The blessedness of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 /The blessednesse of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 /

For this devotedness, and subjection speak not barely, an act, but a state. A Being to the praise of grace. ¹A Living to God. And tis no mean pleasure that the sincere soul finds in the imperfect beginnings, the first Essays of this life; the initial breathings of such a Spirit, its entrance into this blessed state; when it makes the first tender, and present of it self to God (as the Apostle expresses it) when it ⟨p. 129⟩first begins to esteem it self an hallowed thing; separate, and set apart for God. Its first act of unfeigned self-resignation; when it tells God from the very heart, I now give up my self to thee to be thine. Never was marriage covenant made with such pleasure, with so complacential consent. This quitting claim to our selves, parting with our selves upon such terms, to be the Lords for ever: O the peace, the rest, the acquiescence of Spirit that attends it! When the poor soul that was weary of it self, knew not what to do with it self, hath now on the sudden found this way of disposing it self to such an advantage! there is pleasure in this Treaty. Even the previous breakings and relentings of the soul towards God are pleasant. But, O the pleasure of consent!² of yielding our selves to God, as the Apostles expression is: when the Soul is overcome, and cries out, Lord, now I resign, I yield, possess now thy own right, I give up my self to thee. That yielding is subjection, self-devoting; in order to future service,³ and obedience. (To whom ye yield your selves servants to obey, &c.) And never did any man enrol himself, as a servant, to the greatest Prince on earth, with such joy. What pleasure is there in the often iterated recognition of these transactions: in multiplying such bonds upon a mans own soul (though done faintly, while the fear of breaking, checks its joy in taking them on.) When in the uttering of these words, I am thy servant, ⁴O Lord, thy servant, the son of thine handmaid; (i. e. thy born servant, alluding to that ⟨p. 130⟩