September 12

Eighth Thursday after Trinity

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance. Psalms 33:12.

God has willed His people to be holy, and separate from all contagion of unrighteousness and iniquity; to be of such a character, so just, so pious, so pure, so spotless, so simple, that the heathen might find nothing in them to censure, but only to admire, and might use the words of our text when speaking of them. Of such a character ought God's worshippers and servants to be, gentle, grave, thoughtful, pious, blameless, uncorrupt, unspotted, that whosoever sees them should be amazed and admire them, saying, "Truly these men, whose conduct is of such a kind, are men of God." A man of God ought in such wise to exhibit himself and to act, that there may be no one who does not desire to see him and long to hear him; no one who, having seen him, does not believe him to be a child of God. For there is nothing which God more desires and requires from us than that through our conduct His Name may be magnified by all; as it is written, "Offer the sacrifice of praise." For this is the sacrifice which God seeks for and loves above all sacrifices, that by means of our just works His Name may everywhere be praised, and He may be proved by works and actions to be the true God of His servants. They do indeed glorify God who employ themselves on that only whereby His Name may be glorified.

So shall my song be of Thy praise, So shall my life Thy love proclaim, And all my works and all my ways Exalt and magnify Thy Name.