Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/277

 II. We are  bound  not  only  to  love  God,  but  also  to honor  him  as  our  Father,  and  to  show  that  respect  and reverence which  His  service  and  our  duty  require. " Honor  thy  father  and  thy  mother,  that  thou  mayst  be long  lived  upon  the  land  "  (Exod.  xx.  12);  and  God  Himself says,  by  the  prophet  Malachias,  "  If,  then,  I  be  a  father, where  is  my  honor?" (Malach i. 6.)  We  cannot  show this respect  and  honor,  to  our  Father  without  imitating Him. Christ therefore  says,  "Be  ye  therefore  perfect, as  also  your  heavenly  Father  is  perfect.  (Matt.  v.  48.) And  St.  Paul,  who  had  deeply  imbibed  the  spirit  of  his Master,  tells  his  Ephesian  converts,  "  Be  ye  therefore followers of  God,  as  most  dear  children."  (Eph.  v.  1.) You  must  imitate  His  sanctity  and  impeccability,  His charity,  mercy,  and  justice,  together  with  His  other  perfections. "Ye  shall  be  holy,"  He  says,  "because  I  am holy."    (Lev.  xi.  45.)

III. We are  bound,  in  consequence  of  the  benefit  of adoption,  to  fear  our  Father. " Let  every  one  fear  His Father." (Lev. xix.  3.)  If  children  of  this  world  are afraid of  offending  their  parents,  lest  they  should  be disinherited  by  them,  how  much  more  reason  have  we to  fear  God? Beware, lest  it  may  ever  be  said  of  you, " I  have  brought  up  children,  and  exalted  them,  but they  have  despised  me." (Is. i.  2.)  You  will  despise Him, if  instead  of  His  will,  you  follow  your  own,  and prefer your  own  ideas  to  His  counsels  and  commands.

I. Your  heavenly  Father  is  not  simply  content  to have  adopted  you  for  His  son,  but  He  has  employed various means,  in  order  to  make  you  persevere  in  the