Thirdly, Hence we learn, since the cause of every man's miseiy is his own sin, that therefore all the jJOiver of the world, and of hell, cannot keep a man in misery, nor hinder him from comfort and happiness, if he iiill part with his sins by true and unfeigned repentance. As we know, Manasseh, as soon as he put away sin, the Lord had mercy upon him, and turned his captivity, 2 Chron. xxxiii. 12, 13. So the people of Israel, in the Judges. Look how often they were humbled and returned to God, still he forgave them aU then* sins. As soon as they put away sin, God and they met again. So that, if we come to Christ by tnie repentance, neither sin nor punish- ment can cleave to us, Ps. cvi. 43, 44; cvii. 1, 9.
' Thou hast fallen,' &c. Fallen blindly, as it were. Thou couldst not see which way thou wentest, or to what end thy courses did tend. There- fore thou art come into misery before thou knowest where thou art. A sinner is bhnd, ' The god of this world hath put out his eyes,' 2 Cor. iv. 4. They see not their way, nor foresee their success. The devil is ever for our falling. That we fall into sin, and then fall into misery, and so fell into despair, and into hell, this pleaseth him. ' Cast thyself down,' saith
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258 THE RETURNING UACKSLIDEE. [SeEMON I.
he to Christ, Mat. iv. 6. ' Down with it, down with it,' saith Edom, Ps. cxxxvii. 7. Hell is beneath. The devil drives all that way.
Use. Take heed of sin ! take heed of blindness ! Ponder the path of your feet ! keep your thoughts heavenward ! stop the beginnings, the first stumblings ! pray to God to make our way plain before us, and not to lead us into temptation !
' Take with you words, and turn to the Lord: say unto him,' &c., ver. 2.
These Israelites were but a rude people, and had not so good means to thrive in grace as Judah had. Therefore he prompts them here with such words as they might use to God in their returning. ' Take with you words,' whereby we see how gracious God is unto us in using such helps for our recovery, and pitying us more than we pity ourselves. Is not this a suffi- cient warrant and invitation to return, when the party offended, who is the superior, desires, entreats, and sues unto the ofiending, guilty inferior, to be reconciled ? ' 2 Cor. v. 5.
But this is not all. He further sheweth his willingness in teaching us, who are ignorant of the way, in what manner and with what expressions we should return to the Lord. He giveth us not only words, and tells us what we shall say, but also giveth his Spirit so effectually therewith, as that they shall not be lifeless and dead words, but ' with unexpressible sighs and groans unto God,' Rom. viii. 26, who heareth the requests of his own Spirit. Christ likewise teacheth us how to pray. We have words die- ' tated, and a spirit of prayer poured upon us ; as if a gi-eat person should dictate and frame a petition for one who were afraid to speak unto him. Such is God's graciousness ; and so ready is he in Jesus Christ to receive sinners unto mercy.
* Take unto you words.' None were to appear empty before the Lord at Jerusalem, but were to bring something. So it is with us. We must not appear empty before our God. If we can bring nothing else, let us bring words ; yea, though broken words, yet if out of a broken and con- trite heart, it will be a sacrifice acceptable. t
This same taking of words or petitions, in all our troubles and afflictions, must needs be a special remedy, it being of God's own prescription, who is so infinite in knowledge and skill. Whence we observe, that
They icho icouhl have help and comfort against all sins and sorrows, must come to God ivith ivords of prayer.
As we see in Jonah's case, in a matchless distress, words were inforcive,* and did him more good than all the world besides could. For after that he had been humbled, and prayed out of the whale's belly, the whale was forced to cast him out again, Jonah ii. 10. So the prodigal son being imdone, having neither credit nor coin, but all in a manner against him, yet he had words left him : ' Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son : make me as one of thy hired servants,' Luke xv. 18, seq. After which, his father had compassion on him. And good Hezekiah, being desperately sick of a desperate disease, yet when he set his faith a-work, and took with him words, which comfort only now was left unto him, we know how after he had turned his face to- wards the wall, and prayed with words, God not only healed him of that dangerous disease, but also wrought a great miracle for his sake, causing the sun to come back ten degrees, Isa. xxxviii. 2, 8. Thus, when Ufe seemed impossible, yet words, prayers, and tears prevailed with God. Jehoshaphat, also, going to war with Ahab, against God's commandment, * That is, ' prtvailing, or invested with a power of enforcing.' — Ed.