In these words then we have two things proposed to us: a Description of Christ's disciples; and the Dignity conferred on them. In the first we learn, Who they really are; in the second, What are their Privileges.

I. The disciples of Christ are thus described "They do the will of his Father which is in heaven.” In this respect they follow their Divine Master, and walk in his steps: for he "came from heaven, not to do his own will, but the will of Him that sent him :" of which he gave a striking proof, when in that trying hour he said to his heavenly Father, "Nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt."

There are many marks given in the Bible, of Christ's true Disciples; but perhaps there is not any one so expressly and repeatedly insisted on as this in the text. We must all remember that remarkable saying of our Lord's," Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." Hence St. Peter speaks of the Christian as one, who “ no longer lives to the lusts of men, but to the will of God :' and St. John says, "He that doth the will of God

abideth for ever."a

And there is a plain reason why this mark should be strongly insisted on. For what is the great end of Christianity but to bring our wills into a cordial agreement with the will of God; to teach us to love what he loves, to hate what he hates, to abstain from what he forbids, and to practice what he commands. Till this be the case with us; till we think as God would.

a Matt. vii. 21.-1 Peter, iv. 2.-1. John, ii. 17.

have us to think, and are ready to do, as he would have us to do, we are not fit for entering into heaven; nor indeed, if allowed to enter there, could we be happy. In heaven there is no opposition to the will of God, nor any dissension from it. All the blessed inhabitants do his pleasure with one mind, and find their own pleasure in doing his. Unless then we have the same mind with them, we can neither join in their works, nor taste their happiness. But where is this mind to be acquired? Are we to wait till we enter heaven, before we learn to please God, and to do his will? Do we think that after living all our days on earth, pleasing ourselves, and doing our own will, we shall at death, be enabled to do the very contrary to all which we have hitherto been doing? If we have such thoughts, we are greatly mistaken indeed. It is here, in this state of trial and probation, that we must learn to do the will of God; otherwise we shall never do it hereafter. There is no repentance in the grave. Such as men are at death, such they will be for ever. It is true indeed, that on earth we cannot do the will of God, as it will be done in heaven. There it will be done perfectly, without any interruption or opposition, either from within, or from without. But here, we can do it, at the best, only imperfectly. Here, we are meeting with continual interruption, are opposed at every step, and after all, can make, comparatively, very little progress. Here, however, the work must be begun. Here, it must be carried on. Here, on earth,

the disposition must be acquired, and the habit formed. But, to form this habit, and to produce this disposition,

is the great design and professed object of Christianity. It proposes and undertakes to subdue the stubborn will of man, to bend and bow it to the will of God. And whenever the Gospel is received into the heart, and is allowed to bring forth its proper fruits, this effect will necessarily follow. The soul will be filled with a prevailing desire of habitually doing God's will on earth, as it is done in heaven. And hence we see the propriety of insisting on the mark in the text, of describing the disciples of Christ, as doing "the will of his Father which is in heaven."

ན

The propriety of this description will indeed be more clearly seen, if we go further into particulars, and enquire, when we may be said to do the will of God.

The will of God is made known to us in the Bible. Especially in the Revelation, which he has given to us in his Son Jesus Christ, are we taught what his will is, and what are the things which be requires us to do. When, therefore, we do these things, we may be said to do the will of God. Let us see then, what these things

are.

1. God would have us to believe in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the first thing which he requires us to do. When the Jews asked our Saviour, “What they should do that they might work the works of God," he answered, "This is the work of God, that ye believe op him, whom he hath sent." And St. John expressly says, "This is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ." Now, to believe in Jesus Christ, or on his name, is not merely

b John, vi. 29.-1 John, iii. 23.

to believe him to be the Son of God, and sent by God into the world, but to believe in him for the purposes for which he was sent, for the pardon of our sins, and the justification of our persons. It is to receive him as a gift given to us of God: to trust to hisprecious bloodshedding as the atonement for our sins; to rely on his righteousness put to our account; and in short, to place our whole hopes of salvation, and of eternal happiness on his merits and mediation alone.

This is the work which God requires us to do. But let it be observed that the very doing of this work, presupposes another most important work. It presupposes that we have previously renounced our own merits and righteousness; that we have been thoroughly convinced of our own unworthiness and guilt; and have for ever laid aside all thoughts of justifying ourselves before God, or of recommending ourselves to his favour by any thing that we can do. It is impossible, in the nature of things, that we can believe in Jesus Christ

for the pardon of our sins, without first deeply feeling

that we are sinners;

or that we can trust in him for

righteousness, till we righteousness of our own. therefore is included in the very idea of receiving Christ and consequently when God requires us to do the one, he of course intends that we should do the other also.

are convinced that we have no To renounce ourselves

:

2. God requires us to repent of our sins, and to walk in newness of life. He" now commandeth all men every where to repent."c He constantly in the.

Gospel joins repentance with faith, and shews how impossible it is that we can believe in Christ aright, without forsaking our sins and bringing forth fruits meet

for repentance.

"This is the Will of God even our

sanctification." It is his Will that we no longer live after the flesh, after the course of this world, as children of disobedience, and subjects of the kingdom of darkness; but that as children of light we walk in the light, and lead new and godly lives. He requires us to lay the axe to the root of the tree; not only to renounce bad habits, and evil companions, but to resist the first motions of sin in the heart, to deny and mortify our corrupt inclinations, and in short, to live in a constant warfare with the devil, the world, and the flesh. He requires us to be careful in maintaining good works; to be holy and exemplary in all our conduct and conversation, in fulfilling the duties of our station, in governing our tempers and affections, and in managing our worldly concerns. He requires us to be active, kind, and useful, not thinking only of ourselves, but mindful of the wants of others. He requires us to be meek and forgiving under injuries, contented with the portion assigned to us, patient in tribulation, in every thing giving thanks, and even rejoicing in sufferings and persecutions for righteousness' sake. He requires us to be frequent and regular in using the means of grace; in maintaining communion with him in prayer; in reading the Scriptures; in offering to him spiritual sacrifices in his house; in keeping holy his sacred day.-These are the things.

d 1 Thess. iv. 3.