also, " gives wisdom to little ones:" [1] they alone who fear God are truly wise. Hence, the observers of the Law of God are filled with a profusion of pure delights, are enlightened by the knowledge of the divine mysteries, and are blessed with an accumulation of pleasures and rewards as well in this life, as in the life to come.
In our observance of the Law, however, we should not be actuated so much by a sense of our own advantage as by a regard for the holy will of God, unfolded to man by the promulgation of his Law: if the irrational part of creation is obedient to this his sovereign will, how much more reasonable that man should live in subjection to its dictate?
A further consideration which cannot fail to arrest our attention, is, that God has pre-eminently displayed his clemency and the riches of his bounty in this, that whilst he might have commanded our service without a reward, he has, notwithstanding, deigned to identify his own glory with our advantage, thus rendering what tends to his honour, conducive to our interests. This is a consideration of the highest importance, and one which proclaims aloud the goodness of God. The pastor then will not fail to impress on the minds of the faithful this salutary truth, telling them in the language of the prophet whom we have last quoted, that "in keeping the commandments of God there is a great reward." [2] Not only are we promised those blessings which seem to have reference to earthly happiness, to be "blessed in the city, and blessed in the field;" [3] but we are also promised " a very great reward in heaven," [4] " good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over," [5] which, aided by the divine mercy, we merit by our actions when recommended by piety and justice.
THE FIRST COMMANDMENT.
"I AM THE LORD THY GOD, WHO BROUGHT THEE OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT, OUT OF THE HOUSE OF BONDAGE: THOU SHALT NOT HAVE STRANGE GODS BEFORE ME: THOU SHALT NOT MAKE TO THYSELF A GRAVEN THING, &C." [6]
THE law announced in the Decalogue, although delivered to the Jews by the Lord from the summit of Sinai, was originally written by the finger of nature on the heart of man, [7] and was therefore rendered obligatory on mankind at all times by the Author of nature. It will, however, be found very salutary to explain with minute attention the words in which it was pro-
