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CHAPTER X.

THE DUTIES OF PIETY.

Faith in God-We should fear him-Love him supremelyTrust in him-Pray to him-Praise him-Worship him in spirit and in truth-Openly profess his most holy nameSubmit in all things to his high authority-And attach ourselves to his people, both in honour and in dishonour.

THE duties of piety are of a high order, though too generally neglected, even by men of decent moral character. Men are apt to boast of their attention to those duties which they owe to men; but those which they owe to God are disregarded. Many who live without prayer, stand high in the ranks of civil society; and many who are grateful to man for his kindness, never praise the Lord for his goodness and mercy. Let us examine the duties which we owe to God with deep attention; and while we do so, may the spirit of piety take fast hold of our hearts.

I. Faith in God is an imperative duty, which cannot be neglected, under any circumstances, without the hazard of eternal ruin.

To believe in God, is the first duty that we owe to him; and it implies two things: first, a belief that He is, or that there is a God: and, secondly, a belief that he is the rewarder of

them that diligently seek him. Heb. xi. 6. If we examine the works of creation with careful attention, we shall be convinced that there is a God, who is the first cause of all things; and if we examine divine revelation seriously and impartially, we shall be persuaded to believe that the Almighty dispenses rewards to all who seek him with their whole heart. Without faith in the being of God, we shall fall into all the absurdities of atheism; and without faith in his merciful rewards, we shall not have any motive to love and obey him. All the duties of piety, without faith, would cease among men. There would be no prayer or praise, no reverence of God or adoration, and no enjoyment of him as our all-sufficient portion. But faith in him is the foundation of every virtue, and of every grace; and it sweetly conducts the soul in all the lovely paths of peace and purity.

There is a dead faith which yields no profit to the soul; and there is a living faith which is of incalculable value. Dead faith is like a stagnant pool, offensive and unwholesome; but living faith is like a running stream, which is pleasant to the eye, and salutary in all its influences. Faith in God should be an active and operative principle, placing him before us continually as our Maker, our Benefactor, our Preserver, and our Judge; and when this is the case, we are placed in circumstances the most favourable to

piety and devotion.* We see God in all things; we feel him in all things; and in all things we honour him as the greatest and the best of beings. We firmly believe all the doctrines, commands, promises, and threatenings contained in the sacred Scriptures; being persuaded, by strong arguments, that those holy writings were divinely inspired. The faith of Abraham was firm and unshaken. It produced surprising effects in his conduct; "it was imputed unto him for righteousness; and he was called the friend of God;" the highest title that could have been given to a mortal man. James ii. 23. II. We are required to fear God, without which we cannot keep his commandments.

He is inconceivably great and glorious. The highest created beings, including every rank and order of celestial spirits, sink into nothing

* Right notions of the being and attributes of God, every one knows, are the foundation of all religion: but then this knowledge must not be a bare speculation; but a serious, practical, affecting impression, and deep sense upon the mind, of a supreme Being.-Dr. S. Clarke.

Faith has the same place in the divine life which sense hath in the natural; being indeed nothing else but a kind of sense, and feeling persuasion of spiritual things. It extends itself unto all divine truths; but in our lapsed estate, it hath a peculiar relation to the declaration of God's mercy and reconcileableness through a Mediator; and therefore, receiving its denomination from that principal object, is ordinarily termed faith in Jesus Christ.Bennett's Christian Oratory.

when compared to him. Some comparison may be made between a worm and an angel; but there is no comparison between that angel and the Deity. This view of him shows the correctness of David's observation: "God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all that are about him." Ps. lxxxix. 7. We cannot fear him as an evil or malignant Being, because he is infinitely good and gracious; but we should reverence his divine majesty, and cultivate a sacred fear of offending him.

The fear of God is a phrase which frequently includes every property and quality of inward religion; and for this reason, principally, because it is a principle that regulates all the powers of the soul in the great duties of piety. Those who live under its influence, are sweetly disposed to obey all the commandments of God; and that obedience which springs from filial fear includes the whole system of practical religion. Thus Solomon says, "Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man." Eccles. xii. 13. And this is the wisdom of man. So it appears in the present life; so it will appear in the hour of death; and so it will appear in the eternal world. In this fear there is strong confidence; and it is a fountain of life. Prov. xiv. 26, 27. But the man who does not fear the Lord, is either extremely ignorant, or extremely wicked. The former is no excuse,

where information may be had; and the latter is a reproach to any man, because all wickedness is voluntary. We have no confidence in a man who does not fear the Lord. He is not a safe companion; he cannot be a faithful friend; he is a disgrace to his family; and if he die in this state, justice will punish him after death. Sinners may fear the wrath and justice of God; because he hates and will punish all iniquity; but holy men, who enjoy his approbation, stand in awe of him, as a Being whose glory transcends all conception; and they fear him with a filial fear, because they are his adopted

sons.

III. The love of God is another duty of piety; and all men are commanded to love him.

There are two grounds of love: first, loveliness in the object which is beloved; and, secondly, favours received from the person whom we love. Both unite in the love of God. He is altogether lovely, and all excellencies, in the highest degree, centre in him; and the benefits which we have received at his hands, from our youth up, even until now, have been innumerable. We have lived on his bounty; he has redeemed us from sin and death by his well-beloved Son; he has saved us from sin and wrath; and has "blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." Eph. i. 3.

But how should we love God? We should love him with all our hearts. Other persons