To obey God, is not so much our duty as our privilege; his commands carry meat in the mouth of them. He bids us repent; and why? That our sins may be blotted out. Acts iii 19. He commands us to believe: and why? That we may be saved. Acts xvi 31. There is love in every command: as if a king should bid one of his subjects dig in a gold mine, and then take the gold to himself.
Willingness is the soul of obedience. God sometimes accepts of willingness without the work, but never of the work without willingness. Cheerfulness shows that there is love in the duty; and love is to our services what the sun is to fruit; it mellows and ripens them, and makes them come off with a better relish.