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The impious and profane, who perfist in their tranfgreffions, are excluded from the enjoyment of the quiet and tranquillity which the Lord God conveys to his Church. In the kingdom of God, there are two claffes of people of very different defcriptions. Befides the humble, penitent, intrepid confeffors of the truth, for whom peace is ordained, there are the unrighteous and the wicked, who continue in their evil ways, and refuse to abandon the crimes to which they have been addicted. The prophet David thus defcribes their temper and conduct, their converfation and thoughts, Pfalm xxxvi. 1. et feq. There is no fear of God before his eyes; for he 'flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful. The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit; he hath left off to be wife, and to do good. He deviseth mischief upon his bed, he fetteth himself in a way that is not good; ⚫he abhorreth not evil.'-Agitated by ftrong, impetuous paffions, they ftrenuoutly endeavour to extinguish every appearance of reformation, and are inceffantly employed in diftreffing the upright fervants of God, and counteracting their benevolent defigns. Like the troubled fea, which is in continual motion, whose waves rife in quick fucceffion to a great height, they are in perpetual difquiet through evil confciences, and various contending paffions, fuch as voluptuoufnefs, ambition, anger, and revenge.

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as the waters of the fea throw up to the furface the mire and dirt that lay at the bottom, fo the wicked reft not until they difcover thote abominable pollutions, which lay concealed in their boloms, unnoticed by thofe around them.

21. There is no peace, faith my God, to the wicked.

Perfons

Perfons of the above defcription do not participate of the profperity and happiness, which is the peculiar privilege of the fervants of God. On the contrary, they often experience painful remorfe and anguish, from the recollection of the crimes they have committed, and from the prospect of the mifery and wo that shall be their portion hereafter. At variance with God, with themselves, and frequently with the beft of those among whom they live, they are tormented by the ftings of guilty confciences, and a fearful fense of impending deftruction. Who can defcribe the terrible vengeance of Almighty God, to which they are configned at their diffolution, the defpair and torture which precedes the worm that never dies, and the fire that shall never be quenched! -That the wicked may have the moft explicit affurance of the momentous truth here affirmed, our prophet folemnly declares, that what is expreffed in the words before us, contains the unalterable decifion of his God, by whofe direction and authority he announced this awful fentence. The certainty of this decree receives confirmation from the moving fpectacles of horror which fome profane people have exhibited in feafons of folitude and ficknefs, and in the view of death. Having illuftrated this fubject when treating chapter xlviii. 22. I fhall not enlarge at prefent. -Permit me, before I conclude, to addrefs you in the words of God, by the prophet Ezekiel: Caft away from you all your tranfgreffions, whereby you have tranfgreffed-For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth †, faith the Lord 'God.' Abandon, with abhorrence and grief, those iniquities which you have hitherto held faft, on which you have fet your hearts, committed with greediness, and refused to let go. Be affured, that every species of wickedness is not only deteftable and unprofitable, but hurtful and dangerous in the extreme. Diligently atten. to the ordinances that Gcd

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God hath inftituted, which he is pleased to honour with his prefence and bleffing, and to render effectual for conveying thofe fpiritual benefits which he hath encouraged them who wait upon him to expect. And may he effectually turn you from your evil ways, that iniquity may not be your ruin, and that, being delivered from deftruction, you may walk before the Lord in the land of the living.

PRELI

PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS.

TH

HE fection of our prophet's difcourfe, which is now to be confidered, is addreffed, in a peculiar manner, to those who do not unite to the performance of the exterior duties of religion, the practice of true devotion and piety-Who join, with an external profeffion of refpect for the ordinances of Divine appointment, ftrife and contention, with the neglect of their poor afflicted brethren. People of this defcription he sharply reproves, and demonftrates the abfolute neceffity of abftaining from these prevailing evils, in order to enjoy the favour of God, and the accomplishment of the promises made unto the Church. He declares that would they amend their ways, celebrate inftituted rites, and discharge the duties incumbent on them with uprightness, purity of heart, and unfeigned charity, free from animofities and difcords; that did they return to God, in the exercises of true repentance, they might expect to be bleffed with the acceptance and falvation of Jehovah. -The chapter commences with the command of God directed to his faithful fervants, clearly to fet forth to his people the enormous tranfgreffions, which, like a dangerous contagion, had fpread among them their contaminating influence, ver. 1.—To represent the hypocrify and diffimulation which were blended with their facred fervices, particularly their faftings, in which they cherished diffentions, and exacted labours of their dependants, ver. 2, 3.

To fhew that the worthip and homage yielded by them to the most High, especially that their fals were not obferved according to the law of the fanctuary, but intermixed with fentual gratifications, and works inconfiftent with the right performance of thefe duties, ver. 4And to evince the vany and abfurdity of pretending to ferve God, whilft the

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ftudy of integrity, and the practice of good works were neglected, ver. 5.-Isaiah then proceeds to describe in what manner an acceptable faft to the Lord, and the exercifes efpecially incumbent in fuch seasons, ought to be obferved, ver. 6, 7.—In the latter part of the chapter, he represents the joyful confequences which fhould certainly attend the right obfervance of faits, and the confcientious fanctification of the Sabbath, on which the happiness and comfort of Chriftians in fome measure depends; for in this way they may hope to enjoy the fulfilment of the precious promifes made to the Church, ver. 8-14.

CHAP. LVIII.

CRY aloud, fpare not, lift up thy voice

like a trumpet, and fhew my people their tranfgreffion, and the house of Jacob their fins.

An express command is given to Ifaiah, and with him to faithful minifters of the word of God, ftrenuoully to endeavour to convince his people of their tranfgreffions. For this purpose, they are required to cry aloud, to fpeak with earneftnefs and velemence, with authority and firmnefs, that they may discover anxious folicitude for the welfare of their hearers, roufe them from fupine negligence, gain their attention, and prevail with them to comply with what they forcibly urged Spare not, Omit not to exert your utmost efforts in this important work; be inftant in feafon and out of feafon, ceafe not to admonish, with ferioufnefs and frequency, though your labours may not be accompanied with fuccefs, and though you incur the difpleasure of fome

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