with whom you have to do. Connive not at their faults, forbear not the prudent induftrious performance of your duty, but fpeak with freedom and plainnefs, when you represent the aggravations, the number, and the defert of their iniquities.-Lift up thy voice like a trumpet. Speak with animation and force, found a loud alarm in their ears, warn them faithfully of the danger to which they are exposed by going on in their trefpaffes, which incur the Divine displeasure. Point out, in the strongest and moft decided manner, their defection from God, their many deviations from the rule of his word, and the advancement of his glory, at which they ought uniformly to aim. Shew my people (faith God), the house of Jacob their fins. Though the pofterity of Ifrael night be primarily meant, yet I do not fuppofe they were chiefly intended. The charge brought forward in the following verfes is reftricted to the abuse of fafts, and the neglect of fanctifying the Sabbath, fins to which the men of Judah (as appears from the prophecies), were especially addicted after their return from captivity at Babylon, Notwithstanding these accufations might be more immediately laid against them, I apprehend the Church, under the New Teftament, are the main fubjects of this discourse, who, after their egrefs from myftical Babylon, and their relinquishment of their idolatrous practices, were no lefs guilty of thefe crimes. Nor does it militate against the application of the following charge to the subjects of the kingdom of Jefus Christ, that they are denominated the house of Jacob. This is the very name by which they are called in the words of the angel Gabriel to Mary, the mother of our Lord. He fhall be great (faid he), and ⚫ fhall be called the Son of the Higheft, and the Lord God fhall give unto him the throne of his father David, and he fhall reign over the houfe of Jacob for ever, and of his kindgdom there fhall be no ' end.' Luke i. 32, 33. la In performing this important difficult work, affigned to the fervants of God, it behoves them to reprefent in ftrong terms to his people the evil and malignity of their trefpaffes, their fecret and more open violations of the law of God, which have been committed through ignorance, or against knowledge, of those whereof they are infenfible, and those they are ready to confefs; of thofe whereby they are already infected, or are in imminent danger.-And to acquaint them with the aggravations wherewith they are attended, the calamities to which they are exposed, in what refpects they ought to reform, and how their reformation ought to be conducted, fo as that it may be complete and permanent. In this arduous fervice we are employed, in obedience to the authority of the Lord God merciful and gracious, looking to him for affiftance, acceptance, and the Holy Spirit to render our exertions fuccesful. 2. Yet they feek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteoufnefs, and forfook not the ordinance of their God they afk of me the ordinances of juftice they take delight in approaching to God. : That no mistake might arise concerning the perfons to whom the following reproofs are to be adminittered, their character is particularly delineated. On hearing the preceding command, it immediately occurs, who are the people that are here intended, whofe tranfgreffions fhould be exhibited in the manner defcribed? They are depicted as having a very plaufible and fplendid profeffion, and doing many things laudable, from which they cherished a favourable opinion respecting their spiritual state.-Ift, They feek God daily. Confcious of their abfolute need of his favour, and the bleffings of his falvation to render VOL. IV. M m them them truly happy, they frequently attend the ordinances of Divine inftitution, wherein the prefence of the Moft High is to be found. They employ much time and care in performing the public and private exercises of his worship, and in ufing the means appointed for cultivating acquaintance with his word, providence, and grace, whilst they neglect not to implore his forgiveness whom they have offended. In these exercises they feek God, not on fome extraordinary occafions only, when peculiarly affected with a preffing sense of their indigence, and urged to this duty by conviction of their need of Divine mercy, and the interpofition of the Almighty in their behalf. This is their ordinary bufinefs, wherein they are employed from time to time, in which they feel fome degree of fatisfaction and comfort.-And delight to know my ways. The ways of God may fignify the purposes and defigns of his heart, the operations of his providence in the government of the universe, and the falvation of the Church, with the difpenfations of his mercy and grace toward his peculiar people, in their various circumftances, whereby he manifefts his own glory, and promotes their happiness. The ways of his precepts are doubtlefs especially intended, which he hath required to be observed with our whole hearts, that we may enjoy great peace in our own minds, communion with him, and attain the everlasting enjoyment of his prefence and glory. To become acquainted with thefe ways of God, the people whofe character is here defcribed frequently read the holy Scriptures, and meditate on them; they compare one paffage with another, the more obfcure with those that are plain, prophecies and promifes with events; they endeavour fo to dispose and digeft the fyftem of facred truth, and to arrange providential difpenfations, as to have a full, connected view of the whole. In this knowledge they find much pleasure and delight. Far from being difgufted with the difcoveries contained in the word of God, God, or the difpofitions of Providence, they are greatly fatisfied with the ways and works of God. As a nation that did righteoufnefs. They not only abftained from profanity and impiety, from fraud and injuftice, but aimed to give to every one his due, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour, and tribute to whom tribute is due. They not only declaimed loudly againft wrong, deceit, and iniquitous transactions, but they manifefted, in their converfation and conduct, high refpect to equity and honefty, fo that, in their collective capacity, they affumed the appearance of a kingdom, or large fociety, wherein perfons of all ranks were devoted to the fervice of God, and followed after righteousness, faith, charity, and peace with them that call on the Lord.-And forfook not the ordinances of their God. Amid the va rious temptations whereby many are feduced from punctual, profitable attendance on them, the people whofe character is delineated, having formed the good refolution of pious Nehemiah, expreffed in thefe words: We will not forfake the houfe of our God,' did not defert the facred inftitutions of Divine worship, appointed to be observed in the Church, as part of the homage due to Jehovah, and as means of improvement, in preparation for the services of the heavenly fanctuary. Neither allurements nor dangers could deter them from folemnizing the inftitutions he had established, for promoting his honour and their benefit. To this steady conduct they were urged by the confideration, that the ordinances which they obferved proceeded from their God, who had brought them under manifold obligations firmly to adhere to his service. They afk of me the ordinances of justice, to point out what ought to be believed, and what fhould be done, that thereby they might regulate their faith and practice. Solicitous to be well informed of the will of God, refpecting the duties of devotion and of righteoufnefs, they applied to him, requesting that he would be pleafed clearly to discover them, and to make make them understand the way of his precepts. In this manner they expreffed dependence on Jehovah, the one law-giver, who prefides over his Church, and their fervent defires of having made known to them his good and perfect will concerning them.-They take delight in approaching to God, that, as indigent creatures, he may supply their wants; that, as fervants, they may receive fresh intimations of his pleasure ; that, as children, they may obtain his benediction; that, as friends, they may be admitted to intercourse with him. Drawing near to God they confider to be at once their privilege and duty, convinced that all the benefits they enjoy, or hope to receive, proceed from his bountiful hand, they come with frequency and pleasure into his prefence, who is the fource of all excellence and goodness.-Such, my brethren, is the defcription of the people to whom God, by our prophet, adminifters reproof, on account of the formality and hypocrify that were blended with their best performances, which therefore were not found perfect before God Do you then ferioufly confider if your hearts are right with God, and found in his ftatutes; if there is an intimate correfpondence betwixt your hearts and your holy profeffion. Examine your fpiritual ftate, inquire into your conduct. Though you are not addicted to profane fwearing, to profanation of the Sabbath, to fins inconsistent with the love of your neighbour, or negligent in the performance of relative duties; if you have confidence in yourselves, and do not worthip God in the fpirit, you are deftitute of the life and power of godlinefs. Notwithstanding you may be frequent in reading, hearing, and meditating on the word of God, and much employed in prayer, fafting, and converfing on religious fubjects; if you trust to these things, and make them the foundation of your hopes; if you are intemperate, unjust, cenforious, discontented, cruel, and uncharitable, you build your hopes on the fand, and are not a whit better than thofe of whom Ifaiah here fpeaks. Be careful. |