9$ THIRD SERMON given deliverances unto me, and should I break his commandments ?" Ezra xiii. 14. Christ gave himself to redeem me from all iniquity, and to make me in a special manner his own, therefore I must be " zealous of good works," Tit. ii. 14. therefore I must " show forth the virtues of him that called me out of darkness into his marvellous light," 1 Pet. ii. 9. No more frequent, more copious common place in all the scriptures than this to call for obedience, and to aggravate disobedience by the consideration of the great things that God hath done for us, Deut. xiii. 20, 21. xi. r/, 8. xxix. xxxii. 6, 7. Josh. xxiv. 2 -14. 1 Sam. xii. 24. Isa. i. 2. Jer. ii. 5, 6. Hos. ii. 8. Mic. vi. 3. 5. In the law a ransomed man became the servant of him that bought and delivered him : and upon this argument the apostle calls for obedience ; " Ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price : therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's," 1 Cor. vi. 19, 20. We have but the use of ourselves, the property is his, and we may do nothing to violate that. V. As a means and instrument of publishing God's praises. There is an emphasis in the word "lips." Some- times it is a diminutive word, taking away from the duty performed, as Matt. xv. 8. " This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me." But here it is an augmentative word, that enlargeth the duty, and makes it wider. " I will sacrifice unto thee," saith Jonah, with the voice of thanksgiving," Jonah ii. 9. God regardeth not the sacrifice, if this be not the use that is made of it ; to publish and celebrate the glory of his name. The outward ceremony is nothing without the thankfulness of the heart, and the thankfulness of the heart is too little, except it have a voice to proclaim it abroad, that others may learn
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