But see, now, what God says in this case, and what an unexpected condescension there is in the word of promise. Is it, Be gone? Take a bill of divorce ? Take thine own course, and I will take mine against thee? No ; says God, " This is an estate and condition whereof I am weary, and thou art weary; — I am weary of thy multiplying the guilt of sin; thou ait wearied in serving the power of thy sin. I will put an end to this state of things ; we will have peace again between us. I will blot out thy sins, and remember thine iniquities no more. I,
THE STRENGTH OF FAITH. 47
even I, will do it." He redoubles the word passionately, emphati- cally, to call to mind who he is with whom in this condition we have to do : " ' I, even I,' — who am God, and not man; I, — whose thoughts are not as your thoughts ; I, — who am great in mercy, and who will abundantly pardon; — I will do it."
Yea, but saith the poor convinced soul, " I know no reason why thou shouldst do so, — I cannot believe it ; for I know not upon what account I should be so dealt withal." Says God, " I know full well that there is nothing in thee upon the account whereof I should thus deal with thee ; there is nothing in thee, but for what thou deservest to be ever- lastingly cut off; but quiet thy heart, I will do it for my own sake I have deeper engagements 'on my own account for this than thou canst look into."
Doubtless, such a word as this, coming in when God and the soul are at the point of giving over and parting fellowship,— when the soul is ready to do so indeed, and hath great cause to think that God will be first therein. — then, contrary to all expectation, and above all hopes, - — must needs constrain it to cry out, as Thomas, upon sight of the wounds of Christ, " My Lord and my God." Let the soul that can- not get itself unto any steadfastness in closing with Christ in the pro- mises— that staggers, and is tossed to and fro between hopes and fears, being filled with a sense of sin and unworthiness,— dwell a while upon the consideration of this unexpected surprisal, and give up itself to the power of it.
Isa. lvii. 17, 18, gives me another instance to the same purpose. This seems to be the description of a man totally rejected of God. The most dejected sinner can hardly make a more deplorable descrip- tion of his condition, though ready enough to speak all the evil of himself that he can think of. Let us see how things are disposed. There is an iniquity found in him and upon him, that the soul of God abhors. In this evil there is a continuance, until God manifest himself to take notice of it, and to be provoked with it : "I was wroth," saith God [according to the sense of the text quoted], " and took a course to let him know so. I laid my hand upon him, and smote him in some outward dispensation, that he could not but take notice that I was wroth. Upon this smiting it may be he be- gins to seek and pi'ay, but I am not found of him; I hid me, — I let him pray, but took no notice of him, but hid myself in wrath. Surely this will do, he will now leave his iniquity and return to me. Nay," saith God, "he grows worse than ever; neglecting my smiting, hiding, wrath, he goes on frowardly in the ways of his own heart."
God had appointed in the law, that when a son was rebellious against his parents, and grown incorrigible therein, he should be '• stoned with stones." What shall be done, then, with this person,
48 THE STRENGTH OF FAITH.
who is thus incorrigible under the hand of God? Says God, " 'I have seen his ways,' — it will not be better. Shall I destroy him, consume him, make him as Admah and Zeboim? Ah ! ' my bowels. are turned in me ; my repentings are kindled together : I will heal him.' If he goes on thus, and no outward means will do him good, he must perish ; but 'I will heal him.' He wounded his soul; I also wounded him in the blows I gave him when I was wroth. Is he not ' my dear son ?..... Since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still : therefore my bowels are troubled for him ; I will surely have mercy upon him/ " Jer. xxxi. 20. He shall have wine and oil, grace and pardon, for all his wounds. But, alas! he is not able to go one step in God's ways, he is so wonted to his own. " Leave that to me," saith God ; " ' I will lead him ;' I will give him strength, guidance, and direction to go in my way. ' I will lead him, yea, and give him comfort' also."
Now, if any one cannot in some measure bring his condition within the verge and compass of this promise, it is hard with him indeed. And as I know the necessity of that duty, and usefulness of searching our hearts for the fruits of the Spirit in us, whereby we are made meet for communion with God,-^which are all evidences of our ac- ceptance with God, and pardon of sin thereon ; so, I dare say, these are promises that will sufficiently warrant a perplexed soul to close with Christ, as tendered from the love of the Father, even when it can find in itself no other qualifications or conditions, but only such as render it every way unworthy to be accepted. We do not say to a poor, naked, hungry, harbourless man, " Go, get thee clothes, get thee food, get thee a habitation, and then I will give thee an alms: no, but, " Because thou wantest all these, therefore I will give thee an alms." "Because thou art poor, blind, polluted, guilty, sinful, I will give thee mercy," sa}^s God.