of the text.

There are others who ftand in fome awe-but it is only of the laws of the land. Though they have no fear of God before their eyes, they

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stand

stand dreadfully in awe of profecutions and imprisonments; and differ only from the others in poffeffing lefs hardinefs of temper.

Others again have ftill a little more to fay for themfelves, and but a little. They are under no temptation of committing open acts of violence, and therefore want no reftraint of law. But they stand greatly in awe of the opinion of the world. Their character is their idol; and through an attention to this, they refrain from many wrong actions, which draw upon them the contempt of mankind. Thus, without any fenfe of religion, they affume the appearance of decent moral men. Religion indeed we expect not from them; but their motive is so bad, that even their morality is worth little.

There is another fet of men, who have more religion than any of the former-for they have religion enough to be afraid of damnation; though not enough to take the proper steps to avoid it. They live in a continued ftrife, between confcience, and indulgence. There is fomething like religion here. It occafions a ftruggle. How that ftruggle may end is yet to be feen; at prefent, as it does not lead them to act on a right motive, it is of little value.

The last fet of men, who are included in the pfalmift's text, are thofe who, divested of all thoughts of future punishment, or of the opinion of the world, fand in awe of God, through a fear of offending him. It is fear in one sense; but it is accompanied with that perfect love, which, in another fenfe, cafteth out fear.

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V.

Beloved, now are we the fons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall fee him; as he is -And every one that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself, even as he is pure.1 John iii. 2, 3.

THE divine author of this paffage, among a multitude of heavenly themes, which he has propofed to our contemplation, has not propofed one more full of wonderful, and affecting matter than this. He fets before us our new birth, and inheritance-our hopes our motives-and ́ glorification altogether, in one point of viewLet us follow him through the particulars of this wonderful difplay of grace.

Beloved, now are we the fons of God. By embracing and fincerely obeying, the chriftian religion, we become heirs of all its promises, and hopes the great curfe is removed-God's holy fpirit is fhed abroad in our hearts—and we are fitted for that heavenly state, which is prepared

for

for us. All this is the confequence of our being the adopted fons of God through Christ. We are purified in this world; and fhall be glorified in the next.

But what is this ftate of glory which is promifed to us? We are acquainted with the things of this world; and know they are adapted to us, and we to them: but what notices have we of thefe heavenly things?

It is true fays thé apoftle (in answer to this queftion) it doth not yet appear what we shall be. It is impoffible in this world to have any ideas of the glory of the next. Flesh and blood cannot reveal these things to us; neither are we capable of receiving them, if they should be revealed. In these things, as in many others, we must walk by faith, not by fight.*-Under the guidance therefore of faith, we are affured, that when he shall appear, we fall be like him; for we shall him as he is.-We have the fame fentiment rather more ftrongly expreffed, in St. Paul's epiftle to the Philippians: We look for the Saviour, the Lord Jefus Chrift, who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body.

*2 CORINTHIANS, V. 7.

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