He is worthy that we should deeply humble ourselves before him, under personal rebukes.-Eli had been very culpable himself, and penitence strengthened his submission.

He is worthy that we should trust him implicitly, even when we cannot see the reasons of his conduct.-These were more obvious in the death of Eli's sons, than in suffering the ark to be taken.

He is worthy that we should acquiesce in his will, as soon it is made known to us.-We do not expect to be informed of this by a particular revelation, as Eli was. But when known by the event, as in the case of David's child. 2 Sam. xii. 16. 29.

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He is worthy we should resign ourselves, and all we have, to his disposal." He performeth the thing appointed for me, and many such things are with him." My times are in thy hand." And where could we wish them better? Would you rather it should be according to your own mind? Job xxxiv. 33. Do you know best what is good for you "Be anxious for nothing," &c.

?

He is worthy we should give up whatever he requires us to resign." The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away," &c. We have no claim upon him for our comforts, so long as they remain with us; and surely he has a right to recal them: especially to take his own children to eternal rest. He is the best judge when their education is finished, whom he is training up for glory. He knows when they whom he makes most useful, have done all that he has allotted them. He will not call them hence by mistake, while he has need of them here. He does not think it best, to let all wear out by degrees, and outlive their usefulness, till their very friends wish them out of the way. We may easily guess at some reasons why it is best all should be apparently uncertain; that we may see the necessity of being always ready, and not pursue earthly things too eagerly. Whilst we

remember, that the Lord is infinitely worthy that we should devote ourselves to him, without any reserve; and always act as conscious that we are not our own, but his, and that whatever we call ours, is strictly the Lord's.

He is worthy that we should prefer his glory, and the advancement of his kingdom in the world, and in our own hearts, to every thing else; and be sincerely willing that he should use his own way to accomplish these important objects.

Ah! if we did but thoroughly believe the very first principles of revealed religion, and act indeed under their influence, how reasonable and easy would the hardest duties appear! Let us treat God as God; and what can disconcert us, or make us unhappy!

VIII.

SIN CONSIDERED AS DESPISING GOD.

2 SAM. xii. 10.

"Thou hast despised me."

"WOE unto the world, because of offences," said our blessed Lord : "it must needs be that offences come, but woe unto that man by whom the offence cometh." Even if he be

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found a true believer, and should he be saved at last, he shall meet with severe correction : God will visit his transgressions with the rod, and his iniquity with stripes; but his loving kindness he will not utterly take from him, nor suffer his faithfulness to fail." David is a striking proof of this. And though his history has been abused by some wanton professors, and has been the occasion of many infidels reviling revelation; yet whoever attends impartially to the whole history, will see that neither the one, nor the other, have any just ground for the inferences they so eagerly draw from it.

While his awful fall shows us the depravity of the heart, and the deceitfulness of sin; God's reproof, and his providential correction, even after David's sincere repentance, fully displays the purity of the divine nature, and the abhorrence with which he views sin, wheresoever he sees it.

This one expression, used by God himself, in the message which he sent to David, by Nathan the prophet, is pecu

liarly striking and emphatic-" Because thou hast despised me!"

I would,

FIRST, Attend to some introductory remarks on the import of this phrase.

sin.

The sins of believers have as much intrinsic evil as the sins of others they equally tend to God's dishonor. They are not, indeed, committed with so full an inclination of will, nor without opposition and inward struggles. Nor do they actually bring them into eternal condemnation. But, though not committed without opposition, yet their prevailing against that opposition is an evidence of the malignant power of And though they do not eventually bring them to hell, yet they really deserve eternal banishment from God. And though pardoned, yet it is in such a way as to demonstrate their evil more than personal punishThough the sins of believers do not overthrow their salvation, yet they darken their evidence of interest in it, and rob them of its inestimable joys. Nor can these be regained till the backslider is brought to true repentance. All obligations considered, the sins of believers are attended with greater aggravations than those of others, and are therefore most odious and abominable. Consequently, the very love of God to his people, will induce him to embitter sin to them; and in case of open scandal, he will probably show this to others. Let me,

ment.

SECONDLY, Insist on the principal idea in the text; viz. That sin, especially in believers, is a despising of God.

It is a despising of those excellences which are peculiar to the Supreme Being. A practical denial of his infinite An affront offered to all his attriTo his omnipresence and

loveliness and glory.

butes separately considered.

A

omniscience. David's attempt to hide it from man, only led him on to still greater evils. xi. 8. xiii. 15. To his purity, holiness, justice, and truth. To his omnipotence, or power to recompense, &c. denial or contempt of his supreme authority and dominion. A denial of his rightful propriety in us. A denial of the easiness and pleasantness A denial of his all-sufficiency to make It is acting such a part as would be ac

of his service. us happy.

counted a sign of contempt, if any fellow-creature, to whom are we stood related, or were indebted, should be treated by us in like manner. For example: If a man were our superior, our king, or only our master: if he were our benefactor, father, or friend would not any one take it as an affront, an insult, or a mark of contempt? If we slighted his just

authority, or contradicted his express will. If we treated him as a hard master; acting as though we must leave his family, or violate his laws, to be happy. If we should harbour his worst enemies, and show that we preferred them before him. If we should encourage them that hated him, to reproach him; or should countenance their slanders against him. If we should forsake and shun his If we should undervalue his richest faIf we should requite him evil for good. Deut. If we should act contrary to the best advice he had given us. If we should attempt to frustrate his favorite schemes for our good, which he had been at great pains and expense to accomplish: how ill would those things be taken ? And is not sin, a despising Christ,

company.

vors. xxxii. 6.

on whom sin was punished?

THIRDLY: Make application of it to ourselves.

O believers! examine yourselves. Have you not all been guilty, in some degree, of thus despising your Lord? Think of the aggravations of your sins. What are you? Who is he?

"THOU hast despised ME."

Και συ τεκνον ; said Casar to Brutus.

Thou David! taken from the sheepcote, delivered from the lion-the bear-Goliah-Saul-and raised to the throne of Israel! Thou believer! delivered from the lowest hell, and adopted into the family of heaven! buried with Christ in baptism; fed at the Lord's table!

Think of his intrinsic glory, and reflect on the relations he condescends to sustain. The self-existent, eternal Jehovah, the God of the whole earth, the God of the armies of heaven, adored by angels, before whom devils tremble. Your Redeemer, your father, your friend, your

portion, your God.

Shall

Oh! lament and mourn, and be ashamed: be filled with self-contempt, and self-abhorrence. But we have not sinned like David.' But have you never despised, or slighted the Lord? nor neglected his glory? What a Bochim would this assembly be, if we realized the greatness of our obligations, and the inadequacy of our returns! Oh watch against sin and temptation. Watch and pray incessantly. we despise the Lord? Seek fresh supplies of grace. Be reconciled to the correcting rod of your Father; but never be reconciled to sin, nor to unfruitfulness. Labour henceforth to honor him, whom you have too often dishonored. Herein is my Father glorified," &c. Admire, and adore divine patience, pardoning mercy, and everlasting love.

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How should they take this reproof to themselves, whose backslidings have been visible, and have given open offence to their brethren, and caused the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme! Have none done this more privately, though known only to unconverted relatives, or dependents?

Doubtless, the irreligious and unconverted are liable to the same charge of despising the Lord, and the commandment of the Lord, and that habitually; and awful will be the consequence.

IX.

THE OFFICE AND POWER OF CONSCIENCE.

1 KINGS. ii. 44.

The king said, moreover, to Shemei, Thou knowest all that wickedness which thine heart is privy to, that thou didst to David my father: therefore the Lord shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head.

SUCH was the language of Solomon, to Shemei the Benjamite, who abused David in the day of his calamity, and cursed him, &c. 2 Sam. xvi.

D