The spirit of godliness.
This, under all dispensations, is—
I. THE SPIRIT OF THANKFULNESS. (Psalms 106:1.) The godly man is he in whose mouth the praise of the Lord is found continually, because the spirit of gratitude is deep in his heart.
II. THE SPIRIT OF TRUSTFULNESS. (Psalms 106:1.) "His mercy endureth forever." To what the past has witnessed the future will testify. "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow," etc. (Psalms 23:1-6.).
III. THE SPIRIT OF REVERENCE. (Psalms 106:2.) The godly man stands uncovered, awed, filled with a sense of the nearness and greatness of God, sensible of the wonderful works of his holy and mighty hand. This whole world is the temple of God, and every act of ours should be a sacrifice.
IV. THE SPIRIT OF OBEDIENCE. (Psalms 106:3.) The godly man is earnestly desirous of "keeping judgment and doing righteousness," of preserving inward integrity and. bringing forth its fruits; and this because
V. THE SPIRIT OF CONSCIOUS DEPENDENCE ON GOD. (Psalms 106:4.) He who is "of God" knows well that it is only as God enlarges and enriches him that he will be blessed indeed; therefore he lifts his heart in daily prayer for God's "remembrance" and his "salvation." He knows the need of perpetual supplies and of frequent interposition from above.
VI. THE SPIRIT OF SACRED, SOCIAL JOY. (Psalms 106:5.) It is not a truly Christian spirit to rest, let our hope and our joy to our own well being. This should continually overflow; it should spread and circulate far and wide. We should enter into the spirit of Moses and of Paul in their magnanimity (see Exodus 32:31, Exodus 32:32; Romans 9:3). Our joy is never so pure, so elevating, so noble, as when we are sharing it with others, and are rejoicing in their blessedness as well as, and as much as in our own.